OH Baby!

So as you have probably noticed - I took a little break from the blog. I felt like I really didn't have much to talk about anymore and since I sit at a computer all day long at work - I didn't really feel like doing the same thing when I got home. A break of a week turned in to 2 and then it turned into months. Everyone deserves a vacation though, right?? But, I think it's time I gave a little update - even if not blogging every day, a baby deserves to be talked about! :)

We finally did it. During Feb/March we did a double IUI with hormone shots and finally got pregnant! We have been over the moon ever since. I knew right away that I was pregnant, the whole experience just felt different and I was very positive about it. Instead of waiting the whole 12 days before taking a pregnancy test, I waited 9 and got a very faint pink line! After that of course I tested each day after and the line grew darker. A blood test at the fertility clinic confirmed our pregnancy and it wasn't until then that we finally believed it to be true. The first several weeks I was pretty sick with morning (all day) sickness but then my lovely doctor at the fertility clinic gave a prescription for Diclegis and I felt so much better! I was fairly tired too and really hated to keep such a big secret! We did let our families in on it right away though! 

Here are some bumpdate photos....(ignore the lovely work bathroom)

And this week.... full frontal!

Just about a month ago we found out that we are having a BOY. We didn't know what to expect and certainly didn't care! We are just thrilled to be expanding our family with this little one! Once I reached the second trimester, it was like a switch flipped and I felt more energized and could get off the nausea medication! Since then I have been planning for the nursery and having fun registering! We have also been doing a lot of traveling - last month we were in Europe, this month in Buffalo NY, and next month to New Orleans! We have also spent a few weekends in the mountains of NC. As I get closer to the third trimester I have been feeling the baby moving around more and more. What a crazy feeling! And as for cravings, it was watermelon and now it's cereal or just carbs in general.

So here we are, on our way to being a family of 3 (plus Brees of course!)

Happy Happy!

Happy Birthday... to my main squeeze!

Throw Back Thursday!

Last night my dad sent me pictures of he and my mom on their honeymoon. They went to California and Hawaii! I love that Dave and I had our honeymoon in Hawaii too!

Check out dad's bucket hat. He says he thought "the hat was great.... at the time..." LOL

Check out mom's seriously nice legs!

I think I act a lot like my mom, that's pretty apparent in the below picture.

Hehe check out this young chap!

 I thought this picture was cute!

Thanks for sending these to me Dad! They made me smile!

Happy #throwbackthursday everyone!

Derby Day

I got this email from our family friend DeAnn whose daughter hosted a Derby party today! My mom made such a huge impact on so many people and with Mother's Day coming up, this email couldn't have come at a better time. It made my heart smile so I just had to share.

"I thought you might like to see a FB post that Elissa put up today.  It's easy to see what a big impact your mom had on all of us.  She was more fun than anybody.  
Enjoy the Derby today.
Love,
DeAnn


From Elissa's Facebook post.

Yep, I think we're ready. Mint steeping, biscuits in the oven, and, of course, some Maker's to toast the late, great Kentucky lady, Mrs. Joan Conrad, who threw great Derby parties (in Southern California no-less). I think I was technically supposed to be babysitting at those parties, but all I remember was loving the Run for the Roses and all that came with it! Thanks Mrs. Conrad!"

Spring has sprung.... but only for a little while!

I can't believe the weather we are having! This weekend was very nice and yesterday it actually got HOT. Dave even got a "neck burn" while doing yard work! Temps will plunge later in the week but I am really enjoying the nice weather right now! Not to mention - daylight savings! Hurray for more light in the day! 

As I mentioned on Friday my parents came to town to do lunch with us on Saturday. We didn't end up going to Tupelo and instead went to Vivace. Our plans were really in the air because they were dealing with the power outage in High Point and hadn't had power since Thursday. So of course they decided to stay in Charlotte where power was not a problem and we were glad to have them! Haha. I called probably 15 places to make dinner reservations Saturday night no one had anything! So we ended up eating at a little place in our neighborhood called Intermezzo. Everyone really liked it! 

We had quite the busy weekend and I feel like I got a lot accomplished. Dinner is ready for tonight and the house is clean. Happy Monday!

Happy Valentine's Day 2014!

Well, we are still stuck a home but luckily both of us thought ahead and bought Valentine's cards earlier this week!

Dave always gets me one funny card and one serious card. This was the funny one and we have this very same conversation every weekend.

This one is the sweet romantic one and basically it sums up how wonderful I am :) haha. 

This one goes out to all the ladies.... it's a Bruno Mars kind of day. 

Happy V day!

Lately....

We had a wonderful and freezing cold time in the North Carolina mountains over Thanksgiving!

We cuddled up next to lots of nice warm fires! 

Then we got home and it was time to get busy decorating for Christmas! We wanted to add more to the front of our house so this year Dave got some icecicle lights from Lowe's and I hit up the 50% off Christmas sale at Hobby Lobby for some really great stuff!

I made this wreath thanks to Pinterest. A few of the balls have fallen off here and there but it was an inexpensive project and now we are just shutting the door more softly :)

The finished project. Dave was really proud of his icecicles.

Then we headed to the farmer's market to get our tree. Dave picked it out and he did a great job!

Here is our tree! The star is a bit crooked but I am okay with that as it just shows that our tree isn't a fake one! LOL. It's got character! I am so lucky to have collected so many great ornaments over the years from my god parents. Dave and I have been collecting some of our own but the majority are mine.

Then this past weekend my book club had a cookie making party at our friend Jenn's house. Another friend Kim made coconut curry for lunch. 

Jenn just had a baby, Savannah, I am totally smitten with her. We are taking selfies here.

Baking away...

We each brought our own stuff to make cookies - and then Jenn made these for us to decorate.

Here are a few I made.... 

Then the boys crashed the party and we said "go away!"

Kim is a natural with babies... as you can see here.

Merris a natural with the dogs... as you can see here.

I made no-bake haystack cookies. Recipe here. I recommend putting them in the fridge to set up.

Merris made these festive cookies....

Jenn's tree!

Ashley made peppermint oreo balls. This is before covering them with white chocolate.

Decorated cookies...

Kim's curry was her aunt's recipe and was really good - had a kick to it! It was served over rice noodles.

Just chattin it up!

Poor pregnant Lindsay was having a rough time with her white chocolate peppermint cookies. 

They still tasted great!

Sunday night we had friends over to watch the Saints v. Panthers football game. Here's the food table ;)

Our tree, again! :) Dave got an extra tv to put in the dining/bar area. It worked out perfectly!

My decorations on the mantle.

My mom's Santa collection.

More stocking fun....

Hello mister elf. I just love Mark Roberts elves. This one benefitted St. Jude's.

Since the tv was on the bar, we had to move the bar! The pitcher is full of a cider punch - 1/2 cider and 1/2 champagne! It hits the spot!

Backside of tree...

My grandmother gave my parents these cute singing carolers years ago... I think they're so cute.

My mom and my angels all together....

Little Savannah came to the party and of course is a Panther's fan....

.......BUT that didn't stop me from trying to sway her to the black and gold! :)