A Very Happy Birthday...

to my wonderful husband!  This past year was full of excitement, and I am sure the next one will too!  To a great day and a great year.  You deserve it!!

Wink, wink...

Last night I think I had the best meal in my entire life.  Really.  This year, our anniversary just snuck up on Ry and me.  So, we decided just to do it big for our dinner.  And we did!  We went to Wink and had their 5 course tasting menu.  This is such a cool restaurant - they buy all their food locally, and you can find which ones on their menu.

I can't decide which of the 5 courses I liked the best.  We were a little nervous about the steak tartare, but I think that ended up to be Ry's favorite.  Each course was beautiful to look at and scrumptious to eat.  I made Ry promise that he would take me back for our 9th anniversary!

Sorry, no pictures.  We just sat, ate, and enjoyed.  I think the meal easily took us over 2 hours to eat.  And we loved each and every minute of it!  They even gave us a signed menu to take home (by all the chefs) and typed in the menu was "Happy Anniversary Alexis and Ryan".  What a great touch!!

I did find a coupon on restaurant.com.  If you use the code "meal" you can get a $25 gift certificate for $2.  It did buy us a couple glasses of wine...

8 years ago...

(Kauai on our honeymoon...what young kids we were)

I married my best friend.  The best friend I have ever had.  I thought it took forever for him to ask me (3 1/2 years), but now we have been married twice over!

Our wedding day was special, surrounded by friends and family.  I don't think, though, I would say it was the best day of my life.  My best day is tomorrow, knowing that I have a wonderful man to share it with.

Thank you Ryan for asking me to marry you.  I am proud to be your wife, best friend, and mother to your children!

To infinity and beyond!!!

My Christmas gift...

For Christmas this past year Ryan and I exchanged 3 gifts with themes.  First was practical, and Ryan got me some gorgeous earrings (which are quite practical, a girl has to look good).  Second was indulgent, and Ryan gave me a Keurig personal coffee maker.  I love Starbucks, but only can handle about a cup a day, so this allows me to make only a cup at home.  This insert allows me to use my own coffee too!  Our third gift was helpful, and Ryan made reservations for me to go to a Knife Skills class at Central Market.  It was great!  You can read more about it on my cooking blog!  Thanks honey!!

Super Duper Date night!!

Last night Ryan planned our date.  What a great job he did!!

First, we had a glass of wine at the Georgetown Winery.  Our friend Fr. Will had brought us a bottle a few months ago when he came to dinner and it was great.  We sat at the bar, talked with the owners (who remembered Fr. Will) and relaxed.

Then, a nice stroll around the Georgetown square.  It was nice and warm (unlike today) and we looked around.

Then we had dinner at a little local Italian restaurant, Tony and Luigi's.  Yummy!  We had another glass of wine and a delicious dinner, serenaded by a man doing Frank Sinatra songs.  Could it get more perfect?  Yes, we had the Barcelona chocolate cake which was delicious!!

Feel free to copy this date night - I have a feeling we will!

Can I brag on my husband?

Today, Ry was my knight.  He was getting ready to go to work, and noticed my tire had a flat (I've been having issues for awhile).  He pumped it up, took it to Discount Tire, got it fixed (it had 2 nails and a screw in it), came home and THEN went to work!  What an amazing guy!!  We had only a little playdate scheduled for today, but he knows how these escapes keep my sanity through the day.

Thank you Ryan!  You are the best!  I am soooo lucky!!

Happy Birthday, dear husband...

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Birthday dear Ryan

Happy Birthday to you!

You are my best friend, my knight in shining armor.

You hold me when I cry, and can always make me laugh.

You are the love of my life, and I can't imagine spending it with anyone else.

Happy Birthday, to all that is to come this year!

my knight in shining armor came...

and swept me off my feet yesterday! Nate had a difficult night the evening before, so momma had one too! He woke up sick, and I could feel a migraine coming on. I tried to go to my mom's prayer group, but made it to Starbucks instead. I called Ry on the way back. Crying. I can't do this. Can you come home for lunch?

So, we made it home, and were settling to watch a little Law & Order, and who walks in? My knight, my husband. He sweeps Nate away, and tells me to rest a bit. I laid down for about an hour, and woke up a new mom. It's amazing how a little rest, and a little peppermint mocha make everything better.

Thank you, my beloved husband. You truly saved me yesterday!! I love you!!

race day...

For Ry's dad's 60th birthday, we gave him racing lessons at the Texas Motor Speedway with Team Texas. We couldn't let Jim do it alone, so Ry got to go for his birthday/Christmas present. We finally got it scheduled and went up labor day weekend. Ry, his dad, his mom, my mom, Tessa, our friend Damien (visiting from NJ), Nate and I were there. There were also about 80 drivers, so we were there for several hours! Ry and his dad each got to go around the lap 10 times, and raced at almost 150 mph.

Funny, Ry has now been watching some NASCAR, and following his car (they drove retired cars!). Jim was in the in Cingular 31 and Ry was in the Old Spice/Home Depot 14 (Tony Stewart's car).

Here are some photos from the event.

Happy Belated birthday!!

Okay, I'm only a week late...Happy Birthday Ryan! Sorry, with us all being sick around here, it is hard to find some free time :-)

I was planning to post my top 5 pics of Ry, but I went back only 7 months and already found 10. So, here are my top 10 pics of Ry since Nate has been born!

Love ya sweetie! To another super great year!!!

a great gift...

Ry posted on his blog what he wants to give Nate...looks good to us! Check it out here!

14 week pics...

A few extra from week 14!

Hanging out with Mommy

My little All Star

Going out for date night!

thanks Daddy!!

A special thanks to Ryan for updating the look on this blog! Great job!!

and Happy Anniversary aunt Amy and uncle Derek!! 7 years! Whoop!!

10 years ago today...

Ry asked me if I wanted a new title - girlfriend! I eagerly accepted!! I can't believe we have been together soo long!! And then I got the title fiancee (about 4 years later), then wife (6 months later), and now mom. Thank you honey for all my special titles!! Happy "dating" anniversary!

D + 11 or I - 2...

Okay, is this getting a little ridiculous? Sorry for my "late" posting this morning, I actually slept in. Maybe Pumpkin knows something I don't...at least we know that in 48 hours I will be in labor...

The massage was great yesterday - for all the pregnant and post-natal momma's out there, I would highly recommend it! Awesome! Then Ry took me out for Hawaiian snow cones! yum! Then some walking too! We ended the evening with a nice, romantic dinner at Chee Zee and my super husband shared a sugar-free dessert with me!

Today we are going to the doc again this afternoon. I will pack my hospital bag and hopefully be able to use it!

Here are some pics also from this past week!

41 weeks


us (me, Ry, my brother and sister) with our grandparents


me and my little brother Stephen

D + 9 or I - 4...

I never thought I would be pregnant this long, but I should have known. Today I'm over a week overdue, or should I just be tracking "I" (inducement) now? Mom was induced with me when she was 3 weeks overdue - guess it just runs in the family! Hope 7 pound babies do too!

Today, my aunt, uncle and cousin are coming to visit from Aggieland. They actually live in Holland, but are visiting my cousin who is a sophomore at A&M. Hmm...what kind of spicy food do I want?

Today also is a special day for me and Ryan. 10 years ago this very day I asked him to go on our first date - we went and played putt-putt at the course in Aggieland (and had to hit more crickets and junebugs than balls), and then talked for hours in his car at Research Park. Who would have thought 10 years later we would be waiting for the arrival of our first child? What an amazing decade we have had together! Interestingly enough Ry and I started dating then, and never even broke up - we've been together since.

You are my best friend sweetie - I couldn't imagine my life without you! Thanks again for going out with me 10 years ago!! I love you!!

D + 4...

Well, we did it! We went to the movies! Ry had seen Indiana Jones the weekend it came out (he's a *huge* fan), and has been wanting to take me ever since. So, we went yesterday. And had the works - movie, popcorn and coke! yea! It was an entertaining movie - campy at times, but kept your attention. My friend Rowena went into labor the day after she saw the movie, so we'll see what happens today...

Yesterday I had 2 really interesting moments. It's amazing to me to see how other people react to my pregnancy. Often times we hear how as a culture people are not pro-life. That everyone is pro-choice, and if you are pro-life you are a minority.

Well, when giving the sign of peace yesterday in Mass, a woman took a double-take with me. She said "peace be with you", and then said "both of you", with a big grin on her face. The second time this happened was when this teenage boy was taking my ticket at the movies. He said "thank you" and then paused and said "sorry, thank Y'all!

So, in our pro-death society that we live in, when does this tissue inside my body change from being just tissue to a baby? Is it that I'm overdue? Is it that people can see and tell that I'm pregnant? Or does the media get it wrong? Are most people pro-life?

I have been overwhelmed how positive people have been toward me during this pregnancy - overly polite, opening doors, getting out of my way, offering to help, not letting me carry my groceries, etc. It has given me a renewed sense of the pro-life climate in our culture. How wonderful!!

Today's activity is to go to the Mommies group at our church, and get some last-minute errands done. Found out yesterday that my parents, grandparents, brother and sister are coming tomorrow. I need to remind them that I have to relax - doctor's orders!

Lastly, today is my ultrasound/charting due date (which I feel is more accurate). We'll see what happens today...

D + 1...

Well, the due date came and went. Had a nice relaxing (albeit lazy) day. Will try to do that again today, but it's harder that it seems... a few episodes of Law & Order, surfing the net, long showers, well I guess I could get used to this!

Thanks for the suggestions yesterday. The 6 hour Pride and Prejudice does sound good - I may venture out to get it today. Otherwise, it may just be a Bridget Jones marathon!

Last night Ry and I had a wonderful dinner at one of our favorite place, the Melting Pot. I'm soo glad I found a guy who loves fondue! I've loved it for years, and it is a great way to have a nice, long, romantic dinner. We were imagining going there once pumpkin arrives, and seating him or her in the booth between us! It was nice to have an evening just to ponder and focus on these past 40 weeks, and on the journey it took us to get here.

So, since y'all have been soo good at commenting, I have another question. Let's have a poll on the gender and birth date of our little pumpkin (I know many of y'all have strong feelings about this). So comment with that info, and the time of birth and weight, if you feel so inclined. I guess I could throw in a nice pic of the baby as a prize :-)

4 days...Happy Father's Day!!

We've had a relaxing day today! Mass, Starbucks, HEB, and Rudy's for some BBQ. Boy was that place crowded - guess it is where all the dads wanted to be!

Ry's parents came down to celebrate the day with us. It was nice just to hang out and relax. Even found more decorations for the nursery, so will have to post updated photos soon!

Ry did pretty good for his father's day! A Burn Notice dvd (he just loves the show), cute family frame with pic of us, and pic of me in one of his shirts. Next year I'll take it with our little one and we can watch how he/she grows up in daddy's clothes! It barely buttoned for me! Ry's parents gave him some baby items (car seat protector, for the new car and all, and a cute I love Daddy bib) and a nice shirt too! They even brought some food so I won't have to cook much this week! yea!

No contractions or anything. Just a bit uncomfortable, usually in the morning or at night. During the day, I seem fine, just walking much slower :-)

My husband's been nesting...

Well, seems like it is not just me who has been nesting for this baby! Look at what my wonderful husband has done just in the last 36 hours:

- put in the mattress in the crib
- hung the artwork in the nursery (photos to come when I find the camera...). Quite a feat with a wife who couldn't make up her mind...
- hung a mirror in our bedroom that has been on our floor for over 2 years
- hung a mirror in the guest room
- washed both cars
- put extra dirt in the front yard
- watered the yard and making it look very nice
- set-up the pack-n-play in our bedroom
- installed the hammock in the pack-n-play
- installed the car seat in the car
- put together the stroller
- put together my nursing stool
- transplanted a sapling from our yard to a pot

And made dinner for me (and we had nothing in the house - even had to go to the grocery store to get food!). What a great husband! I'm so lucky and blessed!!