Hey there. I hope your week is going well. I’ve been thinking so much about the sweet souls in Connecticut that are grieving. There is nothing that can take away their pain, but it’s been so wonderful to hear the numerous accounts of heroism, service, and kindness coming from this tragedy. I hope those affected feel the prayers and know they aren’t alone in their grief.

I keep looking at my sweet boys and saying prayers of thanks that they are alright. The Hubs and I have limited the television coverage for our boys’ sake. Pickle and I had a long talk about what happened to the children at Sandy Hook. We hugged and cried with each other, and we discussed his fears and concerns. I wrote a letter to his teacher thanking her for all of her hard work and love for her students. Although I was worried about Pickle on Friday because he wasn’t with me, it was very comforting to know my little guy was with someone who cares so much about him.

On a different note, thank you so much for the well wishes for our new bundle of joy! We are thrilled to be adding one more to our little family. It’s crazy to think I’ll have 3 kids. 3! People keep asking me if I’ll have anymore after this, and I don’t plan on it. I know what I can personally handle, and three is my max. Three is good.

We found out last week what we’re having…. Would you like to know, too?

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WhooHoo!! Boy #3! I can’t believe it. I am a mom of boys! I think I need one of these shirts:

One Hip Mom

When I found out this little muffin is a boy, I waited for that feeling of, “What? Not a girl?” but it never came. Instead I was really excited and surprisingly relieved. Since we have 2 boys already, I have everything this one needs, I know how to raise boys, and he has brothers. I’d be sad for a little girl who wouldn’t have a sister. There are no shot guns to be bought, and no prom, homecoming, or wedding dresses to save up for (you just have to rent a tux!).

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It’s my hope to raise gentlemen. Kind, sweet boys who are good people. I would love them to be helpful, considerate, and thoughtful of others’ feelings. I picture them working in the yard with their dad or helping the grandparents in their old age with chores and honey-dos. I pray they grow up to be good husbands and daddies – to treat their wives like queens – and to (fingers crossed!) cook and clean as well. I want them to be God-fearing men who love and serve Jesus their whole lives.

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When I think about our future, I see lots of sports, camping, trains, Legos, wrestling matches, living room forts, superheroes, dirt, bugs, and experiments. Yeah, there will be times that I’ll have no clue what they are talking about (are you sure the NFL doesn’t change its rules every week??), I will be the odd “man” out sometimes at the movies or some activities, and they’ll all go off on “boys only” trips. But guess what?

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I will still be their mom. We will have more in common than not. These 3 boys will be loved unconditionally…forever. I am so blessed. I sometimes can’t believe that God is willing to give me some of his best angels to teach and keep safe. I am a lucky lucky mom.

And I pray I don’t screw them up.

Hey Friends! It’s me. For reals!

I know, I know. I’ve been on a bit of a break. I had to stop blogging for a little while because I’ve been working on a behind-the-scenes project that’s taken just about everything out of me. Seriously. And I’m halfway finished.

Wanna see my new “project?”

Yep, I’m preg! There’s a muffin in the oven. And it’s such a cute muffin!! (Can’t you tell from the fuzzy, blurry sonogram?) I’m 5 months along, 20 weeks today. Wow. 20. Only 20 more to go.

My doctor says things are going really well. S/he is growing right on target, and things look good. Which makes me happy to hear. I worry a little bit about that kind of stuff because I’ll be 36 when I deliver, which is considered a “geriatric pregnancy.” Nice. Makes you feel like you’ll be eating baby food with your baby because neither of you will have teeth.

My cute boys are excited to have a younger sibling. Pickle is begging for a sister (because I can control such things), and J sometimes stops playing trains and Sonic the Hedgehog long enough to give my belly a kiss.

We keep talking about names, and it’s fun to think up funny ones. During the election, we joked we’d name the baby Barack Mitt Romney. Now we’re considering Mario, Luigi, or Princess Peach. I once mentioned to my older sister that I’m drawn to boy names with -son on the end (like Carson). So every name she suggests sounds like this: Samson, Danielson, Joshuason, Andrewson, Tyson-son. When it comes to girl names, well…I’m at a total loss! (I used to love Bella before the whole Twilight thing happened and everyone started naming their dog Bella. Yep, scratch that one off the list for sure.) I could totally use your suggestions!

As far as my absence from the blogging world, I blame it all on morning sickness. I know each pregnancy is different, each woman is different. How have things gone over here? OH MY GOSH. This little one has kicked my butt. Baby: 1, Beth: 0. No, wait. More like Baby: 18 1/2 weeks, Beth: 1 1/2 weeks. There has been lots of nausea and vomiting mixed with ridiculous headaches. Like headaches I’ve never had before. Sometimes they’ve sent me to my room where it’s dark and quiet and there’s no movement. And, as weird as it sounds, the morning sickness (which, to me is actually motion sickness) has given me aversions to things that scroll up and down – like Facebook, Instagram, reading, reading blogs, typing…all the things I enjoy doing on a regular basis. I had to put my phone away for awhile because that’s where I check my e-mail and Facebook. Even my ringtone made me sick for awhile!!

I’m not gonna lie…there were days that I couldn’t think about lifting my head off the couch (except maybe to put it in the toilet). So blogging was out for sure. I kept the kids fed and safe, and The Hubs kept up with the laundry and dishes, and that was about the extent of our existence for awhile.

I am SO glad to be out in the real world again. There are still a few rough days (days where my mascara turns straight to clown makeup from the puke fests), but I’m feeling so much better. They say the sicker the pregnancy, the healthier the baby. This baby will be really healthy – no doubt.

So thanks for being patient with me while I work on this new “project” for our home. I feel so blessed, and I’m grateful to be having another little angel. I’m still here, I still want to blog, and I’ll continue as my life allows.

We ARE finding out what we are having, and I’ll share the news with you next time…Monday? Tuesday? Place your bets now! What do you think we’re having? Girl? Boy? Come back to see!

Happy Friday peeps! Raise your hand if you’re so excited for the weekend. Yeah, me, too!! And what better way to get the weekend started than an awesome GIVEAWAY!!!

Last week I showed you all our pretty new powder room…thanks to the Marrakesh Trellis Stencil from Royal Design Studio.

And now, Royal Design Studio would like to give one of you a $50 shopping spree! You can order a stencil, a brush, maybe some stencil creme! And, shipping is FREE!! Gotta love the free!

Want to win? You have up to SIX different ways to enter!!

TWO are mandatory:

1. This giveaway is for Free Stylin’ readers only, so you must subscribe in order to enter. Please subscribe, and then leave a comment letting me know which way you subscribe to Free Stylin’ (RSS feed or e-mail.)

2. Go to the Royal Design Studio website and check out their incredible selection of stencils. Come back and let me know which stencil is your fave and where you would use it.

With all entries, please leave a comment letting me know which way you are entering.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Giveaway ends Friday, September 7th at 12:01 am. The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, and an e-mail will be sent to that person. They will have 5 days to respond, and then a new winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!

As hard as this is to type, we lost my brother, JJ, unexpectedly yesterday in a car accident. He was only 26. My heart goes out to his mom, my wonderful step-mom; and my youngest sister. I will especially miss his sideways smile, his kind heart, and listening to him rock out on the guitar.

These are a couple of the last pictures we took together…

(We’re missing our oldest sister in this pic…)

I won’t be posting this week…I want to spend time with my family. Your prayers are appreciated…especially for his sweet mom.

Love you so much, JJ! I absolutely cannot believe you’re gone.

(Just so there is no confusion, this is not the same brother as the one I posted about HERE.)