37 Week Bump Date

So we are finally in the home stretch! Less than 3 weeks until the due date. I refuse to even think about going late at this point, although I know its a possibility. We just can't wait to meet our baby boy! At our 37 week checkup on Tuesday the doctor said I'm "fingertip" dilated, which is the same as my 36 week checkup; so no progress. :( I have been having braxton hicks and every day I'm having new pains of some sort. I know it can happen anytime, I'm just trying to be patient and rest as much as possible.

How Far Along? 37 weeks! That's considered full term, even though my due date is August 20th.

Size of Baby? Winter melon? I'm not sure what that is, but he's definitely over 6 lbs, and my doctor is guesstimating  closer to 7 lbs.

Maternity Clothes? This is a silly question. I'm down to like 5 outfits I will wear in public and around the house its tshirts and pj pants. I've even resorted to Jason's boxers when I don't feel like doing laundry.
Weight gain? +30
Stretch Marks? Nope. I'm pretty happy about that one.
Gender?  BOY!!
Sleep? Its not that great. I'm up to pee every hour, sometimes I have to get up and get a snack, and sometimes I just can't get comfortable enough to sleep.
Food Cravings? We had to make a late night run to Krispy Kreme this week, but I'm not being picky these days...I just want to eat.
What I miss? Caffine, wearing my rings, being skinny, being comfortable in general, having more than one pair of shoes that fit...I could go on but I'll stop there.
Symptoms? Heartburn, swollen ankles and feet, uncomfortable most  all of the time, fatigue...
Belly Button? Finally out.
Best Moment of the Week Month? We've had some wonderful showers, finished the nursery, finished breastfeeding and childbirth classes. Lots of good times!
Looking Forward To? Having this baby - preferably sooner rather than later!

Stay tuned for a birth announcement!

30 Week Bump Date

I can't believe we've only got 10 weeks left until we meet our baby boy!
I've been feeling lots of movement, especially at night.
I am surprised by how strong some of kicks his are!
I get some sciatica if I sit or stand in one position too long.
And I've had some rib pain most days.
But overall I feel good!

How Far Along? 30 weeks. I'm measuring ahead though..my fundal height at the 30 week appointment was measuring 32 weeks. All of our ultrasounds he's measuring a little ahead too.
 I think he's going to be big.
Size of Baby? a (large) cucumber; 16 inches long and 3-ish lbs.
Maternity Clothes? Oh yeah. Dresses are definitely the most comfortable these days since its gotten hot. But I'm also loving my Japanese Weekend maternity shorts.
Weight gain? +20 pounds...These two months I haven't been blogging, I've been sitting around eating!  Ha!
Stretch Marks? Not yet, moisturizing like crazy.
Gender?  BOY!!
Sleep? Eh. Its hit or miss. Some nights I sleep really well and other nights I'm restless and can't turn off the train of thoughts about baby and to do lists.
Food Cravings? Sweets, fruit, red meat and still eating chicken salad several times a week.
What I miss? The usual....caffeine

Symptoms? Heartburn, weird dreams, starting to be uncomfortable most of the time, shortness of breath, emotional
Belly Button? It's flush...neither in or out.
Best Moment of the Week? We got the nursery painted and the glider and pouf are here! We started our childbirth classes which we have been enjoying. Out of 8 couples...7 of us are having boys in August!

Looking Forward To? The shower in Memphis my sister- in -law is throwing me is coming up. I'm really looking forward to seeing some family and friends I haven't seen in awhile there. Also, getting the nursery finished. Just a few more details!

20 weeks

Like that skirt I'm wearing? I made it!

I've started taking sewing lessons again - this time garments instead of home decor - and it going great!

The maternity skirt was my first completed garment, now I'm working on a PJ top.

(Because otherwise it would be an unflattering maternity blouse - but it has some attributes my instructor wants me to learn next.)

After that I'm planning on doing a dress for me 

before moving on to some day gowns and jon -jons for the baby.

Now on to the bumpdate!

It's the halfway point!

We had our 20 week appointment today and the doctor said baby boy looks good and healthy!

We even got a good peek at his little face!

We are so in love already!

How Far Along? 20 weeks

Size of Baby? Length of a banana, 10 inches head to toe. At the ultrasound they said he weighed 14 ounces

Maternity Clothes? Yes, yes and yes. When my mother in law was in town she bought be a few things at the Pickles and Ice Cream here in Nashville that is going out of business. Coupled with things my mom bought me on my last Houston trip and clothes I'm borrowing from my sister in law, Angie, I'm almost exclusively in maternity clothes, except for the occasional top  can fit into. I'm so ready for the unending winter to be over to I can wear some comfortable dresses!

Weight gain? I'm up three pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight.

Stretch Marks? Nope, still slathering on the moisturizer everyday

Gender?  BOY!!

Sleep? I've been sleeping hard with vivid dreams nightly thanks to my Snoogle.

Food Cravings? Chicken Salad. Random but true. I eat it almost everyday. Lovin' those sweets too.

What I miss? Still caffeine

Symptoms? Round ligament pain in my sides in the evenings

Belly Button? It's super shallow. I swear its going to be outie before long!

Best Moment of the Week? Seeing baby boys sweet face in 3D! Also, we've decided on a name, but I will most likely wait until he is born before I share it on the world wide web.

This weekend we are heading to Texas for a friends wedding and a quick visit with my Mom and Dad in Houston. I'm looking forward to getting out of town for a minute and heading for some warmer weather!

Bumpdate : 17 weeks

We are beyond thrilled to be having a BOY!

Honestly, I was shocked. I was convinced he was a girl.

But the ultrasound, was *very clear* once the boy bits were pointed out.

Apparently, those old wives tales are just that...

Also, you may be wondering where the white long sleeve t-shirt went. 

You see, the plan was to take all the bump pictures in the same shirt 

so you could really see the progression.

Well, last week at 16 weeks I put it on and had a meltdown.

I felt very un-cute. 

And if you've ever been pregnant, 

you know that feeling un-cute when pregnant is on a whole different level.

The last thing I wanted was to have my picture taken.

So, the new plan is to just take a picture in whatever I'm feeling good in that week.

And the old white t-shirt got cut up into dust rags. :)

How Far Along? 17 weeks!

Size of Baby? Size of a turnip, 5 ounces, 5 inches long from head to rump

Maternity Clothes? I broke down and finally got some maternity jeans that fit well and man they make all the difference in the world. So comfortable.

Weight Gain?  I have been sick (upper respiratory virus) over the past couple of weeks, and lost some weight. I'm currently up 1 lb from my pregnancy weight but my doctor didn't think that it was an issue.

 Stretch Marks? No. Moisturizer is my best friend.
Gender?  BOY!!

Sleep? My friend Toni, let me borrow her Snoogle pregnancy pillow. Oh my gosh. This thing is a beast but I sleep so good with it!

Food Cravings? Nada. Trying to force myself eat my veggies and I've been conscience about getting plenty of protein and dairy. Still lots of carbs and fruit.

What I Miss? Caffeine and some of my normal clothes that no longer fit.

Symptoms? Constipated and I've got a big belly on me. Also, dirt and clutter are bothering me. I've really picked back up the deep cleaning around the house that was I was slacking on in the first trimester and I went on an organizing tear the other day.

Belly Button? It's super shallow. 

Best Moment of the Week? The ultrasound and finding out it's a boy! I've started on the nursery and will share more soon!

xoxo - Bethany

Pink or Blue, What Will It Be?

I can't believe I'm already 15 weeks,

but I am ready to find out if this baby is a boy or girl!

Lucky for us, we have our first ultrasound next week.

Its not the big anatomy scan, but an earlier one to check my cervical length.

But we will get a peek of the baby, which I am really excited about.

If the baby cooperates and is in the right position, we might be able to find out the gender.

So, which is it? Boy or girl?

I don't know. 

At first, I was positive it is a girl, but I've had several dreams where it's been a boy.

So then I started second guessing my intuition, and now I have no idea what Baby Battles is.

Jason says he has no idea either.

Here's what the Old Wives Tales say...

Carrying high = GIRL/Carrying low = BOY: Carrying high.Girl!

Craving salty or sour = BOY/Craving sweets = GIRL: Craving that sugar. Girl!

Morning sickness = BOY/ No morning sickness = GIRL:  No morning sickness. Girl!

More Mood swings = GIRL/ Less Mood Swings = BOY: My poor husband. God bless him. Girl!

Chinese Gender Calendar: Girl!

Age at Conception + Month of Conception: It's an odd number. Boy!

Ring on a string: Pendulum motion. Girl!

Baby's heart rate over 140 = GIRL/ Below 140= BOY: Its been high. Girl!

Wow! Overwhelmingly girl based off old wives tales.

Unfortunately they are just that, so we'll have to wait a little bit longer!

In the meantime, you can vote on the Head.Heart.House. facebook page

whether you think Baby Battles is a boy or girl!

xoxo - Bethany

**WARNING! Bump Ahead!**

via

So, as you may have noticed, all has been quiet in my blog world for the past month or so,

and I apologize for just dropping off the radar so suddenly, but I promise I have a good excuse.

Jason and I are expecting a baby!

We couldn't be more overjoyed and excited!

Baby Battles is due August 20, 2013.

I'm 13 weeks today and starting to see some light

 at the end of the first trimester tunnel of absolute utter exhaustion.

So I plan on picking back up with the blogging, 

but I'm also going to give myself a break if I don't get around to it as much as I would like.

As far as the baby goes...so far so good!

We heard a really strong heartbeat at 170 bpm at our 12 week appointment.

Our next appointment is at 16 weeks, but I promise to be back with more details before then.

From the bottom of our hearts,

thank you to all of our friends and family who have been more than supportive and excited for us!

We look forward to this journey of love called parenthood!

xoxo - Bethany

2012 Year in Review

I can't believe its December 30th and 2012 is coming to a close.

I wanted to recap the past year and reflect on what a wonderful year it has been.

I'm skipping January because it was relatively uneventful,

 and I started this blog in February.

In March, I completed my first month of sewing classes and showed off some of my new skills.

In April, we moved into our new house!

In May, we went to New Orleans for our 2nd anniversary,

and the beach with my parents and brother's family.

In June, we did some decorating around the house and I had a DIY disaster.

In July, I finished and installed my biggest sewing project yet,

the breakfast room drapes.

In August, I went to Houston and Asheville did some more DIY projects and lots of cooking.

In September, I made 4 goals (more to come on that later) and 

we left on our Mediterranean adventure.

In October, we made it home and I recapped all the countries we visited.

In November, I put my gratitude into action.

via

In December, we prepared for our big Christmas dinner and hosted both sides.

All in all, 2012 has been an eventful and amazing year.

I don't know how 2013 could possible top it,

but stay with me because I have a feeling it will. :)

xoxo - Bethany

Christmas 2012 in Pictures

Christmas was wonderful. It was a great time with family from both sides.

Eighteen people total, with 6 kids under 8.

Even though there was a stomach bug going around, everyone rallied in the end.

Food, presents, and more food.

Now that we've pulled if off, I know we could do it again and it's not so scary.

xoxo - Bethany

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

I've been busy, busy, busy around here getting ready for the big Christmas feast!

I'll be back next week, but in the meantime I hope you have a safe and happy holiday with your loved ones.

xoxo - Bethany

Gratitude in Action : The Gratitude List

I'm back today with my final installment of the Gratitude in Action series.

 A way I've been expressing my gratitude for almost 7 years now,
is through gratitude lists.

via 

My only rule is I can't list anything I've listed before.
That keeps me searching my life for things to be grateful for.
So even bad days, when I'm on a pity pot,
I have to search for new things to be grateful for.
And that makes my bad days...not so bad

Today is a good day,
so a gratitude list was easy...

1. I'm grateful my first ever chocolate pie turned out!
2. The Christmas decorations are out and the house is full of Holiday cheer.(stay tuned for pictures)
3.  I had an evening of complete TV control last night while my husband was out of the house.
4. Ivy hasn't had an accident in the house since I posted about it here.
5. The ability to express myself here on this blog

That's it!
I hope you all have enjoyed this gratitude in action series.
I know it hasn't been the funniest, or coolest, or most interesting of all blog series.
But it did me good to write about it, if nothing else.

 xoxo - Bethany

Gratitude in Action: Happy Thanksgiving!

via

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today, I'm continuing the Gratitude in Action Series 

 by bringing you 5 ways I am putting my gratitude into action today.

Here they are:

1. We're driving to Arkansas today. Six hours one way, for one meal. We left at 6AM, and are turning around and driving back tomorrow. That's love (gratitude) in action people.
2. I'm not going to complain the entire trip. This is a personal goal of sorts. When I am in the car for hours at a time, I tend to get cranky. But I am grateful for my husband and family! And I'm determined to show it.
3. I'm taking a hostess gift. Jason's cousin, Amy and her husband Tommy, host Thanksgiving dinner EVERY year. With my Christmas Dinner looming, I'm more grateful than ever all I have to do is show up and eat!
4. I'm picking up the phone and giving out the hugs. I plan of making some phone calls to people I am very grateful for, but don't have the pleasure of seeing today. And giving the ones I do, great big hugs! Sounds simple. But its the small things! (My mother in law is going to get an extra big hug, because she offered to let me raid her closets and borrow some of  her entertaining/ serving pieces for the Holidays.)
5. Prayer. I'm going to use some of that 6 hours in the car to reflect of all I have to be grateful for and thank Him who has supplied it all!

I hope wherever you are and whoever you are with,

you're having a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

xoxo - Bethany

P.S. - I've very grateful for you, dear readers of this blog. Thank you for reading.

Gratitude in Action: There's No Place Like Home

Today, I'm continuing my Gratitude in Action series

by keeping it simple.

One of the things I'm most grateful for in my life today,

is the ability to work part time, 

and not stay in job where I'm trapped in a cubicle and miserable.

via

I would much rather be at home a few days a week and

I'm only able to do that because of Jason.

He works twice as hard, so I don't have to.

And I appreciate it immensely.

 How do I put my gratitude into action?

Laundry.

Cooking.

Vacuuming

Dusting.

Mopping.

Cleaning Toilets.

You Get the idea... the housework.

via

 But most days, when I'm off work and home alone

and no one's watching, I would much rather

sit on the couch, read, drink coffee and be lazy.

Don't get me wrong. I do this...

but after a while, I get up

 and I try to be of service in some way to my husband.

 via

Because I know he is off working hard,

and I know I should be too.

xoxo - Bethany  

 

Drinking it up!

This year, I  lost my mind and

volunteered to host Christmas dinner for our extended family.

Both Jason's side and mine;

so I'm expecting 12 adults and 5 kiddos.

I'm really getting excited about hosting and working out the anxiety I was feeling.

Along with getting excited, I'm starting to make lists and plan what I need to pull this off.

Luckily for me, my amazing Nana bought me 8 place settings of the Lenox Holiday China.

Along with what I already had, and a couple of additional plates I'm going to get,

I will have enough for the 12 adults.

But, I didn't know what drinkware I was going to use to serve iced tea or water in with dinner.

That is until, the heavens opened up and God smiled upon me at the dollar store last week.

 I was there to buy the Operation Christmas Child gifts,

when I saw these gold rimmed tumblers!

 For a dollar a piece?! I'll take 12!!
Just like the iconic Reluctant Entertainer,

it really is the small things in life

that make me smile the widest,

like my dollar store drinking glasses.

xoxo - Bethany

 

Gratitude in Action: Operation Christmas Child

Today, I'm continuing my Gratitude in Action series by blogging about a charity Jason and I have supported the past couple of years, Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child.

Operation Christmas Child gives children in impoverished countries an opportunity to learn about Christ while receiving a box of gifts they desperately need.

We went to the dollar store and bought toiletries, school supplies and small toys

and packed them in a plastic shoe box.

Next week we will drop it off at a local church,

and it will be delivered to a child next month.

You can even track your shoe box online to see where

it is delivered.

At this time of the year, its really easy for me to get caught up in what I want....

The children on the receiving end of these shoe boxes don't have a fraction
 of what your or I have.

When asked what they want, most of them say stuff like socks, soap and writing utensils.

It really puts things in perspective for me.

And reminds me of how much I have to be grateful for. 

That's why I'm giving back.

 

Click here to find more information if you would like to pack a shoe box for a child.

The national collection week is November 12-19th so you still have time!

xoxo - Bethany

God Provides

This weekend, I was in Memphis, staying with my brother and his family, while visiting friends, 

and taking care of business at "the vacation home".

No, not a fun, fancy-pants vacation home.

"Vacation Home" is our attempt at comic relief when talking about our house in

 Memphis we never could sell when we moved to Nashville.

After a deal fell through 2 days before closing, we paid 2 mortgages for 6 months.

Not fun. Or easy.

So we decided to rent it out to stop the financial bleeding.

And everything was all rosey for 12 whole months, 

until that renter moved out last month when the lease was up.

Then fear and panic set in again.

What if it is totally wrecked???

What if we can't find another renter??? 

What if we have to pay 2 mortgages all over again for months???

But, God provides what we need.

 It wasn't completely wrecked.

And we have a signed 12 month lease.

We're actually renting  the house to the lady Jason bought it from.

She never wanted to sell it, but was forced to due to her circumstances,

and has missed it.

Her kids even still refer to our house as home.

Her and her husband at the time, bought it in its original 1950s condition

and renovated it; so she has put alot of love into this house in the past.

She wants to buy it back from us, but is currently finishing her nursing degree.

So hopefully...in a year or two it will happen.

In the meantime, I am glad it is rented.

And I'm glad it is rented to someone who loves it and will take care of it. 

God has provided for our family.

God has provided for her family.

xoxo - Bethany

Gratitude in Action

Because November is the Thanksgiving month,

I am doing a series on gratitude every Thursday in November.

Gratitude has changed for me over the years.

It used to be, I was grateful for all the"stuff" in my life,

and then as I matured, I became grateful for the people in my life.

Now, I have reached a point where I am grateful for all of the above, life in general,

and most importantly the undeserved  grace that has been given to me.

The way I show this gratitude has changed for me, as well.

It used to be, I simply said, "Thank you."

But now, I believe that gratitude should be shown,

instead of just spoken.

In other words, there should be action behind that gratitude.

A giving back, if you will.

This week, I voted.

Don't worry, I'm not about to get all preachy...

I'm not even going to tell you who I voted for.

That's not the point.

The point is that I took the action.

Because, I am grateful.

Grateful to live a country where I can vote.

Where I can say what I want to say.

And do what I want to do.

Where I am free.

God bless America.

Stay tuned for more gratitude in action posts,

every Thursday in November.

Thanks for reading!

xoxo - Bethany

Mountain Apple Cobbler

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy night, whether they are out and about, or at home.

I will be at home eating passing out candy and watching Nashville on ABC.

I wanted to share a treat with y'all that is To. Die. For.

Seriously, its amazing, so much so, I almost didn't get a picture of it before it was eaten up!

 (I went with the freaky font because A) It's Halloween - duh! and B) Frankly this is the prettiest food picture I've ever taken. I thought twice about posting it, but I'm just keepin' it real)

Okay, something you must know about the recipe before you read any further.
It has a weird secret ingredient.
I was skeptical. And it sounded kinda gross.
But trust me, the end result is delish!
It's Mountain Dew.
Yes, this recipe calls for one can of Mountain Dew. 
Forgive me, please.
But in my defense...this not some sort of clean eating organic foodie website.
I just post stuff that taste good to me and my man. Amen.
Okay, enough of the disclaimers...here's the recipe.

Mountain Apple Cobbler - adapted from All Recipes

Ingredients:
2 large granny smith apples pealed, cored, and cut into 8 wedges each
2 cans of crescent rolls
2 sticks (1 cup) butter, melted
1 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 can of lemon lime soda (such as Mountain Dew)

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Unroll the crescent roll dough, and separate the sheets into individual triangles. Roll each apple wedge into a triangle of dough, and place them into the baking dish, seam sides down.
3. Mix the melted butter, sugars, and cinnamon in a bowl, and spoon evenly over the dough-wrapped apple slices. Pour the soda over the rolls.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until the top is browned, the apples are cooked through, and the cobbler is bubbling, 45 to 50 minutes. 

Enjoy!

 

xoxo - Bethany

Pumpkin Biscotti

As soon as I read the November issue of Southern Living,

I knew I wanted to make this pumpkin biscotti.

I love any and all pumpkin desserts

...and I love biscotti!

I must say, although it turned out really good, 

it's kind of time consuming.

And it was harder than I expected to find the pumpkin seeds.

Other than that, it's a great recipe for a fall party or having company.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup shelled, raw pumpkin seeds
1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 large eggs
3 1/2 cups all-purpose baking mix (I used Pioneer Baking Mix)
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

 

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Bake pumpkin seeds in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Cool 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, beat sugar and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Stir in canned pumpkin. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Add baking mix and pumpkin pie spice, beating until blended.
3. Gently fold pumpkin seeds into sugar mixture. Cover and freeze 1 hour or until firm.
4. Divide dough in half. Shape each portion into a 12- x 3-inch slightly flattened log on a lightly greased baking sheet, using lightly floured hands.
5. Bake at 325° for 35 minutes or until firm. Transfer to wire racks; cool completely (about 1 hour). Cut each log diagonally into 3/4-inch-thick slices with a serrated knife, using a gentle sawing motion. Place on greased baking sheets.
6. Bake at 325° for 20 minutes; turn cookies over, and bake 20 more minutes. Transfer to wire racks; cool completely (about 30 minutes). Store in airtight containers up to 4 days.

Enjoy!

xoxo - Bethany

 

A Confession and a Question

I have a confession.

Until yesterday, I had never seen Steel Magnolias.

Yes, I know. It's a wonder that I can still claim to be a Southern woman; but it's true.

via

My only excuse is I was 5 when it came out initially.

I know you probably already know this...but it really is a great movie.

The comedy, the drama...it's a classic

Sally Field's acting is flawless.

She plays a quintessential southern mother to a tee.

Although, I must say Dolly Parton as Truvy is my favorite character.

Simply because, she exudes southern whit and charm without even trying.

via

So my question to you...who is your favorite Steel Magnolias character and why?

xoxo - Bethany

Turkey

Turkey might have been my favorite country we visited.

It's beautiful, rich in culture and history, 

and the people were so welcoming and friendly.

We first stopped in Kusadasi.

Kusadasi is a small resort town on the Aegean Coast
that is only a 20 minute drive to Ephesus.

Ephesus was amazing.

 

Its crazy to think these streets are 2000 years old.
Ephesus was one of the biggest cities in the Mediterranean in the 1st century BC with over 250,000 inhabitants.

 Today there are probably 250,000 cats.
They were everywhere.

This is the agora, or marketplace, where Paul preached for 2 years.
Its also thought that the gospel of John was written in Ephesus.

This is the Library of Celsus.
It once housed 12,000 scrolls.
Celcus was a Roman Senator,
 who paid for construction with his own personal wealth.

My favorite part of Ephesus, was getting to tour the "terrace houses",
where the wealthy Romans lived.

Just look at those fresco's and mosaic floors.
The pictures don't do it justice.
It was amazing.
They had indoor plumbing, and even heating,
where they had hot water running underneath the floors and behind the walls.
These houses were 4000 square feet each with 3 floors.

This is the theater...believed to be the largest in the ancient world with a seating capacity of 24,000.

The escavations are believed to be only 15% complete
because its so expensive and the Turkish government doesn't have the money to fully fund it.
No telling what's lying underneath.

Next stop, was Bodrum.
Bodrum is a beautiful fishing village on the Aegean coast.

If you look closely, you can see the Castle of St. Peter, built by the Crusaders in the 15th Century.

We took a wonderful excursion on a Gulet, a traditional Turkish wooden boat,
where we cruised some of the many coves along the coast line.
They made several stops for us to jump off and swim in the sea.
They also had a top deck with nice sunbeds for sunbathing.
It was so relaxing!

One stop we made, was at Camel Beach and I got to actually ride a camel!
I couldn't believe it! Camels are my favorite animal!

I'm wearing my swimsuit and coverup...not exactly camel riding gear,
but I had no idea when I got dressed that morning this opportunity would present itself.

I thought it would be kinda like riding a horse, but it wasn't at all.
Camels are a lot  taller than horses,
and he had to lay down for me to get on and off.
It was fun and I would totally do it again.
Although, my camel was really stinky and needed a bath.

Notice his muzzle so he won't spit or bite.
It was an experience.

After the gulet cruise we walked around Bodrum...here's another boat shot for the boys.
Turkey is definitely somewhere I'd like to go back to someday.

So that's the end of our trip!
I hope you've enjoyed the recap.
The whole trip was pretty surreal and we had so much fun.

I hope everyone comes back tomorrow to see our big souvenir we bought for the house!

xoxo - Bethany

 PS- Thank you, Jason, for being my patient, constant companion on our trip
even when I was difficult and tired. I love you.