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food and friends and the best kind of weekend

Our weekend was pretty awesome. Friday I came home from work to a message from Will that he'd decided to go to Ikea and pick up the dresser for the nursery. Praise the Lord for another thing marked off of the to-do list. I also knocked something off the list with a stop at the mall to pick out a lamp. I couldn't decide, so I got three shades to try at home. We had a quick dinner when he got home, and I watched and relaxed as Will got the dresser about 80% complete. Perfect quiet end to a hectic work week.

On Saturday morning Will left the house early to help some friends of ours move, and I packed up the dogs and headed out for a morning of fun. Holly, Sadie, and I met three of my best friends and their pups at the bark park, and it was a blast. The weather was gorgeous and all the pups had a good time with each other and all the other park patrons. Even though we have a pretty good size yard, I like giving our doggies the chance to experience a new environment to sniff around in. I see many more mornings like this in our future this summer.

Happy dogs! After dropping Holly and Sadie back at home, I met Will at our friend's new place to check it out. As expected, I loved the house, and am so so happy for them. Seeing all of our friends experience home ownership and marriage and pregnancy really makes life that much sweeter. Since their new home was close to the mall, we popped in to PB Kids to return the lamp shades that didn't work for us, and have a yummy lunch at Cheesecake Factory.

At this point we were both exhausted so we headed home to enjoy some sun. By 6pm I was seriously beat so I headed upstairs to take a nap. That nap turned into a 13 hours of sleep, with one wake up around midnight that only lasted a few minutes. I don't care how great the second trimester is- pregnancy is no joke!

Sunday it was up bright and early again to head Downtown. Will and I laughed multiple times this week about our plans. Sunday Funday and weekend priorities sure to change when there's a baby on board, don't they? Our Downtown adventure included morning Mass at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, breakfast at Taste of Belgium, and shopping at Findlay Market. We came home, hung out on the deck for most of the day, grilled out, and I even took a little nap outside. Will was able to put together the rest of the dresser, and that about wraps it up. I didn't get as much checked off the to do list as I would have liked, but it was a really relaxing weekend. The kind that makes me think all the brutal months of disgusting winter may actually be worth it. Happy (rainy, disgusting) Monday!

Tags: Cincinnati, Food, Life, Weekend


Pregnancy Update: 22 Weeks 

Gender: Girl.


5 on Friday- random updates for a 3 day weekend

1. Family Time 

2.Nursery Decisions … a large script initial … or a script monogram 

3. Registry 5. Baby Wise 

Tags: Cincinnati, Norah, pregnancy


Tear Jerker Video Alert! The hardest job in the world.

No real explanation needed. So excited to be a member of this club. You truly never think about these things until you are in the role yourself. Thanks Moms (and Dad)!



weekend recap + some

This was one of those weekends that I absolutely did NOT want to end. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the gorgeous weather and 70-80 degree temperature after what has quite literally been the worst winter of my entire life, but there's more to it than that.

On Friday, I came home to a shipment of maternity clothes I'd ordered earlier in the week. Hallelujah for pants that fit! And we finally painted the nursery. After some research on the safety of pregnant women painting, I decided to help out so we could knock it out in one night. I actually find painting relaxing, and the control freak in me loved contributing to this part of our little girl's room. That being said, I won't be painting any more rooms while pregnant. The smell wasn't super pleasant, it was hard bending and moving around with the belly, and by the end of the night, I felt like I'd run a marathon. I crashed hard around 11:00pm. I am in love with the colors we chose! Saturday was just as lovely, but just as exhausting. Will and I both were up bright and early. He headed out to get some supplies to work on the yard, and patch a hole that Sadie had dug in the wall of the laundry room. I won't get too in to this disaster, but let's just say her fear of storms is stronger than her value for our laundry room wall, or her own paws for that matter. Anyway, off he went to take care of that, while I got ready for a full day of appointments and errands. I met my friend Christie Downtown for facials at Paragon and lunch at Taste of Belgium.

Both of these events truly deserve posts of their own. This was my second facial at Paragon, and while it was great the first time around, yesterdat was heaven for this pregnant lady. Quite, warm bed, massage, relaxing oils. I could have stayed for hours. I am seriously considering splurging on a full spa day at some point in this pregnancy. It was my first time at Taste of Belgium, and I could eat there every meal for the rest of my life. I could have done without the earth shattering construction noise that was going on literally feet away from our outdoor table, making it impossible to hear the person next to you, but hey, it was 70 degrees and I was stuffing my face. So I was able to get past that. After lunch I picked up a few things for Norah's nursery, and had the invitations printed for a wedding shower I'm helping host for my best friend. sample | via

After all this, it was only maybe 2pm. Talk about a full morning! When I got home, yard work had taken place, and the hole was patched, so it had been a good day. The whole neighborhood was buzzing. People getting new landscaping, kids playing. I don't care what anyone says, I love the suburbs. I cleaned up the nursery and we hung the curtains as a last act of productivity for the weekend. The rest of the evening was spent at home, and I crashed again hard around 10pm. I clearly don't know when to call it a day, because I was literally exhausted to the point of a headache and nausea by bed time. Too much excitement in 24 hours.

But Sunday. Today really, as I am writing this Sunday night, was absolutely glorious. Heaven. I actually just teared up because I don't want this almost perfect day to end. As soon as I woke up, Will headed off to church to catch the early Mass, and the dogs and I hit the back deck. After deciding it was way too nice to spend any time indoors, I watered the flowers, opened all the windows in the house, and took my Baby Wise book and coffee out back. I came in long enough to make breakfast just as Will was getting home from church, and we ate together on the deck. Then we just sat for a little while longer. I cannot explain the joy that is being a new(ish) home owner, and just enjoying the house you have put blood, sweat, and tears in to to make it a home. There truly is nothing better. Except maybe that on the first hot weekend of the year, while pregnant with your first child who you can't wait to meet, with two dogs and a husband you love more than you know how to express. The whole thing, it just really is/was too much.

So much so that I am dreading Monday even more than usual. And it's supposed to storm, so I'm hoping I don't come home to any more holes in the wall.

I think one of the main reasons (again, besides the weather after snowpocalypse 2013-2014) this weekend was so emotionally charged for me is that I really feel like I am half we through this pregnancy. Shower plans are starting. The nursery is coming together. I look and feel pregnant. It is so real, and I am so ready. There is so much yuck out in the world, it makes me at least a trillion times more grateful for my little life that we choose to live so happily and fully. I cannot wait to bring our little princess into this world and share these beautiful moments with her. 19 weeks (ish) to go!


Timehop + Why I blog 


Pregnancy Update: 20 weeks 

Gender: Little mini me, a girl! 

Tags: pregnancy


The calm before the storm.

June will bring us:

August holds: 


Pregnancy Update: 19 weeks

Linking up this week with Mama and Mou

Size of Baby: This week we're looking at a mango or a grapefruit. I love that she is growing bigger and stronger at a faster pace these days. Gross bathroom selfie. I WILL get back to using the tripod and real camera next week.

Gender: Baby girl.

Weight Gain: Up about 10 pounds. Since the recommended weight gain is 25 pounds (ish) for me, and that is what my Mom gained with 2 of her 3 pregnancies, I think I'm right on track. My Mom gained something like 50 pounds with her third pregnancy. So crazy how each pregnancy can differ so much, even for the same woman. And my sisters are just 15 months apart!

Feeling: Great overall. I few aches and pains here and there, but for the most part, I really feel like I'm back to "normal".

Maternity Clothes: Wearing regular clothes is getting harder and harder. My tops are all slightly too short and none of my pants button unless they are super low rise. I don't love the belly band, so I've been wearing maternity clothes and sweats as much as possible. I cannot wait until it gets just a pinch warmer and I can just wear dresses.

And does anyone else hate the freaking belly band? I swear you can see right through it and it just looks like I have a bunch of extra fabric underneath my pants or something. You can clearly see my pants are undone, I think at least. I may be retiring this sooner rather than later.

Nursery: Loving how its all coming together. I just realized that come May I am going to be smacked in the face with events and to-do's, so I'm determined to get the majority of the nursery set up in April. Will is painting on Saturday, then it's game on. We have a few decorations purchased, a few things picked out to order, and the crib and glider arrived yesterday.

Movement: Definitely feeling little kicks or punches here and there, but nothing routine, and nothing that has been strong enough to really startle me. Looking forward to these movements getting stronger.

Symptoms: Tailbone and hip pain is really all I have to complain about this week.

Sleep: Trying to sleep on my left side as much as possible, which is touch when the dog thinks my bump nest is meant for her to snuggle in. She burrows between me and the pillow and while its really cute, and I can't blame her, it leaves me in the most awkward sleeping positions.

Cravings: Nothing of note, just always hungry in general. Coffee is finally tasting good again, and I'm happy to add this treat back into my diet.

What I Miss: Honestly, not a thing.

Best Moment This Week: Feeling little movements here and there.

Looking Forward To: Our 20 week dr appt and ultrasound tomorrow. Can't wait to see our girl on the screen again!

Thankful For: Making it so peacefully to the half way mark. We are happy, healthy, and excited. Can't wait to meet you Norah!