Another lazy day

We had another lazy day. We didn't have much else to do. Church was cancelled due to icy roads, we didn't really want to go anywhere, and Michael NEVER has two days off in a row. So what did we do? We spent 10 hours watching season one of Hell's Kitchen on Fox Reality. Yeah, exciting, I know. That is Michael's favorite reality show and we missed that season, so he got caught up today. Although we got bored of it just in time for the finale, so we are recording that now to watch tomorrow. I spent some of the day internet window shopping for baby and thinking about our registries (I'm leaning towards BRU and Target, should I do one at WM too?). Which leads me to the next piece of news for all you pregnant girls out there...

This dresser (and the other colors available) is being discontinued and is on MAJOR clearance at WM! It is currently $50 off and I'm thinking I'm going to get it within the next couple of days. Just trying to decide if I want to take the chance that it will still be there on February 10 after our big US. I swore that I wouldn't order anything until then, but this may be too good to pass up.

Well, another crazy week at work for me. Headed into week two of four CRAZY weeks while Dr. Smith is in and out of Haiti. I am convinced that patients innately know when their surgeon leaves town and immediately has problems. I've been doing this job for four and a half years and let me tell you, I prove that theory every time! Ha!

Snow Day and Michael's Big Adventure

We had a HUGE surprise in Chattanooga/NW GA yesterday after lunch! We had been hearing forecasts for POSSIBLE sleet and snow, but mostly about 50 miles north of the city. Ha! Whatever, by last night we had 5" at our house and about 1/2" of ice mixed in! After lunch we started hearing reports that schools were letting out and flurries were falling fast. By the time I started wrapping things up at work, I got a call from my neighbor to get home as soon as I could. AHHHHH! I left work at 1:45 and there was hardly anything on the roads, but the time I got to the ridge cut (over a ridge that basically divides downtown Chattanooga and the suburbs on the interstate) the temperature had dropped to 30 and it was icy! Good thing my car has good traction control and new tires is all I could think. I called Michael and told him to leave Cleveland (35 miles north of our house) ASAP because even the interstate in Georgia was bad. When I got almost home I was at a stop sign that overlooks the interstate and took this picture. I knew it would be a LONG time before I saw Michael at that pace! In a matter of 45 minutes we went from nothing to covering the INTERSTATE!

Well, about three hours later, Michael made it to the I75-I24 split. If I had realized just how bad it was or how dangerous it was (apparently he thought he was going to have to leave his car THREE times on the interstate), I would have insisted he stay in Cleveland with his Granddad. This is how traffic was all the way home for him.

This picture freaks me out too. You can tell how hard it was snowing by looking at the snow on his windshield wipers. I almost started crying when I saw these on his phone last night. I was so scared and worried while he was trying to get home. His car is basically a sports style car and he doesn't exactly have good tires. Apparently he came quite close to hitting the wall numerous times.

Here is our house about two hours after it started. I had a hard time getting my car to go up the driveway, but finally made into the garage and within an hour, you couldn't even see my tracks! This was still about another two hours before Michael made it home. :-(He eventually made it home, but after that adventure and seeing the roads this morning, we decided it was best to have a snow day at home!!!!! No work today for Michael!!!!! It is just too far and too risky. We stayed in bed for awhile and watched the news then I decided what is a snow day without homemade waffles?!

We mostly spent the day on the couch watching TV and reading. Spencer and Michael were snuggling here. Too cute!

Tonight I made chili for dinner, but added a twist to my usual recipe.
A few of you have asked, so here is the recipe:

1 pound ground beef

1/2 pound of bacon

1 onion

pepper to taste

All cooked together over medium heat. Then added to a pot of,

1 can tomato sauce

1 can rotel

1/4 cup sliced jalapenos

3 cans of chili beans

1 pkg McCormick's chili seasoning (original)

It was so good, we both went back for a 2nd bowl! Ha!

Tonight I plan to watch Miss America (Miss TN is from Chattanooga!!!) and do some more reading. We were going to start cleaning out our home office to start making way for the nursery, but that just didn't happen today, so maybe tomorrow, we'll see.

Yay for Thursday and Haiti Update

I had a few comments, twitter inquiries, and emails asking if my boss made it to Haiti and to tell more. I had a couple people ask me if there was a way to follow them on twitter or facebook. Unfortunately Dr. Smith does not have either (I am lucky he knows how to read email and text, he isn't into technology! Ha!), but you can read updates at Erlanger's site and I will update as I know something. I really wish I knew more, but they have not contacted us yet (and may not be able to). However, this story was on the front of the local paper this morning. I'm thinking I know what I'm getting him for Doctor's Day in March. More on that later. :-) Keep praying for them and that they are able to help many and return safely.

I am so happy tonight is Thursday night. That means tomorrow is the last day before the weekend and my catch up day at work. I REALLY need one this week being off Monday and all that is going on. I am cooking chicken fried rice (YUMMY!) and planning on taking a warm bath and starting my new book, Nanny Returns. I LOVED the Nanny Diaries because it came out while I was a nanny and I hope the sequel is equally as good.

We are forecasted for some snow and ice this weekend, but not too much. I am ok with that because I have to start working on clearing out our office/nursery. It is the junk room right now and I hope to start getting it ready for furniture over the next six weeks.

Wow! 16 Weeks!!!

(Ok thats it! I need to start touching up my make up for these pics, but I felt so bad when this was taken last night, I didn't care)

How far along? 16 weeks

How big is Baby? 4 1/2 inches and the size of an avacado!

Total weight gain/loss: 8 pounds (I have not gained any this week, because I was so sick, I actually lost some which brought me to about 8 pounds total)

Maternity clothes? very comfy and need more
Stretch marks? No, let's pray it stays that way!
Sleep: My compressed nerve is back at it. Still sleeping ok, but not great.
Best moment this week: scheduling my BIG ultrasound!
Movement: Almost positive I'm feeling something now. It is questionable, but it is getting more frequent when I'm really still and at the ER they had to chase baby down and I felt the same thing while it was moving around.
Food cravings: Not much of anything right now, still trying to get my appetite back from the weekend.
Gender: Will find out two weeks from today! So excited!!! We have also set our gender reveal party for Feb 20 at 7:00!!!!
Labor Signs: none, thank goodness!
Belly Button in or out? In and I pray it stays that way. Ha!
What I am looking forward to: my big US!!!
Milestones: making it this far

I had my 16 week appt this morning and all is great! Baby's HR was 145 and now they are saying boy. Who knows! Ha! I had a quad screen lab drawn to check for spina bifida (and other things, but that is what we are most concerned about). They also set my appt for our BIG anatomy scan for two weeks from today (February 10)!!!! I am so excited! Apparently the high risk dr (ROC if you are in Chattanooga) has awesome US capabilities and that is why we are going. Please keep praying that baby is healthy and it would be awesome if he/she cooperates and shows us if he/she is a Lilly or a Nicholas! :-)

One last thing...does anyone in Chattanooga area want to join me for prenatal yoga on Wednesday nights at 5:45? I found a place offering a class in North Shore.

Baby's First ER Visit and A Trip (or Two) To Haiti

First I have to say God has a great sense of humor. Saturday morning I woke up around 6:00 (note the two posts before 8 am) and prayed that God would give me a sign baby was doing ok. Well, he sure did! Starting at 8:30 Saturday morning until 6:30 Sunday night, I could not keep anything down for any significant amount of time. My streak of no vomiting ended at three weeks vomit free. Sunday was miserable (but worth it, please don't take this as complaining), I woke up with a migraine and almost didn't make it to the toilet. That continued all day (I couldn't even keep down sweet tarts, my favorite!) until I finally called the oncall OB when I couldn't even keep powerade and crackers down. He asked me to go into the ER to be evaluated.

I got to the ER around 6:30 and he had told me not to worry, I wouldn't be there long and they would send me up to L & D for monitoring and fluids (I was also having some cramping). Well, L & D at Erlanger has a rule that you must be 16 wks to go there. I was 3 days short! Ugh! Luckily I got in pretty quickly and after determining that I was slightly dehydrated they gave me some IV zofran (since I couldn't keep oral zofran or phenergan down) and two liters of IV fluids. They discovered I had a UTI and gave me IV rocephin and sent me home around 10:00 with a prescription for keflex and wait for it...phenergan suppositories! FUN! No, I haven't had to use one! Haha! They also told me to stay on bedrest for Monday, but could return to work today. All I have to say is thank goodness for DVR, day time TV is TERRIBLE!

In the middle of my ER visit I sent a text to my boss Dr. Smith to let him know I didn't think I would be there Monday and he let me know that he had decided to leave WEDNESDAY for Haiti! He was already scheduled to go on February 13, but was going to trade out with a group from Erlanger that is there now and ready to come home. I spent the next 36 hours in a panic over reworking our schedule, but he told me not to do a thing about it or come in until Tuesday. So, this morning was spent moving appointments around, rescheduling surgeries, and basically rearranging his life for the next 12 days.

Let me say that in all that chaos this morning, I am so proud of him and I love the fact that someone I respect so much is going to help. He is making some pretty major sacrifices to go. He is leaving work here, forgoing all the luxuries of home for protein bars, sleeping on the ground, and less than ideal surgical settings. They will not have any electricity, running water, and no showers for 10 days, not only this next week, but again in less than a week from when they come back, they will return. When I first heard about their trip scheduled for next month, I REALLY, REALLY wanted to go, but he was not willing to take his pregnant nurse along. Also, it is advised that pregnant women not receive all of the vaccines they've had to take. Yesterday while I was in a slight panic over the fact he will be gone ten days this next week, here a week, then gone another week, I thought that I would still be helping by seeing his patients and making things run as smooth as possible at work while he is gone. Although, I did make him promise today that I can go next year (they are projecting this to be a five year thing).

I know some of you want to help anyway you can, just like I do. Of course I ask you all to remember them and pray for them as they leave around 9:30 in the morning and over the next ten days until they come back on February 7. Also, Erlanger has set up a fund that helps provide for these trips. You can read about it here. The group he is going with in February is a fabulous group founded by a local cardiologist (who is actually my Nana's cardiologist). It is the Children's Nutrition Program of Haiti. It is my charity of choice and Michael and I are excited to give towards their efforts next month. It is amazing what all they are able to do for the hundreds of thousand orphans of Haiti.

Show Us Your Life, Where Do You Shop

I have several stores that I love, but I have a few favs. I am a pretty simple dresser, in the fall and winter I just love a t-shirt and sweater or turtleneck and jeans and in the spring and summer a dress or a tank top or t-shirt and jeans. I also LOVE big chunky, fun jewelry, but who doesn't?!

My very most favorite store, and has been since I was about 14, is Gap. (I see MANY trips to Baby Gap in my very near future, like day I have my ultrasound, ha!). I love their sweaters, khakis, and t-shirts. They also have the only jeans I prefer to wear, long and lean (not that I am, they make you LOOK like you ARE! This 5'2 semi chunky girl needs all the help she can get!).

I LOVE this from their new spring collection. They do have one similar over on the maternity side. Better check that out soon! I am hoping to go visit Gap Maternity in Atlanta next weekend! Woohoo!

J Crew is my favorite for light, fun dresses and also for sweaters. Isn't this one cute for summer?!
For cheap, fun clothes, I like NY and Company. They have really cute things, really affordable.
For when I dress up (because I just wear scrubs to work, no need for dress clothes every day, just church, weddings, and funerals mostly), I like Ann Taylor Loft. I am loving this outfit too!
For accessories I mostly wear Lia Sophia. I have been selling it for about 6 months to help pay for IF costs. Now that we are pregnant, medical bills (I have a crappy deductible and I basically owe my OBGYN my first born!)

I thought I would throw in a few sites that I am now addicted to in case you have a baby, are pregnant, or if you are like I was for YEARS and just obsessed with all things baby.

Modern Pea Pod Bedding, where we have decided to get bedding.

Simply Baby Furniture, the cheapest place I've found for my furniture and FREE shipping! Woohoo!

Pottery Barn Kids, because really, we all know it is the cutest!

Etsy, LOVING the crochet hats and pillowcase dresses!

15 Weeks

(Spencer LOVES getting his picture taken! He has tried to get in every week's picture and I just gave up this week, so he is making a guest appearance in week 15!)

How far along? 15 weeks

How big is Baby? 4 inches and the size of an ORANGE! That is CRAZY to me!

Total weight gain/loss: 8 pounds (Iam not eating like there is no tomorrow!)

Maternity clothes? very comfy and need more, see previous post!
Stretch marks? No, let's pray it stays that way!
Sleep: My compressed nerve is back at it. Other than that, I have pretty much slept all night, every night since last Friday.
Best moment this week: Buying some baby clothes!
Movement: I'm pretty sure I'm feeling a LITTLE movement. It is questionable, but it is getting more frequent when I'm really still.
Food cravings: Turkey sandwiches, which normally I DO NOT eat sandwiches, but that is all I've eaten this week.
Gender: Will find out in a couple weeks! So excited!!! We have also set our gender reveal party for Feb 20 at 7:00!!!!
Labor Signs: none, thank goodness!
Belly Button in or out? In and I pray it stays that way. Ha!
What I am looking forward to: my OB appt in 6 days!!!
Milestones: being in the second trimester!!!!!

What To Wear?

I'm needing your help again! I am having a hard time finding maternity clothes that I really like or that fit well. My friend Courtney (THANK YOU!!!!) brought me some cute things last night and I can't wait to try them on tonight, but I need a few more things. Give me all the tips you have. Where to buy, what brands were the best, and what items did you enjoy the most? I am completely out of my jeans, my sweaters all look too tight, and most of my t-shirts look like I am just fat! Ha!

HELP!

Blessed

Today is just one of those days where you are so thankful to be a member of the blog community. There is just so much good news out there today, I can't help but be overcome with emotion! If you haven't seen it, go over to Kelly's blog to see Harper's video. Oh.My.Word! It is the best video I have seen in years! Also, I nominate Scott, Kelly's husband for husband of the year. Watch it and see if you don't agree! There was also a very special announcement on Katie's blog. Katie, I'm praying for you! My friend Melissa in New Jersey also got some awesome news and since it isn't on her blog, I'll just tell you. She is having another healthy baby girl! I am just so excited and happy for all of my blog friends today. God is definitely showing his presence in blogland today!!!!!!

I personally don't have much to add other than I had an awesome night's sleep the past three nights and was actually early to work today (for the first time in weeks!). I am still having my nerve pain, but who cares, as long as it brings a healthy baby at the end. I had a bad day yesterday and I'm ashamed to write about it. Please do not think for one second that I am not thankful or know that I am blessed, but I had a hard time yesterday because I was in so much pain from my nerve and hip. I couldn't clean my house like I wanted to do much of anything. It hurts to walk, sit, lie down, just about anything. I just had a breakdown about it then I felt terrible because I had promised that I would never complain about anything pregnancy related. I felt like I was telling God I was ungrateful or that I wasn't thankful. I wouldn't change a thing. I will take every bad thing for a healthy baby and I mean that, but sometimes the pain just catches up to me. I worry that if it is this bad this early, what will it be like in 20 weeks? I am also scared out of my mind that my baby will have spina bifida. I am terrified that of all the traits I could give my baby of mine, that will be the one he/she gets. I will have a quad screen drawn next week and hopefully my US will only be 2 or 3 weeks away. I am very anxious to have them check the spine. I really do not care if it is a boy or a girl, just PLEASE Lord, let my baby be healthy.

I have been fighting those thoughts for a while and I think that is part of my insomnia. I wasn't offered a NT scan because my doctor knew already that he was sending me for a high risk anatomy scan at 17-18 weeks. I am so ashamed and embarrassed to have these thoughts when so many of you just want a baby. I feel so guilty about it. I pray for you all, many by name, everyday. I've walked in your shoes, I know how you feel and I have not forgotten that feeling. I think I will carry it with me for the rest of my life. Just because I am pregnant does not mean it doesn't bother me when I hear of someone getting pregnant on their first cycle, being able to announce it at 4 weeks without any care or idea that nothing is guaranteed. It is hard being pregnant following IF. This weekend was the first time I allowed myself to really buy anything for Baby. I needed to get to the 2nd trimester and I have. I don't like it when I am asked repeatedly if I am excited. Of course I am happy, but I really don't think I will get excited until my doctor lays a healthy baby in my arms that is mine. I know this is hard for many of you to understand, it's hard for me to understand. I have spent years waiting for this time to come and now that it is here, I am still feeling that feeling of hope and even at times despair.

I have been wanting to write this post for a long time and today with all the blessings I've seen in blogland it just seemed like a good day. This song means a lot to me today.

Mission Accomplished!

I went to a super cute little baby boutique with my mom today and after talking with the lady in the store I decided to go ahead and just settle on the crib that I had found online. It is the exact one I've been in love with for years and she didn't think anyone would be able to beat the price in town (how could I not love this store considering she was honest about that!). So, at 20 weeks, I will be ordering this...

My dream crib, the Davinci Anastasia! I fell in love with it back a few years ago and now I KNOW it is the one I want. I've looked at three different places today, and this is by far still my favorite. I don't really like the way a convertible crib looks and I don't plan on using one for Baby's entire life, so I just wanted a standard, white, sleigh crib.

While we were in the store, I knew that some people I know had custom made bedding through there and inquired about it. Come to find out, I can get the exact same thing I've found online a lot cheaper and custom made, especially for Baby, through her store! I am so excited to find out boy or girl so I can start looking for fabric!!!!! Here is a hint of what direction I am going towards...

That is all I will show you until it is made, but you get the idea!

Next we went to BRU to look at cribs just to make sure I hadn't missed something before. I didn't. However, we found some great deals! They had Carter's buy 2, get one free, Gerber thermal blankets, buy 2 get one free, and a few other small things I liked on sale, so here is what I came home with!!!! Thanks Mom!

Also, this morning while I was in Walmart, I thought I'd check out the baby clearance rack and I found this super cute, fleece sleeper. It is Baby's First Christmas in the perfect size! I was so excited! The best part, got it for a dollar!

I also want to say Happy Birthday to Harper and Emma Kate this weekend! Hope you both have a great and fun first birthday!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. We are going to eat Japanese as soon as Michael gets home from work! YUM!

On A Mission

I am on a mission today. To find this...

a standard, white, nonconvertible, sleigh crib. Wish me luck! I've found it online, but with shipping, it will be a FORTUNE, so I am going to try to find it at some local baby boutiques. We'll see.

14 Weeks!

Yes, TWO posts in one day, again this week!!!!!

How far along? 14 weeks

How big is Baby? 3 1/2 inches and the size of a lemon
Total weight gain/loss: 4 pounds (I still haven't really gained any weight, which makes me a little nervous)
Maternity clothes? very comfy and need more! I may or may not have popped my scrub pants during a very crazy office yesterday!
Stretch marks? No, let's pray it stays that way!
Sleep: My compressed nerve is back at it. It chose to keep me awake for about 3 hours last night. Plus I had a bad cold/flu last week and got very little sleep.
Best moment this week: Being 100% into the 2nd trimester!!!!
Movement: I'm wondering if I didn't feel some slight flutters last night while I was lying awake.
Food cravings: Italian, and more specifically Olive Garden salad.
Gender: Will find out in 3-4 weeks! EEEEEEK! Anyone have any ideas, I would love to hear them and don't forget to vote at the top!
Labor Signs: none, thank goodness!
Belly Button in or out? In and I pray it stays that way. Ha!
What I am looking forward to: starting to really think about the nursery!!!
Milestones: being in the second trimester!!!!!

I don't think that I have really started showing THAT much, just a little, but apparently everyone I come in contact does. Has everyone noticed that your abdomen becomes public property when you are pregnant, because over the past couple of days, mine sure has! I'm weird about personal space and not even a big hugger, so it has totally blown my mind when people touch my abdomen. It just caught me off guard and I just wondered if that happens to everyone, I'm thinking so!

Salad, My New Best Friend

Every once in a while you have to have some random thoughts I guess. Well, today's post is random.

Since last Friday I have been craving Italian and specifically Olive Garden salad. It couldn't be just any salad, it had to have crisp iceburg lettuce, olives, and red onions. I've been getting by this week with a salad from the salad bar at Erlanger. Not quite the same thing, but good enough. Yesterday while I was eating my not so Olive Garden salad, Michael called to tell me he had a surprise for me. I briefly thought maybe he was bringing me an OG salad since it was his day off, but no that wasn't it and he told me he'd have it for me when I got home. I got home and it was TWO bottles of OG salad dressing!!!!!!! I thought I had died and gone to Heaven when I ate lunch today! YUM! Michael currently has MEGA bonus points! Ha!

Next thought of the day...
I don't know how many of you like E! trash as much as I do, but I love Bill and Giuliana. Their dynamic is very similar to Michael and I (although their lifestyle is WAY beyond ours!) and this week I loved it even more. They went to a OBGYN to be worked up for IF. I have never seen this done on a reality show (that I can remember right now) and I was so happy to see it. I'm tired of the Kourtney Kardashians and Kendras that just wake up pregnant on their show one day and have easy deliveries (not that Kendra's was, but you get the point). I was so happy to see a reality couple deal with the struggle to get pregnant in front of the cameras and not act like everyone just decides to get pregnant and brings a baby home in 9 months. It does not always work out that way, trust me. Thank you B&G for showing America that even celebrities have problems getting pregnant!

Ok, stepping off my soapbox now. I am going to put on my pjs and have some pizza while watching AI. My hip is acting up again and I was up about half the night with it. I am in no means complaining and I thank God the entire time I'm awake for the fact that Baby must be growing. I hope to have a belly pic today, but if not, I'll post one tomorrow. Yay for 14 weeks!!!!!!

This and That

Today was back to the same old, five day routine. We haven't had a full five day workweek in four weeks! I'm so glad they gave us the snow day last week so we could ease back in to the routine! Ha! This week should be pretty busy at work, today was crazy and tomorrow I have a full office of patients.

Is anyone else super excited about TV this week? Tonight is The Bachelor (woohoo!), tomorrow is the season premiere of American Idol (which I love, because Michael will watch it with me!), and Thursday, Grey's Anatomy comes back!!!! If anyone wants to have a Twitter "viewing party" I'll be on during The Bachelor tonight! It was a lot of fun talking with you last week! My screenname, because I have very little creativity, is AJLedford.

My cold is gone! Yay! However, I am suffering from a nasty case of Olive Garden cravings! I HAD to HAVE a salad from there this morning, but of course can't leave work,

so I did the next best thing...I made a HUGE salad at the Erlanger salad bar. Ok, not quite the same thing, but it was SO GOOD (at least to me! Ha!).

We are on our way out the door now for 50 cent tacos at a restaurant down the street. That has been my standard craving until this week, Mexican. Maybe Baby loves Mexican like his/her daddy and Italian like his/her mommy! Oh, and who is proud? I've actually done a pretty good job keeping my blog updated since January 1st! I'm trying to get in a routine so I'll do better once Baby comes. There are a lot of out of town friends and family that will want frequent pictures!

Is Baby Ledford a Boy or a Girl?????

I know, 2 posts in one day, don't pass out or anything! Ha! I just want to make sure everyone notices our new poll in the top corner! Thanks for all the awesome advice on the last post! I also just ordered Baby Bargains, so we'll see how that helps too.

Be sure to vote on the poll at the top of the column to the right and we made a fun decision over the weekend! I had been thinking of just the right way to tell everyone the gender of our baby and after reading all about Melissa and Chad's AWESOME party, I thought it would be fun to do a similar party! Michael jumped right on board and has already planned the most adorable, fun reveal ever (at least in my mind!)!!!! So, as soon as we know the date of our ultrasound, we will send an e-vite to all of our close friends and family with all the details! Hopefully we'll be able to do it the Saturday immediately following our ultrasound, if not I don't know how I'll keep the big secret! Ha!

Moms Out There, I Need Your Help!

Ok, I admit it, I am a HUGE planner (probably why God loves to "change" MY plans, Ha!)! I am pricing furniture and already thinking about what I want and do not want to put on my registry (which I am planning to do around 20-21 weeks because I've had people ask if I already have one and being high risk, I want to get it out of the way in case there is trouble later and I need to be on bedrest). So, here is where you come in, I'm going to open up the comments for you to tell me what you loved and what you could have lived without. The biggest things I'm debating now is bottle brands, diaper genie or just regular trash can and monitors (movement vs video, leaning towards movement). However, I want to know about it all, so comment away! Tell me the registry must haves and must not haves!

Happy Anniversary!

Five years ago yesterday was the best day of my life (until this July!), January 8, 2005. It was the day I married my best friend! The past five years have been at times the hardest times of my life and I never could have made it without Michael and his love and support. We've had some really high moments and some really low (seems like we've had more low than high), but we agree the past year and a half have been the best of the five and we are so excited to start the next five. I've included some of my favorite pictures from that day because face it, we LOVE looking at each other's wedding pics! Ha! So, you were warned.

When we saw each other for the first time. I was a dork and cried the entire time we had our "private moment". We exchanged our gifts, I got Michael a clock/frame that had one of my bridal portraits in it and he got me earrings with my new monogram (I've always been a sucker for monograms!).

I love how this one shows my dress and the back of the chapel (these are scanned in, unedited proofs)

My grandparents. My Nana and I used to play wedding all the time, so this picture means a lot to me because it was my "real wedding" and it reminds me of all the time we played wedding.

Our entire wedding party. No, you do not need to adjust your screen, it really was HUGE.

My family. I am so grateful for my parents for giving us such a wonderful wedding. It truly was my dream wedding!

Michael's family.

This was our leaving scene from the chapel to the reception site. We had red rose petals thrown.

This is EVERYONE'S favorite picture that has seen our album. We had this taken downtown at the river between the wedding and reception.

This is my favorite "traditional" reception picture that was taken. I LOVED my cake and still do! I would order the exact same one today!

This is such a sweet picture and my favorite of our first dance.

This was us finally leaving the reception five hours later around midnight! We had so much fun, we didn't want to leave!

I just HAD to show you this one! I ordered a 8x10 of this to frame and hang in our daughter's room one day. I thought it would be before now, but I am excited to see if it will finally get hung in a few months! I also like it because it shows off what I call my "million dollar shoes". I really paid WAY TOO MUCH for them and they were RUINED! It had rained the night before and by the time we got to the ceremony they were completely muddy. Oh well, they were pretty in this picture at least! Ha!

We had planned to go to Atlanta tonight to celebrate, but since I've been so sick and the roads down there are still bad (from what we saw on TV this morning), we're going to wait a few weeks. We stayed in last night and ate Italian from a little pizza place down the street and tonight we are going to Tony's Pastaria downtown (yes, I am craving Italian). We watched part of our wedding video last night and that was fun to watch. I'm planning on watching it more often than every few years. My parents paid too much for it to keep it packed away! Ha!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

We are in the middle of a major cold front and have had snow since about 11:00 this morning. It wasn't much, but just enough to make the roads slippery and our office close at 3. Here is a picture of the back of the hospital from our breakroom window right after it started (taken on my blackberry).

We are planning on staying in tonight and if the news is correct, it sounds like we might be here through the weekend. The temperature is supposed to be dropping tonight to 19 and not getting above 30 until Sunday afternoon. Michael had some slick spots coming home after dark, however, the surprise was that when he got home, his car didn't want to go up the slight hill in our driveway. After he slid back into the street, he ended up parking across the street at the neighbor's driveway.

There might not be a 13 week picture. I have felt terrible today. I am starting to think it may be turning into bronchitis. :-( I am running a low grade temp and just overall not feeling well. I'm going to decide in the morning how I feel, but right now I don't think I'll make it to work tomorrow. I can't breathe, my chest hurts with a cough, and it will be FREEZING. I went out last night and got a neti pot and a humidifier, but neither have seemed to help. I'm going to take a shower in a few minutes and hope that helps a little. I HAVE to get some sleep tonight or I may start going crazy soon!

13 Weeks, 2nd Trimester, and COLD!

UPDATE: I went out to Walgreen (about a mile from our house) and invested in a humidifier and a neti pot. Lets see if I have any improvement after that!

It is C.O.L.D. here, but that is not the type cold I'm talking about. I'm ringing in the 2nd trimester with a nasty head cold (so, don't look for a week 13 post until I recover! Ha!). I thought it would be ok and pass quickly with just benadryl, but it isn't looking that way, do any of you know what I can take or any home remedies that may help? I'm willing to try anything! This is NOT helping my sleep situation at all! Ha! I bought some tylenol cold and sinus, but of course after I got it home and researched the ingredients, not able to take it. I really want to knock this out quickly because it is supposed to snow and ice here tomorrow afternoon and could last into the weekend. Also, our fifth anniversary is Friday and I REALLY want to feel well for that. We were hoping to take a trip to Atlanta Saturday.

I also must be completely crazy or stupid, or both. I decided to brave Walmart at 5:30 on the day before the snow. NO IDEA what I was thinking! Ha! The cashier asked me where my bread and milk were. I just went for chili ingredients, chicken noodle soup ingredients, and kleenex! Ha!

All you girls forecasted for snow tonight, keep us updated. We should be getting it around midafternoon tomorrow. I have a light afternoon of patients (more than half cancelled), so hopefully if it starts I'll be able to get out of there pretty fast. I have driven home from the hospital in the snow when I was in college and it took almost 3 hours. MISERABLE! I'm hoping to beat some of the traffic out by going to work early and leaving a little early, but we'll see!

Insomnia, Fainting, and Winter TV

First, before we talk about any of the other subjects of this post, who saw the Bachelor last night? I know a few of you on twitter watched it and I enjoyed our viewing party, twitter style! We have to do that again next week! Ha! Even Spencer got into it. I wish I had taken his picture, but he just stared at the TV for the entire show. It was hilarious! It was like he was agreeing, these girls are the craziest ones yet! (and on that note, of course the crazy this season is from TN!)

I think my early favorite is Elizabeth or Corrie, although it looks like Corrie might have a little something to do with the scandal later on.

I am loving Winter TV this year. This is my favorite time of the year for TV. It is cold outside (as in 20 degrees at my house! Do I live in Georgia or Detroit? I'm confused!), all the good shows start up, Bachelor, American Idol, and of course my favorites are all back with new episodes.

I'm sure you are wondering what the other parts of my title are about. Well, I am feeling strange today. I have not slept well AT ALL the past two nights. I wake up almost every hour and I've ended up being awake more than asleep and it is catching up with me. Today while seeing patients with Dr. Barker I had to leave the room because I got this crazy lightheaded, can't stand up, may pass out feeling. The MA and Dr. Barker both got worried and made me sit down for a while. My blood pressure was low and after about 15 minutes I was back to normal. STRANGE! I still feel that swimmyheaded (I don't think that is a word, but I like it! Ha!) feeling every few minutes, but my OB said it is ok. He thinks the baby is probably near my blood vessels and that is normal. I think I'll be taking it easy tonight and trying to get some sleep.

Thanks for all the advice yesterday! I am 99% sure we will go with the white bed. I have a few reasons I'll share when I post more on that in a few weeks!

Let the Transition Begin

Just for fun, I'm going to give you a peak in to the plans for the transition from our home office to the nursery today. Since we start our SECOND TRIMESTER (yes, I am a wee bit excited about that!) on Wednesday, we started seriously looking and thinking about the nursery this weekend. Of course, we aren't doing anything until we know boy or girl. I want your opinion about a couple of things, so here goes...

This is our office/soon to be nursery the day we moved back in (and it had no clutter! Ha!). I had this room and our guest room painted SW Brevity Brown because I knew I wanted a warm, chocolate brown nursery and I couldn't decide which room to use! Ha! This room won out because I love the crown molding (rather than the colder, vaulted ceiling in the guest room) and it will be a lot less trouble to clean out. PS: if any of you Chattanooga girls are interested in this desk set, let me know! It is a L-shaped when actually put together and there is some damage from the fire that I can be more specific about if you are interested. If so, email me at AJLedford@mac.com.

Now, for the dilemma: I'm trying to decide between this crib in white or espresso (the furniture above is espresso, if that helps). I think the white would look fabulous in the dark chocolate nursery. We have espresso or cherry everywhere else in our house, if that helps. I am so on the fence about this one! I've been in love with this crib for about four years. It reminds me of the crib Aliza, the child I kept while in college, had. Her nursery was my dream nursery and I've built my fantasy around it for 10 years!

I still have a LOT of looking and deciding to do, but these are our two top choices in bedding (with the baby's monogram in the center of the bumper, of course!)

(I'll probably do tulle behind her bed until she starts reaching and pulling with a canvas that says Lilly to match the bedding)

I LOVE the canvases on the wall and I THINK I MIGHT could make those!

So, what do you think? White or espresso? Be honest about the direction of the bedding too. This is just a rough draft kind of thing, nothing is being decided until we know boy or girl (and only then because this bedding take 6-10 weeks to be made and delivered).