Our First Anniversary!

I know that I've graduated to my baby blog, but this post only felt appropriate (and it is my 150th post!) for my wedding blog.

One year later... it blows my mind to think of the fact that I was a newlywed just one year ago today. I remember waking up and feeling that first hint of sadness that it was all over. But then I quickly got to go down to our breakfast and gift opening, and then spent the day watching football and playing trivia in my favorite environment to make it all feel ok. Not to mention, we left for our honeymoon the very next day and Tahiti certainly helped to ease the post-wedding blues.

Then an entire year flies by, and  I found myself in tears as Kyle and I danced at our friends' wedding to "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys, one of our wedding songs, on Saturday. I can blame it on the pregnancy, or I can admit that I can't believe how fast time seems to go, only reminding me of the limited time (although it may feel like eternity) we have here. Perhaps it is just the overwhelming thought of all the changes that are about to happen and a little bit of the fear that we will never get a chance to accomplish our goals as a couple once we are no longer "just the two of us".

Who would have a thought that our first year of marriage would have given us so much?! A dream vacation to Tahiti, numerous weekend mini-trips all over the U.S., family celebrations from births to engagements, memories to last forever. Here's to many, many more anniversaries and many, many more celebrations, vacations, and of course, new adventures.

The moment we sealed the deal- September 29, 2012! (photo courtesy of Devon Adams)

We visited Sedona for our first anniversary (although the plan was to revisit Vail, my big bump has some travel restrictions)

How to Survive Arizona Summers

Our wonderful engagement anniversary celebration took place on a 112 degree day! We tried to beat the heat by hanging out in the pool at the Arizona Biltmore Resort! Our celebration started with poolside "skinny cocktails" (vodka press) and an Arizona sunset. We then went out for the healthiest dinner we could at True Food, where we barely cheated on our diets! The night ended with a fountain-side drink at the Wright Bar and a discussion recapping the highlights of the past year. The following day was reserved for pool time.

The Biltmore's Paradise Pool

A gift for Kyle!

Nightcap!

Celebrate!

We also decided to have an encore of our celebration trip to San Diego that we took the weekend after our engagement last summer. This trip included my first time kayaking in the ocean, and I got to see sharks and rays as well as the hoards of people who flocked to the beach for the weekend.

San Diego Kayaking!

La Jolla Shores, CA

I'd say we know how to celebrate!

7 Month Mark!

How incredibly lucky are we that we actually HAVE the 7-month mark to celebrate this year?! A year earlier or later and we wouldn't have this extra day to wait, but also this extra landmark to celebrate!

Leap years are supposed to be lucky, and Leap Day is supposed to be the day you try something new and crazy, because it is not supposed to count. Although I can't claim to have done anything new or exciting today, I did get to go out to dinner with good friends to celebrate, and you could technically count the fact that I somehow got Kyle to want to marry me that "crazy something new".

And do you really want me to blow your mind- 7 is a lucky number, and that is how many months we have left on this lucky, extra day! Can you believe it?! That must be the reason why this wedding just feels right, like everything has fallen into place, and that this entire relationship (of nearly 7 years now) has just been fated by the Heavens.

I am one happy, lucky, Leap year girl right now! Hope that I can help spread a little of that joy your way on this Wednesday!

Our first "anniversary"

My tenderloin

Kyle and I were fortunate enough to find time away from work (which is killing both of us lately) to go out for a romantic dinner for our "negative one year anniversary".  This allowed for us to take time to pay attention to each other as well as to escape our daily stresses. We went to Cork, a 4-diamond restaurant in Chandler. It was an amazing experience.

Kyle's Kobe beef

We had made reservations and explained what we were celebrating, so when we walked into the restaurant, printed on our menus was "Happy Anniversary Erica and Kyle". Kyle thought this was pretty awesome, and they let us keep a copy of the menu. We then proceeded to have a 4-course meal to die for. Great portions made for a relaxing night without feeling too stuffed afterwards. We shared a bruschetta appetizer, each had a salad, Kyle got Kobe beef and I had pork tenderloin, and we topped it off with creme brulee. The best part was the cantaloupe martini, bottle of Emeritus pinot noir, and comped champagne to toast our celebration! Then the night manager gave us a tour of the wine closet, (they have a $30,000 bottle of wine), and we thoroughly enjoyed the entire evening. We can't wait to go back to try their winter menu!

Dessert!

I hope that this celebration is the start of a great tradition of anniversaries focused on good food, great atmosphere, and most importantly each other.

Our "First" Anniversary was a total success!