Being crafty!

I saw something similar to this at Porters Craft and Frame and decided to make a decoration for Dawson's room. It turned out really cute and wasn't to hard to make!



First you'll need bocks of wood and wood letters, as many as what your wanting it to say.

this is before. (couldn't get it to rotate)

i got football scrapbook paper traced and cut out the letters and glued it. then hot glued thr letters to my painted blocks.  I found some ribbon and got some random buttons and decorated the letters. You can use anything to decorate.

here is an example.

Here's the finished product!

Like father like son

I just had to share this picture! This is a baby picture of Tadd......

AND... This is a picture of Dawson!  Wow what a match!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE

Announcing Dawson Darin Atchley!!!

Dawson Darin Atchley

Wednesday August 3, 2011 Dawson was born at 11:49 a.m. I was scheduled to be induced at 5 a.m that morning- Tadd and I got there a little early and by 4:30 a.m they started the pit. by 5:30 the contractions started and got worse really fast! at 6:30 I couldn't take it any more and asked for the epidural. By that time the contractions were 20 and 30 seconds apart! It took till 7 a.m to get the epidural in but after that it was so much better!!!! Dawson was born at 11:49 a.m. It was so hard but he is so perfect and we love him so much!!

Dad was pretty tired to! Poor guy had to sleep on that char that pulled out into a very uncomfortable bed! Tadd is a great dad and Dawson and I are very lucky to have him!!

He is already being trained by dad to be a cowboys fan!!!

Getting closer-----!!!!!

We got a 3D ultrasound and the little dude wouldn't hold still-- started out with both hands over his face then after shaking my belly around, he moved one then some more shaking and finally got his face! Only for a second and then those hands were right back on that cute face! Guess he gets his picture phobia from me!! We think he has uncle Chris's (my little brother) nose!

Then the only other body part we could get was his little baby foot. (He's an active boy already!) And yup-- he's got his daddy's feet! If you look close, his second toe is slightly longer than his big toe.  I don't have toes like that and Tadd does! It's so cool getting a head start on seeing the traits he already has! (He does have a pinkie toe-- again he was just a wiggle worm)

Room is finished and ready for it's new move in! He's definitely got all the things he needs!

And here is the "grab and go" corner-- Tadd and I are all ready to meet our little guy!

3 weeks to go! Hopefully sooner!!!

New Room for Baby!

Tadd wanted him to have a Dallas Cowboys themed room.  I was skeptical at first but it is starting to come together! I used team color paint from Home Depot.  You can't tell but I still need to paint the middle stripe white.

These little wood craft footballs will go all around the room in the middle of the stripe. SO CUTE!

Of course the Dallas flag has to go on the wall somewhere. (Daddy's orders)

Here's the material for the curtains! Goes very cute with the footballs!

And my favorite purchase so far-

Jogging stroller!!! He's gunna have so much fun while mom gets back into shape!!

The Hunt For The Perfect Name

What a big decision!! This is proving to be a TON harder than I ever thought it would be!  Of course I have my favorites and names that I wanted to name my future children since before I was even married, but it's a lot harder when you are not the only one naming the little guy!  Tadd has not been a fan of any of the names I have liked and I have not liked any of his!  I used to think that no matter what my future husband said-- I would name my kids the names I wanted... well seeing as how I have a soft spot for the man and that man is also stubborn... I'm in trouble! I am more into both of us loving the perfect name!  Oh I just know I am in for it!  Since that probably will not happen... one of us might have to cave.  Wow this has been occupying my mind since the min the doc said, "It's a boy!"  I am bound and determined to give my little stud the most perfect name and I know that it's out there.. Just wish it would come to me sooner than later! 

However...... Can't wait to meet the little guy- It's going to be the sweetest time of my life!  Here are my very first purchases for him! LOVE HIM!

IT'S A BOY !!!



Yes that's right it's a boy for the Atchley house hold!  Friday March 25, 2011 I had a doctor's apt. at 11.  I was nervous but mostly just nervous to make sure the baby was healthy and growing strong!  We get there and I go back to the room and get Tadd on the phone since he couldn't be there because of work in Montana.  Fully expecting the lady to say it was a girl... I was completely surprised when she said, "IT'S A BOY!"  I paused for a second and said somewhat surprised-- It's a boy!! Tadd was surprised to! It was very funny! The ultra sound took twice as long as it should have because the little dude would not hold still!  The poor ultra sound lady was having a heck of a time taking the pictures and checking everything because once she'd get him where he needed to be he'd turn and kick and roll! It was so funny and so cute!  Everything was great and he was healthy and growing perfect just like I was hoping and praying for! 
It was amazing how my mind switched from girl to boy.  He is already spoiled and so so so loved! We can't wait for him to get here and change are lives for the better!  I am hoping he looks just like his daddy! I already think he's pretty cute!

What was that?!?

For two weeks I've been feeling this little little baby kicking and moving around! The first time was last week when i was sitting watching t.v and my tummy kept "twitching" The first day was just really light and really just felt like twitches but as the days progressed they got more and more profound. I feel the little one all day but now every night when i am calming down for the night the little one wants attention!  It's amazing!  It wasn't as weird as i thought it would be!  It's so wonderful and i love feeling it!
Tadd's been in Montana for a little bit and so i have had lots and lots of time to myself.  For the two years that we have been married we have been using the "baby" room as a storage room.  So much more convenient than taking all the stuff downstairs- well it was time to clean it out! I didn't realize how much stuff we had accumulated (well how much Tadd had- Hunting, fishing, books etc.)  So i started Saturday morning and it took me 4 hours to get it all out and organized and downstairs! Wow i was tired but it looks great now! The crib and changing table is all cleaned and disinfected and I cant wait to find out what the little one is so that i can start buying stuff to decorate and fill it up!  March 25th is the day and Tadd and I are very excited!  I'll keep you all posted when we find out!!!

Learn More About Us.

Most of you that follow my blog already know that I am a Mormon.  I have been my entire life and I believe in it with all my heart.  Recently I had my sister in law, Sister Tia Atchley who is serving an LDS mission in St. George Utah, challenge my family and I to try to find ways to have a missionary moment to share the gospel with someone who may be searching for it.  At church today we were informed of a new website that invites all people to explore us and what we believe.  This website is a "serchable introduction to anyone interested in learning more about the church."  The website is full of answers from the church and also perspectives and answers from the different people of the church.  I would love for anyone reading this who has any questions or is just curious about the LDS church to please visit this website.  Also, if you have any questions for me, I would absolutely LOVE to answer them for you (personal or not).  Go ahead and see for yourself, you may be surprised what you find!
www.mormon.org

I Can Hear Your Heart Beat-- The Sound is so Sweet!!

  Today we heard the baby's heart beat!! What an amazing sound that is! It makes it that much more realistic that there is really a baby in there!  Everything is going great and the Doc says that he wishes all his patients were as healthy and low risk as us! Wonderful news!  This little one is so sweet and has caused Tadd and I's hearts to grow.  And the good healthy news eases our minds. 
  We are now one big happy family now! (and by that i mean 9 people under one small roof!) haha Yep, everyone has made it to Medicine Lake.  Tom and Tara, Tuc and Cynthia along with their 3 children Aspyn, Max, and Jett,  and then Tadd and I!  We are all living under one roof until further house arrangements can be made and what was supposed to be a little scary is really not bad at all!! We all have been enjoying each others company.  It's funny because we are all hoping the neighbors don't think that we are polygamists! Sister Tia Atchley has referred to us as trailer trash now! However we live in a very cute little home that suits us in this place.  I worried about missing all my shows that i watch religiously, thank goodness for Internet! Don't worry I have caught back up on the Bachelor.  We have decided to take turns for being in charge of meals and I am a little nervous- first of all because i live with a sister in law who could cook right along with Rachel Ray and second of all because I live with a mother in law who can cook anything!  So wish me luck, (and the partakers of my food) that we will all be well afterward!  I'll keep you updated!

"LIFE IS TO BE ENJOYED, NOT ENDURED."

Gordon B. Hinckley has been on my mind a lot lately and his famous quote, "Life is to be enjoyed, not endured."  How true is this statement?!  How many times do i get caught up in life and the changes that go with it and wonder how i can handle this or that.  In the dictionary endure is defined, "to hold out against; sustain without impairment or yielding; undergo." Sometimes having to endure the pressures of life is really tough, and the changes that life brings are hard to keep up with.  It seems that you just start getting used to a certain way of life when all of the sudden it flips completely around and you think that you'll never get used to it.  I've learned that dwelling on how things used to be and always looking back just causes misery because life changes and that is the way it is intended to be.  All we need to do is embrace the changes, and those changes can turn into new adventures and learning experiences.  At the end of the day you will always have family and friends that are dear to you.  These people make your life enjoyable and should be the focus of life.  So back to the quote, "Life is to be enjoyed, not endured." This is what i have learned since life has changed somewhat for me.  I was so busy focusing on the things in life that i wasn't sure i liked that i forgot to remember the wonderful blessings i have to enjoy everyday like my most wonderful, hard-working husband that i love so much and am so fortunate to be with. Our new little baby that is going to bless our life more than words can describe. My wonderful family that loves me so much and has made me the person i am and is the example for the person i want to be. And great supportive in-laws that have welcomed me with open arms and supported us with all that we need.  These blessings are so dear to my heart and i am thankful to enjoy my life with them instead of endure it. 

Medicine Lake Montana

Tadd and I are now in Medicine Lake Montana- population.... umm not sure but it's not much!  It's even smaller than Ashton if thats believeable!  We left Ashton Wednesday morning at 6:30 a.m and got here at around 6:30- 7:00 pm.  It was a very long drive!  But i was surprised how well i did! I thought i would be miserable and sick the whole way but every time i felt i was getting sick i'd just go to sleep and it all turned out great!  Thursday Tadd and i spent the day together getting our stuff unpacked and then he took me around the small town and showed me everything- it took about 2 min. because the town is only 2 miles wide! haha.  It was fun seeing the surrounding areas and just seeing how different and the same it is from home. The wild life here is amazing! Over 30 head of deer camped out in the football field last night and i even saw a big buck! It's really cool how they just trot around town.  The first night i felt like i was back at my first night at college wanting my mom!  haha but it was all ok and i grew back up after awhile.  Then today (friday)  Tadd headed off to work at 6 am and usually i have no problem going back to sleep but in new places it takes some getting used to so i just stayed up and turned on CMT just like i do back home and cleaned the house up a bit.  I then decided to take my first trek into the "big cities" by myself!  I drove into Plentywood, which is a town similar to Ashton, and did some grocery shopping-- wowzer! It definetly gives Dave's grocery store a run for its money with how expensive it is!  But it was fun to go.  I made a roast dinner for tadd in the crock pot and have started scrapbooking!  i definetly need some improvement on my creativity and some more supplies and soon i will be good to go! It is a fun activity to keep me occupied during the day while i'm alone. Its fun to go back and look at pictures from a couple of years ago.  Just started on Tadd and I's wedding and it makes my heart smile to go back to that wonderful day! 
Well i am almost clear of the first trimester but i have this bad feeling that the sickness will not be leaving with it!  its still crazy to think i have a little over 6 months till we get to meet this little one! And what i'm looking more forward to right now is March when we get to find out if we will have a lot of pink or blue in our future!