a little bit of life lately

The calming effects of settling in are finally bestowing upon us. The never-ending to-do list is finally dwindling down (to only about 634 things to do versus 23,458, if you know what I mean.) Surely there is still much to do around the house, but I feel we are getting to a point where we can start relaxing a little and taking the time to enjoy being a family and making new friends and putting the to-do list on the back burner full of things that "can wait til another day."

Nothing has been hung around the house, except for in the girls' nursery/toddler combo room, which is my current labor of love. And let me tell you, apparently they built walls a bit better in 1922 than they do now-a-days, because we can't get a damn thing into those walls. Push pins don't push in and we've bent a ratio of at least 4 nails for every 1 that we've actually been able to hammer in. Our walls may be bare for a little while longer, but it's not stopping us from moving forward, inviting friends over, and starting to enjoy the perks of being homeowners.

Like walking to dinners and grabbing drinks for hubby (and soon to be me!), and coming home to relax out back with music and drinks (La Croix for this momma) and pool days for baby girl.


Excuse the iPhone photos that will fill this post ;)

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Our time has also been filled with making friends and making memories. We had a pool play date with the other little kiddies from the residency program, followed by a trip for E and I to Daytona Beach with my family.

We're making friends, E is making friends, and we're simply getting used to our new life.

And trying to get all the "simmin'" in we can this summer, whether it's in a real pool or a kiddy pool - she dunks her head under no matter what.



New baby friends!





Just one of the beautiful views from the marina a few minutes from us where new friends live -- gorgeous!



And we busted the camera out just a little too late to get all momma's from the play date in, but here are a few of us :) Between the 3 of us, we have 5 1/2 (almost 6!) sweet little girls.


Our little girl might be the craziest, but who's taking note?




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The very next day E and I packed up the car and headed to Daytona Beach to meet some of my family and the kiddies for a fun-in-the-sun weekend. Sadly, there were barely any pictures taken on my end, but I busted out the iPhone camera a few times to capture a glimpse of our family weekend together.

E had WAY too much fun with her cousins at this beautiful place. She likes to be the youngest little ring leader, making everyone screech and chase her around. Girl could not stop cracking up and giggling like crazy at all of her cousins. Makes me so happy to see her so happy with all of them :) Thankful for these getaways together!


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Following that has been operation HOUSE. Cleaning, organizing, getting completely unpacked (if that ever happens...) and then it's time to make room for BABY! We've been slacking there and need a few things to get ready to bring a new sweet baby home, so that is next on that never-ending to-do list I was speaking of ;) But who can complain about getting ready for a cuddly new baby?! We are so looking forward to meeting her!

In between our madness, we are doing what we do best -- loungin'.



And loving every moment of it.


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But what would a random thrown together "life lately" post be without a little pregnancy update?!



Sadly, I have not found time to document this pregnancy the way I did last time around. However, I have enjoyed it just as much! I truly love being pregnant. It's such a special and short time in some women's lives and I truly feel blessed to be able to experience all that pregnancy has to offer.

I was diagnosed with a mild case of Gestational Diabetes, which I did not have with E, so it's surely been a little different in terms of eating a strict diet on a routine and what not, but we are making it work. I just started with weekly Non-Stress Tests to monitor baby's heart rate and my contractions, followed by a weekly ultrasound to test her movements and of course keeping tabs on my blood sugars. I think that all the testing makes things seem a bit scarier (and a hell of a lot longer) than the usual run-of-the-mill 5 minute 3rd trimester appointments, but whatever it takes to make sure baby is doing good is okay in my book!

I've been feeling great and having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions and baby girl is head down and ready to make her debut in a few weeks. I'm trying to soak up every moment of having this sweet girl tumble in my belly and with me every move I make, while preparing for her arrival and enjoying these last few weeks of my pregnancy!

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J will be finishing up another rotation month the end of this week. I've enjoyed him being on ortho a bit more than I did when he was on EM, but now it's on to the next - IM!

CHEERS to the end of a great week and the start of a new one!

Family Trip to Madeira Beach

The salty air of the beach, warm sand, and sun fill that random jar of memories I keep bottled up in my head. Scouring the beach for the perfect shell (if vacationing on the west coast) or jumping my highest to tower over the waves (while vacationing on the east coast) remind me just how much fun it was being one of the kids on family vacations. Our ginormous family has always been able to push the busyness that consumes our lives aside to make time for each other, and to make time for memories. Looking back, I am thankful that 'the adults' always did this for us (and themselves) and fast forwarding to now, I am thankful that we are able to do this as well for ourselves and our children. By a family trip, I don't just mean my little family. I mean four generations of grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles - all in one trip!



We packed up kiddies, bathing suits, and sand toys. We shopped for donuts, chips & dips, kiddy treats and beer. And we simply enjoyed - making memories one shell search, sunset, and sand dollar digging session at a time.









The guys raced on the sand and hurt themselves, and us gals had a little race too which may or may not have made one or two of us bust our asses.  I shall spare you the pictures.

Hours were spent with toes in the sand, drinks in hand, laughing, reflecting, and playing.







I sure am thankful to have a baby who looves the beach. She spent the days soaking up the fresh air.



And playing hard means sleeping hard. Baby girl slept the best she ever has. Two full two hour naps per day and long, long nights of snoozing. All the walking and cruising around surely helps!



Madeira Beach, Florida did not disappoint. With beaches and sunsets, and a boardwalk full of shops, bars, and restaurants, memories were made in abundance.





While our little miss has been on several beach trips with us, and even some of her cousins, this was her first trip with the whole crew. She loves keeping up with all her cousins and they are just as happy to let her keep up. Cousin love makes me happy!
{insert edit here: my husband just texted me while on an away rotation "cousin love makes me happy?!"} Haha, yes he is right. But come on, sisterly love, brotherly love -- you get it, right? ;)

Baby girl's got a soft spot for Johny -- who takes on her walks, cuddles, and shares plenty of playful moments with her -- including scouring the shore for shells to write her name in the sand with :) I was 12 when he was born, and he was 13 when she was born, so it's fun to see the dynamics that I had with him being shared between him and my daughter now. Awwww ;)



It's not just the kiddies that make up the memories. It's the whole family combined. The generations of family members coming together to catch up, enjoy each other, and remember past memories of moments just like these. That's what makes it all so special.









Siblings, young and old, got along (for the most part) and begged to come back again soon. Sunset gazing makes for a tranquil atmosphere, that's for sure!





Some of my favorite families on the beach this weekend, together making up one big family, creating memories and loving the moment.

The Smollett's


The Vicario's


The McDonald's


The Barr's


We sure did miss a few of the family members who couldn't make it, but you were without a doubt thought of.

I think I can speak on behalf of everyone by saying we are truly thankful for the opportunities to spend moments like this together - and we will truly love looking back on these memories while creating new and similar ones in the future.


So much sun, so much fun!

Check back soon for my 'trip after the family trip' to see how I spent the rest of the week!

well, hello florida!

Even the blazing sun causing sweat soaked clothes, sweltering car temperatures, and frizzed-up-like-a-mother hair conditions can't keep us from hatin' on the state we call home. It's more like helllllo glistening waves, swaying palm fronds and fogged up sunglasses -- you are makin' me one happy girl this summer!







One happy busy girl, that is! I'm thankful for how busy I've been with The Barrtique, and grateful to be around family as much as we have been. And blessed to have been able to travel and do all of the wonderful activities we had envisioned when picturing moving back to South Florida for the year. I must apologize for neglecting this beloved blog of mine. Apology accepted?! Please and thank you :) Just look at this face, how could you not accept our apology..

After a summer jam-packed with salty, sandy, sun-kissed skin (that is NOT over yet, my friends!), we officially took the plunge yesterday and reverted our fruit of choice from peaches back to oranges yet again. And by that, I mean we spent a day at the DMV, followed by the tag office to officially become Florida residents again (only $1,017 later...it sure does require a lot to love those oranges) Happy to be back (for now), although I will always have a love for Georgia as it blessed us with our lil peach.



Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in 8 years, we officially live in South Florida again. And we are soaking up the sun every moment we can (while I am not glued to my computer doing work or hubby at work and/or out of town) before we leave again in May. We were long deprived of the misty atmosphere the beach offers, and are now doing our best to make up for lost beach treasures time.





Memories are in the making -- in an abundance too, that's for sure. Baby girl may not remember every salty excursion she encountered this summer, but her mommy and daddy will, and I'm sure she'll hear all about how amazing her first summer was under a canopy of palm trees. Much time spent with family, and cousins making memories together, just like we all used to!







From South Florida, to the Florida Keys, Jacksonville, Tampa, Tarpon Springs, Cocoa Beach, and many days at Deerfield Beach, you can't say we haven't been beachin' and poolin' it to the max. (Did we just go back to Saved By The Bell days?...I think so)



Sister and cousin time has been awesomeee. (Especially when we're at an amazing resort in the Keys. Heck yeaaa!)






Just as you can imagine from us, no matter where we've been or what we've done, we still have not gotten over the fact that we've created this amazing little girl who offers so much joy and love right back at us. She just turned 9 months (and yes, an 8 & 9 month blog post will be making it's way up here shortly..) and lucky for us, she loves all that the beach and water has to offer. Our lil fish, indeed :)



We still can't help but look at her in awe of how wonderful she is to us, and we still thank God each and every day for bringing her to us! This little girl has got Daddy wrapped around her finger, and well, mommy too! Oh, so in love.





We had to spend a month apart this summer, yet somehow managed to pack in all that we have so far in Florida. Seriously, the people may not be the friendliest as many say, but with our family in tow and a beautiful atmosphere, we are loving every moment -- every moment of our year long vacation, as we are calling it.

As you can see, Florida has been treating us well. I may spend hours upon hours upon hours sitting at my desk getting work done, and J may have spent a month away from home in addition to many hours in the hospital, but lawdy, we are makin' it to the beach somehow. We are doing our best to make it worth all $1017 it took to become residents of this beautiful state that we are now calling home again.



Sure do wish you were here!


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...and just a little topping to end a cheerful little post -- our summer according to my phone :)

Walkin' in Memphis

{Yup..that's the title I came up with..how cliche!}

This is a random post...but do enjoy!

Thursday, February 14, 2013 :: Valentine's Day & Our 11 year Dating Anniversary

{Then & Now}



Got these beauties from the husband! Conversation went a little something like this:
Me: "Awww I loooove these!! I'm pretty sure these are my favorite flowers these days..I guess you've actually been listening?!"
J: "Oh...no..I just thought they were cool looking!"
...Typical! :)



Headed to ATL, ate our celebratory dinner at..wait for it...Woody's Famous Cheesesteaks! Nope, no five star gourmet meal here. We were excited ALL day to be able to eat one of these for dinner. Very US. Cheesesteaks and shakes..Mmm! Do eat here if you're in Atlanta :)



Slept at brotha Bill's to hang out and let Baby E spend time with her Uncle!

Friday :: Headed for Memphis. Stopped in Birmingham to have lunch with Brian and Carly..Baby E's first time meeting them..yay!! Hadn't seen them since last June! Loved picking right back up where we left off ;) Although, it helps being able to talk to her on the phone just about every day!

Drove from Georgia, through Alabama, Mississippi {under a beautiful sky where the sunset hit the clouds in just the right way}, and then into Tennessee.

Spent some of my time as one squished momma.


Arrived at Auntie M's! Her & Trey's new place was beautiful, on Mud Island, adjacent to the Mississippi River. {Yes I still say, M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I in my head when typing that out}.

And me, well I love the lighting in their new place! As Trey said, he wishes he could bottle some of it up and send it home with me. Oh, the pictures I would get at home if I had their lighting! Okay, let's get back on track...


Check out their view...you can see some of the river on the far right side. Beauty :)




We spent the weekend eating, exploring, eating, spending time, eating, drinking, seeing snow flurries, and well, eating. I'm pretty sure that's what we do best.

Our weekend in pictures, in no particular order:






Twins..?!

And perhaps one of the coolest things about Memphis...


For some reason, they are always cheering for our pup, Grizz :) They must really love him.

It was a wonderful weekend walkin' in Memphis and getting the chance to see everyone that we did! Thank you for your WONDERFUL hospitality!! :) Family is the best! {Excited to see more fam tomorrow/this weekend..woohoo!} & tryinggg to plan a trip with sister's fam to visit Mom & GG..?!


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Oh yes, and then we came home and decided to try out this baby carrier as opposed to the Mobi wrap I've been using..

We thought baby girl liked it. But we weren't too sure.

Looks here like she's saying something along the lines of 'um, this is cool and all, but it kinda gets in the way of chewing my fingers, people!"


But then, I noticed how she reallly felt about the carrier..


Oh well! I'll stick with the Mobi :)

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Whose ready for St. Patty's?!