4 months pregnant!

Well, as of yesterday I am 16 weeks pregnant. As much as it feels that it is dragging on, at the same time it is flying by! I was going to wait to post my first pregnant pics until we found out what it was, but I snapped one of Karly chatting with "it" and decided it was too sweet to not pass on. I really didn't think I was showing, and my scale hasn't gone up much but my belly is definitely rounder and harder than it was even just a few weeks ago. I was hoping to hold out another month, but I am guessing the belly is here to stay for awhile! Now just have to hope my regular pants will hang in there with me for a few more weeks! Other than my impending fatty doom I am feeling much better. They shouldn't tell you at 12 weeks things are better...really its 14 or 15 before you are human again. Chris and I are getting a little closer to agreeing on names. Part of me really wants a girl because I have already done a girl and the stuff is just so much cuter! The other part thinks a boy would be a neat change. Plus, I don't know how much more pink I can handle! Karly and Chris battle with the belly...Chris: "make daddy proud and grow a weiner!" Karly: "please, pretty please be a girl" and we do this atleast once a day! Poor baby isn't even here and is already getting bossed around.

Here's a picture of Karly telling the baby how much she loves her, encouraging her to be a girl, and giving her some Christmas kisses!

This Christmas

Christmas was much different for us this year. It's our first Christmas in Texas away from our families. My grandparents have done Christmas Eve dinner at their house since probably before my birth! I really missed that tradition and gathering this year. I am thinking of starting a Christmas Eve dinner tradition next year so I won't have to miss it ever again! Christmas Eve we went to dinner with some friends and did our present swap with the kids. Christmas morning it was just us and Grandpa Oxford opening presents. I skipped breakfast since our first stop was lunch at 12:30 at Jason and Tammy's house. Lunch was great! We did a white elephant swap and did a little mingling...right when it was feeling like nap time we had to head to Danny and Gay's for their Christmas at 3:00. We had a great and family fun filled day! Thanks to everyone for making our first Christmas here special! We love you all! To our far away family & friends...we truly missed you. It just wasn't the same without you! Love to everyone!

I had so many pictures I thought putting them in a slideshow may help (and take up less space)...enjoy!


Christmas Morning at our house

Christmas at the Bandel's & the Craig's

Holiday Photo Shoot

Right before Thanksgiving I finally was put in touch with a photographer that looked like she could take some pretty great pictures! I left her a message and had no return call :( I pretty much came to peace with the fact that no pictures would be going out to our loved ones in Christmas cards! This was a bit of a bummer as I typically give framed pics to my grandparents for Christmas! I decided to try to call one more time about 2 or 3 weeks before Christmas and managed to get an appointment! I was pretty stoked as I had an appointment and Chris's fat red nose was looking better (from his wreck). At 130 I get a phone call with this lady cancelling! WHAT THE HELL?!!?! Our appointment was only 4 hours later! Super flake! Luckily our cousin was in town and after a quick phone call she said she would try her best! Lucky for us, she did great! We got a few cute pictures so I thought I would share! Enjoy! Thanks again Laura!

Firework Fun!!

Karly had a sleepover last weekend...I don't like sleepovers :) Either way, she had her chit chatty little friend over and played babies and scream and run from the dogs for almost 2 days..yay! Saturday night Chris decided to bond a little with them...what else do people in TX do to play with their kids?!?!...give them explosives! Now that it's almost New Years all the firework stands are open! Chris LOVES fireworks! He gave the girls sparklers which I suppose are fairly safe. He then decided to let a big one off...just to try it out. Unfortunately he didn't think about the dogs! First BOOM and they bolted!!!! Sooo, we have a firework that seems to never end and my dogs running towards a highway with me and 2 little girls screaming after them. Just another lovely night in TX with my family!

A little clip of Karly and Danielle being fairies as they like to say.

Sucky Fingers

No more "sucky fingers" for Miss Karly! At 10 years old she has finally given up the habit! Ok, so she was encouraged/bribed. Chris made a bet with her that she couldn't go 2 weeks without sucking. If she did she got to pick something to buy....she decided she wanted press on nails. I don’t think she realized they are 5 bucks and she could buy them herself. Either way my poor baby was like a little crack head desperate for those fingers! “but Momma you don’t understand! They taste so good and make me all warm and cozy!” Of course I told her to go ahead and suck but she refused to lose this bet! She is as stubborn as Chris! Every day she would tell me the countdown to 2 weeks. I actually felt a little bad for her, her entire world revolved around counting these days down and trying not to accidentally suck. Well, she made it! She got her fake nails that lasted all of 1 day! She isn’t allowed to wear them to school so she waited until the weekend to put them on…by the next night she had ripped them all off. Shockingly she didn’t go back to sucking much! She still will from time to time in her sleep, but has done really well with it! My baby isn’t a sucky finger baby anymore!

As Promised

A few pics from Karly's ballet and cheer. They had a little end of the year ceremony showing a few things for the parents and gave out ribbons for perfect attendance.

Such a little nerd! Wouldn't want her to smile nice like I asked...no, must be a goofball!

Cheer I got there late, so the one pic I got is through a window and with my phone! Sorry!

That's my little baby on top!Karly's cheer class

I couldn't tell you the name of what she is doing here, but it's supposed to look like that :)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…which just so happens to be my favorite time of year! I love the weather, the sounds and the smells and even the hustle and bustle of all the crazy holiday shoppers! I must say this year is far different than any other, yet the same as every year….just less wine! I did my shopping as usual but instead of doing it last minute with my sister, I went early with Karly. Not quite the same since she doesn’t enjoy a relaxing cocktail while breaking for lunch but an enjoyable day with the one I love just the same. I am very sad that I won’t be going home to see my family. Thinking about it truly brings me to tears, so I will move along. I must say that while I will miss my family tremendously I am very lucky to have married into such a loving and welcoming family. This year definitely has brought much change to my life. Here’s to new traditions and my first holidays in my new home!

Dance!

Karly's dance classes invited parents to sit in on class yesterday to watch a few demos of things they learned and such. I have always known that my still camera recorded, but never really think to use it. Well, wanting to share with my AZ family I thought I would give it a try...not great quality, but enough for you to get the idea.
I also figured out the tricks and attempting to stay still with my butt and legs asleep :) Hopefully next time less wiggling from me :) Still pics to follow soon!

Baby Update

Just wanted to share with everyone our last doctors appointment update. It was December 3, I know I am really on the ball :) and all is well! We got to hear the heartbeat which was pretty amazing. Doctor said my uterus is growing well and seems like everything is perfect thus far! My next appointment is Dec 30 and hopefully in January we will know what "it" is!

Christmas Jars

Better late than never! I shared this experience with my sister and a few others, it was a great dose of humbling and I wanted to pass it along.

A few weeks ago, before Thanksgiving, I was feeling a little sorry for myself. I miss my family and friends and was really bummed that I won’t be able to see them this year for the holidays. Add the fact that Chris worked Thanksgiving and is scheduled to work Christmas Eve and Christmas day and you have the perfect ingredients for a pity party!

Karly was at dance and I had been talking to our cousin Tammy about some holiday ideas and was actually feeling a little better. Went in to kill some time in Barnes and Noble which as many of you know is quite easy! I grabbed a few Christmas spirit type books to check out hoping one would help ground me. There is never anywhere to sit so I head to the children's section where the table is typically open. I get settled with my books and Chai latte and start in on this new pick. It is very Jesus-y....a little too much for me. Either way, I keep reading and get about 2 chapters in and the author references one of his other books...The Purpose Driven Life, which is super religious. Not that it’s a bad thing, just not my thing. So I am still giving it a chance...I am almost to the next chapter and not super sold on it but realizing it is short enough I can just read it there for free and buy something else. Yes I can be a big Jew! A few minutes later this odd looking lady who works there walks up to me. She is very frumpy and a little awkward and I am really not wanting to chat it up. Here is our conversation:

Emp: How do you like the book?
Me: oh..it's ok, don't know if it's really my thing (remember, I live in the Bible belt. One of the first questions people ask you is what church you are a member to...seriously)
Emp: Yeah it was a little too religious for me...
Me: (sigh in relief)...me too!
Emp: Will you take a recommendation for the best holiday book ever?
Me: of course
Emp: I worked at a B&N in California and this woman insisted and pushed me to buy this book. I wasn't too sure about it but then I read it. It was great. It reminds us no matter how bad we think we have it someone has it worse. People tell me I am so sorry you have cancer. I remind them that the man receiving radiation before me is so ill he has to be wheeled in and has an 'X' drawn on his head where is tumors are. I walk in jamming out to my iPod and walk myself back out. I am blessed. This book reminds us of the Christmas spirit...not of the overzealous greed.

Needless to say at this point, I am crying. Big huge alligator tears rolling down my cheeks! She is even tearing up at this point. She goes on to tell me how when she bought the book it was her first Christmas away from her family and the book reminded her of the good in the world and how lucky and blessed she really is. This person was exactly what I needed though in the moment I didn’t even know it.

Of course I started the book there and bought it. It's an easy read, but I love the message. I read it in less than two sittings and didn’t want it to end. I even have Chris and Karly convinced to let me read it to them. Check it out...probably not for everyone, but I loved it and would love to start the same tradition.

www.christmasjars.com

Mistletoe & Magic

Karly’s cheer class performed in the Mistletoe & Magic show this year. What a chaotic mess that place was, but so many cute things! Must start saving so I will have Christmas money for next year! Aside from being worse than standing room only, and Karly’s class being plagued with the flu they did great! Karly along with a few other girls fought the cold sweats and held in the vomit long enough to perform! The picture quality is fairly crappy. We were just far enough from the stage that it was tough…good think I have a tall husband to reach over the crowd!

10 weeks down...30 to go!!!

Well, I have survived the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. I am 25% of the way there! It still seems so weird that I am really pregnant. We are really having a baby! I am assuming when I start to show and feel the baby it will feel more real to me. I think I am almost over the sick and exhausted phase. I can’t wait to feel better…I am just sick of feeling tired and blah. I hope as things progress I find this more enjoyable. With Karly I was so young and in a less than desirable situation so when I wasn’t ignoring the situation I didn’t feel anything really. I always thought the next time would be perfect. All warm and fuzzy and great feeling…I wanted to be one of those people who swear they love being pregnant and have never felt better or more beautiful. I am so not one of those people. I am tired and feel like crap. I have only gained a pound or 2 but I swear my pants are already fitting a little snugger. Don’t even get me started on the bathroom issues and prepubescent skin! Cross your fingers that the second trimester is warm, fuzzy and beautiful!

Golden Year

This year is Karly’s Golden Year. For those of you that don’t know what it is, it’s the year you turn the age of your birthdate. November 10 is Karly’s birthday and she turns 10.

It’s supposed to be your best year for luck along with a number of other beliefs.Seeing as it was her Golden Year we decided to go with the “GOLD” theme…plates, silverware, balloons, tablecloths…we even wore gold pleather pants! Karly wanted a party at the roller skating rink which I thought was so bizarre since she has never skated. She figured it out about halfway through and now can’t wait to go back and skate again! All in all the party turned out great! Thank you to all our family and friends that made it. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.

Karly's BIG Surprise!

So as I have mentioned we had a big surprise for Karly’s birthday. Poor child swore it was a guinea pig even though I promised her numerous times that it wasn’t. To everyone else who knew there was a surprise but didn’t know what it was, it probably won’t be as exciting for you as it was for Kar. After many weeks of planning and being so excited, my sister Erica flew in from California to surprise Karly. Chris headed to Dallas about 9:30pm to pick her up. Around 1am they made it home…of course waking me up for hello and hugs. We had Erica ‘sleep’ on the couch, though neither of us slept much! Our couch isn’t the best for sleeping and we were both so nervous that Karly would wake up and the surprise would be ruined! 6am finally rolled around and I woke Erica up and stashed her in my room. One hour to get Karly up and out the door without finding out. We made it! Watching her climb on that bus was quite the relief! Erica and I did some sister bonding and shopping for the party. Met up with family for lunch and headed to Karly’s school. We were almost busted but made it. I walked in Karly’s classroom and asked her if she wanted her birthday surprise. I got the “I can’t believe my dorky mother is going to humiliate me in front of my friends” look. I stepped aside and Erica walked in. Karly sat and stared in shock and/or disbelief for a second before screaming Erica’s name and running to her. It was the sweetest thing. It all played out perfectly! Erica…you are the best auntie ever!!

Coming June '09

Today was our first real doctor's appointment. Our doctor seems very nice. He said everything looks like it should. I am 8 weeks and 5 days, so June 13th is our due date. The heartbeat was 177, you could see it just beating away. We didn't get to hear it, but I just eBayed a fetal heart monitor so hopefully we will get it in the next week or two and we can listen whenever we want! It was really amazing to see that there really is something in there! Definitely makes it seem that much more real! Our next appointment is early December and I am sure I will have more updates then! Hope everyone is well! Isn't our little blob baby sooo cute?!?!

White part is baby, dark part is uterus

Halloween

Yes, that's my beautiful precious sweet little girl...dressed as a dead ballerina :)

Halloween was a bust this year. I couldn't believe how many houses were dark. The first neighborhood we did had maybe 1/3 of the houses up. Second had 3 houses! It was weird! Luckily we had went to a friends church early that week, so Karly should have gotten her fill of Halloween!

Karly & Kassie

Karly helping with games at the church

in the jumper

Pumpkins!

As long as I can remember I have always carved a pumpkin...at least one! Growing up I remember me and my sisters doing them and digging all the guts out and such. My princess Karly hates the scooping process. This year I told her either she was doing it or we weren't doing it at all. Not being able to give up the tradition for myself I got a pumpkin...only one! Karly actually did a little better with helping. She would prefer to just draw the face if given the option. We scooped, she drew and Chris carved...one traditional pumpkin coming up!

Saying Hello!

Hope everyone is doing well! I went to the doctor's office for my financial appointment today...this having a baby the legitimate way sure is pricey! They set you up on a payment plan so that everything is paid, except for the hospital by the time you are 7 months…I guess you just stay pregnant forever if you don’t pay! I really liked my nurse which is always a plus. My first real appointment is next Thursday and I am pretty excited…heartbeat and ultrasound, always something to look forward too!

Karly’s birthday is quickly approaching! We are celebrating with a possible sleepover (I am still not sold on this part of the plan) and then a party at the roller skating rink! She is such a funny kid! She has never even skated and wants a skating party?!?! Should be fun! We also have a great surprise in store for her…can’t tell yet, really don’t want it ruined! I am really looking forward to it! She is busy with dance and girl scouts as always. Last GS meeting they made blankets for the Project Linus Organization; www.projectlinus.org is the link if you are a part of a group looking for a good community project. Karly’s first dance production here is next month, she is a little nervous but excited as always. She says she is up front close to ‘her’ audience! She is also participating in a district writing competition. They only chose 4 students in 4^th grade, so 3 days a week she stays late at school. I need my momma to move here and help chauffeur!

No other big news to report!!! Chris and I trying to keep up with Karly!

Rose Parade

Miss Karly was in her first Texas parade. Her dance school walked in the Texas Rose Parade a couple weekends back. She was awfully cute! Of course the one picture I got I cut her head off and then my batteries died. I did go on the local papers website and found a few pictures…if you are interested the links are below. Hopefully next time I will do better!




Tried to hyperlink the links below and it's just not working. You will have to copy and paste it into your browser.

http://spotted.tylerpaper.com/photos/index.php?id=2145733

http://spotted.tylerpaper.com/photos/index.php?id=2165703

http://spotted.tylerpaper.com/photos/index.php?id=2165713

http://spotted.tylerpaper.com/photos/index.php?id=2165718

Pumpkin Patch

Karly's Girl Scouts trip had an outing to the pumpkin patch...not that we actually did anything with the group. It was not very well organized, so we pretty much did it with our friends instead. Chris had to work...as usual and missed the fun. They had some very cool different kinds of pumpkins, hay rides, play areas, feed the catfish ponds of of course some face painting! All in all...a fun fall day!