SURPRISE!

My actual birthday was last Sunday, November 1st...and I'll admit it was an "eh" kind of day. I had a nice time at brunch with my family, but with Brian being sick, the rest of the evening didn't really bring much to be desired. In some ways I had tried to chalk it up to turning 30 and that maybe this is when birthdays just stop being fun.

Yesterday, Saturday, November 7th started out as any other, except that Brian told me that it was going to be a "day of fun". This "day of fun" included getting a bunch of errands done together! YAY! Doesn't that sound great?! Needless to say, I wasn't very excited...plus, the Notre Dame game was going to be on 1:30pm, and I wanted to be home in time to watch it. Brian response was: "We can DVR it." What?! I do not DVR Notre Dame football ... I watch Notre Dame football.

Anyways...I gave in and we headed out for our day of fun. We went and got the oil changed in the Tahoe, we headed to Home Depot, and then we went to the mall. Fun! What else will this day bring???

We arrived home, headed upstairs and I was completely taken aback by the 30 or so people standing in our living room yelling, "SURPRISE!"

I guess he was right...it turned out to be a day of fun! There is nothing like having your closest family and friends celebrating your 30th birthday all together. I mean my Aunt Malo and Uncle Ba even drove in from Cleveland and my cousin Nick and his girlfriend Sarah drove in from Cincinnati!

I have the best husband in the world! He made my 30th one I'll never forget. Thank you Brian! I love you so much!

pre-arrival...

Katie & Trippy

My Graham School girls (minus Leah)
Katie, Michelle, Marianne, Jen, & Courtney

#1 cousin status! Thank you Nick & Sarah! You guys are the best!
Love you!!!

Aunt Lynn, Sarah, Nick, Sassy, Barb, & Aunt Malo

Uncle Rick, Mikey & Dad

Adrienne & baby Rocco

Lizzie & Brad waiting for the Traverso's delivery guy

The food has arrived! YUM! Travero's Chicken Bowtie is my favorite!

watching football

waiting, waiting...

more waiting...

SURPRISE!

I can't believe you did this!

food table

what a perfect day!
Dino, Mikey, Uncle Rick, Rich, and Danny

Corey & Dominic

Barb, Aunt Malo, Aunt Lynn, and mom enjoying the food

Aunt Malo & Aunt Lynn enjoying the chocolate cake!

belly to belly! My next poll will be: "Guess Nick's due date!"

Brad, Greg, Kristen& I

Brian, Dad, me, Mom, Aunt Malo, Uncle Ba, Lizzie & Barb

I can't believe they drove up! What a great surprise!
I love you Aunt Malo and Uncle Ba! Thank you SO much for coming!

mother-in-law & mom

Daddy-o!

Trippy loves Nicky!

Pretty Krissy

me & Megan

Kris & Liz

Lizzie with one tired puppy!

...had to include a picture of Baby Witko!

Nick & Lizzie getting ready to re-heat all of the appetizers!

isn't your husband supposed to grow right along with you??? How is he now able to fit into my cousin's (who is in high school) hoodie??

Lizzie and Trippy snuggled up on Sunday morning

This morning we headed out to Mimi's Cafe for breakfast...mom thought she needed to take a picture of me and my food...it's not THAT ridiculous...uh...baby needs food too, you know!

I can't thank everyone enough for coming to my party yesterday. I had the best time! I can't think of anything better than getting together with my nearest and dearest friends and family.
I love you all very much! Thank you!

Week 16

The weekly dinners at mom & dad's seem to be getting harder and harder to come by lately. We all just have too much going on during the week to find a night that works for everyone. This week ended up being a quick visit on Wednesday night in order to pick up Trip (she spends each day at my parents house, just in case we have a showing). It was Parent/Teacher conference night for me and Brian worked late, so neither of us got there until about 8:30pm. We watched a couple of innings of game 5 of the World Series and then headed home. We did make sure to get a couple of pictures...

Kris had already headed up to bed, so Lizzie measured me this week. 38 inches again, but my belly is definitely starting to round out

In case you couldn't tell, Lizzie loves baby, she loves to nuzzle and rub and talk to baby. This week she put her ear up to my belly and could hear baby (or my stomach) gurgling around, it was funny because at one point, I felt the baby flutter just as Lizzie jumped up all excited. Our baby is going to have the best aunts in the world!

The Big 3-0!

Today is my 30th birthday! At 9:21pm, I will officially be 30 years old. How did it get here so fast??? Am I really old enough to already be 30???

30 is the one age that always seemed so far away...as a kid 30 was so adult, so old...

I'll be honest... I couldn't be anymore excited about 30. I am right where I want to be...I have a great job, I have great friends, I have the most wonderful, loving husband, I have the gosh darn cutest puppy, and I have the absolute best family in the world. What's even better??? We're expecting our first baby!

I'd say I'm quite the lucky girl.

I couldn't be anymore excited for what is to come for Brian & I and for our families this year. This'll be the year I'll never forget.

Bring it on 30! I'm ready.

Milazzo family tradition...my birthday sign!

This morning I headed over to mom and dad's for a joint celebratory birthday brunch...

Dad opening up our gift...Nike workout pants

Dad wearing Lizzie's gift and snuggling in close with her!

Dad with 3 of his girls - yay for birthdays!

me, Liz, & Pep

all I asked for was maternity clothes (oh, and an iPhone)
...and everyone delivered!
These pants are from Krissy.

This outfit is from Lizzie!
I'm going to be so comfortable!

Thanks for a great birthday brunch Momma & Daddy-o!
I love you 2-free!

Week 15

This past Thursday, it was just me and mom available for our weekly dinner. Dad was in New York for the Yankees game, Lizzie had class, Kristen had parent/teacher conferences, Macker was downtown Chicago opening a brand new Chili's and Brian worked late and had a softball game. So, since it was just the two of us, we decided to make it a low-key evening. Mom picked up Meatheads (a new hamburger joint here in Naperville) and headed on over to our house. We watched the Yankee game constantly scanning the crowds for any sight of Dad and cheering them on to victory. Brian's game ended up being rained out, so he joined us late.

loose shirt so it's hard to see the bump...
I measured 37 inches this week...less than last week...
my body is constantly changing

whoa Trippy has devil eyes

15 weeks already!!!
Baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces - about the size of an apple. She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If we shine a flashlight at my tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds.

Had my last blood work appointment with Dr. Hickey's office on Wednesday, October 28th...blood work came back great with no meds! I'm officially done traveling to Hinsdale and going to Dr. Hickey's office! We'll just take one more trip to drop off left over syringes, meds, and sharps container, and to also give one last thank you hug. I can't believe I'm done! What a great feeling!