I am thrilled to announce that baby #4 is in fact a sweet baby girl! She is perfect in every way! My first u/s that we had NOTHING show up out of the ordinary. No red flags. Just an amazing experience! I feel so incredibly blessed by God...I truly have no words for it! The u/s tech kept telling us that I am like her dream patient! She said my body is built perfectly for clear pictures that she was able to just sit back and enjoy the "show" as well! AND because of this and because our sweet little cookie was so chill, calm and well...cooperative she did 3d shots for us as well! Excited to say that she looks identical in u/s pictures to her sisters! Cannot wait in 19 weeks to meet/hold her in my arms for the first time! She will be a wonderful final addition to our family! Dying to see if she has my dark features or my husbands light features (both girls have Paul's blond hair and blue eyes...where as Noah has my dark hair and hazel eyes!).


We wanted to tell the kids in a special way! I thought...balloons! I will go buy balloons. I own a helium tank (doesn't every mom of 3?!) and will put the balloons in a box so they can open it to PINK floating in the air! BUT, it was getting late...they were at my friends house and Michael's Craft Store did not carry balloons...lame-o! SO...we did it the old fashioned way. We told them together once we were at home! I would love to say that all were ecstatic. But my poor Noah cried! He said...but I wanted a boy baby we already HAVE a girl baby! I rocked him and hugged and kissed him letting him know that I'm thrilled as he will always be my special child cause he is my only baby boy! He then perked up and said "Ive got an idea...the next baby can be a boy baby!" I tried so hard not to laugh as we knew we only wanted 4 kids and looked at Paul. I said "well honey, we will see!"

I am now off to bed to dream about my precious gift from God! OH, what a blessing she is!

I dunno about you { uhem...fess up! } but I have (or now can say had!) mass amounts of clothing in my closet that I never even looked at! I actually collected dust on some! NO joke! Now that is pathetic! Items when I pulled it out you have a completely confused look on your face like...huh? Or items you wore once but it was your "I look good in everything I put on" goggle wearing day?! No? No one?! Guess its just me! I had Nike shoes I bought...got knocked up (thanks Paul!) and then they never fit right so they got one or two uses out of them! I tried to sell them in a garage sale for $5 and people were trying to bicker me down to a $1 THEY WERE $80 dollars people! I am NOT selling them for $1! To tell you the truth I was all around sick of the garage sale, consignment shop route. Period! Its a headache to sit and price each item out. Only to have people bicker you down from 25c Not worth my time anymore. Mind you I am normally the "I will save it for the next sale" girl. Did them annually. This year was the first year I did not! As you know I have been selling kid items at the Just Between Friends sale. Those items make good money. BUT for some reason my Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and Gap just does not! What the hay hole Batman?



I had an epiphany { Enter God } I had been praying for Jesus to interfere into my life. Now this is going to sound downright nutso...but I really think that he was telling me to do...well what you are about to read! I sent an email out to my girlfriends. Not all just a few handfuls. This is what I said:

" Hello sweet friends!

I had an epiphany today and you guys may laugh as its clothing related! A few of you know that I am really trying to be more intentional heading into this holiday season. One thing that came to mind as my hubby FINALLY went through his ½ of the closet (like I have room to talk…I pester him yet you should see mine!) is that we have so much STUFF! Clothes, shoes, purses, scarves etc. Usually I have a garage sale and I take the time to price everything, put it into neat piles that strangers come and trash and then they bicker down the pricing and it’s a hassle. I usually make about $15 from my personal clothing as the only thing anyone really buys is children’s items! I then box up my items and save it for the next year or I take it to Goodwill…well this year I am done doing that! I realized as I found an ENTIRE bin (the size you could store like 3 children in…that big) of MORE clothes (not including the heaping stockpile in my closet!) that I really need to just get my friends together and have them take what they want. I don’t need it. I mean who really keeps pj’s and tee shirts with tags still on them…me! Umm…who knows how long I have had them! Or shoes that are brand new but you realize don’t fit your feet right so you never return them…me (seriously I have 2 pairs of Nike's that way! Sickening really!).

I wanted to see if you girls would want to join me? Go through your closets, garages etc find all your gently used women’s clothing, shoes, accessories and at the end of November we will meet at my house…do a pot luck style noshing session and just have fun together going through and swapping clothes etc. It will be very casual and relaxed so no need to dress your best...this girl will probably be rockin' some mighty fine yoga pants!
Afterwards I plan on taking everything *obviously ONLY with your permission!* to Divine Threads which is run by a dear friend Kathy…the clothes that will not work with her ministry I will then take to the cold weather shelter for the homeless at my church. (We just finished constructing a HUGE warming facility that is hugely beneficial to our community…we feed, minister and warm those in need. We give them information on ways they can get help…and we listen.) With your help…we can touch the lives of others and have fun at the same time! It’s amazing what an old sweater of ours can do for someone else!

I love that we are all different sizes, shapes and have different clothing styles! I am a Banana, Gap and Target junkie! So I am sure we would all be able to find something we would love! I will NOT be offended if you do not want to join in! But please RSVP YES…you are in and then I will work on a date with the “in’s” for the end of November (after Thanksgiving!)
Have a blessed day!"




It was that easy!  I sent an email and it rolled itself into place! We set it up that we would come casual for easy trying on. And that if their name fell between yadda and yadda they were to bring a drink, appetizer or dessert! This way we could do what girls do best...gab...eat...and shop each others wardrobes!



Not gonna lie...I scored some pretty rockin duds! I was pretty stoked (in fact am wearing a shirt I got from the swap as I type!) The great thing is: we came out with new stuff for ourselves. We cleaned out our closets, dressers and even bins in the garage! AND the best part...we have 4 HUGE bags getting donated to awesome causes! I can't wait to deliver them!

Not gonna lie...I had a heck of a weekend! We went to my parents house just outside of Sunriver and we were THRILLED...but on the way ALMOST there we smelled something. And it wasn't pretty! Oh yes...Mushy had "mushed" out her diaper ALL over herself, the car seat and it was the most disgusting thing yet! Mind you she is 2! We laughed and joked about it as she sat stripped down in her car seat sitting on a blanket the last 45 minutes of the drive. We called my parents to warn them a bath and laundry load were gonna happen STAT!


We didn't think much of it and the next day was Thanksgiving.



All seemed well. Food was had, movies were watched and we had NO plans of leaving for the Black Friday madness! No thank you! I would much rather cuddle on the couch!



The pictures were taken by my bestie Michelle of Chelletography! And the shoes are by another bestie who up and moved to California last week (I was a mad crazy mess after I left her side! Thank God for Michelle who got me to laugh again!) she has the shop Bananfana Baby! CUTE shoes! You should check them out! I hope you all have a blessed day!

To go along with the Ornament swap I thought it would be fun to do my first ever link up! Please link up any handmade ornament tutorials you have! We would LOVE to see them! Do you glitter, do you use fabric?! Whats your style?! I can't wait to see and get my creative juices flowing!

Tomorrow is the LAST DAY to sign up to do the Ornament Swap! I am THRILLED at the response so far and know it is going to be a blast! For those JUST entering...here are the Questions on the sheet I would email you. Please just email me your answers! I sure hope you join us! Won't be the same without you! Come on...you know you want to! If you have a blog and are joining...mind adding the nifty button to your blog? Its located over there > Isn't it cute?!



Address:
Email address:
Blog or website (if applicable):
Instagram name:

What colors do you decorate with at the holidays?
What is YOUR favorite color?
What’s your favorite part of Christmas?
Do you have children?
Favorite Holiday movie?

Your ornament can be store bought OR handmade! YOUR choice! You will recieve a partner and ornaments should be mailed NO LATER than December 1st! If you are an instagramer like myself use the hashtag #ornamentswapwithbnb to tag any pictures you may have...shopping, making, packaging, recieving! Its all in the name of fun and being jolly!

So, lets have a holly jolly. Merry...happy go lucky time! I can't wait to hear from you!

Saturday was our first day we had NO plans in like ages! As we are about to start a crazy schedule of basketball with 2 kiddos in different games! Very excited but indulging in this moment while it lasts! Might I add...my dear sweet hubby decided to skip out on our morning and helped a friend move. Bummer for him...more for us! I woke up surprised that it was 8:15 and I had no little saying "mommy, I'm hungry" or "Mommy, I need to go potty." one of those moments where you are like...you know where the bathroom is! I got out of bed, put a hat over my bed head and went up to the store where I got a red box movie (the Gruffolo's Child...it was adorable!), a thing of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls and of course...a lovely red cup!

Can I just say...I am shaking in my boots with excitement about my FIRST EVER swap with my little blog! I have participated in so many different swaps and I must tell you...they are ADDICTING! The anticipation as you await your package from your sender is enough to make me pee my pants (or is that the pregnancy?!) With the holidays fast approaching thanks Target for the reminder each time I walk in the store...because of you I am listening to Christmas tunes and watching holiday movies. I thought it would be fun to have a good ol' fashioned Ornament swap! It doesn't have to be expensive.

You don't have to be crafty. YOU can decide whether or not you will PURCHASE an ornament (on a side cheater note...my fave place to purchase ornaments for swaps is Pier One! They are beyond adorable!) or you will MAKE an ornament! To participate please email me at britchesnboots@gmail.com and I will get you lined up with a buddy! ALSO, be on the lookout for a link up party (am I crazy to try 2 new things at once?!) that you can link up your own homemade ornaments to share with and inspire us! This will start next week (link up that is!).



If you are an Instagram user please use the hashtag #ornamentswapwithbnb (sorry so long its amazing HOW many hashtags there are for this!) to post your pictures! Pictures could be from the store...packaging up your ornament or even making your ornament! Don't forget to post a picture when YOU yourself receive your ornament! If you have a blog please add the special button so all can join in!
<center> <a href="http://www.britchesnboots.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src=" https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpFA7c-fl5cUhz3HySZYTtTFiJCxHfl92kVJvSEsGqgF5rZxYEU_Pne4ywHTZHon3NDRsrzcfK0bidHydsEXsuj3NbFqD-fgLH4NNL-16nqxtqlNJ6ybUYdWe0kmIBmhkhHP7mPulIa0/s320/Blog+button.jpg" /></a></center>


The deadline to sign up is: NOVEMBER 16th, 2012!! Please mail your ornament no later than December 1st! This way your receiver will have cheer to stare at all month long!

For the next few weeks I am really really REALLY (do you get the idea!) excited to talk about my darling friend Jessica! Jess is an adopted Aunt to my children. She is one of my closest and dearest friends and her heart...lets just say it OVERFLOWS with love! She is amazing! I don't think she even realizes this about herself! She is a labor and delivery nurse at the hospital where I have delivered all of my kiddos! In fact...2 years ago while in the hospital having one squishy Mushy...her and I hit it off like bandits! Friends for life ever since! In her spare time (which I might add is NEVER!) she has an etsy shop called Stitchin' Daisies! Currently her shop is empty and you will know why in just a second I promise!


Jessica has had a dream since becoming a nurse. She wanted to head out on a mission trip to Haiti and teach midwives the proper, more safe techniques in delivering babies into this world. You see...the death rate for women in Haiti that deliver babies is 65% and higher! Can you imagine? Basically you are LUCKY if you survive childbirth there! This year Jess decided it was her time. She signed on with Midwives for Haiti. I have learned SO much from her about Haiti! Stuff I am completely flabbergasted about (is that even a word?!)

Here are facts about Haiti:

• 70% of Haitians do NOT have access to electricity. 90% do NOT have access to running water. Imagine a day without running water and electricity! The hospital she is at has these utilities but they are shut off multiple times a day without warning.
• Haiti is the 3rd hungriest country in the world. In fact, 65% of Haitians are undernourished. While in Haiti she is working with Azil Feeding Center to provide meals to children.
• There are only 8 doctors and 10 nurses per 100,000 Haitians. Compare this to America where there are 285 doctors and 850 nurses per 100,000 Americans. She is working to increase these numbers by training Haitians to be skilled health care professionals.
• 80 out of every 1000 children never see their first birthday.
  Training midwives to educate these new mothers will help reduce these deaths by giving them the knowledge and resources to care for their children.
• 77% of Haitians are living in poverty, they provide for their families on less than $2 a day. 50% live on less than $1 a day. Imagine trying to provide food, clean water, shelter, clothing and health care for your family on just $30 a month!
   

Do these facts not completely blow your mind?! Jess will be telling you her story with an in depth look at her trip WHILE she is there! We are working via Internet and I am sharing her pictures and her story to you! Hopefully it will be able to inspire you and maybe this is something you yourself are interested in doing! Without further ado...here is Jess.

   .......................................................................................................................................................

bonjou de Ayiti... Hello from Haiti


As you can see I have been working on my Creole!  Last night a boy named Kenel came and gave us a 1 hour Creole lesson. He is 21 years old and just graduated from high school. Most kids do not go to school let alone graduate, but if they do they are usually older. He hopes to come to the states and study to become a doctor. He was an excellent teacher. Creole is a beautiful language, and I hope to pick up more while I'm here.





I started my day in the antepartum room, taking care of and checking on patients. The scent of human waste was almost sickening when I came through the door. There were a mix of patients in the beds, some very early in their pregnancy, some who had already had their babies and one in labor. I went from bed to bed checking on the patients. Luckily on this day everyone was healthy and babies all sounded good. Most of them had IV's which were dry, whatever meds they needed they were not getting. Beds are old and dirty and those who had been there for longer than a few days were on very dirty very sweaty sheets. Accuweather said that today it is 78 but feels like 90. In these rooms it must have been close to 100 degrees I was sweating like a pig!

Oh where or where has Aleisha been...oh where oh where could she be?! Hello friends! I'm here! I know...I have been a major slacker this week! Honestly as a blogger, a mama and a business owner sometimes I just have to take a break from reality and relax! My house has been minorly neglected as has grocery shopping (which being that my appetite has finally come back this pregnancy is extremely irritating...yet I can only blame myself!). Halloween was fun! I made myself a devilled egg costume (you can see photos on Instagram! I am britchesnboots). I wore all white and used felt that I took flossing thread (green) and made "dill" all over. I then attached with fabric glue to a white shirt I had put in my get rid of pile! I wore it to work with my kiddos at Gymboree! I also put in my maternity leave notice! My last day is December 18th and as sad as I am and as much as I adore my kiddos there I am looking forward to relaxing in the near future!


Noah decided he wanted to be a super hero for Halloween! I was thrilled that he actually for once liked/kept a costume on out in public! I will admit I didn't really think it was going to happen especially when I couldn't get him to wear it until...we were about to leave for our annual Halloween party we attend!


Emily Grace decided she wanted to be a witch. I looked high and low for a solid black dress. Only to never find one! So I bought a 2 pack of shirts at H&M (came with black and white) figuring we can re-use all year! The skirt was a clearance find after Halloween last year at Target (I looked this year and did not find 1!) The hat I bought at the $1 store and although you can't tell here it is ADORABLE and cobweb looking! The tights are actually adult knee high socks! She wore black leggings underneath and we pulled the socks up as high as we could get them! She wore her black boots and the broom was a $4 find at Target! She was thrilled. She was warm. And better yet, she was comfy!


Mushy went as Pebbles this year! She has a big stuffed dog that came with all kinds of accessories...1 of which was a bone! She has crazy hair anyhow so I did a top knot and added the bone! Found fleece fabric at Joanne's and sewed her dress literally about 2 hours before we needed to leave! She wore black fleece pants and a long sleeved shirt and she was warm as can be! She was very adamant about carrying her pumpkin bucket the entire night! Which meant we were sloooooooow going!


I forgot my camera and so I only had my phone with me! I was kicking myself for being lazy and not wanting to take my purse with me! The kids collected way too much candy and we came home to the bowl of candy we put out still over flowing! So we went through and pulled out the candies we can cook with for the holidays (m&m's etc) the rest is being donated on Monday to a local dental office that pays $1 per pound and then ships the candy out to soldiers! Its a win win!

Besides the Halloween hoopla (which I have already taken all my decorations down and we pulled out some holiday movies...insane? I think so!) I have been preparing for Holiday bazaars with Bliss Baby Designs! I will be in one that starts Monday the 5th and goes through Christmas Eve! I do it every year and its always a great success! I am also attending 2 others that are day bazaars! Hoping to do really well this year as I have a ton of NEW products. Some of which have yet to make it online!

We signed the big kids up for...gulp...basketball! We have yet to enter the sports world! Emily Grace did dance for a few years and it was wonderful but we decided to take a break. Well...a few friends signed their kids up and then both of my kids wanted too so we will now be saving our Saturdays for 2 basketball games and 2 practices a week. Lets just say that mama has no game...I am definitely not a balla...so I am hoping they got some sort of daddy skills! Or we may be watching a whole lotta jazz hands and spins on the court!

And finally I have entered by 16th week of pregnancy! I am extremely excited as last night I felt the baby moving around like crazy! The fun part of pregnancy begins and I am over the moon! Have a blessed and hopefully dry weekend! To our friends and family on the East coast our prayers are with you.