This is usually the time of year I look forward to the most. I would normally have spent today doing some baking, probably would have already made some sort of goodies early on this week, bought the kids' Christmas pjs and feeling exhausted but thrilled at the same time. Well, I've thrown it all out the window! :o( Thank you morning sickness! I can only be on the computer for moments at a time before I start to throw up. It's all I do all day, all night. Life is MISERABLE right now. All I do is throw up, sleep, eat, drink and repeat. Thank goodness it's not forever and will hopefully be gone by Christmas! :o)
I am thankful that Chris picked his mom up last night so they will be cooking the small menu I prepared. I think this year is the smallest dinner we've made to date. But at least we will be with family and enjoy some good food, laughter and making another year of memories.

This Year's Menu:
Turkey
Stuffing with apples, cranberries and sausage
Broccoli casserole
Mashed Potatoes
Pumpkin Soup
Butternut Squash Casserole
Shrimp Cocktail
Appetizer platter
Bread
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Crisp
Tiramisu Trifle Bowl

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I was sent this from a friend today who was thinking of me and I wanted to share it.

Reprioritizing, yet again!

Well, as usual once I get into a sort of "funk", I know it's time to take a look at what I'm spending my time doing, where I'm "giving" myself to, who I'm spending or not spending time with and reevaluate it all. I can always tell when I'm not completely in balance and spent alot of time praying about it yesterday afternoon. One of the biggest things I can to realize at the end of the day is that I'm spending too much wasted time reading some blogs.

I went into my Reader last night and deleted about half of them. Some blogs I read where too similiar to each other so I cut out some of those. I had way too many craft blogs that I followed so I cut back some of those too. And of course, there are those "drama" blogs that are pretty empty and ridiculous so I deleted those too. I need to fill my "spare" time with things that bring meaning, creativity and knowledge into my life and as I looked at some of the blogs I was reading, I realized they had to go. :o) It's so easy to get caught up in gossip and/or drama and I know that is where I need NOT to be so now I feel free!

I have my first "Baby" appointment today just for consultation, very exciting!!!

Today is a new day. . .

A GREAT REMINDER FOR US ALL

The New "Do"

In celebration of a new baby, I figured a new "do" was a must! :o)
(now I just need some high lights and I'm good to go!)

"Party of 5"

Well, now that the word is out, I can post it to the blogworld! We're PREGNANT!!! I tried to get a good picture but the glare just was horrible. This was the best one I could get of the test. My mom totally does NOT support sharing the news before the end of the first trimester and I understand why. Old Italians say it's bad luck. I think it's just a terrible feeling to get excited, share the news and then miscarry. Been there, done that already so I know, but I also know that I'd rather have the support of my friends than go it alone.

Enough of that talk . . . . WE ARE GROWING FROM FOUR TO FIVE!!! WOW!!! I'm still in schock. It was our first month actually "trying" and can't believe how quickly it happened. It's something both Chris and I wanted which makes it all the better. We are going through LOTS of change, new house, new dog, daughter starting school, job stuff changing a bit, new responsiblities with owning our old home and renting this one, and now NEW BABY! It can be a little overwhelming of course, but such JOY!

I sat in the car this morning driving Adrianna to school and when I looked in the rearview mirror, I almost cried, got completely choked up looking at my Big Girl and my sweet baby boy with his "Big Boy" haircut, he no longer looks like a baby. They grow so fast and it just made me want to turn around and take Adrianna back home, cuddle up with her and her brother on the couch and do nothing else. I guess that's why even though I complain about them both ending up in our bed by 3am almost every night, I don't force them back into their beds. This time with them only lasts so long, I want to savor it all.

At this stage of pregnancy, all I can think about is, "I'd love lots of babies" , that is until of course I start puking my guts out for 3 months. Then of course have a great 2nd and 3rd Tri , back thinking about how great it would be to have a house full of kids . . . then come the post C-section recovery, back to thinking NEVER AGAIN, and then it's back to the bliss of a newborn baby. Why in the world do we have to go through those stages? LOL

Well, I'm entering the old territory again. :o) Registering at the week by week pregnancy websites, registering for all baby freebies and stuff like that. Adrianna is wanting to see our little grain of rice :o) on the internet everyday to see how "our baby" is growing. She's fascinated by the month to month views. This is going to be a very exciting time in our lives.

Thank you God for this wonderfully, amazing blessing!

Grandma's Girl

She is "Grandma's Girl" for sure. Every time Grandma comes to visit, the two of them are attached at the hip. They eat together, snuggle together, crochet together (Adrianna tries so hard and I swear she'll be doing it soon!), and sleep together. She loves her Grandma! Monday was the first time that Grandma was at our house on a "school day" so we surprised Adrianna during lunchtime and had lunch with her. She was so excited!

Grandma Flora and her "Italian Girl" (she always calls her that.)

I am truly blessed...

I have tried to write this post since I got back from my women's retreat but have not been able to put into words what this weekend meant for me. I have felt like no matter what I said I wouldn't be able to relay the emotional and spiritual weekend I had experienced with 6 amazing women. Not everyone was able to make the trip last weekend due to schedule conflict, infants, and other commitments, but I'll assure you that I will INSIST they come next time (hopefully again in the spring) and we WILL do a weekend getaway not just a Sat/Sun thing. :o)

I just wanted to share these two beautiful photos that my friend Carrie took while we were there. I've never been on a retreat before so this was a first but will definitely not be my last. Our retreat was based on the book Captivating and we focused on a woman's 3 desires. To be part of the great Adventure, Romance and Beauty. The girls did such a great job preparing the material, personalizing each of our little journals and tons of other little details that were WAY thoughtful. To see all the work that went into that weekend, showed just how much love they have for us all. We all have a desire to be connected, we all need to be able to trust other women, allow them in and have a piece of our hearts. This past weekend did that for me. We did some activities that allowed us each to have a glimpse into the deep places we don't all share with just anyone. Through their love and their fellowship, their talents, their laughter, and the quiet peace that sorrounded us during our quiet, free time, I felt so close to God and it brought me to tears.

Our gorgeous view at Camp Buckner

My beautiful friends . . .

Front: left to right, Carrie, Me, Erika, Jen
Back: left to right, Sammi, Melissa, Cindy

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2008!

This was the best Halloween year yet! The kids are getting so big and trick or treating is getting even easier and more fun too. :o) We went trick or treating with Erika and the girls before we all went downtown to enjoy the festivities. The kids had a blast. Christopher said "Trick o Treat" nonstop and was so cute lifting his batman bucket each time, no matter how heavy it got. He kept saying to me, more "teetee bar" (candy bar), he was so excited!

I am officially EXHAUSTED! It's been a funfilled, BUSY 8 days so I am welcoming the break today. I'm heading across the street for breakfast with the ladies at 8:00 and then we're off on our Women's Retreat! I must admit, I'm excited but I am going to miss Chris and the kids. :o)