Tunes and Spoons

a name and a blessing

2012-03-09T17:57:00.001-05:00

This week has been insanely busy between saying goodbye to family that was visiting, going back to work (2 days a week), working on blog designs, OH AND taking care of my beautiful little baby.

Anyway, I didn't want to let too much time pass and not document Evaleigh's blessing day.

It was so lovely.

We couldn't have been encircled with more love and support from our family. John gave her her blessing in church on Sunday and it was so sweet. I am so grateful to a husband who is such a worthy and loving man. It was a beautiful experience to see my baby blessed by her father. I love the gospel and the plan that my Heavenly Father has for me and my little family.

Evaleigh wore a dress that was mine when I was a little girl. My mother took off the 80's collar and sewed on this beautiful light pink velvet ribbon. She wore a vintage Sun-dee hat by Linda's Vintage. I added the elastic so it would fit around her tiny head. She was such a good sport and didn't fuss about it at all. She has to put up with a lot from me.

Have a lovely weekend!

We are going to catch up on some rest, Community, and help my sister with Parker's nursery!

we voted!!!

2012-03-06T16:45:00.000-05:00

My eyes got a little misty standing there at the voting booth today.

I am so grateful for my freedom and this country we live in.

I love exercising my right to vote and the unique opportunity we have to choose the leaders of our country.

I hope all of you will take the chance to go cast your vote today and let your voice be heard.

winner of custom blog design!!!

2012-03-06T09:10:00.000-05:00

So sorry this is a day late. We were soaking up every moment with our family who were in town for Evaleigh's blessing. Pictures and details on that lovely weekend to come.

For now I'll leave you with this....a picture of our ridiculously cute baby.

*****

Thank you all so much for your support and excitement about my new project Tunes & Spoons Design. I have already had an overwhelming response and I can't tell you how wonderful that feels.

So as a thank you I have a surprise.

I couldn't pick just ONE winner, so there are TWO.

amy D said...

Wow girl, you are crazy talented!! I'd love to win a full layout :) Thanks for the chance!February 28, 2012 10:16 AM

Jessica Holly said...

I'm more than a little excited about this! I of course follow this blog! February 28, 2012 11:21 AM

Congrats Amy and Jess!!! Email me at tunesandspoons@gmail.com so we can get started on your custom design. I am so excited to work with you guys.

Don't forget that I am still offering the 15% off of a Full Layout Package as part of the Design Launch. Go to the Tunes & Spoons Design blog now to purchase and lock in that rate.

this weekend

2012-03-02T11:58:00.001-05:00

This weekend we have family coming in from all over for our little girl. We will have a packed house and I can't wait for all of the loud noises and conversation! I hope we will make yummy food and play charades.

She will be blessed in church this Sunday by her father and we are so happy to be surrounded by those who love her.

I've still got some last minute details to add to her dress. This dress was mine when I was a baby. I'm so happy my mother saved it all of these years.

Have a lovely weekend!

P.S. Have you entered my giveaway for a FREE Full Layout from Tunes & Spoons Design? Go now to enter for a Free Custom Blog Design by me! Giveaway ends on Monday!

3 lovely things

2012-02-29T13:29:00.000-05:00

1. My sleeping babe with exposed midriff. (not in a cloth diaper GASP! it was laundry day...)

2. A delicious snack of fresh strawberries, sour cream, and brown sugar.

3. A walk with Miss Evaleigh and bright red kisses.

Have you entered my giveaway for a FREE Full Layout from Tunes & Spoons Design? Go now to enter for a Free Custom Blog Design by me!

an announcement!

2012-02-28T09:04:00.025-05:00

I am thrilled to announce that today is the official launch of my new project
Tunes & Spoons Design!!!

*****

*****

I am so excited to continue my love for creating through the medium of blog design. Tunes & Spoons Design is all about working with you to create a unique and beautiful space that is just as beautiful as you are!

To kick off Tunes & Spoons Design the right way I am giving away a FREE FULL LAYOUT!!!!

In addition I am offering 15% off of a Full Layout to everyone who enters the giveaway!

To enter you must:

1. Be a follower of this blog.

For an extra entry you can:

 Blog or Facebook about this giveaway and leave a link to it.

Follow Tunes & Spoons Design Blog

Please leave separate comments for each entry.

The giveaway will be open until 3/5!

Good luck!

forget me not

2012-02-27T13:09:00.057-05:00

Yesterday was my first day back to church since Evaleigh was born.

I missed it and she loved it.

I didn't want to chance it getting there late and miss taking the sacrament, so I got myself ready and put my sleeping newborn in the car at 8:30.

We got there at 8:40 and I changed her, dressed her, and fed her in the nursing mothers room and we were in our seats by 9:00!

The moment the music started for the service her whole body relaxed and she started smiling. In 10 minutes she was asleep and slept the whole time. I was so grateful!

When we came home from church, mom and I took a walk. It was a peaceful walk and the sun was beautiful on the trees. On the way back I saw little purple Forget-me-not flowers on the side of the road and they reminded me of this: (it is something every woman should read or watch at least once a month! it makes me so happy!)

The winner of the Christi Lynn Shop Giveaway is:

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max:

Result:

3Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Rebekah McLain said...

I am following Christi's Blog now

February 21, 2012 10:25 AM

Congrats Rebekah!!!! Get in touch with Christi at christi.brazee@gmail.com for your prize!

p.s. I have some really exciting news to announce tomorrow so stay TUNED!!!

another baby!!!!

2012-02-26T20:49:00.000-05:00

Remember this?

If not, go now. It will make you smile...or cry...or laugh...most likely laugh because I am sporting the ugly cry.

Well finally at 28 weeks this girl has a baby bump. It took a while for that thing to get on out there but now its the cutest bump around! She has the most ACTIVE little boy in there. I love him so much already and can't wait to have another little baby around.

I told her she has the pregnancy glow.

She said, "No, its just the toaster effect on Instagram..."

No pretty sister, you've got your glow on.

Now give me a nephew.

there is nothing hotter...

2012-02-24T08:27:00.000-05:00

than a man in a Baby Bjorn.

Then add a stache in to the mix...and you get this. Emm emm emm.

Yesterday we finally discovered the magic that is the Baby Bjorn. It may be the most valuable hand-me-down we received, ever. (Thanks Brit!)

When John got home and I told him about those special powers of the Bjorn he said, "We need to write them a thank you note." Its true, we should.

Baby Bjorn + Brit = lifesavers

I had tried my beautiful Sienna Moby Wrap with EJ and she. was. not. having. it.

I just can't quite figure it out yet. I'm not sure if its because she was breech the whole time I was pregnant with her but this little girl loves to be upright. I'm going to pull the Moby back out in another month or so, maybe she'll change her tune about it by then.

She took two 3 hours naps in that thing yesterday and I've never been more productive. I did 3 loads of laundry, and ACTUALLY put them up. I stuffed and prepared all of Ev's diapers for the day. I also cleaned the nursery, our bedroom, and the living room in preparation for Ev's first playdate with little Annie. Sadly, we did not get a picture of the girls together. Natalie brought us delicious vegan scones from Dulce Vegan Bakery in Decatur, the chocolate lavender scone was to die for! Thanks for a fun day Natalie! Go to their facebook page and look through their food and try not to drool. That chocolate pear pie...I have to get out there.

I can foresee this Bjorn becoming part of our routine. I found myself wearing it with Ev this morning at 6am in my skivvies bouncing on the bouncy ball in the nursery when she couldn't sleep.

I was desperate and it worked like a charm. The things we do for our children...

Have a lovely weekend hopefully filled with scones and pie!

my husband made me cry

2012-02-23T12:22:00.001-05:00

Two nights ago I came home from a day date with my sister and EJ in Athens. When I entered our bedroom Mr. Murphy was snuggled beneath our covers and this was laying on my side of the bed. I didn't see what it was at first and then when I realized I burst in to tears.

He said it was my Valentine's Day gift but it came late because he didn't know that it was being handmade in Isreal.

I amend what I said about jewelry here. This necklace means so much. Mmmmm...I just love him so much. He is the most perfect gift giver. Now, I can keep our baby close to my heart no matter where I am.

Aaaaaannnd he's funny.

Last night:

J: April 4th, put it on your calandar.

Me: Why?

J: Titanic in 3d.

Me: "Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo" (Titanic theme song, of course)

J: Most recognizable theme song. Oh, do you want something else for dessert?

Me: Titanic on VHS?

J: Ew, thats like 4 tapes or something.

Really dessert was banana pudding snack packs. Better than Titanic on VHS? Not sure. Better than Titanic in 3d? No way.

I love that he can make me cry and laugh.

Enough mush? Ok, I'll stop. Have a great Thursday.

bottom line

2012-02-22T13:53:00.000-05:00

We have officially started cloth diapering. I am so excited to see this little bubble butt around here more often.

I mean check her out...baby got back.

The jury is still out on:

Kissa's Newborn All-In-One Diaper by Kissaluvs

Kissaluvs Marvels One Size AIO

FuzziBunz Perfect Size Small Pocket Diaper

Flipz Pocket Diaper

Thirsties Covers with Pre-folds

Thirsties Fab Fitter Duo with a cover

Thirsties Pocket Diaper

Here is what I've learned so far:

-FuzziBunz materials feel oh-so-good.

-Pre-folds are complicated. I got peed on last night. Looks like momma still has some learning to do.

-Pre-folds take a longer time to dry than expected.

-Wet bags are a must.

-Kissa's Newborn diaper does not absorb the poop like Fuzzi or Thirsties

-Snappi's look scary and feel scary but are wonderful. You can pull them tighter than you think.

-I'm still trying to get the hang of flannel wipes, more on that later.

-All-in-one, fitteds, and pockets are proving to be easier than pre-folds, but I'm told the pre-fold thing takes a lot of patience and practice. I'm still working on it.

EJ is seeming to love them a lot more than sposies, yay!

christi lynn shop giveaway!

2012-02-21T10:08:00.000-05:00

Today I have a giveaway for you guys that I am super excited about. Christi Lynn's Shop makes beautiful handmade items. I am in love with some of the baby hats she has made (naturally!). But she also makes these unique Bow Headbands.

She is giving away one of the following of your choice:

a bow headband- in ANY custom color

the rocky hat

or an ear flap baby beanie

To enter you must:

1. Be a follower of this blog.

2. Follow Christi's blog.

For an extra entry you can:

1. Favorite her Etsy shop

2. Like her shop on Facebook

3. Blog or Facebook about this giveaway and leave a link to it.

Please leave separate comments for each entry.

Giveaway open to U.S. Residents only.

The giveaway will end on 2/27 and the winner announced then.

Good Luck!

the day we gained new names- part 2

2012-02-20T13:38:00.001-05:00

part 1 here

********

Soon after I got back in to the room the anesthesiologist came in with an army of people behind her. (Truly it was probably only 2 more people but when your 'lady business' is out there and you are slightly in zee nude, any more than 1 feels like an army.) I wish I could remember that woman's name because she was so gentle and made the entire process a whole lot less scary than what I had anticipated. I don't know why people like to regale horror birth stories to you when you are pregnant, but I had heard some of the worst about c section births and epidurals.

My experience was the complete opposite.

My angel anesthesiologist talked me through every single thing she was doing. She put a local anesthetic on my lower back while she inserted in the epidural needle in to my spine. Honestly it wasn't painful in the slightest. There was only the smallest pinch, getting the IV was much worse than the epidural. Then she began to put the medicine in to the epidural and told me I would experience some mild cramping in my hips as it went in. I had none. There was maybe a bit of tightening but I wouldn't have characterized it as cramping. The whole time I was breathing in and out as deeply as I could. It helped.

John held my hand through the whole process. His big hand enveloped mine and I squeezed it as hard as I could just so I could feel closer to him in the last moments before our lives would change forever. I felt so peaceful with him by my side. At that moment they could have done anything to me and I wouldn't have cared. Evaleigh and John were the only things on my mind. The anticipation of KNOWING we would meet our daughter in a matter of minutes was heaven.

After they finished with everything they rolled me back on to my side. At that point the numbness was trickling down my legs. All of the sudden things felt heavy. A man came to me with a cold ice pack and put it against my arm. "Do you feel how cold that is? I'm going to start down near your pelvis and move the cold upwards and I want you to tell me when you can feel the cold again." It was a fun game, but not a game I would ever cheat at. The very moment I felt the slightest cold, I made it known. He would come back every few minutes and we would play that game again. While I was waiting to numb up I remember the nurse telling John a couple times, "Mr. Murphy you don't have to put on your OR clothes yet." I think he was nervous about when to put them on, it was pretty darn cute. When I couldn't even tell the man was touching me with the ice pack anymore, it was time to go to the operating room. They wheeled me out of pre-op and down the mile long hallway. The hallway lights above me were passing so fast.

We arrived at the operating room and my heart felt so warm. I felt like I was almost in a dream-like state because of how happy I was about what was about to happen. There were over a dozen people in the room buzzing about shouting orders. There were so many things happening all at once it was hard to keep up. They transferred me on to the operating table by some sort of blow up mattress thing, I actually enjoyed the ride. A big black guy said in a happy booming voice, "Girl, looks like you enjoyed that ride. Its nice to see someone happy about this for once. Looks like your baby is going to have a nice smile too!" I felt pumped. All I could think was, "LET'S DO THIS!!!" John came in to the room in his blue OR clothes and they put the sheet up in front of my face so I couldn't see anything. Time felt like it was passing so quickly.

John took my hand and I said to Dr. Sun, whom I LOVE, "Tell me when you start!" She replied, "We actually started about two minutes ago." That was a shocking moment. I looked up at the nurse standing above me. He had his hands on my shoulders and was looking over the sheet and then I noticed....the reflection in his glasses. I could see my doctor cutting my body open! I had a very quick internal battle, to watch or not to watch. When red was mostly what I saw, my sissy self won. I looked over at my sweet John who was looking back and forth between me and where our baby would be born.

His beautiful brown eyes were such a comfort to me. He whispered to me, "You're doing great!" Little did I know he was watching the nurses play tug of war with the sides of my stomach to get EJ out. He said the moment they cut my uterus open both of her little feet popped out right away. There was no doubt about it, she was a breech baby.

I heard the nurses mumbling something about who was going to sing soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. I thought maybe it was the anesthesia talking. Then the most glorious thing happened, Dr. Sun said,

"Somebody call it!"

"1:19!"

"Uh one-two-three...Happy Birthday to you...."

The whole hospital staff surrounded me and Evaleigh and began a beautifully sung rendition of "Happy Birthday" mingled with cries of my newborn baby. She came in to the world surrounded by singing, it was so fitting. Her tiny cry was the most heavenly thing I had ever heard. I felt connected to her immediately. I couldn't see her but I could hear her, and in that moment, it was enough.

I got to meet her voice.

I savored every particle of sound that was coming out of her. Tears were running down my cheeks and all I could do was close my eyes and take in that most sacred moment. John was talking me through what they were doing, he did not leave my side. He was clenching my hand while standing up and watching everything they were doing to our little girl. It felt like only moments and then they brought her over to us and John held her for the first time. He brought her down close to me.

Then I got to meet her body.

It was the most wonderful thing I had ever experienced. I lay there completely aware of only her. It was a face that I had never imagined and then I knew why I had never dreamed of her while I was pregnant. I could have never imagined a face so perfect and lovely. It was such an overwhelming and indescribable feeling to look in to the face of some one who was half of me and half of John. I got to put my hands on her and tell her how much I loved her and how beautiful she was. She wasn't crying anymore. She was so alert and I could tell she was loving her firsts moments of life. I wanted to know what she was thinking and how she felt.

They finished sewing and stapling me back up and then they moved us to a recovery room. There they gave EJ her first bath and then they put her tiny naked body on to my skin. I held her so carefully and smelled her delicious skin. She felt so soft and her movements felt familiar. The nurses left and I was able to try and nurse her for the first time.

John and I were glued to her and we talked about our feelings and how much we loved her. Those were powerful moments as it was the first time with just the 3 of us all alone. I loved it. The room felt holy, you could feel that it was a place in which new life entered in to quite often. All around us we could hear cries of other new babies who had just been brought in to the world. It was our haven where we could be quiet and take in every bit of her.

After some time passed we were able to go to our hospital room and family came up to meet her. I was so proud to introduce her to my family and to watch John's protective nature kick in. We spent 4 days there recovering, healing, and learning about our new baby girl.

From that day on we gained the new and honorable names of mother and father.

We love our new names.

art is...

2012-02-16T10:06:00.001-05:00

A friend of mine contacted me about a genuinely inspiring project. It is a project that her brother is involved in called Victus Creus.

There should be more things like this in the world.

Truly.

They are asking people to share what art is to them.

Here is what art is to us:

Here is a little more about Victus Creus and their mission:

'We accept art submissions from anybody who wants to contribute, that means you! We have a space where you can submit a scanned in copy of your piece along with a written statement of what the piece means to you, how it empowers you, etc. and your name (contact info if you’d like) and we’ll post it up for sale once it gets ten votes. Thus creating exposure for you, and creating a network of creativity that this whole community can benefit from. And the beauty part is that you can do this at any age or skill level! We want to help you on your path to a creative and empowering lifestyle!

Every piece comes with information about the artist. That means whether it was created by you or one of our other contributing artists, every piece (t shirts, hats, prints, that’s right, all of them) will come with a card like one you might see next to a painting in a gallery. These cards all contain written statements by the artist about what went through their head when they did the piece, why they did it, how it empowered them, etc. The cards will also come with contact info if you wish to include it. It is optional but we strongly recommend that you at least give a facebook page or email that people who buy your art from our website can reach you at. We want people to know that all of our contributing artists are important to us, and we want to support contributors in any way we can. Word of mouth advertising is important, so the more that people know about where their art pieces come from, the more support the artist gets.

Above and beyond any reason we do what we do is that we just simply love to do it. Creativity is our lifestyle, our passion and our way of being contributing members of society. This is our way of being the positive and empowering change that we wish to see"

You can post a picture of what art is to you on their facebook page or you can send the picture to them at artis@victuscreus.com

I was actually supposed to post about this last week in time to share her awesome giveaway but I dropped the ball. Forgive me Kynslie?

I'd love to see what Art is... to you.

If you participate, send me a link, I'd love to see where this beautiful project goes!

a guest post : our little almanac

2012-02-15T09:13:00.002-05:00

Dear Readers, meet this lovely lady and her babe. Her name is Kendra and she is one of my new favorites. I hope you all had wonderful Valentine's Day.

********

Would it alarm you, Tunes and Spoons readers, if I started off by saying that I am a "wild thing?" I'm sure most of you grew up reading the tale of Max who ventured far off to the land of the wild things where when he was about to leave their world they screamed "Don't go! I'll eat you up, I love you so!" I used to find that disturbing as a child but as I've grown older I find that rather endearing. Odd, I know. But I actually have this habit of mine that when something is so good and I can hardly stand it, my jaw locks so tight and I grit my teeth because my body seriously can not contain the excitement. But rather than eat that person/place/thing I'd most likely either like to kiss it or cry because I love it so much {unless it's an ice cream sundae. In that case I would rather eat it up because I love it so!}

Seeing that yesterday was Valentine's Day, thinking about the things I love is still on the surface of my heart. There is so much passion I have built up in chest that I'd thought I'd share with you some of the things I'm WILD about in no particular order:

+ Marriage. I love, love, love the bond and strength that forms between the unity of a man and a woman. I love it in my marriage and I love seeing love in the marriage of others. To me, there's nothing better!

+ baby smiles & cuddles. My first baby just turned one 2 weeks ago. I never knew how quickly my eyes could turn into faucets until my sweet Evelyn nestled her tiny body into my chest for the first time. And here we are a year later and my eyes still leak with every little embrace, especially now as cuddles are not her thing anymore, that busy body gal!

+ motherhood. I am WILD about this one. There is no quicker way to learn about yourself than to become a mother. You learn of your strength as a woman - physical and emotional, you learn of sacrifice, of patience, of charity and compassion, you learn of humility, perseverance. I have never been a stronger woman and I respect myself and all the women in the world one hundred fold for the great duty it is to bear and rear children.

+ I'm WILD about anything with cheese. Macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese, cottage cheese, mozzarella sticks - you name it!

+ travel. I LOVE seeing the world and all that humanity has to offer. It is so breathtaking to leave your known culture and arrive in another. It just does something to a person, ya know what I mean?

+ I am so grateful for the wonderful genius who decided to first dip an apple into caramel and then roll it in nuts, drizzled with chocolate {most notably, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory}

+ I'm WILD about blogging. I love it. I find it so therapeutic. I love blogging about my little daily adventures and triumps that would otherwise go unnoticed and forgotten, but here in our little almanac they live forever. I like that.

What is it that you are WILDLY in love with? I hope you'll pop on over here and spill your heart out :)

********

Thanks Kendra, I'm over here today talking about some love of my own!

valentine

2012-02-14T13:59:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day

Love,

a cough and a toot.

2012-02-13T16:58:00.000-05:00

At the end of this week our beauty will be one month old. I literally CANNOT believe it. Here are some clips of the first month of her little life. And yes, that is a toot at the end, I'm a proud momma.

Dear Time,
Please slow down.
Love,
The Murphy Family

(music: little sack of sugar by elizabeth mitchell)

12 pictures of the babe

2012-02-11T14:56:00.000-05:00

1. Some quiet time in the nursery with my babe

2. EJ pretending to be a lion

3. Polka dots and yellow bows

4. Snuggles after eating early in the morning

5. Post-op doc appointment, struggling with our stroller...wide load in the back folks

6. Milk happy

7. Oh! Those lips...

8. The happiest Auntie around

9. Cookies from Courtroom Connect, thanks guys!

10. GOOD MORNING : )

11. Dove...that's just cruel. At least Ev can follow your advice.

12. And one more just because...

I can't stop taking pictures of this little girl. I love her so.

busy

2012-02-10T14:59:00.001-05:00

I swear I'll make good on my promise of birth story part deux. It has been a really busy week.

eat sleep poop eat sleep poop GO TO THE DOCTOR eat sleep poop poop some more eat eat eat eat eat eat sleep poop change 100 diapers SING JE VEUX VIVRE TO EVALEIGH WHILE SITTING ON THE TOILET (she loved it by the way) eat sleep HAVE A COMMUNITY MARATHON WITH MY HUSBAND AND EAT JUNK poop change diapers stare at my baby sleeping WATCH THE BACHELOR eat sleep poop READ COMMENTARY ON THE BACHELOR eat sleep poop change diapers MAKE HEADBANDS FOR EJ change diapers do some laundry dont fold laundry CONTEMPLATE VALENTINES DAY GIFTS FOR JOHN eat eat eat poop diapers eat eat sleep pump READ FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE TO EJ BEFORE BEDTIME change diapers watch ev smile

i love our life. really truly i do.

have a lovely weekend!

the day we gained new names- part 1

2012-02-06T19:04:00.005-05:00

I'm not really sure how to begin this story of the most sacred day of our lives. In fact I have tried to write it several times and have had trouble trying to get it out. I'm positive that these simple words will not give that day the honor that it surely deserves, however I am going to attempt to recount that beautiful day before the precious details slip my mind. The mere thought of the feelings and emotions that were present then make me cry.

***

Evaleigh had a mind of her own from the beginning. I struggled quite a bit with the idea of having to deliver c-section due to Ev's breech presentation. After much prayer and thought John and I decided that it was the best decision to try all that we could naturally to get her to turn. We thought that if she made the turn on her own then we would proceed with our planned natural birth but if not, we would make what we believed to be the safest decision for our child and have the recommended scheduled Cesarean section birth.

Our prayers changed from "Please help Evaleigh to turn so we can have a natural birth" to "Please keep her safe and let her be in whatever position is best for her." Days would pass and still no change. I began to prepare for my birth experience in a very different way than I had imagine my whole life. It was difficult and not without many many tears and heartache. After countless supportive and encouraging emails, messages, phone calls, and shared personal experiences from friends, I began to feel hope. I felt hope that our birthing experience, come what may, would be nothing less because it was not a natural birth.

Monday night, the night before our scheduled c section, my sister and her husband came over and we all played cards until about midnight. No big deal, we were just going to stay up late because its not like we were having a baby in the morning or anything. We really enjoyed our last baby-free night. I fully aniticipated to sleep horribly, much like Christmas Eve when you wake up at 3am and realize you have to go back to sleep and then again at 5 and 6:30 and then you can finally get out of bed at 8.
I slept solid until 8am. It was such a blessing.
My mother fixed everyone breakfast and I was forced to smell delicious bacon and bread and not eat anything because of the surgery.

I showered and everything was so surreal. We got everything ready and packed the car. When John and I drove out of the driveway we held hands and and I said, "Next time we are on this driveway we will be 3." We listened to soothing classical piano music the whole way there. It was such a surreal drive. We had driven those roads and highways hundreds and hundreds of times and this time felt the same, familiar and right. The roads were leading us to our daughter. We got to the hospital and left all of our things in the car. It felt weird walking into the hospital with nothing but a purse on my shoulder, I felt like I needed more than that to accomplish this huge feat that was ahead of me. But all I really needed was my body, my strong and capable body that had courageously held this beautiful baby for nearly 10 months.
We checked in at the front desk and the excitement was bubbling up inside of me. I sat there holding the hand of the man I made this child with; it felt perfect and whole and right. My mother and sister arrived shortly after us and the nurses took me back to my pre-op room. I swear the walk there was a mile or more. Once we got inside I changed in to my hospital gown.

I recieved my IV and they drew some blood. John took care of everything, reading all of the necessary papers and then he would just have me sign. Every little task was taking us one step closer to meeting our daughter, that precious tiny thing we had made together.
After all of my prep work was done my family was allowed to come in. My father came in parading the most embarrassingly large pink unicorn (of which has since gained the name Feathers) and a beautiful bouquet of delicate pink roses. I don't know if I have ever seen his face so happy.

My husband, my mother, my father, and my sister were all gathered around me. I was surrounded by the people that I love the most and that love me the most and inside me was a new person that we would all love even more together. I felt secure and confident. I felt supported and protected. The moments were passed with exchanges of. "I can't believe this moment is really here!" and "I'm so excited!" phrases. It was all so blissful. The nurse came in and said, "Ok mom, 15 minutes til!" My heart lept! We would be meeting our daughter in a matter of minutes. I had one more thing I wanted to do...try and use the bathroom.
I rolled my IV in to the bathroom with me and sat down and had a quiet moment to myself. I said a prayer and told Evaleigh how excited I was to meet her. It was as if that moment froze. It was our last moment together just the two of us while I still had her all to my self. It was a sacred moment to me. I told her that she was about to come in to the big world and I promised her then and there that I would do all I could to protect her and be the best mother I could. I rubbed my belly, took one last glance at my pregnant self in the mirror, and then went back to my room to receive my epidural.
We were going to have a baby.
It was go time.

part 2 here

partnerships.

2012-02-03T13:02:00.002-05:00

Dearest readers and friends,

We cannot thank each of you enough for reading and keeping up with this here silly little blog. We have been utterly amazed at the outpouring of love and joy that has come from sharing bits our lives with you all. Thank you for your sincere comments and encouraging words, they mean quite a bit to us and we appreciate every single one.

Now for something new...

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We only ask that in return you put our button on your blog.

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Ad space is limited per month so make sure you get your request in ASAP.

Giveaways on Tunes & Spoons:

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We look forward to working with you!
Happy Friday!

in the still of the night

2012-02-02T11:46:00.002-05:00

I love night time. I've always been a night owl but its different now. John and I used to have a bed time of 1 or 2 am, now we meet those hours with squinted eyes and tipping toes. By the dim glow of the night-light these hours are now considered "waking up in the middle of the night".

I love coming out of the fog of slumber and hearing Evaleigh's little grunts, I know she is slowly coming out of sleep too. One of us will scoop her tiny warm body up in to our arms, change her diaper, and then some of the sweetest moments happen.

I take her to the blue chair in the nursery and we get to reconnect for a moment. I love feeding her and being just the thing that she needs. Sometimes we lock stares and in those moments my vision and soul is a tunnel straight to her and nothing else matters. When she is finished eating sometimes she will reward me with a beautiful tiny grin. Soft singing and hums by me or her father lull her back to dreaming. The night is quiet and still and that room becomes a holy and sacred place.

rubber band heart

2012-02-01T14:08:00.001-05:00

Last night I finally got out.

By my self.

It was both the worst thing and the best thing.

John insisted that I go after I had a bit of a break down. Yesterday morning was my first time with Evaleigh all by my self (that is until my sister came to my rescue at 1:00). She cried all morning and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. It was wearing and I was feeling very inadequate. However, I am continually amazed at the increased patience that I have for this little girl because she is mine and I love her so.

So around 7:30pm I mustered up a lot of courage to make the trek to Target. My mother drove me because I had just popped a Percocet.

I kissed my girlie and husband goodbye and stared at them both longingly as if I would be gone for weeks. I looked at him and said with tear filled eyes, "You know this is my first time without her, and I'm not just talking about the two weeks she has been born. This is the first time in 10 months I will be without her." He assured me I would be ok and that this little trip was really something I needed. So, I summoned my stronger self, agreed, and went out the door. I cried almost the whole way to Target while my mother offered up beautiful words of encouragement and advice.

Now that Evaleigh is born, a piece of my heart lives outside of my body. It is as if there is a rubber band connecting my heart to hers. I am constantly aware of her little being and where she is. The further we drove the more tension I felt in the distance we were stretching a part. My heart was longing to snap right back to hers.

When we got to Target my mother dropped me off at the front like I was a middle schooler and told me to go in alone and take as much time as I'd like. In my head I thought, "Sure mom, I'm here for Hydrogen Peroxide and that's it. Se ya in 5, I've got a newborn to get back to!" I walked through those glorious Target doors and instantly felt at home. It was as if the automatic doors sprung open for me, wind rushed through my hair, and the light shone round about me. AHHHHH! Target is a form of therapy. No matter what I can always count on a stroll through there to get me through.

I set off to find the Peroxide. As I was walking down the aisles all I could see were mothers and daughters everywhere. Where did they all come from? It was like they were taunting me. "I love you mommy!" "I love you too sweetheart!" Seriously?? Where were all of the unruly children screaming and acting out? There were sweet smiling babies cooing at their mothers and little girls bouncing next to their mothers chatting and giggling. I stood in the hair bow aisle in a puddle of my own tears. I must have looked pretty crazy.

Once I finally regained composure, my trip to acquire an .82 cent bottle of peroxide turned into an indulgent shopping spree. I left with ice cream, chocolates, some soda, a laundry basket for Ev, shampoo and conditioner, 3 different breakfast items, diapers and wipes.

Then all of the sudden I felt normal again. My 5 minute in-and-out turned in to an hour of "me time". John was completely right. That little trip turned out to be just what I needed. I came home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

My rubber band snapped right back and my heart was just where it belonged.

first fort

2012-01-30T13:47:00.000-05:00

This weekend we made a pile of all of our pillows and blankets and made a fort in Evaleigh's nursery. We cozied up together under the warmth of the soft worn bed sheets. We had spinach and feta flat bread (Oh feta, we finally reunite! And what a lovely reunion it was!) We took turns snuggling our daughter and watched a pretty awesome documentary. Yes, it was amazing. No, we are not ashamed. Then we spent the rest of the evening playing music and singing for our baby.

such is life

2012-01-27T14:44:00.003-05:00

When Evaleigh was 4 days old we wanted to teach her something very important. Before she was born John and I came up with the idea to take her to the temple as her very first outing. This is something that we hope to do with all of our children after they are born. So, on the way home from her doctor's appointment we drove by the Atlanta Temple. We got out of the car and stood outside of the gate and told her about the gospel of eternal families. We told her about how she is sealed to us forever because her mommy and daddy were married in the holy temple.

How grateful I am to know that we will never be parted from her no matter what happens to any of us. I am so happy that when John and I were married we were sealed together by the power of the priesthood. This sealing goes through out the eternities and not just 'til death do us part'. We are an eternal unit and because of this, our children will be ours forever and ever. To me heaven would not be heaven if I didn't have my husband and daughter by my side.

We stood there and talked to her for quite some time as cars passed by us on the road. Although she was sleeping I'm sure her little spirit heard what we were saying to her.

As we were heading back towards the car we experienced irony at its best. After we had just had this incredible spiritual moment with our 4 day old daughter something awful happened.
John stepped in a pile of dog poop on the side walk.
Really!?!? Reeeeallyyy?!
I suppose it was a life lesson right then and there. Just as you are trying to do the right things and be good, opposition comes along to try and screw it up. We laughed so hard doubled over on the sidewalk and then I almost cried because every laugh hurt my c-section incision. It was a moment we will never forget. John wiped off his shoes in the grass and then we tried to salvage the experience.
We drove off singing "I Love to See the Temple" to our beautiful sleeping baby.

* to learn more about our church you can visit mormon.org or ask me questions!*

learning

2012-01-26T12:54:00.002-05:00

Here are a few things I have learned while being a mother so far:

100 pictures a day is still not enough.

Having a baby and seeing your husband with her makes him instantly 1,000 times hotter. I can hardly stand it. I love watching John rock Ev in her nursery as he sings primary songs to her to get her to fall asleep. That little girl loves her daddy so much. Ooo, I love making babies with him.

There is no limit to the amount of times we can say, "She is so freakin' beautiful.", it never gets old.

Our stroller has a wider back end than I realized. I made a grand entrance at the doctors yesterday while bumping in to approximately 15 chairs. I got some pretty weird looks from other patients to which I replied very loudly while laughing out-loud at myself, "Hey, sorry I'm still learning how to drive this thing." There was so much awkward silence...so much.

Lanolin is a thing of the gods. I love you lanolin.

I have learned to discern Ev's little cries. She has an "I'm hungry" cry, an "I'm so sleepy, let's just cuddle" cry, a "Will you please make this doctor stop checking my hips for hip displasia, I'm just fine" cry, an "I'm wet or poopy will someone please just change me" cry, and a really pitiful "can you just hold me close right now" cry. I love them all.

Love increases your patience, immensely.

I have never been more proud of someones toots and poops. When Evaleigh finally pooped after a long hard night of an upset tummy, I cried. I literally shed a tear over that poop.

Breast Pumps are also sent from heaven. A couple days ago I pumped and handed the milk off to John to store and refrigerate. He came leaping and bounding back in to the living room with a glowing grin on his face yelling, "Babe that was 3 and a half oz!! Good job! You are amazing!" I felt like a queen.

Holding my baby is the best therapy or pain killer out there. When my body starts to feel weak and I get a little whiney I hold Evaleigh and then all of the sudden all is right in the world.

Sometimes the only way to get your 'bid-ness' done in peace is just to take the baby in there with you. That way you can ensure she won't stop breathing while you are gone for 10 minutes.

I never knew my heart could love this much. It hurts. I could never live without this little girl now. It feels incredible to be an eternal family, nothing can ever separate us.

**HAVE YOU ENTERED THIS AMAZING GIVEAWAY?? Click HERE to enter to win a photo shoot with Holly L. Robbins Photography!**

little doll

2012-01-25T10:31:00.002-05:00

I bought this vintage doll dress at an antique store in town when we first found out we were having baby EJ. It was really just wishful thinking hoping that she would fit in to this little gem seeing that it was so teeny.

I have been hesitating putting real clothes on Evaleigh because I was afraid it would somehow diminish her newborn-ness, so we have been hanging around the house in long sleeve hospital t-shirts and diapees.

Then yesterday, with the suggestion of a baby fashion show by her grandmommee, I cracked. We got out several newborn outfits and the little doll dress I had purchased. I hoped so much it would fit her and it just so turned out that it is the ONLY thing that fit her!

Our baby girl is a little doll...and we like to play dress up.

These pictures were taken on her one week birthday.

*P.S. Can't wait to share Ev's birth story, coming soon*

**also P.S. HAVE YOU ENTERED THIS AMAZING GIVEAWAY?? Click HERE to enter to win a photo shoot with Holly L. Robbins Photography!**

7 days

2012-01-24T10:53:00.000-05:00

This past week has been the best week of our lives.

We never knew our hearts could love this much.

I love being a mother and John is an incredible daddy.

Our little girl is such a good baby and she is changing right before our eyes every day. She makes the funniest faces and we stare at her all of the time. One of our personal favorites is one that we like to call "the Bill Cosby". She purses her lips and raises her eyebrows like so. She already has us laughing. We are in awe of her every move. I'm going for some serious snuggle time riiiiiiiiiiiiight now.

evaleigh joy is born

2012-01-22T13:53:00.000-05:00

born in to this world on Tuesday January 17th at 1:19pm

7 pounds 11 ounces 18 3/4 inches

her daddy's lips

her mother's ears

the sweetest little spirit

we have never been more in love

about to POP + an incredible GIVEAWAY!! giveaway closed

2012-01-16T10:00:00.004-05:00

Last weekend I was able to be photographed by the insanely talented Holly L. Robbins. I can't say enough about how much these photographs mean to me. When Holly sent them to me I was in tears looking through them as she captured so beautifully how I have felt being pregnant with this precious daughter of mine.

As I go in to this very last day of being with child I am so thankful to have these photos to remember the special blessing I have had to bare a life.

***giveaway closed***

Now for the extremely exciting part for you guys!!

Dear engaged friends

Dear singers who need headshots

Dear marrieds

Dear families

Dear preggie friends

Dear friends with new babies

Dear anyone who wants to have flawless beautiful photos,

To one lucky reader Holly is offering:

50% off any photo session with Holly L.Robbins Photography AND an additional 25% off of one of her amazing print collections! That is an incredibly huge savings and awesome opportunity.

Here is how to enter (leave separate comments for each entry):

1. You must be a follower of the Tunes & Spoons Blog

2. You must like her Facebook Fan Page

3. Comment on this post and leave your email address.

For additional entries:

1. Visit her website and tell me which kind of photo session you would like to have with her.

2. Follow her blog.

3. Post this giveaway to your blog or your facebook.

And because Holly is so wonderful she is also extending the 25% off of print collections to anyone who would like to book a photo session if you mention 'Tunes & Spoons' in your booking. See why I love this lady so much.

This giveaway will be closed January 30th and the winner announced then. Good luck!

***anonymous comments are opened for this post only to those who do not have blogger accounts and would like to enter this giveaway. please leave your name and email as a way for us to contact you.***

The winner is comment number 34. Picked randomly by asking to husband, "Pick a number any number between 1 and 35."

Katy said...

I follow Holly's blog!

January 29, 2012 8:32 PM 

Congratulations Katy!!!!! Email Holly at holly@hollyrobbins.com to get in touch about your prize!

tonight, i was that girl...

2012-01-15T20:43:00.001-05:00

I swore I would never get to this point.

Tonight I went to grocery store for some serious necessities adorned in comfy gouchos and my husbands t-shirt.

I was passing by the milk and suddenly things were feeling a bit drafty. I ran my hand down my very pregnant belly and when I reached the bottom, to my horror and complete oblivion, my very pregnant belly was exposing itself...with out my permission.

How could I be so completely unaware of my own body?

I quickly tried to snuff out the situation and cover up but it was too late, I had been spotted.

Face-palm.

You see, I have stretch marks. I have one that I am particularly proud of. It resides directly above my belly button (if it can still be called that nowadays). It is an unmistakable lightening bolt. A few weeks ago I was thinking, "How could pregnancy get any cooler?" Then BAM...Harry Potter lightening bolt stretch mark on my tum.

After I procured all of the items on my list I went to the checkout and experienced my first REAL contraction. Dang. I had to completely stop walking and hold my shopping cart with a death grip.

Hold on baby girl...give your mama 2 more days.

I'm going to be a recluse and stay in til Tuesday, I can't be showing off my magical tummy marks anymore, I'm just not that girl.

evaleigh's nursery

2012-01-13T19:51:00.003-05:00

Alas, our baby girl's room is done! And all with 4 days to spare. There have been countless DIY projects and re-DIY's that have gone in to this nursery.

the curtains (the fabric of which was used as table cloths at our wedding reception)

the couch (which was my great grandmothers. it is painted then recovered)

the bunting

the scrabble name frame

the changing table

all of the pillows (except for the red target one)

the chest of drawers

and the list goes on and on...

So, here we present:

Evaleigh Joy Murphy's Nursery

Now, all we are missing is a little girl!!!

Oh, and I need some nursing pads...

late night seranade

2012-01-12T15:10:00.003-05:00

Last night after my mother and I finished making (adorable!!!) curtains for Evaleigh's room, John came in to her room to join us. We all sat in there and marveled and dreamt about what the future holds and what that room will hold. We said night time prayers together and then mother went down to bed. After she left I asked John if he would get out Hannah and play some music for me and EJ.

This was my first request.

I love playing and singing music together, it is one of my favorite things about our marriage.

I sat and watched him in awe. I wanted to soak in every thing about that moment through all of the pores of my body. I have very much enjoyed cherishing all of the last moments before 'we two' become 'we three'. Part of me wanted to freeze that moment, but I know what is ahead will be ever sweeter. The anticipation of all of the changes that are before us are a little scary and intimidating but John has never once seemed anxious. I ask him if he has any fears and he always replies, "No, I'm ready!"

This man was made for fatherhood and I can't wait to see it on him.

John likes to make me cry sometimes. He knows just how to get me. Last night he played this song for me and I tried everything I could not to let the tears drop down my cheeks but that is just an irrational thing to expect from a pregnant woman when you play a song like that. EJ and her daddy are going to be so close. It's hard to believe that I will get to see them together in 5 days. Be still my very pregnant heart...

little peach

2012-01-09T14:59:00.001-05:00

There has been a little project going on around the homestead lately. My mother and her....well we will call him "the gentleman emailer", have been busy putting in a beautiful orchard in the front yard. It has been adorned with various fruit and nut trees.

We will have plums, cherries, blueberries, apples, pears, walnuts, pecans, and many many more.

They planted a special little tree for our EJ...a Redhaven Peach Tree.

A peach tree for our little homemade Georgia peach.

We love it.

Right now it has beautiful tiny buds that will try mightily for the next several years to bare fruit. By the time Evaleigh is 3 we will be able to pick some of this fruit and make a delicious peach crumble together in her grandmomee's kitchen (one of her Daddy's favorite desserts). I can imagine us in there fumbling around making messes and wearing colorful aprons and the air will be full of giggles.

We will make her picture next to the tree every year.

I can't wait to watch her grow as it certainly will.

a baby shower brunch

2012-01-08T13:16:00.001-05:00

On Saturday a few girls from my church, my sister, and mother got together and threw me and Miss Evaleigh a baby shower. It was so much fun and it meant so much to me to be supported by all of these special ladies in my life, many of which have known me and my sister since we were pre-teens. I am in awe of their generosity and creativity!

It was a lovely brunch filled with REAL life baby advice, birthing stories, and lots of laughter.

(i love that this glass jar says "Prego". quite fitting for a baby shower don't cha think?)

The menu included:

Creamy Dreamy Grits Flying Biscuit Style

Breakfast Casserole

Susan Biscuits

Fresh Fruit

and

Waffle Skewers

She sure is!

And we are more ready than ever...bring on that little girl so we can change her outfits 30 times a day. Goodness knows we now have enough clothes to swing something like that!

Thank you so much to everyone who made it a perfect day.

evaleigh joy, i love you

2012-01-06T16:40:00.001-05:00

Dear Evaleigh,

In a matter of days I will hold you in my arms for the first time. I have imagined that moment countless times but I know that nothing has prepared me for how I am really going to feel. I have been holding you in my body for the past 9 months and it has been a privileged to share this body with you. I have been honored to give you the things you have needed to grow and prepare your self to come in to this world.

I have reveled in every kick, roll, and hiccup (those of which have been in the thousands). Thank you for all of the little reminders that you are here and you are a living being. I am going to miss having you all to myself, I hope your daddy will share you with me, because he can't wait to get his hands on you.

I am so hopeful for our future together as mother and daughter. You are about to make me something I have never been before. Thank you for giving me this sacred role. I think that our bond is already something pretty special and I can't wait for it to keep growing. I am so excited to look in to your little face for the first time and have your daddy by my side. We made you with a lot of love. I want to examine every millimeter of you and talk about who you look like. We have such a great life ahead. Thank you for being my daughter and giving me more joy than I ever thought possible. I love you and I'll be seeing you soon.

love,

your mother

indian style

2012-01-03T17:39:00.001-05:00

I guess one of the pros of having a breech babe are all of the extra ultrasounds you get to have. I could never get tired of watching EJ do her thang in there. Today she was just relaxing indian style with her bum down and her little baby hands up by her face. We are still on a quest to turn this child. I have been trying everything in the book.

Want my list,~~my extremely effective list~~?

Although maybe I'm not one to be taking advice from...

round ligament massage

inversions (not too many of these, they make my head hurt...bad)

Webster adjustments (I go for round 3 this week)

cold stuff on baby's head

lots and lots of prayers and blessings

playing music near the exit...if you get my drift

a little bit of homemade acupressure (mr murphy squeezes my pinky toes and that is supposed to do something)

stretching and moving on my birthing ball to open up my hips more

What ever will be will be. At least we know we have tried and tried.

Every day that passes is a day closer to us meeting our daughter. And really that is all that matters. That idea keeps me going. We are so excited.

road trips, martinelli's on my pants, and belly touching

2012-01-01T20:19:00.002-05:00

We had a lovely New Years Eve.

John, 4 of our friends, and I decided to take a spontaneous road trip to South Carolina to acquire some illegal fireworks.

You know...the dirty and exciting kind that leave the ground.

We drove squished in my moms car and listened to Ultimate Dance Party 1997, Ludacris, and old school Britney Spears.

When we got back we spent the rest of the evening having a jam sesh and a bon fire and shooting off enourmous amounts of roman candles, black cats, mighty thor's, mother gooses, and fireworks.

Several minutes after midnight I spilled my Martinelli's on a very ironic place on my pants. It looked like my water just went and broke.

I didn't even move or care, towards the end of the night my bod felt like I had ridden a horse all the way to SC and back by my self to get the new years fireworks.

I'm starting to feel pretty uncomfortable now which I don't mind so much considering things have been beautifully easy thus far. Hubs and I purchased a birthing ball yesterday (which really is just a big bouncy exercise ball but I feel cooler and more productive calling it a birthing ball.) I spent at least 3 hours on it today stretching and moving. It is the best my body has felt in months. I'm hoping that that combined with my Webster adjustment from this weekend that my cousin Brian suggested will help EJ to turn.

THERE IS STILL HOPE!

The night ended with some serious belly rubbing and I didn't mind it at all.

Free rubs for anyone who'd like them...just consider me your lucky Buddha for 2012.

2011 you did not disappoint

2011-12-30T09:01:00.001-05:00

2011 had a lot to live up to as it had to follow our first year as newlyweds, which was pretty fantastic if I say so myself.
Here are a few of 2011's highlights:

we recorded one of our songs
we dreamt about having a little monkey of our own

i sang with the Ars Flores Orchestra in Miami

my soul friend came home

i force fed that friend some sushi

we moved in with my mother after the divorce

we made a baby

we found out she was a girl

my belly grew and we had some awful chilli
my belly grew some more

i had a truly wonderful birthday

i got some bangs and made a silly mistake

mr. Murphy got shot

and he lived to tell the tale and turned 24

we witnessed an epic pregnancy reveal

we picked some oranges and made a movie about it

i had an excellent shower for my babe

we took some pictures in the family orange grove

we did christmas up in our baby's nursery real good

i hung some pictures in EJ's nursery

i had a freak out and then felt better

Dear 2012,

You are the year that we will become parents.
Try to go easy on us, we will be new at this.
And please try not to go as fast as 2011, we want to savor every moment.
No doubt you will be full of many firsts.
I can imagine you being rich with smiles and gazes at our new baby, family trips, and perhaps a new home.
We can't wait to see what you have in store for us.

love,

R & J & little e

(see our letter to last year here.)

i must have a really comfy womb

2011-12-29T16:45:00.000-05:00

like really soon.

Today we went to the ultrasound specialists and saw that Miss Evaleigh has a head full of hair, really likes to practice breathe in tha womb, and is an extreme contortionist(even the tech was impressed and equally dumbfounded as to how she got into the position she was in).

All of those things make her a really cool baby.

After the ultrasound we decided that the Version, though possible, is not for us. We really feel like if EJ is meant to turn then she will. I am already being humbled by my child. I remember when I was first starting to feel her move and kick, I was in awe that she had the freedom to move as she pleased. Although she was a part of me and we were sharing the same body...I had no control over her. That amazed me and I was proud of her for being her own little person. I am really learning more about the gift of agency.

We have date set for the c section and the idea of it is growing on me. Thank you each and every one for the incredible outpouring of love, support, and kind words you shared with me yesterday. I can't tell you how much each comment, phone call, text message, email, and facebook message meant to me. I am astounded at the heart warming words I have received from friends and strangers alike. I went to bed last night feeling much better and incredibly at peace.

Although, I may still ground Evaleigh for a few weeks after she is born for not listening to me tell her "TURN AROUND BABY!!!!" probably 1,000 times. She is in trouble but I forgive her because I just must have a really comfy womb.

(Also a thank you to Nat the Fat Rat for our little feature yesterday. I bet you are getting rather tired of Christmas trees.)

not what we had planned.

2011-12-28T15:18:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a hard day.
I sat in my doctors office with my mother by my side and the doctor told me what I already knew...
EJ is still breech.
I struggled to hold back my tears and listened to her tell me the options.
We basically have two choices:

try to turn her via External Cephalic Version (which we don't quite feel good about)
or
a C-section

My heart sank.

Having a c-section is everything I did not want in this birth. Its not about having a scar and its not even about being scared to go through a surgery, although I'm not too excited about that either.
It is about my right as a woman.
I was made for this. My body was made for this. I have always imagined the moment of bringing my sweet babies in to the world as the end result of laboring and working so hard to get their little bodies out of me. I imagined being sweaty and being cheered on with my husband by my side and showing the world that I am a warrior woman who can do anything. It is about years of dreaming of that moment only now to have it changed. It is about using my body exactly the way my Heavenly Father intended for it to be used.
Now, that choice is not mine and I am sad.

After we left the doctor I was devastated, I cried on the phone to John for a bit. When we got home I received a very timely tender mercy.
In my inbox came this miracle email:

"remember as long as your little one is healthy how she chooses to come in the world is on her and believe me it is good to be humbled right away, they have a mind of their own. so my dear enjoy and keep us up north warm with your news and your life. your other mom, diane"

I couldn't believe it. This is the woman who saved my life when I was a near miss SIDS baby, I was only a couple months old when I stopped breathing. She had no idea what had transpired that very day. My heart was comforted and it was exactly what I needed to hear. However Evaleigh CHOOSES to come is ok with me. It is amazing to me how two souls can connect across hundreds of miles. Diane, I can't thank you enough for your words. I love you so.

So, I spent the rest of the evening reading stories of women who had positive experiences with c section births. This one gives me hope. I am trying to reprogram my thinking and prepare for this experience in a whole new way. I'm not sure how yet, but I am working on a change of heart.
We go for an ultrasound tomorrow to see if the Version is really even an option for us based on EJ's size, the fluid, and the placement of the umbilical cord.

If it is not...it looks like we will have our daughter in 2 weeks.

christmas in 10 pictures

2011-12-27T22:16:00.001-05:00

christmas eve waffle house dinner before the midnight service
some sweet and low
paninis with mom's homemade potato soup
husband scoring a christmas gift home run---my new moby
pregnant sisters in our annual christmas pose on the stairs
christmas temple date with hubs
a love gift from a dear friend in South Africa (thanks taryn!)
an after christmas lunch date with a lovely lady
9 month pregnant woman in front of a tree
christmas night dinner at the zimmermans

...and it was good

heartbreaking.

2011-12-27T11:03:00.001-05:00

On Christmas Eve this beautiful family of 4 was involved in a head-on collision. The mother and father and 1 year old sustained critical injuries and on Christmas Day they lost their son Colum.

I am clear across the country and do not personally know this family but my heart breaks for them. As I am about to embark on motherhood myself I cannot imagine a more horrific or painful thing.

There is a way we can help.

You can go to this website to donate to this family.

http://kellypack.com/

I am humbled at this time and I stand in awe of the gift of life. I am keeping a prayer in my heart for this family and the painful journey that is ahead for them and hope that you will too.

happy birthday jeuas

2011-12-24T12:25:00.001-05:00

(an adorably misspelled list of favorite Christmas songs made by my 9 year old voice student Michelle.)

It is Christmas Eve and I have love and gratitude in my heart.
Mr. Murphy has gone out to do Christmas Eve shopping and the women are going to cozy up and do some cooking.

May the heraled angles sing of the birth of our sweet Savior, Jeuas.

Merry Christmas Eve to all.

p.s. this is beautiful.

Christmas Card 11'

2011-12-22T16:08:00.000-05:00

I love Christmas cards.

I love sending them.

I love getting them.

So, here is one for your little online mailbox from us to you.

Next year we will have an extra little person in our Christmas pictures.

Merry Christmas!!!

perfect ten

2011-12-21T02:20:00.002-05:00

10 things that gave me joy this season:

1. My husband bringing me his evergreen tree soaked hands and letting me take in deep breaths for as long as I'd like.

2. New York style pumpkin cheesecake ice-cream from Kroger.

3. Fresh clean warm sheets just on the bed on a cold winter night.

4. Being pregnant with my sister, every girls dream.

5. Picking oranges fresh off the trees and making Christmas wassail with them.

6. Feeling our baby girl roll from one side of me to the other and watching John's eyes get as big as silver dollars when he feels her too.

7. Seeing people with Christmas trees a top their cars.

8. An unopened pack of Christmas cards waiting to be written in and sent off.

9. Homemade ornaments on the tree.

10. The anticipation of adding a new little person to our family and trying to imagine how beautifully different Christmas will be next year and all of the rest of the years to follow.

(graphic)

kings and queens

2011-12-20T01:23:00.004-05:00

Yesterday morning we got a knock on our bedroom door at 9:00am.

Mom says, "Can I come in?"

I say, "No. Let me come out there."

You see I didn't want to wake my husband who had a feverish night with a temp of 101.3. The weirdest part of it all...I was awoken from a dream in which I was taking his temp and the thermometer said 105.7....weird. When I woke up I felt his skin and he was burning up so I gave him some tylenol, put a cold cloth on his head, and let him drift back off to sleep.

When I opened the door, the best mother in the world was standing in the hallway with a tray full of the yummiest breakfast in bed food and yelled at the top of her lungs, "THE FIRST GIFT OF CHRISTMAS!!!!!" (a la Tom Hanks at about 0:36 here)

I could have cried.

I'm pretty sure I was raised by the kindest most selfless person that has ever been created.

I hope to be half the mother to EJ that my mother has been to me.

Our breakfast was complete with hot chocolate avec big marshmallows, cheese toast and jam, peppermint sticks, and fresh tart cranberries, bananas, and sliced oranges from the grove.

We ate like a king and queen in bed.

It was the perfect start to a day full of present wrapping, Christmas card sending, laundry, working, and teaching.
The long day ended with my hips up on the couch, John Mayer playing on my iPhone near my pelvis, and ice packs on the top of my tummy. I only stayed in that position for 10 minutes because two certain king sized somethings on my chest were suffocating me.
No turning response from the little girl in my belly but all in all a pretty wonderful day.
Maybe we're just playing the wrong music...Hubs thinks we need some of this.

p.s. Thanks Bridge for the feature.

bodies

2011-12-19T14:18:00.001-05:00

This weekend we went to see The Nutcracker at The Fox Theater. John and I had never been to a ballet before. It was breathtaking, and I'm not just talking about the men in tights.

I watched in amazement at what these people could do with their bodies. I was in absolute awe of them.

The human body is a pretty miraculous thing.

The way they moved was captivating and I had so much respect for their craft.

I am so grateful to have a body that works the way that it does. I am grateful that my body is strong and healthy and that I can carry this baby inside of me. We have been given such a special gift to use our bodies however we please.

As I watched these dancers use their bodies to make art, I was humbled by them.

It was a true Christmas experience as the gratitude of my heart was enlarged.

In other news, 4 weeks and a few days til baby EJ. I cannot WAIT to meet her. She has been so active lately. She is still breech which scares me tremendously. I want so badly to have a natural birth and really need her to turn that little head upside down! I might try and coax her below with some Christmas music near my pelvis tonight accompanied by and bag of peas on my upper torso all while laying upside down with my feet in the air.

It is going to be quite the sight to see.
This body is going to be doing some impressive things of its own tonight...

homemade christmas.

2011-12-12T13:49:00.002-05:00

I am always looking for ways to reuse anything around the house. This year an old Jesus the Christ book from the 70's was my victim. I present to you my...

1. Find an old book you don't mind ripping up. I felt a little guilty ripping up a book about Jesus but at the same time, isn't that what this Holiday is all about anyway?! Now, I feel justified.

2. Tear out several pages.

3. Fold them short ways accordion style.

4. Bend them in half.

5. Put two of them together. Tie string around the middles to hold together and glue seams shut.

After assembling all of the paper ornaments I gave them a pop of color with this paper tape from Anthropologie.

We paired these decorations with some vintage seam binding from my Nanny. We had several colors so we cut them into strips and tied them together to form a colorful garland.

And there you have it! Someone 40 years ago bought a book and I turned it in to a cheap and easy DIY Holiday decoration!

P.S. Two years ago today I got to do something very special. I went to this place for the first time. I will never forget the reverence and beauty of that peaceful day. I am so grateful for this season and the time to reflect on my love for the Savior. This is such an incredibly special time of year for me as I remember the sacred blessings I received that day.

that special moment...

2011-12-10T11:26:00.003-05:00

...when you realize that there is food out there with an expiration date two days before your Dday.

We are off to buy a car seat today. And maybe a stroller, how much does one really use that thing any way? I want one of these to carry my babe in instead. Maybe I will even be as awesome as to pack our hospital bags this afternoon. LOOK OUT!

I finally hung the $!@#$ pictures.

2011-12-09T09:26:00.002-05:00

I awoke this morning to a tiny little girl with a bad case of the hiccups. I am normally a 9am waker so this 6am wake up call was just that...a wake up call.

Pretty soon that will be my life.

I couldn't go back to sleep so I just sat up and watched EJ's head butt me in the ribs with each hiccup. (Please someone tell this child I need her to turn head down in the next couple of weeks!)

I forgave her though because it was annoyingly cute.

I enjoyed watching the morning come. It was dark when I first awoke and there was something exciting, peaceful, and soothing about that time of day. I am so looking forward to cuddling my sweet baby in the morning light.

Yesterday I finally did something I have been ~~procrastinating~~ carefully thinking about for the past two months.

I finally hung the *bleeping* pictures in Evaleigh's room.

I have been sitting on this project for a while and I have slowly been collecting images I love.

I really adore how it turned out.

The nursery is almost there. We are still working on fulfilling the plan.

some of the images 1/2/3/4/5/6

Thank you again Pinterest for another life saving idea.

Happy Friday, it's the weekend!

i like big butts and i cannot lie...

2011-12-08T11:40:00.003-05:00

We have decided to do something a little different.

Cloth diapers.

We tend to get some pretty mixed reactions when we tell people this. Mostly people thinking we are crazy and saying, "Well good luck with that!" and completely dismissing the idea.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think shaking poo off in to the toilet will be on the top of my list of favorite things to do BUTT (two t's on purpose...) when it comes to the saving cost of cloth vs. disposables...there is no comparison.

Well, actually there is and you can see it here or here.

Not to mention the environmental impact of disposables considering that from birth to potty training I will change Miss EJ an average of 6,840 times. That's a lot of diapers folks...and a lot of poo. Oh man, what have I gotten my self in to?

On Tuesday my sister and I went to The Natural Baby in Athens. Rebecca Almy gave us a 2 hour Cloth Diapering consult and I now feel more confident than ever in our choice to cloth diaper. I think it will come with its own challenges but I also think we will come out on top once we get in to a routine.

Here are a few of the things we are starting with.
I'm not as educated on all of this as I would like to be but I am getting there.
If any of you have personal experiences or thoughts on the matter I would love to hear them. What worked for you? What didn't? I'm really open to any of the information that is out there, so share with me!
I can't wait to see Miss EJ's little bubbly hiney in these.

the fruit of our loins : the orange grove shoot

2011-12-06T21:38:00.002-05:00

A few weeks back we had a little photo session on our family ranch with Audrey Layne in the orange grove. We did it in the grove in honor of the fruit of our loins which will be coming about in 6 weeks or so.

We are so happy with how beautiful the pictures turned out.

the promised date

2011-12-05T12:36:00.000-05:00

As promised, I got my date night full of tree decorating and hot chocolate. There wasn't a fire or a movie but there was plenty of Christmas music on the record player and episodes of The New Girl and The Cosby's.

This year we went mostly all homemade on our Christmas tree decorations. I did however get a whole arm full of cuddly fabric animals from Target to go on the tree. I am thinking of reusing them for a mobile in EJ's room when we are done with them for Christmas, they are just too cute to put away for a whole year after we are done with them.

We ended the weekend watching (this) and it truly brought the spirit of Christmas to us. I am so looking forward to the rest of this Holiday season.

Mostly because our baby girl is on the other end of it!

advice.

2011-12-04T11:06:00.000-05:00

I had a tender moment a week or so ago that I want to write down before I forget.

My grandparents came over for Thanksgiving and I was so happy to see them here because we weren't sure they were going to make it seeing that my Pawpaw had just had neck surgery.

After Thanksgiving lunch I had a moment outside on the porch with my grandfather. I was sitting on the coffee table and he was in a little chair in his usual position with his skinny chicken legs crossed. We were talking about EJ coming and all of the sudden he got a little quiet and he looked up at me. He said, "Rachel, you don't know it yet but you are about to enter the happiest years of your life." I had to hold back the tears.

There is something really sweet and tender to me about advice from him. I trust his words so much. They are filled with life experience and knowledge from all of his years. He worked hard for his family to give them the best that he could and provide for them. I am proud to have come from him.

He went on to tell me, "You know the golden years aren't so golden sometimes. Most of the time it feels a little bit more like rust. Your body starts to give out and it can be very frustrating. So, enjoy these years of your life now for all that you can. But one thing that will make these years golden for me is meeting my first great-granddaughter. She is going to be such a beautiful little girl."

I hope I can remember not to take these years for granted. I am so grateful for the sacred blessing it is to become a mother. I think it will be the hardest and best thing I will ever do.

Here are just a couple more picture from Thanksgiving. I'm sharing them fashionably late since I just got them from my sisters camera.

we are practicing our labor faces

Ok, on to Christmas...no more talk of Thanksgiving, for real this time.
Can't wait to share our Christmas tree tomorrow, its pretty fan-dan-tastic.

oh boy! oh boy!

2011-12-02T15:30:00.000-05:00

Mr. Murphy has promised me a date night of decorating our little Christmas tree(of which I still have quite the story to share), hot chocolate, snuggling by a fire, and a Christmas movie on the couch.

Sounds like just about the best Friday anyone could have.

(our handmade decorations waiting to find a home for the Christmas season! TONIGHT IS YOUR NIGHT CHRISTMAS TREE!)

Happy Friday!!!

its beginning to look a lot like...

2011-11-30T13:30:00.000-05:00

The day after Thanksgiving we went up to the mountains in Asheville, North Carolina for a quick little day trip.
It is our family tradition to always get a tree from the North Carolina Mountains. Even though this year I know traditions will change, this is one my heart couldn't bare to let go of.
So, 8 months pregnant I trapsed up and down the mountains with my hubs, sister, and father in search of the perfect tree. We found it.

We ended the evening with dinner at the Grove Park Inn and watched the sun and Venus set behind the western North Carolina mountains.

I have a pretty fantastic story to share about mine and Mr. Murphy's first Christmas tree together but it is going to have wait until tomorrow. Until then here are a few glimpses of what Christmas is turning up like in our home.

star paper garland made out of an old Jesus the Christ book from the 70's
idea for "O Holy Night" framed on the mantel was inspired by this lovely lady, she has some other great DIY's too

Merry Christmas!

a shower for a little girl

2011-11-28T15:18:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks back my soul friend threw me and Miss EJ a baby shower. It came complete with vintage children's books, baby's breath, homemade bread and jam, pomegranate punch served in mason jars with striped straws, and beautiful friends and family.

(this was a tough shot. ladies hold still and look at the camera...1...2...3.)

I feel so incredibly blessed that Evaleigh is already loved so much. If my friends love her as good as they love me then she will be such a lucky girl.

I can't believe how quickly the time is passing. Everyone says that the end of my pregnancy will draaaaaaaag on, but I feel like its speeding up. We only have 7 weeks and a few days left. We went to the doc today and she is already 4 pounds 4 oz. I bet she is ridiculously cute.

I can't wait to kiss her little face all over.

Thank you everyone for making it such a perfect afternoon, I love you girls!

(p.s. like how i am catching flies in all of these pictures? i thought i'd make it a theme...it's no coincidence.)

grateful.

2011-11-23T23:38:00.005-05:00

This Thanksgiving I have so much gratitude in my heart.

i am grateful for my incredibly selfless and hilarious husband, i love him so

i am grateful for my baby girl growing and kicking inside of me

i am grateful for the sparkling pumpkin spiced cider chilling in my refrigerator for thanksgiving dinner

i am grateful for a family that loves me despite my pregnancy mood swings (i cry pretty easily these days)

i am grateful that tomorrow Mr. Murphy is putting up EJ's crib after we eat til our heart's content

i am grateful for the joy that The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings to my life
i am grateful to snuggle in bed with my little sister and her babe even though she won't let me put my feet on hers
i am grateful for music
i am grateful for my disappearing belly button

i am grateful for bosom friends

i am grateful for a warm home to live in, clothes to put on my body, and food to feed my belly

Happy Thanksgiving to all

milk glass

2011-11-22T13:27:00.001-05:00

(on the Glenn Murphy Ranch)

I can't believe we have a little more than 8 weeks until we meet our little girl.

Even with a ginormous belly, feet that sometimes resemble that of a hobbit, hellacious heartburn, and feeling a tiny person move inside me I still have moments where I think, "Wait, am I really pregnant?".

The reality of all of this still seems so unreal.

I feel so lucky to have been given the gift of becoming a mother so freely. While I know this is not the case for every one, John and I were able to get pregnant so easily and quickly. That incredible blessing does not go unrealized in our prayers every single night.

I am truly grateful for that blessing and my heart feels so full that we were granted this sacred responsibility and immense blessing to become parents.

I had a break down in the car on the way home from Florida this weekend. At first I started to cry because my back right hip was hurting. I had 3 pillows smushed in different shapes all around me trying to relieve the discomfort. I began to cry and John reached over to try and massage it out. He asked me, "Are you feeling nervous?"

I wasn't, then with that question...I was.

Then I wasn't crying about my hip anymore.

I started thinking about how much our lives are going to change and the huge adjustment we have ahead of us.

I started hoping and hoping that I could be the best mother for our precious daughter.

I was nervous about labor and hoping that I'll be as brave as I plan to be.

Man, this pregnancy thing is a roller-coaster.

I don't even know if there is a word to describe all of these pre-mother emotions. It is the most terrifying and glorious thing all wrapped up in one. I want to protect her and keep her in my belly forever and at the same time I want to have her as soon as possible and show her the beauty of the world.

Ready or not, here she comes...and in her own time no doubt.

We get the crib tomorrow. Her room is coming together bit by bit.

Is Thanksgiving really in 2 days? How did that happen?

orange grove: a short film

2011-11-19T14:43:00.000-05:00

We've spent this weekend with our family in Florida.

It was a beautiful Friday on the ranch. We picked oranges and grapefruits, went riding in the back of the truck, and looked at old records from the barn to take home and play for EJ.

We love it down here so much.

Enjoy a little film of our Friday:

*they always pick the best faces for the still shot on these videos...i swear.

orange grove sneak peek

2011-11-18T00:18:00.001-05:00

I am out of my mind excited to share the photos from our shoot today with Audrey Layne.

Even though it was 85 degrees in this Florida orange grove I got my Mr. to wrap up in a blanket with me and wear coats and scarves and pretend like it was the dead of winter.

Audrey was so much fun to shoot with.

I can't WAIT to see the rest of the pictures!

Until then, here is a citrusy little taste...

P.S. Can we all still be friends after you saw my ugly cry face from yesterday? Good.

there are 5 people in these pictures

2011-11-16T12:04:00.001-05:00

Congrats little sister (& Joe!).

We can't wait to meet your baby boy in May.

busy busy busy

2011-11-15T13:22:00.000-05:00

I have been a busy lady these past few days.

Mr. Murphy and I are getting ready to leave for Florida on Wednesday.

We are going down to the ranch for his cousins wedding.

I just love weddings.

While we are down there we will be having our family pictures taken by the ever so talented Audrey Layne (who we just so happen to be related to! Lucky us!) I was able to talk John in to doing these pictures by bringing up the fact that it will be our last chance for pictures together without the babe in tow.

He hates having his picture taken...perhaps his only flaw.

I have been a crafting fool trying to get a few things ready for our shoot.

(This banner was printed on brown paper bags from Publix.

Free font found here.)

P.S. Can't wait to share pictures from my beautiful baby shower this past weekend. They will go up as soon as I get them from my sister's camera. I had a lovely time ladies, I love you all!!

Tunes and Spoons

a name and a blessing

we voted!!!

winner of custom blog design!!!

this weekend

3 lovely things

an announcement!

forget me not

another baby!!!!

there is nothing hotter...

my husband made me cry

bottom line

christi lynn shop giveaway!

the day we gained new names- part 2

art is...

a guest post : our little almanac

valentine

a cough and a toot.

12 pictures of the babe

busy

the day we gained new names- part 1

partnerships.

in the still of the night

rubber band heart

first fort

such is life

learning

little doll

7 days

evaleigh joy is born

about to POP + an incredible GIVEAWAY!! *giveaway closed*

tonight, i was that girl...

evaleigh's nursery

late night seranade

little peach

a baby shower brunch

evaleigh joy, i love you

indian style

road trips, martinelli's on my pants, and belly touching

2011 you did not disappoint

i must have a really comfy womb

not what we had planned.

christmas in 10 pictures

heartbreaking.

happy birthday jeuas

Christmas Card 11'

perfect ten

kings and queens

bodies

homemade christmas.

that special moment...

I finally hung the $!@#$ pictures.

i like big butts and i cannot lie...

the fruit of our loins : the orange grove shoot

the promised date

advice.

oh boy! oh boy!

its beginning to look a lot like...

a shower for a little girl

grateful.

milk glass

orange grove: a short film

orange grove sneak peek

there are 5 people in these pictures

busy busy busy

about to POP + an incredible GIVEAWAY!! giveaway closed