registering is frustrating

Its hard to register for some things when you know what ISNT in the store.  So this is my own online registry.  Stuff I would love to have but don't really expect to get.  So soak in the cuteness.

Boppy cover : I have a bare Boppy, and it needs a cover.  Unfortunately, I'm not thrilled with anything in the stores.  I mean... I will get something if I have to, but these are really just so much cuter!

TheButtercupBoutique- Etsy $32

Lanukas- Etsy $32

DesignsbyChristyS-Etsy $30

Pacifier clip : I never even saw these in either store.

TheSugarButtonShop- Etsy $6

TheSwinkyBinky- Etsy $5.50

Wall Decoration : there are no owls in baby stores for boys.  Only pink owls and one creepy looking lime green one.  This one is completely customizable with about 30 different colors for each part.  (Disclaimer:  this is NOT our baby's future name).

JustTheFrosting- Etsy $34

Bedding : A crib skirt seems to be pretty hard to find on its own... Just something simple would suffice.

BabyCribSkirts- Etsy $33

 Unique clothing : things I have seen other parents put their babies in that I am in love with.  

baby leg warmers
Sweet Caroline Crafts- Etsy $8

funny hats
callyfindlay- Etsy $14

Keeping with the vintage theme :

how cute would this be framed on the wall?
PastOnPaper- Etsy $14

this is our home now too
amykristineprints- Etsy $12

I'm sure there are plenty of things that I'm not thinking of that I have seen around... but these are the things I couldn't really find in the stores.

things to fill : a shed

The weather is beautiful up here and all I can dream about is when I will have a backyard and plenty of time to use it.  Lawn maintenance, gardening, landscaping are just a few uses for it, but don't forget that the backyard is also a good place to work on projects, paint something, grilling and entertaining.  All of those things require stuff.  And most of that stuff will be stored in our mega shed.  So what do I hope to fill mine with one day?

Weber One-Touch Gold

A grill ASAP.  We have lived in apartments our whole marriage and the one thing (other than an ice maker) we (I) have been dying to have the whole time has been a good grill.  Burgers just don't taste the same in a skillet.

chaise lounge.  You know.... nap time on the deck.  Snack time on the deck.  Sun time on the deck.  Rest on the deck after working in the garden.  This would get all sorts of use from me.  And a second one would allow for Kyle to join me (you know when he might possibly be home)... or a friend... Whenever we make those...

lawn tools.  Mower... weed eater... gardening stuff.  The typical things you would store in a shed.  All of which ought to be easy to use... like a mower that I could start by myself so I don't have to ask the neighbor to turn it on every time I need to mow the lawn.

power tools.  I figure every home needs some good tools... a saw of some sort, a laser level, a jig saw, a nail gun... Who knows when such awesomeness might be needed?  I know I definitely would use a laser level and a palm sander for the types of projects I hope to do.  And since the shed is MASSIVE, it can double as a small work shop if I want it to.  Bonus.

What am I forgetting?  Any suggestions? 

House hunting update:  We have big hopes of closing next Friday so we can do a little to the house over Memorial Weekend, but our loan officer seems to be dragging her feet... we shall see.  Until then... I will continue dreaming.

The beginning of a new normal

image source 

For years now I've read from blogs of friends... Julia over at black tag diaries, Amy at That Winsome Girl, and various others from time to time... church leaders, traveling friends... I guess I decided its time for me to join in.

You see, I'm in the calm before the storm right now.  My husband, being a 4th year medical student, is a month away from finding out where a computer will decide we should spend the next 5 years of our lives while he is trained to be a surgeon... more on that later.  That day will hopefully set in motion many other new experiences for us: buying a house, moving more than 2 hours away from our previous location, and moving away from KY for the first time in either of our lives.

So why not?  Why not get in the habit now of semi-regularly writing a post about what is going on in our lives?  I plan to use this as a bit of a scrapbook... document photo sessions, craft projects, home improvement plans, dreams, thoughts, ADVENTURES.  Because that is what this next chapter of our life together is going to be.  A huge adventure.  I might as well look at it that way... otherwise I might just get swallowed up by the overwhelming dread of the unknown that is usually my passenger.  But what is the fun in that?

In the summer of 2009, I attended my husband's officer training graduation at Maxwell Air Force Base.  While there, I received some of the best advice of my life.  It holds true for not only military families, but medical families as well.  Especially for someone of my background.  An officer's wife shared with the rest of the spouses:

The best way to survive this is to change your sense of normal.

The normal I grew up with will never be the normal of my life as the wife of a surgeon or a military officer.  But if I can accept this new definition of "normal", and accept that the definition will never stop changing, I can do this, and have some fun along the way.

Any advice out there for the future of this blog?

Verse of the day: "Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3