Maternity Leave Dwindling Down

One week from today I'll be sitting at my desk in Uptown Charlotte.

I'm having some serious mixed emotions.

As I sit here and write this post and look down at our daughter playing on her play mat, I could cry.

At the same time, I know it's time for me to go to work and I'll be happy getting back into the groove of things.

I have TRULY enjoyed every last minute of the 13-weeks I've had off.

I really thought I would get bored off my rocker, but I really haven't.

Despite my 'go-go-go' personality I have really enjoyed our days where we just hang out in our pjs and hang around the house.

(that is, still getting out of the house for a walk in the neighborhood)

Anyway, this is our last week of doing such things.

I plan to take Shelby to her nursery school starting Monday to get into the swing of things there.

I expect to be a TOTAL MESS!

I'm already getting sad about it and we still have a few more days!!!

So, we're making the most of the time left.

We've enjoyed visits from cousins.

And, playing with our toys.

Shelby even managed to go with me yesterday to get my hair cut.

I was a nervous wreck about it, but she did great until the very end.

She got fussy because she was tired.

In preparation to go back to work I cleaned my closet out yesterday.

AND....

I tried on my work clothes.

I'm happy to say that they FIT!!!

I was SOOOOO relieved!

Even so, I'm still trying to lose another 5 to 7-pounds.

In an effort to do that our meals are looking like this.

Not exciting, I know.

I marinate the salmon in sesame oil, soy sauce, splenda brown sugar and sesame seeds.

We grill it on the Foreman.

I'm also keeping up our daily walks.

Even Brad joins in on the weekends.

The other big thing on my 'to do list' before I go back.

Get all of Shelby's pictures from the first few months into albums.

I can't believe how much she's grown.

I got a little teary looking back.

That's all I have for today.

Happy Humpday!

Cousin Alayna Meets Shelby

Back to reality here in 'Dee's World' after an awesome visit with my cousin Alayna who happens to my best friend.

She arrived Thursday afternoon and unfortunately the weather just wasn't good for her visit.

That didn't slow us down though. We made the most of our time.

I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked but here's what we have.

Shelby dressed for a day of shopping on Friday.

I have found an easy outing is SouthPark Mall.

We can lunch, I can feed Shelby then we can shop around.

Also, Nordstrom has a great Mother's room with a great changing table complete with sink and all.

Alayna insisted we have someone take our picture in Pottery Barn Kids giving how cute it is.

Love all the pink!

I feel so honored to have Alayna travel in to meet our daughter.

It's very special to both me and Brad.

Of course, Alayna was there the past few years when we were trying to conceive.

She listen to me cry.

.........Ummmm.......

Only, maybe a few hundred times.

Brad was nice enough to watch Shelby one evening and one afternoon so we could get out without the baby.

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On Friday we celebrated 'National Margarita Day' with dinner at La Paz.

Then on Saturday, we enjoyed an afternoon snack and cocktail at The Wine Shop.

Then Saturday evening we laid low and stayed in with Brad cooking his famous pizzas.

Such a GREAT visit!

We can't wait for the rest of the Arkansas family to meet Miss Shelby.

The next group gets here in April!!

4-Year Blogiversary

Today is the 4-year anniversary of this little blog.

Every year I write this post and talk about how much I have gained from starting this little site.

The biggest thing is the people I have met.

Truly amazing and it evolves each day!

More than anything though, I'm so happy I started this blog just to have the documentation.

I began writing 8-months after Brad and I started dating so nearly our entire relationship/life is on here.

Who else can say that?

A diary with pictures!

I need to get it printed into a book one day.

So, saying that - today I wanted to share with you some of my favorite posts in the last 4-years.

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ENGAGED

Click here to read the post I put up the day after we got engaged.

Then these two posts that I posted the few days after that.

Click here and here.

MARRIED

I was so excited to share our wedding weekend with all of you that I didn't even wait for the professional wedding pictures.

Read my first post after our wedding by clicking here.

HONEYMOON

I love being able to look back at the details of our honeymoon.

We waited a few months before going.

You can read those posts by clicking on the 3 links below.

Honeymoon in the City, Honeymoon at the Beach, Honeymoon in Wine Country.

PREGNANT

I loved the post where I shared with you all that we were expecting a baby after years of fertility treatments.

Click here to read that post.

GENDER REVEAL

I loved the post where we revealed Baby Stephens gender.

Click here to read.

 SHELBY IS BORN

The post I put up after bringing Shelby home from the hospital.

Click here to read that.

Of course, there are a ton of other posts that I really like as well but these are major life moments that I am glad we have documented.

I hope you take some time and read back.

Especially if you're a new reader. 

It will reveal just a little more about us.

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So, there you have it.

Happy 4-years Dee's Adventures!!

Anniversary Dinner at Home

As usual we celebrated our actual anniversary at home with a nice meal prepared by yours truly!

I didn't decide until the day of, what I was going to make but finally settled on 'Shrimp Diane'.

This meal has sentimental meaning to us because Brad made it for me the night we got engaged.

We were turned onto the dish after enjoying it at Charlotte's Cajun Queen.

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So, I picked up some fresh shrimp.

 And, a couple bottles of wine.

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This bottle also has special meaning because we enjoyed it on the first part of our honeymoon.

Click here to see.

Brad thought he was going to have to work late but made it home at a decent hour after all.

Love this picture.

My little baldy!

 I set the table and then it was dinner time.

 No gifts.

Just cards.

 Dinner was delish!

I used this shrimp Diane recipe in case you're interested.

 As always, we took our annual picture of ourselves.

No makeup for me this year.

I exercised before cooking and showered and decided against it.

Here's to our 3rd year of marriage!!

I love our traditions!

What do you and your spouse do for anniversaries?

3 Years!!

I've been married for 3-years today!

Happy Anniversary to my best friend!

For sure this is the best year yet!!!

I could get all sappy on here but I've done that before.

Most of you know our story.

 

Happy 3 years Brad!!!

3rd Anniversary Trip to Atlanta

We are back from the A.T.L

As I mentioned in a previous post, we went in celebration of our 3rd wedding anniversary that happens to be tomorrow.

My parents were nice enough to stay and take care of Shelby.

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We left Charlotte Saturday morning and made our way into the Atlanta area making a lunch stop at Chateau Elan Resort and Winery.

It's been years since my last visit and I have to say that the wine has improved about 100%!

 Don't get me wrong, it's not on the level of Silver Oak but it's definitely not 2-buck Chuck either.

 It was a fun little stop to start off our trip.

Later in the evening, after checking into our hotel we had dinner at Dante's Down the Hatch.

 My best friend Alicia lives in Atlanta and her Mom happened to be in town so they came and met up with us!

Good Times!

The next day we pretty much did a whole lot of nothing in preparation for the big event we traveled in for.

Cochon 555.

It was right in our hotel so we just had to walk downstairs and grab a glass.

 The event is a culinary competition between 5 chefs that use 5 pigs to make several dishes.

The best dish wins!

There were also 5 small, boutique wineries there too along with a host of bourbon and beer companies.

Needless to say, I didn't stick to my diet this weekend!

 The five chefs competing were from Atlanta area restaurants.

The winner, who you see here, goes to the main Cochon competition in Aspen.

 There was also a 'Punch Kings' competition.

I stuck with wine and didn't taste any.

I'm not a fan of bourbon, that's the reason why.

 There was pork any which way you wanted it!

 Along with cheeses and other delectables!

 Our favorite part of the event was watching them chop up this pig.

Sounds gross but it was fascinating to see what parts of the pig are used for what.

 Who knew salami came from a pig?

My favorite find at the event?

Arcadian winery outside Santa Barbara.

HOLY SMOKES it's some good stuff!!

 The owner was there and my next trip to SoCal, I'm making sure I take an extra day or two to be able to visit his winery.

 Overall, it was a great event and our entire weekend was fabulous!

As I've said before on here, I'm making sure our marriage doesn't take a backseat because we have a child.

I think so many people fall into that trap.

We are so lucky to have parents that are willing and wanting to keep little Shelby.

So.VERY.lucky!

Shelby did great with them and vice-versa.

The only big bummer is that we missed her first snow.

Lucky for us though that my parents like to take pictures as much as I do.

 So, everything is well documented.

After being on the road and gone for over a week now Shelby and I are back to reality.

I have 2-weeks of maternity leave left and I'm not going to lie.

I'm already getting sad.

My cousin flies in Thursday though so that's something to look forward to!

Until next time!!

Happy Tuesday!