2010....year in review

What a year it's been!  2009 was a historic year for SB and me as we got married, moved half-way across the country, he started a new job and we bought our first house together.  We were ready for a calmer, less eventful 2010....and for the most part, it was just that!  SB and I continued to settle into St. Louis, decorate the house and work on the yard, we tried new restaurants, developed new friendships here, traveled to see our families and friends (and hosted a few here too), and just enjoyed our times together.

Highlights of 2010:

• Our little yellow lab Lilly was born February 25, 2010, and we welcomed her home on April 10!
• We traveled to Captiva Island, FL for a fun vacation with my family the first week of April
• SB and I ran in a number of local road races in preparation for our half-marathon.  I PR'd with a 24:48 5k time!  He (of course) ran ridiculously fast with sub-20 5k times.
• SB and I ran the Madison, WI half-marathon over Memorial Day weekend
• We traveled to Athens, GA for the 4th of July to spend it with SB's family
• SB and I traveled to NYC for the US Open. 
• We learned in early August that we're pregnant!!!  On November 16 we learned that we're having a healthy baby boy!! 
• We hosted SB's brother's family at our house for the first time in November, and then traveled to Madison, WI to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family.
• Poor SB had his tonsils removed.  I'm not sure if he'll be able to eat popsicles or pudding ever again after that brutal month of recovery.
• I traveled back to DC three times for work
• Traveled to Chicago three times in four weeks (it was fun!)
• The Rams are 7-8, with a crucial playoff-qualifying game this coming Sunday in Seattle.  Alas, I don't think I could have ever predicted such a successful season after they went 1-15 last year.

In looking ahead to 2011, I know that it will be a life-changing year.  In some (most?) ways, it's hard to know exactly what a new child will bring....but we are so excited to welcome our little baby boy in early April.  We have a beach vacation planned with my whole family to celebrate my dad's big bday, and I have a feeling that we'll work in some trips to Georgia and who knows where else right now. Life is good, and I hope that we'll all be able to enjoy a very happy, healthy, prosperous 2011!!

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas morning in the snow!

Pregnancy Update: 26 Weeks and counting....

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 26 Weeks
Size of Baby: He is the size of an eggplant!

Maternity Clothes: Still a mix of pregnancy and non-pregnancy, and have added in a few of SB's shirts.

Gender: It's a BOY!!

Movement: YES!! He is an active little guy.  Lots of movement!  It is really fun to feel, and have that connection to the baby.

What I Miss: Running.  I have been doing the elliptical at the gym, but I miss really running and exerting myself. (I know it's all for a wonderful, amazing reason - but I still miss it)

Cravings: Lots of sweets during Christmas week.  (too many probably....)

Symptons: I am definitely getting bigger.  I can see the weight gain in my face.  I'm trying to eat healthfully.....but it's not easy!

Best Moment This Week: Sharing Christmas with SB and the dogs.  I love that it snowed on Christmas Eve to give us a beautiful white Christmas!!

 

First pregnant Christmas pic!

 

Luke 2:9-14
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

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Snow message

Our neighbor left us a hilarious early Christmas present!!  We've seen about 2" of snow this morning, which really makes this Wisconsin girl happy!  There's nothing like a white Christmas :)   SB is working right now, but hopefully will be home early today.  Tonight we'll be going to our first Christmas Eve service at our local church here.  Looking forward to it!!

Instant Inspiration

I love this quote from the ever-so classy Audrey Hepburn in this month's Shape magazine:

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others;

for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness;

and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."

Baby Nurseries: Preppy Navy and Green

Our inspiration....

The pic below shows the actual bedding that we decided to go with.  I am hoping to add in the rug below, with some navy curtains, and a few fun accessories.  I'm not sure what we'll do with the walls yet though (they're currently a taupe-y color....so they may stay - or we may paint them a really, really light blue).  We still have a full bed in the room -- so we have to move that out to start visualizing!  I'd loooove to add in that blue and white striped pendant light from a nursery above -- so we shall see on that one.  My sister gave me some hand-me-downs.....including their crib, changing table, and a cute green/white armchair/glider.  As a whole, it's still a major work in progress -- so I'll try to post updates as we pull things together!

Count down to Christmas with books!

Lately I have been thinking a lot about Christmas traditions, and starting some fun ones for our growing family.  This is the first year that SB and I will be staying at home (thanks to the Rams' schedule, with a game on the 26th) -- so I want to make it special considering we won't be with our families. 

I read on another blog (and I'm so sorry, I can't remember which one -- let me know if you know!) about opening a book each day of December leading up to Christmas.  You slowly gather your collection, and then the kids enjoy unwrapping and reading the special books each night before bedtime.  Do you have favorite Christmas books?  Here's an assortment of my faves....though it sure looks like I need to find a bunch of new ones to get to 25!

 

 

 

Weekend Update

• Played tennis twice -- once just for fun, and once in a do-or-die USTA match to determine the league winner.  My partner and I won our court, but alas, our team lost 2-3.  So close!!  I have loved playing with this new team, and really loved playing with my new partner.  I felt really good while playing, but I think this is my last weekend of tennis till I deliver -- but we shall see!
• Finally found something for my sister for Christmas.  I am totally finished now, everything's wrapped and mailed -- I just can't wait for the big day!
• Went to a Christmas party hosted by a new Junior League friend.  I wore the same Christmas blouse I had last year, but I think that will be its last appearance until after the baby arrives because my buttons were about to pop!!
• I will be traveling to DC tomorrow to meet with people in our office, and partake in our office Christmas party!  So fun!  Thankfully, Mother Nature managed not to drop 17 inches of snow this year! 

Daisy & Lilly are feeling the Christmas spirit!

 

Thanks to my hubster for patiently posing them (and thank goodness for the popcorn incentives that helped us keep their attention!!)

23 Weeks....21 Week Belly Shot

I've gotten behind on my every-other-week posting of belly shots!  Here's a little update with pics from a few weeks ago.  I'll try to get a couple pics soon.

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 23 Weeks
Size of Baby: He is the size of a papaya!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Who knows!!  My next appt is next Monday.  Honestly, I'm steering clear of all scales!
Maternity Clothes: Still a bit of a mix -- but definitely maternity jeans.

Gender: It's a BOY!!

Movement: YES!!  I started feeling him move around week 21.  The movement was subtle, more of a "fluttering" feeling than anything.  Tonight for the first time SB was able to feel the movement too, which was a really exciting moment to share!

What I Miss: Nothing major.

Cravings: Nothing major.

Symptons: Aside from my embarrassingly early bedtime....nothing really!  The belly is getting bigger, and is starting to get in the way when I'm moving around, but I feel really good!  It must be the calm before the storm.....

Best Moment This Week: Playing a tennis match yesterday and winning 6-2, 6-2 against a tough team!  I played this past Saturday and Sunday, and I have my last USTA match this coming Sunday.  Let's hope the winning streak continues!

 21 weeks!

 And just in case you forgot.....it's a boy :)  We used a standard cake to surprise my fam, and a cookie cake for SB's family.  Have I mentioned lately that I have a sweet tooth?  Cuz I do.  A big one!

Christmas Card Wreath

If you're like me,  you love getting Christmas cards in the mail, but you never know quite how to display them.  Well, thankfully -- Martha Stewart solved my problem!  Introducing....the Christmas Card Wreath:

(Martha's version)

(My version)

It's really simple to put together, and it is adorable!  Here are Martha's instructions for assembly:

Decorate a wall or an interior door by hanging a holiday-card wreath. Using wood glue, affix miniature wooden clothespins to a large (about 14-inch-diameter) embroidery hoop. Alternate clothespins to point outward and inward, spaced 1 1/2 inches apart. Suspend from a ribbon, and clip your cards in place as you receive them.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Pinup Wreath - Martha Stewart Holidays

Drumroll, please.....

That good looking kid in the ultrasound is a............

 

(can't you just feel the suspense around my parents' dining table...of course our nieces were chanting "please be a girl, please be a girl....")

BOY!!!

We (of course) are just thrilled!  Obviously, we are even more thrilled to know that he is healthy, and growing right along the standard growth charts.   Our little family has so very much to be thankful for during this wonderful holiday season!!!

SB is already hoping to outfit him with some sports gear!  (I couldn't resist taking a pic when he came up to me in Sports Authority with a little kid tennis racket and golf club set!  So cute!  I can't wait to see him as a daddy!)

Christmas Wish List

'Tis the season!!  My husband and I can both be a little picky when it comes to gifting....so we usually create "wish lists" for each other to assist with the purchasing. 

A facial!!
 
 These are my favorite winter socks.....you can find them at REI -- and your feet will love them!

 I'm doing my best to resist buying too much maternity stuff -- but this wrap cardigan from Nordstrom looks really comfy!


 Running shoes.  (They're doing more walking and elliptical-ing than running these days...)

 Some sort of fun every day necklace....who doesn't love a blue box :)  Would love it even more if it had significance with the baby-to-be....but I haven't found one yet...

 
 I'm thinking my face may appreciate the exfoliation that a Clarisonic can deliver.  Do any of you have one of these?  Thoughts?
 

 

I need some new recipe ideas....a new cookbook could help!

BABY STUFF!!  Outfits, nursery goodies, you name it -- I'm all over it :)

Baby's First Pic

We're pretty crazy about this little one already!  We are going to surprise our families this week with the big gender news.......SB's family today and my family on Wednesday.  After that I'll share with you all!!

Randomness

Where did the last week go?? 

** I did some serious Christmas shopping this past weekend.  We are done with everyone on SB's side, and I am really close to being done with my family too!!  I love beating the crowds!

**  Work is good but REALLY busy.  I know I would prefer to be busy any day over bored, so no complaints here!

**  SB's family (brother, SIL, and 3 kids) are coming to visit from GA this weekend.  I need to get working on a grocery list, and plans for our free time!

**  We have a leak upstairs.  The wood at the bottom of a door frame is wet, and the carpet around that area is too...but there aren't any obvious signals about where the water is coming from.  We do have our laundry room on the 2nd level, so it could be that, or a shower -- but it's not directly next to either of those things, so it's a mystery right now.  The repair guy is coming tomorrow and will likely need to cut a big hole into our wall to try to get to the bottom of it.  The joys of home ownership, right?  And right before we have 5 guests.  Fantastic...

**  Today we had our ultrasound and doctor appointment.  Everything is looking great, which of course makes us feel very blessed and grateful.  Babies really are miracles!  (and so are ultrasounds -- I can't believe how much you can see at 20 weeks!!  Tears (happy tears) were just streaming down my face while the technician was showing us everything -- it was amazing!!)

Puppy update ..... 8.5 months

Little Lilly is now 8.5 months, I think she is well over 50 pounds, and she still is all puppy!  She has a really sweet and funny demeanor.  She loves to be outside and go on walks with Daisy.  Lilly has a magnetic attraction to water of any kind, and her favorite times of day would be breakfast and dinner (she hasn't seen a food she doesn't like!)  We still have to keep a very close eye on her as she'd chew on just about anything she could find.  Puppies are exhausting!!

 

(Poor thing doesn't fit in her favorite napping spot anymore!)

 (yummy treat of carrots frozen in ice)

 

(New backyard friend.....a caterpillar!)