Saturday, December 31, 2011
2012 is almost here!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
6 weeks old!
Some things I have learned from mommy hood are:
- It is AMAZING! You never can imagine how much you could love someone- and seeing your husband with your baby is the best feeling in the world
- You can never have enough bibs- spit up happens A LOT!
- You think you didn't sleep while you were pregnant with the frequent pees, but ha, now you really don't sleep! (Well, maybe not everyone, I am just a really light sleeper and it takes me a long time to fall asleep)
- Trust your instincts- if you think something is wrong with your baby, you are probably right
- You will co-sleep- maybe not for long, but we did it for a few hours every night the first month
- cutting babies nails is super duper frightening- do it at their first nap after bath time while the nails are soft
- Only the socks that are tight around the ankles will stay on- you are wasting money on the rest
- Losing the baby weight is HARD! my whole body still aches from the 9 months of pregnancy and the laboring. I am down 18 and have about 24 more to go, but they are not budging, the 18 came off after the first week just from fluid

Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Our girl is here- 10.28.11
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
5 days till due date!
At my appt on Monday they will of course check my progress and get a date (either Wed or Thurs) on the calendar to get induced. They will also be doing a growth ultrasound to check her approximate size and my fluid levels one last time.
I hope she will decide to come on her own. I would love sooner than later, b/c I am STRUGGLING! But...whatever happens, I feel confident we will have a happy, healthy baby by next weekend! :)
Friday, October 14, 2011
38 weeks this weekend!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Car seats & strollers
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Canon Rebel

Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Seriously...carpal tunnel?
Friday, September 23, 2011
Parenting for Dummies!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
34.5 weeks
Monday, September 12, 2011
Writing a Will
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Every couple argues...

Friday, September 2, 2011
Fall is coming! My FAVORITE!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Butt in the ribs!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Recap of my baby shower




Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Don’t limit challenges. Challenge your limits. (LOVE this!)
- Joshua J. Marine
Beautiful!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Dear Gianna,
Thursday, August 18, 2011
People are all about the advice...
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
29 weeks- 30 this weekend!! :)

Monday, August 15, 2011
Gianna's toy box!

Friday, August 12, 2011
Are you ready for some football???

Thursday, August 11, 2011
More results...
Now, I just have to keep up what I am doing in hopes it will come up even more and take iron supplements to hopefully get that up as well.
Also, they said Gianna was in the 77th percentile so at least I know she is healthy!
Good stuff!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Aw man!
Results of 28 week appt.
Gianna- looking good, about 2.5 pounds. Definitely daddy's nose, mommy's cheeks and tech says daddy's forehead.
She is sitting low- causing the pain in my pelvis
and the bad news...Low amniotic fluid- have to start visiting the doc weekly AND continuing with partial bed rest limiting my activity as much as possible
Thursday, August 4, 2011
28 wks- Growth ultrasound and 1 hr glucose test today!
Just ate- 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 1 pc of wheat toast ....booo, no bagel and iced mocha this morning :(
Appt time= 1:30 and after that dinner- CARBS!!! Ahhh!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Loving our new TV

Love my family time!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Hello Cankles!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Weekend plans
Tonight- dinner and a movie, then an early night home with the pups...sleep, zzzzz!!!
Tomorrow- breakfast with the mom, some house work (cleaning, working on Gianna's toy box and pull some weeds), then shopping!! New TV - OH YEAH 60" for the living room!, go get Allan some work clothes and who knows what else...
Sunday- grocery store, neighborhood block party and whatever we don't get done on Saturday
Also need to fit in a visit to the gym on Sat or Sun, but that is it! No Driving too far this weekend which is always nice!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
What do you think of the cry it out method? (CIO)
What is the "cry it out" method?
People often think this method of sleep training involves leaving babies alone to cry for as long it takes before they fall asleep. But "cry it out" (CIO) simply refers to any sleep training approach — and there are many — that says it's okay to let a baby cry for a specified period of time (often a very short period of time) before offering comfort.
In his 1985 book Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems (revised and expanded in 2006), pediatrician Richard Ferber presented one method of getting children to sleep that has become virtually synonymous with CIO — so much so that you'll hear parents refer to any CIO method as "Ferberizing."
Ferber himself never uses the term "cry it out." And he's only one of a number of sleep experts who say that crying — while not the goal — is for some children an unavoidable part of sleep training.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Strike while the iron is hot!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Go Hubby!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Nesting...
Go us!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Bachelorette Ashley visited our hometown - how cool!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
My new Tory Burch bag from the hubby!
Updates...
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Can't believe, more than halfway through 2nd trimester!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Chicago this weekend!
Monday, July 4, 2011
The 4th! Peachtree Road Race and Pool Parrrtay!
We are looking forward to seeing our friends this afternoon at a pool partay/ cookout!
Hope everyone else is having a safe and fun 4th!

Thursday, June 30, 2011
4th of July weekend!

Monday, June 27, 2011
Oh the joys of pregnancy- Calve cramps!!!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Loving my new mommy car!!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Happy Father's day!

Friday, June 17, 2011
So hard to say goodbye...
So for about 3 weeks we have been looking at pilots, have it narrowed down to 2 and will decide by this afternoon and go pick up 1 of them tonight...AHHH, change is always exciting, but I always stress about any change hoping we are making the right decisions.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
In Love with Gianna's wardrobe!
Ok, so Gianna's wardrobe is really coming along. Some people say I am going overboard and I constantly get the "don't buy too much", but whatever, I am buying all different sizes and this is my first baby so I am enjoying it. Since she will be born in the fall, I have been buying her all kinds of cute little hats to wear to keep her head warm and of course to photograph her in. Here are some of my favorite hats from her wardrobe...
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Oh boobs, please quit growing!

Monday, June 13, 2011
Dear my beautiful Cantaloupe,
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Mommy car now or wait a bit??...hmmmm
Decisions, Decisions...they are never easy!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
The nursery is coming along!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Gianna's Boston Terrier Onesie from baby Gap- LOVE!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Registering
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Timeshares- a do or a don't?
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband!

Well, yesterday was my husband's birthday and I didn't get to post b/c we were traveling back home. We did manage to get in a little dinner and some quality time, but mainly we got to celebrate all week in Cancun. And now... back to the real world. We will have some more celebrations this weekend with family and friends. I just love being able to share these wonderful moments in life together. Here is to many many more birthdays as husband and wife!
Happy Birthday Honey- I love you long time!
Cheers!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
3 days till our 2nd baby moon to CANCUN!!
Monday, May 16, 2011
It's a ....

Monday, May 9, 2011
Dear my little Orange,

Friday, May 6, 2011
Happy Mother's day!!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Great Article- Own your career

by Patty Homrich Gould, HK&A Search Partner
What responsibility do you have for your personal career development? Are you relying on your company to recognize your efforts and progress you accordingly? The best way to attain your long term goal is to not wait for it to find you. The truth is, no one cares more about your career than you do.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Less than 2 weeks until baby Changar's sex is revealed!!
OMG, I cannot believe in less than 2 weeks we will (well, we hope we will) know what you are. We are sooo excited we cannot even explain it. We are preparing for you already. We have bought your furniture, which is BEAUTIFUL and we are just waiting for it to arrive. Daddy picked out some of the highest quality and cutest furniture around. We have also picked out a new couch- not necessary, but we are selling our coffee and end tables since they are glass and decided to get a new couch together also.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Whoop Whoop! Bye Bye First Trimester, Hello Second!
Although today I feel like crap, I am looking forward to the 2nd trimester and hoping it treats me better than the 1st!!
Dear baby raspberry,
Dear baby Raspberry,
I can’t believe you are already almost an inch big! Today we got to see you again, 8wks1day. It was so cool, this time you could actually see your head and body. Your heart was beating sooo fast, 176bpm. It was amazing! Dr. Straub released us and told us we could quit taking the shots, we went to Applebee’s to celebrate you and the fact that we don’t have to take the shots. Yum, triple chocolate meltdown!! It was a sad, but happy day. The people there have become sorta like friends and now, hopefully if all is well, we won’t have to see them for a while, but I plan to stop by when I figure out your sex and when you arrive with pictures of course. Every second of every day I am just hoping and praying you are doing ok. I am trying to be the best mommy possible, getting lots of sleep and plenty of exercise, but it sure is hard when I am exhausted and nauseous all day! You are worth it. We can’t wait to see you again. We love you!

Friday, April 29, 2011
Dear baby blueberry,

Dear baby blueberry,
Today you are about 7.5 weeks old and growing fast. On Monday we get to see and hear you again and we can hardly wait! All I think about all day, besides puking, is that I hope you are ok. I am trying to exercise to keep you healthy, but not over do it. I am super duper tired all day long and the nausea is never ending. It is morning, day and night! I hope that is a good sign of a beautiful, healthy baby. I can’t wait to start shopping for you and decorating your new room, it is going to be so much fun! Your daddy has been reading all about what is going on with your growth and all mommy’s symptoms. He has been cooking me dinner almost every night and even cleaning the dishes. He is going to be the best dad ever! Well, that’s all for now. We love you!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
National Infertility Week

For example, the media often focuses on just the female side of infertility (which makes infertility look like it's only a female problem) or on age-related infertility (which makes infertility look like only a "career-woman" problem).
Monday, April 25, 2011
Dear baby pea,
Dear baby pea (your current size),

Today your daddy and I got to see you in my belly for the first time and hear your heart beat. It was absolutely amazing, I cried. You have been making me EXTREMELY tired and for the past few days I have been very nauseated, but you are so worth it. Already I love you so much and think about you all day. We are currently 6w4d into our 9 month journey together and I am just praying for your safety. I want the best for you and we cannot wait to see more pics of you and get to meet you. Oh, and I forgot to mention…you are due on Halloween! Your dad jokes about naming you Freddy, but don’t you worry, I won’t let him. It is a quinkie-dink that Halloween was the first time your daddy told me he loves me. Please stay warm in my belly and keep growing. We love you!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
We are having a baby!!!

Oh, and predictions on the sex are already coming in. Mom, Allan and Dubi all say boy. We shall see.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
IVF Post- 2/14/11

Scared for many re
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Next series of IVF Posts...

So finally, 16 days into Lupron I started my cycle yesterday. This morning was my first ultrasound and blood test. They wanted to make sure I had no ovarian cyst before we started the stimulating shots. Everything seemed to look good and we are scheduled to start Thursday night. Now, it is going to be about 1 month until we find out if we are pregnant- very exciting and very scary!! I so hope it works.
Friday, April 15, 2011
1/19/11 IVF Post

Thursday, April 14, 2011
Anniversary Trip!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011
3rd Post from IVF Journal- 1/6/11

Wednesday, April 6, 2011
2nd post from IVF Journal- 1/3/2011

Tuesday, April 5, 2011
1 year since "I do"

First post from my IVF journal- 12/8/2010

Monday, April 4, 2011
Our Journey
Thursday, March 31, 2011
You try your whole life to avoid it, then when you are ready...you fall short!
I am talking about #pregnancy! I have known people who have gotten pregnant young, not married, no insurance, careers not in place and while the situation sucks, you always hope the baby ends up being "a blessing" and it usually does. For me and for many, many people this was one of my biggest fears. I always had a plan and while I knew life never went exactly according to plan, I thought it was better to have one than not.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Amazing stories...Dog sniffs out woman's cancer!
Dog "Sniffs Out" Walnut Grove Woman's Breast Cancer (VIDEO) 3/23/2011 Carol Witcher and her dog Floyd Henry are practically inseparable. It's a strong bond, one that defies explanation, she tells 11Alive News. And what he did for her almost defies reason. "He nipped my nose and then pushed against my right breast. And I said, 'what are you doing?'" the Walnut Grove woman remembers. "He pushed again and stood back and looked at me right in my eyes like, 'there's a problem here.' Then, he raised his right front foot and pawed at my breast. And I said, 'uh oh.'" She checked, and what doctors found launched her into a battle for her life: breast cancer in the exact spot Floyd Henry touched. Now, three years later, Carol is living cancer free. "He saved my life," she says. "He truly saved my life." And some doctors at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute say there may be some truth in that claim. Dr. Suresh Ramalingam, Winship's director of medical oncology, is leading a study that connects cancer detection with breath odor. "The types of gases exhaled in our breath sample can be used to detect cancer," he says. "What the dog shows is proof that this is possible." A similar study shows the correlation between breath patterns and breast cancer patients in a sample group of patients. Through his study, Dr. Ramalingam is looking to do the same with lung cancer. "The breath specimen is easy to get and it does not involve any expensive procedures," he says. "So it's readily there. If we can use it to detect cancer, that would be a major advance." The studies are still in their early stages, and Dr. Ramalingam stresses breath detection would not take the place of traditional screenings, but add to them. As for Floyd Henry, doctors say sniffing out the specific location of cancer is possible, but highly unlikely. Carol, however, has all the proof she needs. "I'm here today, I know, because of the grace of God, and that dog," she says. |
This story is particulary close to my heart, because I swear my dog Oreo has these same type of super powers for me, her mommy! When she was about 7 months old and I was living in my first apartment on my own she saved my life (maybe not necessarily physically, but emotionally for sure).
One night, about 3 months into my lease after I let her out and we were going to sleep she was acting very anxious and alert. She wouldn't rest and it was very unusual, she was on guard. It was making me very nervous, so I decided to turn on the alarm, which I never did by the way.
After I turned on the alarm, I shut the TV off about 30 minutes later to go to sleep, she was still on guard. Then, about 5 minutes later the alarm went off. I freaked and hit my panic button in my bedroom which went straight to the police. Then, I called my dad who was out of town in tears as I hid in my closet with my dog. Finally, the police officer got there.
My front door at this point was wide open, my balcony door wide open and the door on my balcony with the water heater- also wide open. This door was supposed to be locked by maintenance from the inside.... looks like when I was walking my dog, he walked in my front door and hid in that little closet until I went to sleep, then came in. LI never returned to sleep here again and the lessor wanted to make me pay to break my lease...are you kidding?? The police said that he was probably watching me for months and since I was very routine and didn't lock the door when I walked my dog right out front, he probably came right in. When we filed police reports and everythign, we found out that about a month earlier, there was a rape reported in the complex...ugh, hello, they were supposed to notify the residents. Then, we found out that after being highly screened and income checked for these nice, new apartments, that they had 1 building they were renting out to people recovering from drugs/alcohol...what?? really? you don't think you need to disclose this? This is the only thing that saved me from the $2k to break the lease, but that night, my dog saved me too! Our bond will always be a special one!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Random Facts about me

My grandparents lived next door and my grandpa drove me to preschool every day
We had tons of pets growing up (dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, gerbels, fish, etc)
I have a sister who is 18 months older than me- with blonde hair
My parents are from Brooklyn, NY
My grandma was from Italy and a very feisty, catholic woman who never got her license
I was in PC in elementary school (which was for smart, creative kids)
I won the Math Bee in 5th grade and 2nd place in the Spelling Bee
I took dance class from 3yrs of age to like 15 and was an all-star tap dancer
I lettered in Volleyball and track in high school and even sported a letterman jacket
I dated my high school boyfriend for over 6 years- it was a learning experience
My first car was a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, 96 I think
I was supposed to go to GA State, but the dad vetoed it when my sis’s friend had a break in the yr prior
I got my Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Kennesaw State University
I also get my MBA from Kennesaw State University; I was the youngest in the program which required 3 years work experience
I bought my first house at the age of 22- which I should have waited, but hey…
I worked full time all through college, but it paid off, the day after I graduated I was already making over $50k
I regret not going to study abroad, but plan to move internationally for work with my family someday- only for a year or 2
I have studied probably less than 20 hours in my entire life
I never strived to make all A’s, I was fine with getting by and thought other things were more important to success
My parents got divorced when I was like 16, it was a horrible experience for me
I now have a wonderful step family who I adore
I have had my appendix, gallbladder and colon removed.
When removing my gallbladder they cut my pancreas and I almost died
They compared my colon surgery to open heart surgery, it was intense
I met my husband at work, he asked me out 3 times before I finally caved in for a drink
By the 2nd date we were falling fast
I knew I was in love at the hospital when I saw AL every day- after only 3.5 months of dating
We got engaged after 9 months of dating and married after a year and half of dating and a little over a year of living together
We said I do in Key Largo in a small, intimate wedding with 60 of our closest friends and family, our 2 boston terriers were also in the wedding
Oook, I think that is enough for now.
Tax Season

Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Good Life
Stay positive and count your blessings!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Happy Friday Everyone!
Tonight's agenda- dinner and a pizza- Hawaiin. YuM! Maybe a fire pit later...??
Tomorrow- Breakfast, of course, then some errands and a relaxing day. Need to get some cleaning done and put up Allan's new closet system. (We did mine a few months back and his and hers have to match).
Sunday- Emma's baptism, fun day with friends...maybe cookout that night.
