Happy Birthday to Lola!!

This weekend a year ago, Taylor and I were moving from Mississippi into our Birmingham apartment. Also on this day, our sweet Lola Bear was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi. After settling in our apartment we decided a puppy would be a great addition to our family. Once we saw the picture of Lola-we knew she was going to fit right in :) We drove almost 5 hours to pick her up and it was like Christmas morning when we finally got there. Those stubby, little, wrinkly legs, and those long, droopy ears she kept tripping over melted my heart. Now, a year later she is such a huge part of our family. She makes us laugh everyday and we love her sooo much!

           Happy Birthday Lola!!!!

on our way home!

Lola exploring in Fitzpatrick

check out that neck!

funny puppy

NYC Real Estate Heaven

 My boss just got back from a week in New York where they own an apartment with several other couples. (Must be nice right?) Well, my small town mind starts imagining what the apartment must look like...brown stone facade with stoop I'm sure...so then I start thinking if the price is right, I too, could one day own a picturesque brown stone of my very own. I knew apartments/town homes in the Upper East Side don't come cheap, but I did not realize they could cost you 70 million plus. I always loved Charlotte's Apartment in Sex in the City...Park Avenue with a view. Wanna know what that will set you back in real life? Try $23mill, easy. What about Madison Ave? $72mill without a blink. Want to live on the same street as Carrie Bradshaw? Better be willing to lay down 23 million with almost eighty thousand in taxes each year...no wonder New Yorkers always seem so angry, it's because they actually ARE angry. 


So after my dabbling in the New York real estate market and briefly reconsidering my career (New York Real Estate Agent). I started thinking about the movies/tv. How in the hell did Monica Geller afford that huge apartment in Greenwich village? She was unemployed more than half the time, right? And then I thought Carrie Bradshaw's apartment had to be somewhere on the internet and maybe even vacant. Well, I found it and to my severe disappointment, 245 E.73rd St. doesn't exist. The exterior shots were actually filmed on 66 Perry Street and the interior was a set.

Maybe this will make you feel better-her brown stone, complete with before and afters.

The famous stoop-$60,000 to the owner each time they used it in the show.

before and after from the first movie

 Carrie's all grown up Apartment with Mr. Big is even more wonderful:

the sofa: Woodframe by Montauk $6100 Birdie Blossom Pillow: $600

fabric on chairs: Lee Jofa's Belgravia color: grey/black $170/yard

Headboard fabric: Kravet's Velvet Gate color: Tuxedo $170/yard

and this is just for kicks...Charlotte's Park Ave. kitchen

It's Fall Ya'll

And now for a much lighter/happier post:
Taylor and I spent almost all of Saturday in the yard. It was the perfect day to be outside and quite theraputic...replacing pine straw, planting mums and pruning bushes (that now look more like trees??). Our poor flower beds have been begging for some attention and now they are ready for fall! Pumpkins have yet to be purchased, and if you only knew what Tayphill has planned for Halloween night...lets just say strobe lights and smoke machines are involved.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, Plans to Prosper and not to harm you, Plans to give you Hope and a Future." Jeremiah 29:11

I have been debating for a couple of days whether or not to actually post a blog about this past Tuesday. I knew when I began blogging over a year ago things could get pretty personal. I try to keep my blogging fairly lighthearted and at times comical. I wish I could say this was one of those times.

Here goes nothing.
On Tuesday we went in for our 12 week visit and started with the ultrasound. The tech was making small talk while I was getting situated, but as soon as she began the ultrasound I could feel her mood change. I knew immediately something was wrong. There were tears in her eyes. There was no heartbeat, no movement, my heart sunk and I lose it. Sweet Taylor is trying to hold it together but I can see the tears filling up in his eyes. Our Doctor comes in to confirm the obvious and tells us the baby stopped advancing between weeks 9 and 10 and that there is nothing we could have done for the baby. Is this really happening? I am healthy, I never get sick so why should my baby be any different???
So here we are in a big blur. Not sure what to do with ourselves. One thing I can say is that I know God has a plan, and that our baby is in heaven getting lots of love from our grandparents. The other thing I know is that I am meant to be a Mother and Taylor is meant to be a Father. But for now it's going to be just the 2 of us, and of course Lola. I know miscarriages are common, but it sure doesn't make this any easier.
To our friends and family, thank you so much for all of the kind words and thoughtful flowers. We love you.

Cruisin in the Caribbean

This past week Taylor and I took a little "babymoon" to the Caribbean. First stop was Montego Bay, Jamaica where we took a tour around the city and went by Catamaran to a coral reef to snorkel. I've never snorkeled before, so this first time experience was somethin else. I will say, they should make those little breathing tubs a little longer. The ride back to the ship on the Catamaran was interesting to say the least. Rum Punch was complimentary and the smell made me flash back to Freshman year pledge parties and the large cooler filled with hunch punch.

Next stop was the Grand Cayman where we went to 7 Mile Beach where the water was unbelievable. Puts Destin to shame. We ate some of the local food, and by local I mean hamburgers and hot dogs. Taylor enjoyed rum punch and a local beer called CayBrew.

Cozumel, Mexico was our final stop where we took a Catamaran to Passion Island where they film the Corona commercials. The weather couldn't have been more perfect and the breeze coming of the water allowed perfect conditions for an afternoon nap.

Our time on the ship was just as relaxing. While we were cruising from port to port we spent our time on the Lido Deck near the pool. We went to the comedy club almost every night and heard some pretty bad karaoke.

Pictures from our trip!

leaving New Orleans!

heading to Jamaica

day 3 before dinner

beautiful sunset

Jamaica Mon!

learning how to snorkel

Jamaica

Grand Cayman

Cozumel