Ok, it's been forever.

Check out these awesome pictures Lindsey took of us at the house! Thanks Lindsey! I will treasure them and can't wait to snap some shots of baby Bagwell when he/she gets here! More house info at the bottom.

We've been pretty busy lately. We've spent the last 3 out of 4 weekends out of town and the last two in the woods on camping retreats...woohoo! The retreat part was fun, but I'm not all that woodsy anymore. I remember going to camp when I was younger. It was the highlight of the whole summer, but I guess I've gotten all girly and high maintenance since having a baby. Who knows, I love the outdoors, just not living in it. The first weekend we went to Florida Bible Camp with the college students and Granna stayed with Benjamin. I kind of felt like I was in college again without the responsibility of the little one. It truly was a retreat. Last weekend we went to the beautiful Berry College Winshape Camp and that wasn't quite as enjoyable. Benjamin is very, well, determined. He gets his mind set on something and that's it. Everything is fine until he hears the word "no." He is almost 19 months so I'm afraid the terribles are within sight, or here already. Just a couple months ago I was saying that this was my FAVORITE age...it ended too quickly. We'll survive, I know, it's just hard. It would be easy to just give him what he wants to make him stop crying, but I always said I didn't want a brat. So if you out there notice any brat-ness, let me know, because it means I'm not doing my job. :)

On another note, but kind of similar, we ate lunch the other day at Red Lobster, a treat for the long car ride we were about to endure. I caught Rick staring out the window, then he said, "O my goodness." I couldn't imagine what was going on, then he said, "five kids and a pregnant!" Nothing else, not five kids and a pregnant WOMAN, or what a nice family....but this is when we were trying to clean mash potatoes off of everything at our table, so, I'm thinking we won't be having six kids, or any number close to six. :)

We closed on the house last Tuesday! We are trying to move in this week....gradually. We moved some of Benjamin's things today so we'll get there. It's so exciting! Can't wait to be totally in!

I'm going to boil some eggs to dye tomorrow! I just love spring and Easter. My mom always made a big deal of little holidays throughout the year. She loved doing special things for us, and I love doing things for Rick and Benjamin. I know the holiday has really become commercialized, but I love the memories of spending time with family and that Jesus is praised more than ever for the sacrifice He was for us.

Have a blessed week.

Going crazy with the coupons....

Ok, so maybe I'm a little obsessed, maybe crazy with the couponing and saving money! It is a little time consuming, but I feel that it's well worth it. I am saving us lots of money and having fun at the same time. So I wanted to share (maybe even brag a little) about my deals this week. I am shopping at drug stores, which I always thought were more expensive, but not if you just get what's on sale. I laugh because the guy at Walgreens always tries to sell me a $2 candy bar at the register. He obviously doesn't know who he's dealing with because I can stretch $2 a lot further than just one measly little candy bar!

Anyway, first Rite Aid, I have to enter my receipt online to get my $10 rebate, but after that here are my purchases and my total:

3 packages of Pampers diapers (31 count) - normally $9 each
1 Covergirl powder (yes, I wear cheap makeup)
1 Covergirl blush
1 Covergirl eyeshadow
1 Covergirl lip gloss
2 Oral B toothbrushes
total= $11.50

Now on to my bargains at CVS:

4 boxes of Kelloggs cereal
4 Pantene shampoos/conditioners
2 toothbrushes
1 bounce dryer bar
3 tide stain release packages
total= $9

Um, yeah, I was pretty pumped! With my conservative estimates, I saved about $75 this week. Woo hoo! It's a good thing, because we hit up the Sisters' Seafood Buffet tonight, and it was delish, but not cheap!

Hope you have a great weekend. I have a craft project, some cleaning, maybe a baseball game and enjoying the spring-like weather on my to-do list!

Good night.

New signature

So I'm just getting the hang of this whole blog thing and learning as I go, but I just wanted to try out my new signature. Here it is!

Just a "normal" week

Not much going on this week. Just doing our thing. That's why I haven't posted anything. I feel like there's nothing going on to write about. We are over the stomach bug....hopefully, but it didn't go out without a fight, that's for sure!

Our house is sitting there empty, waiting on us....our loan is being processed, not exactly as I type, because it's 10pm, but hopefully someone's working on it during normal hours. We are READY that's for sure.

We had a great weekend in Americus, GA, with Rick's parents. We celebrated his dad's retirement and went to their farewell party. They're moving to Tennessee. They were in Am. 30 years and really made a great impact there. I gained more appreciation and respect for them just by seeing the lives they had touched.

Tuesday my friend Shaunna invited me and Benjamin to come along with her to pick up some furniture in Birmingham. We had the best time hitting up all the antique and furniture consignment shops. She is into bringing a new life to old furniture. Jump over to her blog and check it out. She's super talented!

This week is spring break for the college students so we are taking a break and resting up for a busy March. 2 retreats coming up!

Have a great day!

Lauren

Stomach bug, house & photography

Yes, you read correctly....stomach bug. It has wiped me out. I think Rick's had a mild version (to me it seems mild.) I've been doubling his trips to the potty and his lasted a couple days while I'm definitely on day 5. I'm not going to complain for the whole post though, everything else is going pretty good for us.

The house is 99% finished and our loan is being processed. Closing date is set for March 17, if everything goes according to plan. Here are some of the latest pics.




I'm gonna be cooking lots of yummy stuff in here!

I love the trim and the doors!

My photography has really seemed to pick up lately. I really feel like that is what God wants me to be doing. He's made it quite obvious recently. I've had lots of interest from the bridal show (Feb. 21) and from weddings I did last year. It's really exciting. It's my dream and...the more photography I can do, the longer I can stay home with my boy.

Speaking of the boy, I guess I couldn't write without mentioning him. He's been an angel lately. I mean we still have non-stop craziness at our house and toys, blankies, etc. strung out all over the house, but that's normal I guess. I found a toothbrush in my drawer the other day when I was looking for my shorts. :) He has been the sweetest thing lately. He's in a very attached phase right now. With both me and Rick. He kind of has a melt down when either of us leave (not easy- Rick leaves every morning.) He's also addicted to his blankies! Every time we go to bed/nap, he gets to pick out a blankie from his massive collection. He usually picks 3. He will lay his head down on my shoulder, but only after I drape his blankies on me. He will then pat my arm if I haven't started patting him yet. When he wakes up, he cannot wait to get OUT, but not until he hands me all 3 blankies. We walk around with them for a little, then find toys to play with instead.