To Babymoon or Not To Babymoon

The recent trend of babymoons has grown quite popular and has undoubtedly stimulated the travel industry. The lure of such a trip is understandable; a final escape with the hubs before your party of two becomes a party of three. I have to say I'm enticed and have entertained a fair share of Google travel searches. We haven't solidified a decision to babymoon or not to babymoon quite yet as a large part of me screams "save the money!" Nevertheless, here are a few locales that have tickled my pre-baby fancy.

Boston, MA, possibly my favorite city in the States

An enticing deal from Living Social for a stay at

a historic Charleston plantation resort

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The Outerbanks

Moms, have you taken a babymoon? To those not yet mothers, would you take a babymoon? Where did/would you go?

Charleston photos from The Inn at Middleton Place website

Pasta Fagioli to the Rescue

I'm going to talk about pregnancy.

Honestly, I didn't intend to let this blog take a pregnancy focus, but as I think about it, I wanted this blog to chronicle my journey through life. So since this is such a large part of my life right now it seems relevant to share every now and then.

Hormones make all things seem larger than life. Last night I lost it over burnt vegetables and, presumably, undercooked chicken. It wasn't about any inefficiency to cook food, but rather I was overwhelmed by all things pregnancy related. Now that school is nearly over I have more time to read and think about preparations for life with a baby. I was fretting over how to establish a schedule, how to negotiate the first few weeks of a newborn present in the house, during flu season, with eager family wanting to visit, and how and with who to schedule child care when I return to work.

Thankfully Chad was there to rescue me with a generous guitar lesson patron's homemade pasta fagioli and a comforting smile. Since I know these hormones aren't calming down anytime soon, here's hoping I can get my hands on that soup recipe.

In other news, as temperatures are rising and pools are opening, I've been reading a lot about the benefits and concerns surrounding sunscreen both here and here.

Are you a faithful sunscreen user? If so, what is your tried and true product of choice?

Happy Summer

Good grief, it has been too long since my last post and I have much to share.

As most of you know by now, we are expecting our first little one this November! All is well with baby, all is well with me, and Chad and I are absolutely over the moon. The pregnancy has been relatively tame; no morning sickness other than the occasional nausea, some fatigue during the first trimester (but I think working as I did contributed to that), and so far-at 16 weeks-I'm healthy and thankful.

{ It's teeny tiny, but I'm pointing to a pregnancy test that boasts the fun news! This was taken the day we found out. }

Summer is so close! I have a week and two days remaining and they are, mostly, workdays. The move to Community School of Davidson this year was definitely a blessing. Being in an environment where administrators put kids, not bureaucracy, first and honor and encourage me as a professional is so refreshing. I've made some amazing, brilliant friends who have been such great listeners and life savers. My excitement for teaching has definitely been rejuvenated. So much so that this summer I will be participating in the National Writing Project's Summer Institute at UNCC. The course focuses on various theories and best practices for teaching writing and will run for the first three weeks of July.

Before I, shamelessly, get my nerd on in July, I will be traveling to my hometown of Utica, New York in just a few short weeks to visit family and friends. So far my mom has planned a trip for us to a her favorite antique shop, a fabric store to help me with some new curtains (and maybe baby goodies), dinner out to a few local grub spots, and pool time that is not shared with the entire neighborhood-yippee!

Between trips, class, and planning for next school year, Chad and I hope to get a move on the baby's nursery before August rolls around. Plans will commence on June 13 when we find out if our little is a she or he.

Happy summer ya'll!