One year!

December 8th marked the one-year anniversary of living in our house! Wow, this year has flown by! We've accomplished a lot of projects in the first year, but we still have a growing list. We know this home is not going to be our forever home, but it is going to hold so many memories as our first home together.

Here are the biggest projects we've accomplished so far:
- Installed blinds on most of the windows and privacy paint on the front door
- Installed a master closet
- Added a poured concrete patio in the back yard
- Painted the interior of the house (80% complete, still the guest room and living room to complete)
- Add a utility sink in the basement (Thanks, Mom & Dad!)
- Build a workbench in the basement
- Installed new lighting in the kitchen, dining room and bedroom.

Here are a list of projects we still hope to accomplish in the next year:
- Add a gas insert to the fireplace (gas company is suppose to install the line in the next couple weeks!)
- Change out the vanity in the master bath for a double vanity
- Paint the guest room and living room
- Install more cabinetry in the kitchen (including a wine fridge, microwave and slide out garbage can)
- Switch out the over-the-stove microwave for a vent hood

I'm sure the list is going to get much longer, but hopefully most of the improvements we make will add value to our home. There are a couple houses down the street that have sold pretty quickly so we are hoping when the day comes to move, we will have luck as well.

Christmas Lights

Last week, Glenn helped me haul the boxes of Christmas decorations out of the basement! I love this time of year and I can't believe Christmas is only a couple weeks away!

I found a stocking that matches Glenn and mine on sale this year so I bought it and it hangs nameless this year. Can't wait for next Christmas!

Congrats Paul & Nancy!

In early November, we headed up to Annapolis to the wedding of our friends, Paul and Nancy. It was a beautiful event and SO SO much fun to catch up with all of our Japan friends that are spreadout over the east coast (and further).

The Naval Academy chapel is beautiful!

I guess when you get married over Veteran's day weekend (3 day weekend for Navy guys) and at the Naval Academy, you have enough sailors to do a sword arch. Not gonna lie, I was a bit jealous. We weren't able to do one at our wedding in Minnesota. Love the pictures though!

Japan reunion! Gizelle rode up with Glenn and I and the Rohrings drove up from Patuxent River, MD!

The beautiful bride!

Somehow, I managed to squeeze in to the same dress that I wore for Emily's wedding a year before! Although, it fits me slightly different now and boy was I happy to take it off at the end of the night!

We spent a lot of time catching up with our friends (and new baby friends) at the reception.

What a fun time! Congrats Paul and Nancy! Enjoy your honeymoon in a few weeks!

Ahoy! It's still a boy.

Where did November go? Seriously, I cannot believe there are only 6.5 more weeks left in this pregnancy. I do NOT feel prepared and with all the holiday festivities, there is just so much going on. I am glad we are not traveling for Christmas this year, but hosting requires just as much work I feel sometimes. At least my baby daddy is calm and organized because I am not feeling that way.

So...I am long over due to post a wonderful thank you to my sister-in-law for hosting a beautiful baby shower in my honor in October. In the words of my father, "she is a hostess with the mostest" and it was a wonderful laid back occasion. I got to catch up with some of my favorite people and that was what was most important to me.

My best friend, Emily and I who had her little guy just a few days ago. Our due dates are about 7 weeks apart. Can't wait til our little guys get to meet!

Grandma and the baby daddy. I don't think I have a picture, but Cheryl bought tiny cowboy boots. Wowzers are they cute. I see a photo shoot session in the future.

All the lovely ladies. Thank you so much!

Sarah drove up from Iowa and Ali flew in from California. I have amazing friends! Thanks for color coordinating with the affair as well. :) Miss you all!

And since Jen is so amazing at all the details

Glenn was a peanut when he was born and I was a chunker. I'm hoping we end up with a baby somewhere in between!

Thank you, Jen for opening your home and organizing such a beautiful event. It was the best!

Happy Birthday Adam!

Happy Birthday to my big brother, Adam! Adam is 35 this year! Wow, how did we all get so old?

Interestingly enough, me and my two siblings all married an individual younger than ourselves. Which makes it easy to remember everyone's age. Adam is 35, Laura 34 (or will be in a couple weeks), Dave 33 (skip a year) Jen 31, I am 30 and Glenn is 29!

I hope you had a wonderful birthday! I hope we see you soon! Glenn and I can't wait for you to come visit your nephew next spring/summer.

Bellyography

 

Weeks 29-32! During week 29 I painted the baby's room. It is coming along, but I still feel like there is a ton to do! Nothing a trip to IKEA can't fix.

 

 Glenn was gone this week so I had to get creative and I turned 30 a few weeks before.

We were in Mexico for Thanksgiving. More of those pictures coming soon.

Another picture from our photoshoot on Sunday. I brought a couple wooden numbers that I bought at Michael's and spray painted since I didn't know where we would be taking pictures. I think it turned out pretty cute.

Only a couple more bellyography series and the baby will be here. Craziness.

Family Photos

Last weekend, Glenn and I got family/maternity pictures taken. I'm really happy with how a few of them turned out! You'll have to wait for our Christmas cards to see a few more, but here is one of my favorites. I think I'm going to order a canvas print of this one to hang in the baby's room.

Congrats Emily & Chris!

I woke up this morning and found a text on my phone of this handsome guy!

My best friend, Emily, and her husband, Chris welcomed Jack Michael Peterson at 10:51 pm. He was 7 lb 11 oz. he looks just perfect and I can't wait to talk to her.

I talked to her at 2 pm EST and she said things were moving slowly, but they must have picked up quick! I was expecting a December 4th baby!

Congratulations mama! I can't wait to meet him!

Bubble Tea!

While doing a little Christmas shopping on Saturday morning, I saw someone with a drink with black tapioca in the bottom and I had to hunt it down! I haven't had a bubble tea since Japan. When Hillary and I wet to Taiwan, we had at least one, usually two a day.

It has green tea in it otherwise I probably would have gotten a second. Next time I'm shopping though, I'm starting there!

Last one!

I'm almost done pinning the last stripe! Yes, I started this project in March, but I'm almost done. I'm just happy I finished long before we plan on moving again.

Bending over while sitting on the floor is getting more and more difficult so I'm glad this part is over. Just a few hours of sewing and this project will be done.

Only a hundred more on the list to finish before January...