almost 11 weeks...

I thought the nausea was gone...but apparently not.
Feeling so yucky and ready to get out of this trimester!

I updated my blog with some pink and blue...
and added to the
"about me" section to the right.

We go back to the doctor on January 13th.
Can't wait to hear that little heart beating away.

Just in case you have forgotten...
We still have a house for sale.
Please pray that we can sell it, move and get settled
before this baby arrives!

hehe...

That's how I felt as we told our family and friends about our little one on the way.

Hehe because we had a secret and we waited a while to tell everyone.

Hehe because I have been giving everyone the "two more years" line

when asked when we would start a family.

Hehe because I was even more surprised than all of you.

Hehe because it's so crazy to think we are gonna be parents.

Hehe because next year at Christmas I will have a 5 month old.

It's just so crazy to me.
Very surreal.

That life's surprises are indeed fun.

Even when not exactly planned.

That God is in control (as he "hehe's" to himself at us).

This Christmas we are so looking forward to spending

4 days in Alabama with my family.

Eating, hanging out, visiting, playing with toys, and

talking about how we will have a little one next year.

Alan bought and wrapped the Little People Nativity

by Fisher Price for the baby. If you haven't seen it, it is

the most precious thing ever.

I can't wait to play with it with our baby.

I can't wait to teach him/her about the true meaning of Christmas!

Much love to everyone!

Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas present came early this year...

Baby Singleton is on the way!

We are due July 23, 2009.

We are so thankful for God's blessing!

Exciting!

I figured out late yesterday afternoon that I was off today!

Love little surprises like that.
No early Monday morning for me!

My good friend Laura is set to deliver her sweet
baby girl on Friday if she doesn't make an
appearance before then.

Gage weighs 10# 1 oz. as of last Tuesday!
When I was visiting on Friday I couldn't
believe how heavy he was!

Only 17 more days till Christmas!
That means Maggie is coming home!

Going to Alabama this weekend to see the family!
Can't wait!

Gonna use this morning to straighten up around here.
Wash the sheets. Wash some clothes.
Then off to do some Christmas shopping and maybe
meet Boo for lunch!

Happy Monday!

house update...

We got our house relisted with a new agent on Saturday!

(Our contract ran out with our old agent.)

She is very enthusiastic, organized, and positive.

We have already had a realtor caravan.

15 agents came through to look at our house!

We have lowered our price $5,000, and are hoping this

will sell it sooner!

We decided not to put a Christmas tree up at our house.
I really wanted to put up my antique tree.
But we think we are only gonna be home for one weekend
between now and Christmas so it really wasn't worth the hassle.

Therefore, I am really not in to Christmas this year.
No Christmas tree.
No stockings.
Not being able to bake goodies.
No fires in the fireplace.
No Christmas candles burning or
Christmas music playing.
Not being at home.

And can I just say again...I want our house to sell.
I want a home of our own.

Sometimes I am very positive about the situation...
sometimes I'm not.
And today is one of those days!

Please pray that our house will sell!
Thanks!

ornaments...

I made some ornaments this weekend for some kids in my life.

I decorated my blog for Christmas and added Christmas music!

Giving Thanks!

So thankful for...
my husband,
our jobs,
God's love,
our salvation,
our health,
2 arms and 2 legs and all my fingers,
my parents,
my sisters,
our family,
the 5 senses,
great friends,
the USA!,
freedom,
our home and
all the little blessings in life.

We are so blessed!

"I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever." Psalm 86:12

Happy Thanksgiving!

27!

Yesterday I turned 27!
I really can't believe it!
I was blessed with some wonderful birthday gifts!

Alan got me this Candlewick punch bowl. (Not this exact one, but one
just like it). Mine was ordered off Ebay and
hasn't come in the mail yet.

He also got me this antique beaded garland!

I love it!

Paige, Zack and the boys got me this cute tray!
It is very similar to the red and white polka dot one
I already have. Mom mentioned that
peanut-butter balls would be very pretty on it because
of the brown and lime green.

Paige also got me this little glass dome.
It is so adorable!
The present sitting inside it was from Mom and Dad.
They got me some black bling-bling earrings.

Mom and Dad also got me this Cheese ball platter and knife.

Love the black and white and the "S"!
Lauren gave me this fun purse. I love it!

And she also gave me this cute little hand towel.

The saying is perfect!

And look at Santa holding Rudolph!

I don't know what I would do without my friends!

Alan's Grandma gave me a Hobby Lobby gift card.

I still haven't spent it.

My in-laws gave me this book! I have been collecting these each year since 2006. It has great decorating ideas and recipes!

Please pray that our house will sell soon!

It has been about 2 months since anyone has looked at it.

Please pray that God will prepare a place for us when

our house does sell!

Thanks!

So full...

of Lieu's Peking that Lauren and I devoured for lunch!

I mean we devoured that food!

We were starving by the time we ate lunch at 3:00!

of love for Gage.

(isn't he adorable!)

I often think to myself (and outloud I guess)...

If I love Gage this much how much will I love my own?

How do you put motherly love into words?

He is such a precious baby!

So happy.

Looking back on his "pre-homecoming" pictures today made my eyes

well up with tears just thinking about all that he has been through in his life.

of amazement at God's love for us.

How he healed Gage.

How he carried Lauren and Chris through.

How he loves us so much.

Sometimes I wonder how can He love me so much?

How do you put His love into words?

Reading the Shack renewed just how personal our God is.

And how he is especially fond of us!

"That if anything matters, everything matters."

of love for Lauren.
Lauren and I have quite the special friendship.
We have been friends for over 10 years now.
I'm certain we will be friends for many more years to come.
Sometimes I wonder why we are so blessed to have each other.
How do you put our friendship into words?
We know each other so well.
I love watching her as a momma.

And so thankful that encouragement comes right when needed...
For example, I am talking to my friend Sarah H. from nursing school tonight.
She and I have used to work night shift together in the STICU.
We don't talk often, but when we do we have so much to say! :)
She asked me about our house...had it sold? etc...
And of course I had to tell her no activity...in weeks...maybe months...
That it is so frustrating...and it seems like it will never happen...
She told me she knew exactly how I felt...and she probably shouldn't have asked me...
She and her husband recently had their house on the market for a year.

And in God's timing it sold!

She said it will sell...God's plan is perfect...there is probably something better out there for us...
I know all that...but forget about all that...because its thrown in my face almost daily.
It was just good to hear...so timely...so true...
Because "if anything matters, everything matters".
Thanks Sarah! I so needed that!

Well, I am trying to upload some pictures I took today. I took them in RAW rather
than L whatever that means...and I can't upload them...Pioneer Woman failed to mention
that. Oh well...

Well, it's been a great day!
Tomorrow is my Monday!
Time for bed!

leaves & dogs

Yesterday afternoon while waiting for
Alan to get home from work I picked up my camera and snapped

some leaf pictures...

Then I took some dog pictures...

This is Speckles...Alan's parents dog.

So ugly she is cute!

And Dixie...who do you think she is looking at...
I'll give you one hint...Alan was home by now...

list...

Where is your mobile phone? desk
Where is your significant other? tree
Your hair color? natural
Your mother? loved
Your father? crazy
Your favorite thing? just one...
Your dream last night? crazy
Your dream goal? business
The room you're in? messy
Your hobby? creating
Your fear? death
Where do you want to be in 6 years? healthy
Where were you last night? here
What you're not? fake
One of your wish-list items? lens
Where you grew up? Alabama, South Carolina, Texas, Georgia
The last thing you did? eat
What are you wearing? clothes
Your TV? home
Your pet? Dixie
Your computer? Athens
Your mood? bored
Missing someone? Boo
Your car? Camry
Something you're not wearing? frown
Favorite shop? Hobby Lobby
Your summer? change!
Love someone? absolutely
Your favorite colour? PINK
When is the last time you laughed? afternoon
When is the last time you cried? 2 weeks ago

You are supposed to answer these questions with one word only.

However, I am a girl of many words.

This was really hard for me!

Did I mention I was bored?

the Shack...

is an awesome book so far.

I am on Chapter 5.

I know I have been blowing up the blog today. I have so much to say!

today...

I'm over the black and white polka dots...ready for something plain again!

I'm thankful for such a beautiful day outside!

I've been working on my Christmas list!

I need to wrap two presents. One for Nathan and
one for Laura and her baby girl who is un-named at the time!

Alan and I spent all afternoon with this little man yesterday!
He has given us a little itch...

I mentioned before that I ordered Lauren a
cute birthday gift!
Here it is!
It is really hard to capture the cuteness of it!
And for those of you wondering where I got it...Etsy of course!

I just bought William P. Young's The Shack. Maggie posted on her blog about it. Laura told me I needed to read it. And Lauren's mom has read it. And loved it.

Here is a picture of Maggie's new puppy, Janie! She is too cute!

I spent part of the morning browsing online for a new camera lens. I think I have decided on the Canon EF 50mmf/1.8.

Is anybody else ready for the election to be over with?

no place like home...

Saturday afternoon I noticed the light streaming in the windows
in the breakfast room...

It just looks like "fall" light.

Even though we are only "home" every few weekends...

it still feels like home!

There is no place like it!

We had a super weekend of just being together!

I am so thankful for my husband!

He is so selfless!

He puts his wants aside (i.e. to go hunting every minute of every day)

and goes to Athens with me for the weekend.

He takes me to antique stores and wherever else I want to go.

He always makes "Hollie" time, and isn't ashamed to tell anyone about it!

Sometimes I wonder why God has blessed me so?

The picture below is my take on a mini-caramel apple...
The recipe came from my friend April's blog!

I used mini-reeses pieces, Heath toffee bits, chopped pecans, and sprinkles.

Alan told me they looked better than they tasted and I must agree!

Oh well, at least they were cute!

tour de ornaments...

Last weekend Mom asked me how many ornaments I had...
I really had no idea.

(I always get teased because I inventory everything!

Since I was a little girl I have always organized and counted everything.

Even when I was 2 years old...

So of course my sister and momma gave me a hard time about

not knowing how many ornaments I have...

And if you are wondering I have a detailed list now!

Thankyouverymuch.)

So on Saturday night...I counted them...192!

I spreaded them out on our guest bedroom bed!
Solid in front! Designs in the back!

Got these (below) on Saturday!

Different and totally cool!

Don't really remember where I got these,

but they are in great condition!

And they are coordinating!

I think this is screaming

"Vote for John McCain"!

Not really! But it is very patriotic!

I got this at an antique store in Athens in January!

This is a beach ball ornament!

Love the colors!


These are "preppy"!

I got these on Saturday from my favorite antique store in

our little town!

I love the little points!

These 6 ornaments came from Goodwill a few weekends ago!

Here is a close up of the blue and red ones!

Now, can't you see why I need some antique beaded

garland for my birthday?

My antique tree won't be complete without it!

my thoughts for today...

Buy an older brick home...

from the 60's or 70's...

in an established neighborhood...

with trees and bigger lots...

do some demo...

pick out stuff I like, such as...

cabinets, floors, paint, trim, light fixtures, etc...

Make it ours!

It'll be different than anybody elses...

Alan tells me I am crazy,

that I don't know what I want...

And he is probably right.

Because in the past 6 months I have talked about buying the red brick house.


Buying land and building a house.

And now I want to buy a fixer-upper...

Maybe it's a good thing our house hasn't sold yet...

Maybe I like the idea of some awesome before and after photos...

One thing is for certain, Alan loves me...

even when I am wishy-washy, random, and completely contradicting myself.

And I am so thankful!

just some stuff...

This Young House.

Cool young couple. Cool blog. DIY-ers.
Renovated an old house.

Go vote!

Alan and I have already sent our absentee ballots!

It's cold outside!
I love sweater weather!

Speaking of sweaters...
look at this hat.
Baby Singleton is gonna need one of these!
(Another etsy find!)

On my birthday wish list! Antique beaded garland!

Happy Wednesday!

Pray for Gage that he will have a significant weight gain
when they go back to the doctor on Friday!

Gage!

Thursday I made another trip to Milledgeville to spend

the day with Gage and his momma.

We had a great, very relaxing day!

The picture above is my favorite!

Notice the nasogastric tube is gone and look at his
chunky cheeks!

The picture below is the gift I put together for
Lauren, Chris and Gage!
The bucket turned out really cute!
Monogram is from etsy.com.
It's actually a car monogram!

It's very rainy today! I am on my way to Alabama for the weekend!
Alan is staying here to hunt!

Have a great weekend!

Hollie

look who I got to meet...

I'm telling y'all pictures don't do him any justice!

I am spending Friday with Mr. Gage and his momma (and can't wait).
We are having a mini-shower since she decided not to have a shower.

Getting to see him in real life was amazing.
He is perfectly adorable!
It's pretty unbelievable to hold a miracle!

Lauren is turning 27 on Sunday so
I have birthday surprises for her too!

This is the picture of my way-to-cute keychain!

I am in the process of making some just like them!

Pictures coming soon...

3 hour nap.

Pop-ups: Grandma's backyard

I just woke up from one...
I worked 14 hours on Friday.
And so far this weekend we have been called back three times.
I feel so exhausted.
My check will look good in two weeks. :)

Please pray for my sister, Paige.
She was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
She has been on antibiotics for a week now.
Her family care physician is referring her to someone that has seen it before.
Some of the things that come along with it can be pretty serious!

Alan is grilling ribs right this minute...they smell too good.
Sweet potatoes are in the oven.

It's raining outside.
It's been rainy, gloomy, and windy outside today.
(maybe that's another reason I slept so long.)

Lauren and Chris are coming home Tuesday!
I am riding up to Milledgeville Tuesday morning to deliver some surprises!

I bought almost all the stuff to make the round keychains
similar to the ones I recently purchased.
I'm gonna try my hand at making some.

Been brainstorming (daydreaming) about getting a monogram machine.
(Alan told me he was gonna buy me one Saturday morning...but I had to go to work.)
I can't wait to make some items for extra money to go into savings.
Also, it will give me something to occupy my time.

Speaking of occupying my time...
I signed up for an extra day of work next week and the next.
Not that I am a workaholic by any means...
But I need something to do.

I went to a large antique store in Macon on Saturday.
I found lots of antique ornaments.
I will post a picture when I take one.
(Alan: hint hint November 17th)

Last week I found two 4ft. lighted, Christmas trees in urns for
the front porch at Big Lots of all places.
They were a bargain for real at 36 dollars for 2.

So happy with where we are in our life right now.
Married for 3.5 years.
Working.

Saving money.

Planning to buy or build a new house. Soon.

Minimal stress.

Lots of love.

Just me and Alan.
Couldn't imagine it any other way!

Happy Sunday!

tomorrow...

is a huge day for Lauren, Chris and Gage!

They are getting discharged from the hospital!

They are staying in Philly at the Ronald McDonald House until Tuesday.

He has a follow-up appointment on Tuesday morning...
and they will be Atlanta bound after that!

Praise the Lord!

I am so excited!

I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the Lord work
through their lives over the past 10 months!
I know He will continue finishing the good work He has started...

We are so blessed!

Luke Bryan...

We saw him at the fair Saturday night!

We really didn't know that much about him, but seeing him

in concert made us really like him.

He smiled and goofed off the whole time.

You could tell he really loves what he is doing.

He also writes alot of his songs!

Oh, and he is a South Georgia boy!

After listening to all his songs you just feel so proud to

live in the South!

random thoughts (&prayers)...

NOBAMA!

If I knew I wouldn't fail what would I try to do?

What's going on with the economy? What does it mean to me? My future kids?

I'm ready to see Gage in person! I'm praying that he'll gain some weight and get rid of that stinking tube! Come home soon baby!

When is my house gonna sell? I ready to feel at home here.

I have a great husband!

To do tomorrow...I'm off...sleep in...YES!

I wish I had space to spread out my stuff and sew up some stuff.

Do we buy land and build? Do we buy a house?

Do I have too many hobbies? Sewing? Photography? Card-making? Crafting?

Maybe I should just focus on one (hobby)? No, because I like all of them...

I'm almost 27 years old...yikes...3 years till 30...and still no baby...

I really want those antique ornaments I saw today...

I hope we have a house by Christmas...

I need to go to bed...but I'd rather look on Etsy...

FIREPROOF

If you haven't seen it...go see it!

It's awesome!

an official before and after...

Before:

After:

gliders...

On our way to the furniture store we saw all of
these gliders sitting beside the road at an antique store.
Of course Alan and I were curious about how well they looked up close,
had they been sandblasted, how much were they...etc.
So on our way back home we stopped.
The prices ranged from 200-400 dollars.
We decided that our paint job looked better,
and our sanding job looked just as good as theirs.
Alan has done a great job with the painting of ours!
Monday night he put ours back together.
Last night he got the clear coat done!
I will post finished pictures later! :)

This yucky green color one is the exact style of ours!
It was selling for 350.00

Another reason why I love my camera!
These were taken at Momma and Dad's house this weekend.
This lantana has overtaken their front flower beds.
It was covered with butterflies and bees.
I couldn't get the butterflies to cooperate!

Would you take a look at that baby ticker to the right...

Today Gage is one month old! :)

He still isn't even supposed to be born yet!

Lauren's due date was October 6th!

Isn't God so good!

Have a great Thursday!