Birthday Celebrations

Wesley and I celebrated his birthday a few days early. We'll be gone on his actual birthday (to the lake and then to the beach - ahhh, it's a tough job being school teachers during the summer!), and although we'll be with family, I wanted to go out just us.

Birthday date night started with a trip to pick up these:

(Ours has a red cushion.)

(We got a glass top with a slightly wider circumference than the table, and it looks great!)

And was followed by dinner here:

Then, the plan was to go see this:

But, *somebody* just couldn't wait, and we actually saw it opening night. : )

Let me just say, this movie was hilarious! We highly recommend it!

Now, while I agree with my husband, papasan chairs are sooooo comfy, I didn't want one in the living room (which is where Wesley wanted it). Our living room is much more long than it is wide, and I've struggled with how to arrange it. It was just going to be awkward (in my mind) with the chair where Wesley wanted it [note: the chair is now where he wanted it. : )]. But, we're about to get new couches, and a new TV, so the deal was that if Wesley got his chair, then I get a chair of my choosing too.

But, I will admit the chair doesn't look half bad in the living room. Now I just need to find something to go on that wall and the right accessories for the table. As soon as we get our new couches (and my new chair), I'll post pictures of the living room.

I feel like that's all I say on this blog, "I'll post pictures later...." But, I will, I promise! : )

Dothan Baby Shower

Last weekend Wesley and I headed to Dothan for the day for a baby shower. We are so blessed with such wonderful family and friends who are just as excited about Eli's arrival as we are! We got so many great things. Eli has so many toys and clothes already, it's amazing!

Nana (my mom) and I before the baby shower.

Puddin' (my dad) and I

(My dad hasn't picked a name yet. Since my mom is Nana, he joked that he was going to be Puddin'. And they could be Nana Puddin'. Until he says otherwise, Puddin' has stuck!)

My brother and I (He's dubbed himself, "The Cool Uncle")

The food table at the shower. It was all soooo good!

I loved the rubber duckies floating in the blue punch - adorable! And petite fours are always amazing....I love shower food!

(Also, have you ever had Chinese Chicken Salad...that's it beside the crackers? I've had two different variations of it, and I've loved both! Once I get the recipes, I'll post them for you. Definitely worth making. I think I had three helpings of it at the shower!)

Some childhood friends!

An adorable diaper cake!

I wish I had thought to take pictures of all the loot. We got so many good things that I can't wait to use with (or put on!) Eli!

After the shower we high-tailed it back home so that we could make it in time for our BFG (Bible Fellowship Group). Sunday morning (we're not heathens, we go to church on Saturday nights!) we got up and Wesley put together all of the "big toys"!

Figuring out the car seat/stroller combo.

Installing the new base and car seat.

(No worries, the car seat will not actually be thrown over the back like that!)

We also got a jogging stroller, compliments of my brother, sister, and brother-in-law!

(That thing is like a product of "Pimp My Ride-baby edition" or something. It has cup holders for the child and parent, an odometer, hand breaks, iPod speakers and more! Eli will be riding in style in that thing!)

And, we didn't know this, but our car seat will actually snap into the jogging stroller (despite them being different brands), so we don't have to wait for Eli to get to a certain size to use it!

We got so many other great things, including the bedding for the crib. So, Eli's room is all ready with the exception of touching up some spots on the chair rail. As soon as Wesley gets that done I'll have pictures up! : )

After Popular Demand....

.....Here's the belly (31 weeks pregnant).

(This was a picture from a baby shower in Dothan. More pictures coming soon!)

Car Seat Safety

Last week we attended Car Seat Safety Class. It was a 2 hour class (we were done in less than that) offered through our hospital. The class was pretty boring and I spent most of the time critiquing the poor teaching methods of the presenters. Wesley kept having to remind me that I'm a "professional teacher" and these people aren't. But, anyway, you attend the class and you get a free, brand name (EvenFlo) car seat - not a bad deal!

This isn't the car seat we plan to use. We're registered for a Graco car seat/stroller combo that we plan to use primarily, but for a little under two hours of our time and we've got ourselves a a free, second/back-up car seat.

The day after the class I got in the car and turned to put my purse in the passenger's seat and I could just *feel* someone looking over my shoulder. I glanced out of the corner of my eye, saw this dark object, and gasped so loudly. Yep....it was the car seat! Haha, I guess I better get used to something being back there! : )

Father's Day 2010

Ok, so I'm a little late doing this post....

But, we had a great kind of first-Father's Day for Wesley. I made (my first) Red Velvet Cake for the dad-to-be. It wasn't the prettiest thing, but it sure tasted goooood!

Eli, Lishak, and I gave Wesley a gift card to Home Depot. He used it to finally get the stuff he needs to make a garden in the backyard. We're a little later than we had anticipated getting started on the garden.

We're (and by 'we', I really mean Wesley) are getting the ground ready to plant things for a fall harvest. We're thinking pumpkins right now. We've also been looking into other things that can be planted in this area in the summer and have a fall harvest. Any ideas?

I love you my Wesley, I can't wait to see you as Eli's dad! : )

The Sweetest Little Outfit

Eli's outfit that he's coming home from the hospital in finally came in! It's probably the only time in his life he'll wear anything like this...if Wesley has anything to do with it! : )

It's hard to see the stitching in the picture (click here for a better picture). It's very simple, but I like it a lot! The sweet little booties were a gift from some sweet friends. I realize it will be August and hot as blazes, but he's only wearing them from the hospital to the car!

I can't wait to put Eli in this outfit - it will be even sweeter then!

World Cup Mania

Are you watching? Of course we are in this house. Probably more appropriately put, it's on in this house and one of us (not me) is watching. Soccer is so boring to me (says the soccer coach's wife). And that buzzing sound is horrible.

Wesley wants the US to win, but he predicts Spain will. Eli has a "Brasil" jersey. I'm only interested if a penalty kick is going on.

Every time I hear "World Cup" I think of the Quidditch World Cup (Harry Potter reference, anyone?)!

Speaking of Harry (and I'm about to reveal my inner-nerd), I would L-O-V-E to go to Universal to the new Harry Potter portion and I hate roller coasters and amusement park types of places, but I think I need to go for this!

Thirty One Weeks

Thirty one weeks = single digit countdown, whoo hoo! It seems so close yet so far away. I'm sooo looking forward to no more leg cramps and being able to sleep on my stomach!

At 31 weeks, Eli's eyes now are able to dilate and contract in response to light. He weighs a little over 3 lbs and is around 16 inches long. His lungs and digestive tract are nearly mature.

I've noticed my appetite changing a lot. I'm still hungry, but feel like I have no where to put it. I haven't even felt like eating snacks here lately...which is probably a good thing. A certain someone (for the record, it was not my husband) nearly got their clock cleaned a few days ago when they told me how shocked they were to see how big I looked. Let's just say it's a good thing Wesley was in between us. God had a tight hold on my tongue that day. I thought of several things I wanted to say in response, but somehow managed to keep them to myself (ok....to keep them to myself until we got in the car and I told Wesley all the mean things I was thinking). You have to wonder where some people's filter is???

On the plus side, I've got a baby shower this weekend and am soo excited about it! : )

Not A Lot Going On...

Not much going on = not much to blog about.

*I've spent some time with my Cohort C friends from my Auburn days (Cohort C was the name of our "class" in the Elementary Education program).

*Sold a few things on Ebay (made a little bit of $$ and got mildly addicted but decided I had nothing else worth selling).

*Read a book or two (or three, although, still working on one).

*Sort of started moving into my new classroom (well, I directed and my husband set up the furniture) - still MUCH to do there.

I'll leave you with a few pictures.

My beautiful rocker Wesley got me for my birthday. It looks great on the front porch, now we just need to get one more for the other side (gotta be symmetrical.....and look at that cute kitty who wanted to be in the picture)!

We have planters on either side of our mailbox. We planted lilies in there months ago (or so it seems). It appeared to be touch and go there for awhile whether or not they'd make it, but just this week we woke up to this! Isn't it beautiful!? I wish more blooms would pop up.

Thirty

Thirty Years

Mom and Dad, June 14, 1980

Mom and Dad, June 14, 2010

Every 10 years my parents have renewed their wedding vows. This time around, my brother, Zach, 'performed the ceremony' (or whatever you want to call it) and Caitlin, Clark, Wesley, and I, surprised Mom by coming into town to help them celebrate!

I was very excited Caitlin and Clark got to come. I hadn't seen Cait since her wedding just after Christmas, and I missed out on the trip to TX to see her in May.

The trip was a very short one, but very enjoyable also! Happy 30 years, Mom and Dad!

Thirty Weeks

I'm 30 weeks pregnant now. All of a sudden that seems ridiculous. I told Wesley there's only 2 ways Eli is getting out of here now, and neither option sounds very appealing to me - yikes!

I had my Eli appointment earlier this week and it went great! My BP was wonderful, and Dr. S said that as long as it stays low we can go on our anniversary trip! YAY! He also wants to start seeing me every 2 weeks now just to keep an eye on it because of my history with hypertension. These appointments are like the only thing that I have to do since it's summer. The only depressing part of the appointment was stepping on the scale. I had gained six pounds in three weeks. Holy cow (that's what I feel like, a cow), that is ridiculous! I really felt like I had done well. I'm the only one who seems concerned about the fact that I've gained 24 lbs to date. I sure hope it comes off as fast as it seems to be going on!

The leg cramps are better, but I still have some (despite eating 3 Tums a day and a banana a day). Sleeping is such a battle. I have a very hard time getting comfortable and am still waking up about three times a night - sometimes for hours at a time!

Eli is starting to get heavy! He weighs about 3 lbs now and is approximately 15.5 inches long. (Uncle Brian, if you didn't like the pot roast comparison, you really won't like this one !) One website I read said Eli was now about the size of London, Britney Spears' Yorkie terrier - HAHA! - what a visual!

Eli's brain is starting to wrinkle and fold and his brain cells are growing at a rapid rate. His fingernails and toenails are now completely done growing and his bone marrow is completely in charge of red blood cell production. Also, when he's awake his eyes are completely open! I wonder what there is too look at in there. I think he's probably looking for new places to kick me (and he has a STRONG kick)!

All My Free Time

I love summer. I get a chance to really catch up on all the things I love to do, but especially reading!

Between all the free time and all the sleepless nights, I've had a lot of free time to read.

Here's what I've gone through so far:

I bought this book at the beach because I needed a cheap paperback to read while laying out. I love mystery/suspense/murder books (Does that surprise you?). I used to read James Patterson a lot in high school, I think I read most all of the Alex Cross novels, but haven't read anything by Patterson since then. Patterson did not disappoint! This one was full of surprises, suspense, and plot twists.

I actually heard about this book through the Bloom Book Club. It was the book they did the first of the year. I tried then (I read the first chapter for free online) and it was too slow. After seeing the book on the end table at my in-laws house, I figured I'd give it another try. The beginning was just as painstakingly slow as I remembered. In fact, I was about to put it down when it finally picked up. I ended up liking the book a lot. It's a great story on diversity and faith.

I love Nicholas Sparks books, but they're all kind of the same and slightly predictable. I wasn't so sure I wanted to read another one so quickly after finishing this one, but I hadn't heard anything about The Lucky One and figured I'd give it a go. The Lucky One isn't so much of a teen romance like I consider The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, and The Last Song to be. I don't want to give too much away, but the military angle in this one is very interesting!

And, what's coming up (yes, I usually read multiple books at one time):

This is one that I've actually already started and so far really like it. I love a good mystery!

Thanks, Brittney!

I've already (barely) started this one too. It's one my grandmother read, and then my mom, and now it's my turn. I enjoy biographies, I just don't read them very often. After W's first term in office I read one on him, but never anything on Laura. I find her so intriguing though!

Yesterday I was unpacking the last few boxes from moving in (six months ago now, yikes!) and found a whole other slew of unread books that should keep me busy for the next few weeks.

Hot Dogs

Recently, hot dogs have been a topic of discussion in our family. I was fixing my hot dog on Memorial Day when someone mentioned that Uncle Brian (or maybe just Bryanne, since she's the Chicago native and he was raised in the South) would not approve.

This is how I like my hot dog.

(Ketchup only, and plenty of it!)

And, this is how my hot dog looked in Chicago.

(Notice, no ketchup whatsoever.)

Later that same day, we were watching The Travel Channel, I think, and they were doing a Memorial Day special on the best places in the country to get hot dogs.

They featured places like Nathan's in NY and Pink's in CA. But, the guy in NY said that only unsophisticated people eat their hot dogs with ketchup on them!!!

SO, how do you eat your hot dog?