Baby Bump at 17 Weeks

Here we go...since I don't have any good professional wedding pictures to share yet...we should be getting them in the next month...here is the first of our baby bump pictures.

As you can see our doggie is pretty excited about his new friend too!

I can't believe how quickly everything is happening.  It was less than a month ago that I was walking down the aisle.  The past two years were so filled with wedding planning that our baby surprise right at the wedding countdown just made everything even more of an amazing celebration.  We are blessed to already have a growing family.

I am sad we didn't start the baby bump pictures sooner.

Animal Lamps

Lately everything reminds me of the 80's.  It seems like they are back everwhere and anywhere...including kids rooms which just makes me laugh.

One of my friends when I was growing up had this awesome lamp and this picture just totally brought me back to those days of being a kid.  I definitely think that we will be using lots of 80's influences in our baby room because we both were children of the 80's and it seems like there is no escaping that decade for a while!

Grey Nursery Inspiration

Today is our cleaning day.  We have been back from our honeymoon for about two weeks and have done nothing with our house since before the wedding...and it shows.  Today my hubby scrubbed the house top to bottom.  He wouldn't let me near the strong chemicals he insists on cleaning with (so much for my nice organic cleansers from my single days) and he outfitted me with some thick black plastic gloves and gave me the easy jobs like dusting (with gloves on) and doing light cleaning (with gloves on).

Our big goal for the day was to clear out "my office" which has become the dumping ground for everything having to do with our wedding.  This room is our future baby room so we need to get busy and figure out what to do with all the wedding leftover stuff.

We finished the cleaning and didn't get too far with the clearing out of wedding boxes...this adorable nursery is keeping me motivated.

I really like the grey walls with the color accents.  In a month we find out if those accents will be pink or blue!

Fall Soup Time

It's fall in California...even if it is still almost 80 degrees outside.  I am going to pretend it is cold and shut myself in my house all weekend.  We haven't had a weekend at home since our wedding and it shows.  Laundry is piled everywhere, our house is dirty, our poor doggie needs a bath and our future baby room is stacked with gifts and wedding crap.

I bought a butternut squash at the fruit stand by our house last weekend so this weekend it is time for soup!  I might try this fun recipe for Baja Butternut Squash soup since I am already missing San Diego.

I am so ready for real fall weather.  Next weekend is Halloween and my hubby's birthday so I have to figure out what he wants to do and make some plans...I can't be a bad wife already!  All I really want to do is relax and watch movies, bake and enjoy each other's company.  Hopefully with a clean house and a clean doggie.  Let's see how far I get with that this weekend.

Still Me Just Different

This morning we had a little staff meeting at work and they brought in coffee and bagels. I had already devoured a bagel with cream cheese and strawberry jam from home so I didn't have a bagel only I grabbed a coffee. Not even a coffee...I grabbed about 1/4 of a cup of coffee and filled the cup with cream and sugar. I took a sip and was immediately reprimanded by one of my bosses for drinking coffee.

I probably had four sips out of the cup all morning and poured the cup out. It just got me wondering...who am I now?

I went from myself to bride in training to mom in two short years and suddenly I find myself in a whole new world with new rules and new fears and somewhere along the way this is the person I have grown into.

Every night I look at myself and barely recognize my body and it hits me...my life is changing faster than it ever has. Everyone has their opinions and their ideas only I am the only one (along with my hubby) who can really decide what our little one's life will start out as.

For now I am trying the best I know how...even if sips of coffee gets me through the day and someone has an issue with it. I am proud of myself even if the world doesn't agree with everything I do. I think I know what I am doing...at least I know I am figuring it out as I go.

Dog in Front of Fireplace

I wanted to write this cute post about how fall is finally here and how cute my dog is in the morning when we turn on the fireplace and he lays there in front of it.

I don't have a picture here at work of my dog in front of the fireplace so I asked Google...this is what I got. "Dog in front of fireplace." I am not sure who this poor guy is only the picture is from a blog about running and he brags about how hot he is and how great his runner's body is...hilarious.

The internet is awesome.

Elastic Pants and Other Fashion Adventures

I never thought I would say this...elastic pants are the coolest invention ever. Seriously. Ever since the wedding the closet has become a wasteland of really cute honeymoon outfits which will not be worn (this year at least) and work clothes that don't quite button. I had to clear out my closet just to preserve my sanity. Now the emptiness is a little more calming only still there is the morning fashion emergency when I have nothing to wear to work.

Two friends have given me bags of maternity clothes. I think it is the coolest thing how women bond together over these uncomfortable moments trying to prevent someone else from having the morning fashion emergency that begins each day. Even cooler is that most of the clothes have been passed down through multiple women...some of them have been worn by five women before me. Usually I am not one who goes for vintage wardrobe pieces...now don't get me wrong I am totally into preserving the environment and reusing and recycling only I am just not that good at vintage shopping. I will admit it! There is something really amazing about putting on a shirt and picturing each of these women going through similar experiences that I am now and all the emotions that they went through and the joys and challenges. The clothes connect me to these women and their families and makes me realize how many women have gone through what I am going through right now...it definitely makes me proud and for a moment each morning...a little less alone in my own thoughts.

I am setting out in the world strong in my new wardrobe of soft cotton t shirts, fuzzy sweaters and elastic pants. This is one pregnant girl who will conquer the world with my little one...even if I have to be accompanied by elastic to do it.