i shall write in list form today.

1. New curtains turned out great. Just need more black and white stuff to match them!

2. Lamps did NOT turn out great at first, but I fixed it and it looks TONS better.

3. Got baby clothes all organized by size. Briefly thought about getting rid of all of Colin's clothes but got emotional thinking about it. Just not ready to do that....just in case there is ever a 3rd baby notelpat! Got alot of cute hand-me-downs from my mom's friend for Carley. Can't WAIT to put all these cute little outfits on her!

4. My dad installed another shelf/rod halfway down Colin's closet so each kid will have their own space for shoes and hanging clothes! Got that closet cleaned out and organized.

5. Got my laundry room cleaned/organized and free of clothes on the floor....that is until Jeff came home with dirty clothes to wash!

6. Jeff came home one night earlier than expected and I couldn't have been happier. I missed that man! And Colin got SO excited to play wii with daddy.

7. My Spring Break is almost over and I am sad. REALLY don't want to go to work on Monday.

8. I am really ticked off about the weather being cold and rainy on Saturday....the first day of Spring!

9. On Tuesday, 3 things happen. I will be 24 weeks pregnant, I have a doctor's appointment, and Jeff will turn 26! Happy early birthday to the hubs!

10. In such a crafty/productive mood!!!! Here are future projects I will hopefully work on in the future: curtains for kitchen, new hanging light fixture above dining table (not planning on buying new, but hoping to find a garage sale piece that I can spray paint black), embroidery hoop art to hang in kids room (got the idea from Kate's blog), and the big project will be turning out laundry room into the kids playroom. We have to wait for a shed to move out all the stuff that is in there, then all the toys will go in the laundry room!

I love Spring Break!

Jeff went on a mission trip with the church. I decided to stay back and continue potty training with Colin and get some much needed stuff done in the house. I organized all the baby clothes that I have acquired, added another shelf/rod in Colin's closet for Carley's clothes, got rid of a BUNCH of stuff that I don't use anymore, and finally got a hair cut! My parents have been here helping. We even got around to all my favorite eating places while my parents were here. Got to eat at Porky's, Joe Bucks, Pappacitas, and next on the list is Fuglers.

Todays project is a little curtain project and lamp shade project. I'm using the plain white curtains I already have but adding a strip of boldblack and white fabric to it for some "pop." I didn't get the idea from anywhere which makes me kind of nervous. I can't blame a bad idea on someone else if it was my original idea! haha. Anyway. With the lamps I am keeping the bases but spray painting them black. Then I bought some cheap white shades that I am adding black ribbon to the top and bottom edge of the shades. We'll see how it turns out!

I am missing Jeff so bad. I can't wait for him to come home and see all the stuff I got done. I know Colin misses him too. Last night Colin would NOT go to sleep. He just kept crying and finally he said, "I need to play wii with Daddy!" So we had to call daddy right then and talk to him. That boy loves his daddy.

And even though I am a tad bit jealous of all the fun being had without me on that mission trip (all my dear friends and alot of our sweet youth are on that trip), I am SO thankful for this time to get stuff done for my sweet family.

a few trivial things....and then one not so trivial

1st trivial: My world revolves around potty training. It is a LOT of work. We are constantly taking off undies, sitting on the potty, putting on undies, cleaning up pee puddles, starting the washer, picking up little "escapees" as we call them (the little solid rolly poops) off the floor. He is slowly getting the concept though. The first few days he completly defied the whole thing. He would sit for 20 minutes and the minute I would put his undies on he would drench himself. But now, he still has accidents, but also has some successful tee-tee's in the potty. He even asked to go a few times and actually went! One time, he peed on himself in the hallway and turned the corner with a "uh-oh" look and said, "I need to go potty." So he is beginning to understand the sensation, just doesn't always sense it fast enough. But he is trying! Such a big boy.

2nd trivial: I am LOVING this whole having a girl idea. I am having way too much fun looking at/buying clothes, matching hairbands and bows to outfits, etc. I found a pair of blue jean shorts and a little blue dress on the clearance rack at walmart both for 1 DOLLAR! Can't beat that price! Well I guess you could if it was 99 cents. lol. Anyway, I am just so excited to have a cute little thing to love on. I am excited (and also a little nervous, because the pressure is on) to invest myself in showing Carly how to be a woman of God. To show her how to treat others, how to be patient and how to be a servant of God and others. To teach her that her identity does not lie in her looks or in friends or in boys, but in the one who created her. To show her how to dress cute yet modestly. And to teach her to live in the world but not of the world. (Jeff and I pray/teach those same things for Colin as well!)

3rd not so trivial: Just wanted to share something I loved/was challenged by from the Beth Moore study I am doing. John 19 tells of the crucifixion of Jesus. In vs. 30 it quotes Jesus saying, "It is finished." The study said to ponder and write down all the possible things Jesus could have been referring to when saying this. My thoughts were, "the bondage of sin, the act of cleansing/sacrificing in order to have relationship with God, lives that are bound to the law rather than His love, His life, His purpose to seek and save what was lost." All those things were finished.

She then discussed how the Pharisees did everything that they could to make sure things stay finished. In Matthew 27: 62-66 they went to great lengths to seal the tomb.

Some things were definitely finished, but Jesus was not! I loved her next quote,

"The very thing He finished we can't seem to leave alone; and the very thing He hasn't finished, we try to halt."

How many times do I try to "be a better Christian" and "do more good" as if that will bring me any closer to Him than his death and resurrection already has! I try to add my good works to something that is already complete.

Then how many times do I almost wish the conviction of the Holy Spirit would stop because its too uncomfortable to do what God is asking me to do. Thats when I try to halt something that is NOT finished. God promised that, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ."

I will end with this last quote from Beth Moore:

Salvation is finished. Sanctification is not. Completion is not.....sometimes more effort is required to keep rolling the stone back over the tomb than somply to cooperate with the work He seeks to finish in us."

Its a GIRL!!!

I am excited to say that we are having a girl! Her name (which we have changed our minds last minute...just like we did with Colin) will be Carly Erin Stapleton. The name just fits!

I have to say I am WAY more excited about having a girl than I thought I would be. I never thought I wouldn't be excited. I knew I'd be happy either way. But I am just kind of surprised how into this "girl thang" I am getting. I bought 2 of the stinkin cutest outfits at Target after our dr.'s appointment and was sad that we didn't have enough money to buy matching shoes and hairbows too! haha. It was really fun to look at all that with Jeff. He actually kind of got into too. It was interesting to see what he liked/didn't like.

Carly was VERY cooperative with showing us her........eh-hem.....you know. She was spread eagle and unashamed! I usually am not very good at "reading" sonograms, but as soon as the picture popped up I said, "Thats a girl, isn't it!?!" She said, "99% sure....she's wide open!" I almost posted the anatomy picture on facebook, but Jeff thought it "inappropriate to post his daughter in that way." I thought that was funny that he said that.

Snow pictures and a few other things

We were without power for a little over 12 hours so we spent our "snow day" of no school with Jenni and Tim. We played in the snow at ETBU. check out my facebook album at...


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=384912&id=570370160&l=84185382ca


Jeff's parents are coming today and Jeff's dad is going to be installing a sprinkler system this coming up week. Its going to be a nasty job with the ground being so wet and with melting snow. YUCK!

And.....I am so excited to say that we have settled on names (yes! even a boy one!) Or atleast the way Jeff worded it was, "That will be the name unless I think of something else." I think he just doesn't like to officially commit until its really really time to! haha. Anyway, if it is a girl her name will by Sydney Erin Stapleton (same initials as me!). If its a boy it will be Jacob Wade Stapleton (same initials as Jeff!) But we would call him Jake all the time. I am really excited about those names. We had our boy names narrowed down to Jake or Brady. I really do like Brady, but for some reason Jake just seems to fit with our family. AND....when we talk about it Colin perks up and starts saying Jacob and Jake (actually he pronounces it "shacob" and "shake."

2 more weeks and then we will know if I have a Sydney or a Jake in my belly! Who knows, Jeff may totally change his mind and think of a new name when we find out! That is what happened with Colin. We decided that his name was going to be Riley if it was going to be a boy and then when we had the sono Jeff changed his mind and said, "colin." It just stuck!

And, I don't know if anyone will do this, but in honor of Valentines Day I want you to leave a comment telling me how you met and how long you have been with your spouse/significant other and your favorite thing about him/her! I leave the first one. Happy Valentines Day!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, February 11, 2010...

Outside my window...lots of snow! and hopefully more snow coming tonight!

I am remembering...a valentines day when jeff and i were dating that it snowed. we went to the church we attended at the time and played in the field. fun times.

I am thankful for...a mudroom off our backdoor. we played in the snow today and it was nice to come and strip off the wet clothes without making a mess in the rest of the house.

I am creating...valentine cards tonight for my class and for colin's class at daycare. IF we have school tomorrow I will have a class party and then leave to go to colin's class party at 4:00. Excited that I will be able to go!

I am going...to sit on my butt tonight

I am reading...To Live is Christ by Beth Moore and my mom finally brought Forgotten God by Francis Chan that I will try to start reading in my so called free time.

I am hoping...there is no school tomorrow! or atleast late arrival.

On my mind...boy or girl?

From the learning rooms... i am loving teaching writing with my kiddos! i have loved watching them develop writing skills over time and love how some of them are starting to add some creativeness to their writing.

Noticing that... this baby is moving more and more. really love that!

Pondering these words..."If Jesus gives us a task or assigns us to a difficult season, every ounce of our experience is meant for our instruction and completion if only we'll let Him finish the work. I fear, however, that we are so attention-deficit that we settle for bearable when beauty is just around the corner. - Beth Moore

From the kitchen... dominoes pizza!

Around the house... The Office is on, jeff is next to me watching it, tim is watching it, jenni is showing colin pictures of clip art puppies and he is laughing hysterically.

One of my favorite things... a clean kitchen

From my picture journal... my C-man in the snow!

pregnancy survey.....because I feel like it.

Name?	Sarah
Age?	26
Height?	5 foot 3
Pre-pregnancy weight?	enough. lol.
About The Father
Name?	Jeff
Age?	25
Height?	5 foot 9
Are you still together?	always
About Your Pregnancy
Is this your first pregnancy?	no. second
When did you find out you were pregnant?	Oct. 30th
Was it planned?	yes
What was your first reaction?	my heart was racing and i instantly called jeff's name
Who was with you when you found out?	jeff
Who was the first person you told?	after jeff, we called our moms
How did your parents react?	my mom gasped and asked if she could tell jan who was with her at the time. jeffs mom was mad that she couldn't scream because we called her at work.
How far along are you?	17 weeks
What was your first symptom?	missed cycle
What is your due date?	July 13th
Do you know the sex of the baby?	will find out on Feb. 26th!
If so, what is it?	either one would be SO great!
Have you picked out names?	Sydney Erin or Leah Joanne for a girl, still debating on the boy names. possibly Cooper or Carson? I'm still rootin for Grant though! Just wish jeff liked it.
If so, what are they?	oh....see above.
How much weight have you gained?	about 5 pounds
Do you have stretch marks?	just some leftover ones from 1st pregnancy
Have you felt the baby move?	just a little
Have you heard the heartbeat?	yes!
About the birth
Will you keep the baby?	absolutely!
Home or hospital birth?	hospital
Natural or medicated birth?	medicated
Who will be in the delivery room with you?	jeff and the grandmas
Will you breastfeed?	not sure yet.
Do you think you'll need a c-section?	i hope not.
Will you cry when you hold the baby for the first time?	probably
What's the first thing you might say to him/her?	hi!
Would you let someone videotape the birth?	only if I was the ONLY one to see it.