Our Forever Home

A place to call our own. Finally. Nick and I waited a long time for this day.

Everything is perfect about it. It has 4 bedrooms, a large family room, an office, big eat-in kitchen with a formal dining and living room, as well as a large basement with garage and added workshop. But I saved the best for last... the YARD IS AMAZING. There is a large backyard that we plan to fence in. It sits on 1/2 acre and the house itself is 2700 sq ft. Definitely some room to grow!

Here are a few photos to walk you through some of the rooms.

Henry's room:

Guest Bedroom:

Spare (eventual little brother/sister) room:

Master Bedroom:

Upstairs hallway:

Guest/Kids bath:

Formal Living Room:

Formal Dining (future Playroom):

Front Foyer:

Family Room:

Half Bath:

Back Yard 360 (post fence installation):

Only pictures I'm missing are of the kitchen, office and basement.  To come at a later date!

I hope you enjoyed the walk-through!

Henry's Birthday - And the days leading up to it

**Warning - It's a long one.**

So as you know by now Henry decided to join our family 2 weeks before his actual due date. It was certainly a surprise to us when I woke up at 6am on September 12th and my water broke on the way to the bathroom. Nick had been sleeping on the couch because the day before he had gone to the doctor, only to hear that he had bronchitis. I remember telling him the night before... "don't worry dear, you will be fine by the time this baby comes." Ha... I think God laughed at me as I said it.

So at 7am I called my doctors office. After answering questions from the Midwife on duty she determined I should head on into the hospital. Good thing I had the bags packed! There were a few things we didn't have ready (phone chargers, camera, iPad, etc.), but fortunately I wasn't frantic and calmly asked Nick to pick up the last few things before we left.

We arrived to Northside around 8:30am and I was whisked away to a labor and delivery room after a little confirmation of paperwork. Once we were in the room and settled things started happening. Nurses came in, introduced themselves, and eventually the midwife, Christine, came around to check-in.

After the nurses confirmed that my water had broken, they started me on a round of pitocin to induce the laboring process. When they had checked my progress there had been no previous movement, which was surprising since I was at 38 weeks. I remember the words "1cm is a generous measurement" being said to me. That set the tone for the next 40 hours. Throughout the 8 hours on pitocin when I was checked again at 5pm nothing had changed. Christine then decided to take me off of the pit, let me have dinner, try a different method overnight, and pair that with sleeping medicine. I'm pretty sure that was the last time I ever slept.

The next morning there was a little progression and I was told I was "a legitimate 1cm now." Christine returned before she left for the day and wished me well. A new midwife, Kristy, visited and we had high hopes Baby L was going to be born that night. They started me on pitocin again at 10am and it actually started working (FINALLY!). The contractions started to get more intense around 2pm, which was when I ordered the epidural at around 3-4cm. I got comfortable for the rest of the day. Movement was being made, however still going slow.

I remember making friends with the nurses who were on my service. They were on a 12 hour shift and I just knew he would be born during that. Also have a I mentioned by this time it was Friday the 13th? I had to accept the fact that my baby would be born on a day that is usually associated with bad luck.

Well the nurses shift ended at 7pm... and I had to say my goodbyes. A new nurse came around, she was sweet, but I was still bummed that the other ladies weren't there. Regardless we still had to get this baby out of me! Around 9:45pm is when I was told by both the nurse and the midwife it was time to start pushing. And push I did... for 3 hours. I'm certain the midwife left to deliver other babies 4 times all while I was still pushing. He was being stubborn right from the get go.

I watch the hands on the clock move quickly as we approached a new day. Midnight came and went and that's when I realized he wouldn't be a Friday the 13th baby after all. Woo hoo! Let's go baby.

However by midnight the doctor on rounds, Dr. Wooten, had been called in. It was clear I may need some extra help. At 3 hours of pushing I was exhausted and my epidural was running low. (Nick later told me they actually dialed it back to make me push harder. Ummm what??) I will admit I was pretty delirious from the pain at this point and just wanted to stop, but there was no stopping. My wonderful husband was so encouraging and stood by my side the whole time. I couldn't have done it without him. He literally was my rock.

Ok so the doctor... yes so he was there and the midwife kept saying "if you can push for 20 more min..." the the doctor would be able to use the vacuum on Henry. I'm certain she told me 3 different times to push for 20 more min. I had to get to a specific point where the baby was low enough that the doctor could pull him out. It was 10 minutes to 1am and I remember the doctor looking at me all ready with the vacuum and said "You realize if this doesn't work we will be rushing you to have a c-section." I shook my head and just looked at Nick thinking "I just want this baby out."

With just one last push the doctor worked his magic and Henry was born at 12:51am. I had so many emotions at one time.

I was so exhausted and in so much pain that I was having a hard time focusing on the fact that Henry was here. But as I listened to the nurses "pinking" him up, I also overheard the doctor say to Nick "You're baby is only 1 minute old once." Nick panicked to get the camera out. I'm happy we snapped these first pictures of him. His head was egg shaped b/c of the vacuum that was used to finally pull him out.

So that's it. Just under 43 total hours after my water had broken, Henry finally made an appearance. I certainly hope he doesn't get his stubbornness from me. Regardless, it was love at first sight. ♥

Baby L's Arrival - 9.14.13

He's here! He's finally here! After 9 long months our has son arrived.

Henry Stephen Larsen

born at 38 weeks, Saturday, September 14th, 2013 at 12:51am 

weighing 7lbs even, and 20.5 inches long

A baby's a brewing!

26 weeks today, 14 to go!

Things I've done to get ready:

• Sorted through the hand-me-downs I graciously took from my sister
• I'm the proud owner of 7 baby carriers. So thankful my sister was obsessed.
• Planned the nursery
• Purchased the crib & glider
• Designed the wall art
• See an update below
• Set up the registries (to this day I still don't think Nick knows what's even on them)
• Been eating like a champ: favorite foods... donuts, watermelon, or pretty much anything sweet.

Here's a 25 week bump photo:

Today is the first day of summer, but it's practically been summertime for the last month here in Atlanta. So far I'm doing okay with the heat. We keep the house and my office cool enough so I'm not complaining (yet).  I suspect July and August may be rough as I grow larger and move slower. 

The nursery is coming along great. I'm so crazy that I had to actually mock up what one side of it would look like. We went back and forth about color for the wall, but I'm compromising with Nick. He likes yellow and I want stripes (another plan was to have a light grey with white stripes wall). Take a gander below.

My MIL is so gracious enough to help me custom make the crib skirt and a "rocket" themed sheet. (Do you see the theme?? Surprised? No... alright.) I will be sewing the curtains. I designed the alphabet wall art that is a decal. It arrived today and I can't wait to see it on the wall. I also created the I love you to the moon art, based on someone else's idea (so I do not claim that this is an original... I just added a few things to it). The stars hanging in the corner will be in place of a traditional mobile, and I'll probably get a shelf to hang above the crib there.

The crib arrives on Monday! I'm so in love with it. It's a Babyletto Mercer convertible crib. My parents are amazing and offered to buy it for us. Here is a link to a real pic, not my drawing.

The grey glider is from Babies 'R Us. I bought it sight unseen! I got a great deal on it and honestly I'm sure it will be comfy (I hope). That will arrive in the next week or so.

Everything else is tbd in the picture. I know I want a table and lamp... just not sure if those will be it. And chevron feet pouf is from Etsy. I do intend to purchase that, but just waiting since we made some other big purchases this month!

I went as far as getting sample paint over the weekend. I put them on the walls. All of the yellows change color depending on the time of day. It's so difficult to pick a yellow!

I can't believe Baby L will be here in a little over 3 months. I feel like we've only been back in Georgia for 3 months... and now September is right around the corner! I received my hospital pre-registration pack today and with every kick from him it just gets more real by the second. (Not like it wasn't before... but I guess more obviously real).

More updates to come as the nursery progresses and life happens.

The 29th Year

Well... that was quite a hiatus I unexpectedly took that I'm sure no one but my husband and sister noticed (if that). Regardless things have changed since my reflection on 2011.

[I apologize in advance to a long post, but at least it's somewhat entertaining!]

2012 started well. To begin, I started a new job at a ad tech startup, 33Across. I was hired on as the Creative Services Manager. My job was to manage the production of a rich media ad campaigns (meaning the flashy ads you see on the web with bells and whistles like video and twitter feeds... you know the annoying ones that get you every time they push what you're reading to the side as they get your attention... yeah it works doesn't it??). The team at 33Across was amazing and it really felt like one big family. We even found a place to call home right down the street from the office, with a name that was home to me in more ways than one.

That March I turned 29. Nick, Anya, Tim and I made a quick trip to Atlantic City, NJ to celebrate (sans ID since NY state still had not sent me my license yet...) But we still had a great meal and good company.

In the spring of 2012 Nick and I enjoyed a bit of a New York landmark and saw Lady Antebellum at Radio City Music Hall. Hands down best concert and venue I've ever been too!

We also witnessed a little bit of history as the space shuttle Enterprise flew over New York, headed to it's final home on the USS Intrepid Museum.

At the end of March my Edwards family got together to ring in my Mamie's 90th year. It was a special weekend for us and we were so happy to have Maggie Stoup of Homeworks Video Productions to capture the moments.

In May of that year we met up with friends in Las Vegas to celebrate the nuptials of our friends Kayton and Waverley.

We celebrated 2 years of marriage in June and later that month we watched as a friend of ours, Marc Leishman, win his first PGA tournament.

The summer took us to Long Island and the Hamptons a few times to visit with Nick's dad and step-mom. We enjoyed sun, sand, lobsters and a bit of a wait to catch our ride after the Jitney dropped us off at the Starbucks.

On Labor Day weekend we visited Nick's mother and family in Texas. A wild (but fun) weekend to say the least.

That fall, we cheered for the Falcons all the way from NYC, went to the Top of the Rock with Nick's sister, Sarah and her boyfriend, Bart, for a breathtaking sunset over Manhattan, and finally rounded out October with good 'ole fashion Homecoming fun at JMU with my best friend, Elizabeth and her husband, John.

(Sorry Elizabeth that Nick broke your $10 chair... but then again it was only $10) ;)

We made it back from homecoming with only hours to spare before Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy graced the Northeast with her presence. This was the most heart-wrenching period of time when we lived in New York. As New York and New Jersey fell to it's knees after Sandy hit, I have never seen a powerhouse taken down so quickly. Subways were closed for a week, power was lost in the lower half of Manhattan, people flocked to the Upper East or West Sides to seek shelter, light, and warm food. A team of my 33x'ers spent the day helping in Staten Island as the clean up efforts were well underway even two weeks after the storm. Mother Nature did not disappoint by even dumping snow on us a few days after the storm had passed when people were without heat and electricity still. It was one of the most devastating things I've seen first hand, but through it all they were strong and made it through the toughest days.

The view below 40th Street in Manhattan. Darkness

A home ripped from it's foundation as flood waters pushed it to the back of the lot.

Snow at 33Across

The only cool thing that came out of Sandy. Nick and I saw Anne Burrell from the Food Network hanging out outside an Upper East Side bar so we got a picture with her. Me = starstruck

We began to wrap up 2012 with another concert, this being Zac Brown Band at Madison Square garden.

Thanksgiving brought my sister, brother-in-law, and their 2 girls to NYC! It was a first trip for 3 of the 4. We checked the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade off our list, made a tiny TV appearance, saw all the Christmas/NY sights there were to see, stuffed our bellies, and sent the Cox clan home on a train.

In December we announced to the world that we were leaving NYC, and moving back "home" to Atlanta. While we were sad to say goodbye to our NY friends, we knew there were more exciting days to come. With that I had a final drink at Smithfield with my 33x'ers, Nick gathered the boxes, our cat, Abe, helped with the packing, and we waved farewell to out life in the Big Apple... But first we had to buy a car and of course I still decorated my tree.

In the midst of packing, planning, and moving... we still had time to celebrate Charlie & Janna's nuptials!

In January 2013 We finally made it back to Atlanta, welcomed by good friends!

I returned to Kapp Koncepts where nothing had changed. Me still doing all the work while everyone else goofs around all day. Sheesh... typical.

And as my 29th year came to a close, we had the best news to share of all... We are going to be parents in 2013 to an actual human being (no not another animal... but that was a good guess though!). Gotta say that we are both really excited and very nervous at the same time. But we will figure it out, as we always do when life gives us new experiences.

So here's to my 30th year! May it not take me a year to write the next post.