We're off to Italy!!!

Ahhhh!!! I can hardly contain my excitement! It's been an insane few days as the husband and I get ready to leave. I can't believe our trip of a lifetime is finally here!

We head out tomorrow afternoon and arrive in Rome around lunchtime on Saturday. A few days there, then a few days in the beautiful region of Tuscany, and we end our journey in Venice. CAN'T WAIT to eat, drink, sleep, and repeat! SO thankful for vacation days. :)

And as the saying goes:

"When in Rome...yes, please continue...do as the Romans do?"
- courtesy of Anchorman. ;)

Stiamo Andando in Italia!!

Ciao! Ciao!

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm loving the AMAZING weather today! Makes me want to go outside and run for hours.

I'm loving that I am running with a new group of girls tomorrow morning. Can't wait! Speaking of running, I entered the lottery for the ING NYC Marathon today. Highly doubt I'll get in, but it's an exciting possibility! I also signed up for the Walt Disney World Marathon in January. Sooo pumped!

I'm loving that my hubby's 30th birthday is this Saturday, which just so happens to be the same day as Hot Wing Fest. Hey Oh!

I'm loving that I barely even have a scar from my skin cancer surgery two weeks ago. So thankful they caught it in time, and the fact that my regular dermatologist recommended I go to Levy Dermatology for the actual procedure. Dr. Levy did an incredible job, and his staff is just wonderful!

I'm loving EL James' Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. I don't particularly care for its classification as "mommy porn," and you do have to get past its (way) more-than-mediocre writing and lack of editing, as it was initially a self-published e-book (keep in mind it didn't go through a rigorous editing process like most books, especially a #1 New York Times Bestseller). I read the first book, all 500+ pages of it, in less than 3 days. Crazy fast for me. Beneath the surface, the story – and the message, too, I guess – is quite captivating. It's been a wonderful escape. It's also...well...let's just say that my husband doesn't have much to complain about regarding my choice of reading material. ;) And as Vicky Ward, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, so perfectly puts it, "It's a brilliant psychological thriller – albeit a horribly written one." And here's another fab article from Newsweek, for those so inclined.

Oh yeah...and I'm loving that we leave for Italy in NINE DAYS!!!!

What are you loving today?

I'm an auntie again!!

Baby Ava has arrived!! She graced us with her presence, after almost 24 hours of labor (stubborn just like her Momma ;), at 9:45 pm on Wednesday, March 28, weighing 7 lbs, 2 oz. Just perfect!

If you read my last post, you know I was likely to miss her birth due to being in Chicago on business. I was absolutely devastated knowing I was going to miss it, but I knew everyone understood. Had it been just a marketing conference, I would have canceled. But since it was a business development trip for a new market we're exploring, I couldn't skip out. Not that it was a bad trip at all (amazing meetings, potential new business, and two SPECTACULAR runs along Lake Michigan and the Navy Pier!); just bad timing.

Thankfully, we're surrounded by the beauty that is technology, and I was able to Skype my sweet Sis and family before Ava arrived! So grateful for those precious few minutes. While we couldn't get it to work right after she was born, at least I got to see pics and talk to everyone. The next day, we got to Skype again, and I finally got to see and talk to that darling baby.

Friday finally arrived, and I headed home. As soon as we landed, I dropped my stuff at home and headed to the hospital. SO thankful to have made it there before they were discharged! What a special moment to be there by myself for a few hours, let my niece meet her favorite auntie get to know my niece, spend time with my Sis and BIL, and help them get settled at home. Cary's sweet sister Jennifer, her son Tyler, and his Mom all met us there, as did my Mom a little while later.

Brent and I went back over on Sunday to spend time with everyone, and we even got to take part in Ava's first photo session (you rock, Jennifer)!

Words cannot express just how much I cherish the time spent with my growing family this weekend. Watching Cary sing to his beautiful daughter or the look of pure adoration in my sister's eyes...incredible. We are truly blessed!

Mom, dad, and precious baby girl are all doing well, albeit lacking a little sleep...but what a GORGEOUS little family they have created!

Welcome to the world, sweet baby girl!

And baby makes 3! This pic is priceless.

My 3-year-old niece, Bailey, holding her baby cousin.
Melts.my.heart.

Made it to the hospital!!

 Love that face!!

 Uncle Brent loving on his niece!

 Love her so much already!

They don't make 'em any cuter than this!!