One Month

I can't believe that one month has already flown by since Jocelyn has joined our family. Everything is going so great at home and she is such a good baby! We have both found our rhythm at home together and we love welcoming home Jonathan when he gets off work. She has already rolled over for us a few times but it still figuring out that her arms have muscles too, not just her legs :) She loves to try to crawl while we are holding her, which makes us laugh because as we have said, she is only a month old :) She is smiling a little bit without it always being gas :) and is getting a little bit of a personality as well. I can't believe this time has flown by so fast!

Bad Boys Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do.....

So a little bit of backstory is in order to explain the title of this blog. Back in March I submitted a request to take the entrance exam for the police department(for Corpus....C.C.P.D.) I took the exam and physical fitness test in June and passed both doing rather well on the written exam and scoring 11th out of almost 400 people. I had a background investigation done and was given a polygraph test and then in October I finally got my interview. I passed all with flying colors. I was told that I would be under review along with all the other applicants that had passed everything and than I would be placed on the list of possible candidates for the academy class. I was told the final decisions would not be made until January and not to expect to hear any news untill then. Yesterday afternoon I recieved a phone call asking me if I would accept a conditional job offer with the police department! Of course I accepted! I still have to complete a psychological evaluation and a physical/drug screening as part of the conditions of employment. I will be entering the 30 week academy in April of 2010. Thats right, I'm gonna be a police officer! I'm so excited, I can't believe I've been chosen as one of 15 selected for the academy class. Doing the math makes my head spin but basically I beat out 900 something applicants for a spot in the class. I've been very blessed by the help and coaching and advice I've recieved along the way and can only chalk that help up to God pushing me where He wants me to go. Thanks to all who have been praying for me when I needed it and encouraging me along the way. I can't wait to turn the next page on this new chapter in my life! -Jonathan

Jocelyn - The story of the newest Tidden

Last week Jonathan and I met with the doctor and he let us know that Jocelyn was ready to enter the world early and he gave us the option of choosing the day or having her birthday possibily be over Thanksgiving so we chose Monday as the day that we would meet our little girl.
So Monday morning at 5:30 am, we checked into the hospital, hoping for our little girl by the end of the day. After a busy morning with a few complications, the doctor decided that Jocelyn would make her debut all on her own without any help (no pitocin), so we were in for a long day! Luckily I have the worlds best and most patient doctor and my labor/delivery nurse was off the charts fantastic. So the day went on with JT and I hanging out, my nurse and I chatting, and trying to keep the world via FB updated with Jocelyn's arrival.




At 7:11pm, (with less then 30 minutes of pushing) Jocelyn Cecilia Tidden made her debut to the world at 8lbs and 20.5 inches long. She scored a 9 out of 9 on the APGAR scale and all the nurses couldn't stop gushing about how healthy she looks and "Oh my, those cheeks!" My fantastic friend Regina was there to catch all the first moment photos for us as we saw our little girl for the first time (BIG THANKS). We were overjoyed, relieved, amazed and just so excited for her.

So yes, now we are parents and learning as we go. JT was able to take 2 weeks off of work, so he and I are working as a team to tend to Jocelyn's needs and just snuggle with our little girl. Her favorite thing right now is to burrow... she likes to get as close as possible to you, right on your chest under your chin and fall deeply into sleep. She also is trying to hold her head up... yah I know that should be a later thing, but at 3 days old she has been trying to do it all on her own! So we will do our best to keep you updated, please let us know if we fall behind. We love you all and thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts through out this pregnancy, we couldn't have been blessed with a more perfect child!

Shout out to my shorties :)

A little update... I'm 34 weeks pregnant and my beautiful precious little girl has decided it is time for me to go to physical therapy. Jocelyn LOVES to stay on my right side which has thrown my balance and my every day posture off a bit. My L1 or my SI (can't remember) vertebrae on the right side has shifted a bit off track which was causing me some INTENSE back pain. So my amazing doctor prescribed me some physical therapy here in town. I'm loving it! It's basically alot of water exercises, which make you feel weightless and so light, another perk. And then a good massage and a hot pack.

So the reason for the title... Yesterday I was doing my exercises and the therapists told me to grab a water noodle (floatie) and go to deep water, I start stepping over there and I see the 5 foot sign and realize I can't touch the ground anymore, I am in deep water in the 5 foot zone. That is when I realized I am really short :) Not like I needed a reminder but it made me laugh a little. Oh and to make you laugh a little more, some of the exercises in "deep water" make me bob around a lot, and wouldn't you know it... I got motion sick.... yup I got sea sick in the "deep end" of the pool doing exercises. Everyone better be laughing WITH me :)

Other then that... pregnancy has been fantastic. I love playing, reading, talking and singing to her. Jonathan also likes to play with her hands and feet, poking at my belly and making her go around his fingers :) It's fun to watch the two of them "play" So only 6 more weeks until her arrival and we are getting ready in every possible way. The nursery is almost done, we start our pre-birth classes this Sunday and then it's the baby! Can't wait for all of you to meet her!

Dear salesmen and saleswomen...

Just because I am young does not mean that I don't keep up with my finances, so when I call back about a refund that you conveniently "forgot" to do, don't get upset with me that you have to do more paperwork now to credit back my account.

Also, no no and no, I do not want to finance it or start a line of credit with your store. My answer to your question the first two times will be the same when you ask it the third time, so don't get surprised by it and please stop asking a question I have already answered.

Lastly when I mention that I am only interested in "this, this and this, within this price range" please don't show me all the other things you have in stock that are x amount of dollars over what I mentioned that I am looking to spend. You are wasting my time and yours.

Thank you for your time :)

Move, Toss or Garage Sale

In the midst of all of our packing, I have been asking myself this question alot.
Do I want to move it? Should I just throw it away? Or should we garage sale it this weekend?
It's amazing that EVERYTHING can fit in one of these categories. It is also so fun to find things that each of us swear we didn't put in the attic, so its like going through all kinds of memories again.
This was the house that I bought when I was single (Just me and my Sebastian), wasn't dating anyone and nothing like that was on the horizon. Now I am married, with 3 dogs, about to celebrate my 2 year anniversary with a baby on the way. Life has just changed so much in the past few years and all of these changes have happened in my wonderful home. I know that I get to pass on this great home to someone else, I just hope that they will have as many great memories in that house as I did. From one stage onto the next... Ready or not here we come!

Corpus Shower

This past weekend our little Tidbit, Jocelyn, was celebrated by friends and family, near and far. My best friend from childhood, Katie Peters, flew in to surprise me and wow was I surprised. I had no idea she was coming in or that Jonathan had been planning to have her with us the entire weekend it was great!

So early Saturday morning, my mother in law and I ran off to squeeze in a quick pedicure and manicure and then off we went to the shower.

I was amazed at how much the girls did for my little girl. The house looked gorgeous, friends were smiling, food smelled amazing and the decorations were outstanding. I could not stop smiling, literally. I was just in awe in how much our little girl is already loved, prayed for and doted on before she has even made her arrival into the world. It was so great to be able to just hang out with my friends and just enjoy a great day! So thank you so much for all of you guys that were able to make it, I appreciate you so much and we are so excited, we can't believe that we are already 75 days away from her arrival :)

Baby Shower!!

This past week has been a whirlwind but oh so worth it. A while back my sweet friend Regan asked if she could come down the week before my Houston baby shower to spend some time with me. Perfect I thought, I haven't used my personal days, sick days or vaca, I had some time that I could take off. Then our auditors called and wanted to close books that week.... okay not a problem, Regan was okay with seeing me when she could! As luck would have it, the auditors left at Tues at 2pm, and Regan arrived at 5pm on Tuesday, My awesome boss gave me Weds and Thurs off so we had tons of time to spend together.... just being together. Her son Jack is the cutest little boy in the world and I learned about how scary and fun the roomba can be and that squash makes good hair conditioner :) We also went to a house that we are looking to purchase, did some measurements, counting of cabnits, pics etc. Friday rolled around and off we went to roadtrip it to Houston (Jonathan flew in after work on Friday). The ride was flawless, with a little 15 minute detour for a McDonalds that was "just off the highway" but thanks to the TomTom we met up perfectly with Regan's mom and I made it to my inlaws without getting lost. The weekend was a blur. but the shower was great. We had a little storm roll in but that didn't keep the guests away. Melanie and Kristin showed up early for a quick hello with Caden. Then my cousin who I haven't seen in who knows how long came as well, along with family and family friends. Then Regan and Stefanie (who I haven't seen in 6 years) came. So it was a mix of old and new friends, laughing, telling funny stories and having a great time. We were blessed with many great gifts, that I am sure Jocelyn will love and she will be well dressed for sure! So a big thanks to everyone, it was great seeing you this weekend and we had a blast!! Now I can't wait for next weekend!

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet."

(From an old SNL Skit, but imagine Jonathan and I having this conversation)

[ open on a married couple trying to think of a name for their unknown baby ]
Wife : I was thinking about Joseph.
Husband: [ turned off ] Joseph?
Wife: Yeah. Joseph.
Husband: Well.. it's a nice name, but the kids are gonna call him "Joe Blow". I mean, as long as you know that. Or "Sloppy Joe", you know.. "How are Mr. & Mrs. Schmo?"
Wife: Well, I guess that's true.
Husband: I mean, it's a nice name.
Wife: Well, that's alright. How about John? That's nice and simple.
Husband: What, are you serious?
Wife: Well, yeah.
Husband: John? You want to do that to the kid?
Wife: Do what?
Husband: [ mimicking ] "Hey, John! Hey, let's go to the john. Huh, John? Let's go!"
Wife: Well.. wouldn't he outgrow those jokes?
Husband: Look, kids are mean. I just want him to have a happy childhood, too.. but, "Long John Silver"? I mean, I don't know what to say!
Wife: Okay, okay, okay.. Well.. um.. what about Peter?
Husband: Oh, right. Sure. Peter. Let's just put him up for adoption right now, save the kid a lot of agony. I mean, obviously - no Peter, no Dick, no Rod! Can we just discuss this intelligently, please?
Wife: Yes, we can. [ thinking ] Okay.. um.. William.
Husband: William. Good. "Wee Willie!" "Chilly Willy!" "Willie Wonka! Hey! Where's your chocolate factory?! Oompa-Loompa" every day of his life!
Wife: Did you get teased a lot as a kid?
Husband: [ defensive ] No, I did not. Did you tease a lot of kids? Because, judging from these names you're picking, you don't seem to be very sensitive.
Wife: Okay, I'll just keep trying.. What about Fred?
Husband: [ sighing ] Please.. Fred, Frank.. lease, the F's are no good. If he's fat, it's just a disaster.
Wife: Okay, alright. Um.. Sam?
Husband: Great. Sam. "Uncle Sam." "I want you.. to be ostracized!"
Wife: Then, let's Paul.
Husband: Right. Paul. "Hey, Paul, where's Peter and Mary?!"
Wife: What?
Husband: Peter, Paul and Mary. "Hey, Paul! Play me a folk song, and then I'll beat the crap out of you!
Wife: Well, at this point, I'd just settle for anything. How about.. Jack?
Husband: [ thinking ] Hmm.. yeah.. yeah, Jack's a fine name.
Wife: Really?
Husband: Oh, yeah.. as long as we make his middle name O'Lantern! Because that is what everyone's gonna call him!
Wife: Okay.. fine.. what about ben?
Husband: Ben! Oh, fine, we're giving birth to a big bear? Great! "Gentle Ben!" "Hey, Ben, where's Jerry? Get me some ice cream, or I'll beat the crap outta ya'!
Wife: We could call him "Benjamin".
Husband: Sure. Benjamin. Harrison! "Hey, Benjamin, how's that tariff coming?! Montana a state yet?!"
Wife: Well, what about.. Todd?
Husband: [ stretching for an excuse ] Todd.. Todd.. Tad! "Tadpole!" Our son's a tadpole! "Hey, Tadpole, I don't like you! Thank your parents!"
Wife: Now, come on, I said "Todd", not "Tad". You changed the name, that's cheating.
Husband: Yeah, and it took five seconds. It might take a kid ten.
Wife: [ sighing ] Okay.. what about Harry?
Husband: "Hey, Harry, where are the Hendersons?!"
Wife: Oh, come on! Nobody even saw that movie!
Husband: Kids saw it! Alright, one more.. come on, we can do it.
Wife: Alright. Um.. Nate.
Husband: "The Nate Rockne Story." "Hey, Nate, where's the Gipper?"
Wife: What?
Husband: [ pacing the room ] Na-ate! Na-ate! Do you like that sound? Well, you better get used to it! [ his wife walks across the room ] Hey, where are you going?
Wife: [ leafing through book ] I'm looking at this Baby Name book, I thought it could help us.. [ looking through book ] How about Bjaardker?
Husband: [ intrigued ] Oh?
Wife: Bjaardker. It's Icelandic.
Husband: [ considering ] Yeah.. that's a tough little name to crack. That could be good. [ puts his face up to his Wife's belly ] Hey, Bjaardker, little fellow. You might just have a good childhood, after all. [ Wife laughs ] Talk to you later.
Wife: I love you
Husband: I love you. [ they kiss, as the doorbell rings ] You sit, honey.
Wife: Alright.
Husband: [ answering the door ] Yes?
Telegram Deliverer: Hi, how you doing? I've got a telegram here for a Mr. & Mrs. A**wipe Johnson. I'm supposed to read it. [ holds telegram ] "Dear A**wipe & Emily: Congratulations on your upcoming blessed event. All our love, Bob & Diane." Here you go, Sir. [ hands him the telegram ]
Husband: Uh.. listen.. that's "Os-wee-pay".
Telegram Deliverer: [ confused ] What?
Husband: Uh.. forget it, forget it.. [ closes the door and sits next to his wife ]
Wife: That was really nice of Bob and Diane.
Husband: [ sighs ] Yeah, but why do they have to mention my name so much?
Wife: Oh, honey.. [ fade ]

But we are doing better now :) We have a first name and last name (yeah I know tha last name was a given but it makes me feel better that we are 2/3rd of the way done instead of 1/2 )
Drum roll please....

Jocelyn Tidden
We hope that you like it because it's here to stay! Thanks for letting us share with you!

A Big Yawn - from Jonathan's side I'm sure!

Nesting

Garden Tummy Time Toy - Check
Beautiful quilt - check
cute little dress - check
Boppy Pillow - check
Baby furniture - check
new home - FINALLY CHECK!!!
We finally came to a conclusion in our home search, we are in the paperwork stage and hope to close at the end of the Sept. (Big thanks to our amazing patient Realtor Joseph Cortez) This feels like such a relief to me, and all we have left to do is sell our house or rent it out (not a problem in Corpus Christi) So at 30 weeks pregnant I will be switching houses and settling into a new one. There is still tons of stuff left to do but I can't help but be overly excited! So soon we will be sending out emails with our new address and inviting anyone to come visit at any time, I want my home to be open to all my friends and family at all times!!!

A Life-Changing Weekend

This past weekend I decided to go back to Fredericksburg to celebrate Jonathan's birthday. I also made a decision a long time ago to hold out to find out the sex of the baby on his birthday. That Friday morning, we left Corpus early to make a special stop at the Joyce's to see baby Silas and the family! Oh he is so cute and adorable and makes the cutest little squeaking noises. I knew that Shaina wasn't going to be able to join us, so she asked if we had opened the envelope yet, we said no, so she said, how about now? I looked at Jonathan and he said "go get it out of the car :)" So we first popped in the DVD of the sonogram and watched with eagerness. The tech typed "G" then erased it , and then wrote "Looks like a Girl" We were both thrilled, well lets say we are both thrilled now, I think it took Jonathan by surprise because he was sure by wives tales and my other pregnant friends, it was a boy! But we couldn't be happier! So we opened the card and it was confirmed with a picture and writing from out tech!

So off we went to Fredericksburg to keep this secret from family and close friends for 34 hours! We didn't tell anyone we opened it yet because we knew we would slip up and then people would be watching us too closely :) So we just enjoyed the town, the people, family and friends! We had a great dinner Friday night to celebrate Jonathan's birthday with his family!

Saturday was a fantastic lazy day... we thought about climbing Enchanted Rock but with heat index climbing over 110 we quickly changed our minds. Instead we spent time browsing at stores and looking at all the cute little things for a home, your children, your dogs or just for you! It was fantastic! Then we all met up for a show at the Rock Box theatre. It's a small musical comedy troupe that puts together a NEW show EVERY weekend! Their impressions, music and comedy always make for a good laugh. Then off we went to a dinner at Mamacitas. We all enjoyed our dinner but everyone was waiting in much anticipation for the announcement. So then came dessert. We brought our own dessert with a little twist...

Our favorite baker, Shanda Saenz, made a chocolate cake with a small colored cake in the center, completely enclosed by the chocolate cake. We asked the moms to help serve the cake and as we handed them the knife, we told them that they could cut the cake together and find out together if Tidbit is a boy or girl! The knife slid in.... my mom leaned down for a peek, and then screamed :) As we all looked on, everyone was waiting for the answer still, so I asked "so is it a boy or girl?" She quickly replied It's A GIRL!

Hugs and congrats quickly followed, as well as some tummy rubs!

All in all the weekend was fantastic, a special thanks to Barbie for taking photos during our special announcement.

Oh and I know what everyone is thinking.... what's the name? Well you are just going to have to wait a little while longer on that... we aren't keeping a surprise, we are just trying to figure that out as well :) Stay posted for more news!

Who's got the bigger belly

Was that you or Tidbit?

Last week, I started to feel some really hard kicks and I really wanted Jonathan to be able to experience this with me. Well as Amy Payne says "Jonathan has a calming effect on Tidbit" because every time he goes to feel, Tidbit stops kicking as though to say "Haha gotcha" Well the other night, I felt Tidbit kicking, so I grabbed Jonathan's hand real quick and put it on my belly. Nothing! So we are sitting talking about it, when I see his hand move, and not by his own will. His words were "Was that you or Tidbit?" Umm unless I can make one single point on my stomach move at will, that is all Tidbit :) We are working on a repeat performance, but at least we got one good solid kick in there!

Kendra - our amusing sono tech

Last Friday, I had my 20 week sono. This was the BIG sonogram where they can tell me if it is a boy or girl. Off to the hospital we went, in tow with me that morning, was my amazing husband and two excited grandma's. As we got started Kendra, our sono tech, asked if we were finding out. We said YES but not today :( The answer would instead be put in an envelope to be opened by my husband on his birthday! She said okay with a look of amusement in her eye.

She turned on her screen and said she was only going to use her screen to find out where the baby was just in case it was mooning us on the first shot. "Oh" she said, I asked "does that mean that you know what it is" she replied with a sure do :) She made sure no one was looking as she typed in what it was for our DVD copy! So we continued on with the sonogram, ohhh and ahhh were everywhere. There was the occasional, "look at its little head", kendra quickly replied "that's its heart!" I think that she had a little bit of fun with us :) It waved, kicked and looked at us head on! It was such a wonder to watch!

So we finished up, the grandmas stepped out in case she was going to ask some sensitive questions. She looked us dead in the eye and said "Still set on not finding out today??", we quickly replied "no thank you, just write it on the card and we will be on our way!"Kendra then said "Okay you can leave now" we were surprised, she didn't even trust us to be in the same room as she wrote our answer.... darn smart girl. She even licked the envelope closed so I couldn't peek! As we left, she handed the envelope to Jonathan saying not to watch the DVD until after his birthday because the first shot tells you everything. Reluctantly Jonathan handed me the DVD and envelope and off we went to meet with Leslie, to hand over the envelope and DVD.

Why you might ask? Because I would totally cheat... I would cheat and then lie to my husband and say that I didn't :) Therefore the envelope and disk CAN NOT be in my hands. So as my baby continues to kick me and my husband on occasion, we will still refer to it as Tidbit for 25 more days !!

Halfway there at 20 weeks

So what do you think? Boy or Girl??

The day I met Henry . . .

So yesterday after a day of work at the Coast Guard, I ran to the store to purchase milk. I was wearing my uniform and was making a bee line to the milk. I passed an older gentleman and he spun around to cross my path again. This time he stopped me and said " LT, I have something for you" and handed me a $1 coin! I told him thank you very much and he continued to tell me about his time in the South Pacific in the 1940's and also thanked me for my service and as always, I thanked him for his service as well. We continued to talk, and he asked me "How old do you think I am" I replied 68 (I mean do you really guess at that point or do you be courteous??) so he told me that was impossible since he was in the service in 1940. He stated that he was 90 years old and he looked pretty good for 90 didn't he, I have to say that one made me smile. He continued on to say that if we continue to stay in good shape, as we both were, we would save money on gas, fast food doctors etc. Since I was in my maternity uniform, I thanked him for saying that I was in good shape since I was 5 months pregnant. He looked down at me and said "Boy or Girl?" I told him that we would find out next week. As he walked away he said "that coin is a gift for your son!"
Random Gift and Random Prediction, but all in all it made me smile all day long!

Holding the baby....

So I have heard about several ways to hold a baby . . . I also know that my husband is 10x more prepared for our baby since he helped take care of his two brothers when they were babies and he was a teenager.

But I have to wonder . . . are these two ways of holding a baby authorized???

Sometimes you just gotta laugh . . .

So last night was busy, nothing new, just busy as always! We needed to make 2 dinners and 2 desserts, have time to eat and digest all before 7:45 for my walk. So we worked together and started making it happen. Jonathan was grilling meat and cooking pasta shells, while I was cutting up pound cake, making a tiramisu mix and washing dishes as we went. It was a well oiled machine, we didn't get in each others way (in a small kitchen that is hard) and we were getting things done pretty quick. Well Jonathan finished the dinners, put one in the fridge and one in the oven for us. I realized I forgot to tell him one of the ingredients so I pulled out the meal, added the taco sauce and then put it back in the oven, setting my oven mitts on the side.

Right after this we ran out of the part of the tiramisu mixture that calls for coffee (that's the only ingredient you guys are getting out of the secret recipe) so instead of making the coffee in a cup, Jonathan decided to just put the bowl under the coffee maker and let it drip right in. Genius Man, because its one less dish to wash! Well the timer went off for the dinner plate, so I grabbed the pot holders to take it out. I did not realize that Jonathan had used one of the pot holders to prop up the bowl to which the coffee was dripping into.

So I pull out the potholder, therefore losing the balance of the bowl, and spilling our mixture all over the floor, counters, and a little on ourselves. After looking at each other and making sure that neither of us were burned with the hot coffee, we couldn't help but laugh. I am now known as the "coffee launcher" in my house :) I am so thankful to be married to someone that can laugh with me even through the disasters :)

Happy Father's Day

This was our first un-official fathers day and both of us had odd work schedules for the weekend, but we did what we always do, and made it work. So Saturday evening started Father's Day for us, which including opening all of Jonathan's gifts, dinner at his favorite place and a movie of his choosing. Each gift had a note from either Tidbit or I to explain what the gift was for

Gift 1: Note - "To help keep up with me, love Tidbit " and the gift was a 6 pack of red bull

Gift 2: Note - "To start me early... to make sure I enjoy what you enjoy, love Tidbit" and the gift was a box set of John Wayne movies

Gift 3: Note - "To teach me about what you love, love Tidbit" and it was a stainless can cooler with all the facts of saltwater fish that you can fit on there!

Gift 4 : Note - "To remind yourself, love Wif" and it was a shirt that said " I LOVE when my WIFE, lets me go fishing"

See pics below

Father's Day picked up again on Saturday morning for a breakfast with friends at Jonathan's favorite spot, Cracker Barrel. Breakfast was fantastic but the company was even better. Then off to church, this is where Father's Day stopped as I went to work for a few hours and Jonathan went to volunteer and then treated his child to his favorite lunch (thankfully it had to go through me so I got fed too :) ) Then off we were again to see a movie of Jonathan's pick "The Proposal" ! It was really cute and we really enjoyed it!

So that was the recap of the day, oh and there were puppy kisses in there as well from the pups so we didn't forget about them! I hope that every one's Father's Day was equally as special. Happy Father's Day honey, your going to be a great dad!

Week 16

So I'm not a big avacoda fan, but with respects toward Tidbit, I will try them out more this week :) If anyone has any cooking or recipe suggestions, send them our way!

San Antonio Mini Vacation!

This weekend was fantastic. I picked up my hubby from work and we were off to the Joyce's in San Antonio. Upon arrival we were greeted with Asher (Shaina's and Kevin's son) kisses and snuggles and then homemade pizza! I swear some of the best moments in my house were when Shaina was living there and I had tons of homemade food... she loves to cook and is good at it! The following morning, I was greeted with more Asher snuggles and homemade pancakes from Shaina, we took the day easy and ran some errands and just spent time together just doing normal stuff(I really miss her). We got home around noon to get ready for Wicked and for her to get ready for her baby shower! Off we went our separate ways, while I was in much anticipation for the show! After finding our seats seconds before the show started, I gave my husband a kiss in thanks and sat back to watch the amazment. It was FANTASTIC. The details in the costumes, the make up, the sets and the actors was glorious. Jonathan even got me binoculars so I could see everything in up close detail. Our seats were perfect and the show was great, what a perfect anniversary gift sweetheart! After the show, we crawled our way through traffic and just spent the evening with Shaina and Kevin, I love this couple seriously! We woke up the following morning and attended Kevin's church Imagine Fellowship and then Shaina shoo-ed Jonathan off to Bass Pro Shop while we spent some girl time together, cooking, talking, cleaning, making Asher laugh. The best part about the weekend was that I couldn't name a highlight, it was all perfect and absolutely wonderful! Good job Babe!

Week 15 Update - hope it makes you laugh

That's me at week 15 today, wahoo. As you can see Tidbit and I are growing and it makes me laugh. I am lucky enough and like the gym enough to have never experienced a large belly, so it is so weird to me to have this piece of skin sticking out further then it ever has before. When I walk I keep my hand on my belly every now and again, I don't know why, maybe I'm afraid its going to drop off or fall off something :) like I said this is new to me. Anyway 2nd Trimester is much smoother, no more morning sickness, I get to work out and even start swimming soon! Only 9 more weeks until we know if Tidbit is a he or she and we can't wait! We will update you on more soon!

Prego Brunch

I am so lucky to have some of my closest friends be pregnant at the same time as me. I have texted several of them at the same time to find out the answer to my latest pregnant dilemma, they have been great! I came to realize though that my new friends that were pregnant with their first babies didn't know some of my other friends that were pregnant with their second child. So I decided to get us all together at one of our favorite brunch locations, HESTERS, for a little Prego Brunch. Where we all could get the chance to know each other a little more and also for us to exchange numbers so we could all ask questions together. Although we were missing a few of the ladies, it was still a fabulous time and I am so lucky to have such great friends nearby!

Can't wait for our next one!

Jingle Bellies, haha

So right now my due date is Dec 1st, which according to http://www.thebump.com/ that makes me a jingle belly! :) I love it and it even came with a photo

Getting ready for the expanding family....

Well when we found out the good news, we knew that one of the vehicles we had was going to have to make the swap. So Jonathan decided to trade in the Truck and get us a gorgeous 2008 Honda CRV. Nothing fancy, just the basics, but we love it. Even more so we like the reviews, such as "The Honda CR-V's list of merits is a long one. Its interior is intelligently thought out and boasts high-quality materials. Its ride is comfortable and quiet, its handling is nimble and its crash test scores are superlative." My honey made a great choice for his family and even sacrificed his truck for it! Way to go Babe, Tidbit and I are proud of you!

Welcome Tidbit!!

At the beginning of this year we had the once in a lifetime opportunity to go to Rome with my brother and his family! While we were there we made it to the beautiful Trevi fountains. It is tradition to turn around and throw in a coin in the fountain and this will ensures your return to Rome. So we both did this but also threw another coin in with the American tradition of making a wish. Well what can I say, my wish came true.

Yes we are PREGNANT :)

We are currently due on December 1st and will be sure to keep you updated as we are experiencing all this for the first time! Oh and for Jonathan's wish, well we are going to find out in 2 months on whether or not his wish came true as well :) I guess babies were on our minds! We will be sure to keep you updated throughout our new journey! Wish us luck!

Memorial Day Weekend - Saturday the big day

Jack Jack was the alarm this morning and I loved it, he was so cute and fun to play with and even more fun to wake up JT with :) We were lazy most of the morning and then set off for an early lunch at the famous Zingerman's! Oh my goodness what delicious food they had. There were so many options and you only had a few minutes to decide because even though the line was out the door they move really fast! Hands down one of the best deli's that I have ever been too


Then onto the pampering. We wanted to be lazy and not spend tons of time on getting ready for the wedding and also didn't want to have to bring all that stuff up from our homes in our luggage. So we went to a local salon, suggested by Malcolm and Sarah, to have our hair all washed up and blown out. The best decision we have ever made, we all loved the final products and of course JT and Jack Jack were the talk of the salon :) I think at one point JT even took Jack Jack for a walk and had to run back into the salon to escape all the women that were falling over him, Jack not JT! Then we went to Sephora for make up consultations. We walked out of that mall feeling glamorous and ready to go! Headed back to the hotel, threw on our dresses and then off to the wedding we went!


The wedding was beautiful, simple, and elegant. It was delightful to see Sarah and Malcolm smiling up front as they promised to love each other no matter what! She looked amazing and from the look on Malcolm's face he thought the same thing! The wedding ceremony ended with the couple exiting the church thru a tunnel of bubbles.... oh and a good ole welcome to the Coast Guard from Kristie and I!!


The reception was at the hotel we were staying at, an excellent choice! The reception hall was beautifully decorated and included a cute card box shaped like the ship Malcolm is on. The food was excellent, dancing was fun and all in all was a great time together! The weekend was fantastic but the ending was even better. JT and I had a great time with all of our friends, old and new and couldn't have wished for a better weekend. To see all of our photos, check out our facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/editphoto.php?aid=2023292#/album.php?aid=2023292&id=1032552736

Memorial Day Weekend - Onto Friday

Since we all came from different time zones our wake up patterns varied quite a bit, I believe Christina (Alaska) woke up at 5:30, Kristie woke up at 7:45 and I slept until 9ish :) Oh and JT well we eventually had to go into the room to wake him up! So we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, catching up on our lives again and also did a chat with Roxy so we wouldn't leave her out! So our Cruise Director (Christina) had planned several activities for us during the day for us to take our pick from. The first one was trout fishing.....

So off we went to a trout fishing pond or as Kristie referred to it as "shooting fish in a barrel"! We "rented" our poles, received our worms and off we went. First let me start with that I am definitely the more wimpier of the three girls....putting the worm on the hook was a challenge for me, but I was able to do it within the cup of worms, still squirming the whole time, the worm and I :) Catching the fish was a blast and also very easy, but I am required to write that JT caught the biggest fish, 2 lbs 15 oz, but I did come in at a close second!

On our way back we spotted a little hole in the wall spot for lunch, had fantastic food, Christina got her coffee from the local shop, found a pie location with amazing pie and cinammon rolls and then off to our next adventure..... a outdoor adventure store. After some laughter in the changing rooms, Kristie found the perfect dress, Christina found the perfect shirt and JT found the perfect buyers guide! Haha

Then the best adventure of all, relaxation!!! It hit us all at once that we just wanted some time to chill out and catch up, so after awhile at the pool catching up, then came the naps! Oh and even more exciting was ordering in for the best pizza in town! But we loved it, it was perfect for us, time to relax, spend time together and of course eat! We were also waiting for the last 2 members of our clan, and then the arrived, little Jack Jack and Regan.

He is absolutely adorable and such a good baby, good job Regan and Chris! Rarely did he really cry, he loved being passed around and of course having man time with JT.

Then we split again, the night owls versus the early birds! Kristie, Christina and JT went to join the groom and best man for cigars and pool side chatter, as Regan and I stayed in played with Jack and then fell quickly asleep, only to get ready for the next day :)

Memorial Day Weekend - Let's start with Thursday

Thursday morning, JT and I woke up at 4am to begin the journey to see some of the most amazing people in my life. We jumped on a plane and landed in Chicago only to be met up by Kristie and started our road trip to Michigan. How much I loved that time, it was perfect chance to catch up without anything else in the way. Yes JT and I both fell asleep for a little while but all in all it was a great road trip.

Once we got in to the hotel, we made our way to the pool and found our fellow coasties, Christina with a bear hug worthy of Brad, Jimmy who I haven't seen since another wedding and Patricia who is just all around a great gal! We got in just in time to pick up our shirts (see pictures below) and start off on Sarah and Malcolm's pub crawl. What a great time to catch up with friends, meet new ones and just have an all around great time. We went to 6 pubs within 6 hours, switched seats everytime and caught up on all of our lives! Great night filled with great friends, funny stories and tons of laughter!

Being a finisher . . .

This past weekend I was catching up on some reading both online and actual books. And I was reading something about people actually finishing what they started. The majority of people start something and without ever finishing it, start something else or just give up entirely. In the big commitments in my life, I have already decided that I will finish what I started, with my job, my marriage etc. But when it comes to the little things, sometimes they can go by the wayside. So my goal over this next month is to be a finisher.

- Put the finishing touches on our 1st year anniversary scrap book

- Finish the many baby blankets I have started

- Take the clothes that I have set aside to the salvation army and women's center

- There are plenty more!!!

No more waiting for "oh I'll get to that later" over the next month I will ask that you encourage me whether it be lightly with a gentle push or a hard shove to the hall closet to get these things done. First comes the list of things to do then comes the action. Wish me luck because here I go! :)

Videos from the Aramburu Visit

AnnaBelle learning to fly

AnnaBelle learning to dance

AnnaBelle learning to share!

Aramburu's come home

On the 3rd weekend of April, I was reunited with my brother, my sister in law and niece! It was the only time available during their trip that Jonathan and I were able to get away for some much needed time with them! I arrived on Thursday evening and Jonathan followed on Friday evening due to work. We squeezed in as much time as possible with them and with family as well! It was fun getting to know AnnaBelle more as she began to walk on her own and babble as well! I did find out that she does not like the door closed when I have to go to the bathroom (this one may need to be fixed Phil!) We went to a city wide semi annual garage sale (stuff galore, Jonathan was thankful we didn't drive up), went to the lake to feed ducks and also went to the zoo. Below are a few pictures to recap the quick weekend, all in all it was a fantastic time that I loved spending with my much missed family!

She loves her phone

Jonathan tickling her with grass

Don't mess with her cake!

Roomba, how I love thee..

Let me count the ways
1. As soon as my delightful puppies are out for the morning, I press one small button and you cleaning my entire floor for me
2. You never miss one puppy dog hair and do it all while I am showering, getting dressed and going about my day.
3. When you are finished you find your home, dock yourself and start charging for the next use.
4. When you get trapped under my kitchen chairs, you find your own way out!
5. When you hit a human toe or puppy dog nose, you just do a little bump and move out of its way
6. You posted a generous coupon online for me to find and allowed my amazing husband to compile with my wish :)
I love you Roomba

Working out

This is what happens when I leave my yoga mat for one minute to refill my water bottle :) Love the support!

Fundraiser for Keifer

For those of you who know me or where at my wedding, you know that the Gunn family holds a special place in Jonathan and I's hearts. Colton and Keifer were ringbearers at my wedding, Dawn let me coordinate her wedding and we just like them a whole heck of alot.

This upcoming weekend they are holding a fundraiser garage sale March 28,09 from 8:00 am til 1:00 pm at 6912 Crosstimbers, Corpus Christi Texas. The fundraiser is for Keifer, who has cerebal Palsey. Brian and Dawn have accummulated major medical bills for Keifer and a couple people from our church feel led to pull together to help the Gunn family. They are asking for donated items and also for volunteers to help work the sale. Drop off items are being accepted Mon.-Thurs. after 6pm. Fri., Sat., and Sundays all day. I have the number if you would like to call to donate or to volunteer to run the garage sale. Even if you don't have anything to donate, stop by, its going to be a huge garage sale. We just wanted to help get the word out to as many people as possible and we hope to see you all there!

Housewarming Party

Last Saturday, Regina and Owen had a housewarming party to celebrate their new home finally fully decorated and just the way that she...I mean they wanted :) It was a family and friends wine party, with people stuffed in all rooms possible. But of course you can always find the good friends talking over the snack table! Why is it that good friends always clutter into the kitchen? You can put great couches in the living room but everyone will eventually find their way into the kitchen. I love it, it gives it that cozy feel and therefore making the McClenny's new house a home :)

Of course no party is complete with a baby fix. Regina's nephew Ryker was available to be passed around, but I couldn't resist getting a photo of the hold that JT loves to hold on babies and Ryker was no different, he was absolutely loving being held like a football. Oh goodness we are in trouble :)

March Madness Part 2

The Bruce/Hayes Wedding... JT was an usher and had rented a car to drive up Friday evening to be able to make the rehearsal and spend some time with his friends. Saturday morning he returned in the car (an adventure in itself) and waited for my arrival, as I drove safely and quickly, I arrived minutes before the bride walked down the aisle. I even asked the groom if I was going in the right direction and didn't even realize it was him, boo on me.

The Location.... It was this gorgeous ranch that was just breathtaking, They had this small arch for the groom and bride to standby, fold out chairs for all the guests to sit in and absolutely perfect weather for an outdoor wedding. The best part... on the left was gorgeous silk dresses and pant suits, very elegant, on the right were pressed jeans, ironed and creased shirts and "dress" cowboy hats. It was a clash of two cultures and it was too cute to see them blend in the reception hall.

The Bride... looked breathtaking and her smile was the best part to say the least. Tears were streaming down many faces as they took their vows nd as they finally had their first kiss as husband and wife.

The Reception.... They had a head table for the entire wedding party and their spouses. I loved this because so often the spouses have to fend for themselves among the guests, and if you don't know many people this can be quite akward, so Erin, thank you!!! Dancing was great, tons of two stepping, and we made our way through as best as we could, but most of all we just laughed about it and had a good time complete the the chicken dance and Cotton Eye Joe. The entire family and JT friends, made everyone comfortable and had a great time (for someone that only knew 5 people before going there and I met them at my wedding which was brief as well)

All in the all it was a a great time, lots of fun to meet and spend time with more of JT's college friends and get a little more dirt on my husband :) Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Hayes