Dear Baby,

Dear Baby,

Today is a very special day for your momma and daddy. A year ago today we got married. I married one of the most wonderful men in the world- your daddy. Although you will meet him soon enough I wanted to tell you a little about him, through my eyes. Someday you might cringe and say "aww mom but that's mushy love stuff", and it is but more than that its the truth. <3

Your daddy is a smart, funny, strong, respectful, loving and hard working man. He is so excited to meet you and help you grow. He loves reading about you as you grow each week, speculating on what you might be thinking or doing as you roll around in momma's belly. We talk all the time about how we want to experience and tackle different things that might come up as you grow (things we know we did or tried to do).  Your daddy takes good care of us, he has a strong faith in God and works hard everyday to keep us safe and warm. He also makes amazing french toast on Saturday mornings. :-) He drives a little too fast but we're working on that too... 

We cant wait to meet you but for now we'll keep looking at the pictures and smiling as your wiggles push against my belly. We've got a lot of nesting to do before you get here including a move to a bigger apartment. <3

We love you,
Love your Momma & Daddy

So it's been a month since my last post....

Sorry for being such a bad blogger lately. There has been so much going on with us that I've been turning into a pumpkin every night at 9pm!
So what updates to start with

• Michael got a new job thats going well- He's working at Arrow Electric and liking it so far. He has his own van that he takes to and from work and uniforms too (which he obviously looks handsome in! <3)
• I took a new position at my company and am working on some large projects that are giving me new experience and responsibility- really enjoying it so far
• We reached our halfway mark in the pregnancy this past weekend and are now just over 20 weeks. My belly is hard to the touch and is now protruding significantly :-) I feel like there is not nearly enough room in my abdomen for all my organs, food and baby. 

I bought this onesie at OldNavy. Not only does this express how I feel right now but I knew it would be the best way to describe a baby that came from me & Michael <3

Here is a Belly picture from Today May 31st. :-) The doctor says I'm right on track as far as weight and size :-) and we have another ultrasound on Monday the 6th. (and no we are still not finding out the gender!!!!)
• My Cousin Amanda came to visit this week, she is headed home tomorrow morning :-( We had a blast while she was here. Her and I got Pedicures and shopped, we went to the Rangers Game Friday night, and had great seats LOL last row all the way at the top. 

• Saturday the 3 of us went to the City Arts Festival in downtown Dallas, sampling yummy treats and checking out some awesome artisans. Sunday we drove 3 hours to Austin only to find it was 99 degrees downtown, but enjoyed the sites anyway. 

The view of Austin downtown from the roof deck at Maggie Mae's

Great picture Manda took of Michael and I on the shore of Lady Bird Lake. 

We went to dinner at the Iron Catus in downtown Austin. The food was amazing, the service...not so much. 

Michael and I at Dinner <3

Me lounging on the couch at the Hotel bar while Manda and Michael had beers. 

On the way home we stopped at the legendary Collin Street Bakery where my Preggo self bought $18.00 worth of cookies... I said to the man behind the counter. "Can I have 3 of every kind of cookie you have?" 

YUMMY!!!!!!

That's all for now!!!! 

Love,

Laura, Michael & Baby G

 

Updates, Updates, Updates!

Hello All you loyal readers! :-) hehehe to think I have loyal readers makes me giggle!

This post is all about updates and whats new going on down here!
Spring is in full force here in Texas, with temps ranging from 50 through 85 the trees are in bloom and pollen out in full force! We had an amazing weekend with Michael's parents and have Tony and Alicia heading our way in the next few days! We are loving having visitors and getting a little taste of home. If you are interested in coming for a visit let us know and we'll be glad to make some room!

On another great note Momma and baby are doing better every day- we have a doctors Apt tomorrow the 30th  to check to see how things are going and hear the beautiful music of baby's heart beat again. We also bought a super safe Baby mobile Friday night! We now own a new to us Toyota Camry with all the safety features! Now in case the deep rumble of Daddy's big truck isn't as soothing to baby as it is to Daddy we have a super quiet safe ride to lull baby back to sleep.

Check out the new ride and the sweet air visors that Ryan got us for the truck. It was finally nice enough to give the big red girl a wash and put on her new shades!

In other news Michael and I checked out the Fort Worth Zoo on Sunday and that place was awesome. Ranked in the top 5 Zoos in the United States it was great. Here are some of my favorite shots!

Crazy Hippos running around in the water! 

Ele-fante! <3 my favorite

Mamma Hippo relaxing in the tub! 

This big kitty is doing upside down kitten head pose like our little Kitten girl does all the time! Priceless picture! 

Big white Tiger laying right behind the glass in the Tiger enclosure

Mamma taking a nap and Daddy keeping watch! 

<3 Much love for now! 

Ohhh BABY!!!!

So by this time most of you have already heard the big news....Michael is officially Licensed in Texas as a Electrician :-)
Hahaha not the news you were expecting by the title? :-) Ok here goes the really big news Michael and I are expecting our first baby!!!!!!

We were waiting until we had our first doctors appointment before we put a blog post together. Here is what we know so far:
Based on what we had calculated we were 8 weeks & 3 days today. However when the Dr. was doing the ultrasound today she said we were measuring a week behind that which puts us at 7 weeks & 3 days. Which is a little sad because that means one more week of All Day sickness, but she did give me some anti-nausea meds to help out with the yucky belly feeling!! Baby's heart rate is 156.25 beats per minute and looks great.
Depending on which week we use to measure baby is measuring between the size of a Blueberry and a Raspberry!  (Berry baby, Berry baby!)
Baby G- making his/her first online debut! (that's right folks we are NOT finding out the gender of the baby before Birthday Day... which is expected to be on or around October 21st!

Picture of baby doesn't look so much like a baby yet. In fact baby looks a little bit more like baby bunny! The part that looks like bunny ears is actually the yolk sack that helps feed baby in the first trimester.  We go back for our next sonogram in April!

We've been taking pictures every week of my belly too! Belly bump! 7-8 weeks.

Throughout all of the morning/all day sickness Michael has been amazing. He is super excited about becoming a daddy. He has been helping around the house and making toast for me when ever I feel like I could eat. I could not ask for a better husband or greater support. I am proud to become a momma with such a wonderful daddy to share it with.

On top of everything else we have Michael's parents coming down to visit us next week and then Tony and Alicia at the end of the month!
So excited to have some family here visiting.

Thank you also to everyone who sent us parent-to be, new home and Valentines cards we really appreciate all the Love!
and we love you all back soooo much.
Love,
Michael, Laura & Baby

Hidden Cove Park & Marina

So I just posted about the going's on around here over the past few weeks but wanted to follow up with some pictures recently taken on our weekend adventures!.

We found a great park here called the Hidden Cove Park & Marina...

Licenses, Friends, Warm Weather and a TX living

Wow, what a crazy few weeks it's been. I'm officially the proud wife of a Texas Licensed Electrician!!!!

Michael has been studying hard, taking practice tests and prepping for his Texas Journeyman's License test. On Thursday February 17th he sat for the test and passed with flying colors. He starts training for a temp job with the electric company tomorrow which will take him through the end of May.

Another wonderful thing! Thanks to our good friends from home Rich & Carly, we've met a wonderful couple, Sally & Fred, and have started a great friendship! They are truly a blessing!

Our Driver's licenses finally came in the mail and we discovered the walking/biking trail behind our complex.   We're settling in and getting used to the area. We've been here almost 2 months now! We've scoped out the best grocery stores, shopping and food. Speaking of food... for all those who come to visit us, this is where we'll take you!!! BEST CHICKEN DINNER IN THE WORLD!!!!

Babes Chicken Dinner House Frisco
they have Smoked Chicken and Fried Chicken.... Family style like Wrights from home but 8 million times better and CHEAPER too!!!

We have lots of family headed our way in the next few months and can't wait to see everyone!!!.

Love you all!
More exciting news to come!

Possibilities- Starting new traditions

This week we came to some realizations that have been hanging in the shadows since we announced our move to Texas. Things will happen this year in ways that we've never experienced them, life will go on for us and our families but in a pattern none of us are used to, but change doesn't have to be sad! Change is good and every newly married couple encounters the "how do we spend the Holiday's" questions. The happy thing about our challenges will be that our choices are not driven by crazy in-laws or bad dinners like some of the couples we know. Ours are strictly distance related. Here are some of the ones we'll change up this year. Starting with a small one...

Next week on Valentines day I can't just show up at my parents to find the red, cellophane wrapped, heart-shaped box of Russel Stover Chocolates and card that makes me tear up from my Dad. Something that has happened every Valentines Day since I can remember... but that doesn't mean that this Valentines Day will be any less special then the years before. Just because we aren't there in person doesn't mean my Dad loves me any less, or that I love him any less. This year in addition to my dad's love I get to celebrate it with my wonderful husband too! Because this year Michael and I celebrate our first Valentines day as a married couple. <3

Easter will find us Celebrating in our new Church here in TX and sharing that experience with my parents and sister as they come to visit us, and a friend who is also transplant here in TX.  I'll take my first shot at Easter dinner- planning Bourbon-Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin, Garlic Chive Mashed Potatoes and green beans. We'll see how good I am at southern cooking!

Both of us will celebrate birthday's this year without the traditional family birthday dinner. But for Michael its a milestone birthday. This year he'll be 25. I'll do my best to decorate the apt, invite our friends and make his favorite meal but know it wont be quite the same. Hopefully we can do a birthday sing-a-long on skype :-)

The biggest Holiday change for us this year is not being able to go home for Thanksgiving. With Airline tickets fluctuating so much and travel around the Holiday's Ticket being so expensive (prices are showing around a $1000) just for the two of us.We had to give up one major holiday and Christmas wasn't going to be it. If we manage to find super cheap airfare then we might be able to make it happen. If not...I've gotta practice my turkey making skills- who knows maybe we'll fry one...

We're glad that family will be visiting in rounds during the spring with Michael's parents coming first, then Tony and then my parents, that we'll get to spend quality time with them. Also we'll get to travel home in summer and at Christmas time to see the folks who haven't visited yet.

Every change can be a positive one if you keep your mind open to the possibilities- 2011 will be a year of great possibility for us.


p.s. The state of TX approved Michael's paperwork and he will be sitting for his license exam in about 2 weeks!