Just the other day, DH was lamenting the tradition of Christmas cards. "They're too much of a hassle," said the man who--in 5+ years of marriage--has never picked out, written, addressed or mailed a single holiday greeting card. "Why do we even bother?"

Well, I have three VERY good reasons why I have always--and will always send out Christmas cards:

1) I like to receive them, especially ones with pictures on or inside of them.

2) It gives me a chance to tell all the special people in my world that I'm thinking about them. Also, this year's Christmas card will be the first to feature the signature, "From DH, Elizabeth, G, Ducky and Baby #2." It's a cool way to stay in contact with and update family and friends!

3) They serve a practical purpose; for years, my mom and I have used holiday cards as gift tags. We cut out the cutest parts of the card (maybe a Santa, a snowman, or a pretty ornament), and attach them to our gifts. It's a frugal, yet fun, tradition for us!

This is the first year we will be sending out one of those Christmas photo cards, and it's in large part to the folks at Shutterfly. Another blogger alerted me to a special promotion they were offering to the blogging world; in exchange for this post, I am receiving 50 free photo cards from their Holiday Collection (see what I just did right there? That's an in-post disclaimer, my friends!). Since we are on a VERY tight budget--between my new career as a stay-at-home mom and Baby #2's spring debut--I had to contact the generous folks at Shutterfly and take them up on this tremendous offer.

But here's the problem-- I can't decide which of Shutterfly's cards I like the best. I think I've decided on the photo--it will be a shot of DH, G, and I (Ducky chose not to cooperate) in front of our Christmas tree, which we took over the weekend. I just can't decide on a layout. Here are my top three options:

#1:

I like this one because of the Christmas tree; thinking about gift tags, I can definitely see my mom cutting it out and using it on someone's present!

#2:

I picked this as an option because I love the traditional elements--the red, green and white colors, the snowflakes, the font--they all say "Christmas" to me!

#3:

I included this last one in the mix because I think the snowmen are adorable! I can see them on one of my mom's gift tags, can't you?

Head over to the poll I've posted in my sidebar to vote! It will remain up through December 4th (I need time to place the order). If you have any suggestions to make the card even better, go ahead and leave them in the comments section below. And--of course--Happy Holidays!

I was going through my posts over the past couple of months, and realized I kind of just glazed over some big happenings in our family! So, here's a post with mostly pictures (and a few captions) to bring ya'll up to speed:

For G's first birthday, we had a small family party in my hometown. For her second in September, we had an all-out bash... about 60 people came out to celebrate her football-themed celebration (most of them in costume). Of course, G's the one on the hill clad in Duke blue!


DH & I also came wearing out football best! Even though DH spent two seasons playing for the Duke football team, he didn't have an old jersey! I came sporting my boyfriend's favorite athlete's jersey, none other than #18, Peyton Manning. Go Colts!


At the end of September, we took a trip to the beach. G had a lot of fun with her first round of putt-putt golf, playing in the surf, and climbing on a huge fallen oak at our condo.







In October, we kept ourselves (extremely) busy with several outdoor festivals (which included multiple horse and pony rides!), my last day of work, a trip to the beach with our best friends (note that G is in the middle, holding hands; I've found she is the "peacemaker" among her friends!), our annual Halloween pumpkin-picking trip, and-- of course-- Halloween! G was a little yellow flower this year, wearing the costume I wore for my very first ballet recital in 1986.













G & I spent the first 11 days of November visiting my parents in Ohio. It marked the first time since--gosh, since I got married!--that I'd spent more than four or five days in my hometown. G got her first haircut while we were in town, and got to visit many local attractions, including the Children Museum I went to when I was her age!







Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend with family and friends!

I can't believe I'm aleady firmly entrenched in my second trimester. I have one of those BabyCenter pregnancy tickers, and today it told me I only have 162 days to go (although, since I delivered 2 days late with G, I'm already planning on going past my due date this time too... so maybe it's more like 164 days to go!). In addition to today's (one-day-shy-of) 17 week appointment, you get a special treat too-- a belly picture! (Unfortunately, I'm still in the "I look chubby, not pregnant" phase.)


Gestation: 17 weeks 6 days

Weight: 152 lbs (+12 from conception, +5 since 12-week appointment)

Fetal Heartbeat: I am a bad mother, because I totally forgot to ask! The baby was wiggling around when the nurse practioner was using the doppler, so I was concentrating on those wonderful little movements!

Health Concerns: Headaches and morning dizziness (my OB thinks the headaches may be due to dehydration; the dizziness is probably due to low blood sugar); seasonal congestion (here's an FYI for my fellow preggos out there: Claritin D--or a generic--is ok for pregnant women in their first or second trimesters... problem solved!)

Other Concerns: Transitioning G to a big girl bed over the coming weeks. My parents bought her one for Christmas, and we can't really start to decorate the baby's room until G is ready to give up the crib. I'm dragging my feet on the whole change, but it's inevitable!

Next Appointment: December 10th-- the "big" ultrasound! But not so fast... we don't plan on finding out the gender at that time. We'll be asking the ultrasound tech to write it down in a card, which we'll be opening on Christmas morning. It's going to be the best Christmas present ever!

It took 16 weeks of pregnancy, but it's finally happened.

In this post, I told you how DH & I very unintentionally found ourselves pregnant.

In this post, I told you about my very unrealistic fears surrounding this pregnancy.

But I never really went into too much depth about the complexity--and the darkness--of the emotions I was feeling. DH & I were incredibly happy with our "only child". We were confident in our decision that one was the right number for us. We were simply waiting on a change to our medical insurance before putting our single child plan into place, more or less for good.

Part of the reason I didn't share how I was feeling was because I was having a tough time giving voice to those emotions. I didn't want to feel the way I did, so I tried to hide it. Babies are supposed to be cause for celebration, joy; I felt incredible guilt--not only for myself, but even more so for our baby--that I didn't have the same exuberance with him or her that I did when I learned I was pregnant with G.

Another (big) part of the reason I didn't share my feelings on this blog was because... well... I got the sense none of you wanted to hear it. When I hinted at them, I received emails and comments congratulating me--it's ok, I wouldn't have known what to say to a woman struggling to come to grips with an unexpected pregnancy, either. But at the time, that's not what I wanted to hear. I wanted some validation that I wasn't insane for having these deep, dark emotions. I really only got that validation from two places: one of you (thank you again, you have no idea how much you helped me) and (surprisingly) from my mother. She realized how perilously close I was to spiraling into a depression, and patiently listened to my fears and, yes, jealousies regarding this pregnancy. It wasn't what I expected from her, but it was exactly what I needed.

But now--at 16 weeks 3 days on the nose--I can say with confidence that those scary emotions are gone. The fog, the rain that clouded my vision and left me with a confused heart has lifted. In its place is relief, thanksgiving, and--finally--joy.

I find myself talking to my baby, saying that I'm excited to meet him or her in May. I find myself browsing online baby stores (I'm going to be asking for advice on baby gear in the near future, so ready yourselves!), picking out different items for my virtual shopping list. I find myself caressing my belly, yearning to feel the baby move (and those first few flutters have started, much to my delight!). I find that I am falling in love with my child.

She made me laugh in "The Wedding Crashers." She made me cry in "The Notebook." But in Rachel McAdams' newest movie "Morning Glory," she simply makes me want to puke (and no, that's not because I'm still dealing with morning sickness 16 weeks into this pregnancy!).

A little disclaimer here: I have not actually seen the movie yet. I'm basing my opinions on the trailer, online reviews, and the few, fleeting, I-don't-want-to-ruin-the-ending-for-you words of some friends who have seen it.

Let's set the scene... McAdams' character, Becky Fuller, is producing a network-level morning show program, "Daybreak," based in New York City. This is my first issue. I just left a producer position in a top-50 market at 28 years old... and that was considered a good job in the TV news industry. To think that Fuller (who by the way, got canned from her last job) is ready for this type of network level position at her age (late 20s? early 30s?) is fairly ludicrous.

Also ludicrous? The idea that Fuller--as a simple producer--would be in charge of hirings and firings. That's just plain laughable. At my job, I didn't have one iota of input when it came to getting rid of people; and when it came to replacing folks, the most input I ever had was looking at poorly done resume tapes for a good laugh with my boss. I never made the decisions; that wasn't done by the person above me, but by the person above her.

But the thing that really irked me about this film (which, again, I haven't seen) is a scene that was featured in all the ads: where Fuller throws the scripts in the garbage can and vows:

"Everything we do has to be sensational."
Ok, if I'm being perfectly honest, this is the reason why I got out of TV news. Yup, I left my job because I don't think news should be sensational.

Informative? Absolutely.

Educational? Always.

An public advocate? When it's done right.

Entertaining? If you're lucky.

But sensational? NO. NEVER.

Saying that news programming should be sensational is like saying that TMZ should be the standard of professional journalism. There is a place for sensational material on TV; reality shows, comedies, dramas. But not hard news. The purpose of hard news (and the reason I, as a producer, had to fill out an FCC form regarding the content of my newscast every single day) is to work on the public's behalf to inform them of what's going on in their community, and to advocate for change-- when necessary.

For those of you who have seen "Morning Glory" (or plan to), I'm interested to hear what you think. I'm interested to hear what you think about my former job, and what you think should be its rightful place in society.

Last Christmas, I told you about my friend Rachel from college, who was working on a project about micro-lending and micro-financing. So it felt rather serendipitous when I got an email a few weeks ago from the generous folks at Novica.com.

Novica is a website entirely devoted to microfinancing. Not sure what that means? It's basically extending small loans (usually in 3rd world countries, but not always) to people or small businesses in hopes of spurring entrepreneurship. Novica--which partners with the equally-amazing folks at National Geographic--goes a step further by bringing these goods to the mass market. There are really some incredible wares out there; obviously, these people--poverty or not--have a heck of a lot more creativity and talent than I ever will!

I was able to pick three items from Novica's amazing online catalog; they truly have everything you could need. From kitchen goods to linens to art and pottery, they have it all. Of course, they also have clothes and jewelry, and being a fashion-deprived preggo these days, I decided to search for items I could wear even with my expanding waistline.

The first item I picked was the gorgeous "Summer Song" cotton blouse. Made in India by Vijay Singh (not the professional golfer, as my husband thought), I picked it because of its empire waist and flowy design. I did NOT read the description carefully, however, and failed to realize it also featured sequins and hand-done beading. That was a special treat, and makes this top perfect for church or a dinner out. And at 15 weeks pregnant, the "medium" size is more than generous. I think I'll be able to wear this through at least my second trimester: SUCCESS!!

BUY IT!
"Summer Song" Cotton Blouse: $47.99

Next, I picked another top I thought would fit me through most of my pregnancy. The "Sugar Chic" Cotton Blouse is fabulous on two fronts: first, it has generous bell sleeves, which are ideal for my pregnant-and-haven't-been-to-the-gym-in-weeks arms (aka, they hide the flab!). Second, the empire waist once again serves as a camouflage for my growing baby bump! This item is made in Thailand by Jariya Kakaew.

BUY IT!
"Sugar Chic" Cotton Blouse: $29.95

Also made in Thailand, the "Flowing Jade" Wood Cuff Bracelets are one-size fits all... that had me a little concerned when I placed the order, but you know what? Apparently, one-size includes my preggo wrists! This pair of bracelets (I think this is a great value: two bracelets??? I was only expecting one!) is a deep green color, but you can really only see the shade up close. From far away, I've found the bracelets have a "chameleon-like" quality that allows them to adjust with whatever outfit I'm wearing, kind of like a much-trendier version of the 1970's mood ring.

BUY IT!
"Flowing Jade" Wood Cuff Bracelets (2): $22.99

With the Christmas season around the corner, I'll definitely be returning to Novica for everyone on my shopping list. Whether you're searching for fair trade corporate gifts for your husband's boss, green gifts for your cloth-diapering friends, or unique gifts for anyone else, Novica will have it all... plus, you'll know you're supporting individuals overseas with your purchase! Oh, and one more thing... all your purchases from Novica come exquisitely wrapped--without extra charge--making it true one-stop shopping for the season!


Disclaimer: I received the above purchases from Novica.com for free of charge for the purpose of this review. The total price of the items received was $100.93 plus tax. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and were in no way biased by the sponsor company.

There is something sinister about a solitary pedestrian, traversing the city's streets long after everyone else has gone to bed. Well, to me, at least. You see, having worked until midnight for the last few months of my career, I got used to driving home long after the sun had gone down. But I never seemed to get used to the random people strolling down a dark street.

It didn't matter if the pedestrian was a 70-year-old man; that lone walker might as well have been the lone gunman on the 6th floor of the Dallas Book Depository-- he was a threat to me, my community, and our safety.

I know this is an unrealistic fear, but it's just one of many I have. And now 15 weeks into this pregnancy, I am finally finding voice to why this time around, I feel so troubled.

I'm not sure why, but from the first instant I saw the second pink line on that Dollar Tree home pregnancy test, I felt likt it represented an "either/or" statement. Maybe it's because I'm an only child, and have no concept of life in a home with multiple children... but I felt like in having a second child, it would take my first child away.

Yes, even now--11 weeks after seeing the results of that test--I still worry that I am going to lose G as a result of this pregnancy. I know I'm crazy. They say that knowing something is half the battle, but even if that's the case, I'm still losing the war.

I have spent HOURS pouring over cord blood registry brochures; I have convinced myself that the only reason God is giving me this second, unexpected child, is because he's going to take away my first (which, by the way, does fly in the face of my religious beliefs-- I stake my faith on a benevolent New Testament God, not some omnipotent power who takes away innocent children). I find myself praying every night, begging God not to take my G away. I tell Him that I will love Baby #2 just as much as I love my firstborn, only if I can keep them both with me. I tell Him I will give G up to Him in every earthly way possible, so long as she stays on earth. I plead; I beg; I bargain.

I know I'm being ridiculous, but I can't help it. I just have this awful, nagging fear that I can't shake. I simply hope that by giving this fear a voice, that I can start to put it behind me.

What unrealistic fears do you have?
How do you keep them at bay?

This post is two days late, but I hope it won't be a dollar short as well. I'm really lookinng for feedback, because--honestly put--I don't know what to think anymore.

I'm talking about the American political system. This week, for the first time in five years, I was not in a TV newsroom on election night. This meant not working the dreaded Election Day double (a 16 hour shift), not getting free pizza for dinner, and not knowing exactly who won basically every race in the state. In fact, since I am currently out of state visiting family, I still don't have a clue who won any of the races back home.

While I didn't technically "miss" working on election night, I did miss being informed about the issues, the races and the candidates. It seems like--now more than ever--neither side likes each other; actually, it seems like they out and out hate each other. In the spirit of full disclosure, I am a political centrist. I have voted for Republicans and Democrats on the local, state, and national level. I agree with Democrats on a lot of issues (particularly social issues) and with the Republicans on many others (like fiscal responsibility). And I don't hate either side...

I hate BOTH sides.


I think the American political system is broken. I scoffed at haughty Republican commentators on Fox News (a word of note: this recently-retired news producer--and just about everyone she's ever worked with--does not think Fox News is "fair" nor "balanced"...), saying that now the Republicans would be able to "fix" the country. Really? You only control one house of Congress; with a Democrat-controlled Senate and a Dem in the White House, you'll be able to do even LESS than the Democrats were able to do with control of all three for the past two years.

Neither side is willing to work with the other. Most Republicans (Olympia Snowe aside) were completely unwilling to work and compromise with the Democrats; I fully expect the Dems to be as hostile to a Republican-controlled House. If neither side is willing to give a little now and then, how can we expect anything other than a stalemate?


It's a shame that the donkey and the elephant are the political "symbol" for our two political parties; I think one of the symbols should be a goat instead, because that's what I'm looking for-- a scapegoat. I'm looking for someone to blame. Maybe it's the system itself. A party system that divides American into just two real groups is too black and white; it doesn't accurately represent the American public (or at least, centrists like me). It's like saying the rainbow is either red or purple, and ignoring all the beautiful shades in between.

I'm looking for some debate-- I want to hear from you, regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum (or, if like me, you're close to chucking the political spectrum to he!!). I want to know what you think will fix what I see as a failing system; or if you think I'm crazy to think the system is failing at all. Keep it polite, but be real:

What do you think???