The Last Days of 2009

As 2009 came to a close, I started thinking back on everything that happened in the last decade:




1. I voted in my first election (hanging chad anyone?)

2. I got my first new car

3. Graduated High School

4. Started College

5. Graduated

6. First job

7. First REAL job with a paycheck!

8. Met my future husband

9. Got engaged

10. Bought a house

11. Got hitched

12. Bought my first car (car payments---ick!)


Just when I thought the decade couldn't get any busier, the Lord saw fit to prove me wrong!

On the 30th, we were out and about running errands. For some reason I just kept feeling flakey, I must have asked Joe the same question about 10 times that day. It was just not like me and I was a little concerned about it. As these things go, one thing led to another (more on that later) and the following day, New Year's Eve, Joe and I met for lunch at Jason's Deli. I closed out 2009 by telling Joe that we would be parents in 2010. Of course, I had made a trip to Target and bought some cute onesies that say, "I love Daddy," and some books. He was not TOTALLY surprised because the night before I had taken a test and was sure I had seen a line, but when I asked him he said he didn't see it. So, he had a hunch. From my years at the pregnancy center, I definitely knew how to read a test, but I thought maybe I was going crazy...so, I bought a digital test. No guess work there!

We found out super super early and were pretty nervous until our first appointment. We met with our doctor for the first time on January 13 and had an ultrasound. Everything looked just like it should, but it was too early to see the heartbeat. We got to go back today and have another peek at our little one. Much to my relief, there was a bright flashing heart beat on the screen. Cocoa Puff's heart is beating at 154 beats per minute and CP is measuring in at 7 weeks, 4 days (right on target).

Needless to say we are super excited and nervous. But, most of all, we are so incredibly thankful and blessed that things are going well so far. I'm pleased to introduce you to Cocoa Puff

This is our scan from the 13th. The black circle is the gestational sac and the tiny little polka dot is the yolk sac. Cocoa Puff is hanging out right on top of the yolk sac (CP is the little light spot at the top of the polka dot).

This is today's scan. CP is measuring 1.26 cm. The black circle is the gestational sac and the little shrimp looking thing is CP...just growing away.

I will definitely have more to blog about now. So many fun and exciting things are coming our way!

8 years

It was 8 years ago yesterday that Brinkley and I became a family. I don't think I'll ever forget that day. Oh how I love this dog! I had just gotten home from working in the daycare, was exhausted, and had a not so great hair cut...But, he loved me anyway!

Holiday Photos

Here are some photos we took over the holidays (in no particular order)

Joe and I have made a couple of small traditions the past couple of years. We paint a holiday plate at the local paint your pottery dive and we build a gingerbread house. This year's was much easier than last year's! Sadly, Joe is better at both the plate painting and the gingerbread house decorating than I am.

Holiday Catch Up

I'm so ashamed! I always have such high hopes that I will keep up with my blog, and then I don't. Normally, I feel like our life is not eventful enough to post anything. This holiday season was quite different. Here are the noteable happenings.

Thanksgiving was great. We spent a few days up at my parents' house and relaxed and ate and relaxed some more. We went to see The Blind Side, which I LOVED! The day after Thanksgiving, Joe and Dad went out and ran errands while my Mom and I decorated the house. Then we went out and had Dad take a million pictures so we could get ONE for our Christmas cards.

The week after Thanksgiving, we flew up to spend a few days in Cleveland to see the in-laws. The trip went about as we expected, it was strained and uncomfortable for all. In fact, I was so on edge about this whole thing that I went running every morning for over an hour. It is important to note that I HATE running more than just about anything and it was maybe 20 degrees! While we were there, we went to this place, The West Side Market. OH. MY. GOODNESS!!! I found out about it on the web and fell in love. IN LOVE! Hundreds of vendors have little stands set up and sell everything from veggies to Crepes. I ate my weight in rich goodies! I had a chicken crepe that was to die for, cannoli, a monk, a small cupcake, and a cookie. I had been saving up for this market and it was totally worth it! That was the highlight for me! If I had a place like this in Houston, I would be there all the time buying fresh meats, cheeses, and veggies!

When we got back from Cleveland, my Dad went in for a heart cath and maybe a stent. They wheeled him out of the heart cath and scheduled by-pass surgery for the next day. I spent the day with Mom at the hospital waiting for Dad's surgery. They finally took him back just before 3 and he was out and we got to see him sometime around 8:00. He did great! They ended up doing quintuple by pass. Luckily, Dad's heart had not been damaged by a heart attack or anything prior to his surgery. Mom and I both had planned to take quite a bit of time off at Christmas, so it didn't put us in too much of a bind work wise. I spent most of my time off up at my parents' house to hang out and help out. The day after Dad got home from the hospital, I stayed with him so my Mom could go catch up on some things at the office. He asked me to take him to CVS, Mardels, and Best Buy. He ran errands with us pretty much every day and has gained his strength and energy back. We are all so thankful that God protected Dad throughout this process and that He got Dad into the doctor's office before there were more problems.

The Sunday before Christmas, we hosted our church's College group Christmas party. We had a TON of food--chips and queso, cheeseball, lasagna, salad, bread, tiramisu, and cheesecake. I wanted to make sure I had a good variety and mass quantities...these are college students. They ate like birds! I couldn't believe it! We had so much food left over! Later that night, we got together with the Bergerons and went to Dickinson's Light Festival and then on to Moody Gardens Festival of Lights. It was a fun evening to say the least!

Christmas Eve we did our gingerbread house, went to church, and opened our Christmas pjs. Christmas Day we opened our gifts, made Christmas dinner, and chilled out the rest of the day. Dad took a lot of pictures, I'll have to post some later.

Joe worked New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. I met Joe for lunch on NYE and we had a great lunch at Jason's. Then on NYD my parents came over for dinner. It was nice, low key, and yet eventful all at the same time. I'll post more about the New Year later this week!