Grace in Small Things, November 28, 2012

Hi Everyone! Happy Wednesday!

Really, really busy with work this week, but wanted to pause for a minute to think about what's good in my world:

1. The fact that work IS busy. Always a double-edged sword (because I'd always rather be spending the time with the babies), but so grateful that I am able to contribute to my family in this way. Also, things are busy, but everything is going really smoothly, clients are appreciative, etc., so happy for that

2. Really appreciating this fall the way the summer greenery/flowers are looking now...like the Bells of Ireland today in one of my mom's gardens (above)...beautiful, aren't they?

3. Good stuff is going on with my husband's job hunt...don't want to jinx by talking about it, but...good stuff

4. Nice hike with my dad today...it's been a while since we hiked together between him being gone for a month and me being sick/overwhelmed with stuff/traveling the first few weeks he was back. Looking forward to getting back into going out with him every Wednesday

5. We're getting the kids on a schedule and it's going to change our life, I swear...knowing when they'll be napping, eating, going to bed for the night, when we'll be getting up in the morning, when we can take them out and about vs the random schedule we've been on since they were born...I'm really excited about the change. I do want to talk about sleep training and the other stuff we're doing, but that's a long post for another time...

Hope everyone is having a great day!

XOXO

Grace in Small Things, November 12, 2012

Hi Everyone! Happy Monday!

Some things that are good in my world today:

1. Gosh, I've been sick for a week (sore throat, headache, tired). But a tad bit better today. Plus, the twins don't seem to have it, knock on wood. (I hear they get antibodies through breastfeeding, which is so cool...)

2. We got Pack-and-Plays last week for my mom and dad's house...makes having the twins over here so much easier. I'm actually over here for 3 days while my husband travels...so incredibly wonderful to spend this time with my parents and to have their help...don't know how I'd survive without the help (especially sick)...so grateful for it...

3. Lots of work for me right now, which is good and bad. Bad in that I'd rather hang out with the twins, good in that our bank account will be thanking me (and I've had some slow weeks, so I'm due). Also, some of the work I do is with good friends of mine, and I've got a couple projects going with them right now, which always makes me happy

4. First snow of the season two nights ago...so beautiful...gets me dreaming about snowboarding, although honestly I don't see how that's going to work this year with the twins so young, but that's OK, there will be other years (with them on the slopes with me, too, which I can hardly wait for...)

5. Mom's beef stew for dinner. And Upwords (which I almost always lose at but that's OK). And the other half of a movie we started watching last night but none of us could stay awake for. It's been a long time since I've spent a couple nights at my parents house (because I live so close, I usually just head home)...it's fun. :)

Hope you all are having a fabulous start to your week!

XOXO

Grace in Small Things, November 5, 2012

Hi Everyone! Happy Monday!

A few things that are making me happy today:

1. Thank you so much to everyone here and IRL who left comments, texted, emailed, called, facebooked etc. on my brother Luke's birthday...it is still a hard day, and I appreciate all the support more than you know. Sometimes I feel so alone in my sadness...not after this weekend...

2. I've had my DSLR camera for way over a year and am JUST NOW starting to take it off the automatic settings and really use it. :)

Don't know why this particular picture taken over the weekend makes me so happy, but it does:

3. Friends of mine from Santa Barbara (actually, the drummer in my brother's band) with a pregnancy announcement (congrats Dave and Mel!), friends from San Francisco with an engagement ring (congrats Chris and Kim!), another SF friend of mine down to Baja for a month (so, so jealous...but love that she is always getting to do such cool stuff...)

4. My husband is home! (He's been traveling a ton.)

5. And my parents are returning today after a month-long trip to Europe...I've missed them tons...can't wait to have them back!

Hope everyone has a lovely week!

XOXO

Oh, and PS, three nights of The Voice this week? I'm excited.

And PPS, I have FINALLY figured out who I'm going to vote for tomorrow. I read a phrase in The New Yorker last week about undecided voters being "ideologically incoherent"...love that phrase...that is so me when it comes to politics...

Oh, and PPPS, I dropped my (newish) iPhone in the soapy bottle washing water this weekend...totally submerged but it appears to be fine...how is that possible?!?

Grace in Small Things, October 10, 2012

Hi Everyone! Happy Wednesday!

Hope everyone's week is going well...here are a few things so far this week that are making me inordinately happy:

1. My mother-in-law is here for the month...so psyched she's here. She's making these wicked cool Halloween costumes for the kids...Zo is going to be a peacock, and here is the start of her costume:

2. Great hike yesterday...it's been so hard for me to get out...always feel guilty for leaving the babies...but my husband hugely encourages it and the days are so beautiful right now and this little corner of Colorado, I didn't see a soul...you feel like you are someplace so wild and rugged, which I love...

3. I didn't think I really liked chrysanthemums, but my mother-in-law brought us these, one for each side of our front door, and they are gorgeous...the color is making me so happy...

4. The last of the vegetables for the year are coming out of my mom's garden...I can't tell you how much we've appreciated all she's shared with us...

5. Slowly, slowly getting all of our financial affairs in order, and part of that is life insurance for me and my husband. My blood work for the application process came back with a weird abnormality, which scared me...worst case scenario that abnormality could mean I have liver or kidney failure...and I knew that was far-fetched because I feel fine, but still, I worry. Anyway, my doctor ran the test again and it came back normal so there is nothing wrong with me, phew. :)

6. Oh, and one bonus thing...after years and years of living with a cheap couch I don't really like all that much, a couple days ago we ordered my absolute dream couch. It won't be here until December, but I am sooooooooo excited! 

What good things are happening in your world this week?

XOXO

Grace in Small Things, September 28, 2012

Hi Everyone! Happy Friday!

We've been doing this crazy yard sale all day...so fun! Again tomorrow and I'll have lots to say about it next week. But in the meantime, a few things from the past couple days that have made me inordinately happy:

1. Needed a blood draw yesterday, and took the kids with me, because when I was doing IVF after IVF after IVF I was at the lab what felt like every other day. For years. So yeah, I know these people well. And they were always so supportive of me...so excited when I got pregnant...so sad alongside me when things didn't work out. Anyway, it was so lovely to bring the babies to them...all work ceased as they passed Luke and Zoey around, the babies all smiles. It was really special.

2. My husband and I have been walking down to the Blue Moon for lunch on Thursdays. I know this time won't last forever, but I love how much time we've been able to spend together as a family, how leisurely our days can be.

3. I love dressing my kids. How cute are these outfits?!? I especially love when I can put them in gifts like these shoes from my Aunt Loretta and Uncle David, and hats knit by a local friend of mine. :)

4. Each kid got their own grocery cart in the store yesterday, me pushing one, my husband the other. It was Zoey's first time. They LOVE riding around in the carts...too cute.

5. Ms. Zo SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT LAST NIGHT. She's done it before, but it's been weeks...

Happy Weekend! Thanks for spending some time here this week!

XOXO

P.S. Last time I'm going to ask, promise. :) Please vote for my blog on Top Baby Blogs today by CLICKING HERE and then on the owl on the left side of the screen that pops up. That's it. Thank you so much for your support!

Grace in Small Things, September 21, 2012

Hi Everyone! Happy Friday!

Gosh, I haven't done one of these posts in a long time...since before I had my babies, I think. But wanted to write today about some of the little things I appreciate/am grateful for:

1. Look at Luke riding in the shopping cart! It was the first time he'd done it...out running errands today with his Daddy and Sissy and me...he was so thrilled. Can't believe how grown up he's getting!

2. Our kids got their 6-month shots, plus a flu shot yesterday. They were so miserable last night, especially Zoey, who we brought downstairs and let sit on her daddy's lap, she held onto his shirt and buried her face in his chest, turning around every once in a while to look at us with the saddest eyes, tears on her cheeks. She was so unhappy, which I hate, but it was also like she knew that her daddy would make it better, which he did. So heartbreaking and so adorable all at the same time. 

3. Tomorrow's the first day of fall, and I LOVE fall in Colorado, always been one of my favorite times of the year, with the weather cooling off and the leaves starting to turn, it getting darker earlier so we can start to pull in, enjoy our home and each other...

4. My brother's coming for the weekend this weekend! And the Blue Angles are in town...love watching the Blue Angles. Looking forward to relaxing with family and friends...feel like we've been doing a lot these past few weeks (all the normal stuff, plus trying to get ready for the garage sale we're having next weekend).

5. My husband is BBQing for dinner--honey BBQ pork and peppers on the grill, yellow rice, a salad...yum. I'm so lucky that: a) he cooks, b) he likes doing it, and c) he makes the most amazing meals.

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! Thanks for spending some time here this week. :)

XOXO

Grace in Small Things, January 24, 2012

Wrting this week about living in an apartment such as these, Russian Hill, San Francisco. Good times.

1. Had an 8 AM conference call this morning, but then promptly went back to sleep for another hour...love, love, love working from home, especially while I'm pregnant

2. So many people from out-of-town are flying into Denver next week for my baby shower! (I've lived all over the place, and subsequently have friends all over the place.) Makes me feel so loved. :)

3. I'm in a really good writing groove right now, with stories I'm working on about San Francisco. I figure I won't have any time to write for a while once the babies are born, so trying to get some work done now. (While balancing that desire with my need to take it a lot easier these days...) 

4. Snow this morning when I woke up. I love snow. Even though I can't snowboard right now...it makes me happy to think of the people who got a nice powder day today up on the slopes

5. Symphony tonight with a girlfriend...fun to get a little dressed up and get out of the house (and I'm just up from a couple hours worth of napping, so it shouldn't be too tiring)

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

XOXO

Image credit: nicolas.boullosa.

Grace in Small Things, January 17, 2012

1. I had a little mini-meltdown today...I know it's ridiculous, but I was so tired from not sleeping last night and all of a sudden it's really hard to breathe (babies are squishing my lungs, I'm assuming) and I'm feeling so huge and a lot of my maternity clothes don't fit anymore and I feel like I just look fat and exhausted...I AM fat and exhausted...and don't get me wrong, these are GREAT problems to have, I know, but I'm tired of feeling so frumpy and isolated because I never have energy to do anything plus I can't do any of my normal athletic stuff.

But I called my friend Betsy, who laughed at me (which didn't bother me at all, I'm laughing at myself too, through the tears, mind you), and she said I needed a cup cake (no can do, I told her, because of the diabetes) and some retail therapy (which I think is true...I've been trying not to spend money on maternity stuff but a few new things will make me feel better...plus I have nothing to wear for my baby showers). I'm so lucky to have friends I can call...

I also feel like I need a plan to make these last weeks a little more...I don't know what the word is...comfortable? Enjoyable? I don't want to just be counting the days until the babies are born...I want to appreciate each day as much as possible...

2. Talking with my husband today about how he was ready to give up on having kids and live child-free like three procedures ago...so grateful that he was OK with trying again (and again, and again), because he knew how much it meant to me...

3. My biggest client is implementing this big new workflow thing...part of salesforce.com and I normally hate, hate, hate these kinds of initiatives, but so far, this one looks like it's a) not going to be too bad to learn...a lot more user-friendly than other things I've seen come and go, and b) may actually make everyone's life easier (which is what these things are supposed to do, but that doesn't tend to end up being the case in my experience). Fingers crossed...

4. I got my husband a Nespresso machine for X-mas...we first saw these when we were in Europe last winter on our honeymoon...and I'm not drinking ANY coffee until my pregnancy is over but the smell of the coffee he's making is just divine...can't wait to have a cup...plus it takes me right back to Amsterdam when we first got off the plane, snowing like crazy and our hotel had a lovely little lobby with couches around a fireplace and we sank down into the cushions they said, "Would you like an espresso?" and we said, "Yes, please," and they made us each one and it was the best thing ever...

5. My husband's starting school again tomorrow. His last semester, I'm so thankful. We are both SO ready for him to be done...

XOXO

Grace in Small Things, January 11, 2012

1. Pillows everywhere in the bed this morning (as is the case every morning these days. "What are you trying to do, build a pillow fort?" my husband asked me when he came to bed the other night.) Pillows...and my husband curled up on one side of me, my dog Newton on the other. Ahhh...bliss...did not want to get out of bed this morning...

2. Reading a great book called The Elephant's Journey by Jose Saramago. So nice to really, really enjoy reading something. (I'm the queen of starting a book and putting it down because I'm not really engaged.) And lest you think I'm all highbrow from my reading choices, I should also tell you that I'm sooooo psyched that The Bachelor is back on TV. Are any of you Bachelor fans? Do you like any of the girls yet? I'm finding them all pretty annoying at this point...

3. As long as I do it the right way (right time of day, right amount), I can still have grapefruit juice on my diabetic diet. Which is huge, because that is what I'm craving morning, noon and night. (And even though I can't drink as much as I want, I'm grateful I can still drink some)

4. Work's starting to get busier again, which is good. December was sooooooo slow for me, which was nice, but doesn't do good things for our bank account

5. And on a related note, paid our quarterly taxes today (I freelance so have to pay in four times a year). Gosh, it's a lot of money going to the government, but it means I'm working and getting paid, for which I'm always grateful, especially in these economic times...

XOXO

Grace in Small Things, December 15, 2011

1. Good OB appointment today. Doctor said everything looks great. Going from once a month visits to twice a month, which is fine with me...the more often I get a peek into what's going on in there, the better

2. Our new crib got delivered today and my husband dropped EVERYTHING to put it together right away. He's so psyched about all this...love it

3. Work is really, really, really slow right now, which scares me a little (although it shouldn't...December is always slow, and I just signed a solid contract with my biggest client for next year). Even though it sucks to be billing so little, I do appreciate all the free time I have to do baby and holiday stuff (and sleep during the day since I'm not sleeping much at night...)

4. My husband finished his semester at school today! Yay! Only one left...I am sooooo happy about that. Him going back to school hasn't been too hard on us (especially since he has the GI Bill), but it's going to be really great to have it done, too

5. Reading Harry Potter and REALLY enjoying it. Am I the only one on the planet who's had a hard time getting into Harry Potter books? I've started and not finished the first one several times. But right now for some reason it's clicking and I'm getting so into it. It's the perfect easy thing for me to be reading right now, and I love that a big stack of sequels awaits...

XOXO

Grace in Small Things, December 7, 2011

Today's the first day it's really feeling like Christmas is coming. Love this time of year...

1. Really slow work week for me...took advantage of that fact and spent the day at my mom's sewing receiving blankets for the babies (we have a few more to do...will post pictures when we're done). They're turing out so cute and things go so fast with my mom and I working together. Plus whenever I use the blankets, I can think back to the day we made them together and how lovely it was...

2. About to head home to meet my husband for dinner, but as I sit here typing the sky is tinged light pink from the sunset, my parent's Christmas tree is in front of me sparkling with multi-colored lights, my mom is playing the most lovely melody on the piano...it's so beautiful...all's right with the world...

3. When I have lunch at my parents' (once a week or so) we almost always play a game called Upwords (like Scrabble, but 3D). My parents play against each other every day and are really, really good. But today I won for the first time! Yay! :)

4. We're having a co-ed baby shower over in Denver in the New Year. My dad originally scoffed at the idea of attending a baby shower ("Never been to one, see no reason to start now."), but today he said he'd come, which makes me sooooooo happy.

5. Our younger dog, Newton, broke his toenail a week or so ago. Last weekend, my husband and I took him to the dog park where the little pond they have full in the summer was dried up...except they had pushed all the silt that had accumulated to one side, and wouldn't you know it, both our dogs ran into the chest deep mud and muck. It was worth the pain of having to clean them just for how funny it was to watch them try to extract themselves...it was like they were stuck in quicksand...I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. But Newton's foot got infected, which prompted a trip today to the nicest vet ever (Dr. Bob's his name, big, burly ex-football player and mostly a horse doctor but he sees dogs now and again). Anyway, I'm just grateful it's nothing a few antibiotics won't cure, you know?

XOXO

Image Credit: HikingArtist.com.

Grace in Small Things, November 11, 2011

Hi Everyone! Sorry for not posting yesterday...have been in a little bit of a funk, which is usually due to working too much (although I haven't worked much this week) and/or feeling sick (which is pretty constant these days, so not sure why I've been down the past few days in particular).

Anyway, what better time to take a look at what's good in my life, right? And so:

1) Minutes after I posted my list of baby stuff on Wednesday, my BFF called and told me I'm not going to be buying any of this stuff...that there is going to a baby shower and my friends will buy things for me (my friend Julie pointed this out too). Thanks girls! So excited about a baby shower! Makes me feel so loved! :)

2) My mom took me to see The Art of Flight the other night (the image above is a still from the trailer)...was screening at our little local college. It's a snowboarding movie where these guys essentially fly/helicopter into these remote places and snowboard sick terrain. Love watching this kind of thing. That's me in another life. And actually, now that I think about it, maybe part of why I've been down is I'm feeling sad about not snowboarding this year. I would 10,000 times rather be pregnant than have this snowboarding season, but it's not an either/or situation, right? I can be happy to be pregnant and still be sad I don't get to get outside. (I'm feeling especially sorry for myself because I missed last season due to a pregnancy [which ended in miscarriage] too. But two seasons for two babies is fair, right?)

3) My dad just got an iPhone and has taken to texting. He's out of state at a poker tournament and has been keeping me abreast of his progress. Fun...

4) Not working this weekend for the first time in forever (well, it's only been 3 weeks, but it feels like forever)

5) French cheesecake...which is lighter and airier than regular cheesecake. Have you all ever had it? Soooooo yummy...

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. Thanks for spending some time here this week.

XOXO

Image Credit: The Art of Flight trailer.

Grace in Small Things, November 1, 2011

This church, Saints Peter and Paul in San Francisco, features prominently in what I was writing today. Isn't it beautiful?

1. Blew off work today (I've been working some on the weekends the past couple weeks, so I felt justified) and wrote essentially all day. Have a headache now, but it was so worth it. I'm writing a lot about San Francisco these days, and today I worked on a piece about the murder I witnessed while I was living there (awful), and the last guy I dated before I moved away (sweet). (The two are intertwined in a weird way.) All this stuff about San Francisco...these are things I've been trying to write for years...feels good to have parts of it at least finally coming together...

2. My mom came over and we went for a walk and had such a nice talk about things that really matter...

3. Texted back-and-forth with a dear friend of mine who didn't know about my blog until today. Hi Stacey! So happy you're my newest reader! :)

4. Windy this afternoon and the golden leaves are fluttering down outside my office window...almost like falling snow...lovely

5. Talked with my biggest client some more about maternity leave...we'd talked in broad strokes before about what I want (3 months off, then working part time, and no more crazy-long work weeks...I'm going to have to be more protective of my time), but today we got more into the nitty-gritty of how it's going to work. Everything is falling nicely into place

In fact, that's how I feel about life in general today...everything's falling into place. It's such a good feeling...

XOXO

Image Credit: The Dana Files.

Grace in Small Things, October 20, 2011

1. God, I love fall. The cooler temperatures, the beautiful leaves, the feeling that good things are to come...

2. Went 36 hours without Zofran (my original prescription is almost gone...wanted to see if I was feeling better and maybe didn't need it anymore since I am at 15 weeks and supposedly supposed to be over the morning sickness thing). But after spending today on the couch, I'm throwing in the towel and asking for another vial. Wish I could do better without it, but so glad it's an option. Will try again next week...

3. Broke down and went out and got 2 new bras...ahhh, so much more comfortable! I was a 34 B before all this fertility stuff started. Yesterday's purchase: 40 E. So crazy

4. Have had some crappy stuff happen at work this week, but have good work friends to tell me I'm justified/not crazy at getting annoyed at what's going on. I can usually escape the office politics because I freelance, but not always. Makes it so much easier when you can call a good friend who can commiserate...

5. Our oven broke the other day (for the second time, and it was a brand new oven 3 years ago...grrr). But that's OK, because it got me to get my crock pot out. I haven't used my crock pot all summer. Today I made the most nutritious black bean and tomato soup (which I usually make vegetarian, but I added meat...not sure how to meet my protein quota without meat at every meal). So yummy. Also so happy my husband is handy and can fix the oven when the part comes in...I wouldn't have a clue where to start with that...

XOXO

Grace in Small Things, October 13, 2011

1. It was a few weeks ago I went camping with my family near Marshall Pass (south central Colorado), but just getting around to looking at the pictures today, and so thankful I was able to go on that trip. I've camped with my husband and my brother and my mom and my dad separately over recent years, but it's been since my brother and I were kids that we all camped together. The pictures above is of some of the aspens. Love fall out here... Here are a few more pics from that weekend:

 

2. Today was the first day I ran into someone I hadn't seen for months and she said, "Oh, you're pregnant, how wonderful!" without me having to tell her about it. I really am starting to show...it's so cool! :)

3. My husband and I had a big weekend last weekend kind of in celebration of our anniversary, but on the actual day yesterday, we did very little. It's nice not to have to feel like you need to make a big production out of something just because it is "the day." We were both so tired and I've been working hard this week and he's got papers due for school...I know this sounds lame but it really was sweet just to go out for a very low-key BBQ dinner and cuddle up at home 

4. I DID get a beautiful red purse as an anniversary gift from my husband. We're doing the traditional gifts, and this year (3rd anniversary) is leather. Love my gift and it's a classic design that will last for years...love that I'll be able to use the purse for a long time and always get to think, "This is what my sweet husband gave me for our anniversary"

5. Yoga and a massage in the same day...I am a happy girl :)

XOXO

Grace in Small Things, October 10, 2011

Snow at my brother's, southwest of Denver. He lives where we grew up...so cool...

Hi Everyone! Happy Monday!

I'll be doing my usual weekly pregnancy post tomorrow...today there's a lot of good things I want to share! :) I usually list small happinesses here, but some of today's are big:

1. Spent the night at my brother's Friday night (he lives in the foothills outside of Denver), and woke Saturday morning to snow. And I wasn't expecting it at all. I felt like a little kid...delighted...it was magical

2. My parents had two dogs, Jack and Comic. Comic died a short time ago, from a freak illness, which made my parents sooooo sad, but they kept saying, "At least we have Jack."

Well, they went on vacation and left Jack with my brother (who is amazing with dogs, by the way). About a week ago, Jack went missing. And he wasn't wearing a collar/any ID. My brother spent so much time last week, and my husband and I helped this weekend searching for him...ads online and in newspapers, flyers posted all over the place, checking the shelters, going door-to-door looking for him, etc., etc., etc. No luck.

It hit me hard when we checked into our Denver hotel Saturday...we were planning to have Jack with us as we were going to bring him home with us when we came back (we live near my parents, my brother is about 4 hours away from us). The hotel is super dog friendly and had a little chalkboard that said, "Welcome, Jack!" and a dog bed and dog dishes and treats in the room. But we had no dog to check in with. I was feeling so sad. I just couldn't imagine my parents losing BOTH their dogs in such a short time, you know? 

But today--finally--Jack has been found! Don't know the details, but so, so, so happy about that news! :)

(By the way, if you want to make yourself sad, go check out the lost-and-found rooms at your local animal shelter. So many, many sweet, hopeful dogs looking up at you and wagging their tails as you walk by...I hope most of them get found...)

3. Closed down a hip Denver restaurant with good friends of ours on Saturday night (after visiting the coolest little bar [I am of course drinking non-alcoholic beer and water these days, just FYI])...you know it's been a fun night when you suddenly notice it's just you and the wait staff (we left a big tip, BTW).

4. Foo Fighters Denver show last night. Absolutely lived up to my hopes for it (and my hopes were BIG). What an awesome night. They played until almost midnight and there was so much good energy, the crowd was great, the band was great, they played every song but one that I wanted to hear (and that one's pretty obscure, so not surprising). Made me so happy. 

5. Have I mentioned I'm feeling better?!? It's like I was living in black-and-white and the whole world is now Technicolor. I didn't realize how much I was struggling, how down I was feeling just because I was so sick 24/7. Not being sick like that has had a HUGE impact on my mood, how I'm feeling about being pregnant, and I'm feeling like I can handle actual babies (it's hard to picture being any good as a mother when you can barely get out of bed.) I'll talk more about the medication I'm on tomorrow, but bottom line is it has made such a HUGE difference...

Hope everyone has a lovely week!

XOXO

P.S. Courtney, I promise to post pictures of the aspens sometime this week. :)

Grace in Small Things, October 7, 2011

1. Oh, wow, I feel soooooo much better with the Zofran. Pretty incredible the difference, actually

2. Managed to pull together some cute outfits for our weekend trip (maternity dressing = challenging). Looking forward to getting a little dressed up for a change...doesn't happen much in my normal life around here

3. So excited to get away for the weekend! Yay!

4. And the aspens should be beautiful over the passes when we drive over to Denver...should be such a lovely drive

5. Got a HUGE document I've been working on all week sent out mid-day...and so I get to leave work early! :)

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. Thanks for spending some time here this week. :)

XOXO

Grace in Small Things, October 4, 2011

1. Rain today. I really like working in the rain...don't feel so bad about not being able to go outside...

2. I have a big new social media/"e-learning" program I'm doing for work that I've been turning over in my mind for a couple months...need to write out exactly what it is this week, and my ideas for it are FINALLY gelling...it's going to be cool.

3. Really sick yesterday and my husband went to the store without me (we usually always shop together, so it was really sweet of him to let me stay on the couch), brought back rice pudding (along with our regular weekly groceries). "This is what makes me feel better, when I'm not feeling so hot," he said. "Hopefully it'll help you." He is the sweetest.

4. My husband and I are going to Denver this weekend as kind of a pre-anniversary trip (our anniversary is next week). Get to see my brother, some good friends (who apparently have tons of baby/maternity stuff to send home with us...yay) and see the Foo Fighters, which I am soooooo excited about. It's going to be a great trip. I usually travel all the time (or used to, anyway...that probably won't be the case for a while with two babies), and have been going a little stir-crazy cooped up here. It's going to be great to get out.

5. Ordered an anniversary present for my husband online on Sunday, coincidentally got a 25% off coupon to the store on Monday. Just called and they said they'd honor it...yay!

Hope everyone's having a good week so far.

XOXO

Grace in Small Things, September 27, 2011

1. My husband stayed up studying late last night (all night, essentially) so he could take my parents to the airport at 4:45 AM...so sweet that he did that so I could get a decent night's sleep!

2. Peanut butter toast is my new favorite breakfast. Yum.

3. Got some great IT help out of Denver today. One of the hardest things about freelancing has been finding good computer support. I think I found my guy!

4. Lay down to rest a couple times today. Couldn't sleep, but getting to lay down was lovely!

5. Got a sweet little card yesterday from a friend of mine in San Francisco. She's a friend I know in the past has really wanted kids, and then a couple years ago decided it wasn't in the cards for her (she's a little older than I am and I think has some fertility issues although I'm not sure, and is in a relationship where kids just aren't an option). I THINK she's OK with it, but I've been a little careful about my pregnancy around her, not wanting to hurt her, you know? But she seems so full of enthusiam for me...said she wished I was still in San Francisco so she could be with me during this time. Love how sweet she's being. Hope she really is OK with me being pregnant and not just putting on a happy face...love her and don't want to do anything to hurt her...

XO

Grace in Small Things, September 22, 2011

1. Feeling moderatey better today. Yippee!

2. Good enough to make it to prenatal yoga for the first time (prenatal yoga's only once a week here, and every week before I've felt too sick to go.) It was sooooooo wonderful. The stretching felt so good. Also in my "normal" life, I go to yoga 2-3 times a week (Bikram yoga, which isn't allowed during pregnancy), but haven't been since, I don't know, June maybe. I've been thinking and this morning confirms that I need to try and get back to doing some of the things that are "me," even if I have to do them in modified ways.

3. Along those lines, I'm scheduling a haircut, massage, and pedicure for next week...haven't had any of those things since I got pregnant, and again, I think it'll help me feel more like myself and that this pregnancy isn't turning me into some entirely different creature, which is how I've been feeling.

4. I got invited to work in Boston this fall, and have been hugely on the fence about it. I love Boston, and have lots of friends there I would like to see (I've worked there on and off for 10 years), and my doctor says it's OK to travel this early in my pregnancy. But on the flip side, evey time I go to Boston I end up working 18 hour days day after day, and I miss my husband, and I don't want to be alone in an ER with doctors I don't know if something goes wrong. Plus, I can't imagine working as hard as I'd need to work feeling the way I do (I know I'm supposed to start feeling better soon, but that's not guarenteed.) Plus, bottom line, I don't want to be able to look back on anything and say, "If only I hadn't done that, maybe the babies would have been OK." So I'm not going to go. I know I'm being super conservative and cautious here, but it's what feels right to me. Glad to finally make a decision about it, even though it's a bummer I'm not going to get to see my friends and do all the cool Boston city stuff I like to do.

5. Going to clean my office and my closet over the next few days...both are disasters, and having both clean is going to make me feel better...trying to eliminate all the little drains on my mood/energy, you know?

Hope everyone's having a fabulous Thursday!

XOXO