Boy, do I have lots to share.

Once again, its been quite a while since I blogged last. School has started again and I am working lots. I've enjoyed my summer but sure wish it was longer. Unforuntaely, Derek & I schedules are somewhat opposite so we didn't get to take a lot of vacations. However, we enjoyed lots of bbq's and days swimming in the pool. Our summer started with Joe & Amy's wedding, Brett & Christines engagment party & a weekend trip to Lake Almanor. June we celebrated our 1 year anniversey with a trip to Donner Lake, lots of birthdays & fathers day.

Speaking of fathers day... I woke up that Sunday, June 19, not feeling to well. I was expecting my period on the 18th, but still nothing. I was kinda nauseous and really tired. I enjoyed the day with my dad & went to bed early. Monday morning I woke up at 6:30 am for work. A part of me had this gut feeling to take a pregnancy test. Still no period, not feeling to good, and somewhere in my body just knew (hoped) it was going to be positive.

Less than a minute later, PREGNANT appeared! 10 minutes later & 3 tests later, this was my view.

Guess what everyone! We are having a baby!! Little Russell is due February 22 & I am almost 17 weeks pregnant! We have got to see him/her twice!

Here is baby at 7 1/2 weeks:

It was such an amazing experience to not only see our baby on the screen but hear the heartbeat. I prayed & prayed & prayed for a healthy baby & God showed me his miracle that day!

We went again at 13 weeks for a genetic ultrasound. Not only do we have a healthy baby but we have a little cutie! Baby R was moving a lot & it was so fun to see on the screen. I loved looking at Dereks face during the ultrasound. He didn't take his eyes off the screen as he stared in complete amazement. For me, not a moment goes by where I don't think of the little baby in my tummy but I think for Derek, seeing it on the screen makes it so much more real to him.

Anyways... The ultrasound tech showed us all his/her little features. She asked if we wanted her to take a guess at the sex. We said "yes". Although everything is still really small... she paused for a few seconds... then a few seconds more & said "I'm going to say about 68%... I'm leaning towards... Boy." Either way we are just excited that our baby is healthy & growing. Come October 4, at 20 weeks we will have a better idea of if baby R is going to be a football player or a cheerleader!

To say I am excited is an understatement. This baby has already brought so much joy and happiness to our lives, in just almost 17 weeks! I pray to God every day, thanking him and asking him to continue to help our baby grow! Febuary cannot come soon enough! Although, Im sure it'll be here before we know it :)

Guess who turned one?

& who got a little too excited & went a little overboard on pictures?

That would be Radar turning 1 & her mama & auntie Katelyn taking advantage of it. We were in Lake Almanor at the end of May and while the men were off fishing, we stopped by the dollar store, spent way to much money on 1st birthday decorations & took pictures by a cool barn outside of town!

These pictures are a little overboard but it was so much fun & she is such a photogenic doggie!!

Happy Anniversary Hubby!

(Not today, on June 5th... Im just late)

May 28, 2011

One year ago, I work up in a beautiful white home filled with my whole family and best friends. I got my hair done, put my makeup on & slipped into a beautiful white dress. With my dad by my side, I walked down the isle to my future. In the last year, Derek has been more amazing each and every day. He surprises me all the time with how great he is. I am lucky to have found him (& i'd like to think he's lucky to find me too).

This 1st year of our marriage has flown by. Together we have faced challenges and conquered them, ... together. Each day we create new memories and our love grows stronger. I love being married & feel so grateful to get to spend the rest of my life with my very best friend by my side!

How I love remember that amazing day!

June 5, 2010

Where has time gone?

What happen to March?? Im not too sure...

April is here ( & half way over)... We've been doing lots of spring cleaning around our house lately. Planting new flowers, finishing painting, putting in baseboards, ect. We very excited to being have Easter Sunday brunch at our house this year. It'll be great to see all our extended family...all 35... some I haven't seen since the wedding in June...

In other news... these two are...

ENGAGED!!

I am so happy for them.

This is my brother Brett & his fiance by the way...

They have already set a date for October 15, 2011.

I love weddings. I love planning & I love all the parties and celebrations before hand.

May is going to be a BUSY moth for us all.

With mothers day, my Mama's b-day, March of Dimes walk, Joe & Amy's wedding & Brett & Christine's ENGAGEMENT party...

That mean not only will our weekends be packed.. it means I'll be needing to go dress shopping soon!

It also means my 1st semester of GRAD school will be done in May...

Im looking forward to getting my house ready for Easter, our Uno de Mayo party (since Derek works on Cinco de Mayo) and Mothers Day. I also can't wait til school is out & summer begins!

Birthday

Just wanted to share some pictures from my birthday this month!

Spent having a yummy dinner & cake at my parents! Thanks Mom!

Derek took me to the Ocean where we enjoyed lunch, walking & playing with the pup!

Oh Radar LOVED the beach... she ran & ran & ran & ran.. can you tell she tired.. I think so! Plus she isn't very lady like with all her lady bits exposed.. oh well.. thats my pup!

With my hubby!

Derek also surprised me with flowers & a yummy steak & crab dinner when I got home from school one night. Oh was it yummy!

Horoscope

I've never been a huge horoscope follower but lately, horoscopes have really rang true to my life. I looked at my 2011 horoscope & it really is true so far.

"You're an upbeat person, and no matter what happens, you do your best to make the most of it - especially when it comes to acquiring knowledge. You'll learn more in the first few months than you did in all of 2010. Don't push yourself too hard, however. There's no hurry. Don't forget to take time out to relax and enjoy life."

My favorite part is " You'll learn more in the first few months than you did in all of 2010". I sure did learn a lot in 2010. I learned about friendship, marriage & owning a home. However so far in 2011, I've learned so much about myself. I've finally began taking the time to really understand myself and what I want. I've been dealing with some personal things that have lead to a lot of self-exploration. I also really like the part "Theres no hurry. Don't forget to take time out to relax and enjoy life". Anyone who knows me knows that I am a goal-directed person. I create a goal and rush to complete it, sometimes not really enjoying the ride along the way. In 2011, I've realized there is no hurry. That I must make time to smell the roses along the run. I've realized that everything always falls into place.... eventually. I am learning to be patient, especially in the areas I cannot control.

As grad school is another area that I must not push myself too hard. I have met so many great friends & am really enjoying my classes however I do get anxious that Im still in school. I love school & learning, but Im also excited for a career in counseling. I'm content with where my life is at the moment but Im very motivated to get through school & & get that Masters!!

To my Valentine...

Happy Valentine's Day to my love, my best friend and my rock! It's kinda crazy that each day we love each other more and more...

Hope everyone is enjoying heart day!