Happy love day!

I know it was yesterday, oh well.

It's been a busy couple of weeks here... Eric and I spent two days in Tampa looking for a apartment- and found one! It's the one I wrote about last time (even though we spent an ENTIRE day looking at other apartments...) and it is amazing! It's in a great area and close to the restaurant, gated, has a washer and dryer!, a fireplace, an alarm and a large living room- the bedroom and closet are pretty full with all our stuff, but the rest of the apartment has some space. We moved in last week- Eric worked all week and then stayed up all night packing the uhaul with all of his stuff to move down last Tuesday. We also got our marriage license while we were there! It was really odd... I couldn't stop laughing. This really is all so crazy....

    Eric was working and in Tallahassee for Valentine's day, so we didn't really celebrate- but my dad sent me roses and my sister made me heart shaped pancakes- then we went to see confessions of a shopaholic with Jessica Ashley, it was a very cute movie. 

   Back at the house, I am getting used to living in between- all my furniture and most of my clothes are gone. I am really trying to get out the last of the wedding event invitations and get everything else packed to go into storage or to tampa...

   Ok I have to go run errands...

Here's to not getting overwhelmed in a bad way...

New New New!

So... it's not new yet, but all the getting ready for the new is getting so exciting. I teeter back and forth between excitement and being terrified, so I thought I should blog while we were on the upswing... Why are we on the upswing?

1. I got into a fight with my sister this morning (more like me just being a baby and yelling...) but, when I apologized, we were able to have a good talk about all the changes coming up and how I was feeling about them and how different everything is about to be. So, it turned out really good.

2. We are going to look at an apartment in Tampa next week!!!!!! I am so excited about this... it looks great, from the pictures and layout, so now it's just a matter of if we actually like it and if it's in a good location! It's a sublease for 6 months, which is just beyond perfect. I don't know if this one will work out, but it seems like a good step- that even if this one doesn't we will be able to find what we need. Also, if we can get the apartment soon, we can start to move in before the wedding- which will clear alot of the boxes that are piling up in my house.

3. Justin and Julie sent me chocolate covered mint oreos! Now, these will definitely not help me to fit into my wedding dress any better, but, oh well- I love them!

4. I have a meeting with an organization to volunteer in Tampa and am waiting to hear back about a (very) part time job... so, with any luck, I can have some things to do before moving and not have to sit at home and wait for Eric.

5. I just got back from a wonderful shopping trip to Atlanta and got to spend some time with my mom, just me and her, and to see the flower girl in her dress- she looks so cute!

6. I have been writing! This is so nice... I haven't had much time to write and when I do I just haven't been, so it has been nice to get some writing done. 

7. Marriage counseling went well. We also met with the pastor who is marrying us and went over the ceremony.

8. We are going to get our marriage license next week! I am hoping this happens- when Eric was in Orlando, neither one of us had our birth certificates and when I went to Tallahassee, I didn't have our marriage course certificate- so I am hoping to remember everything in Tampa so we can get our license.

9. We don't know when we will be able to go to Phoenix for our honeymoon. I really hope we go sometime soon, but directly after the wedding Eric still has a week off of work, so we will be able to spend a week at the beach.

So, obviously we are moving to Tampa. While I don't respond particularly positive to change when it is initially presented to me (although I am trying...) I am SO very excited about being in Tampa!

Here's hoping to dog and cat don't fight like cats and dogs...

Hello, New Year!

Ok, I haven't exactly talked to Eric about this, but I don't think either of us are making resolutions this year. I think they are a fine idea, but I usually make the same ones everyone else makes, and I usually only succeed in reading more. I think we will be too busy this year... on the agenda:

January/Feburary- planning for the wedding, hunting with my dad, marriage counseling

March- Wedding!, move to Tallahassee, mom and my sister's birthday

April- Eric's birthday, honeymoon in Arizona

June- my cousin's HS graduation

July-  my parent's 30th wedding anniversary, Dad's state convention, hopefully we'll be moved out a Tallahassee by now

August- dad's birthday, my other cousin's Sweet 16

October- my birthday!

and then the Holidays again!

I looked over an email I sent to Eric at the beginning of this year about what was going on- all the trips, etc. and it's so funny to look at that now, at what I had planned, and then to know that there was an engagement and all the other craziness that happened this year. All the things you can't plan for but seem to manage. The list above might serve as a great- hey look at all the things we had no idea were going to happen this year- as we look back in the next.

So, since I haven't done one in a while and I LOVE surveys- here's one I got from a friend's blog.

Where did you begin 2008?

Paris!

What was your status at Valentine's day?

Single... how quickly things change...

Were you in school?

I went to Propane safety school in May

Did you have to go to the hospital?

Nope

Where did you go on vacation?

San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, NYC, Boston, Houston, S.C, Paris

What did you purchase that was over $500?

I don't know

Did you get married or Divorced?

Nope

Did you know anyone who got married?

I do!

Did you know anyone who passed away?

Unfortunately.

Did you move anywhere?

No, Still at Sector 7

What sporting events did you attend?

Lots of baseball games, including game 2 of the world series! And I managed to NOT attend even one football game!

What concerts did you go to?

Big 10-4

Where do you live now?

Orlando 

What did you do in 2008 that you thought you'd never do?

Fall in love.

What has been your favorite moment?

When Eric and I decided to get engaged

What's something you learned about yourself?

Apparently, I'm not perfect...

Any new additions to your family?

My almost in-laws, Eric's brother and his wife, had a little boy, two of my cousins also had little boys.

What has been your best month?

July

What music will you remember 2008 by?

Chicken Fried

Any regrets?

Not really

What do you want to change in 2009?

Not being married

Overall, how do you rate this year?

8.5

Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?

Tallahassee

Did you change your hairstyle?

Growing it out for the wedding

Get a new job?

Nope

Have a New Year's resolution?

See introduction

Do anything embarrassing?

Yes

What was your favorite purchase?

Probably books

Did you start a new hobby?

Nope

Go snowboarding?

Nope

Are you happy to see 2008 go?

I;m happy to have 2009 here

Drink Starbucks in 2008?

Probably

What are you wishing for in 2009?

It's a secret. 

We have marriage counseling next weekend- here's to that going well.

I LOVE days like this... I slept really well last night, which helped today- Fenway is being good, loving and independently satisfied. It rained alot today, which destroyed the poinsettias outside and made getting to lunch a little rough, but is so nice- the weather is cooler and actually feels like December, we met for some wedding planning this morning that was really great and everything feels manageable. I would say under control, but that's never really true- manageable is definitely more accurate. Our plans and planning (for the wedding and for the months thereafter) is all going well and, if they don't happen, I feel good about whatever decisions we will make after that. That w will be able to make them, that we will be fine. And, for someone like me who worries constantly, it's a very good feeling when it all seems ok. When it all is ok- and when the possibility that something won't be ok is always fine. I don't know if that makes sense, but I feel like we are ready for it, that we can handle it. I am SO excited about Christmas, about being with my family and giving everyone their gifts and about my dad's gravy! We are also awaiting the arrival of Eric's brother, Justin and his wife, Julie's baby!! I am not sure if I am an aunt when he is born or when Eric and I get married, either way, I am beyond excited that this little guy will be here and for his parents and to be able to meet him in March!

Here's to knowing this feeling won't last forever, but the facts do...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

It's been a little while... I had my first bridal shower a couple of weeks ago and it was so wonderful. We had tea at the Grand Floridian at Disney and Eric and I got alot of really great stuff- I am so glad we are surrounded by family and friends during all of this. My good friend and bridesmaid, Juliana, came into town for the weekend and, being from Boston, wanted to do alot of things she can't do up there- eating at Sonic and Cici's, picking oranges, etc. and it was so nice to see her again. 

On to the list portion...

- Eric and I flew (yay!) to Houston to spend Thanksgiving at his grandparents' home. It was a little difficult to leave my own family, but we had a great visit. We stayed with Justin and Julie for a few day and then with my Aunt. It was really relaxing and we were still able to go to Central Market and the Body World exhibit (which is weird...). We did get stuck in Houston for an extra night when our flight was delayed and then cancelled- they put us up in a hotel and we went to see Four Christmases, which ended up being ridiculously expensive, but funny.

- Since Eric's vacation was this week, he was still here until this morning. We went to Lakeland to see where the new store might be and my grandmother's old house and eat at Jimbo's. On a side note, there were people's chairs lined up around the downtown area for the parade that started about 4 hours later... it was cute. We got the Christmas tree for Sector 7 with Colton and Jessica and decorated the house. It looks really great (still don't know how to add pictures, will probably put some on facebook) and we had very little incident- no broken ornaments and a new lighted, animated buck (Sooner) outside... I did try to take out a light that didn't work with my teeth, which obviously broke off immediately, so that wasn't good. All in all, though, things turned out nicely.

- All the presents are bought and wrapped and under the tree and Fenway hasn't torn up any packages!

- Our Christmas cards are in the mail.

- I had my first dress fitting! It wasn't all that exciting, but it was good.

- We have a mouse, Polly, living in the house and I still haven't gotten mouse traps. I will do that tomorrow. 

I guess that's about it. Eric is back to work in Tallahassee and I am back to worrying about... everything. 

Here's to the holidays. I love them.

A great couple of days...

Eric was here in Orlando for the past couple of days and it was really nice... we didn't have a lot we had to get done, so we could just hang out (and help mom move some furniture...) which was really nice- also really nice...

- It feels like we are a bit close to knowing where we will be living (after Tallahassee) and this means a bit more stability, a little less moving, and a better position for Eric

- When I got a speeding ticket on my way to Tallahassee last week (after I had been thinking how great it was to drive back and forth so much and not get a ticket...) the officer wrote the wrong license plate # which made the make, model, etc. all wrong- I didn't even notice this, Eric did- and when I called them today to fix it, they told me the officer would have to look at it and he might just dismiss it if he doesn't have notes on the right vehicle. I really hope that happens.

- Fenway, who is usually (sometimes...) a good dog, chewed up a pen on TWO separate occasions the other day on the couch, which left these horrible pen marks all over. I couldn't find the cleaner I usually use for the couch (which works miracles) and used Oxy Clean instead and it worked... it looks beautiful. So, I can once again love my dog. 

- My closet and bedroom are cleaned and (generally) packed... it was a bit sad packing up the pictures, but I feel so much better about that being done. 

- Our Christmas cards came today!! I absolutely love them and can't wait for Eric to see the printed version.

- We stamped all the wedding invitations, I got birthday and thank you cards in the mail, so I feel caught up with all of that.

- Most of my Christmas shopping is done!

- We get to have a cake tasting! We are having cupcakes at the wedding, and we were able to try different cupcakes, but I LOVE wedding cake... and now we are having the groom's cake at the rehearsal, which means we get to have another company make it and go try their cakes!

Things have been going pretty well. I get a little worried around election time... all the changes, etc. but, we do have to trust that things will work out. I voted. Eric voted. Now we just hope that this new president will be a good leader.  Also, there was a mouse in the house last night. Eric didn't see it, and we did look for it after I saw it and found no mouse, or evidence of him, but I am sure he was here... so I should get some traps. and I should clean...

I am so thankful for all of this, for how things are going, for what we are doing and for where we are going... 

Here's to being in the now and not worrying so much...

It's official!

I am SO excited about the wedding! I feel like so much is already done, our engagement pictures are in and I absolutely adore them, all the vendors are booked and my dress is here!! I don't start fittings for a couple of weeks, but I am so excited to know that it is in Orlando! All of this up and down and freaking out and being terribly excited is getting... old.  But, I'm hoping it will even out... eventually. 

Now that most of the wedding list is almost completed I can start getting things in the house ready to leave.  I was terribly sad when it hit me that I would be moving out of my house (I will have lived here 4 years exactly the day after the wedding)... but now I am getting excited.  Even packing up Eric's house was a little sad... I know it's only been a few months of memories there, but they were there... and I've always had a hard time with things like that. Anyways, I need to go through photos and clean out my closet and figure out what books I want to take with me... it's just so strange. I know it will be hard when I actually leave, but I am excited about it. About where we're going...

We got Eric moved... the house is lovely, he still has a lot to organize but I think alot of it might be staying in boxes since we will be moving again in (or before) 5 months... still no word on where, exactly. 

The cold(er) weather is such a tease... I wish it would just go ahead and get cold.  It would be so nice to use the fire pit in the backyard. And to have some Pumpkin Spice Latte. 

Our family is headed to San Francisco/ Napa Valley Thursday morning for dad's 50th birthday celebration and I am so excited. A long flight, so I can read and sleep and I think the weekend will be so much fun.  Poor Fenway has to go stay at the vet again, but she does get tons of treats there (which she doesn't get at home...) so I think she'll be alright. 

Here's to the fact that I get to spend the rest of my life with the best thing that's ever happened to me...