Wednesday, November 13, 2013

What I’m Lovin’ Wednesday: Special Delivery, Special Thanks

The past week has been a wonderful whirlwind since we made our announcement about Little Peep.  We have received so much encouragement and love from you and we are immeasurably grateful.  There is one individual that I especially want to thank that made our announcement reveal so precious. 

Without Grace Hill Photography we would not have had our fabulous photos. Grace is a fabulous photographer with amazing talent.  Her work is unlike any I have seen before where she not only captures a moment in time, but also the sweet emotions of life.  Grace took our pictures back in 2009 (that are all over this blog) and then took our pregnancy announcement photos.  I highly recommend her if you’re near Houston.  I am so grateful to Grace for making our announcement so special and to come alive.  She worked so diligently with such attention to detail, and made us feel completely comfortable!  Thank you Grace!  Check out more of her work, and then schedule an appointment with Grace Hill Photography!!!!  Make sure that you start following her on Facebook too!
Can you pick a favorite?!Grace Hill Photography 1Grace Hill Photography 2Grace Hill Photography 4Grace Hill Photography 3Grace Hill Photography 5
See I told you she was talented!!!
I can’t even pick my favorite…..actually can I pick all of these as my favorite? lol
Which is your favorite?
Seriously, your assignment is to GO “LIKE” Grace Hill Photography on Facebook!!!!
Obligatory Blogger Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post; I just really like Grace Hill Photography.  She doesn’t even know that I’m writing this post about her.
xoxo Darby

Monday, November 11, 2013

Telling the Mr. About Little Peep

Friends, I cannot even begin to tell you how excited the Mr. and I are about the pending arrival of Little Peep.  “Excited” really doesn’t even do it justice.  We want to thank every single person that commented on our announcement post, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email, text, and calls……we feel so loved and we are so encouraged by your prayers and kind words.  The outpouring of your love just makes us even more thrilled to continue the beginning of this journey, but please keep those prayers coming!

In the next coming weeks I will be sharing about our years of struggles with infertility.  While this post has been in my draft box for about two years, I still don’t think I’m ready to share it.  It’s probably definitely the deepest post I’ve ever written, and I feel like I just need to pray about it a little more before I share that part of our story.  So today, I just want to share with you about how we found out that Little Peep was on the way.

We found out on Sunday, September 22, 2013.  I was late, but I am never regular so that was nothing new.  The previous cycle had really done a number on me psychologically and physically.  We had switched over to new hormones and I thought for sure we had conceived in July; I had so many symptoms and was so excited.  But as you know, the higher the expectations, the more the words “Not Pregnant” sting on a plastic home pregnancy test.  So in September when I was late and didn’t have a single symptom, besides no cycle, I decided I just didn’t want to take the test.  I just didn’t want to read it again; I didn’t want to be hurt again.  So that Friday (9/20) we went to a wine tasting (because I was sure I wasn't pregnant…God is so funny sometimes when He humbles me).  Saturday (9/21) at our date night, the Mr. told me that he thought we should buy a test because "tests being expensive" wasn’t a good reason not to (this was the reason I blamed for not really wanting to take a test.  If I'm being honest here, we all know I just didn't want to get hurt by the words "Not Pregnant" again.  But seriously, I didn’t want to take a test if my cycle was just going to come anyways, those little boogers are the most expensive pieces of plastic that women pee on just to throw away!)  When I look back now, I should have realized I was pregnant for a few reasons: I fell asleep during a Steelers game the Monday before (this never happens folks), I was exhausted every evening though I thought that was due to my work load increase, I was easily agitated, and I was craving meat (I even had pepperonis for breakfast one morning).

Sunday morning (9/22) the Mr. got up early to walk the dogs.  When he left I got up to take the test, so that I could hurry up and cry at the “Not Pregnant” before he got back.   I had been mentally preparing myself for the BFN (Big Fat Negative; this is what those who suffer from infertility have to do, mentally prepare ourselves for seeing the worst again).  I just stared at the test sitting on the window in the bathroom, anticipating another cry fest, but this time I got a different answer.  When “Pregnant” came across the screen the only thing I could do was to hit my knees crying and praying.  I just spent the next 15 minutes crying and praising God on the bathroom floor.  I’m so glad God doesn’t care where we pray.  I prayed and prayed thanking God; this was all His doing.  Not mine, not the Mr’s, not the doctors, not the hormones.  This was HIS timing.  I wanted to surprise the Mr. some way….even though he purchased the test the night before, so I brushed my teeth really fast (and as best I could because I was shaking like you would not believe), and got to work on his surprise.

Four years ago when we decided to start trying for a baby I bought the Mr. a football burb cloth, swaddle blanket, and onesie.  I just kept moving it from closet to closet over the years as we waited.  But before the Mr. got back from the walk I dug out that box and wrapped the positive pregnancy test in the items.  When he got back I told him that I found a Christmas present as I was cleaning out the office closet that I forgot to give him (at this point we were remodeling my office, and it’s not unusual for me to find Christmas presents later in the year because I hide them so well I forget them). So he opened it and I will never forget the look on his face; it was joy, fear, shock, excitement, surprise, all at the same time.  So we went to our bedroom, knelt by our bed and just prayed to God for this blessing.  Then we went to a couple grocery stores for more tests and a doughnut shop because what's great news without doughnuts?!  When all of the other tests quickly came back positive, we prayed some more, got ready for church and that was that.  This day, 9/22/13, was one of the most special days we’ve ever experienced as husband and wife, and we rejoice in the years of struggle that we have waited through for this day. 

September 22, 2013 was when one journey came to an end (for now), and the next journey begins.  We feel so blessed, and we are so grateful for this opportunity.  We take every single day with this baby as a gift and we embrace this life.  Thank you again for the prayers, please keep them coming!
xoxo Darby

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Special Delivery

We’re taking a break from our normal Wednesday schedule to bring you the most exciting news we’ve ever received:
 
Special Delivery 1Special Delivery 2D Hawley_66F Hawley_57
Special Delivery 3Special Delivery 4Special Delivery 5O Hawley_45P Hawley_53
Special Delivery 6Special Delivery 7
V Hawley_61
Special Delivery 8Special Delivery 9Z-3 Hawley_05Z-4 Hawley_68Z-5 Hawley_12
The arrival of our special delivery is due May 2014 :-)
More news about our Little Peep will be coming soon, but for today we are just glowing as we share the news of our miracle baby with you.  We are over the moon and filled with joy to know that Little Peep is on the way, and an answer to many years of prayer.  We ask you to please remember us in your prayers as we continue through this pregnancy for a healthy baby and mamma as well as a smooth transition into parenthood.  Thank you so much friends!
Many thanks to Grace Hill Photography for these amazing announcement pictures.  If you’re in Houston you MUST look her up (here now folks, I'm not kidding!!!).  She is the most talented and artistic photographer I have ever worked with, and her attention to detail is incomparable!
xoxo Darby

Monday, November 4, 2013

Back From Nola…and My First Flash Mob Dance!

Well I’ve actually been back for a week now, but with coming back and trying to catch up there is about a week lag around here.  But I still want to tell you about my trip with my sister.  Kellyn was here in Houston for a week for work and then last week she was in New Orleans for work.  So for the weekend in between we thought we would have a sisters weekend getaway.  I have traveled to NOLA many times, but this was Kellyn’s first time so there were many things we just had to see (and taste).  It was a fabulous weekend, filled with sites, walking, shopping, and lots and lots of yummy food! 
To be honest, my favorite part about New Orleans is always the food.  I just can’t control myself….I don’t even want to quite frankly!  The beignets and café au lait are always at the top of my list…closely followed by all of the spicy seafood!!New Orleans 1
There is something about New Orleans that I just find so beautiful.  I truly love the older European inspired architecture.  Perhaps because Houston is so new and we lack a lot of the older buildings, I always fall in love with the older vibes in NOLA.New Orleans 2New Orleans 7New Orleans 8The first night we were in NOLA we hit up one of my favorite spots: Pat O’brien’s.  Blame it on my Irish blood or the fact that I’m always a tourist when I visit, but the dueling pianos always have me singing and dancing in my seat.  I think Kellyn enjoyed the music too!New Orleans 3

I love all of the different people and acts on the sides of the street.  NOLA is never lacking creativity.New Orleans 4New Orleans 5This happened twice while we were visiting NOLA, but we saw two weddings!  It was so fun to watch the bride and groom parade down the streets with their fun umbrellas, followed by a band and their entire guest list dancing and waving hankies in the air. At first we were shopping (in a Christmas store no less) and we heard the music, and we noticed that it was getting louder, then we saw the white dress out of the store front window and screamed “A WEDDING!” in unison lol  So neat! We are total girlie girls who will always love a wedding :-)New Orleans 6Since we were there the weekend before Halloween we had the opportunity to go to one of the parades.  It was so awesome and the floats were extraordinary!  New Orleans 9New Orleans 10This might have been the coolest part of the trip: While we were in a restaurant having dinner, a group that had been in the parade came and laid down on the street in front of the patio.  Kellyn and I looked at each other like, those ladies dressed as zombie circus monkeys must be cra cra!  Then Thriller started playing and the entire group got up and did the dance…..the entire dance!  I’m talking straight from the video (80’s kids you know what I’m talking about)!  Seeing our first flash mob dance…….indescribable!  New Orleans 11Then of course we had to stroll down Bourbon Street and see all of the fabulous costumes.  I have to say some were very impressive!!!!  There was only one that was totally horrible and disgusting (dressing as a Boston Marathon Victim, seeeeeeee isn’t that so inappropriate?!?!).  Ok so here is my list of top 4 costumes:
4. Dexter
3. A group of guys dressed as lego men
2. A couple dressed as Flo from the Progressive commercials and a Geico Gecko
1. A group dressed as the villains from Disney movies….even Jafar and Hook were represented!New Orleans 12
Kellyn and I had a great sisters trip!
I think we should do it again, don’t you?
Where should we explore next?
Happy Monday friends!
xoxo Darby

Friday, November 1, 2013

Fall Décor- Hawley Style

How was your Halloween? Did y’all have a lot of trick~or~treaters? Hopefully you had more treats than tricks ;-)


I figured that since today was the first day of November, and my fall decorations have been up for over a month now, that it was probably time to show y’all our fall home.


I went a little more low key this year; I think mostly because it was harder for me to decorate the new house than I thought. I know I said that that was something I was super excited about (and I still am) but I think it began to overwhelm me. So instead of getting stressed I just put a few touches here and there to make our home feel more like fall.DSC_0211DSC_0215DSC_0216
I think our mantle is the focal point of decorationsDSC_0221DSC_0222DSC_0223DSC_0224DSC_0225DSC_0226DSC_0227DSC_0228
That’s all the creativity I have for this fall. 
I admit that I’m already ready to decorate for Christmas!!!!
Happy weekend sweet friends!!
xoxo Darby
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