Five on Friday vol 2

Linking up again this week for Five on Friday

O*N*E
I booked my first unofficial photography gig a couple weeks ago for a close friend who is pregnant with #2 thats happening tomorrow afternoon. Im a little nervous to say the least. Im no professional, and am honestly scared that we will end up with no good pics. My friend has complete confidence in me and says shes knows that im just beginning, but that she thinks i take really good pics. (if youve see pics on here of matthew and his girlfriend sam, thats her firstborn). I told her she didnt have to pay me unless she liked how the pics came out. That way its a win-win for both of us, cuz honestly Id do it for free just to get the experience, and this way if the pics dont turn out good then she can hire someone else to take pics. :/ Wednesday during my lunch break I even went downtown to the location to scope out some areas where we can hopefully have some nice background scenery. Now only if I could figure out how to make my camera do the focused foreground blurry background trick when i want it to (i only sometimes get it, and it frustrates the crap outta me!)

T*W*O
We finally put up the swingset that Matthew got for his birthday back in June, this past weekend. It took hubby and 3 of matthews uncles to build it in 2 days. It sits so nicely in our big backyard and I can already picture many future playdates with lots of kids. Matthew already is attached to it. He'll grab his shoes, bring them to me to put on, and then head straight to the back door. And also, his changing table is right next to the window that overlooks our backyard, lets just say diaper changing has become a complete challenge since he can see the swingset thru the window. Look forward to a whole post of the swingset, but for now, ill leave you with this pic.

T*H*R*E*E
Kinda fitting I pick to write about this third. I have this weird theory that everything comes in threes, but more particularly life and death. So if someone tells me they are pregnant or that someone has passed away, im always looking for the second and third person to be pregnant or pass away. (sorry if the death one is kinda morbid, but its true) So basically, where this comes into play is i think i have major baby fever right now. Matthew is starting to act more and more like a toddler and less and less like a baby. He has his own characteristics, and is becoming so smart that its hard for me to enjoy it because i already miss his small baby squishiness (yes, i made that word up). So when a friend of mine announced her pregnancy, I immediately started looking for the next couple of preggos, and OMG they just keep coming. Literally

1. Friend - Sarah L
2. Acquaintance - Krista G
3. Friend  - Julie F
4. Friend's wife - Jamie L
5. Friend's sister - Daniella S
6. Friend - Ciji J
7. Friend - Kristina
8.  
9.  

And these are all IRL friends. I dont really count blog friends since I dont know them personally. So basically Im am literally chomping at the bit wondering who is #7 & #8. And unfortunately even though baby fever has come in at full force, i know for a fact its not me :( we're not trying yet, but hopefully soon.

F*O*U*R
Ive been a total slacker on weight watchers lately. I feel like a drop-out. But i refuse to give up. So what if ive have a few bad weeks, as long as i go back on it i am good. Im still down 30lbs so Im happy about that, but i finally got my bob jogging stroller and ive had my new rollerblades in my closet for a good 1-2months. So i have absolutely no excuse not to be exercising now. Plusalso the temps should be dropping at least a degree or two soon (thats alot cooler for us floridians lol) so i should be able to rollerblade after work before dinnertime. We shall see. I just need a good kick in the butt! Any volunteers? jk

F*I*V*E
We finally booked our Thanksgiving cruise. Its kind of a tradition on my side of the family to go on a cruise for Thanksgiving, but we missed last years due to matthew being too young.We were debating going on this years because it goes to a port we've already been to and because its only a 4day cruise. But at last minute we decided a short cruise is better than no cruise. So basically the countdown begins for when i need to be in a bathing suit in front of people. Which brings be back to point four above. My small goal is to be down at least another 10lbs before the cruise. My final goal weight is about 20lbs more, but Ill be happy with 10lbs by Turkey Day. Wish me luck!

Thats about it for me. Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

If youre new here, leave a comment and ill make sure to hop on over to your blog too!

show & tell: gobble gobble

This weeks show & tell is about Thanksgiving Traditions

 
1. Tell us about your family traditions for Thanksgiving
Well for the past couple of years we've actually made it a tradition to go on an annual family cruise. I remember growing up my dad always hated the holiday, not necessarily because it was a holiday. I know he enjoyed all the family and friends, but he always hated the preparations, stress, and mess all of it caused. I also remember him always suggesting that we go on a cruise instead of Thanksgiving or Christmas. For which my sister, mother, and I always responded "Absolutely NOT!" Well flash forward to us being adults and we jumped at the opportunity to be a cruise ship in the islands with our family. You mean someone else will prepare a Thanksgiving feast for us? And we dont have to clean up afterwards? Say what? COUNT ME IN! But, and there is a big but, we absolutely, most certainly, will never skip Christmas, so, if you want to do this dad, it will have to be Thanksgiving. And from then on, we've spent Thanksgiving on a cruise. (well except for 2010, when Matt and I got married 2 days after Thanksgiving). This year is also an exception. You see, the minute our lil Matthew was born, guess what my father asked me? "Did you apply for his passport yet?" Ummm hello dad, im still in the hospital, i just pushed out an 8lb 9oz baby out of my vag, no sorry I havent applied for his passport yet. lol. Plusalso, Royal Caribbean has an age policy for infants and matthew didnt make the requirements in time for this Thanksgiving. (Dont worry my father is already in the works of planning a spring break cruise to make up for us missing this one lol)

2. Tell us about your favorite foods
Umm did you see this post? sweet potato casserole, drool. But really, all the traditional thanksgiving items are my list, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, turkey, ham, green bean casserole, you name it, ill eat it ;)

3. Show us a picture that reminds you of this holiday

This was our Thanksgiving Cruise 2011. I was pregnant with Matthew at the time. (You can read about how we told some of the family we were pregnant on Thanksgiving last year here) And I think I might have cried a little on the way home from dropping all of them off at the port today to board for this years thanksgiving cruise. :(

4. Tell us, do you wait to decorate for Christmas before or after Thanksgiving?
I wish I was more prepared and able to decorate before Thanksgiving, but honestly I normally end up doing it the first week of December.

5. Tell us what you are thankful for this year
I am thankful for many things this year, but most importantly I am thankful for my family, specifically my husband for helping me create the most precious thing in the world to me, my sweet matthew. I am thankful we have a place to call our home. Food to eat every night. A great extended family who helps us whenever they can. For friends that are close enough to be considered family. For a career that helps me support my family. And for all the little enjoyable things everyday that make it so worth all the few hard times.

Dont forget to link up with Becky