The View From Five Two

26 Weeks!

2013-05-09T10:19:00.001-04:00

Oh my goodness. I am so far behind. But I am still alive and baby and I are doing well.

I had a very rough four weeks and could hardly walk... so to be honest with you I just did not feel like taking pretty pictures of the bump for the blog. I regret that now, but at the time, I just couldn't do it.

The good news is, I seem to be on the up and up from the round ligament pain that had me in so much pain, so I am starting to feel normal again!

So now, for an update!

{May 8, 2013} I am 26 weeks pregnant!

WHOA! HELLO BUMP! (and hello belly button!!)

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 26 Weeks... trucking right along!

Size of baby: Baby D is the size of a head of lettuce!

Maternity Clothes: Yes. That should be obvious with the picture above! Haha. I can still wear some regular tops but I am definitely only in maternity pants and shorts!

Gender: It's a sweet baby BOY!!

Movement: Yes - lots of kicks! At 22 weeks exactly, D could feel him on the outside. It is so fun to feel him moving around in there. He had the hiccups yesterday morning for the first time and that was fun to feel, too!

Sleep: Honestly I was doing great until just a couple of days ago. I have been waking up a lot to change positions. But... I still feel thankful that I don't have insomnia or anything!

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Sweets! As I write this I am headed off to my glucose test in a few minutes, and am nervous about that. I have gone low/no carb and low/no sugar yesterday and this morning and it has been TOUGH. I'm starving. Ha!

Symptoms: Nosebleeds and round ligament pain. I am not going to miss the nosebleeds when they are finally gone.

Favorite Moment This Week: Just being another week pregnant and feeling him move around a lot!

A Babymoon & Nursery Planning

2013-04-02T13:55:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday, friends! I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend. We spent the weekend with family and it was wonderful! I didn't take a single picture, though, so I have no pictures to share. Just use your imagination and picture a lot of food in front of me all weekend.

I'm getting back on track with my Week in Review videos (after some breaks for the gender reveal, etc.) and this week Mr. D and I are talking babymoons and nursery planning.

As you'll see, we want to take a babymoon... but we aren't really sure where to go or what to do. I would love your thoughts!

Yesterday, we went to Sherwin Williams to pick out paint colors for the nursery. Let me just say this... I think looking at paint colors made us even more confused. We are nowhere close to having a decision on nursery colors. I will update more on this as we get closer to a decision.

Enjoy the vlog!

A Question I Couldn't Answer

2013-03-28T13:49:00.000-04:00

Before heading to Blissdom, I read a lot of posts that said, "be sure you know your elevator pitch."

I know what an elevator pitch is, and I've had my career elevator pitch mastered for awhile, so I thought it'd be a breeze to come up with an elevator pitch for my blog.

I was so busy packing and trying to order business cards in time that I honestly didn't give it a ton of thought. I figured I'd come up with it when I arrived at Blissdom.

Big mistake.

The first night, there was a Newcomer Meetup. I had no problem walking up to folks and saying hello, but the first time someone said, "So what is your blog about?"... I froze.

Um... what IS my blog about?!

I think I rambled on for awhile about how my husband and I have a dog and I'm pregnant and I video ourselves in random places like Costco. I'm sure it made absolutely NO sense to the poor blogger who asked the question.

Needless to say, I was pretty flustered myself, and realized I needed to get my act together before the next person asked me that question. I frantically tried to think what my blog is about. I couldn't think of anything. I've blogged for over three years and couldn't think of a single thing that I write about.

Finally, after fumbling around through a few more "what is your blog about?" conversations, I mastered it.

"My blog is a personal journal - my husband and I work together, we have a new puppy, and we're expecting a baby. I blog and I also do weekly videos (I vlog) about our week and film us having fun conversations or in random places having fun. I call them 'Week in Review' videos."

Aha. That seemed to make a lot more sense to people. I still had a few blank stares over the whole vlogging thing, but people seemed to get it for the most part.

But after listening to speakers such as Jon Acuff and Scott Stratten, I realized I need to be more intentional about my blog and it's purpose. As Jon Acuff said, I don't need to be able to see or control the finish line, but I do need to have some goals, and I just need to start.

I've had a lot of excuses over time about why I didn't vlog much this week, or didn't blog last week, or didn't take pictures, etc. I'm done with excuses. My first step is making a mission statement for my blog. I'm still working on this, but it feels good to know I'm headed down the right path.

If you ended up with a weird explanation from me at Blissdom about what my blog is about, I'm so sorry. I hope now that you're here, it all makes a little more sense. :)

20 Weeks

2013-03-27T21:29:00.000-04:00

{March 27, 2013} I am 20 weeks pregnant!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 20 Weeks... Halfway there!! HOLLA! I feel so thankful. So, so thankful. There were so many days/months I thought I'd never get pregnant, much less be 20 weeks pregnant!

Size of baby: Baby D is the size of a banana (that seems huge to me!)

Maternity Clothes: Yes. Finally filling out the maternity tops but I am still able to wear some regular tops, too. A lot of people at Blissdom couldn't really see the bump or realize I was pregnant unless I was wearing a tighter top. And then BAM there's a bump! ;)

Gender: It's a sweet baby BOY!!

Movement: Yes - in the form of bubbles! We are so eager to feel him kick from the outside. When did that happen for you?

Sleep: Still sleeping great. Amen.

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Ice cold water, cereal, and chocolate. My cravings are pretty consistent.

Symptoms: None really, other than the nosebleeds, but as the weather improves a little, those seem to be improving too.

Favorite Moment This Week: Going to BlissDom and winning a NURSERY! I was also very lucky to feel good during the trip. I had been nervous about traveling alone so far from home being pregnant, but all was good. I just needed a couple of quick power naps. :)

P.S. - I skipped my 19 week post in the chaos of trying to leave for Blissdom... but you can see pics of me at 19.5 weeks here!

Blissdom VLOG!

2013-03-27T10:04:00.001-04:00

As promised (although a little late, sorry!) here is a little vlog I put together from some footage I got at Blissdom! I chose the wrong day to walk around with my camera when there wasn't as much going on - I wish I'd chosen a different day and had the chance to grab more folks to get on camera! Next year for sure - so be on the lookout if you're going next year! ;)

You can read my recap post with pictures here.

Enjoy!

PS - Be sure to check out:
Raechel Myers
Caroline G Shop
Kate

Bliss.

2013-03-26T00:16:00.000-04:00

I'm sitting on the couch tonight feeling exhausted yet inspired. I spent the weekend at Blissdom (a blogging conference) in Dallas, Texas. If you are on twitter, you were probably inundated with Blissdom tweets this weekend, but it really was an amazing, inspiring weekend.

It was so fun to meet so many fellow bloggers at the conference. I've met some local bloggers in person, but most of those weren't at the conference, so it was definitely a unique experience to go and not really know anyone. I'm a pretty outgoing person, but it's still difficult to walk into a room and not really know anyone other than from twitter!

I was blown away by how incredibly kind and welcoming everyone was. I got lost in the Gaylord Texan Hotel with Monica and we were instantly friends. It was fun to meet people and make new friends around every corner. It was also fun to connect with twitter friends and further those relationships!

I had the most amazing roommates - Kate, Carrie, and Rebecca. I had met Kate and Carrie before, but didn't know any of these girls really well, and I can now say that we are all ~~good~~ great friends. These are three girls I'll be friends with for a long, long time. It's amazing how friendships can be built around a long weekend together in a small hotel room. We had a birthday party and shared a love for American Girl. We had great laughs and great conversations. It was like we were old friends who were reunited. I miss them already.

Kate, Carrie, Rebecca, and me

Rebecca actually spent most of the weekend selling her bags at the Handmade Market. Please go check out her bags and read her story. I know you'll love her - and her bags!

I also loved having dinner with these girls one night. These girls have such golden hearts and were so easy and fun to chat with. I think we could have stayed and talked all night!

Left to Right: Lindsey, Heidi, Leah, Megan, Me, April, Meredith, Katie, and Becky {photo by Lindsey}

One of my favorite ladies. Okay, BA!

Kate, me, Carrie

I'm pretty sure Kate cringed on the inside when she saw my hair and makeup routines each day, but I got lucky on Saturday night when she did my hair! This is her Elegant Half Up With a Twist.

Being silly at the Maytag photo booth at Girls Night In: Raechel, Kacia, me, Kate, Carrie, Nicole

Sweet Hopsy drove to the hotel to visit with a few of us - she was smart enough to plan ahead and organized our time and meeting place! She even brought us a treat! I was way late because the toilet in our room was messed up {a long story...} but it was so good to spend time with these girls.

Hopsy, Crystal, Erin, me, Katie, Megan, Meredith, & Lulu

And to top off the WHOLE thing...

I WON A NURSERY!

Can you even believe that?!?! Dr. Smiths was giving away a $2500 nursery and my friend Lindsey told me about it and told me to enter. And then I WON! Y'all - I've never won anything in my entire life. I apologize to all Blissdom attendees for the scene I made. I was just a little bit excited. Just a LITTLE. Can't wait to show you more as it all comes together in my own house!

I've been to a lot of seminars in my life as a lawyer, and I was so pleased with how Blissdom planned our time with plenty of free time to wander the halls to visit the Handmade Market and see the sponsors booths while connecting with new friends. The small group sessions were only an hour, which was perfect. The large group sessions were inspiring, which was exactly what I had hoped for.

I probably walked away the most fulfilled, though, from the conversations I had with fellow attendees. I was able to chat with bloggers who have been blogging for awhile, and I was grateful for the opportunity to talk with some fellow vloggers - Jenny, Carlie, and Kayli. Jenny made me feel like I'm not alone in feeling crazy when I talk to a camera by myself for ten minutes straight - and for that I will be forever grateful. :)

I'd say my two favorite speakers were Scott Stratten and Jon Acuff. I'm still digesting a lot of their talks and will probably write about my takeaways later. I do know that Jon Acuff brought tears to my eyes, though, when he said, "What do you do when there are no more excuses?" That is some good stuff to think about.

The Blissdom recap VLOG will be up on Tuesday so stay tuned!

Baby D is....

2013-03-17T01:20:00.000-04:00

It's our gender reveal video!! We are SO THRILLED!!

Click here if you can't see the video below.

18 Weeks

2013-03-14T21:20:00.000-04:00

{March 13, 2013} I am 18 weeks pregnant!

Um, whoa. Two things: 1) I look ROUGH and 2) I think I "popped"?!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 18 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby D is the size of a sweet potato

Maternity Clothes: Yes... maternity pants are glorious and I am finally starting to fill out the maternity tops a little better! I'm still wearing my regular tops for the most part, though. I just have a very limited selection of what fits.

Gender: We KNOW! We KNOW!! We found out on March 13 (I am hitting publish on this post a day late) and most importantly, we have a healthy baby! We are doing a little gender reveal with our families this weekend and I will post here after that!

Movement: Still feeling lots of bubbles but now I'm pretty sure those are the baby.

Sleep: Still sleeping great. Amen.

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Ice cold water, fruit, cereal, and chocolate. My cravings are pretty consistent.

Symptoms: I've had a lot of "stretching" feelings going on in my belly - I think baby is just growing a lot! I've also just been so, so tired. And I've had tons of nosebleeds. Oh! I also started swelling again this week after sitting too long. I've realized water is my friend when it comes to swelling.

Favorite Moment This Week: Spending an hour looking at baby D on the ultrasound,
finding out the gender and starting our shopping!!

For comparison:

Week in Review Catch-Up!

2013-03-11T15:12:00.000-04:00

I'm finally back with a new vlog! This one is random but funny - Mr. D and I talk about:

1) Why we haven't been vlogging much
2) Our trip to the emergency room
3) Whether it's weird to sleep in the same bed with a person you've never met
4) Our dog.

I highly suggest you watch it! Happy Monday!

Vlogging 101

2013-03-07T05:00:00.000-05:00

By now, most of you have seen me (and my husband) in all our crazy glory on camera. Video camera, that is. If you haven't seen us, you can watch us on my YouTube channel.

That crazy thing we do is called "vlogging" - video blogging!

Vlogging is not a difficult thing to do, but there are some important steps you can take to be sure you make the most of your vlog. In this post, I'll talk about being on camera, types of cameras, and editing/uploading. Eventually I'll do more detailed posts on each of these, but this is a crash-course on vlogging!

But first, I want to tell you my #1 piece of advice for folks new to vlogging:

Just turn the camera on and talk. You can always edit later. Editing is your B.F.F.

The first thing to discuss when discussing vlogging is the fear of being in front of the camera. Most folks are ~~hesitant~~ terrified of being on camera, hearing themselves talk, vlogging in public, and so on.

Trust me, I get it.

I hate hearing myself talk. I think I sound like a country mouse.

I cringe when I am editing videos and I hear myself laugh. But you know what? I post the videos anyway. I've made it through 28 years of life with people hearing me talk and laugh in person, and they usually don't run the other way... so what's wrong with me talking and laughing on video?

Being on camera is intimidating in other ways, especially if you're vlogging in public. So here are a few simple tips:

1. Look straight into the camera.

2. Be aware of your "framing" - you don't want to be zoomed in too close or out too far. Don't cut off the top or bottom of your head!

3. Be aware of lighting. Backlighting is bad, and happens when there is a bright light behind you that makes you look dark (like you are just a big dark figure). Be sure you are facing the light.

4. Check your audio. A vlog is no good if your viewers can't hear you! Also, be careful not to vlog in the wind or other potentially "loud" scenarios.

5. Look in the mirror before you turn the camera on. Do you have flyaway hairs? Something in your teeth? Something up your nose? Those things cannot be edited out of an entire video - so fix them before you start!

Now that you're ready to be on camera, you may be wondering... what camera should I use? You have several options when it comes to cameras. Here are my thoughts on each:

1. A webcam: These are good for quick vlogs and you don't need a tripod - the camera is generally pretty stable. However, you are limited to your surroundings - you can't get up and walk around. Lighting is generally not great with webcams and your audio may be a little funky too since you are likely using the computer's microphone.

2. A small handheld camera: My favorite! A lot of vloggers use Flip cameras (which are no longer being produced so they're hard to find) or point-and-shoot cameras with excellent video capabilities. I use a Canon point-and-shoot camera for all of my vlogs. I use this one:

source

It is a Canon Powershot ELPH 300 HS. It is less than $200 at most stores and online. It also takes excellent pictures - I use it to take pictures when I'm out and about, too!

3. A DSLR camera: most of us know what this is - a digital SLR camera. These are awesome for vlogs where you will be sitting down and can set up the tripod, lighting, audio, etc. just right. These are not ideal, however, for "on-the-go" vlogging. These are also very pricey!

4. A true video camera: You know, the handheld video camera. These are facing a lot of competition these days with DLSRs and the video capabilities that DSLR cameras have. These are also pretty pricey and you will want to do your research before making a purchase!

I recorded my vlog... now what?!

So you know what to do on camera... and you had the right tools for it... now what do you do with this footage you have on a memory card?!

You can certainly do a "one-take" vlog, which means you don't edit - you just record and upload. If you want to edit, you will want to be sure you have some sort of video editing software on your computer.

The most popular ones are iMovie and Final Cut. I have used both, and while Final Cut can do all the fancy schmancy editing, iMovie is easier to use and has a smaller learning curve. If you have a PC, I have heard that Sony has good editing software as well. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube (ironic, huh?) for editing software so don't buy a book or anything... just watch an 8 year old kid show you how to edit. I'm not kidding.

You will also want to have a good hard drive - videos take up a lot of storage space. I bought a 1TB (terabyte) external hard drive from Costco for around $80. It's small, lightweight, and perfect.

While editing your video, try to incorporate your "brand" into the vlog. A link to your blog, your logo, etc. This is usually good at the beginning or end of the video.

Now that you're done editing... what should you do with your video?! YouTube is the biggest, most popular place to upload and "host" your video. Google owns YouTube, and videos are now showing up in search results, so YouTube is the best place to upload your video. Sites like Vimeo are also good, but your video is less likely to be found on a smaller site.

If you have a gmail address, you can log onto YouTube and you have your own YouTube channel. You can customize your channel, monetize your videos, respond to comments, and more.

The bottom line is that to vlog, you have to be willing to put yourself out there. Have fun on camera. Be creative when editing. The more you do it, the more fun it gets. Keep in mind you can record vlogs and never upload them - just for practice!

What questions do you have about vlogging for future posts? Let me know in the comments, or email me (melissablogs at gmail dot com).

17 Weeks

2013-03-06T09:46:00.001-05:00

{March 6, 2013} I am 17 weeks pregnant!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 17 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby D is the size of an onion

Maternity Clothes: Same as last week... maternity pants feeling good but still looking awkward in maternity shirts. I did my first "embrace the bump" outfit this weekend for an alumni event, though - I wore a sweater dress and a belt and the belly definitely showed! (Kind of hard to see in this picture though...)

Gender: Can't wait to find out! The appointment is scheduled for March 13! ONE WEEK from today :) I put a poll over in the sidebar so make your guesses now!!

Movement: I'm pretty sure I've felt a few little "bubbles" but I am beyond ready for some definite movement. I want to feel this baby in there!

Sleep: I'm still sleeping great and through the night. Honestly I think I'm just so exhausted when I get home from work that I can't help but sleep hard when I finally get in bed.

What I Miss: Nothing! {Except maybe Crossfit. I know. I never thought I'd say that.}

Cravings: Ice cold water, cereal, chocolate, PIZZA (I can't get enough pizza. Oink oink).

Symptoms: Still just tired. I also had my first experience with swollen feet this week which was kind of random. I think, though, it was a bad combination of sitting too long at my desk with my legs crossed after eating too much sodium and not drinking enough water. Lesson learned.

Favorite Moment This Week: Starting some plans for our gender reveal party on March 16, and getting another week closer to knowing if this is a he or a she!

16 Weeks!

2013-02-27T12:19:00.000-05:00

{February 27, 2013} I am 16 weeks pregnant!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 16 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby D is the size of an avocado

Maternity Clothes: Definitely wearing maternity dress pants every day. I could probably get away with my regular pants and a belly band, but the maternity ones are just so much more comfortable. For tops, I'm definitely in an awkward in-between stage. Most of my regular tops are too small-ish and make me look like I ate too much. Maternity tops are too big. It's awkward. Ha!

Gender: Can't wait to find out! The appointment is scheduled for March 13! Two weeks from today :) I put a poll over in the sidebar so make your guesses now!!

Movement: I don't know. I feel little "bubbles" and here and there, but I can't tell if it's gas or a baby. ;)

Sleep: I'm sleeping great. I'm asleep before my head hits the pillow and I still don't have to get up to go to the bathroom. I feel like by this point, a lot of people are getting up two or three times a night. I'm grateful to be able to stay in bed all night right now!

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Ice cold water, fruit, cereal, and chocolate.

Symptoms: Even though I have more energy, I'm still more tired than I was before I got pregnant. Other than that, I had some stretching feelings this week, and my dreams are still CRAY CRAY. The crazy dreams have probably been one of my biggest symptoms. For example, last night involved a trip to the beach with my dad and sister, a tidal wave, and being robbed.

Favorite Moment This Week: Getting to hear baby's heartbeat last Thursday and getting closer to knowing if Baby D is a he or a she!

Our First Hospital Trip

2013-02-26T10:59:00.000-05:00

Before you panic... ALL IS OKAY.

I really feel the need to memorialize in writing our first ever family trip to the hospital. I have to preface this story by letting you know that I am very squeamish and have always been terrified of the idea of going to the emergency room/hospital for anything except having a baby.

On Sunday, Mr. D's leg started hurting. As the day went on, he was in more pain and could barely walk. It was turning red in one spot and was warm to the touch.

Guess what Dr. Google says that means?

Blood clot. But, I didn't have to look up the symptoms to know, and to know that something wasn't right. So after we ooh'd and ahh'd over the Les Mis performance on the Oscars, we jumped in the car and headed to the hospital. I was terrified. Being pregnant and taking your husband to the emergency room for what you think is a blood clot? Not a fun time.

Luckily, it was not very busy, and unlike what I had imagined in my crazy head, there were no people passed out on the floor or puking in buckets in the waiting room. It was very calm and quiet and clean. Hallelujah.

I guess when you mention "blood clot" they get you in pretty quickly, because 10 minutes after we checked in, we were in a room and waiting. A few minutes later, a doctor came in and after some evaluation, decided (thank goodness) it wasn't a blood clot, but instead, an infection.

Yay. And gross.

I think we got there just in time, because it is still pretty serious, and he was able to start the antibiotics that night. He is still in a LOT of pain but we are hoping the drugs are going to kick in soon. Say a little prayer for Mr. D. And go to the hospital if you ever have a sore leg that is red and warm. Nothing good can come of those symptoms!

15 Weeks

2013-02-21T20:55:00.001-05:00

{February 20, 2013} I am 15 weeks pregnant!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 15 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby D is the size of an orange

Maternity Clothes: I bought some maternity jeans, black dress pants, & khakis this week. HAVE MERCY. They are so comfortable. I may never wear regular pants again! I'm still wearing regular tops but I'm definitely in maternity pants.

Gender: Can't wait to find out! The appointment is scheduled for March 13! Three weeks from today :) I put a poll over in the sidebar so make your guesses now!!

Movement: I don't know. On Sunday, I felt a quick little 'tapping' feeling for a couple of minutes. But, I don't really know what it's supposed to feel like.

Sleep: I'm sleeping great. I'm asleep before my head hits the pillow and I don't have to get up to go to the bathroom. I never realized how much I end up on my back while I'm sleeping, so I'm now sleeping with a pillow behind my back to try to keep me from rolling on my back.

What I miss: Nothing!

Cravings: Ice cold water, fruit, and Trix cereal. Who knows where that one came from.

Symptoms: My energy is finally coming back and I haven't had a headache in a few weeks so that's good. I do feel "bigger" though - even though it's not really noticeable yet as a baby bump. I just look like I ate too much when I'm wearing my work clothes.

Favorite Moment This Week: Announcing the pregnancy, seeing my belly start to grow, and realizing how close we are to knowing if Baby D is a he or a she!

And just for comparison, here's my 4 week pic and my 15 week pic side by side!

Some Details!

2013-02-18T09:44:00.002-05:00

Thank you all SO, so much for sharing our excitement and for all of the sweet congratulations!

Our families' reactions were so precious to us and I'm so glad we were able to get them all on video - even my dad and Mr. D's sister (who live in Nashville and California, respectively). Thank goodness for technology!

I've had several questions so here's a little post with some details:

- What is your due date?
August 14, 2013

- How far along are you?
Today, I am 14 weeks and 5 days.

- How have you been feeling?
I have been very, very, very blessed. I never felt sick to my stomach - I was just very tired and I had some pretty consistent tension headaches in the first trimester - but both of those have improved drastically since hitting the second trimester. I did have some weird food aversions during the first trimester but I never actually felt or got sick. I was so thankful!

- What have you been craving?
My biggest craving has been ice cold water - which is so funny because I have always been a lukewarm water drinker. It has always grossed Mr. D out and he is astonished that I am now wanting ice cold water. I've also craved Diet Coke and since I can't drink it - that craving is pretty big. Some other cravings have been the black & white Little Debbie zebra cakes, Moose Tracks ice cream, fruit (oranges, apples, strawberries), and cereal. But as my sister said - those are all things I'd normally eat anyway. Haha!

- When did you find out you were pregnant?
At least 100 years ago. It feels that way, at least. I found out very early on December 2, 2012.

- Are you going to find out if it is a girl or a boy?
YES YES YES! We are finding out on March 13! I will be exactly 18 weeks that day. Cannot wait!

- Do you have a feeling or guess of what the gender is?
Well, I always pictured myself having a boy first (or even all boys). But, ever since I got pregnant, I've felt like this baby is a girl. So I'm kind of confused myself. Who knows!

- How many ultrasounds have you had?
I've had two - one at 8 weeks and another at 12 weeks. We heard the heartbeat at both of those and then we also heard it at 10 weeks and at 13 weeks 5 days. That little heartbeat is my favorite sound in the whole world.

- Is this blog going to become a baby/mommy blog?
This blog has always just been about my life with Mr. D and the fun that we have. I'm certainly not the most eloquent writer, and I don't do a ton of giveaways, sponsored posts, etc. I've always just written about the things we have going on. I will continue to write about our lives - not just baby things - and of course I'll keep on vlogging! Obviously, because a baby is becoming part of our lives, there will be baby things here.

And just for fun, here's a picture of me at the 12 week ultrasound!

Our Best Vlog Yet

2013-02-15T07:05:00.000-05:00

For the past year and a half, Mr. D and I have been praying and waiting for something our hearts have longed for for a very long time.

It's been a long, long road... but today we have our best vlog yet for you.

{click here to watch the video if you can't see it below}

God is good! Amen!

We Go Way Back

2013-02-14T12:07:00.000-05:00

This weekend at Nana and Poppa's, we started talking about genealogy and family history.

Side note: I am, and always have been, fascinated by family history. I love to create ideas, pictures, and stories in my mind about what my ancestors may have been like.

It's just so romantic to me to think about these people who lived way back when and share my blood!

Anyway, D and I were talking with Nana and Poppa and it was so fun to hear their stories about what they remember of their own grandparents.

Eventually, Poppa jumped up from the table (well, he didn't really jump - but he eagerly got up and walked away) and came back with a huge scrapbook. Apparently my mom and aunt have spent a lot of time researching our family history.

On my grandmother's side of the family, they were able to go back to my great-great-great-great-great grandparents!! How amazing is that?!

On my grandfather's side of the family, they were able to go back to my great-great-grandfather, who came to America from Belfast, Ireland.

They even found out that we are related, by marriage, to Samuel Clemens. You know... Mark Twain?!

See the resemblance? ha!

source

So amazing.

Unfortunately, Mr. D's family history doesn't go back that far, because one of his great-uncles or great-grandfathers (I can't remember which) was abandoned by his family as they crossed through the midwest way back in the day, and the young boy (named Charlie) was adopted by Mr. D's ancestors. So Charlie is the stopping point because no one knows anything about Charlie's blood family.

I find it all so fascinating. What do you know about your family history? How far back can you go??

Some Random Happies

2013-02-13T16:27:00.001-05:00

I seem to be thinking in list form today... so here's a little list for you:

1. I'm sooo sooo excited about Blissdom. I still have a lot to do (book flight, get business cards) but I am just so looking forward to being inspired and coming home with inspiration, new relationships, and fresh ideas! It is an extra plus that I love my roommates - we had a video chat the other night and I just love these girls (Kate, Carrie, and Rebecca).

Kate snapped this screenshot the other night and posted it on instagram - as she said, we really are excited. Promise. ;)

2. Our Girl Scout cookies are being delivered by the end of this week. Four boxes of heaven on earth. Otherwise known as Samoas and Thin Mints. But - I think the Samoas are called something different now. Either way - it's going to be good. I'm dreaming about chopping up the thin mints and putting them on some Moose Tracks ice cream. Yum.

3. Yesterday we took the divider out of Zoey's crate so now she has the whole thing. My little baby girl is all grown up! Ha! I came downstairs this morning and she was stretched out in it like she was in a king-sized bed. I think she was happy!

4. I get to eat lunch with my sister every Wednesday and I love it. I'm so glad we ended up living in the same city after ten years of living apart.

5. I know I haven't been consistent on the vlogs around here... but I have an epic video coming soon. EPIC.

xo!

A Happy Dog

2013-02-12T09:47:00.000-05:00

This weekend we traveled to Nana and Poppa's to celebrate Christmas, New Year's, two birthdays, and Valentine's Day! Whew. If you follow me on twitter, you know that Poppa was very sick over Christmas. Thankfully he has recovered - but it delayed our family celebration - so we celebrated all holidays at once.

I snapped this picture of Zoey out in their yard one morning. She loves sticks with every bone in her body and was so happy that I let her lay down and eat a stick. Love this little dog!

Happy Tuesday!

There Is Still Good in the World.

2013-02-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

I saw this online on Thursday and it made my heart skip a beat. There are still really good people in this world.

At the Children's Hospital in Charlotte on Thursday, the window washers dressed up as Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and Mr. Incredible.

How awesome, right? Here's the video:

Time After Time

2013-01-31T11:38:00.000-05:00

Every year, it's the same old story.

"Wow, the year is going so fast." "Time is flying by." "How is it already {insert date}?!"

And every year, I vow to slow down - simply in an effort to somehow make time slow down. But somehow, I always fail. Here I am today, looking at the calendar in complete disbelief that we are already done with the first month of 2013.

My days are rush, rush, rush. Jump out of bed, take the dog out, gulp down some cereal, jump in the shower, fly out the door, rush to work, rush back home, take the dog out, gulp down dinner, play with the dog, do some work, jump in bed.

Every day.

Lately I've been asking myself... where's the quiet time? Where's the time to just be me and be creative or quiet or whatever it is I need to do to listen to myself and to God?

I try hard to talk to God in the 'everyday' moments - in the car, in the shower, etc. - because I know my life is so crazy.

But somehow, each day is crazy and busy and fast and I collapse into bed exhausted, feeling drained. I'm happy and I'm blessed and I'm so thankful - I just want to be sure I'm managing my time well enough to have quiet time every day.

I don't really think I'm horrible at time management - after years and years of schooling, I'm sure I am managing time well. I'm not really overcommitted because I really don't commit to much these days - other than running a business.

So... help! How do you slow down and make time for quiet time, for you, for God, for creativity? I'm interested to hear your ideas. Because one thing is for sure, year after year for the rest of my life, I can't let time slip away even faster.

The Ugliest Dog You've Ever Seen.

2013-01-29T08:17:00.002-05:00

That's what I almost titled this week's vlog, simply because if I titled it "cute puppy" - it would be just another cute puppy video on YouTube. I'm not a proud dog mom or anything. Right?

I didn't realize until I started editing the vlog exactly how much footage we've been able to get of Zoey. I promise not every vlog will be only Zoey footage - but since you haven't "met" her yet on video I decided this one would be devoted to her hard-to-miss presence in our household.

Blurry iphone photo... a mess of clothes and hangers!

Mr. D and I had a nice weekend - we ran some errands, I watched a ton of figure skating (Nationals!) on TV, and I cleaned out two closets worth of clothes (and several drawers). I didn't realize how many clothes I have accumulated over the last few years. I still had clothes hanging in my closet from college that I obviously have not worn in a very long time. It was exhilarating to just start cleaning out and making piles. I had a pile of things to keep but to put in the attic in a box instead of just hanging in my closet, and a separate pile to take to Goodwill. In the end I had two big boxes for the attic and two huge bags for Goodwill. My closet is now organized by season/type and within those sections it is organized by color. Type A, maybe?!

On a completely different note... I'm so honored to be serving as a Community Leader in the vlogging niche at Blissdom this year. I can't wait to get to Texas and spend three days with amazing ladies - I know it is going to be so inspiring! If you're going - please let me know! If you're considering going - just email me and I can talk you into it! ;)

Okay, now for the vlog - lots of cute puppy-ness in this one... enjoy!

2013... Off with a bang and a bark.

2013-01-16T14:26:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year, friends!

I can't believe we're already halfway through the first month of the year. I hate that I haven't posted in so long but December was just a whirlwind for us. I have a lot to catch up on! I will do some detailed posts soon, but here is a recap.

We went to Charlotte for Christmas and we both came down with the flu. I got the flu shot on a Thursday and the flu on Sunday. I don't think they were related but I do think the shot actually lessened the severity of it for me. I basically slept all through Christmas Eve, Christmas, and the next couple of days and had a sore throat but that was it. Poor Mr. D was much sicker than I was.

We came back to town and saw Les Mis on the Thursday after Christmas. It was AMAZING. It's a long movie, but so worth it. Highly recommend it!

Then we hopped on a plane to Nashville to spend New Year's weekend with my dad. We had a great time - and Kelly and Ryan were there, too - and we saw some great live music, had lots of good meals, and had plenty of relaxation. It was perfect!

We came home from Nashville and a couple of days later, we zipped off for a two hour car ride to pick up Zoey, our new puppy! She's a goldendoodle and is full of personality. When you say a puppy is full of personality, it means they're crazy. Ha! She's super sweet but she's definitely a puppy and she loves to jump and bite. We're trying to stop that as quickly as we can!

So that's what we've been up to. I will be back with detailed posts and some vlogs but in the meantime... here's some pictures of sweet, crazy Zoey!

Happy Wednesday!

Little Zoey and Favorite TV Shows

2012-12-11T09:56:00.001-05:00

Thanks for all of your sweet comments about the puppy! We decided to go with the smaller apricot one who will probably shed less. We are naming her Zoey! Welcome to the family little Zoey!

The breeder sent us these pics since the only ones we had were of her sleeping. We get to pick her up the first weekend in January. She is four weeks in these pictures. She'll probably end up being around two feet tall and between 45-60 pounds. I can't wait to spoil her rotten!

We have been addicted to some good TV lately. We love coming home from work and snuggling up on the couch and watching mindless TV!

image via

If you follow me on twitter you have probably seen me talk a lot about Duck Dynasty. Friends, I beg of you, if you are not watching this show please start now. It comes on A&E and I am usually about to fall off the couch I'm laughing so hard. Uncle Si is my favorite! Hey, Jack!

image via

Homeland is another of our favorites! This is probably my all-time favorite TV show, and it's only on the second season. My blood pressure goes through the roof when I watch this show, but I love it. Hands down the best show on TV!

What TV shows are you watching right now?

The Cuteness Almost Killed Me.

2012-12-08T17:28:00.000-05:00

Today Mr. D and I went puppy shopping!!

We have been talking about getting a dog and have been doing a lot of research. We are looking at goldendoodles because they don't shed and are great family dogs.

We went to a breeder today and we are deciding between two adorable ones.

The white one with the straighter coat - she's a little bigger and may shed more but boy is she cute:

And then the apricot colored one who is a little smaller and has little white marks on the tips of all of her feet. She has a more wavy coat that's a little thinner and she showed a ton of personality. We only got pictures of her while she was asleep:

Ahh! The cuteness! As you can see we have a tough decision to make. I initially wanted one that looks more like the white one but I'm nervous she will be a huge dog and may shed more since she has more of a golden retriever coat. At the same time, I don't want the adult coat to be super curly and it's hard to tell how curly the apricot one's coat will end up being. Maybe Mr. D will let me get them both??! (ha ha just kidding!)

Any of you Goldendoodle owners have any thoughts/advice?