buy. nothing. more.

I'm not sure where I stumbled upon this philosophy, but I'm trying it on for size.

As of August 1, 2011, I decided to refrain from purchasing ANY clothes for myself for 1 year. This "project" was prompted by the "buy. nothing. more." mantra but, also, by the book What I Wore by Jessica Quirk. The book is great- especially for those who like cook books and fashion and need a little tutorial on how to formulate your own style. I love clothes and fashion, but have always felt that I don't have the know-how or funds to really look fabulous. But, after reading the book, I figured out that I have more than enough clothes to put together great outfits and look polished and put together EVERY day. So- with book in hand- I catalogued and purged my closet. Then, I decided that I won't buy anything else for a year just to see what I can do with what I have. I have started a list of things that I would like to add to my wardrobe, but I won't start adding until next year- unless, of course, someone gives me a gift of the pieces I'm hoping to add.

So- that brings me to my next three word mantra (seems to work for me). Eat. In. Only. We don't eat out a lot, but there are occasional chinese runs, pizza calls, and fast food lunches. Just as an experiment, I'd like to see what we can save if we don't eat out at all. Just a thought- and I seem to work better with hard and fast rules that I can't "reason" my way around. In an effort to save money and not live so paycheck to paycheck- let's see what we can do without. I think it will also help to simplify our lives- I don't want so many things and junk in and around my house.

Buy. Nothing. More. Eat. In. Only. Simplify. 7 words to live by...

Busy, Busy Babymakers

And here we are- almost 6 months later and boy has it been a ride! January ended with my 25th birthday and February passed with even less interest. March 1st marked the official start of the Lacrosse season and the beginning of the end of my pregnancy. March was such a busy month, I barely had time to feel miserable being large and in charge- I woke each morning before 6 am and was at work by 7. I left my "real" job at 3 pm and headed to the field to coach until 6 or 7 each night. When I arrived home each evening, my loving husband had dinner for me and a much needed foot (or ankle or calf) rub waiting for me. Can I tell you how lucky I am to have married this man?!

We concluded baby prep with a LOVELY baby shower- that was rescheduled due to a freak snow storm- and got many of the necessary supplies to welcome our bundle. Clothes were washed, crib made, car seat installed- all we needed was a baby.

March 24th marked our first official Lacrosse game of the season. The Lady Braves played well, but lost- story of the season- and I headed home on the bus at about 7 pm. As I drove home from the school after all my athletes were picked up and ushered home by their parents, I had a heart to heart with my little baby, yet to be born. I told her that I was ready for her. With March 25th marked on the calendar as her due date (I was confident that she would be a late baby- I did NOT have my hopes up), I let her know that we were ready when she was. All my coaching responsiblities would be taken care of, things were tied up at work, and we were ready to hold her; I told little miss that she could come any time now. I had no idea that my baby listened so well or would be so prompt.

I woke up at 3:30ish on the morning of Thursday, March 25th with some pretty serious contractions. They were just a few minutes apart and strong enough to cause me to double over. Not terrible pain, but they definitely took my breath away. I decided I wanted to take a shower and see how I felt and then call the doctor. The man was a little bit anxious and was pushing for sooner rather than later. He called the after hours number and we waited for the doctor to call back. By this time, the contractions were two minutes apart- sometimes less- and the doctor called to say head to the hospital.

When we got there, it was about 6:30am and we were well into labor. I was 7 to 8 centimeters dialated and the nurses were preparing for a baby to come soon. But, this little miss took her time after the initial rush. We called our parents, they jumped up, dressed and headed our way- and I labored. And labored. And got really tired. By 10:30, I was ready for an epidural to get some relief from the exhaustion. The anistesiologist came by at 11:15 and we were in business. I took a two hour nap while the man watched some TV and I awoke at around 2 pm feeling like a new person. Around that time, the doctor came in and broke my water- and we waited some more. Our parents came in and took VERY FEW pictures and chatted about our birth days and all things baby. Around 4, the doctor shooed the family to the waiting room and checked me out to see if we were ready... and we were. She said, let's go and we were pushing before I knew it.

At 4:20 pm on Thursday, March 25, 2010, Ainsley Jane was born weighing in at a healthy 8 pounds, 13 ounces and 21.5 inches long. This little miss cried with amazing strength at the moment she entered the world and was healthy in every way. We could not have been happier! Since then, it's been a blur... The happiest, most fun filled blur of my life!

Welcome, little AJ!

In the meantime...

So, to pick up where we left off yesterday-- As of July, we found out that we were knocked up and the adventrue really began.

Since that time, we jumped in head first with baby prep. Well, we kinda lazed aobut and theorized as to what we would do to prepare for the first tri-mester and then actually sprung into action around the our fourth or fifth month of pregnancy, bringing us to October. This is the time that we realized that we're actually going to be bringing home a baby. I started to show and there was no denying-- there's a baby coming.

We started to get the house together, painting and re-arranging, which has not stopped. We've painted the baby room, guest room, and kitchen. Things are really coming together! The man sold his little roadster, bye bye Z-3, and we bought a more practical 325 station wagon. Our dogs hang out in the way back and it's got a sunroof and butt warmers-- I'm pumped. The best part about it is the fact that our whole family can fit-- puppies included, but we'll see how much stuff we'll be able to take with us... we're a big brood, already!

We got our day-care provider in place. Her name is Miss Debbie and the man and I had such a great feeling when we met her. She's warm and caring and has been watching kids for more than 10 years. As anxious as I am about leaving my child, (I mean- the baby has lived inside of me for 7 months now, I feel pretty attached) I know Miss Debbie will care for our little one wonderfully!

We've recently gotten our crib and dresser/changing table and got them assembled and placed in the baby's room. It's starting to feel like we're pretty ready for the little one. I'm getting to the point where I just want to hold my baby! The jumping on my bladder and sciatic nerve pain doesn't help me to love pregnancy, but I can definitely understand why mommas are ready to meet their babies by labor day.

Hopefully, we're as ready as we feel... but who really is ready for their whole world to be turned upside-down by a tiny person? I guess we'll find out!

And so, we meet again...

After a year (plus) long hiatus, here I am. Let me tell you, this has been one serious calendar year! 2009 started slowly, not much in the way of events or news even worth discussing, but right about the middle of the year, the news was big!

I got my wisdom teeth out one lovely Saturday in July. In fact, it was July 11th that I spent the morning having my teeth extracted and the man ushered me home to sleep my recovery away for the next day or so. It is worth mentioning that Rob was a great nurse, even though he was pulled back to work for the open house that day, but Rocky was a very attentive nurse-maid. I slept downstairs in the big, comfy arm-chair that night and my buddy didn't leave my side. Zoey and the man carried on the normal routine and went upstairs at a reasonable hour to slumber in our room, but the man moved Rocky's bed right next to my chair and he stayed there with me all night. Every time I would wake up feeling a twinge of pain, he would put his head on the arm of the chair to check on me. I would pop another half of a pain pill... the good stuff... and doze back to sleep, all the while- under the watchful eye of our furry baby boy.

I made it through Sunday with various liquid foods prepared for me by the man, and even got to sleep in my own bed Sunday night. Luckily, I had the foresight to take Monday off, so as the man was getting ready for work, I decided to make use of my morning trip to the loo.

Let me preface this by saying, I had been thinking that I should take a pregnancy test at some point for about a week prior, but decided that Monday, July 13th would be the day to test. I didn't warn Rob or even hint to him that I had been thinking I should take a test... we'd been jinxed in the past by getting our hopes up a little too much. So, in secret, I took a pregnancy test. And passed. The stick said, "Pregnant." And I said nothing. I sort of gasped and then thought... "Should I tell the man before he goes to work, or chew on this all day and then tell him this evening?" This thought passed quickly as Rob and I don't do secrets very well. I hurried down the stairs and only got to the bottom before I said, "Rob--" He poked his head around the wall in the kitchen asking "Yeah?" And I said, "I'm pregnant." He moved quite quickly over to me at the bottom of the stairs and said, "What?" I repeated myself and held out the capped stick to prove my statement. He took it from me with one hand and moved the other to his forehead, saying, "Oh my God." I sat down on the steps and we both cried a few happy tears through giant smiles. We hugged and kissed (gently... I had just had my wisdom teeth out, you know) and our minds raced together through pregnancy, delivery, parenthood, and all things baby. At one point, I think I even said, "Here we go."

The man left for work after a few very long minutes and I settled in downstairs to watch "A Baby Story" all day and call the doctor. Neither of us did much thinking about anything but this little growing offspring all day and we were on our way. We figured that we were about 5 weeks along at that point, scheduled our first doctor's appointment for 10 weeks and started talking about when to tell our parents and families. We waited two weeks to tell our parents; at 7 weeks, we shared the news and everyone was very excited to hear that a little baby was on the way!

Needless to say, we're very excited to be parents! I can't believe in a few short months, I will be a mom. I'm getting back into the blogging thing because I think I'll have more to say as the days carry on. I'll try my best to keep the updates, coming-- I'll fill in the gap between then and now tomorrow!

for Rob.

In order to make up for lost time I'm going to condense a couple of Thanks into each post here on out, but I think the man should get his own. Rob's birthday was Tuesday, December 2nd, so that day (and many other days, i promise) I was sooo thankful for him.

His rugged good looks are just the beginning. I have never met someone like him before. He is so charming, funny and caring. He has this way about him that puts me completely at ease.

Unlike with Rocky, I was very skeptical when I first met Rob. He was a charmer and a ladies man and he was able to make the ladies swoon with the curl of his smile. He had a reputation on campus and I knew about him far before he knew about me. I was very resistant to date him and thought that maybe we would be better off as friends. A couple of years later, and he's my husband.

I am confident that everything happens for a reason and I also whole-heartedly agree that life is what happens when you're making plans-- And I can't imagine what I've done to be so lucky in this life. I'm thankful that Rob came into my life and refused to leave. Because, now, I refuse to leave his life. I can't imagine my life without him and I love him everyday.

Thanks... for Rocky

This time of year makes me so thankful for everything and everyone that I have in my life. I've decided to actually put those thanks into words and pictures and see how the act of expressing my thanks impacts my life. It may do nothing, it may simply be my little joy in the evening to give thanks for some part of my charmed life... or, it will make each day a tiny bit more joyous for me. I believe that the idea was first ingrained by Oprah, who else, with her Gratitude Journal. Some days, it may be thanks, some may be gratitude. But, the intent is there.

Happy December 1st. It's one of my favorite days of the year. Today, I am most thankful for Rocky.

I know, I know, Zoey came first, but there's something about Rocky's personality that has made the last 6 months that we've had him so fun and energetic. He's smart, very smart. And the worst part, is he is smart in a mischievous sort of way. He's a rascal and he knows it. But, he loves us just a little more than defies us, which is positive. He loves to socialize, whether it is wrestling with Zoey or the man, or cuddling with me.

He's started this cute new greeting custom that I love. Now, he used to be a "jump on you the minute you hit the doorway" sort of dog. He's very springy, and it is quite embarrassing to have to yell at your dog while lovingly greeting your guests. So, as we've broken him of his jumping habit, he's, in turn, started to walk through your legs when you come in. He pushes his way through your legs so that you can pet him and then he spins around and come back through again. I'm sure it bothers some-- they probably think, "I wish these people would get control of their dog. I don't want dog hair all over my pants!" But, I love it. So, blame me, not him.

He's a very cute pup and pretty well mannered for 9 months old. In short, I'm thankful for him. We rescued him from a local rescue on a spur of the moment sort of afternoon and I've questioned whether we should have gotten him in the past. But, today, right now, I'm so happy to have him. I'm thankful for Rocky.

The Return of Television

Last night marked the return of a favorite show of mine- The Office.

It's back full force and the man, of course, had the DVR set and ready to go. Generally, the man and I would grab some grub and park in front of the television for such an exciting evening of prime-time TV, but, we were unable to do so last night. Being that he is a traveling salesman for St. Mary's College (yes, an Admissions Counselor), he was off to Hagerstown last night for two business engagements this morning. I was left to watch TV all on my own and did not pay nearly as much attention to The Office as I had intended. I'm easily distracted, what can I say?

With The Office safely recording onto the DVR, I focused my attention onto Survivor.

Weird, I know. I haven't watched Survivor since it first came out in 2000- My brother and I would bond over the tribal councils and guessing who would be the ultimate survivor! I quickly lost interest after the first season and, to be honest, haven't missed it one bit. But, drawn by the 2 hour season premier of Survivor: Gabon, I parked there for the evening. It's a great concept and I think it's a very well done show-- I found myself caught up in who would be forming alliances with who and wondering if one tribe would be better off with fewer people as they were voting tribe members home. I know, not just wonder, but I know that I would fail miserably at Survivor. I like my warm bed; I like my lazy desk job; I like being able to go to the store to get my dinner. I would not like "surviving." I am sure of it.

The only reality show that I think I would dig is The Amazing Race. I think the man and I would do so well on the Amazing Race. We balance each other very well and we do, after all, have some experience with that type of thing. We participated in The Great Urban Race in DC in early August.

Granted, we were there with my brother, Andrew; my future sister in law, Kourtney; Kourtney's sister, Kristi; and Kristi's husband, Jason. We come up against a case of too many cooks in the kitchen-- but I think Rob and I would have excelled had it been just the two of us. We are a good team. Now, we may have very loud discussions, but we are a very logical couple, which seems to be the basis of our relationship. Yes, we are very much in love, but our relationship is so strong because we're able to reason with one another while considering the emotions one another is feeling as well. And, what would make our Amazing Race team that much better is our knowledge of one another's strengths and weaknesses (and our own ability to be honest with ourselves). For example, Rob would be the eater on our team. He's got that under control, both in quantity and in grossness. He'll eat anything-- for real. He's also got the brut strength thing going for him. He's one large, strong man and if I, being the little girl, was to become tired, he could just pick me up and go on about his businees. He's impressive, I know. I, on the other hand, would do the organizing-- the plotting of destinations, the keeping of the maps and paperwork, and the first aide/mothering of the team. We would rock some Amazing Race!

If the man had been home last night, I would have watched the Office like I was supposed to and I would have avoided Survivor: Gabon all together. Now, he's going to have to suffer through the viewing of this show, cause I'm hooked. Maybe he should have stayed home, like I told him to!