Part of December

Okay, so life has been super busy this month. I've been mostly preoccupied with Christmas preparations, but also had a conference earlier this month in Dallas and have been either working or sleeping the rest of the time. I actually took pictures this month and here are some of them.

Christmas Hayrides at Church

Haley really enjoyed being out after dark. We stood by the fire because it was pretty cold that night-- a good time for a photo op. Haley hammed it up and just had a great time. We even did the hayride twice! This is the last year that we'll do this as a family of three.

House Progress

After having progress slowed to less than a crawl for two weeks due to COLD weather, we finally have house progress. The floor is finally stained (but covered so it doesn't ruin during the rest of construction). The tape and bed is completed (as you can see here), and actually the texture is also completed. We had the roof almost fully completed right after Thanksgiving. Earlier this week when we were at the house, it was pouring rain. So unfortunately I don't have pics of the partially completed bricking, but it looks really good. I don't know if we're still scheduled for completion in 3 or 4 weeks. I kinda doubt it, but we'll see. I'm impatient and tired of being in the apartment-- this little box we've called home for the last 8 months.

The roof

The second story game room with balcony to the right. Just perfect for the air hockey table and pool table Taylor and I got for Christmas.

I love the high ceilings in my living room!

Larger view of the living room (taken from the dining room). Just to the right in this pic is the kitchen.

Ahh, the skeleton of my kitchen that overlooks the living and dining rooms.

New House Progress

Here's the lastest on the house. I think it's just under 2500 square feet. It's all one story, except for the second story game room over the garage. It's pretty neat, because you can't see the second story from the drive up. We now have the interior sheet rocked, but I forgot to bring my camera today.





Ah, my beautiful house. I insisted on the dormer windows. It was a compromise to a 2 story home. One dormer (right) overlooks the living room and the other (left) is in my office. Can you picture wreaths in them at Christmas? Me too. As you can see, the address is 5100 East County Road 140 (79706), but the mailing address is not yet set up.



This is the outside view of the second story balcony. The round window is right in the stair well. I'm really not sure of the siding color. I was going for cedar, but it looks more like UT (BLECH!!).

I believe this is Haley's room. Even before the foundation was formed, she had picked this room. The closet is slightly bigger than the other though. It is the front right corner of the house.

My living room. This part is going to be fireplace, and the hole in the ceiling is for the chimney.

The "attic" storage part in he game room. Weird placement of the ductwork, so we had him move it up the wall.

East side view of the house. These windows on the corner are for the master bedroom and the grid window is over my jet tub.

The kitchen is open to the living and dining room. This part is the sink. My favorite part is the island, but it's only invisible at this time.

again, unpredictable

I jinxed myself by saying my appetite was returning and I was starting to feel pretty good. This week (9) has been characterized by semi-frequent and violent vomiting. Pleasant.

Oh yeah, I suppose I "popped" this week. I was volunteering after work yesterday so I brought a change of clothes to work. Imagine my reaction when my pants won't button! Really, they didn't even zip halfway without meeting significant resistance. Nice. I got to share a moment with one of my colleagues- she calls herself a "grandma wannabe." She Southern-engineered my britches so I could volunteer without mooning anyone.

My Pregnancy so Far

In a word- Unpredictable!

My symptoms I suppose are normal, but very inconsistent. I've been mainly "sick" at night- I don't want to move and eating has not really been on my agenda. And I'm fine one minute, but the next is unknown. But now it's getting somewhat better. Monday we will be nine weeks along, almost done with that risky first trimester.

Last Thursday 10-22, was a very scary moment. I started bleeding!! Normally I'm calm when it comes to medical things, but not this time. By the time the afterhours on-call doc called back, I was already sobbing out of fear. He told me to rest for the night and come in to the office in the morning. Talk about a night full of tears!! Ironically, that night I had been feeling well and had "big" plans, if you call making macaroni and cheese something to look forward to...

In a nutshell, I went to the doctor's office the next morning and had blood drawn. Two hours later, my nurse called and said my numbers were crazy good. Whew, but not out of the woods yet. An hour later we went in for our first sonogram (at 7 1/2 weeks). I cried tears of joy when we saw and heard that little heartbeat! My OB couldn't tell me what caused the bleeding , but that it happens in 10% of pregnancies. So I suppose I'm abnormal. (Who didn't already know?)

Over the last week, I've really tried to "take it easy." But, really, that's not going so well. First, the nature of my job involves a component of lifting (it's not called physical therapy b/c it's easy). And second, how can I not hold my beautiful little girl? So it's difficult, but I'm trying. Also, I've felt terrible and have only been on the elliptical once since finding out we're pregnant. I've been so tired that my free time is spent trying not to think about feeling yucky. In the last week though, it's beginning to get better. BUT, no exercise for at least two weeks post bleeding.

Yesterday, my appetite found it's way back to me. I think I ate for about 2 hours and was still hungry! I'd list it out, but it's too embarrassing. And then my body is telling me I'm sleep deprived... Ahh, daylight savings time is ending! Just in time!

So I'm feeling bloated (even the word is unappealing), hormonal and lazy. It's sorta like a hibernating bear. Don't mess with me! But honestly, after last week's scare, I'm really embracing the rollercoaster ride of this pregnancy. Just when I start to internally complain or feel negative about the changes, I just remember how truly blessed I really am.

Oh, and no real belly yet- just (ugh) bloating...

Fall has hit here. I just love the way Haley looks in orange!

We went to the duck pond, just the two of us. It's one of our favorite things to do when Dad's not home.

This time she was well behaved, EXCEPT when it's time to leave. I think this girl is going to have trouble saying good-bye.

One of her favorite things is to chase the ducks. It's starts out innocently, but quickly evolves into wanting to kick them.



Fall Fun Festival at Midland Christian

So Haley's school doesn't do Halloween. Instead it's the fall fun festival with a carnival type atmosphere. They had jumpers, booths, hamburgers, bake sale and- Haley's favorite- face painting!

She wanted a full tiger face and kept it on just as long as it would last. She even slept in it! She awoke in the middle of the night, worried that she wouldn't be a tiger anymore.

Then she made her "birdie" (not a pumpkin). With two feathers, it counts as a birdie in her book. Too bad she couldn't flap it's wings...

Newbie

Okay-
So I've been kicking the idea of starting a blog around for a while. I think this will suit my needs much better than MySpace. (So look out, it might disappear soon.) I am a writer and scrap booker by nature.

About me:
* I'm an open book and don't have secrets
* I'm pregnant (only 6 weeks- see no secrets here...)
* I'm a mother to Haley who will be 4 in a week
* I'm a wife of 9 years to Taylor
* I'm a physical therapist at Midland Memorial Hospital
* We're building a new house (and it ROCKS!)
* Currently living in an apartment
* I'm a happy person by nature

More to come, but this is my first time, ya know....