www.nutsaboutnotes.com

My business website is still under construction. The link on the website takes you to this blog. If you are here to see my stationery products, you will need to scroll down a few posts to see the complete collection, prices, and how to order. Sorry for any inconvenience. I hope to have the website up real soon!

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I've got a few minutes so I'm going to try to post an update real fast. Oh, but I have sooooooooo much I'd like to share since last time (again, it's been so long!) Sorry!

First, some pics:

Here are 2 of the family pics we took before Christmas (the 2nd one was on our Christmas card).

And another one from our Christmas card....

It's crazy to even say this, but this sonogram pic was from 5 weeks ago!! I'm 18 weeks now and baby is moving like crazy!! It's such an awesome feeling! I remember that feeling Emma move around was my absolute FAVORITE thing about being pregnant! And still is!! :O) I've made it thus far (& thru the holidays) with only gaining about 5 pounds....Woohoo!!!! However, my belly is already quite large. Even though, I'm about 4.5 months right now, I look the same as I did with Emma at 5.5 or 6 months!!! Yikes! I hear that it's normal to show sooner with your second, and that I'll soon "plateau-out" a bit. Let's hope so! We WILL be finding out what we are having next Wednesday, but we will be keeping it a "secret" until we're able to share it with family first. :o) Side note: we keep catching ourselves calling "it" a HIM. Hmmmm......

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I didn't take too many pics over the holidays, but here is one that I managed to grab the camera for. Em has her head STUCK between 2 rails of Meme's couch! It took several minutes to get her un-stuck, but at least she (and we) were able to have a sense of humor about it all. Daddy to the rescue....

Whenever we tell Emma that we are going to see Aunt Carrie and Uncle Sloan, she knows that means seeing animals...dogs, cats, cows, horses, etc. She especially loves to feed the horses carrots and take a little ride on Doc (with the help of Uncle Sloan & Daddy, of course).

Check out this proud little girl of her "big girl bed." Last year (Dec 07) she moved up to a toddler bed (her crib without the front rail). Then about 6 months ago she "lost" that "big girl bed" and "down-graded" to a twin matress on the floor because we couldn't keep the little monkey from climbing and jumping off the side rails. So for the past 6 months or so, she has slept on a twin matress on the floor. She was quite excited to get a REAL big girl bed....we've had NO problems with jumping or climbing...yet! She hasn't even fallen out of bed, which kinda surprised us. And she now has toys in her room again AND sleeps with her door open....she REALLY IS a big girl!! She'll be turning 3 on March 2nd. Her and her new little sibbling will be 3 years & 3 months apart (assuming baby actually comes in June, as "scheduled").




And last, but not least....
A FEW FAVORITE EMMA QUOTES:

* "My sad is coming out" (one day when she was crying...she now calls them tears)

* "Hey is for horses! No, hey is for daddies!" (have no idea what she means by this....she just started saying it one day, and we responded by laughing, therefore, she continues to repeat it!)

* "Mommy/Daddy, can you say 'not yet?' " (This is something she INSISTS that WE say to her instead of "no," or "maybe" or "not right now." We have no idea why or what that means....we've tried to explain that we mean the same thing, but she simply is not satisfied and will not "drop it" until we give in and just say "okay Emma, NOT YET!"

* LOTS OF SUPER OBVIOUS QUESTIONS, for example... "Mommy, are you Mommy?" or "Daddy, are you Daddy?" or "Mommy, did I wake up?" or "Daddy, is this our house?" or "Mommy, are you Julie?" Once again, we don't get it! We have no clue why she asks these same questions over and over again. If you turn the questions back on her, she knows exactly how to answer them, so we can't figure out why she keeps asking. Even though it confuses us a bit, it is still super cute!! :o)

* On the way over to a friend's house who had just recently graduated with his MBA, we were trying to teach Emma to say "Congratulations!" That's a big word for little ones, you know. Well, instead of "congratulations" she walked right up to our friend and said, "Apologize!" Of course he was a bit confused and kept saying "what?" And she would repeat "apologize." She was NOT saying it in a rude way at all....somehow those 2 "big words" got a little confused in her little mind. We got it all cleared up and she finally said it to him (correctly). It comes out something like this: "ra*la*lay*tions." He laughed, completely understanding what had happened (he has 3 kids of his own). After the initial shock of thinking she was being rude, Brett & I found it quite funny. Oops!

* I might have shared this before, but there's been so many recent occurrences lately that I have to share it again.....Emma's prayers are SO SWEET!!! You never know who or what she'll pray for or about.....she almost always lists off several friends or family members, she prays for her ouchies & her toys, for random animals or pets, for our food, for Jesus to make somebody "all better", etc. Many of the things she names during prayer times are for REALLY, REALLY old things (like ouchies that have been gone for months or friends that used to be sick, but have been better now for several weeks). One of my favorite things about when she prays is the face she makes....it's hard to explain, but she scrunches her eyes all up...mostly closed, but still kinda open so she can look around for things to pray for. It brings such joy to our hearts to listen to her pray....and I can't help but think that it brings joy to Jesus as well. What an amazing blessing Emma is in our lives!!! Children truly are a gift from above!!

Waking Up

Have you ever gone through one of those seasons in your life where when it was ending you felt like you were waking up? That is where I am now. I don't know that this season has truly ended, that is one of the particular markers of it, but I do feel as if I am waking up. One of the indicators for me that I have been "asleep" is that I now feel as if I can look around me, see where God is at work, listen for him, ask others around me how I can serve them, etc.... This has truly been one of the most difficult seasons for me. Please hear me not as complaining. I'm not. I think a couple of weeks/days ago I would have been. However, I think for now I am past that. So, where I have been is in a place that it took me everything I had just to hang on and there wasn't much left for others. Whether that was family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, whoever. Waking up for me means that I am beginning to be able to look around me and see others needs or (shamefully enough) not duck when I become aware of another's needs. If you are one of those who I have ducked, please forgive me. I am waking up. Especially to Julie, thank you for serving me and loving me even through this. I know you have had your own hard season, yet you were stronger. I love you and am so grateful for you.--Brett

NUTS ABOUT NOTES

Well, unfortunately my business website is still not ready. I've decided to just post my products on our blog until it's finished (which means that you will not be able to check out with Paypal or pay with credit card yet....sorry).

If you see something below that you'd like to order, please send me an email at jspivey03@hotmail.com and I'll be in contact with you (make sure you include the best phone number to call you at....we can take care of most of the details over the phone, just to make things go faster). If you place your order by no later than Tuesday, December 16th I will be able to ship it by Friday, thus having it to you in time for Christmas hopefully.

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YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ENLARGE ALL THE IMAGES BELOW BY CLICKING ON THE PICTURE (then just click the back arrow).

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ACRYLIC BOX SETS
I have 16 different designs of the acrylic box sets. Each set includes 150 sheets, an acrylic memo holder with 1/8" thick walls and a thumb notch, and is tied together with a matching grosgrain ribbon. All acrylic box sets are $22.95 + shipping/handling (no tax for out of state orders).

NOTE CARD & ENVELOPE SETS
I have 5 different designs for the note card & envelope sets. A set includes 10 note cards & 10 envelopes. It is packaged in a clear, soft plastic box & tied with matching grosgrain ribbon. All note card & envelope sets are $11.95 + shipping.













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All stationery (acrylic box sets & note card with envelope sets) can be personalized in whatever way you wish...first name, first & last name, a scripture, favorite quote, etc. Font choices are below.

If you have any questions, please let me know. Hopefully my website will be finished soon, but thanks for bearing with me for now! :o) I'll probably send out an email announcing when it's finished.

Check it out soon...... www.nutsaboutnotes.com

Just a quick update....it's hard to type too terribly long with a little monkey on your back  :o)

We had a check-up last week (at 10 weeks), and we heard the heart beat!!!! :O)   I LOVE my new doctor!!  She reminds me so much of Dr. Micus who was my doctor in Waco and delivered Emma.  I'm soooooooooo glad we made the decision to change doctors!!   Anyway, the doctor found the heart beat right away, like within seconds!! (unlike at the other doctor's office where they kept rolling the doppler ALL around saying "we should be able to hear a heart beat by now..." NOT something you should say to someone who has miscarried, but anyway.....)  

I'll be 11 weeks on Wednesday.....glad to be past that point in which I miscarried last time!!!  When I was pregnant with Emma, I was sick all thru my first trimester (like nauseous ALL day....wishing I could throw up just so I'd feel better for a little while....never actually could though).  Anyway, it's been the same story this time around except I have a 2.5 year old and don't have the luxury of just resting whenever I feel yucky.  Most of the time, I just have to suck it up and keep on keeping on....  So, I'm hoping that this whole "morning sickness" thing will be over in another week!  :o)

Since the monkey that was on my back has now decided to play on the floor beside me, I thought I'd type a bit longer.  Random info for ya'.....There's definitely been some food cravings this time around....pickles, bread with nothing on it, lettuce, sugary cereals (cinnamon toast crunch, lucky charms, frosted flakes, trix, apple jacks, etc......I've only given in to a few of the sugary cereals though! :o)  I'm hoping with all this snacking that I've been doing lately to avoid an empty stomach, that I'm not starting off this pregnancy gaining too much weight (especially since I haven't felt much up for working out lately, UGH!!)  Hoping to start that back up ASAP!!! 

I'd like to know what are some of the cravings you've experienced.....please, do share!! :o)

Well, Emma says I've spent long enough on the computer....guess it's time to quit.  Next time I'll be sure to post some pics....

Here's a late Halloween pic. We went trick or treating around our neighborhood. Piglet was a hit! She had a blast!! (except for the fact that she was scared a couple times by older kids in scary costumes....she didn't realize that they were just kids beneath the costumes). We only stayed out for about 30 minutes or so, then we went back to the house and gave out candy. It was fun!!


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A few random pics...

Check out those curls...

and that cute face!!!

Notice the big girl panties....she's doing GREAT!! Can you tell that she's a bit proud of herself? :o)

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and a few blogworthy Emma stories...

1. She's talking SOOOOOO MUCH nowadays....here's a piece of a conversation her and I had a few mornings ago:
   Emma: mmm.....that's good yogurt!! (big smile and cute expression)
   Me: (having one of those "WOW-moments") whispered... "You're amazing Emma!"
   Emma: I'm a big girl. Yep, I'm a big girl! (very proud smile) Mommy, you are finished with your yogurt? I not finished with my yogurt too. Look! I stirring it round and round!"
   
   
2. Emma and her friend Holly were playing dress-up. Emma was in a Buzz Lightyear costume. I was standing off to the side just observing the two play and I heard Emma say: "It's okay Holly. Don't be scared. I am Buzz Lightyear"
   
   
3. Last night at dinner, Emma bumped her elbow on the table. Apparently she hit her funny bone or something because it bothered her for several minutes. Anybody wanna guess what she was trying to do??? Kiss her elbow!! (it's impossible, in case you didn't know that) She became quite frustrated that she could not kiss her elbow. Usually, it suffices for me to kiss her ouchies, but she was insistent on kissing her own ouchie this time. After trying and trying, she finally gave up and moved onto something else. It still makes me laugh just thinking about the whole thing! She's too cute!! :o)

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Pregnancy Update:
I think things are going well. I'm in the process of changing doctors, so the timing of that kinda stinks. We've just had one too many bad experiences with the one we had been going to. I have my next checkup on Wed. Nov. 12th with the new doctor. I'll be 10 weeks then, which is about the time that I miscarried this past time (at 10.5 weeks)....so we are really looking forward to getting to hear/see the heartbeat! :o) Please pray for us if the Lord brings us to mind!! Thanks!!

Love you all!

Just a quick post to tell you about our first Dr. appt. today....

We had a sonogram and everything looked good!!!! :o) We saw a very strong heart beat, the baby measured exactly as it was supposed to, etc. We were so relieved! It was still a bit too early to hear the heart beat....hopefully soon! Thanks so much for the many prayers and words of encouragement!

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Also, I wanted to share a fun Emma story:
Today we ran into the grocery store to get a few things, and as we were checking out she saw a poster with a picture of a baker. She points and shouts, "Look Mommy!! The muffin man!!!" It was hilarious! Definitely brought a smile to people's faces who were around. Then as we were walking out she asked, "Mommy, do the muffin man like donuts?" It's was super cute! Then our 3 or 4 minute drive home we sang "Do you know the muffin man?" like 100 times!

She is so much fun!!! I'm LOVING this age & the way she is able to communicate with us so much!!! :o)

5 YEARS AGO TODAY!!!

What a GREAT day!! It's been fun looking through the HUNDREDS of pictures we have from this special day....wish I could post them all, but I had to just pick some favorites.

It has truly been a wonderful 5 years!! I have the BEST husband in the world!! :o) Whom I love even more today than I did the day we got married! I feel really blessed!!

Thanks to all who shared in that special day with us 5 years ago! And to all who have loved and invested in us since that day! We love you all and are really grateful for you!

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We thought this might be a fun time to mention.....WE'RE PREGNANT AGAIN!! :o) We're super excited (and maybe still a bit nervous). I'm only about 6 weeks. My due date is June 12th...which "just happens" to be the day that we found out we were miscarrying this past pregnancy. We really like the idea of June 12th being turned into a happy memory and see that as a gift from the Lord (and NOT an accident). If the Lord brings us to mind, please be praying for this little one growing inside of me....that he/she will be healthy and strong, and that my pregnancy will go to full term. Thanks!

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Love you all!!

"Now I know my ABCs..." well, kinda!!

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We went camping with our friends, Rick & Amy at Cheney Lake a few weekends ago. Their daughter, Katelyn, is about 10 months older than Emma. The kids had a blast! (and so did we, of course!!!)



SO SWEET!!


Emma LOVED the tent!! Her and Katelyn kept putting their dolls to sleep, changing their diapers, etc. (playing house). They played together so well, & we had lots of time to hang out with our friends! It was great!


There's nothing like getting toted around on someone's back, eh? We opted for hiking with the backpack instead of having to carry her half way through if she got tired.


Just a quick reminiscing pic...here's Emma in the backpack at one year old during our trip to Boston. Amazing how much she has changed in a year and a half!! She actually has some hair now! :o)


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A couple other random pics...


PJs, piggy tails, and Pappa's boots! Nice!!


Playing dress up with her friend Holly.
(notice the goggles from my lasik!!) :o)


Helping mommy work!

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A few blog-worthy Emma stories:

1.) Everything for Emma nowadays is: "I can do it by myself" (not in a rude kind of way, but in a "I want to be a big girl" kind of way). The other day we were in a store and heading up some stairs. I asked her to hold my hand because the stairs were pretty steep. She said, "No mommy, I can hold hands by myself" (and so she walked up the stairs....holding her own hand; while Brett and I did all we could not to crack up laughing).

2.) So, apparently, Emma hasn't fully grasped the meaning of "sometimes" and "maybe" yet. We realized that we must be answering her in these ways fairly often because she started saying it a lot back to us....except she used them in phrases that don't really fit. It's really cute & funny!! For example, "Can we see our friends today, sometimes?" or "I like to go to the park, maybe?" Now, anytime she says it, whether it "fits"or not, we can't help but smile. :o)

3.) She's gotten really good about taking her dishes to the counter by the sink when she's finished. The other day, I left her at her little table eating a snack while I was running around the house finishing up a couple chores. I walked back into the kitchen to find her with the dishwasher open and putting her plate away!! No kidding! I was pretty impressed, but had to assure her that next time mommy needed to help her.

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Emma is headed to TX on Saturday to have some time with each of her grandparents! It's always so different (& hard) when she's not around!! I'm so used to my days revolving around her schedule, needs, etc. But we're glad she's getting some good time with Meme, Poppie, Aunt Carrie, Uncle Sloan, Nana, and Pappa. (And I'm hoping to make some significant progress with by business stuff while she's gone!! Hoping to design ALL the stationery the week she's gone, then get it printed the following week, put on the webiste, and then open for business by late October....HOPEFULLY!!!!)

Jesus is my friend!

Hey! Thanks to our friend, Matt Smith, we just found our new favorite band!



So, if you're into groovy music, bad theology, and icky christianity.....

You gotta admit (after you listen to it a few times) it is quite a catchy tune! :o)

What's your take on that beautiful ensemble?

Here's a picture of all the FOCUS staff kiddos. As Lesli put it..."All the dads are off staff retreating. The moms decided to combine the chaos for our "un-retreat"...it was lots of fun!! After playing at the park, we decided they all needed a quick bath (and, of course, a pic too!!)
Those are some cute kids, huh? The one on the right is Joshua (or as Emma says, "baby Jos-uh-da"). Rusty and Lesli just adopted him from China in July. He is precious!! You ought to check out their adoption journey and story! You will be blessed!
http://www.our-china-doll.blogspot.com/