Picture Heaven

Hello All...

I promise that I will be back to blogging ASAP. I promise! :)

BUT for now I hope you enjoy the pictures of my beautiful baby girl Arabella

XOXO,

A quick photo

Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless

She is amazing

She is here!!! After my water broke...getting to the hospital...and many hours (almost 20 exactly)...she was born!!

We're already a breastfeeding latching queen...(moms so sore...verrrry sore).

She is amazing.  I am more in love with her every growing second!!!!

Thank you all sooooo much for sharing this journey with us... :o)

Love,
Steph, D and our baby girl A!

Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless

Here we go!!!!!

My water broke....and i thought i peed my pants!!!!

I will keep you all updated as much as possible!!!!

Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless

Back 2 Blogging....LAST DAY...

So today issssssssss the last day of the Back to Blogging event! And as my last assignment to jump start my return to blogging, I need to write about what blogging means to me, why I blog, and what purpose it serves me and how have I benefited from my blog?

Blogging means that I can be free to say what I want to say and do what I want to do...It started as an outlet for me to share everything that I was feeling...and I have been lucky to have such incredible followers (who followed from my old blog and new ones) show support and have helped us get through such tough times.

I actually care about "other" bloggers! I have made some amazing friends. I talk EVERYDAY to some of these people...either in real life or via twitter! Seriously...it was such a great find when I was so hurt and sad after my losses. It was a way to escape, vent, bitch (yes I just swore...lol...sorry)...and have others make me feel like I was normal.

Some day with my blog I would LOVE to be bigger...have more followers...do reviews and like I posted recently start some cool and fun giveaways. But I just can't find the time to do this!!?? How is it done!? lol!! I actually had this conversation with a blogging friend AT MY HOUSE Wednesday when she came over (yes Alyssa you...LOL) ...I can barley keep up with everything now!!! SHEESHH!!! :)

I hope you have enjoyed the Back to Blogging event...because I have!!! And one last THANK YOU again to our friends at SITS, Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances....for hopefully giving me Thelma and Louise!!! ;o)


XOXO<

Five Question Friday & A Blog Hop, Skip and Jump......

It is that time again...
Forrrr Five Question Friday hosted by Mama M....
over at My Little Life....



1. What is the first nightmare you remember? The first nightmare I remember having has to do with the movie Ernest Goes to Camp...seriously..there was some scary thing that turned the kids into dolls...soooo creeepy....it still gives me the nightmares! LOL

2. Even if you're not a sports fan, what's your favorite sport to play/watch? I love to watch football with the husband...mostly because I love the snacks that we get to eat DURING the games! I love having people over...and so when he has his friends come over to watch the games we always have munchies....and who doesn't love chips/dip, salsa...YUM.... :)

3. If you could pull off one piece of trendy fashion, what would you want it to be (jeggings, hats, thigh high boots, etc.)? Thigh High Boots....and I am going to be buying some thissssss fall/winter...leather ones...and brown...that come OVER my knee...like LC does in the newest US weekly magazine...except I wont be spending a million dollars...I will figure something out... :)

4. Did you make good grades in school? Yes, I made really good grades!

5. What magazines do you subscribe to? I don't subscribe to any magazines...but I always buy US weekly...and all those super trashy magazines...

AND NOW THE BLOG HOP!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK.....and next.....because Today is Friday...I wanted to do my weekly BLOG HOP!!!!

(and I had to write this a LITTLE bit early...so it is really Thursday night at 10pm....) because we are expecting our baby...ANYDAY...or should I say...."Miss.Arabella..PLEASE COME NOW"!!!! She is officially over her due date...and not that I don't want her to stay warm and cozy...it has just been soooooooooooo long and we are sooooooooooooo super excited for her to come...we are getting a little anxious! You can read our story about why and how this blog got started HERE.

And if you decide to stay and follow us for our next adventure...aka MOTHERHOOD...please let me know...and I will follow back! THAT and I also have twitter.. (Username: StephaE)...let me know that you are following me there and I will add you there too!!

Back 2 Blogging.....Day 4

Today SITS wants us to write a new post about a women who inspires me...and well..this is hard.

I don't have anyone in particular that I get inspiration from. Really. That is so sad. :(

BUT I am going to do this post without getting all negative (about why most of you have amazing relationships with your moms, and I don't)...and sayyyyyy that I get inspiration from a lot of you (and that is very very very true). I am so glad that I found some really good blogs to follow, ladies who follow me back and are so supportive...and even some real life friends have come from blogging (yes...I have actually met some of you...anddd you still seem to like me)!

I am happy to have started this journey of my pregnancy with so many of you...and hope to continue this journey of Motherhood staying so positive....{that and I can't wait to share pictures of Arabella...who is now two days past her due date....sooooo wish us luck she would and will come out soon...so I can continue this blog...:)}

SO...sorry for the shorter post...but tomorrow is Friday...and I have my blog hop and my 5 questions to do (hopefully tonight so I can rest up tomorrow...oh and Dave is sick...yes...he may have strep)...so I promise we will be back ASAP! UNLESS I have this baby...and I will probably have a guest blogger/quick droid blog post....

SOOOOO.......Thanks again to our friends at SITS, Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances....for hopefully giving me Thelma and Louise!!! ;o)


XOXO,

Back 2 Blogging.....Day 3

Well hello again ladies...yes...we are a day past our due date...so it looks like I can keep going with the SITS Back 2 Blogging event!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today we are supposed to say a Post Title that I am proud of....well mine is entitled: Dear Self...

AND here it is:

Dear Self,

When the world seems to crumble down around you, remember, you have been there done that, and picked up the pieces and moved on before. There is nothing that you can not do, nothing that is too hard, just believe in yourself and trust that you will make the right decisions. And if you don't know what to do, you always have Dave to turn to. And you know, he is always right.

When you get into a "small" tiff with your husband, don't forget about the good times and remember that this is just a small tiff. You have been through the toughest situations with him, and honestly, leaving the toilet seat up once a year is not grounds for ripping off his head.

When you get stressed...stop what you are doing, relax, and remember that you can NOT always control the situation. You can not control traffic, the weather, and other people around you, but you can control yourself.

And know, that sometimes it is okay to cry. And if you feel like it, go for it. And don't worry what the other drivers besides you are thinking, or how your husband thinks your crazy for crying at a commercial....you have every right to cry when you want to.

Love,
*Yourself*

I like this post especially now that my hormones are crazy...and believe me...I AM CRAZY...I cry when listening to songs on the radio, watching tv, ANYTHING....oh and don't even get me started with Marley and Me....Dave had it on the tv...and I balled for two hours....

BUT anyways....Thanks again to our friends at SITS, Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances....for hopefully giving me Thelma and Louise!!! ;o)

XOXO,

Day Two (Hellooo SITS)

Hello day 2 of Get Back to Blogging...today is Tuesday, September 14 and I am to Re-upload a post you that I wish more people had read and explain why it was so important to you....

This is hard...there are a few posts that I wish were read more...but the most recent was this one...

Day 8...it's a little bit sad... (sorry)

Hmmm.... I try not to keep anything "around" that makes me angry or sad...and I have actually deleted any of those from my computer.

BUT I can tell you all about it...

While cleaning out everything for Arabella's nursery, I came across not only our video camera (which has the saddest little video of Dave and I in 2008 just before we went into the doctors office and got the "bad news" that we were not going to be having a baby....) but I also came across all of our ultrasound pictures from our second pregnancy.

We have grown and learned so much since 2008, and from last year. And now we are having this baby, and I feel badly for saying this...but I still get really sad. I know that I am allowed to. I am allowed to grieve for the children that I should have had. But it makes me feel guilty now that I have A inside of me. She moves and groves around so much...and although I hate the saying "Everything happens for a reason"...maybe it does.

A is loved so much by so many already that I actually get teary thinking about it! :)

So the photos I have decided to keep. BUT the video....we will be deleting...I don't need to see us saying hi to the baby that we don't have. It makes me sooooo sad. And I want to video tape Arabella from the beginning to have happy memories on that thing! *Oh no...we're not taping the birth...Dave seems to think so...but no...*

This post is important to me for so many reasons. Yes, Dave and I have been trying for a long time to have a baby. And my blog is about my pregnancy and will be about Arabella. BUT I am not just that. I have been happy, sad, ecstatic, broken, loved, depressed, anxious...all before and during this time of joy.

And now I can add guilty to the list of emotions. Guilty because I am still sad about our previous losses when I should be just focused on this pregnancy and our baby girl. {Also...I feel guilty for being that girl who has HATED everyone who has a baby, is pregnant...and jealous of the fact that it was not happening to me. (And believe it or not...I still get so angry with people. )} And I also feel guilty for making anyone else feel sad about their losses, or hard times with infertility (that was never my intention with this blog. I promise).

This may sound silly to some...but these are all the crazy emotions I have been dealing with. It may be hormones...but I feel like a normal pregnancy was stolen from us. We deserve normal. We deserved to never worry. And now we will. And although we want to have another baby...it makes us worried for the next pregnancy....(if there ever was another one)....ughhh....

But that is it...that is why I feel that this post is important...and I guess I just should have come out and said it more bluntly...

Thank you for reading! :)

And Thanks again to our friends at SITS, Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances....for hopefully giving me Thelma and Louise!!! ;o)


XOXO,

Get Back To Blogging Event

Today is Monday, September 13th...and over at SITS...they are having a Get Back To Blogging Event...and I HOPE that I can post everyday with their blog topics.

(ok...ok...how many of you knew that was a lie? It is not that I don't want to blog...because I do..reallly I do...and I love you ladies...but this baby has ONE more day until her due date...or should I say hours...and would love to post here...but would superduper LOVE if Miss.Arabella made her appearance)


This was my FIRST BLOG POST here on this blog....

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Ecstatically Pregnant

ec·stat·ic
(k-sttk)
adj.
1. Marked by or expressing ecstasy.
2. Being in a state of ecstasy; joyful or enraptured.

I am ecstatic, happy, joyful, blissful, cheery, content, gay, upbeat, pleased....to finally announce that I am Pregnant....

This comes as no surprise. We have been trying for two years now. We have had two losses...and seen a Reproductive doctor for the past year...

My husband and I have a great love. And I feel as though our love is perfect....and it can endure anything...but my life has been going in slow motion. I have been crushed.

BUT we got the best news this past week...we are pregnant. I am estimated to have a baby on September 8th, 2010.

My first ultrasound is on Friday at 11:30am....(Eastern Time)....and I really need good luck...I can not be sad, hurt, upset, stressed...I need some friends who can travel down this road with me...who are feeling the same anxieties I am....

I can NOT believe that this was my first post...and today I am ready to POP....:) We are so excited and so happy to have met all of you (Dave and myself)...and so thankful that so many people have cared to follow us during this adventure! We can NOT wait until she is here so we can share her here with you!!!

Thanks again to our friends at SITS, Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances....for hopefully giving me Thelma and Louise!!! ;o)

XOXO,

Five Question Friday

Over at My Little Life....
the FUNNIEST L&D Nurse
Mama M hosts Five Question Friday...

1.) Do you feel guilty for spending money on yourself? YES! Seeing as though I don't work {I am going to be a SAHM}, I find it really hard to spend any money on myself. I got a pedicure last-night and feel SO guilty about it...but honestly I can not SEE my toes anymore...and I have not gotten them done since my shower ...a month ago...SOOO I knew they needed to be done...and NOW I have BARBIE PINK toes! :) (and it is not so much that I don't think I deserve anything...because I do...it is just that I know that Dave is working so hard for us...so I think that the money we have extra should go to our "stuff"...like planning a vacation...or buying something we both can enjoy)

2.) How well do you know your neighbors? I don't know them! We live in a townhouse community. And NEVER see any of our neighbors. Our next door neighbor even works with my husband...but REFUSES to say hi to us...he is really shy... I guess.

3.) What age are you looking forward to being? I am looking forward to being 25! Yes, 25! 25 I will be a mom!!!! I will be one at 24 too...buttttt I will be 25 in A MONTH from today!

4.) Do you get excited when the mail comes? Why? NO! I get BILLS! Unless it's a Victoria Secret catalog orrrrrrr a gift orrrrrrr a package....I don't want it

5.) What is your earliest childhood memory? I guess it would be of myself and my brother. I would pull him out of his crib Saturday and Sunday mornings and we would watch cartoons or movies and eat cereal out of the box! He is 4 years younger than I am.


HOPE you enjoyed reading my five questions!!!!!

XOXO,

Blog Hop Friday....

So...Friday...we meet again...

HELLOOOOOO Blog Hoppers!

I hope you LOVE Friday as much as I do! :) Especially today!

WHY you ask???? Because today is a special day....today we are 4 days away from our *Due Date* with our first baby (you can read more about our journey into parenthood here...) ....I am "Ecstatic" to be pregnant...and each day we can count down...the more excited/ecstatic we get!

Here are a few of my blog hops today....I can't wait to read about all of you {OHHH and let me know if you decided to stay for our journey and follow along...because I will return the follow!}




But anyways....thank you for stopping by!! I appreciate it!! HAPPY HOPPING!!!!!!!!!!

{Sort of} Wordless Wednesday...

There are some of our Apple Picking pictures! :) Hope you enjoyed!!

XOXO,

Tuesday Blog Hop!

Welcome to the blogs that are "hopping"...this is a new favorite thing of mine!

So a bit about me:
My name is Stephanie....I am 24 {almost 25}
& TODAY I am...39 weeks Pregnant with our first baby...after two losses...
Dave my husband is pretty much my everything...{other than this baby girl}....
AND we would really like Miss.Arabella to make her debut! :)

I am so excited to read about all of you!
Happy Hopping!

ALSO....Over at The Undomestic Momma it is.....

Andddd my top TWO Favorite Things about Fall......

My first favorite issssss: that my BIRTHDAY is in OCTOBER....Not just ANYDAY...but the tenth...So I will be 25 on 10/10/10 EEEEKKK!!!!!! I am so excited! Not like we will be doing anything huge...just a small family party {and eating cake...yum}.

My second favorite issssss: Apple Pies! Yes...I know...I can buy an apple pie or crisp....but honestly...we LOVE going apple picking, taking pictures of it....and then I love baking....did I mention that BAKING Apple ANYTHING reminds me off fall..and ONLY do this during the fall....

XOXO,

Miss.Arabella LABOR Update

{SO...not to scare anyone...she is NOT here yet...}

BUT Weeeeeee lost our "mucus plug"....or are in the "process" of loosing it (this sensation has been happening for the past week or so...and I didn't know what it was until I just called the doctor). She said it was the plug. It's gone....

We are happy to say that this baby is coming....but again...this plug can mean that the baby is coming tonight orrrrr weeks from now.

SORRY if we did scare you... with TMI...but hey...it's my PREGNANCY blog! :)


XOXO,




P.S. STILL thinking about doing a twitterbirth!!! :)

Happy Weekend!

Hi all (Old and New)....
I hope you are enjoying your weekend so far!! :) Hurricane Earl was a bust up here in Southern New Hampshire. A bust. Just a little rain. Andddd no wind. But I know that my friends only 30 minutes away are having fun surfing... (yea...no surfing for this 38week pregger)...I guess the waves are amazing!


Blog Hop Fun...
If you found me recently and left me a comment telling me that you did and are following...I AM FOLLOWING YOU BACK! :) If you didn't let me know...then I will find you..LOL...I promise to follow back..it is really nice of all of you to come over from the blog hops! It was TONS of fun and I can not wait to do it again later next week....that is if the baby doesn't come...(please dear gosh...come).

If you are a new follower....annddd have twitter let me know! I am a twit-a-holic! It is on my phone...so I have it with me WHERE-EVER I go! My user name is: StephaE


Some New Things (Let me know what you think):

• I am looking to maybe change my username on twitter....and my blog name when the baby comes. I am still going to be Ecstatic...buttt I wont be pregnant (well for a little while, Dave and I have decided to continue to "not" try to have a baby...after three years of trying to have Arabella, who knows how long it will take us to have another child. It is something that is a very personal decision...and we think that this is the best decision for us. We have always wanted a family young, and close together). Any ideas on a new name/names?
  
• I am looking to do giveaways and reviews! Would anyone be interested? I have some ideas and was given two baby girl headbands...and will be starting this very soon (again depending on the baby...I don't know when this will start...but this Etsy store is super cute...and new...and seeing as though I don't have a huge follower base...would you all be interested in something like this???
  

That is it for now! Again, thank you sooooo much for following me! I really appreciate and look forward to following you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XOXO

Busy BLOG JUMP :)

So...I always wanted to do this littttle thing called a "Blog Jump"...and I always LOVE prompt writing...but seriously? HOW can you choose which one in particular that you want to do...I was doing a different one every week...soooo...I've decided on FRIDAY'S....to do a few that I can link/add/post together so you all can see where I found you from (and hellooo there to my new followers...I hope that is that I get some..(again...take your mind out of the gutter ladies...thehehehehe)....(because every time I go to these linky pages I find such great blogs that I need to read and I hope others feel the same about moi)...

SOOOO....here are a few "blog jump" sites that I have found from others...and CAN NOT wait to join in the fun with!



PHEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.....and that is ittttt for me this Friday! Enjoy! And WELCOME!! :) I hope you all have a great weekend!!!!!!!

XOXO,

Five Question Friday

Today is FRIDAY...I am going to be doing a lot here today....sooo....this may be a double post day!


First lets start with........

My Little Life's:

1. What do you do when you have time to yourself?
I have TONS of time to myself now before A comes. I read, write, blog, cook, spend time with Dave...and lately...WALK WALK WALK to get this baby to come out! :)

2. When you look out your kitchen window, what do you see?

WOODS! We live in a very woody area. I see the woods from every window that I have in the house. I live in the middle of nowhere, but I love it. Although, sometimes I wish the next town was JUST right there...I really love it being so quiet!

3. Who/What would you want to be reincarnated as?

I would want to be reincarnated as...I don't know... this is a hard question. I would want to be another human, a girl, someone famous! lol! WHO doesn't want to be famous? I always say...if I could sing...I would so be the next Britney Spears...{showing my cha-cha around...lol...that last part I was definitely just kidding}.

4. What is your biggest pet peeve about other people's kids?

When they don't have manners. I understand that kids can be disrespectful...but you do need to teach them how to be respectful and use their manners when you are not around. I have worked with kids forever, and a lot of times they are better behaved for others than yourself...but mannnnerrs are super important... OH but if they are acting up in front of you please correct them, or they will never know!

5. Regular or Diet soda?
I love BOTH...lol....I really LOVE RedBull Sugar Free (but being Preggo...can't have this at all)....and Coke Zero or regular Coke or Pepsi. When I go back on weight watchers I will be right back to the diet sodas though!

XOXO