Hello 30's!

Happy birthday to... ME!! Am I actually 30 years old today? Is that what this is supposed to feel like? I was really dreading the start of my 30's but now that it's here... It really doesn't feel so bad. Maybe it's because I have a handsome baby boy in my arms and it's way more exciting to count and recount his fingers and toes? Or maybe it's because looking into his eyes makes the future that much brighter? Whatever it is, I'm not complaining. I feel more myself and alive than I have in a while even if I am running on less sleep, covered in spit up, and without make up on :)

My 30 before thirty project wasn't completely fulfilled. And that's OK with me. 30 isn't the end all be all. But I did enjoy documenting the last year. So this year, I'm going to do something a little different and I'm calling it Project Life. I was inspired by this blogger who has a Project Life of her own where she takes amazing pictures and scrapbooks every single thing that happens in her family life and then updates it on her blog. Her scrapbook is awesome-looking with lots of little nick-nacks and like I said... amazing pictures. I know I won't be able to be as intricate as she is with her scrap-booking, but I don't want to fall behind on Caleb's baby book and I really want to catch up on my own scrap-booking... remember, the one I mentioned that was stalled back in 2006? Whoa. I don't even have a wedding album. I'm also going to continue with the remaining items on the 30 before Thirty list because let's face it, some of them were out the window before I even started. For example, I was basically down to an 8:30 mile, but got pregnant in July and stopped running (and going to the gym) all together. Yikes... So that 15lbs I wanted to lose was compounded with a ton of pregnancy weight and now I'm just hoping to lose that! Technically, it's my 30 before 31 list now?! ;)

So, in honor of this beautiful life and it changing around us constantly, this year I'm taking on Project Life. The first thing I'm taking away from exploring her blog is the daily picture idea which was sort of inspired by her blog and the fact that I send a picture (sometimes 2, or 3, or 4) to my family back home everyday.  I hope to keep improving on my photography skills with my new toy and to share any tips here on my blog. Everyday is something that should be celebrated and my thirties are going to be awesome... I can feel it. :)

your handsome face: month one

I think it's safe to say that, yes... I'm a little obsessed with my son's handsome and rapidly changing face. I need to start taking some more videos because his best faces are made as he's waking up from a nap with the stretching and grunting and frowning and smiling. I could spend hours upon hours just watching you absorb the world around you or drift sleepily to dream land. Oh you, little man, are the brightest light in my entire life <3

One month

"Yea, I'm adorable."

#16 Letters for good service

In my opinion, this was one of the most important items on my 30 before thirty list. I've been directly affected by the effects of positive and negative feedback clients and management provide and know that the positive comments do not come around often enough. So, each time I received exceptional service, I've made it a point to write a few words to the company about my appreciation for this. They weren't novels, but just a few words can really make a difference. My goal was to write 3 and I actually wrote a few more than that given that I had a ton of really great nurses during my stay at the hospital after Caleb was born.

#2 Find a church that fits.

You're place of worship is a very sentimental thing. And even of you identify with a specific religion that doesn't mean that the service will be the same at different churches of the same belief. I guess I never realized just how different those services could be until I started to attend mass here in GA.

I've been to many different religious gatherings and have always found it easy to find "my God" even if I didn't identity 100% with the message being delivered. But something seems very different to me now that I'm an adult and looking for a church. I didn't only want to give thanks and pray, but I craved a sense of normalcy that comes with a weekly service and worship.

I did find a church that is close to our house and comfortable for us to go to as a family and am learning more about my husband and his relationship with God each week as we discuss the mass. The church we chose is beautiful and comfortable (they continually refer to the congregation as family) but its not the traditional mass I'm used to. So, while I have established a weekly routine of attending mass each week (with exception of this week since Caleb isn't 100%) nothing will come close to a Monday evening mass at Saint Andrew's in NJ. Just like Dorothy said... "There's no place like home" I guess.

Happy monday! and... it's been a year...

Yep. One year since my first blog post here. If you're reading my blog but not blogging yourself, I would really suggest it. Today, I'm able to look back and see where I was a year ago. I'm changed. Not only am I a mommy now, but I'm stronger and more in control of my own happiness. This blog has been an outlet for me - even if I write long posts and never post them - it's allowed me to relax and have some time to myself to really think about myself. And most of all, it's a document of the past year. because you can't know where you're going until you understand where you've been.

Soooo... here's to another year! Maybe some of my other readers will start their own blogs this year! I'm going to try to catch up on all my "in-progress" posts this week and see what else I can check off my 30 before 30 list seeing as that is approaching pretty fast. Hope you have a fabulous Monday! Here is some motivation for you <3

Caleb's Birth Story

May you touch dragonflies and stars, dance with the fairies and talk to the moon. May you grow up with love and gracious hearts and people who care. Welcome to the world little one; it's been waiting for you.

Today we would have been 40 weeks. Full term but I knew you're going to come early, and so I started this post early so I could write it on what was supposed to be your due date, April 19th (although your Daddy will tell you it was 4/20... don't believe him).

It's your Birth Day

Dear baby,
It feels like I've been waiting for this day to come for my entire life. I can't even explain to you the mix of emotions running through my head and heart as I rub you inside my tummy this morning for the last time. I didn't think I'd miss having you tucked away in there because I've been wishing you would come out for weeks now... But I'm starting to wonder.

I'm so curious to get to know you. To see your baby blue eyes looking up at me. To find out if you really will have hair on your head already like the ultrasound tech said. And of course, your Daddy and I have some guesses on how much you will weigh and how long you'll be. You're so special to us, baby. Every little thing you do. And I hope to show you that when you are here in my arms.

Baby boy, do you know who this is?


These are your Mommys grandparents; PoppiDukes and Nani :) I sometimes wonder if you were able to meet him in heaven before you will come down to us. Do you know that 89 years ago, this day was a Friday and that it is the same day Poppi was born? This is so incredibly special to me because he was an amazing person and someone I feel who still watches over and guides me (and you). When we first found out we were pregnant and you were due in April around his birthday, it really said to me "everything will be okay... This was meant to be." And so it is. I can only hope that sharing this connection with your great grandpoppi will mean you'll have even just a little of his courage, humor, and spirit. There are so many wonderful memories that I have of him... And I can't wait to start making some of our own together.

Rest up, big guy (Lord knows I wish I could!). Today's our big day. There's a big bright beautiful world waiting to meet you here.

Love,
Your momma

39 weeks

How far along: 39 weeks. This is it, ladies and gents! My last bump photo before baby arrives.

Maternity clothes: Yes. All day, everyday.

Stretch marks: Nope. I'm not even going to count the ones on my hips because I had some there previously and who knows if they are just darkening because of my skin stretching. And while we're talking about skin... where the heck did my linea negra go? I swear I had one... now it is no where in sight!

Sleep: is still sucky. My last day of work was Tuesday this week and thank God, because I only slept about 4 hours on Tuesday night and maybe another 4 last night. Seriously, I think I've looked at every possible recipe and quote on Pinterest there is.

Weekend update- Happy Monday!

What a weekend! I'm going to start with Friday. I made a bunny cake for work which is all too adorable for me not to share here. My mom used to make one with us and although I'm pretty sure she used candy to decorate his cute face, I took the easy way out and just used gel frosting and sprinkles.



The bunny is so easy to make. It's only two round cakes with one for his face and the second you cut the bow from the middle of the cake and voila! Bunny ears. :) The whole pregnancy klutzyness didn't help me while baking though and I dropped one of the round cakes... Grrr. So I made a second round cake and decided to do cupcakes with the rest of the batter :)