Quick update

Hello blogland!  All is well here on the homefront.  I have been enjoying not tutoring for the last few weeks.  I have been able to focus on more important things like budgeting, decorating, and my dear friends.  Even today I had lunch with two great friends and mommies, Ashley and Ashley.  I feel like I am in major crunch time to gain some valuable parenting/birthing/pregnancy tips.  I know I still have 14 1/2 weeks to go, but I think my nesting phase has started way early.  I still think I am having a girl and the hubs still thinks it is a boy, though he often refers to her as a her.  My sister is coming down for a whole week and I am so excited.  She is super creative and crafty, so I hope to get a good start on decorating the nursery.  I will be sure to put up some pictures once there is more than just pretty robin egg blue paint.  We are ordering the crib this week and it should be in next month.  My last doctors appointment went well and the doc did not mention my weight!  Can I get a hallelujah for that one!  That will surely "weigh" a sister down.  This baby is growing and making me feel quite large.  I know this is normal, but it feels everything but normal.  I am so grateful for a healthy baby and pregnancy thus far, and pray it will continue.  Next appointment I drink the sugar laced orange liquid.  Eek, I heard it is bad!  In the next few weeks we hope to get the 3D sonogram done for a sweet memento.   Other than baby news, I have begun putting up Christmas decorations.  My thoughts are that we don't get to enjoy it long enough, so I am starting early.  I also put my Fall decor out too early, but to each his own, right?  I was thinking ahead to next year's Christmas and the fact that, Lord willing, we will have a 9 1/2 to 10 month old baby with us.  That is amazing and a bit scary!!  That is where we are in EllisEllisLand.  How are you?  

Shopping Extravaganza

We had a blast this last weekend with my sister in Dallas.  We did some serious shopping and laughed until it hurt.  On Friday night went to Ikea and Jason's Deli.  Saturday we got up and got ready for Canton at 5:30 a.m. and finally left the house at 6:45.  We made a quick pit stop at a nearby Starbucks and arrived at Canton for some extensive shopping.  There is so much to see there, it is a bit overwhelming.  We also met some interesting people.  After lunch I got up from a picnic table and sent the 5 other people flying.  We screamed and laughed so loud and hard it turned into tears.  That was hilarious and we could not seem to get it together the rest of the day.  We then proceeded to Sam Moon, Macaroni Grill, and on to Grapevine Mills.  Boy were we tired by the end of that night!  The next morning we took our time getting ready and enjoyed our precious Reese.  We went to Kohl's, Dick's, Sweet and Sassy, and Charming Charlie before we packed up and headed home.  We did not make it back until after 10 p.m.  Praise the Lord for the extra hour of sleep.  I had such a blast hanging out with my sister, my mom, and my 2 aunts.  I am so blessed to have them as a part of my family.  There are some precious pictures from our trip on my sister's blog.  I usually take my time uploading and posting mine, so you can look at her's.  I pray this election day will remind all of us that our Father is sovereign over all things, including American presidential elections.  Have a marvelous week! 

Pictures

These are a few photos I wanted to post, since I don't do it enough.  All things are well with us, just continuing to grow.  Sorry the pics from the sonogram did not turn out, or I could share those.  Maybe at 28 weeks.  This weekend we have a baby shower for my sweet friend Kira, and next weekend we are going to Dallas for the much anticipated shopping trip.  Mom, all the aunts, and female cousins are going to my sister's.  It promises to be a blast and we are very excited.  I pray all things are well in your lives.  

This is one of my favorites from our last trip to the big D.

Isn't she so stinking cute!

This one is more for me and Whop.  Reese was much more interested in watching Uncle Jaime climb the rock wall at Dick's sporting goods.  I kept egging him on, and totally forgot he does not do heights.  He is such a sport, and he made it 3/4 of the way, before it really got to him.  Only later did he kindly remind me he hates heights!  Oops.

                       

We cooked out with Dad, Brooks, and Blake for their b-days earlier this month.

This is my brother Brooks.  Enough said.  

We also had our Halloween party for the littles.  This is me, Holly and Whoppa.  You can look at my sister's blog to see more pics from the party.  We had a blast.  (I am missing the sun in a bad way!)

   Last, but not least this is my precious Hatira!  She came and spent the night with us this last weekend and we enjoyed our time together.  We shopped, played Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, and ate some yummy food.  We even had a picnic on Sunday after church.   The weather was gorgeous.  We love our Meanie Meanie.

1/2 Way

We are almost half way there and I am so excited!  Our next appointment is on the 13th, along with a high-tech VHS recording of our little peanut.  VHS you say....why yes!  It is the latest in technological advances, and my dear friend Gidge has offered to convert it into DVD form, so I can at least watch it in my very own home.  The doctor's office has not forked over the dinero for an updated machine, but I still am impressed with his many years of experience.  

Pregnancy is a humbling experience, to say the least.  I am learning this first hand and have heard plenty of stories.  My belly keeps growing and I am pretty sure I no longer have a waist.  It is also a wee bit on the exhausting side.  Many other changes are taking place too, such as major hormone imbalances.  Poor Jaime, he never knows what he is going to get with me.  He has been wonderful and so very patient.  I love my husband and I am so tremendously blessed to be his wife!  

We have chosen a few names: Eva Sophia for a little girl and Oliver John for a little boy.  I feel like I am just going to have to see that little face, before I can officially name it, even if we were finding out.  I can feel this precious little baby moving around inside me and it is the most incredible feeling.  I cannot wait to see him or her.  I am so curious to see her skin and eyes.  By the way, I think it is a girl and Jaime thinks it is a boy.  50/50 on the winner!

October is busy, busy, busy.  I have started tutoring for the school district three days a week.  My Dad, bro Brooks, and bro Blake all have birthdays this week.  I have 2 baby showers to attend, plus another trip to Dallas at the end of the month.  My sister, sister-in-law, and I are throwing a Halloween party for our younger cousins, nieces, and nephews.  It is next Saturday and we really are running a little short on time and planning!  We will get it together and it will be a blast, as long as we can sew those wings to our pants (so we can fly by them)!

So that is life in Ellis land for now.  We are growing and learning more each day and we pray you are too! 

Happy First Day of Fall

Harvey sends his pumpkin love to you all!  

Something for the Sweet Tooth

I just wanted to share three treats with you guys that I made for my Bible study group!  They were a big hit and simple to make.  

Oreo Truffles (Oreo Balls): 1 bag Oreos and 8oz. of softened cream cheese, almond bark.  You put your Oreos in a food processor or blender until they are a finely crumbled.  Then add your cream cheese and mix well.  Form your mixture into bite-sized balls and freeze for 30 minutes.  Dip your Oreo balls into either chocolate or white chocolate Almond Bark (bakers chocolate).  Keep refrigerated and serve cold.

Red Velvet Truffles (Cake Balls): 1 boxed cake mix, 1 tub frosting, almond bark. Choose any type of boxed cake mix and follow instructions.  Once you have baked the cake, crumble it up and add ready-made frosting of your choosing.  Mix thoroughly and form into balls.  Freeze for 30 minutes and dip in chocolate.  Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Buckeyes (Peanut Butter Balls): 1 1/2cups peanut butter, 1 cup softened butter, 6 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, almond bark.  Combine all ingredients and form small balls.  Freeze for 30 minutes and then dip in chocolate, leaving a small opening at the top so they resemble the buckeye nuts.  Keep refrigerated and serve cold.  (This is a gluten free recipe).

I used toothpicks to dip the balls and it made much less of a mess.

Have a marvelous weekend and enjoy the rain!

 

Slow down Porky.....

We went to the doctor today and he always asks if the scales were good to me.  Well, let me just tell you I told him, "I don't ask and they never tell."  So.... he says, "Not to make you self conscious or anything, but this last month was a pretty steep weight gain."  And so he proceeded to tell me I would have a hard time losing the weight for my 6 week check up after the baby is born.  Luckily, I did not have a melt down in the office, nor did I shed a tear over this dreary news!  I remembered that these last 4 weeks I have gone to San Antonio twice, it was my birthday, and my Mom made some awesome chicken fried steak!  Not to mention prego has got to eat!  Healthier choices and more exercise are this baby's future!  Oh, the bliss of being called out on a WEIGHTY issue!  Tee hee hee!  Now if you guys see me in the next few days or weeks and I am having a serious meltdown about the body, just remind me I laughed about it and Weight Watchers is around the corner!!