You Have A Friend In P.A.

Quick and Tasty Treat

2011-11-14T08:14:00.000-08:00

I saw a recipe online the other day and decided that it seemed like a simple enough idea...take one box of yellow cake mix and one can of pumpkin puree, combine with a little cinnamon and nutmeg and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 min. No other ingredients required.

John was a bit skeptical, but dutifully tried them. They actually turned out really good and were super moist to boot. Tasted and smelled just like the holidays, too.

Starting Off Right

2011-11-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

November is already turning out to be a great month. We ended October with a fun, first Halloween night with our little monkey...

and my 32nd birthday on Wednesday was very special. I got to have my favorite meal (sushi) with my favorite people (Daddy and Daughter) and was moved by such sweet messages, cards and gifts from the wonderful people in my life.

Today we had a family photo shoot with John Barone, who was our wedding photographer. Nat was loving it and I think we got some great shots. I have been thinking about doing this since she was a few days old and with Christmas and her age of 1 looming, I figured now was the perfect time. Can't wait to see the finished product and share it with all of you.

You Will Love This

2011-10-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

My amazing friend Megan has turned me on to Pinterest and now I am officially obsessed. I have spent a minimum of two hours each night browsing all the awesome 'pins' people have posted as their likes. It's been such a helpful resource as I plan Natalie's first birthday party, search for family photo ideas and gather inspiration to help with my cousin's upcoming wedding. The creative things people come up with are so cool.

Go ahead and try not to become addicted.

Not Ready For My Close Up

2011-10-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

I'm in a fashion funk. Big time.

In my mid-late 20s I think I had no problem dressing myself. I used to have a sense of my own style, but ever since getting pregnant and post baby, I'm just not comfortable in much. I'm not ragging on how I look now as naturally everything about my body has changed, but things don't fit like they used to and more often than not, I feel like a frump. That, and I'm not sure what is going on with fashion these days, but I never look at clothes anymore and think, 'wow, I've got to have that'. Now I have NOTHING to wear. Literally, I stand in my closet with a blank stare whenever we have to go anywhere. And, we have our wedding photographer coming to the house the end of the month for some family photos and I'm at a total loss as to what to wear. I want the pics to feel relaxed, but still nice. So ladies, any suggestions would be oh so appreciated. I need direction!

Long Time, Friends

2011-10-17T10:45:00.001-07:00

I am a little shocked as I write this, because it's been several months since my last post, but time has honestly flown by faster than I ever could have imagined. The last ten months have been a whirlwind but we've been enjoying some awesome family time with our little Natalie.

She has surprised us more in the last few months than we ever could have imagined, learning things each and every day. By six months she crawled. At seven months she was pulling herself up to 'cruise' the furniture. At eight months she started to scale the walls of her gates and play gyms and by nine months was getting into EVERYTHING.

Recently she has been trying to figure out standing on her own without assistance and now will take a few steps toward me without any fear. I am so enjoying every minute left of our 'first' year and can not wait to see what happens next. It may take me awhile to catch up here, though, since I'm just barely catching my breathe half the time on the home front!

A Shore Thing

2011-07-25T09:55:00.000-07:00

Last week we took our first vacation as a family to the beach in Lewes, DE. It was a great time spent together and Natalie absolutely loved the water, chuckling each time she splashed her feet in it. The Delaware beaches have such a great vibe to them. They aren't as crazy packed with people like the Jersey shore and I find the pace more relaxing. The towns have a lot of history and character, too. I'd highly recommend them.

With Natalie crawling now and even pulling herself up to stand on the furniture, I feel like her first year of life has been moving at a rapid speed. I loved spending a week straight without work or bills, just watching all the things she learns each day. It's my perfect idea of a vacation.

Who's Hungry?

2011-07-03T09:10:00.001-07:00

I decided pretty early on, that when Natalie reached the milestone of eating solid foods, that I would try to always make her baby food myself. I still buy her cereals (Earth's Best is great), but purchase all her fruits and veggies organic and then break out my baby food processor and puree the suckers into wholesome goodness that she seems to really love.

So far we've had some major winners (pears) and some she ate, though, not happily (apples) as seen below...

I've read that exposing your baby to lots of different things while they are little, will set them up to be good little eaters in the future. Since we are a family that loves to eat, this is essential in our house. My friend Sabrina introduced me to this website with lots of great baby food recipes for all stages and I swear by the book, "Top 100 Baby Purees" by Annabel Karmel. Both really helped me get started.

My husband laughs because he and I don't eat as healthy as Natalie does, but after reading, this recent article in USA Today about how many pesticides are found on fruits and vegetables, I'll put the extra time into making sure she has the best and will try to incorporate the same better foods into our diet. I really believe in it's importance, especially for her growing body.

So for minimal effort, major cost savings and a healthier lifestyle, I'll be chopping and blending for months to come.

Water Baby

2011-06-27T06:37:00.000-07:00

Despite the fact that I grew up in Arizona, where practically everyone has a pool, I'm not the best swimmer. I can keep myself afloat but that's really about the extent of it. Natalie on the other hand, will be getting a leg up in that area, though, as she is already a huge fan of the water. She has the most fun in her baths, laying her body back the second she sits in her tub and on Saturday we had our first ever swim class at the YMCA. It was so much fun! She was one of six little 'shrimp' playing in the pool with their mom's and dad's and I couldn't believe how much she loved it. Big smiles and lots of splashing and kicking. I already can't wait for next week.

Daddy

2011-06-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

Watching my husband as a father to our baby girl has been one of the great joys in my life over the last six months and today we not only celebrated his 34th birthday, but also his first Father's Day. Sharing moments like that with Natalie makes me feel like not much else matters in the world, except our little family. I love how she looks at her Dad in such a unique way; almost like she is in awe of him...I know the feeling.

We love you John. You are truly a wonderful man, great husband and father. We are lucky you are ours!

Perfect Pal

2011-06-14T17:29:00.001-07:00

My awesome friend A. is celebrating a birthday today (woo-hoo!).

Too often I don't think we take the time to tell people what they mean to us. A., is one of the most loyal people I have ever known and I admire her thoughtfulness and creativity (displayed here in her amazing blog). I also love the way she always seems to 'get' what I'm saying or thinking. I appreciate her many visits up to PA to see us and that she makes the best mixed CD's and cookies.

Hope you had a great day friend! You deserve it.

Funny Baby

2011-06-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

There may be something wrong with me, that I want to buy this for Natalie...

It just makes me laugh and I think the kid could rock it.

Girl Crush

2011-06-09T10:18:00.001-07:00

There has been precious little time to do much for myself over the last six months, let alone read, but I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed the time I spent reading Tina Fey's book, Bossypants.

Each night I'd get into bed, crack it open, and then begin to laugh like I haven't laughed in years. John would often look over at me puzzled but I didn't care. It was as though I was enjoying inside jokes with a friend.

I see so much of myself in the pages and I love how freely she speaks about womanhood, and motherhood. My favorite chapter, 'There's a Drunk Midget in My House', had me on the verge of peeing my pants when she dived into the topic of breastfeeding, pumping and judgemental mommies. Hitting home is an understatement.

Thank you Tina. I heart you.

My Moments

2011-05-31T06:38:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for today for so long. Here I am, 9:30 AM, Natalie down for her morning nap and I can finally download the new album from my fave band, Death Cab for Cutie on I-tunes (A., I'm burning you a copy as I write!).

It's like Christmas for me and I can't wait to dive into each song. I'm equally as excited for their VH1 Storytellers episode waiting for me in the DVR. Ben Gibbard is a poet in my opinion, and I am jazzed to get to hear the stories behind some of their beautiful songs.

We Go Together

2011-05-24T17:28:00.000-07:00

Reason #137 that I love my brother Matt:

Yesterday, out of nowhere, we battled it out via text to see who could name the most lines from one of our favorite cult films, Shag. I gave him the victory when he sent "I think Buzz is a sweet potato." Genius.

Watch this movie if you haven't seen it. It's pure awesomeness, just like Matt.

Duty Calls

2011-05-22T17:57:00.000-07:00

I have lived in PA for almost seven years now, and have never been called for jury duty. This is something I actually would have been into if it happened last year, but I am definitely hoping I don't get chosen now. Honestly, I know that sounds bad, but I simply have too weird a schedule with my job and the little lady. I'd be sitting there having anxiety about the fact that I had to be somewhere at a set time and stay there all day (yes, I'm in sales so that seems foreign to me). Today my brother-n-law, who is a deputy sheriff, said I could use my relation to him as an excuse, but I'm thinking of going with the fact that I'm still nursing my child and need to be hooked up to a breast pump every couple of hours. TMI should do the trick.

Father Find

2011-05-22T17:41:00.001-07:00

Today while baby, John and I were out shopping at Old Navy, I went and did some browsing for Mommy things while John occupied Natalie in the store. When we met up a few minutes later, he had this on her head...

Needless to say we promptly bought it, because it was a) freakin' adorable b) a baby fedora and most importanly, c) her dad picked it out

What can I say? Our kid loves hats and they are such a fun summer accessory.

So Long Steve

2011-05-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

I got a little misty during Steve Carrell's final episode of The Office a few weeks back. John and I have been watching the show since it first aired and are big fans (we were even announced to the theme song at our wedding reception). I tried to get into the whole Will Ferrell angle but found it totally unfunny and to be honest, kinda weird.
Here's hoping they can turn it around because I'd hate to have to give up on it. Michael Scott is a big void to fill, though. Anyone else feeling the same way?

Mom's the Word

2011-05-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been a little stressful as we still battle baby's sleeping patterns and John and I try to juggle work and family, but Sunday we took a much needed time-out and spent it just the three of us, celebrating my first Mother's Day.
We did exactly what I had hoped, spent the day outside, enjoying the nice weather together. Natalie spent a large portion of it like this in her stroller...

but I'm pretty sure she had a good time. We walked around the Morris Arboretum, a very vast, very beautiful place with so many lovely flowers, trees, sculptures and gardens to enjoy. Many families were there picnicking and I can't wait to go back and do that sometime when Natalie is a bit bigger.

Sometimes I still can't believe that I'm someone's mother, or more simply, that I got lucky enough to be Natalie's. I admire so many women who have taught me tons about what it means to be a good Mom, especially my own. I hope to spend Mother's Day in the future continuing to reflect on how special a gift motherhood is and how grateful I am to be blessed with such a wonderful family.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T07:43:00.001-07:00

Easter was the first holiday that John and I spent together when we began dating. It had only been about six weeks and I remember making him an Easter box and being so nervous to give it to him.

I recounted this story to Natalie today as we celebrated her first Easter this morning...

I love 'firsts' :)

Lightning Speed

2011-04-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

My little girl is growing so fast that I'm hardly keeping up with her. Ol' Mom is already behind the times.

On Friday we went in to the doctor's office for her four month check-up and sat all proud while she showed her doc how she rolls, coos and holds her head up so well. We also discovered that Natalie is in the 91st percentile for weight and 80th for height among babies her age. All that means is that she is definitely growing ahead of schedule. She is 15 lbs which is the size of most six month old babies. It's a little hard to believe but her doctor keeps calling it 'wonderful' and I tell her I owe it all to breastfeeding and maybe a little to her Dad's genes.

Sometimes I feel like I've blinked and she has changed so much. I have to remember to pause and try to take all these moments in. It's all happening so fast.

Roll With It

2011-03-24T12:09:00.001-07:00

Not sure how I could ever be sad when my three and a half month old daughter rolls over for the first time! It happened late in the day yesterday and she is now consistently doing it whenever down on her activity mat.
All these milestones are so exciting and I am such a proud mother.

Goodbye For Now

2011-03-23T09:12:00.000-07:00

For the last four months, I've had the benefit of having my Mom here with us. She came a few weeks before Natalie's birth and was able to stay until her baptism. Yesterday, she and my Dad began the long drive back to AZ and it was a very emotional day. When I moved here six years ago, it was hard not being around my Mom, but I adapted to it and we talked daily. Having her here every day was something special but I definitely got used to it and now that she's gone, I'm finding it even harder to live out of state and away from my parents. My baby knew my Mom and she was so good with her. It was an instant bond and I'm depressed thinking that they won't get to see each other for months at a time. It's just rough. We knew this day was coming, but there was no way to prepare for it.

Everyone says it will get easier and I have my own family now, which I totally get, but you just realize different things when you have a child and what you want for them as they grow. We will just have to see what happens, I guess. Starting today I'm going to try to put positive energy and thoughts into the universe that we will all live closer someday soon.

Baptism Day

2011-03-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday was Natalie's baptism and with that brought visits from Uncle Matt (her godfather) and my Dad. The day was so special for us as we shared it with many friends and family members, some who hadn't yet met our little lady. She was pretty funny in the church, sleeping through most of the ceremony and only getting crabby when the Deacon got a bit long winded and she was over being in her dress.

We had her first party at a restaurant afterward, which Natalie again, slept through most of. Even though it cost us more than any party we have ever had (including my 30th bash), the food was great and we didn't have to clean up when it was over.

Here are some pics of the day...

Us with her godparents, Stacey, my sister-n-law, and of course, Matt.

Daddy's girl.

Sigh

2011-03-07T08:59:00.000-08:00

Today is my first official day back at work and I can honestly say that I'd be more OK with it, if Natalie was just a bit older. I'm lucky that she is with my Mom for a few weeks and then my sister after that, but I can't help feeling like I'll be missing moments of her baby stage and that stings.

These are the times I wish I lived in a country where my job would be secure for at least six months. To me that's a more appropriate time frame for a mom to have off from her job without fear of losing it. My work has been very supportive thus far, but they definitely wanted me back the second my three months was up.

Time is whipping by. I never quite feel like I'm able to catch my breath.

Better Days

2011-03-01T11:38:00.000-08:00

The last week we've had a tough go of it here at the house. Little Natalie has been sick with her first cold, and with that a small ear infection. That has not been easy to watch her go through. Fortunately, it seems to be working itself out of her system slowly but surely and she is still in good spirits. She recently turned herself onto her side when laying down next to me which we were in total amazement of, and now coos or baby talks ALL THE TIME. Literally for minutes straight, like she is having a conversation with us. I live for those moments.

Watch This One...Seriously

2011-02-23T14:38:00.001-08:00

I was really looking forward to watching this documentary and it did not disappoint.

Maybe it was my hormones, but I haven't cried this much during a movie in a long time. Definitely an important message regarding our crumbling school system in America and the people it hurts along the way. A must see for anyone that cares about our society as a whole.

If You Like A Good Laugh...

2011-02-15T08:48:00.001-08:00

Last year I absolutely loved the show Bethenny Getting Married on Bravo. I admittedly watch almost all those "Housewife" shows (total guilty pleasure) but this spin-off was something different. It was so refreshing and funny to watch Bethenny Frankel juggle pregnancy and planning a wedding that I can't wait for the new season Bethenny Ever After. Motherhood through her eyes will no doubt be hilarious.

My Valentine

2011-02-14T16:29:00.001-08:00

I think my husband is pretty amazing...

After working all day, he came home and cooked an awesome dinner complete with crab cakes and filets and presented both my Mom and I with spa gift cards to a place he researched online. Not to mention the beautiful card I received as well. I thought it was so sweet.

It's nice to feel appreciated by your spouse, not just today, but every day, and I can honestly say that I do.

Our Happy Baby

2011-02-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

My beautiful baby is two months old today...

We continue to have many adventures in baby boot camp but I'm happy to report that most days are now easier than hard. Two days ago she had her two month check-up and first round of vaccinations which she took like a champ. While there, our pediatrician happened to mention a book that she thought would help us when Natalie does get really upset, called "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp. We decided to go out that day and get it in the hopes of knowing better how to calm Natalie when she is crying hard. John read most of it that night and we immediately tried out some of the techniques that are laid out in the book and low and behold they worked! Natalie stopped crying within a minute. Most of the methods seem weird when you are doing them, but it all makes sense as you are basically simulating the womb which calms a baby like nothing else can.

We wished someone had mentioned this book sooner. I think it would have made things easier on us the first couple months after her birth. One things for sure, the next time I give a baby shower gift, it's going to include this book. In our opinion it's a must read for new parents.

Sleep Tight

2011-02-03T11:42:00.001-08:00

The baby has been sleeping for longer stretches now that she is almost eight weeks old and we have figured out a way to control her horrible baby acid reflux (who knew that was so common?) that was keeping her up. It's still periodically only two hours at a time, but at night she is giving us a four here and there. Today I got a three hour nap from her and got so much done! The pleasure I took in putting away laundry, framing photos and surfing the web was pretty unreal.

Here's hoping for more days like that!

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

2011-02-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend we had an awesome visit from A. and S. who not only brought along some yummy cookies and totally cute books for Natalie, but some much needed 'friend' time as well.

A. also gave me this journal...

I love the fact that I can just jot down some quick thoughts of the day. She knows me so well.

Today we also received a package from my dear friends Dan and Megan in Kentucky. It was filled with the most adorable outfits and precious stuffed lion for Natalie. Their sweet note to her also brought such a smile to my face. I often marvel at the thoughtfulness of all my friends, especially because I know just how busy their own lives are. It's not the gifts that have meant so much to me but that we continue to have so much love and support long after Natalie's birth. I will never forget it.

Decorating Made Easy

2011-01-18T10:17:00.000-08:00

I think it's totally cool that being a fan of Etsy on Facebook means I get updated on awesome items, like the below print featuring lyrics from one of my new favorite songs by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Home.

It's the kind of art I love and it's now ours.

One is Done

2011-01-11T10:47:00.001-08:00

Our little girl turned one month yesterday...

I won't say where did the time go, because I am pretty sure it went to feeding her, changing diapers and staying up all hours of the night doing both.

The best part about all that is watching her grow before our eyes, though. When she smiles or watches one of us walk out of a room I just love it. I'm sure I'll blink and this newborn stage will be over so I try to soak all of it in as best I can, even when it's hard to keep my eyes open :)

Hardest Job I've Ever Had...

2011-01-06T11:04:00.000-08:00

Breastfeeding.

While pregnant there was never a time I thought that I wouldn't want to breastfeed my baby. We were told by so many doctors, nurses, friends, family members, etc. that it was so beneficial for the baby and of course I want to give her all the best that I can.

In the hospital she latched right away and ate right away. A lot. Then progressively we noticed that I have a high production rate (obviously not the worst thing in the world) so our baby eats, and eats and eats. Which basically means I spend the majority of my day nursing her. I don't know why I didn't picture this as I've been told that all babies do their first month is eat and sleep. Duh. But, last night she had what we learned was a cluster feeding, where babies eat literally all day long. It is utterly exhausting. It's happened before, typically during growth spurts, but yesterday she didn't sleep hardly at all in 12 hours during the midst of this. As a new mom it scared me. I kept thinking that these habits weren't 'normal' and quickly found out after a frantic call to the doctor that everything is going great and that these things do happen with babies, especially under a month old.

I am now trying to have the mindset that each baby is different and even though my friends who have breast fed don't seem to have similar experiences, it doesn't make mine not right. It's just so stressful when you don't know what you are doing half the time and lack of sleep doesn't exactly keep ones head clear.

Hardest job I've ever had, definitely. At least I know it's worth it as I watch our daughter grow leaps and bounds with every passing day.

Must Watch

2011-01-05T06:51:00.000-08:00

Matt had John's name this Christmas and bought him the awesome gift of Apple TV. I'm not exactly clear how this cool device works 100%, but do know that we are now able to stream our Netflix account through it and have access to hundreds of free movies in addition to receiving one at a time via mail.

Last night while Natalie slept, we had a chance to catch two really great documentaries that I would highly recommend...

Totally great year for docs.

Holiday Wrap-Up

2010-12-31T09:11:00.000-08:00

Natalie's first Christmas was awesome. Well, she and I spent most of it alone together upstairs, but she did allow me enough time in the morning to open gifts with John and my family. Ironically, most of the gifts under the tree were for her :)

Uncle Matt made some designer centerpieces, my mom her killer mashed potatoes and John brined a turkey that was melt in your mouth delicious. His family joined us for dinner and we had a cozy fire. All the makings for great memories, including our first photo as a family.

Yesterday, we had a visit from my good friend Erin and her husband Daniel who made a special trip down on the train after their mini-vaca in NYC. It was so wonderful to catch up with them and to see my BFF holding my baby.

Today, my Dad and John took a ride down to the Reading Terminal Market to get some fresh fixing's for tonight's special New Year's Eve dinner that John is cooking. We plan to have a nice, relaxing evening with my parents and Nat, of course. Things have definitely changed from this time last year, but I'm so grateful for all the wonderful blessing that we have received in 2010 and excited for what the new year holds for us.

All the best to all of you out there in 2011!

And Baby Makes Three

2010-12-23T21:31:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, December 9th, John had just walked in the door from work and I was laying on the couch with my Mom catching up on some DVR'd episodes of Oprah while awaiting my inducement appointment that evening, when the unexpected happened...my water broke.

I remember I couldn't stop laughing at the irony as they frantically began getting all of our hospital things together and we raced out the door. After fourteen hours of tough labor, baby still wasn't fully dropping, so I ultimately ended up having a c-section. It was all totally worth it though, when our Natalie Clare was finally born on Friday, 12-10-10.

The last few weeks have been such a joy as we continue to be in such awe of this child that we created. We have had some challenges adjusting to the intense breastfeeding schedule, lack of sleep and just figuring out how all things baby work, but in the end it all boils down to doing any and everything we can to make her happy.

This Christmas I will never forget all the love we have felt from family and friends and how wonderful it has been to have my siblings and parents here to share in this first Christmas with Natalie. I'm super emotional as I mentally log all the little moments they have with her, too. I don't think we could have imagined such an incredible gift like this.

The Time Is Near

2010-12-08T11:34:00.000-08:00

Well everyone, I am 40 + weeks pregnant now and our sweet baby has decided that she just really enjoys life in the ol' womb. My doctor thinks she may need a little bit of a push so I am scheduled to start the inducement process Thursday night into Friday. I will finally be a mother by the weekend. I have a mix of emotions that are equally elated and anxious.

I appreciate all your kind thoughts and I can't wait to share the news of her birth with everyone soon!

Kitchen Revamp Part 2

2010-12-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

Over the last couple of months, John has been working on putting the finishing touches on our kitchen and he finally completed it last night with the addition of our backsplash. We ended up going with the painted tin ceiling and it was definitely an easy install. We also went with cork flooring to replace our ugly, old vinyl and I'm really happy with the way everything came together. It's so nice to walk into your kitchen and have everything new and in it's place.

Yesterday my due date came and went. Our baby seems really content in my stomach for now, which has ultimately meant the completion of more house projects before she arrives. John also installed nine new windows and hung our Christmas lights. Now we'll have much more family time when she does decide to arrive.

Due Date

2010-12-05T09:17:00.001-08:00

Let's see how this day pans out, shall we?

Local Treasure

2010-11-30T04:16:00.000-08:00

My Aunt Sharon was in town from Arizona over the weekend for her high school reunion and she drove up to see John, Mom and I yesterday for her last day. It also happened to be her birthday, so we wanted to take her to do something fun. She is a big fan and collector of the Byer's Choice Caroler dolls and collectibles that just so happen to be manufactured a few miles from us in Chalfont, PA. My Mom and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to take her there.

The museum and store offers every single imaginable figure you could ever want to collect on site in their beautiful holiday displays and it was actually neat to walk around and see everything set up for Christmas. Not to mention the fact that you can go directly to an observation deck and watch the local artists at each station crafting and hand painting the dolls. I couldn't imagine all the meticulous details that these folks put into each and every one, day after day, and that we could actually view them at work. Plus it's all free to the public.

Aunt Sharon was on cloud nine and it felt good to make her day with something special in our own backyard.

Anticipation

2010-11-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I have spent every chance I could out of the house walking around. With less than one week until my due date, I decided that while I was still able, I was going to get started on Christmas shopping, finish some past due errands and if our baby decided she was ready to come in the process, I'd be all for it.

The anticipation of waiting for your first child to be born is like nothing I can accurately describe in words. I remember the days leading up to my wedding and how excited/nervous that I was, but this isn't even close. With that event, I at least had an exact date to look forward to. With baby's arrival, I just wait. That isn't always easy to do, especially since I am increasingly more uncomfortable due to frequent on sets of Braxton Hicks contractions (false labor pains that feel like the worst menstrual cramps you ever had but don't follow the same timing of actual labor) and the extra weight I carry thanks to my precious baby's growing size.

John has decided that I will go into labor on my exact due date (Dec. 5th) and deliver the next day. This is because he has a few outstanding projects around the house he wants to complete before she comes. On Thanksgiving, my family put together a baby due date pool where everyone chipped in $2 for the chance to guess my daughter's arrival and birth weight. All this speculation kind of cracks me up. All I can do is continue to just wait....and see.

All The Ladies

2010-11-23T06:31:00.000-08:00

My Mom and Nan arrived safely to PA last Thursday and we spent the last several days laughing, eating and just enjoying each other's company. It was truly one of the more special times that I can remember. Almost four generations of women together.

Yesterday we had to take Nan to the airport which was terribly sad, but I was so happy to have had that time with her and I can't wait to tell our baby about the fun moments we had in the last weeks before her birth. Not to mention how her grandmom and 77 year old great-grandmother took a cross-country road trip to be here!

Having my Mom around has already helped so much. It's amazing how different it is to actually have someone here to do things with. I'm so used to doing so much by myself, but it's a welcome change, especially as it gets harder and harder to take on everything I did before on my own.

Baby 101

2010-11-15T09:35:00.000-08:00

Over the last week, John and I completed classes through our delivery hospital on what we have dubbed "cramming for baby".

We thought it was great that they offered all these and since we are novices on having and raising babies, we opted to get as much information as we could.

Monday we took a two hour course from a pediatrician on bringing home baby, Wednesday a two hour class on breastfeeding (which included tons of Dads) and yesterday spent literally all day in a child birthing class with about 11 other couples. I must admit to being a little overwhelmed by all the information that was given to us, but do feel more prepared for some of the experiences we will go through when we have our little lady home with us.

I'm not sure that labor is something you can ever be fully ready for, though. I found the relaxing and breathing aspects really helpful as well as knowing what to pack in my overnight bag, comfort positions etc., but still feel slightly on edge about the actual delivery. John has been extremely supportive throughout everything we have learned, but it's hard for him to truly understand what the anticipation of child birth brings. I mean it could happen at any time now (I'm 37 weeks today). How does one wrap their mind around that?

However, every day I make a conscious effort to remove from my mind my normal anxious tendencies, as to not be projecting that onto our baby. This has definitely helped and the knowledge that I can do this and I'm probably as ready as I will ever be.

Guest Of Honor

2010-11-11T14:50:00.000-08:00

A week from today my Mom and Grandmother will arrive in PA after making the long drive from AZ. My mother has been gracious enough to move in with John and I for the next couple of months to help me take care of our new baby and all that comes with that. My sweet grandmother was kind enough to join her in the ride and we will get to spend some quality time with her over next weekend before she has to fly back home.

My Mom is giving up a lot to come and be here for us and I can't put into words how appreciative I am of that. While I know being a new mom will be the hardest job I've ever had, having her here to help guide me along will no doubt be a saving grace at times. And did I mention she's a great cook? Certainly doesn't hurt ;)

Before I got pregnant, I often worried how things would be without my family close by. I thought a lot about how much I want my kids to know my entire AZ family, as I have so many fond memories of growing up with them. But part of me does believe that everything happens for a reason and I just have to spend extra time making sure my daughter knows them the way I do, even though we may not live in the same state. It also makes me very grateful for the time we will get to share together, like when my brothers, sister and Dad will be here for Christmas, the first my side has had in our PA home. While it will be a busy time, I think it will be one of our best Christmases yet.

Finishing Touch

2010-11-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

I've been in search of the perfect tile backsplash as we finish our new kitchen, but it seems that all I am drawn to either doesn't work, or is way too expensive to fathom. Recently, we came across an article on painted, tin ceiling tiles in a current issue of This Old House magazine and I sent away for a few samples.

Still not sure if it will work exactly until I live with them for a few days, but I like their uniqueness, the fact that John can easily install them and most importantly the cost.

Happy Days

2010-11-03T06:07:00.000-07:00

Last night John took me to Sullivan's for my birthday dinner which was all around awesome. I ate everything from filet stuffed with mushrooms to pesto risotto fritters and cheesecake. It was one of those relaxing, long dinners where they bring your food out slowly so you have time to enjoy each course and bite.

That was nothing, though, compared to my birthday present this year. I was utterly shocked and speechless when I opened my gift bag and found these...

John contacted the jeweler who made my engagement ring and had these perfect diamond earrings made for me. He said I was a great wife and will be a great mother. I was so touched. He is always full of surprises and I couldn't feel more blessed to be married to such a thoughtful guy. That alone is one of the best gifts I could have ever asked for in life.

They Say It's Your Birthday

2010-11-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

Last night around 9 pm I was sitting on the couch with John and it hit me that it was the last day of my 30th year. I hadn't really given it that much thought until then. I've had so much more to think about this year than my looming 31st birthday.

I must say, though, that looking back, I just can't believe how quickly time flies. I'm so grateful for all the wonderful things that have happened to me over the years, and especially this past year. I'm always a fan of birthdays because they give me a chance to reflect and I really do appreciate all the great people that I have in my life. And this year, most importantly, the little person I have arriving in just 4 1/2 weeks!

Today I plan to take the day off, vote, try to relax and maybe do a little shopping before my birthday dinner tonight with hubby. Truly couldn't ask for a better day than that.

Proud Sister

2010-10-28T13:16:00.001-07:00

My brother Matt turns 30 today, which makes this year that much more special, as we can share in that milestone together for another four days.

I'll never be able to put into words how much Matt means to me, or how grateful I am for his constant love and support. He calls me every day just to see how the baby and I are doing and last year flew all the way here from LA just to help me celebrate my 30th. Those little things and bigger gestures have always been him and I truly couldn't have asked for a better brother!

Roundabout

2010-10-25T14:42:00.000-07:00

This year, we've been invited to two Halloween parties. Here is my costume...

Fitting, don't you think?

Buyer Beware

2010-10-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

For the past couple of years I have bought and received some wonderful gifts from Etsy and never once did I have a problem with a seller. Then, a few weeks ago, I was finally ready to order the wall decal that I found on the site for the baby's room...

To me it was perfect. I used it as a jumping off point for the colors, bedding, etc. in the room and was so excited to get it. However, the first problem with it occurred when the post office couldn't deliver the package because the seller had sent it through Paypal with no postage attached to it, despite the fact that I had been charged for postage during my purchase. So after paying it twice, I contacted her for a refund which she gave to me two weeks later.

On Saturday we were finally ready to put the decal on the wall, after allowing time for the rolled up pieces she had sent me to lay flat. The second we started to work on the tree, disaster struck. The pieces themselves were huge (almost 75 inches long) and when removing them from the contact paper side to begin applying them to our wall, the decal stuck to that section of the paper and then also to the transfer paper in different areas. It was nearly impossible to try to peel it off, while holding it exactly into position and applying pressure to something so big. We tried and failed for over an hour to get the first part of the tree on the wall. To top it off, it ripped in places and became completely unusable. I was so upset. I imagine this issue is due to the fact that she probably has these pieces rolled up for who knows how long waiting to be shipped and the decals become one with the paper.

I contacted the seller to let her know of this issue and how disappointed I was, especially given the fact that this was to be the focal point of my nursery and wasn't cheap. She did not and has not responded.

Thankfully, yesterday I was in Babies R' Us with John buying our gliding chair and we happened to find another tree in their decor section. We were able to get it up much easier and utilize it with some of the animals, leaves and flowers that had come with my original decal and I did my best to recreate what I had originally envisioned.

Here is the end result...

I'm pretty happy with it, considering all that we went through to make it work, but definitely will be more cautious in what I purchase online in the future.

Showered With Love

2010-10-04T13:47:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was treated to my second baby shower by friends and family we have here on the east coast. It was another wonderful time and we are truly blessed to have such caring people in our lives.

Our little lady walked away with some very important gifts like a stroller, car seats, and diapers, not to mention lots of stylish outfits that I can't wait to dress her up in. Seriously, how cute is this one?

You Shall Be Called...

2010-09-28T15:38:00.001-07:00

What's in a name? Pretty much everything in my book. John and I have spent the better part of the last 7 months trying to come up with the perfect name for our little girl and I must say, it hasn't been easy. We have had the usual discussions over ones we like and the other hates, ones we think are too popular or too weird and the inevitable release of any one syllable first names that sound too monotone with our one syllable last name. I think the whole thing has been a big challenge. I of course didn't make it any easier, by involving my family in name discussions while we were home visiting in Aug. They scoffed at many and have a deep loathing for my absolute favorite contender. It was just a bad move all around. Oddly enough, I know two pregnant ladies who have already named their future child and refer to it still in the womb as such name, which to me is nuts.

So now John and I have a list of our top 3-5 that we keep to ourselves and have written on a tiny piece of paper that will come with us in my overnight bag to the hospital. I look forward to the day we can clear the room, look down at her and give her a name that suits her just beautifully. Until then, I pray to not be asked the question 'what names do you like?' again.

29 Weeks

2010-09-20T12:23:00.001-07:00

I've heard and read about it, but can now safely say that this particular part of my pregnancy is here...the part where I can't go ANYWHERE if there isn't a bathroom available for use. I'm not exactly sure how it's possible for me to pee as much as I do, because I am not drinking anywhere near the amount of fluids to produce such frequency. It's just another wonderful stage.

We have also discovered that baby likes music and the sound of her Dad's voice, because she kicks unusually hard during car rides with I-tunes blasting and John and I catching up in conversation. I'm happy she is getting stronger with every passing day, but still get a little startled by those powerful fist pumps.

Kitchen Revamp Part 1

2010-09-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

Our Labor Day weekend was spent working on our kitchen, the room that has been a total eyesore in my opinion since we moved into our house two years ago.

My wonderful husband worked all day Sunday with some help and then all day yesterday by himself to get all our top cabinets built, hung and operating. He even had to close up an old window in the process so that I could get my much needed extra storage.

Toward the end of Sept. he'll be finishing the base cabinets and we will be picking out granite counter tops, knobs, a sink and faucet in the interim.

These projects would seem so daunting to me if I didn't have such a great partner to go through them with. I'm very grateful that he is so handy and never complains.

Chicken

2010-09-01T06:14:00.000-07:00

Question: Why do women find it necessary to tell their labor stories to someone who has not yet delivered their first child?

I find this to be horrific considering that, unless I ask, it's probably not something I want to discuss. Especially with virtual strangers, yet it happens to me weekly.

These kinds of things don't prepare me for labor, they just keep me up at night with a reel of worse case scenarios going through my head. Combine that with the hospital pre-registration forms that I had to have filled out 4 months in advance (I pushed it to 3) and you have a recipe for an anxiety attack. Yesterday, right around the time I was reading about the risks involved with anesthesia and how I need to remain completely still while they administer and epidural as to not cause me to be potentially paralyzed, I called John in a tizzy. I think he may have laughed at me, so then I used it as a time to ask him if he would be considered my next of kin, another box I had to fill in.

Man oh man...

Snooze

2010-08-31T05:53:00.001-07:00

I had a hard time getting into the book Eat, Pray, Love, even despite the fact that I picked it up long before Oprah did and it got so popular. Funny thing is, the movie for me, was no different.

I don't know if it's just that I had a hard time relating to Elizabeth Gilbert's experiences or just her in general. Sometimes these self-discovery stories can be a bit nauseating.

The movie had beautiful settings but was waaaaaaaay too long. It clocked in at just over 2.5 hours and with each new place she visited, I kept thinking, we have how many more to go?

Maybe my patience isn't what it used to be, or maybe Julia Roberts grates on my nerves. Either way, save your money and pick this one as a renter...at home, with bathroom breaks, lots of snacks and the pause button in case a nap strikes you.

Dreaming

2010-08-27T14:25:00.001-07:00

I love you Cute Concerto Dress from Mod Cloth...

If I wasn't preggers, I'd snap you up in a heartbeat.

Intruder Alert

2010-08-23T05:27:00.000-07:00

On Friday evening, we left to drive down to VA for the weekend to visit our nieces and John's brother/sister-n-law. Along the way, we stopped and had a lovely dinner with Adrienne and Sam which was great. We had a really fun time in Fredericksburg with everyone and got to spend some quality time with the little ladies, then Sunday left around lunchtime to head back and pick up Duke at his pet hotel where he was over the weekend.

Then things got kinda bad...

We arrived home around 6:30 pm and immediately noticed that our front gate was open, which it never is. I thought that was weird, but nothing else was abnormal, until we opened the back door and saw that our window air conditioner unit in the family room was pushed in and laid on our couch, with the window wide open in that room and the window in the neighboring family room as well. I was terrified. Someone had broken in while we were away.

John quickly checked the house while I called the police who were right down the street, because apparently the same thing had happened at a neighbors.

Luckily for us, nothing was taken. Many closets were open and jewelry boxes/drawers were pilfered, yet our work laptops, TV, I-pods, etc. were left unharmed. The office was exactly how we had left it. It was so strange. We figured something must have startled them because our front door was unlocked so we guess they ran out in a hurry.

Last night I couldn't help trying to shake the gross feeling of having been violated in some way because of these intruders. It unnerves me to no end, as we love our home. But, I refuse to be scared in it and now have to train my brain to think differently. It just stinks.

24 Weeks...

2010-08-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm feeling our little baby kick and move all the time, I am tremendously curious about how she is growing and just what she looks like in there. That's why I am incredibly lucky to have an aunt who is an ultrasound technician with over 20 years of experience.

On Saturday we went down to the hospital she works at and she got some wonderful 3-D images of our girl. We also got to see all kinds of amazing activity from her, moving her hands to her face, moving her mouth, kicking her Mom square in the side. It's just the neatest thing. No words could ever quite describe it.

Now that she has started to develop some features, we have been trying to figure out if any look like John or I. The only real distinct ones were her feet, and her second toe being as long as her first, a hereditary trait, just like her Dad's. And whenever John is deep in thought, reading or relaxing, I always see him stick his lower lip out a bit. It's forever made me laugh and sure enough, we caught the baby doing that exact thing in one of her little photos. I couldn't get over it, much like this whole entire pregnancy experience.

Blast From The Past

2010-08-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

When I was little my Dad took me to see E.T. (my first movie theater experience) and I have been told that a part from crying uncontrollably at the end of the film, I fell in love with the little alien. Shortly thereafter, my parents bought me this E.T. doll that I carried around with me everywhere as a kid and still had in my room up until high school, when he was so tattered to shreds that I had to finally let him go.

My youngest brother Danny remembered all this from our childhood, and found one online for our little baby to have for her own which he gave me on our visit.

I thought it was the sweetest gift and I can't wait to tell her all about it.

Look Who's Here

2010-08-05T12:27:00.001-07:00

When we were getting ready to leave AZ two days ago, we got a call from my brother-n-law who informed us that his wife was at the hospital, ready to deliver their second baby girl a week early. About two hours later, baby Sophia was here! My sister-n-law is unreal to me, knowing exactly when to get to the hospital and when to push in record time.

I am very excited to be an Aunt again and just wish that they lived a little closer to us so I could get more practice in. But, we'll be traveling to Virginia in a few weeks to see the newest addition to our extended family and I'm really looking forward to it.

Lucky Lady

2010-08-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

Our visit to Arizona was so fun and enjoyable that I really didn't want to come home. We had a great time with my family as usual and I even got to squeeze in some quality time with my dear friend Vanessa, who on a whim was in town for her sister's newest baby arrival. Everything worked out perfectly. I got to do two things I love while there, relax and eat.

We scoped out some new restaurants for us like Joe's Farm Grill in Gilbert, which I'd highly recommend...

And, I had a wonderful baby shower at the El Charro Lodge in Paradise Valley. My mom, brother Matt and sister Amy did such a nice job putting it together and just like my bridal shower in AZ a few years back, it was intimate which made it all that more special to me. I was truly touched by all the thoughtful and generous gifts for our baby girl.

Every time we are in AZ, John and I can see ourselves calling it our home. Not that we aren't happy here in PA, but we get a different sense of life there. A little more laid back I guess. It always gives us something to think about. And, oddly enough, for the first time while we were there, I could feel my baby moving...a lot. It was really neat and took me by surprise the first time. Maybe she was trying to tell me something...

Eat, Play, Love

2010-07-27T12:53:00.001-07:00

Soon we will be jetting off to Arizona for a family visit which I've been looking forward to for months now. I'll definitely be soaking lots in since I think my visits home are going to get harder and harder to do with our little lady on the way.

I can't wait to go on an eating tour after catching lots of AZ restaurants on various Food Network shows lately (it is pretty much all I can think about). I just hope my family is ready!

In Or Out

2010-07-18T07:06:00.000-07:00

John and I don't spend many nights sleeping apart, mainly because it doesn't come up that often and truthfully, I hate it. However, yesterday he was away to a guy's night out in Atlantic City, so Duke and I decided to get caught up on our chick-flick cinema, because let's face it, all I want to do is veg out on the couch any way.

But after watching two extremely depressing (and not all that good) movies...

I realized it probably wasn't the best idea to be all teary before heading to bed in our big, empty house. I think next time I'll opt for something a little more productive with my alone time.

Your Mother Is A Planner

2010-07-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

I'm currently hearting the bedding that I have chosen and will use as a jumping off point for the baby's room...

I like that it's not too over the top girly, plus if any of you remember my wedding decor, than you know I love my stripes and dots.

Adding to my excitement was a visit to Etsy the other day, where I found the most adorable wall decal...

It comes in all kinds of colors, and I think with some simple art on another wall, the nursery is already shaping up. Well, in my mind of course.

It's a Girl!

2010-07-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

On Friday we had the amazing experience of seeing our baby up close and personal for the first time during my 18 week ultrasound. It was one of the most memorable and exciting experiences we've ever had. Just seeing our baby move around and all it's growing parts, put so many things into perspective. For me, the moment we got a chance to see it's face, including eyes, nose and mouth, I just lost it. Tears of joy definitely came down. Holding John's hand thinking about how six and a half years ago this month, I saw him from across a room and thought he was kinda special, and he we were looking at our baby on a screen. It was nuts, but in a good way of course.

And low and behold, after almost an hour had gone by where baby had it's legs crossed, we were finally able to confirm that she was in fact a little girl. All the urban myths were thrown to the wayside as it finally sunk in that I'm carrying our daughter (We were convinced it was a boy).

At first we weren't sure if we wanted to find out and truthfully, John still really didn't, but I just needed to and it's very hard to be in the situation of having a chance to know and letting it go by. I HATE surprises so it's in my nature to be prepared for things, including my first child. Looking back, I can see why people do wait and feel slight pains of guilt that we didn't, but in the long run I can already feel myself bonding with her more in a way I didn't early on and it's worth it to me.

So Long Old Friend

2010-07-01T11:38:00.000-07:00

For the past two years I have had the pleasure of driving around in a free company car (complete with additional free gas and car insurance), the only problem was that this vehicle was a mini-van.

For the first few months, I thought of myself as a total nerd/soccer Mom, but to be honest, I actually grew to kinda like her.

Not only was the van very good to me on long drives throughout my territory, but it fit loads of friends for trips and nights out. And let's not forget the countless visits to the Pottery Barn outlet where it hauled many large furniture pieces home with ease.

While I can't say that I will ever purchase a mini-van if given the choice, or that I'm not adoring my nice, new Ford Escape that replaced her, I'm proud to say I appreciated the run we had over the last few years ol' girl. Thanks again.

It Fits

2010-06-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

I received a wonderful package in the mail from my Mom today. It came complete with a comfy pair of shorts, a pretty shirt and the dress below from Motherhood Maternity.

I can't tell you how nice it was to receive clothes that fit me. I've been struggling with the rapid change to my body and haven't been able to catch up with the shopping to support it.

So thanks for thinking of me Mom :) It was much appreciated.

Happy Birthday Husband

2010-06-19T10:44:00.001-07:00

My adorable husband, John, turns 33 today. We've known each other for 6 years this July and he still never ceases to amaze me. Just today he was up at 8 AM, helped me paint our kitchen, and is now outside on this hot day, re-staining our deck. Seriously, he is pretty amazing.

I feel continuously lucky to have him as my partner in life.

I can't wait for all the fun and exciting things we have ahead of us this year honey. I love ya!

Baby Loot

2010-06-17T13:51:00.001-07:00

When we travel to AZ later this summer, my Mom and siblings are throwing me an early baby shower and since they are sending out their invites soon, we were asked to get started on our registry.

I chose the giant conglomerate Babies 'R Us since we had such a debacle with Target during our wedding and there are so many locations, so it won't be hard for people to find.

John and I popped in the other night armed with the Baby Bargains book my cousin had gotten us, which outlines some of the best deals and buys for all this stuff, and John downloaded Consumer Reports onto his I-phone. Two hours into it, we had only selected twenty items but luckily it was all the big stuff so we were pretty proud of ourselves. There were definitely plenty of moments of pure confusion with all the options for car seats and strollers and bouncy things, etc. and we were also in total shock over how expensive everything is. Woah baby!

I'll be wandering back in a couple of weeks to wrap stuff up once we have our mid-July ultrasound and I can pick out more 'fun' things for the room. I think I'll gain a bit of a boost once I get another look at our future child.

Brown Thumb

2010-06-14T16:12:00.001-07:00

I'm so grateful that my mother-n-law loves to garden and knows so much about it, because I, on the other hand, dread going out into the yard and hate all the upkeep. I do think it's much prettier when things are planted and weeded, but just wish someone could come every week to handle the task for me.

Saturday we managed to get one of my more dreaded beds cleaned out and fresh flowers planted. I absolutely adore daisies and these will come back every year (my favorite kind of flower).

We also did the flower boxes on the garage. I love the color it adds.

Now all I have to do is remember to water them!

Things I Can't Stop Eating Lately

2010-06-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

Knorr/Lipton rice packets
Tatertots with ranch dressing
Special K (dry right out of the box)
Cheerios with milk
Cottage cheese
Chick-Fil-A/Chipotle (whenever and wherever possible)
Soft pretzels with yellow mustard
Pasta (any and all kinds)
Rita's soft serve (chocolate and vanilla mixed)

I won't even talk to you about how badly I want to eat sushi. Since finding out I was pregnant, it's all I can think about. Just 5 1/2 more months to go. I'm having John bring it to the hospital room.

Word

2010-06-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

Recently in a magazine I saw a photo of a woman who used hundreds of old Scrabble letters to tile her entryway floor. I thought it looked super cool and according to her was easy to do and has held up for the last several years since it was treated properly from the get go. I was thinking it might be neat to use them as an alternative to a tiled back splash, as I start to mull over unique ideas for our kitchen remodel on the horizon. Seems like the possibilities are endless if done the right way.

Gimpy and Sicky

2010-05-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday night after a 30 minute walk with Duke, we noticed he wouldn't move from a single spot on the living room floor. Then, when we made our way up the stairs to bed for the night, he winced and cried with every step. Wednesday morning was the same thing so John rushed him over to the vet to make sure he didn't break any bones in his back leg where most of the pain seemed to be coming from. Thankfully, he returned with just a sprain of some kind, though he's been slowly recovering ever since.

Me on the other hand, well, it's been a rough few weeks on my body. Wednesday night I had one of my worst bouts with the toilet and my head felt like it was going to explode from that additional pain. I actually cried afterward because I literally didn't think I could take any more of being sick and nauseous. My little one is taking all I have and some days it just gets to be too much.

I am now looking forward to what I hope is a relaxing and not-so-sick Memorial Day weekend because both Dukey and I could really use it.

Growing, Growing...

2010-05-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I woke up and noticed a considerable difference in my baby bump. It has gone from looking like a bloated belly to more of a trucker's beer gut. And, as promised to A., here is a photo...

11 Week Mark

2010-05-18T12:33:00.001-07:00

Two weeks ago I had my first ultrasound and it was truly amazing (besides the need to have a full bladder at the time). Our little peanut moved side to side for me and I was told it was the perfect size for how far along I am. I couldn't believe how surreal it was. I could have watched it all day if I didn't have to pee so bad. I even got the first grainy, black and white photo of him or her. My sweet husband made it his I-phone screen saver.

Today was another big step when we got to hear the heartbeat for the first time- 150 beats per minute. It's been nice to finally get live confirmation of things going on inside of me, aside from nausea and exhaustion. I can hardly wait for the next time.

Trip To Remember

2010-05-14T10:28:00.001-07:00

It's been a whirlwind work week since returning from San Francisco on Monday, that I wish I was back there again. We had an amazing time and even though it was my fifth trip to the city, we did more things in four days than I have in past visits.

We spent one whole day up in wine country, visiting four unique wineries, basking in beautiful, sunny weather and concluding with an hour long ferry boat ride back to the city. It was so serene and peaceful. I can totally see taking another trip just up there, especially when I can drink again.

We took time to see sites like the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli Square and we even held off the side of a VERY fast moving trolley. The food was outstanding everywhere we went and we had great company from the other couple we were traveling with. The city itself is full of such neat history and buildings. The people are really friendly and I even enjoyed the brisk walks throughout the various neighborhoods like Chinatown, Presidio and North Beach, despite feeling pretty exhausted by days end.

I was so glad we squeezed in another mini-vacation. I would highly recommend visiting San Fran if you haven't before. It is well worth it.

One Happy Gal

2010-04-30T11:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made my first official maternity clothes purchase which happened a little sooner than I expected, but I've been extremely uncomfortable having my waistband pressing on my bulging gut (the stage my stomach is in now). I was wearing this thing called the Bee Band that, in a nutshell, allows you to wear your normal jeans with the top button left open and it still holds them up/gives your stomach room to 'stretch'. It's OK but I didn't think it was very comfy. I have long been a supporter of Gap jeans, so decided to check out what they had for me now.

I tried on several pairs of their maternity jeans and felt so elated. I finally looked 'normal' and had room to breathe with the help of these babies...

It's even more great that they are in my regular jeans size, but have this handy stretchy panel built in. They weren't exactly cheap, but definitely worth it. I'll be saving up for a few more pairs just like it.

It Could Happen To You

2010-04-30T11:07:00.000-07:00

Last night I had one of the weirdest and scariest things happen to me. My I-Tunes account was hacked into, completely altered and some nut made a bunch of purchases using my credit card that was on file. Thankfully, John and I were able to catch it less than 48 hours after the initial incident was made, but it really creeped me out and we learned some valuable lessons about how safe our personal info. really is through I-Tunes. My credit card company was awesome and quickly took care of the unauthorized charges, but John spent a long time on the phone with Apple trying to get some help and answers.

Just a friendly word of advice, if you use this system, don't have your Apple ID be your email address. Make it something obscure and change your password often. Apparently this has happened to many other people.

Start Spreading The News

2010-04-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit M.I.A. from blogging lately as I've had a lot to share with you my few, but loyal readers, and have been waiting for the right time.

My big news is that I'm pregnant!

It's only been 8 weeks but we are extremely excited (and a little nervous). I've felt less than stellar over the last few weeks, as I've been battling nausea around the clock. From what I hear, though, that means things are going well for the baby, so that makes me happy and relieved.

John and I have received so much love and support since breaking the news to family and friends, which has been a great added bonus. We feel very lucky to have so many wonderful people in our lives.

I promise not to turn this into a baby blog, but I also can't wait to share with you all the little oddities and experiences that will no doubt come along with my first pregnancy.

Thinking Big

2010-04-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

You will be mine, artwork...

Just not for $300.

I will wait patiently for a sale, though it won't be easy. You escaped me once before, but are now back for a possible second chance at life in our home.

Add This To Your Queue

2010-04-08T05:37:00.001-07:00

The truth is, I'm not much of an animal person. I LOVE dogs, think horses are pretty neat, and could on occasion watch a monkey run around in clothes on TV or something. That's pretty much it. However, I was incredibly moved by this years Oscar winner for Best Feature Documentary, The Cove. It was terribly sad, but extremely enlightening and definitely worth the rental.

Here is the synopsis...

Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.

I'm telling you, a trip to Sea World will never cross your mind again.

Look What I Found

2010-04-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

Nothing is quite as exciting to me as finding new ways to decorate the house with 'old' things. Last week I wanted to spend part of my anniversary day off antique shopping and thankfully John was happy to oblige. We picked up some really interesting finds for cheap and I finally found a home for them over the weekend.

Up next I hope to find a place for my growing picture frames and globe collection...

I'm thinking our bedroom as that is coming together nicely, and it's a space that lends itself better to unique takes on decorating.

Two Years and Counting...

2010-03-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

I love you,

Not only for what you are,

But for what I am

When I am with you.

I love you,

Not only for what

You have made of yourself,

But for what

You are making of me.

I love you

For the part of me

That you bring out;

I love you

For putting your hand

Into my heaped-up heart

And passing over

All the foolish, weak things

That you can’t help

Dimly seeing there,

And for drawing out

Into the light

All the beautiful belongings

That no one else had looked

Quite far enough to find.

Roy Croft from "Love"

Stocking Up

2010-03-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a handy coupon (and a good cause) from Gap this weekend, I was able to pick up this cozy dress from their sister store Old Navy, that I will be saving for our May trip to SF.

They had so many great ones I could have bought more. Of course, I have to save a little cash for shopping while there. Can't wait.

Show And Tell

2010-03-20T08:15:00.001-07:00

A couple of days ago I had my first real estate showings thanks to my sister-n-law whose parents are looking for a home in Bucks County. It was pretty neat, I must say, and I definitely enjoyed myself. It's really cool to have my first clients and even cooler that I paid my money and dropped off my application to the local real estate association board so that I can officially call myself a Realtor (insert trademark here) now. Did you know you can be a licensed agent, but not have the all important title available to you until you join? Learn something new everyday I tell ya.

Sweet Sounds

2010-03-17T09:56:00.000-07:00

Last night we saw Michael Buble' in concert and he was awesome. Definitely a showman who spent just as much time talking and joking with the crowd as singing. I think he has an amazing voice and it was no different live.

It's been years since I saw a show in that big of an arena, as I normally tend to see and listen to the more obscure or 'indie' bands. But, I was happy for the departure. I proudly adore MB and his music.

Whodunnit

2010-03-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

Since we got nothing but rain and more rain this weekend, Saturday John and I spent lounging around our house and catching up on some movies (shocked I'm sure).

Thanks to the beauty of On Demand from our cable provider, we were able to see The Art of the Steal which is a new documentary recently released in theaters. It's the extremely interesting film about the Barnes Museum, located in the suburbs of Philly, and it's takeover and ultimate move to downtown. The political players are fascinating and it's incredible to watch the events play out the way they do. A must see.

Welcome To The World Sophia

2010-03-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the experience of holding in my arms a baby that was just an hour old. It was unreal. My cousin Lauren's precious daughter was born yesterday weighing 7 lbs, 8 oz and she was beautiful.

Almost my entire Dad's side of the family was patiently awaiting her arrival at the hospital. It was extremely funny and very touching (Lauren and her husband Bill were such good sports about all the visitors). I'm so glad we got to be apart of it.

My Take On Movies

2010-03-08T05:12:00.000-08:00

Another year, another victory for me in the husband vs. wife Oscar pool. I would have had more wins if I didn't try to jazz it up with some potential upsets. The main winners were pretty obvious. Some I agreed with (Jeff Bridges) and others I did not (Sandra Bullock). The movies over the last year were just like the red carpet dresses last night...eh. While there were stand out good ones like The Hurt Locker, Up In The Air, Crazy Heart and Up, I left the couch or the movie theater over the last several months sort of unimpressed by the ones I was supposed to be really amped up about (i.e. Inglorious Basterds, A Serious Man). Many of the performances were top notch, but the movies themselves just needed something more in my opinion, like story wise (Avatar) or less cheese (The Blind Side).

We always enjoy watching things unfold over the months leading up to Oscar season and 2010 will be no different. On with the show!

A Change Will Do You Good

2010-03-07T08:43:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we spent the afternoon painting our bedroom, which immediately transformed it into a cozy space and I still have to put up new curtains and artwork. I was definitely gun shy on the color, but after some encouragement from a friend (thanks A.) and my gut feeling pushing through, I went with a slate color in a gray/blue feel that I am in love with. I highly reccommend it for anyone looking for a 'new' neutral wall color. It was another great find from Sherwin Williams, despite it's unfortunate name (Mineral Deposit).
It's amazing how much a bedroom make-over can make one feel grown-up. I kinda dig it.

Business Time

2010-02-24T10:05:00.001-08:00

Yesterday my first set of real estate business cards came in the mail. I'm really happy with how they turned out. Now I just have to get out there and hand them to people!

They Grow Up Fast

2010-02-22T13:40:00.001-08:00

Our niece Vicky came up this weekend for her 3rd birthday party which we hosted at our house. It's amazing to see how fast she has grown and how incredibly smart she is. I love learning about all the new things she is into, i.e. make-up and computers...

It never ceases to amaze me how different kids today grow up. I'm still stunned by how quickly they catch onto things. It definitely blows away an 'old' person such as myself.

Date To Remember

2010-02-15T05:44:00.001-08:00

For the last five years, Valentine's Day hasn't held as much meaning for us as February 15th does, which John and I have celebrated as the day of our first date. That's when he casually asked me if I would like to go for my first cheesesteak, and the rest was history. We never left each others side from that point on.

We've long since discovered that Steve's Prince of Steaks in the Northeast has the best cheesesteak in town, and now have a more official wedding anniversary to honor, but I do believe we'll always hold a special place for February 15th and it's significance in the story of us.

Sole Power

2010-02-08T08:52:00.000-08:00

I'd like to thank my brother Matt for buying me these adorable Cole Haan winter boots for Christmas. Not only do they keep my feet toasty, but they are waterproof, which means I can trudge through all the dreadful snow we've seen lately in style.

Nice 'Stache

2010-02-03T20:02:00.000-08:00

I'm not saying I look like this...

but I'm definitely freaked out by what has become some very unwanted facial hair above my upper lip. I was standing under the lights of my hotel bathroom last week and became suddenly horrified by the new hairy development. I'm a giant baby which means I make no attempts to try to remove it myself. Instead today when I called my eyebrow lady to make my bi-monthly appointment, I added lip wax to the mix, to which she replied, 'Oh, I see. Just be forewarned, it's one of the more painful spots."

Can't wait.

If I Had A Hammer

2010-02-01T12:07:00.000-08:00

Everyone always says that John and I are so handy because of all the things we do around the house ourselves. The truth is, he's the handy one and I'm more like an excellent assistant. Though, I'm sure he'd beg to differ on some of our more labor intensive weekends together. I'm just not what I'd consider physically strong and that comes with limitations.

While in New Orleans, however, I was really excited to work a full day with Habitat for Humanity, one of the activities that was planned for us. I wasn't sure how I was truly going to be of help, but was happy to be apart of some kind of rebuilding in that area.

Our job site was located in a neighborhood that was more effected by the heavy winds of Hurricane Katrina, not so much the flooding. I was sent with a few of my co-workers to a house a few streets away, due to an overload of volunteers we had brought, to put up siding at a house that was near completion. I'm not sure I was exceptionally good at this project,

Exhibit A:

and I was dumbfounded by the use of a hammer and nails to complete the tasks. My company sells power tools for heavens sake. I don't think I've used a hammer for more than hanging artwork in...ever.

So, maybe I picked up a few new skills that I can impress John with at home, but more importantly I developed an appreciation for those people that do this kind of work day in and day out. It's definitely not for the weak of heart or muscle and I commend them for it.

Keep Rolling On

2010-01-31T15:39:00.000-08:00

On Friday I returned from a long week in New Orleans. The city itself is really small, but definitely unique and the people couldn't have been nicer. I tried some new foods like fried oysters and jambalaya and even found myself liking them. I was more than relieved when the plane touched down in Philly, though. It's hard on me being away that long.

We marched right into the weekend by celebrating my cousin Olivia's 30th birthday at Jolly's, a dueling piano bar in Philadelphia, yesterday night. I definitely wasn't sure what to expect, but it turned out to be a great time. The place had a fun energy to it as the crowd of people sang along to old, familiar tunes. After a few too many glasses of wine, I spent the last part of the evening on the stage near one of the pianos singing and dancing without a care in the world. Today I'm nursing a mean hangover, but it was all in the name of fun and nobody deserves a great birthday bash as much as Olivia. I'm just happy I was there to enjoy all the festivities. Just another reason it's always good to be home.

New Dimension

2010-01-23T08:11:00.000-08:00

During our Christmas visit to Arizona, John and my Dad went to see Avatar and my Mom and I went shopping. At the time I didn't have any interest in seeing it, but then I saw it get nominated for a ton of awards, so it peeked my interest and we decided to see the 3D version when we got back. That was last week, and I'm still trying to formulate a firm opinion on it. The thing is, the movie is like nothing I have ever seen before visually. It's pretty neat to watch, especially with some rockin' sunglasses on (gone are those itchy paper 3D glasses). I admire the fact that you didn't feel like you were watching a crazy, over CG amplified movie, but instead it felt seamless.

I just didn't really find the story that impressive or original and these Avatar things are beyond bizarre. I don't understand whey they need long ponytails and long tails. Kidding. It was kind of drawn out in parts and I didn't think the plot dove into some points that I thought would warrant it. I guess I just need more of a story to balance out all the other cool things that were going on. Everyone is different.

I definitely think it's a movie that is worth seeing, though, especially on the big screen.