13 years ago today

13 years ago I was 17 going on a date with this skinny, cute, and sweet guy.  Who would have thought that 13 years later I would be calling him my husband.  We grew together from teenagers to adults with careers and a little person that depends on us.  At 17, I never imagined that we would move away from family and friends just a week after we got married.  Live happily in a far and foreign land, Raleigh, NC (LOL) just the two of us.  We traveled to fun places and we started our careers in Raleigh.  And after being together 10+ years and married 4+ Nicolas was born.  Nicolas has made us a stronger couple, better people and is teaching us how to be the best parents. 

And now after 13 years we are back in Florida closer to family but it is still just Leo and me (and Nicolas and Pebbles).

So this is dedicated to the first Love of My Life, my husband, the father our child, and my best friend.


Lakeland, FL Nov. 2011


Jamaica Sept. 2009


Raleigh, NC Summer 2007

Love you Gordis!

London Eats & ramblings

Leo and I take a yearly vacation, no kids allowed, sorry Nicolas.  I dread the trip the week before because I hate leaving him, so I start preparing for the worst (what if something happens to us while we are gone, does my mom have all she needs for Nic, can I get out of this trip, etc).  Then as the time gets closer I start getting excited about the kid free vacation and start to shed some of the anxiety.  This trip caused a little more anxiety b/c we were flying overseas but more payoff too!

We had been to London one other time and we did most of the big touristy things so this time we just wanted to soak in London, and what is the best way to really dive into the country but by eating! For those that don't know I LOVE to eat! And while on vacation it is a constant thought as we are walking, "what are we having next."  I didn't document the all the food we consumed but most of it.

One of my favorite things about London is that it is so diverse.  I love how you can find almost any type of cuisine. We ate at a Thai restaurant, an Italian restaurant, a Spanish food vendor at an outdoor market, French pastries and food, the traditional English Pub, and even an Argentinian Steakhouse!

Here are some collages I compiled about most of the food and wine we consumed!

The English Pub!

Yummy Thai!

The best pasta carbonara ever! (Papa Cicci)

Yummy snacks in Greenwich and wine at the unauthentic french restaurant.

And last, an Argentinian Steakhouse, a way to Leo's heart! (plus creme brulee and flan)

Keep tuned for more London shots!

N@

Leaving on a midnight train to FL

We left on a midnight train to FL.  I know it is supposed to Georgia, just play along :)

Our last day in Raleigh was Feb. 18th.  When the moving truck was packed and the house was empty that is when I lost it.  Our first house, the house where we brought Nicolas to from the hospital, our chapter in Raleigh was closing and we were embarking on our new life back in Florida.  I wanted a picture of Leo and me in front of our house so I asked the neighbor that was washing his car to please take our picture.  Unfortunately the whole family was not there (Nic was at daycare while the movers were loading).



I think even Pebbles knew that our lives were going to change.




We signed our lease and moved in Feb. 23.  Our new little house is great.  It is a little smaller than our house in Raleigh but it is just fine. 

Nicolas loves the house.  He loves it so much that he never wants to leave it.  It took him about 1.5 weeks to get adjusted to daycare. He loves the patio and you will find him sliding and playing w/ rocks on weekend mornings.



We are still adjusting.  The commute royally sucks but as the days pass they become more bearable. I was lucky to go from the field yesterday so I didn't have to wake up before sunrise and I was able to capture the sunrise.  This is the view from our backyard.






Have a great week!
N@

Wordless Wednesday...Sunrise

(I hope this picture is a metaphor for what the future brings for our family.  A new beautiful beginning.)



Happy hump day!
N@

I dedicate this post to...

I dedicate this post to Nicolas. Why? Because I've been in a photo and blogging rut and he is my inspiration.

So...

Nicolas is 20 months old! I can not believe how fast his 2nd year is flying by. Not the greatest picture but it really shows how big he is getting. He is such an independent and adventure seeking little guy. He doesn't like the baby swing anymore, he is a big boy!

When I look back at how far we have come it takes my breath away. The first 3 months were hard, no sugar coating it. Nicolas was a pretty good baby but I was overwhelmed. I was anxious, sleep deprived, exhausted, nervous, etc. It slowly got better but I didn't feel like myself until Nic was 9 months. I'm not sure what it was exactly; Nic was sleeping better, not stressing about nursing as much, picking up a new hobby (photography), jogging again, or a more consistent routine. And although the first 9 months were hard, they are gone and all that is left are memories and pictures. And I'm thankful for that.

And speaking of pictures. Here is a collage of his first year

and his second year up to this point.

(the lighting and editing is all different, sorry. But this post is more to share a glimpse of mommyhood and less of a display of improving photography skills)

I have pictures to unload from my camera and challenges to enter so hopefully this weekend will be a productive photography and blogging one.

For those reading, thanks for letting me ramble and be all over the place.

Have a great Thursday and if I don't blog again a great weekend.

ETA: I don't usually blog hop but found this blog hop through The Paper Mama and thought it would be cool. So if you want to blog hop as well...click on the button below.



N@

Foggy Thursday

This morning I looked out the window and I could barely see the street in front of my house. The fog was so dense. I had been waiting for a morning like this because I was envisioning the most awesome pictures. I took a few this morning and while some turned out most were disappointing. Until I took the one below.

I love this picture; the sun, the path, the fall leaves, and the mood of this picture.

This picture is SOOC (straight out of the camera). This will be my first entry to SOOC Sunday and Simplicity. To see more great SOOC pictures click here and the Simplicity button below.

Have a great one!

N@

DC part 2

I've been on a blogging hiatus. But I finished editing and uploading my pics from my business trip to Washington, DC.

On day 3 I decided to be adventurous and go to the zoo. It was a beautiful day and I *thought* I knew how to get there and get back to my hotel. I got on the metro and got off on the Cleveland Park exit.

I walked through the zoo. Saw the pandas.

Saw the gorillas.

(p.s. This monkey kinda reminded me of Nic. He would not leave his mom's side. LOL)

Walked to see the elephants but there were no where in sight. So instead I noticed the sun sneaking through the trees and got this cool sun flare shot.

After about an hour of exploring the zoo, I made it to the end.

Then I started walking to where I thought was the closest metro stop. I asked a jogger and he had said that the closest metro would be just after the first bridge.

I walked and saw my first bridge but no metro.

Then I saw another one.

And another one and then I started to get worried.

There was no metro insight but it was still light and a lot of people. I saw the last bridge as I was coming out of a park and went toward a strip of restaurants. And there it was a metro stop.

My night did not end there. I was persuaded by a Planned Parenthood girl that the best food would be at Adams Morgan, a short bus ride would get me there. (I will not be taking advice anymore from random people on the street.)

I walked around Adams' Morgan and settled on a South American Tapas restaurant called Rumba Cafe. It was amazing.

Now it was dark and there was no metro around so I thought I would get back on the bus and get to the closest metro. I got on the bus but it went the opposite way. I asked the bus driver to please let me know where the closest metro stop would be. I finally made it to a metro and was on my way back to my hotel.

It was a long afternoon and then as I walked into my hotel room, a light bulb went off in my brain, TAXI!

The rest of the week was less eventful, thank GOD!

Later!
N@

Public Transportation

This morning I took the bus to work. To some it is no big deal while other may say to themselves "oh the horror."

The two feelings above, the indiffernce to public transportation and the "I'm too good to ride the bus" both crossed my mind this morning. No big deal, it is clean for the environment, if you don't have a car it is a great alternative, it was convinient, etc. Then the snobbish feelings crossed my mind as I stood at the bus stop and the cars zoomed by and honked at me. It felt so degrading. I felt like giving them an explanation.

 

Then I sat in the bus feeling awkard because everyone seemed to know each other. I felt like an intruder. I sat there reading my book and thinking.

Did I feel like I was better than the people riding the bus? Could I have gotten a ride from Leo or a friend? The answers are no and yes. I'm not better than anyone just because I have a car or because I could have gotten a ride. The main reason I rode the bus was because after telling a friend I may ride the bus she looked at me appalled and said "me and public transportation do not mix." Those words did not sit well. I look for solutions to problems and if it means that I will be honked at while waiting for the bus, then so be it. A little humilation never hurt anyone.