New Year + New Giveaway

I'm very excited to be teaming up with these awesome ladies for a new faith based giveaway. As the New Year approaches we realized what a blessing it would be to help others on their faith walk and journey with Jesus! i mean, he is the reason for the season ya'll! What better way way to start out the new year than to be focused on Him?! We have all teamed up and have some fabulous prizes, including a new journaling bible, devotionals, gift cards, and more. Instead of having one winner, we thought it would be more fun to have three! So join in, enter and good luck! Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and I also hope today = nothing but relaxation! The fabulous prizes will be: 1st Winner - $75 Value

• Journaling Bible
• Blessings for a Woman's Heart Devotional
• Max Lucado Calendar
• Jesus Today Book
• Scripture Cards

2nd Winner - $45 Value

• 2 CD's
• Starbucks Gift Card
• Notepad
• Women's Devotional

3rd Winner - $25 Value

• Itunes Gift Card
• Journal
• Scarf

In Due Time ♦ The Lady Okie ♦ A Touch of Grace ♦ Trials Bring Joy ♦ Jessi's Design

Sage the Blog ♦ Run to Radiance ♦ The Artsy Cajun ♦ Viva Good ♦ Amateur Nester

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Merry Christmas Ya'll!!

Hoping you and yours have a very merry Christmas and a wonderful day with family and friends! Be safe if you're traveling and praise the lord for such a fabulous day! (hope you have snow!) Muah! xoxo

Christmas Break Thus Far

I've been a little MIA lately with posts but I'm thinking it might be like that over break- not that I don't miss ya'll daily but because it's nice to disconnect and spend time relaxing with family, etc. I'm so fortunate to work at a place that gives us two full weeks off! The only thing I miss about my office at this point? This view beside my computer:

 (sometimes you gotta just disconnect for awhile though) Catching up on all my Christmas movie favorites in the next few days is definitely something on my list! I was talking with Jenn from Going the Distance today and she did however motivate me to get off the couch and squeeze a post in. I got hit HARD with a cold/sinus infection in one as of last night and being preggo means its worse since I can't load up on Nyquil for sleep and take other remedies. Any mommies out there with any recommendations feel free to send them my way! Also speaking of Jenn, can ya'll just look at what she sent for baby girl? This onesie completes me! And Mikaela from Pink Persistence sent the most adorable soft pink bunny card for her as well! Seriously- I would die without my blogging gals! Love ya'll! xo

I do want to say however that the Otey Christmas party and open house was a HUGE blast! I'm thinking it just might have to become our new tradition. We had so many of our friends and family come celebrate the holidays and take tours and everyone had a great time! I'm pretty sure I haven't stayed up until after 1am since I found out I was pregnant haha I might still be recovering.... I seriously cannot believe Christmas is right around the corner and believe it or not I have got to make myself get up and finish some shopping (not much thankfully) today. I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend and I hope the holidays are p-e-r-f-e-c-t so far! (oh hey Virginia, where's my snow??)

Hubby surprising me with a card display craft! Had to snap!

20 Week Bumpdate- Halfway!

Emma's getting a sister!!!

How far along? 20 weeks and 6 days

Size of Baby: Small cantaloupe! 6.5 inches and 12 oz

Total weight gain/loss: I was up 7.5 pounds since my first ever appointment but I'm thinking had I taken my weight a little earlier it would be a tad more

Symptoms: Just a little sleepy lately- staying up way later than usual with the hubs home :)

Maternity clothes? Yea buddy- Also this week, I received the BEST care package from Julie over at Just the Joys. I seriously love her! 2 new super cute tops, their adorable card and some s'mores belly bars! What would I do without her??

Stretch marks? Nope

Sleep: Not using my snoogle as much yet but found that a regular size pillow between my legs (versus this long smaller one I was using) helps me to not toss and turn as much. It also goes all the way down to my ankles for added support.

Best moment this week: Finding out Baby O is a G-I-R-L!!!!!!! Still in shock ya'll and so excited that I seriously cannot stop wearing all things pink. This is going to be SO much fun!

Miss Anything? We went and stocked the bar cart for our Christmas party/open house this Saturday so I'd have to say holiday cocktails!

Movement: Dancing Queen!! :) Can almost SEE her kicks now!!

Food cravings: Naval oranges and blood oranges

Anything making you queasy or sick: Thankfully no

Have you started to show yet: Heck yea

Gender prediction: GIRL


Nursery: You can see it here (we're so close to starting this!) narrowing down themes, bedding, wall colors as we speak!

Workouts: Been realllly lazy this week

Labor Signs: Check back later

Belly Button in or out? In and getting flat

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: Our big Christmas party/open house this weekend!

                week 12                            week 13                           week 14                     week 15
                       

                           Week 16                                   Week 17                                        Week 18

Week 19

We Have an Announcement...Drumroll....

 I am still in 100% complete shock at the sweet news we were given yesterday. For some reason I was convinced we would have a little boy on the way and I was given the surprise of a lifetime (after I asked the tech to confirm twice hahaha) We are so over the moon excited for this journey and to bring this little girl into the world in May! Her Daddy is going to be completely wrapped around her finger and I've never seen her Daddy so giddy before! He's already picked out a cute little pair of pink flats with bows on them! We shared the news via a strawberry cake last night with our parents and it is still so neat to say SHE instead of just Baby O.  We are so beyond blessed and I may cry (again) just typing this post-Thank you all for your sweet words and excitement yesterday- I love ya'll so much it is not even funny! This is the best Christmas present we could ever imagine. Oh, and miss Emma Jo is thrilled to know she will have a little sister to play with soon! Let the shopping and planning begin ya'll (as Daddy shops for more guns haha)

Excuse the bad quality cell phone pics!

Which will it be? B or G? ....

Boy or girl ya'll? I clearly couldn't sleep last night because today is like Christmas day in the Otey household! I'm counting down until noon and then we leave for our 1:30 gender scan ultrasound appointment and checkup. Afterwards we are hoping to do a little gender reveal for our parents and OF COURSE I'll be sharing the news tomorrow- so, in the meantime, I'm going to stare at the clock and pray for a healthy, perfect and cooperative baby at today's appointment! He or she has been dancing like a maniac all morning!

A little name preview: (98% sure...haha)

Friday 5 & Big Giveaway

Happy Friday ya'll! Of course today I am linking up with the usual Friday 5 gang ( Christina, April, Darci, Natasha , Amanda over at Meet @ the Barre and Karli with September Farm) but instead of 5 fav's, I'm featuring 20 gals and a great giveaway! 

I'm excited to tell yall that for the next week, I am teaming up with Zelle from Southern Style and 20 other fabulous bloggers to give away a $300 Tory Burch gift card to celebrate Zelle’s blogiversary! This giveaway is just in time for the holidays, so you have the chance to give yourself {or someone else} the gift of Tory Burch! The more ways you enter, the better your chances are so start entering, visiting these lovely ladies and good luck! The giveaway ends on Friday, December 19^th, at midnight. Good luck and be sure to check out all of these fab blogs below!

Happy weekend! Time to go spend some time with the huubs finallly! He's baaaccckkkk!

Hosted By:

Southern Style

The Lovely Co-hosts:

For The Love of Fancy | Medicine & Manicures | Upbeat Soles | Polished Closets | Katie Elizabeth

Love and Bellinis | Taffeta and Tulips | A Lily Love Affair | Jessi's Design | Le Stylo Rogue

Clothes & Quotes | Sequins & Seabreezes | B Loved Boston | Love, Lenore | The Real Arnolds

Louboutins and Lipstick | Style Souffle | Home of Malones | Louella Reese | Just a Tina Bit

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Week 19 Bumpdate

How far along? 19 weeks & 5 days

Size of Baby: Heirloom Tomato! 6.0 inches and 8.5 oz

Total weight gain/loss: I'm reallllly interested to see... My scales at home only say up 5 but I had a regular doc appointment to get established at this new place and she tried to tell me I was up 10- yikes!

Symptoms: Um nothing major I can think of... just getting worn out easily.

Maternity clothes? Heck yes- all in for the most part!

Stretch marks? I haven't found one yet- I keep checking! Is it normally the belly where they appear first?

Sleep: Ok.. this one is getting annoying. One night I won't be able to get comfy at all and wake up more to pee and then the next night I sleep incredible and never get up! (bc I was so tired the night before I sleep through the next night etc. etc.) it's becoming a regular cycle! Also, this snoogle thing.... I don't love it like everyone says! I like my space in bed and this is weird- plus I'm short so it really doesn't fit my body (like the in between the legs part hahaha) It's interesting so far

Best moment this week: Feeling my active child EVERY night and singing to him or her. Also how much he or she is moving during the day as well! Oh and hubs is hoping to come home TODAY

Miss Anything? CAFFEINE - had a cherry coke ya'll and I don't even like soda normally...it was incredible

Movement: Well we covered this in best moment! :)

Food cravings: OH NO- ice cream all the way. I NEVER eat ice cream. Cook Out M&M shakes....

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.. although I'm shoveling in the food these days and ate too many gummies and almost got sick like a 4 year old with no self control.... 

Have you started to show yet: Heck yea

Gender prediction: MONDAY at 2:00pm we will know!

Nursery: You can see it here (we're so close to starting this!)

color options

 
Workouts: Squat routines and legs every night with hand weights and stretching to help with leg cramps - doubling up on arms too. Kegels anyone? haha

Labor Signs: I'll get back to ya on that one...

Belly Button in or out? In and getting flat

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: Hubby back in 9 days TODAY (or tomorrow)! Our gender appointment too duh!

                week 12                            week 13                           week 14                     week 15
                          

                           Week 16                                   Week 17                                        Week 18

He or She Predictions

 Ya'll- we find out on MONDAY if Baby O is a he or a she!! I have never been so excited in my life. I can honestly say I have not bought a single item yet for him or her (other than maybe a few nursery related things) and I am so excited to see what theme I will be shopping for. For a boy we are thinking a dark navy nursery with tiger and gold accents and for a girl we are thinking pale pink and gold accents. This is such an exciting time and not to mention it will be the FIRST appointment that Seth is able to come to! (I just hope I don't pass out before they give me the results) I've been googling and asking other blogger Moms to share their ultrasound images so I can try and guess before they actually tell us. I think I'm ready! Gender poll over there to the right still says votes are in for all pink.....

We're not sure if we will do a mini gender reveal with a cake or balloons for our parents but I do know I'm not leaving that office without knowing! (haha) Well, hoping Baby O feels like cooperating... Anyway, I've put together a little preview and also done some fun old wives tale prediction charts. Happy Tuesday!

Lovely Blog Award

I was nominated a couple weeks back by two of my favorite bloggers for the 'One Lovely Blog Award' and I was thrilled! (I've just procrastinated in getting this post together!) If you haven't checked out Mia or Katie's blogs you can do so below!

Katie at Katie Elizabeth  & Mia at Make Me up Mia

So, what does this award consist of? You must share 7 random facts about yourself and then tag 7 (or so) others to do the same if they would like to join in- so here we go!

I went to an all women's college and majored in Political Science & History

I work full time at an all male college but also became a certified wedding planner in 2012

If I could have lunch with any celebrity it would be my ultimate favorite: Jessica Simpson (but we could also invite Ellen and Reba McEntire if they wanted to join too!)

My goal for 2015 (and hopefully before baby) is to be 100% debt free- goodbye student loans! I'm SO close ya'll!

My dream job would include a combination of interior design and flipping homes, country music, high school counseling, opening a sanctuary for animals and being a Mama (mama to be in May!) haha can someone come up with a title for this? 

I'm such a homebody- I love my family and friends so much and I am so blessed to have such a fabulous relationship with each and every one of them!

Ok now here comes the tagging- I apologize if you have already been nominated and of course it is completely optional

Julie at Just the Joys
Jenn at Going the Distance
Brittany at Perpetually Daydreaming
Katelynn at XO, Katelynn

P!nk Pers!stence