I was extremely honored that a website from my hometown in Mississippi, Tupelo Blogger,s invited me over on their blog last Friday for a guest post!  Click here to read why I love getting to create at E.Louise Designs AND read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to my almost two-year-old, day in and day out.  Thanks Tupelo Bloggers for the opportunity! 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say there is truly, no worse time than 2:30 a.m.  Waking to a hungry 4 week old baby at 2:30 a.m. is a tired like no other. 2:30 is too far away from Midnight, which to me is a time I often see on the clock without a newborn.  3:30-4:00 a.m., I could start thinking about how good that cup of coffee would taste.  But 2:30 just seems like the  dead-winter of night time.

And to change a diaper at that time--well let's just say that is a horse of a different color!  First the baby has to come out of the swaddle, out of the night gown (the fewer snaps the better) and into a new diaper.  Then, situate night gown and re-swadddle that baby.

Are you exhausted thinking about it? Because I am!

Enter the sharpie-diaper game, in which shower goers brighten mom & dad's 2:30 a.m. spirits with funny messages.  Frame this free printable in an inexpensive frame and set it by a canvas tote of newborn diapers with a few sharpies, and you have the only shower game you will ever want to play again.  Guests can participate, or not! No pressure!  Your diaper may just be the one that gets mom or dad through the middle of the night and onto the next cup of coffee.

I'm off to snuggle my 1.5 year old and wish he was a newborn again, just a little bit.  I may not miss 2:30 a.m. but those newborn snuggles ARE like no other.   

Every night as we went to sleep, my dad would remind us who we were! He would pray the prayer above and ingrain in us our worth as children of God. This prayer has stayed with me my whole life, and I love being able to pass this print & prayer on to others.  Click the downloadable link above to download this free 5x7 print!

Think: Bagels, fruit bowl, & punch, elegant flowers, & gray and yellow decorations

Think: blue, green and white hydrangeas in pottery vases, appetizers & quiche, and neutral colored accents

Think: outside the blue box, add silver to a white and black palette and a bold accent color for a fun approach, highlight silver serving wear with bold colored food like fruit kebabs and mimosas

Choose either green or blue with yellow stripes!  Think: A burlap Baby Boy Banner, a chalk board arrow pointing the way to the shower, and rich appetizers like bacon-wrapped green beans and cranberry mocktails. 

The day I found out I was pregnant with my son was also the day before one of my dear friends got married.  We gathered together with her family and closest friends, to celebrate the love she and her soon to be husband had found.

After a lovely brunch, she handed out gifts to everyone.  I opened up a beautiful print of one of my favorite verses:

"Because of the Lord's Great love, we are not consumed.  His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness."  Lamentations 3:22-23

Overwhelmed by this thoughtful gift, and touched to be a part of her special day, I made this verse mine and by baby's verse for the rest of our lives.  

My husband and I had prayed for this child for close to two years.  
-At times we felt overwhelmed with doubt but Lamentations says not consumed!
-During my pregnancy when I felt sick or fearful I would remember His compassions never fail.
- When my baby was born I was overcome with the feeling of God's faithfulness in giving us such a gift.  
-And as a mom I can't thank Him enough for mercies new every morning.

No matter how late the night, & how much sleep was been missed something happens in the morning time.  Whether its the coffee or a just awakened babe, with sleeps lines on his toddler face--God's mercies truly are new!   
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Download this reminder using the link below--and print and frame to remember those new mercies.

I had a wonderful time planning my son's 1st birthday party, lumberjack style.  Despite the fact I cried on and off the week prior, for no particular reason, it was a joyous occasion and celebration.  

The invitations and matching thank you notes are in my shop available for purchase, and the party favor tags "You made my birthday s'more fun!" are click to download right here!  Tie on a cellophane bag containing two grahams, 1 marshmallow, and some chocolate, and you are good to go! Easy and fun!

Recently while running errands, I heard a snippet of a sermon on the radio.  The pastor was relaying a message about GENTLENESS, and I tuned in just in time to hear him say "Gentleness is sweet reasonableness."  For whatever reason, this particular phrase stuck with me and caused me pause throughout the rest of my day, so much so, that I am now writing about it!

​While the "sweet" portion of this statement comes more naturally to my personality, the reason component is more difficult for me to model.  You see, as a new mom, reasonableness can be a tall order.  Reasonableness is difficult to find in the middle of the night, or late at night...or early in the morning.  Reasonableness contradicts googling all the many "what ifs" that sometimes come up throughout the day.  Reasonableness eats the nevers, and alwayses  right out of my complaints.  And the fact that one cannot reason with a baby is not lost on me.  "You should take a nap, so you're not overtired later," doesn't really mean much to a 1 year old (unfortunately.) 

​However, I want to have a reasonable spirit.  I want my child, my husband, my family and my friends to reflect on conversations knowing that I was bringing my reasonableness to the table.  When I lack in reasonableness, that sweet part just doesn't cut it.  It wears out--too thin, too sugary.  Furthermore, gentleness does not mean easily flattened.  Thanks to reason, Gentleness knows itself enough to know when its time to stand up, make a move, or state the facts. It knows when google needs to be set aside, the past let go of, and when worry is overstepping. 

​I am hoping that this sign in my house can be a reminder, and that the next time I am challenged, instead of reacting without reasonableness, I can respond with gentleness.  Click the file below to print out your own!  Hopefully it will be the perfect fit for your fridge, frame, or anywhere in which your find your reasonableness infringed.  Enjoy!

I am so thrilled to have my new website up and running.  As a "thanks for stopping in" gift, click the file button below for a free print!  I love to keep words that uplift nearby. Whether you need encouragement at your home office, work place, or dresser mirror, tack this up and be inspired.  

This PDF should print easily from your home printer, and is sized 4x6, perfectly fit for an average size frame, if you'd like to display it that way.  We hope you enjoy and thanks again for shopping E.Louise Designs.