Change is Coming

Did you think I was referencing the inauguration? Nope.

After a day of watching what seemed like endless coverage, I have nothing left to say on that topic. Regardless of your political affiliation, today is historic. We will all likely remember where we were today.

And where was I?

Sitting in a hospital waiting room, having my blood drawn four times in 3 hours to determine whether I have gestational diabetes.

And I do.

I'm bummed, but not shocked. It's nothing I can't handle.

I'll have to test my blood sugar multiple times a day. It's a good thing I got over my fear of needles this summer when I had to shoot myself up in order to get pregnant.

So to borrow a line from our new president's campaign...

Can we do it?

Yes we can!

(But I'm really going to miss my carbs.)

Project 365: One week down, 51 more to go

Taking a picture every day is hard work!! Posting them to this blog every day would be darn near impossible! So, we'll shoot for weekly, hey? Or in this case, 9 days since I'll be gone for the next 10 days...more on that later.

01.01.09: ringing in the new year shooting a wedding. learning what it *really* feels like to be tired and pregnant. the remaining waking hours of the day I spent vegged on the couch trying to recover.

01.02.09: Operation Organization. Karl installed these cabinets for me to organize all my scrap stuff. Confession: I'm still not done organizing. It will be a long process.

01.03.09: Working on the first layout of 2009 during a crafty day with Barb. Creativity capped off with meatloaf, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, and cheesecake. It doesn't get much better than that!

01.04.09: the organization bug strikes again. After 2 years in the house, our kitchen items actually have a home.

01.05.09: After the first day back to work, Karl discovers Wii points and downloads Super Mario Bros 3. Harder than we remember

(insert pic here later it's on another memory card)

01.06.09: 1st client meeting of the year. lugging albums to Starbucks. Talking to a bride about 2010. Seems so far away!

01.07.09: Walker Wednesday!! Walker has discovered once he's tired of the couch in the office, he can sneak into the new guest room and sprawl out on the bed.

01.08.09 part 1: the screen I saw for the first quarter of the gator game. Hell hath no fury like a gator fan unable to watch her team in the National Championship!

01.08.09 part 2: a few hours later...victory!! Celebrating as quietly as possible as Karl and Walker slept in the other room, hence the silly self portrait!

01.09.08: Behold the overflowing suitcase. Florida bound in 24 hours!

And on that note...I'll see you guys next Sunday with plenty of Mickey and sunshine to share!

Have a great week!

Future Home of Monkey

Well after countless hours of web surfing and many more hours pining over the bedding set I really really loved, I think I have found bedding that I both love and can afford!!! (sidenote: Who spends 500 dollars on crib bedding, really? Do they not know babies poop and pee all over everything? No matter how cute it is, it just doesn't seem like money well spent!)

My "love at first sight" bedding involved sock monkeys. It was beautiful and gender neutral and not too baby-ish. I loved it. I did not love the price tag and the fact that the crib I was looking into would cost less than the bed set. So I went back to the drawing board, or the google search.

And today, just when I thought I would never find bedding I loved as much as my funky monkeys, I stumbled upon this. And the company that makes it is Banana Fish, which sounds kind of like Funky Monkey to me, right? :)

So I'm going to sleep on it, but I think this is the one. The color palette is perfect. I think the circles are whimsical but not babyish. It offers fun wall color options. It won't break the bank. And I will still be able to work my sock monkeys into wall prints and other decor.

Hey Monkey, if you like it...give me a kick!

Menu Planning Monday

Hold onto your hats! One of my goals for the new year is to do a better job of planning our meals. This will translate into better use of our money at the grocery store, less dining out, and a healthier household in general.

So, here's my plan for this week:

Monday: Roast chicken with stuffing and broccoli
Tuesday: Baked spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread.
Wednesday: taco soup
Thursday: dinner out (I have a late doctors appointment and we have a tradition of going out to eat after my appointments)
Friday: fend for yourself/clean out the fridge night. Because..
Saturday: the first of many meals at DISNEY WORLD!!!

I really want to try some new recipes this year. This week doesn't include any, but in future weeks I'll include the new recipes and a review on my blog.

Hope everyone is enjoying the final hours of Christmas vacation. It's back to the real world tomorrow!

From Bliss to Blessed

This will be my third year choosing a word to focus on rather than making resolutions. I feel like focusing on a word is far less stressful than a list of goals I may or may not meet.

In 2007 my word was FORWARD. I began the year feeling stagnant in many aspects of my life. By the end of 2007 I had grown my photography business to the point of being able to give my notice at the full time job. I found a new doctor who was committed to being more aggressive in diagnosing and treating my infertility. I also sought out and developed new friendships I felt my life was lacking. All of these things moved me forward into a happier place than where I began.

In 2008 my word was BLISS. That's where the title of my blog came from. Last year I set out to follow my dreams. I left my job in television to devote myself to our photography business. I banished white walls from my home. I made time for good friends. I took better care of myself and focussed on better mental and physical health. And while the months of hormones and injections were anything but blissful, our fertility treatments resulted in our little monkey who will make his/her way into the world in 2009.

So here were are in 2009 and my word from the year is BLESSED. So many things will change this year and I know my life will never be the same. With those changes will come new challenges. And if I focus on that part of it, I get a little panicked. Now that I've found my bliss, what exactly do I do with it?? That's why I'm choosing to focus on how I've been blessed. If I can end every day with one blessing in my mind, I think I'll make it through. This year will be about embracing, and being thankful for, those little things. Like the laptop I'm typing on right now, allowing me to write with my feet propped up on the couch. :)

I'm so excited to document 2009. The year I turn 30. The year I become a mom. The year I watch more of my friends welcome babies. So much to be thankful for already!