An Anniversary. Or two.

12 years ago today, I started dating the man of my dreams.

And 7 years ago today, I married him.

Laura Novak Photography

Here's a picture my sister took before we went out to dinner on Saturday night to celebrate!  Love this guy so much {and OMG my belly is totally taking over this picture!}...

It's funny how we've changed through the years.  Our anniversaries used to include a lovely night with a romantic movie, maybe a trip to the winery.  Late night dinner for 2 at our favorite little restaurant where we enjoyed each other's company over great food and drinks.  

But now?  Now it's more like a fast {but very yummy!} dinner with the senior citizens and we'd rather skip out on dessert at the restaurant in exchange for CFA milkshakes and a kid-free trip to Target.

And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Wishing a very happy anniversary to my wonderful husband... what a crazy road it has been and I look forward to celebrating so much more with you!

WW: Fall Picture Outfits

Well, it's that time of year again and we're getting excited about our annual fall family pictures coming up this weekend with Stephanie Glover Photography!

This is a tradition that I just adore, mostly because it's amazing to see just how much our family can change with each passing year. I posted a Through the Years post {what seemed like yesterday but was actually last fall} and with the addition of our session in 2012... {aww, itty bitty Reid at just 2 months old!}

... you can see just how much we've grown.  Andplusalso? It's crazy to think that we're adding yet another baby to the mix soon!  {Turning this year's family session into a maternity session as well. EEEKKK!}

So, of course, before any photo session, I somewhat obsess over colors/themes/ideas of what everyone will wear.  I try to go with a different "pop" color each year and, while I originally was going to go with a burnt orange {because, let's be honest, who doesn't love burnt orange in the fall? #guilty}  I actually found a sweater that I fell in love with for Bob in Target and never looked back. Yep... I changed our whole theme to match this one sweater. 

So this year's color scheme? Purple and grey.  And I'm so excited about it.

Here's what it will look like altogether...

I can't even with those boots for Brynn. Love.  And the puffer vest for Reid?  Come on. I was also SO EXCITED to find PURPLE in the BOYS aisle for Carter and Bob.  #winning #iknowimexcited #okayillstopwiththehashtags

Anyway, here's a link to my board on Polyvore so you can see where all the items were purchased.  The only items that are different from the board linked are my purple cardi/sweater and Brynn's purple scarf {which is from Etsy}.  The sweater I'm wearing is actually from Banana Republic, but I got it over a year ago so it's no longer online.  However, the Target sweater I linked on Polyvore is similar in color/style so you get the idea and it will totally work if you want to go with the same/a similar theme.

So please send us lots of luck {omg, pictures with 3 kids is exhausting} and good weather for Sunday, thankyouverymuch.  I know Steph will do an amazing job and I can't wait to share the results with you!

Also, since I've been totally slacking here lately... let's do a linky.

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WW: Halloween Costumes

Sorry I've been slacking here lately, things have been completely crazy at work and at home {3 sick kids FTW!} but I wanted to share with you our Halloween costumes for this year!

As always, I let Carter and Brynn pick whatever they wanted.  Carter's was a no brainer... he's been completely obsessed with Star Wars lately and the first words out of his mouth were DARTH VADAR!  Done.

Brynn was pretty easy this year too.  I showed her several costumes online that I thought she would like {Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, etc.} but as soon as she saw the "princerella" costume she was hooked!  Sweet.

Obviously Reid is way too little to pick by himself, so while I was looking through different options online {a monster, a dinosaur, etc.} someone came over to help.  And I bet you can't guess who made the final decision on Reid's costume...

I have to tell you... Carter did a great job, because Reid is the cutest little Yoda around!

I'll be sure to take lots of pictures of the kids tomorrow too!  Carter has a parade at school and I also got picked to go into his classroom to help out with his party after the parade {I'm so excited about this!}  Then we're heading over to my sister, Kacy's, house for a big dinner/party and some trick-or-treating around her neighborhood.  This is a tradition we started last year and I absolutely love it because I get to see all of my nieces & nephews in their costumes as well, and the kids just LOVE being able to ToT together.

I hope everyone has a safe {and warm} Halloween tomorrow!

WW: One.

I know I seem to say this no matter what birthday we're celebrating {and I think most moms are guilty of this too!} but I can not believe that my sweet baby boy is one today.

ONE.

Can you believe it!?!  I feel like he was just born.  That I was just announcing our wonderful news that I delivered a healthy baby BOY! That I just shared this wonderful experience with my very own sister as she delivered my niece on the same exact day!  How in the world is it possible that the birthday twins are ONE today!?!

For this post, I really just wanted to share pictures and link you back to a few of my favorite posts:

• Our "It's a...." Moment {announcing the arrival of our sweet baby!}
• Reid's Birth in Pictures {birth photography}
• A Birth Story. Or Two. {the birth story of Reid and my niece Aubrey}
• Reid's Newborn Session {umm, that's self explanatory}

Not sure how my sweet boy went from this: {just minutes old}

To this: {1 week old}

 

To this: {2 months old}

To this: {6 months old}

To this: {from his first birthday party on Saturday}

... all in the blink of an eye.

Happy birthday to my sweet, sweet boy.  A boy with the most contagious smile. A boy that has made one of the most difficult years of our lives so much brighter.  A boy that has the best personality in the entire world.  A boy that we love more than life itself. Our Reid Joseph.  Happy birthday, buddy!

And I'm also wishing a very happy birthday to my Auggleberry!  {Aubrey Jean}

You are so adorable and Aunt Jenni loves you so much, my sweet girl! But no one loves you more than your "little" Monster Man... you two will always be the best of friends! Happy birthday, Pumpkin!

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WW: Annual Vacation Shirts!

Every year, I design t-shirts for our annual family vacation and we all wear them as we drive down to the Outer Banks.  It's an obnoxious tradition that we adore.

This year, however?  Things are... different.

Well, for one, we're not going to OBX.  We've decided to stay local and head to Ocean City, NJ.  We used to vacation in OCNJ all the time, but for the past 9 or so years, we have enjoyed heading down to the fabulous beaches of Corolla, NC.  And honestly?  You can't beat the gorgeous houses. But this year, however, there aren't as many family/friends going for various reasons, so we decided to stay local.  And, while I'll miss OBX tremendously, I have to admit that I'm really looking forward to the one hour drive to OC with 3 kids as opposed to 7-9 hours {depending on traffic & bathroom/food stops} to get to OBX. {Mamas, are you with me on that?? I thought so.}

So, yeah.  We have a change of scenery this year, less people going {17 as opposed to 28, give or take a kid} but, obviously, the biggest and most heart-breaking change of all is...

My dad won't be there.

This is our very first family vacation without him.  It hurts my heart to think about him not being there to collect shells with the kids, cook pancakes in the morning, jump waves with Carter, eat Pringles on the beach... hurts. my. heart.

So, yeah. We thought a change of vacation-scenery might do us some good this year.  We'll see.

With all that change, I questioned whether or not we should even do our family t-shirts this vacation.  When I brought it up to my family, they thought about it too and together we came to the conclusion that... yes, of course we should keep up this tradition. Not only for us, but for the kids.  They love having matching t-shirts and they wear them proudly. And so do we.  Why not continue something that makes us happy?

So, with that, here are the shirts...

Did you notice the wave? =)  My sisters and I just didn't feel right leaving my dad off the shirt this year, so we wanted him to know that he's still with us... always.  The quote, obviously from Finding Nemo, has been somewhat of our motto this year.  Just keep swimming.  It also works well for the beach though too, right? The hashtag is just a little stupid inside joke.  We think we're funny. ;)

So there you have it... our annual family t-shirt. We leave this Saturday and we can't wait! Vacation can't come soon enough for this family. We need it.

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WW: Thing 1 & Thing 2

This past week my sister and I finally finished Aubrey and Reid's first birthday invitations and I am so excited to share them with you!

Given that they were born on the same exact day, we thought that we'd celebrate them together, of course.  And what better theme for the birthday twins than Dr. Seuss! Oh the things that we can do with this theme... I almost can't stand it. The red! The turquoise! The hats! The cute quotes!  I'm going a little crazy. ;)

Anyway... I'll have an entire post about things we're planning to do for our sweet babies, but, for now, here are the invites I designed for them.  The poem was a combination of Google and me just trying to be Seusstastic {is that a word?  well, it is now.} So, let me know what you think....

Front:

 Back:

Sigh.  I just can't get enough of them.  The kids not the invites.  Well, okay... the invites too.

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My Pop

I know I promised a pregnancy update, but there are much more important things going on right now. 

My grandfather passed away yesterday after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. 

Three weeks ago, he had a stroke which caused him to be hospitalized indefinitely.  There were a few times when we thought he wouldn't make it, but he fought hard for those three weeks.

Yesterday?  He could fight no more.

 {My Nan & Pop in the 1940's just before they were married. Ages 16 & 20.}

We love you so much, Pop, and we are so glad that you don't have to fight anymore and that you are at peace.  Say hi to my Dad for us.  We love you so much!

Sorry I've been MIA...

There is just so much going on lately and blogging {and basically all social media} has taken a back seat.  But I figured I'd just write up a quick post to update you on some things...

So, work has been crazy.  I'm trying to get everything ready for the conference that I'm going to in Hawaii next week, and it's a lot of work preparing my presentation, etc.  Also I have to pack for myself and the kids and make sure I have everything in order before we leave on Sunday.

Of course, I haven't even started yet.

But only because I highly doubt I'll even be able to go. {Yet, I'm still trying to prepare as if I'm going.  Confused yet?}...

Basically, my grandfather is dying.

He is currently in the hospital and at the end stages of Parkinson's Disease. He's been going down hill a lot over the past few months, but late last week he suffered a stroke.  By Saturday night, the doctors told us to say our good-bye's because he probably wouldn't make it through the night.  I was at the hospital with my entire extended family until almost midnight. It's so sad to see him in the state that he's in.

He did actually make it through the night, and he's still hanging on, even today.  However he has a DNR in place, so it's only a matter of time now.  The hospital is keeping him comfortable until he passes.

I feel terrible for my mom.  I mean, how much can this woman take?  To lose her dad within 6 months of losing her husband?  It's just awful. She's a strong woman, but one can only take so much.

So yeah... that's what's going on lately.  Depending on when my grandfather actually passes, I may or may not be going to Hawaii on Sunday.  I'm just not sure yet.  I don't even know what the process is for getting a refund on airfare if we have to cancel our flights, let alone what I'd do about my conference fees and presentation.  I have no idea.  I'll keep you posted.

We can't seem to catch a break, right?


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WW: Baby Factory

This is what lunch time looks like at GG's house...

 
{my niece, Aubrey- 8m | Reid- 8m | our super close family friend's baby, Hannah- 11m}

I mean... how cute are they?? I just love them so much!

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WW: A different kind of before and after.

As I look back on our trip to the zoo last May on Brynn's 2nd birthday, I just can't help but think...

...what a difference a year makes. {More zoo pics coming soon!}

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Happy Wednesday!


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WW: Reid's Baptism

As stressful as it was leading up to the big day, it turned out beautiful.  The weather was perfect, the food was delicious and the kids didn't destroy the church.  What more could we ask for, really?

But can I be honest with you for a second?  I had such a hard time in the few days leading up to Reid's Baptism and party.  The entire time I was trying to clean, make lists, shop and get things ready, all I could think about was my dad.

This has, by far, been the hardest time for me to date.  Harder than Christmas.  Harder than New Year's.  Harder than anything leading up to this point. There was just a huge, gaping hole in my heart all week and boy, was it hard to handle. I miss my dad every second of every day, but it really hits home when you hold family events like this.

So yeah, there's that.

But the event itself went really well and the food was amazing.  We had some of it catered, but the yummy main dishes were made by my mom, mother in law and a good friend of the family and I am just the luckiest person in the world to have so many wonderful people in my life {that are also good cooks... BONUS!}

I don't have any pictures of the party {way too busy running around} but here are a few pics from the ceremony and just after.  The weather was a perfect 72 degrees =)

 

I love this sequence of Reid with his Godparents, Chris and Reenie! He's a lucky guy =)

I still want to get a few pictures of just Reid in his gorgeous outfit, but I had no time on the day of.  Hopefully this weekend so that I can order Thank You cards with his sweet little picture on it =)

Happy Baptism Reid Joseph! You are so very loved.

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