evie's new friends

The other day while deep cleaning the basement my mother found this vintage pattern that belonged to my Nanny.  I fell in love with it the moment I saw it and wanted to make all of these little guys for EJ.

We went to Hobby Lobby and bought a lot of different fabrics.  It was best to pick patterns with small designs on them.  I did get a few larger prints though, I couldn't pass up the gray chevron.

We did all of the embroidery before we sewed the animals together.  I still have 6 more to make, I am just taking my time because they take so long and I want them to be right.  I can't wait for her to have all the animals in her posse.

***If anyone wants me to photo copy the patterns and send them to you, shoot me an email!***

evaleigh's nursery

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...

busy busy busy

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!!

i'll eat that sour cream for you

This weekend I went with my soul friend to the Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain.

It is voted one of the top five arts & crafts shows in the nation.

Did someone say ARTS AND CRAFTS?! Oh, I'm there!

I grabbed some Green Apple and Blue Raspberry Italian Shaved Ice and Lisa got a burrito from Enrique's Place and we began our trek through the forest lined with hopeful vendors.

It was so much fun to walk through the woods in the coolness and shade of the trees.  The wind would blow just enough to remind us that fall is on its way.  

There was a lady selling homemade drink mixes and we were able to sample some of them.  We tried the Caramel Apple Cider and my eyes got wide and I could taste fall!  

I left with two bags of hand-ground Pioneer Porridge and Ground White Grits.  I can't wait to have them for breakfast.

When we left Lisa and I went to the Atlanta Temple for a few hours.  

I love the temple so much.  

It is such a place of peace and comfort to me.  I was so happy to have been able to take my daughter inside with me!  

I could feel her excitement as we were inside there together and she began to move around.  

I felt so relaxed and hopeful for the rest of my life as I sat in the temple and contemplated silently.  

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to go inside the temple and leave all of my cares behind and have time to feel like spirit and feel God's love for me.  

(and I know Evaleigh felt it too!)

DIY Lace Onsies

After seeing this and this on Pinterest, I decided to take a crack at spiffin' up some onsies for our little EJ.

My sister and I went to Hobby Lobby and got loads of lace notions and felt to make flowers and then went home to start our creations.

I am so happy with how they turned out.  I can't wait until her precious tiny body is filling up those onsies, I already have them hanging in her room!

We are 20 WEEKS TODAY!

I can't believe we have already reached the halfway point.

This pregnancy is going pretty fast but I am enjoying every moment.  (Except for the nighttime potty interruptions.  Those are becoming much more frequent. Ex: last night...I went 3 times from 12-5am...little lady likes to dance on my bladder)

I hope everyone has a fantastic Labor Day weekend! Here is what we did last Labor Day.  I could go for some more of that!

We are going to cookout and have a jam session, I can't think of anything more perfect.

DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE OCD: DIY Button Shirt

A couple of weeks ago when John and I were in Colorado visiting our family I picked up these charming vintage red buttons while antiquing with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law at the Springfield Treasure Chest Mall.

I couldn't wait to find them a home.

So, today I grabbed one of my Target maternity t-shirts and jazzed it up with those 4 red babies!

WARNING: 

IF YOU HAVE OCD NOW MIGHT BE THE TIME TO LOOK AWAY!!!!

I didn't quite get them straight....

But, no fear...I will try again.

After Mr. Murphy came home from work he joined my sister and I in Athens.  

He walked in the door of their apartment, took one look at my chest and said, "Babe, I have to say something. Those things are looking a little off..."

GAH, I know.  That's what impatience will get you: a wonky looking uneven chest.

The Ultimate Craft

I am currently involved in the greatest craft of all time.

I am making a tiny human.

This is by far the longest and most incredible project I have ever been involved in.

Here are the instructions and you too can have a tiny human of your very own.

supplies:

1 dapper husband

1 dutiful wife

mix well with one romantic evening and a lot of sweet lovin' and wait 40 weeks

Being pregnant has actually been pretty easy so far. 

I haven't gained a pound. (In fact I've lost 15, don't worry doc says its ok)

I sleep great through the night.

I don't have to wake up in the night to empty my bladder.

I haven't had any crazy cravings.

I've only thrown up 6 times.

I feel happy and glowy.

We have been blessed with so many hand-me-downs.

My hair is growing leaps and bounds.

Our baby has only given me a few little kicks, nothing uncomfortable or painful yet.

We are approaching the halfway mark and I am eager to start feeling EJ move around more.  I listen to her heartbeat every other day on our home doppler.  It is like music to my ears.  Sometimes we can hear he flipping and moving in there.

She is the...

Best. Craft. Ever.

when the husbands away the wife will cave.

Last night I came home at 11:15, from almost 12 hours of babysitting, to an empty home.  John was invited for a racquetball and a video game marathon at my sister and her husbands home in Athens.  I will never understand men and their video games.  So...I had the night to my self.  What did I do?

1) Put on the most comfortable jammies I could find, included but not limited to a shirt I have had since Elementary school

2) Felt a little lonely with no one to snuggle with

3) Realized that was silly and told myself, "You can have fun by yourself, you like yourself."

4) Took a self portrait

5) Took off all of my make-up, let my hair down, and indulged in two guilty and unhealthy pleasures

6)  Netflixed a classic. Old movies are the cure for any secluded night

*Jane Russell completely out-shown Marilyn.  Sorry Mary.

I really enjoyed the movie except for the fact that the whole time I just kept thinking, "Jane Russell is Adam Cooper in drag! Jane Russell is Adam Cooper in drag!"  It was tripping me out the entire film.

Adam Cooper would make a beautiful female.

7) Did another self-portrait through the viewfinder of my Nanny's vintage Ricoh Singlex II

8)  Then I watched The Proposal and made snowflakes for a special Christmas decoration. Stayed tuned, it's going to be brilliant.  I made them out of some music sheets from an old vintage piano music book and maps from an old Atlas that John had in his car.

"Hello Washington, how will your Christmas be?"

I realized a few things last night. 

It's just as important to feed the relationship you have with yourself as it it is to feed the relationships you have with others.

Marriage has changed the way that I spend my time.  When I come home or have free time, the only thing on my mind is wanting to be with my husband.  But I realized last night that sometimes we have to step back and check back in with ourselves to make sure that we are doing what we need to feed our souls and stay connected to the "little I am" inside of us.  We can do this alone and with people but I just needed the reminder that being alone is a sweet time of self discovery and self love.  I had a great reunion with myself last night.  I think we will get together more often.