HELLO
Mom to Iris. Wife to Todd. Our little family lives at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We love it here and I love sharing little bits of our life.

© 2014 sarahfortune.

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Posts Tagged: friends

Pregnancy Blog: 24 weeks

Pregnancy Blog: 24 weeks

Ah, 24 weeks.

This is about the time where I start to regret committing to a photo of me every week. While I’m excited that baby Iris is growing strong, I can’t say the same for my backside and, well, everywhere else.

At least this week of pregnancy has been a productive one. Thanks to Todd’s hard work, the nursery ceiling is completed and the walls are painted. We actually left the room the same color as before, conveniently pink, but it needed some major touch ups and the trim color had to go. While Todd did the hard labor, I started the dreaded daycare search. I’ve always known that I would go back to work full time after having a baby, so this has been something I’ve worried about for a while. Handing over Iris every weekday will be terribly hard, plus the cost of care is literally like paying another mortgage every month.

We’re hoping to hold off on daycare until January, but I’ve heard it’s best to start the search early due to waiting lists and such. After researching online and making a ton of phone calls, my mom and I toured a few of them this week. So far my favorite daycare is one that’s only .3 miles (about a 45 second drive) from my office. Yes, I timed it. If we decide to go with this one, I’m sure there will be some comfort in knowing that she’s so close.

So yes, this week has been busy, but I managed to squeeze in some pregnant lady fun too. For one, GL found out that she’s having a GIRL! She’s only a month behind me, so I’m excited to know that Iris will have an instant best friend. Also, our friend Taylor had her baby shower this weekend. She’s having a boy this August, so it looks like Iris will have a built in boyfriend too!

A few pictures from the shower…

Taylor's Baby Shower

Taylor's Baby Shower

Taylor's Baby Shower

Taylor's Baby Shower

Taylor's Baby Shower

Taylor's Baby Shower

Taylor's Baby Shower

GL, Taylor, & me
Taylor's Baby Shower

Xoxo

Pregnancy Blog: 22 weeks

Pregnancy Blog: 22 weeks

Week 22 has been a damn good week. I’m not quite at that miserable stage yet, so I feel good, but also a couple of my very dear friends came to visit from Memphis. We ate tasty Thai, went to the Farmers’ Market, devoured breakfast at the Little Bread Company and Common Grounds, hit up some vintage sales, drooled in baby stores, got pedicures, had a nice dinner at Greenhouse Grille, and just lounged around talking all things baby.

Pregnancy Blog: 22 weeks

Pregnancy Blog: 22 weeks

Pregnancy Blog: 22 weeks

Pregnancy Blog: 22 weeks

Pregnancy Blog: 22 weeks

I really miss living in the same town as these girls.
I can’t believe this was nearly 10 years ago…

BFFs at Putt Putt

Hot Babes

And now look at us – we’re all moms (well, I am almost) and still hot babes!

Pregnancy Blog: 22 weeks

Plus this week Todd and I visited his sister and her little fam in Harrison. We hung out with our nephew, Cole, for the first time since he was in the hospital. He’s so laid back & so adorable – I just can’t wait for Iris to meet him.

Cole

Lastly, this week Todd and I started the baby registry thing. We spent Sunday afternoon carefully going through each aisle at Target – my goodness there are lots of little things you supposedly need! Todd and I made our best guesses at what we really need (okay an maybe a few things we want to) and finally, we have our Target registry all set up!

Pregnancy Blog: 22 weeks

Now bring it on, Week 23! I can take you.

Pregnancy Blog: 22 weeks

Home & Hearts

Last week something quite amazing happened.

I’ve always known what great friends Todd and I have, but this time we were left in awe over how incredible they truly are.

The back story: Exactly one year ago we began experiencing problems with the roof on our house. Apparently the people that installed it before we bought our home did a faulty job and, over time, leaks have popped up in several rooms. Unfortunately, home owners insurance doesn’t cover this because the work was done prior to our purchase. We’ve tried to stretch out little fixes here and there while we attempt to save for a new roof, but of course with a baby along the way we have additional expenses to save for too. It does get tricky though, because in order to start working on the nursery we need a new roof, so that we can put up new sheetrock from the water damage, so that we can paint, so that we can move in furniture, etc.

Out of the blue on Friday, a couple of dear friends came over to drop off an early baby gift from a small group of our friends. They told us that they were recently discussing what to get us for the baby and decided they wanted to give us something we really needed. We weren’t expecting a thing when they presented us with a card and enough money for a…

brand. new. ROOF.

Without our knowledge, they gathered estimates and all pitched in so that we can move forward immediately with getting our house in tip-top shape for the baby. I cried (heavy tears, ya’ll) and mumbled something to the likes of, “I feel like I’m on Oprah.” It was the most generous, thoughtful gift ever.

I cried because it was a huge relief, but also because our friends did not have to do this. They didn’t have to think twice about our roofing-woes and they most certainly didn’t have to do anything about it.

But they did.

And out of love they came together to help. It was the sweetest, most incredible thing. Saying that we will be grateful for a very, very long time is an understatement. Thank you, friends. This means more than you know.

Here’s the card we received, handmade by Tim out of roofing shingles,
which will be framed and hung in the nursery.

Home & Friends.

Pregnancy Blog: 19 weeks

19 weeks

Well, it’s week 19 of project baby. Part of me feels like it has dragged on forever, but most of me can’t believe that I’m nearly HALF WAY through the pregnancy.

Lucky for me I have a friend to go through this craziness with. The only downside is that she’s 5 weeks behind me, so I’ll always be the bigger one. Awesome. This week I’ve decided that I officially look like a pregnant lady. I know I’ve been showing for a while, but now it’s like… bam! I’m waiting for a stranger to ask when I’m due, but it hasn’t happened yet.

This week I still feel pretty darn good… as long as I get lots of sleep, LOTS of food, even more water (with tons of fresh lemon), and bathroom access every twenty minutes to pee. I’m feeling the flutters and thumps of the little one much more frequently this week, which is my favorite part of every day. It’s still too early to feel from the outside, but with as much as she’s moving around I have a feeling that’s coming soon.

Next week I’ll celebrate the intro into my 20th week in New York City. I’m curious how it will go traveling pregnant (and alone), but hopefully not much different than before. Just a few less beers during my layover. Hah.

GL and I took a few preggo pics this week.
(14 weeks & 19 weeks)

19 weeks

19 weeks

19 weeks

19 weeks

19 weeks

William, Kate, & Brains

Okay, just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean I can’t have fun. While I might not be the life of the party these days, I do try to get out every once in a while. One of the best parts? The whole no hangover thing. Hah. Here are some photos from a couple recent shindigs…

This Friday my friend Jill hosted a royal wedding watch party (DVRed of course – there was no way we were waking up at 4 am). She went all out with homemade scones, vintage tea cups, William & Kate decorations, fancy hats, and Cathy even brought a wedding cake!

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

William & Kate - Jill's Royal Wedding Party

These are from Brains’ birthday party, way back in March. This was the same week I had my first ultrasound, so at the party we told all of our friends that we were expecting. So, I’ll always remember that night – mustaches & all.

I made brains cupcakes for the birthday girl.

People have asked how she ended up with the nickname Brains, so now is a good time to explain. In college, the university usually gives email addresses with the first letter of you first name, and the first five letters of your last name. Back then, her name was Brandy Rains. So there ya have it!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains cupcakes for Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Brains' Birthday!

Since usually I’m in bed by about 8 o’clock, my nights of fun are few and far between. I guess I should have a few more while I can, but pajamas & thinking of baby names rate pretty high up there with me right now.

Love being lazy.

Lazy bums.

And a silly pregnant picture for good measure.
Straight from the maternity department of Old Navy.

17 weeks