Haven't ranted in a while...

Before reading please watch this video... It's not spam, promise.

Now read this if you wish... my thoughts.

The other day, while on vacay with the family, I told G/husband, in all seriousness and with a slight tear in my eye (no joke) that I needed him to promise me that we wouldn't feed our son fast food and/or total CRAP. He agreed and assured me that we would take all the precautions necessary to prevent bad habits.

I'm not a food-Nazi. I'm not a health guru. I don't always eat perfectly. I'm not preaching about going gluten free or vegan. I just really REALLY don't want to be the reason our son could potentially grow up to be obese. Ask my husband. I'm pretty strict at home. The thought of eating the kind of stuff shown in the video more often than the special occasion, doesn't just make me gross out at the thought of it, it literally makes me SAD and AFRAID.

It's so so so important to instill healthy eating habits early on. Yea, my nieces enjoy the occasional ice cream and french fry (and sometimes I'm the one giving it to them) but I know they know that it's a treat and not a meal replacement. Also, while on vacation, I kept noticing obese children. And it started to make me really mad! That's unacceptable. A child shouldn't be obese and it's not the child's fault they are, probably. I'm not a parent yet and I can't judge other parents because then I'd be more of a hypocrite than I already probably am, but it really is very disappointing to see small children who are extremely overweight. CRAP food affects so many things short term and long term is ALL of us.

If you're reading this and you ever have intentions of caring for our son, taking him out for a fun play date, or simply want to let him indulge... Please ask us first before giving him junk.

Thanks for listening!

The Grand Tour

Finally putting pictures up of our house!

Back Porch Before and After

Master Bathroom Before & After

Kitchen Before & After

Living Room Before &After

Front Room Before & After (to be changed again!)



Master Bedroom Before & After

I still need to get some pictures up of the nursery and the "sitting" area and dining room! 

Next up - NURSERY REVEAL! 



Week 23- Adventures in Pregnancy

I'm digging the second trimester so much I don't even know when the third one starts. And don't want to know. I finally "look" pregnant, not just like I have a redneck, white trash beer belly. 

G and I are enjoying these last few weeks of D.I.N.K. (Dual Income No Kids) status. Eventually we will be D.I.K. status... That's not cool, we need a new acronym for working parents!!!! 

Things we've been up to:

- setting up mini G's room... Refinishing furniture before it gets too hot, painting, organizing, etc. Super thankful for my bargain hunter mom and sister. Little G's closet will be full in no time and he already has tons of great stuff to play with! 

- biking! It's a great workout... Not too strenuous but I don't feel quite as lazy and unproductive

- baby G's sonogram! All the right parts are there which is awesome news. I can't believe we have another appointment next week! 

- discussing child care... It's more stressful than you think. And yes, it's a ways away, but we are planners and I'm a little neurotic... Shush! Very pleased to know my wonderful MIL loves our little guy so much she has already offered to help out! Thanks Mimi! 

- day dreaming about what he is going to look like... Don't even act like you with children didn't do this. You're just as vain as we are! 

- buying maternity clothes...thats been fun...not! However, now that I have some, I am SO much more comfortable...And SO much less self conscious. As G would say, "you're pregnant!" Touché, very true, dear. 

Some struggles during the past few weeks... 

- staying comfortable while sleeping. I still end up on my stomach and freak out a little when I realize I may be squishing him. 

- Stretching. Not after exercise. My tummy. I have a gnarly appendicitis scar that, per my good friend who is the Google Queen, is somehow attached to my uterus. Awesome, not. So when baby G grows, it hurts a little. Supposedly it's okay and normal and the "stretching" feeling will go away. We will ask the doc next week. 

- feeling lame. I feel like a fuddy duddy sometimes. Thankfully my hubs is very supportive and we somehow find a way to stay entertained. 

- swelling paranoia... I am so paranoid I am gonna swell up like a balloon making me a full fledge Rollie Pollie. I may be a little vain. At least I admit it! 

- noticing people noticing me... Well my ever growing middle. It's a little weird. If I don't have make up on, I feel like I need to show my wedding ring like "I'm old enough... Look I am married!" Haha Luckily, like I said, I finally look the part. Stupid societal pressures. **rolls eyes** 

All in all things are lovely. We are looking forward to becoming "mommy and daddy" more and more everyday. 

PS- Go Spurs Go! 

What a Beautiful Life We Live

Most of you who read this already know what today is... a year ago I flew, in my car, to University Hospital in San Antonio. Dad had lungs. A year ago I saw Dad on a hospital bed connected to things I don't even care to know about, with a tube down his throat like you SHOULD only see in the movies. A year ago, I watched, thirty minutes prior to surgery, as the doctor called in the "crash cart" because Dad wasn't going to make it. Then, as our friends and family gathered in the waiting room, praying for him, I saw God work a miracle right in front of my eyes. He would make it to surgery whether he was ready to give up or not, God wouldn't let him. A year ago this moment, I was just waking up from a few hours of sleep, next to my soon to be husband, on a lumpy and bumpy pull out couch in a hotel room stocked with snacks and drinks that our friends had kindly provided Mom and us to stay while Dad was in the hospital.

Dad had just gotten out of his surgery about 6 hours prior and was asleep in his ICU room of the Transplant floor. I knew he had no clue that he had a new pair of healthy lungs in his chest. I knew he probably was not waiting for us to show up since I figured he hadn't woken up yet but as tired as we all were, we popped back up and went straight to the hospital. The room was tight with all the machines keeping all his functions in proper working order and we pushed the boundaries for maximum occupancy but who wouldn't want to see a living miracle?

He had been saved. By the Grace of God, Dad would live to see numerous days, hundreds now! He amazed everyone at his speedy recovery...even made some of us nervous that he was pushing it... but determination doesn't fall far from the tree in this family.

So even though Memorial Day Weekend is for the remembrance of our heroes who have served, are serving and will serve in our US armed forces (THANK YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!!) ...Memorial Day also means a whole hell of a lot more now that MY hero is alive and well.

And while my Dad, undoubtedly, has more things that he has learned and is thankful for than he can even spell (jk, Dad) I'd like to let you all know some things I have learned and am thankful for....not just the miracle that is my Dad but all that comes with that. Our God is a loving and forgiving vessel of hope and grace.

Thankful for:
- God's miracle, my Dad
- The pure example of selflessness, my Mom
- The day that my Dad gets to hold his first grandson and all the times in mini G's life that will remind us of my Dad
- Lumpy and bumpy couches that allow me to be closer to those I love
- Those who ask about my parents who have never met them, have known them or me for years, or who are now part of our family... it's very meaningful even if my response is simply "Good"... good is better than the alternative!
- Those I get to tell this story to who may see God's light in all of it
- Deep breaths...I take them more often now, more consciously, in remembrance of the person who lost his life and allowed Dad his
- The knowledge that the human race is not all lost... that there are still so many loving and caring individuals in the world and that we can all contribute to that growth

I've learned:
- To be more easy going (still a work in progress)
- To notice more and appreciate more
- To live this beautiful life that we've been given to the fullest, even if it means stretching your bank account to go on an adventure, driving just to see your niece's recital even if she won't remember you being there, and/or taking a risk but trusting that God has your best interests at hand and will guide you to the path of success
- What family means to me... and what a true friend looks like
- How to be a better spouse, daughter, aunt, sister, friend and employee
- How to accept help and love from others and swallow my pride
- That nothing, absolutely NOTHING, is as bad as it could be or should be... God only gives us what we can handle

What a beautiful life we live.... count your blessings, thank your US armed forces, and just love....everything and everyone. G, mini G and I love you, Dad and are so thankful for your story and all we have to take away from it

Week 19 - Adventures in Pregnancy

I'm taking a break from spring cleaning to write some thoughts down. Trying to get baby G's room ready to start decorating!!! I've moved onto my own room, tossing clothes, and reorganizing everything. Needing a break though!

This last week was supposed to be the week of our "big" sonogram (you know, the one where they measure and test a bunch of stuff) but to accommodate the family field trip to our side of the world for the show, we pushed it back a week. Which, at this point, I'm glad we did! In my opinion, Baby Boy G is tiny. I know everyone who is pregnant thinks they are either too big or too small for whatever stage of pregnancy they are in but, no joke, I'm just now bumpin'. And I couldn't be happier that it's finally about to really pop.

No more questions like "Still no bump???" or "Are you really pregnant?" because now it's pretty obvious (to me at least) that 1. I am pregnant and 2. Yes, there is finally a bump. 

 

Good things happening right now.... ramping up to start designing/decorating Mini G's room; first round of registering is done; baby shower plans and dates are being tossed around; I cannot stress this enough - no more nausea!!! 

 

Not so good things happening.... being hungry.... all the time; eating...and getting full really fast. It's a vicious cycle. Oh and being emotional... I could be an actress who specializes in crying at the drop of a hat for no apparent reason! 

 

Other than that, I'm feeling totally "normal"! I think the thing about pregnancy I like best is that everyone is so different. Everyone feels differently, experiences different symptoms, but we each get a little miracle at the end of it all.

 

Oh and one more thing - special Happy Mother's Day to my mom and mother in law. Even though I'm only halfway to mommyhood, I can only hope to be half the mom you each are! Love you both!