Belly Update and Other News

15 weeks now and everything still seems to be going great! Baby is the size of an orange this week! I have gone an entire 3 days with no signs of nausea (although all 3 of those I didn't have to get up and get going--like at work, so we'll see if it is gone for good or not when I work next time!) Otherwise, we're just counting down the days until we know if Baby is a boy or girl. (We find out mid-late March!!) We have a few enthusiastic shoppers in the family and as friends that are ready to get their boy or girl shopping on! :) The belly has officially made itself known full time and I think it won't be long until I'm out of the "cupcake overload or pregnant?" stage for good. Or maybe I'm already there!! I feel like I look bigger than I'm sure I really am!

Please excuse the lack of makeup in the 15 week pic. I was told by a salesperson in Banana Republic this day that I looked tired. Thanks. :) But, I guess by the time my hubby took this picture, I was...I had just driven back from visiting my sister and was seriously in need of dinner. :)
In other news:
*Work continues to go well. We are in a slow season, which is kind of nice to get a breather before our really busy time of spring and summer babies (special thanks to all those teachers who time their pregnancies for summer :)). Kind of interesting being pregnant as a nurse in L&D. Some of my coworkers are very particular about what they will and won't let me do now...i.e. pushing beds, turning patients alone, etc. They have been great and I am blessed.

*Matt is signed up to run a 10k in the morning with his office and a few friends from outside work as well. He is looking forward to it and has done a few races since he did the Tough Mudder last fall.

.....annnnnnd thats about it for us. :) Ha! We are about to start some projects around the house to get space made for and decorated for our little one. Definitely wanting to get that done before it gets too warm. Lots of fun things going on, which all seem to be mostly focused towards August, but it is a great season of life to be in and we are very blessed.

First-Update-Since-the-News Update

I had planned on titling this the "13 week update"...however, I'm not officially 13 until tomorrow, and my last "belly" pic is from 11.5 weeks, and the ultrasound picture I wanted to post is from just under 10 weeks....so....13 weeks didn't really sound right. :) How's THAT for an intro? :)

Anyway, things seem to be going well here at (basically) 13 weeks. I have had multiple days now with little to no nausea, so that's definitely awesome! I haven't been back to the doctor lately, but will head back soon for another update and to schedule the "Big" ultrasound where we finally get to find out whether bows or baseball caps are in our future. (Although if you know me at ALL, you wouldn't be surprised if a daughter of mine wore just as many bows as baseball caps. :)) Still no real feeling of whether Baby is a boy or a girl yet, but that certainly hasn't been due to a lack of guesses. Mostly, people tend to guess that its a girl. We'll see in March!!

I don't really have an early pregnancy picture (except one where my stomach isn't covered and you KNOW thats not going on the www!) so we're gonna start the belly pics at 11.5 weeks.

Not really much to see, but I still say that I currently am still in the "boy, she should lay off the Krispy Kreme's" stage, more than so much actually looking pregnant. :) Hopefully I'll get to that sooner rather than later.

And for those that didn't catch it on Facebook, or who just enjoy seeing this amazing ultrasound pic as much as I do (read: my mother and mother-in-law) , here is our favorite shot to date. You can actually see TOES in this shot and it just amazes me more and more every time I see it. To think that the baby in this picture is approximately 3 centimeters long, yet God is forming every detail so perfectly that you can already see toes. Wow. This week, baby is about the size of a peach! Growing every day! I also have a fetal heart doppler here at home and will occasionally take a listen to baby's heartbeat. A strong and steady "thump, thump, thump" around 160 beats per minute is music to my ears. :)
I have seen this pregnancy update format on friend's blogs and thought I might try this out going forward.... here it goes. :)

How Far Along: 13 Weeks


Size of baby: A peach (about 3 inches long), weighs almost one whole ounce!


Total Weight Gain: No way I'm gonna say my weight, but I'll say its been fairly steady, maybe gained a pound or 2 total.


Maternity Clothes: Maternity store had a sale this weekend. Went and got a few really cute things on clearance! Don't need 'em yet, but they are very cute and I look forward to wearing them!

Movement: Can hear it on the doppler, but can't feel anything just yet.

Sleep: No problem. Wake up more times in the night than I used to, but usually go right back to sleep.

What I miss: Sodas. They made my nausea worse in the beginning so I dropped them all together, but I do long for an ice cold Dr. Pepper. :)

Cravings: Nothing specific. Although the chocolate milk I bought the other day is SUPER yummy.

Symptoms: Not much really....like I said, nausea is going away! Yea!

Best Moment This Week: First maternity clothes shopping experience. Putting on the fake belly (7 month size they have in the store) and having a very out-of-body experience seeing myself that way! Also, getting our first baby gifts in the mail. A super soft mini-blanket, and a toy.

Best Comment of the Week: No comments yet, other than from friends and family who are excited for us!

What I'm looking forward to: Finding out the sex soon!

Milestones: Developing this week: fingernails, intestines, vocal cords and sex differentiation. Wow! :)

Hope you're having a great week!!

First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage....

Although it seems like not many things these days have made me want to sit down and blog about it, I believe that our latest news is definitely blog-worthy and likely of getting me to update often!

After nearly 7 years married, and together for 12 years…We’re having a baby!!!

We are very blessed to say that God has answered our prayer for a (so-far) easy-going pregnancy with a healthy baby. It wasn’t all that long ago that we decided we were ready for a baby so we feel amazingly blessed that we sit here now at almost 11 weeks pregnant. I’m also excited because I get to share this super-fun time with a great college friend, Bethany, who happens to be due with her first baby the same day as me!

Because everyone has a lot of questions about how things are going and how I am…I’ll borrow the list method and get through the info that way.

Due Date: August 15th -- (Which will make me 11 weeks this Wednesday.) Matt's birthday is the 26th. He asked if I might be able to hold out until then. I'm thinking probably not! :) The next question you have is "What were you THINKING? August in Houston?!?!" Yeah, yeah I know...but I'm lucky to have a few family members with pools that I can survive the summer with! But, I will add that I am excited that our child will be a few months old for Christmas and not teeny-tiny in the coldest months of the year. We are already looking forward to sharing this next Christmas with you, Baby! :)

How am I feeling: Mostly good. Have a few bouts with nausea here and there, but luckily I’ve figured out the triggers and what things make it better, so I’ve been pretty lucky. As far as being tired…not anymore than normal, so that’s nice too. I tend to run out of energy working out and such a little faster, but that’s it. Otherwise...just feeling SO blessed.

Are you delivering at your hospital?: Yes. :) I enjoy knowing my doctor personally and knowing the staff that will get to share this amazing time with us. Who better to care for you than people that care for you?? :)

Are you finding out the gender?: Yes! I can barely contain myself not knowing NOW, let alone for another 29 weeks! :) Monogramming makes my heart happy. Ha! So far A LOT of people think its a girl...including my hubby... so we'll see.

So, is being an L&D nurse a help or a curse with your own pregnancy? I'd probably say both. A definite help with knowing whats normal/ whats not for pregnancy and for what things to watch out for. Its also very comforting to know that I know whats normal for a newborn and what to expect from them; and to know that a crying infant doesn't "scare" me. :) Its a curse to know what "could" go wrong and to worry about any and everything we see daily on our unit. What helps is to go to the nursery and see all the healthy babies we have every single day and to know that healthy babies are the NORM, not the exception. I feel blessed to have a lot of knowledge on this topic, but I'm trying VERY hard not to "overthink" it. :)

Guess that's all for now...much more to come, but I definitely am excited to get to share the news! Stay tuned! :)

Finally! An update!

It's amazing, I know! I'm sure you were wondering if I even remembered that I HAVE a blog! And...I'm almost next to positive that NO one is still reading this, but for my mom...here is the latest in whats up with us. :) Its gonna be a long post so thanks in advance for reading the whole thing! Ha! :)

In the past few months, it seems as though all of the exciting stuff is happening with Matt! In August, he started a new job with an amazing new company doing insurance brokerage in the energy division of his firm and is L-O-V-I-N-G every single thing about it...with the exception of the commute. But with his joy in this new position, we'll take that. Also in August, my hubby turned the big 3-0. I put together a party with all those closest to him and we had a fabulous time at his favorite place, Ragin Cajun.
One of the biggest hits was a candy table I did. In each candy jar filled with his favorite types of candy (mostly sour gummy stuff!) were the labels "Take me home tonight!" with little bags for people to take home a goodie bag of their favorites.
His awesome, and amazing cake! Note the detail in the car emblems!
Me and the birthday boy---sorry its a little blurry!
The whole gang--the best friends we could ask for!
Silly boys! (Sorry for the creepy glowing eyes on some of them!)

It was so great to get to celebrate my awesome husband with such great friends! We were so grateful that each of them could come and wish him happiness on his 30th! It was definitely a great night filled with many laughs!

Just this past weekend, Matt and a few of his buddies competed in the Tough Mudder. If you've never heard of it, its a 12 mile run with 29 obstacles designed by the British Special Forces thrown in. Definitely not for the weak of muscle OR of mind! :) He ran it with Brad, Kyle and Brad's friend, Jeff. They were all exhausted after but are already talking about next year, so it must have been fun! My parents and I went out to cheer them on and had a great time doing that too! Here are just a few of the pics we got that day! Looks like....fun? :)

This summer, we also FINALLY finished the total remodel of the kitchen. We got canister lighting put in and repainted the kitchen and living room. I am SO happy with how it turned out! I never thought I'd have a blue kitchen, but I really love it. This only shows a part of the kitchen, but at least you can see the new lights!

In this picture, the paint almost looks green...its not though..its kind of a smoky blue.
In August, we spent a weekend with Matt's cousin, Davey, and his family in San Angelo. We had a great time out on the lake with them and just getting to catch up! Wish they lived closer!
One of my favorite pictures of Matt on his kneeboard. He makes it look so easy!
Their sweet daughter, Addison, and me cruising in the boat.


In September, I spent a weekend in the Dallas area with my sister and her sweet family! We celebrated my niece Finley's 2nd birthday, and also our pup Jake's 6th!
Ready for the road trip!
One of my new favorite pictures--do these 2 look happy or what??
The birthday girl in the adorable dress my sister made her! (Jake also sneaked in the picture!)
Jake's birthday treats from 3 Dog Bakery!
A few weekends ago we spent a few days near Austin with some of our great friends, Brad and Amanda, Kyle and Lindsay, and Ashley and Jason. We had a wonderful time enjoying the outdoors, having great food, talking and laughing ALOT and jamming to music--new and old. :) The house we rented was BEAUTIFUL and we can't wait for our next trip!!! We are so blessed with great friends! I'm sure Amanda got WAY more pics than I did..but here are few!
Dinner at The Salt Lick.
View from our awesome deck!
All the gals at Lake Travis before we went shopping while the guys jet skied!
View from our table at dinner! Wow!

The guys, on their way out for a bike ride before we headed home. Matt (and I) have taken up biking in the last month or so. He got a really great new bike and it has been alot of fun getting on the trails with friends and family!

So thats the latest with us...thanks for checking in! We've got some fun things coming up in the next few weeks, so hopefully I'll be back soon with another update. I'll try not to make it take another 3 months! :) Happy Fall!

Dedicated to these guys...there are none better.

These guys are the ones that have shaped our lives...have been the men that have guided us into the people we are today. Our lives would not be the same without each of them.

Matt and his dad, Don, 2010. A friend to all. A minister. A guy who can't be sent to the grocery for a quick trip, because he will find SOMEONE he knows and spend 30 minutes chatting them up. Steak-griller extraordinaire. Friend. Adviser. Prayer warrior. Dad.
Me and my dad, Brian, 2005. A coach of many things in my life. Teacher. World traveler. Singer with an amazing voice. Cook. Golfer. Wise counsel. Friend. Dad.
Us with Pops (Fred), 2010. Veteran. Gentleman. Classic. Knock-out blue eyed fellow. Tinkerer. Amazing example of what life beyond 60 should be. Giver. Friend. Pops.
My mom's dad, Grandpa (Bob), 2005. Farmer. Leader. Caretaker. Guy who, although always lived far away, knew he cared. Friend. Teacher. Grandpa. (This is one of my favorite pictures of all time. :))--Side story, my mom has this picture framed in her house. A decorator told her to take the stock picture out of that frame to put in a real picture. She had to explain that it wasn't the photo that comes in the frame, but her daughter and her father. HA!) :)
Non-na, Don, Matt's dad's dad. Hard worker. Comical. Direct. Always good for laugh. Family man. Farmer. Friend. Non-na.

My dad and I with his dad, Grandpa (Al), approx 1986. Gone too soon. Loved to laugh. Hard worker. Knew no stranger. Master skipper of rocks. Smart. Friend. Grandpa.

While I was searching for pictures today, I came across this one of Pops and Matt when he is probably about 2 years old. Its been my favorite picture of them for a long time. :) Probably where Matt's love of construction "stuff" started. No better way to end off a post of the most influential men in our lives than with this. No purer love and friendship has ever existed more than between these two.

Happy Father's Day!

Welcome, Summer!

So....yeah....it HAS been about 3 months since the last update, but in those past months, we really haven't had a whole lot going on around our house! :) I work a lot and life has been pretty steady for us. But in those months we have had some great time with friends and family and I thought that definitely deserved an update. :)

In the past month or so, I got really burned out of the gym that we go to. I felt like I was doing the same exact workout every time and not seeing any results. So, I have started running with my new running buddy!He's not much one for words, but he is definitely a great motivator...especially since he can always keep running even when I'm dying! Haha! But really, its been wonderful to just spend time exercising outside and being with my fur-kid!

Since I have 17 friends who have been due with a baby (I know, right??) between March and October of this year, I have been spending a fair amount of time at baby showers! Its so great to get to celebrate with each of my friends as they get ready to welcome their new little ones. In May, I got to see my nursing school friends, Kylie and Celinda, since Kylie is about to have her baby boy, Harrison, in July. I miss getting to see these girls, especially since we basically lived together at nursing school for a year! Its crazy, because you can't even tell Kylie (in the middle) is pregnant in this picture! She is actually about 30 weeks! We definitely missed the other gals from our group, but hopefully we'll get to be all together again soon!


In early May, we celebrated Pop's birthday! He turned 85 years young on the 9th. 85 going on 35 based on this picture. I don't know many 85 year olds that tootle around on a 4 wheeler, do you?? :) Ha!! He continues to amaze us with his hard work and love for life and those he spends it with! Love this man!

Last weekend, we celebrated Memorial Day with my parents. We enjoyed an afternoon of water volleyball---and I do have to mention that my team won 3 of 4 games! :)--eating some great hamburgers and watching a movie. The weather was so nice that evening, so we got to sit outside, which is SO rare in the summer in Houston! We so enjoy having both of our families so close and getting to spend so much time with them.
If you don't know....I'm a summer baby. (Shameless plug that my birthday is in 12 days! :)) I love all things summer. I would be in, or on, the water in some form or fashion every day of summer if I could. So, after I spent the actual Memorial Day working, and was telling Matt how much I wanted to be on the lake, we decided to take a quick-last-minute- trip up to Austin. We spent Tuesday and Wednesday there and really, IS there a better way to spend a regular ol' Tuesday?? :) We started at The Salt Lick BBQ. If you haven't ever been to the Salt Lick, it is some of the best BBQ in the world. We always make a stop there when we travel to Austin. Then, we headed out to our favorite area of Austin, Bee Cave and Lakeway. We stopped by the resort we always stay at and got some great pics by the very inviting, yet very LOW, Lake Travis.
After this, we spent an hour jet skiing on the lake...one of our most favorite pastimes. I was telling Matt that there was no place I'd rather be right then, than cruising across a calm Lake Travis on a sunny Tuesday with my hubby. Its wonderful!
Me with Lakeway, our favorite resort, in the background! The water was actually a little cold at first, but was wonderful overall!
Not the best quality of pic, but I love the memory from it! Great time! :)

After we were done there, we spent a great evening with the family of a guy Matt has been friends with since they were little kids. Here they are with their adorable son, Carl. We had dinner at a great Italian place called Rocco's...SUPER yummy...with a great view of the golf course next door.
Matt and I with Carl. Matt would want me to point out that there is a Maybach in the background. (For the chicks out there who don't know...that car is apparently worth about $300,000. Crazy!) :) But besides the car...I loved this pic of us!
We spent the night with Gabriela and Steven and then spent a little time walking around a great outdoor shopping area, the Hill Country Galleria, before heading home. Overall it was great quick getaway! :)
Hope everyone is having a great start to the summer!