Friday Happenings in December

This week has been jam packed with all sorts of activities and commitments and I don't see it slowing down until after Christmas...but you know what that is what this season is all about - making memories and living life to its fullest (however you see fit).

It's no secret that getting pregnant has been anything but easy for the two of us.  So this past September I took matters into my own hands and made an appointment to discuss IVF and our potential timeline.  I went into the appointment knowing full well that we weren't going to waste time, money and emotions on all the soft less invasive steps - we were going full bore IVF and that was that.  Thankfully my new doctor was on board (given my history) and helped me move things right along...in the very timeline I was hopeful for!  Not only that but my body responded appropriately and at our Egg Retrieval in October we managed to fertilize all 6 mature eggs!!  We transferred 1 embryo on November 1st and on December 1st we got to see it's sweet little heartbeat in the ultrasound!!! So I am so happy to share (the short version) of our IVF success!!  We are expecting our Third child (first uterine pregnancy) to make their arrival in July 2018!  While we are over the moon excited I cannot deny that our excitement is laced with nerves and concern that this pregnancy lasts for the long haul!!

On Wednesday, Thomas and I celebrated our 11th Engagementiversary by watching White Christmas (in the early afternoon...so we could both stay awake to watch the entirety because the last three years one of us has fallen asleep mid movie).  I still remember the day he proposed, I had just gotten home from College the day before for Winter Break and we were getting all set to go see White Christmas at the 5th Ave theatre with our parents.  Before we left he got down on one knee and said a bunch of stuff including "will you marry me?" to which I replied "Yeah, I guess" probably not the affectionate answer he was hoping for 😉. Once I got my bearing a properly accepted his proposal and here we are 11 years later, 9 years into marriage, and 2 daughters and a baby on the way later.

I finally reached my goal weight (and surpassed it by 3.5lbs!) that I set for myself back when we were getting married (9 years ago) this past October!!  I honestly didn't know that it was possible nor that my thighs had the potential to get this thin!!  Ellie has been super obsessed with getting married lately and spotted my wedding dress (that still hasn't been cleaned...) in our closet and insisted I put it on.  I can't believe that 9 years later I look better in it than the day I got married.  But I'll tell you what, this picture is made so much sweeter because I have my two best girls at my ankles!!  And I managed to achieve this just in time to get pregnant and gain all the weight back plus some 😝.

I have my annual Christmas Party scheduled for this weekend and I am so excited for is...I've gotten a lot of RSVPs so hopefully I get my act together and am able to pull off a great party despite the pure exhaustion I've been experiencing lately.  Honestly though I'm trying to keep our decor to a minimum because I just don't want all the "stuff" anymore not to mention how much I despise putting it all away once Christmas and Epiphany are over!

Well that's all the energy I can muster between 5am wakeups for medications, 5:15am wakeups of the girls (yes we all start our days very early), a wild tantruming toddler, and a preschooler who won't stop asking questions!!  Have a fabulous weekend and I'll share more pregnancy details back here on Monday!!

♥ Ashley