Old School Georgetown Baby Shower...

ELLIE GETS INVITED TO ALL THE SHOWERS! :)



I ALWAYS PUT RICH IN THE BIBS WE GET. THIS ONE WAS MADE BY BOBBIE YELVERTON (MIKE'S MOM) AND IT SAYS 'LITTLE ELSASSER'...SO CUTE.









DAWN BLACKWELL AND STEPHANIE TIPPIT PUT ON A GREAT SHOWER!


AWESOME SPREAD OF FOOD...I HAVE A FEELING WITH AS MUCH AS RICH AND I LIKE TO EAT, I AM SURE THIS LITTLE BOY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE FOOD AWAY!


WESS BLACKWELL GETTING THE FOOD READY...


MIKE TIPPIT AND TODD SAGER COOKING UP THE BURGERS AND OTHER YUMMY FOOD...


DECORATIONS IN THE PATIO...TONS OF BIBS FOR ALL OF THE EATING HE WILL DO!!!





THEY HAD A ONESIE MAKING STATION WHERE EVERYONE COULD PAINT AND CREATE A ONESIE FOR JR. IT WAS REALLY CUTE.
After the flood I wasn't able to find my camera with some baby shower pics on it...I finally found it! :) These pics are from our baby shower that was thrown by Rich's high school friends. It was held at Wess and Dawn Blackwell's house in La Grange. All that attended are incredible people and life-long friends.

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Friends are extremely important...I have learned that lesson in a big way living away from my family for so long. I miss my family immensely...and my friends have really helped fill that void.

"There is no greater love than this...one who will lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 (NIV)

Matthew 19:19b "...love your neighbor as yourself." (NIV)

The hardest lesson to learn in life is to love those that are difficult to deal with and who make your life a challenge...it is so easy to love those who make your life easy. God wants you to love everyone, even your enemies. I witness this hardship with my nieces...if anyone does something wrong to them, they immediately want to hate them and turn others against them...very typical for this age...that's all they know. I try to teach Sammy and Peyton that God wants them to forgive others because He always forgives them when they sin. Slowly I think it sinks in, but it is so hard for them to wrap their mind around the fact they need to forgive someone who did them wrong. I look forward to teaching my children this lesson to my children.
Luke 6:27 "Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you." (NIV)

Hiccups

Last night was the first time I could tell that Jr. had hiccups...my belly button would flutter like a little heartbeat and I could feel the hiccup inside of me...Rich was laughing because it was so funny.

I also put the T.V. controller on my stomach and watch it rock back and forth as the baby moved in my stomach.

I have about 27 more days!!! Oh my goodness. I will have to enjoy every moment of Jr. being inside of me (and I should appreciate the fact how quiet he is while he is inside of my stomach!) :)
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No matter how smart or rich or popular you are...I truly believe in treating others with respect and love. No matter what mood you are in or if things aren't going your way...

Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people.~Barbara Bush

Baby Bootcamp Shower

THESE ARE CALLED PEE PEE TEA PEES...THEY ARE A MUST FOR CHANGING BABY BOY'S DIAPERS! LOVE THE CAMOFLAUGE!







THE GUYS WHO WERE THERE TO SUPPORT RICH...AND WHO ALSO HELPED PUT IN OUR FLOORS AFTER THE FLOOD...













THIS IS HOW MANY KIDS I WANT!!!





THE LADIES WHO PUT ON THE SHOWER...











THE SHOWER WAS AT COLETTE'S HOME...SHE IS A VERY TALENTED PERSON, INTERIOR DESIGNER, FLORAL DESIGNER, COOK, YOU NAME IT...THE FOOD AND DECORATIONS LOOKED PROFESSIONALLY CATERED.





WE PLAYED A GAME WHERE IF WE ANSWERED A QUESTION WRONG WE HAD TO EAT A PIECE OF SOUR GUM...I HAD 8 PIECES IN MY MOUTH...RICH CHEATED. lol!



I PUT ON THE LITTLE HOODED TOWEL...I LOVE THOSE THINGS.



ANN AND GIRLS SENT A CUTE OSU OUTFIT!

















AND A TEXAS TECH BIB (BELOW)...RICH LOVED IT. :)

Jr.'s First Limo Ride...

MAKING FUN OF MYSELF, TRYING TO ACT LIKE A MODEL WHILE 8 MONTHS PREGNANT. IT'S NOT REALLY WORKING FOR ME. LOL!







This weekend our friends got a Hummer Limo for Jeanie's birthday. It was the biggest thing I'd ever seen. It had a VIP Lounge and flat screen t.v. They were all going out dancing and so Rich and I just rode with them to the Dance Hall and then took the limo back home. We took some funny pics in the process.
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I love the Fruit of the Spirit...when I have these qualities I know that I am on the right track...and when I choose to hang around others that possess these qualities, it makes for a very PEACEFUL life. I hope to teach my children to strive for these qualities and to pick friends that hold these qualities as well. The opposite of any of these does not belong to God and we all need to run from them...it only creates drama and chaos.

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians
5:22-23 (NLT)

New Floors, again...

TOMORROW THE WOOD FLOORING GOES IN! THEN I CAN HAVE MY HOUSE BACK!





We finally have our flooring in....we have not been able to use our toilets or showers in both bathrooms for the last two days. That's a tough one when you are pregnant! Tomorrow a bunch of our friends are coming over to help put the wood flooring in the rest of the rooms. Then I can finally have my house back! I've had two baby showers and went to the grocery store since this craziness has happened in our home and there is no where to put things...so they are jammed in my car, laying on the floors, or anywhere else we can find a place to put these items. But, I still feel SO BLESSED with everything else that surrounds me.

I feel that so much has been given to me this year that I look forward to giving to others in need.
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When I feel angry or scared, these two scriptures below have helped define how my heart has been transformed by God. When I see someone lash out or show an uncontrollable angry side, I always hope that they find the love of God. It's definitely a more peaceful world:

“A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

Ellie getting needy...

I think Ellie knows that this baby is about to arrive. She is stuck to me like glue. Not only does she follow me around, but she whines because she wants me to carry her! This is not going to be a good scenario when I have two babies that want to be held. :) I was taking pics of our new tile that just got put in and went to the bathroom and of course there she is, right by my side, so I took pictures of her while I was in the bathroom...yes, only ME...but that's who I am! LOL!!!

Since we couldn't walk on our floors all day yesterday, I couldn't get back to my bedroom where Ellie's cage was...so I had to take her to WORK! I snuck her in the Rec Center and then over to Georgetown Fitness. I put her in this huge bag but her head kept popping out. She sat through Lunch Crunch, 2 Spinning Classes and a Bootcamp. Dear goodness, the things I do for this dog and I was never really a dog lover!!!

Swelling....

I just stepped out of bed and because we have concrete at this time I tried to immediately put on my flip flops...well, to no avail...my feet have swelled so much that my flip flops no longer fit. I also had to take my rings off this week because my fingers have swelled so much. Ohhh, these are things that I said, "That won't happen to me, I will be different!" :) LOL! My cheeks also look like they are packing away nuts for the winter. I'm glad Ramsey took pics when he did! But, I know that all of these signs are healthy signs that my baby is on the right track...so bring on the swelling and I will take it all! :) I also painted my own toe nails yesterday...but it was hilarious because I had it all over my toes. I told Rich that he will be painting them next time. This should be interesting. I will be sure to take pics. :)
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One of the most important lessons I hope to teach my child is to be content with yourself...it is such a hard lesson to learn.

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." Matthew 5:5 (MSG)

I am your father...

The funniest thing happened today when Rich was about to leave for work and he was talking into my belly at the baby...he was saying, "Trey, I am your father..." Trying to be like Darf Vader talking to Luke on Star Wars. Rich kept saying it in that 'spooky' voice, "Trey, I am your father, give me a high five..." At that moment the baby punched as hard as he could right where his mouth was. We both looked at each other and started laughing because it was really weird. I thought Trey (or whatever the name may be when we see your face) would like to read that when he gets older. :) I like that you weren't scared.

Flood...

Our house flooded this week with the aftermath of the tropical storm. It was a true God-sent that I could not sleep that night. I was up at 12:30am doing laundry and cleaning the kitchen...I had to wake up very early in the morning for my 5:30am class, so I was nervous that I was still wide awake with a ton of energy. I was "blaming" it on being pregnant...but now I am THANKING Jr. for keeping me up! It has saved us a lot of money and stress. Thanks, baby boy! :)

As I was up cleaning, I noticed some water coming in through the wall, then more coming in through the door...it was so much water that is was over-whelming. I ran in the bedroom and woke Rich up and we stayed up all night laying down every towel and blanket we could find. It was heart-breaking as Rich just laid these floors down with his dad over a year ago. To rip these up seemed like a bad dream. This was a very stressful week, just knowing that we have minimal funds to put flooring down again and only have 1 month before this baby comes! EEK! Anyway, I am at peace now with everything.

Friends have come forward and helped with so much...meals, helping rip up the floors, washing ALL OF MY WET LAUNDRY (SO MUCH), steam cleaning my rugs...bringing over fans, I was so thankful and again I hope to pay this forward someday. You know a true friend when they are there when the chips are down. Even Ramsey, Kelly and Derek said they would drop everything and come up to Austin and help. I know they would. When I go to San Antonio, I feel like I am with family...I can ask them for anything and I never feel weird. They just know me and laugh...well, everyone laughs at Kelly and me. :)) Thank goodness I'm not alone.

I was in so much control before this flood came. I would rearrange my baby room almost daily, every single item had it's place, I would rearrange the clothes in the closet to sizes, and so on...now the baby's room is full of doors, stacked furniture and everything else that we needed to move out of the water's way. We are so lucky that the baby's room did not flood. I think this is a lesson from God to get me ready for my world with a baby - to teach me to let go of so much control and being obsessed about my house being perfect. Many more "disasters" are about to occur in our house for the next 18 years and we should be able to handle it with grace.
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Whenever I think my life is stressful or I get the "poor me" attitude, I need to remember this quote:

“If you don't get everything you want, think of the things you don't get that you don't want.” ~Oscar Wilde

Baby Shower #2

The group of ladies at Jill's house.






Guess how big my belly is???







My friends, Jill Marshall and Beth Borkosky, put on a cute Bunco Baby Shower for me this week. They had my favorite restaurant, Mama Fu's, cater it and they had some really cute games. I had to taste several jars of baby food, so that was interesting because I have always wondered what they tasted like and nothin' like getting to know 1 month before I have a baby!!!

I have been SO BLESSED with friends who want to throw these showers for me and continue to give me all of their baby items they are no longer using. I am having 6 SHOWERS!!! and I have no family that lives here so I feel very lucky. I am so appreciative of every single shower and gift I receive. Sometimes it blows my mind because in high school I came from a somewhat negative atmosphere where people did not want to promote others I think because of that small town mentality. It is so different here...I have met so many friends that just want to give to others while expecting nothing in return. So many people have a Christian heart and I truly believe that is the difference. When God is the center of families, they put others first. Most of my friends have a lot of money here in Georgetown and they give to so many charities and have been very generous to me and Jr. as well. It is more than I could have ever dreamed of. AND I just had several showers/bachelorette parties just 1 year ago and no one cared at all. I am the one who felt bad because that is a lot in 1 year! We got married on Oct. 23, 2009 and our baby is due Oct. 31, 2010. I hope to pay all of this generosity foward to others who are in need and hope to make them feel as special as I do. I love coming home from the showers and Rich goes through all of the "loot" to see what technical items I got. This time I got a cool Video Monitor...he immediately put it together and he thought is was awesome that it has night vision as well. :)
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Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:3-4