Blogiversary & New Year

Wow, time sure does fly. It's my two-year blog-iversary (well, yesterday) and crazily enough, it's already 2013. My first thought when I saw the date today was to panic just a bit. Probably because everything that seemed so far away, suddenly seem to be right around the corner. I mean, we start childbirth classes THIS WEEKEND. What?! How did this happen? How am I 30 weeks along?

But the truth is that I couldn't be happier that 2013 is here. I was a little bittersweet about 2012 ending, only because I feel like it was a really, really wonderful year for us. I mean, we gained a new sister-in-law, were blessed with the sweetest little nephew and of course we have a baby on the way. What else? Well, I finished re-doing our master bedroom, threw an awesome baby shower for my sis, went on a really fun vacay and lots more... but for the past 6 months, it's really been all about baby.

But, let's get to it - the top posts of 2012:
5. Pregnancy: Week 14-17 in Review
4. Announcing Baby Benson
3. Baby B Gender & Name Reveal
2. Baby Shower Inspiration
1. Master Bedroom Re-Do: the For Now Finale

I haven't committed to many major New Years Resolutions, just two:
1. Enjoy the last couple of months of being a family of two. That means sleep in (when the baby isn't practicing high kicks as he sometimes likes to do at 7:45 a.m. on weekends), enjoy long, quiet dinners with my hubby and anything else that may not be so easy once baby arrives.
2. Chill the eff out. Let's face it - having a baby is a little stressful. Is the baby doing OK? Am I gaining weight too quickly? How will I get the nursery finished in time? And this doesn't even scratch the surface of the stress that will come once he arrives. So, I think just chilling out a bit will do a lot of good for me, baby and everyone else.

Hope your New Year brings you everything you wish for. Happy 2013!

P.S. Oh,  if you'd like to you can follow the blog a few different ways - if you have a Google account, click on the "Join this Site with Google Friend Connect" button on the right side of the blog. Or you can scroll down in the same area of the blog where you'll find a "Follow Blog By Email" option; type in your email and be notified when there's a new post.  :-)

9 Year Date-iversary

Today, the hubby and I celebrate nine years together. The fact that we've been together for literally 1/3 of my life still blows my mind, but I just couldn't have it any other way.

As most of you know, we started dating the fall of my Freshman year and how we made it through four years of college, well, I'll never know. It could only be that it was just meant to be, right?

Who knew that these kids...

Our first date - Mai Tai Date Party - Sept 2003 (Wish I could've told my 18-yr-old self to cover up a bit!)

Halloween Party - Oct 2003 "Goose" from Top Gun & an apparently sassy bumblebee 

Summer 2004 - The weekend Greg saw first-hand that I'm not the "camping type"

Would be expecting our own little one nine years later.

If you would've told me that the cute Sigma Nu that I wanted to ask to our very first date party (see photo above) would be my most amazing husband, friend and future baby daddy... well, actually, I probably would've said "Oh yes, I know!" as I had the plan all along to make sure he fell in love with me. (Mission Accomplished)

But HE, he probably would have never believed you.

Now, here we are all these years later experiencing possibly the most joyful year of our life (to date). Happy Dating Anniversary to the most wonderful man in the world!

Happy Blogiversary to Me!

Happy Blogiversary to me! Errr, I have to admit, I'm a little shocked that no one sent flowers or cards for this momentous occasion... ;-)

I can't believe it's been one year since I started this little blog. I started this as something fun to do while the hubby is working long hours during busy season and as a way for loved ones to keep up on what we were up to. I'm actually still amazed when I run into friends/people I haven't seen in a while and someone comments on the blog. I was quite convinced I would have a readership of around nine people, so it still shocks me that people actually care what I have to say.

Over the past year, I've told you about where we stand in the food chain of the suburbs, started the crafty bitchiness, started a new job, updated not one, not two, but (starting on) three rooms in our sweet home, told you about my crazy neighbors (yes, that's plural), tried to overcome my fear of staying at home alone (unsuccessfully), survived an A/C crash (a very dark time in our home), crashed a few houses, had some ups and downs, had much to celebrate about and had a little holiday fun. Overall, it was a good year but am VERY happy to ring in 2012.

Here are the top 5 most popular (or at least most visited) posts from 2011:
5. Big News = Pregnancy? Not so fast.
4. Guest Bedroom: The Saga Continues (Part Deux)
3. Guest Bedroom: The Saga Continues (Part 1)
2. Check Yo Self Before You Audit Yo Self
1. Home Decorating Update: Master Bathroom

This year, I'm excited to continue the blogging fun with what I hope will be a few minor changes. First, I'm going to give the blog a little face lift (don't worry - just a little nip and tuck here and there), which I hope to finish before Spring.

Also, I think I'm finally going to have a couple of guest posts this year. The hubby and I have even talked about HIM doing a post. I can hardly wait to hear what he has to say... :-)

Finally, if you'd like to you can follow the blog a few different ways - if you have a Google account, click on the "Join this Site with Google Friend Connect" button on the right side of the blog. Or you can scroll down in the same area of the blog where you'll find a "Follow blog by Email" option; type in your email and be notified when there's a new post.

Thanks again for reading my silly little blog!

A (Facebook) Walk Down Memory Lane

Has anyone checked out the new Facebook Timelines? Well, I strongly encourage it. It will likely be the best and most awkward down memory lane you'll have in a while. Promise.

I learned a few things along the way. Please, let me share.

1. Signing Off.
I joined Facebook in late 2004. Everyone in the sorority house was talking about The Facebook (yeah, remember "The" Facebook?). So, I reluctantly joined. No one exactly knew how they should be communicating. You'll see here my roomie at the time (shout-out Shoup!) and my Big in my sorority (yes it should be capitalized) wrote on my wall, but felt the need to sign their name at the end of the post. Kind of like the first time your Mom texts you and signs it "Love, Mom." You know what I'm talking about...

2. Couples communication
So, Greg and I have been dating since 2003. Oh yes, that's pre-Facebook days for us. As I mentioned before, no one quite knew HOW they should be communicating. Can we say obnoxious couple? The hubby and I had a little chat about this and a pretty long laugh while we racked our brains trying to remember if this was some kind of inside joke or if we were really that cheesy.

3. College was so fun
Sometimes I think I'd like to go back. Then, I get really tired.

4. Over-shar-ing (clap, clap, clap-clap-clap)
Did I really need TWO photo albums for Spring Break 2007? I mean, it was REALLY fun, but really?

5. Does Getting Married Take a Whole Year?
Apparently all I did in 2008 involved getting married. Engagement party, showers, bachelor party, wedding, honeymoon. How do I still have friends after that shiz?

6. 2009
Looked like SO. MUCH. FUN. I'm pretty sure it was. Thanks, Facebook, for reminding me!

7. Family-Book
2009 appears to be the year my family joined. And you thought all the terrible pictures of that bad perm (with bangs) were in your attic. Joke's on you! (Or in this case, on me.)

8. Attention Whores
Let me clarify: that's "Attention Whores" not "Attention, Whores." Ummmm, need attention much?? I would've hoped to have grasped how to appropriately use Facebook by 2009, but alas, I apparently had not. Drama queen. Geez.

So, I haven't published my timeline. I'll probably wait until I can get some privacy issues under control and how I want it, but go peruse yours. Take some time, delete photos/posts or just take a walk down memory lane. You'll be glad you did.