December 31, 2008

Gifts.

Santa was good to me this year...as usual. My husband is an excellent gift giver and always thinks about what would make me happy. This year he gave me this little green box and inside was a green and blue Kate Spade cocktail ring.

Then he sweetly picked out a Bobbi Brown lipstick that he thought I'd like and I actually did! It's the perfect everyday color.


Then we received a Flip video camera from my mom and we are so excited to use it in 2009. Plus we got generous gift cards to which I put towards this fun watch I've been wanting for a while...


All of my gifts were great, but none compared to the one wrapped in an argyle sweater vest and flannel lined cargo pants.


I am so blessed.


Happy New Year...Resolutions to come soon.


December 24, 2008

Last Christmas...

My dad's huge hand holding my little blessing...

Last Christmas, all I wanted was to have a baby and be a mom. This year my wish has come true and I couldn't be happier or feel more blessed...even while feeling severely sleep deprived and cranky.

Merry Christmas to all.

December 23, 2008

Christmas Time is Here...

This is my number 1 favorite Christmas song. I look forward to hearing it all year, along with watching A Charlie Brown Christmas. I bought the CD years ago so we can play it while decorating and drinking hot chocolate. When I worked at Kate Spade, this movie would play in the store the whole month of December...something about it makes me so nostalgic for my youth. I can't wait until Harrison can appreciate it, too.

December 17, 2008

Birthday Re-cap.

J., Harrison and I at Arcadia Farms

I had the most wonderful birthday this year...celebrating as a new mom. I had absolutely no expectations and really didn't even remember it was my birthday until the day before. The day was cold and rainy...so I could pretend that we were on vacation in Seattle.

Then my too good to be true husband surprised me with a dozen pink roses and a new pair of Kate Spade flats. I've been telling him that I think my feet grew a half size since being pregnant, and that all my shoes feel tight. He went out and bought me the most adorable ruby patent leather flats. I've promised to wear them everyday...

We ended the day having dinner at Bloom where I had the best dinner and ate two {yes two} desserts. I felt like a happy pig when I went home.

December 16, 2008

Neighbor Gifts.

My project yesterday while it rained and remained 50 degrees outside, was to finish my gifts for the neighbors. Just like last year's gifts, I bought these wonderful smelling candles after Christmas and saved them for this year.

The note reads the following...


...trying to play up on the candle theme with "warm and bright".


I'll be playing Santa and leaving these little gems in mailboxes today.

December 12, 2008

Birthday Gratitude.

Today is my birthday.

What better way to spend the day than to acknowledge what there is to be grateful for...

  1. The smell of the soft skin on the back of my baby's neck.

  2. Having friends that are like family to me.

  3. A husband who adores me everyday, and surprises me weekly with flowers and starbucks gift cards.

  4. A home that reflects who I am and who I want to be...comfortable, soft, inviting.

  5. Learning, through the role of becoming a mother, that certain things in life really don't matter....and it's easier to just let them go.

I'll be spending my day having lunch at Arcadia Farms, eating desserts, opening presents and kissing my baby.

December 8, 2008

Wonderwall.





MixwitMixwit make a mixtapeMixwit mixtapes

I've always been a fan of the song Wonderwall by Oasis, but when I was pregnant something unusual happened. I heard the song all. the. time....pretty much since conception. Mind you, this song came out in 1995, so it's not like it's a big hit in 2008. I literally heard this song everywhere...in the car, randomly in the grocery store, out to dinner where people were doing karaoke, on vacation, etc. I started to realize that there might be some message for me in hearing this song all the time. The lyrics that struck me from the beginning were..."because maybe, you're going to be the one to save me". I thought that this baby was going to teach me something and "save me" in some way.

Then I got gestational diabetes and was forced to eat right and cut out all sugar. Sugar has been my vice for years...my comfort, my unhealthy escape, etc. etc. I could never kick it, even after my dr. told me that I needed to take better care of my health. I come from a lineage of heart disease and issues that make taking care of your health imperative. Having to make the sacrifice for my unborn child was the push I needed to make the change. I felt so healthy in my last trimester and even lost weight!

When Harrison was born, the nurses came to me after and said, "we just have to show you something very unique...your placenta was in the shape of a heart." I took that as my sign that my pregnancy was the catalyst to a whole new healthy lifestyle and that maybe he was the one to save me.

Now, I play and sing this song to Harrison daily...

December 4, 2008

Excuses, Excuses....

My regular blogging time has been replaced with bath times, feedings and a crying baby with colic {ugh!}. I hope to be back in the swing of things again soon...

Until then, say a prayer for me that the new formula we are trying alleviates the crying we endure from 10:00 pm to 1:00 am.

December 1, 2008

Holidays...

December is here and it's officially the Christmas Season. I can't even explain how much I love this time of year. I love all the winter scenes everywhere {while I'm comfortably in 70 degree weather}, the peppermint and chocolate concoctions, Christmas movies on TV all the time, houses decorated with lights and feeling chilly when I get into bed at night, snuggling up to my warm french bulldog {oh...and husband too}.

Happy Holidays have begun...

November 26, 2008

Gratitude.

More than ever it's appropriate to give thanks for what I'm currently grateful for...

  1. My growing little family and brand new baby Harrison.


  2. The fact that Brooks has blown us all away, and has been a perfect gentleman with our new addition.

  3. Having friends and family who truly love me and support me through life's trials.

  4. Being able to eat sweets again.

  5. The smell of cinnamon and pumpkin in the air everywhere I go.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

November 24, 2008

My Hero.

I'm not going to lie...the past week has been one of the most challenging of my life. I had no idea how much this little human would turn my world upside down. Coming home from the hospital was one of the scariest experiences of my life.

Luckily I have this amazing husband who has been my teammate, confidant, nurturer, organizer and cheerleader when I'm down. When you think about the kind of person you want to marry, he is the type you want to be in the foxhole with when things are stressful. Plus...he loves being a dad.

I'm slowly finding my stride and starting to get the groove of this whole motherhood gig. My partner in crime returns back to work today, so I'm taking a deep breath and holding on {plus my mom is coming over} that everything goes as smooth as possible.

I can't wait to meet him at the door when he gets home...

November 17, 2008

He's Arrived...

Harrison Jude

Born Friday November 14, 2008 at 9:25 pm

8 lbs. 10 oz. 19 1/2 inches

He is more precious than I ever could have imagined, and my life will never be the same...

November 14, 2008

Ignorance is Bliss...

As J. and I rush around getting ready for a new baby, this is how one member of the family is coping....

{Due to Brooks' lazy nature, this won't mean much without sound}

Happy Weekend.

November 13, 2008

Generous.

I've made a few of these books over the years and now {thanks to Oprah} we can all get a FREE 8 x 11 Snapfish photo book! Just click here and start your project...this could make such a great Christmas gift. Hurry - the deal ends Friday.

{Side note: I'm currently up at 12:30 am obsessively doing laundry...could labor be around the corner?!?}

November 12, 2008

Smiling.

Besides having my first child and being able to eat pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, I'm most excited to see the newest Vince Vaughn movie, Four Christmases. I looove him and his sense of humor...he always makes me smile.

My dream would be to have him live on one side next door, and Ellen DeGeneres on the other.

November 11, 2008

Challenged.

I'm having a challenging week....

I feel stressed, anxious, weepy, tired, achy, rushed, freaked out about being a mom soon and just generally irritated. Some of it is can be contributed to hormones and some of it is just my state of mind. Change scares me....even if it's the best kind of change imaginable...I don't do well with it. I guess I'm anticipating the change about to take place in my life, and feeling terrified to take a leap into the unknown depths of motherhood.

Luckily I saw this picture today on one of my regular blog reads, and it reminded me of when Brooks was a puppy. I was so nervous to bring him home and start our lives with a dog at that time. I remember having a million concerns about how our lives would change when he was living inside these walls. As it turns out, he has ended up being one of the best things for us, and has enriched every experience we've had with him.

I know the experience of having a child is going to be even better. It's what I've wanted my whole life. Plus, Brooks is so high maintenance...a baby is going to seem like a piece of cake.

November 7, 2008

Gratitude.

I'm currently feeling grateful for...

  1. The weather officially being cool during the day and cold at night...finally!

  2. The election being over and my favorite pick being the new president come January.

  3. Starting to see Christmas commercials on TV and decorations in the stores...I love the magic of this time of year.

  4. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and being able to eat sugar at free will within the next few weeks {yeah!}.

  5. Knowing that very soon I'm going to meet the little human who's been residing in my womb for the last 9 months.

Happy Weekend.

November 5, 2008

Noble.

Not who's picture you thought would be on my blog today, huh?

Well, I just wanted to give McCain the credit he deserves today. I thought that his concession speech was beyond gracious and his noble character really shined through. Although I've been a staunch Obama supporter, I've never thought of McCain as a bad guy...just not the best candidate for the job. I appreciate that he has fought for this country as a veteran, and that he still fights today for what he believes.

That being said, I am ecstatic that Obama is the new president. I can't wait for foreign countries to respect us again...

November 4, 2008

Voting Perks.

Starbucks really is a cool company. They are one of the few places you can work part time and still be offered health benefits, they are completely socially responsible and now they are giving away a free cup of coffee to everyone who votes today.

You just have to tell them that you voted and they will give you a free tall cup of coffee. Now, please everyone go out and vote to collect your free goods...

November 3, 2008

Favorites.

Here are my current favorites taking up space on my Ipod and helping me get through the last few weeks of pregnancy....


MixwitMixwit make a mixtapeMixwit mixtapes


Happy November.

October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween.


No matter how old I get, I still crave watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown around Halloween. It reminds me of my childhood...cartoons, candy and not a care in the world.

We'll be home tonight handing out candy while Charlie Brown plays in the background...

Have a Happy Halloween.

October 30, 2008

Life With Brooks.

For those of you who know me {in real life} know how much I adore my french bulldog, Brooks. He was our first "baby" and will always be a special part of our family.

His days consist of sleeping in our bed as long as he wants, going outside for some sun, and then sleeping the rest of the day until J. comes home from work and plays with him. He then eats dinner, gets a walk, and sleeps a little more on the couch. His life is perfect.

I'm getting really worried about how he'll handle an actual baby in the house...

Here is a picture of Brooks a few years ago for Halloween. I dressed him up as a witch. I made a deal with him that I wouldn't put him in a costume this year, as long as he is good when the door bell rings constantly with trick or treaters...here's hoping.

October 28, 2008

4 of 4

Keri tagged me to post the 4th picture in my 4th folder. I'm so glad she did because I really like my hair that length and I'm going to try to get it back there {I got it cut last week and I'm having haircut remorse...too many layers}.

This was taken in 2005 at the Phoenician Resort by the pool with my nephew Diego. He has grown so much in the last 3 years...he looks so little here. J and I had just got married and were fresh back from our honeymoon.

Thanks Keri...I hadn't looked in this folder for a while.


October 27, 2008

A Touching Tribute.

Many of you remember reading this post back in August about one of my favorite bloggers and her husband being in a plane crash. They are still recovering and on Saturday night J. and I attended the most touching concert to benefit the family of Doug Kinneard, the flight instructor who passed away, and Christian and Stephanie. The auditorium was completely full and so many people had donated their time, as well as, goods to sell in the lobby. We scored a couple of the amazing cookies above that I can't bring myself to eat...they are just so beautiful.

It was fun to see cjane, Stephanie's sister, in real life and her husband, Christopher. He did the opening of the show with some fun questions and an explanation of where the nickname "Chup" {like soup} came from. He has a magnetic personality...but the whole family seems to.

The highlight of the evening was seeing the two little Nielson girls, Claire and Jane, singing The Beatles' song Golden Slumbers on stage. There is something so angelic about children's voices. I cried my eyes out watching those girls standing together, holding hands and singing. I knew their mom would be so proud to see them on that stage.

It was so incredible to see so many people come together for those that have touched our lives through tragedy. Somehow being there Saturday made all my anxiety about being a mom disappear....I felt inspired.

October 24, 2008

Validation.

After last weekend's sign incident, I'm prepared for a similar event this weekend. Ironically, the above note was taped on the garage one day this week by a stranger, and it was such sweet validation.

We bought a back up sign, but I'll still be peering out the front window on a frequent basis...

Happy Weekend.

October 23, 2008

Anniversary Re-cap.

We celebrated our anniversary by dining at coup des tartes, a wonderful and quaint little french restaurant inside an old house in Phoenix. It was the best meal I've had in a while, finished off with the perfect decaf cappuccino and a few bites of an apple tart.

It was fun celebrating our anniversary while expecting our newest addition soon. It was amazing to reflect on how far we've come together, and exciting to think of the road ahead as we embark on raising a family.

{J.'s gift to me was a trip to the spa for a prenatal massage which I will be using ASAP...my back is officially killing me.}

October 22, 2008

Anniversary Love.

Happy Anniversary to my dear husband...

My life hasn't - nor will ever - be the same since you've been in it.

To take a trip with me down memory lane, go here.

October 20, 2008

The Willows.

One of my favorite stores, The Willows, happens to be down the street from my house and now has a blog. The owner posted pictures of her beach house retreat and I'm drooling that this really exists. I wish I could blow up the pictures so that I could soak up every single detail in that family room!

It would be my dream to get away and relax somewhere like this {sigh}.


*Update on signs* We did go to the headquarters today and replaced our stolen sign {and picked up another one just in case this is a repeat offense}. They told us we were like the 20th ones to say their signs were stolen yesterday. I guess there is a Obama sign conspiracy going on around town. I've become obsessed with catching someone in the act.

October 19, 2008

Why Sometimes I Wish I Lived On A Farm...

Today we ran to babies r' us and spent 2 hours figuring out what we needed before the baby comes. When we came home, someone had stolen our Obama sign from our front yard. I was tired, hormonal and pissed! I can't believe someone would come into our yard {in the middle of the day} and take something that doesn't belong to them. Our neighborhood is mainly McCain supporters, so we knew we might get some flak for putting the sign up, but this is ridiculous.

I'm going to the Obama headquarters tomorrow to get another one...

October 17, 2008

Gratitude.

Here are a few things I'm feeling grateful for...

  1. A mom who recognizes my weakness, and in the last week has helped me organize my pantry, laundry room cabinets and living room.

  2. The fact that the stock market is closed on the weekend...otherwise my poor husband would really go crazy.

  3. Having a sweet french bulldog that now gets cold in the morning and spends his time cuddling with me in bed.

  4. Starting to see my doctor every week now...it's getting closer.

  5. Looking out my windows and seeing the winter grass growing green underneath our trees {the summer grass won't grow there, so it's usually just dirt}.

Have a Happy Weekend.


October 16, 2008

Leadership.

"The best indicator of whether a country does well is how it treats its girls and women."

-Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama


That is my kind of leader....


October 15, 2008

Dad.

Happy Birthday to my dad who turns 60 years old today.

  • My dad is a very charismatic person who people notice when he walks into a room.

  • He seems to be softening as he ages, and I think he is really excited about being a grandparent soon.

  • We share a lot of similar qualities. but are very different as well. I'm glad that I definitely get my sense of humor from him.

  • He is a very positive person who remains happy and optimistic despite the situation.

  • He always lets me know how much he loves me and is always there for me.

I hope you enjoy turning 60 today, dad. This year is going to be an exciting one!

October 13, 2008

And Shower Me, They Did...

I had such a lovely weekend with the most wonderful baby shower ever. I was amazed at the talent that came out of my friends with the incredible gifts they showered upon me.

Keri and Kaylie gave me these personalized onesies and burb cloths. They found the little cotton patches at a boutique and Kaylie sewed them onto everything...they are so special. Kaylie also embroidered a cloth with my son-to-be's full name. I am so impressed and love everything about it. I'm thinking of framing it...

Then my sweet friend Marissa, sent all the way from France, this amazing hand knit bunny hat. I was secretly hoping for one so badly after I saw the one she made for her son, Max. She made my day when I opened the gift. I can't wait to see my little guy wearing it!

Then my superwoman friend Laura {she has 3 children}, handmade everything she gave me. She made these adorable blocks with the initials of my baby boy...they are so cute! Then she made this huge blanket with 4 different fabrics on the front and soft chenille on the back. It's something I know I'll have forever. Lastly, she made the most beautiful, special photo book with initial on front and each page decorated perfectly. I could see it selling in a boutique for over $100...she is so talented.

These ladies made me feel so loved and excited about having a little boy soon. To see details from shower, go here.