This Week...

This week has been a celebration.

It's not even over, and yet, has already left me with such a wonderful impression.

This week...

I hit the second trimester.

On Monday.

Oh, how I've dreamt of the day I could say I made it this far.

I wanted to run in the streets naked, skip and dance and proclaim my happiness and excitement.

I settled for hopping in my mama jeans, slipping on an extra comfy maternity top, slapping on a face of makeup and posing for some celebratory pictures.

  

Oh, how I've dreamt of the day I'd begin to pop.

There's something so magical about seeing my belly grow (and grow and grow) a little more each week.  I had a moment the other day where I was standing, drying my hair in one of Steve's tee shirts and I just lost it...there staring back at me - a true bump - our baby.

Steve has said from the beginning that he couldn't wait for me to show...how it would hit him hard when the time came. 

 And we're finally here... 

And loving it.

This is definitely going in the baby book.

***

This week...

I turned 30 on Tuesday.

30 is gonna be a freakin' awesome year.  I don't doubt that for a second. 

30 felt like just another day - in a fabulous - age-really-don't-mean-a-thing kinda way.

I look back at all I learned and all the memories made in this past decade

 and it makes me excited for what's to come.

Kim showed up at my door with thoughtful treats and swept me off my feet with a trip to the awesome-o, Shady Maple Smorgasbord in Lancaster.

The weather was dark and stormy, but that didn't stop us.

Birthday peeps eat free.  I took advantage.

We started healthy, with giant salads.  And quickly moved on

with plates of mac n' cheese and corn fritters.

And ended with what else, but sugar!

We were stuffed and attempted to walk it off in their downstairs gift shop.

We had to recreate Kim's photo from last year.

We almost bought these for our trip to the grocery store.

<3

Steve took me to The Melting Pot for a 3 hour feast.

Cheese. Meat. Chocolate.

Mama was happy.  Baby was happy.

It was so nice to just sit and relax together.  I kept choking back tears as I thought about past birthdays.  The past few had been so trying - beautiful but bittersweet.

And this one...

was just sweet.

I ordered a non-alcoholic beer just to feel like a cool pregnant chick.

Overindulged on queso.

And got lost in wonderful conversation.

Twinkie was fascinated with the balloon.

***

The night came to an end with more happy emotions.

Jessica had left a gift at the door.

A book that I can't wait to read to baby...

With a sweet tearjerker of a letter written inside to Baby Marino.

Before I headed upstairs,

I read it with Twinkie resting beside me as I wiped tears and snapped a quick pic

to thank and send to Jessica.

It was a beautiful day.

<3

I woke up Wednesday to meet Kelly and Daxon for breakfast at our most favorite spot.

One of my thoughtful gifts from Kelly - a pregnancy journal! I spent last night jotting down memories and filling up the first trimester pages. 

Cuddle buddy <3

Birthdays make you reflect and take a good hard look at where you've been and where you are.

I've been doing a lot of that this week.

And I'm looking forward to writing more about it all in future posts.

It sure was one hell of a

And I can't wait to continue celebrating life and love with the ones I love.

Not just this week...

every week.

Thank you

 for all of the beautiful words on my last post.

<3<3<3



Lovin' this week,