Happy Valentine's Day.

Okay, okay I know that Valentine's Day is completely commercialized and overrated in that sense. My husband and I both agree with this. We are not cheap! We just express our love to each other each day so it's really not that different than any other day to us.

Some days I wonder if there are any other two people out there that are as opposite as me and my husband. I am pepper. He is salt. I could be bundled up in a coat and he would be in a t-shirt perfectly content. When he wants to go see a movie, I would rather stay in for the night. He loves politics, I loathe them. I feel confined when I am indoors for more than an hour. My husband could stay inside for days before realizing that the mailbox is full at the end of our driveway. If someone asked us to make a choice between two items, I can bet that we would choose differently! He sees things half empty and I see them full. I have said many times that I think the only thing we have in common is our love for each other. I am the pepper bringing spice to his life and he gives me just the right dash of salt flavoring. So, together we balance each other out. Either that or we can make a good batch of mashed potatoes! Actually....... we would have to have to make two separate batches because I prefer them lumpy and he likes them smooth and creamy.

My husband keeps me grounded when I can't be, he still carries me through parking lots and listens to the latest gossip about 'The Bachelor'. He knows every side of me, everything about me and loves me and chooses to be with me anyway. I feel so lucky to be loved endlessly!

My husband, I love you all days.

Sara P + Greg are a family!

When I think of Sara P, I can't help but think of the petite little girl sitting in the front row in my 7th grade English class. She wore glasses, carried her over sized back pack and spoke only when spoken to. Always polite. But could dish back sarcasm to the 8th grade boys, if need be! Because our parents named us the most popular girls name EVER, we once shared the same name with four other Sara's in our classroom. It could get really confusing in class so all the Sara's had to add-on our last initial to our name. That's how Sara Passariello became 'Sara P' and I became 'Sarah E'.

The day Sara P called me to tell me that she was going to have a baby, I couldn't help the flashback of all of our memories together. As teens we used to baby sit together, talk on 'three way' constantly, randomly call people out of the phone book for corny prank calls (gasp!), have sleepovers, pass each other folded origami heart shaped notes during passing period and whisper secret crushes about cute boys. After high school we became roommates. We roller bladed together, went running by the mountains, took advantage of our quiet apartment gym and met weekly for tea. All the while talking about life, family, guys, love and the stray cat we eventually adopted! We were still up to our pranks even then though! There was the water balloon attack on David from the balcony....and the Vaseline covered doorknob! HA!

I couldn't help but smile all day long when Sara shared her baby news with me. My petite little friend was going to be a mother... she was all grown up! Then when I saw her baby tummy I squealed with joy, I had never seen a cuter pregnant belly than hers! After Alec was born, I watched my dear friend stare at her sleeping baby boy on the couch with a love that I believe only a mother can relate to.

The belly.

Sara + Greg are so cute!



I love love LOVE this one!

I really like this perspective of the belly.

Sara is gorgeous!

Aweeeeee!

This was at the baby shower. Look at all those gifts!!

I adore this shot of Sara and her grandma at her baby shower! They were measuring her belly.
Baby Alec, fast asleep....

and dreaming.

Alec is very loved!

A quiet moment in the nursery, one of my favorites.

And......just for old times sake. Here we are in our homemade Halloween costumes, 2004. We took first place at the bowling alley Halloween costume contest!!

I am so proud of you Sara P for all the great choices you made in life. Like following your heart to be a teacher. It must be so special for you to walk the halls of our old middle school as Ms. Passariello and working along side our old teachers!!! And ever since our baby sitting days together, I always knew you would be a wonderful wonderful mother.

Love always, Sarah E.