good news...

After 18 weeks of progesterone shots, it looks like I am *finally* in the correct range! No more shots!! Whoop! Good job pumpkin!!

it is funny...

When you are looking something up on the internet and find a photo of yourself...



More info at UT Non Profit Career Fair (you know, the other school!)

98 days...

Well, today is the day! 98 days to my due date from Dr. Love which is June 19 (although the 20 week ultrasound pushed it to June 23). I can't believe it has gone soo fast!! Today I move into my 3rd trimester. So much to get done!

This week we've had a house full of college girls. 3 of my cousins (Monica, Allison and Corey) and my sister Tessa have been here. They painted the baby's room and it is beautiful! I will totally think of them every time I go in the room.

AND My parents come in this weekend, so we will have fuller house this weekend! But the house is filled with love and laughter - it has been wonderful!

pregnancy musings...

This last week pumpkin has developed a new habit - waking me up at night. Sometime between 2-4 am I am woken by his/her kicking. I try to go back to sleep, but usually am awake at least an hour, up to 4 hours.

This has given me time to ponder my pregnancy. We have been wanting to expand our family for a few years now. And with 3 miscarriages, hormonal problems and chromosomal issues, it has been quite a roller coaster.

Due to that, it was hard for the first several weeks for me to actually believe I was pregnant. I didn't even start my pregnancy book until I was 14 weeks pregnant. Through all this time, though, I feel we have been soo loved and comforted. So many have lifted us up in prayer, I know that is why things have been going so well.

And things have. Yet, in the middle of the night you still wonder. Are we doing the right thing? Will I be a good mom? Will I be able to provide for my child? Can I be as good of a mom as my mom was for me?

And then I remember that I have a wonderful network - a super husband, wonderful family, friends, and those who lurk this blog :-)

But what if I didn't? What if I had no one? What if I had no supportive husband who makes dinner when I can't stand the smell of food? Or wonderful friends offering to throw me not one but two baby showers? How hard would this be? And so many women have to go through this each day.

So as I laid in bed last night, trying to go back to sleep, I grabbed Ry's hand. I knew everything would be just fine. We will do the best we can for all our children - that is what we have been doing and continue to do.

And when I get discouraged, I will offer it up for those women who do this alone. That they will be comforted by His love, and be given the strength to persevere.

We have a theme!!

Yea! We have a theme for pumpkin's room! We found it about a week ago when my mom was visiting. Has such beautiful colors and reminds us of New Zealand!

My sister and 3 of my cousins are coming this weekend to visit us for a week for their spring break. Oh to have spring break again... I thought a good project for them would be to paint the baby's room! Will post some before and after's in the coming weeks!

10 pounds!!!

I have now officially put on 10 pounds with this pregnancy!! Seems like my double stuff oreo diet has worked! Only thing is that I probably can't do it anymore :-(

My doc appointment went well - 24 weeks!! Baby is growing and has a healthy heartbeat. Now to other baby stuff - to decide on a pediatrician, to circumcise or not (have to research, since we are not finding out), finalizing the baby room colors, cloth diapering, register, etc.!! I guess this is why God gives you 9 months - there is lots to be done! I always wondered this while I was dealing with our infertility - I wanted a baby now! But, in going through all this, I'm glad to have 16 more weeks (or less!!).\

Yesterday Ry and I had a romantic dinner at the Melting Pot. We love going out for fondue! And so did pumpkin - around 4 am he/she woke me up kicking!! yes, kicking!! seems like he/she likes the chocolate fondue.

Off to Dallas this weekend - work stuff and to see our god daughter. Ry will stay here - I was going to make him a honey-do list, but I think he has it covered.

living in the 'burbs...

As many of y'all know, our house backs up to a dead-end road. When the weather is nice, people like to park back there and it creeps me out!!

Yesterday it happened again! I guess because it was a nice night. A pick-up pulled behind, and fixed it so the front was facing our home (and the back the field behind our house) - around 10 pm. Then all lights went off. I told Ry and he went downstairs. Turned on our light (there is no light on the street), and tried to look over the fence. No avail, they wouldn't leave.

So, I used my worried voice and called the dispatcher's office. Told them a creepy car was behind the house, and had been there at least 10 minutes. Within 5 minutes 2 sheriff's cars pulled up - lights in force! Eventually one went away, and we could see the cop talking to one person, a man. We couldn't see the other until she stood up in the bed of the truck. She was putting on her clothes!!! Yes, people were naked behind my house!! And I gave them time to "get in the mood" before I called the cops!

Guess I'm one of those evil suburban homeowner's now... Ry said if we had night video equipment we could have made lots of money on this experience. I just don't want creepy people behind my house! Find another unlit road!! And beware, this homeowner will call the cops!

Babymoon part 2 - DC

Well, DC was a little different from NYC...

We got to DC on Thursday, 2/7. Ry wasn't feeling well, when we got to our friend Pam's home, his temperature was 102.8! She made him some chicken soup and he was in bed by 7 pm.

The next day we went to an urgent care clinic and found out that Ry had walking pneumonia!! He had to get his first IV ever!! I asked the doc if we should head home, but he said Ry was too sick to travel!!!

Luckily we were staying the next few days at a hotel. Pam graciously brought us over dinner that night!! Ry just rested.

Saturday, Pam, her girls and I went to Arlington Cemetery. Wow, what an amazing place. We meandered through it, and were able to see the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier. Here is a photo of Pam's girls Rachael and Allison, and me at the pavilion.


Sunday we went to Mass with Pam and family. Afterwards we took the Metro into DC, and saw our friends Erin and Joe. Joe gave us a driving tour of DC, but we didn't get out because it was super cold and windy. We did get out at the Iwo Jima Memorial, and it felt like the teens! From there you can also see the Washington Memorial.



We then headed back for a restful evening.

Monday we got to see some Smithsonian museums - Air & Space and Natural History. We had fun exploring both, and I just loved seeing the Hope Diamond at Natural History. We wanted to go to American History, but it is closed until the summer. They did have some items on display at Air & Space - C3PO, R2D2, Dorothy's red slippers, etc. At least we saw the highlights.

Tuesday we did our Capital events. We went on a tour of the White House with Pam and her girls. We saw about 6 rooms. It was self-guided but cool to actually be in the White House. Then we had a tour of the Capital. We went with a staffer from our US Rep's office - Mike McCaul. We were the only ones on the tour! It was great - took over 2 hours!! A highlight of our trip!!

Tuesday night an ice storm hit the area. People were stuck on the roads 4 - 9 hours!! We actually got out of our taxi 1/2 a block from our hotel because it was costing too much money staying parked!

Wednesday we headed back. We saw Pam and Allison for lunch. It was soo great to see her, and spend time with her beautiful family!!


One of the funniest signs was at the Metro! Thought y'all would get a kick from it - don't have any of these in Texas!!


Ry is finally doing better. He was on antibiotics for 10 days, and I have not gotten sick! I tell Ry it is because I got the St. Blaise blessing at Mass on Feb. 3, and he decided not to do it. Don't think he'll miss that one!

We'll post some more photos on our flickr account!! Probably this weekend!

Babymoon - NYC

Well, we had a wonderful time in NYC! Whoop!

We flew into DC, and then took the train to Penn Station in NYC. From there we hiked up about 20 blocks to the convent where we were staying, Centro Maria.

Friday, 2/1 was our first full day. We went to the Met and that night I had dinner with 2 of my cousins, Tristan and Chris. I hadn't seen them in awhile and we had a nice, 3 hour dinner!


Saturday was our day full of the Sisters for Life. Our friend, Sr. Mary Clare, decided to postpone her vows, but a few us of Aggie Catholics decided to go up anyways. There was a beautiful Mass for the 2 other sisters who took their vows, and then a special family dinner that evening.


We finished that evening going to the Catholic Underground, hosted by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. What an amazing time and great music. On our way back we came with some girls from Centro Maria, and here is Times Square in the background.


Sunday we headed to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Thanks Laurie for recommending the audio tour! It was great and we had fun exploring. It was probably the best day weather wise, and we had a great time!!



Monday we were able to catch up with a friend of ours Jeff who was also visiting NYC. We did the NBC Studios tour, and checked out Rockafeller Center.

We were also able to be a part of the David Letterman show audience. The funny thing was that they were shooting the Tuesday episode, so we had to pretend we had voted in super Tuesday, went to the parade, etc.

Tuesday we participated in the Giants ticker tape parade. The last one was prior to 9/11, It was fun participating, and to see what they think is ticker tape - shredded paper, shredded newspaper, whole sheets of paper, rolls of toilet paper, etc.




We also went to the UN, and saw a broadway show - Curtains with David Hyde Pierce.

Wednesday we went to the American Museum of Natural History. That night I hung out with my cousin Tristan again, since Ry wasn't feeling well. Since it was Ash Wednesday, I got my ashes at St. Patrick's Cathedral! Beautiful!!

Check back tomorrow for more on DC...

belly update...

Well, my family has been after me to post some pictures of my increasing belly! Here you go!

Pumpkin has really been changing these last few months! I feel him/her moving all around, kicking and such. It is amazing!! Pumpkin is over 12 oz in weight, and over 7 inches long!! Whoop!

As promised, here is the progression! Tomorrow (when we are 23 weeks) watch for updates on our NYC/DC adventure!!

14 weeks


16 weeks


19 weeks (we forgot 18)


20 weeks


and 22 weeks

we're back!

We are back, safe and sound!!

Will post an update on what we did this weekend. It was an interesting trip, a little more excitement than we were planning for. That should be a good teaser to have you come back :-)

Pumpkin is doing well. Has learned how to kick mommy, and I'm feeling our little one squirm lots more now. Very exciting!!

david letterman...

Check out David Letterman on Monday!! We got tickets to be in the audience!! whoop!

20 weeks old!!

Just wanted to post our most recent photo of pumpkin. Had the 20 week ultrasound today and all is going well! Pumpkin is weighing in at a helfty 12 ounces, and is perfectly on track!! yea!!



You can even see in this photo of pumpkin's perfect foot - even the toes! Didn't really feel him/her kicking me, but I know that will start soon!!

We will be going to see Dr. Love this afternoon, and then ready to head out on our babymoon!! NYC and DC, here we come!!

a great weekend!!

What a great weekend we had! Got to go to a private reception with Dr. Alveda King, niece of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. We had a good time meeting her. She also did a a great job at the Texas Rally for Life. All went well, and God sure provided on the beautiful weather. I was even listening to the radio this morning and the were talking about it!

And I think the oreos and ice cream is working - putting on a few more pounds. This has been one of my worries through this pregnancy. I'm almost halfway there (19 1/2 weeks) and have only put on a few. We'll see Wednesday how well I've done - we have the big ultrasound and prenatal appt. Watch for pics!!

Last night it happened. Everyone told me it would. I just hadn't felt it. The butterflies came!! Yes, that is what it feel like to have your baby kick! Little pumpkin was all moving around when I was trying to go to sleep. I woke up Ry to tell him and he tried to see if he could feel it too. That may take a few weeks until he can feel it. I'm very excited - not sure how I slept last night!

Lastly, we are off to our babymoon to NYC and DC this week. Post or email me any suggestions you have up there - this is our first real visit!

Happy Birthday hubby!

Just wanted to wish my dear husband a wonderful 32nd birthday and upcoming year! I have truly enjoyed these last 9 1/2 years getting to know the awesome man that you are! You continue to surprise and amaze me. May this year be filled with new adventures, new experiences and a true sense of contentment!

We celebrated tonight by going out for Greek food. yum! And this weekend Ry's parents came to help us install a beautiful new back door, as well as celebrate at Chuy's. Always revolving around food...

Happy New Year!!

Well, we are finally back and recovered from our ventures up and down I-35 - to see Ry's and my family! It was a great time away, but glad to be home.

Had my 16 week appt. today! Baby is doing great - 140 beats a minute!! The nurse even said he/she was kicking due to the sounds we were hearing. What an amazing sound - our child!

We'll have the "big" sonogram in about 3 weeks. And sorry to disappoint, we will not be finding out the sex! We will all have to wait!!

I'll update with some photos from Christmas and all. Just need Ry to upload...

Happy New Year! What a great adventure 2008 is going to be!

I'm on a board!!

One thing I've been especially drawn to is leadership positions in organizations. I was an officer in the many clubs I was in during high school and college (some of my unique organizations include the Penta Club - our high school math club - and Aggie Toasters - part of Toastmasters International). Yet, when you come out of college, you are often "too young" and "not experienced" enough to be on boards.

There are several I would love to be a part of. I would love to help in the development of the organization and play a role in its direction.

So, for the first time since college, I'm on a board!! I'm the secretary of DOVIA - Directors of Volunteers in Austin. It is a local organization that allows volunteer directors a chance to network, share ideas, etc. You can even check out my bio on the site - DOVIA.

I hope that this is just the beginning. As my life changes as our family grows, I hope I will still have the time (and energy) to assist other organizations.

starting to feel pregnant...

Well, yesterday I really started to feel pregnant.

First, my friend Katie let me borrow some maternity clothes. I have a few, and with her donation, I have doubled my wardrobe. I've read that you should raid your husband's closet, and his sweaters are quite comfy!

Second, while washing my hands, I ran into the sink. Guess my belly is a little bigger than before...

Third, while at Macy's finishing up our Christmas shopping, I had a hard time getting on the escalators. Seems like seeing my feet was a feat in itself!!

Now, this may be because I had a little "pooch" before, but Ry was gone for a week, and he says he can see the change!!

I think now that we are in our 2nd trimester (whoop!), I'm a little more comfortable with the pregnancy and will have Ry document my growing belly.

It's official...

We are expecting! Here's our little pumpkin, who is growing soo fast - now already at 3 inches! amazing!!

We are at 13 weeks, and hope to welcome the arrival of our little on at the end of June! Whoop!

trip down memory lane...

My uncle has been visiting us this past week. He is Tessa's godfather, so we made a trip to Aggieland. It was soo nice to be back!

We went to daily Mass at St. Mary's, and it was a different experience. 10 years ago I was a Senior at A&M, struggling to figure out what I was going to do with my life. I remember the fall semester well - what will I be doing after I graduate? Where will I be living? What is God's will in my life? Does he want me to be married? single? religious?

And I looked around. It was the Thursday before finals. Many of those (200 - 300 in attendance) looked the same. Such a time of discernment.

Here I am, 10 years later. Little did I know that I would have met my future husband a few months later. Little did I know that I would move around Texas and eventually make Austin my home. Little did I know who I would be today - a wife, mother, godmother, director, international traveller and more!

It was fun being in Aggieland. I have often wondered about going back to school. Now I firmly realize that that phase of my life is over - and I have the wonderful memories and friends to cherish that time. No need to relive it!