Around Here In March

I cannot believe that we are almost through the month of March! Seems crazy but I am happy cause it means closer to Spring Break and then Summer! With the weather being as beautiful as it is, it is hard being inside! A lot has been going on in the month of March. 

I did this craft project....

Tutorial here

I hung these new prints in my kitchen! Love these colors!

Printables found here

Also, I have had a couple of neat opportunities lately. A friend of ours asked me to take some pictures of her son at his soccer game. She had seen some pictures I had taken and wanted me to come so that she and her husband wouldn't have to! I was happy to oblige and happy to learn more and experiment with my camera! Here are a few shots from the night. (They won the game by the way in double overtime! :) ) 

A couple of weeks ago Brett decided he wanted to build something. :) He decided on a coffee table and bought the wood and put it together in a couple of days. It turned out really great and I am excited to paint it soon!! 

Hey handsome

Good job husband...

We have also begun the process of starting a garden. Mangs and Pudge who live across the street really wanted to and I did. Brett is not a huge fan of veggies (we are working on that! :) ) so he didn't really care too much but we are using our backyard! Brett and Pudge built some boxes and they have been filled with soil. We are hoping to begin planting some veggies this weekend! I am really excited about this! 

I'll keep you updated on the progress! 

We are still constantly making our house a home and we added some new curtains that I ordered. 

This past weekend after finding out this baby was a girl, we went and helped these two register at Target! Well, not really helped but kept them company! SO READY FOR BABY J!!

Other than those happenings we have been keeping busy. Life seems to never slow down! We are learning lots about patience and trusting the Lord. I am learning that my husband is probably the best leader for me and encourager. He is so patient. I mean, I know everyone thinks their husband is great but really, he has been my biggest supporter during these last few months when things have been hard. 

Also, yesterday a year ago, was the day I said YES to him! 

What a year it has been!! 

I made the best decision of my life a year ago! 

I LOVE YOU so so much Brett and am so thankful that you are my husband!

Hope your week is going well! It's WEDNESDAY!! :)

It's A...............

This past weekend we finally were able to find out if Baby Jacobs was a boy or girl. On Friday family and some friends gathered for the big reveal! We were all so excited! We even skyped in Kara, Emma Kate,  Eric, Linds, and V! 

Pudge and Mangs certainly planned things out well. They had a scavenger hunt set-up all over mom and dads house! I took pictures and Brett did some videoing so I put it all together into one. (P.S. Editing a video takes forever...I am not so great at it! haha) 

Enjoy!!

Baby J. Reveal from Laura Kittrell on Vimeo.

Baby J. Reveal from Laura Kittrell on Vimeo.

We are so excited about Baby Jacobs arriving in August!!

Weekend Away

We ended our break with a weekend in Georgia with my brother, sister-in-law and sweet niece. It was a perfect way to end this break and of course we took plenty of pictures. I love playing with my camera and making memories with my niece. It is also nice to take pictures of V's day to day life and get her momma in some pictures since she rarely gets to be in any!  Warning...lots of pictures :)

Oh Uncle Brett...

Sweet tootsies! 

Sweet girl helping Aunt Laura and momma with some baking..

Snuggling and watching Thomas the Train with Uncle Brett

Reading a story with Aunt Laura

Good morning sweet pea!

Like I said, I got to take some pictures of V and Linds. I am sure that it will be the same way when I have kids and I won't get to be in a ton of pictures with my children. I hope Linds doesn't mind me sharing these of her belly but there were some sweet pictures that came out.

Listening to baby Charlotte with her stethoscope 

Sweet picture

Love this. Giving her sister a kiss

Then mommy wanted to listen :)

pretty girl

I got to get some shots of V waking up from her nap too...

A yawn....

Reading a story with mommy

Look at that bed head.... :)

So sweet

I LOVE this girl! 

I took a lot more pictures that turned out great but I'll have to update that post tomorrow! I have to go get ready to get back to the real world tomorrow. Boo....What a nice week off! 

Ready or not....here comes Monday. 

On Blogging

So I have seen a lot of different blogs in the last few years. People blog for various reasons. When I started this blog it was because I was heading out of the country for 2 months on a summer project to Brazil. I was going to keep everyone updated on my summer and the things that God was doing and teaching me. I have to say, that kind of flopped. Between 21 other people needing to use the internet while we were there and just personally wanting to "be" there and not on the computer the whole time, it flopped. I started this blog on May 2, 2009 and only wrote 9 posts in the span of 7 months. 

So, when 2010 began I made a resolution to blog more consistently and in the last two years it has only grown. No, I don't post every single day and there are certainly weeks where I might not post at all. However, I feel like this is something I am starting to get better at and I really love posting. I never want this blog to be something that consumes me. That is why I do not post everyday. 

So why do I blog? I blog mainly to keep track of big things in my life. I love taking pictures and this blog allows me to share them. I love my family and I get to share stories and memories. I occasionally get to share a recipe or a craft. I get to share the things in my life that are good and the times that are hard. The Lord is constantly teaching me new things or convicting me of new things and that is something I enjoy sharing. 

I blog because I get to share pictures of memories like this..

Exciting news like this......

 This little girl going from this........

 to this.....

 Excitement for friends like this.....

Sharing accomplishments like this...

Good things that the Lord is teaching me like this.

And the hard things too like this.

So, blogging has been a fun thing for me. My goal above anything else is to be transparent. I don't ever want it to look like I have this perfect life. I always want to be real about the things that I post. 

So that is my ramblings for today. Thankfully, Brett and I have a week off together. We couldn't be more thrilled but I will say, the days go by much more quickly when we are home as opposed to being at school. But, we plan on enjoying this fun week! 

Sneak Peek!

I have already shared with the Facebook world but thought I'd share with the blog world as well. Here is a peek into our wedding day! It was so perfect! Chris and Jeff did an unbelievable job and I cannot wait to see the rest!! Seriously, I only showed Jeff a few videos from another company that I liked and I couldn't have asked for a better job! Hopefully, they will get some business from this because it was well worth it!! So thankful that we have this video!

Brett and Laura from Chris McLean on Vimeo.

We will be heading to Brett's parents house tomorrow to spend a little time with them! I am thankful for a little time away from my first graders! 

Hello Christmas break!!

A Big Thank You!

As I sit here, having just arrived back from an amazing week in St. Thomas with my husband, I am overwhelmed. I am full of so much gratitude for all of the people that made our wedding day so special and so perfect! I promise to have a more detailed post of each part of the day and the honeymoon very soon! Bear with me as this week will be one of gifts, returns, exchanges, traveling, Thanksgiving, thank you notes, settling in, etc. However, I'd like to thank a few very special people who made the details of the day perfect!

Our families: Wow! We have so much that we should thank you for. You have been such a huge support and encouragement to us. We don't deserve all that you have given us. You have taught us so much through the lives that you have lived. Thank you for your patience during the last months of planning. We love y'all!

Our wedding party: My gracious. What amazing friends you all are. We didn't deserve all of the sweet things you said at the rehearsal dinner! You were part of our wedding because you have been such an encouragement to us and such precious friends! Thank you for sharing our day!

Alisa and Jess: Ok. The photographer was a huge decision for me. I looked at several but in all honesty, once I saw you there was no competition. Now, I've only seen bridal portraits and a couple of sneak peeks but I have NO DOUBT that I will be forever grateful that you two photographed my wedding. Thank you for capturing our day and being so amazing and SO MUCH FUN to work with! Thank you for loving "the perfect light!" :)

(This is all I have seen so far but how fabulous?? Right!)

Mrs. Maryanne and Fancy Affairs Catering: The food was unbelievable! Thank you for caring about every detail and for using your gifts! It not only tasted fabulous but was also beautifully displayed! So grateful for you and your friendship!

Elisabeth Epperson: Sweet girl, I haven't met you but I feel like I know you. This talented senior is the girl responsible for the adorable monogrammed cookies. I am thankful I found your blog! You are so talented and I hope I get to meet you very soon!!

Jeff and Chris: Thank you for being my own personal paparazzi on my wedding day! You started early and stayed late. Our video is going to be ballin. No doubt! Y'all were so great!!

Belle Bouquet and DJ's By The Bay: These vendors were so easy to work with and did a phenomenal job! Although I doubt you read my blog I wanted to give some credit where it belonged!

Anthony and Eric: Thank you for using your gifts. You did such a great job with the music at our ceremony. I know being outside presented some challenges but it sounded so great! Loved hearing the worship before the ceremony and loved walking back down the aisle to, "To God Be the Glory!"

Uncle Lance, Aunt Amy, Palm, and Liv: Thank you for each having a part in our day! We LOVE you all so much! Thank you for driving to Tampa and making that sacrifice! So grateful for your family!

Guests: Thank you for taking time out of your Saturday to watch us say I Do. We are so appreciative and thankful for each of you! We have amazing friends and family!

Chris: Thank you for putting so much thought into our ceremony. It was absolutely our favorite part of the day. Thank you or glorifying the Lord with the words you said! Thank you (and JULIE!) for pouring into our lives over the last few years and even more in the last few months!

Lou's Crew: Oh my! Thank you for your creativity and your willingness to serve. I am so thankful for all of you. Thanks for everything from burlap curtains and chalkboards to your love and excitement for me! LOVE Y'ALL!! I am so undeserving of all that you did for me! (Julie, Catherine, Mangs, Linds, Mom)

Brett: Thank you for being the one waiting at the end of the aisle. Thank you for the huge smile when you first saw me an the tears as I made it to the end of the aisle! Thank you for loving me well and making me the happiest girl in the world. I love you husband!

I am sure there are others I have left out and I apologize. Our day was so incredible and everything I had ever pictured!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I promise to be back with more detailed posts very soon! :)

fifty-nine days

That's right.....we are so close! So little time.....so much to do!!

The days seem to be flying by! We are busy busy around here! Fixing up a house, lots of little details, bigger details :), subbing some, etc.  Not enough time in the day! Plus I have my first shower next weekend! I am so excited! I have no doubts that it will be so cute! If I am basing it off the invites then it definitely will! More on that later!!

 See you soon St. Thomas! EEEK!!!

Brynn and Richard are MARRIED!!

This weekend was fabulous! I headed to New York for Brynn and Richard's wedding weekend! Here is the weekend in pictures....Yes, there are a lot!!

Laura Jo, Rachel, and I on the way to the rehearsal dinner!

Bride and groom!

The other side....

Bride and bridesmaids....luhhhh them!

Oh hey! We're both engaged! Oh wait...now you're married....

men...

ok...presh.

Going out after the rehearsal dinner....

Now...wedding day!!!

Getting her hurr did!

Tim Horton's.....necessary.   :)

YAY!!

Cheers!!

Looking at her flowers...

Our dresses and hers...

Ahh!! BEAUTIFUL BRIDE!!

LOVE YOU!!

Brynnnnn and La Jo!

Oh there they are....

Leaving for the wedding....

Reception time....

Luh you Barrett!!

first dance....love it.

"Isn't she lovely....Isn't she wonderful?"

We straight tore it up on the dance floor......

Before Rich ditched me and wouldn't take a pic with me....whatever. Don't know why he was so ready to leave....gosh! :) 

Such a fun weekend!!! Congrats Brynn and Richard!! LOVE YOU BOTH!!

Two Words: Jag Bikes

When South started school last week I kept seeing facebook statuses about Jag Bikes and I got curious. After finding out more, I was totally bummed that I had graduated and not gotten to participate the fabulousness that is a jag bike. haha. Well, Julie and I hadn't hung out in a while and we made plans to last week. She said, "Well, have you heard about Jag Bikes?" To which I responded, "YES! Let's do it!"  haha. I knew I could count on her. I had to document this because we just went and found them and road around. So much fun.

Jag Bikes are Jag Smart! Totally.

They are pretty much awesome.

love....

Love you friend! Thanks for a fun afternoon! We will do it again soon! Oh, and Sarah, we missed you!!

Virginia's Second Birthday

After weeks of planning it was finally time to head to LaGrange this past weekend to celebrate a very special girl. Birthdays are a big deal in my family most of the time. As we have gotten older, they are not  celebrated with a big bash as much, but with family and are slightly more low key. However, this little girl is one to be celebrated....and that she was this weekend! A few of us headed up on Thursday and the festivities began on her actual birthday which was on Friday!

((Warning....lots of pictures!))

Cheesin' with Aunt Amy

This girl loves to jump and has finally mastered actually getting some air!! :) 

Cookin' in her new kitchen!

We kicked off the day by heading to Monkey Joe's....

Monkey Joe's is an indoor play place full of huge inflatables, slides, etc. Look at this face....she LOVES it!!

Hey mom!

After Virginia was done playing, all the adults were wiped out, we headed to Virginia's favorite restaurant....."Chick Lay"

We went to the Dwarf House which is a Chick-Fil-A where you can sit down and order and you don't have to do the fast food thing. Same thing really but there are more options and you are served...

We actually went on cow appreciation day so this little peanut loved seeing the cow...

Cheeseburger!!!

Enjoying a little birthday ice cweam....

After a little shopping, we headed home to put her down for a nap. When she woke up there was more celebrating!! We ate dinner and she got to have an M&M cookie.

So excited for her "tweat"!

After V went to sleep we began setting up for her Minnie Mouse birthday party! Here are some pictures of the decor....

Pictures of her second year...

And food.....

Cupcakes Aunt Amy and I made....

Mickey Cheese....

Mickey jello jigglers....

Pudge and Mom

Time for a birthday cupcake...

Blowing out her candles....

Present time...

Literally.....18 adults and 2 children.....haha.

Virginia's bestie....HABEN (Haven)! :)

V got a swing! Uncle Brett and Uncle Pudge helping her try it out!!

Party animal!

Two little wiped out girls!

It was definitely a weekend to celebrate! Virginia Louise, you bring so much joy to our lives! I am so thankful for the last two years we have had with you!! We love you so much sweet girl!!