How Have I Been You Ask?

Happy Friday Everyone.

I’ve been getting asked how I’ve been feeling with the pregnancy so I thought I’d do a post to fill you all in.

The answer is: Not so well.

About three weeks ago I was certain that I was turning a corner - but it was a tease. My energy was up for one day which allowed me to do a few loads of laundry, do some dusting, tidy up the rooms in our home, and hang some pictures on our walls. The very next day, I was back to feeling awful. And now, many weeks later, I’m still on that train {begging for the conductor to let me off}.

While although the Dr. hasn’t put me on bed rest, that’s where I spend every day – in bed. Feeling miserable. But I bare it, because really…do I have any other choice? My disposition has been like the weather – glum. And when I utter even one complaint about how terrible I’m feeling I feel guilty about it. I definitely recognize this pregnancy as a blessing, especially when so many women can’t conceive and would trade places with me in a heartbeat.

I had assumed that when getting pregnant, the entire experience would be a joyful one. I have yet to arrive at that point. My mornings, afternoons, and evenings are still filled with nausea and profuse vomiting. And while some days are better than others, none of them are great. I went to the grocery store with my husband this week and just ten minutes of walking around, combined with a short car ride, had me throwing up in a bag in the car. Needless to say, my little “outing” didn’t go so well. I recognized early on in my pregnancy that I was car sick but I thought I would give it another try since the last time I was in a car was almost four weeks ago when I went to my Dr.’s appointment. Apparently motion sickness is still something that I’m battling…among back aches, a constant stuffy nose, sensitivity to smells, and I can’t even watch food commercials {gag!}. Your body truly does go through so many changes when you’re carrying a little baby inside of you. My wonderful husband and amazing mother have been so loving, and have been taking such good care of me.

There’s a lot more to relay but I’ll save my other musings for future posts. I don’t want to unload everything on you in one day. After all, it’s Friday.

P.S.

I’m officially in my second trimester {just entered my fourth month} and I pray that better days are ahead. Speaking of prayer…I definitely believe in the power of it. For those of you who do too, I would appreciate being added to your prayer list. I know that what I’m going through is minimal compared to what other people in this world are facing but I know that God hears all prayers and He is no respecter of persons {James 2:1}.

P.S.S.

Our little one is going to be born in winter and I'm all about keeping him or her warm - and looking stylish too! I love handmade crocheted hats and booties...not only because they're so cute, but because they are soft and will keep our bundle of joy nice and cozy. Lookie what I found on Etsy...

Found on Etsy here

Found on Etsy here

Found on Etsy here

Found on Etsy here

Found on Etsy here

And these darling little handknit shoes and boots can be found on Etsy here.

Old Rustic Barn Transformed

Who said that small receptions, inside of a barn, couldn't be {more than} lovely? I'd love to pull up a chair at one of these colorful guest tables {which pairs vibrant linens with bursts of bright flowers that are sitting pretty in a charming turquoise vase}. And those chivari chairs complete the look of the table, while the white draping adds to the ambience, beautifully.

photo credit: Becker

Lush and White, and Oh So Pretty

Mr. Wonderful and I sat in bed one night and talked about the beauty of renewing our vows every few years or so. Not a big chin-dig. Just the two of us. And for our first renewal, we're thinking a beautiful backdrop in say...Italy? Loving it. A romantic vaca to my favorite place in all the world. Just me and my luva.

And I'll be sure that when the time comes to renew our vows, my bouquet will look exactly like this one {a gorgeous lush arrangement of peonies, with a few white roses tucked here and there}, in all its beauty...

photo credit: Sarak K. Chen

When You Marry, Do You Stay the Same Person?

For the second week in a row, I tuned in to watch “Miami Social” on Bravo. Why? I’m not too sure. The show reminds me of a soap opera, and I don’t like soap operas - therefore, it’s unlikely that I will be a regular viewer of this show. Although…I do like reality tv, so who knows how many more episodes I’ll take in.

Anyhow...

I want to set up one of the scenes for you and then ask for your feedback.

One of the gents on the show has been with his girlfriend for six years. They live together. They have been engaged twice. She’s in her thirties, yearning for a baby – and he’s…well…not on the same page.

Fast forward to him having a conversation with one of his buds in which he says that things are going really well with him and his girlfriend and in talking about the possibility of marriage with his friend, he says that marriage doesn’t change things. That the two of them will remain the same people.

Really?

I thought about his statement.

And I disagree with it.

Here are my reasons why:

• I don’t think that anyone really remains “the same person” throughout their marriage – or their lifetime. There are so many experiences that we will all go through that will mold us into more mature, refined, people - who, overtime, become more aware of who we are, what we love, and the kind of person that we want to be. {And let’s not even talk about what happens when children are thrown in the mix. I don’t think anyone is ever “the same” after that point, in which so much responsibility needs to be embraced}.
  
• It’s my personal opinion that when you get married, you transition into a new part of your life. One in which sacrifices and compromises are made – or at least they should be if you have a respect for your partner and find their happiness to be just as important as your own. You have to come to joint decisions on things, rather than things always going the way that you're used to...your way.
  
• Before getting married, there is still a sense of individual space {especially if you are not living together before tying the knot}. Once you are married, and living together, your space is shared and there is no longer such a thing as “mine” or “yours”.
  
• Marriage officially blends two families. To put it simply: You enter into a new realm once you cross over from being a girlfriend or a boyfriend, and formally become a “wife” or a “husband”.
  
• Depending upon the choice that you make as a couple, you may decide to combine your money. And we all know that finances can be a stressful issue within a marriage.
  
• With all that said, I don’t think that someone’s personality, dreams, aspirations, goals, time with friends, love for travel, etc. have to change once they get married. Obviously your partner fell in love with you for who you are. But I think we should all be aware that we are all prone to change as the years go on.
• Lastly, one of the greatest things about marriage is that you've become a TEAM. And part of being a team means sharing in times of triumph, and times of struggle. And while although inconstistancy can sometimes bring uncertainty, if both people do their fair share of loving unconditionally {through whatever changes may come}, the two people will be all the more better for eachother as they grow in their marriage with one another.

Again, the above is just my opinion.

So what are your thoughts?

Do you think that when two people get married, they will remain the same people?

Let's Help Out A Bride-to-Be Win a Fabulous Honeymoon!

My best blogging friend in the Blogosphere is Amy Jean. We are both originally from California, we both share a love for real Mexican food, and we are both {dare I say} perfectionists. Aside from these commonalities, we connected in many other ways and while she continues to plan her fabulous upcoming wedding, I share in her excitement...and the possibility of her winning a dream honeymoon to St. Kitts!! Amy Jean is a gem and I can't think of anyone else I know who is more deserving.

Amy Jean's blog, The Relentless Bride, has been nominated for Best Real Bride Wedding Blog on the Wedding Channel website and I'm asking for your help to get Amy Jean and her future hubby on over to St. Kitts! PLEASE go here and vote for her! {Vote as many times as you can until midnight tonight!}

Our Wedding: The Toasts

I had initially planned on giving a short toast to honor my deceased father but my Father-in-Law {who was the first to initiate the toasts} ended up extending the most heartwarming toast that eventually had me in tears, and seemingly covered everything that I had planned on saying. His toast was meaningful in so many ways. He delivered very sentimental words to my husband and I, talked about how we have grown from children into two adults who have fallen in love, shared endearing memories as a father would to his son, talked about how he was gaining another daughter that day, and proceeded to bless our marriage...

But the part that got me emotional was when my father-in-law asked for all of our guests to have a moment of silence in honor of my father. The silence was followed by some amazing words about my father and concluded with everyone toasting to his memory and to the start of our life as a married couple. The picture below will show you how I was in that very moment.

Mr. Wonderful's best man was next to toast to us. As he was talking, I remember thinking to myself, "Wow - he is really delivering some profound, heartfelt words". His toast was so sincere and everything that he said was so genuine.

I was definitely touched by his words...

Up next was a toast by one of my bridesmaids - who is also my cousin. Among many beautiful words that she spoke, she talked about how special our coming together was and how we have formed an incredible bond that we're both certain will continue to grow even stronger {we met for the first time after we both coincidently moved to Atlanta around the same time}. She also touched on how the people who have passed away {my father, her mother, and our grandmother} have a way of connecting people here on earth and how there is such beauty in that.

My cousin has become more than just family to me...she is one of my closest friends. It was so special to have her be a part of our wedding day. She was there for me in every single way.

These toasts were really getting to me...

Up next was an impromptu toast by my uncle – actually, he led all of our guests into a spontaneous song of “Que Sera, Sera” – a song that my grandmother, who had passed away around a year ago, used to sing to all of her kids and grandkids. Everyone sang along and it was a special moment in the evening that everyone absolutely loved.

It was the perfect way to end the toasts because it left us with smiles on our faces...

photo credit: Karen Nickel Photography

It's True

When you’re pregnant, you pee 99 times a day. And that’s on a good day. And I gotta say…it’s really annoying.

When I’m watching a good tv show {which is hard to come by these days}, I try to “hold it” until the commercial break. Sometimes I can. Most times I can’t. But at all times, I really shouldn’t. I read somewhere, some time ago, that you should allow your bladder to do its thing when it needs to. I should heed to that rule.

I haven’t yet ventured on a long car ride but I’m certain that we’ll be turning off every third exit once that time comes.

On average, I get up about five times during the night to pay a visit to the good ‘ol porcelain toilet bowl. I’m about ready to cut a hole on my side of the mattress and make things easy on myself {hey - maybe I should paten that bright idea. joking}.

Whether I guzzle several ounces of water, or eat just a few slices of an apple, it’s “hi-ho…hi-ho…off to the toilet I go”. It’s a good thing that my husband is a sound sleeper otherwise he too would be getting up about five times a night.

Let’s not talk about what happens when I get nice and settled in a warm bath. And although I’m pregnant, I’m not so lazy that I don’t get out, so please…don’t think otherwise. Although I do admit to staying in the tub for just a minute or so even after the water drains. I love a soothing tubby…every last minute of it.

I envy all you women who can sleep through the night without getting up to “guess what word goes here”.

Oh - commercial break. Gotta “go”.

I'm Hangin' a Left

I want to thank all of you who have left me such sweet comments following the announcement of my pregnancy. The fact that you are reading this new semi-lengthy post is a sign that I am hopefully turning a corner. While I still have no appetite and spend every morning in front of a bucket {I got "sick" of looking at porcelain so I changed the scenery to plastic}, I'm now down to taking one zofran pill a day and the nausea is beginning to subside a bit. I pray that total relief is on the way. If God could Fed-Ex overnight it, that would be awesome. I'd love to hang a left on "All Better" avenue.

Yesterday I felt that I needed a vacation from pregnancy so I took one. I went to Bali, stopped over in Egypt, paid a short trip to Negril, swung over to Iceland - but not before seeing the Maldives - and then turned the page and took in Spain. That's right. While in the tub, I had a magazine in my two hands that showcased the most beautiful resorts in all the world, and even if it was all my imagination, I "went there" - to all of those fabulous places. I had a much needed twenty minute vacation. Ahhh - I feel so much more relaxed.

I've been wondering what to do with this blog of mine now that the wedding has come and gone. It was so fulfilling to document my journey to the altar and then share with you all how beautifully everything came together. But now what? While many of you have hinted about a baby blog, the shift from writing about weddings to writing about the anticipation of our baby is quite a topic change. Do I create an entire new blog, or do I have this blog blend two of the most happiest times in my life? I'd love your feedback.

I'm off to put my hand in a jolly rancher bag.

It's Official

I am thrilled to let you all know that our wedding is going to be featured in the 2010 Spring/Summer issue of The Knot Georgia!! And although we're going to have to wait for a bit to see it grace the pages, it doesn't take away from the excitement that beautiful images from our special day are going to be highlighted as a "Real Wedding Story" in this top wedding magazine!!

I'm off to complete the questionnaire and give all the details of how our amazing wedding day came together - right after I do a two minute happy dance!!

It's going to be so special to one day share this issue with our children...and you better believe we will buy enough copies of this edition that even our grandchildren will own a copy!!

Today's My Birthday

photo credit: Tea Cake Bake Shop

Today I cross over from my twenties into my thirties. A smooth transition that I happily embrace. Although...I did have a dream last night that I was the female version of Benjamin Button. No lie. Wonder what the underlying meaning of that dream was?! Ha! It followed by another dream of me being in a field of Sees Candies. I was just about to get some raspberry creams when I awoke to the false reality. So not right.

This past year has brought me so many blessings. Mr. Wonderful and I bought a brand new home, we had an exquisite and unforgettable wedding, we honeymooned in two amazing places and made special memories there...and the latest news to share is...we're expecting a baby!!

We've been married almost 14 weeks and I'm 12 weeks pregnant. Personally, I believe we brought back a permanent souvenier from our 2 week honeymoon, but the Dr. says we likely conceived the week after we returned. I honestly didn't think we {well, technically, I} would get pregnant so soon {heck, it took the eldest Duggar and his wife 5 months to conceive}; apparently I'm married to a sharp shooter! I've been given the due date of January 13th - we, and our parents, are elated! We broke the exciting news to our mothers on Mother's Day; the timing was perfect.

While I am overjoyed to be carrying a little miracle inside of me, I have been severely sick with the worst "morning/noon/night sickness" imaginable. Thankfully, I don't have to work during this exasperating time. I've lost 17 pounds so far because of the nausea and vomiting that I deal with on a daily basis. Every day I pray for relief and try to maintain faith that it will eventually come. I've tried everything that has been recommended to me by others - nothing has helped the sickness to subside. The Dr. has put me on three different types of medications, trying to find the one that will work for me - only one of them brings about mild, and very temporary, relief. I've even had to be hospitalized once. They say things will ease up by the end of the first trimester - I'm praying so. Some women go through a majority, and even sometimes their entire pregnancy, coping with severe sickness - yet they all say that once the baby is born, all is forgotten. Really?? Forgotten?? I have a pretty good memory!! Ha!

Needless to say, this is why I haven't been tending to this blog daily. Because of how sick I have been, nearly all day (every day), is spent in bed. I can't wait to return to my old self.

Thank you to all of you who have shared in my happiness of becoming a Mrs. and now in my joy of becoming a Mommy!

Wishing all of you a fun-filled and safe 4th of July weekend!

Keepin' It Spicy

I intended to take these dice with us on our honeymoon but they didn't make it into the suitcase. Not to worry, they'll come out of the packaging soon enough...

Found at...the Dollar Store!