Saturday, April 20, 2013

Spring Has Sprung in the Old Dominion

I gave a very bright welcome to old springtime, how I missed you so! Thankful for our winter where all seems to rest but thanking our wonderful Savior for the breathtaking beauty of spring. I do have to say one of my many (MANY) favorite things about the spring (besides the flowers, grass, warmth, and tucking away all the bulky sweaters) are the birds that seem to have the canny ability to plant a huge smile across my face around 4:30 am as they sing announcing that another beautiful WARM day  is on its way soon. 

Gabriel and I have made it to Virginia, moved here around the fifteenth of February... thanks to the help of his brothers Michael and Joey! We could have NEVER made such a long trip with ALL of our things without them. We have a sweet little town home close to our parents and horses, my parents are thankfully seven hours away instead of seventeen! We now get to see our family often, which has been so very nice especially since little Sephorah is coming soon. Our home is nestled in a beautiful small and quiet community, we have our dogs, Lilah and Jeb, here with us and my parrot, Tootsie. We have lots of windows and off-white walls, so the house absolutely LIGHTS up when the sun is up! I could not be happier with the home, especially coming from such a dark home in Texas, was quite depressing inside.

As of today I am only 8 days from my due date, I have had no morning sickness or complications, just occasional heart burn which by wives tales means she will have lots of pretty hair on her head. Sephorah is very healthy, estimated being in between six to seven pounds at birth and already practicing her breathing as we got to see on our recent ultrasound. We have everything set up in the nursery  thanks to all the beautiful gifts and contributions given at our baby showers, we have quite a sweet set up... now we just wait! And I will walk, walk, walk, and go, go, go, until she comes, hoping it will push things along. Here are some shots of all of us enjoying the beautiful springtime...

Michael's horse Arrow, telling us what he really thinks...

My father feeding Sundance his traditional cheese crackers, mmmmm, healthy! ;-)

Lilah, Lily, and Jezzy out on the back porch with me while my parents visit, Lily and Jezzy are my mothers beautiful long-haired Chihuahuas and Lilah's "sisters".


Easter Sunday morning snapshot, a family tradition of ours to get
dressed up for church that morning and showcase each others outfits!
Navy blue dress from Ross, Forever 21 rose pink cardigan, Fossil rose gold watch.
Tootsie on the back porch enjoying the company of a fake bird... silly girl.
Gabriel torturing Sundance with a non-existent cracker in his hand, so sweet, ha ha.
I am ready to get back out to my horses, I do miss them very much but have been kept so busy that I have hardly had time to think about them. I do plan on training and teaching as soon as I recover, now that Gabriel  is getting his horse business back up also. I apologize for the lack of horse material on here, but I have a pretty good excuse. I am very thankful for such a wonderful Husband, and family, and for our little girl... and this blog will be a great way to keep track of my family life and horse life (and the joys of mommy-hood, makeup, home keeping, and OF COURSE nail polish ;-) 

Speaking of, I've learned to do my own acrylic nails, after putting up with the aggravating expensive nail salons and chipping at home regular nail polish (which needed repair almost every day, and was quite painful whenever I wanted to use my nails... acrylic turns your nails into a household cleaning weapon and wonderful husband back scratcher! :-). I am quite proud, getting the expensive look for one third the price. I was quite intimidated, thinking I could never have this end in nothing but disaster... but, SUCCESS! Used a simple $8.00 kit from Target...




Success! Exactly the shape and length I wanted. Used a Easter pink color,
"Born with It" 150 by Maybelline Color Show. $2.45 I do believe?
 Better than $40.00 for a set that won't last long and wasn't what I wanted at a nail salon!
I am hoping to get pictures of our home and nursery as soon as I can and post it here, so be looking for those! Please feel free to post a comment or two, or a question! Would love to hear from you.

Happy Spring!









4 comments:

Caro said...

Hey Mariah, it's great to hear from you! Thought about you and your baby several times and wondered if she's already born.
Please post more often, we all are curious about it!

Greets from Europe!

Unknown said...

I have been wondering how things are going so glad you are doing well.

Pam, Texas said...

Mariah, I was so happy to hear from you. I thought of you just the other day and then...there you were. I have been so impressed with you since I first read from your journal you had years ago. When you were the, oh goodness, what was that email name you had? It was long and something about being the best parelli professional. You are a lovely young woman. I'm sure your parents are happy to have you closer, especially with the grandbaby coming.
Loved the sweet comment about the flowers in your hair. Sweet blessing for you and Gabriel and hope the baby comes SOON!!!!

Unknown said...

Hey Mariah,
Thanks so much for sharing your latest adventures. God is truly blessing you and Gabriel.
Thoughts and prayers for you as your beautiful child arrives. As a young mum, I know that the early days can be hard and definately exhausting. May I just encourage you to take the time to heal after the birth and to be kind to yourself as you physically recover and as you and Gabriel mentally and emotionally learn to be the parents God has called you to be.
No doubt you miss the horses but if it takes longer for you to get back to them than you plan, forgive yourself. Horse days will come again:)
Sephorah is one lucky little girl to be getting parents like you guys, who will love her and bring her up in a godly home.
Children are so much work but they fill a life with such joy and teach you to love and laugh at the simple joys in life.
I am so excited for you guys as you welcome your child into this world. And although the birth may be the hardest thing you will ever do Mariah, I hope and pray that you will be filled with the wonder and awe of that moment. Enjoy it to its full.

Love in Christ.
Rosie