15 weeks, gardening, and baking!

Well, as of Saturday, I am 15 weeks! It's crazy to think that in 25 weeks we will have a baby in the house! About a month until we actually get the crib transported from my parents house to our house! And, pending the cost, about a month until we get to go pick out the fabrics for our bedding. If it's way to expensive, we'll be getting something from Pottery Barn... I think... I already have two sets picked out that I like. :)

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along? 15 weeks and 2 days

Baby's size? Baby L is the size of an avocado - 4 to 5 inches and 3 to 5 ounces


Weight Gain? Down 4, but up one from last week

Maternity clothes? Definitely in pants, I've worn some tops for fun, but it isn't necessary yet. Dresses and everything else still in normal clothes

Stretch marks? Nope 

Belly button in or out? In, and I doubt it pops, but I could be wrong.

Sleep? Sleeping is ok. I wake up a lot to either go to the bathroom or change positions. Even though I have a hard time going to sleep, when I wake up, I can go back to sleep almost instantaneously. 

Foods I am loving? Cereal, which is totally not me! Honeycrisp apples, pears, really any fruit, Mike and Ike (the tropical and berry are my favorites), Cherry Coke (but I don't drink those too often), the Halloween pumpkins that are pure sugar

Foods I am hating? Nothing really, but lately I haven't been liking reheated meat. It has a funny texture that I haven't noticed before, even when it is smothered in cheese, sauce, and noodles like lasagna. 

Best moment this week? Seeing and feeling Brayden move like crazy and seeing the Hubby's face light up as he too saw and felt the baby.

Movement? Not yet. 

Symptoms? The occasional bout of nausea, still really sleepy, going to the bathroom a TON more than normal 

Gender? Should know by TOMORROW!!!

What I miss? What I miss is nothing in comparison to being pregnant. :) 

What I'm looking forward to? Finding out if it's Baby E (girl name) or Baby D (boy  name), getting the nursery set up, and picking out the bedding. This is totally not pregnancy related, but I am also looking forward to going to my niece's birthday party this weekend!!

Weekly Wisdom: Never ever leave the house without snacks and water.

Milestone: Will be 4 months next week!!

Emotions: This week has been pretty tame, emotion wise. I have gotten really frustrated with the people that should be telling us it's a boy or girl. They said 7-10 business days, and we're at day 9 right now... They should just say 10 days, because this pregnant woman is getting ticked... haha

15 weeks 2 days!

Excuse the double chin... I got a sling in the mail and had to test it out on Gracie. 

She actually felt really snug! Now we just need to wash it and wait on 

Baby L to make his/her appearance!

Our Fall garden! Alan has expanded it since summer!

Cherry Tomato!

Bell Pepper plant

Zucchini plants

Row of Broccoli

Row of Romaine lettuce

Squash! It's already blooming!!!

Brussels sprout (we have 6 of these plants!)

Our pepper plant... Still doing good!

Alan is going to shoot me for posting this, but I know our friends in small group would just LOVE to see him baking a cake. It turned out soo yummy and all I had to do was the icing! :)

Stay tuned for the announcement of whether Baby L is a boy or girl!! We can't wait to find out!!!

Almost 14 weeks!

Well, I have to admit that I've had a hard time motivating myself to get dressed this week. Most of the time has been spent in comfy clothes reading books this week. Today, however, I decided that I needed to at least look half-way decent. :) So even though I haven't done my hair or put on make-up, at least I look like a normal person today.  Since this is the case, I decided to start the pregnancy highlights today instead of waiting to start at 14 weeks. Who knows when I'll be dressed again... haha. 

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 13 weeks 6 days

Size of baby: Baby L is the size of a lemon (about 3 inches and 1.5 oz)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Lost 5 pounds, but definitely getting somewhat of a belly :)

Maternity Clothes: I'm in maternity pants, but shirts and dresses are still normal

Gender: We find out sometime around next Thursday

Movement: Not yet

Sleep: I'm sleeping okay, just waking up several times (i.e. every other hour) to go to the bathroom or to move positions

What I miss: I don't really miss anything, but since I know I can't have much, I'm constantly thinking about caffeinated beverages (mainly sweet tea!!)

What I'm looking forward to: Some of  you might think I'm crazy, but I can't wait to actually look pregnant instead of fat in the stomach! I want to fill out my maternity tops... haha. Oh, and I can't WAIT to find out if we're having a girl or boy!!!

Cravings: It's more like what I'm not craving... Some recent cravings are Wings N' More fried pickles, french fries, and chicken tenders, Jason's Deli broccoli cheddar soup, Schlotzsky's original sandwich on jalapeño cheddar bread (anything and everything that we don't have at home...)

Symptoms: The occasional nausea, food aversions/cravings, moodiness (i.e. I'll cry over just about anything)

Best Moment this week: Going clothes shopping with my mom (even though that was last Friday I'm still going to count it), our first ultrasound and hearing the heartbeat (167 bpm)!

I hope that everyone has a great weekend! I know I'm looking forward to hanging out with the hubs for a while! :)

Furniture and more!

Well, I don't have photos of the furniture in the room, but I figured I'd left the few people that read this blog hanging for too long, so I searched for pictures online to show.

The first item of furniture that we bought was a new dresser! It is beautiful and made of solid wood and stained a rustic cherry color. Absolutely gorgeous!


And the piece of furniture that most people will be interested in is...






















wait for it......




























A CRIB! We're excited to share with you that we are expecting a little bundle of joy sometime around March 12, 2010.

To say that Alan and I were shocked would be an understatement. With thinking that I had PCOS we did not think that we would be pregnant anytime in the near future. God had other plans, though. I am currently 12 weeks along, if not a little further than that, and had my first appointment yesterday. We heard the heartbeat *thankfully there was only ONE in there!!* and my doctor said my chance of having a miscarriage have "significantly decreased." We will be scheduling our first trimester screening sometime in the next week and should actually find out the gender then, as well. The miracles of modern science, known as the "Jack or Jill?" test (more details to follow regarding the test). The ultrasound that they do will also help "firm up" our due date as my cycles have been crazy lately.

How have I been doing you ask? Well, from about week 6 to week 12 I definitely had morning sickness. It wasn't very bad until probably around week 10 when I began having a difficult time holding down food (sorry if TMI). However, week 12 has been the magic week for me because as soon as I hit it, the morning sickness has pretty much evaporated, thank the Lord! I lost 5 additional pounds, but I'm sure that now I'm on the road to gaining them back, because I'm ALWAYS hungry!

Jack or Jill?
Recently, various genetic research labs have found that the DNA of the baby floats in the mother's bloodstream. (How crazy is that?) This allows lab technicians to screen for certain conditions, as well as gender, as early as 11 weeks. It's apparently 99% accurate in regards to gender determination, so it looks like Alan and I will be lucky enough to find out what we're having in the next week or so! I just can't believe it!

Well, I think this about sums it all up. We would covet any and all prayers that you might want to say as we are embarking on this new journey. Once I can make myself look presentable enough for a photo, I'll download one and post it. :)

New shoes!

So about a month and a half ago I ordered two new pairs of flip flops. Now, they aren't just any pair of flip flops, they ate Eliza B flip flops. Custom made and oh so comfortable!! My first pair was a birthday present over 4 years ago and they are still my go to shoes. Needless to say, I haven't been waiting very patiently to receive my shoes and once I knew they were shipped, I was constantly checking the tracking status to see where they were.

Now, however, the wait is over! As of 3:30 this afternoon, I am the proud owner of two new beautiful Eliza B flip flops. Without further ado, here are pictures of my beautiful new shoes.

The white ones!

Excuse the tiltedness... it didn't look like this before I uploaded it. 

So, now that everyone knows my obsession with this brand of shoes, I'm out. :) Now where can I go and sport my new shoes? Hmm... lets think... I'll be wearing them on Sunday, for sure! Can't wait for church and Sunday School and getting to wear A&M colors!! 

Still here

I'm still here and loving life! We've traveled a lot the past couple of weekends with a trip to Alan's parents to celebrate his grandma's birthday and anniversary and then to my parent's to see my sister before she headed off to college.

We did some shopping in Texarkana and bought some furniture, so I'll have to post pictures when we get it in the house. I can't wait to see what you guys have to say about it!

I'm living the life of leisure until September. It looks like I'm not going to get a job teaching this year, so subbing here I come. I wish I had gotten a full time position, but I know God has a plan and I'm looking forward to having the privilege of working in several school districts and being able to take off whenever I feel like it..

Well I'm out for now. I'll post more whenever we get our new furniture in!

Fun for all...

... or at least for me! I just got a phone call saying that my new toy is in! And I'm picking it up TONIGHT! Any guesses on what it is?



If you guessed an iPhone 4, you're right! I've been waiting oh so patiently not so patiently for the past 2 1/2 weeks for it to come. Woo hoo! I'm so glad to get rid of the phone I've had for the past 2 1/2 years (which I never really liked)!

I'm also getting to go to one of my favorite stores, Sephora, to go buy make-up for my sister. The only thing better than  getting Michelle all new make-up (brushes, included), would be for me to be getting it. But that would require spending my money... It's so much better spending someone else's money... ;)



I already know most of what I'm getting her color wise, because I've used my make-up on her so I know what already looks good.

This weekend we're traveling home because it's my sister's last weekend at home before she heads to college. I'm so excited for her to be leaving, but sad that she's going to be so far away! We'll just have to go visit her or something.

I'm totally bummed out, though because I'm just going to miss one of my best friends... She's moving WAY up north and is leaving early Saturday morning... too early for me to get up. Hopefully Thanksgiving comes quick because I'm definitely going see her then (right Amy!)

Well, \enough for now... More pictures to come after this weekend and I get the rest of the photos from our vacation!

Vacation... Part I

We've been back from Virgin Gorda for a little over a week now, and I can't wait to go back some day. :) We had an absolute blast with my family snorkeling, hanging out on the beach, and shopping in St. Thomas. Without further adieu, here are some pictures (the rest will have to wait as they were taken with my dad's camera and I didn't get a CD before we left).

View from the villa

Beautiful sunset!

Us at the beach

Stormy skies

Dustin making faces

Michelle so excited to be floating in the ocean!

Picture time at Spring Bay

Alan at Spring Bay

The Holman/Letz kids :)

The women at The Copper Mines

Us

The men at The Copper Mine

What it looks like driving to the villa... 

Looks like you're going to drive off the island into water!

My face got really burned... hence the hat

Double hibiscus... my new favorite flower!

Double hibiscus bud... LOVE taking pictures right after it rains!!!

Pretty purple flowers

Our yummy coconut Alan so graciously cracked open for 

Michelle and I to eat!

Other pictures soon to come... Dad got some great ones! More updates on our life to come soon, as well. =)