Little Beans and Big News

Well I know it's been quite some time since I last posted but I promise I have a good excuse! This reason has made me a little crankier, a bit fatter, and believe me, a lot more emotional. WE'RE EXPECTING! At first I didn't believe it, I couldn't believe this little stick telling me my life was going to change FOR-EV-VER. Dan and I had just gotten back from celebrating our First Anniversary in California and I wasn't feeling myself. For example, I was sitting in one of my lectures and all of a sudden my stomach started growling ferociously. Now i'm not just talking about a little rumble, it was so embarrassingly audible that the person sitting TWO seats away looked at me.. okay kill me now. So that was suspicion #1. The Second was the fact that I had spotted a week early. I kept praying for something else to happen but nope.. nothing ever came and it's really unusual for me to do that. Lastly, it seemed that whatever I ate gave me THE WORST heart burn, ever. So I put these three things together and had a little chit chat with God. "I thought you were going with MY timeline, didn't we decide this was better?" "I swear, If I get home and I find out i'm pregnant, you and me, we're going to have a little word of prayer!" Okay so maybe it didn't go over quite like that but nonetheless, I left school and immediately got a pregnancy test.

The moment of truth. I was soo convinced I was wasn't pregnant that I took it by myself... I don't suggest this. After waiting those crazy-long 3 minutes I ran in, with my heart pounding, to read the results. In my furry I knocked it on the ground. BHAAAAA! What does it say!! (II) Two lines. Oh boy. I just started giggling, then i'd walk out of the room, walk back in and giggle, and repeat about three more times. I was in complete shock.

And life has been crazy ever since. We're expecting our little bean to arrive late June and every time I see it's beautiful little hands and feet wiggle in my belly my heart can't wait to hold it one day. Dan and I are also in the process of trying to purchase a home and we're just waiting to hear back from the bank... got to love short sales ;) Once the the bustle of Christmas settles down i'll head back into the studio to finish up harmonies and then it's off to Nashville for the final mix down. We're so close! Hopefully I can get some pictures up soon too... once I pass the not-pregnant-just-awkwardly-fat stage :)

-AG

The House that Built Me

My dear friend Jamie bought me this incredible candle. It's a wood-wick candle and as I type I can hear the crackle of the wood as the flame burns through it. It's such a peaceful sound, it reminds me of the joy that comes when you find yourself surrounded by God's creation. The kind of creation that kisses your cheeks with a breeze and stirs tall billowing trees that can't help but grant forgiveness. Do you know what i'm talking about... being up North gives me such a renewal in my heart and recharges my long exhausted batteries. I miss it right now, but thank you Jamie for the sweet reminder of what God's beauty feels like.

My sweet grandpa chicken died this past month, and to be quite honest, i'm not sure I really feel it yet. The absence of his sweet smile meeting my eyes when I find myself in the similar surroundings I described earlier. I'm not ready to go back up North and see his lonely rocking chair missing him. I'm not ready to feel one less body in a room full of family, i'm not ready to feel two less eyes smile upon me, and I know i'm not ready to go back to the room he last told me he loved me. i miss him. But my God is great, and He knows that those gentle eyes that have seen the world will meet mine again someday soon, someplace better than here.

Death is such a weird thing... it's so hard for me to wrap my head around it. It's the most unnatural-natural thing ever.. and, I don't like it. I wonder if that's why i've been wanting a baby so badly lately. I want new life. I want to hold something tender in my arms and love it like my grandpa loved his family. Lord, can I please have a baby! Because I know the only way this girl's getting pregnant is if it's your plan, and your doing.. so i'm crossing my fingers. You just let me know ;)

I've been loving this new song lately, it's by Miranda Lambert, it's called "the house that built me".. and i'm on the 9th repeat as a type. So embarrassing to divulge such information but i'm just that type of person who doesn't just like something... i LOVE it. Almost like Coffee.. gosh another thing God, if I get pregnant, can you make coffee okay for my baby? Great, thanks. (We have a this cool relationship.. don't worry, we're on a first name basis, he's got my back) Anyway, sorry this was so somber, this song inspires a different side of me. Something deeper and more important. It makes me think of my house, and how it built me, every wall in that house has memories of me growing up and learning how to live, and love. It gave me the courage when I needed it and kept all my secrets. It gave life to my dreams and heard parts of my heart that I can share with no one else. I love that house, the house that built me.

It's official.. I'm A Starbucks Snob

You know that moment you find yourself between the Barista and the cash register.. the one where you have to open your mouth and decide the drink that will determine your mood for the entire day..? Well I was there. ehhhh, not quite... i was 28th in line from that spot at 8:07 this morning (Prime time for starbar, in case any of you coffee haters didn't know). Here we go. Black Tea Lemonade, or Non-Fat Vanilla Latte? Black Tea Lemonade or Non-Fat Vanilla Latte!! I found myself in a horrible spot of uncertainty and indecisiveness... 24, 23, 22.. I was getting closer and my palms began to sweat.. 13, 12, 11.. my heart was pounding.. Black Tea Lemonade or NON-FAT VANILLA LATTE! Hi welcome to starbucks what can I start for you today? Guh.. "excuse me?" Okay.. totally mortified.. I tried again. Igh... "i'm sorry what was that?" BLACK TEA LEMONADE! It was almost as if I threw up on the poor girl. Control yourself Alyssa..

"I have an iced venti black tea lemonade at the bar for Alyssa..." Okay, that's right, a little celebration started to occur in my belly. I took a sip from that gorgeous, green straw that symbolized the very essence of my addiction... and yes, IT WAS FABU! A little more tea than usual but I like it! And hey.. less lemonade, less calories. (whoop whoop) Counting Crow's "Accidentally in Love" just became the theme song to my morning. With a little bounce in my step, I journeyed on.

-I passed a beautiful tattoo and decided I wanted to get one

-Passed a sign for 24 hour prayer and decided maybe God doesn't want me to get one right now

-saw eight cute sun dresses that I swore would look killer on me

-watched a Vietnamese women slap a guy in the face to get his attention

-saw a girl that works at starbucks pass me in her regular street clothes.. she's adorable

-I want a baby boy

-Nearly fell down the stairs in my new sandals

-Saw Lauren Walters, a friend from elementary school.. still hasn't grown an inch

-decided that slapping to get attention was a cultural thing in Vietnam

-wondered if my BTL had less calories than a vanilla latte

-decided to test my theory of culture slapping next time I went to the nail salon

-went to the bathroom and heard people talk about it being a breeding ground for the swine flu

-washed my hand two extra times just in case

-decided not to test my theory of attention grabbing slapping Vietnamese women

-walked into class and saw my beautiful seat open and waiting for me

-nearly tripped again walking up the stairs

-Face is red

A glorious morning :) I even found out that my Black Tea Lemonade has 40 less calories and 105 less grams of sodium than a non-fat vanilla latte. New theme song.. "Hey Soul Sister" by Train, love that song, and loving the day God has given to me today!

-AG

The Good Old Days

Ok i'm sorry to all those Lady Gaga lovers out there but really? I woke up this morning, sent my wonderful husband off to work, and got ready for my good friend Pilar to come over! So naturally I started brewing a yummy pot of extra bold Italian roast by none other than Starbucks of course. Mmm the way it tickles my early morning toes that step lightly on the carpet as if they too are just waking up. I go to the television and decide to put on some light morning music, only to be blasted by Lady Gag me! Ok that's mean, but really, I was thinking a little more along the lines of Jason Mraz's "Lucky".. you know what i'm sayin!?

Gosh lately i've been reminiscing about the days before Dan and I got married. Don't get me wrong, i'd much rather fall asleep in his arms over reliving those early times any day! However.. take a look at these! This was our first road trip.. oh it was glorious :)

Anyway, breakfast was so yummy. Waffles and eggs and hash browns.. umm right.. way to go Alyssa, I know you're trying to lose some weight but you pretty much just blew your week! Awesome. I think i'll do some yoga today, yeah, that's it. That will help me feel skinnier when really it's ONLY helping me "feel" better about my caloric breakfast. But shh don't tell Alyssa.. song of choice, "Maybe" by Ingrid Michaelson. Oh yes please. Happy Friday!

-AG