My Mental Recap

Harvey's well and awaiting his new "toy"

Our beautiful tree from the Epley's

Holly, Me, and Whop-same hat, different colors

Cute brothers and b.i.l.'s

Whop and Reese at Moom's

Some of my loot

Got this for Jaime and it is hilarious

Just to preface this post, I have a severe case of pregnancy brain.  I will do my best to remember and to write about the last 20+ days, in short form of course.  We had a lovely Christmas this year.  It was time well spent with my immediate family and Jaime's too.  I even learned how to make delicious Hungarian Kremes.  They are similar to an American cream puff, just 10 times more delicioso.  My sweet Aunt Lucie let me mess up her dishes and kitchen as she taught me how to make my great Grandma Roman's recipe.  My sister and her family were here quite a while, so of course I took full advantage of playtime with my 6 month old niece Reese.  She is such a ham.  On Christmas Eve day I decorated cookies with my sweet niece Aidan.  We went to a short service at church and then to dinner with the Ellis'.  We opened pj's at Jorge and Amy's and then came home to open our gifts to each other.  Jaime was so sweet to get me tons of things I love and things I needed.  He is a fantastic husband year round!  We awoke Christmas morning and had brunch and presents with the Ellis' and watched movies.  After a quick rest at home, we headed to Mom's and Dad's to open gifts and have Christmas dinner.  It was a blast!  Ashton and Reese made out like bandits.  The big kids drew a name and filled the corresponding stocking.  That also was a lot of fun.  We all pitched in and got Mom and Dad a table book filled with pictures of the grands and us, of course.  Mom cried, which we totally expected.  It was a marvelous Christmas celebration.  Post Christmas day we hung out, played games, and enjoyed each others company.  New Year's Eve we spent with the Ellis'.  Jaime and I called it quits around 11, due to my stomach ache.  Earlier that day I also went to see 7 Pounds with my Mom.  (This recap is for my fallible memory, but thank you for reading).

On a side note, I am thrilled to begin a new year.  There is so much in store and we can't wait to see all that the Lord does in 2009.  I also cannot wait for my precious son or daughter to get here.  The pregnancy has taken over--- body and brain.  Praying wonderful blessings for you and yours this new year!  His mercies are NEW every morning.

Time for a little Praise

Can I just say Hallelujah!!  Today I took the 3 hour glucose tolerance test and it came back negative!  I was so worried for the last three days.  I originally thought I was out of the woods, because my doctor's office had not responded  for over a day and a half.  They had told me no news is good news.  Well then they called and said my sugar was a little high on the original 1 hour test.  I cried because I was so upset and did not want to have gestational diabetes.  I know there are much worse things, but couple the possibility with a first time pregnancy and whoa!  So needless to say this afternoon, I called all the fam and shared the good news and sent those praises flying!  The Lord is good, even if I would have ended up with g.d., He is still good and always in control. 

A few other exciting events took place this week.  On Wednesday I walked out of the public workplace for the next several years.  Enter "Mommyhood."  I am excited and a bit nervous.  The other exciting news is that we received our crib and Jaime has already put it together.  We plan to go and get the baby's mattress next weekend.  Only 11 weeks to go!!  Oh my!  Also only 14 days until Christmas.  Does it feel like it snuck up on anyone else?  I love this holiday season. 

Thanksgiving in 3D

We had a "mauvelous" turkey celebration and holiday.  I spent some great time with my family.  The 3 of us that are married even went out on a date with our spouses.  Mimi got to keep the grands.  What fun!  I did happen to catch a yucky little something on our final Saturday of vacation.  I am still working through it and can I just say, pregnant girl wants antibiotics, not over the counter time wasters!!  Anyhow that is how I feel about it today.  On Monday we saw life in 3-D!  Can I just say technology is fabulous, even if my sweet pea wanted to keep her/his hands in front of her/his face 97% of the time (I put her first, b/c that is what I still think it is).  We still do not know the sex of our baby, nor did we get a peek during this sono, but we did get a DVD filled with 3 second clips and some pictures.  My sister has requested a posting, so here you go.  Baby Ellis at 27.2 weeks.  Blurry picture, but still my precious baby.  Check out that widow's peak.

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!