European vacation

Another weekend at home with Ted and Elle....before Ted's European vacation and extended work travel that is approaching very soon. I'm so happy for Ted that he gets to see Europe again with our friens that we had visited in 09 (so jealous too!). He will land in Paris (aaahhhhh the most amazing city...)and they will drive to Amsterdam, spend a few days there and then head to Belgium....his mission there is to get me chocolate (yeah right, well my mission then....and to take pictures....I'll be lucky if I get two). The chocolate shops there are suppose to be amazing and the scenery looks so beautiful. Our friend Carolyn thinks it may just be her favorite European city aside from Paris. After a day or two in Belgium they will head back to Paris to spend the evening before he departs the following day. LUCKY GUY! I even think my girlfriend is trying to do some shopping for Ted since he won't have too much time in Paris. That makes me excited. We have been blessed for how much travel we have been able to do since we've gotten married and even after our first child. No matter what has come our way and the pain we still feel without my parents and being on our own accepting our new life, I am so impressed with our love to travel, our dedication to experience new things, and to spend time with our friends. No matter how far they are....

We celebrated an early Valentines day dinner with an overpriced heart shaped pizza and cookie shipped from Chicago, took Elle to the aquarium with our friends on Saturday and then later that evening had a friend over (drinks for them, ice cream for me)....Sunday we went to the gym as a Family, had a nice workout, and then decided to just watch the Superbowl with our family of three. Ted made some festive homemade food....potato skins, buffalo chicken sandwiches with real blue cheese and all.....I wasn't that interested in the teams playing this year and we didn't make any plans with anybody or decide to host a gathering. It was a nice day though to be together around the house. Went out shopping for a little while and I cannot stop buying all things blue. While the girl clothes are SO cute and honestly a zillion options, I am liking the challenge in picking threw to find the cutest unique things. I'm much more picky about boy clothes. I don't why, I don't particularly like the typical baby boy clothes but I am finding some fun things and we received our first gift for the little guy which was SO sweet- some adorable little gowns and onesies....

We haven't started the baby room yet but I have narrowed down the bedding and furniture and thoughts for color. We are definitely doing Navy as the base of the room. Then I worry about guest rooms....I want friends and family to still be able to stay here. Sure there are hotels but would love to at least have options for 2 families to be here at the same time. So that and the baby's room will be our focus mid March once Ted's extensive travels are over and after the anxiety of facing my brother has become a reality. I am going to see him in March...still working through the details...I cannot believe three years is almost here. It just doesn't seem right that I haven't seen my family in almost three years and now I am almost a Mom of two. Life is crazy.....

I am worried about when Ted is away. Even when he is here and my family is together, I still feel lonely at times. While I have so many friends I could call, I miss calling my Mom and miss having someone call to check up on ME and my new family. I feel like a kid still at times....not wanting to accept that I am grown up now, a parent, living my own life-a really good one in fact, despite of all this.

I still am fighting that I want to be my Mom and Dad's daughter. I really miss being a daughter.....I am thankful to be able to say I am still a granddaughter and good news, my Grandpa is hopefully stopping in Cincinnati on his way to FL this month. Crossing my fingers....I can't wait.