it's a boy!

Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you?  But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window. 

 ~Steve Bluestone

After much discussion and deliberation my husband and I have decided on what kind of dog the newest member of our family will be...a brindle boxer!  Isn't the picture adorable!  My husband love boxers and after years of thinking he wanted a lab he changed his mind.  Boxers are very smart, very silly, and very energetic.  Sound familiar?  Aaron has a lot of the same characteristics.  

We are getting a boy pup and the tentative name we have picked out is Brutus.  Not a cutesy name like the one I would have chosen, but since he will be a boy and will technically be my hubby's pick so I think it's appropriate.  Boxer's are so cute, they have such great personalities and even the way they look lets you know how much fun they will be.

Other than the family pups, don't worry Penny you are still my favorite, I have never had my own dog and I am excited to get my first during the first year of marriage to my amazing husband.  Aaron and I plan on getting a golden retriever down the road, my life just wouldn't be complete without one, and will then have two happy, healthy pups in our family.  Coincidentally, when we start trying to have kids we would like two as well, one boy and one girl.  BUT you cannot control those things and when we do start trying in 8 years or so we will be overjoyed with the precious gift God gives us, no matter its gender.

So we are excited, Aaron said last night that he knows how much I love taking care of things (examples: him, my little sister, my family) and is excited to watch me play mommy with our puppy.  The most exciting part will be that this dog will be ours.

The first year of marriage is full of exciting firsts and this be a very exciting first, not only because it is our first dog, but because it is the first dog either of us will be completely responsible for.

So Brutus, or whichever name we decide on, we are saving up for you.  You will be one of the most spoiled dogs on the planet and Aaron is excited to give you lots of walks and playtime.  As am I, but I am also excited for the cuddling and training.  We already love you and are excited to meet you.

tinsel & mistletoe

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?  It came without ribbons.  It came without tags.  It came without packages, boxes or bags.  And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.  ~Dr. Seuss

Well, my Dad is a notorious Grinch come the Christmas season.  He grumbles when the decoration boxes come up from the basement, when the wrapping of the gifts begins, making of the Christmas oyster crackers and cheeseballs starts, and never ever likes shopping for gifts.  BUT...this year he has found out that his heart has grown.  He loves everything about Christmas this year and even sneakily played Santa Clause making our house the most popular UPS stop on the route.  Not only that, he didn't get stuck lugging the decoration boxes up and down the steps because Aaron was on call.  Thanks hubby for carrying the boxes up and taking them back down for me:)

I FINALLY finished the decorating, one of my favorite holiday activities, and I must say the house looks very festive.  The candles smell wonderful!  Mulled Cider is definitely my new favorite Christmas scent.  There are a thousand and one ornaments on the tree and even the pups are getting in the spirit.  They like to lick the ornaments, despite our fears that Marley might decide to try one as a snack, and got very excited when their stockings went up.  Penny remembers the treats that usually find their way into them come Christmas morning.

My wonderful husband even helped me put up our tree this year, multi-colored lights and all.  

I will admit that despite my affinity towards all white Christmas lights I love our multi-colored tree.  It even has quite a few ornaments on it already thanks to Christmas gifts from the past two years.  Now we just need that perfect newlywed ornament.  My parents have a really special ornament from their first Christmas as Mr & Mrs and I have always wanted one that is similar.  Our first trip to the mall was unsuccessful, but I get a little overzealous in my Christmas shopping pre-Thanksgiving so that's understandable.

The special ornament, once it is found won't even grace our tree until after Christmas Eve so there isn't a rush.

Poor Penny-pup has a sore right shoulder and has had some trouble getting up and down the basement steps.  Not that that keeps her from scaling them EVERY time I go up and down (she loves to follow me around the house) or from gladly going on trips to Grandmama's house.  She must not be too hurt.

Penny has a new office-buddy joining her as Aaron is now working with Kevin's company Better Life to help in the advertising and marketing.  I am so proud that my husband chooses to work for a company based in making our homes safer and healthier for ourselves and our children.  Also because he didn't settle for a cookie-cutter job and is doing something he is truly passionate about.  

I love the names of the products, especially the glass-cleaner "I Can See Clearly, WOW!"

In other Weir family news, we are now members of St. Charles Borromeo parish.

Not only is it the parish I grew up attending, but it is also where Aaron and I tied the knot almost 6 months ago.

We actually attended Mass yesterday and it was a new and exciting experience to go as a couple, sit in a new spot, and spend the whole Mass holding hands.  It is truly wonderful to be part of a parish community that holds a special place in both of our hearts.

I couldn't help, but put one of my favorite wedding photos in, this taken outside the church between one of the many rain showers that happened on our wedding day.

Mom and I are driving up to Xavier tomorrow to pick Tad up from school for Thanksgiving break and I could not be more excited.  Not only do I get to see Xavier University for the first time, including my brother's dorm room (SCARY!), we are going out to dinner with his girlfriend Veronica, whom I have never met.  I am very excited, especially as she may be coming to Hilton Head this summer on the Delicath-Weir family vacation.

As long as all reservations go smoothly this is the beautiful house we will be living in for a week! I am excited for some fun in the sun and my hubby's first experience with the South Carolina sunshine.

Here's to a fantastic road trip with my momma!

I am so excited to spend so much alone time with her.  Now that I am a Mrs. I don't get the chance very often so I will be soaking up every minute, even if I do have to work during the drive.

So y'all (just practicing for our summer vacation) enjoy your food-filled Turkey Days and lots of family time.  Splitting the day between our two families will mean double the food for both of us, which means double the cranberry sauce, my personal favorite.

fall is in the air!

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; 

It makes no noise at all, 

But softly gives itself away;

While quite unselfish, it grows small.

- Eva K. Logue

It has been a blustery week, not to mention fickle, with so many warm days and the recent cool ones.  I have to say the pups certainly love the newly cool weather and enjoy sunning, prancing, and romping around in the leaves.

Aaron helped rake some leaves last weekend and learned how much Golden's love literally lying down in the pile of leaves you are raking up.  I personally would love to leap into a large pile of leaves...

BUT there are far too many spiders in that pile that I think about just before truly considering jumping.  I'm sure my husband would shake his head at this comment, knowing it is in fact true.

This week brought thoughts of the upcoming holiday celebrations, including mine and Aarons' upcoming 6-month-a'versary.  Someone recently asked me what the best part of being married was and so many things came to mind I was speechless.  I am sure I went into a ten minute description of our life together thus far and how special each day is with the man God chose for me.  Our day-to-day marriage calendar (yes, we saved it from our Pre-Cana class) had the answer a few days later:

The best part of being married is having someone in bed so it is never cold.

-Frank, married 50 years

This quote is, taken literally, true, but the underlying meaning describes perfectly the first thing I would answer the next person who asks me this question.

My husband really does keep the cold out of my life.  He is there when I need someone to tell that really random observation I just made that no one else would care about.  He is the person I love to be "just the two of us" with for the rest of my life.  I am never lonely when he is around. I always have someone who listens to me when I am angry, frustrated, sad, happy, hyper (that takes a special person in itself), and bubbling over with love.  I can only hope I do the same for him each day of our marriage.

This Christmas season my goal is to do my best to be grateful for what I have been given and to show those around me how lucky I feel to love and be loved by them.  

Yes, the picture above is our Christmas tree, lit up with a few extra light strands to make it extra twinkly this year.  I got excited when 102.5 KEZK started playing Christmas music and just HAD to put up the decorations.  There is just one special stocking missing from the fireplace, but it may soon appear due to a little Christmas magic.

The Christmas season also means family gatherings and traditions.  My beautiful family may seem like a zoo at times, especially when Aaron and I are sharing our lives with them in the same state for the first time, but every day we never fail to laugh at ourselves and find joy in the moments we share together.  

Especially if it involves margaritas with mom:)

That's something else I learned this week, that just because I no longer call my mom every day because I see her every day I can't forget about spending time being a wife.  Not that I do, but when you have the family you missed so close to you after time apart one you get a little overzealous.  So, this week I think I will make Tiffany's famous meatballs and get back to being the "housewife" I was in Chicago.

So here's to a holly-filled week and lots of Christmas shopping.  This year I have resolved to buy all the gifts before Thanksgiving so I have a few weeks to theme out a few special gifts.  Enjoy the chilly, "Christmasy" weather!