Lucy's Room- Phase 1

What a busy weekend!! This Saturday I planned to put my family and friends to work to get some painting and moving done. Of course, nothing ever goes as planned...Ryan, John David, & Josh were going to take a trailer with our guest bed to my parents' house to drop off and pick up a day bed with trundle and dresser for Aiden's room Saturday morning. The trailer fell through, so I rented a Uhaul which was only available for Friday. So, Ryan got Josh to make the round-trip with him Friday night, and my mom, dad, John David, and Megan came over and started painting. We got the furniture switched and a coat of paint on Friday night, and by the time I got up Saturday morning, my mom was already hard at work putting on the second coat. All of the painting was done by noon on Saturday, so mom, Marissa, and I ran some errands while the guys moved the toddler bed and dresser from Aiden's room to Lucy's, put it back into "crib mode," and moved the trundle and dresser into Aiden's room, hung up a new picture for him and rearranged all of his treasures. It was an exhausting weekend, but we got lots done. I feel much more prepared now! Here are some pics of Aiden's new "big boy room," and phase one of Lucy's room...I've actually made more progress since these were taken. I lined the dresser drawers, started washing clothes, moved in the rocker, hamper, and doll carriage today. All that I have left is to hang everything that will go on the walls and finish washing clothes!!

Diabetes & Beach Fun

The last couple of weeks have been pretty busy between starting back to work full time and Aiden beginning his new pre-school. So far he seems to like the school a lot, and Ryan and I have been pleased with it. He only cried in the mornings the first week, but now is going in like a pro! My work has been super busy with school about to begin-lots of trainings, ARDs, meetings, etc. I almost look forward to the first day of school because my department tends to slow down during the first couple of "honeymoon" weeks of school!

In baby news, I failed both the glucose screening as well as the 3-hour gestational diabetes test....oh, joy! I was very borderline and actually would have passed if I used one of the other docs at the practice I go to who uses "California standards." So, apparently if I travel to Cali my gestational diabetes will go away...interesting :) Anyway, since it is mild I only have to cut out all sugars and only have a certain number of carbs per day. I also have to take my blood sugar levels four times a day. I was a little stressed because I haven't gained nearly as much weight this time as I did with Aiden, but I've been informed that it varies between pregnancies. It's not because of any weight gain or anything I've been eating, but all has to do with the hormones the placenta produces. At least it's only for 8 more weeks and then will go away!! This has definitely been a much different pregnancy overall from Aiden!

Last weekend, we went to Galveston with my family. We had a great time...Aiden had a blast playing in the sand and waves and Ryan spent the day Saturday fishing. We also got to meet Jesse's new girlfriend Marissa. She is very sweet, and I look forward to spending more time with her...don't screw it up, Jesse ;)

We are going to spend the next few weeks getting the nursery ready since I haven't done very much in that department. Ryan has been having to go out of town a lot lately, so it's been a bit tricky (and exhausting) for me juggling Aiden and work by myself. I definitely continue to have a lot of respect for single moms!

I posted some pictures from our beach trip and will post some of the nursery in the next couple of weeks once it's done!

(CW) Jesse, J.D., Ryan, Aiden and I, Stephanie, & Marissa

John David & Stephanie (that wine looks so good...)

Aiden's dance show

Aiden & Steph Swinging

Aiden's Discovery

Ryan & Dad Fishing

Aiden at the beach

Baby Girl Update

We have a couple of baby updates...

First, I had an appointment on Thursday to check my blood glucose levels. I was careful not to eat after 8:00 the night before, but I still ended up with blood sugar levels too high. It doesn't mean that I have gestational diabetes (most people have a false positive on the first screening), but it does mean that I have to go back for the looooong glucose test next week. I'll have to take a 1/2 day off of work to have blood drawn four times every hour-once after fasting overnight, then 3 times once per hour after drinking the disgusting sugary juice drink :( Uggghhh!! I also had a pretty large weight gain at this appointment...I guess that's what traveling for a month will do for you! Luckily, I am still only at a 28-lb. total weight gain so far (much better than with Aiden), and I have actually lost 2 lbs. since my appointment Thursday, probably just due to eating normally again!

The second bit of news is that we have decided on a name...Lucy Elaine! I realize not everyone is crazy about the name, but most people I have told like it a lot...plus MOST importantly Ryan and I both think it is a cute name. It comes from my dad's grandmother, whom I've heard was a very spirited woman, and I've been compared to more than once!! Elaine is my and my mom's middle name, so we are carrying on that tradition as well. I always think of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" when I hear this name, and I think we are going to stencil a line from the song on her bedroom wall: "Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes"

Summer 2009

We are finally back in town, and I can post some pictures and info about our summer vacations! We spent the first couple of weeks of summer in town with Aiden attending swim lessons, Kindermusik, and library story times. We left for Treasure Island, Florida (where Ryan's parents live) on July 2. We had a great time and did lots of fun things. Ryan's Aunt Cindy hosted a 4th of July party at her house with all of Ryan's aunts and uncles in attendance. We enjoyed swimming and visiting with everyone, and then returned to Ryan's parents' house to watch fireworks on the dock. That Monday was Michael's birthday, so Ryan, Michael, Ricky, and Joe spent the day golfing while Elizabeth and I took Zachary and Aiden to the beach. I was surprised at how much fun Aiden had running into the water until he went head first into a wave and came up with a shell-covered head! He was a little hesitant after that! The next day, we took a trip to Tampa to visit the Florida Aquarium. We saw sharks, exotic fish, an octopus, rays, and lots of other interesting sea creatures!

On Wednesday the family (Joe, Nan, Ryan, Sara, Aiden, Michael, Elizabeth, and Zack) headed to Orlando and Disney World. We made a stop at Gator Land, which was quite an experience! It was neat, but very hot. After checking into our hotel and letting the boys take a nap, we headed to Downtown Disney to have dinner at Rainforest Cafe. Aiden had so much fun watching all of the animals, and listening to the "storm" every 30 minutes. Ryan also had a great time enjoying his Orange Sherbet Margarita (yes, I was VERY jealous)! After dinner, we walked around Downtown Disney a bit, and stopped for a while to check out the Lego store and cool Lego creations around it, including a Lego family complete with dog, a Lego sea serpent, and a Lego dinosaur!

We got up early the next morning and headed out for our day at Magic Kingdom. It turned out to be a perfect day! It was overcast and even drizzled a little in the morning, which was great because it was not as hot as we were afraid it was going to be. It was also not very crowded, and we barely waited for any of the rides. We kicked off with the Dumbo ride, Winnie the Pooh ride and park, went to Mickey's house and met Mickey & Minnie Mouse, saw Mickey's Philharmagic show, rode It's a Small World, and then headed to the Crystal Palace for lunch. Lunch was really cool, and Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet came by our table to take pictures with the boys. Piglet and Eeyore also had a parade around the restaurant that Aiden and Zachary participated in! After lunch, we went back to the hotel to take much needed naps.

After naps and some pizza, we went back to the Magic Kingdom and tackled Pirates of the Carribean, Jungle Cruise, the Buzz Lightyear ride, Astro Orbiter, and the Monsters Inc. comedy show. We got out of the comedy show just in time to watch the fireworks over the castle, and then found a great spot of Main Street to enjoy the Spectromagic Parade (after purchasing a t-shirt, mouse ears, and a couple of toys of course!). We got back to the hotel around midnight, and were all pretty exhausted!

Friday morning we drove back to Treasure Island for recovery, and Ryan and I left Aiden with Nana & Papa Joe to enjoy a dinner out for our 5th anniversary...Melting Pot...YUM!! On Saturday Nan and Joe's friends, the Turners, as well as their son Brian and his family came over for the day. Brian and Nicole have a 3-year-old son named Jackson, and the three boys had a good time running, playing, and fishing while the adults got to visit. On Sunday we made another trip to the beach before Michael had to fly back to Texas for work the next week.

Monday Joe, Ricky, and Ryan went to the dog track during the day while Elizabeth and I did some shopping for Joe's 65th birthday the next day. After the track, Ryan went out fishing with his cousin Corey, and then Elizabeth and I finally got out of the house sans boys to catch a movie-Away We Go. It was a really cute movie-I recommend!! Tuesday we took the boys and Ryan's cousin Alexa with us to the Lowry Zoo. It was WAY hot, but we had fun and got to feed giraffes and ride a camel! That night we celebrated Joe's birthday with all of the extended family and friends at the house. All good things must come to an end, and Ryan, Aiden, and I flew back to Texas on Wednesday after 2 weeks of FUN!

We were actually home for 3 whole days before setting out again for Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. We met my parents in Austin on Saturday, the 18th, where they were checking out the wedding location for John David & Stephanie's April wedding, as well as scoping out possibilities for the rehearsal dinner with the bride-to-be. I think they found a great spot for the rehearsal dinner, and I can't wait to see how pretty it will look! We met John David, who had been busy studying for the bar, at a local pizza place, then hit up Toy Joy, a vintage toy store-so cool-, and Amy's for ice cream-yummy!! Sunday morning we met Jesse and Stephanie at Threadgill's for brunch, and then mom and dad departed for Missouri City with Aiden in tow. Ryan and I went back to Jesse, J.D., and Stephanie's apartment to hang out, and then Jesse, Steph, Ryan, and I went to Alamo Drafthouse to see Public Enemies. Ryan and I got checked into our hotel, and then went to dinner at Hyde Park with both of my brothers and Steph.

The next day, Ryan had to work at the coaches convention while I relaxed in the hotel room. Ryan drove me to San Antonio Monday night to check into my hotel, and then drove himself back to Austin for one more day at his convention. I had a 3-day training in San Antonio, so Ryan came back to join me on Tuesday night. I was pretty tired after my trainings during the day, but the last night we were in town we met our friends Albert and Catherine for dinner and then drinks (well, everyone but me!) at our hotel. We took off for Houston after my training was over Thursday evening to get Aiden and ended up staying through the weekend. My uncle and two of my aunts were visiting, so we got to spend time with them and travel to the beach in Galveston on Saturday...not quite the same as the Florida beaches, but we still had fun!

I started back to work on Thursday, and Aiden will start at his new school, Bright Beginnings Pre-School, on Monday! We went for a tour and to meet his new teacher on Friday, and he seems excited about starting school...we'll see how Monday actually goes! I have to go to San Marcos Sunday night through Thursday, so Ryan will be doing the single dad thing for A's first week at school :)

All in all, we have had a good summer, and I'm excited to have a couple of months in a "regular" routine until Baby Lucy arrives in October! Here are some pictures from our travels: