October 1, 2009
Here are some pictures of Jude the last time we went to visit my mom. He had so much fun going up and down the stairs and didn’t want me to help him walk down the driveway, even though the incline made it hard to keep his balance. He started to run away from me down the sidewalk and his sandal fell off…but he just kept on going.
August 11, 2009
We took a trip this past weekend to Corpus Christi with Joe’s family. It was just a short get away, but much needed. Joe’s uncle, Freddy, graciously allowed the whole crew (5 adults, 3 kids, and 3 dogs) to stay at his house. We visited the Tx State Aquarium and Malaquite Beach on Padre Island on Saturday and ate some great Mexican food, during our stay. We all had a nice relaxing time (except for maybe Liam…being crated is probably not his idea of a vacation).
All the “J” cousins…Joe, Jason, Jude, and Joshua…watching the dolphin show.
Posing in front of the aquarium.
This was Jude’s first time at the beach and he really loved the ocean. He tried eating the sand a few times because I was too slow to catch him.
Joe built Jude a sand castle to destroy godzilla-style. Joshua and Jason helped to make the awesome moat and pond around the castle and came running back from the ocean with buckets of water for the full effect.
Joe wanted to be buried in the sand. We tried to get Jude to stand on Joe, but he chose to lie down instead.
March 22, 2009
Since it was Spring Break, Jude and I went to visit our friend, Payne, and his mommy, Cherry, in Houston. We [the mommies] had a really good time eating cookies and hanging out. Jude loved getting to play with all of Payne’s toys. Payne was so sweet towards Jude, he kept patting him on the head and back. Surprisingly, Jude slept very well at their house and did well on both the drive there and back. I’m sad that our visit wasn’t longer. Next time we visit, maybe Payne’s new baby sister, Hayden, will be there, too.
Payne is showing off for the camera.
Just a couple of guys hangin' out.
Jude is starting his birthday wish list.
June 17, 2008
So, Father’s Day was our official last trip out of town before the baby’s birth. My dad insisted that we didn’t have to come visit, but it was also his 50th birthday on Wednesday, so I figured big deals like that only happen once in a while. So, we went to Waco to take my dad out to eat for a Father’s Day/birthday celebration. It was nice to get to spend some time with my dad. Plus, this weekend I got both my parents to tell me about my birth. It puts those stories into a new perspective when you are getting ready to have a birth of your own child.
We also got to visit with Joe’s sister and brother-in-law briefly. Their little girl is over a year old now and she is adorable. Walking and everything. She is the spitting image of Joe’s sister. I have a feeling the baby is going to look a lot like Joe. I hope he gets that dark curly hair that I love.
So, now I am 36 weeks pregnant, which makes me 9 months. By Sunday, I will be medically “to term” and the baby will have developed everything he needs. When he decides to make his appearance will be up to him. So here I am, after the worst night of sleep in my mom’s very hot guest bedroom. But, this picture was prior to Joe and I building a piece of furniture, which took a good two hours, and significant amount of grumpiness on my part.
March 14, 2008
So, our Spring Break is coming to an end. This is our last day of break and then it’s back to work like everyone else. It was certainly nice to have a break, though. So, this is a recap of what adventures Joe and I got to have during this past week.
Saturday – Monday
We took Liam to Waco to see my family and to show them how big I have gotten. The weather was cold (then eventually rainy) the whole time we were there so I was thankful that we decided not to go camping during Spring Break. It was nice to see my parents and I got to spend some time with my brother, who will moving to Oregon at the end of the month. My mom was sweet enough to buy us the crib mattress, so now the baby’s bed doesn’t look so scary. Joe and I even drove to West, Texas in the rain on Monday morning because I have been craving kolaches from the Little Czech Bakery at the Czech Stop for a long time, and we are never in that area. I am happy to say that I satisfied my kolache craving for now.
Tuesday
We didn’t do much on Tuesday. But we did go to lunch with Aron, Sarah and Brian at the Clay Pit for their delicious Indian food lunch buffet. Joe and I love going to eat there, and the lunch buffet is reasonably priced. Before we found out if we were having a boy or a girl, we didn’t have any bets, but we said if it was a boy we would go out to eat Indian and if it was a girl we would eat Thai food. So, we ate at the Clay Pit to celebrate our little boy.
Also, a teacher from Joe’s school gave me some maternity clothes. So, now I have some nice shirts I can wear to work. I just need to find some pants.
Wednesday
This was our big trip to Brenham, Texas. Our friend Sarah made us a reservation to tour the Blue Bell factory. We all concluded in the end that the tour did not live up to our Willy Wonka-esque expectations, but the scoop of ice cream at the end was pretty awesome. Both Sarah and I had the new flavor, Centennial Cupcake, which was pretty tasty with little pieces of cake in it.
The farmer inside Joe.
Aron, Sarah, and Joe at the Blue Bell Factory waiting for our tour to start.
Here’s my 22 weeks pregnant picture (plus a few days).
Pregnant lady’s dream come true!
After Blue Bell, we went and had lunch at Must Be Heaven, which is a sandwich shop downtown. After browsing some of the shops, we headed down the road to the miniature horse farm at the Monastery of St. Clare. Nuns raise and sell miniature horses, which were absolutely adorable. Apparently I wasn’t the only pregnant one there; many of the horses and one dog were expecting.
Joe giving some of the pregger ponies a pet.
We were exchanging some pregnancy advice.
The pregnant dog looked really exhausted.
Aron trying to get the pony to give him a kiss.
One of the new babies.
Saturday
My friend, Jessica, invited to go to with her and her neighbor to the Mommy and Me Consignment Sale at the Palmer Events Center. She actually had a pass for the Pre-Sale, so we got to do some shopping before they opened the doors to the public. I got the baby two onesies, a sleep outfit and a book. I also managed to get me a pair of khaki maternity pants and shorts. Total price: $18. I was pretty proud of myself. Plus, Jess was kind enough to lend me her maternity jeans, so now I actually have pants I fit into.
Sunday
Clean the house day. We’re talking dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping. Joe said I was nesting because I started to clear out the closet in the nursery, which required me to reorganize three other closets in order to make room for all the things that were once stored in the baby’s closet. My friend Courtney had some toys and maternity clothes to pass down, so I made room for those, as well. It’s starting to feel real…I mean, that there will be a baby soon.
I just realized how incredibly long this post is and how this can be of interest to no one. But, to wrap it all up, we’ve enjoyed our time off with friends and family.
February 4, 2008
Well, I am home from a week in Seattle. I would have titled this Sleepless in Seattle, but the truth is that I had my own hotel room and I slept quite nicely in the middle of the king sized bed (although I did miss Joe and Liam). I didn’t get to do too much in Seattle, since I was in a training from 8:30-4:30 every day. But, I did manage to catch up with some people that I rarely get to see and I truly enjoyed that.
On Thursday night, I got to hang out with my friend, Loretta. We went to King’s Hardware (a pub) for dinner and then she took me and my friend from work to a Seattle coffee shop (that wasn’t Starbucks or Seattle’s Best…those things are everywhere, esp. up there). It was so nice to get to catch up with her and hear about her life. Plus, it was also my annivesary, so at least if I couldn’t be with Joe that I didn’t have to spend it alone.
Me & Loretta. I have a problem with always closing my eyes during the flash.
Loretta posing with some sweet potato fries.
Friday night I got to hang out with Joe’s aunt, Sara. We went to dinner at Thai Ginger at the Pacific Place “mall” and did some browsing before the shops closed. It was good to see her on her own “home turf” and it was even nicer that she treated me to dinner and a gift from Nordstrom (Thanks, Sara!).
Sara…waiting for a table at Thai Ginger
Posing on the breezeway to Nordstrom. Check out the skyline.
Me looking pregnant. I can tell the baby he/she got to go to Seattle.
I think Joe and I will have to go back so that we can visit both these lovely ladies and I can do all the touristy stuff I wanted, rather than learning about parenting groups for 3 days. But, I do have to say, after a week in the low 40s and drizzle, it was so nice to come home to Austin, where it was a cool 70-something I can enjoy walks with my dog without my eyes stinging from the cold.
January 23, 2008
Bless Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.! Not only has he made tremendous strides for the civil rights movement in our country, but he also gets me a three day weekend in his honor (and the first holiday after Winter Break). So, here’s an update about our life as of late, which is a little bit about our weekend and some of what has happened this week.
October 29, 2007
This past weekend, we went with our friends Aron and Sarah to the pumpkin patch at Sweetberry Farm in Marble Falls. In addition to the the pumpkin patch, there was a corn field maze in the shape of Texas, pony rides, face painting, and not to mention, delicious strawberry popsicles. The weather was great and there were plenty of opportunities for pictures.
After much deliberation, we picked out the perfect pumpkin and tonight I have made the most awesome jack-o-lantern using a template from this website. An hour later, I now have the Halloween equivalent of my favorite Hallo-wiener.
Posing in the pumpkin patch.
Look what’s under the hood.
American Gothic
We found a winner!
It looks just like Liam.
With the lights out. (click on the link if you can’t see the picture…it’s pretty neat)
October 8, 2007
Joe and I have had the busiest 5 days we have ever experienced. We’ve had something to do everyday for the past few days. So, here is a sorta-week in pictures (and text).
Last Wednesday
Joe and I went to a taco salad dinner at his school to support the drill team. It was fun to reminisce about our high school cafeteria.
Last Thursday
Joe and I went to a fundraiser for my work at the downtown Hilton. They have chefs from many of the upscale restaurants around town create a small appetizer/dish so that you can sample many different things. It’s like getting samples at the grocery store, only the samples are bigger and fancier. I don’t think we’ve ever eatten so well: oysters Rockefeller, ceviche, hamachi, beef carpachio, lobster shepard’s pie, creme brulee french toast. I felt like I was judging Top Chef. They also had wine and drinks and a silent auction. Joe was bidding on a Kevin Durant basketball that he sadly lost at the last minute. Joe and I got to get dressed up…which was fun. Here we are ready to raise funds!
Last Friday
We went to homecoming at Joe’s school. Of course, I was giving Joe a hard time about getting me a mum for the homecoming game because he never got me one in high school. Needless to say, I didn’t get one, but I did find a box of old mums that I modeled for Joe one night. He admittedly said he didn’t understand why this was a big deal to girls. We had fun at the football game and it was nice to see Joe’s students wanting to say, “hi” to him. I really enjoyed the half time performance. It reminded me of all times.
Saturday/Sunday
We went to San Angelo with our friends Aron and Sarah. Aron’s family was throwing his dad a surprise 50th birthday party. We got to see some awesome pictures of Aron as a child and enjoy some doubles tennis on the Wii. The next morning we all took a turn riding one of the horse, Rey. I never thought I could have fun in San Angelo, Tx…but turned out to be a pretty entertaining weekend.
Joe and Aron checking out the goats. I promised this goat that I would put her on the internet.
Playing tennis.
Check us out riding Rey (the king).
September 8, 2007
Look at us! March 2000, near Buckinham Palace, London England. I always feel like I have looked the same my whole life. People at work think always I am just “fresh out of college” and not the ”seasoned chicken” that I am. But when I look at this, I really think I look young….both of us. Heck, these are the pre-marital days. I was only 19 years old.
