Our Biggest Worry Before the Baby Arrived

When a new baby arrives I think that I can speak for most of us with pets when I say... it's nerve racking to know just how the animals will take to the new being in their home. I remember how stressed we were with our two cats. We researched and contemplated how we would keep her room "cat free". We thought of putting a screen door in replace of her wooden door to the nursery which would still allow air flow. Then we realized the cats would probably tear the screen apart. With our dog, Peanut who is our baby, that made us nervous. Would he be jealous of her? Would his awesome personality change in which he wouldn't be our baby anymore? Would he hate us? 

5 months after Autumn Lily was born and we find ourselves laughing at all of those worries. Peanut was extremely protective of Autumn in the beginning. He wouldn't let the cats go near her never mind even get to smell her. Now they're all friends, with the exception of Nevan (our first cat). He has no interest in anyone or anything but food. Now that Autumn can sit and reach she likes to grab Peanut and the cats. Peanut keeps his distance these days but still watches over her. 

Here is a little taste of the silliness between Autumn and her babies. I believe she's trying to tell Peanut how stressful teething is. 

Awaiting Our Little Munchkin's Arrival

It sure has been a while since I wrote. With all intentions I was hoping to be able to post for 100 days prior to the arrival of our little one but getting ready for our little munchkin took up all of our free moments, which I do not regret at all. 

With only 9 days +/- until she gets here we are so very anxious and excited.I must admit that the last month of pregnancy sure is quite different than the other 36 weeks of pregnancy. It's a beautiful experience carrying the little one in there, the kicks, the wiggles, the hiccups and knowing that you are taking care of something so delicate. 

However, when it comes down to the last few weeks all that you want is to meet your little one. We imagine what she'll look like, the shape of her eyes, her nose, her lips, if she will have freckles or hair along with all of the colors of her features. We want to hold her and hear her cries. We want her to wrap her fingers around ours. 

Everyone says to be patient, but when you are this close and physically/emotionally ready, no one unless if they're pregnant at that exact moment or remembers being pregnant can understand the anticipation at this moment in time. 

So here's to the next 9 days give or take.. hopefully sooner than later, we will meet our sweet little girl and announce her to the world. 

89 Days Until We Meet You

One year ago 8.17.13 I married this very handsome man (the one without the floppy ears). My best friend who I've been so lucky to spend 13 years of my life with. To find someone who means the world to you and you to them and soon bring a child into the world that is a product of the love we have for one another, that's truly priceless.

I remember in my teen years with the crushes, the heartbreaks and the breakups in Junior High and High School. I remember hurting so much and thinking it was the end of the world, you know that feeling? You feel like you'll never find love and just pity yourself. 

When I met Charlie he made all of that go away. I knew when I met him that he was who I wanted to be with. I even wished on a shooting star as cliche as it sounds. Prior to us dating I sat beside him outside talking one night and looked up. Not only was it a shooting star, it was my first shooting star I had ever seen. I wished that we would be together and spend the rest of our lives together.

#89: I will be there when you go through your first heartbreak and I promise that you will find the love of your life someday.

Everyone Loves a Dinner Party!

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!

 We had snow so of course I was incredibly happy. It's still on the ground looking enticing. 

This past Saturday one of my lovely besties who also happens to live right up the street had a dinner party. This was not just any dinner party. There was a 20lb turkey involved which she got for free ♥ Everyone brought a dish. There was mashed potatoes, corn, bisquits, desserts, and more. Good wine and fabulous company. There's something about being surrounded by laughter, people who are happy in the moment that they are in, listening to one another, giving hugs... that makes everything bad just slip on bye.

Memories from 2011 ♥

January: We celebrated Peanut's 1st Birthday. The amount of Love he has brought into our lives is undescribable.

February: One of my besties, Corinne bought her first home which also happens to be in walking distance to us. It's so comforting knowing we have such great friends right in our neighborhood!

March: I came home from work to find that the two cats (Nevan & Minnie) and our little Peanut had gotten into the cabinets and had a Catnip Party in our home.

 

April: Charlie and I went to New York on a beautiful Spring Day. We had one of the best days together, eating burgers in Central Park, enjoying the colorful scenery. It was lovely. 

May: Two of our best friends, Ryan and Alisha welcomed the most beautiful little man, RJ into the world.

June: I lost a very close friend, Sherry who was fighting cancer on and off for over 5 years. She made such an incredible impact on my life as well those around her.

July: Charlie and I spent the day at the beach with some of our besties Justin and Jen. We went to Rhode Island and had such a blast in the sun, on the beach, enjoying the company of each other, laughing, having lunch. It was a perfect summer day.

I also made my first trip alone to NYC to be with my bestie, Tania. We had the best time together, eating at the Melting Pot then having a fun night out on the town, dressed up, looking beautiful and being our silly selves.

August: Enjoyed my 21st year in Old Orchard Beach, ME with my family and of course the love of my life, Charlie.

September: I left my job of 5 years to pursue what I always wanted to do, my Photography. The same day, for the first time in my life I hopped on a plane (or two) and flew across the US to San Diego. My dream has always been to make it out to California. The best part was who I was flying to. My bestie Alisha and her son RJ. 

October: My oldest friend since I was a little toddler, Matt married the love of his life, Leland. It was such an extraordinary Wedding. To be apart of it and also photograph their special day meant the world to me.

November: After starting my own Photography Business venture, I decided to put a Studio in our home. This gives me the option to take indoor sessions. It's beautiful, convenient and perfect.

 

December: My BFF, Tracy, of almost 15 years is now engaged. Her fiance proposed to her making her the happiest woman! I'm so excited to be apart of their lives.  

Green Eats Blog

Today I introduce to you one of my longest and genuine friends, Matt. 

He is the writer and creator behind Green Eats Blog!

Let’s start with this - I love food. I know most people say that they “love” food, but I love food. I think about it pretty much constantly, I dream about it, and I can pontificate for hours on topics such as the proper way to roast a chicken and vinegar v. tomato based barbecue sauces.

Green Eats Blog originally started as a class project. I was enrolled in the Sustainable Agriculture program at Central Carolina Community College here in North Carolina (after finding my liberal arts degree oh-so-useful in this economy) and we had to do a final presentation for my Intro to Sustainable Agriculture class. I chose a blog, and the rest, as they say, is history.

But not really. Writing a blog, and being consistent, is hard work. I am employed full-time as the manager for a local cheesemaking company here in North Carolina, and on top of that I am involved in organizing events and doing social media outreach for the local food community. I use Green Eats Blog as an outlet for my obsession, as a repository for my inner food nerd. I post recipes, list local food events, and track my journey through the world of sustainable agriculture.

The basic premise behind Green Eats Blog is simple - that food should be delicious, easy, and above all nourishing, both for you and your community. I support local farms and businesses, fight against the interests of corporate agriculture, industrial food, and the politicians who have sold our health and environment to the highest bidder. I believe that everyone should have access to whole, healthy food. I think that the Big Mac is the epitome of everything that is wrong with the American food system. I want a simple homemade meal to be accessible and enjoyable to everyone.

I’ve known Katie my entire life, we met in pre-school and have been friends ever since. I’ve grown and moved away, and still I know that she is there for me if I need her. I like to think that my blog is like hers in many ways; about love. She expresses a simple, infectious love for life, family, and friends. I hope to capture that love and express it through food. If nothing else, I want Green Eats Blog to be a gathering place for people who love to eat.

You can visit my wonderful friend, Matt at:

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Riding on a Train Alone & A Sweet Music Video!

This weekend I spent with one of my besties where she lives in NYC. We had the best time and there's quite a bit that goes along with it.. so it may be broken out into a few posts. It seems when I visit NYC I always seem to have at least 3 posts. What a city, right?

One of my favorites things to do is people watching. I don't think I've met anyone that does not like to do that.  It's so interesting to see the variety of people. I took the train for the first time alone and I won't lie.. I was a bit anxious over the idea having to switch trains, etc. 

When I was dropped off at the station in CT I went to the desk to buy a one way ticket. The very unfriendly gentleman behind the glass said, "Swipe your card and put in your pin." So I did and then he threw the tickets into the tray below the glass that divided the two of us. He then said "Track 1571". Without giving it a second thought I raced as fast as my feet would allow me in heels to find Track 1571  since I had less than 5 minutes to catch this train. Come to find out, the tracks only go up to 14! In a panic, my friend who I was visiting called to see how I was doing. All frantic I said, "I can't find my track and the train comes in 2 minutes.. what do I do"? ..

I then asked the first person I saw.. "Excuse me, but do you know where Track 1571 is?" The man very wide eyed looked at me, shrugged his shoulders and pretty much in so many noises said that he did not speak english. Of course! In a crazy moment I would ask someone who did not understand what I was saying. Heck! I didn't understand even what I was saying. Let's skip ahead and just say the second person I asked ALSO did not speak english. Finally, a young man told me that he had no clue what Track 1571 is but the train going to Grand Central was right in front of me. ♥ A sigh of relief as I entered the train! I made it and there's so much to talk about. I thought this post may give you a little chuckle. Also, this video will SURE make you laugh!

On our way home from NYC we had fun doing some Karaoke in the Car. This is the first video of many. Don't worry about the editing, it's my first time. You can stop bye to visit my fabulous singing partner at My Adventures in Mommyland♥ :)

Friends make a difference in our lives.

I wanted to take a step away from photos for this one post. I wanted to tell a story about how one choice can redirect your path in life. We all know that, a simple yes versus a no, or a left versus a right can change the rest of your life in a just one moment. Of all these choices we make, making a new friend does too.

When we were younger, there is always a small group of friends that we'll remember from our childhood. As the years pass, you not only grow out of your clothes, but you grow out of that group of friends. You no longer share the same interests and you just take off in different directions. It's natural, it's a part of life and yes it's always sad. However, when you step out of something you step right into something new.

I feel that throughout my life, I've stepped out of many groups of friends, which I've always kept in touch with. Now that I'm in my 'late' 20s I've found myself surrounded by an extraordinary group of friends that I feel confident that I will grow old with. They are spread out and I share different interests with them all and I love the friendships we have for those specific reasons.

There is one friend I wanted to write about today, Alisha. She's become one of my best friends over the past 4-5 years. Charlie and I have spent a great deal with her and her husband, Ryan. They recently had a beautiful baby, RJ who I've mentioned quite a bit recently. Ryan is a Marine and he's been stationed out west, in which this week they will be leaving. I find myself in tears for my own selfish reasons because we will not see them as much. I find myself in tears out of happiness as well.

I think back to the first time I met her in Elementary School. She went to a different school but we shared a common friend. I always saw her each year at our friend's birthday party. It wasn't though, until Jr. High I got to know her a little more. Our lockers were next to each other up until the point when we graduated, so we always said quick hellos in passing and smiled. I always felt strongly on how sweet of a person she was; however, we did not have a strong friendship as we spent time with different groups of friends. It was not until years back that we truly built our friendship.

It's strange yet amazing, in life how you can pass someone bye and you never would think that in 10-15 years from that point you two would be part of one another's lives. You never think that you'll be there as the other is getting married and giving a speech about the lovely couple. You never think that you'll be visiting the day the other gives birth to their first child. It never crosses your mind to think you'll experience some rough times in life and that person that you just say hello to as you get your books out of your locker, will be the friend to console you. Alisha has been that friend.

We've been trying to get in as much free time together as possible before she leaves. I think to myself everyday, what will I do without her? Then the waterworks come pouring out. But the truth is, we'll still keep in touch while they're gone for the next 3 years. Charlie and I look forward to visiting them. They will begin a new life out West and they are such a strong trio that things will work out beautifully for them. Even though there is distance between us, we know we'll still be apart of their lives.

Life is amazing and the choices we make, the directions it takes us is so worth while. I'm sure if you took a moment to think, you'll find yourself agreeing with me and perhaps right now someone came into your head that fits this story in a similar way. Everyone who is in your life or has left, was there for a reason. They played a special role to help you move forward with your life in some way. I'm looking forward to what the future brings but at this time I'm happy with living in the moment with these wonderful friends that I have. ♥