Lyla's 1st 4th of July weekend...

...was really low-key. On Saturday, we were supposed to go to a cookout at a co-worker's home in Southlake, but on the way, the crazy storms instigated a meltdown for our daughter. Not wanting to be "that" parent with the screaming child, we opted to return home. The next day (on the 4th) we spent some time @ my Dad and Beth's and prepared for Lyla's first night away from home. We left our almost 4-month-old daughter with her grandparents that night and decided to go see a movie - - - thanks Babe for taking me to see Eclipse (FINALLY). You are a good good good husband.......and the Wonka candy machine was an amazing discovery. I heart Cinemark!

Speaking of Eclipse - I will say that it was better than New Moon, hands-down. However, what is happening to Edward? He looked awful! And I don't mean just the pale make-up (I'm used to that). The haircut was wrong, his face looked too gaunt, and the squinty eyes....oh my. I miss the first Twilight Edward. Or maybe it's because I just watched Robert Pattinson in Remember Me - good movie. And I'm not a fan of Jacob - he annoys me. I'm not complaining that he was onscreen (workout much?), but his voice irritates me. I did enjoy the one-liners though.

So we were without our child for the night and it was a nice break not to wake up at 6:30 the next day. We both had the day off work, so it was fun to have a leisure morning, grab breakfast, and then pick up our Lyla. She was excited to see us too - and that made our day even better. We spent the rest of our day off cooking out in the backyard and taking a dip in the "pool." And by "pool" I mean the plastic one we bought for Lyla's entertainment - - - and ours. It was a relaxing holiday weekend. I am looking forward to next year when she may actually enjoy the pops and the bangs of fireworks...

Long time no talk...

So I've been on a blogging hiatus - that whole "newborn" thing has definitely sucked all my free time (surprise surprise). And I wouldn't change it for the world....

I'm vowing to start writing again - it's not only good for my soul, but fun to share our crazy life with friends and family.

For the past 3 1/2 months, I've been learning this new role of Mommy. I've never known any love like this and I'm thankful everyday for God blessing us with our Lyla. After 12 weeks of maternity leave, I was not ready to return to work. I was loving each day getting to know my little girl. We walked the Katy Trail, attended Stroller Fitness, shopped, played with the dogs, visited family, organized the house, experienced Baby Bounce with Christie and Cohen, and sometimes just cuddled up on the couch and napped.

To suddenly leave her with a stranger seemed unacceptable. It was as if the lady we felt so lucky to have found to watch Lyla seemed just not good enough. I went through major anxiety about dropping her off on my first day back to work. I sat in her driveway for 15 minutes talking myself out of the car. I think she had to yank Lyla out of my arms with a crowbar when I needed to go. I just kept hovering. And crying the whole way to work did wonders for my appearance as I walked into the office. But I'm proud to say that after my first week back, I am so happy to be a working mom. I'm a firm believer that each family has to do what's best for them. For us, this works. I need that creative outlet that challenges me and fulfills my professional career. And I balance that (ok, sometimes it teeters) with this loving supportive husband and precious baby. And I have to thank the powers that be for Mrs. Barbee (Lyla's childcare provider) - she is AMAZING! Her warmth and kindness with babies is complimented by her child development expertise. The proof is in the pudding because when Lyla sees her in the morning, she smiles bigger than Texas - I know she loves being with Mrs. Barbee and that makes it so much easier to drop her off on my way to work. It's the kind of smile that I can't wait to see when I pick her up at the end of the day.

On that note, I'm shocked that I haven't received a million speeding tickets. The minute I leave the office in the afternoon, I'm flying down the street 90 to nothing to get to her. The anticipation of picking up that chubby-cheeked baby rejuvenates me and all of a sudden I'm refreshed and ready to snuggle. We have just a couple hours when we get home to spend playing (sometimes while Mommy makes/defrosts/orders in dinner), having a bath, and getting ready for bed. She has her last bottle around 8 pm and then she's down for the next 11 hours or so. That gives Shawn and I a chance to spend some time together before we go to bed and do it all over again and by "time together" I do mean catching up on whatever stupid reality show we've dvr'd. Of course, more often than not I'm lucky enough to have a huge project due and spend the next several hours on my laptop working on slides or a proposal, but that's life - - - it may be busy, but it's ours.

3 Days to Go!

Yes, it's been FOREVER since my last post - or so it seems. We've had a whirlwind of baby showers, which were amazing! I've still been working like crazy and trying to prepare for the arrival of Miss Lyla. And it's almost here!

The past month has been a blur - I went from a regular-sized baby bump to sporting this huge mountain of baby in my mid-section. I feel like I'm growing the next cast member of American Gladiator. She's so strong, kicking me constantly. My ribs have taken a beating for sure. Everything hurts - my hips, my groin, my legs, and worst of all - my back. If Rock wasn't home every night to rub my back, I wouldn't have made it this far. I'm sure he's just as ready for this baby to be born (his poor hands deserve a break). Enough complaining, I know she's going to be worth it and I've been extremely lucky to experience all of this prenatal bliss.

I'm so thrilled her nursery is finally complete - minus the rocker/glider we ordered a month ago :( oh well. Buy Buy Baby had it on back order said it would take 8-12 weeks, so we won't be rocking our little girl for a while. On the bright side, it gives us something extra to look forward to.

This past weekend, Shawn and I were determined to spend some quality time together before her debut. Of course, my nesting urges are in full force so we spent Friday night and most of Saturday scrubbing down the house - not exactly the quality time either of us had in mind, but it had to be done. And with 2 dogs and hardwood floors, the pet hair was out of control! Brisket brings in more dirt than a sand truck and Halley's shedding is ridiculous. So we have "Dirty" and "Hairy" to thank for that mess.

Even after hours of sanitizing, we decided to clean up and go downtown for dinner. It was a strange feeling to know it will be one of the last times (for a while) we'll be sitting at a table with just each other. But it's an excitement and anticipation I've never experienced. Oh how our lives are about to change.

The car seat is installed and we practiced adjusting all the straps, harness, etc. - we're a long ways from being pros, but I'm confident we can get her in there safely. Who knew all of this baby gear was so complicated?!?!

Our bags are semi-packed - okay, I'm 80% packed and Rock hasn't started, but he's a typical guy that throws things in a bag last minute so we should be good to go. I haven't had sweets in months, so of course I've sneaked a box of Samoan Girl Scout cookies in my bag as a personal postpartum reward. I figure that if I make it through childbirth, I deserve it!

So as of right now, I'm scheduled to go to the hospital Thursday morning for all of my pre-admissions testing. Then they send me home and we come back at 6 a.m. on Friday for the main event. We're still hoping that someone goes into labor and there's room for us to be admitted Thursday evening so we can get this ball rolling a bit faster. Either way, we're praying for a safe delivery and a healthy baby girl on Friday at some point. The anticipation is killing us!

Belly Pics

Here are a few belly pics we had taken this weekend...

8 Weeks Just Turned into 6 - YIKES!

Well, we thought we had 8 weeks to go until our baby girl debuts March 26th, but now we've been informed that we're on a fast-track and have 6 weeks to go at the most. Yep, this baby is growing a bit fast, which really shouldn't surprise us considering the fact that Shawn was a 13-pounder!

So at the latest, we'll be induced around March 12th. Don't misunderstand - I'm all for meeting our daughter sooner than later, but that only gives me a few more weeks to get ready. Her nursery is coming along, but I still have much to do. I started making a list of everything that has to be accomplished before her head pops out and it made me start to hyperventilate, so I tore the list up. My friends are sweet, reassuring me that whatever isn't done is no big deal and all that. That once she's here we won't care if everything is put together, our furniture is steam-cleaned, and Brisket is magically trained to be perfectly obedient. But I just can't get there mentally.

It feels as if I spent the first two semesters just lolly-gagging around. I should have been doing more. I still haven't finished reading "Becoming Baby Wise" or "The Happiest Baby on the Block." My company hosted us an AWESOME shower this week and their generosity definitely got me in the "ok, she's about to be here" mindset. It felt like we were one step closer to feeling better prepared. Friends and family are hosting our couples' baby shower in 2 weeks and I'm sure once that gets here, my heart rate will slow down a bit.

But the weeks are blazing towards us faster than I can say "butt paste." Oh what to do what to do...

Lemon Drops and Hot Tamales

So being 31 weeks pregnant, the day has come when my sleep routine is no longer. This presents a shock to my system, considering I've always been the Queen of Sleep. I could sleep through a tornado coming through our bedroom. Even 2 trimesters of frequent bathroom trips through the night have yet to interrupt my ability to fall right back asleep. Well that was then and this is now...

Now I spend all night flopping back and forth from side to side (like a fish on a desolate beach), avoiding whichever arm is asleep and numb. And my gigantic pillow that resides between my knees, under my belly, and around my arms can only provide so much support. Therefore, I lay awake listening to Rock breathe (okay, snore), and think about how we have just a little longer before this baby arrives. This prompted me to mentally jot down a few lessons I've learned about being pregnant...

1. Don't point your toes and stretch when you're lying in the bed, half awake. The leg cramps I've experienced while pregnant have been so severe and painful, I almost welcome those contractions people keep talking about. I can't thank my husband enough for jumping up in the middle of the night (on numerous occasions) to force my feet to flex in efforts to relieve the excruciating pain of leg cramps.
2. Learn to bend over properly. I'm continuously grateful for my high school coaches for ingraining the proper squat technique when lifting weights back in the day. This has provided a great service to me as my pregnancy progresses. Simply bending over to pick things up, clean, put shoes on, etc. is no longer an option. However, with the proper squat, I can still accomplish these tasks without scrunching the fetus living inside of me or killing my back - it's a win-win. Thanks L.D. Bell!
3. Teach your partner how to paint your toenails BEFORE getting pregnant. I'm a big fan of pedicures, but there are times when I just need a quick touch-up. Propping a foot up and painting my toes is just not happening anymore. Even the proper squat doesn't help with this one. I'm lucky to have a husband that's up for helping with anything, but giving a "how-to" lesson in the spur of the moment isn't the best idea. I suggest knocking this one out before your belly is too big to physically show him the correct way to get those toes looking good. I refuse to go into labor with funky feet and it's the little things that make a big difference. Nice polished toes are the least I can do for all of those people having to be with me while this little girl makes her way into the world.
4. Kegels - just do it. Never realized how important they were until now. Not only do they serve as a pain reliever, but apparently will be of use during the main event....we'll see.
5. Lemon Drops and Hot Tamales. Both of these over-processed sugary delights have cured my nausea like magic. I carry both in my purse at all times.
6. Get an enormous body pillow. Even though my dogs "think" this belongs to them, I cling to that sucker for dear life every time I lay down, whether it's on the couch or in the bed. It takes the pressure off my stomach, balances my hips, and just makes me happy.
7. Face it - the panties just keep getting bigger. I held off breaking out the grandma panties for as long as humanly possible. And I haven't thrown out the thongs - just put them in the back of my drawer for winter hibernation. I'll see them again one day! For now, I'm prepared for the HUGE papery boy shorts the hospital provides (although, I will take a good friend's advice and bring my own - thanks for that Christen!).
8. Keep an open mind. I think this one is the most important. I learned this during our wedding extravaganza. Nothing goes according to plan, so despite the detailed birth plan (which we haven't even bothered with) or the "ideal" situation, this baby has a mind of her own and as we discovered this week - we have to go with the flow. Now that I know I'll be induced early (at least by 2 weeks) we have to prepare for her even earlier. Deep breaths and going with the flow...

I'm sure there's more, but that's what's in my head for now. I'll just have to update this list as time goes on and the weeks fly by...

A Little Perspective...

I was watching t.v. last night (surprise, surprise) and there was a little girl with blond pigtails that crawled into her mother's lap and cried. Then it hit me, "What am I going to do when Lyla is upset?" I'm not referring to a tantrum--I'm talking about dealing with emotions.

As a parent, what will that feel like to see your little girl legitimately upset about something that you didn't cause?

Of course I turned to ask Shawn what he's planning to do and I got a couple of answers like, "Beat up whoever hurt her feelings" and "give her ice cream." Note to self: we're definitely going to have to discuss these parenting choices before we're faced with the situation. I can't have Lyla investing in Blue Bell every time she's unhappy and I'm not exactly cut out to be a single-mother and therefore, having my husband attack everyone she has a conflict with isn't a viable option either.

I suppose it will come naturally, but I hate seeing anyone hurt and I don't look forward to the day I have to scoop her up, wipe her eyes, and listen to her pain while encouraging her to look at things differently. I know life isn't all peaches and cream, and it's these moments that build character and yadda yadda yadda. It just sucks to see someone you love so deeply endure the hard times.

Then I think about the victims and sufferers of the earthquake in Haiti and a few tears seem meaningless. The devastation seems endless. I keep praying for these people and our reinforcements being sent in an effort to provide aid. We live our daily lives worried about traffic, bills, vacations, deadlines, and dinner plans. It never ceases to amaze me how internally-focused we are until mass tragedy strikes. I'm certainly guilty of this.

So in between news updates and horrifying pictures, I still find myself wondering how I plan to make my own daughter's life a little brighter when she's feeling down. I guess it's various levels of focus that keep me sane.

29 Weeks - 11 to Go!

We went to the doctor yesterday and it had been one month since our last visit. And what a difference 4 weeks make! Our little scrawny unborn child has filled out like a blow fish. Full lips, chubby cheeks, and puffy little forearms. We weren't shocked that she's measuring big - already 3.3 lbs. It was incredible to see how she spent the holidays - apparently, fattening up...(she gets that from her mama).

Little Lady...

I've never been a faithful New Year's Resolution keeper. I have nothing against wanting to better your life, but I prefer to improve year-round (not just the first two weeks in January). So this year, instead of short term goals, I find myself constantly thinking of the blessed opportunity I have to be a positive role model for this baby (who continues to kick my ribs harder and harder each day - thanks for that Lyla). Expecting a daughter in less than 3 months, I keep thinking about the core values, morals, and life teachings I want her to soak up. I know that as her parents, we can't make decisions for her, but I believe it's our responsibility to provide the proper tools to handle life's ups and downs at least better than we have. No one is perfect and I have made more than my fair share of mistakes, so I'm not preaching perfection. But it's how we pick ourselves up after we fall down that shows true character and I'm determined to build strength and confidence in Lyla. In no particular order...

I want her to know that she can do anything, that nothing is out of her realm of possibilities.
I want her to love strong and true, regardless of how it turns out.
I want her to have faith in the Lord and to know that she is never alone.
I want her to treat others with respect, compassion, empathy, and dignity.
I want her to possess confidence and independence, never an extra in someone else's movie.
I want her to recognize the consequences prior to the decisions.

So I realize that she is going to be her own person with her own priorities and dreams. I just can't wait to meet her and get to know this little lady. For my New Year's "Resolution" for 2010, I'm excited to begin my journey as a mother and mentor to an amazing woman someday.

Can't a girl just pee?

So our New Year's holiday included a round trip to Hallettsville to visit the in-laws. Of course that means lots of gas station stops so I can pee.........every hour or so. My very patient husband obliges this need with no complaints, thankfully. Most of the time, this delay is rather uneventful. We enjoy people-watching as we make our way past the soda machines, around the corn nuts, and left of the tacky koozies to the sometimes questionable restroom facilities. I usually am an in-and-out kind of gal. However, on the way home we stopped at a new place that looked clean enough and much to my dismay, the toilets were a foot from the ground. For a brief second, I thought I'd stumbled into an elementary school bathroom. I checked all of the stalls hoping to find a "big girl" potty, but was met with disappointment. They didn't even have the courtesy to install steel handles to assist with the squatting. Feeling the pressure on my bladder, I covered the seat extensively and used the walls to get my big belly low enough to eliminate the 2 liters of water I sucked down earlier. Ahhhh sweet relief. Then it hit me......how the heck was I going to get back up? Of course I was the only person in the bathroom - not that I was going to ask a perfect stranger to pull my big butt off the seat. I didn't bring my purse with my cell phone inside to call Shawn for help. Obviously I didn't think this plan through thoroughly. After a brief state of panic, I knew I had to put on my big girl panties and deal with it. For those of you who have never been pregnant, simply raising up as normal was not an option. Physiologically speaking, the belly is too big at this point to allow such a direct movement. So my only option was to use the bathroom stall walls to "shimmy" on up to standing position. Uhhhhh, easier said than done. The first two tries were fairly comical. I got about 6 inches above the seat before losing my balance and flopping back down. Thank gosh for my 15 layers of seat coverage - that cushion was appreciated. On my third attempt, it was as if a heavenly toilet bowl angel lifted me up as if I was floating on a cloud. I was finally standing! I washed my hands and ran out of there faster than a celebrity orders a C-section and a tummy tuck. I'm exhausted just thinking about it!