Bopril

Big Day

We are exceptionally excited about the fact that in a few short hours, we'll be able to "know" our munchkin even better than we currently do. It seems as though we have been counting down to this forever, and now that the day has arrived, I am counting down the hours. Several folks have encouraged us to go the surprise route over the last few weeks, but for me, this IS the surprise. It is such an exciting moment, and it makes me feel like I can bond with the munchkin for the next 19+ weeks on a deeper level. I know that isn't true for everyone, but for us, there has really never been another option.

So...stay tuned, won't you? We'll be back a little later to share the news, but until then, a little more time to contemplate the outcome.

Is the wee one a SHE?

Or will the streak continue with another HE for the Carretta family (currently six grandchildren, five of them boys)?

Either way, I can't wait to see the little cutie on the big screen today. I'm indulging in a little caffeine to encourage wakefulness for the big show.

Baby C: 19 & 20 Weeks

Oh, how neglected this poor little blog has been. What can I say? We are busy and in the midst of what locals are referring to as "fake winter" given the mild temps and lack of insane snow and ice and writing on the blog just sinks to the bottom of the list.

In any case though, Baby C has been as busy as ever, and it is hard to believe that I am typing this on the day that marks the halfway point of this journey. Never have I been more of a believer in the old saying that the days are long but the years (and in this case, the months) are short. In fact, Baby C is so busy that these combined weekly updates may have to morph into weekly updates if Mama can get her act together.

For now though, weeks nineteen and twenty!

At nineteen weeks, our wee one was the size of an heirloom tomato (a large one, even) and he/she was hard at work developing senses and practicing little things like controlled movement. Neurons are just firing away in that tiny brain, and when I really stop to think about all that is going on at any given moment, I am easily blown away. I love that this munchkin is such a busy bee, even from the moment of conception.

I continued to feel great, although I began to notice early signs of likely needing to order one of those obnoxious pillows designed to help us gestating ladies maximize our zzz's. Overall, I am sleeping quite well, but the harsh reality is that I am a die-hard back sleeper, and now that we are well into the second trimester, that is a no-no. I still wake a few times each night on my back, arms in the air touchdown style, and have to roll back over to the preferred (but not nearly as enjoyable) side sleeping position. Apparently those pillows make side sleeping the best thing since Twilight, so I'm willing to give one a try. Send Husband your condolences for his inevitable future of sharing a bed with a person sized pillow holding a person who is cuddled up with two fur babies, won't you?

Nineteen weeks looked like this:

Don't the fur babies look thrilled to be in on the photo shoot action?

At twenty weeks, we are halfway home, and Baby C is the size of a small cantaloupe or the length of a banana if you prefer that analogy. He/she is still honing those senses and has added the production of vernix to protect that delicate skin to the mix. Beyond that, the wee one is already working on digestion and getting an early start on those bathroom skills (sorry, I don't invent this stuff --- it is what my wise iPhone and iPad apps and Babycenter emails tell me). Sound is becoming clearer and clearer to the little bugger and I find myself singing or humming throughout the day and hoping my awful voice won't prove too offensive to sweet, brand new ears. I'm told by many that nature just makes it so that the babe is my biggest fan, so I try not to worry too much. :)

I am growing by the day (it seems) and have begun to feel movement! It is very subtle and inconsistent at this stage, but it thrills me no end and sometimes I find myself focusing hard in hopes I'll get a little nudge. I did experience my first solid flutter during a meeting and work and was so startled that I jumped a foot, entertaining my colleagues in the process. I can't wait for them to be a little more pronounced and regular; it is such fun to get that constant physical reminder throughout the day that my favorite little sidekick is with me wherever I go.

Twenty weeks warrants a sign, no?

Next week is pretty big around here with the twenty week (which will technically be twenty-one weeks, but who's counting other than me, of course?) ultrasound, anatomy scan and the long awaited reveal. Will it be a He? Or a she? Any wagers or predictions?

Baby C: 17 & 18 Weeks

I continue to struggle with this baby bump documentation adventure, and I have heard from many of you that it is just unacceptable. Duly noted, so here I am with an update for you. :)

In an attempt to catch up, I am combining weeks 17 and 18, and I should probably confess that the photos were taken a couple of days apart, with crap lighting, zero thought toward composition and no real sense of consistency at all. This will be clearly evident in a moment, but I feel better now that I've proactively admitted to it. I think these photo sessions may need to be moved to weekends in order to achieve higher quality photos and a better, more consistent cadence. Stay tuned.

In the interim though, enjoy a little evidence that things are getting "bumpier" by the day over here.

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At 17 weeks, our wee one was the approximate size of an onion and was hard at work mastering reflexes! He/she was apparently a sucking and blinking machine, and might have even had a bout or two of hiccups. The babe also began to form fat beneath the skin (ew) which helps to prepare for the temperature transition on the (still) long journey from inside to outside.

As for me, I continued to feel pretty good overall, and apart from the episode of fatigue here and there, went about normal activities at work and at home. I began digging around online (mostly Pinterest) to peek at furniture and tiny clothes and imagine all the possibilities and fun that lie ahead. I continued to be excited times infinity and as always, tried to keep the neuroses to a minimum and just be present, grateful and happy from moment to moment. It was a good week.

17 weeks looked like this:

At 18 weeks, Baby C is the size of a sweet potato (aw, sweet!) and is experiencing hardening bones and can allegedly begin to hear sound. This is very exciting and I have plans of talking and singing his or her ear off and am already beginning to ponder what books I should read aloud. It is never too early to start those good habits, right? And Husband is ready to fire up the headphones with the stylings of Eminem and other musical favorites. We may hold off on the hip-hop just for now and introduce a gentler tune to start things off. Time will tell.

Apart from the occasional ache or pull here, and sudden onset of Need Sleep Now from time to time, I am feeling terrific and was thrilled to hear that awesome heartbeat at my doctor's appointment this week. I appear to be measuring well and on track and am counting the days (and let's be honest, sometimes the minutes) to our next appointment, which is the big 20 week ultrasound with a full anatomy evaluation, and --- fingers crossed --- the big reveal that will tell us if this wee one is a He or a She. I continue to take everything in from an awestruck, surreal state where I constantly cycle through gratitude, joy, obscene excitement and neurotic fear and apprehension. Mostly though, I am just so damn happy and grateful to be here at all, and I can't wait for each new day and milestone in front of us. We also did our first "drive by" at a Baby Store and looked at cribs and rocked in gliders, imagining many hours of both coloring our future. It was such fun.

18 Weeks looks like this (I should caveat that this is by FAR the most snug item of clothing I have dared to wear so far, and it does exaggerate the bump. I'll likely return to less form fitting things straight ahead. Also, pardon the slightly blurry self photo, but Husband wasn't yet home from work, and I could not put off pajamas a moment longer. As you were!):

Hang tight and grow well, Baby C! I can't wait to see what next week brings.

In Due Time

I don’t know how many times I have heard the phrase or said the phrase or typed the phrase or in some way displayed the phrase in my home, my workspace, taped inside notebooks, etc., but somewhere along the way, I forced myself to really believe it: “whether or not it is apparent to you, the universe is unfolding exactly as it should.” I’ve literally said this to myself, out loud, in times when I particularly needed to believe. There have been days where deep down, I thought it was crap, but I vowed to fake it ‘til I made it, and eventually, it did bleed over into something I really, truly believe. 

And so it has been for us. Not all the elements of our story have fallen into place like we thought and imagined they would, and certainly not according to the time frame we believed to be our reality. The last few years have taught us so much. We’ve learned to let go, to embrace different options and outcomes, to have faith, to breathe through it, to believe that in the end, things would be as they are meant to. None of those lessons were easy, and none of them came without a struggle. As much as we’ve breathed and believed and powered positivity into our days, we’ve also given into tears and worst case scenario thinking and the sads. But the truth is that any journey worth traveling will bring a mixture of joy and pain, of triumph and disappointment, of brilliant sun and blinding rain. I’ve done my best to begin each day vowing to myself to smile, to choose joy, to embrace and surround our world with positivity, to celebrate as much as possible and to just. keep. going. For me, the most difficult part has been learning how to accept an infinite unknown, how to let go of things that are simply not mine to control, no matter how much I may want to.

And all of that walking, all of that accepting, all of that moving forward and choosing the way in which we interact with the world has led us here. And here is such a wonderful, magical place. For us, it’s even more magical because we honestly didn’t know if we’d ever arrive. In case my not-so subtle hints from previous posts and dramatic build up in this one haven’t fully given it away, “here” is the path to parenthood. We are overjoyed to open our hearts and lives to a new little Carretta in late June. This blessing has already cracked our hearts wide open and rocked our worlds in the most awesome, unexpected way and he/she is only fifteen weeks (and a couple of days) along. I can’t even really imagine the joy and wonder that lie ahead, and I know for sure that I have never been so excited about anything. I am honored and humbled and awed by this gift, and I still pinch myself every day as a reminder that it is actually happening, that it is -- at last -- our turn.

I haven’t shared a lot of our journey to parenthood here, but we have felt your prayers and support and love in ways we can’t ever really express or repay. Thank you. It isn’t enough, but I have never typed truer words.

I am very excited to document this journey, and I think I'll do weekly posts with updates and photos and the like. This one is already epically long, so I'll end with brief thoughts: at a little more than 15 weeks, Baby C is approximately the size of an apple, can suck his/her thumb and make all variety of facial expressions and is as busy as ever developing critical functions and organs and such. I'm feeling great, my appetite has (mostly) returned as has my energy, I'm getting used to the serious belly action that is suddenly happening, and am simply beyond grateful for every single second. Much more to come, but for now, joy abounds at the anticipation of our little one. :) 

2011 Year In Review

2011 brought us a lot of adventure and fun, and we're at least a tad sentimental to have already said goodbye, but we are equally excited for 2012 and all that lies ahead. For whatever reason, 2011 was also they year when writing on the blog was fairly light and photos with the fancy camera were exceptionally so. I have thousands of photos from my iPhone though, so pardon the mish-mosh of small and large, good quality and not-so that you'll see below, but at least the good times were captured, whatever the medium. 

I write this from our final day of holiday vacation, with work and all the trimmings of the real world waiting for us tomorrow. The last couple of weeks have been exceptional, packed with family time and my favorite combination of soul-soothing awesome: sun on my face and sand in my shoes. We rang in 2012 in our living room, enjoying a feast of appetizers that husband whipped up. It was enough food for 20, and we enjoyed a quiet evening reminiscent of years (way) past alternating between New Years Rockin' Eve and the bevy of movies featured on every cable channel. We fell asleep well before the ball dropped, but did manage to wake just long enough to see the East Coast clock slip from 11:59 to 12:00 and to whisper happy new year before conking out for good. We're wild and crazy these days, and the truth is that we love it. In fact, it is without question my favorite way to ring in a brand new year.

But before we trudge headfirst into 2012, herewith, our 2011 in review. I've decided to forgo links this year since the writing was light to begin with, but feel free to click through archives if a particular topic strikes your curiosity. 

Best wishes for an amazing 2012, from our family to yours.

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We usher in 2011 snuggled into MIL's cozy lake house surrounded by family, game playing, champagne sipping and loud conversation. New Years Day brings a trip to a nearby park where we race up a million stairs to fly down steep tracks on sleds, shrieking and laughing our way into a brand new year. We embrace four years of marriage, and four years of Cooper with equal elation and gratitude and celebratory antics.

We enjoy a getaway to ski in Utah, encounter a record breaking blizzard in Chicago, celebrate Valentine's Day and I turn 32.

We scratch the travel bug in a pretty significant way, spending much of March touring Italy and falling head over heels for Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Venice and Cinque Terre. We stand literally in the center of history, toss coins into the Trevi fountain, eat gelato and pasta and drink wine to the point of gluttony, climb to the top of the Duomo, gape at the majesty of the Vatican, get lost in a sea so blue it is blinding, tour a private castle and make friends with its owners while enjoying their much cherished wine, enjoy a gondola ride just as the sun bathes the Grand Canal in the most stunning light. Life is exceptionally good, and we vow to come back, to always remember, to cherish a very special trip.

The Easter bunny visits our boys, and we make our annual trek to Kentucky for the Derby, donning hats and suits and all variety of finery to represent Southern roots and our family's favorite weekend of the year. My very best friend --- she's my sister more than my friend --- has a beautiful baby girl she names Everly and my heart bursts open in a brand new way. I scoot to Connecticut as quickly as I can and I snuggle and rock and bounce and love her within an inch of her life. I marvel again and again at how I can love something so small so fiercely. A lifetime of girl talk begins.

We (slowly) welcome Spring, and then Summer and with it, plenty of opportunities to fill the house with fresh flowers, cook all meals and lots of fruit on the grill, visit the dog beach, and spend ample time soaking up the sun (and the rain) at the lake. Jack turns six, and we celebrate every sweet furry inch of him. I rock the fedora as much as possible, and make a long overdue trip back to Kentucky to celebrate a very special birthday for a very special Aunt. We enjoy our very first sail on Lake Michigan, and after I take a turn at the wheel, we enjoy fireworks high above Navy Pier to close out the night. We take in the Air and Water Show from another boat on Lake Michigan and enjoy a marvelous weekend with Mom and family friends checking out all that Chicago has to offer. Our great love of music returns, and we spend a weekend at Lollapalooza rocking out and drinking cold beer against the scorching cityscape of Chicago's summer.

We say goodbye to summer with an awesome lake weekend, walk in the rain for our furry friends at PAWS, and spend as much time outside as possible as we welcome the most spectacular fall Chicago has seen in years. We walk again for our furry friends at the annual Mutt Strut and Husband runs his very first marathon. We make signs and run all over the city screaming for him, and we're so very proud. We're thrilled to usher in the holiday season with Halloween, and we take our little lamb and duck to the neighborhood block party and to trick or treat festivities across the city to celebrate.

We go to Connecticut where I make my godmother role official at sweet Everly's baptism. She is amazing, and I rock her to sleep while she holds onto her little bunny and I know for sure that there is nothing in the world I wouldn't do for her. We celebrate Thanksgiving at the lake and we're so grateful for so much; there aren't words or time or photos enough to really express how much. MIL reinstates her annual Christmas party, and we have such fun catching up with friends and family and gobbling yummy food. Husband turns 33, and we toast to him and another great year to come. And then, of course, we eat cake. There is always cake. We wind down the year with a week in Charleston with my family, and even though it is cliche to say so, it is divine and awesome and exactly what I need. Walks and yummy meals and sunshine and my favorite holiday with my favorite people all in one place fills my heart to bursting and reminds me yet again that my blessings are rich and many. It goes too fast, as it always does. I miss them immensely, as I always do. It's a very merry Christmas, indeed.

This is but a mere sampling of the amazing minutes and moments and events that make up a year, and I'm sure that I'm forgetting a few here and there, but all in all, this exercise is a lovely reminder of how lucky and loved we are. Each day brings a blessing, and I'm humbled at year's end to collect them all and relive their magic for a little while before we open the door to see what lies ahead.

Thank you for stopping by, for reading and encouraging and sending love our way. We send it right back.

ReMEMEbering 2011

As I mentioned when I did this exercise last year, I'm of a reflective, nostalgic bent and the end of the year always kicks that up a notch, so this helps me send out one year with a bang and welcome another with open arms.

I can hardly believe another year is coming to a close, but I'm grateful as hell for all that 2011 brought and am so excited to jump feet first into 2012 and all that it holds.

I'm posting this as I leave what has been an amazing week of holiday fun with family, and while I'm sad to see it end, I am aware of my infinite blessing to have these people to create magic with again and again.

Happy New Year, friends! May 2012 bring you much health, happiness, peace and so much joy.

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1.  What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? Traveled to Europe. Achieved a couple of milestones (more to come on those later, and sorry in advance for the tease).

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Honestly, I didn't really create much in the way of resolutions last year, but hoped to embrace every opportunity to live better, and while I made my fair share of mistakes, I think overall, I committed to this in a satisfactory way. More to come in 2012 for sure! 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My very best friend, who is truly more sister than anything, had a precious baby girl in April. I am her Godmother, and I love her fiercely. Many other good friends welcomed babies this year, and I've had way too much fun shopping for them, and wish I had infinitely more time with each to snuggle the day away. Babies are amazing, the end.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No, and the fact that this is the second consecutive year I've been able to type that is a blessing for which I am immensely grateful (and aware. oh, so aware).

5. What places did you visit? ITALY! We saw Rome, Venice, Florence, Tuscany, and Cinque Terre and each of those places captured my heart in a way I didn't know was possible. We closed out 2011 in Charleston, SC and it is without question the most charming place I've visited within the US in quite some time.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? Honestly, not a thing. I'm ridiculously blessed, aware of my good fortune and grateful every day for the embarrassment of riches that colors my life.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? October 21, 2011, and November 5, 2011. There are a couple more days that do stand out, but these two will be tough to beat. I'm pleading the fifth on the why for now, content just to acknowledge that they were terrific days. :)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? As cliche as it sounds, taking a deep breath before responding more times than not. I don't do it every time, or probably even enough, but I think I've done it more this year than ever before, and that is something. It's amazing what perspective those few seconds and breaths can bring. They are powerful.

9. What was your biggest failure? Fitness, blah blah blah. So tired of this answer, and really need to do something about it longer term. I had hoped to be better about sharing in the responsibility of preparing healthy meals for our family, but without a doubt, Husband bore the brunt of this responsibility for yet another year. But the good news? 2012 awaits, and I can face this goal another day.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing too major --- colds and bouts with sinuses and minor bumps and bruises aside --- we have been mostly healthy, and I thank God for this daily.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Honestly? I'm not sure. Perhaps this means I need to be more aware of and purposeful with spending? Something to work on for sure.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Husband's as always. The man is kind of a saint. 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? There are way too many obvious directions to go with this question, and I just don't want to dwell on a depressing topic as I wind down my year, so I'll just say Congress and leave it at that. I mean seriously, is there another job in the world where you can fail so consistently without repercussion?

14. Where did most of your money go? Rent, food, travel.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Travel, discovering the unknown, and the art of anticipating/embracing what's to come. Honestly? I'm just thrilled for 2012.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011? God, I never know how to answer this, but the first thing that comes to mind is Adele, so I'll go with that. What a voice that woman has, am I right?!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? No real measure here, I am a happy girl, then and now. I choose it, always. Even when it isn't easy.

b) thinner or fatter? Fatter. No comment. 

c) richer or poorer? Is it terribly cheesy to just say that I feel richer every year? Because, truly, I do. And this year is no exception.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Writing. Picking up my camera (and actually learning to use it). Going for walks. Stretching (literally and not so literally). 

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worrying about things beyond my control, second guessing myself, complaining. 

20. How did you spend Christmas in 2011? In Charleston, SC where my brother moved last year. We've walked on the beach, eaten so much yummy food, explored every nook and cranny and soaked up the sunshine and each other. It's been so awesome, and my heart will be heavy when we fly away tomorrow. We have such amazing families, and I hope we see a lot more of ALL of them in 2012.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011? I've been in love for years, and it got stronger in 2011 as it does each year. That happens when you're smart enough to marry the most amazing man in the world. 

22. What was your favorite TV program?  Modern Family. Homeland. Up All Night. The Good Wife. Friday Night Lights.

23. What did you do for your birthday in 2011? Shared dinner with Husband, blew out candles, snuggled my fur babies, talked to friends and family far and wide, and gave thanks for another amazing year.

24. What was the best book you read? Overall, I wasn't great at reading this year, but I did discover a few gems along the way. Bossypants. Unbroken. Discovery of Witches (sue me, I like the vampire stuff), Let's Take the Long Way Home. Bird by Bird.

25. What did you want and get? So much more than I can ever deserve.

26. What did you want and not get? Not a damn thing. I know many of you will roll your eyes at this answer, but all I can say is when I sat and thought for a minute, NOTHING kept sounding loud in my ears, and I'm smart enough (and aware enough of my blessings) to pay that truth its due.

27. What was your favorite film of this year? We watch SO many movies and I'm at a loss to remember them all at year's end, so I'll just list a few I loved and call it a day. Bridesmaids. Crazy, Stupid Love. Drive. 

28. Did you make some new friends this year? Absolutely! Online and off, and I'd like to do much more of this in the year ahead.

29.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Again, I have to go with nothing. Things are as they should be, and I've learned to embrace that.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? I hate this question, and find it stupid, so I'm going to ignore it, ok?

31. What kept you sane? Husband, family, close friends (you know who you are), the internet, fine wine, and those aforementioned deep breaths.

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? As each year goes by, I care less and less about celebrities. YAWN.

33. What political issue stirred you the most? Last year's answer still applies, so I'll let it stand: Anything pertaining to rights and choice and acceptance---from health care to education to matters of equality for my gay and lesbian friends. 

34. Who did you miss? Again, tough to beat last year's answer, so samesies it is: Family and my best girlfriends---especially Ash and Beck and Robin---who are too often separated from me by state lines, but always always front and center in my heart.

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. I learned a lot in 2011, but I think I can best summarize it with two words that have applications in almost every life area that matters to me: have faith.

One more time, wishing you a happy and healthy new year, friends. Thanks for reading!

Quietly Festive

Sorry for the quiet of late, and for those of you that have asked, there's no special reason for it. I've just felt a little quiet, I suppose.

All is well, and we're enjoying another lovely holiday season, marveling at how in the world it can be possible that Christmas is just a few weeks away. Every year, I think it is impossible for time to go any faster, and then the next year arrives, and I realize that it isn't impossible at all.

We have been enjoying a twinkly, festive home for several weeks now, and all of my various channels have long been tuned into holiday music. I've made a good dent in the shopping list, and our holiday cards are ready to be stuffed, addressed and sent to all of the corners that hold our loved ones.

Our calendars are sprinkled with holiday parties, Husband's birthday looms on the horizon and a fun Brock family Christmas beachside in Charleston promises to end the season on a high note and with plenty of relaxation and good weather.

There are a few activities I'd still like to pack in --- a visit to the North Shore to see the houses adorned with lights, a walk through Zoo Lights in Lincoln Park, a stroll around the Christkindel market in downtown Chicago --- but even if none of those happen, it will still be a lovely holiday season that I've enjoyed immensely. Sometimes, it is nice to take what comes, slow down the mania, and just enjoy the path as it unfolds. I am finding this holiday season to be one of those times.

Our holiday traditions are still very much on track, anchored by our annual visit to Santa Paws, where the boys were on their best behavior and whispered all of their wishes to the man in red. I will never tire of watching merry pups of all ages and sizes enter the store full of exuberance, only to resort to terrified wiggles and trembles when Santa is in their sight. What is it about jolly old St. Nick that sends kids and pups alike into freak out mode? On the bright side, it always makes for an excellent photo opp:

The "I'm pretty freaked out by this guy, Mom" face remains impressively consistent from year to year. Don't believe me?

2010:

2008:

For some odd reason, we don't have 2007 or 2009 in electronic form, but they're displayed proudly on the fridge and they feature the same expressions, believe it.

Ah, holidays. I wish they came around more often, but then again, that would probably dampen the magic, at least a little. Here's hoping you're in the thick of your own holiday magic, friends.

Merry, Merry!

Thankful

For family, near and far. To be surrounded by such a strong network of people who see the best in me, love me without fail, push me to new heights, remind me that I’m never alone.

For an especially amazing husband who continues to inspire me and make me laugh and remind me that this life is beautiful and lucky and endlessly fun, mostly because I get the distinct honor of living it in his company.

For fur babies who are so much more than pets; for their sweet faces and unwavering love that pull me through the deepest of trenches and greet me with “smiles” every single day. I struggle the most in expressing my gratitude for these furry little beings; words aren’t quite adequate to convey what they’ve brought to my life.

For grace and for surprises, often intermingling, always catching me when I most need to be caught and always reminding me of the importance of perspective, and of the promise of what’s to come. I think 2012 is going to be an especially amazing year for us, and I’m grateful in advance.

For unwavering spirit and belief, for perseverance and fortitude, and the knowledge that we are at least partially responsible for the path in front of us. What we put into the world does tend to come back to us, and even when times are tough, I try always to tip the scales in favor of putting good into the universe. I see so many doing the same. It gives me pause, and inspires gratitude.

For a warm home, a table overflowing with food, good health and good cheer. It is too easy to take these things for granted when so many make do with so much less.

For this space which gives me a place to exercise my writing muscle and connect with friends near and far. Even when I’m far too inconsistent with posting or even wholly uninspired, being a click away from access to you is a blessing.

For all of this, and so much more,  I am immensely thankful.

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I hope that you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones, friends. I hope you were surrounded by all that you’re especially thankful for, and that you were able to reflect on all that makes your life awesome.

We spent a quiet few days at the lake this year; our colds lingered a bit, but overall, we’re on the mend and the quiet and relaxation was just the ticket to push us back to good health. We cooked and ate and talked and read and watched Love Actually and Christmas Vacation and the requisite boatload of football. But mostly, we were content just to be. And I was struck, as I am every year, by the embarrassment of riches that I’ve been blessed with. And I relaxed in MIL's cozy home and gave thanks for every single one.

My cup runneth over. Happy Holidays – my favorite time of year – from our family to yours.

Weekendings: Sick, Sick, Sick

I feel like I spend a lot of time --- perhaps even an inordinate amount --- attempting to avoid germs and sickness. The thing is, I HATE being sick. I realize that being sick isn’t something that anyone in the world aspires to, but my hatred for it really does go the extra mile. The older I get, the harder I fall when I finally do succumb to sickness. What once took a few days to kick will linger for weeks, sometimes months. The unpleasant nose blowing and head throbbing and throat burning aren’t enough of an annoyance, no. I have to also have literally ALL of the energy sucked from my person too. When I say that I’ve been sound asleep by 9 more nights than not recently, I am not exaggerating. When I say I have combined that early bedtime with impromptu naps at odd hours, that isn’t coy talk either. It’s fact.

And while I have recently (as always) washed my hands like a maniac, buried my face in my scarf at even a hint of a sneeze or cough and done my best to change out toothbrushes, sterilize every surface, wash and rewash sheets and pillowcases, I still could not outrun this cold.

And I am sorry to be blunt and perhaps also profane, but this cold is a real asshole.

So I wish that I had an awesome and glamorous weekendings recap for you, but alas, I do not. Because my weekend looked very much like Wednesday, Thursday and Friday looked --- which is a little something like this:

• A daily race with myself to see how many popsicles I can consume. For the record, grape is currently my favorite, but at times in the last week, each of the three flavors has held top spot.
• Constant trips to the microwave with my sinus mask --- a very comforting solution during sinus pressure and cold ugh-ness, with the unfortunate side effect of a slight burned rice smell when you heat it up. But there is a bonus, and it is that I cannot smell the mask due to Mr. Cold. Win!
• Using up an entire jumbo pack of Charmin (the double rolls) as my own personal Kleenex, and quite literally filling three kitchen sized trash bags to the brim with them in as many days. (side note: I used to just pile them up on the coffee table, nightstands, etc, but around day two, I realized that habit is really rather gross. So out came the trash bags)
• Amusing myself with a semi constant rotation of liquids: shall I have Gatorade? How about Vitamin water? Just regular water? Perhaps Pellegrino? Oh wait, I haven’t had orange juice today!
• Embracing the “yep, I’m going to drown” feeling twice a day minimum in favor of temporary relief via my trusty sinus wash contraption.

I started going a bit stir crazy on Friday, and by Saturday, even though I wasn’t feeling great, I made it my mission to get out of the house. I accompanied Husband for a few errands, we managed dinner out, and then it was right back to bed by 8:30ish for me. Sunday was much the same; I made it to the grocery store and the movie theater, but still managed to spend the majority of the day on the couch or in bed.

I’m back at it today, and I do feel better, but I still don’t feel anything close in proximity to good. This morning, Husband woke up with a sore throat. Sigh. Lucky for him, I will share my popsicles.

The only awesome thing about the last 5-7 days? Constant and adorable fur baby snuggle action. They are the best nurses around, no question.

Here’s hoping you’ve all escaped this miserable, asshole bug, friends!

Friday Reads and Thinking Halloween

After such a hectic weekend last week, I'm looking forward to this one which involves relaxing, catching up on a little reading, a few errands here and there, and soaking up the minimal sunshine we're expecting. I'm feeling inspired to make pumpkin flavored something, so maybe we'll check that out too.

We miss Husband, but we'll just keep looking forward to next weekend, which involves a fall themed getaway to the lake. There must be pumpkin patches and/or apple orchards nearby, and we're determined to find them.

Until then, have a lovely weekend, friends, and enjoy a few fun reads before you go!

The one where a turkey attacks!

A lovely reminder that people are good, especially when we need them most.

Oven coil gone wrong (this one will cause your laughter circuit to short out, fair warning.)

Possible additions to the reading list?

I want to go to there.

We're thinking about all things Halloween over here, so if you have suggestions for fur baby costumes, share them, won't you? Here's a little inspiration in the form of a pic from last year's lion and tiger action:

 

And here, you can see what Cooper thinks of Frankenstein doing the monster mash: