What I'm loving Wednesday

Wow so much to love this Wednesday! Here is my SMALL list....but a blog to follow will be all about our wonderful trip!

Love: That I no longer have to "sneak" around about our soon to be baby! 

I'm free, whoo whoo! 

I love this one because he/she stuck his/her foot right up there for us to see! 

Love: That we got to spend 8 days with Chris' family on vacation.  I miss them so much already.

The Roberts' Clan enjoying our cruise'n time!

Love: Our cruise to the Bahamas and all the adventures we had! 

Love: My sweet BABY DADDY!

But most of all this week I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture!  I think it is priceless!  

The moment they realized they would soon be grandparents! 

The pure shock and excitement, love it! 

The POSITIVE truth

After sitting at lunch on Saturday with my tennis ladies...the realization came to me!  We were all just chit chatting and such.  However, I couldn't stop yawning.  One of my ladies asked why I was so tired, of course I said, "I have no idea."  Then someone in the group piped up and said I wonder if your pregnant.  I looked at her as if she was STRAIGHT CRAZY!  I mean how, no, really could it be?  Then of course with my current trend in TIREDNESS I went straight home and slept.  Ha!

The next day was Mother's Day!  Chris and I always celebrate these days with silly cards from our pup and cat.  I mean come on we are PARENTS to our FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS!  I know we are crazy...but apparently not the only crazies out there.  I mean there is a whole section on the card aisle for cards from the dog, cat, or both.  That's where I always head on father's day.  :-) Chris was sweet enough to get me a card from Bob and Winston...you may remember that post!  He also had a list of things to pick up if he went to Target (hair ties and headbands).  Nothing that was crucial enough for its own trip...however, he threw that in as my "mother's day gift" with my card.  Ha always resourceful that boy!

Needless to say Mother's day came with a greater meaning this year.  Why?  (get ready for TMI)  I am pretty on target with my monthly friend...normally showing up at 7 am the morning of!  Yet nothing!! So after Chris and I did some yard work and such I headed in for a shower.  Just on a whim I thought okay I'll take a pregnancy test!  I mean what could it hurt???  Heck at this point I was worried I may have mono!

No more than had I sat the test down for it's 2 minute waiting time....had it changed!  I immediately SREAMED at Chris!

Me (in panic, but excited voice): "Chris come here for a second please"
Chris (in normal has no idea voice): "I'm kind of busy"
Me: "Well I really need you RIGHT NOW!"
Chris: "Okay but I thought you were showering"
Me: "Thanks"

Next thing you know he is in the bathroom with me....and just looks at me like what the heck is the huge emergency in here!

Me (with smile on my face): "I need you to look at something"
Chris: puzzled face at what I may show him......
Me: "Well looks like today is Mother's Day after all" handing him the POSITIVE TEST
Chris: still puzzled face..."NO, do we trust these STICKS to tell the truth?"

Sorry for the TMI! HA
Here is my card from Bob and Winston...and well our real mother's day gift (results that is). 

Me: "there is never a FALSE POSITIVE, sometimes a false negative...but not a false positive"
Chris: "WOW really, no...I am excited but wait.  When is your (hard to say) period to start?"
Me: "umm well today, but nothing has happened still and it always starts bright and early in the am"
Chris: "Okay but can we just do this test again in 2 days to confirm"
Me: "sure honey"

I don't think he really understood that well the test are CORRECT!  Ha ha ha!  We went about our afternoon running around town taking care of things.  Of course we bought another pregnancy test, so he could see the test in 2 days (I still sit her and laugh at this).  Then when we got home from all our errands...I think it had sunk in with him.

Chris: "Wow, really I still can't believe we are going to be parents" "Winston your going to be a BIG brother!"
Me: "I know I mean I am excited, but wow!!"

I think we both were in a state of shock! HA I mean all day long we would just sit and be like really we are going to have a baby.  Yes, we were trying to have a baby.  At Christmas we sat and discussed that we both felt ready for a baby.  But I, nor Chris, did not really expect it as quick as it happened.  We really didn't do anything different other than I stopped taking birth control.  We had the not, not trying method going on.

I feel so blessed that we were able to do this so quickly!  Yet, it was a HUGE shock when we realized it was REAL!  You know as a wife you dream of how that day will feel.  I can't explain the excitement, yet fear that I felt when I saw those 2 lines.  I was overjoyed to be becoming a mom, but scared to death because that is HUGE!  Chris is so over the top excited it is crazy.  He has been amazing this whole time.  I know he will be a wonderful father! P.S. I took the test again 2 days later for him and well same result, HA!!

The signs

The signs were all there...if you knew what you are looking for!  You know that feeling you get after you realize what is going on.  Then you start to put all the past events together and wonder how you missed the HUGE signs.  That was me with Baby R!  I mean I had all the early signs...minus the morning sickness!  However, I had no idea that it was a baby.

Let's look back and you can see how I was apparently OBLIVIOUS to the situation! We must go back to oh May1st.  You know the weekend that we all gathered in OKC for the marathon!  I who was worried about not training should have been worried about other stuff, YIKES!  After I returned home from the marathon weekend I was pretty tired.  I didn't really think anything of it...I mean I play stinking tennis like crazy some days matches last 3 hours!  Why would running make me tired?  Again no second thought on the matter.

I went about my business working and playing tennis.  Then a couple of days later I played a match and was extremely beat down afterwards.  Again, not normal!  I mean I went straight home and took a 3 hour nap.  Then to top that off Chris and I were going to the Yankees vs Rangers game that night.  He had invited his sister over to go with us.  I could hardly pull my self out of bed to even shower or get ready!  I just wanted to phone it in from there and have them go without.  Chris eventually talked me into getting ready I think....or maybe it was that his sister was almost here???  Needless to say I went to the game but could not shake the sleepiness.  I think I was a zombie really!  Of course looking back on our conversation that night I laugh....as his sister was quizzing us on when we would have a baby!  Little did I know Baby R had already arrived.

Whitney, his sister, and her friend Emily

 Here we are all enjoying the game! 

Okay so I had the tired can keep my head up sign...but apparently that was not enough for me to clue in!

Please Excuse Me...

for the lack of superior blog post lately! For the constant lies....okay maybe not lies but excuses. The lack of keeping up with the world around me. The sneaking around!  The sleepiness that has hit me due to my mind racing. Oh and the ear to ear smile that is on my face.  The overjoyed excitement that comes out of no where.  Or that no this is not real....how can this be real feeling?  The extreme thankfulness that I currently feel.

I just had to put all of that out here!  I feel like the past few weeks my life has been derailed.  That I haven't quite been myself to you....my wonderful people!  I have just been randomly blogging here and there nothing to crazy exciting....other than our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! Well, as I sit here at 3:40 am on June 29...I just had to ask for your forgiveness.  Actually to go back to the "not able to sleep due to mind racing"...that is what is happening here.  Yes, I know this post is really on JULY 5!  But that is the joyfulness of blogger, being able to schedule blogs whenever you want.  Oh gosh I digress...which seems to also be an issues I have these days!  My lack of focus on anything has well, gone out the DOOR!

Why have all these things been happening to me?  Well, there is a very simple answer for that and I just have to clear the air.  The problem with clearing the air is....it has to be done is steps.  Finally I am ready for the next step...which is telling you!  Okay maybe I wont tell you but rather show you.  Show you the reason for all this craziness!

WE ARE GOING TO BE PARENTS!!

I feel so blessed, excited, and overjoyed.  Chris is beyond happy....he too cannot believe that our next adventure as a family is here.  Although we did plan to begin this step...knowing it is real is well, so surreal! I am so thankful to have this news OUT to the WORLD!  As stated above...we had to do things right.  You know wait to confirm that Baby R would make it through those first few 12 critical weeks.  Also we wanted to inform our parents first and in person.  Thus the reason I can now SHOUT FROM THE ROOF TOPS!!!  We will have told Chris' parents by this point.  

Again I am still in a bit of shock, but so ready to meet little Baby R!  Which stinks since Baby R is not due until January!  Although these first 12 weeks seemed like forever, it was mostly because none of our friends knew.  Not being able to share such exciting news can make a person CrAzY!  Promise...I have been there the past 12 weeks.  I feel like all I have done is sneak around and avoid.  Thankfully it has been summer for the past 4 weeks...thus making it a little easier to avoid my friends.  Okay I have given you a ton of information...maybe I should just let it all sink in for a moment.  Don't worry, I'll post better details on Baby R's beginnings in the next couple of days.  Just writing this post has really cleared my mind.  Also it has given me some relief from my omitting of information lately!  Now that it is oh 4:30 a.m. and Chris has left for the gym...I'm going to try and sleep a little more, if that is possible! AHHH we are going to have a baby~~~so exciting! 

Happy Fireworks!

Howdy all!

I hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July! 

Be safe and enjoy the time with your family! 

pst...tomorrows post is good, don't miss it!

Excitement for the Turtles

This is my sweet Tucker...I loved him so much, he was a great turtle!

Okay so those of you who truly know me and my family know that well we have turtles.  When I say we have turtles I don't mean they are just out and about.  Actually it all began my freshman year in college.  My parents moved to a new house more in the "city"...ha ha how big is Amarillo really!  My mom decided that she was done with pets...like dogs and cats.  One of her friends had a turtle that well she had as a pet!  Therefore in the new house the people had laid a curb in the back yard for a garden.  Well, that curbing was and ideal area for a "turtle run!"  At the time that mom began this turtle adventure she just had 3 turtles really.  Oh and where did they come from....well various places.  Dad and his guys would find them when they were golfing and bring them home.  Or her friends would find one and bring it over.  The first turtles to their new found home were Snappy, Hall, all Kit.  They seem to have started our turtle family.  The turtle run is a great place....tons of plants to hide under and a pool with a deck that I made them.  They also have some other drinking areas and such.  If you ask me it is turtle HEAVEN!

Now of course the newer turtles don't come in knowing what to do....aka how to eat and such.  But I think Snappy, Hall, and Kit show them the way.  Mom feeds the turtles each evening and boy do they run to get food!  Really it is the funniest thing.  Then during the cold months in Amarillo the turtles dig down and hibernate....it is always fun to see who will be the first up from winter.  Normally around March they start to come out, unless it is still cold!  Which in Amarillo you never know...it has snowed on Easter many a times!  If you will recall back in my first year or even month of blogging...I was a proud owner of one of the first sets of babies our turtles had.  TUCKER...he lived with me for 2 years.  You can read about him here and then here.  After 2 years he needed a new home with more space.

Here is the exciting part! Back to mom's sweet turtles...they have been asked to be in a RACE!!  HA!  Well one of the guys that works with my father does the Clarendon Turtle race every year...in fact he has done it for like 35 years. Normally he just finds any old turtle on the road or what ever to use.  However the HEAT this year has caused most turtles to HIDE and dig down deep to stay cool.  Mom's turtles have been doing this too...it's just too hot!  Lee asked mom if she would mind if he used her turtles this year.  Did I mention that we are now up to at least 8 adults, 3-4 teenagers, and 2 babies! The babies normally don't make it because they don't realize mom feeds them...they are just too young to know I guess.  But the ones that do learn have grown up hence the teenagers! Lee is going to be taking 2 of mom's turtles today for the BIG RACE!  How fun for the turtles....they get a road trip and a chance to win the race.  Poor Lee has yet to win, so I hope this is his year.  Tomorrow at 1:30 the turtles have to show their stuff....and I am sure they can kick some turtle butt, especially if he holds their food dish in front of them.  Man they can move then!

P.S If I wasn't on computer number 4 since mom made the turtle run I could have had pics for you.  Sorry about that!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

I love that Chris and I had the best one year anniversary ever!  He was so super sweet and surprised us with massages and facials.  What a great gift!  

on our way for some relaxation....ahhh

I also love the "paper" (your first year it is paper) gift he gave me.  A sweet note and one of our favorite pictures!  

I think he loved his gift from....okay I'll just say he did for the sake of the post! HA  I gave him a photo book of our first year married.  It has everything from our I Do's, birthdays, first holidays, and just funny pictures!

I love that we are leaving on a cruise soon! Whoo Whoo!!

I love that our trip is with all of Chris' family!  It will be a blast seeing everyone, especially his older sister's family.  They live in Maine so we don't get to see them much! 

Hope you all are LOVING something great this WEDNESDAY!

Our Wedding ABC

I saw this on Classy Southern Wife's blog and thought it would be fun since we just celebrate our ONE YEAR Anniversary! I can not believe that we have been married almost a year. It has been so wonderful!

Attending: We had around 50 attend our destination wedding. However, at our back home party there were more like 140 people there...it was a blast

I wanted a picture after the wedding with all our wonderful guest!

Bridesmaids: My sweet sister was my matron of Honor. Chris' two older sisters were bridesmaids as well as my 2 dear friends.  I picked out a super cute and cool yellow bridesmaids dress from Alfred Angelo.  Of course no shoes were worn being as we were on the beach!

Cakes: It was a simple cake, but I loved it.  I also loved the topper that my mom found for us! Oh and it was delicious! 

Dress: This was one of the 2 things that stressed me out the most!  I had the hardest time finding the perfect dress.  However, once I did I knew it was the one...I love, love, love my dress.  I was so excited to wear it again at our Encore celebration (pssttt just between us, I would wear it everyday I love it that much).  Mom, Abby, and I found the dress just by chance in Houston at Alfred Angelo.  Thankfully they had just opened an Alfred Angelo close to me...so I didn't have to drive to Houston!

Engagement: We got engaged on September 5, 2009.  He swept me right off my feet.  You can read about part 1 here and part 2 HERE. Trust me, it's worth reading. Then you can follow it up with pictures here.

Flowers: I loved our flowers!  If you haven't noticed I love yellow so I went with a simple yellow cala lilly.

Flower Girls: My niece Emery and Chris' little sister Riley were our flower girls.  They did a wonderful job of tossing out the flowers.  They were beautiful in their dresses too!

Groomsmen: The hubby had his best friend Z be the best man. His brother-in-law, his brother, his cousin, and two close friends finished out the group of men.

Honeymoon: We went to the Bahamas!

Invitations: The second thing I was really stressing out about!  Since we were having a destination wedding I didn't want a cheesy invitation or too formal.  Thankfully after hours of searching my friend Wiggs and I ran into a sweet married couple who made our invitations.  They were perfect and did such an amazing job!  I love how they turned out.

Jewelry: I loved my jewelry!  I wore my grand mothers pearl neckless that my sister wore in her wedding too.  I also followed that up with some simple pearl earrings.  I then wore my new rolex watch my mom and dad gave to me as a wedding gift.

Keepsakes: We had tons of DIY projects. Some of my favorite ones were our fans that helped keep the guest cool.  Then our rocks, instead of advice cards we did rocks.  The rocks sit on our kitchen table today! I love those.  Then for our Encore Celebration the best part was the PHOTO BOOTH.  I love all of our pictures. Here are lots of pics...

Our welcome bag full of goodies for everyone! 

I gave each of the guys a golf bag goodie...with balls and towels and such.  Then Chris got a personalized one!

 Our mugs! I LOVED them...they helped keep everyones beverages cold!

Water...a much needed thing on the BEACH!

The starfish and fake rings the boys walked down the aisle with.

I love SHARPIES....so of course I gave one to each of our guest

The fans my mom and sister slaved over! Love them for that! 

Ladies' Night: (aka Bachelorette Party): My sister and mom know me so well...and they should.  We set up a nice little night out to the Gaylord.  There was plenty of food, drinks, fun, and memories made.  You can read about it here. 

Music: For the ceremony, we had a Dominican Trio!  I loved walking down to their music, it was priceless.

Next-day: We meet up with friends and did a quick breakfast.  Then Chris and I both spent most of the day with our families.  We did various things from parasailing to kayaking and building sand castles.  It was a great first day married with family and friends.

I went parasailing with my family and friends....we loved it! 

Old, new borrowed, blue: I had my grand mother's pearls, my grader had a hint of blue, my dress and watch were new, and the ear rings my sister wore borrowed.

Photography: We took a friend, Jonathan Golden,  to do our pictures.  He did a great job of catching memories from the entire week of events.  I love our pictures they are priceless.  Click HERE to see them! Jonathan also did our engagement photo shoot which was amazing too!

Question popping: Chris asked me on September 5, 2009.  He shocked me as I had no clue what was going to happen.  Pure bliss!

Reception: Our reception at the wedding was next to the pool!  It was a little warm there, but everyone managed to keep cool!

Shoes: None needed!  Who needs shoes on a beach?  However I did wear some simple sandals for the reception.

Tuxedos: Not for our big day....instead Chris wore a linen suit, the groomsmen wore linen pants and shirts!

Ushers: Again no need here! But we will take some really cute RING BEARS!!!  I love them to pieces.  Jack (who I nannied in college) helped walk my nephew down the isle.  They had one mission...ring security! Love them!!

Videographer: Of course!  We used a local videographer Florian Kotter.  You can see a sneak peak of our video here! 

Weather: The only stress on the big day!  There was 90 percent chance for rain! Yet....I was determined to keep it on the beach!  Thank you Lord for keeping the rain away and allowing wonderful tropical weather for our day!  Then to top off our I Do's....a rainbow appeared just after! Perfection! 

X-rated: Um, no? Not really our way of doing things! 

Young kids: Yes, Please!  We had the most amazing little people at our wedding.  My niece and Chris' little sister were our flower girls.  His 2 nieces were our bubble girls.  Then the ring bears were Jack and my nephew!  They were perfect!

Ems and Riley were Flower Girls....Maddie and Emily were our bubble girls! 

Zzzz's: We left our current rooms and got our own for the BIG night!  It was wonderful and lovely.  We couldn't have been happier!

Wow a year has passed and it seems like yesterday! Wonderful memories were made that will be cherished for a lifetime.  Hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane as much as I did!