Monday, October 10, 2011

Emmalin has arrived!

We were blessed with the birth of our first daughter, Emmalin, in August. She is now almost 8 weeks old. She looks just like her brother, Oliver. Oliver is adjusting very well to being a big brother and helps out a lot.
We moved to Frederick, MD last week. We are finally starting to get things all put away and make it a home. I am really going to like living here, but still counting down the days until I get to move back to Washington. Less than a year now.
Here are a few pics of Emmalin and Oliver. Some are from a photoshoot with my dear friend, Ruthie, and others are from home, and some from Picture People.

Oliver and Emmalin

Emmalin-2 weeks old

Emmalin-4 days old

Emmalin-coming home from the hospital

First pic of Emmalin and Mom (that's me!)

Emmalin-7 weeks

Oliver loves his sister!

This is my favorite picture!!

Emmalin-1 month

Emmalin-4 weeks


Thursday, July 28, 2011

Still Pregnant...

Well, I am still pregnant. Okay, most of you are saying, duh? You aren't due until Aug 30th. You are right. I am just getting to the end and am really uncomfortable. I am starting to swell so bad I can't put my shoes on (except flipflops) and my hips hurt to walk. Classic end of pregnancy symptoms (I know), but I can still complain. I have that right.
Good news is we have pretty much everything done. We are ready. Clothes are washed and put away. Room is rearranged and Oliver is in all his "big boy" stuff now. He transitioned great to his bed and hasn't looked back once.
On another note, I am super excited about thirty-one. I have my kick-start Open House this weekend. So far, no one has said they will come, but I am holding out hope. I am hoping that those that can't come will check it out online, as August has amazing specials of 15% off entire catalog. That has never been done before, so I am hoping people take advantage of it! Also, hoping for a party or two before this little one decides to join us!
Of course when she arrives I will post an update and pictures. I am hoping for beginning of August, but I will settle for anyday as long as she is strong and healthy! I will suffer through to make sure she is ready! I know we are ready though!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Thirty-One Consultant

Hi All,
I have decided to become a thirty-one consultant. I will be selling a great product of bags, wallets, tote, organizers, etc. They are a great company and have a great product. I look forward to seeing where I can go with this company.
I am new to the consultant selling game, but I look forward to my first open house and then helping others have parties to share with their friends. I will post some more info about when I get it.
The new Fall line starts Aug 2011, so I will be starting my business the end of this month and having my first party beginning of August! I am super excited!!

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Box of Awesome!

Received my box of awesome today from Heidi D. She had a contest and I won. I can truly say that it is a box of awesome! Every single thing in it, I said "awesome". She put so much thought and personal thought into it that I felt like it was from my best friend that has known me for years. Thank you Heidi! I plan to pay it forward, I am just not sure how yet.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Caribbean Cruise-3rd Anniversary Trip



Cruise was so much fun! I didn't do real well with the ship, rocking back and forth, but I made it through and would totally do it again! It was great to get away and just be with Shaun. We stopped in Key West, Fl on the first day and just walked around and shopped a little. I got my first coach purse purchase at an outlet store. A small wristlet, but that is what I like to use anyhow. I love it! We got some cool hats to keep the sun off when we get to Cozumel!

That night was our anniversary and coincidently formal night on the ship. We dressed up, had a nice dinner and a show. It was a wonderful way to spend our 3rd anniversary. Shaun had surprised me with a rose in our room! He is so sweet!




Next day we had fun in Cozumel, Mexico. We did a sail, snorkel, beach excursion. It was a ton of fun. I had never snorkeled before so it was new to me. First in the water I couldn't breathe, but I was able to acclimate pretty quickly and had some fun. Apparently there was a big hurricane several years back that was centered right over the area and the reef was bleached. No fancy colors, but still super cool!


Then we sailed for about 20 minutes to a private beach. It was so hot and we are not really beach people. We played in the water some and layed on the beach for a while, but it wasn't long before we had to escape to the shade. This momma sure can't handle the sun for long. Plus I didn't want to get dehydrated!



The next day was an at sea day, so Shaun and I took it easy. He got a chance to go behind the scenes and take a tour of the ship. It was only open to 16 people total, so he really wanted to do it. He is a total geek and loved every second of it. His words not mine. I love my total geek! I rested while he was gone, and then in the evening watched another show. The next morning we were back at Miami, and headed home to see my baby! I sure missed him so much. I think he missed us too, but just can't quite say it yet. "Bapa" (what he calls Grandpa) said he was asking for us all day.

Sunday, May 01, 2011

Cruise Day

Cruise Day has arrived. We leave early Monday morning to Miami, to board our first ever Carnival Caribbean Cruise. We will be leaving Oliver, which I am very sad about, but I know we will have fun. I will post pics and stories when I return! Have a great week all!!
Kathleen

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Cruise Countdown

T Minus 6 days and counting...

We are taking an anniversary cruise to the Caribbean. Just two stops (Key West and Cozumel) but 4 nights. I am super excited, but a little bummed cuz we aren't taking Oliver. Grandpa ("Bapa" as Oliver calls him) is coming to watch him. I know he is in good hands, but I am gonna miss my super dude!!
Neither of us has taken a cruise before so we a really looking forward to it. We are cruising Carnival Imagination. I understand it is an older ship, but we have nothing to compare it to, so we were cool with that.
Leave Miami on Monday and return Friday. Only one more day at work for me, Saturday, then we are off!!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Official U/S

Hi All,
We had our official 20 week anatomy scan on Tuesday. I am pleased to announce our little girl is still all GIRL!!
We couldn't be happier. She is 11oz and measuring right along with the due date of Aug 30th. All finger, toes, etc. checked out. She is perfect and we can't wait to meet her.
Oliver seems to get it more and more each day, but he is only 21 months, so I know that he doesn't get it fully. (Of course!). He does point to my belly and say baby...of course he still sometimes points to his belly or my chest too, but mostly my belly.
He is getting so big and so smart. He knows most all his body parts and his vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds daily. He can say so many things and points to things and knows what they are. Some things I didn't even know he knew. He saw an owl in a book the other day and knew what it was. Weird, an owl of all things. I am so proud of him.

Monday, March 28, 2011

I am humbled

I am pleasantly surprised by the fact that I still have readers. Thank you! I will try to keep posting, but I am bad at it.
I have my 20 week anatomy scan on Apr 12th and am scared to death they are going to tell me that my little girl is now a boy. I know the lady that did my scan was 100% sure and I could even tell it was a girl, but I still have this gut feeling that my dream isn't going to come true.
We have fallen in love with our little girl. we have named her (although I am not announcing it on the internet, just in case we decide to change it-I doubt it though since I have already ordered 2 personalized items with her name on it). I will be devastated because although I will love another boy, I have gotten used to the idea that my little miracle is a girl. I will keep you all updated in two weeks on that note.
On another note, I am in New Orleans (pronounce N'awlans) this week. Shaun had a medical conference and since I needed to be off work anyway, I thought I would tag along. It is a great little city. I just wish my belly thought so too. Two meals, and twice my belly has not agreed with it. I am hoping it will pass since the food is good. Shaun pretty much gets after 5pm off, so Oliver and I do a few things then we all go out in the evening. The weather is great. High 70's, low 80's and a slight breeze. A little humidity, but not much compared to what I am used to. Makes me more excited to go on our cruise in a month. Caribbean weather will be warmer and ready for beach and swimming. I brought my suit, but they have an outdoor pool. Mom never let us swim unless it was 80 degrees or warmer and now, I understand. 80 really isn't that warm...when you talk about swimming in the pool. I might take Oliver down to the pool anyway, just to see if it is warm water.
Sorry, rambling. Next up...trip home. I have been dying to go home. I haven't been home since Sept, and I miss my family and friends terribly. When I was home in Sept, I didn't really reach out to my friends 9except my best friend, Suzy) because I had just gone through a miscarriage, and I guess I just didn't feel up to it. I didn't realize it at the time, but looking back I am guessing that is why. Needless to say, I need my friends. I am hoping to go home before Baby M#2 arrives, but I just am not sure when I will be able to make the trip. It is super expendy and living in Maryland sucks the life and money out of you! I so cannot wait to be done.
That is all for now!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Baby Mierzwa #2 on the way...

Hello All,
I am not even sure that I still have readers. That is fine. I just want to put this somewhere, so that I can get it out. We have had quite a crazy year of getting pregnant, then losing it. In May I got pregnant, but then about a week later found out it was gone. It was hard, but I realized it was so early that I am sure that my body was taking care of things. We moved on. In July, we found out we were pregnant again and elated the kids would be about 21 months apart...my ideal. Well, we went for our 8 week ultrasound only to find the baby never grew, it was just a sac. So I needed to have a D&C, that was Aug 30th. It took me a few months to heal-both emotionally and physically. My body needed time to heal and get ready, cuz in December we found out we are expecting, yet again. This time, I am reluctant to be happy. At least until I know there is a heartbeat. Well, in January we got our wish and we had a heartbeat. Now, I am excited. Wishing, wondering, hoping. Well I am now 16 and a half weeks along and baby is perfectly healthy so far with a strong heartbeat. I even bought a Doppler so I can listen to the heartbeat anytime that I want. And I do, probably 3-4 times per week. It is so calming and reassuring that I have a little miracle growing inside of me.
On St. Patrick's Day we decided to schedule an extra 3d/4d ultrasound and found out we are expecting our first daughter. She asked if I could tell what it was before she told us. I was hoping for a girl, but preparing myself for another boy. I said "boy?", she said, nope it's a little girl. I was shocked. "Really?, you said girl? I am having a girl?". I can't believe it. We wanted a girl so bad, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. I still have a small percent of me thinking that when I go in for our 20 week anatomy scan, that they will tell me my girl is now a boy and my dream will be crushed. But she said she hasn't been wrong in years and she checked multiple times throughout the ultrasound and at different angles, and she was 100% sure it was all girl!
We have thought about some names and have a few top runners. But, just like with Oliver, we will have a few picked out and constantly change 1 or 2 here and there, but eventually one will stand out and it will be for sure the name. Oliver and his little sister will be about 25 months apart and will be sharing a room. We only have 1 and a half more years left in MD, so we are just gonna stick it out in this 2bdr condo until we move.
Oliver is of course too young to understand, but we talk about his little sister all the time. I am hoping by the time she comes (due Aug 3o, 2011 by the way) he will get it, sort of.
So that is my great news that I just had to share.
Other than that...Shaun and I are doing great. Celebrating 3 year anniversary in May and taking a short 4 day Caribbean Cruise. Shaun is almost done with school and the ARMY. When he is done we are moving back to WA and never looking back. We, especially me, HATE Maryland and can't wait to get out.
Oliver is great too. He is 20 months and growing like a weed. He is so smart and learns things that I have no clue where they came from. He is 3 feet tall and only 28lbs, but just keeps growing. I bet he will be 6'4" by the time he stops growing. Wow! I can't believe my baby is almost 2 years old. Time sure flies by!