Don't be jealous...

I have been reading many blogs of people who were in Abilene or surrounding areas during the grrrrreeeeaaaattttt snow day on Thanksgiving. But I bet you didn't get to experience the snow in a pair of these...

You shouldn't be jealous. I did look really hot, though.

Update on a few things:

We have decided to remodel the pink bathroom. I know, big mistake because pink is really fashionable these days but we are doing it anyway. Here is the progress so far:

The new tile is ordered and while I type this Ryan is tearing down more walls and Blakester is jumping all over the place. Speaking of the baby...here is an updated picture. It is a little old, only five weeks left now but it's better than nothing.

If you look closely, you can see the bird peeking out of my pants...it's never done that before. Yikes.

Halloween Hotness

We had a really exciting pre-halloween extravaganza at H & J's. Sorry I am a little late posting these. We decided to go over to their house for chili and pumpkin carving and then Ryan thought of dressing up. The only rule was that the costumes had to come from something in your closet. Enjoy...
You might not want to enlarge this picture because Ryan is wearing a pair of my maternity shorts and I can't promise a family friendly picture if you get too close!!!!

Yes, Lola got to dress up too!! This is actually a pair of kid's pajamas. She hated it...

Here is my 9 week countdown pic. Please don't look too closely at my sicko roots (thank you prenatal vitamins) or my morning face. Ryan decided he wanted to take this before I left for school at 7:00 am.

This past Saturday we had a couples shower with lots of our friends and family. It was super fun and we got lots of great things! I don't think this is everyone that was there but it is everyone that counts...just kidding!!! We decided to take this pic at the end of the evening so some people were already gone! Thanks to everyone who came, you made it very special for us! And we can't wait to see Blake in her homemade onesies!!!

And yes, ladies as you can see, you made the photo!

This was the greatest idea ever so you can steal it if you want to. Each couple decorated a onesie or a hat for Blake. There were some really awesome ones!!! She will wear them all!

Beautiful weather!!!!!

I love the fall. I love when it starts to get cold and it gets dark early...that means Christmas and Thanksgiving are right around the corner!!! (Not in that order, of course) Cold weather maternity clothes are few and far between in my closet right now...so I need it to stay fair for a little longer.

I hate when I am lazy and don't blog because then I have a lot to write about but then ADD sets in and I can't sit here and focus long enough to blog about all of it. So here is a brief rundown...

We went to the lake with Ryan's family a couple of weekends ago and it was awesome!! I borrowed a maternity swimsuit but luckily was able to keep a tanktop and shorts on most of the time... We ate lots of great food, made campfires and hung out on the lake. It was a great weekend.

This past weekend I went to Abilene with all of my bff's and had a great time at homecoming. Actually we had much more fun just hanging out at night and talking and laughing. It was great to catch up on some much needed girl time. We all came without our sweet husbands and stayed at the house next door to my parents because they were out of town. So we were all close and no one had to pay for a hotel...does it get any better than that? Saturday my mom's friends gave me a shower and we got lots of super cute stuff...I did not take my camera this weekend (awesome.) so I will have to post pictures later but there are many, many great photos.

Blake's bedding is done. And it looks great! I can't decide if I like the pink crib skirt so tell me what you think:

And here is a picture of the final countdown. I know I haven't done a great job of taking belly pics so I will try and post them these last 10 weeks or so...This picture was taken after teaching 8th graders all day and after date night to Mi Cocina and the bookstore. So excuse the raggedy look on my face!

Tree

Here are the pics of the tree in the baby room. Ryan did an AWESOME job! I love it so much! Tomorrow I will blog about my first public pregnancy break down. I would do it tonight but I am tired... and it's only 8:52. So, until tomorrow...

BEFORE:

DURING:AFTER:

And here was my project...her letters on the wall. I don't know if you can read it but this is officially the first "public" unveiling of her name...If you can't read it then you get to wait in suspense for longer...I hope you can sleep tonight.

One Step at a Time...

Baby room is now mostly painted. We are going to attempt painting a tree on her wall...actually, that is not true. "We" are not going to be that crafty, Ryan is. So here are a few updated pics.

We also went to the Dave Matthews concert this weekend with our friends Rick, Amy, Darren and Ann. I have been wanting to see Dave for a really long time! I am a huge fan and I thought the show was great...started off a little slow but he finished well!! So, a few pics from that as well.

Yes, I do see the double chin in this picture....maybe I should stay away from Shipley's donuts during the week...

Other than that, not much else to say today. I am trying to suck less...and I always like blogs with pictures.

I suck at blogging...

That is the conclusion I have come to. I was very dedicated at first...but now I have a really hard time. I used to sin by not updating my blog but still looking at everyone else's. Now I just don't do either. So the other night I got on and spent f-o-r-e-v-e-r reading up on everyone's lives. So I thought, what the heck...I'll see if anyone still checks mine.





Here are a few projects we are working on around the casa. I know... I 'm retarded and didn't rotate this picture before I put it on here...this is our entry way. We painted and bought a cute table, hung some pics and found a fabulous zebra rug.

This is what we are going to do to the front of the house. Ryan did this handy work all by himself. We HATE the white columns and the natural wood makes the front of the house look completely different. Yes, we have only done one so far...we wanted to make sure we liked it first. Next on the to do list...get rid of the white paint.

We finally picked out some baby bedding. Does it look a little big for the crib?? Well, that's because it is actually a queen sized bed spread but we loved the material and knew we could find someone fancy enough to turn it into baby bedding for us. We haven't actually found that person yet but we do have some names. I would volunteer but I obviously can't since my sewing machine was taken in the summertime robbery.

And here is what her room looks like so far...boooooorrrrriiiinnnngggg. We haven't painted, or really done anything besides put the crib together and put her stroller in there. Lots of work to do.........

Pain in my Butt...

Always a good expression but right now it is my reality. I am having some sciatic (sp?) nerve issues. I can't really explain the sensation but every so often hot pain shoots down my butt and sometimes reaches my calf. It only lasts for a few seconds but afterwards it feels like I just did 100 squats. This, therefore, makes me waddle. I was at school yesterday and someone said, it's too early for you to be waddling...thank you. That is an awesome observation.

We just got back from Ruidoso a few days ago and I haven't reentered the real world yet. It is 11:30 and I am still in my pajamas. I am waiting on the carpet installers to get here so maybe I should change soon. Today, carpet is being put in our bedroom and the front bedroom and yesterday Ryan laid the wood in the baby room. He is a hot handy man! Now we just need a few key items like a crib, some bedding, some furniture and a baby.

Can CPS be called for a baby that hasn't been born yet? I decided to paint the entry way this week. I was really careful and had lots of air flowing through and I stopped about every 10 minutes or so. But then I was reading in my baby book that said her sweet little brain is doing lots of growing right now. Great...I may have just ruined her chances of being a national merit scholar because I needed to paint the entry way!!! Sorry baby rabbit...

Stupid Blogger

I tried three different times last week to write a post and everytime I clicked publish it kicked me off!!! And I tried to leave comments on Molly's and Annalee's blogs and it wouldn't let me leave them. Stupid...

REALLY GREAT NEWS...
Anyway, we found out last week that we are having a GIRL!!!! Ryan and I were both surprised. Even though I wasn't making a guess, deep down I really thought it was a boy. I am super excited! I can't wait to choose bedding and decorate her room. Ryan has already picked out pink converse, Jordan's and Vans. We have no name ideas yet, so luckily we still have awhile. Right now she is being called Rabbit, please see Heathers blog for more info on that.

REALLY CRAPPY NEWS...
BOTH of our cars were broken into this weekend. They broke the back windows on both cars and really didn't steal much of value...to them! They stole my leather school bag (which I love with all of my heart) that had all of my grad stuff in it. They don't need any of that. They are probably just going to throw it all away. They could have just dumped the bag out in my car and taken the leather bag if they really wanted it...stupid idiots. One bright spot, they cut themselves when they broke into Ryan's car and blood was on his door so CSI came to our house and took a blood sample and dusted for prints. The CSI guy didn't drive a hummer and didn't have on cool sunglasses so I am not sure if he was for real. They also stole our (mine and Heather's) sewing machine. Yes, I know...I should not have had a sewing machine in my car...lesson learned.

For Shauna...

Sorry, Shauna. I did not mean to keep you in suspense for this long. Here are some pics from the trip! And the much anticipated Vince pic.

This is at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Everyday at 11:00 they have a parade for the ducks that live in their fountain. The ducks sleep in a house on the roof and ride the elevator down to the first floor and walk across a red carpet to the fountain. They stay in the fountain all day until 5:00 when they do the parade again back up to their house. It was awesome!!I haven't posted a picture of our house lately so here is a random one of our living room. Okay, not really. We went to Graceland and this is one of the outstanding rooms in the house. Unbelievable.This is one of the awkward time when we were trying to get a picture of Vince Gill without him knowing. If you look closely you can see him in the background.Heath and his beautiful bride!Finally, we got up the courage to get a group shot with Vince.

So that's it. The exciting Vince Gill picture! My new claim to fame...

Count Down to Sex Day

I probably could have come up with a better title...it's not what you think. Only nine more days until we find out the babies gender! So, I probably should have titled the blog count down to gender day but...sex day is way more fun to say.

We just got back from Tennessee at our friend Heath's wedding...unbelievable! Amy Grant and Vince Gill sang at the wedding and were just hanging out at the rehearsal dinner and reception. We did finally get brave enough to ask for a picture with Vince...I'll post that tomorrow. I haven't uploaded them on the puter yet. We also hung out in Memphis for a few days before the wedding and went to Graceland...also unbelievable and a little bit ridiculous but we had lots of fun.

I just started my LAST GRAD CLASS last night! I think it is going to be great. I was completely dreading it but the professor is really cool and there aren't many assignments! Only four weeks and I am free!!!!

Not too much exciting stuff to discuss today. I'll be more creative tomorrow, I promise! So let's make this interesting and make baby gender guesses...I have no clue! I have done all the mumbo jumbo with the chinese calendar and wedding ring over the belly. I have officially gotten 50-50 results...I have no motherly instinct telling me what the baby is. Today Ryan tried to ask the baby through my belly button but we didn't get a clear answer. So, it's up to you...what do you think???? BOY??? GIRL???

Jumbo Shrimp

This week the baby is the size of a jumbo shrimp...weird! Most of the info I have read refers to the baby as the size of a lime or small orange but this was definitely the first time I had heard jumbo shrimp. That sounds a little more creepy than cute...but I am a science teacher so I like creepy! I am 13 weeks and am not really showing at all. For those of you who have seen me recently...yes, I know I am growing in other areas but as far as I know babies don't live in back fat. The only times my tummy pokes out is when I am bloated or I just ate supper. I definitely look more pregnant at night than in the morning. Slide into the jeans at 7:00 am...1:00 pm undoing the button, 4:00 pm lucky if they are still zipped and by 8:00 I don't have to worry if they are zipped or buttoned because they aren't going anywhere.





I went ahead a took some tattoo pictures for everyone. The first one is what my tattoo looks like in the morning and the second is what it looks like by the end of the day. So we can all just imagine what it will look like after nine months of this!!




7:00 am

9:00 pm

Big News...

I don't know if anyone is ever going to read this blog again because of my 40 plus day hiatus (sp?)...I was busy gathering all of the animals in the world and putting them in pairs of two...but just in case anyone is still out there, here is an update.



For those of you who read my blog and don't know (there can't be many of you) I am pregnant! I will be 11 weeks tomorrow and so far b-dub (baby Ware) is doing great. I have no pics to post because I have not taken any. Everyone does the belly pictures so I guess I will too but I decided not to start that game until week 12. Why? I have no idea... I was trying to be creative and come up with some other body part to take pictures of instead of my belly but the only ones that are changing would not be appropriate to post on my blog.


I could take a picture of my tattoo...it was a really great idea at the time, I promise. Right now it is a cute little dove but by the end of this thing it could be the size of a falcon. That could be fun...we'll see if I am brave enough to put those pics out on the world wide web.

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH

This house thing is going to be the death of me...I don't even want to get into all of the caca that has been going on because, believe me, you don't want to hear it all.

I haven't posted lately because a tree fell over in our backyard and pulled out our phone line. yipppeee...that is so fun.

Heather just searched me on the internet (the "Meredith needs..." thing) and here is what we got:
Meredith needs:
6. written and oral communication skills.
5. to be given medication throughout the day. (they don't know how true this is)
4. a new facility specifically designed for continuing education.
3. to assert herself a little more, sometimes she blends into the scenery.
2. a break. (ha!!!!)
1. to get out and live.

You need to do this...got a few laughs out of me on a very stress filled day!

Lots and lots of posts...

Guess what I should be doing right now?? Yep...writing a paper. I started already, really...it is currently a tab at the bottom of my screen right now and I am already on the third page. It is due today (I am not competely crazy, I do realize it is Sunday...) and really I am ahead of schedule because I thought that I was going to be up super late tonight finishing it because I thought Ryan's parents would be in town this afternoon and then I thought we would have small group but neither one is the case. Unfortunately Ryan's mom got sick last night so they left to go home early this morning. And small group was moved to last night but we couldn't go cause the fam was in town.

Speaking of being completely crazy, the last few days I have said and typed some really weird things. Now, I am not the best typist in the world but it is usually due to the fact that I don't really know where all of the keys are not because I am crazy (Flashback to the post when I didn't use the backspace key...). But yesterday I was typing my post and wrote "house in the rooms" instead of "rooms in the house". That is just weird. Then yesterday we were at IKEA and I said to Ryan "Isn't this a really great chucar?" What the heck is chucar??? I was trying to say color...those words aren't even close! Then last night I took out some pants that my mom bought me (thanks mom!) to show Ryan and I said "They aren't exciting or anything, they are just brown." Why is that wierd, you ask??? The pants aren't brown...they are blue!! I am officially losing my mind.

Today, Ryan and I laughed really hard at a bumper sticker...I don't usually laugh out loud at bumper stickers but this one was funny (maybe because I can relate) so I thought I would leave you with this closing thought:
I am only speeding because I really have to poop.

House update

Ryan met with the inspector and everything checked out okay. So...I guess we will be moving in about 3 weeks!!! I think that there are a few more loose ends to tie up but the inspection was the biggest hump to get over. Here are a few more pics of the house:

This is the back of the house (obviously).

This is the back yard.

This is probably the only room in the house that we won't change. Just kidding. This is the second bath.

This is going to be our living room.

A crap load of stuff to do...

What does that mean actually??? A crap load? I say that quite a bit and just realized it doesn't make since. I love the movie Sweet Home Alabama ( I love all Reese W. movies) and in one scene when she comes to Alabama from New York and wants her husband to sign the divorce papers and he says "Are you sh**in" me?" And she says "No, I am not sh**ing you. I never understood that expression any way." (Or something like that) It cracks me up everytime!!! The phrases we use are funny.

The month of April is going to be a crazy one. I had a paper due today, one due tomorrow and a presentation on Tuesday night. In between all of this my parents and Ryan's parents are coming in town, we are supposed to go to a Ranger's game Monday night and I am driving for a field trip on Tuesday. But the good thing is that once Tuesday is over, I have about two weeks until anything major is due again. Then is hits like a ton of bricks a second time. So in other words, I should definitely be working right now and not typing this post.

We got a counter offer on the house, we accepted it with a few stipulations and they signed the contract. The inspector is meeting Ryan in the morning and we should know by tomorrow afternoon if we are getting the house. I think that the inspection will go well but I don't want to get my hopes up too soon! Here is a picture of the outside. I will have Ryan take some more pics tomorrow. I hope this doesn't jinx it! Just kidding.

FYI: When I posted the picture I widened it to make the house look extra big.

Times they are a-changin'

It (of course) has been awhile since my last post. Thank you for reminding me Tara... So here is a little update on my life.

The nine hours I am currently taking in school is biting me on the you-know-what right now. I three things due every week in April (papers, tests, presentations), so needless to say, I am a bit busy this month, but this will soon all be over. If I live until then.

My students have been excellent for the last few weeks!!! Praise the Lord for that. I am spread so thin right now that I give about 40% in all areas of my life and that just doesn't work real well when you have 28 faces looking at you first thing in the morning. But they have been great.

Ryan and I got a membership to a gym and have had record breaking attendance (for us at least) I am going to get totally buff...watch out Chyna (WWF reference here...Ryan just told me to put her name). She is a little manly...so hopefully he wasn't making a direct coorelation between us...

Ryan and I have been house hunting since around Christmas and have finally found something we like so we may put an offer on the house sometime this week. It's scary.... We got some really great insight from our small group last night...thanks everyone! (because I know ALL of you read this...)

I got my internship set up for this summer which means I am almost officially getting ready to be done with grad school! Hip..hip...hoorrraaaayyyy!

Other than that, not much else is going on :) This post is very boring and I am sorry. I will work on some more material for Wed. Can't post tomorrow, I have class!

A few pics from the trip...

This is actually from our last night at D.W. Ryan and Bowen were enjoying the light parade and fireworks at Magic Kingdom.
Here is Ryan helping push a lady up a hill. Her motorized scooter/wheelchair died at the bottom of the hill. A little momentum and she was on her way!
Here we are at...you guessed it! Epcot.

Laine with face paint in Animal Kingdom.

Me and Heather on the jungle safari. It was grrrrreeeattttt.
These are our new sunglasses we bought at Animal Kingdom. Not really.

Ryan and Jazz-man.

More sweet sunglasses.

The trip was awesome! I will totally go again someday. Or I would love to go skiing or to New York next year...Mom???