It's been 10 years...

Over this past weekend, I had my 10 year high school reunion. Unlike my sister (and my husband) I was one of those people that LOVED high school. Aside from the classes and homework, I adored it. I had many friends - many of whom were in several different "social circles." My parents used to call me a little "social butterfly" - within my little group of friends, I was the one that would always coordinate what we were all going to do on any given Friday and Saturday night. I remember one summer, there wasn't one night where I wasn't with my friends (yes, I kept track). My parents were awesome in terms of letting me have friends over, letting me use the car (oh, remember that little red Honda?!), and allowing me to go places as long as I was home by curfew (and most of the time, I was... really.). My best memories were the times where all of my friends and I would congregate at my house on the deck on a summer night... Ben Olson would get out his guitar and we'd just "hang out", be goofy... and stay up LATE - my parents did not care how late people stayed - they always said that they'd rather have me at home with friends anyways. Perhaps this was a perk of being the youngest child of 3... They had been through 2 teenagers before me and they knew what things to be more leineant on.
Most of my high school friends and I have stayed in touch... we certainly aren't as close as we once were, with the exception of maybe a couple, but since the invention of Facebook and MySpace, it's been alot easier to stay in touch, without doing a whole lot of work.

I must admit that I was really looking forward to this reunion. Most of my close friends couldn't make it, but I knew I'd see a lot of people that I hadn't seen in person in ten years. Drew and I met my close high school friend, Lindsey, and her fiance, Eric out beforehand for some cocktails(or mocktails, for me.) We got Drew and Eric all "up to speed" on who did what, and who was who in the Southwest High School Class of 2000. Once we got to the reunion, it's almost as if those 10 years hadn't gone by at all. How many times did I walk into a football game, prom, a party, or the school commons and see these exact same faces all grouped together? It was all really strange. There was lots of reminiscing going on... good, bad, funny.... my Senior Ball date even filled Drew in on how he "slapped my @ss" right as the professional photographer snapped our posed picture. (hence the slightly funny look on my face). Drew wasn't too amused, but does want the guy to help us with some of our house projects since he lives in Milwaukee and fixes properties for a living. What can I say, my hubby is always looking for a deal :-)

When the night ended, they bid us farwell - for the next 10 years. Next time I see most of those people, we'll be 38 - that's almost 40. Holy crap.

Here's a picture of Drew, Matthew and I before we headed out to the reunion. Next time, we'll have a picture of a 14 year old, a 10 year old and "?" year old next to us.... When I say all that, and then think back about how fast the last 10 years went...WOW, these next 10 are going to fly.

Registered? Check! Swollen feet? Check!

So my big sister has offered to throw me a baby shower. I hadn't expected anyone to throw me one since this is my second. However, my sister and my mom were both adament that I get a baby shower this time around. The believe that this situation (a new and REAL marriage, a completely different and responsible Daddy, a new and excited in-law family, etc.) - just a totally legitimate, totally different pregnancy experience than with my first. I get it. Hopefully those invited will too. This baby boy means so much to me, Drew and the rest of my family. His pending arrival has been this ray of sunshine, this glimer of hope to a family that has had a lot to deal with the last several years - most recently my brother's unexpected divorce. News of my pregnancy came within a few weeks of my brother's not-so-wonderful news... it has been the something positive for us to focus on. So this baby shower means a lot to me... and to my family. It means so much more than giving gifts. We tend to think that all new beginnings deserve all sorts of celebrations. Drew is so excited to be expecting his first (biological) child, and I want the experience of all of it to be just as it would be if it were my first baby. and Matthew has certainly been loving the ride too... As Drew and I registered the other day at Babies R Us, we pushed Matthew along with us in the cart and asked his opinion on what he thinks his little brother might like. He was very helpful. Drew seemed to enjoy the process as well. The only thing he was pretty adament about was the diaper bag. He didn't like the ones I had picked out on Gap.com (saying they were ugly and too girly for a man to carry around), so he picked out this fun orange and grey hobo diaper bag. It's really cool actually! So, registering is done... next project? Turning the already "baby painted" computer room into baby Will's room at the end of the month.
I've also had to say hello to some pretty swollen feet and ankles. This (cooler) week, they haven't been as bad as they were last week when we had all that hot and humid weather here. This weekend is supposed to be hot though. Retaining water is what happens to this Mama come the 3rd trimester (which I am 2 short weeks away from! woot!). People keep asking me if the hot weather has bothered me yet and throwing me mini pity parties telling me how sorry they feel for me being pregnant in the summer... Really? Don't you know how badly I've wanted this prenancy? I may complain, but I'll be fine. I'll have the most amazing prize at the end. And if I do have to complain, I'll just complain to my mom - she gets it - she had my brother in mid-August of '77, which apparently was one of the hottest on record in Milwaukee. Besides, Matthew likes to squirt me with the hose to cool me off! My neighbor across the street (who is due in early December) just got a pool, and will gladly let me sit and cool off when I need to...
I say all this now... lets see what my blog posts look like come July and August...

Seeking the Truth... Keeping the Faith...

This has been my motto.... for the last 4 years anyways. I've been through A LOT. More than most of you even realize. Today, I find myself incedibly lucky to be in the place that I am. Happily married to a man that I truly adore, with a healthy and beautiful 4 year old, pregnant with baby number two, a nice house and living in a city that I absolutely love. My life is far from perfect... I have my bad days, believe me... but most importantly, I find myself deep down happy. If you would have asked me 4 years ago if I would've thought my life would be the way it is today, I would have shaken my head and probably broken down in tears. The spring/summer of 2006 was my lowest point. I had made a decision to leave my husband at the time because of myself seeking the truth of who he really was. I was a 24 year old mom of an adorable 6 month old. I had a job that could barely pay my bills (let alone all the legal fees!) There were people that didn't believe me. There were people that would willingly pass along the rumors about me - how was I "crazy". For what? For leaving a man that was deceitful, untrustworthy, heartless and incapable of love? I had to push past all that nasty stuff and focus on what I knew to be true in my heart. At a mere 24 years old, I did my own investigating, and found out what I knew to be the truth - even though it hurt.... a ton! I had a lot of support from my family - they are a huge reason I am where I am today. Throughout all the turmoil, I kept the faith. I believed. I had hope. I had to have faith that everything happens for a reason. God has a plan. I believed that one day I would have everything that I wanted, and deserved. I showed resilience. I knew deep down that good things would happen to me... and slowly, but surely, they did. I took risks in love. I put myself out there. I had patience. I continued to believe. Going through the bad things, makes the good things that much more sweet.
I still need to remind myself to keep the faith. There will forever be reminders of what I went through... and recently, those reminder get thrown in my face a lot. Many of those reminders are hard to swallow. The things that are plastered across the news on TV... they are hard to hear... but I continue to keep the faith. I am ever so greatful that I knew to seek the truth several years ago. If I hadn't, my life would be tremendously different right now, and undoubtedly, I wouldn't be as happy as I am. I have many people to thank for the roles they played in helping me get to where I am now. You know who you are. I love you... and thank you.

As my husband continues to tell me... onward and upward!

Fantastic Memorial Day weekend

This past weekend was awesome.... spectacular... fantastic. I was with my favorite people, doing things that I love: eating, relaxing, tailgating, baseball game watching, beachin' it, getting manicures and eating some more. My family got to get aquainted with my brothers "new" girlfriend, Lauren, whom we all really enjoy. She's got a lot of energy, and all the kids just love her! To top it off, I had my 24 week appointment yesterday, and guess what? I've only gained 3 lbs. in the last four weeks! So now, my OBGYN thinks I'm right back on track where I should be. Feels like I gained 10 though - but that's probably because Will has been making himself quite comfortable up near my rib cage, so he just feels bigger, and longer!

Heres a few of my favorite pictures from the holiday weekend... I hope yours was as good as

mine!

Here's hubby with Matthew. Any candid of the two of them playing is usually a favorite of mine. Here's a candid of the 3 of us as we were just about to walk into Miller Park for the game. Good belly shot too! My big brother and Lauren walking into the game. Matthew, me and Drew at the Brewer game. A shot of Baby bump and I along Lake Michigan. The cousins - Julia, Matthew, Maggie and Joe. Testing out Lake Michigan! My little guy gazing. In the paddle boat with my mom, Julia, and Maggie. Me and hubby during dinner at Maxie's Southern Comfort.

That's all for now... I have some topics that I have been thinking about, so within the next few days, I'll give you more food for thought....