It's been a long week and it's only Wednesday. Monday was a mess of sitting in traffic, missing a 9:40 appointment and instead being a 10:10 walk in (but I finally got my TSA precheck stuff done--it only took me a year or two), and spending hours calling a bunch of different doctors’ offices in an attempt to not get lost in the shuffle; being bounced back and forth from one department to another. One of those days where you just pour a second cup of coffee, leave some voicemails, count your blessings, and try to focus on the good stuff.

Our backyard is like this little magical haven and we keep discovering fruit trees as the seasons change--I'm pretty sure we have peaches or apricots or something that I didn't realize was there when we moved in.

I absolutely hate being late to anything—if I’m not at least 10 minutes early I feel like I’m running behind—but the combination of having a baby and living in an incredibly trafficky area has relieved me of that obsession a bit. I still like to be on time, don't get me wrong, I'm just not waltzing in 20 minutes early for anything anymore like I used to.

For the first time since we had Sophie, I feel like we're looking forward to things other than visitors. Rob is taking another month of paternity leave in a few weeks, which is going to be so amazing--I'm so glad he got to spread out his leave so he can spend time with Sophie in such different stages. The newborn stage was such a fog and we were so tired, just trying to get by a lot of the time, but now she's on more of a schedule and is just so fun. We also have a trip to Virginia and North Carolina planned for the end of May, and I can't wait to spend some time in Richmond, Roanoke, and Charlotte with so many of our best friends.

Rob and I just signed the lease on a new-to-us house that we're really excited about. There was another one that we thought we were getting and it was newly renovated and gorgeous and the kitchen was like something out of a dream (or a Pinterest board). When it ended up not working out I cried in the car (luckily we were on the way to Whole Foods in search of "a slice of cake"...my cravings lately have not been super specific). But then this other one presented itself and the kitchen isn't nearly as Instagram-worthy but it's cozy and big and has fruit trees in the backyard, which is fenced in and just perfect for Ender to run around. It also happens to be cheaper than the place we're in now and I can already picture our little family there this winter. I'm so excited about having visitors come stay with us after the baby arrives. We leave for a long trip to Virginia on Friday and when we come back we'll start moving in and getting settled!

Yesterday I had a mile-long to-do list and the car wouldn't start. I ended up Ubering around a few places to at least get a few things done that were time-sensitive, but it was so frustrating. Doesn't it always seem like things only go wrong when you really need them to go right? Luckily it was just a dead battery and I got a jump, but I went to bed last night crossing my fingers that we don't need to replace the battery before Friday because today and tomorrow are busy as well.

I can't believe August is almost over. This summer (the whole year, really) has just flown by--wasn't it just February the other day?

I've been thinking a lot about my college days this week as students have returned to campus, some for the very first time. I remember the uncertainty, the fear and excitement, the not-so-great dining hall food and cheap beer at questionable frat houses. I had such an amazing college experience and feel so lucky to have made truly wonderful friendships there. I get to see my roommates this weekend at my baby shower and it kind of feels like it's all coming full circle in a way I just wasn't expecting it to. I actually think Rob and I are going to stop in Farmville on our way to Richmond next week and walk around our respective campuses, even if just to take a minute to acknowledge the magical place where our story began.

My cousin and aunt got in from Montana on Thursday and then my mom arrived on Friday, so all weekend we've been out and about exploring. They leave tomorrow but my mom will be here for five more days and I'm so excited to hang out with her all week--I love having friends and family visit and just doing normal stuff together like grocery shopping, walking Ender, and drinking coffee in my living room every morning.

There's a big field in the park by our house and just recently it got completely fenced in. Rob and I brought Ender there the other night to see if he would want to run around and it was so adorable--as soon as I let him off the leash he took off at a sprint and was having so much fun. He is such a fast dog and I love finding opportunities to let him go at full speed. There are a bunch of squirrels around so it's a much different experience from the regular dog park, but it wears him out just the same (in about half the time).

Sometimes I look at Rob and can't believe I get to spend my whole life with him. I feel so lucky.

I go through these phases where I love eating rice cakes with mayo and sliced tomato, but the other day I got some of that Everything But the Bagel Seasoning from Trader Joe's and sprinkled it over a rice cake with cream cheese. It wasn't exactly a bagel, but it was pretty damn good.