Taking All Guesses!

Monday is the Big Day!

We will be finding out if I am growing a Baby Girl or a Baby Boy!

What do you think!?

Some Info That might help your decision:
-I am carrying low, and out front ... which points towards a boy!
-We did some of the "Japanese" guess the gender quizzes: all three pointed towards a boy!
-We have not heard the heartbeat, so no conclusions there!
-There are 3 granddaughters on Bryan's side ... so we either have the 4th or the first grandson.
-My grandmother has FOUR great grandsons, so we either gave her her 5th one or or first great granddaughter!
-I have 8 girl friends from high school that have had babies, which equal to NINE GIRLS, No Boys! So, I have either put us into double digits with girls, or broken the tradition!

Bryan and I are just praying for a healthy, happy baby ... we don't care what the gender is!!

Spring Cleaning ...

Just a few months late!

Bryan and I have done some major cleaning this past week! I am honestly surprised at how far we got! Since we moved in ... we have had 2 rooms that are just where all the junk is stored: The storage room and the office, which will soon be the baby's room!

We have thrown so much stuff away ... It was crazy to think we had all that in our house!!

We have a nice size pile of things going to the Salvation Army!

The end result makes me smile!

The Baby's Room ...
Ready for Paint and Furniture!

Headed to the Salvation Army!

Our Storage Room!
Bryan hung his golf bags and bat bag from the ceiling! Great space saver!

That's a lot of stuff for shelves ...
but everything is organized on it!

Making room for a baby is tough ... but I loved doing it!

Beginning the Process ..

Today, I was supposed to go to the hospital from 6AM-6PM. But I got that wonderful call at 5AM that said they didn't need me! :)

So we took advantage of my free morning, and Bryan also being home ... and began the process of making room for the baby!

Starting in our storage room, we made three piles in our living room/kitchen: Boxes to go in my parent's attic, Trash and Salvation Army!

We had most of the stuff out of there and in one of the three piles in no time! We were then able to clean the floor really good! Now we are slowly moving stuff out of our office (which is now the baby's room) in the storage room!

Just to show how hard my hubby worked ...

Nice Clean Room!!

No, we did not paint that room ... someone had done it before we moved in!! hehe

Week 17

This has been an exciting week for me!!

On Saturday, I felt the baby (or I'm about 95% positive it was the baby) move in my stomach for the first time!

When Bryan puts his ear on my tummy, he says there is twice as much movement/noise as there used to be! Baby Neal is definitely growing and getting stronger!

I am hungry all the time! I eat a normal helping of food at dinner ... then in about an hour, I am hungry again! I am trying really hard to get in all the food groups within the day ... and with these hot summer days, I easily drink my 8 cups of water a day!

People keep asking me if I am having any cravings! I would have to say nothing really yet ... though I could eat fresh fruit all day long!! But I've always liked fruit, so I don't think I would consider that a craving!

Luckily, my clothes still fit! My shirts are longer, so yes they are tight on my stomach ... but maternity shirts are still too big! All of my pants/shorts can still be worn with the help of a Belly Band (which I love)!! Dreading that day, when I can't wear normal clothes in my closet!

Picture of the Week:

It is Definitely Working!

That is ... the Shock Collar!

I am amazed at how quickly Bevo caught on! We have not had to shock him in a long time! And Since the battery went out in the remote, we haven't been able to ... even if we wanted to! But luckily, we have had no need to! He has been so obedient while going for walks!

Yesterday, I went out into the big open field, where the Bryan and the boys often play football or softball!! He roamed the whole area! He is not allowed to cross the road, so he chases a bird all the way to the ditch ... then turns around and runs straight back to me! He watches people and cars go by ... and does not attempt to chase after them!

He did something yesterday that proved he was ready to be off of the shock collar!

Near the open area where we were at ... there is a small hole between the fence and a yard! In the past, Bevo has known that hole well ... because that was his key to the dirt fields behind our houses, where he would run for hours ... ignorning us the entire time! I wasn't paying attention ... and the next thing I saw was Bevo was on the other side of the fence about 100 feet from me ... going for the fields! I immedietely called for him to come here! Instead of going back through the hole, he came to where I was ... but with a fence in between us! I was impressed that he at least obeyed to an extent! Then I said, "Come Here Bevo!" and he ran back to the hole, and then straight to me! I was sitting there in awe ...

Bryan showed up shortly after that ... and I was sooo excited to tell him about our amazing dog!! I am happy to say that we will be replacing the battery to the remote, and then giving the shock collar back to our neighbors! We are in no need of it anymore!

Food Stylist Challenge

The other day, we watched a food stylist challenge on Food Network!

This morning, I was supposed to go to the hospital for a 6AM-2PM ... and around 5AM, they called and said they didn't need me! I said Thank You, Jesus and went back to bed! We got up around 9, and fixed a yummy breakfast!

Since we had so much to choose from, we thought we would try our hand at food styling!

I think we are ready for the critiques!

Oh, and Happy 21st Birthday to my Brian Holik!!

16 Weeks

WOW! 16 Weeks! Only 4 weeks until half way there! WOW!

Here's What Going ON:
-I have noticed that my stomach is getting hard ... Especially right after I eat, or I have to pee! My whole belly is full and hard all over! It's crazy!!
-I am carrying low ... very low! I am mostly growing under my belly button! There is a midwives tales that say if you carry low, you are having a boy! Well, we will find out soon enough!
-I am just waiting for movements in my belly! I hear you can feel the "flutter" as early as 15 weeks!

Fun Story:
The other day, Bryan was telling the baby good night. So he put his head on my tummy, where the baby was! As he was laying there, I could feel a "bubble-like" thing rising in my belly! and it popped right by Bryan's ear! He sat up, and was like "WHOA!" I told him that was probably not the baby ... I'm pretty sure it was something in my stomach! Maybe it was the baby, giving him "bumps"!! hehe I asked if he could hear anything in there! He said that it sounds like there is something swimming in there!

The BIG Appointment is August 3rd!

Lake Amistad Vacation

On Friday Morning, we left the house at 6:15AM We arrived in Del Rio at Lake Amistad Resort right around 9AM! We then had to check in, get the boats (house boat, and tubing boat), load EVERYTHING onto the boats, and go through orientation! We finally set sail at noon!

Since the house boat only goes about 10 mph, it took us about an hour and a half to get to where we docked! Bryan drove the tubing boat half the time, then he captained the "biggie" boat!

The "Biggie" Boat

We docked in a cove, ate lunch ... and everyone was ready to get in the water! One of the cottage parents took a couple boys out tubing, while Bryan got to play lifeguard at the house boat! The water was amazing!

We swam, fished, and they tubed ... until the evening! We ate, watched a movie, then went to bed!

The next morning, we went to another place to hang out! I road with Bryan on the other boat! The scenery was beautiful! We even found Indian signs on the cliff walls!!

We went swimming in some very cold water. They had found an area where there were a lot of natural springs coming out of the ground and down the mountains!

The House Boat had a slide off of the back end ...

Having a little fun!

Fishing Saturday Evening! My Favorite Pic of the Trip ...

On Sunday morning, we cleaned the house boat ... and headed back to check in!

I even drove the boat for a little bit!

I had been saying that there was an alligator in the Lake that was going to eat me ... Then when I saw this, I actually had to look twice!! It was a bunch of tires!

We left our cove around 10:30, and finally made it back to the check in marina at 12:30PM!

We then went into Del Rio, and ate some really good Mexican food ... then headed home! We finally got home around 5PM!

Mini Vacation

A couple weekends ago, Bryan went with one of the cottages on their vacation! This time, I was invited also! We are leaving for Del Rio tomorrow morning ... we will be spending the weekend on a house boat! They kids will be tubing, swimming, etc!

I am exciting about a mini vacation (especially since we don't have to write the checks)!!

Have a great weekend!! See ya Monday!

Happy Birthday EMERY!

Today is Ms. Emery's First Birthday!!

Hours old with her Uncle Bryan!
One year old ...
and walking all over the place!!

Have a great day!!

Another Lunch Date

We drove home from Kerrvile this morning!

Someone always has a hard time finding a way to ride home!!
On our way home, I got a call for an invite for a lunch date!! One I couldn't turn down! So, I made it home, and drove straight into town to meet Joanna and Sidnee at Cheddars!

If her mama would give her the keys, she would be long gone!

Good Times!!

Emery's 1st B-day Party

Super Excited about her Party ...
and the sunscreen!!
Very Cheesey Smile!!

Everybody singing "Happy Birthday"!
"This is ALL for me!?!"

Definitely needed the two hands to eat it!

I'd have to say that she truely enjoyed it!

Her present from us was hard to wrap,
but it was well worth it!

She loved ripping the paper off!!

Still working at it!!

Bryan picked this out ...
I have to say he did a great job!

Since no one would open this box up for her,
she decided to sit on it!

Landry and Bella, Racing their Uncle Bryan!

On the way home ...
Someone is a little tired!!

It was a very HOTT, but Fun Day!

It was about time ...

Bevo is a wonderful dog! He plays and is really hyper in the backyard, but is calm when he comes in the house! His only real problem is that he loves to chase birds. You might not see a problem ... but he gets in this zone and ignores us completely! It is very annoying! When we go on walks, most of the time Bevo has to be on the leash!

We were finally ready to put an end to this!

There was only one way we could think of ...

A Shock Collar!

Our neighbor offered to let us use his a couple months ago, and we finally decided it was time!

On Sunday, We took him out ... with an extra collar around his neck! He walked him with a leash at first. So when he did something wrong, we could give him a little shock ... to get him used to it! Then we let him go ...

He caught sight of a bird and took off! Soon he was close to the field, where we did not want him to go ... we called him to us, and he ignored us! It took a very high shock to get his attention! He jumped to a stop ... we called him back to us again, and he came a running!

I must say he is a very smart dog and caught on quick! Of course, we had to give him a couple more reminders ... but all in all, he did very good!

Master and Dog

He obviously smelt something in the pool storage room!

On Sunday Night, we rewarded him with a treat for putting up with it all!!

Monday went even better! And then Tuesday evening, we didn't shock him once! I am so proud of him! We didn't make it out this evening ... but for sure tomorrow!

Next week, we will walk with out the collar and see how it goes!

14 Weeks

Nothing really new here! I still feel great. I'm eating good! I'm walking 3-4 times a week ... and as soon as the pool opens up here, I will be swimming on top of them!

Otherwise, here are the promised preggo belly pics!

This one I took on my own before church ...
I don't know why, but I like it!

Bryan took this one, with our crosses in the background!
And the traditional, holding the hands under the belly!

From BabyZone:
This week your baby is roughly the size of a small apple or orange

Not a Fun Experience

Since we basically spend Friday evening through Saturday evening in Wall ... we decided to bring the dogs, and keep them at my mom's house!

We left Freedom Fest around 10:15, and made it back to my parent's house by 10:30! We didn't have a garage door opener, so we had to wait on my parents to get home! We were going to sit in my mema's drive way and watch some more fireworks ... but first I was going to get Violet out of the backyard!

In the backyard, I found two dogs ... Bevo and Miko!

I freaked out right away, and Bryan and I began the search! My parents made it home shortly after that, so we asked for a flashlight and told them that Violet was not in the yard!

Bryan and I got in the car, and drove down the road towards Loop 306 ... calling for her every few seconds! Nothing! Came back down, passed the house ... and drove towards the other highway! By this time, I am bawling ... and can barely yell! We make it to the end of the road, and come back on the next road over! My parents were walking down it, and said they thought they heard a small dog on the next street over!

With a little hope, we skipped to the next street over ... and only found a weiner dog in a yard! We came across some peole popping firecrackers in the street ... we stopped and asked if they had seen a small dog run by here. They asked what color (I became even more hopeful), so I told them black and brown! Then they said no! Then a little boy said ... but we are kind people! So I guess that was supposed to let me know that he wouldn't lie to me!

We made it to the next street over, and then decided to head back towards my parent's house! Driving slowly, we were fixing to turn onto my parent's street ... when on the other side of the road I see a little dog running towards us! I freak out, yell, and open the door before Bryan realizes what I saw! When she saw me, she ran and jumped in my arms! I then bawled more tears ... but this time, tears of joy!! I probably squeezed the life out of her ... I was just so happy to hold a perfectly unharmed Violet! We went and found my parents and took them home!

Even though we only had to search for about 45 minutes ... it seemed like forever!

At home (around 1AM)! My eyes are a little swollen and red! But I didn't care ... I needed a picture of me and this little mutt, that I love!

Freedom Fest 2009

We ended our busy 4th of July with Freedom Fest!

Mom and Dad ...
waiting for the Illusionist to start!

Some silly girls behind us wanted to be in the picture!

Oh wait, it's the too grown up ...
Rachel, Shanna and Hannah

Kristy Johnson and her husband Kevin travel the world doing lots of illusions and escapes! They were very entertaining!

Their first trick was really cool! A volunteer came up on stage and helped Keven chain and tie up Kristy. The man put on a sports jacket ... and then, Kristy and the man went in a hoop that covered their shoulders to their feet!

Within 10 seconds, he lower the hoop ... and Kristy was wearing the sports jacket UNDER all the chains and rope! Crazy!

They called this on the human origami ... She went into this box!

And he folded it up to this box! Stuck knives in it and all! Then unfolded it again, and out popped Kristy!
Look at that beauitful sky ... no rain, but a nice cool breeze!

Then she did a water torcher chamber (as she calls it)! She had handcuffs, anklecuffs, chain around her neck with a lock and a chain around her handcuffs with another lock!

Preparing herself!

Then she had to pick a lock at the top, to finally get out!

We forgot to time how long she was under ...
but I know it was way longer than I could have been!

Her last stund was being lifted way off the ground, and getting out of a straight jacket! She did it pretty quickly!

Talk about a head rush ...

Within 30 minutes after she was done, they started the best fireworks show ever! A good 20 minutes of big booms, AHHHS, and pretty colors!

Here's a couple ...



The Finale!