I'm Baaaack!

That's right...I'm back to blog. It's been an amazing but bumpy 7 months since my last post. I am now a wife, a home owner and a mommy! Crazy, right? Just about every life changing event possible all smashed into a few short months.

First, my wedding on August 1st 2010. I married my best friend and confidante on a beach in Orange County surrounded by 160 of our closest friends and family members. It was a LONG day (not to mention I was 5 months pregnant which made it even more exhausting) but perfect in every way - unless you count the caterers who were over an hour late! Oh well, you roll with the punches, right? Yeah, not me - I turned into Bridezilla (but that's a whole 'nother post).

Then, on November 18th 2010 we closed escrow on our first home (a week before my due date!). My husband thinks that we overpaid but I LOVE this house. There's just something about it that is very comfortable to me. It's going to be a great place to raise our family.

Finally, my favorite day - Thursday, December 2nd 2010 at 6:33 pm Marley Adele came into the world at 8 lbs 13 ozs and 20" long. Honestly, I never realized what an amazing thing being a mother would be until she was born. I'm sure this blog will cover every little milestone in her life so here she is:

July 4th 2010

Mitchy and I went to our favorite family's house for 4th of July...THE SWAN'S

(our home away from home)

Every year, the 4th of July marks the first day Mitchy and I started "talking." It's not TECHNICALLY our anniversary but it's still something worth celebrating... even if only in the book of our lives.

So that night, our dear friends Bo and Elisa surprised us with an early wedding shower gift.

Not just any gift...quite possibly the most amazing gift ever!

Bo built this by hand in one day! Talk about talent!

AND THE FINISHED PRODUCT!

I've wanted this shelving unit since the first time I saw it in a little Rockabilly boutique 5-6 years ago.

I'm trying to convice Mitchy that it will be perfect in Marley's nursery (sugar skulls and day of the dead themed)

He's a little creeped out by it but I'll keep trying...I usually get my way

It's a girl!

...and we're naming her Marley Adelle Gramata
(MAG are her Daddy's initials)

So, this is pretty much what I think about ALL day long

Oh, and dreading the teenage years (Sorry, Mom!)

P.S. They say that the Ancient Chinese Gender Prediction Calendar is 99% accurate.

I'm the 1%

Big Week

Exciting week for Mitchy and I...

Wedding invitations were mailed (finally!)

Gender Determination ultrasound tomorrow...Pretty positive it's a girl

County Recorder's office on Friday to apply for our marriage license

A bizzilion (OK, three) carshows

Mitchy's first Father's (to be) Day

I get by with a little help from my friends...

I listen to Kevin & Bean on KROQ on my morning commute to work. Yesterday, Ralph from the show re-touched upon a story from 18 months ago where he and his wife witnessed a horrific hit and run pedestrian accident. A mother and daughter walking their 2 dogs were struck while crossing the street. The driver never slowed down and has not been apprehended to date. Anabelle, the mother and her daughter had extensive bone and nerve damage and one of their dogs was killed instantly.



Due to the accident, Anabelle, a single mother, has lost her home, her job and has accumulated thousands of dollars in hospital bills. Her bones have still not healed and she is confined to a wheelchair. KROQ is asking their listeners for any type of help possible for this family whether it's monitary or legal advice or in prayer. They will also be holding fundraisers over the next few months to help any way possible. I've attached the link below so you can read more about Anabelle's situation. There is also a paypal link for donations.



This story has really affected me. This could have been anyone of my loved ones. This could have been me. I sat in my car with tears running down my cheeks. It's so easy to forget that there is always someone out there who is dealing with more than you are. This morning I donated what I could and plan on continuing the donations as long as possible...even while planning a wedding...and expecting a baby. There are just some things in life that are bigger than you. I wanted to pass along this story to you, Friends. Please continue passing it along on your blogs and Facebook...every little bit of awareness helps!

http://kroq.radio.com/2010/05/26/please-help-a-true-victim/

Funny Little Memories

When you're in a relationship with someone for 6 years, of course over time you develop millions of funny little memories. This one funny little memory in particular is one of my favorites and popped into my head recently so I've decided to share it with you.

First, let me say that Mitchy is a sleep talker/walker/mumbler. It doesn't happen every night or if it does I'm too dead asleep to notice. It was a Saturday night early in our budding relationship. I'm sure it was after a late night of cheap beer and drinking games since that's just what we did on a Saturday night.

So, there I was perfectly happy in my drunken dreamland when suddenly Mitchy sits straight up in bed, eyes closed, points at a corner of the room and mumbles "MRJGGRMM MRGRM."

This wakes me up and I look around the room and ask "What, Babe? What did you say?"

"MMRMRMR MGGSRMM!!!" He says a little louder and points to the corner of the room with annoyance.

"What?? I think you're dreaming, Babe, go to sleep." Laughing to myself.

So then, I kid you not...clear...as...day...Mitchy, fully frustrated with my lack of understanding yells, "ARE YOU F&@$ING STUPID?! I SAAAAIIIID BRING THAT THING IN THE CORNER OVER HERE!!!"

Obviously, I'm not as amused as I was 20 seconds ago and say, "you better go back to sleep, A-hole."
Luckily, for both of our sakes he did.

Isn't he adorable? Stand back, Ladies...he's aaaaaallllll mine

12 weeks

Dear little turkey in my belly,

Today you have been with me for 12 weeks. I've loved you since the moment I found out about your amazing little existence. I've loved you through the nausea, exhaustion and indigestion and I promise to love you unconditionally for the rest of our lives together...and then some.

You should know that I probably won't have all of the answers to your questions and I will most likely slip up a time or two but I promise to be the best Mommy I can be and to get better at it over time. I promise to keep you safe and teach you love and share the world with you. I can't wait to experience everything all over again through your eyes...which I believe will become crystal blue like your Daddy's!

So, keep working hard in there to become strong while I work hard out here to provide the best life possible for you. I think I've found you the best Daddy ever and we can't wait to welcome you into our lives!

P.S. Being the fashionista that your Daddy is...it looks like you're going to be the best dressed baby on the playground!