by the way guys...

mommy almost forgot to tell you..

i'm 11 weeks old today!!!

look at those baby blue eyes :)


i love my tubby time!!! :)
{yes i know, i need to crop this one!} oops!

all lathered up smellin' good!
holy double chin lil' man :)

i'm gonna LOVE when mommy has NO SCHOOL!!
{his shirt says...if you think i'm handsome, you should see my daddy} :) :)
dollie

love you mason.
you continue to teach mommy so many new things!
you can bring tears to my eyes daily, still.
you are so fun, and so full of life and energy.
love you long time, mase
xoxo
mommy

weekly rewind

in one word or phrase -

and no school fridays!!!

im dreaming of you -

&

beautiful, eh?? a nice cozy bay window

{picture via urban & ??}

song on repeat - sweetly broken by jeremy riddle

gotta write it down -
never under estimate the power of your words
with each one that you form,
you are making a choice to either...

build or destroy
encourage or devastate
heal or wound
love or hate
inspire or discourage
admire or scorn
share hope or cast doubt

it is said that it take 10 kind words to counteract 1 negative word.
in my opinion it takes 100 or 1,00 kind words.
hurtful, hateful words seem to carry so much more weight. those words have the ability to stick around for a long while.
sadly, they are the words we remember most vividly.

speak love.
encourage.
think.
how will your words speak today?

lesson learned -
do everything with out complaining or arguing,
so that you may become blameless and pure children of God
-phil 2:14-15
...this really hits home with me now that i am at work....

picture to frame -
highlight of the week - NO SCHOOL TODAY!!!!!

weekend to do list -
1] hang out with my cousin that i haven't seen since last spring...
2] celebrate grandma-in-law's 91st birthday.....
3] chillax :)
4] possibly start on a craft for a Christmas gift :)

hope your week went fast &
weekend goes slllooowwwww ;)

xoxo
melinda

???

seriously i have no clue why my font starts big and slowly turns to itty-bitty????????

so im so sorry you cant hardly read the very end of my last post......ill try and figure it out later...not tonight.

good night y'all
xoxo

the first day...

...has come and gone....
{seriously thank goodness}

my day in a nut-shell.....
1] up at 4:30am, thinking i over slept and didn't hear the alarm...back to sleep i go
2] woke up at 5:25 thinking o crappy, i over slept on my FIRST day back!!! ahhhhhh
3] up at 6:00am for real this time....alarm went tick tock and im up....slllooowwwwwlllyyyy tho :)
4] tip toed downstairs {shhh!! don't wake the baby!!}
5] made some STRONG coff....like a 4 scooper kind of pot
6] stood in front of the mirror for 20 mins gettin all fresh...haha....ok that'll do for the kiddos
7] mentally prepare for the day while sippin on my cup o' joe while doing dishes and watchin 10/11 news
8] kind of hoping the babe would wake so i could see him off before my big day {no such luck} that boy can sleep!
9] 7:15 give the hubster a big ole' smooch good bye...while there are tears a rollin :'(
10] 7:50 arrive at school while about 500 kiddos were waiting for me giving me hugs and yelling "Mrs. Ehly you're baaaackkk!!!!!!!" "O goodie!!! I missed you!!!!"
{these are all true saying fyi, im not making them up}
11] non-stop running around trying to figure out my schedule, what class i go into and what time, making sure i see all my kiddos, figuring out i have about 7-8 kids to test AND hold a meeting all BEFORE Christmas!!! yikes!, getting a new computer set up, and attempting to teach. whew.
this will make for a busy busy busy semester :) the faster it goes the closer we get to MAY!!
12] 3:30 taking a huge breath of air or a sigh of relief saying "i did it." "i made it through my first day back."
13] 4:10 rushing back home to see my baby mason that i missed so dearly
14] 6:45pm back to hastings to play a volleyball game...which we won! :)
15]8:50 finally taking a shower and time to relax!! ahhhh
{just to do it all over again tomorrow}

God has me here at school for a purpose and not at home, i have to be able to trust in Him.
I just pray it is in His plan to be at home some day. I will patiently await for that day.
because you know, good things happen to those that wait.

hope everyone had an amaze monday!!!!

xoxo
melinda

in the midst of a blink...

10 weeks passed...

{you know that song "Don't Blink" by kenny chesney? i totally feel like that....if i blink, another 10 weeks will pass and too soon mason will be a year old}

i knew it was going to be hard going back to work, but the idea is totally kickin me in the rump-a-roo!!
there were some big, round elephant tears coming from eyes this afternoon thinking about it.
but with God's help, i will get through the day tomorrow.
4:00pm will be totally amaze!!!!
i'll race home to smooch, love, cuddle, kiss his lovely lippies, and squeeze my lovies cheekies :)

please pray i will make it through the week with no big break downs :)
i'll let you know how tomorrow goes in another post........

xoxo
melinda

CAN'T.WAIT.FOR.MAY!!!

{end of school duh!!! :)}

{picture via weheartit}

back with the recap...

in one word or phrase -
im dreaming of you -

ahhhhhh....looks so peaceful :) waking up to a view like that....me likey :)
{not sure where this snappy came from...oops}

song on repeat - ipod on shuffle?.....yes please!

gotta write it down -
lesson learned - not letting life get in the way of holding/cuddling/loving/kissing my boys, an important part of life.....especially since i won't be able to do that ALL day long :(
think.positive.melinda

picture to frame -

omgosh...cutest.baby.ever?!? {spose im a bit bias}
that little smile makes my heart flutter :)
i love to squeeze those little cheekies!!

highlight of the week -

we went honky tonkin' at unlce ron's in lincoln to watch aaron watson in concert!
AND he is a christian.....honky tonk music + the hubster, amanda, and phil = a perfect night :)
{don't worry, mason was in good hands with aunt kayla :)}

weekend to do list - 1] go shopping with the sisters - kayla :( ....gonna hit up a flea market and hopefully will find some sweet deals!!!!
2] listen to the huskers, hopefully they'll put a tally in the "W" column
3] get mason's antiquities pictures taken....mommy can't wait!!!!

hope your week was fab
and you weekend more fab :)

xoxo
melinda

can he {mason} really be...

10 weeks old already?!?!?! {well this friday}
i'm really trying to wrap my head around this one.....
where did that time go?

when i was sitting in the hospital taking care of our little newbie, i was thinking how nice it was going to have 10 weeks off!!! that time off will be so long and so nice {or so i thought}.
this has been the fastest 10 weeks of my life!!!! i.love.being.a.mommy :) mason still brings tears to my eyes almost daily.

mason at 10 weeks
*my head/neck is getting MUCH stronger - i can sit on mommy's lap and hold my head on my own for a while! yay :)
*i am a whopping 12+a little bit pounds and 24 inches long!!
*i can hold on to toys for a bit when you put them in my hands! but, i don't like to let go!
*i think i run almost a marathon everyday....i can't seem to make my legs be still......
*...soooo it makes me really tired. i sleep through the night {this makes mommy and daddy sooooo happy!!!}
*my marathon runnings during the day also makes me tired enough to take 2-3 naps a day :)
*i gurgle, laugh and smile when i'm happy. {mommy and daddy say that if they act stupid enough they can make me laugh}
*i know mommy and daddy's voices......i'm most comfortable when i can hear them :)
*i stare at my hands and really want my thumb....seems like my thumb hides so i can't suck on it
*i like being independent, sitting in my bouncer seat staring at the corn, carrot, and piggy :)
*can you tell you are a happy little boy, mason? you are happier and happier every day!!
*i can calm myself down and sleep on my own when mommy puts me to bed when i'm awake :)

we love you mr. maseman!!!!!!
xoxo
mommy

monday, monday...

this monday is particularly sad for me....

it is the last monday i will be home with little mason :(
seriously it breaks my heart in two.

my mind has been on high speed trying to think of ways to stay home with the babe...
ways to save some money here and there.....
and here is one huge money saver im seriously looking in to....
{click on the pic for more info}
cloth diapers. what?!?
yep. i said it. and i never thought i would.
it would save us over 600 buckerooos a year. so by the time mason is out of diapers we will save somewhere near 1500 bucks. wow. {minimum amount}
{not to sound tree-huggerish...but...they are better for the environment too. think about it when a disposable diaper is thrown in the trash with poop in it, it goes to a landfill and will sit there for more than 500 years. which can then seep into our water system. ick.} for more info head here.
it's one "wee little change" that could make me one step closer to staying home with babies :)
i have to get the mr. all the way on board. i'm totally on board and ready for the challenge!! booya.



plus some are pretty cute ------------------------------------>

cheers for trying CDing {cloth diapering}


totally off subject here. but i want long pretty hair so i can do this.....
beautiful huh?!?!?!

xoxo
melinda

quick pics...

need to get some professional photos taken.....but.....i think we'll wait for spring.
more time to loose the baby weight :)
xoxo
melinda

friday recapin'

in one word or phrase -

picture via {weheartit}

im dreaming of you -old looking dishes for my built-in china hutch....found a quite-a-bit of 'antiques' while junk jaunting a few weeks back, but it still looks empty :)

song on repeat - eli young band:guinevere

gotta write it down -
lesson learned - don't put a onesie with snaps on your baby right after you got it out of the dryer....it equals a very mad, angry baby when the HOT snaps touch their soft, fresh baby skin.........what a bad mommy :(

picture to frame -

highlight of the week - i am officially finished with my 30 hours of classroom observation at GI for my 7-12 sp.ed. endorsement!!!! yayaya

weekend to do list - once again cheer on those HUSKERS!!! GBR!!!!! and relax with my wittle mason...happy 9 week birthday lil man!!!! and have a bon fire :) ahhhh and enjoying me some beautiful autumn weather :)

have a very happy weekend :)
xoxo
melinda

a little this and that

First of all, remember those necklaces i wanted with masons name of it?? well.....

I GOT IT!!!! sooooo excited to see it in 'real life' :)

second of all, ooo and remember the purse?? got that too!! not from urban but from target.....
30 bucks cheaper...the mr. liked that lots :)

third of all, i've {and my sis mcKayla} worked on making this fall wreath :) i wanted a wreath for my house, but it seemed like everywhere I went, they looked the same. so my other sis amanda found a website for a diy fall wreath that looked awesome!! i do pretty much love me some diy!!
this is how it turned out.....
ingredients for your wreath include:
*glue gun
*grape vine wreath{hobby lobby}
*dried flowers of your choice{hobby lobby}
{i also went out in the country and picked my own wheat and indian grass}
*optional:ribbon to hang it
that's it!!! im pretty sure im gonna try a Christmas one too!!

p.s. im almost done with completing my observation hours for my hastings college class...
literally 2 hours left!!!

ok now i gotta catch up on ALL my shows from last night :) while hangin out with my babes :)

xoxo
melinda

weekend re-cap...

so i didn't have time for a friday re-cap...
i'll do a weekend re-cap instead...
we sisstas and the babies went to a pumpkin patch :)


my other sisstas, stine, kate, and karla had a girls shopping day with no babies and no hubby's. it was fun.com!!!! we each had to drink a six-er so we could have the guts to tell the mr.'s what we all bought.....also, it was the second time i 'pumped and dumped' sad to see that gold go down the drain!

it was a fab weekend :)
i did a diy project today, i'll post tomorrow about it.
good night
xoxo
melinda
p.s maseman is sleeping through the night consistantly!!!!! and sleeps in until 8am :)
love it. love him.
p.p.s we lost our vball game tonight :( better luck next time Girls Night Out, we didn't bring our 'A' game i guess. boo.

things i want...

love you ted, love you long time
you wife,
xoxo

leaving a legacy...

I love this song about leaving behind a legacy, a Godly legacy.
p.s. you are listening to it now! {number 1 on the playlist}

Nichole Nordeman - Legacy

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
And such-n-such, it wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

I wanna leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough?
To make a mark on things?
I wanna leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, theives and such will soon enough destroy

I wanna leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough?
To make a mark on things?
I wanna leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
I just wanna hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...

This may be morbid to some:
But I have always told my mom that I want the saying "Well Done, good and faithful servant" on my head stone for when the Father calls me Home.

Anyways, on my way home from class tuesday night, I had the radio dial set at KROA{95.7} to rock out to some inspirational tunes. instead they had talk radio on, FamilyLife Today on to be exact. and they were talking about leaving behind a legacy. it made start to think about what kind of legacy will i leave behind. was my legacy all about me, how much money i had{or don't have haha}, social status, or materialistic things? Or was it a Godly legacy? what will people remember about me and how i lived? hmmmmm made me really think!

they said ONE of the most significant components of our legacy is the commitment we have towards our spouse. {Obviously the first most significant component would be whether we feared God and loved Him.} Our children can see the commitment we have towards our spouse as well. nothing would make me happier than to hear my kids tell me "thank you mom, for loving dad so much" or "thank you for loving me unconditionally."

tomorrow our lil ghost will be 8 weeks old!!!!!
booooo!!!!!!

another busy week...

always starts with....
lots to do this week. like go to GISH for some observation hours{why i signed up for a class while on maternity leave, i have yet to figure out}
play some vball tonight!!! go Girls Night Out!!
more observation tomorrow.
class tomorrow night.
hangin with the babe wed & thurs!!!!{yayayayaya}
maser pants' dr. appt friday :) see how much this chubby weighs :)
shopping this weekend with the girls!!!!!

so it's monday but be happy :)
xoxo
melinda

:)

xoxo
melinda

rewind.....

in one word or phrase-october!
im dreaming of you-im actually dreaming of two things(shame on me!)

this part of the necklace will say mason........
the two charms will have a "t" and an "m"....cutie huh?!?!?
drooling over this purse from urban outfitters

song on repeat-the playlist is on shuffle :)
gotta write it down-humble yourself, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
-1 Peter 5:6-7
Lesson learned-life is going to be full of unfortunate and unexpected turns, there's just no skipping out on that. What matters is how you respond to the delays and that you keep moving forward. Don't dwell on the bad, stay positive.
Picture to frame-

growing up before my eyes

Highlight of the week-we the ehly's had the other ely's over for some sup at our hizzie!!!! :) so fun! we are going to try and make this a weekly thing. going to each others houses and cooking for each other and enjoying some fellowship :)
Weekend to do list-love all over my little chubby cheeky babe {that's easy to do!}, get a few pumpkins for the house, enjoy the autumn weather :)

have a great weekend :)
xoxo