Looking back and looking forward…

This year I put a pretty hefty goal list together that included physical, spiritual, financial, emotional, professional, community, travel, fun and home related goals. Sounds pretty organized and ambitious, right? Well now it sounds a little controlling and OCD.

2010 has been quite a journey. I would have to say that it has been one of the most difficult yet rewarding years.

Let's see what I accomplished…

Physical: Run a half marathon

Travel: Girls trip and

Trip with Michael

Community: get involved in one professional and one other organization

Home: tile fireplace and kitchen

Fun: 1 new recipe/month, one fun girls night/month

Blah blah blah blah. Looks basically like a checklist for life. While I worked to complete these goals at the beginning of the year, some things happened towards the middle of the year that put my life into perspective. I was forced to reevaluate myself, my controlling and perfectionist nature and work towards being more of who I wanted to be.

Looking forward, my goal for this year is to keep it simple and take each day one day at a time (sound familiar? maybe…) My goal is to be the best wife, co-worker, daughter, sister, friend and most importantly, the best mother that I can be. That's it. No check list, no more controlling nature.

A big thank you to all of my supportive and understanding friends, family and husband - you helped make the hardest year of my life that has been the most rewarding. Here's to 2011 and all of the gifts that it will bring.

This year pics in review:

Welcome Baby Bella - Dog #2

Welcome Baby Eli

Country Music 1/2 Marathon

Welcome Baby Aiden

Happy 1 Year Anniversary to the Bookers

Surprise! I'm knocked up...

And it's a sweet baby girl - Adriana Marie

Welcome (big) baby Tucker - Dog #3

BFF Katie gets married

Jud graduates college!

And next year, I will update the blog a lot more with more posts and pics of the little one. I can't wait for everyone to meet her.

What I've Been Up To...

Making Babies :) Well, it's not a secret anymore for sure. Michael and I are proud to announce that we are expecting a little one on March 10. I am now 21 weeks pregnant and growing by the day (Michael likes to tell me that I get a little bigger every day...he needs to take a note...) We've had a sneak peak at the sex and we go on Friday to confirm if the little one is a he or she. Here are a couple of photos to update you on the growing.

Happy Anniversary to us! 6 Weeks pregnant. Michael and I went to Atlanta where he learned what "food aversions" meant. What a trooper...I think that we traded every meal.

Yes, I know...a bathing suit shot. Pretty brave. We went to Myrtle Beach and stayed with Lindsey, Spencer and Grady in September. I am 14 weeks pregnant here.

17 weeks and starting to poke out.

20 weeks - half way mark.

And, you should see me this week - I think I've doubled! I'm looking forward to spending the next 20 weeks spending time with friends, family and planning for our new little bundle. What a journey this year is turning out to be, and I am embracing each challenge and blessing. I've truly learned this year to just...let go and let God.

You're so Nashville if...

You get married on the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge.

So, it's been a year...huh. A year since I walked down the bridge tread and said I do to my best friend in the world. (Yup, my dad shook people's hands - Oh Cholly.)

A year since I danced with the beer fest crew.

A year since I hung out at Ripley's in my wedding dress.

A year since I screamed "Living on a Prayer" in the face of my new husband. (We were just excited.)

A year since I almost lost my cookies dancing with my new husband.

A year since I sang Kelly Clarkson's "Since you've been Gone" with the world's best D.J.

A year since I started on this journey called marriage...

It was a pretty wild time at our downtown Nashville wedding. The 1st year was even wilder...and the best thing is, I learned a lot! Stay tuned for highlights...

Country Music 1/2 Marathon - CHECK!

At the beginning of the year, I created a goal list for 2010. You know, one of those lists where you are "starting the year out right" with set goals in mind (that a lot of times you move to the next year's list.) This year, I was determined to check everything off that list. Under "physical goal" I listed "run a 1/2 marathon". So, in February, with the list still hot on my mind, I started running in the 20 degree weather with determination to reach this goal. Just little 2 mile runs...with the thought in my head "there is no way I can run 13 miles." Well, today, I did it. And I didn't stop once.

5 things I learned about myself while training for a 1/2 marathon...and completing a 1/2 marathon

1. No matter how impossible anything seems, if I push myself hard enough, I can accomplish what I think is impossible.

2. No matter how independent I try to be, sometimes I need cheerleaders. I can't do everything alone. (A big thanks to everyone I know and did not know that boosted my confidence along the way - in spirit and in person!)

3. It's not worth it to quit anything once it becomes hard. I had a major gut check with that around mile marker 11 where my body was definitely telling me that it was time to give up.

4. There are always going to be people that are better than me. All I can do is push myself to my potential and find serenity in knowing that Idid the best I could and not come down on myself for not doing better.

5. I'm over emotional. (I kinda already knew that.) I cried when Michael injured himself and told me there was no way he could run, I cried every time a friend or relative called my name during the race, I cried when I passed the 10 mile marker and saw a sign that said "If your feet hurt now, it's because you are kicking A$$", I cried when I starting into the last mile and I could see the finish line, and I UGLY CRIED with my hands in the air across the finish line.

So, what's next on the list? I'll let you know when I figure out the next challenge...

Showering with love...

My best friend Katie is pregnant with a little boy, baby Bryce Aiden Karl. And of course, I was jumping at the opportunity to help host a shower at my new house and shower Katie and baby Aiden with love and gifts. Corinne, Rhys, Ashley, Jeanna and I threw one heck of a baby shower on a beautiful spring day. As Corinne said, "I don't mean to toot my own horn, but toot toot!" Here are a couple of pictures of Katie and Aiden's special day.

Katie's Baby Shower

For

Bryce Aiden Karl

April 10, 2010

The Mom to be and me with Corinne's amazing award winning diaper cake...with a monkey on top ;)

Jungle animal suckers as favors - double as centerpieces.

Cupcakes with baby Aiden's initials.

The set up outside

Beautiful Red Daisies...

PRESENTS!

A happy mom to be.

It could not have been a more perfect day. I am so happy that my friends and I could throw Katie the shower that she deserved. Baby Aiden has a ton of crazy aunts that he is going to have to live with for the rest of his life...and he doesn't know how lucky he is ;) Aiden, one day you will read this and know how much Aunt Ceesa loved you before you were even born because you have the most amazing parents in the world...and you are destined to be amazing. 

I blog.

OK, I'm on board. Love to write, so why not write about my crazy life and my crazy husband and my crazy dogs...and my crazy family. Might give everyone a little more insight into my life.