Kelly's Korner

This post was scheduled for Friday but didn't post. So sorry it's late!

This week on Kelly's Korner she is asking us to tell our engagement stories.  I bet there are some really amazingly sweet engagement stories out there!!! I can't wait to read some of them!!!

My Engagement

August 27, 2007

You should probably read this to get a little bit of the story of our little family before you read on. 

It was a Monday night and Adam came home from work and like so many nights before, asked me if I wanted to go out and get something to eat.  The only difference was we would be leaving Aidan alone with a family friend for the night (for the first time) and I need to dress "cute". 

I was already a little stressed because we were leaving later in the week for Boston to go to my cousin's wedding and leaving Aidan for an entire weekend with family friends so the thought of giving him up for the night wasn't very appealing.  After an hour of trying to get out of going to dinner, I finally gave in and Adam and I dropped the baby off and headed to dinner.

For those of you Charlotteans, we were on the big bridge connecting us from I-77 to 485 when Adam started telling me how lucky he felt to have met me and now made this beautiful little boy together.   I am lucky enough to hear these things on a pretty regular basis so I still wasn't thinking anything was out of the ordinary.  I then started to notice his voice getting a little shaky and from that point I heard nothing except "So, I guess what I am asking you is, will you please do me the honor of being my wife and spending the rest of your life with me."  All I could say was "Are you asking me to marry you right now."  We laughed for a second and then he opened the ring box and I couldn't even get "Yes" out.  The ring was beautiful and he placed it on my finger and it fit perfectly.  It felt like an eternity before Adam finally said "So, is that a yes"?  At this point I was balling and managed to get out "Yes! Yes! Of course Yes!". 

Isn't it so sweet when they get so nervous?  Bless Adam's heart he was shaking so bad when he put the ring on my finger.  I mean did he actually think I might say No?

The first thing I wanted to do was call of my family and friends and tell them and as I fumbled through my purse I realized I had left my phone at home.  And then as luck would have it, I looked in the side view mirror and realized that my BFF Amanda was randomly driving home from the gym and right behind us.  I grabbed Adam's phone and started waving my hand out the window and as soon as she answered all I could get out was "I'm engaged!"  She was so excited for me.

My next phone call was to my parents and I was floored to find out that my dad had been holding the ring for Adam for three months!  Adam had met my mom earlier that day to pick it up.  It was also super sweet to find out that even though they had the ring for all that time, they didn't think it was right for them to see it before me so they had never opened the box and we never knew that my parents had too gotten engaged in the car. 

The story behind the car engagement....Adam had planned to pop the question at the Red Sox game while we in town (Boston) for my cousin's wedding.   Coincidentally the week before he asked me we were all having a family dinner and some how the conversation came up that you can sometimes steal the bride's thunder if you get engaged on her day.  Unbeknownst to us, he had his entire proposal planned out for the game but was now nervous that he would be frowned upon for asking me during my cousin's wedding weekend.  He was already so pumped up about the engagement he ditched the Red Sox plan and just went with it.   Adam had told his mother and sister that he was going to ask me at the game and for some reason to this day, his sister still thinks we got engaged there. 

We were married less than 2 months later on October 12, 2007 and then again on October 12, 2008.  I told you to read the story first.

I saw some people posted pics of their engagement rings.  Adam had my ring custom made and I can't even find something similar online to show you so I took a bad picture with my phone.  I love my ring!  I was so surprised at how well Adam did picking it out after all I said was that I like rings that looked "antique". 

(I told you the pic was bad).

I am so blessed to have been happily married to my best friend for almost three years now.  All you single girls reading this that are dying to be engaged, I want you to know, I never thought someone would love me enough to want to spend the rest of their lives with me and I wanted it so bad.  There are so many great men out there waiting on you to be their wives!  Try to remember that meeting the man of your dreams usually happens when you aren't looking for it.  He is sitting somewhere praying for you to come in to his life too!

Happy Friday Y'all!

Show Us Your Favorite Things

This week on Kelly's Korner the topic of Show Us Your Life Friday's is Show Us Your Favorite Things, Things That Make You Happy.  The list could go on and on.  Here's a glimpse in to what makes me happy...

Before it was the two of them, it was just him.  Adam.  He is my favorite thing.  Now, it's the two of them that make me so happy.

My family and my friends.

Our beach house on Folly Beach, SC.  Any beach for that matter.

The Red Sox and Fenway Park.  Did you know Massachusetts is where I'm from. The whole state makes me happy.

Manicures and Pedicures make everyone happy right? 

And a few more things...

Riding in the car with the windows down, singing at the top of my lungs can change a day around for me.

Interior design makes me really happy. Especially when I am spending someone else's money while doing it.

Kittens and puppies.

Seeing people do nice things for no reason.

New babies.

And lastly, Blogging. Duh.

 Just so you know, I asked Adam if he had to name 5 things that made me happy what they would be, he said

Him, Aidan, my Parents, DVR and my Blackberry.   Pretty close babe.

I can't wait to read what makes everyone else happy!!! 

Show Us Your Life -Charlotte, NC

This week we are showing you are towns on Show Us Your Life at  Kelly's Korner.

Welcome to  Charlotte, NC! 

Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Bobcats (now owned by Michael Jordan).

Bank of America Stadium

Time Warner Cable Arena

Charlotte is also now home to the Nascar Hall of Fame.  This building was designed by world famous architect I.M Pei.  You may know him as the architect that designed the pyramid outside of the Louvre in Paris, France.

Charlotte has a hand full of wonderful museums including the new Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.

Charlotte has lakes to enjoy such as Lake Norman, Lake Wylie and Mountain Island Lake.

These are just a few of the great aspects of this growing city.

Charlotte has great history!  It's a great southern town and there is always tons of stuff to do.  Center City is booming and the surrounding neighborhoods are some of the nicest I've ever seen.   We have beautiful parks, great restaurants and tons of cultural attractions.  You really should stop by for a visit!

Here are some great websites if you are thinking about planning a trip to Charlotte:

http://www.charlottesgotalot.com/

http://www.visitnc.com/

Thanks for stopping by! I can't wait to see your towns!!!

Show Us Your Life How You Picked Your Kids Names

Kelly's Korner is doing Children's Names and Future Baby Names this week.  I have to tell you, we have always like the name Harper (Kelly's daughter is Harper) since we saw the movie "Things We Lost in the Fire" but I just don't know if we could do Harper Harvey.

Here is the original post where I explained how we named our little man Aidan.

As for future names here's a few and why we like them. 

DISCLAIMER: UNLESS I know you well, you are free to steal my names.  If we speak on the phone, don't even think about it! HAHA. 

Just an FYI.  Using family names is high on my list and nick names are low.      

If we have daughters:

One must be named Virginia.  My Nana's name was Virginia and so is Adam's grandmother.  I love the name. I just see a sweet little blond with a bob running around in J Crew, Crew Cuts cardigans.

Virginia Name Combos we are in to...

Virginia Abigail...my Nana's name.  I could do this in reverse as well. Abigail Virginia or Abigail Jean.

I like Abigail alone but Adam does not because he almost dated a mean girl named Abby.  Stupid right?

Next name:

Brooklyn

This is entirely random but my mom and I were in the car one day and I said to her "I love the name Brooklyn for a little girl but I know you would just kill me" and she said "Actually I love that name!".

So, I immediately added it to the list and Adam loves it too.

Brooklyn Name Combos we are in to...

Brooklyn Jean...Jean is my middle name, my mom's middle name and my great aunt's name.

Brooklyn Lee...Adam's middle name. Although we would probably change it to Lea the female version of it.

(As I am sitting here typing this Adam keeps saying "Brook, Brook..." I think he is talking himself out of it.)

And Lastly:

Addison

Addison name combos...

I have always loved this name.  I know, I know. I have a thing with A names.

Addison Virginia...then we would get the grandmother's name's in there as well.

Addison Jean...my name is in there.

Addison Lee...after Adam.

I gotta tell ya, Addison Virginia is peaking some serious interest.

If we have another son next I may have an issue.  Naming Aidan was so easy but I haven't really found anything I love, love, love for boys.

Robert

Robert is my dad and my brother's name. My dad goes by Bob and my brother goes by Bobby.

We would definitely call him Bobby. I think. Maybe Robert?  I am not a fan of nick names. Either way this is most likely the name of our next son. 

Robert name combos...

Robert Michael.  That way he is named after every male in my immediate family and there is no fighting. Haha!

OR Adam likes Jordan Robert. Jordan is my other brother's name and we love it.

 

Kellan

Kellan name combos...

 Kellan William...named after my dad and he and Aidan would have the same name.

Kellan Robert...another baby named after my dad. He would be thrilled!

I also have a cousin named Kellan. It's Irish which is good around here (since we are).

Alexander (Alex)

Alexander name combos...

Alexander Robert. After my dad and brother. Both Roberts.

or Alexander Michael after my brother Jordan.

Cooper

Cooper name combos...

Cooper Lee...named after Adam.

Cooper William...Then he and Aidan could have the same middle name.

Cooper Patrick...this would be naming him after no one.

 So there you have it, my future baby names.  We have agreed on two more children for now and after those two we will assess having anymore. I was one of three and loved it, Adam was one of two and had seven years between them and says he basically felt like an only child.

We obviously would have liked to have been pregnant again by now but it's just not the right time for us.  We have been praying feverishly for some direction as to when the time will be right.  We don't want Aidan to be too far in age from his siblings. Not to mention I will be 27 this summer and I would like to be done having babies by 32. That only gives me 6 years to have 2 possibly 3 more kids!!! 

I feel like I just rambled on about baby names.  It made me think a lot about so many names.  I never want to be one of those people that doesn't have a name picked before the baby comes. I would be nervous I couldn't make a decision at that point!!!  Not to mention, I would have to have stuff monogrammed. 

I can't wait to read everyone else's names and maybe pick up some names. Enjoy your weekends. xoxo

Show Us Your Life Fridays

Show Us Your Life at Kelly's Korner is back this week and the topic is Teacher's Gift Ideas.  This is my first year having a child in "school".   If you want to call it that.  So, if you think I'm getting crazy or not doing enough please let me know.  BUT, these are the women I rely on to take care of my child two days a week and he has grown immensly since being in their care and for that these things won't ever be enough!


So, these are my thoughts.  (For Christmas I had planned on giving them each personalized Christmas ornaments but Aidan was sick the entire month of December so we didn't get around to it.  I figured I could make up for it at the end of the year.)

I am going to have small totes monogrammed. I think they are great especially for teachers who lug so much back and forth to the classroom.

Inside I would like to just put a picture of Aidan with each of his teachers so that I can hand paint some cute little frames for them and put the picture inside.  Of course I don't expect them to keep his picture in there. 

I was thinking the best thing to do is pamper them at this point in the year so they will all be getting mani/pedi giftcertificates.  I mean who doesn't love that?  And of course a hand written Thank You note. I would be thrilled to get this if I were a teacher!!!

I really can't wait to hear what everyone else has for ideas.  I read some of the entries already from teachers and apparently gift cards are the way to go!!!

These are the totes I am trying to decide between...both are cute!

Show Us Your Life Fridays...Halloween Costumes

This week at Kelly's Korner, we are showing past and present Halloween costumes. Since, I haven't dressed up in years, I figured I would show you Aidan's. Besides, who wants to see me dressed up instead of this cutie!!!

This is Aidan's costume for this year. He's a monkey!!! I took this picture on Thursday before he left for school. They had a Halloween parade and all the kids got to wear their costumes.

Last year, Aidan was a dinosaur. I think that's what the costume was supposed to be anyways! Ha! He hated the hood last year so this picture depicts what he did every time I tried to get a good picture.

This is Aidan's first Halloween. He was the CUTEST penguin!!!

Another photo from his first Halloween. I dressed him up in this and he was less than excited. I can't help but laugh when I see this photo.

I am hoping to be able to go through some of the entries tomorrow and get some good ideas for next year!! I am actually going to a Halloween party tomorrow night with some girlfriends and I am going to be a cat. Maybe I will be brave and take some pictures to post!!!

Happy Halloween