NUMBER 303

i'm on a roll! we were super productive last night. the whole house is cleaner than it's been since we moved into it in 2012, and it's all for my in-laws. haha mostly true! andrew's parents are coming to town this weekend to help install a dishwasher in the kitchen [hallelujah] and if time permits, some additional projects to be completed around the house. we're losing 2 cabinets and 2 drawers in our already tiny kitchen which means we had a ton of items that needed new homes. i was totally shocked at how much excess we had accumulated in that tiny space and purged SO much unused/expired food, containers and even small appliances! we seriously have more space now than before i started cleaning. the best part - once that "nesting" bug bites, the kitchen will already be crossed off my list!!

2 7  W E E K S

• how far along? 27 weeks
• baby size: an acorn squash
• total weight gain/loss? i was brave and weighed earlier this week and was shocked to see i was 16 pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight. i didn't chance it by weighing in again.
• maternity clothes? yes, but not ALL maternity. i bought this super cute top [looks better on me, IMO] from anthro today that i plan on sporting at thanksgiving!
• stretch marks? none! fingers crossed that they stay away!
• sleep? pretty bad. my hips have been hurting lots this week, and i'm about ready to throw in the towel and try a pregnancy pillow
• best moment this week? getting our gorgeous pictures back from the shultzes, ordering our christmas cards, and receiving an invitation for my first baby shower
• miss anything? cookie dough. andrew bought a huge roll last weekend and it's been taunting me from the fridge.
• movement? lots - he's most active at night once i get still and settled!
• food cravings? sweets! having that dough in the fridge means a couple of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies every night! too bad the cursed glucose test is monday. ah! 
• anything making you queasy or sick? no, but my morning coffee does seem to make my heartburn worse *tear*
• have you started to show yet? nah. 
• gender: BOY!
• labor signs: getting larger. this is a sign that labor is to come - without a doubt. 
• belly button in or out? out! eek! depending on how much i eat. it was definitely peeking out during our pictures on sunday. i'm seriously considering photoshopping it.
• nursery: making more progress this week! if there's time, andrew and his dad will work on sealing up the random doorway that leads from the kitchen to the nursery. can't wait to see how much our home changes after this weekend!
• symptoms: heartburn, hip pain and a little round ligament pain
• mood: a little emotional, not going to lie. i've cried [or been on the edge] more times this week than i have my whole pregnancy. maybe it's the holidays?
• workouts: one body pump class on tuesday and my huge kitchen cleaning session last night [that totally counts!]
• looking forward to: andrew's parents' visit and THANKSGIVING! oh my gosh, the FOOD! and i guess, [hopefully] passing my glucose test on monday so i have free reign on the food on thursday!

my weekly pic [looking super sleepy from a long night of backaches]. so funny, i compared this to my 20 week picture in the same shirt and look quiiiite a bit larger.

and a few ones from our shoot with the shultzes this past weekend. only minorly obsessed...

NUMBER 302

back to back weeks! lucky you!

2 6  W E E K S

• how far along? 26 weeks
• baby size: a coconut - how is that bigger than a large cucumber? these things make me question how much i should rely on this app for actual stats about my growing baby.
• total weight gain/loss? i haven't weighed this week, but let's be positive and say i've only gained a pound since last week. i read online this week that kim k has already gained 52 lbs with her current pregnancy and still has 6 weeks to go, so there's that.
• maternity clothes? yes! my maxi dress worked out beautifully last weekend, and i'm excited to wear it again this week for our holiday pictures with the schultzes!! we could be wearing paper bags, and i'm confident that this duo would make us look good - so pumped!
• stretch marks? no! i've been diligent about applying my coconut oil and the belly stays super soft all the time. it seems to keep the itchiness at bay too.
• sleep? i'm learning to cope without. last night, i said "why not?" and threw all of my pillows in the floor [minus the one under my head] and it really made no difference in terms of relieving back or hip pain. overall, i'd actually say i slept better because i wasn't having to rearrange the pillow fort every time i rolled over. 
• best moment this week? spending time with old friends and having a blast dancing sober [not a joke]. someone actually told me i might dance my baby out. uh, thanks for the tip, girlfriend.
• miss anything? sushi - i saw a really pretty article this week showing pictures of lots of gorgeous, raw sushi and it just made me realize that fully cooked tuna just isn't that exciting. 
• movement? lots. sometimes i think, "what are you doing in there, baby?" i'm sure that's a pretty common mama thought.
• food cravings? have i said bagels yet? i should note that i'm averaging about 2 a week from einstein's. 
• anything making you queasy or sick? eating too much. i did randomly get sick after the wedding saturday night, but only once, and i'm thinking the 4 pieces of pie i sampled had something to do with that. 
• have you started to show yet? ...
• gender: a GIRL! oh wait, just kidding. all blue!
• labor signs: the closer i get to the end of this, the more i like to pretend i won't actually have to deliver the baby [only halfway kidding]
• belly button in or out? depends on which angle you're looking at it. lets say, 't's in a neutral position. it's switzerland.
• nursery: lots of progress! done: glider, dresser, rug, curtains, curtain rod, crib. to do: seal up 2nd doorway into kitchen [silly old houses], bookshelves for the wall, any other small random things we decide to add
• symptoms: heartburn like a mother.
• mood: positive, except when i get in bed at night and realize i've been complaining about my various ailments all day [general fatness, backaches, hip soreness, etc.] good thing andrew loves me.
• workouts: 2 this week! gotta earn those bagels and milkshakes somehow. something tells me those don't quite even out...
• looking forward to: a beautiful baby shower this weekend for a sweet friend and our undoubtedly gorgeous pictures on sunday! 

a new belly pic [because everyone wants to see that, right? not.]:

NUMBER 301

you're getting a two-for-one again! honestly, not much happens from week to week - other than some weight gain and additional groans. we did have a healthy checkup last monday and heard the little guy's heartbeat again! everything is progressing as it should, and i got a flu shot so neither one of us gets sick with all the nasty weather we've been having. if the sun would shine, that'd be great.

last weekend, our good friends marc and lori beth came to visit. lots of girl time while the guys golfed. we spent too much time overindulging, but only as a reward for crossing things off the nursery list! *high five*.

this weekend, we're headed to richmond for a good friend's wedding where i'll be sporting this hot maternity maxi dress in hopes that it'll keep the bump warm.

2 5  W E E K S

• how far along? 25 weeks
• baby size: a large cucumber - and a cute one at that!
• total weight gain/loss? um 16 pounds? i think this may be the week that i stop weighing myself. all i know is that i'm getting bigger. 
• maternity clothes? yes yes. my favorite jeans are these destroyed ones from gap that i scored on eBay for $20 [tags still on] similar to these.   
• stretch marks? no!
• sleep? it's been worse this week than ever. my doctor finally told me that i should avoid sleeping on my back. in between constantly rearranging my mass of pillows and getting up a few times a night, i'm not sleeping nearly as well as i used to.
• best moment this week? making lots of progress on the nursery! it definitely makes me feel more prepared.
• miss anything? sleep. not feeling huge. 
• movement? yes! lots! constantly throughout the day and nearly every time andrew wants to feel, if he's patient enough, he'll feel a punch or a kick from the outside. 
• food cravings? orange soda, milk, m&ms, all the carbs
• anything making you queasy or sick? not at all.
• have you started to show yet? can i stop answering this now?
• gender: boy! but not going overkill on the baby blue in the nursery!
• labor signs: no no no. still some aches and soreness in my legs and pelvis, though, and hip pain at night.
• belly button in or out? dare i say, out? it depends on how much i eat that day. this is amazing to me because my belly button used to be huge and really deep [like a spoon scooped it out]. now, not so much.
• nursery: more progress! lori beth and i made a huge ikea trip where i scored some cheap ribba frames for a little gallery wall and curtain rods. later this week, my friend rachel found a SCORE on a local mommy facebook group, and i ended up getting a beautiful solid wood dresser [changing table] for $100! there really is nothing better than a good deal. here's a pic [and my gorgeous rug!]

• wedding rings on or off? on
• symptoms: soreness, heartburn and a large, itchy belly.
• mood: happy and thankful!
• workouts: one last week and TWO this week! YES! GOLD STAR! i made it to 2 body pump classes and felt great!
• looking forward to: thanksgiving...already ;)

again, 2 weeks' progress of growing a human. i should probably point out that 24 weeks was halloween - i don't just dress up like a cat for fun [or maybe i do?]:

NUMBER 300

another couple of weeks have passed, and i missed a post in between. don't worry! you didn't miss much - just me getting fatter. in the past 2 weeks, we've visited family and friends, celebrated life and friendship and even made a little progress on the nursery.

while exploring the wyatt family tree last weekend, we finally settled on a name - torbjörn! what do you think? we found it fitting to pay homage to andrew's norwegian roots! i kid i kid.

2 3  W E E K S

• how far along? 23 weeks
• baby size: an ear of corn - what?! 
• total weight gain/loss? around 11-12 lbs ...or 14-15 depending on the time of day! 
• maternity clothes? definitely. so many sweet friends have let me borrow some of their maternity favorites! i should be set for a while, although i'd be just as happy wearing a mumu. 
• stretch marks? none yet! i attribute that to staying greased up all the time with coconut oil.
• sleep? decent. getting up a couple of times a night to pee and wedging pillows around myself to alleviate some hip and back aches
• best moment this week? feeling the baby move - from the outside! in the past week, we've finally been able to feel some kicks and punches by touching my belly. it's really awesome for andrew to experience that too and see proof that something is actually in there besides food.
• miss anything? pumpkin beer...still.
• movement? yes! inside and outside! 
• food cravings? orange soda! haha in the past 2 weeks, i've had it twice, which isn't a crazy common craving but definitely something i didn't drink lots of before.
• anything making you queasy or sick? only the thought of raising an actual human being. nbd.
• have you started to show yet? yes. my constant thought is "IT'S GOING TO GET BIGGER!!"
• gender: all boy!
• labor signs: no no no. i have had some aches and soreness around my legs and pelvic region, and i'm sure it's due to my body just accommodating that growing baby boy.
• belly button in or out? in...for now. it's getting shallower by the day.
• nursery: we finally made some progress! this week, we ordered a rug and my parents bought us a crib [arriving tuesday!] excited to finally see things take shape! 
• wedding rings on or off? on
• symptoms: some sorness from my growing maternal figure. also feeling a little too sore on my most recent walk last week. definitely addressing that at my next doctor's appointment, tuesday, since i'd love to continue to do some activity throughout the week to allow for an easier labor [hopefully].
• mood: thankful, anxious
• workouts: this week - one 30 minute walk tuesday and a 20 minute walk thursday [cut short by soreness]. i cleaned the house yesterday, so i'll count that too!
• looking forward to: a good checkup tomorrow and getting that crib set up this week! our friends marc and lori beth are coming to visit next weekend and us girls plan on making a trip to the pottery barn outlet! hopefully that means more nursery progress!!

2 weeks worth of my swollen pot-belly:

NUMBER 299

this week has been a bit of a whirlwind. after doing absolutely nothing last weekend [only getting off the couch to shower and cook dinner], we had a houseful of guys this week for andrew's annual CFA golf tournament. they're always pretty well behaved and very thankful for the sober rides, so i tolerate it from year to year! the guys came out on top this time, winning first place and a ridiculous amount of raffle prizes. it was a success, to say the least.

my mom and aunts are coming to visit next week, and i couldn't be more excited! they'll undoubtedly be super elated to see my growing belly, but unfortunately, no cute baby room to ooh and ahh over. i expect that we'll be making more progress on that in the next month!

anyway! oh! and i made some blog changes last week since i'm really only blogging about this baby in my belly.

2 1  W E E K S

• how far along? 21 weeks
• baby size: pomegranate [i'm not sure how these things are measured, last week must have been a pretty small banana?!]
• total weight gain/loss? i'm afraid to officially admit that i've hit the 10 lb mark, but there's no denying it.
• maternity clothes? yes! and piko tops are my bff. i could live in one of these every day [and night].
• stretch marks? none yet! still being pretty diligent about applying coconut oil every night.
• sleep? great! minus one night this week were i had some back and hip pain. can i brag that i'm still sleeping without a pregnancy pillow? 
• best moment this week? maybe feeling the baby move from the outside [but maybe just gas?]
• miss anything? my caffeine iv. i'm still drinking caffeine, but only 1 cup a day. there have been several days this week where i really really wanted that afternoon boost, though.
• movement? lots from the inside! 
• food cravings? sweets. i try to reign myself in every day, but i just can't turn down a cookie if it's offered to me. our counter at home at has a bowl filled with candy corn, halloween candy and two types of oreos. i'm blaming it on andrew.
• anything making you queasy or sick? nope!
• have you started to show yet? yes - definitely! 
• gender: BOY BOY BOY! we're so excited! we did discuss names a bit last week but haven't quite settled on anything. andrew has been set on naming him rambo ["just his middle name, laura!!"] ever since we found out we were expecting, so any alternate suggestions are welcome... seriously.
• labor signs: no no
• belly button in or out? in
• nursery: not much progress. since the room is already painted and we've had guests in the house, there's really not a rush to get the furniture out and make things a mess, so we'll just keep doing a few things here and there. [i'll regret saying that soon, i'm sure, when we're 2 months out and the nursery still looks like it does now.]
• wedding rings on or off? on!
• symptoms: some round ligament pain. i had a sharp cramp all the way across my midsection this week after i squatted down for a second in a store and really just had to walk it off. no worries, though!
• mood: happy - just a little sleepy!
• workouts: went for a short 30 minute walk this tuesday. the weather was just so gorgeous! hoping to do more of that since it's cooled off significantly!
• looking forward to: our visitors next week and a weekend in charlotte with great friends celebrating the dedication of sweet caroline and thomas! 

my big brownie belly [sorry about the tv!] and my fav piko top:

NUMBER 298

last week, we celebrated so so much! on friday, i had a big 30th birthday, and saturday andrew and i celebrated 6 blissful years of marriage! needless to say, lots of food was involved. we celebrated at cowfish [a birthday tradition] and the fig tree [an anniversary tradition]. the rest of the weekend was spent snuggled on the couch watching it rain all. weekend. long. no lie. andrew traveled for the early part of the week, and my parents popped into town tonight for a late birthday celebration! i'm currently snuggled up in my barefoot dreams cardigan -  a new bday present that i'll be wearing long after baby arrives!

i'm finally inching these posts back a little further each time. since i'm 20 weeks tomorrow, we'll just count this one as a 20 week update. i'm not so good at this whole pregnancy journal gig. let's assume i'll be better at the whole 'motherhood' part.

2 0  W E E K S

• how far along? 20 weeks
• baby size: a banana! -- that's just crazy to me! 
• total weight gain/loss? 9 pounds
• maternity clothes? most definitely. i have 2 pairs of maternity jeans i keep on rotation. i wore my favorite non-maternity leggings this week and thought they were going to slice me in half. ok. maybe i'm being dramatic.
• stretch marks? no. i thought i saw one, then i realized it was just where i had scratched my belly a few seconds before [total laura move, think old fat man belly scratch]. since then, i've been slathering on coconut oil and belly oil twice a day.
• sleep? great! i mentioned that andrew traveled earlier this week. what i didn't mention is that i made my brother come stay at the house one night because i heard a noise out back. being the good uncle he is, he obliged.
• best moment this week? seeing our little one at last week's ultrasound, winning a holiday mini-session from the shultzes. oh, and the birth of one of my very best friends' new baby boy! welcome to the world, baby ben! 
• miss anything? real deal raw sushi at cowfish
• movement? yes! i've been feeling lots of little pops and wiggles this week! can't wait for more and to finally feel it from the outside as well!
• food cravings? none in particular. 
• anything making you queasy or sick? not a thing 
• have you started to show yet? you decide [picture below!]
• gender: BOY! we saw allllll the goods on the big screen last week! 
• labor signs: noooo
• belly button in or out? in
• nursery: i finally sent my fabric off and paid for my glider slipcover to be made. i guess i should start some progress on the rest now... 
• wedding rings on or off? on
• symptoms: a big belly and some heartburn
• mood: fat and happy
• workouts: none...eek. i've really really been slacking. i went for ONE walk early last week. the weather has been so crappy, i don't feel like doing much after work other than coming home and lounging. hopefully the weather will take a positive turn after this weekend's rain, and that gorgeous fall weather will get me out and about!
• looking forward to: cold, fall weather

my little pumpkin belly:

NUMBER 297

we've been back on the grind at work for a couple of weeks now. BUT it's my birthday week [and mine and andrew's 6 year wedding anniversary! wow!] so even though things are busy, there's still lots to celebrate! i turn 30 this year, and i've been reflecting lots this week on so many blessings that have come our way - too many to count! ok, before i get all hormonal...

1 8  W E E K S

• how far along? 18 weeks. i need to start posting these updates at the beginning or end of the week seeing as i'll be 19 weeks on friday! 
• baby size: a sweet potato!
• total weight gain/loss? still sitting at 8 pounds. i haven't gained any this week, it seems.
• maternity clothes? yes! i got a bella band as an early birthday present, and sported that this week, along with 2 pairs of maternity jeans. there is NO use in suffering trying to squeeze myself into normal jeans.
• stretch marks? none! fingers crossed that they won't show up!
• sleep? great! well, maybe i've just gotten a little more acclimated to not sleeping through the night. and, dare i say, i haven't bought a pregnancy pillow yet? 
• best moment this week? andrew returning home from a weekend away! every couple needs a little time apart every now and then. this is cheesy, but i guess since we spend so much time together throughout the week, i do miss him when he's away - even if it's only a couple of days.
• miss anything? not missing anything too bad this week...
• movement? yes! well...maybe? over the past few days, about once a day, i'll feel something that feels like a thumping from the inside. almost like bubbles or popcorn popping. i'm going to keep thinking that's baby boy in there saying hi!
• food cravings? pressed sandwiches, candy corn [but not candy corn sandwiches]
• anything making you queasy or sick? nope!
• have you started to show yet? yes, but i've still been wearing lots of loose fitting tops, so i may still just look fat to some people! 
• gender: boy! [just a guess], but we find out FOR SURE tomorrow!!! 
• labor signs: noooo
• belly button in or out? in
• nursery: i finally found some inexpensive fabric for a glider and ottoman slipcover. i bought more than enough and plan on making a matching dust ruffle for the crib! as soon as the fabirc arrives, i'll ship it off to my etsy vendor so she can get to stitchin'!
• wedding rings on or off? on
• symptoms: maybe some movement? definitely some bloating, but the back pain has seemed to subside this week!
• mood: happy and a little [or a lot] overwhelmed with the amount of stuff left to do and realizing we're almost halfway through this thing.
• workouts: one 30 minute walk on monday, but i plan on going on another walk today and maybe a short hike on saturday
• looking forward to: celebrating my birthday and anniversary this weekend, both celebrations should include lots and lots of gooood food, and you know that makes this mama happy!

my candy corn belly [and my handsome photographer]:

NUMBER 296

so i've already been slacking on my weekly updates. i'm growing a human, give me a break!

1 7  W E E K S

we took off last week for vacation in seagrove beach, fl with my family. i did break out the two piece around thursday, though - my thinking was that a tan baby bump looks more flattering than a white one [i like to think i was right!] i more than made up for my lack of alcohol intake with extra appetizers [just for me] and several shirley temples [who says they're just for 5 year olds - they're delicious!]

• how far along? 17 weeks
• baby size: a white onion!
• total weight gain/loss? 8 pounds - right on track!
• maternity clothes? not yet, just flowy, comfortable outfits. if it doesn't have an elastic waistband, it's not going on my body.
• stretch marks? no
• sleep? still sleeping great
• best moment this week? spending time with friends' babies! i spent sunday afternoon playing with caroline, thomas and their mama, and saturday, i'm keeping my friend and coworker's baby girl! a little practice never hurt!
• miss anything? raw oysters! but i did sneak a little [or a lot] of smoked tuna dip!
• movement? not expecting any for another couple of weeks
• food cravings? all the food
• anything making you queasy or sick? nope - all food is fair game
• have you started to show yet? oh yes - the bump is out! i was surprised to still be able to fit into some of my favorite jeans earlier this week, but i think that's because i seem to be carrying pretty high, and those sat pretty low on my hips.
• gender: boy! [still guessing?]
• labor signs: not anytime soon!
• belly button in or out? in
• nursery: no progress, but i did start looking for some fabric for a glider slipcover. take a peek at my pinterest board to see what else i'm planning!
• wedding rings on or off? on
• symptoms: round ligament pains and some back pain -- oh and extreme hunger.
• mood: happy!
• workouts: none at the beach, but i did make it to one body pump class this week, so i'll chalk it up as a win!
• looking forward to: supper club! there are now 3 of us that have announced that we're pregnant since the last time we were all together, so we've got lots to celebrate!

my donut belly [and new haircut!]:

NUMBER 295: SO, I'M PREGNANT

given that i've been out of touch with the blogging world for some time, this is in no way my attempt at jumping back on that wagon. BUT so many friends have told me that i'll want to look back on bump recaps, symptoms and general feelings about pregnancy, and i've found that i can type much faster than i can hand write in a journal [and it's much more legible]. so here we go - my first "bumpdate"!

1 5  W E E K S

over the past 10 or so weeks, we've had a handful of doctors appointments [all healthy!] and 3 ultrasounds. we passed the scary genetic tests with flying colors and even got a little hint from the doctor that it's likely a boy [she was pretty confident - 85% sure - but we'll see if that changes!]. our next appointment is september 24 where we'll do the full anatomy scan and find out for SURE! 

this week, we're recouping from a week at smith mountain lake with andrew's family and gearing up for a week in seagrove, florida with mine! one thing's for sure - this baby likes being in a bathing suit [one-piece].

after some great suggestions from friends [and constant questions on my part], i started our baby registry this weekend. who knew someone so little could need so much? thanks, in huge part, to so many generous mama friends and family who have offered to lend us the essential big items. it means so much to have such a huge support group for baby wyatt!

• how far along? 15 weeks
• baby size: a pear!
• total weight gain/loss? 6 pounds - but i'm surprised it's not more. i've been eating everything in sight.
• maternity clothes? a little here and there, pants with an elastic waistband are my best friend and i've been sporting lots of dresses
• stretch marks? no, i've been using a great oil [earth mama, angel baby] and i'm hoping that'll keep them at bay
• sleep? sleeping well, minus getting up 1-2 times to pee in the night
• best moment this week? hearing the baby's heartbeat at our appointment. it's always so reassuring, especially since we're not expected to feel movement for a while
• miss anything? pumpkin beer. andrew got his first batch last weekend and it smelled SO good!
• movement? not yet, although i poke around quite a bit to see if i can find the baby in there. i supposedly have an anterior placenta which means i shouldn't feel movement until week 20 or so
• food cravings? steak and cheese sandwiches [haha!], candy corn
• anything making you queasy or sick? not anymore, i've been very fortunate to avoid most of the morning sickness symptoms that other moms encounter. even in early weeks, i was only queasy when i had an empty stomach
• have you started to show yet? yes. i feel like this week, i'm getting out of the "fat" zone and more into a bump state
• gender: boy! maybe...? haha!
• labor signs: none yet, thankfully!
• belly button in or out? in
• nursery: i've been pinning away on a baby boy nursery, but we won't make any big purchases until we know for sure. the walls in [what will be] the nursery are already sherwin williams aloof grey, which is perfect for a boy or a girl!
• wedding rings on or off? on
• symptoms: a few round ligament pains and some sciatic nerve pain on certain days - both are very minor.
• mood: content and relaxed?
• workouts: each week, i have every intent of working out at least twice, but i'm only making it to body pump about once a week consistently. i blame it on travel and weird schedules, but i'm pretty sure it's just that i'd rather do anything BUT work out...
• looking forward to? the beeeeach!

and so you can see my burrito belly:

NUMBER 285

i've never been good with words, and even worse when it comes to a difficult/sad/uncomfortable situation. i'm skipping my usual fun and carefree “five on friday” post to discuss a matter that's been weighing heavy on my heart.

menkes syndrome.

just googling the disease is enough to make you break down – let alone the thought of it happening to an innocent infant. no cure: i can't imagine the pain mary and alex fish felt when they were told their son teddy has a disease - one that has no cure. the chances that teddy will live past his third birthday aren’t in his favor, but looking through his instagram feed you’d never know. that is one smiley baby. teddy has spent many days of his life in and out of doctors offices and seeing specialists – more than i have in my 28 years. teddy’s parents goal now is to surround teddy with as much much love as possible during his time on earth. as mary says, “make today happy for teddy, he deserves it.”

mary and alex have since put their virginia home on the market and moved back to boston, massachusetts to be near family and loved ones. with medical expenses amounting by the minute, the fish’s friends have set up the teddy fish fund to alleviate some of the financial stress. today i'm telling teddy's story, but it doesn't pay their bills, and it doesn't cure menkes. my hope is that menkes will be better known, leading to additional research and the discovery of a cure. maybe a cure for teddy.

we’re all with you, teddy. to read more about teddy’s journey or offer encouragement to the fish family, visit mary & alex’s caring bridge page. if you would like to make a financial contribution, please click here.

#FUmenkes

NUMBER 281

 

download the FREE desktop wallpaper

HAPPY NEW YEAR! i've never been the 'resolution' type, but i did do a short wish list in last year’s new year post. my 1 item: less change.

“in 2013 i'll be...tweaking my routine to encourage a healthier, happier lifestyle (maybe getting up a bit earlier and eating a bit lighter), enjoying our new home with my awesome husband, staying in charlotte more weekends, living in the present, being more grateful, worrying less, and smiling more.”

overall, i'm really proud of the results! in 2013 we…made our house a home, lost a dearly loved aunt, nurtured relationships with friends in charlotte, and most of all – celebrated life and enjoyed being in the present. laura wyatt design had a super successful year, and i learned more as a designer and businesswoman than i could ever have hoped! i'm so excited for 2014 - to celebrate weddings of great friends, family and friends’ babies being born, and everyday life. 2013 made me a happier person, and i'm thankful to be carrying a positive attitude into this new year.

*tip: to download this wallpaper: click the link above, download the image, and set as your desktop background.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

NUMBER 276

so life lately hasn’t been all sorts of glamorous, but it’s been very rewarding and….good. this long list of perfectly styled & edited cell phone pics pretty much sums up my past few weeks:



right in my element. i stocked up on mini marshmallows at teeter the other day and have been enjoying a nightly cup of hot chocolate [even though it's like 70* today].  |  completed the fastest christmas decorating session in history - 2 hours for the whole house [including outdoors]. of course it helps that we only have a tiny grinch tree. go ahead, ask me why. hint: reasons #1 and #2 are in this picture.  |  mimosas and bloody marys on turkey day  |  loving blacksburg – even when it’s cold and rainy  |  i've made lots of progress on the office! we opted for the cheaper ikea graphic rug, and i LOVE it! there have been many evenings spent here in the past few weeks.  |  andrew shaved his great woodsy beard into a mustache saturday night and had fun sporting it around greensboro. he definitely looked like a retro newscaster/police officer.

it’s finally december! i even got a little online christmas shopping done on black friday. go me! hope you're having a wonderful december so far, too! OH, and stop by sweet whitney's blog today where i'm giving away a $75 credit to go toward a new blog design [you know you want one]...and tell her that you think her new design is pretty sweet too!

NUMBER 274

happy thanksgiving, friends! in my life i've always had much to be thankful for, but this year, i can remember several times saying “life is pretty good” – out loud, just to acknowledge it! it’s so easy to get caught up in the fuss of the holidays…or any day for that matter. those days when our problems seem so big and out of our control. today, squeeze the ones you love a little tighter and thank the good Lord for the many blessings in your life...i know i will.

NUMBER 269

it’s been one of those weeks where watching scary movies and curling up by the fire has taken priority over blog posts, that’s allowed right? however, i'm staying true to my friday gals by linking up with darci, april, christina, and natasha for five on friday! woo hoo! let’s go!

fall is here, and with it has been some gorgeous carolina sunsets. this is one of my favorite skyline scenes in charlotte, and we just happen to drive by it every day on the way to work. there have been several evenings where i'll park the car and walk over the bridge just to get a better shot of this gorgeous city.
andrew’s gotta be commended on his dedication to healthy eating. in the past couple of weeks, he’s lost about 12 pounds just from being conscious about what he eats and working out [mostly] every day. he worked late one night this week, so i got dinner ready while he was at the office. after eating this salad for 2 nights in a row, we’ve declared it our FAVORITE salad!  get the recipe here for the skinny grilled buffalo chicken salad [and don’t forget the homemade skinny ranch – it TOTALLY makes the meal].
ummm… i don’t really have words for this, other than: she sleeps like this ALL the time, and i wish i could sleep this comfortably on the couch.

i decided to give a new local coffee shop a try this weekend and it did NOT disappoint.  i grabbed a chai latte from “not just coffee” in atherton mill and was so pleased! not only is their logo cute, but the chai hit the spot! p.s. would you believe that i've never had one of those pretty latte art drinks? i'm adding that one to the fall bucket list!
lastly, my mom is heading to town tomorrow for a girls weekend! we’re spending the day antiquing, brunching, doing girly things, then wrapping up the day with the michael buble' concert in uptown! i'm sure there will be a good amount of screaming 20-60 year old women in the crowd, and i'm SO excited to be one of them!
hope everyone has a great weekend! stay bundled up, it’s supposed to get COLD [and i secretly love it]!

HAPPY [GIRLS] WEEKEND!

NUMBER 261

image via

today i am 28 years old! in the past few years, i feel as if i've been struggling with some sort of quarter-life crisis. i wasn’t feeling like the happy, carefree, girl i had known in years past. i was insecure, moody, and just not very fun [in my opinion]. late in my 27th year, i've truly felt a transformation. i'm on the rise again! my heart is happy, and i am content [and no, i'm not pregs]. here are just a few things that are keeping my spirits high:

• think positive!
  only i am in charge of how i feel.
• stop comparing.
  there will always be someone prettier, smarter, more talented, etc. be thankful and enjoy the many gifts and blessings that God has given me.
• count your blessings.
  [they greatly outweigh the negatives that can seem so huge at times]
• keep a clean home. 
  am i crazy? having a clean house makes me genuinely happy!
• stop putting happiness on a pedestal.
  i'm starting to realize that i don’t have to have 10/10 items checked off on my “list” in order to be happy. i have a good life.
• just do it.
  [not like nike] for me, this doesn’t mean going skydiving or moving to nashville to become a country music singer. it means going to coffee with a new friend or picking up the phone to call an old one. i walk around with the fear of rejection so often and don’t realize the opportunities that can pass me by. once i just “do it”, i'm so happy i did.

and a few goals for the next year:

• wake up earlier.
  i'm usually up by 9 on the weekends which is definitely progress. now if i could just swing 6:30 on a weekday, we’d be in good shape.
• eat better.
  i think i've eaten enough taco bell in my lifetime to feed a small village for a year. i wish i were kidding when i say that i love fast food and think it tastes really good. time to make some changes.
• be active.
  for me, this is a more realistic goal than “work out”. let’s start with a walk around the neighborhood a few times a week. baby steps.
• show love.
  i want to make a more conscious effort to think of others more often: call someone when you’re thinking of them, send more birthday cards, help out a friend who’s going through a hard time. i spend a lot of time thinking about doing these things and saying “i don’t have time”, when the reality is…. if i didn’t surf pinterest for 17 hours a week, i could spend more time doing meaningful things for other people!
• know God.
  learning to not think of God as some abstract being but rather someone who is actually in my life - day in and day out. our relationship is definitely something that needs tending in the next year [and then some].

the past year has brought a lot of enlightenment for me, and i know 28 will continue along the same path. thanks for reading and following my little journey!

NUMBER 260

last weekend we traveled to smith mountain lake to spend some time celebrating our sweet friends, marc and lori beth, and their engagement! we were fortunate enough to have our engagement party here just 4 short years ago, so it was so much fun to go back and relive the excitement with our good friends! the girls were too busy gossiping about the bachelorette party to snap pics, so these were stolen from marc+lb – which explains why they’re awesome, and not cell phone photos. thanks so much to their families for hosting this perfect event and for including us!

this view never gets old.

soul sisters/best friends
my dress is from francescas, lb’s is from gap

beautiful bridesmaids

the happy couple

my handsome groom – almost 4 years and counting!

dad and I being sweet.
andrew, brad, and mom perfecting the photo bomb.

we’re so lucky to have such great friends…who throw great parties…and invite us to them! can’t wait for that beautiful wedding in june!

NUMBER 259

it’s friday!! i haven’t been the best blogger lately, but i'm staying faithful to my favorite post each week – five on friday! i'm linking up with some of my favorites: april, christina, darci, and natasha for their weekly link up! you should too – all the cool kids are doing it!

1  |  earlier this week, alex was raving about pottery barn’s mercury glass pumpkins. what’s a girl to do when you don’t want to pay the pottery barn price tag? find them cheaper at kirklands, duh. and you can light these up if you’re feeling extra spooky.
2  |  although the weather isn’t quite cooperating with my state of mind, i put together a little fall crockpot meal this week. one of my go-to favorites is red beans and rice. i've been using this recipe for years, and it never fails. the only bad part? my hands smelled like chopped onions all day.
3  | we’re headed to virginia for the weekend to celebrate our good friends’, marc and lori beth’s, engagement. the party will be at marc’s parents’ picture perfect home on smith mountain lake, one that andrew and i have been lucky to be guests at too many times to count. so excited to celebrate the beginning of married life for these two love birds!
4  |  last weekend, mom took me on a little pre-birthday shopping trip and just couldn’t leave francesca’s without this gorgeous dress. i'm wearing it to the party on saturday and can’t wait to sport it when the weather gets cooler with some tall boots!
5  |  lastly, being in danville for the weekend wouldn’t complete without some niece snuggles. these little girls are growing so fast into young ladies, and our time with them is so so precious! looking forward to some delicious home cooking and a beautiful virginia weekend!

HAPPY WEEKEND!

NUMBER 258

it’s always so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine. take a minute today to reflect on the event that rocked our world 12 years ago. my thoughts and prayers are still with those who lost loved ones on 9.11 and who continue to hold strong today. we’ll never forget where we were on this day, and we’ll never forget the sacrifices that have been made since.  image via.

NUMBER 255

IT’S FRIDAYY! i thought this day would never come! y’all know the friday-before-vacation feeling? oh yeah, i'm there! i can only imagine how productive the rest of my day will be. for starters, i'm linking up with christina, april, darci, and natasha for their weekly five on friday link party! here’s a roundup of my week and couple of things i'm looking forward to…

1  |   as we discussed last week, i'm headed down south tomorrow for our annual family vacation to the florida panhandle. mom and i usually take a girls day to explore 30A – everywhere from grayton to rosemary beach! my favorite is stopping in seaside for lunch and perusing the shops! buy the jersey here
2  |  we gave a new restaurant a try last year and wanted to eat there every night after! stinky’s fish camp in santa rosa beach is our new go-to favorite! i've spent the past year trying to replicate their shrimp and grits! if you’re in the 30A area, it’s well worth a little bit of a drive to get there!
3  |  i put our jeep in the shop on monday for some maintenance before our trip, and chrystler set me up with a pretty badass rental. we’ve been cruising the queen city in a 2014 jeep grand cherokee – fully loaded, black, with a killer panoramic sunroof. it almost makes up for the fact that they’ve taken all week to get 1 stinkin’ part in stock. we’ve lovingly dubbed it the “batjeep”. maybe it wants to join us for family vacay, yes?
4  |  last night, april hosted christina and me for a little girls’ night action! we enjoyed some delicious little appetizers, a few bottles of wine, and a whole lot of laughs and girl talk! i'm always on cloud 9 after i get home from a night with these gals – everything is just so easy and natural! christina brought us both a little bottle of the organix coconut milk shampoo that darci’s been raving about, and april tied the cutest little nail polishes on our wine glasses as a little treat. i can’t wait to give them both a try next week!
5  |  last but not least: my best friend from high school, lauren, is being induced for labor today! she and her hubby, adam, are having their first little baby boy! it’s such a surreal thing, when friends start having babies! i could not be more excited for them, and i can’t wait to meet their new addition.
as of tomorrow, i'll be off the radar and on the beach! follow along via instagram, and try not to be too jealous!

HAPPY [VACAY] WEEKEND!

NUMBER 253

this week BLEW by, and i'm so thankful for that! it seems as if fall is here already – we’re in the high 60’s/low 70’s all weekend [but in my mind, it’s 85 and sunny, and i'm at the beach already]. linking up today with april, darci, christina, and natasha for their weekly five on friday! here we go!

1  |  i scored the cutest cover-up that i've ever seen a new bright bikini for vacay at marshall’s this week – all for $37. i was completely giddy over the fact that the original pricetag for the cover-up said $96 and it only cost me $10! don’t you LOVE when that happens!
2  |  this time next week, i'll be packing my bags for vacation. if that’s not reason to celebrate, i don’t know what is! my family is originally from arkansas, so we’ve been traveling to destin,fl for vacation since i was little. we moved to the east coast when i was in middle school,but  it only took us 2 vacations to the atlantic to decide there’s nothing like that white sand and emerald waters of the gulf! we’ve decided the 12 hour drive is worth it!
3  |  last weekend we celebrated my mom’s birthday. i stopped by the farmer’s market and grabbed these beauties for the birthday gal! $10 will buy you this gorgeous bouquet, and 20 will get you one twice this size! can’t beat it! i'm planning on heading back today for more to brighten up the abode for my little houseguest [see #5]!
4  |  we’ve lived in our house for 10 months now and i'm JUST now getting pictures hung. i used wrapping paper to map out my little “gallery wall” and hammered away! it’s not a perfect science, but it gets the job done! this project took about an hour from start to finish!
5  |  andrew’s away at a golf tournament which means i'm having a girls’ weekend! one of my best friends, lori beth is bringing her skinny bootie to charlotte, and i couldn’t be more excited! on the agenda: makeovers at laura mercier [along with free champs], cowfish [duh], bridesmaid dress shopping [she’s a bride-to-be!], ikea, and forever 21. looking forward to spending some quality time with this gal!

HAPPY WEEKEND!