Running from the Law

Monday, November 21, 2011

An Announcement

Ok friends, I feel like it’s finally time to let you in on a little secret.  I’m pregnant.  I’m about 15 weeks and due mid-May.  Baby Mac is healthy and active and has a serious taco addiction.  I’m doing great have never been happier.


You know, I’ve been dreaming of writing this post for nearly three years.  And now that it’s finally time that I can shout those incredible words from the rooftops, I find that it’s not that easy to do.  Don’t get me wrong, this is the most incredible thing that has ever happened to me, but, it took us a long time to get here.  Years filled with pain, heartache, longing, loss, doubt and tears.  And sometimes it’s hard to get past that.  The pregnancy is the greatest news in the world to my husband and I (and believe me, we're celebrating), but I also know how it felt every time I heard this news from someone else.  It was devastating, even if I absolutely loved the person, it hurt every time.  It was so hard for me to be happy for anyone when I wanted it for myself so badly.  So, it’s taken me a while to put our news out there because I want to be sensitive to everyone else still waiting for their little miracle.  I would never want my news to cause anyone else pain or heartache.

That being said, I'm not sure how I would have made it through this past year and everything that happened during it if it weren't for some of the wonderful friends I’ve “met” through this blog.  This blog started off as a way for me to document training for my first marathon and has evolved into something that gave me a support system of friends all over the country.  Strong women who are also struggling daily with infertility and dreaming of one day holding their own baby in their arms.   Some of them are blogging about it (kudos) and some of them have kept their struggles private.  Somehow we found each other.  We all have our own very individual, unique issues, and having these strong determined women in my life has kept me sane and kept me believing (and even laughing) along the way. I won’t call you guys out, but you know who you are, and I hope you know how much I love and appreciate you.  I never felt brave enough to come right out and talk about my struggles on my blog, but someday I hope I can.  I think it would help others, even if it’s just by letting them know that they’re not alone.  Because one thing I’ve realized is that we definitely aren’t alone.  There are so many young women struggling with infertility.  It’s a very lonely and isolating experience and I’m grateful to know that I wasn’t the only one dealing with this.  And while I wish my friends didn't have these problems, I am selfishly glad I know people who get it.  Everyone says it and it's true: You don't get it unless you've been there.  And I have been there.  And hopefully I can be there for someone else.

Dealing with infertility has forever changed me – for the better, I think.  I believe it’s made me more appreciative, more humble, more empathetic, more devout.  I’ve learned a lot of lessons in faith and trusting and being patient.  It's brought me closer to my husband in a way I never knew was possible and strengthened our relationship, our trust in each other and our love.  And I’ve had the chance to share this journey with some amazing friends who will forever be in my heart and my prayers.  And in the end, I hope it will make me a better mother, because really, that’s the ultimate goal.

So for now, I just want you to know that I’m good…really really good.  Great!  This has already been the most incredible experience of my life and I’ve loved every single second of it.   I do plan on blogging about my pregnancy – it’s the highlight of my life and I am so excited to be able to share things with friends and family about my pregnancy, the baby, the bump, the nursery, etc.  This blog is about my life and my life now revolves around a tiny little thumb-sucking peach-sized miracle.   I hope you’ll stick around and share the journey with me, but I also understand that I may lose a few readers along the way that aren’t into all things baby or just can’t handle another pregnancy announcement (believe me, I’ve deleted many a blog from my Google Reader the second someone announced she was pregnant…I understand).  So there you have it, friends.  Thanks for being along for the ride.  It’s going to be a fun one!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Congrats, Vegas Style

Congratulations to my friends Kirsten & Jewell on getting hitched!  


It was one hell of a party!  
Thank you so much for letting me be a part of the magic!
More photos to come...once I have a week to sleep it off!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

A Mighty Post

1.  I might have a slight taco problem.  I've had tacos for lunch nearly every day for almost 2 weeks now.  I might need an intervention.

2. I might have purchased these boots during Sak's Friends and Family Sale last weekend.  I might be seriously disappointed that it's not negative 40 degrees outside so I can wear them.



3.  I might have completely stopped editing Italy pictures because I'm so overwhelmed by how many photos I took.  I might be almost half-way through them, which means I might only have about 900 more to go.


4.  I might have ordered a gold sequin sparkle mini dress for my friend Kirsten's upcoming Vegas wedding next weekend.  Las Vegas might need to watch out!

5.  I might be planning a super awesome girls weekend birthday trip to NYC with this girl in December.  Our weekend might include seeing four Broadway shows (one with Hugh Jackman and one with Harry Connick, Jr.), serious amounts of shopping and eating ourselves absolutely silly.  I might have to wear that gold dress to catch Harry's eye.


6. I might have upset my husband when I put his "badass hunting dog" in a pretty pink tutu and tiara.  So, I might have had to buy the dogs a second round of Halloween costumes that were "tougher."  This might be a stretch.

Mally might hate me.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween

Dear friends,
The pretty pretty princess...
...and the grumpy evil witch...
...would like to wish you all...

...a very Happy Halloween!  

Hoping your evening is filled with costumes, candy and creepiness! 

Bwaaahaahaahahaahahaaha!!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Alex's Baptism

 You guys, I'm so excited to share these photos with you today.  A few weeks ago, Ryan and I headed up to Chicago for the baptism of this little lady, our niece and goddaughter, Alexandra.  Is she not the cutest thing you've ever seen?


Being the photo snob that I am, I knew that my photos (and Ryan's iPhone pictures) were not going to cut it for such a special occasion, so we hired a real professional photographer for the task.  The adorable and talented Anni of Anni Cee Photographie did a fabulous job of capturing the spirit and love of the day. 

 Alex, of course, being the focus of everyone's attention completely stole the show.  I think Anni did a great job getting photos that really captured how much this little girl is loved and adored by her parents, her godparents and her grandparents.  
 Alex was dressed to the nines in a beautiful white baptismal gown, with a pink flower headband.
I could not get enough of this child.
I completely hogged her and wanted to take her home and keep her for myself.
Thank you Anni for getting these photos of me with Alex.  
The bad part about always being the one that takes pictures is that I never have any photos of myself.
These photos mean so much to me.
This one is my favorite.
Even though Alex looks supremely bored with me.
It only takes a bit of tossing her around to get a big smile.

Or just hand her off to Uncle Ryan, who she always smiles for.
Back to me, back to yawning.  
I have got to work on this.
We spent some time before the baptism getting photos of everyone with the baby.
This was really important to me because it was the first time both families were there with Alex together.
She spent some quality time bonding with Grandma Bonnie.
And took some adorable photos with Grandpa Louis and Grandma Rose. 
And we got some group photos.
Dad's side of the family.
And mom's side of the family.
And then it was time for the magic to happen.  
Absolution of original sin.
Alex was such a trooper through the whole ceremony.
She didn't cry or whine or anything.
She was actually making funny noises and faces and cracking us all up.

And then it was our turn.
Time to get serious.
Ryan lit the baptismal candle.
And I had the pleasure of holding Alex while the priest poured the water on her head.
Of course, I was terrified I was going to drop her in the pool.
But we both made it through unscathed.
She made the most hilarious horror-stricken face of panic when she felt the water.
But then she was totally fine.  Like nothing happened.
All smiles again.

We took a few more pictures with Alex in the church.






After the baptism, we all headed to one of Justin & Christine's favorite restaurants for lunch.
They had a great outdoor patio where we could all get a few more pictures with Alex.
You can never have too many pictures.





See, she loves Ryan!
One last photo of the whole gang.
Thank you Anni for capturing such a special day for our family.  The photos are fantastic!
And thank you Justin & Christine for giving us the incredible honor of being Alex's godparents.
This is one very loved little girl.


* All photos by Anni Cee Photographie