Oh how I love the weekend!

So...has spring sprung in your neighborhood? It has here. And with Spring, comes spring cleaning and that is what the Aossey Posse plans to do this weekend. I am even considering putting the little one to work. Have a great weekend!

Ahhhh....Memories.

While going through pictures, videos, and old files on our hard drive, Chad came across this one. I remember this weekend like it was yesterday. What a lucky girl I was and still am.

Enjoy!

Time Flies

Now...

...and Then

A picture is worth a thousand words

Thank goodness it's Saturday! What a busy week for us.
Davis is all in when it comes to table foods, at least purees, but he is still doing great! He is loving cereal & peas so far. Tomorrow, we add Sweet Potatoes to our menu.

Today I want to write about our experience this past Sunday. Chad, Davis, and I took a little trip up to Marietta, GA to have some photos taken for Davis's 6 month birthday. We were lucky enough to fit into Mrs. Deb Layden's busy schedule. What a delight!
I met Deb through some other Newell mommies. I took a "mamarazzi" photo class from her and instantly fell in love with her style of child & family photography.
The whole family had a blast shooting with her, and the pictures prove it! Deb and I spent some time together choosing pictures that I wanted to use in the house. My only complaint- there were too many amazing ones to choose from!!! Yes, I think that has something to do with my big-eyed boy wonder, but it has a lot to do with how talented Deb is. Davis was a champ...smiling through it all. I am ecstatic with the results and cannot wait to decorate with these absolutely beautiful snapshots.
If capturing memories via photograph is as important to you as it is to me...check out Deb's website at www.laydenphotography.com and schedule an appointment with her! You will be so happy that you did.
One more note about Deb. It is SO refreshing to me to watch someone totally IN LOVE with her craft. I saw her intensely capturing these beautiful images of my sweet boy and was so lucky to spend time with her while she prepares to edit our pictures.
Here is a sneak peak at one of my favorites!

Future Foodie!

It wasn't all this bad!

It took a little practice, but I have the hang of it now. Bring on the veggies!

1 Little Post, Many Updates!

Davis was 6 months yesterday. Can you believe it? Time flies.
Some quick updates...
Along with turning 6 months old yesterday, Davis completed his second round trip flight last week. He had a chance to meet one of my best friends (Jenny and Pat) and visit a bunch of family in Chicago. I am sure this is one of the first of many trips to the Windy City. He was an absolute angel on the flight. Let's cross our fingers this is a good sign because Chad and I LOVE to travel and are hoping for a little guy who shares this passion.

As of last week, Davis is sitting unassisted and seems to be more inquisitive than ever.

Little man is teething and EXTREMELY emotional. I am really hoping this goes fast because I feel really bad for him. The homeopathic teething strips do work wonders though.

Davis has 2 best friends...Manny & Coco. He loves to stare at them, pull their little ears (they don't appreciate that so much), and smile and laugh at them. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. I am sure the pups will agree once little man starts throwing food down from his high chair.

Last, but not least, as many of you know, tomorrow is the big day! Dude is moving on up to Rice Cereal. As a mom, I am nervous, excited, a little sad too. My boy is growing up:(

Happy 6 months Davis! You have changed our lives in so many ways. Thank you for being you.

I miss my baby daddy.

Dear Newell Rubbermaid,
I understand better than most the reason for travel and busy weeks...but quite honestly, you are killing us. I miss my husband,my husband misses me, and our baby misses both of us.
Sincerely,
The Aossey Posse

...Please notice the lack of smile here. He is pissed that his daddy had to leave today.

We are back... 6 months later!

My dear Davis,
You are approaching 6 months this week, and I am a little ashamed to say that the last time I blogged was before you had even come face to face with the real world. Well, to make a looooooong story short, you are here now and your dad and I are head over heels for you.
I look back now at your pictures from the day you were born and that first month, and can't believe how little you were! You were so fragile, and now seem like such a a little boy...no longer a featherweight infant, you can hold your head up, almost sit all by yourself, and roll over.
We haven't quite started solids yet. Not for lack of trying on your part, but more so because your mama is a bit scared. I guess I am scared of the mess, the possible complications with your reflux, allergy worries, and probably the main reason....I don't want you to grow up! I always have been a bit on the inpatient side, move on to the next step, kind of girl, but not with you, little man. Not with you. I treasure every single second with you, my boy, and it is going way to fast already! I can't imagine how I will feel when you go to school, your first sporting event, a dance, or even off to college.
We struck gold with you Davis! With a bit of scheduling work, you have been sleeping through the night since 2-3 months. You know your bedtime schedule and seem to like it. Napping can be tough but you are starting to transition to two long naps daily from the many short naps of your younger days. You truly might be the most smiley baby I have seen. I am not saying that just because I am your mother. You are quite the flirt and tend to distract people with those bright eyes and glorious grin. Your daddy has even nicknamed you Smiley Cyrus. :) What you don't give out too often is that giggle. When you do though, ahhh, it is like a breath of fresh air. I absolutely love your giggle. Your daddy does too, and he can make you laugh like no one else.
You started daycare at about 4 months. You seem to like it. I have my days. You seem to be thriving there though, you like your teachers and are starting to interact with the other kids as well. The daycare sniffle, cough, and stuffy nose is what I HATE about daycare. I HATE that you were sick for the ENTIRE month of January and February. You were a trooper though. It is mommy and daddy who can't handle it.
I hope I can get around to blogging more often now that we have survived the first 6 months. This has been the most trying, yet most amazing experience your daddy and I have been through as people, and specifically as a team. Trying due to lack of sleep, lack of knowledge & experience, but those smiles that you give us a the perfect time or when you nuzzle your perfect little head into our chests, we melt. You are truly a gift...and God is good, and you are proof.
Thank you for these 6 months.
I love you,
Mommy.

Patience

I am trying really hard to be patient, but Davis, if you are listening, I really wouldn't mind you coming this weekend. I bet your dad would even give up the OSU/ Miami game (or watch it at the hospital:)).

Regardless- I am planning on making some of my favorite Fall/ Winter treats this weekend. I am hoping you will like them as much as me and daddy! Go Bucks!

Catholic guilt for not blogging??? Ugh.

So, I am back after a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG hiatus. My excuse starts with a bit of busy, mostly lazy, and hey- I am 38 weeks pregnant, so I can do whatever I want! Anyway, blogs are not supposed to make you feel guilty. If you have one- you know- they do. The worst is when someone tells you that they have checked it, and basically they are disappointed because you haven't updated. Well, all 2 of you readers...I apologize & I will try to do better...for me, for Chad, for you, and of course for the little dude.

So, where were we...well the last time you saw a pic I was at the 25/26 week mark. WOW! If you haven't seen me since then, wide load coming through! I am full on pregnant at 38 weeks today. I wouldn't describe myself as cute pregnant either. My ankles are swollen, my face is a bit puffy, I am incredibly sore, and my belly has swelled more than I thought was humanly possible. Sometimes I think that I am the largest preggo alive. I know (or at least I hope) that this isn't true, but I am not in the warm & fuzzy stage. That happened awhile ago, and unfortunately, blogging obviously wasn't priority then. I do believe this is all a part of His plan though, He wants you to start to feel a bit uncomfortable, out of your comfort zone, so that when baby comes, that world of uncomfort isn't too off. It is all a ride, and if this is what it takes for me to meet my boy- sign me up.

We have had a super eventful summer. We made a trip to Paris. It was fantastic. Going pregnant had its ups and downs.
Up- Parisians love pregnant women. Allowing us to cut in line every so often was a direct correlation. The food was AMAZING- unfortunately, two of my favorites, wine & cheese, were no nos due to the bun in the oven. Don't worry, I made up for it in chocolate croissant, french fries, and gelato (I know, Gelato is italian, but it is irresistable.
Down- it was unseasonably hot during this visit. I have told many that it was like summer camp. You know when you wake up in a cabin and you are sweating, you take your shower, and you are sweating, and it just doesn't matter what you do...you just sweat. Well...no cabin here. A 4 star hotel + me in Paris= sweat. Pics aren't beautiful, but we were blessed to be able to take the trip.

Our other big trip was an annual Davis family trip to Outerbanks. It was exactly what the doctor ordered. Lots of R& R with the fam. Everytime we leave there we start planning next year, that is how you know it is a good trip. I love a nice tropical vacay, but you really can't beat the Outerbanks...there is something about it.

Scattered around those two big trips, I was showered with love over four showers. I don't even think you could call it "showered", more like poured on. The generousity of my hosts, family, and friends still leaves me speechless. The showers were all unique, and just perfect. Both Chad and I are so blessed by the people in our lives, and can't wait for Davis to meet them.

That brings me to the last few weeks, no travel allowed, which meant no going to a best friend's bachelorette party; wedding. Super-duper bummer there. I live vicariously through the pictures and her descriptions. Jenny-I wish so much I could have seen you walk down that aisle in person. You are such a dear friend and you have picked someone to walk beside you in life who adores you. I know that your pictures don't do your beauty on that special day justice.
I wish you and him a wonderful new start!

Three of my besties looking beatiful!

Anyway, fast forward to TODAY- Labor Day. While the boy is ruling my body right now, Chad and I are counting contractions ALL of the time waiting for the big day. Wouldn't it be funny if I went into labor on labor day? Chances are slim, I know.

Speaking of the little squirt, he is doing just fine. Last time he was checked, he measured in the 41st percentile. All systems are a go, and according to the doc, he is ready whenever he wants to make his grand entrance.

Those of you who have been pregnant know that the images of the gush of water & the rush to the hospital really don't happen with most women. It's more like this...
"I think that was one...let's time it...ok it's over...15 seconds, that's it...or was that gas?...or was that a cramp?...wait if I sit down, it goes away...oh brother...will I know when it's for real?"

From what I hear from my new mommy friends is that I will know, so now we wait for little dude.

Speaking of the boy, you haven't seen the room, have you? PIMPED OUT. He is a lucky guy. It still takes my breath away. Now, understand, it doesn't belong on "MTV Cribs" or anything, but it is PERFECT. We have two little things to do today and then we'll call it. I will post pics then.
A lot of my obsession with this room has to do with our little boy who will be sitting in it soon, but some of it, is the pride I feel that Chad & I put this together ourselves. It is my favorite room in the house right now. I could just sit here for hours. I try to take in this quiet time because I know that it will end & I will soon be exhausted, stressed, and confused, but right now as I sit in this perfect room, in a perfect chair thinking about my perfect boy, the world is an absolutely perfect place.

Baby Bump Update!

I will upload better pictures sometime soon, but for all of you who have been asking. Here is a 25/26 week update pic. There is definitely a bun in the oven:)

House Party!

This past weekend was a great one! Chad & I hosted a Calphalon & Williams Sonoma "sponsored" event at our house. If you haven't heard of www.houseparty.com, check it out. You might find yourself hosting a party!
This website/ organization connects consumers & brands & takes their relationships to the next level. In a nutshell, you submit information (demographics, interests, etc.) & brands (like Calphalon, Williams Sonoma, Betty Crocker, Kraft, etc.) outline to house party the type of consumer they are looking to target. After a TON of applicants, 1000 are chosen. Those thousand people will then host a party on the same night across the country featuring a specific brand or product.
I hosted my first house party back in December with Betty Crocker.




It was a fantastic girls day to celebrate the Christmas holiday & make cookies. Betty Crocker got much kudos for giving me some free cookie mix & some great recipes as well as a bit of swag for my guests.

After hearing alot about the success of house party, Calphalon decided to get in on the fun. Now- if you don't know already, you should know, that I am biased. I have worked for Calphalon for over 5 years & I love the brand, the people,the culture, and of course the product. That being said I wouldn't put my name on something I didn't believe in...whether it be a party or a product.
This time around, Calphalon & Williams Sonoma went all out. We sent out "party packs" to help the chosen hosts with their party (pans, ingredients, tips, etc.)& then cut the hosts loose to plan & execute their party. Our marketing communications team was on top of any host questions & did a fantastic job making sure each host was armed & ready with info & confidence to show off our brands in the most authentic way. Judging from the house party site, these parties were phenomonal!

Calphalon & Williams Sonoma teamed up to showcase our newest product line- Unison Slide & Sear. I was lucky enough to be a host. A chef has to try their own food, right? Anyway, a bunch of my coworkers along with their significant others helped to celebrate the beginning of summer at our house. We served Michael Symon recipes & I even got a non-Calphalon employee- thank you Scott Shannon- to experiment a bit in the kitchen. If the guests didn't know already, Unison Nonstick Sear produces a kick butt Sear & the Slide is more slippery than any nonstick I've ever tried. I can't forget to mention though, all are dishwasher safe! To sum it up- Professional Results with Nonstick Convenience. www.calphalon.com
The party was a hit. We were blessed with beautiful weather, superb conversation, and good food. What more can you ask for...well our youngest guest made it even better!

Thanks so much to Calphalon, Williams Sonoma, and of course, all of our amazing guests for making the party successful!

Update after a long absence!

Holy Cow. It has been awhile. For starters, I am a lot bigger than I was the last time I posted. Many of you have seen me during my time back in Ohio or around Atlanta. I have definitely "popped" & constantly remind myself that this too shall pass. I am not sick of being pregnant, I am sick of being fat.
Anyway, I am done complaining. I am going to use this blog post to get everyone caught up on the adventures of Chad, Mere, Davis, and the pups- and I vow to post more frequently from now on.
So, since we talked last, Chad & I took a trip back to Toledo & Columbus, some visitors have graced us with their presence, we had a doctor's appt, we got the baby furniture, and we are planning for a very vacation heavy summer that starts very soon!
Ohio was great! It was so nice to see family & friends after so long! I got alot of "how are you feelings", but I was just fine with that...after all, I don't get too see them enough. My cousins are growing up so quickly. I can't help but think about my aunts, their moms, & how they feel. I know it will be a few quick years (or even months) that I want to freeze time so Davis won't grow so quickly!

My parents came to visit us for the Memorial Day weekend. Their visit was fantastic! We ate great food, hung out at the botanical garden, and I even got to see the Sex & the City Sequel. Wonderful weekend that was capped off with a scrumptious Farm Burger & Nutella/Burnt Marshmallow milk shake from Flip...who could ask for more?! I love having my parents here & I am looking forward to the Fall when they will be back.

Doctor's appt went great! Davis is measuring a bit small but no worries at this point. I go back on June 23rd for the glucose test & from then on, I am back every two weeks. I will be in my 3rd trimester at that point! Is it just me, or has this pregnancy flown by? Ask me that in a couple of months, right?

Last, but not least, we are kicking off summer with a dinner party on Saturday. I have been prepping for the last couple of weeks & hope it will go well. All of my guests are from work & I know they will be gracious guests, so I am absolutely looking forward to a night filled with great friends & great food. We are using our Calphalon Unison cookware to make some Michael Symon recipes out of his cookbook, so the food will be good too. I am just crossing my fingers for good weather...I would love to kick off the summer outside. I will post pictures after the event.

So, in a nutshell, that is what we have been doing for the last few weeks. Besides work & a bit of play (we saw Mary Poppins & have had some fun nights out), we have been busy bees! Our summer isn't slowing down, the fun is just beginning!
i promise to update more frequently & can't wait to post pics of Davis' room once we complete it. Until then- here's a sneak peek...we received the bedding from dwellstudio.com today. I LOVE IT. It is even cuter in person! Sans the giraffe of course.


Anyway, I better sign off now because this mama needs to stretch her aching back & get some Z's! I apologize for how scattered this post has been, but I just wanted to catch up. Take care all. Sweet Dreams.

We've Been Busy!

We have made it PAST half-way! Holy Cow- where did the time go? The baby in my belly finally feels real & we are well on our way to creating a home for the little guy. Speaking of that, we got our furniture for his room & are so pumped to pick it up this weekend. I will post pictures once we get it set up. We (or I guess I) have been obsessing over nursery color scheme/ theme as well. We starting the registry process too.
There is SO MUCH that we have no idea about. From breast pumps (TMI I know) to sheet savers to Dr. Brown's bottles vs. Born Free, we have finally surrendured to the fact that we have a ton to learn & we have taken the plunge. We read everything we can get our hands on but still know much of what we purchase or how we choose to parent & what kind of schedule the little rugrat will be on comes from preference & practice, but it doesn't hurt to read about it now, right?
I have read & watched things that I should have never even started... For example "The Business of Being Born". Great documentary & definitely a good film to watch if you haven't picked your docter or if you were at all open to a home birth, but I LOVE MY DR. & quite honestly, I am just fine with the sterile, cold hospital feel. The film did portray midwives in a more than complimentary fashion (which from everything I have read & seen, it is too bad the profession is dying slowly) & made me a little more confident that I could go through with a drug free birth (we'll see). Anyway, great flick- but be ready for some naked pregnant chicks.
Other than that, the whole vaccine debate is a hot topic in our household as well as the cloth diaper debate. I'll keep you posted on those two as we reach agreement.

The agreement that we have come to though, is our little boy's name. Many of you know it already, simply because I couldn't keep my mouth shut, but I am proud to let the little guy make his own announcement.

19 week Update

How are you feeling?
I imagine anyone who has EVER been pregnant knows that above all other questions that are asked in the 6 or so months after you announce that you are pregnant- that phrase is the most often asked. So, to answer...the 2nd trimester is 100% better than the 1st (you know this from a couple of posts ago), I have my bad days of course, but all in all, one word sums it up...BLESSED.

We are right smack dab in the middle of our 19th week and according to thebump.com & Whattoexpect.com (my holy grails), little guy is the size of a mango. I am starting to feel little flutters of my little Mango but am SO looking forward to a nice big kick...one that Chad can feel too. Until then, I am content with the little jabs I occasionally feel that let me know the little guy is practicing his back flips.


The 2nd trimester has come with an appetite & I am trying to eat healthy but still have an issue with chicken unless it is in some sort of nugget form or Chick-fil-A. I know, funny right? I have always loved Chick-Fil-A, but now I REALLY LOVE IT. I love everything about it- the people that work there, the sandwiches, the nuggets, the milkshakes, the fact that they are closed on Sundays & most of all, when they say "Thank you for choosing THIS Chick-Fil-A". If Chick-Fil-A was a person, Chad may have something to worry about.



I have started back on steak (sorry Chick Fil A cows)& actually can handle balanced meals now rather than all carbs. Things are looking up...and I am getting fat:) The belly is definitely growing. No joke- I feel like it grows by the minute. According to the dr., I am right on track & everything is great (as I eat an enormous service of rice for lunch (oops:)).

Next Steps- We have a dr's appt Friday. This is a big one. We get to see the little guy & they will take a bunch of measurements to chart his growth as well as confirm that everything is "normal". Following that, at 20 weeks we will celebrate our half way point! Nursery planning will begin & I am sure I will continue to grow.

To sum it up though, I am so blessed & thank God for this gift every day, even with the occasional mood swing & the bloated belly:)

A Wink and A Smile

A post from Dad...

From the time Meredith and I began sharing the great news that she had a bun in the oven, I began to notice a common theme among current parents. Their conveyance of congratulations was quickly followed with "it is the hardest but most rewarding thing you will ever do." This seemed to make sense, but then I detected a slight non-verbal que that made me think. The wry wink and the sly smile given as they uttered this logical statement made me think there was something illogical about the whole situation. I never try to kid myself into thinking something of this magnitude is exactly like I picture it, but I also pride myself on my reflective capacity. I feel that I am a good observer and am able to drawn upon the situations of others to narrow the gap between my mental perception and reality.

I could detail the great parental influence I had growing up and how I feel that will translate into my own style of parenthood, but instead I will turn to a more potent source of influence: TV. Yes, as a child of the late 80's and early 90's, I had two of the greatest fatherhood role models any boy could ask for: Cliff Huxtable and Al Bundy. Ok, maybe one is more what to do and the other is what not to do, but they are both influential nonetheless. The point is that if these two can do it, then why not me. No matter if the little guy turns out to be the fun-loving Theo or the, well, Bud, I will be sure to summon the knowledge I gained from staring absentmindly into the television set as the Huxtables and Bundys lived out their fictional lives.


Another source of inspiration to which I can use to hone my fatherhood skills is my limited exposure to real-life kids. From nephews and nieces to children and siblings of friends, I have gained a small amount of experience that should prove useful. Be it changing a diaper or two or witnessing the exuberence that a 5 year-old can display upon receiving his first bike, I know that there will be plenty of waves in parenthood. Relentless and unpredictable as the may be, I can only hope to surf the crest and avoid the undercurrent as much as possible.

As I continue to talk to parents, they can continue to give advice, and as B-Day approaches, I will increasinly realize parenthood is a club that you only really understand once you join. And I cannot wait to join. Perhaps someday I can look at some stary-eyed father-to-be and tell him it is the hardest thing he will do, but also the most rewarding; with a wry wink and a sly smile of course.

Pickles & Ice Cream- Hold the Pickles, Please

As I sail into my 18th week of pregnancy, I am loving the 2nd trimester. I remember reading "What To Expect" during those first few months thinking that the constant nausea, the bloat, and the feeling that I could fall asleep anywhere anytime, would never end.

It ended.

As I type those words, I have a permagrin. I have worn that permagrin for the last couple of weeks. What a gift this 2nd trimester is. The bloat of the belly, the first feelings of the little guy moving around, and while my worry hasn't halted, there are times when I feel better than I ever have, and it is then that I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Yes, this is ridiculously cheesy & cliche, but there is no greater miracle and the fact that I get to be a part of this grand story makes my heart pitter patter.

The other great thing about the 2nd trimester...the fact that I don't have the guilt that usually comes along with ice cream:)

Blast from the Past & Did I mention I'm pregnant?

So, In my first post I mentioned a "growing" family...If you have anything to do with Chad or myself, you know that "growing" means the little addition that we are expecting in September. We are so excited, nervous, and feel so blessed to have this little man in our lives already!!! Oh right, did I say we found out Baby is a BOY!!!

Anyway, the reason I am posting twice today is to share something that I had written with the intention of posting back when I was still questioning whether we blog or not. I wanted to get an early read on our feelings for the little tyke if he ever happens to come across this. Here it is. It's from late January when the little guy was still an it & I hadn't even been to the doctor yet.


1/30/10
Dear Baby,
We have known of you for about 15 days. Isn't that crazy? You are the size of a poppyseed, but our hearts are already full of love for you. We can't wait to see pictures of you, we can't wait to hold you in our arms, we can't wait for your giggles. In the meantime, you have some growing to do. So, for nostalgia's sake, here's the story of how you graduated from an idea to a real baby in my belly!

When you meet me (mom), you will probably find out that patience is not one of my strengths. This flows into every aspect of our lives, including you! Your dad & I found out we were pregnant for you on January 16 at around 6 am. This was a Saturday. We are not early risers. Again, your mother is impatient. This was the first day our tests would show the 99% accurate result. So, that being said, we didn't believe it after just one test. Four tests later, it began to sink in. We were going to be your mom & dad! I will never forget the feeling of the smile on my face & the smile on your dad's.
So, thank you so much for all of the joy you have already brought us. We will try our best to do the same for you.
With loads of love,
Mom

Deep Breath- Blog #1

Huge step, starting a blog. No Joke...
I seriously have had this on my to do list since BEFORE the 1st of the year. Pathetic, I know.
Well, in my opinion, my hesitation is responsible & it shows that I have thought this through. See, if you know me very well, you know there are two distinct sides of me. First side- extroverted, up for fun, spontaneous, maybe even a free spirit. On the other hand, I do have a side that leans to the more controlled & controlling. I will find myself making lists just to cross off jobs, planning our vacations and weekends to the minute, & pretty hesistant to try anything new until I have researched so much about it that it is no longer new. Yes, I know it sounds crazy.
What does this have to do with a blog, you ask? ALOT.
So, for my fun-loving, spontaneous side, I say why not...I've got a lot going on that I would love to share with the people I love. But then, my controlling, super duper list maker, scared of the thought of screwing up side says DON'T YOU DARE! When you start a blog, you put yourself out there. Even if it is just for your friends & family. It still is up for judging & that scares the CRAP out of me.

So, please be gentle. Feel free to judge, but know I am judging you too & take this for what its worth...a totally inexperienced, Type A (but sometimes B) personality trying to make the world a little bit better for my growing family & my fantastic friends (Not all of this is through a blog, but if you smile occasionally, I did my job).