I've got the month of May!!

May was a busy but wonderful month for us!! We started off the month with a visit from Mike's parents & we had a very nice weekend! We ate lunch on Saturday at Coleman Public House, went shopping at Southern Belles for Miss Priss & then spent some time at the Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park. Mike grilled tilapia for us for dinner…yummy!!! We had brunch at Mrs. Rose's on Sunday, but Ava Caroline was not quite as cooperative as she was for lunch the previous day! She was pretty fussy!! My car was acting up a little bit which was causing a little concern since we were supposed to be driving to Asheville for my brother Rob's wedding on Thursday. I got my car fixed on Tuesday at Richard's Automotive & they did an excellent job!! Wonderful customer service!! Ava Caroline also had her 4 month check up & vaccinations on Tuesday. We headed to Asheville on Thursday after Mike got off work…we were ready to start the wedding festivities! I attended a very nice bridesmaid luncheon on Friday & Mike kept AC and played a corn hole tournament with the guys at my parents' house. Friday night was the rehearsal/dinner at Bearwallow Mountain. Sweet Shirley Ferguson came over & kept AC for us. It was such a nice night out & I enjoyed one of my brother Andrew's home brews: Leggy Blonde! Delicious!!! Early Saturday morning Michelle came over to do hair and makeup for my mom, Marge, Katie, and me! It was lots of fun!! Mike went out with the guys to breakfast at Tupelo Honey. We headed up to Bearwallow Mountain around 1:00, and Shirley kept Ava Caroline again for us so we could enjoy the wedding & be part of the wedding party stress free!! It was such a treat!!! It was so much fun to get ready with all the bridesmaids & take pictures. The weather was yucky until just before the ceremony & then the sun came out & it was beautiful!!! Shirley brought AC up for family pictures & we kept her from this point on. She was pretty fussy & overwhelmed, but it was fun to have her with us!!! It was so nice to see so many family & friends! There was a nice breakfast at my parents' house on Sunday morning & then we headed back to Charleston that afternoon. It was also my first Mother's Day :) Such a wonderful weekend!!!

Ava Caroline rolled over for the first time from her back to her tummy on May 14!! We were very excited!! She was then able to roll from her tummy to her back on May 19. She went for her first stroll sitting up in her stroller this week, went to the swings at the playground in our neighborhood, and we tried the pool but she hated it!! Mike went on a deep sea fishing trip with Will Coker & his dad on Memorial Day & AC and I went to see Jenny & the kids. We also hung out with Asheton & Brian several times this weekend :)

We ended the month with a delicious dinner with Asheton & Brian at our house & started June off with a bang :) AC is 5 months old, and we tried the pool again & she didn't scream--not a lot of smiles but no tears!! We had a wonderful month of May, and we are looking forward to June!!

Back to Life, Back to Reality

Well, my two favorite shows over the summer have come to an end; Roberto won Ali's heart on The Bachelorette, and Lauren won on So You Think You Can Dance. I was a fan of Kent on SYTYCD, but Lauren is beautiful & a very talented dancer, so I was fine with this outcome! SO, with all that being said, it is time to get back to REAL life!!! Mike starts his second year of law school this week, and he also starts a part-time job working for a law firm that handles business & corporation law. We are excited about this because this is more what he thinks he is interested in. As for me, I just continue to go to work during the week, and I am loving having the weekends OFF!!! I'm excited about getting into a routine!

Weekend of W's

My weekend started after a long, full day of Work on Friday! I was exhausted, so I ordered Chinese takeout: sesame chicken, fried rice, & an egg roll of course! I fell asleep on the couch watching 27 Dresses & snuggling with Lucy.

Saturday I slept in & lounged around for a majority of the morning. Then, I decided I needed to be productive. "Clean blinds" was written on my To Do List because they are extremely dusty & need some attention. I got on the internet & it said to use White Vinegar. After dusting 9 of the 14 blinds in my house with Swiffer dusters, I started on the two in the kitchen wiping each slat with a paper towel with white vinegar. If you can't tell, this was a bit tedious, but it does work! Once I had completed the two blinds in the kitchen, my fingers were shriveled like I had been soaking in a bathtub for too long!! I decided it was time for a break for dinner & a trip to my favorite store, Target!! I needed more dusters to dust the other 5 blinds...I ran out because they are so filthy!! I dined at the #1 Mexican restaurant in Charleston (in my opinion), Senor Tequila!!

I found a few other things I needed at Targe besides the dusters :) I have been wanting some crossword puzzle books, which leads me to my next task, Working crossword puzzles. It is very fun & relaxing!

Today, I woke up & decided that “pull Weeds” needed to be checked off of my To Do List. I thought it would be cooler because it had rained this morning, but I still managed to sweat A LOT!! This task is hard work & never much fun, but the flower beds do look much better once it is completed!

I also Washed 5 loads of laundry, Wiped down the shower, Watched TV movies (Father of the Bride 2, No Reservations, & Something’s Gotta Give), and Walked Miss Lucy!!!! I would say this was a weekend full of W’s!!! I know it doesn’t sound very exciting, but it was a good weekend & I was able to stay busy which kept my mind off of missing Mike! I was also on call, so I needed to be available to go in to the hospital if something came up…just so you don’t think I’ve totally lost my mind (which you shouldn’t rule out)!!!

Missing Mike & Anticipating August 6

For those of you who may not know, my amazing husband has been completing an internship in Greenville, NC this summer at a personal injury law firm. He left to begin this 12 week journey on Sunday, May 9. We both began something new on Monday, May 10. He started his internship, and I started a new job in the Pediatric Cardiac Cath Lab. I am still working with children with heart defects, but I am in a procedural area where I hang out with the kids for a bit, they go to sleep for the cath, I send them back to recovery & usually they go home that same day!! This has been a nice change for me & I am working 5 days a week! Mike & I have gotten to see each other on the weekends, which has been nice, but the good-byes are never my favorite part :( There is light at the end of the tunnel though because it is almost time for Mike to return to Charleston for good!! He will be coming back on Friday, August 6!!

I wanted to share a few things that have kept me going during the week between visits with my man. 1) The Bachelorette every Monday night...I know this show is silly, but I LOVE it & it gives me something to look forward to on my first night alone after a great weekend with Mike!

2) My precious, snuggly, very very sweet dog, Lucy!!! She has been my saving grace because she is always loving on me, she needs me, she has lots of energy, she snuggles with me, and I can talk to her anytime! She is the BEST dog in the WORLD!!

3) So You Think You Can Dance every Wednesday night...I LOVE this show too! The result show comes on Thursday! Then before I know it, it is Friday & I get to see Mike again!! I miss him like crazy, but I do think this has strengthened our relationship. We have had lots of fun-filled weekends together & made the most of our time together! Hey, I even learned how to mow the lawn!! Come on August 6, I need my husband back so the highlights of my life are not reality TV shows!!! :)

Confessions of Holiday Songs I Enjoy

So after reading a conversation between two women I totally love & respect (Summer & Cyndy :)) about the song on the radio this time of year entitled "Christmas Shoes," I thought I should confess that someone they know DOES actually like that song & that someone is ME!!! Surprise, surprise I'm sure!! I did laugh as I read what they said about it!! I do really like this song, and I even get a little teary eyed at times...not every time I hear it, but I just think it is really sweet & has a precious message. The movie starring Rob Lowe & Kimberly Williams inspired by this song is really sweet too...if you can bring yourself to watch it!!!

I also really enjoy when they play the song from the movie The Grinch, "Where Are You Christmas?" on the radio!

The last song I really enjoy hearing besides traditional Christmas songs is the song from the movie the Polar Express, "Believe" by Josh Groban. I'm sure all my friends may not agree with me in enjoying these songs, but I thought I would share some that warm my heart during this season!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

I keep trying to tell myself this, but every year getting a Christmas tree proves stressful for the Leeches: finding the perfect one (for me it is the size & for Mike it is the price), getting it in the house & straight in the stand, and stringing the lights all involve one or both of us not being completely satisfied! Once these steps are taken care of, I do really enjoy placing the ornaments on the tree, and I LOVE the final product! I also love the smell of a fresh, live Christmas tree. So, with all that being said, I thought I would share some pics of our beloved tree that is the biggest & plumpest one yet, which makes me VERY happy!!! I also wanted to share our nativity scene, which is my favorite Christmas decoration to put up! Hope everyone else is enjoying decorating this season!!! I'm sure most of you are more laid back than me & just enjoy every step of decorating for Christmas...just thought I would be honest that it definitely stresses me out at times!

It's been TOO long!!!

I know, I know...I have been a slack blogger! Sorry about that! We have either been hosting company on the weekends, traveling, or working! Well one of us has been working & the other one studying! Mike is in the middle of exams right now, and that has been super fun! It is hard to try & get Christmas decorations up or just hang out with friends when Mike really needs to be studying rather than hanging out with me! We did manage to walk in a 5K yesterday morning..the Reindeer Run. It is a fun celebration here in Charleston & people dress up in Christmas themed costumes. Bummer though..it was cold & rainy...we still got up & attended the event & even had a little fun! Hopefully next year the weather will be better! We were also able to get most of our Christmas decorations down from the attic today, but still no tree! Maybe later this week we will be able to get the tree & decorate some!

We had a really nice Thanksgiving in Asheville, it was short, but great to spend time with my family. We are looking forward to Christmas in Greenville after I work Christmas Eve night shift. This time of year is so BUSY, but we are trying to enjoy it! It just comes & goes SO fast! Mike is done with exams & his first semester of law school this Friday, December 11! He will have a whole month off to relax, which will be nice! We are both very excited about this! Maybe I'll have some pics to post next time!