Life as I know it has officially changed

A few nights ago, I sat down on the couch and wrote 22 thank you notes. As my hand cramped, I thanked everyone in my office, from the front receptionist to the CEO, for being a part of my life in the last two years. It was a great time of reflection for me because it's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day frustrations and distractions that come with working in a busy office. While I wrote my notes, I thought about all of the things I will miss about each person.

Many people - work friends, random people who I chat with, other friends, etc. - have been shocked with our decision to pick up and move to El Centro and for me to stay at home with the babies. These same people have said what a shame it will be, I have so much potential, I'll become stale at home and I should start working again as soon as I can. I understand their shock, because I'll be the first to admit that I didn't expect to be staying home anytime soon. Not just financially, but because I really do like working and I've found a bit of a niche in marketing and design.

A couple of my sweet friends gave me baby/going away gifts, but the thing that touched me was something that one of them said in their cards. She said "You are giving your family a gift, do not forget that." This has been my mantra since I read it, especially when the doubts start to creep in. Things like, will I be happy staying at home again? Or, can we really, truly financially afford this, even though we've crunched the numbers? And, am I throwing away a potential career in marketing because I have decided to take a break?

I'm still nervous, anxious for the unknown, but my wise friend is right. No matter how much of a sacrifice it is to have left my job and moved away from the city that holds opportunity, my family comes first. It always has. It always will. And I'm happy to give this gift to them.

Obsessed, much?

Ever since we found out we were moving, I have become utterly and disgustingly obsessed with all things crafty-DIY-home decor. Mainly anything I can find on Pinterest. More specifically, wreaths. And I cannot stop watching HGTV. It also may or may not have something to do with the preggo phenom they call nesting. Except I won't be scrubbing the kitchen floor with a toothbrush, at least not  yet anyway.

I have two wreaths in my house and they are both store-bought. In fact, everything in my house is store bought because I generally have neither the time nor energy nor creative energy to make things. But for some reason, I have convinced myself that I not only will become more into decorating my house beautifully, but I will be DIYing all the time. So get ready for lots of fun projects. Maybe I'll actually post more. Maybe not.

Either way, it's going to be fun!

Check out all of these wreaths. Seriously awesome.

And this meal planning board. I'm just getting way too domestic right now.

Finally, this fall mantel. You cannot tell me you don't like it because I won't believe you.

PS, I'm in need of some new blogs to read. Share!

Big things are happening, people, big things

Here's my hint...
Since moving to Malibu for my freshman year of college, I have moved a total of 11 times and I'll let you in on a little secret...I love moving. Well, not exactly the physical labor of moving, the packing of boxes and what-not, but I love the searching for a new place, the envisioning of all the wonderful and creative things I'll do with it (which usually never actually happen), picking special places for all our things, arranging furniture and getting to know life in a new little world.
 
We have come to a bit of a crossroads in our lives--we have several options, some better than others, and I'm so excited for Monday when we finally are able to figure out our lives.

 Cross your fingers that it goes our way!

Oh, and another thing...we find out the sex of the baby on Monday. I might decide to share, if you're lucky...

Ze peecture

Here is my 18.5 week belly. Its big, but not as big as I thought it would be, seeing how its our second bambino.

Updates

I've sat down several times over the last few months to write a post, but every time I do, I go blank. Every other day I will think, "hmm, this would make a great post," but by the time I sit down to write, it flutters away. Not much has changed and a lot has changed.

Gabriel has changed so dramatically in the last few months, from his new haircut to his increasing vocabulary - every day we are pleasantly surprised with new and exciting things. His changing personality is delightful and...well, sometimes REALLY not so delightful. I see many of my own characteristics as a child in him, constantly challenging everything and stubbornly fighting for what he wants. But there is this underlying shyness, trepidation if you will, with the unfamiliar. He's not the child who jumps feet first into a crowd; instead, he likes to gauge the room, the child, the activity. Potty training was surprisingly a breeze - I guess I don't give my own child enough credit.

The little tadpole baby is no longer a tadpole. He/she is in between the size of a bell pepper and an heirloom tomato! As of late, I've been able to feel the flutters, which is so exciting, yet makes it seem so real. I find myself thinking every once in a while, "are we really ready for this?" Co-workers have mentioned how young I am to be having not my first, but my second child. I'm thrilled, I really am! Anyone who reads this blog knows that we tried for a second. Yet, there's still that fear of rocking our boat just a little too much. I know that it will work out and although Gabriel says he doesn't want a brother OR a sister, he will learn to love and protect his younger sibling. I am sure (most days) that everything will be okay.

I have been lucky this time around in that my pregnancy has been very easy. Now that I'm out of the vomitous fog of the first trimester, I feel basically like I'm not pregnant, minus a few ton of emotional breakdowns and some bouts of the infamous preggo brain. Our big ultrasound is scheduled for the 29th and we've decided to take the road less traveled and NOT find out the sex. This should make name-choosing that much more stressful, since as of now, we have yet to come up with ANY names. Not one. I've always known that if I had a girl, I would name her Lily, whether it was a first or middle name, so that's still on my list. I really like Ava Lily, but I feel like I know someone who just named their child Ava, but (per the usu) I can't remember who it could be. So really, who knows? Maybe we will be announcing a nameless child.

I have a picture of my baby belly but since our internet sucks, I'll have to try to upload it later.

Peace, yo!