I Turned 30! Part 2 Of Where I've Been....

I turned 30th on August 5th. My husband, being the amazing man he is, bought my BFF a plane ticket to come celebrate with me. Our time together was much too short - as it always is - but I was so happy I got to spend my 30th birthday with her. She flew in the morning of my birthday and we spent the day at the salon with her NJ competition. After that, we went to dinner with Rob's parents. I wanted Chase to come with us, so I picked a restaurant that was family friendly, but still has amazing food. The next day we headed down the shore. It was so hot! Like really, really hot. I think I almost passed out on the beach. The next afternoon she left to go back to GA. We were able to fit in a few hours of shopping before her flight left.
Dani- I miss you! Come visit again soon!!! Chase misses you too.

Danielle and Chase. Isn't she pretty?

Danielle and I before my dinner.

Birthday Dinner. Rob, me, Rob's dad, Rob's mom, Danielle and Chase.

Rob's dad.

Rob and I.

Danielle and Chase after dinner.

Down the shore. Chase obviously was forced to take this picture. He looks like he's standing at attention!

Getting Ready...

I'm 23 weeks pregnant today. In 3 months my maternity leave will start - I can't wait!!! My plan is to be out until April and come back to work part time until Chase starts Kindergarten. To say I'm stressed is an understatement. I'm not really sure how to express how I feel about having two kids - a combination of shear joy and gut wrenching fear. I know I can handle the physical and psychological demands of having two kids, but the financial part of it scares the crap out of me. I know I need to trust that the Lord has a plan for us and our finances - He will provide everything we need. TRUST and FAITH... I may have to write it on post-it notes all over my house so I don't forget.

Where I've Been.... Busy (Part 1)

Time flies in the summer! Maybe more when you have a 3 year old, a full time job, a husband and are pregnant! I can't believe how long it's been since I blogged. What is wrong with me?! I know, exhaustion... :)
So this is what I've been up to....
Over the 4th of July my SIL and nephew came to visit. We had a very busy few days together.

Gabe is the mini me version of my brother. I love him so much! I was so glad we got to spend time with him. He was an angel the entire visit... I miss him.

Chase and all of his cousins. Every one of them. Gabe is his only cousin on my side of the family. Angelica, Madison, Rylee and Scott are Rob's sister's kids. Angelica is 15 going on 25.

We did fireworks in our backyard instead of driving to see them. Chase was scared of the big ones, but did great with the sparklers. Yeah, we are the worlds best parents letting our child hold fire.

We went to this tiny zoo in DE. It was like looking at animals on the sun - I think it must have been 110 degrees that day.

We also made a trip into Philly to the Please Touch Museum. Chase loved it!! He asked when we could go again.

I think Gabe liked it too!!

My brother, Mary Jane and Gabe are going to visit again after Baby T is born. I can't wait to see them all. I miss my brother alot.

Part 2 coming later today or tomorrow.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas?!?!?!
Yes, Christmas.
The Christmas season always makes me think about the blessings in my life. My son. My husband. The birth of my Savior. My family. My friends.
The blessings of this Christmas are going to be more than I can imagine. The blessing of a new baby. A new little person to add to our family of 3. I will become a mother again and Rob a father. Chase will become a big brother. This makes me smile and thank God for all he has done and will do for us this year.

** This is the reason I have not blogged in so long. The nausea and fatigue really hit me hard. I'm finally starting to feel "normal" again.

8 Years Ago... Where It All Began

Rob and I were married 8 years ago today in Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada! We were planning a large wedding, but decided Vegas was a better option because of it's affordability. So, four weeks after we were "engaged" we flew out with only his best friend and his girlfriend. I wanted to share some wedding pics, but couldn't find them lastnight in our flooded basement (another post all together) but I will try and eventually post them.

This is the chapel where we were married. It was right out of 1975 - wood paneling and all!

Looking back I sometimes wish we had a large wedding, but then I think about how much I love Rob and know that it isn't the wedding that matters, but the marriage.

Happy Anniversary Rob! I love you! Thank you for being such a wonderful husband and the best dad ever (that's what Chase told me the other night and I agree). Thank you for all you do for us and for loving me long after my prime. ;)

Happy Easter... Monday

Oops... I meant to post this weekend, but things got crazy!
Friday I was off so Chase and I made it to Good Friday service. It was really nice... with the exception of the Philly traffic on a Friday!
Yesterday was a very nice Easter Sunday! Church was awesome! I kept getting chills. We sang all of my favorite hymns and afterwards had a so, so breakfast at a new restaurant in town. After our naps, we headed over to Rob's sister's house to celebrate with his family.

When Chase saw the table he said "The bunny came..." very calm with no excitement at all. I asked him what was there and all he said was "candy"... Nothing about his monster truck, or his new Phils t or even the book he has been pestering me about for weeks. Eventually, he got excited...

The following pictures are proof that Chase is a descendant of a Redneck family. On my southern side, not Rob's southern New Jersey side.

Clean, happy and blowing bubbles with his cousins.
This is where it starts. No shoes.

No shoes... on a Barbie Quad.

At this point, I looked outside and saw him. I told my mother-in-law that he was "such a redneck"... She thought it was pretty funny knowing my family and all. ;)

No shoes... holding a Walmart bag. Enough said.

Hope you had a wonderful Easter celebrating the Risen King!

Sick...

We are sick, sick, sick... And snowed in! I'm going back to bed.

Peace.

Resolutuions???

Since today is New Years Eve, I was thinking about resolutions. I'm not a resolution type of person, but I do like the idea of setting goals for the New Year. Maybe even saying a hopeful prayer for the year ahead. Maybe both. Goals are good. Prayers are good.

Goals:

-lose the last 20 pregnancy pounds. Yes, I have 20 extra pounds left from being pregnant 3 years ago! Sad, I know. I did gain 10 or so pounds prior to actually being pregnant because of medication I had to take. I'm going to start Weight Watchers again next week. It's tough and I STARVE the first week or two, but I lost 12 pounds last year when I did it. Jules, over at Pancakes and French Fries, wrote an excellent post yesterday about starting Weight Watchers again and I was super encouraged.

- spend more quality time with Chase. I work a full time job so life is pretty hectic in the evenings. Weekends are normally packed with errands, cleaning, play dates, ect. so Chase and I don't get as much quality time together as I would like. I don't work because I want to - I work because I have to. If it were up to me, I would quit today. I have to work to provide food, a home and clothing for my son. That's all my job is - a means to provide for my family. Unfortunately, it takes up most of my week.

- find a new job.

- enjoy the next 12 months as a family of 3. I hope to be pregnant next year (God willing) and I want to make sure that I soak up every second of the next year with Rob and Chase.

- pray more.

- shop less and save more!!

- start a bible study and a daily devotional.

- be a better friend. I don't think I'm a bad friend, but I want to be a better friend. My friendships are very important to me and as I get older good friends are few and far between.

- get a new camera and take a photography class. (this may not go with shopping less)

There are a million other goals I could set for myself, but I think this is a good starting point.

Although times are tough, I thank God everyday for my family and friends. I thank Him for my home and food on my table. Bills may get paid late, but atleast we have the means to eventually pay them. Rob works two jobs, but I am thankful that the darn papers can be delivered in the morning before his "real" job.

Thank you Lord for this boy! He's my love....

On a side note, see the bandaid on Chase's arm? There isn't a boo boo there. He wears them as stickers and calls them bug bites. Strange.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

Busy Busy

I have been so busy since we got home from VA - thus the lack of posts. I plan to post the rest of the VA pics this week. Here are a few more taken with my brother Polaroid iphone app. I LOVE it. I need an iphone.

It's funny - When I look through the pics from VA (especially the one above of Chase), it looks like my grandparents home is straight out of 1974. Wait, it is! :) It wouldn't feel like their house if they changed it though.


I miss you sweet Gabe. I hope we get to see each other again soon. Maybe in the spring.

Papa loves babies. He says every home should have atleast one baby at all times. It probably has to do with him being 1 of 10 children!

VA - Part 1

Thursday night, Friday and Friday night we stayed in Richmond with some college friends. I didn't take ANY pictures!! Bummer because her kids are adorable and Chase had so much fun playing with them.
Sonja, Brandon, Micah and Braden - Thank you so much for letting us stay with you. We miss you guys so much and always have such a nice time when we are all together. I hope we get to see you soon!!
We left Richmond Saturday morning and headed to Lynchburg to see my family. My Nannie and Papa live in Lynchburg and my brother drove up from GA for the weekend. The main reason we were all together was to celebrate my Papa's 80th birthday! I was also there to see my nephew who I hadn't seen since he was born in September (9/9/09).

{Chase in the car - He was so good the entire trip. Thanks buddy!!}

{Chase and his Papa on the lawn mower. My Papa's "thing" is cutting grass. Every grandchild and now great grandchild has ridden on his lawn mowers. I remember it was always the highlight of our family trips to visit Nannie and Papa. The first thing Chase did was run into the backyard and get on the tractor with Papa. He LOVED it!!}

{Gabe and Nannie. I'm not sure how to rotate my picture - ugh!}

Papa's party to follow.

VA in Poloroid Pictures

We're back! Here is a brief post of some awesome pictures I took with my brother's iphone. Gabe is amazing! I hated to leave him... He is such a good baby and super cute too! We had a nice visit with friends and family but are very glad to be home. We hit hella traffic in DC yesterday driving home. What normally takes around 5 hours took 8! Chase was a trooper though and did great considering he was in his car seat for an entire day!! More pics and a detailed post to come later today or first thing tomorrow. Just in case, Happy Turkey Day! I hope everyone has as much to be thankful for as I do! :)

Venting...

Sorry to be Debbie Downer today. I'm a little anxious and stressed. I have alot to do before leaving for VA tomorrow night. I know I can get it done, I just need to stop worrying about it. Also, I have a pimple the size of a grape fruit on my chin. What the?!?! I thought pimples stopped after high school. Annoying. I feel like people are staring at it when they talk to me. Of course I can't leave it alone, so now it's a red, swollen, flaky mess. It picked the worst time to rear it's ugly head because when I'm in VA someone always has something to say about 1) my weight or 2) the pimple on my face. It's awesome. Totally reassuring.

J Crew what the what!? Why are you so expensive? I love you so much but I refuse to pay for your clothes. Back in the day you were so affordable. Word on the street is that high school kids in Atlanta are buying your clothes now. High School kids? Really? What about the "real" people who don't have rich parents?

I will try and focus on the positive the rest of the day - I get to see Gabe in 2 days, I get to celebrate my Papa's 80th birthday, my son is somewhat healthy, my husband is wonderful and loving his new job, I have food to eat tonight and a roof over my head. Thank you Lord for all you have given our family.

My "Annie"

Yesterday was my Nannie's birthday. I forgot to call her. I feel awful.
I'm sorry Nannie! I love you so very much! I wish you lived closer so I could spend more time with you. Remember when you used to tell me that you wished you could shrink me down and put me in your pocked so I could go home to VA with you - I wish you could have too!!
I can't wait to see you in November for Papa's party. I hope you had a great birthday!
**Isn't she beautiful?!?!?
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Let's Go Phillies, Let's Go!!!

Fall baseball is the best! The post season. The weather. The excitement! Our Phillies are only 6 games away from making it into the post season! It's an exciting time here in Philly!
I have been a baseball "fan" since the Braves won the World Series in the 90's. I lived in Georgia then and was able to go to a playoff game as well as a World Series game - it was the highlight of my year! Since I was only 13 or 14 at the time, I didn't fully understand what a true fan was so after the excitement of winning seasons wore off, I didn't really care about baseball all that much anymore.
When Rob and I moved to New Jersey 8 years ago I learned what true "Phans" were. Not initially, but after a few years I became quite the baseball fan. We had season tickets in 2007 and hope to have them again in the seasons to come. Chase knows the players names and will point out Ryan Howard and Chase Utley when he sees them on TV. He knows J.A. Happ is a pitcher and how to say Rauuuuuul Ibanez perfectly. He hasn't been to a game yet - we plan to take him next season when he will hopefully remember it better and enjoy it more. I know now what a "Phan" is and will never stop loving the Phils, nor will I let Chase forget where his love of baseball began. I see people like my husband who have been Phillies fans for 35 years and want that for Chase.... and myself!

** If, one day, Chase is a professional baseball player for a team other than the Phillies, I will deny I ever wrote this! However, if he is playing for the Mets, I may have to disown him. :)

You Would Think He Was From the South

Yep, that's my husband.... The handsome one on the left. He's a hunter and bow season started last weekend. That's his 1996 Ford Bronco next to him. It's for sale. What to buy it? Let me know.

I don't think he's going hunting this weekend - it's too bad becasue he really enjoys it. For him, it's a good way to destress and spend time with friends he doesn't get to see often. Hopefully next weekend.

PS - We eat deer meat (Rob more than me). What we don't eat, gets donated to shelters to help feed the homeless.

John Gabriel

This is my nephew - Gabe. John is my Papa's name. Gabe is my little brother's first child.

He was born 9/9/09. He is a peanut weighing only 7 pounds/8 ounces. I haven't met him yet because my brother and sister in law live in Georgia and I'm in New Jersey. I will get to meet him in November at my Papa's 80th birthday party. It will also be the first time my Papa is meeting his namesake and his 6th GREAT grandson.... none of his 7 grandchildren have a girl (much to my Nannie's dismay).

I love this little boy so very much! When Chase was born, I didn't think I could love another person as much as I loved him, but Gabe comes very close. He is my blood. My nephew. My brother's legacy. My sister in law's angel. My son's cousin. A blessing from God to our family.
I love you baby Gabe!

***I do feel bad that I am posting about him before my own child, but I received this photo yesterday and I can't stop looking at it.