currently ...

Making:  a person
Cooking:  nothing much these days ... bowls of cereal
Drinking:  lots of water
Reading:  orange is the new black
Wanting:  coffee ice cream from trader joes
Looking:  at spreadsheets all week long
Playing:  my mumford and sons pandora station
Deciding:  how to arrange the collage wall in the nursery
Wishing:  it wasnt too hot for me to take walks or i had a treadmill
Enjoying: the summertime 
Waiting: patiently for our little girl to arrive
Liking: climbing into bed early and watching documentaries on netflix with husband
Wondering: if i enjoy blogging as much as i used to
Loving:  how well kitty klaus and omar are get along
Pondering:  our baby girls middle name.  we are working from a short list but trying to make a final decision soon. 
Considering:  going blonde but then i think that it might look awful or cost too much to maintain
Watching:  henry grow into this silly kid that knows his cheesy grin will get him out of trouble
Hoping:  to find a good childcare solution that we can afford
Marvelling:  at how quickly henry is picking up new words
Needing:  diapers, more time, coffee ... and maybe a nap
Smelling:  honey suckles reminds me of my childhood 
Wearing:  breezy maternity clothes that keep my cool on these humid 97 degree days
Following: a lot of pregnant yogis on instagram
Noticing:  that im feeling a bit isolated from people i was once close with
Knowing:  that my husband is the bomb.com
Thinking:  there must be something im forgetting to do to prepare for sister.  
Feeling: round
Admiring: how patient husband is with me
Sorting:  out the details of childcare (who, what, where, how much, etc.)
Buying:  as little as possible this month 
Getting: tired of not being able to play on the floor with henry for very long
Bookmarking:  yoga poses/workouts i cannot do until after i am no longer pregnant
Disliking:  how much i procrastinate and then stress myself out
Opening:  a straw to put into a strawberry milkshake
Giggling: at how grossed out husband gets when henry spits out chewed up food he doesnt like
Feeling:  anxious, excited, nervous, blessed 

the idea for this list came from here

things you should know

1. henry is 1 and a half years old!  can you even believe it?  it felt like just yesterday that i was posting pregnancy photos.  life with a toddler is the most awesome and exhausting thing ever.  our little guy is developing such a huge, amazing personality.  
   
2. speaking of pregnancy photos ... we are having another baby!!!  "sister" is due August 7th and we are super stoked.  
   
3. we have a cat now.  his name is klaus.  he is pretty much henry's favorite toy at the moment ... poor kitty!!! 
4. if you are wondering where i went, this post explains exactly why i havent been around these parts in a while.  

and that about sums up whats been going on these past 6 months.  i hope to post a bit more but im not making any promises :)  

happy july! 

oh, if you dont follow me on instagram, here is a photo dump of a few of my favorite moments you might have missed.

pet peeves:

1)  when i am second in line at a stop light and the person behind me honks their horn.  i always get so embarrassed that the person in front might think i did it.  so i usually look like an idiot trying to sign language an apology and pointing behind me to the real culprit.

2) while shopping, you ask the store employee if there are any more of said item in the back and they just simply say “no.”   i mean, i have worked in the customer service industry before.  i know how this works.  can’t you at least pretend to look in the back?  go take a sip of your icee for gracious sake and come back with a concerned look on your face and lie … say you couldn’t find it anywhere.

source

3) when an ambulance is coming up behind you and you are the ONLY person that pulls off the road out of their way … and then no one will let you back onto the road even though you are the only driver that did what they were supposed to.

4) weak coffee … like really weak.  you add the tiniest amount of cream and it suddenly looks like a cup of skim milk …. and don’t get me started on skim milk. 

5) leaves!  you finally muster up some energy to blow the leaves in your front yard and at some point in the night a small tornado comes through and blows them all over the place … and more down from the tree.  bagging the leaves in the pile is not an option because it would literally take ten million years ... ain't nobody got time for that!  speaking of time, if it didn’t get dark at 3pm, maybe i would have more time to blow and bag leaves :)

what is your biggest pet peeve? 

currently ...

missing ... long, warm days

loving ... seeing henry become this little person with his own personality 

thinking about ... planning a mini vaca/ road trip

listening to ... mumford and sons concert on youtube.  i have just recently found that you can watch entire concerts on youtube so i looked up some of my favorites.  

drinking ... water

thankful for ... husband, coffee and henry's new play yard thing we set up in the basement.  its a great place for him to play while im in the shower, cooking, blogging :)

addicted to ... dark chocolate covered almonds from trader joes

dreading ... the wintry weather, it being dark out when i get home from work and static shocks from my hair, coat, car door, etc.   

reading ... Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting - chapter 6 is so interesting (along with the rest of the book so far).  its about the difference between child care options in paris vs. the US.  

dreaming of ... summer time and beach trips

excited about ... jen coming home for a visit this weekend, the sweet sibling tat my bro and i are planning and getting my blog back up and running. 

currently ...

missing ... being pregnant.  i know, can you believe it?  i dont miss everything about it, but i was doing some pretty important stuff inside my body and it was really special.  

loving ... having to get dressed in the mornings.  ok, so im not sure how long this will last but its kind of nice having to take a shower and look presentable.  i do not have the discipline to do that when im home for the day. 

thinking about ... my future.  what are my goals, options and priorities? 

listening to ... my stomach growling.

drinking ... yummy water.

thankful for ... everything!!!  my cup runneth over. 

addicted to ... the smell of henry and giving him lots of kisses. 

dreading ... taking down my christmas decorations.  yes, they are still up ... dont judge me.  :)

watching ... friday night lights.  i had never seen even one episode until a couple of weeks ago and now im only a few episodes from finishing off season 5.  i think it might be as sad as when i finished reading the harry potter books ... like im loosing my best friends. 

dreaming of ... springtime!

excited about ... the new year.  everything thing is new this year.  new baby, new schedule, new body.  thats right ... im living in this body that served me well over the past year.  the trouble is i dont recognize it :) but im looking forward to taking good care of it.  i hope to do a few posts about my post baby weight loss and how husband and i are taking baby steps to a cleaner diet.  

random thoughts

last night, I slept on my stomach for the first time since april ... it was glorious!!!

things are going well and I am finally starting to feel a little more like me every day. im looking forward to having the energy to download some pics for you guys and start posting again.

until then, I leave you with these sweet images ...

block party

sunday evening, our small group hosted a block party.  i will admit that these last few weeks of pregnancy has been putting a strain on me physically and mentally, so i mostly sat back and took it all in. it was great to see the kids start a football game and the adults getting to know one another.  

so go ahead, its the perfect weather to grab some hot dogs, pumpkin brews and a cornhole set and meet your neighbors.  

currently ...

missing ... summer, beer, a tan, a good nights rest and the energy it provides.    

loving ... husband, his patience with me and his general awesomeness. 

thinking about ... pretty much everything under the sun.  my mind races constantly with all the things i need to get done in the next few weeks.

listening to ... mumford & sons pandora station 

drinking ... a sprite

thankful for ... being only 4 days away from reaching full term (27 weeks). 

dreading ... the famous after pregnancy hair loss that most women experience.  

addicted to ... pumpkin ice cream from trader joes

watching ... dvds for our birthing class.  also, husband and i just finished watching season 2 of the walking dead on netflix. 

dreaming of ... pain free child birth :)  and getting to meet our son!   

excited about ... having more than 5 items of clothing/shoes that fit comfortably, being able to easily paint my own toenails and getting out of bed without grunting :) 

nursing covers and unicorn hair

source

let me start by saying that im pretty cheap.  this is something that husband points out to me quite a bit.  i am especially cheap when it comes to needs like tires, gas, doctors visits, etc.  i also have a really hard time overpaying for some items like a bra, maternity clothes in general or a nursing cover.  

and now, the point of this post: 
do any of you mothers out there have one of those DRIA nursing covers?  they seem to be one of the most overpriced products out there.  i mean, sure its made of awesome jersey knit material and its super functional, but im pretty sure it can be homemade for about $15 and with very little knowledge of sewing.  i would love for someone that has one to leave a comment about it.  was it everything you hoped it would be and more?  i have zero intention of purchasing or asking for one but i still feel like their pricing should be justified somehow (which they tried to do on their faqs page but im not buying it).  

the only way i would pay $80 for this nursing cover: 

• if it comes with a $3000 savings bond to be used for child's education. 
• guaranteed no pain when breast feeding
• it was sewn together with unicorn hair
• helps melt away any and all pregnancy weight within 2 weeks of purchase
• with every use, the nursing cover tells you things like:
• "you are an awesome mom" 
• "keep up the good work"
• "you look pretty today"

i have seen a few DIY tutorials online so i might give one a try and let you know how it turns out.  now, if only i could get my hands on some unicorn hair ...

breakfast for dinner

one of our favorite meals is breakfast for dinner ... no matter what shape it comes in. 

i found this recipe on pinterest, where all good things go to be lusted over and not properly sited.  i have the original source here if you want to take a looksy.  that lady's breakfast wheel was a lot prettier than mine, but i guarantee i used more cheese than she did so mine was most likely yummier :) 

birthday tomfoolery

happy, happy birthday jen

its your birthday time and you're my friend

i cant wait to see you again
the end

many of you know jen and many of you do not.  let me just say, if you dont, you're missing out.  she has been nothing but an awesome person and loyal friend for, like, ever!  

so in honor of her 30th birthday, here is my ode to jen photo collage for your viewing pleasure :)

love you lots!!!

today is my favorite

this past sunday, a friend gave the message at church about finding contentment and joy where you are right now.  of course i have heard messages on this topic before but something she said really resonated with me.  she said that every day should be our favorite.  


examples she gave, paraphrased by me: 

• birth - "hello world, this is my favorite time."
• learning to walk - "im mobile!  woo hoo, this is my favorite"
• i got my license - "freedom!  this is my favorite"
• loosing a job - "thank you God for the opportunity to learn something new.  this is my favorite."
• failing marriage - "this is a great trial in my life that will teach me to  lean on you, Lord.  this, is my favorite"
• 5.75 months pregnant, 98 degrees outside, no air condition in either vehicle, 35 minute commute to and from work - "Lord, thank you for the summertime and 2 vehicles that get us from point a to point b.  today is hot, but its my favorite!" 

ok, so that last one is my own, but you get the point :)

i was thinking about this yesterday and it hit me ... this is what best.day.ever. is all about.  this blog is my journey of trying to make the most of every day and make it my favorite.  whats sad is, i dont think i ever really explained this to my readers because i couldnt find an easy way to explain it.  this blog started out with me seeking to be a better ... well, everything.  but it turned into me loving where i am and who i am right now. 

today is my favorite ... today is the best.day.ever.

dear mom,

you have mentioned several times that you would like to actively follow my blog and be able to comment and enter giveaways.  i have created this "how to" post just for you and others like you that might have a hard time navigating around blogger without a google account already in place.

how to follow your daughters blog:

step 1 - find the "join this site" button to the right of my blog.

 

step 2 - click on the "yahoo" button because you already have a yahoo account.

step 3 - enter your yahoo account id and password. 

step 4 - click on the button that says "agree"

step 5 - next, you want to enter your name.  if you would like to add a picture, click on "edit picture" and choose to upload from your desktop.  after you are finished, click "follow this blog."

step 6 - lastly, you will see the screen below.  click "done" and you have finished.

you should now be able to follow along and comment on anything you like.  i hope this helped.  if it did, leave a comment below.

thanks mom for all your support!!!!

feel free to send this post to anyone who could use it.  

follow me:

bloglovin ~ twitter ~ pinterest

a song ...

happy birthday to me, 

happy birthday to me, 

im making a person

happy birthday to me!!!! 

  high five for friday:

1. i had a short work week
2. im on vacation
3. i get to hang out with my besties and
4. i get to spend some romantical time with my man
5.  its my birthday!!!

100 questions

found these questions on i rock so what and thought they might be interesting to share while im away.  

photo taken by christine hall

1. Are you young at heart, or an old soul? can i be both? if so, yes :) 
2. What makes someone a best friend? loyalty and listening without judgement
3. What Christmas (or Hanukkah) present do you remember the most? the raleigh bicycle that i was so excited about until i realized it was too big for me.  it took a couple of months for me to learn to adjust and actually enjoy the gift.
4. Tell me about a movie/song/tv show/play/book that has changed your life. this is a hard one.  i guess the books the diary of ann frank or number the stars.  i read both when i was really young and was shocked to realize how people treated other people for such stupid reasons.  i think it was my first look into what evil looks like.  since then, i have continued to read/ investigate other historical fictions and memoirs from wwII. 
5. Name one physical feature that you like about yourself, and one you dislike. i like my feet ... they arent weird looking and they get me places.  i am not a fan of my chest ... dont get me wrong, the girls have gotten me a few free drinks back in the day, but mostly they just get in the way.  having big boobs is highly overrated!!!
6. Would you like to reconnect with any friends you’ve lost contact with? maybe a few
7. What’s more important in a relationship: physical attraction or emotional connection? emotional connection
8. Name a movie that you knew would be terrible just from reading the title. snakes on a plain
9. What holiday do you most look forward to? thanksgiving
10. How is the relationship between you and your parents? great!
11. You’ve got the TV on, but you’re not really watching. What channel is the TV on? we dont have tv really.  i watch anything i want to watch on hulu ... so i dont really waste time watching anything i dont pay attention to.
12. Name a song that never fails to make you happy.  a) how he loves by david crowder, b) st. robinson and his cadillac dream by counting crows, c)or float on by modest mouse
13. You know at least one person named Michael. Tell me about him. i know several but ill go with cousin.  we are the same age, he grew up in florida until they moved to nc and we became close.  he and i moved to raleigh together with another cousin almost 10 yrs ago.  he is tall, goofy, responsible, a great dad and husband, honest, loyal and funny. 
14. Have you ever read the “missed connections” on Craigslist? Have you ever posted one, or wanted to? i have read them, no, i have never posted one.
15. If you could pick anywhere to live the rest of your life, where would it be?  near my parents so i get free daycare ... ok, really, i would choose to live anywhere for a short time but i would want to be close to my family if it was for the rest of my life.
16. Can money buy happiness? um, yes, i think.  maybe not true joy, but happiness, yes!
17. Do you drink? Smoke? Do drugs? Why, or why not? when im not making a person, i do enjoy drinking yummy beers, wine and fancy drinks.  i dont smoke anymore and my drug of choice is coffee (which is considered a drug in some religions). 
18. Is there anyone close to you that you know you can’t trust? You don’t have to give names. im thinking not anymore.  maybe peeps i know but i have learned in the past few years that if i dont trust someone then they will only get a certain level of openness from me.
19. Where was your favorite place to go when you were a little kid? my grandparents house to hang with my cousins OR white lake, day trips to the beach, the pool ... mostly summertime activities.
20. Have you ever spent a night in the hospital? yes, when i was first born :)  i dont think i have since then.
21. Do you enjoy being with only one or two friends, or with a large group of people?  depends on what we are doing.  i would say one or two close friends
22. Do you like the type of music your parents listen to? Do your parents like the type of music you listen to? my father only listens to oldies and my mother only listens to Christmas music.  i enjoy both (during the appropriate time of the year).  i think the only stuff my dad likes that i do is some of the Christian music i listen to.
23. Have you ever been bullied? Have you ever bullied anyone else? yes and yes
24. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? mac & chz
25. If your partner wanted to wait until marriage before having sex, would you stay in that relationship?  yup
26. Do you believe in a god? very much so
27. Of all the social networks in the world, why use twitter?  um, i dont really use it all that much ... you can follow me at @mebenfield
28. What’s your favorite hashtag to track? see # 27
29. Would you call yourself/your family “middle class?” i guess so.  i think the definition of middle class has changed over the past few years though.  lower middle class would be more accurate.
30. Name a TV series you didn’t enjoy until after it ended.  monk
31. Have you ever bought a product from an infomercial? yes?  i really cant remember. 
32. If you could give up your car and never have to drive again, would you? is it because the city i live in has awesome, safe, public transportation?  is it because someone has agreed to drive me where ever i want?  either way, i think i would want the freedom of being able to drive myself, so no.
33. If you go back to one point in time to give advice to yourself, when would you go and what would you say? early high school - "i dont care if everyone says you are going to community college, you can go anywhere you want.  try harder in school, care a little more because you can apply to a school that cares about that stuff.  make some goals for you and no one else, get a loan if you have to ... then get out of there and make it happen.  do not settle just because you are led to believe that you dont have options.  you do!"
34. What’s your “quirkiest” habit? my life is a musical
35. What is “normal?” Are you normal? if the norm is being abnormal ... then im as normal as they come
36. Someone close to you is dying. You have the choice to let this person live for 10 more years, but if you do, you cause the death of 10 strangers. You don’t have to see them die. Do you take the offer? isnt this a movie plot?  im not sure.  it depends on how old they are, how much pain they are in, etc.  if it was my nephew, yes, if it was someone older, that has lived a long life, knows Jesus and is at peace, for the most part, then no.
37. What is one thing you could never forgive? disloyalty is a big one for me and messing with people that i love ... although, i would like to say that given time and prayer, i could forgive anything. 
38. Would you rather be in a relationship after the honeymoon period ends, or be single? in the relationship ... almost 5 years later :)
39. Is it possible for guys and girls to be just friends? under the right circumstances, yes. 
40. Where do you and your friends go to hang out? meet up at coffee shops a lot.
41. Write the first sentence of your obituary.  m. elizabeth benfield died at the age of 112, during a game night with her family and friends.  
42. What is the best TV theme song ever? cheers or charles in charge. 
43. When you were young, what would you dream you would be when you grew up? an art teacher
44. When you’re alone in your own home, do you walk around naked? yup
45. What gets you out of bed in the morning?  these days, my bladder but sometimes its the dog's bladders
46. Do you want to have more friends than you have right now? yes.  i love meeting new people!!!
47. What part of the past year sticks out in your mind? a not so awesome holiday and then the awesomeness of finding out we are pregnant
48. You win a scratch-off lottery game that gives you $2000 a week (after taxes) for the rest of your life. Do you keep your job? my current one, no ... a job, yes!  i would most likely volunteer or just work part time to keep myself busy.  this, of course, is after my kids started school.  i would stay home until then.
49. Could you be in a long-distance relationship? If you’re in one, what makes yours work? i am much too needy for this.  if i was already in love and committed, i would make it work but its not something i would choose.
50. What’s the best route to your heart? being open with me ... oh, and food
51. Have you ever met someone through the internet, then met them in real life? yes
52. What is your favorite sport? dunno.  i really dont have one.  
53. What has been troubling you lately? planning for a baby
54. Did you enjoy your high school prom? If you haven’t gotten there yet, do you look forward to it? If you didn’t go, why not? yes.  i went to both of mine with good friends and had a blast.
55. What do you use more often: your intuition or logical reasoning? logical intuition
56. Do you know what makes you happy? yes and no.  i am a girl (and pregnant) so i go thru the "i dont know what i want" phases but there are a few things that always make me happy.
57. Tell me about the last book you read. the hunger games
58. What is the nicest compliment you’ve ever been given? that im a good freind
59. Who was your first crush? artreyu from the neverending story or john cusak's character in the journey of natty gann
60. Do you believe that there is life on other planets? undecided but leaning towards yes
61. Predict what your life will look like a year from now.  life with a 6 month old will look very different, im sure.
62. Often, people will ask how your last relationship ended. I want to know how it began. it ended and began several times as a messed up friendship.  the last time, it began with us getting to know each other all over again.  starting out in a large group and then, 3 months later, engaged and planning our future together. 
63. Where is your favorite place to go out and eat? this one is hard because we really like going out to eat.  the pit, 42nd street oyster bar, bonefish, boylan bridge brewery (got really bad service there this past sunday)
64. What is something you want to change about your current situation? sin the lottery to take away any financial strain that comes with having a baby
65. Early bird or night owl?  night owl
66. Are there any childhood possessions you still hold on to? i guess the one i have and use often is what i call my "grandaddy blanket"  before my grandfather died, he sat on this pile of blankets to wrap up with or cushion his seat.  aka, he farted on this blanket during the last week of his life.  when we left my grandparents house after the funeral, i packed it up with me and took it home.  today, it is on the floor beside my bed because i threw it there, when i got too hot last night.  
67. Give me an unpopular opinion you have. i think its ok to leash your kid and spank your dog. 
68. What was the last song that was stuck in your head? "thats not my name" pops in my head often ... but not the radio version, the scene from horrible bosses where charlie day is coked up and singing it in the car.  
69. Where do you live? Be as general or specific as you want. raleigh, nc
70. Do you believe in giving kids medals and trophies for participation? undecided
71. What was the longest car ride you’ve ever taken? from nc to niagara falls, to toronto, to ny city and then back to nc. 
72. Have you ever taken part in a protest? nope.  its sad because its not like there isnt anything i wouldnt protest.  it usually has to do with i wouldnt give up a vacation day to protest whatever it is.  
73. Would you ever use an online dating service? never say never.  i guess if i was thrown into the dating scene i would try it out but i never plan on being in the dating scene again ... its brutal out there! 
74. What is your ethnic heritage? american :)
75. Describe a person that inspires you. someone that offers grace to those that dont deserve it, someone that humbles himself even though he is a king, someone that gives until he has nothing left to give, someone that loves unconditionally.
76. If you earn minimum wage doing what you love, would you? like so many questions, it depends.  i can find things i love about things i never thought i would do.
77. Do you believe in luck? nope
78. Describe the last time you were very angry at someone. on memorial day i did a lot of fit pitching ... although it was about things i would be pissed at even if i was not with child, the hormones make me very good at having fits!!!
79. Do you want to live until you’re 100? if i am of sound mind and body, yes please. 
80. Do people change? If so, how do you keep a relationship together when both of you start to change? yes.  its hard work but its worth it.  constant communication helps when people are changing.  this way, views can be shared, expectations can be adjusted and life can be lived to the fullest. 
81. Have you ever risked a friendship by telling someone you liked them? im sure back in school i did.  husband did a lot back in the day.  he was risky on several occasions all of which i turned him down so we wouldnt ruin our friendship ... which ended up kinda ruining our friendship .. ha!  i guess it worked out in the end. 
82. Would you rather be alone doing something you enjoy, or doing something you don’t like with your best friends?  doing something i dont like with my favorite people
83. Do you practice what you preach?  not really.  i try and fail often.
84. If you take precautions to stay safe, do you ultimately act more recklessly? safe
85. What do you value more in a significant other: Attractiveness or intelligence? i think ignorance is unattractive.
86. Are you hard-headed? yup.  but at the same time, i listen and hear other people and their views.  i might not seem to hear in that moment, but i do think on it later.  like most peeps, there are a handful of things that i do not budge on. 
87. Have you ever laughed uncontrollably when it was socially inappropriate? all.the.time.
88. When have you felt most alive? driving the jeep with my foot on the dash and mailey hanging out the back window
89. Would you prefer to live? A city? The suburbs? The countryside? The mountains? the city
90. Do you often skip breakfast? yes but not in the past few months.  i try to at least have a little something
91. How do you know what true love is? accepting someone for who they are right in this moment. 
92. Would you want to know the exact date and time you were going to die? no thank you
93. Where is “home” for you?  my parents house in a tiny little town about an hour away from her.
94. What song best describes your life right now?  cant think of one.
95. Do you want to be perfect?  not possible
96. What have you never tried, but would really like to someday? What’s holding you back?  traveling across the world to europe, asi, africa, south america ... um, money and time {i guess if time is money, then just money}.
97. How do you express your creativity? blogging, taking photos
98. Describe your neighborhood. nice enough with a bit of sketchiness.
99. Name something you only liked because it was popular. tv shows like desperate house wives and american idol.  i only started and continued to watch them because i wanted to join in on conversations.
100. Give me the story of your life in six words. loud, clumsy, love, growth, Jesus, family