2 months

So yesterday was the two month mark to the big day. As slow as this engagement has gone I have a feeling it's going to be picking up quick now. We're very busy with trips and getting little details done. My mother has been a busy bee. Since she's off from teaching for the summer she's free to do whatever. So far she's made over 48 quarts of jam for the welcome baskets, 150 chair back covers (only a hundred more) and will be making at lest 30 red table runners. I told her she doesn't need to do all that, but she likes it and she's enjoying herself, so more power too her.
People keep asking me if Adam is getting nervous. And don't take this the wrong way, but I think it's the other way around. I'm nervous about all the changes that will happen overnight. I'm nervous about everyone having a good time at the wedding. I nervous about having to write a different name when i sign. A name that is so common, so black and white, so not me. But it will be and i will be proud to be Adam's wife, I really can't wait. He's a good man and will be a wonderful husband and someday, father. But it's just all this change, all at the same time, that will knock a little air out I think. Hopefully I'll stay standing and smiling...and i will make it down that aisle without running my mascara.
This week I'm going to finish up the little details and hopefully get my dress to alterations people. I'm hoping it won't take longer than they said and won't be more $ then they thought....but we'll see.
So for now, that's my update...not much of an update, but it's where i am :)

And I love her

Adam and I are big Beatles fans. The night before he proposed we went to see "1964 The Tribute"; which is a Beatles cover band. Anyway we were sitting there listening to the "Beatles" and they were playing "and i love her" and Adam sang every word to me. It was so sweet, I almost cried. We got our engagement pictures taken a week or so ago when we where in Michigan and received the proofs this weel. My mom was looking at them and said, "he just adores you Stephanie. Look at the way he looks at you." When I did I could SEE how much he really does love, adore and want me. Adam isn't one to express his feeling very often; I will get random text's saying "I love you", which i find so endearing. And I do know he cares as deeply for me as I do for him, but to actually see the way he looks at me the way others so often tell me he does was just such eye opener. So as I really looked at our photos that were taken with my parents in tow at the beach or in my parents yard I realize how very lucky I am that I have a man who wants to spend the rest of his life with ME. A man that is kind and funny, smart and responsible, goofy and adventuress, sweet and gentle, tall dark and handsome. He really is my knight in shining armor, the faceless man from my dreams and the answers to my oh so many prayers. I hope that 50 years from now someone will take our picture again and say; "Look at the way he looks at you, he's so in love with you". Being loved is a great feeling, I hope that I do as good of a job loving him as he does me.

Coming togeather

So the planning is still all coming together. I picked up the first two bridesmaids dresses last week; they're a lovely bright Red (Adam's Favorite). Also received the envelopes that will be stuffed and addressed very soon :) And I've found my shoes! Believe it or not after all the hunting and pecking i found them at Target...and for a steal of course. I just can't wait until i can have all of the pieces together and see it as a whole. My dress won't be in until late June and i ordered it a size bigger to guarantee it would fit how i wanted, so that means ALTERATIONS, but then again how many brides actually get a dress off the wrack that fits perfect? Not many.

Adam and I actually have a free weekend coming up so it will be nice to hang around home (prob his) and not have to entertain guests or go away. Don't get me wrong; I love seeing everyone who's been down and enjoy traveling, but every other month it's nice to have a free weekend ;). I'm also getting ready for the dance recital my studio is putting on. It's one month away and my dancers are no where near ready. But I've done the best i can do, now it's their turn to step it up. It will be nice to have some free time in the summer after it's over and not have to teach until late.
We're planning on three trips back up north- 1 wedding 2 showers and of course wedding coordination. I have a feeling the summer will fly by and all this talk of me being bored will fade into the gulf! :) I guess i could just practice my writing my new name...
Stephanie M. Young...weird!

Life Changes

Well, a whole lot has changed in my life since I last wrote. Specially 24 hours after i last wrote came the big news. Adam surprised me and proposed. It was valentines day and he had cooked a lovely dinner; bleu cheese stuffed fillets wrapped in bacon, baked potatoes, salad and really good red wine. We had plans later in the evening to meet up with friends at a salsa bar down town st. Pete and were going to watch a movie first. for the life of me i can't recall the movie...which we didn't watch that night. But anyway i was sitting on his couch and he had cleaned up and was walking back towards me. he had reached into his pocket as he was walking and said "oh there's something else i wanted to ask you" and with that he dropped to his knees opened a white box which held a beautiful diamond ring with a light shining on it. And he said "will you marry me?" Completely stunned beyond belife i looked at him and said "Are you serious??? Holy shit!" Poor guy looked scared for a second and he slowly sat on the couch. i said "yes of course" of course ;) So thus began my whirlwind life that now encompass me. I'm planning a wedding for 300+ people from 1400 miles away. My parents were on the ball and had set up a band and caterer by Monday. Monday afternoon the date was set; after being changed once before. We are getting married September 19th. It was 7 months away, which to me seemed like plenty of time, but everyone i spoke with was like wow that's quick. It has now been a little over 2 months and it feels like 6. We have most of all the major decisions made, dresses ordered, hotels reserved, even napkins monogrammed. So I find myself quite frequently saying...what should i do now. I am so bored, everything that i can do is done and the things i could do I'm afraid I'll change my mind seeing as i have 5 more months to think about it (the invite wording..etc). I seriously don't know how we got so much stuff done in such little time, but we did. Heck my mom is already planning the menu for the brunch the day after the wedding! So for now I'm researching roses and flowers to order (in 5 months) for the bouquets we'll make. I'm on the quest the perfect wedding shoes that will last me 12 hours on my feet. Yes this wedding will be a good 10-12 hours. Us Pleva's really know how to throw down a good party. My family is over the moon. 1. they LOVE Adam 2. They love weddings 3. they've been waiting for me to get married for 10 years!! Our wedding will be fun, that's what i want the most out of all this. I don't care that the reception is in a church hall or that our guests will sit on folding chairs. Want I want most out of this day is for all of my friends and family to have a great time and help Adam and I celebrate the beginning of our married lives together. We are both so ready and so happy.

Time Flies!

Well it has been a WHILE since my last blog post!! I've been busy, living, laughing, crying, working, breathing, sleeping, eating...you know, Life.
I survived my 30th birthday and the trip to Mexico. It was a nice time, could have had better weather, but we made the best of it. I have great friends and I've never felt more lucky.
Christmas soon followed and that means FAMILY! My whole family came for an island Christmas. I was also fortunate to have Adam share it with me. My parents rented a great condo on Marco Island overlooking the gulf and my Aunt and Uncle had a full house.
We had a great week of lounging around, pool splashing, night Frisbee, boccie and of course meals fit for a king. Zakaria was a hoot, being almost 3, it made Christmas morning all that more enchanting.

It was great seeing my brothers, they're really growing up.
Joseph is in Houston now, so it won't be as easy for us to all get together anymore...it's going to take $ and planning.
The new year came and went, i was sick again, but I was a trooper and brought in the new year the best that I could. Hopefully this new year will bring about a fresh approach. We have a new president, I still have a job, and I keep falling more in love with Adam. My resolution this year was to get back into attending church every Sunday. So far, I've done pretty good, not perfect, but I'm trying. Adam has been a good sport and I don't think he'll ever understand how much I appreciate his support. The goal now is to find a church that he likes. I'm not picky, I've been attending Mass for 30 years; I know what I like: tradition, a to-the-point homily and a pretty building! Adam is not as easy...he likes bells and whistles, pyrotechnics and excitement....not always easy to find in a Catholic Church ;) So the search will continue.
So to 2009...may we stay healthy, happy, true to our selves and our beliefs. May we continue to be gainfully employed and satisfied with in our means.

N.S.P.D.

Yes, National Stephanie Pleva Day!! It's finally here. This year in honor of the 30th anniversary of this major holiday Adam, myself, King Richy and Lil Cub are taking a lovely Carnival, aka prices right on acid, cruise to Cozumel Mexico! Boat leaves tomorrow, coctails begin at six. I hope everyone enjoys thier NSPD and has a drink for me!!

North Kakalaki

Well that's what Adam calls it. Anyway we just returned from our 10 day trip up to North Carolina for Adam's brother Josh's wedding. We left after lunch on Thursday with a car full of luggage and two dogs. 10 hours later we were in Garner at his brothers place tired and with soar buts. After some sleep we woke up to...snow! Yes! for a short while on Friday morning they had big white flakes! the dogs were going nuts, it was their first time seeing it. Poor little bruiser was so cold. Friday brought lots off errands and last minute wedding chores. I was enlisted in helping to build the bouquets! And i must say we did a pretty good job. After all the dogs had been taken to the "doggie spa" we loaded up and headed to Benson where the wedding would take place. Leah and Josh had decided to hold the wedding at a b & b; Preston Woodall House. what was super nice was that the wedding party was staying in three cottages across the street. Ours, Lucy's Cottage, was a 3 bed/2 bath with a full kitchen and dinning room. Oh! and our bathroom had heated tile floors!!!

Lucy's Cottage


Adam, his sister Alyssa and brother Josh at the rehearsal

The rehearsal went good, the dinner was great and we played some cards into the night. Saturday was a lot of running around. Since i was not in the wedding i was official helper of all. But as soon as pictures started I was able to get myself ready. The wedding was beautiful, the reception a lot of fun and the family was in good spirits. After the reception the festivities continued in the Lucy house. And man did we pack it! Leah and Josh had hired a baby sitter, with wii for the kids, so there were a few parents who were free for the night and boy did they take advantage of that! All had a great time. The next morning we all awoke to the remnants of a college frat house. We quickly cleaned up and headed to Wilson where Adam's sister lives.

Josh and Leah Young


Adam and I at the wedding

Alyssa was going to be hosting family thanksgiving on Monday and had a houseful already on Sunday. Adam and I decided to order some Pleva's meats from my cousin Tommy and have it shipped over. We had quite the spread; brats, Pleva dogs, summer sausage, cedar sticks and JERKY!!! Everyone enjoyed the food it was nice to share with his family my families traditions. The rest of the day was devoted to resting and playing cards...which we did a lot that week!


Alyssa with the Thanksgiving meal

Monday's thanksgiving was great! and all were full. Tuesday Adam and I headed to Raleigh to go to the N.C. Museum of Natural Science. It was interesting and great to see Raleigh. After that I got a quick tour of NC State, where Adam went to collage, then we met up with old family friends for dinner in Graham then we headed back to Wilson.


In front of the Museum in downtown Raleigh

At the NCSU Bell Tower...i know it's sideways...oops

On Wednesday, believe it or not, we headed back in the same direction we went the day before, only this time to Kernersville. This is were Adam grew up and his good high school and collage friend was home so we had to go see him and his family. We also decided to stop by his mom's grave and leave some flowers since it had been a while since he'd been there. She now has a lovely pot of Mums adorning her plot. Then it was onto Jurgs house, Adam spent the day playing beer-pong! and i rested. Then after all day there I decided we needed to head back to his sisters. She was putting up the tree and we got there just in time to decorate it! I've never in my life put a tree up before thanksgiving. But it was the only chance I was going to get, Thanks Alyssa.

Thanksgiving was spent at Nicks Uncles house. They put on a lovely dinner and were very generous opening their house up to us. That evening Adam's dad Russ rejoined us one last time for a late night of card playing.

At the ECU game with Nick & Alyssa

Friday we went with Alyssa and Nick to their Alma mater, ECU, for a football game. It was my first one this year and we had a good time! When we got back Josh and Leah came over and cooked us a fabulous steak dinner! ooo it was soooo good. Then it was time for more...you guessed it CARDS! Josh invented a card game, needs a name, but it's fun and challenging. After stuffing our face with gourmet cheeses, homemade guacamole and nuts i waddled up to bed to rest up for our long trip home. As we were driving through N. Carolina Adam said to me, "It feels like I have two lives. " I totally understood, we have the lives that we grew up with and when we go back it seems like nothing changed and then we have the lives we chose for ourselves. It's odd that when we travel "back Home" we tend to resort back to that lifestyle and forget all about our new lives...Just a interesting thought that we both had.

All in all It was a great trip, I got a much needed break from "life" and enjoyed spending lots of time with Adam. Now it's count down to the cruise!



Jordan, Casey and Bruiser in his new coat