The Elrods

I'm Back (seriously)!

2011-06-22T14:07:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! Well it has been a LONG time since I have last blogged but life has really gotten busy! Ellie is almost four months old, I cannot believe it! She is a healthy, happy baby and is smiling more and more each day and I am falling more and more in love with her with each wake up!

We have been quite busy these last couple of months. We spent Easter in Myrtle Beach with my parents, Aunt Fran, Aunt Anna, and cousin Richie. We had a great time! Ellie did awesome in the car (9 hours)! She is such an easy baby it really scares me to have another one!!

First Easter!

Look what the Easter bunny brought!

We went to NY in early May for my nephew Brady's blessing. He is such a handsome boy and his smile lights up the room! I was asked to be his godmother and am truly honored! Ellie got to meet her cousins for the first time and her Aunt Amy, Uncle G and Uncle Stevie. The traveling was tough on her. We got in late Friday night and she was so overtired and cranky and that carried on all day Saturday! She was back to her normal self by Sunday and we learned to not fly with her late at night!

What a ham!

Brady, Ellie and Grace (and Brett too)!

We went back to the beach for Memorial Day weekend with some friends and had a blast! It was so fun to watch my awesome friends be awesome mommas to their kids. I got so many ideas from them and tips and when I started to freak out about my milk supply, they were there to give me a pep talk! I am so lucky to have friends who have been there, done that! We really had a great time and look forward to many more beach trips with the Gower and Bills families!

The boys and their kiddos

Going to the beach with kids requires work!

Ellie's set up!

Ellie taking a dip!

Ellie has started to get into more of a routine which is really nice and why I hope to continue blogging regularly. She is sleeping in her crib which is great! We have a video monitor which is so nice (I recommend it!). We start her night time routine around 7:30-8ish. We give her a bath, then a bottle, then help her fall asleep. She will usually stir a few times when she drops her paci but for the most part is out for a long time. She has been waking up around 5 am (give or take a few minutes), I feed her and then she sleeps for another 2-3 hours. I feed her again when she wakes then we play for an hour and she naps again, then I feed her, we play, she naps. This goes on until bedtime. She is a great baby! We have lots of fun together. We talk, sing, dance (well I dance and she laughs at me)! She started rolling over and is growing like a weed! I tried to give her rice cereal the other day but she wasn't crazy about it! I will post pictures soon, it was pretty entertaining! We take her to the doctor on Monday for her four month check up (seriously, where has the time gone!?!) and I will update her stats. She is such a beautiful girl and I am so lucky to have her in my life!

I love that face!

I am taking two online classes this summer and they are far from easy! I am taking Information Systems and Management. The Information Systems class is all about computers and data and all the stuff I don't know. The content is tough but the work is pretty easy. The opposite goes for my Management class. The content is easy but way too much busy work!! I know it will all be worth it when I get to finally graduate college (probably with Ellie at this rate)!

We are closing on an amazing piece of land this week! Our offer was accepted for a 3.18 acre lot in Arrington/Nolensville, TN! We are so excited! It is the perfect place to build a home to raise our family in! We hope to start building the first of the year! I will dedicate a post to this after we close (don't want to jinx anything) with pictures and house plans included! Let the fun begin!

Well, Ellie is starting to wake up for her nap so I need to run. Hopefully I will be able to blog more and keep yall updated on my crazy but amazing life!

Why Hello There!

2011-03-25T16:34:00.000-05:00

My view as I type....

Hi! I know it has been a while but I have been a little busy! Ellie is doing GREAT! At her doctors appointment a couple of weeks ago she was 8 pounds 3 ounces! She goes to the doctor on Monday and I am curious to see how much she weighs now since she has been quite the milk monster! She eats anywhere between 2-4 hours. At night she sleeps at least 3 hours at a time (knock on wood) and we have gotten the occasional 4 hour stretch which is SOO nice! We have adjusted pretty well to having a third (human) member in our family. We still meet Brett for lunch, run errands and yes, I have time to shower! We are never on time which isn't a big deal since we weren't exactly on time before Ellie came along. The weather was beautiful up until the other day when it turned cold and gray again! Hopefully it will warm up soon so we can go on walks and spend time in the sunshine!

Sunglasses are just a little big!

Ellie LOVES baths! She can be screaming her little head off before we put her in the tub but as soon a her tush hits the water she is happy as a pig in slop! We have been giving her baths every other night and it is definitely one of our favorite things to do. We love watching her little facial expressions and there is nothing better then the smell of a clean baby!

Splish splash!

When I have time I will upload actual pictures from the camera but right now I am staring at a sleeping baby and I think I will squeeze in a quick nap before Brett gets home!

SHE'S HERE!!!!

2011-03-09T14:29:00.000-06:00

Ellie Rose Elrod has arrived and she is perfect in every way!

2/27/2011

Here is the quick labor story. At about 8 o'clock on Saturday night I started to get contractions so Brett and I began to time them. They were coming every 4-5 minutes and lasting a minute long. We let this go on for a few hours because I didn't want to go to the hospital if I was not in labor. Since we had been taught 511 for contractions (5 minutes apart, 1 minute long for 1 hour) we decided it was time to go to the hospital around midnight. When we got there and they "checked" me they said I was only 1 cm! How could that happen?? I had been 2 cm earlier in the week! She came back an hour later and told me I was 2 cm and that when I first got there I was really closed but she didn't want to upset me. Since I was making progress they wanted to keep me and monitor me. We stayed there all night (luckily I wasn't in any pain, just anxious) and by morning I was 4 cm and admitted as a patient. They started me on pitocin to get things going and I opted for an epidural before the doctor broke my water at noon. Things moved fast after my water was broken, by three o'clock I was at 9 cm! Brett was a great coach when it came time to push and fifteen minutes after I started pushing, 7 pounds 11.5 ounces of amazing-ness was born! I cannot even explain how I felt when they put Ellie on my stomach. It truly was the most amazing moment of my life! I never felt so blessed.

I'm heeeeerrrrrreeeeee!

So in love!

The Elrods

Proud papa!

My labor and delivery experience was great and I can honestly say I would do it over and over to get the same feeling I had when Ellie was born. My recovery has gone well and I am feeling great. We have been to the doctor twice, for a family walk and even a quick trip to target! Ellie has taken to breastfeeding pretty well and she has been feeding about every 3-4 hours which is nice. The dogs have adjusted nicely too! These last ten days have just been wonderful!! I may or may no be addicted to babies, time will tell!

Bundled up for her first walk

My sweet family

We had her newborn photos taken on Monday and I cannot wait to see them. Ellie was the perfect model. She is such a good baby!! I will leave you with some pictures of my sweet little lady!

"LL Cool Rod"

Ellie and Nana

Wearing her Harley hat for Gramps

Sweet baby girl

Ready to go home with a huge paci!

I love these two so much!!!

First bath at home

She doesn't like to be cold, obviously!

Success!

Two Week Wait

2011-02-15T16:48:00.000-06:00

It is pretty crazy to think that no matter what, I will be a mom in three weeks or less! We had to cancel our doctors appointment last week because of the stupid snow so we went in yesterday at exactly 38 weeks. It is routine for them to start "checking" at 38 weeks and I was so nervous! I had no idea what to expect and I was crossing my fingers that she would say I was in labor and should get to the hospital ASAP. Well, that isn't exactly what happened. My body is progressing on it's own. I am 1 centimeter (1 stinking centimeter!) and 50% effaced. She said it was no indication whatsoever for when I was going to go into labor but it was a good sign that my body was doing something on it's own in case I have to be induced. They won't let me go past 41 weeks so I am hoping Ellie comes on her own before then because I rather not be induced. To help speed things along I have been walking, a lot! I know I keep saying this, but I am ready! I feel like the cranky, fat cartoon in the picture. I guess all we can do is wait.....

Happy belated Valentine's day everyone! I hope you all had a great day like I did! My Valentine's day actually started on Sunday. Brett and I woke up and headed to church. We really want to find a church home but haven't found one that we really like. We went to the Franklin Presbyterian Church and LOVED it! I am a fan of traditional churches. I don't like bands, light shows, loud pastors, or pop church music. I like plain and simple and that is what this church was, it is perfect. We are going to continue to go and hopefully it is the right fit for our little family. So we started with a great service then went for a drive in the beautiful weather. We talked about a million things, laughed really hard and just enjoyed each other's company. We went to lunch at Puckett's in downtown Franklin and it was so good! Then we headed to Sweet CeCe's for some pregnant lady buy one get one free and it hit the spot. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around downtown Franklin. It was perfect. On actual Valentine's day I met Brett at work and we headed to dinner at a small Italian restaurant our friends told us about a while ago, Cafe Nona. It was awesome. We stuffed our faces for sure! Brett doesn't ever want gifts. I will ask him what he wants for each holiday and it is always the same answer, "nothing". Well, I LOVE giving gifts. It is my favorite thing to do! I have gotten him boxers every Valentine's day for six years and I was so bummed when GAP was out of them! I still got some, but they weren't very festive. As a wedding gift his great friends got him two LSU paintings. One was framed and the other needed to be. Well finally after almost three years I got it framed. It turned out great and he was so excited!!

It looks a lot better in person.

Fits in perfect with the room decor. What a lucky man he is, huh? = )

I definitely got spoiled! Brett has really been on with his gift giving these last few holidays! He gave me a dozen red roses (roses are my favorite!) in a pretty vase, chocolates, and a new wallet. I had been telling him how I wanted to get a check book wallet so I can have everything in one place and he listened. He gave me a beautiful wallet. He did good!!

I love roses!

Sooo pretty!

Brett picked it out all on his own. He knows me well!

It really was a great two days and (mushy alert...) it makes me realize how grateful I am to have such an amazing husband. He really is my best friend and we have such a great time together. We are both so goofy and laugh, A LOT! I just know he is going to be just as great of a dad as he is a husband. How did I get so lucky?

We are getting Ellie's newborn photos taken the week we bring her home and I am so excited to use Chris and Adrienne Scott again. They are so fun to work with and I know they will do a great job! I know I want to do the nakey baby pictures but I also wanted to find something cute and simple for some shots. I found an adorable white pillowcase dress and matching diaper cover today and fell in love with it. They are going to monogram both in a light pink (I love monograms!). It should be ready in a few days and I can't wait to see how it looks. I also got this super cute spring dress for Ellie that I just have to share.

I am obsessed with baby gap!

They have matching shoes but they didn't have them at the store so I need to order them online. I know she doesn't need shoes but her momma loves shoes so I know she will too! And how can I not order this hat for the beach?!

I promise I do more then shop for my little lady. My online class is going OK. It is a lot more work then I expected but I am getting it done. We have a midterm on my due date but luckily my professor is understanding and will let me take it after if baby comes. The class does take up a lot of time. I also have been keeping on top of chores. The bed is always made with fresh sheets, dishes done, laundry put away and ~~most of the time~~ a home cooked meal on the table and fresh baked goods in the cake dome when Brett comes home. Now I know to some that doesn't sound very fulfilling but I have really enjoyed being a housewife and not to toot my own horn but I am good at it! I never had a career dream, ever. I always wanted to be a wife and mom and I love that I get to do that and I am going to be the best darn mom and housewife I can be!! Life is good!

Well, that's it for now. I hope my next post includes pictures of a baby! Keep your fingers crossed Ellie makes her debut SOON!!

Ready for Ellie!

2011-02-09T12:12:00.000-06:00

Brett and I are SO ready for Ellie to come! I will be 38 weeks on Monday and have to say I am ready to not be pregnant and to be a mommy! We are trying to enjoy this quiet time with each other but it is hard not to be so anxious for the arrival of our little lady. We have finished her nursery and have all the baby necessities ready to go all we need is baby!

My amazing friends, Jessie and Jane, and my sweet in-laws threw us an awesome baby shower on Saturday. It was so nice to see family, friends and celebrate the upcoming arrival of Ellie. Everyone was so generous and Ellie got some great things. We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives!

The super cute clothesline.

Everyone wrote something to Ellie on the cards hanging from the tree, so sweet!

Not only was this cake precious but it was delicious!! I actually would like some right now....

Adorable diaper cake filled with tons of goodies!

SO pale and shiny but so excited for baby.

How awesome is this diaper vase my friend Sarah made? Soooo cute!

Brett was excited for this LSU bib.

Brett practicing with Ms. Audrey. How beautiful is she!?

Some of the ladies.

We finished our birthing classes last week and have a breast feeding class this week. I think the classes were worth it and I feel like we are well aware of all our options and as ready as we'll ever be!! Funny story, last week I was sitting on the couch and when I stood up, my pants were wet. I FREAKED out!! I called Brett to tell him my water broke and started throwing stuff in my hospital bag (which is now properly packed!). Brett was calm and wanted to make sure that is what happened so he asked me a million questions. Long story short, I was sitting on a very slobbery dog toy, not in labor! Not my brightest moment!

We are DONE with the nursery! The end table came earlier this week and I got a lamp and a hamper. The picture we ordered with the Christopher Robin saying came in too and we love it. I can really sit in her room all day and just daydream.

Posh Paints on etsy.com does GREAT work!

Side table with her awesome Walmart stereo. Can't wait to jam out to some lullabies!

We mastered the car seat and stroller.

As you can see, we are READY FOR ELLIE! We went to the doctor last week and they said she was head down. The doctor said you could be dilated for weeks before labor and I know I would obsess over it so it was better we didn't get "checked". We are have a doctors appointment tomorrow but we are supposed to get snow today so fingers crossed it doesn't get cancelled! Starting next week we will get checked each week but I am hoping she decides to make her debut sooner than that. Now wouldn't that be nice!!

36 Weeks!!

2011-02-01T14:44:00.000-06:00

As of yesterday I am 36 weeks pregnant and I can't believe it!! At times it feels like this pregnancy is going by so slow but other times it feels like just yesterday the test turned positive!! I have mixed feelings about this pregnancy coming to an end. I am SOOOO excited to meet Ellie. I can't wait to see what she looks like, how big she is and what her personality is. I am nervous about bringing her home and actually being a mom. I have to say I am so lucky to have Brett because he is amazing with kids and isn't nervous about anything. He is so supportive and I know that will be huge those first few weeks of being a mommy and daddy. I am going to miss this little lady doing gymnastics inside me and it makes me sad to think that any day now this special bond I have with her will be over and I will have to share her with the world. Of course I am excited to share her with the world (I told you I have mixed feelings!). Thank you pregnancy hormones for the craziness! Here are a couple of pictures I took of my growing belly yesterday. Please excuse the awkward poses and cheesy faces (and messy bathroom) but it is hard taking a picture of yourself!

We go to the doctor tomorrow and really hope they have some good news (like Ellie is on the way!) because I am VERY uncomfortable!! I can't sleep no matter what I do. I have tried every position, every pillow, no pillows, some pillows, warm shower and calming lotion before bed, staying up super late, EVERYTHING!! And NOTHING works!! I will fall asleep but then my little melon decides to stomp on my bladder and I have to get up and pee and have to start the get comfortable process all over again! The only time I get consistent sleep is from 7:30 am- 9:30 am after Brett leaves for work. I feel bad because my tossing and turning sometimes wakes him but luckily he understands! I also find it hard to do simple things like putting on socks, walking up the stairs and getting off the couch. My body feels like it is five hundred pounds!

Headed home after her spa day.

I took Cristal to the vet last week to get her caught up on her vaccinations and learned that she needs ear surgery. We have to take her in every few months and get her ears cleaned out and medicine because she has chronic ear infections and the vet said that her ear canal will eventually cave in causing infection and neurological problems. It broke my heart!! We go back next week and I am going to get more details about the surgery. He said it would be outpatient but she would be put under which really scares me. This is going to sound cheesy to some but Cristal is my best friend. I got her in college and she has been with me through everything. She is more than a dog, she is family and I will do whatever it takes to keep her healthy! She is on a stronger medication that seems to be working and I took her to the "spa" on Friday so she got a nice bath, haircut and her nails done so I think she is happy.

Hanging out with daddy.

Happy dog!

Our weekend was really nice. We went to dinner and to see The Fighter on Friday night. I recommend it, it was great! On Saturday Brett got up and took my car to get washed and vacuumed and brought me home breakfast (he is so sweet!). We went to the mall to get the rest of my hospital things. I got a couple of nursing gowns and robes, some undies, nursing bras, and new glasses. Brett also ordered me some new slippers from LL Bean that I am super excited to get. Hopefully they will get here before Ellie comes!

We spent Sunday hanging the canvases on Ellie's wall and patching up the dozens of holes we made in the wall to make it right. We love the letters so much that we order a painting from the same lady. It will match the canvases and have one of my favorite quotes from Winnie the Pooh:

"Promise me you'll always remember you're braver than you believe,

and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

Hopefully we will get it later this week or early next along with the side table we ordered. All we need is a lamp and a baby and we are all set! = )

OK time to do some chores. Hopefully tomorrow I will have some happy news to share about Ellie's arrival!!!!

More Snow!

2011-01-21T13:54:00.000-06:00

What is with all this snow? Seriously, I am so sick of it! If I wasn't so close to having this baby I would be all over the internet looking for a deal to somewhere tropical. But since I am stuck here I might as well do some blogging.

We got the sixth sign for over Ellie's changing table/dresser and Brett hung it last night. I think it turned out super cute and I am very happy with the results.

The canvases we ordered for over her crib are finished and got shipped this morning. The lady who did them sent me some pictures and I am so excited. They match her bedding perfect and we think they came out GREAT!!

We also got an organizer for her closet so we could put her bibs, bath stuff, shoes, burp cloths, stuff like that in there without it being cluttered. I really wanted these polka dot bins from Babies R' Us for the organizer but they were too big for it. I got some from Target and Jessie suggested I paint my own polka dots on them. I attempted it with two and it doesn't look too bad (from far away) so I am going to paint a couple more.

I also wanted to get a basket for all the lovely blankets Ellie has. I found this one at Target and it is the perfect size and color for her room and it fits most of her blankets.

For Christmas my parents were so excited because the found the perfect gift for Brett, a camouflage diaper bag! For some reason they think he is a big redneck and anything camo has Brett written all over it to them! When he first opened it he laughed it off as a gag gift but then he slowly started to realize it was going to come in handy. He will need a bag for when he has Ellie by himself and this one is pretty neat. It has a cell phone case and a bottle holder. Brett said he can take it with him hunting or fishing too. He will definitely be getting some use out of this gift!

While on the subject of my parents and bags, here is the super awesome diaper bag my parents got me. They also just sent me a new duffle bag for me to take as my hospital bag. They have always been so caring and generous and I am so lucky to have them as my parents and Ellie is so lucky to have them as her B-ma and Gramps! It is such a relief to know that Ellie is never going to need for anything because of the amazing families Brett and I have. We are truly blessed!

My hospital bag.

My diaper bag.

I am very excited for this coming week for a couple of reasons. My online class started last week and we will finally start actual work this coming week. I am excited because I actually have something to do to help distract me from counting down the days until Ellie! Another reason I am excited is because I am going to learn how to knit. I met my friend Julia through the bunko club I am in and I'm so glad! She is one of the sweetest people I have ever met and she is also super talented. She makes all sorts of cool things and is an amazing cook. She is my domestic idol! She made this beautiful stroller blanket for Ellie.

Isn't it adorable? Anyway, Julia is going to teach me how to knit a stocking cap and a matching diaper cover. Since I found out I was pregnant I have wanted to make something for the baby and I think babies in stocking caps are precious! We are getting Ellie's newborn pictures taken the week we bring her home so I am hoping the cap and diaper cover turn out the way I picture it. Here is what I am hoping to accomplish (in pink and white). I can't wait to get started!

Well that's it for now. I hope you all have a great day and stay warm!!!

Snow!

2011-01-11T14:47:00.001-06:00

I have been stuck in the house for the last two days because of all the snow we got Sunday night. I think we got about four whooping inches! I realistically could leave the house but I need new tires on my car and am not going to take the chance of getting in a wreck. Brett is taking my car in on Thursday for some new sneakers so then I won't be such a nervous nancy when it comes to driving! Here are some snow pictures from our backyard.

What is this stuff?

Thanks for the super cute and super warm rain/snow boots dad!!

Brett and I had a very nice weekend. We ordered pizza Friday night and watched LSU beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl (thank goodness!). On Saturday we got up and headed out to Bass Pro ( I am such a good wife, huh?). After a thrilling trip out there we headed to the Loveless Cafe to meet our friends Will and Heather for lunch. Heather is expecting a little girl in April, Madison Ann. Madison and Ellie are going to be such great friends! Will and Heather are a lot like Brett and I and we love hanging out with them and look forward to going through this new life stage with them!

After a great lunch we went to Brett's parents house to watch the Saints game and eat some more. Sadly the Saints lost but we had fun hanging out with the family and eating some yummy shrimp Mrs. Elrod brought home after visiting Mr. Elrod in Louisiana. We pretty much take our new camera with us everywhere we go so we can get lots of practice in before the arrival on Ellie. Here are some pictures we took.

Anna Claire (6) and Ava (2).

Ava and Miles. Ava loves dogs!

Me and baby Luke. He is 4 months and such a cutie!

Brett was still in good spirits even after the Saints lost.

We have our second birthing class on Thursday night. Hopefully there are no more videos! We will be learning about relaxation techniques so I am looking forward to it. Ellie is the size of a pineapple this week! Our next doctors appointment is on Tuesday and I think we go every week after that which is exciting. I love going to the doctor and hearing Ellie's heartbeat! The doctor said they will not stop labor after 35 weeks...only two weeks away!! Hopefully she will stay in and bake for at least 37 weeks. I want her to be as healthy as possible although we are so anxious to meet her!!!!!!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Baby!!!

2011-01-07T16:23:00.000-06:00

I have been super busy this week getting all of Ellie's goodies organized and her nursery ready. Even though she won' be sleeping in there for a while it is still important for me to get it done! We got our chair and ottoman and hung curtains on Saturday. I was having a hard time deciding on curtains but finally made a decision and I am very happy with it. We also got five out of six of the signs that go over the changing table. The last one should be here by the end of the month. Of course I could not wait so my wonderful hubby hung them for me the other night. I also ordered small canvas paintings that will spell out Ellie. They will match her bedding and I am so excited for them! Hopefully they will be done by the end of the month too. There is also a small side table that will go next to the chair. We just wanted to make sure there was going to be enough room. Let me know what you think of her nursery so far.

Signs over her dresser/changing table. "Dream" will go next to "Fly".

A closer look.

Her chair, ottoman, and curtains. You can't really tell but they are polka dot .

The view from the door.

We also got our stroller delivered yesterday. It took us a little bit to put it together and figure out all the bells and whistles but we are very happy with it. It is a Bumbleride Indie and it's great. It is pretty lightweight and easy to fold and open. It came with a rain shield, pump, an extra large canopy for sunny days, and an adjustable cup holder. We cannot wait to take Ellie and the dogs for long walks this Spring!

My best stroller model pose.

I have pink accents to add to make it a little more feminine.

If you are wondering where that belly came from you are not alone! She is getting big! So big that I can't sleep through the night because I can't stay comfortable and she likes to lay on my bladder. I heard this was going to happen, I just thought I had some time. I just keep reminding myself that it is preparing me for not sleeping when she gets here or for eighteen years after!! So if you see me in the near future please disregard the fact that I look like poop!

We started our birthing class last night. It went well and yes, we did have to watch a video. At one point I looked at Brett and his face was priceless! It was a mix of disgust and pure terror! Needless to say I don't think he will be assisting with delivering Ellie and that is fine with me! The video is intimidating but of course they show women who are having natural births. I am proud to say I am not one of those women! I just know I am cranky when tired and in pain and I want this to be as pleasant of an experience as possible so I will be getting an epidural. I applaud the ladies who are doing it natural but am not ashamed to admit that I'm not one of them! I am looking forward to the next four classes because I think they are going to be really helpful. We will cover relaxation techniques, epidurals, take a tour of the hospital, and learn about caring for a newborn. We are signed up for a breast feeding class scheduled for February 10th so hopefully she will come out after that. We will be delivering at Williamson Medical Center and I am happy we are. It is only fifteen minutes from our house and relatively small, which I like.

I have been playing around with our new camera and had a little doggy photo shoot. I will leave you with some pictures of our furry babies.

Miss. Cristal

Mr. Miles. This is his face when he isn't getting any attention.

The look intimidating don't they? : )

Miles has been gaining pregnancy weight too!

This picture makes me giggle. Miles looks so funny!

Hamming it up for the camera.

She is such a great dog!

I'm Back (for real this time)!!!

2011-01-04T14:07:00.001-06:00

Happy 2011! Well, it has been a while. This last month has been crazy between finishing up classes and preparing for the holidays. Since it has been so long I don't even know where to begin with updates!

I guess I will start with school. This semester was a tough one. Not necessarily because of the work but because I could never fully concentrate. My mind always wandered to something baby related. I was very excited that I still pulled off straight A's. Yup, another 4.0!!! For someone who never cared about grades, it feels pretty darn good!! You can just call me Einstein! I am taking an online class this semester. It is just a history class so hopefully it won't give me too much trouble. Good thing I have a smart hubby who is willing to help me out when Ellie gets here!!

As soon as I finished up with school I headed to New York for the holidays. I was nonstop when I was there and am still recovering. My mom and fabulous sister-in-laws threw me an amazing baby shower. It was at the Publick House in Southampton and it was perfect. The food was delish and most importantly the company was great! It was so nice to celebrate this special time with so many great friends and family. Ellie got a TON of stuff and she (as well as Brett and I) are so grateful! I am waiting on a friend to send me some pictures from the shower and as soon as I get them I will post more about it. It was that awesome it deserves its own post!

The day after the shower my friend Meg and I headed into NYC to see Elf on Broadway. After a fabulous lunch at the melting pot with Meg's college roomies in the home of Eli Manning, Hoboken NJ, we headed into NYC. We hit up Gap where I got some cute maternity clothes on major sale (very exciting). We saw Macy's and Rockefeller Center. Both were packed but we had to see them while we were there. The show was great. It was actually my first Broadway show (I know right?!) and I loved it!

The next week was filled with running errands and wrapping presents. We went to see the Turza side of the family on Christmas eve like always and of course I stuffed my face with all the yummy food! On Christmas morning I woke up first and when I went downstairs I noticed Santa didn't come! For the first time in my 26 years there were no gifts under my parents tree. I held back tears because it really hit me that I really was an adult now! I helped Santa and Mrs. Santa (who were still in bed) and carried all the gifts down and put them under the tree. I guess I was just getting in practice for the many years to come. My brother Stephen came over and we opened gifts with my parents. Brett, Ellie, and I definitely got spoiled! Ellie got some super cute outfits and little toys. Brett and I got a new camera. It is a Canon digital rebel and we LOVE it! We really wanted to get a good camera for when Ellie comes to capture all of her sweet moments and Santa did a great job. Not only did we get the camera but Santa also hooked us up with another lense, case, and large memory card. We also got an iPad which is one of the coolest things ever! We still have a lot to learn about it but so far I am obsessed!! My parents also gave us a special gift for Ellie. They gave her silver spoons with her initials. I teared up when I opened it. My parents are very thoughtful and are so excited for Ellie to get here (as are we!!). Santa wasn't the only one was good to us. Ellie got some super cute outfits from her Aunt Kate, Uncle Brian, and cousin Brady. And some generous gift cards from her Uncle Stephen and Michael. My brother GT and sister-in-law Amy got us a Sony bloggie touch which is super cool. It takes HD videos and pictures and you can upload it right to your blog. I am so excited to use it when Ellie gets here. This blog just got a heck of a lot cooler!!! We had such a blessed Christmas and we are so lucky to have such generous, loving family members!!

Brett gave me a very special, beautiful Christmas gift too. He got me another band to match my wedding band and engagement ring. We are going to get our wedding date engraved on my wedding band and when Ellie is born get her birthdate engraved on the new band. And as we have more kids, add their birthdays. Brett actually ordered the wrong one (bless his heart!) but the right one should be here tomorrow and I am very excited. He is such a thoughtful husband and I am so lucky I have him! I just know he is going to be such a great dad. He always tells me one of the most important things he can do for his daughter is to show her how much he loves her mom. I want to cry every time he says that. He is amazing!!

There was a snowstorm when we were in NY and we got stuck there for an extra two days. It was nice to see snow but not when it messes up my plans! It was a nice visit but it was great getting to our own home and seeing our dogs who we missed terribly!!

We went to the doctor yesterday for a check up and everything looks good. My belly is measuring perfect for 32 weeks (wow, I cannot believe it has been 32 weeks!!!). My weight gain is right on target and most importantly Ellie's heartbeat is perfect. I know the next 8 weeks are going to fly by but is it OK to want them too?! We are so ready to meet our little lady. We have been working on decorating her nursery and organizing all the goodies she got from the shower since we've been back and it makes us want her here NOW!! I know we need to enjoy this time together and we are but we can't help but be anxious! We start our birthing class on Thursday night and we're looking forward to it. We are just hoping we don't have to watch a video, we are not visual people!! Let's just hope we don't pass out!!

Well time to get to the laundry that has been pilling up since we got home. I will leave you with some pictures we took in NY with the new camera.

Brady hamming it up for the camera!

Grace playing in the snow.

Beach Lane, Wainscott.

It was a beautiful day.

The duck pond in East Hampton.

Brett's new friend!

I'm Back!!!

2010-11-30T11:23:00.000-06:00

Hi there! I am sure you all missed my blog posts tremendously! Well, I am sure you are all wondering what the heck I have been up to and the answer is, everything!!

Let me start with Ellie's room. We got our furniture delivered earlier this month and we are so excited about it! Please excuse the grainy pictures but they were taken with my phone.

Her changing table/ dresser

Isn't this clock precious?

Her BEAUTIFUL crib!!

We are really excited about how things are coming along. Her chair should be here right after Christmas and then it is time to decorate those bare walls. I really enjoy doing her room and can't wait until she is here to enjoy it!

Next, I spruced up our living room with a new couch, loveseat, side table, and other decorations. I am still on the quest for the perfect decorative pillows to add to the couch and loveseat but so far, I am happy with how it turned out. Not to mention, the couches are super comfy!

We moved the old old ones upstairs to the playroom. I found some cute wall decals that we are going to put up and we are on the hunt for a bookshelf. This will be my January project.

My parents were just down here visiting for turkey day. We had a lot of fun. My mom and I went shopping ALL DAY Wednesday. She got me and Ellie some really cute stuff. Here is a little bodysuit she got Ellie, I love it!

Not sure if you can tell but it has little penguins on it!

It is so hard not to go crazy in baby gap for her, especially with my mom. Overall, it was a great day and I really enjoyed spending time with my mom.

We spent turkey day at the Elrod's house, which was very nice. The turkey got a little burnt but there were so many other delicious things it didn't even matter.

We lounged around most of the weekend. My dad, Brett, and I went to the Predators/Rangers hockey game on Saturday night. We had AWESOME seats and it was a great game. We ate some great food and had some laughs. It was a nice week.

Last week Brett and I got our maternity/family pictures taken by Chris and Adrienne Scott. They are GREAT!! If you need pictures for anything, use them. We go tomorrow to look at them and order and I am so excited. They put a sneak peak for us on their blog so check it out!

http://www.chrisandadrienneblog.com/

Looks like it is time to get studying. Classes are over next week and finals start the week after, eek! I am really looking forward to the end of this semester and going to NY to see everyone!! I will leave you with this picture of my little guy, Miles. He loves to get in the bed when Brett leaves and the other morning he wiggled his way in between my snuggle (pregnancy pillow). He looks so cute and innocent, don't let him fool you!!

Nesting

2010-11-12T16:26:00.000-06:00

This week has been a LONG one! We started it off right by going out to dinner with our friends to the Cajun Steamer (really good cajun food). We finally got to meet our friends, Justin and Tiffany's, baby boy Colton. Seriously how cute is he??

Colton and Audrey (Evan and Jessie's little lady) are the most well behaved babies I have ever seen. We had a great time oh-ing and aww-ing at both of them. Brett and I are SOOO ready for February. It was funny to all of us how much dinner conversation changed since they had babies and I got pregnant. No more wine talk, it's all about breast feeding. And forget about weekend plans, it's more like "how many diapers do you change a day". I LOVE it but now I realize why our non pregnant and child-less friends stopped calling, ha-ha! We were really getting together to celebrate the upcoming launch of the boys' new business venture, fantasynews.com. It is going to be the go-to site for all fantasy sports. Brett, Evan, and Justin have all been working hard on it and we are really praying all the hard work pays off. No need to check the site everyday to see if it went live, I will keep you guys posted!!

I was quite the study bug the first part of the week since I had two pretty tough exams on Wednesday and me being a hermit paid off, I got A's on both!! I never cared about my grades before but since I started back I make sure I do the best I can! That is the difference between going to school when you are ready and going to school just to go.

So the title of this post is "Nesting" because that is exactly what I am doing!! After staying with Jane and Matthew in their beautifully decorated home, I have been driving Brett crazy about what I want done to our house. I would love to just build a house tomorrow and start from scratch but that obviously isn't going to happen. We had a serious conversation and decided that we will start seriously saving so we can build a new house in the next couple of years which makes me really excited!! But until then I need to get this house in tip top shape before Ellie gets here. My parents are coming to town for Thanksgiving. Even though they could care less what my house looks like, I decided today I was going to get the most done in this house that I could before they get here! I few posts back I posted a picture of the couches I found and really wanted. Well, I went a different route. I went to buy the original couches at American Signature today but I couldn't commit. I went across the interstate to Haverty's and as soon as I walked in, fell in love. Forty-five minutes later I walked out the proud owner of this couch and love seat set:

I could barely contain my excitement when I called Brett to inform him that he too, was a proud owner of these couches. I think he was just shocked that I finally bought something and I know he is happy he won't have to listen to me complain about our current couches! I am going to get some smaller, blue, accent pillows to tie the room together since we have blue and green decor. I am very much looking forward to the delivery man to get here on Tuesday!!

Speaking of furniture, Ellie's furniture is getting delivered tomorrow!!! We are going to wake up early and head to USA Baby for their one day sale to order the rocker and ottoman for her nursery then come home to clean the carpets (I rented the "carpet doctor" from Publix) and wait for Pottery Barn Kids to knock on the door! Here is the chair we decided on (we are going to order it in an oatmeal color with the matching ottoman):

We picked it because it was smaller than most of the other chairs and her nursery isn't that big. I don't want the room to feel too cramped so I think this will be perfect. Not to mention it is pretty comfy, I already practiced sleeping in it!

Something really neat started this week, I can see my stomach move when Ellie moves! It used to be I could just feel her but now I can actually see her, crazy!! I also can feel my belly and tell where her head and her tush are (not sure which is which though!). This is honestly the coolest thing ever!! She is almost 1.5 pounds and the length of an ear of corn. I will be 25 weeks Monday and according to my super cute pregnancy calender (thanks Jessie!), she will be the size of a rutabaga (if only I knew what that was!). Overall, she is getting big and so am I! I will leave you with a picture of me I took on Monday at exactly 24 weeks. Hello belly (and booty!)!!!

Painted

2010-11-01T15:28:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a happy Halloween!! We had a TON of trick or treaters and ran out of candy, I felt terrible!! We had some adorable kids come but nobody as cute as these little ones (I bet my friends and family are really going to enjoy when I stop having to steal pictures of their kids for my blog. I can't help it, they make beautiful babies!!!):

Grace as the most precious flower I have ever seen!

Audrey is such a sweet pea!!!

Eli is so darn cute as a giraffe!!!

Aunt Missy's precious little pumpkin!!!!

Brett and his mom spent the afternoon painting Ellie's nursery and they did a fabulous job!! The room is definitely pink but I think with her furniture and green and blue accents the pink will be toned down. We should be getting her furniture in the next week or so and her bedding next week. I am so excited to start decorating!!!

Room before paint (so boring!)

Room after paint (hello pink!!!)

Ellie has been moving around a lot and I love it! Brett can finally feel her, like really feel her, and I LOVE how excited he gets!! Well I really need to get back to writing my paper on Gwendolyn Brooks (exciting, I know) so I can make it to yoga tonight. I am in major need of a workout especially after the weekend of unhealthy eating I had!

Registering and Getting Things Done

2010-10-29T15:10:00.002-05:00

We went to Knoxville Saturday with the intention of going to the UT Alabama game but wound up staying at our friend's, Matthew and Jane, house all day with their little guy Eli. Eli is such a handsome little guy and Brett and I really enjoyed being around him and catching up with his mom and dad. LSU played Auburn (and lost) and Brett didn't even yell because of Eli which got me really excited for a quiet house next football season! Who would want to yell and scare this little cutie?

When we got home on Sunday I was even more in baby mode! We are blessed to have such generous family and friends that offered to throw us baby showers so we started registering. I had so much fun registering for our wedding but this has been a bit different. It is fun but also overwhelming. It isn't like registering for pretty dishes instead you have to check the reviews and make sure it is safe for your little one! We got off to a slow start but after doing tons of google-ing we started making decisions. My friend Jessie went with me to Babies R Us and helped me pick out some things. It is definitely helpful having friends with babies to tell me what they use and what they don't. Here are some of the choices we made:

The Bumbleride Indie stroller. I have heard great things about this stroller and hope it works out well for us.

Friends of ours have this swing and once Brett and I saw it, we knew Ellie had to have it!

I love these wraps! I really hope Ellie does too because I plan on putting her in them while I get stuff done!

The Peg Perego car seat is one of the safest out there and I have read great reviews.

Is there anything baby you couldn't live without? Let us know!!!

I have been keeping myself busy with getting home stuff done. As I mentioned last post we finally got our new bedroom carpet. I am on the hunt for the perfect chair and side table for the corner of our room. I was in TJ Max and found a cute comforter set for $50 that I got to hold me over until I fell in love with something ( I haven't found anything I just love!). I went to Lowe's yesterday and picked out tile for our upstairs bath and they are coming to measure on Tuesday. I am excited to get the tile laid so we can put up the wainscotting. We painted the bathroom brown last year and we like it but think the light tile and white wainscotting will really make it look great. I also picked out a couch and love seat and hope Brett likes them as much as I do in person so we can order them sometime this month.

I think (and hope) this will look nice with our white furniture and some dark colored lamps and accent pieces.

We are going to move the couches from downstairs upstairs to the office off of our bonus room. Our bonus room is Brett's "man cave" and he said he was going to make our office into a "lady lair" for Ellie and I. I'm not sure if we are going to paint it but we are going to get a cute chandelier, some book shelves, and cute pictures for in there. It is where we plan on keeping all of Ellie's toys. We are putting off granite countertops until January or February (not even sure if we will even get around to it). I know what I want but granite is a lot of money and if I can get everything else done I can live without granite. We want to hopefully buy land and build a new house in the next couple of years so I know I will get my granite countertops one day!

Brett and his mom are going to paint Ellie's nursery this weekend and I can't wait! Her furniture should start arriving next week (her crib mattress should actually get her today) and her bedding the week after. I am really looking forward to putting everything together and seeing how it all turns out. I think I found the perfect chair and hope to show Brett soon so we can get that ordered.

I also have to leave you guys with this picture of my friend Diana's baby girl Grace. Grace started crawling this month and is just the cutest little girl ever! This picture was on her Halloween card and I just love it!

Happy Halloween!

New York

2010-10-21T15:42:00.000-05:00

I went to New York for my fall break this past weekend and had a great time. I was only there from Saturday - Tuesday but I feel like I squeezed a lot in! My parents picked me up from the airport and we went straight to Brian and Kate's so I could FINALLY meet Brady! Let me just tell you, pictures do not do this boy justice! He is ADORABLE and I love him so much! GT, Amy and Grace came over too and we all had a blast catching up and eating yummy food. I kept thinking about how fun it is going to be with all the kids running around together in a few years, I can't wait!! I really enjoyed spending the day with my family.

Brian is already training Brady to be a baseball player.

I love my niece and nephew!!

Me and my little meatball!!! (Wow, I need a tan!)

After spending the day with my family I went to one of my favorite restaurants in East Hampton, Turtle Crossing, with my friend Beth and her husband Craig. We had a great time catching up and they gave Ellie some super cute swag! She got her first pair of loafers! It was so great to see old friends and eat good food!

I woke up bright and early on Sunday to pick up my brother Stephen and cousin Danielle (Yellie) and headed to the Giants game. My brother got the tickets for my birthday (he also got Ellie an Eli Manning Jersey) and we had a great time even though it was so hot! I had to buy a t-shirt (I had on a heavy long sleeve shirt) and the only one they had in my size was a guy named Bavaro. It didn't sound familiar but I figured I would become a fan of his since I had his shirt on. Let's just say I felt pretty dumb when we realized he was retired! Before the game we got to spend some time with our New Jersey cousins at their tailgate which was nice. We NEVER see them and they are so fun and sweet! Yellie and I had some good laughs and caught up with each other which was lovely. We also got yelled at by a cranky Giants fan because we went out his side of the row to use the bathroom (how dare we!). I came to the conclusion that New Yorkers are just cranky people. The picture is the view from our awesome seats, thanks Stephen! When we finally made it back to Long Island I ate dinner at Lisa and Don's house which was very yummy (I love chicken cutlets!). It was also great to catch up with them and my cousin Dana. She is a freshman in high school but is taller than I am! She is an incredible soccer player and I hope she remembers her favorite cousin when she makes the olympic team!

The new stadium is super nice. The fans, not so much!

On Monday I hung out at my Dad's office for a bit then met Kate and Brady for lunch. We had a great time chatting away and Brady looked precious in the puppy dog hat we gave him. He was so good and let his momma enjoy her lunch. I love that little guy! Kate and I had a great time and I can't wait to hang out with her when I go back in December. After lunch I met Amy at Grace's school to pick her up then we went into town to get ice cream. We had a blast and I miss them already!! I went to dinner with my parents that night and ran into some friends which was nice. I went to visit my friend Diana and her baby girl but baby girl was sound asleep and Diana wouldn't let me wake her! I did get to catch up with Diana and her hubby Ryan though. Then I went to see my friend Sara who was sweet enough to think of Ellie and got her a great book, beautiful blanket, and adorable bath towels. Again, it was great catching up with another old friend!

I love New York but it is nice to be home! I came home to new bedroom carpet which I love and two very happy dogs (and of course a very happy husband!). School started up again on Wednesday and we went to the doctor for a check up today. Ellie's heart sounded great and came in at 155 bpm. The doctor said my weight gain was perfect (8 Ibs so far even though it feels like A LOT more!) and she also told me she really wanted me to get the flu shot so I bit the bullet and went for it. It really wasn't bad but now my arm is pretty sore. I am happy I got it, better to be safe than sorry! We go back to the doctor tomorrow for another sonogram. Ellie was moving around so much last time that they didn't get all the pictures of her heart that they needed. My doctor reassured me that nothing was wrong and they just needed some more pictures. We are very excited to see our little lady tomorrow!!!

Twenty Six

2010-10-12T16:36:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow I officially enter the later part of my twenties, wow! While I was in the car (where I do most of my "deep" thinking) I started thinking about my life so far and all the people, places, memories and things that I love. I thought I would share twenty six of these totally random things in honor of my twenty six years on this Earth (WARNING: This is LONG and very random!).

ELLIE- Obviously the little lady growing in my belly is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. I love her so much and can't wait to meet her. It's been an adventure just being pregnant with her and I look forward to all life has in store for me when she gets here
BRETT- I love him. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for bringing him into my life. Not only is he my best friend but he is an amazing husband. He loves me, supports me, makes me laugh, and I feel the most comfortable around him. What a catch!
MY PARENTS- If it weren't for them I wouldn't be here. I am lucky enough to have parents that support any decision I make. They let me make my own mistakes and learn from them which has lead me to being the happy girl I am today!
MY BROTHERS- Growing up with four older brothers sucked when I was younger but now that I am older I appreciate every taunt, hit, and "test this bike jump for us". If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be who I am today. It amazes me to look at how much they have grown from being mean boys. Two are fathers and husbands and they are all hard working and fun. My oldest brother won firemen of the year which makes this little sister very proud!
LISA- I don't even know where to start with my cousin Lisa. Without her, my brothers and I would be lost! She runs the show at my dads company and does everything for us. She is like a mom, sister, best friend, personal assistant, and cousin wrapped into one! She also brought the greatest bridesmaid ever, Danielle (Yellie), into the world! Yellie is fun and sweet just like her mom and I love her to pieces! There aren't enough words to explain how grateful I am to have Lisa in my life so I will just stop right here!
AMY AND KATE- I couldn't have picked better sister-in laws! Amy started dating GT when I was 11 so she has always been the sister I never had. We talk weekly and she has always been there for me. Kate married Brian a year and a half ago and I am so happy she did. We have become a lot closer over the last year and I love how happy she makes my brother. We also talk often and she too is more like a sister than a sister in-law. If I could clone these two for my other brothers, I would!
GRACE AND BRADY- Grace is my six year old niece (GT and Amy's daughter) and I love her to pieces! She is so cute and funny. It has been amazing watching her grow up and I know she will be a great cousin to Ellie. Brady (Brian and Kate's son) is almost four weeks old and already I adore him! I haven't met him yet but I finally get to on Saturday! His parents have done a great job sending me pictures and texts and I can't wait to love on him in person!! I truly love being an Aunt!!
SUNDAYS AT GRANDMA AND GRANDPA TURZA'S- This is one of two favorite memories from my childhood. Every Sunday we would pile in the car and drive to Miller Place and spend the day at my grandparents. There were TONS of people there and we would swim, ride horses, play roller hockey, and eat lots of yummy food! The Turza side is a bunch of crazy Italians and I love them all!
BATHTUB RACES- This is my other favorite memory. Every summer we would pile in the car and head upstate to Moravia, NY with the Wyckoff side of the family. We would all camp for the weekend and sit around the bonfire. It was where I was introduced to jello shots (on accident) at a very young age! We would paint two porcelain bathtubs on wheels to match whatever our theme was that year, load them in the truck and bring them downtown to race against other teams. Two people would be in the tub with plungers to steer and one person would push. I can not tell you how much fun it was, I really miss it!
MY EAST HAMPTON FRIENDS- I am still super close with my friends I met in fifth grade. We might go months without seeing each other but as soon as we are together it's like we never were apart. We are all grown up now and live very different lives. Some are married, one is a mommy, one is in Chicago getting her doctorate (smarty pants!), one is a teacher in Virginia, and a few are back in East Hampton. I am so proud of all of them and love them with all my heart!
MY IN-LAWS- When I married Brett I was lucky enough to inherit his family. They are very different then my family but I love them so much. Luckily they all live within twenty minutes of us so we see them often and they are always there to lend a hand. Brett and I look forward to the days that Ellie can run around with her cousins in Brett's parents large, beautiful backyard!
CRISTAL AND MILES- I am the crazy dog lady! I got Cristal in college on a whim and couldn't imagine life without her. She is the sweetest dog and has been there for all my tears and cheers and she is a great listener! We added Miles to the family a year and a half ago and couldn't imagine life without him either! Yes he has chewed up our carpet, furniture and even wall but we still love him! He is a big boy (some compare him to a polar bear) but he is a sweet dog that loves us and Cristal and loves to "protect" us. Brett and I have gotten so many laughs with our dogs. They are the best!
WAINSCOTT- I love Wainscott. I went to Wainscott school which was a one room school house, from first to fourth grade and it was just me and one boy in our grade. With a total of twelve kids in the school there were lots of memories made and I wish my kids could get the same experience. They had to build a bigger school to accommodate the booming Wainscott population and last I heard they were making the old school a museum (if that doesn't make you feel old, what will!?).
MY SOUTHERN FRIENDS- I have been lucky enough to make some great friends in Nashville. It can be hard to make friends outside of the college setting but fortunately Brett is still close with his middle school friends and they all partnered up with some awesome ladies who introduced me to some more awesome ladies! Some of them are mommies or mommies-to- be and I am so lucky to have them during this journey of parenthood!
MELISSA BRIGGS, SHAUNA LOVE, AND OTHER FAKE ID NAMES- Yes, I had a fake ID. Actually, I have had several. Since I was the youngest out of my friends I even had to use fake Id's to get into 18+ places! Some of the best memories were made in places we were too young to be at! If my daughter asks though, I never had a fake ID!!!!
EUROPE- I LOVE Europe. My friend and I backpacked there when we were nineteen and it was amazing. We went to Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Holland, The Czech Republic, Ireland, England, Scotland, and Spain. We saw so much and met so many different people. It really was the trip of a lifetime and hopefully in the next few years I will be able to show Brett some of my favorite places. I also hope Ellie likes to travel because I want my kids to get to see Europe and experience new places with them.
FOOTBALL- I always liked sports but after living in Tennessee I have become a huge college football fan. I love everything about it. The NFL is OK but to me it is too commercial. College football is the real deal! GO VOLS!
SCHOOL- The first two times I attempted college were a bust but now that I am finally ready (better late than never) I really enjoy it and appreciate it. After working in the "real world" I realized I wasn't going to get anywhere without my degree which made my decision to go back pretty easy! It is going to take a little long to finish with a baby on the way but I am going to finish!
THE BEACH- I love the beach and I miss it so much! I never realized how lucky I was to live by the beach until I moved far, far away from it! I can seriously sit on the beach all day everyday. I look forward to many beach trips with my perfect little family. Ellie is going to be a beach bum!
CHRISTMAS- It really is the most wonderful time of the year! I love everything about Christmas. My family has a tradition of going to see my Dad's family on Christmas Eve, spending Christmas day with our immediate family, and having my Mom's family over the day after. I get to see most of my family and we always have a great time! One of my favorite things to do is give gifts so I am one happy elf during the holidays!
GOING OUT TO EAT- Another one of my favorite things to do is going out to eat. I really enjoy trying new places which is odd because I am such a picky eater.
STORMS- There is nothing better than a stormy Saturday morning when you have nothing to do. I hate storms when I am driving but if I am home, I love laying in bed with Brett and the dogs and listening to the rain. It is so relaxing to me! The dogs will jump in the bed because they are scared of storms and that is the only time Brett lets them up there!
WINE- It took me a while to like wine but now it is my drink of choice. Obviously I haven't had wine in a few months and won't be having any until after Ellie arrives but I look forward to enjoying a glass of wine on the deck with Brett! We went to San Francisco and Napa Valley for our one year anniversary and I loved going to all the vineyards. I'd love to go back!
PEOPLE WATCHING- Who doesn't love sitting in an airport and watching all the people. I always wonder where they are going and why. It might sound weird but people fascinate me! It's a It's amazing to me how diverse our world is.
AMERICA- I love America! I know I mentioned Europe before but there really is no place like home! I am grateful for all the men and women who protect our country at home and oversees and appreciate there dedication to this country. Nothing bothers me more then when an America talks about how much they hate it here. No matter what your political views are every citizen should count their lucky stars that we live in a country where we are free to dress how we want, worship who we want, be what we want to be, and live where we want to! American rocks!
BEING HAPPY- I am happy. I have a great husband, family, friends, and a lovely daughter on the way. I just love that feeling when nothing can drag you down. I have had to deal with some serious problems and some flat out nut cases but at the end of the day I am happy with me and my life and that is all that matters!

If you made it this far you are a loyal follower! I encourage you to take a minute and think about all the things that make you happy. I promise if you do you'll be smiling all day!!

Shopping For Ellie

2010-10-07T15:34:00.001-05:00

I knew if we were having a girl that meant we are going to go broke! There are so many super cute things out there for baby girls and I have no self control. Like I mentioned before, Brett and I went and got Ellie some things when we found out she was a girl. Here are some of the cute things we got her:

How cute are these??

They didn't have a LSU one so Daddy let Mommy get this one!

A few days later I got an email that gap.com was doing 30% off and free shipping so I added these ADORABLE things to her wardrobe:

Is this not the cutest hat ever!?!

For the summer. Can't beat $14.99!

If they made this in adult sizes, I would totally get one! So cozy looking!

We also got her a cute LSU dress when we were at the game this weekend. She really will be half Tiger and half Vol!

We also settled on furniture and bedding and got those ordered today since they are all on backorder we figured it was better to be safe than sorry! Here is what we got:

We still have to find a chair. We are looking for comfort so if you have any suggestions please let me know!

Here is her bedding:

I brought home some paint swatches the other night and we narrowed it down to five potential nursery colors. For the yellows (Brett's favorite) we have toasted oat and cuddle. For the greens we have aloe vera and for the pinks we have peach ash and light rose. We are going to test them this weekend.

I think I am going to get these signs for over her changing table. I think they are so pretty!

Jessie had some letters made for Audrey's nursery and they match her sheets perfectly. We are going to get Ellie some for over her crib. We are also going to add some pictures of her mommy, daddy, and family somewhere in the room.

So I am pretty sure we are on track for finishing everything well before she gets here. We still need to decide on lighting, a chair, bookshelf, curtains, and a closet organizer. Brett is also going to do crown molding in her room. He has never done it before but really wants to for his little girl. He is such a great dad already!!

I will leave you with a belly picture (I never realized how hard it was to take a picture of yourself!) and a picture of Ellie (isn't she beautiful?!)!!!

Sooooo perfect!!!

It's a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-09-30T20:54:00.000-05:00

Well, it looks like the little sprout that has been growing in my belly is a sweet, precious, baby GIRL! As we were sitting in the room getting the ultrasound we just couldn't believe how big our baby had gotten since last time! About fifteen minutes into the ultrasound, Brett looked up at the screen and said, "it's a girl isn't it?" and immediately the tech said "yup, it sure is!"of course I just started crying! I was so surprised, I would have bet money that it was a boy. The rest of the scan went very well. She has ten fingers and ten toes and was bouncing all over the place! At one point she was standing on her head with her butt in the air! It was so amazing to me to see her heartbeat and squirmy little arms and legs!Ahh, it was sooooo cool!!! We have decided to name our little lady Ellie Rose. After Brett got off work we headed to the mall and bought some cute stuff for baby Ellie. I am pretty sure after that trip that I will be the one doing the shopping for baby girl since Brett and I have completely different tastes plus he rather shop for camo and guns then dresses and shoes! I will post the pictures of the ultrasound soon.

We wanted to tell our parents in a special way so we went to dinner with Brett's mom and let her know the news. Since my parents were in Myrtle Beach I arranged for a cupcake bakery to make cupcakes that read "It's a girl" and deliver them to my parents. They came out great!

Anyway, sorry for the quick post but we are headed to Baton Rouge for the UT v. LSU game on Saturday and New Orleans on Sunday and Monday so I need to get packing! I promise pictures next post!!

Movement, Gownies, and Dolly

2010-09-24T13:30:00.003-05:00

A few nights ago I was laying in bed when all of the sudden I felt what felt like someone running their finger gently across the inside of my stomach. I jumped up and told Brett I thought I had just felt the baby move and he was very excited. As I laid back down I started to question whether or not that really was our little sprout or just a gas bubble and went to bed thinking it was the later. Two days later (Tuesday) I was standing in line at the grocery store and I felt three itty bitty taps on the inside of my belly by my belly button and I knew that wasn't gas, it was Baby E! I started laughing because Baby E definitely has Brett's patience. I just pictured this little baby kicking me because it was ready to go. I called Brett (and texted a few people in excitement) when I got in the car and told him it was no doubt the real deal this time, so cool!! Then yesterday we went to the doctor to hear the heartbeat again and while I was in the restroom I felt a tiny tap again!! Baby E seems to be living it up in there (my guess is either training to be the next Peyton Manning or preparing to be the first female president)!! We listened for the heartbeat and the doctor found it right away. It came in strong at 150 bpm. I could listen to that sound over and over and over and over. It never gets old! We have our big sonogram appointment on Wednesday afternoon so we are super excited! We are just praying for a healthy baby with ten fingers and ten toes!

My new gownie from the Gowers

Our fabulous friends Evan and Jessie came over on Sunday and brought their beautiful baby girl, Audrey. Brett and I were really interested to see how our dogs would act around a tiny baby and they seemed to be very interested in Audrey. Our golden retriever, Cristal, jumped right up and gave Audrey a sweet kiss. Good thing Momma Jessie is an animal person and didn't mind. Cristal did not want to leave Audrey's side! Our yellow lab, Miles, just wanted to sniff around and see the thing that was getting more attention than him. Overall I think Brett and I feel much more comfortable about the dogs and Baby E living under the same roof. Evan and Jessie also came over bearing gifts. They gave us the most adorable LSU jersey onesie that Brett LOVES (and I love too, of course)! They also gave me a very comfortable maternity t-shirt that I LOVE and a gownie for the hospital when I go in to have Baby E. Jessie had one when she had Audrey and it was so cute so I was very excited when they gave me the same one! Not only is it much cuter than the horrible hospital gowns they give you but it covers up the backside, is super comfy, and has buttons that give easy access for feeding. I am going to order another one but I just can't decide on which, they are all so cute!!

Last night I went to see 9 to 5 with my friend Lindsay, her very funny mom, and their sweet friend. We started the night at the Melting Pot (they have the best happy hour!! $5 cheese and chocolate per person and $4 salad!) which was delicious. We headed over to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) for the show which was absolutely amazing!! The songs were great, the actors were great, the set was great, everything was great!! Diana DeGarmo from American Idol played Dolly's character from the movie, Doralee Rhodes, and she was dead on! The best part of the whole night though was at the very end when Dolly Parton herself came out! She sang a little bit of "9 to 5" and thanked everyone for supporting the show. I think Dolly is just fabulous so it was very cool to see her in person! If 9 to 5 come to a city near you, you MUST go!

Yoga

2010-09-21T16:43:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned a few posts ago, I started prenatal yoga last week and I LOVE it!!! I consider myself an active person. In the last couple of years I have done aerobics, zumba, played on a kickball team and a flag football team, but I have never even attempted yoga! I may be able to run a mile under seven minutes but I couldn't touch my toes if you paid me too!! After looking online at every yoga studio in Nashville and the surrounding area I settled on Half Moon Yoga in Cool Springs. I was nervous my first time because I was gong by myself and I was terrified of making a fool out of myself because I am so not flexible! As soon as I walked in I felt calm. There were five other women there in all different stages of their pregnancies and the instructor was super nice. After an hour of positions my body has never even thought of being in, it was relaxation time!! It was so nice because you really just lay there and think about the life growing inside you. As crazy as it sounds I really feel like I "connected" with my little sprout, it was awesome! I went for the second time last night and I am officially hooked! All the stress of everyday life gets left at the door when I am in the studio. I swear the instructor is like a little Buddha, she's great! So now it looks like every Monday from 5:30pm-6:30pm for the next five months I have a new role; peace loving-tree hugging-hippy!

Now that my appetite is definitely increasing, my self control when it comes to food is being tested! I know I have the tendency to gain weight easily (just take a look at pictures of me from high school) so it is important that I only gain the recommended 30 pounds. Since I am a smaller frame woman lots of people say to me "oh, you are going to be so cute since you are so little" I would like to think that but I have seen pregnant girls smaller than me really let themselves go and they do not look so good! Now I normally wouldn't care what I look like but thanks to all my raging hormones I am extra self conscious! I can embrace "the bump" but I do not want my cheeks to look like I am a chipmunk storing acorns for the winter!! So far I think I am doing well. I guess I will find out when we go to the doctor on Wednesday if I am gaining the weight properly. Now if you see me stuffing my face with doughnuts and big macs, remind me of this post!!

So as you can see I am on my way (well, trying to be on my way) to a healthy, peaceful pregnancy! Whenever I get stressed out or upset I just feel my belly and it reminds me that I am growing a life in there and automatically I am at peace and smiling!

Aunt Missy's Meatball!!!

2010-09-16T11:57:00.002-05:00

My first Turza nephew has arrived, Brady Everett! My brother,Brian and his wife, Kate welcomed this little bundle of joy into the world on Tuesday, September 14th. He was a whopping 8 pounds 14 ounces! I am so in love with this little guy and I haven't even met him yet!! It is killing me to be so far away but I hope to go to NY in October. I have already warned my sister in-law I will be at their house all day, every day, loving on my little meatball! Here are some of the pictures that my Dad sent me (WARNING: Will induce baby fever because he is sooooooo freakin' cute!):

Beautiful new Momma!

Raise the roof, Brady in the house!

Look at those sweet, sweet cheeks!

The Turza Family!

Porud Papa! ( I LOVE this picture! He looks soooooo happy and that makes little sister/#1 Aunt happy!!!)

Gramps and his #1/only Grandson!!

I am so proud of my brother and the precious family he built for himself. They are going to be awesome parents and that little squirt is already so loved! Good work Brian and Kate!

Now for some more good news, baby Luke gets to go home today! He was doing very well last I heard and if all goes to plan Brett and I will be meeting the little angel this weekend. I can't wait to love on him and I know Brett is dying to see his nephew. Brett has been dreaming of the days that Hunter and him can take their sons fishing, hunting, and to football games and we are only two weeks away from knowing if Brett's sweet dreams will become a reality soon!

Two Years In The Books!

2010-09-13T13:32:00.000-05:00

Today is our second anniversary and I can't believe how fast time has gone by! It feels like just yesterday we met and now we are celebrating two years of marriage and expecting our first baby, nuts! I was woken up with a kiss and some fresh cut flowers (Brett got up super early to cut them for me), which was a super sweet way to start my day. As I drove to school I started reminiscing about our wedding day and thanks to hormones, got all emotional! It was such a fun day/night that I wish I could go back and do it again!

Getting ready

Beautiful flowers

Wedding day stroll

Handsome Hubby

Such pretty ladies

The Church

Just Married! (This is my favorite picture)

One big ~~crazy~~ happy family!

Our HUGE and awesome bridal party!

Precious flower girls

Mr. and Mrs. Brett Elrod

One of many smooches!

Well that was a nice walk down memory lane! We won't be celebrating tonight because we both have stuff going on (I have my first prenatal yoga class which I'm sure i'll blog about!) but we are going out to a nice dinner tomorrow night which I am looking forward to. We are going to New Orleans in a few weeks to really celebrate and I'm so excited. The only time I've been to New Orleans was for Fat Tuesday (yes, only one day!) my freshman year of college so I can't wait to actually see the city. We are also going to the LSU-UT game in Baton Rouge that Saturday and the Saints-Panthers game in the NOLA that Sunday (wow, Brett is one lucky guy that his wife is willing to make our anniversary weekend a football filled one! Not to toot my own horn or anything, ha-ha).

I also want to mention that the newest addition to the Elrod family arrived on Friday morning, Luke Preston. Luke is the son of Brett's brother Hunter and his lovely wife Brooke. He is also the little brother of almost two year old Ava Ann, who is just adorable! When the little guy was born he swallowed some fluid on the way out and has been in the NICU because he was having trouble breathing. Brett just forwarded me an email from proud papa Hunter that the munchkin is doing great and they were able to take him down to 21% oxygen! They are going to wean him off slowly and he is expected to make a full recovery! We have kept him in our prayers and are so grateful God is seeing him through this. Last I heard he should be going home within a week and Brett and I can't wait to meet him! Hunter and Brooke are an amazing couple and great parents (who I'm sure we will have TONS of questions for after Baby E gets here)! We are so blessed to have them in our lives!

Hello Belly!

2010-09-07T16:09:00.000-05:00

It has started, my belly is expanding! I really thought I had some time left in my regular pants but those days are coming to an end, quickly! When I first found out I was pregnant I had visions of a cute little belly but that is not the case. Instead my belly is more like a bakery, chock full of rolls and muffin tops! This morning when I came to the realization that my belly has "popped' I asked Brett if he could tell I was pregnant or if I just looked fat. He told me I looked beautiful also known as, you do look fat but I don't want you to cry, in husband talk.

I finally broke down and bought a belly band. After doing absolutely no research I settled on the BellaBand that I picked up from a super cute store in Cool Springs called Pickles and Ice cream. I tried it on as soon as I got home and I already love it! It will be nice to wear my normal jeans unbutton (and perhaps a little unzipped) without anyone knowing!

While I was in Pickles and Ice Cream, I couldn't help but take a look around. Here are some of the cute things I made a mental note to come back and get as my belly grows.

I also ordered my first pair of maternity jeans today. I have no idea what to look for so I just went with a pair that I thought were cute and could work with anything. After reading some reviews on gap.com I decided on these:

Along with my maternity jeans I got a pair of yoga pants since I plan on starting prenatal yoga next week. Now this is something I did research and I am so excited to start. A friend of mine is newly pregnant and is going to come with me to Half Moon Yoga in Cool Springs and hopefully my friend Sarah, who is only 3 days behind me, will be able to make some classes too! I've never taken a yoga class but I read so many positive things about prenatal yoga that I am willing to make a fool out of myself for Baby E!

Again, I couldn't help but look around the gap maternity website. They have some really cute stuff! Here are a few of my favorites that I can't wait to order when my belly starts looking like a pregnant belly instead of a beer gut!

And that does it for my maternity clothes wish list. If anyone has any suggestions for maternity clothes please feel free to share! Oh and for all you lovely people who want belly pics they are coming soon (I know you are all so excited!).

Back To School

2010-09-01T12:58:00.000-05:00

Classes started up again on Monday which means gone are the days of me sleeping in and relaxing. It has been rough getting up at six in the morning to make it to my 8 am classes but hopefully I will start getting used to it. I like to take morning classes so I have the rest of the afternoon to study and do homework (and nap!). My schedule is as followed:

MWF 8-8:55 Introduction to Accounting
MWF 9:10-10:05 Physical Science
TR 8-9:25 The Experience of Literature
TR 9:40-11:05 Microcomputing
W 11:20-12:50 Physical Science Lab

From the looks of it my schedule doesn't look too bad but I can already tell after the first few days that this is going to be a tough semester. Not only will it be tough because I find my mind wondering to baby clothes and strollers every two minutes but also because some of these classes are very demanding and some of the professors are terribly boring!

Let me start with accounting. I am very excited for this class since accounting is my intended major and after working in account payable for two years I feel like I have a pretty good idea of what things mean. Fortunately my professor for this class is great. She is friendly and really takes time to explain things. The only thing I am worried about is there are tons of assignments due online and in class. I just need to make sure I stay on top of things and I should be fine. Grade goal: A

Next is physical science. When I went to UT I took geography as my science but when I transfered my credits to MTSU they did not recognize geography as a science so I had to take two science classes. Last semester I took geology (aka "rocks for jocks") and I enjoyed it and my A. So when picking a new science to take (MTSU doesn't let you take two of the same sciences) I thought physical science would be fun (and easy) since it's a little bit of everything. That idea was a major FAIL! My professor is old enough to be my grandpa which would be fine if he actual made sense when he talked. Of course the first section we are covering is physics and lets just say I have no idea what he is talking about and it's only the first week! Luckily we get to drop a test grade so I'm thinking that will be the physics test. We also have a lab we need to take. The labs start next week so we will see how that goes. Grade goal: B

On to the experience of literature. MTSU requires three english credits which in my eyes STINKS! The professor for this course looks like the most interesting man in the world from the Dos Equis beer commercials but he might just be the most UNintersting man in the world!! He talks super slow and pauses in between sentences. He didn't have a syllabus to hand out so I'm not sure what to expect as far as work for the semester but I do know if this man doesn't livin' up I will be catching some sleep in the back of class! Grade goal: A

And last but not least, microcomputing. This should be a breeze! The teacher is so nice and the course really shouldn't be hard. I am actually looking forward to it because we are going to learn about excel, word, and access. I know a bunch but it won't hurt to learn a little more! Grade goal: A

On a fun school related note college football starts tomorrow and MTSU plays Minnesota on ESPN U which is exciting for the school. Go Blue Raiders!!

Tennessee plays on Saturday against UT Martin. This will be the big oranges first game with new coach Derek Dooley after that (insert choice word here) Lane Kiffin up and left us to coach at USC. I love UT football!! Go Vols!!!

Lane Kiffin is a bad man!

The hubby's beloved LSU plays against North Carolina on Saturday night. They are playing the game in Atlanta and ESPN's Gameday will be there. Needless to say LSU better win or it is going to be a long night for me! Geaux Tigers (only when they play someone besides UT)!!

College football season really is the most wonderful time of the year!! I know UT will have a tough year but as long as USC and Alabama don't do well I will be a happy camper!

I will leave you with some of my favorite anti-Bama art:

I Thought This Was Over

2010-08-29T10:37:00.000-05:00

To me complaining about pregnancy symptoms is the equivalent to someone receiving an awesome gift, like a new car, and complaining about the interior. In my eyes getting pregnant is the greatest gift and I feel guilty complaining but I just spent two days laid up on the couch watching lifetime so I need to let it out!

Wasn't it just the other day that I mentioned I was in the glorious second trimester? Well the gloriousness was short lived! I know that every woman and every pregnancy is different but I thought surely by week fourteen I would be feeling great and I feel just as good as I did at week seven. I was doing fine except for extreme fatigue until Friday when it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was all coming back...the nausea, loss of appetite (which I was just starting to get back), everything sounding gross! Were five weeks of this not enough? What is this child trying to do to me? I thought this was over!!!

My poor hubby had to listen to me cry about feeling awful and I am pretty sure he said the number two thing not to say to your expectant wife, "Well you haven't been eating that healthy." News flash my darling groom, when all that sounds good to me is peanut butter crunch cereal then I am going to have a bowl of peanut butter crunch cereal. If I have a hankering for ice cream at noon you better believe I am going to have it! It isn't easy finding food that sounds good so when I do I'm going for it! Now I can't be mad at Brett, he is learning and has been amazing through all of this. I bet by my next pregnancy he will be an expert on dealing with a cranky, sick wife!

Here is the lovely hubster getting practice with baby Audrey. What a natural!

Me getting some practice with Audrey. I look a little stiff but I have gotten A LOT better!

I like to think that any day now I will feel great and it will last for a long time! Classes start tomorrow and I would really like to be at the top of my learning game. Hopefully Baby E will understand and give me a break! Do you think it's too early to start bribing my child?

House, Family, and Friends

2010-08-27T10:39:00.001-05:00

Last night when I laid down to go to sleep (the highlight of my day!) I started thinking about all the things I wanted to do to our house before the baby comes. All of the sudden I was overcome with stress thinking about all the projects and all the money. Is this nesting? If so I am in for a long six months! There's new bedroom carpet to be laid, granite countertops for the kitchen, a guest bathroom to re-do, rooms to be painted, crown molding to be put up in the nursery, new furniture to be bought, oh and of course my pottery barn inspired nursery! I tossed and turned all night thinking of how we are going to finish all of this by February. Now I know I can live without granite countertops and the baby isn't going to notice if there is wainscotting in the guest bathroom but for those of you who know me well you know I am far from patient. So when I woke up this morning and noticed the money fairy didn't leave me a fat check under my pillow (jerk!) I went upstairs in tears. Brett was getting ready for work as he listened to me cry and complain. As he ironed his shirt he assured me everything will get done just not at once. So here is our tentative house update schedule (I don't know why these pictures are so small):

September- New bedroom carpet and new bedding

What I am leaning towards.

October- My beloved granite counter tops. Happy birthday to me!
I think this color would look great in our kitchen

November- Guest bathroom re-do. Ceramic tile and wainscotting I will see you soon!

December- Hopefully Santa will bring me a new kitchen table and living room!

And in between all of this there is the most important part, Baby E's nursery!
If our little sprout is a boy this is exactly what we want. If it is a girl same furniture but different bedding. Isn't this crib beautiful?!

As I type my list of wants I feel a cold, wet nose on my leg. Our 1.5 year old yellow lab is looking at me with his huge brown eyes and got me thinking about the one thing Baby E is already going to have at no cost, lots of love. Not only is he or she going to have two parents that adore him/her and two dogs who are great sources of entertainment for little kids but he/she is going to have a huge extended family.

Let's start with the Elrod side. Baby E will have a Nana and Poppa who love him/her very much, three Aunts (Amy, Haley, and Brooke) and three Uncles (Hunter, Stephen, and Shawn). He/she will be joining ten first cousins (Josh, James, Leah, Jonathan, Philip, Elijah, Benjamin, Anna Claire, Ava, and coming very soon Luke).

Now on to the Turza side. Baby E has a Gramps and a B-ma, four Uncles (GT, Michael, Brian, and Stephen) and two Aunts (Amy and Kate). Baby E will be joining six year old Grace and two boy cousins that are on their way (Bean [September] and Mike Jr. [December]). There are also a TON of Turza extended family that will love Baby E very much!

So that covers family now moving on to Baby E's buddies. Brett and I are lucky enough to have a handful of friends who already have bundles of joy or are expecting. Here are three of Baby E's future friends (and maybe spouse) that are already here! WARNING: these are super cute babies!

Grace Olivia Balnis. Proud parents of this gorgeous girl are Diana and Ryan Balnis. Grace is going to be Baby E's summer best friend or first girlfriend!

Eli Matthew Bills. Proud parents of this handsome boy are Jane and Matthew Bills. He is going to be a great partner in crime or first boyfriend!

Audrey Sue Gower. Proud parents of this precious baby girl are Jessie and Evan Gower. She is going to be Baby E's travel buddy (since both Moms are going to need to take our kids to the beach often!) and best friend forever (girl or boy!) and if Baby E is a boy two words-arranged marriage!

As I wrap this post up I can't help but smile because I know my child is going to be loved and have plenty of playmates and that is a million times more important than granite countertops!! All that matters is that Baby E is healthy and happy! So I am going to stop stressing (well, try to!) and let things happen. Everything will work out and in the end. Even if I don't have my new guest bathroom by the time Baby E arrives it will be fine because I am going to have the greatest job of all, being a mommy!

Baby on Board

2010-08-26T10:51:00.001-05:00

Call me cheesy but I am so excited to start this blog! A couple of my friends started blogs when they got pregnant and I loved following their pregnancies and now that their babies are here I get to see pictures and read super sweet stories about them. I also have gotten some great ideas from these great moms and am starting to get a better picture of what to expect when baby Elrod gets here.

Now for those of you who don't know all the fun details about how we found out, how I told Brett, first doctors appointment, blah, blah, blah, here you go!

Since we had been trying I would test like crazy every month and June was no different. I tested about five times and they were all big fat negatives, which if any of you ladies out there have been trying you know it is super sad! Brett went out of town for a boys golf trip (wife of the year right here!) father's day weekend. I still hadn't gotten a visit from my friend but felt fine otherwise. I went to church and while I was sitting there I asked God to just give me a sign if I was pregnant or not. I had to stop at the grocery store on the way home and told myself if there is a pregnancy test for under $7 I would get it (if you only knew how much money i've spend on pregnancy tests!). Sure enough right there in the Spring Hill Kroger were two tests on sale for $6.99! Was this my sign? Yup! I took the test and right away it turned up positive. I was in such shock that I called my sister in-law Amy and asked her what the chances were of getting a false positive and she told me not very high and to take the other one. As soon as I took the other one (yes, I was still on the phone) it turned positive immediately! I was beyond excited! I knew Brett was going to be home in a couple of hours and so many of my friends told me they wished they told their hubbys in a fun way so I sat down and got creative. I wrapped up a onesie I had gotten months ago (it was a UT onesie on sale...how could I not!?) and started to write a little poem and here's what I ended up with,

Ole Miss is red.
Kentucky is blue.
We have been trying for a baby.
And our wish has come true.
I guess time will tell if we need to buy a truck or a doll.
But either way our child will be half Tiger, half Vol.
There will be plenty of diapers filled with pee and pooh.
I love you so much and I can't wait to start this journey with you!
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

When he came home he opened the poem and freaked out! It was so amazing getting to see him react like that and the fact that he found out he was going to be a father on father's day was priceless.

We had to wait three LONG weeks until we went to the doctor. We were both very nervous but as soon as our little sprout showed up on the screen it all went away. Since the little guy or girl was measuring a week and a half too small we needed to go back for another sonogram ten days later. Again, we were nervous but then an even bigger sprout popped up on the screen and we couldn't help but smile! Fast forward six weeks later (this past Monday) and we got to hear the most beautiful sound, our baby's strong (165 bpm) heartbeat! I tried not to cry but couldn't help it. Brett just smiled, he is such a proud papa already!

Not going to lie but from week six to about eleven I thought I was dying. I was so sick and couldn't eat (I even lost a pound!) it was miserable. I kept thinking this is going to be our only child but now that I am in the glorious second trimester and I'm starting to get my appetite back those five weeks really weren't that bad!

So now that school is starting back up on Monday and football season is right around the corner I am hoping time will go by a little faster. We have our next appointment in four weeks to listen to the heartbeat again and in five weeks we get to find out the sex (still not sure if we are going to). This is going to be one amazing Fall!