Thankful…

So maybe it’s cliché, but I have to do a thankful post. I have so much to be thankful for this year, so much more than I ever expected.

I am so grateful for Andy. I am grateful for his love, determination, loyalty, and willingness to embrace life with me. I am grateful that we take such appreciation in small things together. We have such a delight in our simple life and in each other.

I am thankful for our healthy little daughter and that we will get to meet her so soon.

I am thankful that Andy and I share the same faith and strive to live it together despite our imperfections.

I am grateful for our upcoming wedding, that we will be able to proclaim to the world how our dedication and joy together.

I am thankful for our families. They have provided so much love and support especially in the last few months.

I am thankful for our jobs. Despite the frustrations and long days we are so blessed to have decent jobs that allow us to live a comfortable life. In the current economy we are so lucky to have so much.

There are so many other things I am thankful for…good music, my co-workers, Andy’s singing, our silliness together, my amazing bridal shower, that the car is working well, the birth center and all of their help, our priest, and for all the love, joy, and pain I experience with Andy everyday.

Football

Just a quick observation. On football day (which I have learned is Sunday, Monday, and Thursday!) Andy tries to give me lots of attention while he watches hours and hours of football. It is very sweet to see him try to give me extra love even when he is preoccupied with fantasy football. But, even when he comes and cuddles me he always strategically navigates so that he can see the TV out of the corner of his eye, just in case, something happens while he is chilling with me. He tries to hide it from me, but I am totally on to him. It's actually rather endearing.

And he just ate five kosher dill pickles.

Back in the District

Well, we're back. The trip to MN was awesome. Lots of family food and games. Andy and I made it out on Wednesday afternoon and celebrated with his family for the weekend. This is the second holiday I've spent with the Horners and they really know how to party.

Highlights...

The huge Thanksgiving dinner! It was delicious and the family interaction is very lively. Maddie and Micah are getting really big and are very affectionate. It was really neat to watch Andy and Tom wrestle and cuddle them. I got to show off my baby belly to everyone and let people feel little kicks, although I think by the end of the night the baby was in a food coma like me.

Friday was my bridal shower which was a lot of firsts for me: first bridal shower I have been to, first pedicure/manicure, and first bridal gifts. I can't believe how much work and care the Horner women put into my party. Thank you so much guys! They made me so special and so a part of the family. The manicure and pedicure were wonderful. Jenn made a little quiz about Andy, and I fortunatly won (I would have been so sad if I had lost). I was also given some really amazing presents. They were divided into times of the day cleverly. The shower was really amazing. Andy's family has been so welcoming to me.

Saturday morning Jenn, Maralee and I went shopping at the outlets, and I finally got some much needed maternity clothes. I am so excited to have pants that fit. I even got a date dress. Jenn, and Maralee provided good maternity clothes feedback/advice and had good luck themselves. I even got some shoes for the wedding and an outfit for our honeymoon.

Saturday evening was bowling night. Amazingly I did alright at bowling. I wasn't great, but I had some good shots, enough to keep my pride somewhat intact. It was a great way to hang out with the family.

Now Andy and I are back in our little apartment letting our brains turn to mush before we go back to work in the morning. I am loving my new robe (bounty from the shower), and Andy is anxiously watching football hoping for another win (he's such a stud). My throat is feeling a little sore, so I'm drinking some green tea. We are both tired and happy, not quite ready to go back to work, but greatful for a blessed Thanksgiving. We both feel overwhelmed at the generosity of family. They have given us so many baby supplies and love. I don't think we would feel at all ready for this baby if it weren't for their love and support. So, thank you thank you thank you.

Wedding Update

Yesterday I looked through a huge magazine of invitations. I don't know what's up with me, but there were none that I was crazy about. They were mostly formal and boring. I know invitiations are formal, but I want them to be interesting too. Actually in some ways I just want people to know they are invited, I don't care all that much about the actual invitations, but I don't want to spend a lot on invitations I don't love. Fortunately, my mom volunteered to do the invitations-which is completely awesome! She would care far more than I would and I'm sure they will be simple and tasteful. They probably won't be sent out until January.

Andy and I have known from the beginning (well since we set a date with the church anyway) that the biggest pain and expense of wedding planning would be the reception hall/food. Not surprisingly these are a little on the expensive side especially in Dupong Circle. (one hotel quoted us a $25,000 minimum! We said no thanks we would rather pay off our student loans.) Anyway, we found a great place a few weeks ago on the roof of a Hilton. It sounds tacky, but I promise it isn't. It's this great balcony with a dance area and a pool! (late night swimming anone?) I think it would be beautiful at night because it looks over the heart of DC and the lights will be awesome. You can also see the dome of the Church where we are getting married, which is kind of special too. I love the idea of being able to see the lights of the city, with lots of candles, and STARS! I love stars. It would be romantic an breezy. I've always secretly wanted an outdoor wedding and this combination would satisfy our religious and hippie sides.

And the church, the church, the Church (above)! Such a beautiful Church! I don't know how we got so lucky to be able to get married in such a stunning place. Every little nook of this place reminds us of the glories of God. I can't wait to walk down that looooong aisle seeing Andy's face get closer and more joyful as he sees me. (digressing into ultimate mushiness, I better move on for everyone's sake)

After we have the reception site locked down, I really feel like everything else is just details that may or may not happen. We are getting married, that is the most important thing. On a shallow note I have the most awesome dress ever to get married in. I'm a little stuck on shoes, I can't decide whether or not to wear heels. I love heals but I also love dancing and they don't always go well together. I think I may wear sweet heels for the ceremony and as long as I can stand them and then go barefoot, or maybe buy some little sandals.

Of course there is other stuff to work out. We want to get cupcakes in place of a cake, and we still have to figure out how to do flowers. We will need to rent tuxes and I have to lock down how I want to do my hair. I get to go makeup shopping and come up with a georgous new look that I can make (and use again!). But we have a priest and Andy is coming, so one way or another we will be married by the end of May 22nd, and that is what I am completely stoked about.

Big belly

I feel super pregnant today. Bursting. I can't believe she is going to get bigger! I don't think I have much space left.

Thanksgiving!

So, so close to such a sweet holiday. I have such fond memories of Thanksgiving when I was a kid. It was all about eating tons of good food, and singing around campfires (or huge, exploding, gasoline fires if my older cousins got to make them). I grew up seriously in the country. We also used to make saunas at Thanksgiving using tarps, and a few red hot tractor irons. Definitely not a typical childhood, but amazing memories. After my cousins and I would boil in the sauna we would run to the creek and jump in the icy water. We probably killed a few brain cells (and frogs) doing this, but I will never forget that crazy temperature shock.

Last Thanksgiving was my second away from my family, but Andy and I played at being mom and dad to a bunch of freshman, including my sister. We managed to make a pretty awesome Thanksgiving dinner too. Andy made the turkey (after running around with it raw on his hand and scaring girls), and I made stuffing, mashed potatoes and biscuits.

This year Andy and I are flying out to Minnesota to hang out with his family. I am hoping it won't be freezing icy cold, and he's hoping it will be. We are having my bridal shower too. I can't wait to see his family post engagement/pregnancy, and just to take a little trip before the baby is born.

Work

Today is one of those days where my job feels overwhelming. Don't get me wrong--I like my job, the people I work with, and the strange publishing things that I learn, but today it seems like there are too many details for my brain and pregnancy hormones. It is time for Thanksgiving I think. After that we are super close to Christmas, and then the baby will be so close! I can't wait to meet her, see what she looks like, and learn about her little personality.

Calling all bridesmaids!

Alright, so I think the word bridesmaid is kind of a funky title, although I've generally had good bridesmaid experiences. Anyway for the bridesmaids in my wedding I've got ideas to bounce off of you. I want you all to be happy, have a good time, and feel totally hot. My idea is to have the color mandated, but I really don't care what style of dress you guys pick (my only stipulation is that it's not floor length, but I don't think any of you would want a floor length dress anyway). The color is the "marine" at david's bridal which I promise looks a lot prettier in person than it does online, or in this goofy picture. Essentially it is an almost navy blue. I really don't care about the color of the shoes, hairstyle, or jewelry. You are all stylish tasteful women so wear what you like. And if you find (or own) a sweet dress in this color somewhere else that's fine too.
This is my plan right now, I think I think it will stay this way.

Sundays

An awesome Sunday chilling in the apartment. Andy and I have been trying to make it so we don't have any big things to do on Sundays, and it has been the best way to start our weeks off. Andy is in the midst of writing a huge paper on Samalia...which is really quite a depressing topic, but keeps me in tune with world affairs.
I chilled hard core. Watched Ugly Betty, worked on a collage for my cube at work (to brighten it!), and now just hanging out with the boy trying to understand fantasy football.
I am almost in full-blown maternity clothes. It feels so strange to be such a different, lopsided shape! I've been the same height and weight since I was 13! I do like the way my little tummy looks now though, since I definitely look pregnant now and not like I have a beer gut. I'm going to look for some sweet maternity clothes over thanksgiving at the outlets in Minnesota. I'm think I'm going to rock the skinny jeans while pregnant since I think it's super cute, and I want to show off my pregnant self. I'll post a picture soon.
Wedding stuff: I think we officially have a photographer! One of Andy's co-workers does photography on the side and is going to give us a sweet deal. Awesome. We've also been looking at possible reception sites and have some ideas. It may be on the roof of a hotel, which I think would be pretty neat with all the city lights. Plus there would be a pool and since Andy and I are going to have tons of candles involved in decorating, we want to put floating candles on the pool. We'll see how that flies with the hotel staff...