Welcome, Avery Kate!

What a day! I was at the office sitting down for a meeting at 9:00 a.m. and, before I knew it, I was holding my new baby girl around Noon.

Stephanie successfully completed her second natural water birth at North Fulton Hospital, and she continues to amaze me, as well as all the other family members, midwives and nurses around her! She is truly remarkable!

Welcome to the World, Avery Kate!

Madelyn was able to meet her little sister as she
was just minutes old.

Big sister already in action.

Thanks to Aunt La La for Avery's first Birthday card!

Live Strong, Even in Trimester 3

Here we are, a little over two weeks until my due date. It's funny because when you are pregnant it seems that people expect you to live such a boring life - stay inside, eat junk food all day, and (oh my gosh!) don’t have sex. Thankfully, I have been fortunate with both pregnancies and have felt great throughout. The weekend I had Madelyn I hiked at the river, fished with Eric, planted flowers, and went to the gym. After all of that activity, Madelyn finally decided she was ready on Sunday night.

Who knows what I will do the weekend before I have this baby, but I hope it goes something like that. Sure, I have been tired in the evenings after chasing Madelyn all day, and I get winded carrying Madelyn up our two flights of stairs all day, but all in all, I have felt great. I really think much of pregnancy, and in life really, is in what you make it. If I laid around all day and ate cookies, of course I would feel terrible.

Here's to our final days before we welcome baby #2, and hoping I can still fit in a few more adventurous activities before that time.

Shoot'n the Hooch - 35 Weeks

Marc Broussard Concert - 36 Weeks

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Long Distance Relationship

Last week Madelyn was lucky enough to see her Great Grandma Rita. I am so thankful that she was able to make the trip from California to visit us.

We don't see Grandma Rita often enough, but when we do I love every second of it, and I can only imagine that Madelyn does too.

Hilton Head Island

We always love a trip to the beach, and my parents were nice enough to sponsor a trip to Hilton Head Island recently. As always, it was great to get away and spend time with the family. And thanks to Nana and Granddad, Eric and I got some great "baby free" time that I'm sure we'll really appreciate in about a month!

Family Photos

We had the privilege of having ABJ Photography take our family photos recently in downtown Roswell.

Be sure to check out ABJ Photography for your family's next photos!

Lessons from Parenthood – The Early Bird Gets the Workout

There are two things about me that are as true as death and taxes – I am not a morning person, and I am very active.

As a result, I have always maintained an exercise routine in the afternoon or evening, generally stopping by the gym on the way home from the office. The only time I developed a consistent exercise routine in the morning was when I had access to a free gym and physical trainer. The catch? I had to meet my boss for a 6:30 a.m. workout.

On one of these mornings, while I was complaining about how early it was, my boss said, “Just wait until you have kids, this will be the only free time you have.” I was determined that this wouldn’t be the case for me. Certainly I could find a way to stop by the gym after work a couple days each week.

In hindsight, it was wishful thinking - I have succumbed to the early morning exercise routine. My former boss was right; as a parent, sometimes the dawn hours are the only time available for a quick workout. And if I happen leave the office with time to spare I’d rather hurry home to give my little girl a goodnight kiss.

A Life Lived Well

On Sunday, April 1 Dr. Leila Denmark died at 114 years old. Dr. Denmark was a legendary pediatrician who practiced in the Atlanta area.

We have friends who grew up with Dr. Denmark as their pediatrician, and although we didn't know her, we purchased a book about her teachings and referenced it often in Madelyn's early days.

Last year the AJC published a great article about Dr. Denmark's legacy. In another article Dr. Denmark summed up her secret to success by simply saying, “You keep on doing what you do best as long as you can."

Here's to a life lived well, and a testament that wisdom truly is timeless.