One down, 4 1/2-ish to go

Hello dear friends!  The last week has flown by and I have not told you about my first baby shower.  Sad to say, I did not personally take one picture, but my friends and sister did.  Still waiting for them so I can post a few--namely Kari and Whoppa.  My shower was so nice and we received a ton of gifts.  From the 9 hostesses, we got peanut's bedding and it is so cute.  You guys are going to have to wait for pics of the nursery, as many final touches will not be added until post baby.  We got so many special gifts and I am still working on thank you cards.  I will get there, it just is taking more time than I thought.  If you want to see a super cool diaper bag that my sister handmade me, go to her blog and check it out.  She also has pictures from the shower for you to see.  It was so nice to spend that special time with family and friends!  

This weekend I received a surprise little stomach bug.  That was awful, but we are back up and running.  That is the first time I have been that kind of sick in a long time.  Today I had my 35 week appointment and all is looking good.  Still measuring a week ahead of schedule and the little pumpkin is riding high.  Next week begins the infamous checks, and I am a little nervous, even though it is going to get so much worse, before it ever gets better.  Modesty is no more friends.  Sad day, sad day.  This weekend I am looking forward to another shower with Bunco and church friends.  It promises to be a grand time.  Our Bible study is going well and I have started to mentor one of our high school youth.  She is a fantastic girl and I would ask that you please pray for guidance and direction for our time spent together.  I want it to be profitable and lasting, and the near future will bring about some challenges (extra-curricular schedules, new baby, etc.).  Now it is time for supper, because this prego is hungry!  Have a marvelously chilly week!

    

These are some of my great friends from the late Camp Buckner.

Weekend behind, week ahead

Update:  All is well, per the doc.  I am measuring 34 weeks and we will return in 2.  Thanks for keeping us in your prayers.

On Saturday Jaime and I took a little trip to San Antonio.  It was definitely our last as a duo, and we had a great time.  We ate at Mi Tierra downtown, which was a first for me.  It is very authentic Mexican food, not Tex-Mex.  Definitely recommend it if you have not been before.  Super colorful and they even have a bakery, filled with every type of Mexican treat you can think of.  I refrained because I had seen a Krispy Kreme on our way in.  I really don't even like KK's, but I was wanting some doughnut holes.  Sidenote: when we were in NYC for the first time last Thanksgiving, they had a Dunkin Donuts on most streets corners.  All I wanted was some donut holes, in a city busting at the seams with diverse cuisines.  Blame it on the childhood memories at our local DD's.  Back to our trip.... We viewed the Alamo from the car and drove around downtown.  Tons of horse drawn carriages, which reminded me of Central Park.  We headed to Babies R' Us to purchase a much needed mattress for the crib.  We picked up a few other things and headed over to the DSW and then on to La Cantera.  A lady at Macy's politely told me they don't carry maternity clothes.  I was hoping they might because Nordstrom does, but Macy's is quite a bit cheaper.  A little embarrassing, but I recovered well and we went to the GAP, which has been a life saver for this pregnant body.  I found a few things to wear for my showers that are coming up.  We got some frozen yogurt at Marble Slab and got back in the car.  No time for Krispy Kreme doughnut holes.  Sad, but true.

This week is a full one.  Today I get to go see my OB and this evening we have Bunco!!  Yay!  Tomorrow I am having lunch with a dear friend and I hope to get more advice on this birthing ordeal.  I have a sinking suspicion we may not make it to the child birthing classes, which is a little unnerving.  We started a new Bible study on Wednesday nights called Anointed, Transformed, and Redeemed.  I think it is going to be great and help me make it to the end of my pregnancy.  I am bringing this week's dessert and I don't have any good ideas yet so I may have to go the already made route.  Friday my sister and her family are coming for my baby shower on Saturday morning.  I am super excited about this shower and getting further along in decorating the nursery.  It is not nearly ready yet.  I also am having another shower on the 31st.  I am one blessed young woman and I am so grateful for my loving friends and family.  If I get any interesting news at this appointment I will post it later.  Have a wonderful week!

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!