Wish On A Star

Aunt Lana's wedding

2008-08-30T19:30:00.004-05:00

Devlon's Aunt Lana got married last night in Austin! Lana and Devlon's Mom are sister. We left Cass with Pops & Gigi who were quite happy to baby-sit. It was just easier to leave him at home, since the wedding was at 6pm. His night routine is dinner around 5:30 or 6:00, playtime and then bath at 7:15. He is usually nursing by 7:30 and in bed by 8pm. So to mess all that up, try to keep him awake and get home from Austin.........nope! I know some people think we are nuts trying to keep his schedule normal, but he loves it and it makes for a much happier baby (and mommy & daddy!). So, we had a fun adult baby free evening with Devlon's family. But it was the first time he went to bed without nursing. He took the bottle fine and was apparently asleep in no time. Guess Pops & Gigi have the magic touch. The wedding was in this darling hall in Austin with beadboard walls/ceiling, hardwoods, stained glass windows and old fashioned chadeliers. There was yummy food and lots of wine. The ceremony was nice and Lana looked beautiful!

Aww, don't we clean up nice? No baby food, snot or drool on these outfits!

With cousins, Megan & Stuart (Lana's children)

The cousins! (minus Ryan)

9 months!

2008-08-30T19:07:00.008-05:00

Trying to eat the rubber ducky.

Loving his new toy

8 months with the bear

You people aren't feeding me fast enough! I'll help myself! Cass' first taste of rice and beans.

Do I have something on my face? Seriously Mom, stop with the pictures!

I can't believe my little man is already 9 months! We went to the doctor on Friday and here is the report....

Weight: 20lbs 15oz (50-60th percentile)

Height: 30 1/4 inches (99th percentile)

Head circumference: 95th percentile

He got a lead level check and an iron check, both which were good. He also got a TB skin test. He did great with the prick for both tests! The doc said he is "long & lean". He has obviously slowed a bit in the weight department. We had a good check up. Doc said to keep focusing on a healthy diet, but thought Cass would continue to be tall and thin. He currently likes: egg yolk, tofu, fish, chicken (real, not baby food kind) veggies, ALL fruits, oatmeal, lentils (well, he doesn't love them but I make him eat them!), rice & beans (good thing we live in SA), pasta, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. He loves to feed himself but makes quite the mess. He is working on his sippy cup but doesn't have it down yet. He is a good eater for sure!

He is still sleeping 11-12 hours at night. He is almost crawling. I know........a late crawler! Hopefeully that means an early walker. He is pulling to stand and sometimes pulls things over on him. He is so curious and into everything. He loves the remote and phone and has learned how to turn the phone on speaker so he can hear it and see it light up. He is still a snuggle bug at night.........nurses himself to sleep. It is at night when I just want to soak him up.......his smell, his sounds, how he feels in my arms, and to feel him breathing against me. He is such a joy, such a happy boy and has this wonderful laugh. He laughs so much at the dogs and when we make funny faces. It is so cute to hear his little belly laugh. I can't remember life without him, and I don't think I want to!!!

A Boy and his Dad.....

2008-07-17T20:15:00.003-05:00

These are from a few months back........in fact, I think they were his 7 month pictures. But oh so cute not to share. It is really fun to see Devlon and Cass together. Devlon is such a wonderful Dad and Cass just loves him so much. You can see it in Cass eyes when he sees Devlon. Devlon gets to spend every Wednesday with Cass and I think that time together without me is so good for them! While I think that Cass is a Mommy's boy now, I know that will change soon enough!

My beautiful boy

2008-07-02T22:39:00.000-05:00

First Beach Trip

2008-07-02T22:30:00.007-05:00

We were in Rockport this weekend for a family reunion! Lots of fun with the Fam! Cass seemed to enjoy the beach......but was a bit apprehensive of the crashing waves. He was a trooper the whole trip!

Too cool.....chillin' in his shades

Getting used to the sand

With his favorite Aunt Bibi

With Mommy

A fun profile view playing with seaweed under the shade of a lounge chair

6 months

2008-06-21T22:10:00.002-05:00

Wow. My baby is already 6 months! Well, almost 7 months by now. But again, I am so behind in blogging! 6 months was a busy month for us. We went for his check up and his stats were:
19lbs (80th percentile)
28 inches (95th percentile)

We were given the go ahead to try meats......but we haven't done it yet. He is loving organic rice cereal & oatmeal and all sorts of fruits & veggies. We are trying to stick to mostly organic stuff. I am going to start making his food so that should be interesting. So far he loves peas, apples, sweet taters, green beans, pears, peaches, squash & prunes. We are still introducing a few things....he liked carrots but the seemed to upset his tummy so we will give them a break. He doesn't seem to like avocados, but we will try again. We will add bananas soon....along with some more exotic things (blueberries, apriocts, spinach, etc). He sure likes to eat! We are working on the sippy cup.....he doesn't quite have the hang of it yet. Of course there are only a few sippy cups that are BPA free (the new rage) so we are only trying those for now.

Other big milestones......he is sitting independently....he has for a while now. We have been swimming at Pops & Gigi's pool many times......he likes to hang out in the float, but hasn't been to keen on putting his head under water. He is teething, but none have popped thru just yet. He is still sleeping like a champ.....from about 8pm-6:30am consistently. Occasionally he wakes up and we just give him the paci and he typically falls back asleep.

We had our first sickness that required antibiotics. He had a viral upper respiratory infection that led to an ear infection. His coughing was TERRIBLE and I had to sleep with him one night just to keep him asleep and calm. We are on the tail end of that. He was a pretty happy boy through out it, so that was a blessing.

Another sad milestone for his 6th month was my Meemaw passing away. She was an amazing person and I am so glad she got to meet Cass and spoil him rotten during the short time she had with him.

We have been busy with family visiting, family reunions, Father's Day, weddings and the other ins and outs of daily life (work, dishes, laundry, etc). I'll get some pics up tomorrow. I am headed to a bridal show with my Mom and sister.....so that should be fun! Good night! :)

Funny boy

2008-05-01T18:29:00.002-05:00

I layed Cass down in our bed this morning while I did a few things in our room. I looked over to check on him and he had fallen asleep holding his moose. Guess he didn't want to part with it!

Cass has this funny quirk of always holding his hands together. In his bouncy or swing, when we are holding him....pretty much anytime. I look back at him while I am driving and he is doing it in his car seat. Makes him look so serious!

Battle of Flowers 2008

2008-05-01T18:23:00.004-05:00

Ready for the parade!

"What is on my neck Mom?" Cass showing his Fiesta spirit!

Cass & Mommy!

The parade was hot and humid, but fun! I had to feed him on the front row with no blanket because it was so hot. I'm sure someone got a show. Cass did great! He even napped thru a few bands and police sirens. He got his first cheap parade toy from his Gigi.......a green inflatable monkey. We had a blast with Tricky, Treva, Colton and Gigi! Many more years to come I'm sure!

Rice Cereal

2008-05-01T18:17:00.002-05:00

So we started Cass on rice cereal right at 5 months. In short, he still doesn't "love" it. The first few days he acted like we were feeding him poison. He is better now, but doesn't show a huge interest in it. He will eat it now without fussing too much. We are going to keep trying for another week or so, and then maybe look into oatmeal. I have read some kids don't ever like rice cereal, and oatmeal is on the lower allergenic side.

I want him to get better with this before we start veggies and fruits. We have decided to start with green veggies, then orange veggies and then fruits. We don't want him to get used to the sweet in the fruit and not like veggies. But, we need to get the hang of this cereal thing first.

For all of you out there.......did your kids like rice cereal? How long did you try it before moving onto fruits & veggies? Ever try oatmeal?

Newest family member

2008-05-01T17:05:00.002-05:00

Introducing Louie! Devlon brought him home for me as a Valentine's/Anniversary present in February. He is almost 6mo old........and 100% puppy. Cass has gotten quite interested in him, and even laughs at him. Louie loves to try and lick Cass when we are doing floor time, or when we come in the door with the car seat. He is sweet, but has been a handful from time to time. He is pretty much housebroken.

He favors me (probably because I don't discipline him as much as Devlon does), and at night will sit in the bathroom when we bathe Cass, then he follows me to Cass' room and stays by the glider until I lay Cass down to sleep. When I get up in the middle of the night, he follows me up and down the stairs. He is a sweetie!

Saturday stuff.....

2008-04-19T11:41:00.002-05:00

Not much to report here. We had a rough night last night. Cass has a lingering cough from his sickness. Combined with drooling (we think he is teething), he was coughing all night. Most of the time he sleeps thru it, but last night it woke him up several times. All but once, we could go in, give him the paci back and pat his belly and he went back to sleep. At 1:30, I gave in a fed him hoping the milk would help his cough/throat. At 6:30, I fed him again and then we dozed in my bed until 9:30 or so. The cough doesn't seem to bother him, he is all smiles this morning.

So, I started weight watchers a month ago with my Mom. Since I had already lost 30lbs after having Cass (I was at my pre-preggo weight when he was born, so the 30lbs was a bonus!) I figure it is a good time to keep it coming off. Especially since I am nursing. So, as of today's weigh-in I have lost 13lbs. It's actually pretty easy since I have 10 extra nursing points. I told Devlon I was going to nurse Cass until he was 5yrs if it meant extra points to eat! Devlon said no way. I also figure/hope that by losing more before baby #2, maybe my chances of having the dreaded GD (gestational diabetes) will minimize. We shall see..........

On the homefront, we have a family of opossums living under our deck. It freaks me out. I won't take Louie (oh yeah, we got a dog! Will post pics of him soon) out at night. Devlon "got rid" of one of the babies when it was digging in our flower beds last week. Last night another baby came up on the deck while we had music going and lights on. I am paranoid one will get in the house (we often leave our back door open, especially when the weather is nice) or it will run into my feet/leg. We need to get rid of them totally. I don't like the idea of Cass playing in the backyard with those things nearby.

Well, Cass is down for a nap. I should go shower and clean the house. I have to work tomorrow (yuck) so today is my only free day. Have a great one.

I'm Back!!

2008-04-18T09:36:00.004-05:00

Hello all. So sorry for being MIA for a while. I have a good reason, I promise! I started back to work on Feb 20th, and since then have been adjusting to working 4 days a week and being away from my sweet boy. I knew it would be hard, but it is the absolute hardest thing I have ever done. I was an emotional mess for the first 2 weeks. I still cry from time to time, but have adjusted as well as I can at this point. It has been hard to find time to blog since all I want to do is love on him when I get home from work. After he goes down at 8pm, there is laundry, dishes and sleeping to do. Here is what we have been up to.........

Cass is going to a church around the corner from us 3 days a week. Devlon stays home with him on Wednesdays and I am home on Fridays. Cass has adjusted well to his teachers. Since he isn't a great napper, he is often exhausted (and grouchy) when we get him by 5:30. The napping is improving so there is hope! He is sleeping well at night, praise god! He on average is sleeping 10ish hours. Sometimes he is up at 8 hours to eat and then goes back down for a few more hours. We are still swaddling him. Yep, I know we need to break him from the habit. We tried a week or so ago to stop swaddling and he was up every 2 hours. So he is back in the swaddle. We are not swaddling for naps and we are looking to wean the swaddle in the next few weeks. We also still rock him to sleep.......something we are looking to wean as well. I would like to read him his story, rock him for a few minutes and put him down drowsy so he learns how to put himself to sleep. But we shall see........the times I have tried that he cries and it breaks my heart. He is a very happy boy in the mornings so it is fun, but also sad since we have to go to work while he is so happy.

We had our first sickness. It was bound to happen with him being around other kids 3 days a week. It wasn't terrible, but a fever up to 101.9 and general fussiness. Pediatrician thought it was viral and had to run it's course. The fever went away for a few days and then came back. All of that obviously affected his sleeping at night. I think we are over it and back to our normal self and routines.

We went in for his 4mo check up and shots. We have a big boy! He was 16lbs 10oz and 27 inches long. That puts him in the 80th percentile for weight and 99th percentile for height. He was almost off the growth chart for height. He is wearing 6-9mo clothes. He has such a long torso so most of his pants are still too long for him. We are probably going to start rice cereal soon. He is still a happy boy breastfeeding, so I wanted to keep him only on breast milk as long as possible. He is showing signs of wanting to eat, especially since he sits with us at dinner time in his high chair. So we are planning to start the cereal around 5 months. Speaking of breast milk.........I feel like a cow! I am pumping 2x a day a work to keep the milk flowing. My plan is to keep breastfeeding for a year at least. He does great with the bottle and has no problems going back to breast to eat. :)

Some firsts:

He has rolled over! Whoo hooo! He hadn't rolled over by his 4mo appointment so I was a little worried. Doc said no big deal, now that we do the back to sleep most babies roll over later than they used to. He finally rolled over last Saturday. He still doesn't love tummy time, but has gotten better with it. Now that he can roll over, he doesn't stay on his tummy very long once we put him down.

He has found his hands, which are always in his mouth, his feet and last night in the bath he found his boy parts. He loves bath time and kicks up a storm.

He is very vocal, but only fusses when he is tired or hungry.

He loves his outdoor swing and exersaucer, but only tolerates the exersaucer for about 10 minutes.

Alot has happened over the last few months.........his first valentine's day, his baptism, visits from family and friends and play group with his 3 girlfriends. I have lots of pics to download, but for now I will leave you with some of the most current pics from his 4mo photo shoot (www.betruephotography.com).

Mama's big boy

2008-01-31T16:21:00.000-06:00

We went yesterday for Cass' 2mo check-up. Here are the stats:

Weight: 13lbs 1oz
Length: 23 1/4 inches
He is in the 75% percentile for height, weight and head circumference.

Doc says he looks great and is clearly thriving. He has had some drainge in his right eye, either a clogged tear duct or a viral bug. Doc suggested breast milk in the eye for a few days. It has already started to clear on it's own, so we are going to watch it for a few more days before we do breastmilk drops. He had to get 3 shots, which made me cry. It was terrible to hear his cry.....a much different cry than we have EVER heard. He was pretty fussy most of yesterday probably because of those nasty shots.

We also moved him to his nursery last night. He didn't sleep as well as he has been, but I am hoping it was related to the shots. He has (for 6days in a row) been sleeping from 10:30-6:30. Last night he was up about every 3.5 hours to eat. But, he is in his big boy crib and looks cozy! It wasn't as hard on me as I thought, but I did have a hard time falling asleep because he was "so far" away.

Well, he is down for a nap (I hope!). I am off to work on a few things around the house.

Cass is napping....

2008-01-16T12:18:00.000-06:00

And what am I doing? No, not folding the laundry, emptying the dishwasher, vacuuming the living room or tackling the pile of clothes in my closet. I am ordering Cass's Easter Basket and fun bathroom bag from Pottery Barn Kids. I had a merchandise credit, so I didn't spend a ton of money. But, I know those Easter Baskets are hot commodities so I thought I would order it now. The blue gingham liner is on back order until Jan 30th. The bathroom bag I thought was so cute and will be nice for out of town trips to have all his things in one little bag.

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/k5117/index.cfm?pkey=cbdgbfn%7Ck

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/eg120/index.cfm?pkey=GTHMOCCEAS

Hmm, wonder what else I can find to order? :)

6 week check-up

2008-01-14T23:05:00.000-06:00

I had my 6 week check up with my OB last week! I have officially lost 30lbs.....whoo hoo! Easiest way I ever lost 30lbs thats for sure! By the time I had Cass, I was at my pre-pregnancy weight, so actually losing more weight after his birth was a big bonus.

Everything looked good as far as my c-section wound/scar, etc. I got the go ahead to start exercising, so I started walking with Cass. I also did my 2 hour glucose test to ensure the diabetes was gone.........and it is! My levels were actually on the low end of normal, so that was good news.

Hmm, the OB did a "annual exam", which I wasn't prepared for, but oh well. We also discussed the options available to not have another child until we are ready........seeing as how I am breastfeeding. She is pretty liberal about what she feels is safe and I am more guarded, so we haven't reached a consensus yet. TMI, I'm sure......but hey, that's life! :) Oh, and the OB says Cass looks just like his Daddy.......which is what I am beginning to hear more and more. Must be that hair he has, I think it throws people off and all they see is Devlon.

Some Firsts......

2008-01-14T22:19:00.000-06:00

I thought I would blog about a few firsts we have had with Cass!! We took our first road trip....to the ranch so Devlon could hunt. Cass did pretty well considering we were out of our routine and in strange surroundings. He slept pretty well at night but was more fussy during the day. He let us know that after about 3 hours in the car seat, he is done. We had to listen to him cry while we were following someone to the ranch and it broke my heart. He only cried for about 10 minutes, but it was terrible! I wanted to scoop him up and love on him! If we had been driving solo, we would have pulled over and rescued him. Anyways, he is getting so big! We weighed him today at my Mom's work and he was 12lbs 10oz. Granted he had just eaten, but still! Some of his 3mo footed sleepers are getting too tight at the feet. He is obviously eating well and breastfeeding is going great. I am pumping once a day to get our freezer stocked for my return to work in late February. He is getting more social and alert......watching much more in his environment. It is fun to see him concentrate on our faces, lights, etc.

He is sleeping well at night........not consistently thru the night but enough to say we are headed that way! Last night was another 9 hour night of sleep. We decided to keep him in our room in his bassinet until our 2mo pediatrician appt, which is Jan 30th. After that he will be up in his nursery. It will be so hard to not have him so close, but we don't want him to get used to being in our room. He is starting to like bath time more now that we are using a baby bathub and not the sponge that he laid on.

He is a snuggle bug and loves to be held. He will hang out in the swing or bouncy seat for a while, and then cries to be held. My favorite time is rocking him after his last feed when he snuggles his face against my neck and I can feel him breathing. So sweet! He has started to give us a few smiles outside of the gas smiles. He is holding his head up so well and is bearing weight on his legs. I can't believe how much he has changed since we brought him home from the hospital. Well, enjoy the pics......I am headed to bed!

Decked out in camo at the ranch!

Cute onesie in honor of my Dad........who calls Cass "Peanut".

First Bumbo seat time!

First "big boy" bath in his tub. Look at that belly!

First stroller ride....he slept most of the time while I walked in the neighborhood.

Engaged!!

2008-01-05T11:38:00.000-06:00

Bethany and Eric are engaged! Eric flew in and surprised Bethany on Christmas Day and proposed. We all knew is was happening, but sister was totally surprised! Yay! Her ring is gorgeous and they are so excited! The wedding won't be until June 2009, but that hasn't stopped the planning. So fun..........and I get to be matron of honor. Kind of fun since Devlon will be the best man. I mean, we are responsible for them meeting and falling in love! :) Congrats Sister and Eric!

1mo Growth Pictures

2008-01-05T11:21:00.000-06:00

We decided to take his picture monthly with this bear to track his growth. I LOVE the one where he is looking a the bear with a little grin on his face. He is now almost 6 weeks and seems so big! We go back to the pediatrician in a week or so for his 2mo visit. I am anxious to see how much he weighs. He is eating like a champ and his 3mo footed outfits are getting a bit snug at the feet. He is getting more social, looking around and holding his head up. He is getting good at tummy time and starting to enjoy bathtime a bit more. He is not really fond of his pacifier yet, not sure if that will change? He is sleeping well at night.........on average 4 hours at a time. Last night he went 9 hours!!!!! I put him down at 12:30 after nursing him and he didn't stir until around 9:15 this morning. I was in some serious pain, but was well rested! Well, he is fussing in his swing so I should rescue him.

We are loving life with this little man. I didn't know my heart could love a little person this much. It's amazing and we are in total awe of him. Our little family is quite content.

Christmas Pictures

2008-01-05T11:07:00.000-06:00

His first tree!

Meemaw giving him lots of love!

Professional Pictures

2008-01-05T10:57:00.000-06:00

Here are a few of our professional pictures taken by my cousin Gwen......with Be True Photography (www.betruephotography.com). Love them! He was about 2.5 weeks old in these pictures.

Our son

2007-12-02T21:58:00.000-06:00

Our beautiful boy joined our family on Tuesday, November 27th at 7:54am. He weighed 8lbs 14.3oz and was 21.1 inches long. My OB elected for a C-section because they were estimating his weight to be 9lbs15oz. He had a strong cry when they pulled him out and he had a head full of hair. He was taken to NICU for 24 hours because he needed some oxygen support and had some fluid in his lungs. My OB had prepared me for this.....I guess it is common in C-section deliveries. He moved from NICU to a special care nursery and was able to come home with us on Friday. We have been home for a while now, trying to get adjusted to a routine.

Breastfeeding is going MUCH better, but is was difficult at first with lots of tears on my part. At his 1 week check-up, he was almost back to his birthweight at 8lbs 12oz. We go back to the pediatrician on Friday Dec 14th at 9:45 and I suspect he is past his birthweight now. He is up about every 3-3.5 hours to eat. Other than that he LOVES to be held. We are having a hard time not spoiling him.

We have been so blessed with family and friends who have made this transition easier.....and who have offered support by sending food, gifts and flowers. We are in awe of this little man and can't believe he is here and we are officially parents. WOW. God is good.

Around the corner.......

2007-11-20T09:48:00.000-06:00

Well, Baby H has dropped into the birth canal. Trust me, I can feel it! All that extra pressure on my bladder is no fun..........I am up now almost 4 times a night to go to the bathroom. I am also dilated 1cm. No big deal, but it does mean that I will likely be able to be induced instead of go straight to C-section! Yay!

I am tentatively scheduled Tues Nov 27th to have this baby. I will be 37 weeks and 1 day. Of course, this depends on the results of the amnio which we do Mon Nov 26th. Still hoping to see good lung values.

We are also hoping to get an estimated fetal weight with the amnio so my OB can make a decision about whether or not I will be able to push this big guy out. I think the plan is to let me try, and if he is too big, gets stressed or I don't progress then we will have a c-section. Hopefully my hips and pelvis can handle him!

That's it for now........please keep praying!

Pregnancy Stats

2007-11-18T13:03:00.000-06:00

Hi know most people are curious about random parts of pregnancy. I thought I would jot some down of mine for you to see!

Current weight gain: 6.5lbs (keep in mind I was SICK for 1 week and then the GD diet made me lose some weight).

Main preggo worry in the beginning: high blood pressure and preeclampsia

Main preggo worry now: healthy lungs and his size, and the GD

Most emotional thing about the pregnancy: trying to decide on a name and feeling him inside me

Oddest discovery: stretch marks on the most random part of my belly

Cravings: blueberry cake doughnuts, which I can't even have!

Snoring: Yes

Sleeping well: not so much

Morning Sickness: alot in the beginning, 2-4 times in 2nd trimester. And yes, it involved lots of throwing up

Temp control: Hot all the time

Nesting: yes, in full swing

Waddling: yes! Devlon laughs at me when I am walking/waddling.

Swelling: mostly in ankles at the end of the day. Still can wear my wedding rings.

Biggest worry after he is here: Breastfeeding, financial worry until I go back to work, knowing what to do with him, keeping up with the house and taking care of him, Devlon and I managing together as parents, instead of just husband and wife.

That's all I can think of! Enjoy

More baby news

2007-11-18T12:40:00.000-06:00

So, Devlon and I have been busy at the doctor's offices! We saw our MFM on Monday last week and this boy is estimated to be 8lbs 3oz at 35 weeks! YIKES. My fluid level has decreased so that was good. He still looks healthy, just big! So, the MFM wants to do an amnio on Mon Nov 26th to check for fetal lung development. We will have the results on that same afternoon, so we will know what all the "levels and values" they are looking for say. If it shows lung development, we will be having a baby on Tues Nov. 27th. CRAZY! Ironically, also on my Nana's birthday. If it doesn't show total lung development, they will look at the values and then probably wait a few days. Either way, he will probably be born that week. They are worried about his lung development since I have the GD. They don't want me to go to 38 weeks for fear of his size and my risk of postpartum hemorrhage.

We went to my OB and she checked me for progress. He has dropped a little, but not very much. And because I have more fluid than the average preggo, he still has lots of room to move around. She touched his head and he moved away from it. Most babies living in an average amount of fluid don't have anywhere to go but down the birth canal. Not this guy! So, if he doesn't drop and "engage" by delivery time, then we will be having a c-section. My OB says there is a much higher risk of Cerebral Palsy and Hypoxic Injuries when you induce a baby who isn't even in the birth canal..........that's enough to convince me to go under the knife!

So, all that to say we may be parents in a little over a week! Exciting and crazy all at once. As for me, I am feeling tired pretty much all the time. Trying to wrap up projects at work. Still have a TON of thank you notes to write. A few more errands to run and things to do around the house to prepare to bring him home. Oh yeah, we still need to decide on a name. :)

Where to Begin?

2007-11-10T10:00:00.001-06:00

I guess I left off last at around 28 weeks. So, at 29 weeks we had the long awaited 3-D growth scan. The boy is healthy, but was measuring almost 34 weeks and my amniotic fluid level was high. They were estimating him to be 41/2 pounds. The Maternal Fetal Medicince Specialist (MFM) wanted to me to be re-tested for diabetes. So I did the 3 hour GTT at 29 weeks and it was normal. So we get to 32 weeks and go back to the MFM for another growth scan. He was still measuring almost 4 weeks ahead and my fluid level was higher, so he wanted me to get tested for gestational diabetes AGAIN. They were estimating his weight to be 6lbs 1oz. So I go at 32 weeks for another 3 hour GTT and lo an behold it is positive. So, I have the GD. Not the end of the world but still not fun. So, that Thursday we went to a diabetic education class and started insulin. We were both very overwhelmed..........trying to learn the diet and what foods to eat, how to count everything, etc. There were some tears shed and lots of frustration! My MFM is a diabetes fanatic so he is VERY strict and to the tee. My menu plan is unreal.

So we start to get the GD menu and food down, figure out how to make it work in our lives. I started taking iron supplements since my iron was low on a routine CBC. This past weekend I started to feel sick but brushed it off to the GD stuff. Gagging on food, sometimes throwing up, low grade temp. Not quite myself but didn't feel completely awful. Monday we went to the OB, everything looked and sounded good. She mentioned that my WBC was a bit elevated from that routine CBC, but didn't seem concerned. I mentioned the not quite feeling right, etc and she said "Drink more water" which is her answer to everything! Anyways, long story short. Went home sick last Monday from work with a 101 fever. Decided to come to the hospital to get everything checked out just to be safe. Ended up being admitted on Tuesday night and was discharged Friday morning. 5 bags of IV fluids, 3 doses of baby friendly antibiotics, lots of blood work and constant monitoring of the baby. Good news was the baby looks great and is happy as a little lark up in my belly. No signs of an arrival anytime soon. Bad news was I had an e-coli infection and gastritis. So, I am now on suppressant antibiotic therapy and resting this weekend before going back to work.

We go on Monday for a 35 week growth scan and anticipate kinda sorta making an induction date. They are not going to let me go to 40 weeks because he is so big. They would like me to get to 38 weeks. I am going to the MFM every week for a check up on the GD, a non-stress test and a biophysical profile. I start this next week going every week to the regular OB to be checked for progress, etc. He will be here sooner than we think! I have turned into a bit of a high risk pregnancy I guess.

In other news, we have had tons of wonderful showers from friends and family. We are very blessed and this baby is already loved SO much! I have been washing clothes an blankets and Devlon has been putting everything together. The nursery is 99% complete! We are just waiting on curtains and a quilt that his Mom is working on. The room looks GREAT! I will post pics in the next couple of days.

So that is our update! Still no name though for the little man. I am off to write thank you notes that I am VERY behind on. Have a great weekend!

Sadness & Joy

2007-09-30T18:31:00.000-05:00

This weekend has been a weekend filled with sadness and joy. My best friend lost her grand"father" this past week. He was the epitome of a caring man with a generous heart, a spirit that was never broken and had a love for his family that would leave anyone in awe.

I was blessed to know this man well, since I spent most of my childhood in their house. Mel and I spent countless hours in that house and there are so many memories there. I spent this weekend helping Mel and her family go through the house and search for those "things" you don't want to let go. The weekend brought us sadness, disbelief and joy. Sadness that the house is no longer the center of the family, disbelief that he is really gone, and joy as we re-discovered memories and spent time together in his memory. He would have loved that. Seeing all his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and "adopted" grandchildren in the house talking about how their lives have been better for having this man in their lives.

I feel blessed to have known this man, and was able to visit with him at my wedding. He leaves behind an amazing legacy that we could all learn from. Though it was hard to leave the house, we have joy knowing that he lived his life to the fullest and he is now forever with his sweet bride in heaven.

We will miss you Bob!

Cautious.....

2007-09-27T10:59:00.000-05:00

I have been meaning to blog for a while now........sorry for the delay! We had our 28 week appointment and sonogram this past Monday. We walked away with some good news and news that makes us a bit cautious. Let's start with the good news...........

My placenta has moved up and is in a good spot!
He looks healthy and is certainly growing.
My weight was good, as was my blood pressure.

The news that made us cautious......

He is measuring big! His head and abdomen are measuring 32 weeks and his femur is measuring 30 weeks. The OB didn't see any extra fluid, masses or tumors that would explain his size. So, to be safe she is sending us to a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist for a level 2 sono. We have this appointment on Monday, Oct 4th at 1:45pm. She said it could be a couple of things. Genetics play a factor in it, so he could just be big because of our genetics. Our family does have a history of bigger babies. I could have gestational diabetes, but my 1 hour glucose test came out normal. She doesn't think there is much else going on..........all his organs and his brain look healthy and well developed. Worst case scenario.......he continues to grow like a weed and we are induced early, or if he is too big we may have a c-section.

So, we are anxiously awaiting the level 2 sono........for peace of mind. Please keep us in your prayers. I will keep you all posted.

I don't want to forget......

2007-09-22T21:19:00.000-05:00

Today while I was running errands, I was making a list of things in my head that I don't ever want to forget about this pregnancy. So I thought I would share!

1) How excited we felt when we saw the positive pregnancy test.....and how blessed we felt that it happened so fast for us!

2) How hard it was to keep the secret until we wanted to share the news.

3) How excited our family and friends were when we did decide to share the news.

4) The first OB appointment where we heard the heartbeat and saw the little "peanut".

5) The morning sickness that I thought would never end.....but secretly made me feel "secure" that the pregnancy was progressing.

6) The OB appointment when we found out it was a boy.......and sharing that moment with both sets of our parents.

7) Devlon and me in Babies R Us......pretending we knew what we were registering for and hoping we didn't forget anything too important.

8) Feeling the little man kick for the first time.....around 20ish weeks. I probably felt him sooner than that but didn't notice it.

9) Devlon feeling him kick for the first time......and his face/reaction.

10) Watching my husband read and sing to our baby......and how it melts my heart.

11) Getting the nursery together and picking out things to make it perfect for our son.

12) Thinking about how much our lives are going to change in the very near future!

13) Feeling the love from our family and friends who call to ask how I am feeling, bring us surprises for the baby and offer to help us get ready for the little man.

14) How loved this baby already is!

15) How difficult is has been (and continues to be) for us to decide on a name.

16) How nervous I have felt at every OB appointment and probably will be for the rest of the pregnancy!

Anyways, I am sure I could ramble on for hours. This pregnancy stuff is pretty amazing! I am blessed beyond words to be sharing this with Devlon..........who is going to be an amazing father. He talks all the time about how he can't wait to do this and that with his son. I can't wait to see him holding our little boy in his arms. This has been a dream come true for us.......and we feel amazed at this miracle growing inside me. Can't wait to share him with you guys when he makes his grand appearance!

Nursery progress

2007-09-16T20:24:00.000-05:00

Devlon has been working so hard getting this nursery up and running. Last weekend he finished painting the blue on the bottom half of the wall. This weekend he cut the rough cedar and put on the chair rail AND painted the crib, dresser, and changing table. The crib and changing table are from when I was a baby (Josh & Bethany too!) and the dresser was Devlon's. It needed some TLC so he spent alot of time repairing, sanding and filling holes. He plans to use boat cleats for the handles.

Here you can see the division in the wall with the cedar chair rail.

A wider shot.......with some of the furniture in it. The crib isn't put together yet and we don't know exactly where everything is going just yet. The dresser is still drying so it needs to find a home. This is just a door shot, once there is more detail to look at I will take more pictures to post. And yes, you can see that the infamous boat seat finally has a home. Not sure where it will end up in the room, but it certainly goes with the theme.

Things yet to come....
1) Devlon is doing a rough cedar border with cattle brands to go around the top of the room. The cattle brands, though don't go with the fish theme, are important to him from his days at Rancho La Fe. He is branding the wood this weekend.

2) Getting the dresser assembled with handles and up to the room.

3) Deciding on a rocking chair or glider and purchasing that.

4) Finding the best place for everything to be in the room. One whole wall is taken up by closet doors, so we are only working with 3 walls.......and one wall has built-in bookshelves.

5) Pictures and decorative accessories. I am on the hunt for a new lamp shade for Devlon's old cork lamp.....which also fits with the room theme nicely.

6) New wood blinds for the window.

7) Of course, bedding and window treatments. The grandmothers have these 2 things under control.

I have my first shower on Tuesday at work. I am so excited. Once we got the crib in the room Devlon and I both looked at each other like....I guess this is for real! Ha! I have gotten alot of baby goodies so far, but it will be fun to open presents at a shower. More showers coming down the line in October. I am also on the hunt for a baby memory book. So many out there are either cheesy, non-functional or way frufru!

I am feeling good for the most part. Still wearing my rings, still with slight cankles at the end of a long day and still growing. I will take another belly shot at 28 weeks for you to see. We go back to the OB on Sept 24th so I will keep you posted! I will be 27 weeks tomorrow!

I guess we are prepared.........

2007-09-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

Devlon and I spent all day Saturday in a childbirth class. I know it is early, but we had conflicts with the Oct and Nov dates. So I guess we are officially prepared to have a baby! Hah! There were a few things that made us laugh at inappropriate times and few things that we took away wanting to ask our OB about. But overall, it was informative!

Now we just sit back and wait. I would possibly like to take a breastfeeding class.......but I took several classes when I worked at Children's so I feel pretty knowledgeable about it. I have my work shower in a few weeks so that should be fun!

We go back to the OB Sept 24th for a sonogram to check his growth and my placenta placement. We also get to do the glucose test..........so say some prayers that everything looks good. Other than that, we are moving and grooving. Devlon is putting a 2nd coat of paint in the nursery this morning. We bought the cedar chair rail yesterday and that should go up this week. We are working on the furniture so hopefully most of it will come together in the next few weeks. I'll post pics soon!

Wisconsin Wedding Pics

2007-09-04T22:11:00.001-05:00

James & Lesli, Me & Devlon at the reception

Us looking fine......ha!

James & Devlon with the groom acting silly

The boys.......they clean up nice!

All in all we had a great weekend! They said I do and are hitched. Yes, we ate cheese curds. The boys drank WI beer (lots). Fun times were had by all. We enjoyed being there with friends and shacked up with 6 adults in a hotel room. But hey, that makes for more fun stories and memories! We are glad to be home!

Headed for cheese

2007-08-30T20:34:00.000-05:00

Devlon and I leave at the CRACK of smack in the morning......6am! We have to be at the airport at 5am, so this girl needs to be up by 3:30ish to get ready. Won't that be fun? We are headed to Wisconsin for a friend's wedding. This friend was an usher in our wedding and now Devlon is returning the favor. We actually fly into St. Paul/Minneapolis and then drive 2 hours or so north to Siren, WI. We acutally land at 10am in St. Paul and then begin the drive.

My poor dad is taking us to the airport.......probably in his PJ's. No person in their right mind should be up at 3:30. Seriously.

We are going with some friends, so that should make it more fun.

Not so fun?
1) That I should probably avoid sleeping on the plane now that I have pregnancy induced snoring. Not to say that I didn't snore before, but I am positive I didn't snore EVERY night!

2) That keeping the A/C cool enough for my pregnant body is sending us to the poor house.

3) That after a long day of being on my feet, I have a slight case of cankles. But, my rings still fit good!

4) That my 12 weeks of maternity leave won't fully be paid so we are trying to save as much as we can.

5) That I need to start looking into childcare options.

6) That the maternity dress I am wearing to the wedding is a black and white paisely print.......and I am sure it makes me look like a dairy cow.

7) That the airport won't let you carry on your own water. Per my OB, I need to drink so much water my pee is the color of water. Buying that much water at the airport will send us to the poor house.

Enough complaining.....I need to pack so I can try to get 5 hours of shut eye!

Nursery and almost 24 week pics

2007-08-26T17:45:00.000-05:00

So, this is the nursery.........bare bones and all! As we work on it, I will update with pictures! We are excited to get started, but need to find some free time!

Here is my almost 24 week belly shot. That angle makes me look smaller than I am....or I guess I feel bigger than that picture shows! Mostly, the baby is just sticking my fat out more! :) We go to the OB tomorrow for our 24 week appointment.......so hopefully everything will look good! We are headed to WI this weekend for a wedding and then I think things will slow down to start working on the nursery!

We have paint!

2007-08-24T20:02:00.000-05:00

Tracy P was in town last night and brought all her professional tools with her. We picked out paint for the nursery walls and furniture. The walls with be done with a chair rail so the blue will only be on the bottom. It is a near perfect match to the bedding........it's called Denim. It is a bit darker in person than what shows up online.
http://sherlink.sherwin.com/swapp/color_visualizer/index.jsp?colorNo=6523

For the crib, dresser and changing table we picked this color.........Creamy. It also goes well with the blue, the bedding and what is already on the top half of the walls.
http://sherlink.sherwin.com/swapp/color_visualizer/index.jsp?colorNo=7012

We also potientally picked out some rugs for our formal living room and our bedroom but we need to hold off a while on ordering them......our money is meant to be saved right now! Especially if I am taking 3 months maternity leave!

Fun times, but I am tired! Devlon has been a conference in Fort Worth since Wed, and he comes home tomorrow! I am excited to have him back in our house. Look for some pics from this weekend later..........

Halfway there.....

2007-08-18T12:55:00.000-05:00

I am finally recovered from my weekend in Utah! We had a great time, shopping, eating, swimming, eating, watching movies, eating and just being with the girls! I forget how much I miss them until I get more than just a few hours with them! Somehow, I made it the whole weekend without taking one pictures........I am a bad Aunt!

Well, we are almost 23 weeks. More than halfway there! If I had to guess though, this baby may come a bit early if he keeps measuring ahead by 2 weeks. I am going to start taking belly shots now that it looks more like a pregnant belly and not just fat. I have REALLY started to feel him move this week. He is not much of a morning baby, much like his Mom! :) He is more active around lunch time and into the early evening. Last night Devlon thinks he was able to feel him move for the first time. It's hard for him to know for sure, because he is still small. But I think he'll feel him for sure in the next few weeks.

I haven't had any wierd food cravings.......although the other night a blueberry cake doughnut sounded pretty good. Can't tell you when I last had one of those. Devlon looked at me crazy and said "Where am I going to find a blueberry doughnut at 11pm?". Rest assured I didn't need one.....so I didn't send him searching. He really is pretty cute with this baby. I can't wait to see him as a father.

We are looking into childbirth classes and possibly a Daddy Boot Camp for Devlon. Some of my friends at work are preggo also and their hubbys are taking this class and I think it would be great for Devlon. He hasn't been around babies a whole lot and would probably feel more comfortable with more exposure to what is coming.

We have a plan for the nursery, waiting on fabric swatches to decide on paint colors. Now we need to get cracking on unpacking the rest of this house that we have been putting off. :)

Have a great weekend all!

It's A......

2007-08-11T15:54:00.000-05:00

Boy!!!!!!!

I know, it has been a while since our last post. Truth be told, I am a little burned out of blogging. But, so many exciting things happening I should keep it up!

We went July 30th for our 20 week appointment. My parents and Devlon's parents were able to be in the room when we found out the sex! We are so excited to have a little boy by Christmas! Everything looks healthy with the baby.......all the organs and spine, etc. The femur and head are measuring ahead by almost 2 weeks! OB said not to worry.....probably just because I am tall and Devlon is tall that our baby will be long. Plus, even though Devlon is taller than me, my legs are longer. So it is probably to be expected.

My placenta is pretty low still so we will have another ultrasound at 28 weeks to check placement of the placenta and monitor the growth. My blood pressure was a bit high so I made them redo it after the ultrasound once I knew the baby had all his parts in the right place. It went down almost 20 points so I guess it was just nerves. :)

We go back again in late August for our 24 week check.

We picked out bedding and are trying to figure out how exactly we want the nursery. The bedding is at http://warmbiscuit.com/fishingcrib.html . I figure we have enough fishing stuff around the house to make the room look really cute. Devlon has all kinds of plans for the room and this little guy so far. We are having a quilt and curtains made out of all of Devlon's old fishing shirts so that will be really cute and unique. I think we are going to use a fishing rod instead of a normal curtain rod. Devlon bought some fish prints in Rockport a few weekends ago and of curse the infamous boat seat will now fit in the house and not look weird. We are planning to use my old Jenny Lind style crib (yes, I checked out all the safety guidelines and it meets all of them) and Devlon's old changing table..........they just need a fresh coat of paint.

We also registered at Babies R Us........quite the adventure. We probably picked out TOO much, but it was fun nonetheless. I am in Utah this weekend visiting Melissa and the girls. Mel and I hit the malls today and I got to buy my first baby boy outfits.........I even found some cute overalls! Gymboree had cute Lobster themed stuff.......Tracy and Josh bought us a shirt from there already but I found swim trunks and a one piece outfit that have lobsters on them so I of course bought them in sizes the baby can hopefully wear during the summers.

Well, we just got back from the pool and the girls are getting out of the tub so I should run. I will TRY to be more diligent about posting especially with fun preggo stories. Have a great weekend.

Throw up much?

2007-07-14T10:04:00.000-05:00

I know, that sounds gross! But, I thought for sure by being in the 2nd trimester I would be done with the throwing up. Guess Baby H has other plans! So far I have thrown up a few times since being in the 2nd trimester, one being thie past Thursday on my way to work. Not sure what set me off. Ironically, I had just taken all the throw up accessories (large cup, extra napkins, etc) out of my car. Not fun. I will be 18 weeks on Monday. Don't think I have felt the baby move much yet, but I think it is hard to tell with your first. We got our blood results back for the quad screen....normal! Devlon and I made a trip to Babies R Us just to get a feel for things. We didn't want to be overwhelmed when we went to go register. SO MANY CHOICES!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those of you pros out there, what baby products are must haves (besides the standard car seats, etc) and what products are not worth the money? So far I have heard that wipe warmers aren't worth the money and have gotten mixed reviews on diaper genie and other diaper systems. Feedback please!!

I am helping my Meemaw pack today......she is moving to assisted living next weekend. I am flying to Dallas Sunday for a funeral of one of my good friends Mom.........so please keep my friend in your prayers. Other than that, I need to find something to wear to the funeral and run a bunch of errands before I fly out tomorrow. Looking forward to my trip to UTAH in early August to see Mel and the girls. We will know what we are having by then so I am sure we will be shopping fools!

16 week OB appointment

2007-07-05T21:39:00.000-05:00

So on Tuesday we went to the OB for our 16 week appointment. All checked out well. We heard the baby's heartbeat which was about 150 beats a minute. OB said my blood pressure was fine. I hadn't gained any weight since the last visit. My urine had traces of sugar which my OB attributed the bowl of golden grahams I had for breakfast. So, at the next appointment I will try eating less sugar for breakfast and see if that makes a difference with the sugar. We go back July 30th for our 20 week appointment......so we hopefully will know what it is and see that everything looks healthy. We would appreciate prayers for that!!

Other than that I am feeling better. I did throw up once this week......but Devlon was marinating HUGE brisket in the fridge and the smell of the raw meat and spices got the best of me. Most foods are much more tolerable. I am still able to wear my stretchy clothes but I did order a few maternity things online this past week. I feel good but I feel like I am getting uncomfortably bigger. I am still sleeping OK. All in all it has been good so far!!

Will keep you all posted about the baby's sex. Looking forward to a relaxing weekend!!!

Baby updates

2007-07-01T11:28:00.001-05:00

I am going to try to be more viligant about keeping you all up to date on the baby progress. I am going to try and do weekly highlights to talk about what is going on with the pregnancy and baby. We will be 16 weeks on Monday! We go to the OB on Tuesday July 3rd, so look for a post after that. At that appt. we will doing the triple screen bloodwork and hear the heartbeat again. At week 20, we will know if we should buy pink or blue!!!

This past week we were 15 weeks. Our baby is roughly the size of a softball. My nausea is mostly gone as is the throwing up. Sometimes smells still get to me, but overall I am much more adjusting to food and smells. I have officially grown out of all my fitted pants.....but my stretchy pants and scrubs still fit. Tops are still OK but I am sure that will soon change. No significant food aversions or cravings, but I still can't eat whole chicken breasts. If the chicken is prepared another way, it is usually fine. I am trying to be good about food and make sure I get all my calcium, etc. I am still doing no caffine or artificial sweetners.

I went to a maternity store last night and it was depressing trying on clothes. Worst of all, I need a swimsuit. SCARY thought! We are going to Rockport at the end of July for a family reunion and I am positive I won't be able to get into my swimsuits I took on the honeymoon. Maternity suits all look like tents..........especially the ones I need!

Anyways....that is all I have! Will post after the OB appointment on Tuesday. Also just to warn everyone that we are not sharing the baby's name with anyone once we find out it if is a boy or girl........we want something to be a surprise! :)

Happy Birthday to my Honey

2007-05-23T21:52:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was my hubby's birthday...........the big 35!! We celebrate yesterday with ice cream cake from Baskin-Robbins with his favorite ice cream! Tonight we went to dinner at Paesaneo's.....a yummy restaurant here in SA! He opened his gifts yesterday and seems to be a happy boy!

I have been so blessed by this wonderful man in my life. He deserves so much more than I could ever be able to give him but I hope he always knows how loved he is. I can't wait to celebrate a lifetime of birthdays with him! The best thing he has to look forward to as a 35 year old is becoming a Daddy! So exciting.......

Changes!

2007-05-20T15:59:00.000-05:00

Alright, too many people told me they were tired of my tribute to Mugsy Lou Ann. So alas, I am posting SOMETHING! Be warned that my camera cord is packed in a box that may or may not be opened soon.........so many of these posts may be boring.

Changes changes changes in the order they came!

New marriage (we LOVED our wedding and are loving married life!)
New jobs in San Antonio (prompting the big move right after the honeymoon)
New baby! (Due Dec 17th)
New house! (Now we can stop shacking with the parents)

We are so happy to be in our own house and feel infinitely blessed that our first child will be born the same year we got married! Now we have boxes galore to unpack, furniture to rearrange, a baby's room to decorate (not until we find out what it is!) and a life to get organized.
So far everything looks great with Baby H!

Now it's time to sit back and enjoy the ride!

Mugsy Lou Ann

2007-01-13T21:10:00.000-06:00

Mugsy had to be put to sleep last week. Her back legs finally gave out. She couldn't walk anymore or even go to the bathroom outside. I cried for an hour when I heard and am dreading going home to a house without her next weekend. I know it was hard on my Dad to take her and say good-bye while he loved on her and told her what a great dog she was. I know it is hard on my parents to not hear her in the house "talking" for treats, snoring, letting them know when it is time for dinner, seeing her empty bed and just feeling her presence.

But, it was time for her to go. She was too physically sick to live a happy life. We loved her so much while she was here. SO much. She was a spoiled dog who never met a stranger and put up with all our crazy halloween costumes, silly collars, and funny dog voices. She was the greatest dog ever and blessed us more than she will ever know. Isn't it crazy to think a dog can bring people so much happiness? And so much sadness when they are gone?

We are under contract...........

2006-12-02T16:24:00.000-06:00

It's official.......Devlon's house in under contract after a few rounds of countering. The option period started on Thursday. So...after all the formalities and such we are due to close before Christmas. This is a HUGE weight lifted off our shoulders!

Getting ready for our couple's shower tonight in Rockwall. Should be exciting! Look for pictures tomorrow!

I'm here!

2006-11-28T21:27:00.000-06:00

Well, after a LONG drive back from SA, we are officially home. We made it back LATE Sun night thanks to some wreck outside of Waco. Crafty Devlon took us on a detour, so we missed most of the accident but it still took us 5 hours.

We had a GREAT time in SA. Lots of fun with the fam, yummy food (thanks Aunt DiAnn!) and an overall relaxing time. I slept in, we shopped (surprise!) and Devlon made it down south to hunt. Yes, he shot Jane "Doe" and she was cut up last night and now has a new home in our freezer along with what is left of Bucky from last year. Yay, more deer meat! Ha!

I participated a little bit in the Black Friday madness. This year, nothing at the normal stores (Target, Best Buy, Circuit City) peaked my interest. Jc Penny Home store had some great deals on furniture that I couldn't resist. We were there at 5am and home by 6:30am! Sister even braved the shopping with my Mom and I. We bought a new leather couch that came with a free chair. We also bought an ottoman for the chair and a sleigh bed!!! I know, it sounds like a lot, but we got an amazing deal and have a year of no interest to pay it off. I am super excited about the bed. Devlon didn't go with me, so I am a bit nervous about the couch. We are going to try and look at one and have him sit on it and all that jazz now, before they deliver it. It is on backorder and isn't expected until Feb. It is a pretty rustic brown color and will look great with our existing furniture. My only fear is that it won't be deep enough for Devlon's liking........but we shall see. I also bought a fiber bed which is HEAVEN!

On the wedding front.........I did a trial run of my make-up this past weekend and loved it. We have our first shower this weekend........a couples shower here in Dallas. Devlon's best friends from college are hosting it.........should be lots o' fun. That's all I got..........peace out!

So much to be thankful for

2006-11-20T21:42:00.000-06:00

This is the time of year we all get to reflect on the things in our lives that we should be thankful for. Here is my list:

1. I am thankful we serve a forgiving and loving God
2. I am thankful that we live in America, where we can go to church, have access to healthcare, vote, listen to the music of our choice, speak our minds and live freely thanks to the men and women serving our country.
3. I am thankful for my job
4. I am thankful for the conveniences in life.....cars, heat and A/C, planes, cell phones, computers, internet, cameras, kitchen appliances, washer and dryer, etc
5. I am thankful we have a roof over our heads and food to put in our bodies
6. I am thankful for my friends and their ongoing support and love
7. I am thankful for my family........who love me, listen to me, support me and are helping me plan the most amazing wedding.
8. I am thankful for future in-laws that believe in the meaning of family and love
9. I am thankful for the pets that have enriched our lives, even though they won't be with us forever
10. I am thankful for my education
11. I am thankful for the children who complete my life....Brooke, Becca, Camaryn, Tyler, Colton, Graham and soon to be baby Landon!
12. For the people that complete my circle......my extended family, Tricky, etc.
13. I am thankful for Devlon....who came into my life in the most random way but at the time when I needed him the most, and has fit into my world perfectly. His unending love, his acceptance of every thing that I am, for his desire to build our family, for wanting me to be his wife and for helping me be the best person I can leaves me in awe every day. His love fills me completely and I would now be lost without it. I can't wait to be Tracy Hogue!

That is a pretty awesome list........awesome!

What are you thankful for?

Cautiously Optimistic

2006-11-20T21:39:00.000-06:00

Today we got news that there is an offer on Devlon's house!! It is for $2,000 more than the asking price........but we had to drop the price a bit a while back so the offer is in between our original price and the new lowered price. Devlon is supposed to sign the offer tomorrow and it will be "under contract". The only bummer is they want the appliances (washer & dryer and Refrig), but that might be why they offered $2,000 over. Regardless, we decided it would probably be best to accept and get that house sold rather than sit on if for longer over appliances! So, if all goes well we are hoping to close before Christmas!! Devlon will make some decent money on it so we are excited! Yay!!

Headed home tomorrow night for Turkey Day in SA!

BFF

2006-11-16T16:57:00.000-06:00

Fun times.....

2006-11-16T16:53:00.000-06:00

Today is my day off, but I have been sitting at home, cleaning and figuring out wedding stuff. My check engine light came on Tuesday night so my car has been at Pep Boys. The computer told them it was something with my catalytic converter, but they don't work on that. So, Devlon's Dad is taking me to pick it up here in a bit.

I LOVE COLD WEATHER! It has been chilly here and I am loving it! Ready to start a fire tonight! Now, let's hope it stays cold and doesn't creep back up to the 80's.

Trying to find a make-up person..........figure out bridal portraits AND work on our engagement announcements for the paper.

At long last

2006-11-12T18:24:00.000-06:00

I don't know what is wrong with me that I haven't blogged!! This has been a busy week and weekend. My birthday was this past Wednesday and Devlon and I went to dinner to celebrate. Can't believe I am 31!!!! I am officially in my early 30's with so much to look forward to! Devlon gave me the prettiest wine glasses that are made out of hand blown glass and have purple thick twisted stems. So unique........hoping to find a way to use them during our wedding weekend since we already have our toasting flutes.

Our wedding invitations were ready this week so I picked them up Saturday morning. They are BEAUTIFUL and I love them! Then I went with my friend Tracy to meet with a veil lady (www.myweddingveil.com) and we spent 2 hours trying on veils and tiaras. We both ordered veils and I found my tiara/headpiece. I then went to a store to try and get all the things I need to wear under my dress. I ordered our cake and knife serving set today.......I ordered it from our silver pattern so we will already have those pieces AND it will be nice to see our name and wedding date everytime we use it!

Today we headed to church (3 weeks in a row!) and then to lunch with Devlon's family. We spent alot of today doing outside work (ok, Devlon did most of it) and we now have a pile of tree limbs taller than me waiting for big bulk pick up next week.

Wedding stuff is moving along!! Oh, and I ended up with pink eye this past week! I am trying to get into an infectious disease doctor to figure out why I have been so sick this past year! Happy Monday to all!

New random house pictures

2006-11-05T16:48:00.000-06:00

End table from my Mom's house

Devlon's old end table that we moved to the wood room

New coffee table that my Mom bought us!

New bathroom accessories that go with the shower curtain...see below!

New towel holder

New shelf above toilet

New shower curtian that will some day be in our kids bathroom, but for now makes Devlon happy!

New quilt we are considering for our bed!

Happy Birthday to my Goddaughter

2006-11-04T21:51:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday to my beautiful goddaughter, Rebecca Grace "Becca". You truly have been a light in my life and I am blessed beyond words to be your godmother or "gomo". I love you little girl!!

Happy Anniversary!

2006-10-30T18:48:00.000-06:00

Happy love day to Larry & Cheri........2 years ago we were living it up, dancing the night away and toasting to the newlyweds! Congrats on 2 years of wonderful marriage and MANY more to come! Love you guys!

And we're home!

2006-10-29T19:27:00.000-06:00

Well, we are back after a whirlwind trip to SA. We left Thurs after work and hit the ground running Friday morning. We met with the cake lady, tasted cake and picked out designs. We then went to pick out linens for the reception. I couldn't decide on the sashes for the chairs, so they are bringing in 2 colors and I will pick the next time I am in town (the 2 colors are silver organza and plum organza.....the silver I am worried will look gray and the plum is a lighter purple b/c it is sheer organza). We then met with the wedding coordinator and finalized some of the timeline for the reception and such.

After all that, Devlon escaped with my Dad to Academy and Mom and I went shopping. She found her dress for the wedding and it is VERY pretty! We found a fun thing for the sign-in table at the reception and some things for my bridesmaids. Then, Elizabeth did a trial run on my hair and we picked a hairstyle for the big day. The night ended with dinner at Water Street Oyster Bar.........we got to see the room for the rehearsal dinner and talked with the banquet coordinator. Meemaw and Nana joined us for dinner and it was yummy!

Sat we got up, headed to Austin and met with our Pastor for 2 1/2 hours. He's great and we are so excited for him to marry us. He really enjoyed our "story" and how we got to this upcoming wedding. We stopped in Round Rock to visit briefly with my friends Jeff & Michelle and got back into town about 8pm on Saturday.

This morning, we got up and visited a Methodist church in our neighborhood. Yep, you read that right! It's a small church but everyone was very welcoming. Lunch with Devlon's parents and Granddaddy and we have been painting, rearranging furniture (Mom bought us a great new coffee table!), and unpacking.

Back to work tomorrow.......UGH!

Details Details......

2006-10-22T16:12:00.000-05:00

Yet another busy weekend! I took off Friday since Bethany was going to be in town and we were busy! I picked out flower girl dresses..........and they are freaking adorable! Brooke and Mazie are going to look so sweet! We picked out jewelry for the bridesmaids dresses and got a few other random things (like bags for the flower girls). We also did some clothes shopping and ate at Bethany's favorite place.....Jason's deli. My parents came in Friday night!

Saturday, the girls got going and we ordered our invitations and maps. That was a 2 hour process! We also ordered our going away "things" and I picked up some gifts for the flower girls. We got back to the house and Josh, Tracy and Kobe had made it into town. We had a big dinner Sat night with the whole damn fam (including Devlon's fam). Lots o' fun and great fajitas!

This morning we fixed breakfast and hung around the house. After everyone cleared town, we went to order Devlon's wedding ring. He makes quick decisions! We decided to get it from James Avery since it was one of the only places we have found that actually has rings his size to try on. Every other place told us we had to order it based off a picture and once we ordered it, it was ours even if he didn't like the fit, look, etc. So he picked a plain hammered gold band (hammered to try and hide some of the scratches since he is so rough on his hands and gold to match the A&M ring, no surprise there!). It is being ordered and engraved, so it should be here in 6-8 weeks.

So, we did alot of wedding stuff this weekend!! We are heading to SA Thurs night for another wedding planning weekend. Friday morning we are doing our cake tasting, then meeting to finalize the table linens, meeting our wedding coordinator, I'm going to try and squeeze in a meeting with the church lady, and then a run thru for my hair. Sat we head to Austin to meet with our pastor and then back to Dallas!!

Weekend update

2006-10-17T21:09:00.000-05:00

So this weekend was busy with a little bit of drama thrown in. Saturday I ran a TON of errands and managed to rear end someone..........just a bump but enough to cause some damage to both of our bumpers. The irony??? I got my estimate today from the adjuster on how much it will cost to fix my bumper..........$573. How much is my deductible? $500. So, they will only have to shell out $73 and maybe a few days of a rental car and they will raise my rates. I haven't had a ticket since high school and my last accident was in the Hyuandi the summer after my freshman year at Tech. I am a damn safe driver...........just not this past Saturday.

Saturday night was Treasure's b-day dinner.......fun times and the girls ROCKED at the 80's game. Sunday I had a jewelry party at my casa so I spend lots of time cleaning and baking.

Looking forward to getting more wedding plans figured out.......Sister comes to visit Thursday and my parents com up Friday night! Fun times.........

Notice the ticker.....

2006-10-17T21:08:00.000-05:00

4 months and counting!!
So exciting!!!!!!!!!

New Microwave/Vent Combo

2006-10-09T18:01:00.000-05:00

This weekend Devlon was hard at work! He tore out most of the backsplash in the kitchen and put in new drywall (the green stuff you see). He put in a new microwave/vent combo above the cooktop which looks great! He still has to re-work the vent inside the upper cabinet, but that shouldn't take too long. We still have A TON of work in the kitchen, which includes:

Stripping & sealing floors
New countertops - building new ones and then tiling
Tiling the backsplash
Framing the door we kicked thru
Painting
Install new sink & faucet
New ceiling fan in breakfast nook

He also built some more new shelves in the garage and we only have a few boxes left to unpack. His house is still on the market............we just lowered the price a bit since the feedback we were getting was the it was priced too high. This is a bad time to sell, but we are hoping it goes SOON! 2 water bills and 2 electric bills are no bueno!

I just got home from the eye doctor......all checked out with my contacts and I ordered some glasses just to have a pair in case. Should get all my contacts (a years worth) and glasses in 7-10 days.

That's about it!

Tough Life

2006-10-09T17:57:00.000-05:00

Duke (Ryan's dog) chillin' on the couch with a camo blanket.

Pearl's fav new spot.........the garage towel box that is still living in our guest room.

Congrats to my mom.......the superbiker!

2006-10-08T15:22:00.000-05:00

So this weekend, my Mom and her friend Treva did a charity bike marathon......from San Antonio to Corpus Christi! A LONG WAY! They biked 75 miles Saturday and another 60 today! My Mom said her butt hurts (how could it not!), but she is excited they did it! She has been training for a while now and this seems to be a new hobby for her.

Congrats Mom and Treva!! You guys are awesome!

Better late then never!

2006-10-05T19:24:00.000-05:00

So.........Devlon can't find his software for his camera so I can't post any pics from the Hogue Reception. It was alot of fun and it was nice to finally meet all of Devlon's extended family. The bride & groom looked great and the ambiance was nice. The band was amazing!!!

This week has not been all that exciting. Work work and today was my day off. I got contacts last week........it's amazing that I can see street signs now! It has taken some getting used to.......they are the kind you can leave in your eyes for 30 days.....sleep, shower, etc in them. They have come out a few times when I am taking off my eye make-up, I have to remember I can't rub my eyes like before, and one morning the left one popped our while I was loading the dryer! I might still choose to take them out every night.....I haven't decided.

Today I ran to Sam Moon to scope out bridesmaids jewelry. Didn't find much. Got my oil changed, ran to the store and the biggest surprise.....picked up the bridesmaids dresses! I went in to try and get a fabric swatch and the dresses were there! So, that is one thing taken care of! We got our house ready for Halloween and the fall.......complete with pumpkins on the front porch.

I'm spending much of my spare time surfing the web looking at bridal shoes, engagement pics, purses, etc. We have a birthday party in Rockwall this weekend for Mazie & Maddoc.....two of Devlon's friends kids. Mazie is one of our flower girls! Should be fun..........and we MUST work on the house! :) It never ends.....

A little bit of nothing

2006-09-30T11:01:00.000-05:00

This has been an uneventful week. Trying to get ahold of the organist to book him for the wedding. Trying to find wedding shoes and flower girl dresses.

This weekend is the "Hogue Wedding Reception" for Ryan & Laura (Devlon's twin brother and wife who eloped over new years). Last night we went to dinner in Roanoke (LONG DRIVE) and met some of Laura's family and I got to meet Devlon's Aunts and Uncle........Aunt Mary & Uncle Willie and Aunt Carrie............they live in Michigan and Nevada. These are his dad's sisters. It was fun to meet them and get to visit. They are really hoping to make it to our wedding.

Tonight we head to The Speedway for the reception. Should be fun with lots of dancing. Not sure what to expect since these two are already married.......so I don't think they are doing really any of the traditional stuff except for cake cutting. Oh, and they are doing a wedding song dance. Tomorrow morning in brunch in fort worth.......we are planning on going. I need to pedicure today at some point.

TODAY IS THE TECH vs. A&M GAME!!!! Get your guns up!! Devlon would say whoop!

I'll post pics of the reception tomorrow!

New dining room lighting....

2006-09-26T18:55:00.000-05:00

So, many of you who have dined in our new eating space may recall the terrible track lighting that offered NO light on the table and created a HOT space. We took that bad boy down Sunday and put up a pretty chandelier. Ew la la

Now everyone can actually see their food, not have to pat their brow from the sweat forming and it looks more like a dining space!

And the verdict is in.......

2006-09-22T10:58:00.000-05:00

I just got a call from the doctor with my lab results. I DON'T have mono!!! Yay! She said that it showed a resistant bacterial infection........which likely started as strep throat. For whatever reason, my body was resistant to the penicillin so the infection grew.

So, after the shot of a different antibiotic yesterday combined with 10 days of a different antibiotic I should be as good as new. I am more excited that I can go to work on Monday than anything. And......I'm technically not infectious anymore!

My throat still hurts this morning.......Probably because my tonsils are swollen and I slept with my mouth open and I was a bit nauseous when I woke up, but I do feel better overall.

Yay for no mono!!

Sickness update

2006-09-21T19:09:00.000-05:00

So this morning I woke up feeling worse than ever...........fever, chills, nauseous and my throat was killing me. I looked and the infection spread to all over my throat (it was just on the left side). I went back to the doctor this morning and after I proceeded to puke my brains out in the exam room.......she drew blood to test me for mono. She gave me a shot of a different antibiotic and a pain killer. I am taking vicodin so I can swallow. We should know the results of the blood work tomorrow and then if it is mono......what to do from here. I hope it is just a penicillin resistant strep throat!

I found my camera cord....

2006-09-20T19:10:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pics of the house........nothing exciting. We still have alot of work to do.

New Rug in the living room...up close

From a distance.....it is a jute rug and the cats love to scratch their imaginary paws on it. It matches Devlon's couch perfectly.

New pretty double ovens! Devlon had to remake the drawers underneath since the double oven was bigger than the space that was there. I am loving double ovens, but really haven't had to use both at the same time yet.

I am a sickly sickly girl

2006-09-19T12:26:00.000-05:00

Woke up yesterday with a bit of a sore throat. Attributed it to the cooler weather and maybe sleeping with my mouth open. Yesterday at work, I took a peek at my throat and lo and behold, I had a lovely collection of pus on the left side. Went to the doctor this morning and she confirmed strep throat. A shot of penicillin, a smoothie & soup for lunch and I am on the couch. Hopefully I will feel like going to work tomorrow. I think strep throat is one of the worst feelings in the world.......

I think my doctor must think I am immunocompromised. I haven't had to go to the PCP is years.....but this past year I've been several times for the staph, for a UTI and now strep. At least I am making sure her kids will go to a good college.

No real wedding updates.......we took our engagement pics Saturday morning. I'm anxious to see how they turn out. It was a bit humid outside, so I'm sure my hair will be wavy and I was a little swollen from the dental work. But, he said with the magic of digital, he can get rid of those little imperfections. I'll send you all the website and password to see the pics.......they should be up today or tomorrow.

That's all I got..............

Day off report......

2006-09-14T20:22:00.000-05:00

Today was my day off and I got alone done. I went to pick up our wedding album that I ordered about a month ago. I didn't like the way the monogram turned out......they were supposed to match the thread to the fabric so it just softly stood out. The used some sort of khaki colored thread so it looks weird. On top of that, the monogram isn't evenly spaced and part of the "D" overlaps the "H" but the "T" doesn't overlap. So, they are going to talk to the company they order the books through so we shall see what happens.

I went to the eye doctor.......no surprise that I am near sighted. I go back in a few weeks to try on contact lenses and make sure I do OK with them. He wants me to use these new lenses you can leave in (and sleep in) for 30 days.

Got a call that the sketch was in for my dress........FINALLY! I hustled down there and approved it so they can get to work on it. It looks beautiful!!! The estimated ship date is Dec 8th and the bridal store told me they want it in a altered/bustled by Christmas so that makes me feel good. I need to start looking for shoes, a purse, undergarments, a veil and a headpiece.

Went to the dentist to have some fillings done. I HATE THE DENTIST and my mouth is still swollen and numb. I had big time pain so he gave me like double the dose of numbing stuff......I may still be numb in the morning! I am drooling, can't really eat or drink without spilling on myself and I look like a chipmunk.

Drove by the park area that we are taking our engagements pictures at on Saturday. It is really pretty and I am interested to see what all they are going to do with us. Pray for no rain Sat at 9am........after that it can rain all the damn time.

Ran a few errands and made it home to cook dinner.........meatloaf, mashed potatoes and spinach. Devlon is getting over a stomach bug that wasn't pretty at all, so we ate a light dinner and will have lots of leftovers.

I'll post after our pics and I will find my camera this weekend......I am sure you guys are ready for some pictures of the house and all that stuff.

Hello out there

2006-09-10T20:33:00.000-05:00

I know, I've been slacking. Really there has been nothing to post about!! Devlon made it back from Corpus with lots of fishing stories. I was sad that I didn't make the decision to go with him! We just made it back from a quick trip to SA. No wedding stuff though!! We went for a baby shower for some of Devlon's friends (the ones he just went to visit in Corpus). It was great fun!!

We are looking forward to a relaxing week and then no traveling this weekend! Hoping to get started again on house things.

On a wedding note, I am getting stressed about my dress!!! I ordered it 3 weeks ago. Since I am making alot of changes to it, we are waiting on the manufacturer to send us back a sketch to approve......the sketch would show all the changes. Hello.........we need it soon! I want the dress to be here before Christmas so I can get it altered and take bridal pics in Jan. The bridal store keeps telling me it is fine.......no worries. I don't think they know who they are dealing with! Queen of the worries. I will probably go order our invitations in the next few weeks and the probably order the napkins, favors and going away thingys. I need to start looking for bridesmaids jewelry and getting their fun things together. I booked my hair appt for the wedding. We are taking engagement pics next Saturday at 9am!! You will be able to see the pics online so I'll let you all know! I am excited to see how they turn out..........

Missing my honey

2006-09-03T22:18:00.000-05:00

My honey is in Corpus, living it up with the boys for a long fishing weekend. I miss him tons.........I mean I normally miss him when he is gone, but this time around I miss him more. Not sure why??? Here are a few reasons I'm missing him more......

1) Exterminator came Thursday after I took him to the airport. He told me about the spider and snake problem we have. I spent all night killing the roaches (I HATE ROACHES) that escaped the inhaled poison that was placed under our house. The little shits tried to take refuge IN our house. Ha!

2) I changed dressers in the guest room and can't lift the empty one to take to the garage.

3) Litterbox. That is all that needs to be said.

4) Having an space next to me in bed that he normally fills. Cheesy, I know.

5) Not having an extra set of hands to help with the housework I did this weekend.....including scraping all the liquid nail off the tile in our bathroom and putting together solar lights for the yard.

6) No one to talk wedding crap with.

Anyways........he is having a blast in Corpus. I have to go to work tomorrow. Happy Monday! He will be home Tuesday morning and I can't wait to see his scruffy face when I get home from work!

Check-in

2006-08-31T19:28:00.000-05:00

Today's progress......

Passports pictures taken and ordered
Hair done
Bridesmaids dresses ordered
Wedding account set up
thank yous mailed for engagement party
NO EYE APPOINTMENT.......screw up with insurance
Devlon on a plane to Corpus
House exterminated
Movies rented for this weekend

All in all, productive but I am sad about the eye doctor. Hopefully I will see another one soon enough!

A lot to do

2006-08-30T20:22:00.000-05:00

So tomorrow is my coveted day off. Most of the time they are relaxing days.........sleeping late, shopping, going to the grocery store and maybe cooking dinner. Occasionally it turns into an eternal day of running errands. That is what tomorrow is shaping up to be. Here is what is on the agenda tomorrow in no particular order.

Apply for a passport
Get a passport photo taken.........maybe tonight?
10am - hair appointment, cut & highlights (minimum 2 hours)
Order bridesmaids dresses
Go by the bank and sign on our wedding account
2:15 - eye doctor, who I am pretty sure will tell me it is time for some sort of corrective lenses
Possibly run by Lulu's to check on the status of the dress........we are waiting for a sketch from the bridal company
Take Devlon to the airport - he is flying to Corpus for a guys weekend of fishing

If time, I'd love to check out clearances on some summer clothes and shoes for our honeymoon. Yay for days off........other wise when the heck would I get all this done????????????????

Engagement Party!

2006-08-27T20:23:00.000-05:00

Well, Devlon and I had our first official party/shower related to our wedding! Cheri & Larry threw us an amazing engagement party last night at Casa de Grimes. It was so perfect! Larry was an awesome cook as always and Cheri had the decorating thing down to a tee. It was a fish/sea of love themed shower........Devlon's favorite. I can tell that lots of thought went into this party. The game was fun and we got tons of amazing gifts! Everyone was so thoughtful and we are both thankful for our wonderful family and friends supporting us as we work towards our wedding!

I think everyone had a great time, maybe except for Natalie, Susan, & Audrey........who got a tidal wave splashed on them while they innocently sat by the poolside enjoying their feet in the water. That was all Devlon...........he was a little out of control with the splashing. Sorry girls..........it was all in good fun! Hope you are talking to me tomorrow!!

Thanks to all of the family that traveled, and those that didn't make it up thanks for the gifts and thoughts!

We are blessed beyond words.

I'll post pics later.......I didn't take pics so I need to get them from others first. Some are posted on Cheri's blog.

More Progress.......

2006-08-19T22:15:00.000-05:00

We went today (my Mom, Tracy P. & Treasure) to look at "the dress" and we ordered it!!!!!! Bethany saw it on Friday. I am so excited! We also went to look at invitations, cake servers, etc. I *think* we have decided on an invitation. This one wasn't even in the original pick.

Devlon and I picked out our song tonight.......it is perfect for us. It made me cry a little when we played it online. Thanks to Josh for helping us find the artist and finding it online so we could listen to it.

That's about it. We have eaten alot this weekend, visited with family and friends, and enjoyed picking out wedding stuff.

I need help from all the girls out there.......at our reception we will be leaving through a parlor type room and once outside it isn't very far until the street.....so most of the people will be gathered in the parlor. We can't throw anything, blow bubbles or obviously have sparklers. Other than wedding bells.........any ideas???

And we have.....

2006-08-17T14:19:00.000-05:00

Magnets! They came yesterday. I *think* we have hotel rooms. It seems that the Texas Music Educators Association conference is in town that weekend so they have a majority of hotel rooms blocked that are downtown. I have stuffed envelopes today so all that is left is to drop in the insert with the hotel information. Mailing labels are almost done.

I am off work today. I ordered a wedding dress on a whim from a website that has a 5 day return policy if I don't like it. Either way, it is going back because they only had it in stock in white, and I want ivory. But, no store in the greater Texas area had the dress in stock so I decided to order it and then send it back. Crazy I know.

Sister is ON THE ROAD to Dallas! I am so excited to see her. I need to finish getting her present together and clean the house so she doesn't die from her allergies with all the cat hair. The rest of the fam gets in tomorrow night. We need to go to the grocery store and buy food that doesn't require an oven, because ours isn't installed yet. That's about it. I'm waiting on UPS for the dress and doing stuff around the house........not too exciting, huh?

Happy Birthday Sister!

2006-08-15T07:38:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Bethany!!!

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Sister
Happy Birthday to you!

Hope you have a wonderful day up there in Missouri! Miss you tons and can't wait to see you this weekend! I love you little sister!

Save the dates

2006-08-14T21:35:00.000-05:00

Our save the date cards came today and they are SO cute! I got an e-mail that the magnets should be shipped this week, so hopefully the will get out early next week! I am having second thoughts on my dress. I talked to the bridal shop today and will all the alterations/changes it is going to be more than I thought. I found another one that is so pretty and I may just order it (it's online) and if I don't like it all it will cost is a $25 re-stocking fee. Plus, I can have it rush shipped and it will be here by the weekend when my sister and Mom will be here. The dresses are very similar and this one already has many of the things I want (sheer sleeves, a-line skirt) but I do worry that the sleeves won't be long enough OR it will be too hard to make it a 3/4 length sleeve. AHHHH.......TOO MANY DECISIONS!

Another weekend half over

2006-08-12T22:52:00.000-05:00

Today started out as a lazy day. We slept in, had breakfast and then Devlon and his Dad got busy doing stuff in the house. We now have 2 new ceiling fans in the bedrooms and a new light in the guest bathroom. I ran around looking at wedding stuff, honeymoon stuff and then the grocery store. I ordered my wedding album last week and I LOVE IT! It is beautiful! I bought a pen set today. I priced invitations and they are SO expensive! I am pretty sure I found one I like. Came home and had dinner with Devlon and his parents. Devlon cooked yummy steak, asparagus, baked potatoes and salad. We are very full!

My friend Shawna is in town so I am meeting her and her mom for an early lunch tomorrow. My family is coming to town next weekend.........I haven't seen my sister in ages (since Josh's wedding!). Her birthday is coming up in a few days!!! Bethany is in a wedding this next weekend in Lewisville so that is kind of why everyone decided to come in. My parents are going to the wedding and Josh & Tracy decided to come it also! I am going to take the girls to see the dress and hopefully order it. I am ready to have that off my mind! We found a pastor.......the same one that married Gwen & Rob. I have to call him tomorrow to touch base about everything.

That's about it. Save the dates should be here in the next week or so. I need to spend some time this week working on the guest list..............

Home Sick :(

2006-08-08T12:21:00.000-05:00

I have been congested/coughing/dripping for the last couple of days. Today I decided to stay home from work. I never stay home from work. In the almost 7 years that I have been at Children's Medical Center, I have called in sick twice and taken one scheduled sick day for a minor surgery. I feel guilty, but I think a day of rest will do me good. I feel too cruddy to be at work, but I can still get some stuff done around the house (laundry, cleaning). Hope it passes soon.......I can't miss work tomorrow!

One more thing checked off!

2006-08-06T23:17:00.000-05:00

Ordered save the date cards last night and magnets tonight. Not everyone is getting a magnet, but as long as I can remember I wanted to do a magnet when I got married. Thanks to L&C for taking our pics for the magnet........Here are a few samples.

The one we picked for the magnet

Oh, true love!

Looked at invitations again today. Registered at Williams and Sonoma.........trying to decide if we want to stick with that or go to Crate & Barrel. Truckin' along.....

The Dress

2006-08-05T20:06:00.000-05:00

I think I found my dress today. It is the same one I found on my first shopping trip with Cheri. They are working on a sketch since I am adding a 3/4 length organza sleeve with some of the beading/threading that is on the train. I am also changing the skirt a bit (making it a-line and taking out the pleats on the hip). It is BEAUTIFUL and I love it, even if it is expensive!!!! You only get married once!

Wasting the day away

2006-08-05T12:59:00.000-05:00

At least that is what it feels like! Devlon and his Dad are at his house doing the last minute stuff. The maid service should be there doing a move out cleaning (very reasonably I might add and will save me TONS of hours & sweat). I have been waiting for the Dish Network installer to arrive. He has been here for about 20 minutes and is hard at work.

Waiting is boring! I have a ton of things to do........but can't leave. I ordered the save the date announcements last night. Headed to Cheri & Larry's tomorrow to have them snap a cute pic of us for the save the date magnets. Only about 100 people are getting the magnets.........the rest get the announcement only. Then I can order the save the date magnets and get them out in the mail.

Devlon finished his guest list for the most part........I'm waiting on my Mom's and then I'll add mine. Cheri and I might make it out to a few dress stores today after Dish man leaves. I also need to find a wedding book and I'd like to look at wedding invitations....maybe just run by Party City. Devlon and I stopped there yesterday but didn't have a ton of time to look through their books. New carpet was installed yesterday at Devlon's house and it looks SO nice! We are hoping the house will officially go on the market either tomorrow or Monday. Hmm, I can't find our dish remote controller, Devlon says it is somewhere in our garage......ha! If you could only see our garage you would laugh. I can't find my bookends. We finished registering at Bed Bath & Beyond yesterday. Shout out to Mel and her friends heading to Vegas..........Sister will be in Vegas too AND Josh and Tracy. The funny thing is that none of their trips were planned together. Hope everyone has fun and STAY SAFE!How is all that for random??

2nd one down

2006-08-03T22:25:00.000-05:00

Tonight we went to Bed Bath & Beyond. Not quite finished, but getting close. This night was tougher.....too many things to pick!! We went with a list of some sort, but it was hard to stick too. Plus, Devlon was a bit crazier with the gun tonight. We tried to pick a good mix of stuff, even though it feels like it is all expensive!

Still trying to decide on Williams & Sonoma or Crate and Barrel. I think Devlon is going to do Home Depot. We should be all set. The real question is........where is all this new stuff going???

Our First registry Experience

2006-08-02T22:17:00.000-05:00

We went tonight at registered at Dillard's for our formal stuff. We had a lot of fun......but it was hard to pick the perfect thing........that is supposed to last us a lifetime. We picked out china, crystal, silver, everyday dishes and a few odds and ends (like a wine decanter, a picture frame). Next on our list is Bed Bath & Beyond.

Crystal: Waterford Lismore
China: Lenox Coronet Platinum
Silver: Towle Old Master (my mom's pattern)

Holy moly is some of the stuff expensive!! But oh so pretty, so you can't not have it........right?? right?? I think I had to pick up Devlon's jaw off the ground a few times, but he is well recovered!

Jumbled thoughts

2006-08-01T21:33:00.000-05:00

I have so much going on in my head that I am not sure what makes sense anymore. Here is what I am thinking of, in no particular order. Wedding dress, invitations, getting all my bridesmaids info together to order dresses, save the dates, wedding music, honeymoon clothes, bathing suits, getting stuff done at Devlon's house, saving money for a honeymoon, picking a honeymoon location, trips to SA, cake tasting, final number of guests, covering for the trauma service at work for a few days, unpacking the last of the boxes, finish painting the walls/trim/doorframes, getting on a diet, and the list goes on.........

Today I have a moment of panic that I wouldn't have anything to wear on our honeymoon if I didn't start shopping now. Of course I want new clothes and swimsuits for the trip. So I spent 3 hours at Dillards and Foleys tonight. I found a few things, but a far cry from what I need. I should be more concerned with finding a wedding dress. Or ordering save the dates.......since they should be sent out right now. We have only been engaged 1 month, and although it feels like we have done a ton......there is still more to do. Things other people can't do for me. Things I can't do at work. How does a girl get it all done??????

Shower ready??

2006-07-29T10:43:00.000-05:00

Tonight we are hosting a Newlywed shower for Devlon's brother and wife who eloped over New Years 2005. We have about 30 people coming. We have kicked it into high gear to get ready. No, the walls aren't fully painted yet. Yes, pictures are hung anyway. *Most* of the boxes are unpacked........the rest will be stacked in a corner in the 2nd bedroom. The house looks a little more lived in. Last night I made potato salad (for 30! This may be gross, but it took 5 cups of mayo, 16 eggs, 15lbs potatoes, and massive amounts of onion, celery, etc). This morning I made an asian coleslaw (thanks to Gwen for the inspiration). Devlon has 4 butthole chickens and 2 briskets on the smoker. We have beans cooking on the stove, queso ready to make, chips & tortillas waiting and drinks chillin' in the cooler.

I have to clean both bathrooms, sweep the floors, make our bed and finish some laundry. Oh, and I need to run to the store for flowers and paint my toenails! This shower is going to be very laid-back, especially since they are already married!!! I PROMISE to post pics of the house...........as soon as I can find the camera cord.

Honeymoon Ideas??

2006-07-27T16:19:00.000-05:00

Today we met with a travel agent to talk about places for our Honeymoon. We have narrowed it down to the following criteria:
No cruises
Nothing that takes one full day of travel
Something with a beach/water
Something we can afford but is nice

So, based on that we are interested in the following places:
Costa Rica (this would be the longest travel option........5 hours on a plane)
Cabo San Lucas
Puerto Vallareta (sp?)
Playa de Carmen (or somewhere outside of there)

Anyone with any other options/choices for us to consider? Any advice on those places??

Other wedding news: looks like the rehearsal dinner will be at Water Street Oyster Bar........Devlon's fav seafood restaurant. Called my old pastor today, left a message, to see if he can/will marry us. My bridesmaids are all confirmed! Hoping to take care of the dresses this week!

And we have a date

2006-07-23T17:49:00.000-05:00

Yes, that's right! We have not only a wedding date, but a church, reception place, a menu, a florist AND a photographer! What's left you ask??? Plenty! I need a dress.........sooner rather than later. We need cakes. We need a rehearsal dinner place. We need music. We need a pastor. We need bridesmaids dresses. We need to block hotel rooms. We need to plan a honeymoon. We need save the dates. We need invitations. Shall I go on???

We just got home from an impromptu trip to San Antonio. Here is the scoop.

Feb 17, 2007
Travis Park UMC, San Antonio 6pm
Waiting to confirm my pastor growing up for the service
Reception: Main Street Ballroom in downtown SA
Menu: Good stuff :)

That is all you really need to know!! I'll keep you posted. Thanks to my parents for their love, support and for thinking we are worth all this money and hassle! I'm off to unpack some boxes!

Day one down.........

2006-07-20T18:09:00.000-05:00

Today was my first official day of wedding dress shopping! Cheri and I hit the following places........
1) Bridal Co Outlet in Denton
2) Lewisville Bridal Shop
3) David's Bridal
4) Alfred Angelo
5) Terry Costa
6) Lasting Impressions in Addison

Here is what we found. There are 2 contenders so far.....one from David's Bridal and one by Casablanca at Lasting Impressions. Both are beautiful. The dress from Casablanca I would make some changes to (ie: make the skirt an a-line satin vs. organza overlay with bunching at the hips and I would add 3/4 length sleeves). There are still a few more places I'd like to see, but I think it might end up being one of these 2! Thanks to Cheri for putting up with me!! :)

Did you think I was lost?

2006-07-16T09:30:00.000-05:00

Seriously!!! Sorry for slacking on the blog. We have been without internet at our house for about a week and I can't (shouldn't) access the blog world at work. Our original move date was the Saturday before last, so that was when our phone, cable, internet, etc was scheduled to turn off. We didn't actually move until yesterday so that is why you haven't heard from me.

We offically slept at Granddaddy's house last night for the first time. I think I will start calling it our house from now on. We spent all this week laying the kitchen floor. Wed & Thurs was spent cutting and laying the tile (the men did this, I painted trim.....which never seems to end) and Friday night, from 6-11pm grouted. We layed satillo tile........also called adobe tile at his mother's request. This is this hardest stuff to lay and grout. But it is done! Now all that is left it to seal it. We still haven't finished painting and the bathrooms aren't all nice/neat but it will do for now. We still have half the hallway left, one wall in each bedroom and both bathrooms left to paint. Oh, and cutting in everywhere else! The appliances were supposed to come yesterday, but there was a mix up so all that was moved yesterday was our furniture and the washer/dryer came. Hopefully everything else will come on Monday.

We slept in a bit today, will meet his parents for lunch and then head to his house for some last items (clothes, shoes, rest of kitchen stuff, plants, etc). We just cooked breakfast but realized our silverware is at our house and the oven doesn't work here. Hoping to have our first dinner here tonight!

I will take pictures later this week once we get settled!

We're Engaged!!!

2006-07-03T10:05:00.000-05:00

After he popped the question

Our dessert

The ring! Most everyone knows this is Meemaw's ring. I couldn't get a great shot of it, so I'll keep trying!

Last night was our 1st Anniversary. A year ago on July 2 we went on our first date. Devlon made reservations at the same place we had our first date..........a fancy seafood restuarant named Newport's. We got there at 7pm (I would later learn that everyone there knew what was going to happen) and had a romantic table for 2 by the artesian well that is in the middle of the restuarant. He ordered a bottle of champagne, but I didn't really catch on. I just thought he was being romantic and wanted to celebrate.

We ordered dinner and then he wanted me to open my present. I guess he was anxious/nervous. I opened a really sweet card and then the present. It was a pretty pewter box with colored stones all over it. I opened that box and inside was the ring wrapped in tissue paper. I opened it and started saying "Oh my god" over and over. He said something to the effect of "I was wondering if you would marry me and be my wife" and of course I said YES! I guess he didn't hear my yes in between the oh my god's, so he said "is that a yes?" and I said YES it's a YES! My hands were shaking and he was shaking. We had a champagne toast and then a wonderful dinner. I kept saying over and over........we're engaged! You are my fiancee'! We are getting married! At dessert time, we ordered cheescake and they wrote on the plate with raspberry sauce "Happy Anniversary and Congratulations". So cute!

We then started calling everyone and went by his parents house. I guess alot of people knew besides me! I thought maybe he might do it, but he hadn't really given me any clues in the last couple of weeks so I really had no idea when he was going to do it. I am SOO happy and excited! Let the planning begin! :)

Garage work

2006-07-03T09:50:00.000-05:00

Josh & Devlon hard at work

Kitchen view

Pretty new floors

Josh came to visit this weekend and help us around the house. We couldn't go in the house because the coating on the hardwoods weren't dry yet. They did a bunch of garage work. They hung shelves and we moved a bunch of big stuff (Devlon's old couch, shelves from the garage and the office, fish tank, etc). While they were doing that, I trimmed all the hedges and some other minor yard stuff. We spent Saturday afternoon/evening at Cheri & Larry's housewarming party and FUN was had by all! Great time with the family!!

Can you say WORN OUT?

2006-06-26T09:16:00.000-05:00

I am so tired this morning. We worked our butts off this weekend. Saturday morning we started painting the trim, door frames and window sills. Devlon has a few of his friends over to help. We got one whole room done and half of another when he realized that Home Depot gave us latex paint when we needed oil-based. So we had to peel off all that paint and start over. :(

So we started over and got about 75% of the trim work done. There are still a few door frames and window sills that didn't get done. All of the ceilings got painted except for the bathrooms and wood room...........because some beams have to come down in the wood room first. Devlon got busy on the floors (tearing them up) in the laundry room and under the refrigerator.

Sunday we hauled some trash off to the dump, had lunch and then started painting the walls. All of the walls are done that can be at this point (paint guys still have to finish dealing with the wallpaper?. We didn't cut in to the ceilings or down to the trim yet........we were focused on coverage first. The colors are really pretty and actually pretty similar. The hallway and formal living/dining is a neutral color with some green in it. The bedrooms are also neutral but with brown in it. So, the 2 bedrooms (3 walls...the other walls were wall-papered), formal living/dining and most of the hallway have paint. We will start cutting in this week. His Mom was busy cleaning out closets and making room for our stuff.

The floor guys are starting on Tuesday, which is why we wanted to have most of the big painting. It will take them 4 days to finish the hardwoods. This week we need to pack some boxes so we have some things to move. My fingers are swollen, even though I drank a TON of water this weekend. My fingers feel like sausages. It is gross. So, we made a bunch of progress but not even close to being done. Just the tip of the iceberg!

ps- I meant to take some pics but the batteries were dead in my camera. I'll do that sometime this week.

Quick post

2006-06-22T22:37:00.000-05:00

So, I don't really have anything exciting to say! Today was my day off and I got alot done! I slept in a bit and then did some cleaning around our house. I then headed to order invitations for a shower we are hosting for Devlon's brother (Ryan) and his new wife (Laura). They are so cute and I can't wait to get them! They were actually a little cheaper than I budgeted for, but worth every penny. I don't have the patience to try and print them myself at home so I paid a little bit more for someone else to hassle with it.

Next on the list was the bank, an oil change, lunch with Devlon and his Mom and then to Granddaddy's house. We made one stop this week there to do a few things and today I finished cleaning all the baseboards and door frames. We are going to paint them this weekend and maybe start painting the formal living/dining room. We are going to work around the wall/paint guys (they will be taking down wallpaper and texturing to match the other walls). We hope to get the majority of the painting done before they re-finish the hardwood floors. We also need to paint the ceilings. LOTS of painting in our future.

We are going to hold off on the kitchen until we get in the house........but Devlon and his Mom have already picked out tile, etc. We are still planning to move boxes and such the weekend of July 1st and then move furniture the following weekend. We'll see how that pans out since we haven't started packing yet! Then it will be back to our house to get it ready to sell! Does it ever end??? Fun times, fun times.

Walter

2006-06-18T21:58:00.000-05:00

We are back from San Antonio! We made a quick last minute trip home for Father's Day and a family gathering (well, family reunion but there were only about 25 of us!). It was a great weekend and nice to be able to be with my Dad on Father's Day. He is the greatest!

On our way home, in Midlothian, we came across a turtle on a busy road. We decided to rescue it and take it to a park area in Devlon's neighborhood. We couldn't tell if it was a land or water turtle, so we put in on the banks of a creek......close enough he could see the water or head towards the grass if he desired. He didn't move once we set him down, so we finally left so he could find his courage again and come out of his shell. He was scared in the car.....didn't poke his head out once! I named him Walter....not sure why.

Granddaddy's House

2006-06-11T22:29:00.000-05:00

The front of the house.....

View from the back porch. All the way at the bottom of the land is a creek.

The back porch

Fireplace

Built-in....in the den. The wood paneling (solid wood) will be painted.

Formal dining. We plan to remove the track lighting and put in a old-timey chandelier

One of the rooms........you can see the hardwoods here. Can you believe someone covered these with carpet?

Smaller bath w/ stand-up shower (needs some work)

Larger bath (but still small!) Also needs some work.....new mirrors, light fixtures, paint, facuets, etc.

So we got a ton done today. I am tired!

Moving Update

2006-06-10T17:23:00.000-05:00

So I may have mentioned to a few, but here it is for all who read this silly blog. Devlon and I are moving!! I know I know, it seems crazy and I just moved here. But, there is more to the story. In a nutshell, Devlon's granddaddy is moving to assisted living and his parents don't want the house to be vacant. It needs some work, so they have asked us to move in, pay them some rent and the bills, and in return for Devlon's labor our rent will be lower than it should.

It is in a GREAT part of town (near my old condo) and it a darling little house!

Positives:
Saves us money
HARDWOODS
yard and mature trees
better commute to work
gets us back in the happening part of dallas
house was built in 1954
great fireplace
2 living areas
a bit bigger than Devlon's house now
Closer to his parents and Granddaddy's new place

Negatives:
2 bedrooms
smaller closets
no fence in the backyard....which means kitties poop/pee in the house
LITTERBOX
Stackable washer/dryer (full-size)
Pink laminate countertops
wallpaper
*Those 2 will quickly be changed
No 3rd bedroom

I will take my camera tomorrow and snap some pics to post to give everyone an idea. We started work on it today with plans to move either the 1st or 2nd weekend in July. Devlon's house will go on the market once we move most of our stuff over. Some stuff will stay at Devlon's for showing the house and Devlon's house needs a few things done to it.

Here is what we did today:
Pulled up ALL the carpet and padding (it was in the WHOLE house)
Pulled up tack strips in 2 rooms
Took skylight covers down
Attempted wallpaper removal
Knocked down a wall that closed off a door between the kitchen and formal living/dining to make the door open again
Pulled off brass fireplace cover
cleaned out fireplace
Moved all of granddaddy's furniture to the garage
Unhooked ancient washer/dryer and trashed it
Made several trips to the dump
Cleaned

We are headed back tomorrow to do the following:
pull up the kitchen floors
finish pulling up the tacking in the 2 bedrooms and bathrooms
Take down fabric lined blinds
Take down shutter doors that separate the 2 living rooms
Any other random stuff that comes up!

I am tired, Devlon is at the races so I need to do laundry and clean up around here!

Crazy Pearl

2006-06-10T17:18:00.001-05:00

In the guest bathroom sink

In the office

So Pearl is the craziest cat. She gets in the shower with you, she puts my ponytail holders in her water, she sleeps in the sink, she brings in small rodents that she kills, she drinks water by dipping her paw in the water, she puts her food in the water and bats the pieces around until the finally sink, AND she begs for attention. Gotta love her though!

From Mrsg.....Thirteen Thursday

2006-06-08T21:52:00.000-05:00

Thirteen Things about Tracy

1…. Start your list here!

1. We are moving soon (yes you read that right.....more to come in another post)
2. I had a very busy day even though it was my day off
3. I wish I could get to Cheri and Larry's to swim sometime in the near future
4. I am overwhelmed with a to do list in my head (this goes along with #1)
5. I just paid off my car!
6. I don't want to go to work tomorrow
7. I am full, we ate dinner with Devlon's parents
8. I am avoiding folding the clothes in the dryer
9. I miss my sister!
10. My best friend in the whole world is moving far away from me next week
11. I am in so much love it is a crazy feeling
12. I am ready for bed, NOW!
13. I have no idea what I am wearing to work tomorrow

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

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Summer vegetation

2006-06-04T19:28:00.000-05:00

Elephant Ear plant that started as a bulb! This has grown quite nicely.

The tomato bushes

Tomato "buds"........we planted Roma and regular ones.

Jalapenos......Devlon cooked with one this past week and they were HOT!

Banana peppers (we thought we bought serrano peppers, but this is what grew instead).

Stay tuned.....pics of the new grill space in the backyard and of the rooms in the house with my furniture added.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.........Laura and I had a garage sale Saturday and I made a few hundred dollars. Devlon's dream of getting his garage back is slowly becoming a reality.........

Conference Mania

2006-05-28T22:37:00.000-05:00

This weekend (beginning on Wednesday) has been absolute madness. Our national conference for my profession was this weekend in Dallas (Child Life Council National Conference) and my hospital was the "host" hospital. Translation: we all had MAJOR work to do to pull this conference off. There were more than 800 people at the conference this weekend. I was in charge of volunteer recrutiment, assignment and overseeing them. This is a task I have been working on for several months. I also presented to about 150 people with a co-worker. So, here is the breakdown:

Wednesday: arrive at hotel by 3:00, left at 6:00pm
Thursday: arrive at hotel by 7:15, left at 6:30pm
Friday: arrive at hotel by 7:15, left at 6:00pm
Saturday: arrive at hotel by 7:45, left at 5:30pm
Sunday: arrive at hotel by 8:00, left at 1:45pm

Fri-Sun was full of sessions, meetings, networking, etc. Wed & Thurs were full of set-up and preparations. I was run down tired!!! I got to see many old friends (old roomate, old interns, old co-workers). My presentation was great!! I am so glad the whole weekend is OVER!

Josh and Tracy were here Saturday night.........it was great to hang out with the newlyweds! Cheri came over too and Devlon made us a yummy dinner. I napped this afternoon and am headed to bed SOON! Sorry to all my friends who I haven't called in many days..........you'll be hearing from me soon and often now! :)

I am off work tomorrow with many errands to run......pictures to hang, and chores to do! Happy Memorial Day!