These are a few of my favorite outfit posts from 2013. The past year has been a wild ride full of ups and downs, but I am so grateful for how everything has turned out. These past four months have been especially wonderful watching my little boy grow up right before my eyes and spending time during the holidays as a family of three. I am going to soak in this last week of being a stay-at-home mom and enjoy every minute of snuggles before going back to work. Hope you all have been enjoying the little break, and wishing you all the best in the new year to come. I’m looking forward to a bright future ahead in 2014!
Although I haven’t opened my presents yet this year, my husband couldn’t wait to give me this one early, and I already know it’s my favorite. He edited clips of our adventures during Nico’s first four months of life and strung them together to create a short video. It had me in tears about…ohhhh…five seconds in, and I decided I would share with my readers. For anyone who has children, wants children, or even just likes children, I think you will appreciate this video. I can’t believe how much has changed in so little time. Very excited to spend our first Christmas Eve together as a family of three. 🙂
I took these photos on our Florida trip back in November. It takes me back to the peaceful balcony at my Grandmother’s condo in St. Pete Beach. The quiet. The warmth. The calm. It was really the first moment since beginning motherhood that I actually felt relaxed. It felt nice.
These photos also remind me of spending quality time with my family for a number of reasons. 1) It was our first airplane trip as a family of three. 2) It was the first time my parents and grandmother were able to spend extended time with their grandson/great-grandson. 3) It was the rare occasion that we were able to spend time with the three of them alone. Normally, when we travel back to Maryland, it’s for a big event and there are tons of people, which I do love, but it was nice to spend some quality time on our own.
Thinking of family makes me extremely excited for our upcoming trip to Maryland for Christmas. There are so many firsts Nico will get to experience. His first Feast of the Seven Fishes night. The first time hearing my mom yell, “Santa came!” when we walk down the stairs. The first time being subjected to my dad videotaping Christmas morning (yes, he still does it every year, but by now I appreciate it.) The first time meeting some family members, and so much more.
My, these photos have gotten me off on a tangent here. As a final thought, I know the holidays can be crazy, but I am hoping for a day or two while we are down in Maryland to feel that peaceful calm again that I felt in these photos above.
My Aunt Marie, My sister on the left, and that’s me on the right – My sister and I are two years and three days apart, and we’ve been celebrating our birthdays together our whole lives. Love you little sis!
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twenty eight: a reflection
twenty eight
you’ve been great
so much has happened
from the past year to date
it started with
a new camera to shoot
a photography class
to give this blog a boost
went to the obx
on family vacay
relaxed on the beach
all worries kept at bay
katie’s oc bach
was a ton of fun
laughing and dancing
til up came the sun
summer days at ft. tilden
with erin and rai
summer nights in dewey
to celebrate labor day
this year brought us very
many weddings galore
most of them being
near baltimore
there was one in boston
during a crazy manhunt
another in montauk
on the gorgeous waterfront
a ten year reunion
for my high school class
can’t believe
how much time has passed
a trip to a.c.
for a bachelorette
dinner and dancing
complete with roulette
brunches and bar crawls
in the n-y-c
pollard potluck had
their 5th anniversary
nights in new york
during santa con
thanksgiving and christmas
had lots of family to bond
we went through some struggle
went through some strife
when we lost our little peanut
it cut like a knife
we tried to stay strong
and looked up above
for some courage and guidance
and we got through with love
next came a photo shoot
with blue balloons
a new baby coming
for us all to swoon
we call him little monkey
our pride and joy
we can’t wait to meet
our sweet little boy
my fav blondes came to visit
new york in the spring
we walked on the high line
and of course went shopping
arizona adventures
brought me to tucson
hung out with my pen pal
hiked in phoenix at dawn
prescott, sedona,
and the grand canyon too
are all the great places
that we got to view
after over ten years
our huge fam got together
with over one hundred kin
and some beautiful weather
a father’s day feast
with the notes clan one day
gathered instruments together
and a concert we played
the fourth of july
brought us to maine
the lake house was awesome
and the lobster insane
this year has been wonderful
twenty eight has been sweet
but this year is now over
and we cannot repeat
twenty nine is stepping in
so let’s have some cake
celebrate, cheer, and sing
for the new memories we’ll make!
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Can’t believe another whole year has passed by, and boom I’m in my last year of my twenties. Time really does fly by. Twenty eight was awesome, and I am really looking forward to embarking on so many more of life’s adventures in year twenty nine. Thank you so much for all of the wonderful wishes I have received thus far!
I would also like to say a special early “Happy Birthday” to my little sis, Angela, who is also celebrating her birthday this weekend. We are lucky to have our birthdays so close, and we have always been able to celebrate together from either near or far. Love you Pooks!
Hope you all have a wonderful Friday and a fabulous weekend ahead!
I finally found some time to go through the tons of photos I took at Jamie and Kaitlyn’s wedding in Boston. For those that don’t remember, their wedding took place on the same day as the manhunt for the Boston Marathon bomber. It was an extremely crazy day, and I am proud of the bride and groom for taking everything in stride. Their original ceremony location was supposed to be held at a church that was in a lockdown area, so they had to move it at the last minute to the same location at the reception. I think they did a phenomenal job with the transformation, and this couple proved that the show must go on and love prevails!
Tons of love, patriotism, and Boston pride were shown at this wedding from start to finish. The groom and his men dressed in Naval attire, the sword arch ceremony, the altered speeches, and the irish jig and Bostonian song lyrics gave this wedding a special touch. It was so nice to see their family and friends rally around the bride and groom on their special day, and also rally around their city in light of such crazy times. I’m sure you can see the love here in the photos below. Enjoy!
Brotherly love
Me and the hubby (with the little one doing a good job of hiding)
What a fun night!
Stay tuned for more photos from our Boston trip to come.
This past weekend we went to Maryland for the 1st Annual John Petrovick Memorial 5K in Baltimore. You may remember I ran for John and raised over $5,000 for the Johns Hopkins Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery back in October. Well, yesterday marked the 1 year anniversary of his passing, and some good friends of mine put on this special event to honor his memory and inspire others. John was a truly inspirational person, and I am so happy this event went off without a hitch. It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and about 250 runners and walkers participated. This was definitely the best possible way we could have spent the day. “Inside all of us is HOPE.” Miss you, John.
Hope you all are having a great start to your week!
