How Does Time Slip Away...

I just looked at the last post and realized... HELLO GET ON THE BALL. Life has been so incredibly bust recently. Along with having a very busy job, my weekends are FULL of events. We have been going to football games out of town, visiting old friends, attending and being a part of big weddings and so much more. This past weekend, my friends Terra and Tyler were married. Their ceremony was beautiful.

This coming weekend, my dear sister is marrying her fiance. It is Halloween themed, down to the very last detail. Cullen and I are going as Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio. Mom and Dad are going as Shrek and Princess Fiona. Courtney, Curt and the kids are going as the Adams Family (they are wearing their costumes during the actual ceremony.) It is going to be just the best Halloween I have had!

Courtney, I love you so much. I couldn't be happier for you and Curt. I can feel the love between you blossom and grow with each passing day. Curt, I love you so much. Thank you for being so good to my sister and for being such a great daddy to my niece and nephew. I hope my children are as precious as yours. Thank you both for letting me be such a big part of your special day.

Meet Peanut -

This is a way overdue post. I went to my first pre-natal appointment last Wednesday. (If you need a good laugh, ask Cullen the next time you see him about his interpretation of a woman's appointment. He didn't quite realize how "invasive" lady doctor visits can be) :)

I was so nervous all day. Although I had my pregnancy already confirmed by my doctor, it was completely unnerving to wait all day for my 3:30 appointment. Cullen and I arrived at the appointment, filled out SO MUCH PAPERWORK, and we met our doctor. I must say, I love her. I feel like I am going to be a very well taken care of pregnant lady - all the way through labor and delivery.

After a thorough physical from the doctor, she introduced us to our sweet little baby. Peanut is so perfect. I was right at 9 weeks at our doctor's appointment, and to my total shock, we could see the baby wiggle all around. I somewhat expected to see a black sac and a tiny white dot. (My dear friend Brittany is having a baby in March; we went to visit UNT two weekends ago, and asked her about her first sonogram. She showed us a picture of what her husband describes as a "grub worm". Since I am completely new to the sonogram thing, this is what I was expecting.) Instead, I got to see a head, a body, four limbs (nubs really), and a strong, fast heartbeat. I cried and cried and cried.

Oh, it was so magical. It was perfect. Without further ado... Here is our first picture of Peanut. (Call for an explanation... apparently very few can decipher through sonogram pictures! :) )

So, The Honeymoon Isn't Over!

Last night, Cullen and I attended the Harker Heights Chamber of Commerce annual banquet. We had great seats, surrounded be great company. Although I wasn't feeling great (I think working in a school has started to take a toll on the ol' immune system), I ponied up and put on a happy face.

One couple at our table were retired Army. We met, had small talk and ate our dinner. About half way through dinner, the wife looks at us and said, " I can't help but be nosey. You two seem like newlyweds. Are you?"

WHAT A COMPLIMENT. No we are NOT newlyweds. In fact, we just celebrated our two year anniversary last month... but, it made my day. IT MADE MY DAY.

Thank you nice lady, for thinking we look like we are so in love still. Thank you Husband for loving me like you do.

Another Weekend...More Secret Keeping

Cullen and I went to Denton this weekend for UNT homecoming. The weekend was outstanding. We saw a ton of old friends. Kappa had it's 20th year renunion - and I caught up with so many of my Kappa sisters. It was another weekend of keeping our secret.... It is getting so hard to keep our little secret. :)

Our big appointment is on Wednesday. I can't wait for that appointment. It will settle so many thoughts. I love you Peanut... I am so excited to meet you this week!

Waiting on Wednesday.

I remember going through the process of getting married. I remember doing a checklist of to-do's, followed by waiting periods of down time. I have discovered growing a Peanut is the same process. I have checked off so much:

Make Baby:(check)
Find out we're expecting:(check)
Tell Cullen the big news:Check)
Buy too many baby books:(Check)
Tell parents:(Check)
See Doctor to confirm pregnancy:(check)
Keep secret from the rest of the world.......(check)
...................................................................................................................................... Time to wait.

We go to the doctor this coming Wednesday, 10/21 for the first big appointment. I think we even get to see our little Peanut. I hate waiting. :)

Denton Bound -

I can see it already. North Bound 35, we pass the Speedway. We Pass Paradise (Texas, that is). There it is - Denton's skyline. Ahhh, my little piece of Heaven. It is a sight very few people know and appreciate, but it is a sight I have come to cherish over the last 6 years. Within the skyline, I can see TWU's twin-tower dorms, Fout's Field, The Armadillo Building and so much more. Aahhh.... Denton, How I Love Thee!

This weekend is UNT's Homecoming, AND Kappa Kappa Gamma's 20th year reunion. Double trouble. I get to see all my football friends; I get to go to the football game with Cullen. AND, most important, I get to see my pledge sisters. I get to see my Kappa sisters. I GET TO SEE SOME OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE. I will watch the homecoming parade, take lots of pictures, and fall asleep like a happy little baby, having my UNT/KKG fill-up!

Pledge sisters, if you are reading this: I cannot wait to see you ALL! I love you guys.

How is this possible??

Peanut is 8 weeks and 1 day today. Cullen and I are already arguing about who is going to change diapers. Mr. Mills THINKS he is going to get out of diaper duty for some reason. Silly (soon-to-be) Daddy.

This regular disagreement between him and I got me researching... this is what I found:



I am fairly certain this is precisely what Cullen will look like during the first weeks of diaper duty. :)

My Dream World...

I had a dream about a week ago in which Solange Knowles (Beyonce's sister) was getting married in the wine country, where Beyonce sang the rules of the wedding on the front steps of the church before you walked in...and Jay - Z was bouncing. Am I crazy... yes.

I thought this was weird...and thankfully, it was a one-time thing.

...WRONG.

I had a dream last night that I was a back-up dance for Ciara. 50-Cent was head of security for her tours. That is all I can remember from that dream.

I vividly remember waking up thinking - WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?? And, if Cinderella is correct when saying "A dream is a wish your heart makes, when your fast asleep," than I am clearly yearning to be in the female hip-hop world.

yikes.

I Have To Brag A Little...

Growing up my dad set the bar high. He was the most chivalrous man to my momma. He held her door, he paid when we went out, he taught his children how to respect their mother, and on mornings when it was cold, he would run outside and start her car so it nice and toasty. He showed me just what I want in my husband.

Two nights ago, Cullen and I woke up to thunderstorms. Loud, windy, thunderstorms. Cullen remembers on the news that it might hail (and how he remembers that, I have no idea). You know what he did?? Got right up, and moved my car into the garage, so it wouldn't get hail damage. YES, at 4:30 in the morning. What a sweet man.

It reminded me of something my dad would do... turns out, not only did my dad show me what a good man looks like/acts like, he showed me how to pick my very own good man.

We Peeped - We told our Parents.

We told my parents the news last weekend. We went home to tell my parents in person, and it was excellent. It was everything I had ever dreamed of when I dreamed of telling my parents.

Last night, we told Cullen's parents. It too was equally as perfect - in a completely different way. I was excited to tell my parents because it is MY first baby, but it isn't their first grand baby. (While I recognize I am their favorite child, it is hard to compete with Hayden and Brittany's adorable personalities.) I was excited to tell Cullen's parents because it is their first grand baby. We framed a baby invitation and got two onsies (One says: "What happens at grandmas, stays at grandmas." The other says: "I'm nuts about grandpa," It has a squirrel holding an acorn.)

When they opened their gift, it took about 3 seconds for them to look at us, and react. We all got a little teary. It was simply perfect. Peanut was the topic of conversation for dinner.

I am so excited for Nana and Papa (my parents) and Grandma and Grandpa Shot (Cullen's parents) to meet their sweet new little addition...only 7 more months. :)

Brodie Man -

Have you met my Brodie Man?? Do you know I have the world's silliest Boston Terrier EVER? Did you know that nothing in this world makes Brodie happier than to fall asleep while being held?? IF you knew any of the above statements to be true, than you will not be surprised by the following pictures.

To explain, Brodie is sitting in my lap on our couches. His right front and back paws caught each other, as though they were holding onto each other. For some reason, I felt the urge to place his other paws in the same manner. The funny part about this, he stayed that way for about 20 minutes. He is so funny. He had me laughing so hard, I had tears in my eyes.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do:

Morning Sickness

It hit me. It hit me like a slap the face. It hit me so hard, I am thankful pregnancy is time-limited. VERY FEW people know I am pregnant at this point. My classroom aides and co-workers, ask me most mornings, “How are you feeling today?” Up to today, the answer has been the same. “Gosh, I feel great." Besides missing my monthly lady friend, I don't have any pregnancy symptoms.

I knew my days were numbered. I just knew it. About 1:30 today, I was sitting at my desk and BAM. It hits me. Nausea, Heartburn, Indigestion, Upset Stomach, Diarrhea. Yay, Morning Sickness. (Thank you Pepto Bismol, for your sweet little jingle!) There was a brief moment where I thought I was going to die. (No, I am not a drama queen.) I got home after school and laid down immediately. After an almost three hour nap, I was good to go. Yes, you read that right, three hours of nap time – this has turned out to be a daily occurrence.

I love you, Peanut. I keep telling myself, this will all be worth in. I KNOW IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT IN THE END. I am so excited to meet you already.

Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend was OUTSTANDING. We went to Austin to tell my BFF Kelly that Peanut is on the way and last minute decided this was the perfect weekend to tell my parents. We would be in town anyway; we want to tell them in person; and it is KILLING me slowly each day that I don't get to tell them! SO, we told them. It was perfect. Let's start with Kelly.

I went over to Kelly's house with Cullen. I originally told her I have a VERY small, perishable gift that couldn't be opened in front of anyone. We went into her old bedroom (Cullen, Kelly and I), I handed her our "Baby Invitation" and she gave me the exact reaction I was looking for. She first read it, looked at me and said "I'm confused. Then she re-read it, and screamed and burst into tears. Yep, I would call that successful. That is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Cheers to you, Aunt Kelly.

Secondly, we told my parents. Cullen and I had plans to go to dinner with my Mom and Dad, which turned into a big family dinner. (a side note: All along, Cullen and I decided to wait to tell anyone other than Parents until after Nov. 1st. That marks 12 weeks AND it is after Courtney and Curt's wedding. This time needs to be all about them - not my big news.) Our big news had to come before dinner... so, we left Kelly's early. We got to Mom and Dad's, opened Cullen's birthday gifts, then shared a gift with each of them. As I handed a gift to each of my parent's, I told them that we found a tiny little gift we just couldn't resist getting for them. They opened their gifts - it was a moment I have waited for for a long time. Dad said the perfect "John Stafford line" - Congratulations, Bud. I am proud of you." (Can you hear my dad saying it???). Mom smiled, gave us big hugs. It was so perfect.

What's the next big news?? Tell Billy and Carol. We will tell them this week, swear them to secrecy for a couple weeks, and be totally out of the closet after November 1st!

Marriage = Compromising.

If I have learned anything while married, I have learned that marriage is about love and compromise. It is about making sacrifices that makes the other one happy. Tonight, while eating dinner, Cullen and I compromised....

Let me give you a little back story. Cullen plays poker online from time to time. (By time to time, I mean, he plays until it gets in the way of OUR time in the evenings and on the weekends, and I tell him it is time to take a lonnnnng break). About a month ago, Cullen took one of these breaks. He has been sooooo good about not even asking to play poker online. This evening, before Cullen got home from work, we talked on the phone and I asked him to go on a walk with me. He said yes, like a sweet husband; and with that he was on his way him.

Back to dinner. During dinner, I asked Cullen about our walk and he quickly said, "what about..." I knew what was coming - a deal. His first deal: He would go buy me a sno-cone if we didn't have to go on a walk. (Isn't that counterproductive; to offer food and calories instead of a walk??) NO DEAL. His second deal: He would go on a walk with me, if he could have the big TV to watch College Football and start to play poker online again. NO DEAL. (But, he is getting closer). His third deal: He doesn't get the TV for College Football (because, let's be honest - Grey's Anatomy is on tonight), he can play ONE GAME PER WEEK of online poker and he has to give me a 30 minute foot rub tonight. DEAL.

I love marriage. It is all about love, and compromising. He got his poker back; I got Grey's on the big screen and a 30 minute foot rub.

... Besides that, it was thundering outside. We couldn't have walked anyway. ;)

Two More Days.

My whole life seems like one count down after another. It starts as an idea, blooms into a list, and ends with a count down. Since I found out I was pregnant, ideas popped into my head about how I want to tell certain people in my life that we are expecting. One of the people I am MOST excited to tell is my dearest, oldest, bestest friend in the whole world. I see Kelly this weekend, and I am going to surprise her with a big announcement. Let the countdown continue: T minus two days! I told her this week on the phone that Cullen and I were going to hold off on kiddo's for a while (you know, throw her off a little). I will update on Monday and let you know how the big reveal goes. We haven't even told parents yet...We know it is most appropriate to tell parents the big news first but, there are just certain people you MUST tell in person. This is one. She is in town. Hooray for sharing baby news - it sure does make it seem more real.

On another exciting note - I go to the doctor for the first time tomorrow morning. YAY!