I'm twenty-nine today and feeling so incredibly blessed and lucky and loved.

Rob and I are in Richmond again for a few days after spending the weekend in Virginia Beach with family for a wedding--tonight we're having dinner with some of my best friends and tomorrow we fly back to California to pack up and move into the house that we'll bring our daughter home to in just three months.

Twenty-eight was pretty darn good but I'm really looking forward to all the incredible moments this next year will bring.

Photo: a sneak peek from our maternity session with Virginia Ashley Photography.

Happy Monday! Rob and I landed in Roanoke late on Friday night and have had the best weekend seeing friends and family as so many people came in from out of town for my baby shower on Saturday. Rob and all the guys went to a brewery for the afternoon and I spent the day with my college roommates, some friends from high school, Charlotte friends, in-laws, and friends of my mom--it was so fun having so many different groups all together and totally reminded me of our wedding weekend.

I had so much fun and was so busy hanging out with everyone that I didn't pick up my camera once--luckily I remembered to snap a few photos with my phone before people started leaving.

On Sunday we all met at the Hotel Roanoke for a nice brunch before people started hitting the road. I've never been so tired but so incredibly happy--it meant the world to me to have so many people show up and show us so much love as we get ready to bring this little girl into the world.

Today Rob and I are swinging through Charlottesville on our way to Richmond for a few days. We'll spend most of the week there and then be in Virginia Beach for the weekend to celebrate his cousin's wedding! I'm so glad we were able to take this time away and really get some time to see our friends and family in Virginia. I miss Ender so much but am having such a relaxing time catching up with people. When we get back to California it'll be time to pack up, move to the new place, and get settled, so this little vacation came at the perfect time.

I hope you're all having a great start to your week! I may not post a lot on the blog while I'm away so make sure to catch up on Instagram and/or Snapchat (flynnmd)! 

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.