It's been awhile...
I just realized that I haven’t updated this thing since 2008...and that the past two years of my life have been the busiest, craziest, most change-filled years I’ve ever had. Since I don’t feel like starting my autobiography (yet), here’s the rundown:
October 31, 2008: Last LJ entry
M and I had just returned from Mexico, where we traveled for his sister’s wedding. The most clear memory I have of that trip was wandering all over the town of Sayulita with Michael. At one point, he was holding my hand and talked about how much he wanted to marry me. He’d said something like it before, but only ever in bed. This time it was out in the bright clear sunshine, outside of the throes of passion. It was a hint of things to come.
March 6, 2009: One year anniversary
At this point we were already living together (since June of 2008), but it was our official one -year marker.
April 30, 2009: Engagement
He asked me to marry him at Longwood Gardens, with my great-grandmother’s engagement ring.
June 30, 2009: The house
We closed the deal on our house, a little Victorian house build in 1860 in Bellefonte. It’s a bit run-down, but we’ve worked hard for the past year and have crafted what even my OCD mother considers a “lovely home”
December 29, 2009: Marriage
We walked across the street to the courthouse and, in front of our 30 closest friends and relatives, were married by Judge Pam Ruest (who also did the adoption for my mother and I)!
December 30, 2009 - January 7, 2010: Honeymoon
We went to Tucson, Arizona and had the perfect time together. The resort (the Westward Look Resort) was absolutely amazing, from the comfortable bed to the peanut-butter-crunch french toast, the balcony overlooking the desert sunrise...I suppose the highlights were New Years Eve, which we spent in the hot tub located about ten yards from our door sipping champagne and watching fireworks go off directly overhead, or our hike in Pima Canyon. We also scrabbled our way up an un-trailed part of Mt. Lemmon, to bask in the sunlight and enjoy our hiking prowess. Mostly I love the freedom and independence of it - we did what we wanted, when we wanted to do it, with no responsibility to any one but ourselves. It was perfect! The weather was about 70 degrees for the entire trip, so, perfect!
Sunday April 11th 2010 - Baby!
According to the “conception calculator” based on our due date (given to us by Geisinger), this is the day that our little one was conceived. We didn’t know about it yet though :)
May 9, 2010 (Mother’s Day) - Baby!
This was the day I had a positive home pregnancy test. I was quite honestly terrified and upset. It took about three days for my emotions to get back to normal, but once they did I realized how blissfully happy I am to be pregnant with Michael’s child :)
May 10, 2010: Baby!
Our first ultrasound! Ironically, I’d scheduled an appointment with OB/Gyn for this date to discuss switching birth control methods. I wanted an IUD, but since I was pregnant we did an ultrasound to confirm it instead :)
June 13-21: Backpacking
A heavenly eight days without phones, email, electricity, or running water. As part of an “Adventure Literature” course with PSU, Michael and I got to backpack in the Dolly Sods wilderness area of West Virginia for a full week. I had a bit of trouble with feeling off from the pregnancy, but my husband shouldered a 60lb pack so I didn’t have to carry much weight, and I think that together we had the trip of a lifetime. Even when we were frustrated with other classmates, or the pace of the hikes, we had each other to turn to.
July, 2010: Graduation
I’m done! After the backpacking course was applied retroactively to my Spring semester, I finally graduated. After six excruciatingly long years, I got my diploma. And believe it or not, I now feel a bit wistful for school...Mike is taking classes, and I find myself longing to go with him, to learn more and to sit under a huge elm tree reading philosophy books this fall. Working is important, but so is expanding my mind. I’m still struggling to find a balance between my job (which supplies our mortgage and our health insurance) and my dreams (which involve books and spending most of my hours outside).
August 27, 2010: Today
So, I’m 21 weeks pregnant (22 weeks on Sunday), and due on January 1st, 2011. According to the Bradley instructor (who cited a few Harvard studies), most first-time pregnancies actually go one week and one day past the ‘due date’ that is usually put at precisely 40 weeks. That puts us at January 9th, which is...drumroll please...Jimmy Page’s birthday! James Patrick Acquaviva sounds like a perfect name to me :)
Alright, now that I’ve spend so much time updating the world (or the two people who may read this) on the past two years, I’ve lost the inspiration to actually write about what I’d intended to write about. Hopefully I won’t wait until two years from now to revisit this! I’m planning to write this afternoon or tonight, since I won’t have time this weekend...(more on that later).
October 31, 2008: Last LJ entry
M and I had just returned from Mexico, where we traveled for his sister’s wedding. The most clear memory I have of that trip was wandering all over the town of Sayulita with Michael. At one point, he was holding my hand and talked about how much he wanted to marry me. He’d said something like it before, but only ever in bed. This time it was out in the bright clear sunshine, outside of the throes of passion. It was a hint of things to come.
March 6, 2009: One year anniversary
At this point we were already living together (since June of 2008), but it was our official one -year marker.
April 30, 2009: Engagement
He asked me to marry him at Longwood Gardens, with my great-grandmother’s engagement ring.
June 30, 2009: The house
We closed the deal on our house, a little Victorian house build in 1860 in Bellefonte. It’s a bit run-down, but we’ve worked hard for the past year and have crafted what even my OCD mother considers a “lovely home”
December 29, 2009: Marriage
We walked across the street to the courthouse and, in front of our 30 closest friends and relatives, were married by Judge Pam Ruest (who also did the adoption for my mother and I)!
December 30, 2009 - January 7, 2010: Honeymoon
We went to Tucson, Arizona and had the perfect time together. The resort (the Westward Look Resort) was absolutely amazing, from the comfortable bed to the peanut-butter-crunch french toast, the balcony overlooking the desert sunrise...I suppose the highlights were New Years Eve, which we spent in the hot tub located about ten yards from our door sipping champagne and watching fireworks go off directly overhead, or our hike in Pima Canyon. We also scrabbled our way up an un-trailed part of Mt. Lemmon, to bask in the sunlight and enjoy our hiking prowess. Mostly I love the freedom and independence of it - we did what we wanted, when we wanted to do it, with no responsibility to any one but ourselves. It was perfect! The weather was about 70 degrees for the entire trip, so, perfect!
Sunday April 11th 2010 - Baby!
According to the “conception calculator” based on our due date (given to us by Geisinger), this is the day that our little one was conceived. We didn’t know about it yet though :)
May 9, 2010 (Mother’s Day) - Baby!
This was the day I had a positive home pregnancy test. I was quite honestly terrified and upset. It took about three days for my emotions to get back to normal, but once they did I realized how blissfully happy I am to be pregnant with Michael’s child :)
May 10, 2010: Baby!
Our first ultrasound! Ironically, I’d scheduled an appointment with OB/Gyn for this date to discuss switching birth control methods. I wanted an IUD, but since I was pregnant we did an ultrasound to confirm it instead :)
June 13-21: Backpacking
A heavenly eight days without phones, email, electricity, or running water. As part of an “Adventure Literature” course with PSU, Michael and I got to backpack in the Dolly Sods wilderness area of West Virginia for a full week. I had a bit of trouble with feeling off from the pregnancy, but my husband shouldered a 60lb pack so I didn’t have to carry much weight, and I think that together we had the trip of a lifetime. Even when we were frustrated with other classmates, or the pace of the hikes, we had each other to turn to.
July, 2010: Graduation
I’m done! After the backpacking course was applied retroactively to my Spring semester, I finally graduated. After six excruciatingly long years, I got my diploma. And believe it or not, I now feel a bit wistful for school...Mike is taking classes, and I find myself longing to go with him, to learn more and to sit under a huge elm tree reading philosophy books this fall. Working is important, but so is expanding my mind. I’m still struggling to find a balance between my job (which supplies our mortgage and our health insurance) and my dreams (which involve books and spending most of my hours outside).
August 27, 2010: Today
So, I’m 21 weeks pregnant (22 weeks on Sunday), and due on January 1st, 2011. According to the Bradley instructor (who cited a few Harvard studies), most first-time pregnancies actually go one week and one day past the ‘due date’ that is usually put at precisely 40 weeks. That puts us at January 9th, which is...drumroll please...Jimmy Page’s birthday! James Patrick Acquaviva sounds like a perfect name to me :)
Alright, now that I’ve spend so much time updating the world (or the two people who may read this) on the past two years, I’ve lost the inspiration to actually write about what I’d intended to write about. Hopefully I won’t wait until two years from now to revisit this! I’m planning to write this afternoon or tonight, since I won’t have time this weekend...(more on that later).