change

via: astrongaesthetic

public health career

My daughter Danielle has a career in public health and most people {including family} aren't sure what she does so I thought I would explain it here. My niece Meredith is majoring in it {i believe} and has been talking to Danielle about what she does and her experiences in the field. Currently Danielle works for Health Systems 20/20 in Washington D.C. They work with developing countries in helping them improve their health systems. They asses different programs to see which ones are most cost effective and help improve the health rate in such diseases as HIV-AIDS or in improving outcomes in maternal and child health. It is interesting to hear from Danielle how they go about working with these developing countries, the different and varying governments and what turns out to be the most effective. She does quite a bit of traveling on the job, which she loves and will be leaving on Sat. for Jamaica for 15 days. She will be working with the government there in helping them asses if the aid they received to implement programs has helped to bring down the cases of HIV/AIDS in Jamaica. Danielle has worked really hard to get where she is and I am glad she has had this opportunity to do this work as part of her career path. I know from talking to her this job can be very stressful at times but I can only imagine helping other countries learn the best ways to stop the spread of diseases and improve their health care must be very rewarding work.
image: health systems 20/20

cherry blossom bloom

I was so happy yesterday when I opened my e-mail and saw this beautiful picture of my daughter and her boyfriend out to see the Cherry Blossom Bloom in DC. Danielle is on her way to Jamaica this Sat. for work. Traveling season has begun for her!

britt 7 months & baby quilt

Less then 2 months to go until the baby is here! I took this picture of Britt a few days ago on our "superfun" girls day out {probably the last time without kiddo's for awhile}. Anticipation is growing since we are getting close and we don't know the sex. The picture of the pretty fabric is material my sister-in-law is using to make a quilt for the baby-to-be. She has been making quilts for so many of us in the family for years. She is so thoughtful to spend all the time and money it takes to do this. She made Britt a nursing quilt when she got her LVN, Andy a fireman quilt, since he is a fireman and Noah one when when he was born. She made my oldest daughter one too and they are all unique to the person and just gorgeous! Britt gave her the colors of her nursery and then she went and found all this fabric that we are just in love with. As a matter of fact it has become the inspiration piece for the baby's nursery that Britt is working on now.

white dress

Love everything here.
via: pinterest

4d ultrasound

All I can say about this is when I saw Brittany's ultrasound of her baby it literally took my breath away....it was so clear! Noah had one done but it wasn't near this clear. The technology just keeps on improving all the time. This Wednesday I will be taking Brittany's 7 month photo, so we are getting close. It has been a long road because of her hyperemesis for the first 4 months but we are coming into the home stretch now and are super excited to meet this little one. Also this Wed. we are having a girls day together alone {so excited about this as it has been awhile}. We will be doing all things girlie, shopping, eating out, sleepover at my house, looking for last minute baby things, hopefully a Easter outfit for Noah and just hanging out and having lots of laughs. We usually have Noah with us but he will be spending a fun-filled day and night with daddy. This will probably be the last time we will be without kiddo's and soon when we are together we will be taking two little ones with us. So a celebration and a breath before things start getting a lot more lively!

st. paddy's day green & white

I just had to get this out there even though it is so late. This is my favorite look for St. Patrick's Day. A beautiful white dress and sparkly green earrings. Love, love, love!
dress: neiman marcus earrings: here