11W1

This was the ultrasound where we really got to see baby move! Our little dancing king/queen was swimming all over the place! We have a DVD if anyone wants to see it.

10W1D Ultrasound

Baby was starting to look like a little person. Still a dancing machine! We could see the little eyes, feet and hands!

8W4D Ultrasound

Here is our little dancing machine at 8W4D. Baby was doing the robot. This wasn't a great ultrasound picture,  but we got to see baby moving his/her arms and legs and wiggling all aorund. The little white blog was the yolk sac...yeah! Who knew babies start off with yolk sacs!?!

6W4D Ultrasound

This was our first picture of baby, who was a little jumping bean! Baby might have been tiny but he/she was wiggling away. We were in awe hearing the heart beat so early. We can't wait to meet our little one.

How We Found Out

We had been trying for a while but unfortunately the news each month wasn’t what we expected. We had decided to give up and start trying again next year, but something told us to give it one last try. I had an appointment with my doctor on September 12^th for some blood work and one last pregnancy test. But on the 7^th I woke up a little woozy. I didn’t think anything of it because it would have been WAY too early for morning sickness. But the next day I woke up queasy again. When I woke up nauseous on the third day I already knew what I was going to do. I consulted with Brad who told me not to take an early home pregnancy test because if it was wrong I’d be bummed out, and we should just wait until the appointment the coming Monday. So I asked Camille…just to get a second opinion. She was on Brad’s side and I knew they were both right. So what do I do? I went right home and took a test! It was instantly positive and I said out loud to myself “I KNEW IT!”

The next morning, Saturday, I woke up at about 6am. Brad was still asleep so I decided to take my very last pregnancy test. In my excitement I didn’t press the button properly and the test errored out on me! So I rushed to HEB at 6:30am and bought another box of tests. I also grabbed some donuts and chocolate milk in case Brad woke up and was wondering why I was at the store so early. When I got I home I took the test again and again it read “Pregnant”. I wrapped the test up and put it in a box. I put the box, the chocolate milk and a donut in a gift bag with a card and rushed upstairs to wake up Brad. As soon as he saw the bag he asked “You took the test, didn’t you?” I insisted he just open the gift. He pulled out the chocolate milk, then the donut and then the card…it read “Sending you love wrapped in sunshine…(then on the inside) all the way from mommy’s belly. Love Baby”. The test was just further proof!

Baby Rabel

We are thrilled to announce that we are expecting our first little one come May 2012! We’ve known for a little while but just shared the news with the world. Words can’t express our excitement and awe. Our hearts are already overflowing with the love we have for our little one.

Breakfast with the Family

Woody and Erika came by for breakfast and Harley and Sue were right behind them with Logan. Here's a picture of the little guy. 4 months and already 16 lbs. He is such a good baby! I think I held him almost the entire time. Of course I gave him back when he threw up and needed a diaper change. :P

It was so nice spending time with the family.It's hard to get together often but when we do there's just so much that has changed since the last time we saw each other. Hopefully a lot more to come.

Bird Hunting - Opening Weekend

Brad and I went out to Uncle Bob's property last weekend to shoot skeet and do a little dove hunting. Well, Brad went for those things, I just went to hang out with my other mom and sister-in-law.
We had fun. Brad killed the only bird (here's a picture of John being silly). It was fun watching Arnold, Brad, Bobby, John and Zach. Hope we have a lot more weekends like this!

Brandon Wins First Football Game

We went on Saturday to see Brandon play in his first football game. It was HOT (over 100) and there wasn't any shade. I don't know how these kids do it. But it was nice to see the kids and family, and to see the Warriors take home their first win for the season!

King of the Grill

Brad has taken on an interesting hobby: smoking brisket. He's trying to perfect the process. I have to say, I'm enjoying this hobby. He's smoked 3 briskets since June and they keep getting better. He has the rub and sauce down - salty sweet with a little kick. We've learned that untrimmed cuts will be moister, but take much longer to cook and obviously have a lot more fat. He's also been using a spray mister with a secret concoction that also makes the brisket very moist. Here’s a picture of his latest attempt. This is an untrimmed 12lb slab.

Broady: The opossum killer...

Brad told me last night our dog Broady killed a rat in the yard (gross!). I go to let the dogs in before bed and see Broady's catch on the deck...it's not a rat! It's a baby opossum!

Needless to say, I didn't sleep well. All I could think about was my dog going back out side and chasing me down with a slobbery baby opossum corps! So at 5:30 a.m. I finally woke up and laid there in bed contemplating how I'm going to get this thing off the deck.

I go out the front door, open the garage and get the rake. Then I go around to the back yard, leaving the gate open,  and opening the garbage can lid as I head around to the deck where I saw it last. Oh, did I mention I don't have my glasses on and it's an hour before sunrise?

So I go to where I saw it last on the deck but it's not there! Good! Something must have gotten it! I scan around and just as I'm about to go back in I see a ball of fur next to one of the patio chairs. I squint to try and see what it is but I already know. Barely able to see it in the dark and without my glasses, I try to scrape up the gnawed-on little critter with the rake but it wouldn't come up! So I tried from a few different angles...it was somehow stuck between two boards....I couldn't imagine how it could be so stuck because I didn't have my glasses on. I finally manage to snag one of the paws...I don't know how because the rake is pretty spread apart. I take a few steps and drop it! Ugh! So here we go again! I try scraping it up again and AGAIN it's stuck???...Finally I snag the paw and just as I am lifting up the rake....it raises its head and looks at me!!!

IT'S ALIVE!!!!

...so that is why the neighbors saw me creep around my own house in the dark with a rake, scream and run through the front door with jazz hands!

By the way, Brad is handling it. My suggestion was to toss it over the fence of the really nosey lady who once kidnapped our dog! Maybe she can nurse it back to health.

It's Football Season!!!

Well, Brad has a new manager (finally!). I just paid for my books for the fall semester and start classes on Monday. Got my grades from the summer and got an A in both my classes (not sure how, lol!). So I get to keep my 3.9 GPA. Let's see how this semester of Macroeconomics, Accounting, and Government treat me!

Brad and I will be grilling up our fish from the coast! Text us if you want to come join us. Not sure if it'll be Saturday or Sunday. Just let me know.

It's football season and the Seahawks won their first pre-season game last week against the (hated) Chargers. This new QB, Jackson, is going to take some getting used to. Had to watch Hasslebeck in his first game as a Titan and he did great! Congrats also to the Cowboys who one their first pre-season game.

Texas is still in the midst of one of the hottest, driest summers on record! I can't wait for the cooler weather...something about the kids going back to school that makes me miss the smell of maple trees and frosty mornings. Autumn is my favorite time of year. Brad loves the summer. What about you? What's your favorite time of year?

Empty Nesters

Well the day has come. After 5 years together and only 6 months of living without roommates or house guests, Brad and I will now be empty nesters. It’s very bittersweet. My brother Woody and his daughter Erika have found a lovely apartment, actually the same complex they lived in before they moved to Illinois. The 2^nd floor unit they have is totally remodeled with new carpet, laminate flooring, new cabinets, sinks, and brand-spanking new appliances (I’m so jealous). My sister Beth will be living with them just until she gets a place of her own, but the unit across the hall is available. She really did a lot to get Woody and Erika’s stuff moved and I know Woody couldn’t have done it without her.

Erika is sad that she won’t be going to Nichols for 5^th grade, but her new school is a block away. She should be back in the area and with her old friends for middle school. Woody’s plan right now is to save up over the next year for a down payment and then look in the neighborhoods around ours for a home to buy. I’m sure moving stuff down stairs will be a lot easier than moving it up them.

So what are we going to do with an empty house? Well, we plan to keep one of the rooms as a guest room. Brad and I have accumulated a small collection of Seahawks and Longhorns memorabilia, so we plan to make that the theme of the guest room. The other room we’ll use for our exercise equipment for now.

It sure will be quite and I know the first day I come home to an empty house I’ll just cry! But they'll still be there for dinner tonight! Yippy! I’m so happy for them and excited for what the future holds.

Asking for good luck dust....



1 year 9 month and 17 days!
So glad we found each other!

 ...we have some big things in the works this week. Can't tell....but please send us all the good luck, well wishes, and prayers you can! We're going to need it over the next week!

First Coast Trip of the Year

Hi family!

We are doing great! Just got back from a trip to the coast. Our first one of the year. I know! Hard to believe. We didn’t get many pictures, but hopefully I can load the ones I do have shortly.

 

Fishing report: About 15 minutes in to fishing on Saturday morning Brad caught a nice 27” red! The thing practically swam to shore…after a little struggle. The rest the trip we just caught small reds, trout and a few perch. No other keepers. It’s a good thing because it took me 2 hours to clean that fish! Ok…there were breaks to call my dad for instructions and attempts to look up instructions on youtube. Can’t wait to smoke it in about a week!

Brad’s doing great at work. Working less hours. Can’t wait to get a new manager in there on the 1^st to take some of the load off. I’m almost done with Summer semester and already registered for the Fall. Looks like I’ll be getting A’s in both US History II and CPR. Then I have Accounting II, Economics and Government to look forward to.

Erika gets back today from her trip to Washington to see her mom. Woody has been looking at houses and apartments, but hasn’t found anything quite right. If you know of a place, let him know. He’s looking for a 2bd for about $600 a month.

Love yall lots! Until next time…

Why I'm starting this blog...

Hi all. I have started this blog for two reasons. First and foremost, to keep our friends and family updated on what we are up to. Secondly, as a way to vent, share information, and keep in touch. So I guess that's more like four reasons...

We have a lot of exciting news coming up. I can't say what it is right now, but stay tuned and you might find out pretty soon.

Our New Blog

Please bear with us while I get this up and running. Thank you!