Five on Friday

Happy Friday! I'm linking up with the lovely April, Natasha, Christina, and Darci for Five on Friday!

Here we go!

ONE

Snow, snow, snowy, snow, snow--- My gracious! Thanks to multiple winter weather systems hitting NC my past two weeks have turned into a spontaneous vacation! I have literally worked 2.5 out of the last ten workdays, and I have loved every second of it--a perfect mix of relaxation and productivity around the house! I haven't even gone stir crazy, especially since Kyle's been home for most of it, and we want to soak up as much couple time as we can these days.  And yes, I did watch a whole season of America's Next Top Model on Hulu. And now I'm on Pretty Little Liars. Except today House of Cards' new season was released! Eeeek!

TWO

Cats out of the bag-- What a relief to finally have announced our pregnancy! We've had so much fun getting to talk openly about it and are pumped to share our journey here on the blog! In case you need to catch up, check here and here!

THREE

One in every color-- I am obsessed with this top from Loft. It can be dressed up or down, is super flattering, and is actually long enough to wear with leggings (you can't tell in the pic, but it's longer in the back and covers the bootay...at least for a shorty like me!). I also love the it can be either 3/4 sleeve or long sleeve and can transition nicely into Spring. I am currently on a shopping hiatus but did have to break the rules to snag this during a 50% off sale recently. And double snaps for the fact that this top also hides a newbie baby bump quite nicely!

FOUR

Bridal Shower Gifts-- My life-long bestie is getting married in just a little over a month, and I had so much fun at her bridal shower this past weekend. Between her wedding, my brother's wedding, and my cousin's wedding later this year, I feel like I'm going to be attending lots of fun showers, and I'm always on the lookout for great gifts--especially for ones that themed in some way. I've been scouring Pinterest for some good ideas and wanted to share a few of my favorites:

1. Milestones Wine Basket

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2. Perfect Pairs Basket

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3. Chic Cooking Basket

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FIVE

Valentine's Day (a lotta-bit little late)--- I know I'm way late with this, but I am at least still within the month in which V-Day takes place, so that counts for something, right!? And, if we're being honest, I really did write half of this post last Friday...which was only a week after Heart Day!

 There are lots of differing thoughts about this "Hallmark Holiday", but I fall into the "this is truly one of my favorite holidays" camp. I love everything about it. The pink, red, and white. Making valentines, especially for my students. Watching chick-flick love stories. Happy sigh. I kicked my celebrations off early the weekend before with a girl's night with some teacher friends where ate yummies, made our valentines for our students, and had girl talk. Kyle and I had a low-key early Valentine's dinner on Friday night, which was delicious and made especially better by the fact that we had a gift-card. Our presents for each other this year were "labors of love." I went and stood in line for an hour with Kyle to help him get his hands on a special-release beer. Kyle is going to clean out my car, which is not going to be an easy task for him! On the actual day we got to celebrate my friend Lauren's bday with dinner at a local Mexican restaurant and games back at her place with friends. It was such a fun night!

Have the best weekend, friends!

Baby Abrams-- How We Found Out Part 1

Happy Thursday! I am cuddled up on the couch with a perfect view of this gorgeous winter wonderland that my southern city has transformed into. Nowhere to go, nothing that I have to do, which means it's a perfect day to spill all of the deets about how Kyle and I found out that we were pregnant.

Finding out this second time around was its own little mini-drama. 

After our miscarriage, we knew that we obviously had to wait a couple of months before trying again per the doctor's orders. But, we didn't exactly know when we'd emotionally be ready to start trying again, and I just remember feeling completely frustrated by how "up in the air" our future felt. 

In November we got to spend this amazing restoring weekend at Figure 8, just the two of us, and that was the first time I remember feeling ready to move forward. I don't know if Kyle was exactly quite in the same place because I know that was a big weekend for him in his healing.  I distinctly remember having to have the conversation with him about how he needed to choose happiness, words he'd spoken to me many times. I can't speak for him, but I feel like by the time his birthday weekend rolled around 2 weeks later, and we were back on Figure 8 with his family for the weekend, he was in a much better place and was willing to talk about moving forward, too.

We had a super frustrating conversation with a doctor at the new OB practice that we switched to, in which we were basically told that I needed to put off trying until after I made sure that my thyroid was in check. I left in tears and called my mom on the way home. 

But, the fact of the matter was that even if we had gotten the green light from the doctor, my body was having a hard time getting back to its regular self, which we knew could happen following the D&C.  Despite the fact that I was tracking temperatures and testing ovulation, everything just seemed out of whack. And, this may be TMI, but because I didn't think that there was a chance I could get pregnant that month we did nothing to prevent pregnancy. 

And then, I started having some temperature spikes, which can be a sign of ovulation or pregnancy. And that little part of me that secretly hoped I was pregnant even though I'd been told not to and didn't think was even possible that month started to get butterflies.

Which brings us to the day before Thanksgiving when we went to see an Endocrinologist to start on that whole "getting my thyroid in check" suggestion from the OB. While there, she told us that we should hold off on trying to get pregnant for at least 6 weeks and asked if there was any way I was already pregnant, to which I looked at Kyle kind of baffled and said, something along the lines of, "Well, no we don't think so, but I guess there's always a chance." She ordered a blood test, and we waited a painfully-long few hours to get the phone call saying that the blood test had come back negative for pregnancy. 

But that little part of me thought maybe it was just too early to tell. 

And, on Thanksgiving morning, I woke up sick, and my waking temperature had gone back down to normal, and I called my mom sobbing and finally spoke the words out loud that I had really wanted to be pregnant again. I cried and cried because isn't that what you do when you're 1. sick and 2. heartbroken. But, I put on my big girl pants and managed to have a great Thanksgiving with Kyle's family before joining my family in Virginia the next day. 

I remember telling my cousin, Kathleen, how desperately I'd wanted to be pregnant by Christmas, but that it just didn't look like it was going to happen. 

But, God, oh that mysterious, all-knowing One, had His own plan for us. 

Because a week or so later, on Dec. 6, after more confusing waking-temperature reads, I took a pregnancy test and saw two lines appear and was absolutely floored. I showed it to Kyle, and I think we were both in shock. 

Kyle would like everyone to excuse his bed-head. It was early on a Saturday morning (hehe!)

We were absolutely thrilled. We were absolutely terrified. 

Something's Brewing...

My heart is bursting with joy to finally share this little secret that I've been keeping since December! Kyle and I could not be more excited to welcome a precious little baby this August (15th is the official due date!). God is so, so good!

It feels weird to have been going through something so big and major but not really being at a place to blog about it. I've been holding all the words of my heart so close these past couple of months, and I cannot tell you the relief I feel finally being able to write about it. And,  It's just so nice to be sharing this kind of pregnancy post instead of the last one I shared. I have so much to say. Because I've been feeling so much. Pregnancy in general I'm sure is a roller coaster. Pregnancy after a loss is a roller coaster times infinity.

So, bear with me if pregnancy-related posts are what you get out of me over the next week or so! It's been a long time coming (or at least it's felt that way to me!).

Oh, happy day!

Show Us Your Singles-- My beautiful friend, Ashley

I couldn't think of a better way to break my blogging silence than to link up with Kelly's Korner for her "Show Us Your Singles" Day and hopefully help one of my beautiful BFFs, Ashley, meet a great guy. Because let's face it--she is a truly great girl!

Ashley was one of my first friends that I met in college, and we have been besties ever since. She's one of those friends that I can truly say that we "do life" together-- the good, the bad, the ugly. :)

And, I am so excited to tell you all about her!

Meet Ashley...
She's 27 and from North Carolina...

She's not just gorgeous on the outside, but she happens to be a truly amazing person on the inside, too! She's super friendly and can get along with anyone. Ash is an awesome 1st grade teacher, so we know that means she has the patience of a saint and is amazing with children. She's really creative and also super intelligent. She's always been the friend that I can go from having super light-hearted talks with to these really deep, insightful conversations. I know she thinks a lot about others and her role in making a difference.  I think she is  hilarious and doesn't take herself too seriously (read: she has no problem being silly!). She's also a natural planner, and is so organized (she impresses me constantly!). And you're probably able to tell from the photos that Ash is incredibly stylish! The running joke since college has been that when she dresses in athletic clothes we call her Sporty Spice because she still looks so put together without even trying. She's also super thoughtful--like the kind of friend who drives 20 miles to drop a get-well treat in your mailbox when you sprain your ankle (true story!).  Ashley's family and her faith are both really important to her.  She loves to get out and have fun, but she's also someone who can cozy up on the couch and be content reading a good book or snuggling with her precious puppy, Callie! Ash loves to travel, and I'm pretty sure anywhere that has a beach is good with her. Let's see, I could continue going on all day about how amazing Ashely is, but if you want to know more, I think you'll just have to find out for yourself!  Bonus points for the fact that Ashley also happens to be an amazing cook. ;)

Ashley and her sweet puppy, Callie! 

Ash and her sister, Brittany.

I know that Ashley has so much love to give and would make any guy who is lucky enough to have her so incredibly happy. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for her!

Guys, leave a comment with your email and a little bit about yourself or shoot me an email at lafromlifeoflu@gmail.com if you're interested in connecting with Ashley! Girls who would like to set Ashley up with a great guy in your life (your brother, etc.), do the same!

Fingers crossed!