open your bible, preview.....with SRT

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen a post regarding She Reads Truth & their collab with Lifeway.

Well, here is a quick video on what is to come....






I am so excited to share more with you! I hope that if you are new to studying the Word of God, you'll consider starting this study. It officially launches November 2nd.....but of course, I'm going to share with you info as I learn it :)

happy birthday, brooks!!!

I can not believe that one year ago we welcomed this happy boy!!




A photo posted by nicole brinson (@fashionablyniki) on



So, I thought it was only fitting to share the details of the day & his arrival!

It was a Thursday morning, and I had just been to the doctor the day before. Let me rewind....the week before was my last full week of work in the office. The week of Brooks' birth, Matt had assigned my mother to the task of "babysitting" me. He apparently was concerned of something happening....

Anyways, Wednesday (the day before Brooks was born) mom & I headed to IKEA to walk out the baby. Later that day I went to the doctor because stuff was starting to feel like "something was happening"....but alas, it was not. I was only 4cm (TMI???) and they advised I go home and "rest".

Side note: why the HADES do they tell you to "rest"??? Being 9 months pregnant with a toddler, there was no "resting". I was lucky to get a solid hour of sleep. 

So back to that Thursday....

Our pattern for this particular week was we drop off Beau at his preschool & then Matt drops me to my mom's house, afterwards he then heads in to the office. I was in a foul mood. I was hungry & nauseous...and so annoyed over yesterday's appointment & no progress. We ended up hitting McDonalds up for a breakfast sandwich....the infamous "last meal". We got to my mom's & my mood was going even further down hill - if that was even possible! This was about 8:30am.

Around 10am I am having killer back pains & have tried everything from going to the bathroom to laying on the couch, to try & relieve them. I took a few business phonecalls, fighting through this pain. I finally looked at my mom & said "let's just go to the doctor & see what's going on". On the way, remember I was in a foul mood, she was trying to carry on a conversation with me....I finally looked at her & said "mom, I love you, but don't talk please".

I love my mom.

10:30am We get to the doctor's....of course we have to wait....and of course I can not sit down. Too much pain to sit.

I get taken to the back & this proper British midwife they have is the one to check me. All the doctors are out. It's just her. And she's wearing Stella & Dot!!! I guess it was a sign.

She checks me....and then LEAVES THE ROOM.

And then a nurse walks in, saying "she told me to come in & sit with you".

Um, what?

So, the proper British midwife comes back and excitedly exclaims that I am 9cm and she has called me an ambulance.

Um, what!?

Actually my exact words were "SHUT UP!" followed by sobbing. Like bawling my eyes out. Scared & wanting drugs. So I did what any pregnant near delivery woman would do, asked for the drugs!

In her most proper British accent "No, I'm sorry. We don't have those."

Um, what!?

She then preceded to tell me again that she had called me an ambulance. Cue more crying.
"But why?? Mom can drive me!"

In her British accent "Do you really want your mum delivering baby on the side of the road?"

Cue the sirens.

So the fire rescue were the first to arrive. Oh yes, a fire truck AND an ambulance arrived at my doctor's office! Well if this isn't the royal treatment I don't know what is!

The EMT's from the fire truck came in, of course all men. So I asked the nice man for "the drugs" - - he said they don't carry those, but he'd be happy to get me ready for the IV. Oh, yay. He then said "don't worry, you're good!"

Oh I'm sorry, you had a baby when? (Pretty sure he got an earful of sheer sarcasm.)

He then let me know he would not be taking me....that I would need to go on the ambulance. I then asked if I could just walk on the ambulance...I mean do I really have to be hoisted up on the gurney? Yes, you do....it's protocol.

So now the nausea set in even more. They handed me a barf bag & my papers for the hospital & away I wheeled.

I never screamed. Not once. Even though the pain was utterly debilitating....I just clenched my jaw & told everyone to HUSH.

Like, literally....HUSH.

Mom followed the ambulance.
AND BEAT THE AMBULANCE.
Moot point, I guess.

11:25am We get to the hospital, everyone moving at a snail's pace. "Do they not realize I need drugs! I'm nearing 10cm! This baby is coming now.....MOVE IT PEOPLE!"

Nope I bit my tongue....no lashing out. But why the heck people wanted to keep talking to me was BEYOND me.

We took TWO WRONG TURNS. Between the nurse man that met us at the ambulance drop area & the EMT from the ambulance...2 wrong turns later & an awkward elevator ride, we FINALLY ARRIVED to labor & delivery.

Oh yay, we can party now! DRUGS PLEASE!

Yes, I asked for drugs right away. While stripping in front of 5 nurses in to the hospital gown.
Is it awkward one of them complimented my bra?
I thought so too.

Alas, in walks mom...proclaiming she had called Matt on the way here.
"Oh good! He should be here, huh? He did get me in to this mess, huh?"
Apparently sarcasm is my spiritual gift.

The sweet nurses then go through their MILLION questions. Now I'm hooked up to the contractions monitor & the sweet gal is now watching it & still wanting to ask me about the placenta...and then abruptly stops & says "Oh, I'll let you get through this contraction".....hey thanks, pumpkin!

In walks a doctor. One I have not seen before from my doctor's group.
Oh yay, a new doctor? It surely is my lucky day!

She then tells me I am 10cm and that she can go ahead & break my water & get this baby out!

Um, what?!

No thanks! I'd like drugs please :)
STAT!

It felt like an eternity but in walks Mr. Anesthesiologist with the liquid gold.

Oh & in walks Matt at 12:20pm
Thanks for showing up!

Now, Mister Liquid Gold man is getting my back prepped....and has started to "do what needs to be done"....uh oh, bad contraction.....just bear down, BREATHE....bury your head in to Matt's chest since he is standing in front of you telling you "it's okay"....annnnnnnddddd

BURST!

My water ruptured all over Matt.

Like Coneheads style. It was a true seen out of a movie.

And then my foul mood changed.

I apologized at least 10 times for that happening to him.
I was apologizing to my husband during delivery!

By this point, Mister Liquid Gold man had bolted out of the room & left paper on my back. He didn't even finish the job!

They spun me around, no stir ups, just a one, two, and out pops Brooks!
TMI???








Immediate relief!

And then the liquid gold kicked in.

So I got comfortable for the next 3 hours....to let the drugs I had to have wear off.

Lots of cuddling commenced. Matt got to change his clothes. And we got to enjoy Brooks.


Mom eventually left to go pick up Beau from preschool.

Brooks' delivery was easy, but dramatic. Super fast, but super alarming. Matt was able to arrive in time & everything happened while Beau was at school. Timing was perfect.

We have been blessed with the happiest baby! He loves to smile, he is super affectionate....and loves to EAT!





have a happy fall with sweetworks! (GIVEAWAY!)

This is a Fashionista Event and a promotional item was provided to me by Sweetworks. Hosts for this event are Still Blonde after all these Years and ModlyChic.

What is fall without SWEETWORKS!?!?!

A bleak one, that's for sure!

So in honor of fall's arrival, here are some fun fall FOODIE crafts to do with your toddler and of course my fabulous fall display.

Be sure to read through to the end to enter to win a Sweetworks giveaway!

I love the Sweetworks gumballs! I especially love their pearlized colors. So pretty!


Of course, I set up a Halloween display and a fall display:

















Giveaway Time!!!!
25 bloggers are offering $50 giveways from Sweetworks!!! This candy giveaway includes celebration pearls, sixlets, chocolates, & gumballs. (Subsititutions are possible) 
US ONLY

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