Happy Halloween!

Spencer has had a few Halloween costumes: a pumpkin, lion, and a UT football player, but sadly I cannot find pictures of that ANYWHERE!!!! I am so sad, but here is this year's pumpkin shirt...

Now, for the future costumes around our house. We are hoping that by next year we will have a cute little snuggly baby to dress up, so I am thinking something like this...

Isn't that too precious!!!

We are expecting a few friends to come by tonight for taco soup, football, and of course, show off their trick or treaters! Come back tomorrow for some pictures of the cuties that came by!

Catching The Fever

Can you believe that one month from YESTERDAY will the be the day I do this...

I am starting to catch my usual case of Christmas Fever. I usually get it so bad I just can't hardly stand it, but this year it is even worse, I can feel it coming on! As you know I had JUST finished decorating our house last year when we had our fire, so this year I am SUPER excited to go all out and decorate even better (which will be hard to beat, because I LOVED LOVED LOVED my tree last year!).

This came in the mail today and it just solidified the fact I THOUGHT I was catching the fever! Ha! This Southern girl LOVES some Paula Deen!

Next decision I am trying to make (because I am an OCD, over planner) is where to order Christmas cards. This is last year's card, which I LOVED. It came from Tiny Prints, but the direction I was wanting to go really wasn't on there. I am thinking a brown and red damask or maybe something fun and whimsical, not sure????

I better go cook spaghetti so I can relax with my Christmas magazines after dinner! Ha!

Results

And the results are in: Day 21 Progesterone is 34.6!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully that is a good sign! I am trying to not get too excited, but that is better than I had once when pregnant!

I'll be back later tonight from home with a post to talk about Christmas and Christmas cards. Look for some yummy recipes to come your way this weekend also!

Bloodwork and Starbuck's

Today is cycle day 21 which means a day 21 progesterone draw to see if I actually ovulated or not. My OB office is across the street from the hospital that my office is in, so it is just about a five minute walk. So far it has been either too cold, too hot, or rainy every single time I've run over for labs or an ultrasound, but today was perfect! It was 60 degrees, sunny, and they even got my vein on the first attempt! PERFECTION! Now, lets just hope that P4 comes back as good as the visit did!

That walk did me a lot of good. I needed to get out of the office for a few minutes and after the sad night I had last night, I felt MUCH better to get some sunshine and fresh air. I may have to make that a daily thing!

Right after I got back my good friend Dana decided to inform Dr. Smith (the boss, not the OB) that it was "buy your RN and MA a Starbuck's day!". He bought into it and we celebrated our new favorite holiday! On his way out the door I told him that I am pretty sure it is a quarterly or monthly holiday, I'd check and let him know. Ha! Anyway, thanks so much for the pumpkin spice P.S.!!!

I wanted to show you a picture of my SUPER cute mug I got yesterday at the market. It is soooooooo me! I love polka dots, pink, brown, and monogrammed!

I have another full day tomorrow and I have a rep dinner tomorrow night at a yummy seafood restaurant downtown, so I doubt you'll hear from me tomorrow. Have a great week and I'll twitter or facebook my lab results tomorrow if I don't get them on here.

Oktoberfest

Today was a good day in the Ledford house, although it started a little sad. Michael and my dad went early this morning to get our boat from the marina and take it to it's "winter home", aka his Granddad's backyard in Cleveland where all the family boats go to spend the winter. It is always sad to me to put it up because I know then summer is officially over. However, it did not go uneventful (because, really, whatever does for us?!). The second I pulled in the garage from getting groceries (and I mean motor still running), Michael called to tell me I needed to bring him the boat key, he left it in his dresser drawer! So, Spencey and I got in the car and went off to save the day! Ha!

Here is superdoggie enjoying the cool, fall day on the interstate!

Then when Michael FINALLY got home, we went downtown to the market for Oktoberfest! So fun! We drank Oktoberfest from Big River while cruising the different vendors! I even found a super cute monogrammed mug to carry my coffee to work! After we went to the market we went to the actual restaurant Big River for pretzels, sausage, and more Oktoberfest!

It was a good day, although I have to admit, I am sad tonight. There were so many cute baby things and babies in strollers today that I got a little sad. When will it be my turn?

Fall Decorations

This week on Show Us Your Life, Kelly is asking us to show our Fall decorations. I LOVE fall and I love decorating for Fall...although not as much as Christmas!

My mums have bloomed since this picture was taken, but this is our outside decorations

I LOVE my rug I found at Kirkland's this year

I love the garland on the mantle. One of my favorite decorations.

The dining room table

It's not Fall without some UT decorations!

This platter sits on my island. He is too cute!

I had a hard time deciding what to do with some extra glitter pumpkins I had left over, so I put them in a bowl on the coffee table.

This concludes our Fall Decoration tour. Come back in about six weeks for the Christmas Tour!!!!

Really, Seriously, Did You Just Ask Me That???

Some of you long time readers may remember this post, but I just had the same EXACT, almost word for word conversation with the SAME cashier!!!!

Come on, really, seriously, must you ask this question and then precede to say "aw, bless your heart". I haven't given you any reason to bless my heart, but if you want I can! Then as I rapidly grab my bag, she yells out at me "good luck!". Yep, that's right, luck is all it takes! Since I'm back in there a year later doing the same thing without much luck, maybe I should try her advice??! :-)

Note to all my Ringgold friends, stay AWAY from the lady at the cosmetics counter at the Walgreens by the Ingles and NW GA bank!!!! Ha!

Dear Follicle

Dear 29 mm Follicle,

You were most glorious sight I've seen in awhile this morning when I saw you on Dr. Boyd's US machine. I have NEVER, even when I have gotten pregnant, had a dominate, large follicle like you! In all my disappointment and despair after clomid did me wrong, Femara has been there for me and made you so nice and pretty. Even Dr. Boyd was excited to see you! Good to know that my ovaries finally decided to be overachievers like I am! Ha!

I am placing 23 months of prayers and heartache on you. No pressure, but I am counting on you to rupture over the next 48 hours and release the best, healthiest egg my uterus has ever seen (which isn't saying much)! I am counting on you to make the egg that will make all of my prayers and dreams come true sometime around the middle of July. I still have hope of making a holiday announcement.

So, please, don't let me down. I am praying for you right now and praying that you are as healthy and strong as you appear.

Love,

Amanda (the owner of your ovary)

This is my friend (I never thought I'd say that!) the US machine. I had a few minutes to kill while I waited, so I took it's picture! Yes, I was REALLY bored!

Then when I got home tonight, at Dr. Boyd's request, I took an ovulation test which looked pretty darn close to positive! I'll take another tomorrow to see if it gets darker, but this looked pretty close!

Thanks girls for all your prayers this cycle! They are working!!!! PLEASE don't stop yet!

Chili Cookoff

Yesterday we went to the Chattanooga Market to try some of the local fire station's chili recipes. It was sooooooo much fun! Michael and I know we owe so much to our local Catoosa Co FD, especially station 1, but it meant a lot to us to go support the Chattanooga stations and his friends in Cleveland as well. All the proceeds went to MDA so we felt like everyone won! Michael and I had a difference in opinion on who had the best recipe. My vote went to Chattanooga, station 19, but he gave his vote to his friends from Cleveland (I think he is just partial! Ha!)

Here we are after trying #19, my favorite!

Michael's friend Rodney went with us. We love hanging out with Rodney and were sad that Sarah was out of town. We missed you Sarah!

Cold, Fall Day

I've had a busy couple of days. Yesterday my two weeks with only one doctor in town caught up with me as all the charts and faxes were ready from Dr. Barker's week back and I was leaving half a day. So, needless to say, I was super busy! I also had a pretty major haircut yesterday! I am LOVING the new lowlights and cut. I just hope I can style it right tomorrow! Ha!

Today has been a COLD, dreary day. I got up when Michael left for work and went to meet a new friend. Amy has been reading my blog since the fire and wanted to meet, so we met at Starbuck's for a warm, cozy Pumpkin Spice latte! It was so much fun and I am so glad we met! I look forward to many more Starbuck's dates soon!!!

After I left Starbuck's I ran in the Oreck store which is almost right next door. My poor little vacuum has been out of commission since the fire (don't worry, I have an old one of my mom's, my house has been cleaned since! Ha!) and we FINALLY got it fixed this week. I couldn't wait to come home and clean with my new-old vacuum! We had just invested a lot of money right before the fire when we bought it, so I have been upset to not have it.

After I cleaned my mom and I ran out to Hobby Lobby. The weather is so winterlike today (47 and cloudy) that it has put us in the mood for Christmas! Ha! I bought a few new Christmas ornaments and here is a sneak peak of my color scheme (well, other than the UT ornaments, those are just because!).

I also realized at the end of last winter that I desperately needed a new North Face fleece this winter, so I ran in Dick's Sportinggoods to find a new one. I found a special edition denali jacket that has pink writing and a pink ribbon for breast cancer on the sleeve and knew I wanted that one! Too cute!

After my mom dropped me back off at home I ran to the grocery store to get a few things for the week and to get some things for tonight. I've had chili in the crockpot all day and our friends, the Mountjoys are coming over tonight. (the recipe is on my old recipe blog at web.mac.com/ajledford, but I'll repost on my new recipe blog soon!)

Tomorrow we have a few fun fall activities planned! I am excited to spend some quality time with Michael!

National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Today is a special and important day to me. It is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. It is so important to me that there be more awareness about the prevalence of miscarriage, even early, undetected miscarriages. I will be honest, it is the hardest thing I've ever had to go through and without the support of my friends and family I never could have made it. It has also opened up the opportunity for so many in my lives to tell me their own experiences. It was unbelievable to me how many people I know that have had similar stories, and some that were much, much worse.

I have had two miscarriages, one in July 2008 and one in January 2009. The second was during a very hard time for us. Our fire was just a month before and the three months that followed our fire were the lowest three months of my life. I gained almost 40 pounds from July 2008 to April 2009. I was so deep in depression that the only thing I knew to do was to eat. I feel myself sinking back to that low point as we get close to the two year TTC mark in November. I NEVER EVER would have believed that today I would be sitting her writing this post and feeling what I feel. I pray, again this year, that next year I have a healthy baby when I write this post.

Today is a day that I pray for all of you out there that have had a loss. I pray that you have comfort and peace and that everything will work out for you soon. So, tonight at 7:00 pm, please light a candle in remembrance of those babies who are not with us today. Also, please say a prayer for those of us who have lost a baby and those of us who are still trying to have a baby.

Headaches, Weddings, Shopping, and Garages

I know, I need a better excuse, but I have been really busy this past week! I feel like such a bloggy slacker sometimes! Ha! Anyway, since we last talked I have actually not even sat in front of my computer! All facebook and tweets have come from my phone. Yes, it's been that crazy!!!!

Saturday I woke up with one of the worst migraines I really think I've ever had. I thought I was DYING. Seriously! I had to cancel a pumpkin spice latte date , :-( take a toxic dose of ibuprofen, and pray really hard that I could still hitch a ride to Atlanta with my parents at noon for my cousin's wedding. I REALLY wanted to make her wedding and I am so glad I went, even though I wasn't feel my best at first. It was a beautiful, outdoor, southern, fall wedding!

They got married under this super pretty arch. I LOVED all the fall colors she used. VERY fall!

I wish I had a better angle, but here they are doing the sand ceremony.

Is this little house not too cute?! This is where her cake was. Which was precious, but more on that in a few...

The bride and I. I looked not so good, and my sweater really needs to be pulled down, but still a cute pic.

The new Mr. and Mrs. Fincher!

And that super cute "cake" I was telling you about. I had never actually seen a cupcake wedding cake before, but I LOVE it!

And how is this for a cute groom's cake?!

My dad, his sister (the mother of the bride) and my cousin.

Sunday Michael finally had to break down and buy some new work clothes, so we went to the mall and got new pants, shirts, and a great deal on a coat at Gap. I also did really well at Gap and of course had to end the day with what else, a Pumpkin Spice latte!

Today Michael had the day off and I received this picture via text around lunchtime. He had my car to change the oil and if you could imagine that when I left this morning we BARELY fit ONE car in, much less two! I was super surprised and VERY happy!!!!

Today is day 4 on my femara. I think I am having a few more side effects this time (moodiness, headache), but if it will give me a good, healthy egg, who cares?! Girls that have done femara, what day did you start OPKs? I am thinking CD12, which is Saturday.

I also want to welcome my two good friends from college to the blogging world. Nicole and Tiffany would love to hear from you!

Hope everyone is having a good week! I'll try to check back in before the weekend. I know I will be back then. I have a few new recipes and a blog award to write about! :-)

Chapter 20, I Think

Cycle number 20, or so I think, is here. The plan for this month is to do Femara 5mg/day on cycle days 5-9 and an US on day 14, Monday, Oct 19. The only snag in the plan is my OB will be out of town for his kids Fall break the week of my US, but his partner who I also like will do the US.

After much debate over the past few months, thought and prayers, we've decided that this will be our last "natural" cycle before moving on to IUI with femara and trigger. I spoke to my dr's nurse about it today and depending on how well the femara works will decide about a trigger or not. Part of me is excited to try IUI, but the other part is sad that we can't just have a healthy pregnancy without such intervention. However, the decision is based on the fact that in November we will have been trying for 2 years and almost a year since our last miscarriage, we feel we owe it to ourselves to try the next step in the journey. For us, that is IUI with a trigger.

I wanted to write this yesterday on CD 1, but honestly I had a hard day. I knew before yesterday that the last cycle didn't work because I was in the hospital for the window of time I needed to have my US and ovulation, but it was still sad to know that this is it, the last cycle before the 2nd anniversary of TTC. I am honestly just sooooooooooo tired, irritated, desperate, and frustrated. I wonder a LOT why I am going through this (even though I know that is wrong). I know that in the end, no matter how we get a baby, it was the plan for us to have THAT baby. I also know that no matter what happens this cycle, everytime God closes one door he leads the way to a BETTER door.

Happy BIrthday Sunday

Today was a fun Sunday. We celebrated Michael's dad's 51st birthday at lunch at our house today. I got up and ran to Chattanooga to pick up some stuff from Walmart and chicken kabobs from Fresh Market (YUM!). Then came home and hurried to get it all done. (What I get for sleeping in for just one day of my 4 days off! Ha!)

Melissa brought a yummy cookie cake...notice it is a UT themed cake!

Michael with his dad and sister, Melissa. No, you are not seeing things, my husband does have on a tropical shirt with beer bottles on it. For some reason he was going to wear it today (rainy and 60 degrees) or die!

I was SUPER happy because when I went to get ready I put on a pair of jeans I had not worn in over 2 years (however, I'm thinking the horizontal stripes might not have been the best idea)!!!! Wt loss total is now right on 30 pounds and 2 jean sizes! Welcome back size 8, it's been a while!!!!

We spent the rest of the afternoon watching TV relaxing on the couch and getting ready to start another week. I can only imagine how covered my desk is being out of the office since last Monday! Tomorrow is Michael's official first day in his new position!!!! I am still so excited and happy for him!

Spencer Says...

GO VOLS!!!!!

I realize it's not quite the same, but Kelly has inspired me to post a picture of my "baby" on gameday! Ha! We are about to leave to go watch the game, but I just wanted to show off Spencer in his gameday attire. He loves dressing up, especially in his UT shirt!

And the Big News Is...

Michael got a promotion at work!!!!! Thank you all for your prayers! I am so happy for him!!!! He has worked very, very hard for a few years to work his way up to this role and I am very proud of him for doing so well. He will not be directly involved in sales, but rather more of a marketing/PR kind of role. I think it will be a great fit for him!

Please continue to comment on my baby product post. I am anxious to hear what my mommy friends think of my selections!

Show Us Your Life...Baby Products

This week on Kelly's Show Us Your Life, she is featuring baby products that new mom's swear by and those that they do not recommend. Well, as you know, I don't actually have any experience with any, but I do have a wish list. Here are somethings that I think I want based on what I've been told by friends and just liked the patterns when spending hours upon hours dreaming on babiesrus.com or target.com! Ha!

I know I want a travel system, but none that I have seen online are exactly what I want, but I did find this matching stroller and car seat. The other good thing is that it could be purchased separately, so hopefully I would get at least one piece as a gift.

I LOVE this swing, pack n play, and high chair pattern. I just saw it last week at Target and it matched my living room/kitchen perfectly! It is exactly what I've been looking for, so much I am tempted to as for pieces of it for Christmas! (how is that for hope!) Ha!

The pack n play will be the babies bed in our room for the first 3 months or so.

I plan to keep the high chair at our bar which is between the kitchen and living room, so this is PERFECT!

I will have to go back to work at 12 weeks, so I know I will need a good quality breast pump. (I hope to breast feed for 9-12 months) The medela is the one EVERYONE I have talked to have recommended.I always thought that I wanted Avent bottles, but recently a lot of my friends have used Dr. Brown's and really seem to like them. What do you think?

The next two items are based on having a girl...hey, again, I have big hopes! I think this tub with a sling and a shower is too cool!
I know that most babies spend a lot of time in a bouncy seat and I loved the colors and design on this one. Isn't it cute!
Ok, now, give me your opinions on the products I've chosen. Are they good products, do you recommend another brand? Help me out!

Fall Favorites

Happy October everyone!!!!! I just wanted to show you a few of my favorite things about fall that I have enjoyed over the couple of days...

I LOVE decorating my house, especially for Fall and Christmas. Since I had the day off and it has been a FABULOUSLY beautiful day, I borrowed my mom's SUV (hint hint Michael, I really need to trade the 530 in for a X5! Yeah, I know, not going to happen!) and took a little trip up to see Michael for lunch and to visit a produce stand/nursery that always has awesome mums, pumpkins, and hay. This is what I ended up with this afternoon.

Is this not the cutest rug you've ever seen?! I found it at Kirkland's a few weeks ago and HAD to have it!

I don't know about where you are, but we are FINALLY getting some good, pretty fall weather. This is what my car said this morning when I got to the dentist (sorry it's blurry, took it on the phone).

And what does cold weather ALWAYS lead to in the fall...Pumpkin Spice Lattes of course! Here I am on my way to Cleveland to meet Michael with my Starbuck's in hand.

Then there is the matter of making your house smell like Fall. My very most favorite things to do that are Gold Canyon Mulled Harvest and Pumpkin Pie candles and Bath and Body Works Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin room spray. YUM!

Hope everyone is having a great October so far. I know I am! I did get my closet cleaned yesterday. WOW! That was an undertaking! I am vowing to never let it get out of control again because that was terrible! Ha! I am planning on doing some deep cleaning on the house tomorrow because it is going to be rainy and yucky outside. I'll take some pictures of the inside decorations after cleaning because there is NO WAY you're seeing my house like it is right now! Ha!

Oh I need to make an addition to this post, because I always weigh on the 1st and 15th of the month, I have an announcement...I have lost a grand total of 30 pounds in about 7 months now!!!!! I'm sure my little trip to Erlanger for two days didn't hurt! Ha!