Meal Time Sanity

Hello to all my friends who are actually reading this even though I haven't blogged in ages. One of my besties, Kathryn, recently posted a blog about planning meals in advance. While I was reading her blog I thought I should share my mealtime secret with the few faithful readers I have. Dave Ramsey, who you all know I LOVE, endorses a website, included below, that has simplified my life in regards to mealtime in the Mitchell house. It costs $5/month (they take $15 out of your account every 3 months), you pick your meal plan (low-fat, low-carb, points, gluten free, etc) and your grocery store and they provide not only dinner recipes for you every week, but your shopping list as well. It is UH-MAZING. If you happen to choose a grocery store (as opposed to the "Any-Store" option) they will base the meals on the sales at that store every week and include your total costs on the shopping list. I can't recommend this enough! The recipes are yummy and the ingredients are affordable. PLUS, the recipes are so easy, my husband takes over dinner most nights! Check it out below!

The Gender....Revealed

Many of you already know that Patrick and I found out the gender of our baby this week! It was such an exciting time and we were so blessed to get to share it with so many people we love. We arranged to have cupcakes made in Savannah (for my family) and Knoxville (for Patrick's family) with either blue or pink icing....depending on our news. We called the bakeries from the DRs office as soon as we were done with the ultrasound and told them what color to dye the frosting. Our parents picked up the cupcakes and met the family back at the house to open the box together. It was so much fun to surprise them in a creative way.

We did something similar for our friends here in St. Louis...except I actually dyed the cupcake and covered it up with white icing. We had 20-30 people over that night for food and fun. They came dressed in pink or blue...depending on what they thought it was. We took a vote and then Patrick bit into the dyed cupcake to reveal the color.....blue or pink. It was such a fun way to share our news!

Thankful Thanksgiving

We just got back from a long, but glorious road trip home for the Thanksgiving holidays! We spent Thanksgiving with my in-laws in Tennessee and will be spending Christmas with my family in Georgia. The trip was full of family, great southern food, beautiful mountains, cold weather, SEC football and lifelong friends. Here are few pictures from our trip. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Bathroom Makeover

Hi readers! I know you have probably given up on me....but don't give up quite yet. I have finally made it well into the 2nd trimester and finally started feeling better around week 17. Just to put into perspective how sick I was...I haven't gained a pound and I am 18 weeks along. Just thought I'd make sure you didn't think I was MIA for nothing.

As soon as I started feeling better I got to work on a project that has been haunting me for months. During my many hours in the bathroom the first 17 weeks of my pregnancy I figured out that I really needed a change in the decor. Hey, who says your can't multitask whilst vomiting?!

The first thing the bathroom desperately needed was a nice coat of paint. I went back and forth on the color, settled on a light green, but then spontaneously picked up a light blue and threw it on the wall without reserve. I'm crazy like that...but thankful I actually liked it on the wall. The next change was the shower curtain, which I already had. I added a few cheap apothecary jars from T.J. Maxx and then filled one with Christmas snow and ornaments and the other with Cotton balls, which I use everyday. Another cheap find was the Christmas tree on the counter-$8.99 from Homegoods. I would have definitely made this to save the money, but I have way too many projects to do right now and needed to save the time a little more than the money. I still need to fill the third apothecary jar, add few things to the shelves behind the toilet and add some pictures to the wall, but we are at least on our way. Next project, Christmas decor!

Guest (and secretive) Blog

So Lindsey has no idea I've done this...marriage is full of surprises though. I wanted to stop by and do a couple things. First, I'll brag, followed by theological ramblings.

BRAGGING: Lindsey is now 14 weeks pregnant--for the mathematically challenged, that means the first trimester is finished (can I get a double-raised hand Hallelujah!). She's been a trooper battling sickness at any and all hours. My lady has also developed an aversion to dairy...not by choice mind you; her body just rejects it and if ingested it's but a moment before she's hunched in the bathroom. Thankfully, Chick-fil-a is not dairy.

While I would expect someone in this state to be complaining and whining, she's resorted primarily to silent suffering. When I get a sore throat I'll put an ad in the paper letting you know it's sore, and then I'll give puppy dog eyes to Lindsey, as if to say, "Pwwease take care of me." Not Lindsey.

The other day as I was sitting comfortably in my leather recliner (aka-man's throne), Lindsey asked a brief but theologically packed question: "What's your curse again?" She was of course referring to the sin of Adam and Eve and the subsequent curses placed on them by God. It's true though; women do seem to have it harder than men. You have to put up with men first of all. But you're the one who gets pregnant, whose body does magical--sometimes inhuman things, and it is you who gives birth in excruciating pain.

RAMBLING: Now, what's my curse? I think it's that I'm supposed to sweat when I work or the ground will be difficult to cultivate or something like that. But let's pretend we're in church and be honest: the bulk of my days are spent reading, thinking, and writing (also in a leather chair = throne). I also preach, but that's another calling altogether. More and more, though, I'm realizing the tremendous weight to my calling as a husband, namely, that I'm eternally responsible for the spiritual health of Lindsey. I will give an account for how I ministered to Lindsey well before any church questions start flyin' my way from Yahweh Himself. Pregnancy is an extra special time to minister. So to all the ladies, I commit to preaching and teaching men that it's our responsibility to lead well in sacrificial humility.

I hope I'm serving you well babe. Thank you for carrying this child and for not hating me that I've done this to you. As an excellent wife you are, as Proverbs 12.4 says, my crown. I wear it gladly and with gratitude. Love you momma.

10 Weeks and Counting

I promise that once I get through the worst nausea of my life, I will blog about something other than our little bean, but right now, I have nothing else going on besides this nausea....it has taken over my life. Talk about a run-on sentence. Point being: I have to update you on the baby because it's the little things that keep me going at this point.

Size of Baby Mitchell: Barely the size of a kumquat (just over an inch)
How can something so small cause this much change in my body?

All vital organs are in place and are starting to function to some capacity.

My belly: Barely showing, but I do have a small bump....which could just be the bloating. :) No need for maternity clothes yet.

Baby Mitchell is growing finger nails and peach fuzz this week. It's arms and legs are longer now and the fingers and toes are no longer webbed (whew!). In fact, Baby Mitchell is apparently kicking up a storm right now, but is still to small for me to feel. Weird huh?

Intentional Thankfulness

When I'm tempted to complain about my nausea or exhaustion, I try to redirect my thoughts and words to thankful ones....

Meet Baby Mitchell-8 weeks old