tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36755970853166553542024-03-06T01:29:58.703-05:00Life in GrazCarolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.comBlogger373125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-1384895476166069982013-01-17T13:24:00.003-05:002016-11-15T12:37:21.113-05:00Auf Wiedersehen, AdieuI've gone back and forth about whether to continue blogging, and I've come to the conclusion that I ultimately just don't have the time for it right now. I've been delaying writing this post in hopes that I can come back in full force, but it's not in the cards at this time.<br />
It makes me sad because I have loved blogging: the keeping up with people, the meeting of new people and the outlet it provides. Hopefully, soon, I will be at a time and place in life that requires loads of photos and blogging, but right now I'm going to let go and enjoy these precious moments that go by all too quickly.<br />
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Thank you to all who have read and followed and stuck around! It's been fun.<br />
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And because it's never a true post without photos:</div>
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All the cousins</div>
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And all the family (on my side)</div>
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half-loving/half-jealous <strike>sister</strike> dog</div>
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slow down!</div>
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showtime</div>
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blessed.</div>
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Catch you on the flip side. :)</div>
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Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-58345617761790034212012-10-31T12:18:00.000-04:002012-10-31T12:18:37.173-04:00Mama in the Picture<div style="text-align: center;">
I read <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allison-tate/mom-pictures-with-kids_b_1926073.html" target="_blank">this great article</a> recently and even though I'm only 2 months into motherhood, it resonated with me. I only have one picture of myself with Alexander of the million I've taken of him. Usually because I'm the one behind the lens, but also because I don't think to get in the photo or I'm not 'photo ready' at that moment.</div>
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from the article:</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">"I hesitated. I avoid photographic evidence of my existence these
days. To be honest, I avoid even mirrors. When I see myself in pictures,
it makes me wince. I know I am far from alone; I know that many of my
friends also avoid the camera. It seems logical. We're sporting mama bodies and we're not as young
as we used to be. We don't always have time to blow dry our hair, apply
make-up, perhaps even bathe. The kids are so much cuter than
we are; better to just take their pictures, we think...</span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><i>...I'm everywhere in their young lives, and yet I have very few pictures of me with
them. Someday I won't be here -- and I don't know if that someday is
tomorrow or thirty or forty or fifty years from now -- but I want them
to have pictures of me. I want them to see the way I looked at them, see
how much I loved them. I am not perfect to look at and I am not perfect
to love, but I am perfectly their mother...</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><i>...When I look at pictures of my own mother, I don't look at cellulite or
hair debacles. I just see her -- her kind eyes, her open-mouthed, joyful
smile, her familiar clothes. That's the mother I remember. My mother's
body is the vessel that carries all the memories of my childhood. I
always loved that her stomach was soft, her skin freckled, her fingers
long. I didn't care that she didn't look like a model. She was my mama...</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><i>...So when all is said and done, if I can't do it for myself, I want to do
it for my kids. I want to be in the picture, to give them that visual
memory of me. I want them to see how much I am here, how my body looks
wrapped around them in a hug, how loved they are."</i></span><br />
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So, a couple of nights ago I asked Art to take our picture...in my end-of-the-day half-makeup and a T-shirt.</div>
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I'm glad I did...it's a keeper.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>(p.s. putting the 'instagram' effect on a photo seems to make you look better... or maybe I just think that?)</i></span></div>
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Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-89310471223664513732012-10-29T15:24:00.000-04:002012-10-29T15:30:25.262-04:00Fall in the 'Burgh<div style="text-align: center;">
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This was obviously last week. Glad I caught some of the fall beauty here before it was rained away to smithereens (thanks to storm Sandy.) My pictures really don't do it justice. Walking down the beautiful Beechwood Boulevard like this with my man, babe and pup does (did) my soul right. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeW50PJ5QrUazRWMeSK43cpWZJyW3ifzd3QhGLBFY5pFW4s3wtBE0u1ZY7G7R1etM-35Rq74QLT9SfsEWUv76rF7_vA-llJj0datUU0pX3nrm2dLd9mXmI1t8Yxye52HnUqKS43v9ngs/s1600/IMG_5154+copysm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeW50PJ5QrUazRWMeSK43cpWZJyW3ifzd3QhGLBFY5pFW4s3wtBE0u1ZY7G7R1etM-35Rq74QLT9SfsEWUv76rF7_vA-llJj0datUU0pX3nrm2dLd9mXmI1t8Yxye52HnUqKS43v9ngs/s1600/IMG_5154+copysm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6KUhjvf9f3_Cn8VxHWjRp6G2l9jH2lpOewr4_ugF2Yy3TPEqLqcjJo-Bv7KhsUwt-AOdMlG_vGjMwgz6nIIzaUMVTc-_LKy5v2pnilnzvlMz1Nwy2-p6zYZ-8duMozJgzMYkx95xOaU/s1600/IMG_5151sm.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeW50PJ5QrUazRWMeSK43cpWZJyW3ifzd3QhGLBFY5pFW4s3wtBE0u1ZY7G7R1etM-35Rq74QLT9SfsEWUv76rF7_vA-llJj0datUU0pX3nrm2dLd9mXmI1t8Yxye52HnUqKS43v9ngs/s1600/IMG_5154+copysm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeW50PJ5QrUazRWMeSK43cpWZJyW3ifzd3QhGLBFY5pFW4s3wtBE0u1ZY7G7R1etM-35Rq74QLT9SfsEWUv76rF7_vA-llJj0datUU0pX3nrm2dLd9mXmI1t8Yxye52HnUqKS43v9ngs/s1600/IMG_5154+copysm.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here's to hoping Sandy isn't as great as expected and there's not much damage to any city.</div>
<br />Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-81097407779482851232012-10-23T12:24:00.002-04:002012-10-24T14:13:40.810-04:002 Months / Zwei Monate !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8TUfzG29Xx821cTYVlhI9XHDE6DkoKzCxEkNYX0RlfcYYJFmoN_-CCEN16OtPkWKCzE69-yO3yDjGhBWTfQ0__FkEPuerZayHsJWMXlCi9SR9-2k5n-LrBiYXKjOWQ3t21v2O3nwoJw/s1600/1and2months2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8TUfzG29Xx821cTYVlhI9XHDE6DkoKzCxEkNYX0RlfcYYJFmoN_-CCEN16OtPkWKCzE69-yO3yDjGhBWTfQ0__FkEPuerZayHsJWMXlCi9SR9-2k5n-LrBiYXKjOWQ3t21v2O3nwoJw/s1600/1and2months2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Today's my 2-month birthday. Can you tell I'm growing?</div>
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I also do new fun things like smile.</div><br/>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx55xoNEOfuBc1wI_gfDpy_y2XfJKnq53VOb7_YarvIe0MigHTl2ZYZdejrWQ5vFeYr3fmdLPfH4wDySchN55pA-Wchss_Z46LLlEoPnJOdpIO-2-XGj-lOoYm0LxefIJp7XMVt0t1Gpc/s1600/happysm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx55xoNEOfuBc1wI_gfDpy_y2XfJKnq53VOb7_YarvIe0MigHTl2ZYZdejrWQ5vFeYr3fmdLPfH4wDySchN55pA-Wchss_Z46LLlEoPnJOdpIO-2-XGj-lOoYm0LxefIJp7XMVt0t1Gpc/s1600/happysm2.jpg" /></a><br />
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Mommy and Daddy love it. They are so easy to please, those little people.
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Signing off for now...fall is SO beautiful in Pittsburgh and I told my mama we better go enjoy it while it lasts. I'll tell her to try to get some good shots of the tree-lined streets for you peeps!</div>
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xo,</div>
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Baby A<br />
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<i>(p.s. Happy 396-month birthday to my bestie-auntie Lindsey!) </i></div>
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Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-80129038526190080562012-10-02T14:33:00.003-04:002012-10-02T15:40:47.700-04:00Update<div style="text-align: center;">
Hi. It's been awhile. Yes, part of it's taking care of Alexander, but the truth is that most of the reason for lack of posts is lack of content. I don't really have anything to blog about anymore...now that I'm back in the ole USA and well, living the regular life. A sweet life, I should say. Look at that face:</div>
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<img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoFXyUMfcgNHsoeBfOavOV6F-eWWT5ifO77VtEUwCrfyRG8_x_qqfFgWENIHWU9SYvjVOH7KrzcZSW1T4VRZ3daXNS3dBi5EZfZH1rlwejGnsmthBc4SgU1VzU4I_Ui_GMOEDCi4h5I4/s640/alexv.png" width="640" /> </div>
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At a month old.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gK0LleCjpT7l9-k3VuMrYrXmN8dZq0bD9FaLRqC2YmPnQD93pAVYllBeqd8B811Mq8SrAH2B_SsQthbIHkh3ekJ8m6fTtAswDgVv7oAgJhCD58u1BDlGxZxdci6_uHRvLgqBTutObWU/s1600/1+month.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gK0LleCjpT7l9-k3VuMrYrXmN8dZq0bD9FaLRqC2YmPnQD93pAVYllBeqd8B811Mq8SrAH2B_SsQthbIHkh3ekJ8m6fTtAswDgVv7oAgJhCD58u1BDlGxZxdci6_uHRvLgqBTutObWU/s640/1+month.png" width="640" /></a> I'm not sure if I want to continue on as a family update blog more for fam and friends or not. I have a feeling life will get busier (now it's busy, but mostly newborn busy-ness of staying at home most of the day and nursing and trying to keep up with blog designing and house keeping-together.) Not sure if I want to continue putting pics of my babe up on the internet either. </div>
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Abuela and Abuelo came to visit and we had fun.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_mVPTJeQNqsiOOk9jQvn9n4yYBjG4rB7vOY49ziVOUBOMXcHyyuh0_xX0zL94w2w2-hMquL7Z1OU469pvIh7nx34fVhqKtiMXEABd3Z5lqlgPHFQdR1S1_-uEoqcVCr4pqGEtOlwZJ4/s1600/DSC_6329.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_mVPTJeQNqsiOOk9jQvn9n4yYBjG4rB7vOY49ziVOUBOMXcHyyuh0_xX0zL94w2w2-hMquL7Z1OU469pvIh7nx34fVhqKtiMXEABd3Z5lqlgPHFQdR1S1_-uEoqcVCr4pqGEtOlwZJ4/s640/DSC_6329.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgfxpKNEy2VdqKECvovDznk2P7l34SVX0k4q32TQRQpoeCy-lUTRqdAQq0_O_aRKmKPv0c-ZJROpLBEMHpu7_1Iw5H7-H08vpk3Aj-o2xKY1jPpZ0a0VQPOj5mR26iWhJQ7QPHMibe4c/s1600/DSCN0869.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgfxpKNEy2VdqKECvovDznk2P7l34SVX0k4q32TQRQpoeCy-lUTRqdAQq0_O_aRKmKPv0c-ZJROpLBEMHpu7_1Iw5H7-H08vpk3Aj-o2xKY1jPpZ0a0VQPOj5mR26iWhJQ7QPHMibe4c/s640/DSCN0869.jpg" width="640" /></a> Always love a 3 generation photo.</div>
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Arturo, Arturo and Alejandro. :)</div>
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<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WkrCe65rIrR8QGQTAG_hcaZyDbGvEqKShk3ckNcW4MsdEGgXca7g9L-B2dIjaMoVyT30xmxEJe8Cdwgq3JdrKBEx_rGh6V1dxZV5tSbFmgYOrjZnii6140WoW_alYxSxjB6Uz2KwtbQ/s640/IMG_5042.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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Inside U of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Mm0VOL7SARlM0FRQh3Bkvhcd30FaDrgc2W7XYqP2AxprtDh580rP6oTnXZgjIgsQ1QdxdHwWUEXN5DB-FajPrwmgmTpxvmJQBVyEksW6gkyObdReDGqcWnoGwi05P2Pbx5xTi5Zd8ac/s1600/IMG_5044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Mm0VOL7SARlM0FRQh3Bkvhcd30FaDrgc2W7XYqP2AxprtDh580rP6oTnXZgjIgsQ1QdxdHwWUEXN5DB-FajPrwmgmTpxvmJQBVyEksW6gkyObdReDGqcWnoGwi05P2Pbx5xTi5Zd8ac/s640/IMG_5044.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Showing them the campus. </div>
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We went out to eat! I think easier with a sleeping newborn...will get harder in the coming months.</div>
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Elsie's mostly gotten over her jealousy, but always wants to be in the action and next to baby... my pictures often contain a furry beast in the corner:</div>
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We recently tried out the Ergo Baby Carrier - baby and Dad both love it.</div>
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It's perfect for going on little walks at night. (I could use some exercise. :) )
The trees are starting to change colors and that never gets old to a
Texan. (where we don't have this for those of you that don't know.)</div>
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He's grown so much already. I see him developing more everyday. He loves to look around, coo and gives us the best smiles. </div>
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So, life is good in this hood. this motherhood and neighborhood. :)</div>
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Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-47421528649073293342012-09-07T16:26:00.000-04:002012-09-07T16:26:20.616-04:002 Weeks<div style="text-align: center;">I fear I'll turn around and it'll be 2 years before I know it. Trying to savor this time.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hxr6FqRTnwsPSqwJhy4OFbwLfCTptvRYC1FZthvZ9Vq15EhNBW6SZjRZTIXCj1RYJsPealhtJ6rWhXBeF-U93ZZG_d1JMB07dZetxBphBjd4VH52hhrjciaaYamMBlv55WRFFGI4mNA/s1600/DSC_6135.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hxr6FqRTnwsPSqwJhy4OFbwLfCTptvRYC1FZthvZ9Vq15EhNBW6SZjRZTIXCj1RYJsPealhtJ6rWhXBeF-U93ZZG_d1JMB07dZetxBphBjd4VH52hhrjciaaYamMBlv55WRFFGI4mNA/s640/DSC_6135.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">with his Pops and Mimi</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfeNTCDENG2_GC4o20EMQ9Aoo81vNEUwsTUrGN4I__VXyRrj9gTIwHXp5NIC9u5oqYFCgqXrCUPbgYNejPOM1lxbs1UwC4kgAAwwZXu7GyrE8jwYqsRWDOeFXoS3lPXv6vncypLZDQKc/s1600/DSC_6197sm70s.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfeNTCDENG2_GC4o20EMQ9Aoo81vNEUwsTUrGN4I__VXyRrj9gTIwHXp5NIC9u5oqYFCgqXrCUPbgYNejPOM1lxbs1UwC4kgAAwwZXu7GyrE8jwYqsRWDOeFXoS3lPXv6vncypLZDQKc/s640/DSC_6197sm70s.png" width="425" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">These booties are cuties!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W8nbccezla5ctjcYbCE42i92ho35lH7YPSZr0uhKYEMDu1GlDrHDROjhFwthxp56hL92sn38JMZY6FMXldUuakx2fQ-kFd5OZr40WDRqKznD0HrcHeZlCp9804WRkqdVeJyhWDYLBDY/s1600/loungersm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W8nbccezla5ctjcYbCE42i92ho35lH7YPSZr0uhKYEMDu1GlDrHDROjhFwthxp56hL92sn38JMZY6FMXldUuakx2fQ-kFd5OZr40WDRqKznD0HrcHeZlCp9804WRkqdVeJyhWDYLBDY/s1600/loungersm.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Boppy + Swaddle + Paci = Happy </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiES4YS7lTbPGQ_HDH3or9JoBH-ppgNhop0qDZOiYsG0sPHzkehpEtcB2LITDubx9zGgo1VxtT0EBLGt6UV3RnWPrqkpVat0DCM13SxYh8uyYrjhq9qrTHEN_GGlYMOL8rK0IqXxOaKiSo/s1600/welcomesm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiES4YS7lTbPGQ_HDH3or9JoBH-ppgNhop0qDZOiYsG0sPHzkehpEtcB2LITDubx9zGgo1VxtT0EBLGt6UV3RnWPrqkpVat0DCM13SxYh8uyYrjhq9qrTHEN_GGlYMOL8rK0IqXxOaKiSo/s1600/welcomesm.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Doesn't sleep here quite yet, but seems to like checkin' out his domain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwvst4T_f2asPyw_DFrHGp8PqRGimL9YJnB_B62c4KtvcsKfdSBfD2wH6fdxBcxQTKj_ngmo3M4wbIuVz7qxzf1kDlPkCaiGRFWwiVSYe85JKm4bsK5A4ZVuXtVW11Uw99jRIYGNCj_Y/s1600/artlapsm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwvst4T_f2asPyw_DFrHGp8PqRGimL9YJnB_B62c4KtvcsKfdSBfD2wH6fdxBcxQTKj_ngmo3M4wbIuVz7qxzf1kDlPkCaiGRFWwiVSYe85JKm4bsK5A4ZVuXtVW11Uw99jRIYGNCj_Y/s1600/artlapsm.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Play time with Dad.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-67126012564934209912012-09-04T17:11:00.001-04:002012-09-04T17:12:07.569-04:00Thoughts for Today<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJP9NifH-XwX4YLODUHS5Ia009wFfshuhxJ6X1Y5Z0febC35UHg8fxkBhjzKpbnW46Oz4ECheTEuOW3x8dp9-AbvgC1EBvnLIrJ8heoEXX-a5HJurWLjXBJHe0ZmjLmURhx_J-Cc15834/s1600/182395853627982350_hDymdydG_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJP9NifH-XwX4YLODUHS5Ia009wFfshuhxJ6X1Y5Z0febC35UHg8fxkBhjzKpbnW46Oz4ECheTEuOW3x8dp9-AbvgC1EBvnLIrJ8heoEXX-a5HJurWLjXBJHe0ZmjLmURhx_J-Cc15834/s320/182395853627982350_hDymdydG_f.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHro-pdmN_c6y9WZEmhtQ503RQK-3QgzzRBMqjoFg6aByXjqYTHSFZWPB_TQ1iwB377-gdC0BstJfwlKlbkZF8N3kk_L4Kkm3XnABXoGyhQj-yMwwRNpZ9ic9hh7KuZarSBEKZ5JBbqAI/s1600/245727723388461595_xj3s8ZiY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHro-pdmN_c6y9WZEmhtQ503RQK-3QgzzRBMqjoFg6aByXjqYTHSFZWPB_TQ1iwB377-gdC0BstJfwlKlbkZF8N3kk_L4Kkm3XnABXoGyhQj-yMwwRNpZ9ic9hh7KuZarSBEKZ5JBbqAI/s1600/245727723388461595_xj3s8ZiY.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdBYIk_Lbme0hMG_yoLVFDcrcl5U-p7SQ03ZGcYRUvATkhvy99zP8sM2_lK-fBb22DipI5hwUhyxIF3x_ZT0bnBDaoYCBI7D2EPbZ2ADDIhe9wh9_RNV94SCJoKpOMit5G4BKwpQp-hE/s1600/35465915786214096_H4ZqBcsC_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdBYIk_Lbme0hMG_yoLVFDcrcl5U-p7SQ03ZGcYRUvATkhvy99zP8sM2_lK-fBb22DipI5hwUhyxIF3x_ZT0bnBDaoYCBI7D2EPbZ2ADDIhe9wh9_RNV94SCJoKpOMit5G4BKwpQp-hE/s1600/35465915786214096_H4ZqBcsC_f.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzl4RqWnzfTBGXiUeV3755LfFPHuE0JyEm4fR6_U_YFqmQDwehXlJ227eejd6JirtiMei0oROZ-nJJqQTio8nNfErCtX3DrlCNkhyVGT2i82uxGFZKPQmiWgyIoExmegFPvv3EpGav-E/s1600/FA025-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzl4RqWnzfTBGXiUeV3755LfFPHuE0JyEm4fR6_U_YFqmQDwehXlJ227eejd6JirtiMei0oROZ-nJJqQTio8nNfErCtX3DrlCNkhyVGT2i82uxGFZKPQmiWgyIoExmegFPvv3EpGav-E/s1600/FA025-m.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-39597675094979274502012-09-01T12:13:00.000-04:002013-06-07T08:51:08.864-04:00Sehr Süss!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQ2NiPd2aDLmBnSqgxAi_nbl7d4-DC6od9tw5PY09ZFwIAXD7ZrF4Dpmc00P6pJFEezjPlHWhhwJnU1TOfyNWVP6L8ANbGdjR_rHymMyHMG2o5GEytFg4RgLIbcxvCk8QZxTVDR9EZoY/s1600/DSC_6213sm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQ2NiPd2aDLmBnSqgxAi_nbl7d4-DC6od9tw5PY09ZFwIAXD7ZrF4Dpmc00P6pJFEezjPlHWhhwJnU1TOfyNWVP6L8ANbGdjR_rHymMyHMG2o5GEytFg4RgLIbcxvCk8QZxTVDR9EZoY/s1600/DSC_6213sm.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gotta sport the lederhosen onesie while it still fits!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4OJLHt7ERR9imiy5GKjXGHgoZurm5fV_ESVRfGQhJQPJZ4mKghG-xpb1DzXql2BomlR0KpiYEXgowcptK6OlqxQkbnAckVgCYTNiclKYfwe38pK3GxmJ6ObbzY3L0OLbPHB-dc9gO90/s1600/withdaddysm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4OJLHt7ERR9imiy5GKjXGHgoZurm5fV_ESVRfGQhJQPJZ4mKghG-xpb1DzXql2BomlR0KpiYEXgowcptK6OlqxQkbnAckVgCYTNiclKYfwe38pK3GxmJ6ObbzY3L0OLbPHB-dc9gO90/s1600/withdaddysm.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gotta be kissin' him jeden Moment!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-74079475317942683002012-08-26T11:48:00.000-04:002012-08-26T11:48:38.736-04:00He's Here<div style="text-align: center;">And we're in complete love.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LW14ra2b0TnUsJFvrzMYmhrqrh6OJZ4m7c1su0pppo8DnPH7ZMU8ptetwJ-W3ea6tv2HV5kk88bOz_vz7wD2VIQH4Fmlqyqk7EHhOKyI9GDIFmqVt6tuU-_E2uruVuGvXUpiUNtijrg/s1600/ajv4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LW14ra2b0TnUsJFvrzMYmhrqrh6OJZ4m7c1su0pppo8DnPH7ZMU8ptetwJ-W3ea6tv2HV5kk88bOz_vz7wD2VIQH4Fmlqyqk7EHhOKyI9GDIFmqVt6tuU-_E2uruVuGvXUpiUNtijrg/s1600/ajv4.png" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" id="ssnoshadow" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPw8bRv_PNMxwfKiZNqZEqrSEUkRH0I6DAFSUpCBLSTxyRgl7gqtDtGXQVLYSkuLtB693IhSJ4O_HdIhuFbvG7U4DJQ7Hw6AbXv4qRiilk-Hv-Hj5MOHttv2QkxEurWyuv8-brxmSp7YI/s1600/Untitled-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPw8bRv_PNMxwfKiZNqZEqrSEUkRH0I6DAFSUpCBLSTxyRgl7gqtDtGXQVLYSkuLtB693IhSJ4O_HdIhuFbvG7U4DJQ7Hw6AbXv4qRiilk-Hv-Hj5MOHttv2QkxEurWyuv8-brxmSp7YI/s1600/Untitled-2.png" /> </a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A L E X A N D E R J O S E P H</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">August 23rd, 2012 :: 8 1/2 pounds :: 21 inches </span></i><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoT5IEloMYUSId548EVlGsiMfWeG7boWGvTDcQYXmcoWpCmCYtrq9_XinIQXsWbqAjlJotbjv9cFIlpgxDho_fg25hOoBq8Q13pjgCJArv3bKtdmFfdVBVp8O5cC8UA6bKh52SgcIHWI/s1600/leavinghospital.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoT5IEloMYUSId548EVlGsiMfWeG7boWGvTDcQYXmcoWpCmCYtrq9_XinIQXsWbqAjlJotbjv9cFIlpgxDho_fg25hOoBq8Q13pjgCJArv3bKtdmFfdVBVp8O5cC8UA6bKh52SgcIHWI/s1600/leavinghospital.png" /></a></div><br />
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Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-18600942886451392012012-08-20T15:52:00.006-04:002012-08-20T16:00:12.896-04:00Alexander the Late<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-8nmeDEwnpaJsbIS5n2RWoI6Z3oRUN4CY-s1Ui2Bv-Y7Fo097rE75QflMogf3ZzAUN3ThykYh7IMwyrWP_4z_RGu71F0KDpVOyldB2BGasDnRCV68on9njbGdSMeu1gctQbyBB4CbHk/s1600/9+mossm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-8nmeDEwnpaJsbIS5n2RWoI6Z3oRUN4CY-s1Ui2Bv-Y7Fo097rE75QflMogf3ZzAUN3ThykYh7IMwyrWP_4z_RGu71F0KDpVOyldB2BGasDnRCV68on9njbGdSMeu1gctQbyBB4CbHk/s1600/9+mossm.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ok, so today's his due date and he's not technically late yet, but he most likely will be. Do you know how long I've been pregnant? Oh yeah, you prob. do. The last week is so slowwww. I had a minor false alarm on Friday, so that really got my expectations all out of whack and I try to tell myself I have another week, but it isn't working. I guess this is just the beginning of him teaching me to be more patient. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I hope the next time I write I've got a bundle to show you.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And it doesn't look like he'll be a tiny one.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-82212259694901084872012-08-11T10:45:00.012-04:002013-06-07T08:50:26.653-04:00Alexander's Nursery<div style="text-align: center;">My new favorite place to be. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtihUzEWv5qrZtfGOCUe2q5Q2DULYapJpIl5-5qXFY9RC6kPJQwgbFAkIyiVmkbf5BDp4E1vHRFoWuX3-4D1xZB3slRNRkDS2sVIi4-Hn5tRkpJL-aZDFlMDGWKg1B6ipcv30L_mk24EI/s1600/DSC_5866sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtihUzEWv5qrZtfGOCUe2q5Q2DULYapJpIl5-5qXFY9RC6kPJQwgbFAkIyiVmkbf5BDp4E1vHRFoWuX3-4D1xZB3slRNRkDS2sVIi4-Hn5tRkpJL-aZDFlMDGWKg1B6ipcv30L_mk24EI/s1600/DSC_5866sm.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">I love to decorate and have a side passion for interior design, but creating a room for your baby is extra special. I guess it's part hormones and part me and part that I had to wait 7 months in Austria before we moved before I could do anything, but I thoroughly enjoyed this little project.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuDacDyZn4xm5_wQJblccHep2Bl4UsLN11tcACzLXYQlhOY7Js5Dd3DNlyLqIrXUHw3wXWG7-lNkGpsIii2DzggJniJQ85eEvEJIFiT-tPc67e3IpUDgYuV3cUWoO0s1FiCkhvQx7qP0/s1600/DSC_5868sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuDacDyZn4xm5_wQJblccHep2Bl4UsLN11tcACzLXYQlhOY7Js5Dd3DNlyLqIrXUHw3wXWG7-lNkGpsIii2DzggJniJQ85eEvEJIFiT-tPc67e3IpUDgYuV3cUWoO0s1FiCkhvQx7qP0/s1600/DSC_5868sm.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I wanted his nursery to be fun and colorful with lots of pieces that held special meaning to us. It also needed to be budget-friendly, so things were either DIYd, hand-me-downs, gifted or inexpensive.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There's quite a bit of Austria in here and also many things given to us especially for Alexander from friends and family near and far. This little guy will know he's loved. I sometimes come in here at night when my back hurts and sit in the glider and just relax and think. I can't believe I will be holding him so soon.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M6jRUjXOVXn_dzAcGvJGQCcA0hPBa3gKs5NQyKTeq9OC-NNIO-N92YzhLxeDzxQEa119AHfZic2P8E6NtKpsMbQYqCyjiRc8Y4FozAsmSayoMAhL4ATjbplD3uFJfR2lxgKqn6bkh70/s1600/DSC_5848sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M6jRUjXOVXn_dzAcGvJGQCcA0hPBa3gKs5NQyKTeq9OC-NNIO-N92YzhLxeDzxQEa119AHfZic2P8E6NtKpsMbQYqCyjiRc8Y4FozAsmSayoMAhL4ATjbplD3uFJfR2lxgKqn6bkh70/s1600/DSC_5848sm.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Maybe if we write him more notes, he will come. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">W H E R E I T ' S F R O M :</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(in case curious minds would like to know)</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Crib:</i> Hand-me-down from Art's boss here. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(The color of the crib inspired the black chalkboard wall behind it. I saw the photo below with a dresser the same wood color in front of a chalkboard wall and that was my inspiration.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjangZ_eLsqAt9kdFiz3SNCYrl6q6Qagh10ZA7-oYH8wuvg5WbSlUaNsJlpFUv4dpfrQmvxGvPRlN3pXW9Qe6hpkoT7QFpVYXS0sIYNRV15HdoeYaN__N809Nl7N6HxA9e8U1Jd7yu690Y/s1600/71260022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjangZ_eLsqAt9kdFiz3SNCYrl6q6Qagh10ZA7-oYH8wuvg5WbSlUaNsJlpFUv4dpfrQmvxGvPRlN3pXW9Qe6hpkoT7QFpVYXS0sIYNRV15HdoeYaN__N809Nl7N6HxA9e8U1Jd7yu690Y/s320/71260022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Giraffe photo:</i> my sister actually found <a href="http://www.mickeyupdates.com/2012/first-giraffe-baby-of-2012-born-on-busch-gardens-serengeti-plain/" target="_blank">it</a> and sent it to me. The baby giraffe was born this past January at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay zoo. I sent it to Shutterfly to be printed poster size.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Bunting flags:</i> from my <a href="http://lifeingraz.blogspot.com/2012/07/showered-in-houston.html" target="_blank">baby shower in Houston</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Shelves:</i> <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70193745/" target="_blank">Ikea Expedit</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Mobile: </i>etsy seller <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Martianique?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">Martianique</a><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Crib sheet:</i> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magnolia-Organics-Sheet-Starlight-Elephant/dp/B005CPQ24G/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1344696645&sr=8-9&keywords=crib+sheet" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Crib skirt:</i> panels sewed by my mom with grosgrain ribbon trim </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Rug:</i> <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=20659470#040" target="_blank">Urban Outfitters</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Blankets:</i> Blue one crocheted for Alexander by a family friend and the 'bebe' one is a 40-year old family heirloom of Art's from Puerto Rico. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Alexanderplatz poster:</i> a poster I saw and <a href="http://lifeingraz.blogspot.com/2012/04/aglow.html" target="_blank">snagged at a coffeeshop in Graz</a> back in April since it had Alexander's name and cute drawings of Graz landmarks on it. It was for a local play there. I colored it with markers to make it more fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>'My Roots Lie Here' poster:</i> gift from<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/87124271/world-roots-map-18x24-customized-print" target="_blank"> etsy</a> from my sweet sister, Molly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Curtain:</i> originally our <a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/stripe-shower-curtain-b566/" target="_blank">shower curtain from West Elm</a> that I moved in here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Glider:</i> <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Enchanted-Cherish-Glider/19717776" target="_blank">Wal-Mart </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Monogrammed Pillow:</i> etsy seller <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/calicodaisy" target="_blank">CalicoDaisy</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Sheepskin rug:</i> <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70026822/" target="_blank">Ikea</a>. <a href="http://lifeingraz.blogspot.com/2012/07/emilys-nursery-by-mama-erin.html" target="_blank">Copied my sister</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Stool: </i>hand-me-down from my awesome neighbor here who knew it makes nursing 100x more comfy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Dresser:</i> <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30180542/" target="_blank">Ikea</a> with new pulls added. Copied from <a href="http://smallshopstudio.com/2011/06/28/concept-to-reality-jacksons-nursery/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Book ledges:</i> <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20126065/" target="_blank">Ikea </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Koala:</i> from Graz Australian friends, Lee and Andrew. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Lederhosen man: </i>from Austria, natürlich!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Drawer full of clothes</i>: almost ALL hand-me-downs minus a few gifts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div></div></div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-47572351969650712612012-08-03T10:41:00.001-04:002012-08-03T10:43:13.454-04:00Settling InIt's been a busy two months since our move to Pittsburgh. Catching up on work, childbirth classes, buying a car, learning our way around, and mostly setting up house and home. For having nothing when we arrived, I'm proud of our progress. <br />
<br />
I love doing this and I've been in turbo-nesting mode, but my bank account and physical state have forced a stopping point. I'm sorta over it too. Now it's time for baby. I mean...come on out little lover! Nursery is pretty much ready to go except for the glider which should arrive soon. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vyQujn1GsDZMXMf37fhu1LIrXs6VoMDftts5DmYRtESTrAVYx81wxyNLZQh_9BHNw42iAd6l7GN1PjHTz6muHAht2_n-kqFKzmaHukayPIB1XCQYrCGIvN7jxNcGUNYGnxeivUsIlcQ/s1600/den.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vyQujn1GsDZMXMf37fhu1LIrXs6VoMDftts5DmYRtESTrAVYx81wxyNLZQh_9BHNw42iAd6l7GN1PjHTz6muHAht2_n-kqFKzmaHukayPIB1XCQYrCGIvN7jxNcGUNYGnxeivUsIlcQ/s400/den.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>When we first got here, I was a bit taken aback by the worn down state of our place, but it's grown on me...and once you add some love, the character here comes out. One of my favorite parts being the fireplace. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGmmBKqVMKCt8MudqdN3BY30-_UMcwSR-EoYhF6AdGKJFhbXk038d7mDC9d-zrQIfMkW-S1rpNcNK30PflP2xa2uaqDHKBiqYanL56Ueauagm7L2od9eWFwrQLUX6snrUad0R3ZVix1o/s1600/mantle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGmmBKqVMKCt8MudqdN3BY30-_UMcwSR-EoYhF6AdGKJFhbXk038d7mDC9d-zrQIfMkW-S1rpNcNK30PflP2xa2uaqDHKBiqYanL56Ueauagm7L2od9eWFwrQLUX6snrUad0R3ZVix1o/s640/mantle.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> I did purchase the grapewood branch and I think Art was like "oh, nice, now you're buying sticks." </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The porch is another fave, which pup enjoys as a lookout point as well. I've invested in a bench glider for baby time out here. Will possibly plant some flowers (for the first time in my life) in those planters this weekend.</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, we're here and waiting...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we could be on our buns for a month doing so.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-91803259601176971482012-07-20T13:05:00.004-04:002012-07-20T13:34:03.954-04:001 More Month<div style="text-align: center;">Due date is August 20th, so today marks one month.<br />
And, here it is. The belly. It looks even bigger in person. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm hurtin'. I have some pulled muscle on my inner thigh and it really hurts to walk, which is fun. Sleeping is not the greatest, but not horrible...yet. I wouldn't mind a week early arrival, but I'm guessing it could be more like a week late.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYL9GwdgyjjpgZEbcdDy1ZOG7sQUCrKFO_r2ez0ZdxuZAAMdzcbxj6zY-jV7r9dpsFg-S03vTeHAYemMwXv4MFqsYm_qYKoUgSotam6cfsTcoRISLoKnGVnGCpFteJLxd0UJDlooog9A/s1600/belly1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYL9GwdgyjjpgZEbcdDy1ZOG7sQUCrKFO_r2ez0ZdxuZAAMdzcbxj6zY-jV7r9dpsFg-S03vTeHAYemMwXv4MFqsYm_qYKoUgSotam6cfsTcoRISLoKnGVnGCpFteJLxd0UJDlooog9A/s320/belly1.png" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">We started 'Preparing for Childbirth' classes this week (mostly to meet other expectant couples) and I was the only one to laugh during the video where the wife is in a compromising position and the husband is behind her (on her hospital bed on his knees) rubbing her back profusely and really just getting in the way.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A middle-aged guy at Home Depot asked if I was having a boy. Because 'you're carrying high'. Then his friend pointed to his gut and said "he's having a boy too". He's the third person to ask that...nobody's guessed girl....maybe there's something to this 'the way you're carrying' business.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found a book of baby/kid photos of Art his mom gave me when I was in Houston and I was glad because I wanted to see what he looked like as a babe. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He was cute.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34eW8-S0UgzyAu7ExGYKJKDMuwEKfUz13X4UBHD3JPCcAsXUrf4SslgFMeWbVXhB7_Rs_y1lCg6OWis4OwWCcvk-5Rbd2uBmXMgHGNbCop4pbknsTQC0VD7l1J4fZe11bW58gtiGP_C8/s1600/artbaby1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34eW8-S0UgzyAu7ExGYKJKDMuwEKfUz13X4UBHD3JPCcAsXUrf4SslgFMeWbVXhB7_Rs_y1lCg6OWis4OwWCcvk-5Rbd2uBmXMgHGNbCop4pbknsTQC0VD7l1J4fZe11bW58gtiGP_C8/s640/artbaby1.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLn34VHm_zdRyx7EEZZ384eh1xi1Ghn6Dllvm8iuSbLk6vB-JakWG8dfNhlHGWRkSrhbe4d1aeqYYKvwr5uWN-b4tNSu-AxD4peBr7Cf5GH9XI8d4WxcJMTaVrO4wQnbS2H78kEOt06-A/s1600/artbaby2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLn34VHm_zdRyx7EEZZ384eh1xi1Ghn6Dllvm8iuSbLk6vB-JakWG8dfNhlHGWRkSrhbe4d1aeqYYKvwr5uWN-b4tNSu-AxD4peBr7Cf5GH9XI8d4WxcJMTaVrO4wQnbS2H78kEOt06-A/s640/artbaby2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Apparently he found a way to climb out of his crib at a really young age and they never found out how.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(He was a good rock climber later in life. I was not. I probably never even tried to scale those bars...just sat back with a bottle admiring my crib linens.) </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">As his hair grew, he got those wondey curls I love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVx7PvrVSPmh5obV9g3vePa-BumfrO1SAxmPWkWMEVrCK9Abl6elJnEv71vRrj38RRZu2SQIFCa9Girfpo29ScefM0p7k29Rq6Wh6bkpswgKbLM3RyDCp-zzCsHiKq_MuClefJ47skMJU/s1600/artbaby3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVx7PvrVSPmh5obV9g3vePa-BumfrO1SAxmPWkWMEVrCK9Abl6elJnEv71vRrj38RRZu2SQIFCa9Girfpo29ScefM0p7k29Rq6Wh6bkpswgKbLM3RyDCp-zzCsHiKq_MuClefJ47skMJU/s640/artbaby3.png" width="456" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I was one of those babies that looks nothing like my adult self.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLE1kCUv4Lz7_MZajZ7EhOgrfmWSMOo8LQxZSuUbzNG91wzslG40ELZ-VAvP97eI-aI_OQz-GFn6qAb6qkeAk6tketAedhxOp2oYhzCvBl3jnzR4rhI6zD6kZoefkuAzk6MMeYg8ug2Cg/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLE1kCUv4Lz7_MZajZ7EhOgrfmWSMOo8LQxZSuUbzNG91wzslG40ELZ-VAvP97eI-aI_OQz-GFn6qAb6qkeAk6tketAedhxOp2oYhzCvBl3jnzR4rhI6zD6kZoefkuAzk6MMeYg8ug2Cg/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Serious hair. Serious chunk of a newborn.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewvGb0zZa8M6HLSArA0Z1r_OH9L2OugEc0WJgkobdM1VZB5xyF7A17c_DjCYXc22g0ZRc3iSrMyG7paDwgGL_3RIB9IlOf8bX2d_q7SuAEwwUEiTiyoCSKkiuOueq0i96vqAMmOljd-s/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewvGb0zZa8M6HLSArA0Z1r_OH9L2OugEc0WJgkobdM1VZB5xyF7A17c_DjCYXc22g0ZRc3iSrMyG7paDwgGL_3RIB9IlOf8bX2d_q7SuAEwwUEiTiyoCSKkiuOueq0i96vqAMmOljd-s/s640/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7yxgn028-hAcIVRfSNXpky2tZvBZLIvyR2JFO9K_JdcEaJRCrtT6Jp20xDfH-SZnQEFv02CG7Rs6cob3rQEsfh_hqR461SqrGYj2Zb0fxEUOfpBxES5kkMn96Dc5WEUIoi8SElPghyphenhyphen0/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7yxgn028-hAcIVRfSNXpky2tZvBZLIvyR2JFO9K_JdcEaJRCrtT6Jp20xDfH-SZnQEFv02CG7Rs6cob3rQEsfh_hqR461SqrGYj2Zb0fxEUOfpBxES5kkMn96Dc5WEUIoi8SElPghyphenhyphen0/s640/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I loved that doll and koala.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, we'll see what Alexander has picked from the gene pool.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
I am workin' on the nursery...and loving doing it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A tiny little preview:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFL6Bt2e5JkHpvSVwDivds5MGzqq-ZByOpxYF7xWHodBl0Kx7KoBRG8VhDznylWrhxn8Uv1DLRDHxvnrSpCuDrMrdvhgQiJ9gAoFqp6vAyV44iVB8hFQld61fjM_wTqp-_DE5TWcZDpgQ/s1600/eleph.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFL6Bt2e5JkHpvSVwDivds5MGzqq-ZByOpxYF7xWHodBl0Kx7KoBRG8VhDznylWrhxn8Uv1DLRDHxvnrSpCuDrMrdvhgQiJ9gAoFqp6vAyV44iVB8hFQld61fjM_wTqp-_DE5TWcZDpgQ/s320/eleph.png" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<i>(and, it most likely won't be as good as <a href="http://lifeingraz.blogspot.com/2012/07/emilys-nursery-by-mama-erin.html" target="_blank">my sister's</a> so lower your expectations please. danke.)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-4194622058334208882012-07-16T00:00:00.006-04:002012-07-16T14:17:16.229-04:00Emily's Nursery by Mama Erin<div style="text-align: center;">If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know my sister, Erin, is a talented artist. She decides she wants to do something or copy something cool she's seen...and well, there it is. It doesn't happen quite like this for most of us layfolk.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I wanted to show you what a great nursery Erin created for Emily with her own special DIY touches.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuwace5aKJVmfKqQOoMsseN-ebTUSHnzltZSdbNm1e4g9noAdSBThN3Eztan8YQhZkxRiCWcci3a9w85_2vsCb5vPOB9dam3AE9ux8HzPPI7Zk9FvbUdn8MzBAGi1yqbU09qcvTWqPGw/s1600/IMG_5066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuwace5aKJVmfKqQOoMsseN-ebTUSHnzltZSdbNm1e4g9noAdSBThN3Eztan8YQhZkxRiCWcci3a9w85_2vsCb5vPOB9dam3AE9ux8HzPPI7Zk9FvbUdn8MzBAGi1yqbU09qcvTWqPGw/s640/IMG_5066.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jTwlC187rLYXoeMNgnoj6RDMB1T4nx9zIMVX87ynMjuNlWTKzpSXRCyExqo4DN30_G6t5vYYUo0HTaGioK-kqas3MG-I6mDJGDX1cESMU4rFdiCfJrOnwuJip081nLAo5ia2xTduPGw/s1600/IMG_5070+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jTwlC187rLYXoeMNgnoj6RDMB1T4nx9zIMVX87ynMjuNlWTKzpSXRCyExqo4DN30_G6t5vYYUo0HTaGioK-kqas3MG-I6mDJGDX1cESMU4rFdiCfJrOnwuJip081nLAo5ia2xTduPGw/s640/IMG_5070+copy.png" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3hw2ipuiSuxPDxXRxPX6H6TRNTu8-H_dR43FW7l1ESDmOQ928_qeCDWwhe9FrNLPDQDDf7wgj1nxxYTwuc9MwYbCWibRQESIprZNVZpMpOSaa6NJDCR5fpqD19pR5M3Sa_EXE0TmFwk/s1600/IMG_5062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3hw2ipuiSuxPDxXRxPX6H6TRNTu8-H_dR43FW7l1ESDmOQ928_qeCDWwhe9FrNLPDQDDf7wgj1nxxYTwuc9MwYbCWibRQESIprZNVZpMpOSaa6NJDCR5fpqD19pR5M3Sa_EXE0TmFwk/s640/IMG_5062.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4KY-uZKb2tC4I3wHhfWJ4jVzrJtPVCPl09FCzz8hJGWKDwy8Pmwsw81d-LH6ZLjjpWQ7XuiS9lzX0oufC_tYCIcFlEaw8gQcvFq4BiT0STKapChXEDjEtqPYLdDCvTZ9IRAptBVTT7Y/s1600/IMG_5044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4KY-uZKb2tC4I3wHhfWJ4jVzrJtPVCPl09FCzz8hJGWKDwy8Pmwsw81d-LH6ZLjjpWQ7XuiS9lzX0oufC_tYCIcFlEaw8gQcvFq4BiT0STKapChXEDjEtqPYLdDCvTZ9IRAptBVTT7Y/s640/IMG_5044.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmcQWWm7AQHNj-WHqsBN1kNzg8MWycMFRQ892IjcpseBKDoTo86IBXbYODQRvRL_H1U2Y4CZZ09RvpVC770EXffneF03hwHCaWMHs-uKEg4tjnO7RgtsjG7m1eTN9r_uorpUHbKitaGI/s1600/IMG_0411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmcQWWm7AQHNj-WHqsBN1kNzg8MWycMFRQ892IjcpseBKDoTo86IBXbYODQRvRL_H1U2Y4CZZ09RvpVC770EXffneF03hwHCaWMHs-uKEg4tjnO7RgtsjG7m1eTN9r_uorpUHbKitaGI/s640/IMG_0411.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQszFWUpvQzKrbfb4_jy5OexzFB4n3-bnlr_nn9ai-FfZDVSUNV_VQJUtg0Nsy540vDn9R9yHojbviW8FbvOT-agiC2CKb2KM3HwFkeGzPAXLO4OCKY_dKfaJ8LWJPGZcaqseoV09jhQ/s1600/IMG_5060.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQszFWUpvQzKrbfb4_jy5OexzFB4n3-bnlr_nn9ai-FfZDVSUNV_VQJUtg0Nsy540vDn9R9yHojbviW8FbvOT-agiC2CKb2KM3HwFkeGzPAXLO4OCKY_dKfaJ8LWJPGZcaqseoV09jhQ/s640/IMG_5060.png" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zP6kQAcPJ0m_9UXu35DAiqqIQRNayY-LvVhlsEhlSfOL2068GCF6rLwnVRLejfO8stpKMUyQ8qSSGjfQA7w3lRd7yGe644iT9aklqe-49_AoUY-xypCUtv_9c59FNQpDSZ7qtcr2-Ow/s1600/IMG_5061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zP6kQAcPJ0m_9UXu35DAiqqIQRNayY-LvVhlsEhlSfOL2068GCF6rLwnVRLejfO8stpKMUyQ8qSSGjfQA7w3lRd7yGe644iT9aklqe-49_AoUY-xypCUtv_9c59FNQpDSZ7qtcr2-Ow/s640/IMG_5061.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTr5hFPktUg4nS6DGwpAcPSh4IRvO0D3igER3vopGO3D9-l9hyJCMYBw3ukwpKZZsFgCmyWojYWN-09IQdeIpKNlMARkf5kSvN3awRNveV-2UI4sy9c6wJ3ffVUF2j2xNKVjQu5kaFs_k/s1600/IMG_5051.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTr5hFPktUg4nS6DGwpAcPSh4IRvO0D3igER3vopGO3D9-l9hyJCMYBw3ukwpKZZsFgCmyWojYWN-09IQdeIpKNlMARkf5kSvN3awRNveV-2UI4sy9c6wJ3ffVUF2j2xNKVjQu5kaFs_k/s640/IMG_5051.png" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc20gH7R6kL4lUrRdsSRIpwhi3Dzmbp9cu1JmUTImOYnWrd2wQsnug9PZ9HU9aLIziYA6QvoXzKDvaOYEoj_cnwHKWJjcG7JWV0fB9WhTJhGrMASuzFpytYJSQvE_nGMwkKhMxAQ3q8c/s1600/sam.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc20gH7R6kL4lUrRdsSRIpwhi3Dzmbp9cu1JmUTImOYnWrd2wQsnug9PZ9HU9aLIziYA6QvoXzKDvaOYEoj_cnwHKWJjcG7JWV0fB9WhTJhGrMASuzFpytYJSQvE_nGMwkKhMxAQ3q8c/s640/sam.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Her best creation (tied with Emily?)? Big brother Sam.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>S O U R C E L I S T :</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Abstract art by Erin inspired by <a href="http://michellearmas.bigcartel.com/%20" target="_blank">Michelle Armas</a><br />
( custom framing by husband :) )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Erin stencil-painted the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00070088/#/40070091" target="_blank">white rug</a> from Ikea...<i>7 months pregnant </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"La vie est belle" print by Erin </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/small-wire-pendants-w700/?pkey=cchandeliers-pendant-lighting" target="_blank">Wire pendant light</a> from West Elm<br />
Throw from <a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/favorite-throw-t087/?pkey=e%7Cfavorite%2Bthrow%7C3%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C2&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH%7C%7CNoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Summer%202012%20D1%2B2%20Billboards-_-" target="_blank">West Elm</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=16337420" target="_blank">Side table</a> from Urban Outfitters<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.target.com/p/ceramic-table-lamp-blue-white/-/A-14013736#?lnk=sc_qi_detailbutton" target="_blank">Turquoise lamp</a> from Target <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lanternmoon.com/Rice-Basket--Mini_p_47.html" target="_blank">Baskets</a> from Lantern Moon</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10159099/#/30193733" target="_blank">Lack Wall shelves</a> from Ikea</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70026822/" target="_blank">Sheepskin rug</a> from Ikea</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/wing-back-chair/?pkey=bslipcovered-upholstered-chairs" target="_blank">Wingback rocker</a> from Pottery Barn Kids</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/boys-harper-elephant-crib-sheeting/?pkey=e%7Charper%2Bbedding%7C30%7Cbest%7C0%7Cviewall%7C24%7C%7C30&group=1&sku=4377974&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH%7C%7CNoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-" target="_blank">Elephant sheet & Crib skirt</a> from Pottery Barn Kids Harper Bedding</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-58180012998036428272012-07-11T10:55:00.002-04:002012-07-11T10:58:47.716-04:00Showered in Houston<div style="text-align: center;">On my week-long visit here in Houston, the highlight and part of the reason for the visit was a baby shower hosted by my sisters and sister-in-law. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUD55gNDqd1tftPhTJKWgcKtsHwpodcNkauvBGPKjJHAeKGe-5gf8lNxQgtXgapqjpYHzJneTtOhg4vc3srt6TJPfCBfEdoz-JgoR1eccR_1BAT92L69SRl6Z2cBw_Ag_As7syeX65R8/s1600/IMG_4108.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUD55gNDqd1tftPhTJKWgcKtsHwpodcNkauvBGPKjJHAeKGe-5gf8lNxQgtXgapqjpYHzJneTtOhg4vc3srt6TJPfCBfEdoz-JgoR1eccR_1BAT92L69SRl6Z2cBw_Ag_As7syeX65R8/s640/IMG_4108.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2lTCfWITS_KOzq3fkCOtdRtl8XaddYs1uX2juLhmri0TIPMV9ViyRELVzuE3hWxaYSfkvs06yN1miokJ-w5yuMgqlY2HA2v7RuYs6cHh67Ah7JOe2zKgUXTYr5SYnfOA2qBfTyjezWo/s1600/mcconns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2lTCfWITS_KOzq3fkCOtdRtl8XaddYs1uX2juLhmri0TIPMV9ViyRELVzuE3hWxaYSfkvs06yN1miokJ-w5yuMgqlY2HA2v7RuYs6cHh67Ah7JOe2zKgUXTYr5SYnfOA2qBfTyjezWo/s640/mcconns.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">with two of my sisters and my mom. My sister, Erin, had to stay in Austin with 3-week old, Emily.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But we did make it up to Austin for the day earlier in the week to see her and baby Emily.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjMhZ0vb1fQLR2ybe9wYxAlfAryjHiELWHZ4F9qQuPQJeH2jx7NzY_eZeybTZsUC-wkv9d2IRQHshe6CNbE_ENjog8CdCko_-V311NhDPJgwYfXp2mBAfIOJG1dqwAjGMTxE-aSZAvI4/s1600/sisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjMhZ0vb1fQLR2ybe9wYxAlfAryjHiELWHZ4F9qQuPQJeH2jx7NzY_eZeybTZsUC-wkv9d2IRQHshe6CNbE_ENjog8CdCko_-V311NhDPJgwYfXp2mBAfIOJG1dqwAjGMTxE-aSZAvI4/s640/sisters.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think she felt most at home on my pregnant belly (besides in her mother's arms).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKt9HqoIWMsG_D1OzdVpIsJWwNA5Wy30sxWWezXAGEcN-qa6Mqg-UPDoJm8gFsvktAevS3pfCB7q42isCGh5ZkEG80ahKE1nfX9BnbEpOUkSUSqNw2U-fyEK6tmesLANciM8aobbsGS4U/s1600/IMG_4888bw2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKt9HqoIWMsG_D1OzdVpIsJWwNA5Wy30sxWWezXAGEcN-qa6Mqg-UPDoJm8gFsvktAevS3pfCB7q42isCGh5ZkEG80ahKE1nfX9BnbEpOUkSUSqNw2U-fyEK6tmesLANciM8aobbsGS4U/s640/IMG_4888bw2.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The house was orange, green and turquoised up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlhjpTkhx4RhzWWdgR0enx5vzaQ0BE4U0UcJ3Bu0-UBAyQNlWw5kfjsbpxerxdCdJ54lLOrAYTuqwFOYXEu8CPOBcBL_59GJ2X8M18cqs6I2eFmqUvDYBLjIEFbhfTq8AHhE_nd9OyxE/s1600/IMG_4120.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlhjpTkhx4RhzWWdgR0enx5vzaQ0BE4U0UcJ3Bu0-UBAyQNlWw5kfjsbpxerxdCdJ54lLOrAYTuqwFOYXEu8CPOBcBL_59GJ2X8M18cqs6I2eFmqUvDYBLjIEFbhfTq8AHhE_nd9OyxE/s640/IMG_4120.png" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgXXqq3rQuEvzUWEIP85hPY6hw5QIXy1O_X3j1JQUQ9lEDFcZq1h93n1osE8DrV2P0vPoBbAl4MZz2YhN3TZDXGHpz6sjdmu7s4VfTBKbQArdIUAx4BW9BVlH9dw3sqb8Qh16yyBGtLg/s1600/IMG_4110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgXXqq3rQuEvzUWEIP85hPY6hw5QIXy1O_X3j1JQUQ9lEDFcZq1h93n1osE8DrV2P0vPoBbAl4MZz2YhN3TZDXGHpz6sjdmu7s4VfTBKbQArdIUAx4BW9BVlH9dw3sqb8Qh16yyBGtLg/s640/IMG_4110.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlhjpTkhx4RhzWWdgR0enx5vzaQ0BE4U0UcJ3Bu0-UBAyQNlWw5kfjsbpxerxdCdJ54lLOrAYTuqwFOYXEu8CPOBcBL_59GJ2X8M18cqs6I2eFmqUvDYBLjIEFbhfTq8AHhE_nd9OyxE/s1600/IMG_4120.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIPRw1XeVXLZTazyw-1JiCKP2e6aflwDt9fMErm-sDNWoPxj23iL2UslKvdkUmYU-7kKPTvfEuscfYbMaMEKqxOea8k6x7j-Pt_6LfDwQeakdo1LakTNSDJqcFq5R6uxEu6cOfwtBVg8/s1600/IMG_4111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIPRw1XeVXLZTazyw-1JiCKP2e6aflwDt9fMErm-sDNWoPxj23iL2UslKvdkUmYU-7kKPTvfEuscfYbMaMEKqxOea8k6x7j-Pt_6LfDwQeakdo1LakTNSDJqcFq5R6uxEu6cOfwtBVg8/s640/IMG_4111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Everything was so pretty and delicious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPREjDpAQrZFB-yAyPEfLAJRRjA7X7ACkZBcl2XXmYt8E6n8G2JluPwCGSg2pDk8lLOyP3-ShTdIWArXgGSl8Zw9f9ohrzykbxWTExnCi5gdSW73gYhn-Uhx65FNy3KriHMT6CPW744YU/s1600/IMG_4114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPREjDpAQrZFB-yAyPEfLAJRRjA7X7ACkZBcl2XXmYt8E6n8G2JluPwCGSg2pDk8lLOyP3-ShTdIWArXgGSl8Zw9f9ohrzykbxWTExnCi5gdSW73gYhn-Uhx65FNy3KriHMT6CPW744YU/s640/IMG_4114.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">How cute are the lanterns?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNkuIAtpCgXnK0leFgob2RKWoi8iScXlHQDvrUloYCCf8VEUjfIj62fU7mgt4I0iRXNhQFRsDtNzUDQayWA9WZBOU7l1BOt1c-F6cDxV5jbkBnSJwUYGx9KNCqWjLgwITyZo86e4oMGk/s1600/IMG_4115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNkuIAtpCgXnK0leFgob2RKWoi8iScXlHQDvrUloYCCf8VEUjfIj62fU7mgt4I0iRXNhQFRsDtNzUDQayWA9WZBOU7l1BOt1c-F6cDxV5jbkBnSJwUYGx9KNCqWjLgwITyZo86e4oMGk/s640/IMG_4115.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVox7MMXnpz_BZMGxs6oSrR9xUZ8uIXbzxxXgXCXVJF3SnBYkuF9rL8tQGW6UVdhI94TvkK4u6XRAT_fkx3XxOnThcfoFrL5OELRO-SQQ6gCPfJAhOVc-zgUxF8pN80mtlmejl4SnPbAc/s1600/IMG_4118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVox7MMXnpz_BZMGxs6oSrR9xUZ8uIXbzxxXgXCXVJF3SnBYkuF9rL8tQGW6UVdhI94TvkK4u6XRAT_fkx3XxOnThcfoFrL5OELRO-SQQ6gCPfJAhOVc-zgUxF8pN80mtlmejl4SnPbAc/s640/IMG_4118.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ8jyFci5g-whhjfOb79pc3zTPocw3o9dWv5dbUqn1ud82AHYUlLAcPnWh1wRrL_z9Wm4hwB82RRmUrAWYpP5spQ1-hF4ejzVFgA2q6cisPDC7zv59x_J4Lccu2j6k1dXvTgWA6W4-GU/s1600/allnickann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ8jyFci5g-whhjfOb79pc3zTPocw3o9dWv5dbUqn1ud82AHYUlLAcPnWh1wRrL_z9Wm4hwB82RRmUrAWYpP5spQ1-hF4ejzVFgA2q6cisPDC7zv59x_J4Lccu2j6k1dXvTgWA6W4-GU/s640/allnickann.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">All my old friends I haven't seen in quite awhile all in one place!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZRHv5vQd0fwdr-loC72ikKOegXxi4Mh5aU91Acnm9DRe4qezALYSgjbheFwUR2r-fY6RzyZ_BKuVL9ubSwZ-0DB1nathZkaW7cjeVEw5r6OVx_RTV_qAuQ-SJz8LxApZIe8yy6wXfLg/s1600/bgp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZRHv5vQd0fwdr-loC72ikKOegXxi4Mh5aU91Acnm9DRe4qezALYSgjbheFwUR2r-fY6RzyZ_BKuVL9ubSwZ-0DB1nathZkaW7cjeVEw5r6OVx_RTV_qAuQ-SJz8LxApZIe8yy6wXfLg/s640/bgp.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0YeYTSuFs-z64xT8a90D44V2pUfNgoHMiu8Yvy4zbOjysRrjoWZ-6d1TSstbrYypG-hVD4gLAmJleHo6lBQY7CetFsK3do1tPdl43drCMk6lJDXTtXCtAZdWK9ytgTo0sl-ubFa2j2A/s1600/girlscouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0YeYTSuFs-z64xT8a90D44V2pUfNgoHMiu8Yvy4zbOjysRrjoWZ-6d1TSstbrYypG-hVD4gLAmJleHo6lBQY7CetFsK3do1tPdl43drCMk6lJDXTtXCtAZdWK9ytgTo0sl-ubFa2j2A/s640/girlscouch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rpSB2Y1_0Gn2-x64xHH0YwP1WWf3jgOWRhoKKGVwI5KKnCw81abN6jqe-qNJTJWApWUPRDVkJvdwhj1OQNQJOEEQxluEB26pL69OlVOq77IJ-WfgZvCv6rL70X_qdK35Uo6L7Dofpes/s1600/mimifriends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rpSB2Y1_0Gn2-x64xHH0YwP1WWf3jgOWRhoKKGVwI5KKnCw81abN6jqe-qNJTJWApWUPRDVkJvdwhj1OQNQJOEEQxluEB26pL69OlVOq77IJ-WfgZvCv6rL70X_qdK35Uo6L7Dofpes/s640/mimifriends.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Mom with her besties.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhHiyJklpNAi7d-cFvnVvPi-f7zDguo6AjMp3iarIivGy7Jhhi4CcDwxLlHsmN-EoEFNkDyvUxjuZOIP5v1rdpD-oF6Pm7pM0VjZ27SaLj5tQ1GdbulX84Fat_z4kX6OgPEgjHvYDRwY/s1600/IMG_4135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhHiyJklpNAi7d-cFvnVvPi-f7zDguo6AjMp3iarIivGy7Jhhi4CcDwxLlHsmN-EoEFNkDyvUxjuZOIP5v1rdpD-oF6Pm7pM0VjZ27SaLj5tQ1GdbulX84Fat_z4kX6OgPEgjHvYDRwY/s400/IMG_4135.jpg" width="290" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Molly and cousin Mary.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07-D1GgtC7awpE12LXqgRhW7A0c4RhgiQu8kl52kPbDYvJwmX7YO1gJwjUl-PMoRIv-h01W9fsz-zJCgZZhNPEC0mOyEOs3GmPaU7kFc8-psDK8vuS9z_GeQK9gIsVmVCwX5LQR2JjfY/s1600/IMG_4133-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07-D1GgtC7awpE12LXqgRhW7A0c4RhgiQu8kl52kPbDYvJwmX7YO1gJwjUl-PMoRIv-h01W9fsz-zJCgZZhNPEC0mOyEOs3GmPaU7kFc8-psDK8vuS9z_GeQK9gIsVmVCwX5LQR2JjfY/s640/IMG_4133-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and Aunt Mary (my Godmother) came in from Dallas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzH6OCatHf2EPjSBgS_cxCU737khlSvmP-Wl_FVlQr8tdcqu5vpXAfOjTsR76V7nDPY81jmV06DNwA8Vc26T9f-oKpNcFn5qC3UfAZ3Yq0jkKaMZjnXSvyrmuAaCkjlE4oXcLbo4krDY/s1600/IMG_4132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzH6OCatHf2EPjSBgS_cxCU737khlSvmP-Wl_FVlQr8tdcqu5vpXAfOjTsR76V7nDPY81jmV06DNwA8Vc26T9f-oKpNcFn5qC3UfAZ3Yq0jkKaMZjnXSvyrmuAaCkjlE4oXcLbo4krDY/s640/IMG_4132.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Um, let's take a look at that belly. No, I'm not due any day...I still have 5 weeks thank-you-very-much. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4qDAw0EQ-BqzhyphenhyphenBdWKAx8bQCliQW4kYi1XcaHmarTBTxyZgAvZekn090O2NBZSEHS1RdyRkkmF7OnBleB-fqiyq0HHVs2MwCbVh3jQm964bNZmNikzR4yb16UxWITv4a5qYqKhRqkM8/s1600/map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4qDAw0EQ-BqzhyphenhyphenBdWKAx8bQCliQW4kYi1XcaHmarTBTxyZgAvZekn090O2NBZSEHS1RdyRkkmF7OnBleB-fqiyq0HHVs2MwCbVh3jQm964bNZmNikzR4yb16UxWITv4a5qYqKhRqkM8/s640/map.png" width="640" /> </a>Molly gave me a cute map from etsy marked with Alexander's roots for the nursery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtrt3z5Cy4Qm1o8pmcUUr88CxzYM7JSJUd1opWo2Dez-G6r5zN9fUJEFoPvr8otf2gtQr_CDbg9jqskffaWBiapJrcIHSz0DApjjkkNVmIXPY4R0XRjDq8RXPE_UBG1kGyGhdGDv0ivk/s1600/amycoconicklinds.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtrt3z5Cy4Qm1o8pmcUUr88CxzYM7JSJUd1opWo2Dez-G6r5zN9fUJEFoPvr8otf2gtQr_CDbg9jqskffaWBiapJrcIHSz0DApjjkkNVmIXPY4R0XRjDq8RXPE_UBG1kGyGhdGDv0ivk/s640/amycoconicklinds.png" width="640" /></a> I felt so blessed and spoiled. Thank you hostesses Amy (left) and Lindsay (right) for making my month! And to all my friends and family for showering baby A and me with gifts and love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now off to fly back to Pittsburgh. And start setting up shop (nursery)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-69595564599597480472012-07-03T11:50:00.000-04:002012-07-03T11:50:51.223-04:00Sweet Emily<div style="text-align: center;">About to fly to Houston, but wanted to show off some pics of my beautiful new niece, Emily Elizabeth. I'll see her in Austin on Friday!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4k3gppg4UNd_yHp50QjVYhyCrjE3SZXk_INYS7SS4ZnkwmK52iO_Qo6TJCgBtOzjWFmkGCbPN_uUI5AJphoQkBYR2df2oPdMzKf9wVfvKL_wXV9WJc1W-ub7uOBsMp0_xWjiodQRhyphenhyphenuI/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-07-03+at+11.38.56.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4k3gppg4UNd_yHp50QjVYhyCrjE3SZXk_INYS7SS4ZnkwmK52iO_Qo6TJCgBtOzjWFmkGCbPN_uUI5AJphoQkBYR2df2oPdMzKf9wVfvKL_wXV9WJc1W-ub7uOBsMp0_xWjiodQRhyphenhyphenuI/s640/Screen+shot+2012-07-03+at+11.38.56.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJM9s2TpzECSoQt2oq91TYDwdio21PcTD1G3czyfOYSZdkMYk_BissBSYazeGGw48Yp0TsqL9N-gwgZL94ELLMypHrMqEuJd3Rcrglw20jYNolmRaaN8loolCsoNBq3S1vjZRb5InyhvE/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-07-03+at+11.39.08.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJM9s2TpzECSoQt2oq91TYDwdio21PcTD1G3czyfOYSZdkMYk_BissBSYazeGGw48Yp0TsqL9N-gwgZL94ELLMypHrMqEuJd3Rcrglw20jYNolmRaaN8loolCsoNBq3S1vjZRb5InyhvE/s640/Screen+shot+2012-07-03+at+11.39.08.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfHuWjyKQWsPdDKXjCOqQBsifWM36fqFMiDnfe7U-5LSaPQWYXYXdRf6xTWwB8aw3DsLAo0Q9DY5aiOGDGm751zYwkg0G6czvvsMeznknX6ej8vrk0kCMXRD4ro3DTqHtF-_l4g2Q8qc/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-07-03+at+11.39.20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfHuWjyKQWsPdDKXjCOqQBsifWM36fqFMiDnfe7U-5LSaPQWYXYXdRf6xTWwB8aw3DsLAo0Q9DY5aiOGDGm751zYwkg0G6czvvsMeznknX6ej8vrk0kCMXRD4ro3DTqHtF-_l4g2Q8qc/s400/Screen+shot+2012-07-03+at+11.39.20.png" width="262" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> big brother's reaction to his new baby sister</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp06ouiD-5V9aYcMZEk80qw2hIbA-MHWfdoWUmZ-oWApVvttWV4pe1vtWBOuWF_lHQQg8Z5UlWoHuyASH42AE0fQAjxVtWA_2eq4hGKfPywZT_LZyatCuH4rBRyAyoUiA7jU88XGMjZ0/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-07-03+at+11.39.49.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp06ouiD-5V9aYcMZEk80qw2hIbA-MHWfdoWUmZ-oWApVvttWV4pe1vtWBOuWF_lHQQg8Z5UlWoHuyASH42AE0fQAjxVtWA_2eq4hGKfPywZT_LZyatCuH4rBRyAyoUiA7jU88XGMjZ0/s640/Screen+shot+2012-07-03+at+11.39.49.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbllQlS9BMs-VQPJAek77tL0zYG9OXJ9Jf4a6pga3Vron6_kopbu3oabXwVm6gZ5JfOxXE1DSxTENKFTzB1ObQ8dbrH0-WnxDMUoIpJBlJoAukyFtrye1was8KsRvqIoGapfEvU9p0DY/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-07-03+at+11.40.33.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbllQlS9BMs-VQPJAek77tL0zYG9OXJ9Jf4a6pga3Vron6_kopbu3oabXwVm6gZ5JfOxXE1DSxTENKFTzB1ObQ8dbrH0-WnxDMUoIpJBlJoAukyFtrye1was8KsRvqIoGapfEvU9p0DY/s640/Screen+shot+2012-07-03+at+11.40.33.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And I will be picking up even more hand-me-down baby clothes for Alexander while I'm there, but I already have tons...enough to last his first six months. Here's a sampling. They are so damn cute and soft and they make me happy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBtDpdgVChKKvDfZZJykVzpz0oPBM5rxEu2DfZyEi9uEXKKGGceAM0Ewuoyy3zdDn2Xz1SvJZwmXFfoV7QX-XtH4g8_P7zsGAwYfwkRPYJcUATyQJQjxTQ1qtgpavHR0hr1ARf6ryjsw/s1600/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBtDpdgVChKKvDfZZJykVzpz0oPBM5rxEu2DfZyEi9uEXKKGGceAM0Ewuoyy3zdDn2Xz1SvJZwmXFfoV7QX-XtH4g8_P7zsGAwYfwkRPYJcUATyQJQjxTQ1qtgpavHR0hr1ARf6ryjsw/s640/2.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
These are 40-year old handmade outfits from Art's family in Puerto Rico. His cousin wore these. The lace on some of the outfits and blankets is unbelievable...almost too pretty to wear.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRs_gEX1l0-1PckCAEldH2xi_n8EykvwllrBiq_c_nL_Sch83_xmbXmjL9U6O38eQWTBlqT28FLx9UcJQp1L_o2bfMd6uudzbbbhOR-zazU7lVaivZ-E05sLu9G_Lk2qSjWH5VMvFWzTc/s1600/8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRs_gEX1l0-1PckCAEldH2xi_n8EykvwllrBiq_c_nL_Sch83_xmbXmjL9U6O38eQWTBlqT28FLx9UcJQp1L_o2bfMd6uudzbbbhOR-zazU7lVaivZ-E05sLu9G_Lk2qSjWH5VMvFWzTc/s640/8.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now time to see family and friends I haven't seen in over a year and a half!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-7415373880164260192012-06-25T11:21:00.002-04:002012-06-25T11:25:43.980-04:00Some things I'm getting used to<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8UhpfXwzcIhR4QROj8-veohoilA_H5X1ajKtViwx9yzy1jIYRSN624CdUWTQN_C_JgxyIonWkS7Du66jFhnMzaQD5xlCROQ3kLyEl86-F5VuACYkn7Rn9kUPtSybvRqFvCrIIcg9kQ4/s1600/choc+chips.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8UhpfXwzcIhR4QROj8-veohoilA_H5X1ajKtViwx9yzy1jIYRSN624CdUWTQN_C_JgxyIonWkS7Du66jFhnMzaQD5xlCROQ3kLyEl86-F5VuACYkn7Rn9kUPtSybvRqFvCrIIcg9kQ4/s320/choc+chips.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
- my change doesn't amount to much (and is so light)<br />
- clothing (more sporty clothes) flip flops everywhere, workout shorts, running shoes<br />
- amount of overweight/obese people<br />
- portion sizes<br />
- amount of processed/prepared foods at grocery (a lot that I am admittedly happy to see)<br />
- most food products come with a resealable zipper! (or some sort of convenience feature)<br />
- general shopping - selection, amount of STUFF - it's truly one of the biggest shocks and it's overwhelming. I've heard stories of people crying at Target. <br />
- ice water at restaurants<br />
- commercials - tv in restaurants<br />
- eavesdropping - hearing convos <br />
- coffee options (Starbucks has made people so picky about their coffee)<br />
- very friendly people<br />
- disposable everything - put everything in a paper or plastic bag - wrap it in some more paper - lots of trash...too many receipts<br />
- grocery store - bagging for you - I feel I must help<br />
- loud talkers<br />
- TV is terri (flipping through at the gym...I did settle on Wheel of Fortune..lovin' that)<br />
- miles and inches! lovin' you.<br />
- radio gets on my nerves more easily (prob. bc I haven't listened to it in 3 years bc I didn't drive)<br />
- iPhones everywhere<br />
- no tram - can't easily walk - bus system kinda cruddy<br />
- sports mania and paraphernalia<br />
- pretty old style American homes with pretty yards...all unique with cute porches<br />
- no easy system for recycling<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApfQQLM-Ldpn_TbCO5zlZqFEilRNsETA93M86iab_ENwmmit7yaLqWI-a0sMeBmSPWasyboHShvp1Gg-Mihv0TKUdn3bbgQxJf4j383gVLZhyphenhyphenO9xgBTOG-fbHTU-dzFgMhutXOPIL0DY/s1600/donettes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApfQQLM-Ldpn_TbCO5zlZqFEilRNsETA93M86iab_ENwmmit7yaLqWI-a0sMeBmSPWasyboHShvp1Gg-Mihv0TKUdn3bbgQxJf4j383gVLZhyphenhyphenO9xgBTOG-fbHTU-dzFgMhutXOPIL0DY/s400/donettes.png" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Art's junk pick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVz6KPlyl2LiZSU8i-_v24oIGsLAAA99Nn5mGTbffGiIwL5b0CR1Uqt_W8CfuNXgNgEJrXDaMopxW4Tb3HBqRy50OAu_sIHMHnx-fskx3BmjYD2wTjGsRmCZzuCLIuZj5wZ4SD_ZIyXM4/s1600/cookies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVz6KPlyl2LiZSU8i-_v24oIGsLAAA99Nn5mGTbffGiIwL5b0CR1Uqt_W8CfuNXgNgEJrXDaMopxW4Tb3HBqRy50OAu_sIHMHnx-fskx3BmjYD2wTjGsRmCZzuCLIuZj5wZ4SD_ZIyXM4/s640/cookies.png" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mine. Hello Peppy Farm. </div><br />
And, that's it for now. There's more. I feel myself starting to get mostly adjusted. I think Art adjusted after 8 hours. He's had about 836 Philly cheesesteaks. I forgot how hard and weird it is to be living in a new place where you know no one and don't have a life there yet. We're getting there. The heat is gone (for now) and I'm getting caught up on work and getting our home set up before I go to Houston next week! <br />
<br />
Oh, and the belly is kickin'. Literally. Any slight incline and I'm winded. And Pitt is hilly. Have you seen the steps to my house? Yikes. <br />
<br />
Elsie's doin' good too. There's a grazing bunny in our backyard every morning that she rips my arm out of socket over. She loves all the easy access to everyone's yards and she's likin' her new summer haircut:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPWuEyisI9QbEUE_klxV9fG5N1KQX28oKcg6ssanF_XKye_VNjIgLOyqbBNWm2gkoLUo2sD6E84Mx1cWkqb7LvFlEkFaX9yB-t2QKYw45wccjyWp59WlnJoqeBpMPzzmzgdgKrEdBjbM/s1600/els.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPWuEyisI9QbEUE_klxV9fG5N1KQX28oKcg6ssanF_XKye_VNjIgLOyqbBNWm2gkoLUo2sD6E84Mx1cWkqb7LvFlEkFaX9yB-t2QKYw45wccjyWp59WlnJoqeBpMPzzmzgdgKrEdBjbM/s400/els.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
She did not, however, appreciate the 9-hour flight and crate lockdown. When we went to pick her up in baggage her whole crate was shaking back and forth and the guy next to it goes "washing machine?".<br />
<br />
Right now I'm at Starbucks (I just asked for a tall iced coffee...and I think it made her uncomfortable that there weren't 8 adjectives before it) and I'm doing some work and waiting on the arrival of my newest niece in Austin! Any hour now. Her darling nursery by my talented sis to be debuted soon!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_658051019"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_658051019" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBOu8-Efjg8yj8AdxPrqKXVKVz7Zol5G-Bjkwh0SIH93ZFibf0ot-hqR0X6MlFOQ7YllRzbb2aPUNyML932G5KgcTY8NZcEV3MCAoMshVzd8VmEzHfcYTHNc_NzxAqrA1OTPtXDnlSmU/s640/photo4.png" width="640" /></a>Tschüß or shall I say...later! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't think I haven't said 'danke' to quite a few peeps.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-29389852570313778382012-06-11T17:23:00.006-04:002012-06-13T10:53:42.801-04:00Fam & Pitt<div style="text-align: center;">I stole these pics from my sister, Molly, cause I didn't take any while my family was here. They left last week and this week has been filled with getting electricity, hot water, internet, some furniture..you know, all the fun stuff. Art's already gone to work and I've tried out the bus system (uh, nein). You can walk here in some parts, but not get around predominantly that way. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">It was so fun to see my parents and my sister and have them here when we arrived. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ1AKoOIdthm-s65WZqjhdvrI7NgZjuXRhovylm9sJFvA16toU_djH54MNK4bor0zPn19mkBAg7EEA0v3qxUZatpg58_ChTpL0CW9ZN_IpTutd5RrdYp98qHePscrLCj-wZagpFG0pRI/s1600/momcocotarget.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ1AKoOIdthm-s65WZqjhdvrI7NgZjuXRhovylm9sJFvA16toU_djH54MNK4bor0zPn19mkBAg7EEA0v3qxUZatpg58_ChTpL0CW9ZN_IpTutd5RrdYp98qHePscrLCj-wZagpFG0pRI/s640/momcocotarget.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Perked at Target. (My enthusiasm has waned by now...I've been 6 times already for necessities.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7xS911sIpgY3D5O7Y8Jm4uHjbk0NxO8fw3PSv_WBR1R_bCe5Bq4Tr6TvEotkqQVoUliBT_yQP2Kk5VXA0RkRpILU_51JC_hwnAj0n1Cn3Tp2tXuIRu2yTkBdHzd_ZpV69PMUugyxx0M/s1600/251844_10151042365162835_1911546306_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7xS911sIpgY3D5O7Y8Jm4uHjbk0NxO8fw3PSv_WBR1R_bCe5Bq4Tr6TvEotkqQVoUliBT_yQP2Kk5VXA0RkRpILU_51JC_hwnAj0n1Cn3Tp2tXuIRu2yTkBdHzd_ZpV69PMUugyxx0M/s640/251844_10151042365162835_1911546306_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOgLP74BtzXcs9Zh89LwNYWUB_p5uxHYCAeQS8A6QOLDkljwTKca5_MWyQiuvP2LvNZWI7FbNM1iKnwAd4gPiqp6L4t3UpfiiWB62Ck_I6GsqSdwwuTdSVjJjkD35b0wO69I9eBc0cYg/s1600/IMG_3915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOgLP74BtzXcs9Zh89LwNYWUB_p5uxHYCAeQS8A6QOLDkljwTKca5_MWyQiuvP2LvNZWI7FbNM1iKnwAd4gPiqp6L4t3UpfiiWB62Ck_I6GsqSdwwuTdSVjJjkD35b0wO69I9eBc0cYg/s640/IMG_3915.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In front of the Cathedral of Learning </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTJM-Q12RwImmkYN5b9ff4-D_-uxuGIUuc9WhDmxVvYFa44F7CNO9un1mhbQPcU_7amOABcxoOgGgu2yKH_zH6P9caXO7ep6j6LSBV7vtu7XzAl_R9p4e6wgABLTfkxfY094HHlALQUs/s1600/IMG_3920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTJM-Q12RwImmkYN5b9ff4-D_-uxuGIUuc9WhDmxVvYFa44F7CNO9un1mhbQPcU_7amOABcxoOgGgu2yKH_zH6P9caXO7ep6j6LSBV7vtu7XzAl_R9p4e6wgABLTfkxfY094HHlALQUs/s640/IMG_3920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_Qf5cE2SO0WaI5SH0i-D7m9YHtPKGmWuxLj3i1JdUySddsoN0rXx9B7baFFz0-BZAt6dsKi4gQPzpO-Fsm5aZltvJ5tsJf80i4NfWN4y6Fiwp3PZbHVOVSFO-2C-CbQSyDI-N-vLVVc/s1600/IMG_3931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_Qf5cE2SO0WaI5SH0i-D7m9YHtPKGmWuxLj3i1JdUySddsoN0rXx9B7baFFz0-BZAt6dsKi4gQPzpO-Fsm5aZltvJ5tsJf80i4NfWN4y6Fiwp3PZbHVOVSFO-2C-CbQSyDI-N-vLVVc/s640/IMG_3931.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Austrian Room!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHco1_jH4Kuw6NIVukuyJY-MOiP04bJSJs1hK3su-FcF706EJj35Jhq0P-f_LPRilOcNQNcg5-KlShhT2vqRakRiIP6SoHmtezcw0SQRIkBjRWzs-WkoT4e_nu5pSQVihOuD07CKG7UI/s1600/IMG_3933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHco1_jH4Kuw6NIVukuyJY-MOiP04bJSJs1hK3su-FcF706EJj35Jhq0P-f_LPRilOcNQNcg5-KlShhT2vqRakRiIP6SoHmtezcw0SQRIkBjRWzs-WkoT4e_nu5pSQVihOuD07CKG7UI/s640/IMG_3933.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Beautiful Lobby</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuMA9kKPOnOfaPtn9fF8jPHxDWTrOyYi14lxu5rTBkG23PHCI_ZvqRiAdZHXBpaz4cNz7Z7n5l7x7hSpZo8E4OcAeqwDVNu0c1D482BFw2ah2inWyzRnEqXvHH4KqTzbz9fv5brWYeag/s1600/IMG_4000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuMA9kKPOnOfaPtn9fF8jPHxDWTrOyYi14lxu5rTBkG23PHCI_ZvqRiAdZHXBpaz4cNz7Z7n5l7x7hSpZo8E4OcAeqwDVNu0c1D482BFw2ah2inWyzRnEqXvHH4KqTzbz9fv5brWYeag/s640/IMG_4000.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wondey flamingos at The National Aviary.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53eZuTuRKnDQONKvJ4DR4r1mtHjVuw3lf9ImkgRVkjfQpzVAZKtK0EqkiM2BQX3wkq4zCoBCQINC8XdLiDsmCNrKkvaId2eLrzfWf09iudj8mTV6KzsfHzuiS7PyalyK2diuFzHDisjc/s1600/IMG_3950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53eZuTuRKnDQONKvJ4DR4r1mtHjVuw3lf9ImkgRVkjfQpzVAZKtK0EqkiM2BQX3wkq4zCoBCQINC8XdLiDsmCNrKkvaId2eLrzfWf09iudj8mTV6KzsfHzuiS7PyalyK2diuFzHDisjc/s640/IMG_3950.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">With my sis overlookin' Pitt.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YZlEnDOhQgXNKIt2F1Sd5RmdCYl6CtTjEp_X0dcvtYzEhoK5vnNlH4sEqzmnBvc_p3bLEiXPtOB5HYyyNDMh3msNaH-2BoB-GFTBtLJ1570jol_MupkpL8AUHbWzWuoJQkoB52IlxzY/s1600/famtime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YZlEnDOhQgXNKIt2F1Sd5RmdCYl6CtTjEp_X0dcvtYzEhoK5vnNlH4sEqzmnBvc_p3bLEiXPtOB5HYyyNDMh3msNaH-2BoB-GFTBtLJ1570jol_MupkpL8AUHbWzWuoJQkoB52IlxzY/s640/famtime.jpg" width="640" /></a>The whole fam at a restaurant at the top of the Incline that overlooks the city. Art and I just drove across the bridge at night yesterday...real pretty! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(That mustard and ice tea on the table are exciting.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It won't be long 'til I greet them again in Houston in July. Hopefully I can get some stuff done around here before I go!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-16952466601622824382012-06-05T11:20:00.000-04:002012-06-05T11:20:00.532-04:00Here.<div style="text-align: center;">We arrived safe and sound in Pittsburgh and already had a great 3 days with my parents and sister getting familiar with our new city.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">All I've got to show for it for now is this. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObbLpC0BLs9mIu9W1enxZHbUQGChyphenhyphenqeuBUAziNQGEWe03kY8oCeHa2jSJQ_XgVN-Yrp5NDwmhHRLGTfnwV3ZxgntTZc_ol6S6cXKZp5u8aAv4yTdOd9-8e5mWGAlJvqbKg1ZohoOEEPc/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObbLpC0BLs9mIu9W1enxZHbUQGChyphenhyphenqeuBUAziNQGEWe03kY8oCeHa2jSJQ_XgVN-Yrp5NDwmhHRLGTfnwV3ZxgntTZc_ol6S6cXKZp5u8aAv4yTdOd9-8e5mWGAlJvqbKg1ZohoOEEPc/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, Mac, I've missed you.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You too, Molly.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-32168964418261695292012-05-31T03:00:00.004-04:002012-05-31T03:00:04.851-04:00A Nice Way to Wrap Things Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYuc-TMVZs5ge0O_mvMfWQfhiKvRGNd2orWNiawjicMtPxeiAqZHWMNKEQ4U7-bt_XWMQMqF8wj4A2i8xk4lE6S4wx6_AkSF8_epD91OhZtU-UW9bQCTwBwQ_Q5xQGbba0YTLi7U-pVk/s1600/Article1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYuc-TMVZs5ge0O_mvMfWQfhiKvRGNd2orWNiawjicMtPxeiAqZHWMNKEQ4U7-bt_XWMQMqF8wj4A2i8xk4lE6S4wx6_AkSF8_epD91OhZtU-UW9bQCTwBwQ_Q5xQGbba0YTLi7U-pVk/s1600/Article1.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(actual link <a href="http://epaper.kleinezeitung.at/edition-kzg/data/20120527/01/G7_HAUPTBLATT/page.jsp;jsessionid=BA247FEB2AA9E24299CB2E12074A8BAD" target="_blank">here</a>, page 12)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Last week a journalist from the paper here in Graz, <a href="http://www.kleinezeitung.at/" target="_blank">Kleine Zeitung</a>, e-mailed me about doing a short story on me and my blog (her colleague had told her about it) in their Sunday excerpt section. I met her for coffee the next day in the midst of all the packing and furniture selling and had a good time reliving and reviewing my experience here in Graz through our conversation.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The sign I'm holding says "My Story"...a weekly feature they do on a Graz resident. I never did say I was a cowgirl because I most certainly am not being city girl from Houston, but people can't help themselves when they hear 'Texas'. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: center;">English translation:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Traveled to the Past</b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A full-blooded American moves to Graz and becomes a Styrian. Proof: her blog.</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">TEXT: SABRINA LUTTENBERGER, PHOTO: Gernot Eder</span><br />
<br />
On her wrist Carolyn Valentín wears a wooden bracelet adorned with many little Edelweiss. Three and a half years in Graz, and even a well-kept cowgirl from the very conservative Texas now lives white-green. Initially: unimaginable. "Honestly, I did not even know what language you spoke here. I just googled it" said Valentín, grinning. Typical American, that's clear, but that was then.<br />
<br />
In February 2009, Valentin's husband took a job at TU Graz University, and together they moved to an unknown land to them, to a city of which they knew nothing. The American created a blog for her family and her friends, and later got many questions from strangers who were interested in living in the city. The first entries were about Valentín handling the culture shock. "It felt like we were traveling back in time. Graz kind of looks like 1950." Today the 32-year-old still sees her second home as old-fashioned, but now appreciates this charm. You can live a life here, she says, that one can also very much enjoy. We learned to appreciate little things again. And suddenly their old ways of living sometimes seem strange to them: "Everybody drives big cars (in Texas) so you are rarely walking and almost always sitting." In her time in Graz, Valentin has enjoyed the walking, the fresh bread and the Austrian coffee house culture. About herself she says: "I'm basically still the same person - only more open and less judgmental." An American 2.0.<br />
<br />
Next week, the current web designer, her husband and the baby in her belly move back home. Next Residence: Pittsburgh. What they'll miss: the Schlossberg and the medical care. Really looking forward to: more choice in supermarkets and their family. There is only one thing the blogger regrets: to have never really learned German. Without fixed employment, it was almost impossible". "It was one of the best times of my life" They would like to visit again - she says it's a "must". Her husband already has plans to retire in the Styrian wine country.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks to Sabrina for the feature! It was a treat and a great keepsake. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We'll miss you, Graz!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We fly out tomorrow!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-31152003740698776622012-05-27T04:47:00.001-04:002012-05-27T04:51:16.895-04:00Showered!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5bSJcahJ2vdG1Wt1Ogl7UKdVvEzBbWsk2BXMj8fKsxtgn-XM7uqdHAuBJ-wW3Wh_oa9c_CyEXrZIX4bD2tZJa6t-dSWa73hZaKElZosDyDC4tp9cv4ZDDLxe8p8EvdFsKQ1fpnyQ4q4/s1600/IMG_1878sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5bSJcahJ2vdG1Wt1Ogl7UKdVvEzBbWsk2BXMj8fKsxtgn-XM7uqdHAuBJ-wW3Wh_oa9c_CyEXrZIX4bD2tZJa6t-dSWa73hZaKElZosDyDC4tp9cv4ZDDLxe8p8EvdFsKQ1fpnyQ4q4/s400/IMG_1878sm.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Receiving the lederhosen onesie I <a href="http://lifeingraz.blogspot.com/2012/02/pregnant-in-austria.html" target="_blank">posted</a> way back when I was first preg. It's pretty dang cute!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">So, my wonderful friends here threw me a surprise baby shower last week. I thought I was going over to my friend's house early to help her out with a little Farewell BBQ we were having.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFwjoR8R0xvZzNb4HPmixFW_rEk68CLRUZxdlIYxibcWQFN41ACnBiVAdQTdKZNi2ur6opLbvIuBjE3aqShKrE7Ppyyx2GVBE5PAOD2nVBxcuBQ_JMvFyTiSktCkbWy3pvYabRl3VcUU/s1600/May+075sm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="503" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFwjoR8R0xvZzNb4HPmixFW_rEk68CLRUZxdlIYxibcWQFN41ACnBiVAdQTdKZNi2ur6opLbvIuBjE3aqShKrE7Ppyyx2GVBE5PAOD2nVBxcuBQ_JMvFyTiSktCkbWy3pvYabRl3VcUU/s640/May+075sm.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I walked in and my friends all greeted/surprised me. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiM7QlOQnlTuI7ZErwh__XWTLRz0rE8CT74_-UvTRIsZca2rh9y-xs16v3ktf4tqhBgju_Qgkw9IO-DD5YBIVn7aZ8_SyM2Jb0pspfAzRqZJK-y4ec2OIgadw7CyMmxNENRaZC68xSZ0s/s1600/IMG_1861sm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiM7QlOQnlTuI7ZErwh__XWTLRz0rE8CT74_-UvTRIsZca2rh9y-xs16v3ktf4tqhBgju_Qgkw9IO-DD5YBIVn7aZ8_SyM2Jb0pspfAzRqZJK-y4ec2OIgadw7CyMmxNENRaZC68xSZ0s/s640/IMG_1861sm.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">the delicious and pretty goodies</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4yZsJiPWJU_rpIWhXfWAfORPskNzM-U5bMxSJTTAgrQomak9Z9dXMOb3Nnu3R6JkcovdxVEoJAfoI9gvcoyCusKRmkAOWNNAIbNe3ykD8Z2YNWaUdvZGyETdCbY4ga77F2UWBMC6q6Q/s1600/May+092sm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4yZsJiPWJU_rpIWhXfWAfORPskNzM-U5bMxSJTTAgrQomak9Z9dXMOb3Nnu3R6JkcovdxVEoJAfoI9gvcoyCusKRmkAOWNNAIbNe3ykD8Z2YNWaUdvZGyETdCbY4ga77F2UWBMC6q6Q/s1600/May+092sm.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">How many cookies is that now? Save some for fatty.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDxENhO9dgKplbuoSIFkNSwAmehCnfbM7hGk9gP9NVEAuwo8weC6qAAKVg6bQB_a8idaK06up4feLKF2CK0XH80FE8iU5BGzqEo3CraPNKALZFyHA6OIKD8j4fQwaQ5oU1WPCCn9tj9A/s1600/May+088sm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDxENhO9dgKplbuoSIFkNSwAmehCnfbM7hGk9gP9NVEAuwo8weC6qAAKVg6bQB_a8idaK06up4feLKF2CK0XH80FE8iU5BGzqEo3CraPNKALZFyHA6OIKD8j4fQwaQ5oU1WPCCn9tj9A/s640/May+088sm.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Amber, Monica, Wendy and Katelyn</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9aispo2b4_uMx6kIFHvFhGxeG9drkO8ztQ3bDTfKBx9K0tgHqwJYAVEryeP0pmUlreTN_7SUTPHjdi3De7dxdvjdwy4Y2YpruHZNCERpQFW_lgeE4GYAEdED0CRtIbP9DK6AJiNClww/s1600/May+097sm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9aispo2b4_uMx6kIFHvFhGxeG9drkO8ztQ3bDTfKBx9K0tgHqwJYAVEryeP0pmUlreTN_7SUTPHjdi3De7dxdvjdwy4Y2YpruHZNCERpQFW_lgeE4GYAEdED0CRtIbP9DK6AJiNClww/s640/May+097sm.png" width="396" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">With Amber, my American counterpart</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaQljiSfPw-MV6Xgk4ewUdo_Q-AJ6o4vfJbt7UPWMRO-zoymuAvO_feJ8kQNsMyjgUYH-xwL6mUjBKPMsazLIntrWf7mYrtCd2QRwscIxmdTaoJxwRWktC1tBmpC4IS_Pe9X2U_aGldw/s1600/IMG_1877sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaQljiSfPw-MV6Xgk4ewUdo_Q-AJ6o4vfJbt7UPWMRO-zoymuAvO_feJ8kQNsMyjgUYH-xwL6mUjBKPMsazLIntrWf7mYrtCd2QRwscIxmdTaoJxwRWktC1tBmpC4IS_Pe9X2U_aGldw/s640/IMG_1877sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I must have said something hilarious.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOSVh8pamx1xrRuwNsu341DrySIhfpEhFdKMg331q9HjUYUaCzIs_LSt6d88_Wf2fRxmcRyMNT_VhaIgQTXnyYtYxyFNoDZfTzz3KBrgsZucSS1jSWhVwS4Qn0XFLrDT1r_7jKBkAb6s/s1600/IMG_4751sm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOSVh8pamx1xrRuwNsu341DrySIhfpEhFdKMg331q9HjUYUaCzIs_LSt6d88_Wf2fRxmcRyMNT_VhaIgQTXnyYtYxyFNoDZfTzz3KBrgsZucSS1jSWhVwS4Qn0XFLrDT1r_7jKBkAb6s/s640/IMG_4751sm.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">All my girls. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEDvCa2yUrOQyC0mi4pFkBkUb1BB0Ep_r6tzx6iNbzapIP0jWHEiX1jqzWqBwC-1Ru6emVcxfKQ6cn4M1EQvVQUtfEZyDqq8LbMMpdMT2PunxPXmWWPY1pMoEryd-9irmT932Fmc_1zU/s1600/IMG_4752sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEDvCa2yUrOQyC0mi4pFkBkUb1BB0Ep_r6tzx6iNbzapIP0jWHEiX1jqzWqBwC-1Ru6emVcxfKQ6cn4M1EQvVQUtfEZyDqq8LbMMpdMT2PunxPXmWWPY1pMoEryd-9irmT932Fmc_1zU/s1600/IMG_4752sm.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lee does crazy things. I love it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSB92-Eg1XdBd2zQ8ahdrGMc0NYvI_CHFupn_B4cfWaFchS2GSfahjEwlPepmJ8WV1AKaWMpzu2dJaN9L29nuqBZVvxZvlZarJQGgDzoE2RdWURm7srAh4YDjaULzgJaRQo8762spI0o/s1600/IMG_1880sm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSB92-Eg1XdBd2zQ8ahdrGMc0NYvI_CHFupn_B4cfWaFchS2GSfahjEwlPepmJ8WV1AKaWMpzu2dJaN9L29nuqBZVvxZvlZarJQGgDzoE2RdWURm7srAh4YDjaULzgJaRQo8762spI0o/s640/IMG_1880sm.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Later all the husbands came for the BBQ. Here with Claire and sweet Tristan.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8NchFYqLnIGe7Q8087bhDgHqitV3mQxnwCfVze_fpRrKmRJNhf354RNOR3FAOuoAnj_lqLS5Dc5riAorCLOF0t-VMyjEQ2BNhvXO2VzYrTDnnSA0vgVFmELxv6t0TgJkwQ4pUu354B8/s1600/May+112sm+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8NchFYqLnIGe7Q8087bhDgHqitV3mQxnwCfVze_fpRrKmRJNhf354RNOR3FAOuoAnj_lqLS5Dc5riAorCLOF0t-VMyjEQ2BNhvXO2VzYrTDnnSA0vgVFmELxv6t0TgJkwQ4pUu354B8/s640/May+112sm+copy.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blurred up with Monica and Andreas.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Art and Andreas work next to each other...Monica and I are besties.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnkI4Sbzh6Vmjkg9kr8C0ErI5pPHK15GkDcKWXmmvXOrJFP4nHJ3WzrzG8X0hdQHStbmmeWhz9CIsJywagluHctmkNcPvdnYPWVuEbWRGYjM2NZazXfgA4RgTpNN6LdeoTU6covFH1PI/s1600/May+116+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnkI4Sbzh6Vmjkg9kr8C0ErI5pPHK15GkDcKWXmmvXOrJFP4nHJ3WzrzG8X0hdQHStbmmeWhz9CIsJywagluHctmkNcPvdnYPWVuEbWRGYjM2NZazXfgA4RgTpNN6LdeoTU6covFH1PI/s640/May+116+copy.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">With Katelyn and Joe...former Pittsburghers that very well may be our first visitors.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2a7AUZ8h2QIIHhD_yzagGgcWhDBz_Ywq0p4owR3l2Ia5ySBcIv3_miTCIS_c8UKafkl8NN4HIlZSv3jV9Pje1r7sCeRMde_iaCgctNgFQFMqjwarWhkLAAkb7Raso2rVHIqEE-nQQ5G8/s1600/Photo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2a7AUZ8h2QIIHhD_yzagGgcWhDBz_Ywq0p4owR3l2Ia5ySBcIv3_miTCIS_c8UKafkl8NN4HIlZSv3jV9Pje1r7sCeRMde_iaCgctNgFQFMqjwarWhkLAAkb7Raso2rVHIqEE-nQQ5G8/s1600/Photo.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kim (hostess with the mostess), me, Cecile and Lee</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks so much, girls! It meant the world to me. I will miss you all dearly!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Surely Pittsburgh doesn't have a Ratpack like this. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-64725202392652262942012-05-23T05:25:00.000-04:002012-05-23T05:25:24.125-04:00The Final Stretch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9jW9pGctEAnI6VBajXKij274QkeD5BtSahazq0ej3-zCePIQNr220t1Cvu4ijs461ewupZATbA-mwmzHqSVZE-1X47QieDa_FaCP836m_YujbuTeNqq_ciD-TEQ7SsgR2A_XfqwENhE/s1600/IMG_4800.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9jW9pGctEAnI6VBajXKij274QkeD5BtSahazq0ej3-zCePIQNr220t1Cvu4ijs461ewupZATbA-mwmzHqSVZE-1X47QieDa_FaCP836m_YujbuTeNqq_ciD-TEQ7SsgR2A_XfqwENhE/s1600/IMG_4800.png" /></a></div><br />
Third trimester is here! 2 down, 1 to go. I have a feeling this one will feel the longest. Sleeping is already getting a bit uncomfy and the tinkle trips are multiplying at a rapid rate. I got my hair darkened yesterday as it was getting over-highlighted and lookin' crusty...can't have no trashy highlight mama. Gotta pamper yourself a bit when the rest of your bod is sufferin'. <br />
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Our apartment is almost bare. It's kinda sad and echo-y in here. We've sold almost all of our furniture and are living in chaos...this kinda of thing gives me anxiety...I feel like my life is discombobulated and it kinda is.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdY51FwWWpJuKp3-U9vacRec1hGsgeCan7fpn3omUNHC7EV80oDfppvZReyVtdWg4c57VhXe3LU1wdSjToxh2mjy1yXMPL4qmVhc9S1XQ9HS1Xm5bZsE8bpo-3IZGo1YUq1npn36FB78/s1600/IMG_4771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdY51FwWWpJuKp3-U9vacRec1hGsgeCan7fpn3omUNHC7EV80oDfppvZReyVtdWg4c57VhXe3LU1wdSjToxh2mjy1yXMPL4qmVhc9S1XQ9HS1Xm5bZsE8bpo-3IZGo1YUq1npn36FB78/s640/IMG_4771.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In a week we'll be flying over the Atlantic. Kinda ready to get on with this business, so I can set up shop in this new Pittsburgh town and have our babe!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And let's not forget eat at American restaurants...Mexican, sandwich shops, hamburgers...oh my.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-91709706387741978332012-05-08T04:44:00.003-04:002012-05-08T04:44:54.032-04:00IWA English Book Fair in Graz<div style="text-align: center;">For all English-speaking and reading Grazers:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As you know, English books aren't super easy to find here and they're expensive. The IWA (English Women's Group) Book Fair will have used English books on sale this Saturday for 2 Euros. It's a good way to stock up on some summer reading. There are desserts, children's toys and lovely ladies there too.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Join us!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOri4o0c1lEXzHN_6xLblW7Dlug2Ad1ChY044x86L9ZH2Cst5uEDtKDGJsVtjnc1IXUEbeGCG1hx5GUTFgSu23DdcVbkcT0zPzpSAqSInnGWGcgaVxShiboMlU1gBAybYsHrlD7G62BA/s1600/bookfair.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOri4o0c1lEXzHN_6xLblW7Dlug2Ad1ChY044x86L9ZH2Cst5uEDtKDGJsVtjnc1IXUEbeGCG1hx5GUTFgSu23DdcVbkcT0zPzpSAqSInnGWGcgaVxShiboMlU1gBAybYsHrlD7G62BA/s1600/bookfair.png" /></a></div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-3854888658077067772012-05-06T13:07:00.007-04:002012-05-07T05:49:21.143-04:00Only a Month Left!<div style="text-align: center;">I can't believe we have less than a month left in Graz. It won't really hit me fully until we are gone and unpacking in a new unfamiliar city. We're trying to see our friends as much as possible before we leave (in between packing and working). I remember when I was upset the first 3 days we moved to Graz and it was rainy and cold and I was having second thoughts, Art said, "When it's time for us to leave here, which will come sooner than you think, you'll be sad to leave all the great friends you'll have then". I might have shrugged him off and said "but there's an Alf sticker saying something in German on our bathroom door...I mean..does it get worse than that?"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our Aussie friends, Lee and Andrew, took us to brunch at the Opera House today..a monthly occurrence there. It was delightful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIOVbco3UVaqeMAcJMzb69ayH1CHrhyphenhyphenOYQ9FX3skmffEGxRiyUmCBf0FT8k9Nf46z6iztmZ_9oua3Kr1BTjhs2-wbySY1LuSqZf6UOLvhP3a3b5RSw45xDyxNBz_2gy_W82H62dgwIpQ/s1600/May+0212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIOVbco3UVaqeMAcJMzb69ayH1CHrhyphenhyphenOYQ9FX3skmffEGxRiyUmCBf0FT8k9Nf46z6iztmZ_9oua3Kr1BTjhs2-wbySY1LuSqZf6UOLvhP3a3b5RSw45xDyxNBz_2gy_W82H62dgwIpQ/s640/May+0212.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-4i23-LjD5lf5nzX0NBk6bEyCK2_W4YXvaLI5VYw7ZA2_w5JASXPCNcFTlVMPxyzxHFRwSSm2tRwtrxSrz2Vs1FREEE7eugvZjRljWtIm0CkNFbsq32knDpBF3CBYzBnx3QCNfWLZxY/s1600/May+0202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-4i23-LjD5lf5nzX0NBk6bEyCK2_W4YXvaLI5VYw7ZA2_w5JASXPCNcFTlVMPxyzxHFRwSSm2tRwtrxSrz2Vs1FREEE7eugvZjRljWtIm0CkNFbsq32knDpBF3CBYzBnx3QCNfWLZxY/s640/May+0202.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBUjNflyC6U3GivEFI8pCzTtSa5YWeWOJKCln155B09AMM7WIf1ZO9MQYpg0ZRF1vdnFNerQyN5Z0X9A6xcseY7RlvkeCr5fuaTAwFry1iDHVhJL7LAIS-Cfl8sX8Uc9n914nWl67DNY/s1600/May+0242.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBUjNflyC6U3GivEFI8pCzTtSa5YWeWOJKCln155B09AMM7WIf1ZO9MQYpg0ZRF1vdnFNerQyN5Z0X9A6xcseY7RlvkeCr5fuaTAwFry1iDHVhJL7LAIS-Cfl8sX8Uc9n914nWl67DNY/s640/May+0242.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWN6WtZDVSA98Zh_g0Fsha1vliA_g1hZ0lCIDh5JP1tDsBjEAY2bRgL6cj7q74Vu6npf7ktLevOuTDMc8WFDA5DDDG4hAHatg21KKgg5PFmzBQIxlY98NRWYmVcBwp4vuvJQctB7KsOw/s1600/IMG_4745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWN6WtZDVSA98Zh_g0Fsha1vliA_g1hZ0lCIDh5JP1tDsBjEAY2bRgL6cj7q74Vu6npf7ktLevOuTDMc8WFDA5DDDG4hAHatg21KKgg5PFmzBQIxlY98NRWYmVcBwp4vuvJQctB7KsOw/s640/IMG_4745.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a nice little surprise concert from an Australian violinist.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84JhsVvRlbaMLhrDb8KXvYx_utBRSaWKoJCsDAvNS6LLqTvOiTobHr8v_fuoMjL4eo2q8SaCsNTd-06C-7maU0gZwYwwUHMw2uE3TAsDP87G8S-7rGU9Bi8hJrvisstI2JmSFpnP0YAI/s1600/May+027.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84JhsVvRlbaMLhrDb8KXvYx_utBRSaWKoJCsDAvNS6LLqTvOiTobHr8v_fuoMjL4eo2q8SaCsNTd-06C-7maU0gZwYwwUHMw2uE3TAsDP87G8S-7rGU9Bi8hJrvisstI2JmSFpnP0YAI/s640/May+027.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1_X1ruUblm8KN0_ttEfEDtIIZGOYubgiau4J2sfrItZiOHYkFBHRU8iTTDROZSozDAPnTLbIsC-i0JHgIek43bD54H6KYoiERquE7dvVe_Q3j804sGukalvcNuT6StqIUpD2ZFDrg-M/s1600/4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1_X1ruUblm8KN0_ttEfEDtIIZGOYubgiau4J2sfrItZiOHYkFBHRU8iTTDROZSozDAPnTLbIsC-i0JHgIek43bD54H6KYoiERquE7dvVe_Q3j804sGukalvcNuT6StqIUpD2ZFDrg-M/s640/4.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tuesday was a holiday, May Day, and we spent it with our new American friends, Wendy and Eric, who've been here about a month now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHetdjmybP-_aF6RQ4C1jlgkxKRHZW3JS-AEbYTjJpOfpCGQR17zwEBRTZLmWKyrq6gM4M67CCSF3YuxRNigDScvfAs_zvnagkqWvZfq0-sMtJJgRwR9nIeanQUEgwZatYsZeGCSD-zE/s1600/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHetdjmybP-_aF6RQ4C1jlgkxKRHZW3JS-AEbYTjJpOfpCGQR17zwEBRTZLmWKyrq6gM4M67CCSF3YuxRNigDScvfAs_zvnagkqWvZfq0-sMtJJgRwR9nIeanQUEgwZatYsZeGCSD-zE/s640/2.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm sad we didn't get to spend more time with them. As you can imagine, we have lots to discuss...it wasn't long ago that we were in their position.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Tuesday was also my mom's birthday.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSeybB5-NOdXG2a_J9pn5mHvZBb6KJz1403KbSRsWNE9zbkvzMbKvo0pTQFJov7MYa6OWhYasIHOOEB14NSgNh0VY8jkT_NTveq3ruPH6rEn8BhDPemf45PO1smlGPEhug2b2SNohSng/s1600/photo-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSeybB5-NOdXG2a_J9pn5mHvZBb6KJz1403KbSRsWNE9zbkvzMbKvo0pTQFJov7MYa6OWhYasIHOOEB14NSgNh0VY8jkT_NTveq3ruPH6rEn8BhDPemf45PO1smlGPEhug2b2SNohSng/s400/photo-16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><i>My sister Molly did a cute tribute to her on <a href="http://www.bridgetsowndiary.com/2012/05/moms-word.html" target="_blank">her blog</a>.</i><br />
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My mom, dad and Molly will all be in Pittsburgh when we arrive! They will get our dishes, towels, bedding, etc. and set up our apartment a bit before we get there. Also bringing lots of our brand new wedding gifts from 3 years ago that we've never used. Hello All Clad set! ha. We can't wait to see them!<br />
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</div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675597085316655354.post-79065947174255911062012-05-02T10:00:00.003-04:002012-05-02T10:11:07.273-04:00The Beginning of Best Buds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VITKj1wwpAtiDEFQUx4kLuxpdn8ueI4PNGkmSevB-gNR6d7BDryjMB_YR7SlTDeiKlNCpAwiw_EuBTZlwSQN9pu8Pq2WVWyzEZ2ijDZ79HaNUjedpuduj7n_qLHLZjue89Vum5qHCCg/s1600/puplove.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VITKj1wwpAtiDEFQUx4kLuxpdn8ueI4PNGkmSevB-gNR6d7BDryjMB_YR7SlTDeiKlNCpAwiw_EuBTZlwSQN9pu8Pq2WVWyzEZ2ijDZ79HaNUjedpuduj7n_qLHLZjue89Vum5qHCCg/s640/puplove.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">She has always been a snuggler (aka: leech), but recently she does seem to want to rest her head (and sometimes her whole 33 lb. self) on just my belly. Will there be jealousy? For sure. But I think it will quickly turn into love. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10637579999008887341noreply@blogger.com6