tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63543052012-01-20T22:15:14.000-06:00I've got thoughts.AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.comBlogger3261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-64486512208365675182012-01-15T22:01:00.010-06:002012-01-18T00:11:24.569-06:00

I love movies... but this year, I have seen so few. I think I went to the theater three times, and two of those were to see Harry Potter. I did catch up with a few more via Netflix and Redbox, but still, I watched this Golden Globes show and found myself saying repeatedly, "Oh yeah... I wanted to see that one!"But enough about movies. We all know why you're here. Dresses, yay!For the most part,

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-51165020767774757892012-01-10T15:32:00.015-06:002012-01-14T16:23:52.583-06:00

It's always nice to kick things off with a Justin Bieber reference.It's been a while since I did a proper Hudson update, and since he's accomplished a lot since Thanksgiving, I've got plenty of material.We had such an amazing Christmas with our families in St. Louis. We got to enjoy time with both sides of the family, and introduce Hudson to some friends who hadn't met him before. With our new

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-10222450396440222222012-01-03T19:43:00.002-06:002012-01-03T20:05:53.561-06:00

Have you all read these books? HAVE YOU?!?! You must. The movie for the first book is coming out on March 23 so you have three good months to get the trilogy read, although you're probably only going to need about three days. I reread them over Christmas break, holding my breath in anticipation just like the first time. Here's the trailer:

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-40681596185317619052011-12-18T19:46:00.005-06:002011-12-23T19:50:20.616-06:00

We had a really spectacular sermon at church last Sunday. Ray preached on how Christmas is about the humility of God; how low he came to make himself like us, to be among us, to save us. And yet being born to young Mary in the dusty dark of a Bethlehem barn was just the beginning of Christ's humility. He would come lower still. As low as you've ever been, Christ went lower in order in love you

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-4059404089802027192011-12-04T23:19:00.004-06:002011-12-05T22:51:49.588-06:00

Oh, my Sweet Baby James! Has it really been half a year with you? You have filled up our hearts and our lives with so much! You've been a busy little boy lately. Let's take a look back at your fun-filled sixth month of life.You met your Great-Grandpa Hal and wore matching overalls.You met Great-Grandma Anita and had lots of fun playing on the table!Perhaps our biggest achievement of the month -

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-30122153484926276672011-11-07T19:19:00.002-06:002011-11-07T19:30:30.334-06:00

I was reading to Hudson from his "Lullaby Baby" book and couldn't get through this one without getting all choked up. I just want to pray the last stanza for him every day!Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber,Holy angels guard thy bed.Heavenly blessings without number,Gently falling on thy head.How much better thou'rt attended,Than the Son of God could be,When from heaven He descended,And became

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-77933824679162074802011-10-29T18:59:00.003-05:002011-10-29T19:44:02.606-05:00

Man, it has been a beautiful October to be a St. Louis Cardinals' fan! It has been the most amazing ride, and if you haven't been following the story, here it is in a nutshell: every time we weren't supposed to win, we did. One game after the other, one series at a time, we just kept right on beating teams that were supposed to be beating us. Then there was Game 6 of the World Series, two nights

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-70630028458332675732011-10-24T21:35:00.007-05:002011-10-28T10:41:10.808-05:00

Hello my Sweet Baby James! I can hardly believe it, but you are FIVE months old! Wow! Here are five things that describe you right now:1. ACTIVE - You like to go, go, go! We try to get out a lot because you get bored just hanging around the house for too long. Your favorite activity is to wheel around the kitchen in your walker. When we first put you in it, you would sort of just hop/lunge to

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-6544820659559204372011-10-07T20:14:00.002-05:002011-10-07T20:34:49.744-05:00

If you haven't picked up on it from my previous posts, Hudson is high-maintenance. He has like zero self-soothing skills, and so going to sleep is difficult for him. He has to be tightly swaddled and then he usually has to be held until he falls asleep before we put him down. Sometimes you have to sway or rock him and pat his little bottom. And of course, he needs his white noise.Sometimes this

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-10023903419768874602011-10-02T15:40:00.007-05:002011-10-02T15:58:59.172-05:00

Sweet Baby James,Hello my little love! You are napping right now, and while I should probably be taking advantage of that and sleeping myself, I just decided to write you a little note.Here you are getting your bath in the kitchen sink. Look how big you are! You just love having your bath, although you do NOT like the water to get in your face. You sputter and make a big show of being very put

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-33750694585074883992011-09-19T15:58:00.013-05:002011-09-19T20:30:07.418-05:00

Hey there fashionistas! Well, I didn't get to watch all of the Emmys this year because I had to go to bed at 9pm. Because my kid gets up at 5am. And our TiVo is no more so I couldn't even record it and watch it later. And we only get the basic channels so I didn't get to see any of the red carpet coverage. But this post is a tradition, dang it, and so thanks to the internet, I can see pictures of

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-42684165982376751392011-09-09T19:09:00.005-05:002011-09-09T20:10:08.125-05:00

There's a game I've been playing with myself since Hudson was born. It's called, "Maybe He'll Be Happy When."First I thought, "Maybe he'll be happy when we finally get the hang of this breastfeeding thing."Then, "Maybe he'll be happy when we get his reflux under control."And, "Maybe he'll be happy when he hits 12 weeks."Or, "Maybe he'll be happy when I get better at figuring out what he wants."

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-19796397764362800542011-09-02T20:45:00.003-05:002011-09-02T20:47:04.967-05:00

My little sister has just arrived in South Africa! She will be there for two months working for... you know what, it will be better if she tells you herself. She has a blog that she set up so we can keep up with her while she's gone. Check it out! I'm so proud of her and can't wait to hear more about her adventures. Read her blog HERE.

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-42416611447596126332011-08-20T08:45:00.000-05:002011-08-20T08:45:00.462-05:00

Hudson is 12 weeks today, and he is growing and changing by the minute. Unofficially weighed on my parents' bathroom scale, he's about 12.8 pounds. I feel like every day he is learning something new! Just this past week, he discovered his tongue and sticks it out. He still loves gnawing and sucking on his hands. When he lays on his back, he pulls his knees up and sticks his feet in the air, and a

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-75623277543105136592011-07-28T19:45:00.001-05:002011-07-28T20:36:43.222-05:00

Sweet Huddy Bean,Two months! Woah! Time flies when you're having fun. And we have been having more fun this month, I think. Little by little we are starting to figure each other out. We still have rough days, and rough parts of each day, but the good times are becoming bigger and better. I'm not sure which of the assorted things we're trying is helping most - no dairy for me, reflux medicine for

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-2709410662787214922011-07-18T21:34:00.000-05:002011-07-20T15:17:55.599-05:00

This song is on Hudson's sleepy playlist. It's a Bob Dylan song. I'm partial to Garth Brooks' version, but the one on the iPod is Adele. I have always loved this song, and I like thinking of it as words from God to us, although I'm not sure that's what Bob had in mind at the time. But when I sing it to Hudson, I can't help but get choked up thinking about it as a love song from me to him. Of

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-55000838601178694722011-07-06T10:37:00.006-05:002011-07-07T22:01:14.519-05:00

Last Friday Hudson weighed in at almost 10 lbs 5 oz. Chubbs! He also seems a lot longer, but that is hard for us to accurately measure. He doesn't fit in any newborn clothes or diapers anymore, and although some of the 0-3 month stuff is still a little big, most of it is starting to fit pretty darn good! We have lots of cute clothes for him but it is so hot that we mostly just run him around in

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-13175659897379941712011-06-26T19:26:00.006-05:002011-06-28T21:43:56.617-05:00

My Sweet Huddy Bean,Can you believe it has already been a month since you were born? It hardly seems possible that in such a short time you have changed so much, right before my eyes.It's been rough at times, hasn't it? Like those hours spent holding your stiffened little body while you screamed in discomfort, your cry growing more frantic the more I tried to console you. I don't think that scene

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-44046146829432659962011-06-15T16:17:00.004-05:002011-06-15T16:26:42.111-05:00

HuddyHuddy BuddyHuddy Buddy BearHuddy BeanBean Bag HeadI don't know where that last one came from. I think because his head kinda flops around on his neck? Whatever, I love it. He's my sweet little Bean Bag Headed Baby.

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-60924538904679273492011-06-06T10:38:00.008-05:002011-06-09T09:46:40.352-05:00

Before the details fade from my mind, I want to get the story of Hudson's birth down on paper... err, pixel. I want to document it honestly so there are some details in here that some people might find a little personal. Also it is long. There, now you've been warned on both counts! On Thursday evening, I felt a little bit like I had a stomach ache. Nothing major, just enough to notice. It

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-14381065834946603092011-06-04T17:29:00.003-05:002011-06-06T10:34:01.086-05:00

Sweet Baby James,Welcome, my darling. Welcome to the world.You were born at 3:02 am on Saturday, May 28, 2011.I'd been waiting for you.It was love at first sight.Love,Momma

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-88247155524855730362011-05-19T13:08:00.003-05:002011-05-19T13:26:03.511-05:00

Sweet Baby James,I don't really like feet - mine, or anyone else's. So it seems kind of funny that one of the first things I'm think I'm going to kiss and cuddle when you finally arrive is your precious little feet. They have been my constant companion these past few months. Almost daily I have a moment with your feet protruding from my side, a hard little bump where you're digging in your heels.

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-87183536331435989522011-05-17T17:58:00.003-05:002011-05-17T18:34:08.715-05:00

Can I just copy the entire chapter "The Great Sin" from Mere Christianity? If that book intimidates you in jumping in from Page 1 - and it does me, I've still never made it straight through from beginning to end - go and get a copy and just start with this chapter. Or at least read these excerpts and know there is much, much more. It gets me every time. "Thank goodness I'm not proud! Wait, dang

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-77894927238990014602011-05-08T23:08:00.003-05:002011-05-08T23:38:31.885-05:00

Today was Mother's Day. I'm so thankful for my mom and Ben's mom too, and really for all the mothers in our lives who shaped us and our family. I hope I was paying attention all these past years, because I'm close to needing all their wisdom to put into practice myself!Yep, this weekend I made it to 37 weeks! General consensus says this is full-term, although 38 weeks is the mark according to

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-44627467670404094802011-05-04T09:34:00.002-05:002011-05-04T10:08:23.129-05:00

Sweet, Ornery Baby James,Alright, look you. I'm beginning to think you have quite the little personality in there already and you're not even born yet. All these little spooks and scares you've been giving us have, thus far, turned out to be false alarms, and yesterday was the biggest one yet.To back up a little, last week we had two great appointments with good reports at each. At the

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-77583791549672582022011-05-01T16:09:00.004-05:002011-05-01T17:17:18.433-05:00

I don't know if you heard, but there was a wedding this weekend.In what was probably the most-hyped wedding since that of his own parents, Prince William married his long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton on Friday. The ceremony was watched around the world, by over 20 million just in the United States. Including me. That's right, I crawled out of bed before 5am and turned on the TV just in time to

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-69667479919361535752011-04-26T18:24:00.009-05:002011-04-26T19:38:36.263-05:00

Let's talk about The X-Files!This blog has taken a seriously dorky turn in the past couple weeks, huh? I love this show, though. Always have. I actually have the complete series DVD set, an awesome boxed collection that looks like this and helps visitors to my home accurately peg me as a nerd: But when we packed up half our house so we could stage it so it would sell before the baby came - which,

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-67867356636193015042011-04-22T09:26:00.004-05:002011-04-22T13:50:37.740-05:00

Sweet Baby James,Hey my little love! Just want to get everyone updated about the last two weeks with you.Since I'm kind of using my blog as a pregnancy journal too, this might not be that interesting to everyone but if I don't write it down I'll forget!So we went back one week ago (seems like forever) to have another follow-up ultrasound. My amniotic fluid levels had not increased (boo), but they

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-46731051293357885662011-04-18T12:59:00.004-05:002011-04-19T11:23:15.000-05:00

There's a lot of dorky cheering going on around here lately... Let's just embrace it! July 15th y'all. Deathly Hallows. Part II. Even my baby is excited.UPDATE: The site hosting the featurette video I had posted has since removed said video. In its place, I'll post this newly released picture. One of my very favorite scenes in the entire final book. I cheered, out loud, when I read this part.

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-87741307358278737562011-04-14T13:10:00.002-05:002011-04-14T13:17:46.874-05:00

It's been such a long time coming that I almost forgot how excited I should be about The Hobbit being made into films with Peter Jackson at the helm. Today I saw this video and my excitement has been thrown into high gear. Seeing the old sets rebuilt and hearing the familiar music... yay! Here's the first (of hopefully many) video blogs that Peter is doing from the New Zealand sets.

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-60953872899807703952011-04-13T21:06:00.004-05:002011-04-13T21:43:55.161-05:00

I've recently been scouring Craigslist daily looking for a dresser that I can use as a changing table in Sweet Baby J's nursery. I've also visited every antique and consignment store I know of multiple times, but all to no avail. Either things were too expensive or not the right size/style. I wanted something vintage-y looking, but a lot of that stuff has been redone in the "shabby chic" style,

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-34144775143571961332011-04-08T08:58:00.002-05:002011-04-08T09:47:02.870-05:00

Sweet Baby James,Hey my boy! I can't believe it, but here we are starting our 33rd week in this journey together. You are getting bigger and bigger and so is my tummy! Yesterday Ben said, "You're like twice as big as yesterday." This is something that should only EVER be said to (a) a bodybuilder, (b) a five year old, or (c) a pregnant lady IF you can tell she's in a REALLY good mood. Luckily for

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-84653841622925943852011-04-02T15:23:00.005-05:002011-04-02T15:44:07.670-05:00

The crib for baby's room arrived and I went to pick it up yesterday. The Wal-Mart employees were unusually helpful and competent, and it was a quick and painless process. The guy who loaded it in my car looked a little concerned when I pulled up in the Fit, as the box containing the disassembled crib was really, really big. I think he was impressed when he was able to make it work!Ben has been

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-69623555754831436632011-04-01T07:51:00.003-05:002011-04-01T08:09:07.161-05:00

I love movies. Here are a few I'm looking forward to this summer. I know, I know, I'll have an infant. We'll go to the matinees, okay? I'll leave if he makes a peep.Except for Harry Potter. I'll leave that when someone carries me (and baby) forcibly from the building.The Hangover IISuper 8Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows (Part II)

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-50832739453833131622011-03-25T15:42:00.002-05:002011-03-25T15:55:46.571-05:00

Sweet Baby James,Hello darling! Tomorrow I'll be 31 weeks along. Isn't that exciting? Just two more months and then there will be YOU. Your sweet face and your chubby legs and your little hands will all be mine and Daddy's to kiss and cuddle. I went for a check-up today and guess what? You've already assumed the position, so to speak. The midwife says you are wedged pretty snugly head-down, and

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-82151115681586250182011-03-12T15:08:00.003-06:002011-03-12T15:21:06.318-06:00

Would I really? Would I rather have Jesus than a bigger, nicer house? Or what about $500 more dollars in our bank account? A new belt? I'd like to have all those things. But I must want to have Jesus most of all. Father, by Your grace, please make this more true of my heart every day.I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;I'd rather be His than have riches untold;I'd rather have Jesus than

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-32768520317679736522011-03-05T23:43:00.003-06:002011-03-06T00:21:15.454-06:00

Sweet Baby James,Hi my little monkey man! Happy 28 weeks gestation! This also means happy third (and final) trimester! That means in 12 short weeks you will be here, or almost here anyway! You must be as excited as I am, because you were celebrating this morning with some rocking and rolling. I was watching different parts of my tummy move as you kicked around. Then I would push in on my stomach

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-39786339021272389972011-03-05T09:08:00.008-06:002011-03-05T11:24:00.539-06:00

Okay, FINALLY, I'm getting this Oscar blog up! Only one week after the show! Just in time for everyone to have already forgotten to care about most of these dresses. Let's refresh your memories, shall we? My order this year is "Reverse Alphabetical By First Name," since that's how Blogger decided to upload the pictures. To the fashions we go!I really searched for pictures that were the closest to

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-44638851104514457642011-03-04T12:55:00.002-06:002011-03-04T13:10:48.594-06:00

For those of you who care, I'm really sorry for stalling on my Oscar fashion blog. It's mostly written but finding and loading the pictures is very tedious. It's still coming, I promise!In the meantime, look! I got you a treat! There's a new trailer for the Water for Elephants movie coming out in April. I read the book last summer and really enjoyed it. It was a lovely read and was just screaming

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-31937837347028464412011-03-02T22:25:00.005-06:002011-03-02T23:18:22.584-06:00

Oscar hostess Anne Hathaway not only had to carry the dead weight of her possibly stoned co-host James Franco throughout the telecast, she also had to pull off eight costume/hair changes. For that, let's give her the honor of her very own post.On the red carpet, Anne wore vintage Valentino. To be honest, I thought it was kinda ugly. The RED of it all, the matching lipstick, the awful under-butt

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-39273111781931389412011-02-27T14:32:00.003-06:002011-02-27T14:46:25.834-06:00

Could we with ink the ocean fillAnd were the skies of parchment madeWere every stalk on earth a quillAnd every man a scribe by tradeTo write the love of God aboveWould drain the ocean dryNor could the scroll contain the wholeThough stretched from sky to sky.From the hymn "The Love of God," words and music by Frederick Lehman. This stanza of the hymn is based on part of a Jewish poem written

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-36656606569920244792011-02-20T17:17:00.006-06:002011-02-24T18:45:48.423-06:00

Sweet Baby James,This is just a little post about your daddy. He's really been impressing me with how interested and involved he has been in my pregnancy and in learning about the process of birth. After our second childbirth class last night we talked for a long time about some of the things we've learned and want to strive for (or, on the contrary, some things we want to avoid) when the time

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-38143948321647113012011-02-18T21:12:00.004-06:002011-02-18T21:27:13.493-06:00

Here the whole world (stars, water, air,And field, and forest, as they wereReflected in a single mind)Like cast off clothes was left behindIn ashes, yet with hopes that she,Re-born from holy poverty,In lenten lands, hereafter mayResume them on her Easter Day.This was the epitaph written by C.S. Lewis for his wife Joy, for her cremation memorial after her death from cancer at age 45. Isn't it

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-59829318156089157362011-02-18T16:43:00.003-06:002011-02-18T17:00:57.037-06:00

My cravings of late seem to have taken a turn from cheese and pasta to the sweet stuff. Specifically, I've been wanting chocolate icecream or brownie batter. Not brownies. Brownie BATTER. I get the fancy pasteurized eggs so I can make the batter and eat it safely. I try to eat only a little, though, and then bake the rest. But honestly, once it is baked, I don't have much interest!In other news,

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-62370874762717264952011-02-16T20:45:00.002-06:002011-02-16T21:01:24.870-06:00

Sweet Baby James,Hello my little lovey! This week we went to our first childbirth class. We are doing classes at our church because there are a bunch of other pregnant women there too. You're going to have so many playmates! It is us and three other couples. These classes were recommended by my midwife, and they were developed by a nurse/doula and another doula, both of whom are Christians. We

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-55658274004925340512011-02-10T14:15:00.005-06:002011-02-10T14:52:59.626-06:00

I just finished the first (and currently only, but a second is in the works) season of the BBC/Masterpiece miniseries "Downton Abbey." It was deliciously good! It tells the story of an entitled (literally, he's an earl) family with an expansive estate in 19-teens England. It's a really interesting look at the old world intersecting with the new, where electricity and telephones are the

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-71273358277208206512011-02-04T14:24:00.004-06:002011-02-04T15:45:03.858-06:00

Where do you go to buy music? If you're under, I don't know, 35, your first instinct is probably to iTunes or Amazon. On the off occasion that you want an actual CD, you might still buy it off Amazon, or you might check Target or Wal-Mart. If it's a little more obscure and you're feeling hip, you might go to Grimey's, or your local equivalent of the indie hole-in-the-wall. Know where you don't go

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-91630701097623894302011-01-31T21:25:00.004-06:002011-01-31T21:58:34.253-06:00

1. People who brake turning right with a green arrow. It is your turn. You don't have to stop. Do you stop at a regular green light when you are going straight? No? So don't brake when you have a green arrow. A green arrow means it is now more your turn than ever before. 2. People who brake going through yellow lights. Is this a guilt brake? Are you feeling bad about running the yellow light? Are

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-28317543977047799252011-01-30T20:41:00.004-06:002011-01-30T20:54:06.038-06:00

Sweet Baby James,Hey there little guy! Your auntie Ashley was requesting some new pics to see how you're growing so this weekend we went out and took a few. That's you in that bump! We also played some music for you with headphones on my tummy. Well, okay, actually I put the earbuds in my belly-button. When we get serious about your musical education we'll bust out Dad's noise-cancelling Bose

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-13188040162594462962011-01-28T09:41:00.004-06:002011-01-28T09:51:49.671-06:00

A couple days ago I was daydreaming of sunshine and sandy beaches. That still stands, but today my wishful thinking is for this:Or any of the other wonderful medicines I took for granted as a non-pregnant person. But specifically something that soothes my nasty cold symptoms/knocks me out all night. You know what you can have, as a pregnant lady, if you're erring on the side of caution? Tylenol.

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-90474304412869927982011-01-26T16:06:00.004-06:002011-01-26T16:14:59.938-06:00

I love snow. Really, I do. If it has to be winter, I'd rather the season be filled with fluffy white snow than day after endless day of gray bleakness. So I'm really okay that we had snow again here in Nashville last night.However.I'm not going to lie.Today I'm really wishing for this:Or this:Or, really, I'm not picky. I'd settle for this:I just need a little summer injected into my snow days.

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-43168617183897928532011-01-25T12:19:00.003-06:002011-01-25T12:34:40.561-06:00

Hello, my Sweet Baby James! 22 weeks! You are still growing like a weed in there. Now you weigh over a pound. 22 weeks doesn't really sound like that far, except when I consider that now there are only 18 weeks left to go. Yikes! That's like 4 months! Yikes!I really like it when you kick around inside me, reminding me that you're in there. I usually take it as a sign that you like whatever I've

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-38894350159366746282011-01-22T22:17:00.002-06:002011-01-22T23:03:22.909-06:00

This afternoon Ben, Heather, and I went to go see The Social Network, finally. Bonus of waiting so long: we got to see it at the dollar theater here near the house. Technically the tickets were $1.50 each and popcorn was just as much as ever but I cannot stress how awesome it was to see a movie in the theater (albeit a kinda ghetto one) and not have shelled out an arm, a leg, and my soon-to-be

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-67364812018579883542011-01-19T12:30:00.003-06:002011-01-19T12:49:46.627-06:00

The complaint was the answer. To have heard myself making it was to be answered. Lightly men talk of saying what they mean. "Child, to say the very thing you really mean, the whole of it, nothing more or less or other than what you really mean; that's the whole art and joy of words." A glib saying. When the time comes to you at which you will be forced at last to utter the speech which has lain

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-77393119104645308952011-01-17T22:09:00.012-06:002011-01-18T00:40:41.575-06:00

The Golden Globes were Sunday night and thankfully this year there was lots and lots to look at on the red carpet! Trends seemed to be colors (lots of pink/red, lots of green) and sparkles head-to-toe. This is fine by me because I just love shiny things and sequined goodness. One please-don't-let-this-be-a-trend was shoulder pads. But I'm getting ahead of myself. TO THE DRESSES!!BLACK AND BLUEI

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-89210130530914886012011-01-10T13:01:00.002-06:002011-01-10T13:09:55.478-06:00

Sweet Baby James,This weekend marked the 20 week point of my pregnancy, which means I'm halfway done. Which means time is really flying. Which means I have a lot to do before you arrive!The most exciting thing I have to report is that I felt you move for the first time in these past couple days. At first I wasn't so sure, but it felt just different enough from everything else to be distinguished

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-43139710518173132062011-01-07T14:04:00.004-06:002011-01-07T14:10:11.559-06:00

Sweet Baby James,This picture has made me more excited than anything for you to arrive. Can't wait till your little feet are here to fill your just-like-Daddy shoes.Love,Momma

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-46948827471783382632011-01-07T09:03:00.003-06:002011-01-07T09:29:30.653-06:00

You guys, I am writing and posting this blog WHILE SITTING IN BED. I know that doesn't sound that exciting, but as a first-time laptop owner I find it delightful.Yes, that's right. It is 2011 and I am just now experiencing the joys of not being chained to a desk for my computer needs. I'm freeeeeeeee!Ben got me this adorable used MacBook for Christmas. I had my first big lesson in it last night.

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-12336757366201171762011-01-05T16:38:00.005-06:002011-01-05T17:03:16.173-06:00

Sweet Baby James,Guess what? You're a he! Well, you knew that, but we didn't! Here's how our discovery of your gender went down.The midwifes do the big 2nd trimester (I definitely wrote semester at first; you can take the girl out of college but...) ultrasound at 20 weeks, which I don't officially reach until this Saturday. Which will be January 8, which is obviously considerably past the time we

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-11835713019926854322011-01-04T16:40:00.002-06:002011-01-04T16:46:04.299-06:00

Along with my mother, I had asked my other most faithful reader, Heather, to do a guest entry for the 25(ish) days of Advent series. I'm so glad she agreed, even if I'm a little late in getting around to posting it! Here are Heather's thoughts on a favorite Christmas song of hers, and I think they provide a wonderful wrap-up to the series.******One of my earliest memories is of me sitting on a

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-46691264759015935652010-12-24T10:50:00.001-06:002010-12-25T22:22:43.969-06:00

Hark! The Herald Angels sing,"Glory to the new-born King;Peace on earth, and mercy mild,God and sinners reconciled!"Joyful, all ye nations, rise.Join the triumph of the skies.With th' Angelic Hosts proclaim,"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"Hark! the herald angels sing,"Glory to the new-born King."Christ, by highest heaven adored,Christ, the everlasting lordLate in time behold Him come,Off-spring of

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-78426334369867180802010-12-23T15:07:00.003-06:002010-12-23T15:48:17.572-06:00

I was really doing it! Blogging an advent post every day! Okay, so some days I'd write two and backdate one of them for the day I missed. But I had a post for every day, like a good little blogger.And then, about a week and a half ago, we got this brilliant idea that we were going to put our house on the market - something we've been considering for a while - and that we were going to do this by

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-58427347275869842112010-12-18T23:17:00.001-06:002010-12-19T20:33:17.717-06:00

Angels We Have Heard on HighAngels we have heard on highSweetly singing o'er the plains,And the mountains in replyEchoing their joyous strains.Gloria in excelsis Deo!Gloria in excelsis Deo!Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?What the gladsome tiding beWhich inspire your heavenly song?Gloria in excelsis Deo!Gloria in excelsis Deo!Come to Bethlehem and seeHim whose birth

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-41404581795820499342010-12-17T09:27:00.002-06:002010-12-17T09:33:52.641-06:00

Today I am featuring a guest blogger... my momma! I asked Sally to write something about one of her favorite Christmas hymns, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." As usual, she did awesome. Here are her wise thoughts for you to enjoy!*****On December 1, 1990, our little family went to a Christmas play called Impressario/Celebration” at the Masonic Temple in Guthrie, Oklahoma. This was the first time I

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-79741196625300248902010-12-16T21:42:00.003-06:002010-12-16T22:11:47.699-06:00

A Cradle in BethlehemSing sweet and low your lullaby'til angels say, "Amen."A mother tonight is rockingA cradle in Bethlehem.While wise men follow through the darkA star that beckons themA mother tonight is rockingA cradle in Bethlehem."A little child shall lead them,"the prophet said of old.In storm and tempest heed himUntil the bell is tolled.Sing sweet and low your lullaby 'til angels say, "

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-44525200212357080642010-12-15T23:25:00.000-06:002010-12-16T21:42:18.229-06:00

Once In Royal David's CityOnce in royal David's cityStood a lowly cattle shed,Where a mother laid her BabyIn a manger for His bed:Mary was that mother mild,Jesus Christ her little Child. He came down to earth from heaven,Who is God and Lord of all,And His shelter was a stable,And His cradle was a stall;With the poor, and mean, and lowly,Lived on earth our Savior holy.For he is our childhood's

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-70302590119225122542010-12-15T10:30:00.005-06:002010-12-15T10:46:37.110-06:00

Though I like to think of myself as such, I am not much of a domestic diva. I don't like cleaning and organizing, and thus unless someone is coming over, most of the time my house looks like a gentle tornado swept through. I can't sew, or knit, or make candles or soap. I love baking, which I guess is pretty domestic, but I don't really like cooking and I'm not very good at it or adventurous when

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-47177063216679213102010-12-14T19:22:00.003-06:002010-12-14T19:50:16.787-06:00

This is, at least to me, a more obscure Christmas hymn. In fact, I'm not sure I've ever sung it in a church service. I sort of fell in love with it, though, after hearing the version from Sufjan Steven's Christmas albums. Here it is, for your listening enjoyment.Lo, How a Rose E'er BloomingLo, how a Rose e'er blooming From tender stem hath sprung!Of Jesse's lineage comingAs men of old have

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-84503939304233400312010-12-13T18:03:00.000-06:002010-12-14T19:18:48.984-06:00

O Little Town of BethlehemO little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie;Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by:Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light;The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee to-night. For Christ is born of Mary; And gathered all above,While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love.O

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-72569685787176998692010-12-12T23:02:00.004-06:002010-12-12T23:53:51.395-06:00

This is not a hymn but a modern song, written by Chris Rice. And his version is the best; accept no covers. Go and find it and listen to it.Welcome to Our WorldTears are falling, hearts are breakingHow we need to hear from GodYou've been promised; we've been waitingWelcome Holy Child. Welcome Holy Child.Hope that you don't mind our mangerHow I wish we would have knownBut long-awaited Holy

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-58550997395472164622010-12-11T22:45:00.000-06:002010-12-12T23:01:27.668-06:00

I'm cheating a little. It was a busy weekend. So I'm stealing some of my thoughts from a blog I wrote last Christmas and I'm post-dating it so that it appears I put it up on Saturday like I was supposed to. Blogging magic!We Three Kings of Orient AreWe three kings of Orients areBearing gifts we traverse afarField and fountain, moor and mountainFollowing yonder star.Born a King on Bethlehem's

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-54881155404544854062010-12-10T09:10:00.003-06:002010-12-10T09:36:43.548-06:00

I had no idea, before my little research, that this song was so old. The original lyrics, from which the English song was derived, were written in a mixture of Latin and German in the early 1300s. I kind of love that, you know? Little reminders that the worship and wonder of God has been around for a long, long time.Good Christian Men, RejoiceGood Christian men, rejoiceWith heart and soul and

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-54655574110919502752010-12-09T10:02:00.005-06:002010-12-09T17:37:01.608-06:00

Away in a MangerAway in a manger, no crib for a bed,The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head;The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;I love Thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-60010100663103388862010-12-08T21:41:00.000-06:002010-12-09T10:02:16.641-06:00

Angels From the Realms of GloryAngels from the realms of gloryWing your flight over all the earth;Ye who sang creation's storyNow proclaim the Messiah's birth:Come and worship, come and worshipWorship Christ, the newborn KingShepherds, in the field abiding,Watching over your flocks by night,God with us is now residing;Yonder shines the infant light:Come and worship, come and worshipWorship Christ

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-69336167951656377552010-12-07T09:29:00.004-06:002010-12-07T19:36:00.571-06:00

The lyrics from this song were originally a poem by Longfellow. He wrote it just months after the Civil War's bloody engagement at the Battle of Gettysburg. It is about Christmas, yes, but even more so about peace.I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeatOf peace on earth, good will to men. I thought

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-22622753520731547262010-12-06T23:37:00.000-06:002010-12-07T09:25:33.225-06:00

Infant Holy, Infant LowlyInfant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall;Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the Babe is Lord of all.Angels winging, praises singing, Noels ringing, tidings bringing:Christ the Babe is Lord of all.Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping vigil till the morning newSaw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true.Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-6676977497740122132010-12-05T23:00:00.003-06:002010-12-05T23:34:57.261-06:00

This is a less common Christmas hymn; in fact, I don't know that I've ever sung it in a church service. It's an oldie, with both the words and original music dating to 1641. There are other verses, but from what I could gather, only this first one is original:Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly LightBreak forth, O beauteous heavenly lightAnd usher in the morning.O shepherds, shrink not with

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-77891848760456057032010-12-04T16:49:00.002-06:002010-12-04T17:00:32.604-06:00

Sweet Baby James,We are 15 weeks today! My tummy looks more round now. I mean, rounder than before. Your momma is no beanpole. But now it looks more pregnant-round and less lumpy. I approve.This week I started putting together a registry for you at Target. Target, FYI, is one of my favorite stores and they have a great selection of baby stuff. I still need to do some research on a few items, and

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-67734677330085193152010-12-04T16:32:00.003-06:002010-12-04T16:42:46.165-06:00

Okay, I'm going to cheat juuuuust a touch here. I actually blogged a little bit about this song two Christmases ago, so I'm mostly going to copy and paste parts of that entry. Starting... now. I was never a big fan of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" anyway - the melody is kind of awkward and gets really high, and it just didn't pack the emotional punch of some of my favorites. But yesterday (that

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-53838584275976555202010-12-03T16:45:00.002-06:002010-12-03T17:13:17.307-06:00

New background for the blog! I tried to find a good wintery one but I just really liked this star when I saw it, all glowing and warm.Today's song is "Love Came Down at Christmas." To spice things up a bit, here is a great version done by Jars of Clay. The music video is slightly odd, such as I'm pretty sure Mary rode more of a donkey animal than a unicorn animal. But the basics are there.Here

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-25800002067133585772010-12-02T17:16:00.003-06:002010-12-02T18:04:02.239-06:00

It is kind of an odd carol, but I like God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen alot. I'll admit it is mostly because I love the haunting melody and chanting rhythm. I like the words, too, but as I was doing a little (light, internet) research for this blog I found out a few interesting things. I only knew three verses, but did you know there are actually NINE? It's a long story song, with verses about all

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-27338264687023608112010-12-01T21:12:00.003-06:002010-12-01T22:12:43.986-06:00

Two posts in one day! I feel like I should get a cookie.Every year I want to do an Advent-related series of posts, and every year I end up not doing them daily like I intend. But no time like the present, so here goes 2010's attempt!I love Christmas carols. And I really love every year that I get older, how much more the words mean to me. I thought it would be great to use a Christmas carol as

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-75744885991319272092010-12-01T14:07:00.002-06:002010-12-01T14:29:11.661-06:00

Or more accurately, "wah wah wah wah!" That, my Sweet Baby James, is the sound of your little heart just beating away! And I know this because we heard it for the first time yesterday!I wish we had thought to record it with one of our phones, but we were just kind of in awe and didn't think to do anything but listen. The midwife got out the little Doppler machine, and started to place it on my

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-24948924988455137452010-11-17T09:35:00.004-06:002010-11-17T09:45:56.354-06:00

Most everyone who reads this (hello Mom, Heather, Jackie) already knows but just in case someone else happens to be here who doesn't have Facebook or Twitter or who doesn't see me in person regularly... I'm pregnant!I've actually been blogging secretly about it since the day I found out, but I was storing those elsewhere until the secret was officially revealed. Instead of keeping a fourth blog,

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-25210484279582898512010-11-11T13:26:00.001-06:002010-11-17T09:28:38.526-06:00

Sweet Baby James,Hello darling! In just a couple days I'll be 12 weeks along. That is crazy business. Right now you're well on your way to being the size of a lime. My goodness, that seems so... substantial!Today I thought about how awesome it will be when I make you laugh. I just know I'll love the sound of your little giggles and the sight of your toothless little grin. That thought might just

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-13684552847580965592010-11-03T23:53:00.001-05:002010-11-17T09:28:51.157-06:00

Sweet Baby James,Hello darling! Just because I haven't written in here in a couple weeks doesn't mean I haven't been thinking of you, because I totally HAVE. Every waking minute I am thinking about you in there growing and, day by day, making your way into the little person I will love.So what's been up these past two weeks... well, for starters, you have grown to be bigger than a kumquat! Now

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-5836633552594367922010-10-28T21:56:00.003-05:002010-10-28T22:20:56.290-05:00

Requisite first paragraph in which I talk about how I'm a terrible blogger, etc.So, this weekend is Halloween! I like to enjoy this holiday on the lighter side. No haunted houses or super scary movies - I'm just too chicken! I always think that I'll enjoy watching a scary movie, and I usually do during the actual watching, but then afterward when I'm laying awake in my bed listening to all the

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-4833654333540685752010-10-20T22:44:00.001-05:002010-11-17T09:29:04.660-06:00

Sweet Baby James,Hello my darling! Hard to believe but I am now over two months pregnant. Eight and a half weeks today, to be precise. I meant to be writing more often but growing you is making me utterly, lifelessly exhausted. Unfortunately I have also had an extra busy couple of weeks and this has not left me the desired time for napping! Yesterday I snuck in a few minutes between the doctor's

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-38457023145610179822010-10-19T22:21:00.001-05:002010-11-17T09:29:20.364-06:00

Sweet Baby James,Today was an exciting milestone, because I had my first official "I'm Pregnant" visit with the midwife. Woo!Now before anyone out there reading thinks I've gone crazy and that I'll be delivering my baby on my sofa or in my bathtub by candlelight or something, fear not. I will be having my baby very safely at top-notch Vanderbilt Hospital. There will be doctors and surgeons and

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-57271614833661803372010-10-14T22:55:00.001-05:002010-11-17T09:29:41.926-06:00

Sweet Baby James,A couple things, and then we can get to the fun part.It is not so easy to eat healthy when I don't really feel like eating anything. Today in the car I started crying because I couldn't think of a single thing I wanted for lunch! I ended up splurging on some Chick-fil-a nuggets and small fries, and soothed my upset tummy with some Sprite. For dinner your dad brought home some

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-67678497385742906052010-10-13T10:00:00.001-05:002010-11-17T09:30:00.064-06:00

Sweet Baby James,There's a lot to cover from these past few days! We got to go home and tell our whole family that you were coming. Needless to say, everyone was ecstatic.The first thing I did when I got home was tell my mom. You'll just call her Grandma Sally, or some variation of such. I was under instruction from your dad that she was the ONLY one I could tell until he got there. I wrapped up

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-1133808025125516022010-10-07T09:12:00.001-05:002010-11-17T09:30:14.895-06:00

Sweet Baby James,Clearly, you are already spoiled. Whatever you want, that's what Momma eats. And increasingly, what you want is chicken.This really surprised me, because I heard from many other moms that they really got grossed out by meat, particularly chicken, during their pregnancies. My friend Rachel's baby is already a few months old and she says she still doesn't like eating chicken,

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-32136725441731344052010-10-04T13:56:00.001-05:002010-11-17T09:30:31.885-06:00

Sweet Baby James,Hello lovely! I reached six weeks of pregnancy over the weekend, and guess what? That means no more sesame seed stage for you. You are now a quarter of an inch from your tiny little head to your curled up rump. That's about as big as a baby sweet pea. By the end of this week you'll be blueberry sized, so you are really growing like crazy already!One little fact that I'm in love

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-38188669926517959842010-10-02T08:00:00.000-05:002010-10-01T22:04:23.819-05:00

Do you need to laugh? I mean really just laugh so hard that your stomach hurts and your eyes start watering? To laugh so loud and so much that people come down the hall into your office so they can find out what is so freaking funny?Here.http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/You're welcome.It's all hilarious, but be sure not to miss the posts This Is Why I'll Never Be An Adult as well as one of

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-73862542496601992312010-10-01T09:30:00.004-05:002010-10-01T10:16:04.196-05:00

In my Bible study we have been going through Daniel. This is great, because I knew next to nothing about that particular book. Like every kid who went to Sunday School, I have vague memories of the "Daniel in the Lion's Den" story, but that was about it.I didn't even realize that one of my favorite Old Testament stories was IN the book of Daniel. That'd be the one with Shadrach, Meshach, and

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-89280412565553945122010-10-01T08:50:00.001-05:002010-11-17T09:31:09.071-06:00

Sweet Baby James,Hello dear one! Guess what? I woke up at 5:30 this morning! Was that your doing? Before you come out here to greet the world, I think we should clear up one thing. In this family - which you're now a part of - we LOVE sleep! We only see one 5:30 every day, and it's the one in the evening! So just get that in your tiny developing head - sleep is GOOD. Sleep is your FRIEND.Not only

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-26633149229903145172010-09-30T09:03:00.001-05:002010-11-17T09:31:25.960-06:00

Breakfast of Champions Sweet Baby James,I've always loved Goldfish crackers. But I didn't ever think I'd be eating them before 9 o'clock in the morning because every other food I even thought about made me want to barf.Love,Momma

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-55361712662684665922010-09-29T09:25:00.001-05:002010-11-17T09:31:38.778-06:00

Sweet Baby James,Hello dear one! Yesterday I really had a moment with God where I sort of turned you over to Him, so to speak. I have a feeling I'll have to continually do this for the entire rest of your life!Like every pregnant momma, I have some nagging fears about something happening to you before you are born, such as having a miscarriage. That's one reason we're trying really hard to wait

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-60625286553786028662010-09-28T15:11:00.005-05:002010-09-28T15:47:40.806-05:00

It finally, mercifully cooled off here in Nashville. Now it actually feels like the beginning of Fall, instead of Summer Part II: The Sequel. And I really love Fall, because it includes some of my favorite things like football and hoodies and crunchy leaves and soup!I tried a new soup recipe just a few days ago and it was so good I just had to share! I got it from a Paula Deen magazine, so I

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354305.post-76279099701495855502010-09-27T11:25:00.001-05:002010-11-17T09:32:07.538-06:00

Sweet Baby James,I have to stop calling you my little poppy seed because you've already grown to be the size of a sesame seed. It is still so tiny but look how much bigger than last week already!You are growing like a champ! Apparently this is why I am so tired, because all the systems of my body have abandoned me in favor of working on you. I'm totally okay with this, by the way.No more weird

AmyBethJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10707858997106729357noreply@blogger.com0