it's a...

This Mother's Day is so special for me, knowing that in just a few short months we'll welcome our first baby. I clearly remember this day last year and thinking how desperately I wanted a baby. I'm not unaware of how hard Mother's Day can be for some. But Richard and I have been so blessed to have two wonderful mothers, and grandmothers who have gone before us.

We've known the gender of our baby for a couple of weeks, due to a sweet OB/gyn friend who snuck us into her office one Thursday night before dinner with her and husband, a general surgery resident with Richard. We were thrilled to learn the results but wanted to confirm them at our 20-week appointment. That didn't stop me with sharing the news when I was in family a few weeks ago, though!

My brother Jeff and his sweet girlfriend Leah got engaged in mid-April, and we celebrated the weekend I came home for Candy's baby shower. Leah was kind to let me use their engagement cake for the big reveal.

loved how this turned out...so excited for a wedding in our near future!

the happy couple

My unsuspecting mom cutting the cake...

And it's a girl!

the Davis family and the Webb family- hated to not have Richard there too, but he was stuck in a Board review course

so happy to have Meghanne come celebrate with us!

posing with Aunt Suz

and with Aunt Leah!

We cannot wait to meet our baby girl. Richard and I have been seriously thinking over a proper name and will hopefully agree on one soon. Like any good southern girl, she needs her share of monogrammed items. So thankful for this blessing!

showering bradford whit

One of the best parts of being pregnant right now is having several dear friends due to deliver little ones just a few months ahead or behind me, both from Clemson and from law school. Candy is one of the first up, as her baby boy Bradford Whit should arrive around June 21st. I was so excited to get to host a baby shower in Columbia for her with some of her best friends, and despite a slightly hectic morning of preparation, everything turned out well! 

We had sweet onesies monogrammed for Bradford, but in my haste to get to the shower, completely forgot to bring them with me. I ran back to get them just in the nick of time, and we hung them along the mantle for a cute decoration. The big silver and white gift was Candy's stroller, which was our hostess gift to her. 

onesies and lots of fun presents

Candy is much loved, and the shower hostesses ranged from high school friends to Wofford friends and friends from law school and work. They were such a great group of girls to co-host with! 

shower hostesses

We served traditional shower food, but it was all delicious- pimento cheese sandwiches and chicken salad cups, veggies and hummus, fruit, baked brie bites, "redneck" caviar, and fabulous petit fours. 

the spread

we didn't have a huge budget for flowers, and these hydrangeas and tulips came from whole foods and trader joe's...you never would have known that we did three arrangements for less than $50!

monogrammed petit fours

Candy's sweet nieces got to come to the shower and helped Candy open her gifts. Bradford is a lucky little guy to grow up with these fun cousins. 

seems like just yesterday we were in law school and RC was being born!

Mary Madison has a precious little girl who will turn 3 in July, right before our wedding anniversary. Little Lillian had just been born when Richard and I got married, so MM had to give up her bridesmaid spot and stay with her newborn. Now we're due about 10 days apart, and I can't wait to meet her little boy.

always love seeing and catching up with MM

Candy received so many lovely gifts, and we all had a great time catching up with old friends. That's a successful shower in my book!

Candy and her helpers

USC Law Section 1 ladies and Miss Bec, an honorary law school grad

Candy's friends and family

love this girl

four pregnant gals- Jess (due mid-August), Candy, me, and MM

everyone left with sweet treat

our happy announcement

It sure has been a long time since I posted, but the past few months have been pretty eventful, thanks to anticipation of the newest little Webb, due on September 23rd. I spent the whole first trimester cautiously optimistic, excited about the pregnancy but so nervous about possibly miscarrying again. I was SO thrilled to see a healthy baby on our 12 week ultrasound, and everything has gone well since.

We told our parents in late January and close friends as time passed but held off on spreading our news widely until Easter weekend. Sweet Leah, my brother Jeff's girlfriend made us an adorable sign, and we used it as a prop to announce our news to the world. I was almost 15 weeks on Easter Sunday.

happy, happy, happy

love my family- Will, Richard, me, Mom, Leah, Jeff and Dad

Webb kids, Davis kids, and a soon-to-be Davis kid

one more with a cute Easter bib

I am close to 17 weeks at this point, and oh how I am starting to feel it! My belly has appeared and can no longer be concealed, and I've bought a few maternity clothing items. I am loving the warmer weather though and the ability to wear some of my normal dresses and skirts that are a little more flowy.

I didn't have a bit of morning sickness (and am so thankful for that!), but I did eat fairly frequently to avoid nausea. Lately I've gotten a bit light-headed if I stand for too long or don't drink enough water, but that is avoidable. My only cravings are pretty stereotypical- pickles! And early on it was grilled cheese sandwiches with tomatoes and french fries...not anything healthy at all. I was an every-morning coffee drinker pre-pregnancy, but now I can take it or leave it.

I have several dear friends who are also pregnant right now, and I love having them all to experience with. I know what a blessing it is to have a healthy pregnancy and am not taking a bit of it for granted. Having everyone be so excited for us is just icing on the cake. Next up? Finding out what we're having in the next couple of weeks so the nursery-designing and clothes-shopping can begin!

inn at little washington

To continue the birthday celebration and in anticipation of Valentine's Day, Richard and I ventured out in Washington, Virginia to dine at the Inn at Little Washington. We have wanted to try the Inn at Little Washington since we moved to the DC-area, as it is consistently ranked as one of the area's top restaurants (and places to stay). This year it was the Washingtonian's number 1 pick, and a designation we found to be well-deserved. It was by far the nicest meal I've ever had, and it will probably be quite some time before we can afford to go back. But I'm glad we got to experience it while we were here!

outside shot of the Inn

personalized menu

happy to have a date night

our view of the prettily-lit outside courtyard

I didn't take a picture of our first few courses, but to start I had a beautiful beet salad, complete with a beet sorbet. Richard had a lamb caesar salad with caesar salad ice cream. The chef also sent out a pork belly appetizer, a shot of the best soup I've ever had- a rutabaga and apple concoction, and his version of chips and dip, with a bit of caviar. Our second courses were a mac and cheese with virginia country ham and foie gras. Richard's main course was a deconstructed beef stew with tenderloin and bone marrow, and mine was a seared tuna. Delicious. 

fancy tuna

Then came dessert...Richard ordered the Seven Deadly Sins, a sampling of the Inn's favorite sweet treats. And he didn't share one bit.

a whole lot of goodness

That was ok, since I had my own butter pecan ice cream sandwich with chocolate and caramel to contend with. 

loved the happy birthday sign!

one of the more creative things I've seen- a "doggy bag" in the shape of the inn filled with miniature treats

enjoying the warm fireplace

one last parting shot...hopefully one day we can come back to stay!

a very happy birthday indeed

Given how much as I dislike January, I always look forward to the arrival of February. I don't love the cold weather, but despite the fact the numbers keep climbing higher and higher, I do love celebrating my birthday. In the past, my birthday has caused some conflict in my relationship with Richard because of my huge birthday expectations. This year, I was determined just to be happy with whatever he planned, but he truly outdid himself. Unbeknownst to me, he coordinated a big party, complete with mailed paper Lilly Pulitzer invitations, flowers, homemade treats, a delicious caramel cake from South Carolina and a ton of our close friends in attendance. 

The day started off a little hectic when Richard got stuck at the hospital, and then we spent the afternoon with our little friend Anderson, whose mom and dad both were on call and got called in. Having a fifteen-month old in the house makes for some interesting party coordinating, but it all came together (even if it meant my hair/makeup/outfit weren't quite perfect!). We had such a great time, and I am so thankful for a husband who cares so much about the details and sweet friends to celebrate with.

Lilly invitation and pink and green flowers

USC Law is well-represented in DC, and these friends make me feel right at home

loved having friends from the Gowdy office past and present attend

general surgery friends

I hate I didn't take a better picture of the spread. Richard had arranged a fruit tray, made pretzel, m & m, and hugs treats, dipped s'mores and ordered pink and green polka-dot cupcakes from our local bakery. Too cute!

lighting the candles

I was fairly sick the week before my birthday, so I honestly had a little trouble blowing out all my candles. Hope that doesn't mean I won't get my wish!

lots of fire

love this man...

and this incredible 7-layer caramel cake from Caroline's Cake

with our friends the Kwoks- 4 y.o. Julia signed my card all by herself

general surgery chiefs, spouses and tiny Sam, only a couple weeks old

Anderson, my companion for the day, and his mom Ashley, who had delivered a baby just a few minutes before

with the "ortho" wives- Gus, Lauren and Amy- will miss these girls when we all go our separate ways next year

team ortho and Richard

inauguration weekend

After the busyness of December, it has been nice to have a pretty quiet January. I feel like we have been in full hibernation mode. Richard has been working long hours and studying for an exam at the end of the month, and I have done a great deal of DVR cleaning-out, household purging and a little shopping. Even though we weren't thrilled with the results of the election, Richard and I decided to go to the SC State Society Inaugural Ball. We had several friends on the planning committee, and Inauguration Weekend in DC is an exciting time, regardless of your party affiliation. And we were so glad we went! 

I recycled a dress I'd worn before- if Kate Middleton can do it, so can I!- and we took the metro downtown to avoid the cost and hassle of trying to get a car or a cab. I tried a red lipstick for the first time, which I think turned out well. 

waiting on the Metro

 a self-shot at the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro stop

The SC Ball was held at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and almost immediately ran into our friends Ryan and Matthew. Ryan and I just had lunch on Friday, and several minutes of our conversation revolved around when she might get engaged. She thought it might be a few weeks, so I was thrilled when she showed me her shiny new ring! It's beautiful!

the soon-to-be Mrs. Couvillon

with the happy couple

We honestly spent more time looking at her sparkler than the gorgeous Hope Diamond, which has been reset and re-lit and is stunning.

the famous Hope Diamond

The Voltage Brothers did an incredible time entertaining the large crowd of 2200.

packed dance floor

loved the palmetto tree and crescent projected on the wall

In addition to the Voltage Brothers, there was also a super talented jazz quartet playing for those who wanted a calmer experience. 

Great Ocean Hall

There is a great group of USC Law alums in the DC area, and it's always fun to see them and catch up. They've been a wonderful reminder of home the past few years, and I loved celebrating with them all last night. 

Matt, Liz, Matthew, Ryan, Craig, Evelyn, me and Brooke

Here's hoping we'll be back in 2016 to celebrate the election of an R to the White House!