Not only are some of my skirts already beginning to burst at the seams, but Phil and I are also failing to contain the excitement inside! After December's sadness, Phil and I decided to just take it easy in the baby-making department. If it happens, it happens, but if not, we wouldn't worry about it, or feel let down. Even if we were afraid it might not be possible after my D&C procedure. But lo and behold! Our doctors were surprised that as soon as they gave the go-ahead (wink, wink!), I suddenly had another baby growing inside, right around the time of my own birthday. What a blessing, and the best gift I could've hoped for. We're expecting the little guy or gal around September 21st- my favorite time of year!

I've been enjoying the excitement after seeing our little gummy bear wiggle around on the ultrasound yesterday (yes! It was dancing inside! Cutest thing ever!), and being able to talk about babies again without feeling a little resentment or sadness. My mom has been sharing her birth stories, which is exciting- albeit a little scary- I had no idea that my mother and I had to be separated for ten days while she was quarantined for hepatitis! My poor dad was probably awfully worried. But all birthing stories aside, I think I'm mostly nervous about how much our lives will be changing this year. I hope we can handle it, and I like to think I'm ready to be flexible and allow everything in my life to change.

Well, we'll see how everything goes this time! I hope you all are ready to share in the journey with me, because I'm pretty stinking excited to celebrate each step with you!

He was from the city, she was from the country. He was a lady's man, and she was a tom-boy. He had a nice car, and she needed a ride. I used to love listening to my grandparents giggle while telling both sides of the story of how they met and fell in love almost 70 years ago.

They met in their senior year of high school, and Bev wasn't exactly in Tom's plans. He had dates lined up for every night he had off work, and she didn't go steady with boys who dated around. Much to her surprise, he actually cancelled his dates in hopes of going out with the pig-tailed, Levi's wearing girl from Navarre. As stubborn as she was, she still said no to him and chose to sit at home and listen to the radio, while he called into the station with a series of romantic songs dedicated to her. Well alright, she thought maybe it might be fun to go for a ride in his snazzy new convertible after all. And so with throngs of broken-hearted ladies behind her, Grandma got a ring on her finger by '48, and Grandpa left for military duties, but I found the stacks and stacks of letters he wrote to her while they were separated.

The yellowed letters are held together with rotting rubber bands, and the painfully neat handwriting of my grandfather is starting to fade away. But tonight I'm going to look through those letters and remember what a great example they were to me of true love and commitment. Miss you, Grandma.

It’s gonna take a while to come down from the New Year’s high we experienced on Saturday night in Canton, Ohio. Our friends Lydia and Tim had been hosting a growing party at their grandmother’s home (I know, I know! It’s kind of crazy) each year, until we all finally burst the house at its seams and the two siblings decided to take the party public this year. They turned the event into a fund-raiser for local art programs, and even included an art auction featuring some of the work of our friends.

It was kind of amazing to see the variety of people who showed up- fortunately lots of my friends were there, but also a whole slew of Cantonians I had never met before. I even spotted a familiar Post Office employee who famously makes Fine & Dandy jokes every time I approach his checkout counter.

We had a lot of fun chatting, sipping festive drinks, dancing, and music making, which was followed by even more heart warming times downtown at our favorite bar. I don’t think a group of 20-somethings have ever professed love for one another so often to so many people in just one night! (Totally platonically, of course! Well, except for when it wasn’t.)

I almost didn’t take any pictures during the party, because of missing my fabulous 28mm lens (a casualty of 2011), and just a plain ol’ desire to forget about playing photographer and just have fun. Well, after prodding from friends, Phil and I shared the camera duties and so… we have what you see here (and then some!). Let’s keep the camera out for 2012, and see what other shenanigans take place!

Ohhh… and if you’re curious- here are photos from last year’s party!