Road Trip-Beaver Style

Its always so hard for me to write about trips on the blog, especially long ones because it is so overwhelming trying to talk about everything.  Someday-when I have a mini-laptop-maybe I will do daily posts and I won't be so overwhelmed!  Anyway, I will do my best to rehash our 8 day vacation to the Wild, Wild West!! 
Tyler's parents have fallen in love with the Jackson Hole area, which encompasses Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and who knows what else...but you get the point.  So they had a house rented for a month and we decided to crash their party for a week!  After checking out plane ticket prices and realizing we could travel around Europe for that kind of $$ we decided if we were going, it would be by Beaver SUV!!  This was a 21 hour commute from Beaver Mansion to Wild Wild West!  There was a 7+ month high maintenance momma, a beautiful, opinionated 2 year old girl and a daddy on a mission.  I always look on the bright side of things but I must admit, I was making bets with myself if Paige or I would have the first melt down in the car! 
The drive out started on a Friday at 5 and was loads of fun! We listened to music, Paige sang and we all chatted and munched on Dairy Queen!  We stopped just before Colorado to sleep and were off again the next morning to hit up Denver for some shopping and lunch!  I LOVE Denver--in fact, I love Colorado!  Beautiful weather, everyone is outdoors, stores all have out water bowls for their customers poochies and it reminds me so much of Europe! 

Daddy took a little too long in Starbucks so Paige decided to take a rest in the shade. 
Our next break was in Lander, WY and we fell in love with this sweet town!  I don't really know why?  We all just liked it.  I guess we were so happy to be out of the 115 degree weather that all it took was some cool air and we were happy campers (literally)! 
~A darling little coffee house we stumbled upon before zooming out of town!

We got back on the road the next morning and it was a breathtaking drive!  Our fave stop was actually so I could pee and we stumbled upon this beautiful stream/river?  Paige and her dad are obsessed with throwing rocks into water so they were uber impressed and entertained while I tried marking my territory on God's Country. 

 
 Before we knew it, we were in Jackson, WY!  We had a wonderful lunch at Sweetwater Cafe before meeting up with Tyler's parents!

We did lots of relaxing, eating, exploring, some shopping and just spending good quality time together!

 And of course...some monkeying around...

We then ventured into Yellowstone National Forest!!!  Somewhere I have always wanted to go!!  Paige LOVED the animals and the geyser's and so did we!!

 
 

 River flowing into Yellowstone Lake-GORGEOUS!!!

 (No animals were harmed-there is a strict policy to drive slow-this is their home and we were just visitors!)

We had a fantastic time and we so enjoyed the roadtrip!  We discussed baby names and family plans and even decided on some furniture for the house:)! 
I will leave you with one last photo...one of my all time favorites of Paige for some reason.  I so love when she looks this happy! 

"When you can do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world."  George Washington Carver

29 weeks!

Sheesh!  Our little nugget is baking away to perfection!  She has been on quite a few adventures recently!  I will blog in more detail about our GRAND adventure across the country all the way to Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana later (when I have more energy) but it was our last big hoorah before our little baby comes! 

Finally a photo I did not take myself! Only 7 months later...outside a really cool coffee shop in Lander, WY

I loved all of these quotes on the wall in a shop in Jackson Hole so I had Janet snap a pic...

Paige was real irritated she was not in the pic so she got herself out of her stroller and asked Nonny to take her photo in the same spot:)

At our checkup yesterday she was measuring exactly on schedule, her heart sounded like angels playing bells in perfect rhythm and I believe all of our blood work, shots and glucose test were great as well.  All of that took it out of me though, I kind of felt like I was going to have the baby last night!  I think I just got a little dehydrated from the no eat/drink rule for the test then got busy when I got home playing catch up that I just over did it. 

Funny of the appointment:  First of all, I have a new nurse.  I am one of those people that likes things to stay the same, unless said same is no good.  Kind of like an old lady, I have an old soul people.  So-Blanca--my old nurse who is slightly rough on the edges but whom I have grown to love over the past 4 years, went to the heart hospital so I now have Shannon.  A cute, bubbly blond with no sharp edges and is a huge ding-bat.  I mean that in a nice way.  But it was obvious as I watched her wandering the halls and calling patients by random names and all of these hormonal women are so confused, it was obvious it is going to take her some time.  I miss Blanca who always argues with me that the pee in my body cannot weigh 5 pounds and no she will not subtract that from my weight no matter how hard I beg or how much stuff out of my purse I offer her. 

So Shannon forgets to weigh me which of course I do not remind her but of course she remembers...we go to the scale, I sigh and she tells me I have a great weight and even on her best diet she could never weigh that and she isn't even 7 months pregnant.  A real sweetie, right?  Well, she accidentally makes a "0" look like an "8" so when Dr. Drill Sargent walks in he gives me a disgusted look, goes over to his seat, looks me up and down and says "Did you seriously gain 14 pounds in 5 weeks??!!" "Ummm, uhhh, well, no, I mean, ummm, no." "well, it says here you did.  How much do you weigh??" I tell him how much the scale said and I did not deduct my pee weight which was obviously uncomfortable but I really had only gained 5.5 pounds which for all other purposes we shall round down to 5.  Its not college folks-I make the rounding rules now.  "He says well that sounds much better but I will have to double check that." I felt like a convicted felon and could not be trusted. 

When the nurse comes bouncing back in all bubbly to poke some RhoGam into my arm, I give her a huge lecture on how we will never be friends if she cannot work on her penmanship.  Doctors can have pitiful writing but nurses cannot.  Critical things like weight should never be messed up, unless in my benefit.  I explained Dr. Drill Sargent takes weight very seriously and I have immense anxiety over our "weight chats" and I do not need her making it worse!  She giggles and pumps me full of drugs and sugar water.  And I miss Blanca.

But-now that all of our big trips are out of the way, I am going to try to focus on eating a little healthier the rest of this pregnancy.  I like to enjoy trips and food but we have had a LOT of trips this summer which means I have enjoyed myself tremendously but its time to start cooking at home and not getting in trouble anymore at the doc!  And don't worry if you are reading this and wondering if I have packed on 80 pounds....no-my doc just takes weight very serious for some reason and really wants his patients to gain 25-30 pounds.  No more. No less.  Seriously-I gained 32 with Paige and he gave me a lecture that the extra 2 was fat not baby weight!!  HA! 

*Evidence of why I get in trouble at the doc...

In other news, sorry that story kind of went on forever but I thought Paige and Baby No Name might like to read about it when they are having babies and dreading those scales:)...

We have been working through our list of to do's before baby comes and it is really coming along nicely!  I really need to stop procrastinating cleaning out the girls' room and getting it ready for TWO girls!  Although Baby No Name will not be sleeping in there for some time, we want it ready and make sure everything fits and move some toys to grandma's house so it doesn't feel so cluttered in there!  I am really ready to pack up summer clothes and all the 18-24 month stuff of Paige's so I can make room for her fall clothes and bring down the newborn bin from the attic for sissy!!  But I'm not sure it won't get hot again and Miss P might need her shorts a few more weeks yet. 

The three girls in Denver doing a little shopping!!!  Paige and I are DYING to meet you sweet girl!!  

The past week or two I am really starting to get anxious to meet my new girl.  Even Tyler keeps talking about what she might look like or act like and I'm all giddy to wrap my arms around her and let her meet our little family!  I feel like she will look exactly like Paige, I don't know why but I really can't picture her looking any other way!  But I am so curious about her personality!  Will she be loud and outgoing like Paige and I or a little more reserved and quiet??  She definitely loves Oscar and he loves her--its weird how dogs know there is a baby in your belly but both pregnancies he lays by my belly and both little girls knew he was there and will kick and punch at him the whole time.  I almost feel like I can feel them giggle as they play with him.  I can't ever stop smiling when she does that!  We are a family of dog lovers so I'm glad our new little bundle is no exception! 

I feel like I am leaving something I wanted in here out...but Paige is telling me she needs me to come with her to poop...that is obviously more important folks...until next time.

Sweet Memories~!

Today is Tyler & my four year wedding anniversary!!!  It seems like just yesterday we were planning our wedding and our life together and here we are four years later and we couldn't be happier!  Here are some highlights of what we have been up to the past few years:

2007

Our Wedding! 

Honeymoon Staycation to renovate the house I owned that Tyler moved into and we made a home! 

New wood floors and a completely renovated bathroom got us on our way:)

Tyler gave me an early Christmas present, after MUCH research, we brought home our furry son Oscar-a Doberman Pinscher.  He is our first pet (and son) and he filled our hearts and home with so much love and messes!!  We have learned so much from him and about ourselves since being on this journey "raising" him!! 

We began our legacy of "Party Throwers Extrordinaire" by hosting "The Classy Christmas Party 2007"!  It was AMAZING!!!  Valet parking, amazing decorations, food, drinks, party favors, fancy clothes, and literally over 150 people joined in on the fun!!!   

2008

LOTS of fun stuff!!!

Las Vegas with some of our very best friends to celebrate their upcoming wedding!!!  It was one of THE BEST girls trips I have ever gone on!  So much fun and such a GREAT Vegas experience!  The guys had a blast too!!

CHICAGO for a work conference...luckily hubs and I "have" the same profession so we enjoyed a mostly free trip to an AMAZING city!!  I am obsessed with summer in Chicago! 

Lots of weddings!!  We traveled to Houston for one of my very best friends wedding, stayed at The Houstonian-fabulous!, and went to an Astros game.

We officially SOLD our home and became home-less!  Well, not quite that dramatic...we moved in with Tyler's parents until we could find the PERFECT home! 

We celebrated our FIRST anniversary at a Bed & Breakfast and it was wonderful!

We purchased the most special house!!  A 1955 Ranch home that just needed a little (okay, a lot) of TLC!  We blew out walls, floors, kitchen, wallpaper and started putting it back together!  From the moment I stepped into this house I knew it was "the one"!  We moved in just in time for Thanksgiving!

My grandparents came to be with us for Thankgsiving!!! I LOVED having them with us but am so thankful for all the time with them because my grandpa passed away this past Christmas.  He loved Tyler so much and I am so glad he got to see how well I am taken care of:)

CHRISTMAS!  This was a super exciting time!!  My parents lived in Germany at the time I spent a little over 2 weeks with them and was kind of sickly feeling throughout the trip (mainly in the plane).  But it was a SUPER amazing time and I can't wait to go back to Europe with our family! 

2009

January 3, 2009 We found out I was pregnant with our FIRST child!!!  No wonder I felt so crummy on that plane!!!  I took 2 tests before I left--both negative!  We were absolutely, positively thrilled!  I told Tyler at 3 am (he was more thrilled when it sunk in the next morning after coffee:) ). 

We hosted a party to announce the sex of our baby!!  The first party in honor of PAIGE!!!

We hosted our FIRST Kentucky Derby Party!!

Tyler ran his FIRST half marathon!!

LOTS of house projects including the most beautiful nursery, landscaping, cleaning, on and on...

Several amazing baby showers where we received more gifts than you could ever imagine!!! 

We celebrated our SECOND anniversary by taking a long weekend trip to Dallas and staying at the Mansion at Turtle Creek.  I HIGHLY recommend it!  We felt like royalty!  We shopped, ate a lot, were lazy and just had a great time!! 

My bod was stretched to unbelievable limits!!!!!!!!!!!  Tyler and I looked at this pic the other day and were dying laughing!!  There was only ONE baby in there, I DO NOT have one tiny stretch mark and everything went back to normal after...if that doesn't prove their is a God nothing will:) Enjoy this one...

Our first child/daughter was born!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh Heavenly day!!  Our lives were transformed by her!  Our hearts grew out of our chest and our thankfullness reached immesurable heights!

Our first holidays as parents!  Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas was soooo much more fun!!

We spent Christmas in Las Vegas with my parents and it was Paige's first flight!  Now she is a VIP flyer:)

2010

We mainly spent ALL of our time loving our sweet little girl!  Taking thousands of pictures of her...

We went back to las Vegas with my brother and he got to meet Paige!

Our Second annual Kentucky Derby Party!!

Our home was hit by a major hail storm and Tyler's beloved Tahoe was TOTALED! 

Our FIRST family vacation to Vail, Colorado!  We had a wonderful time!! 

We celebrated Paige's first birthday!

We went to Dallas so Tyler could go to the Colonial golf tourney and we made it a little family weekend getaway!  SOOO fun!

I went on my FIRST mini vacay away from Paige on a girls trip to LA!!  SOOOO fun with some of my bestest friends! 

Tyler and I went on our first vacation together without Paige!  We went to NYC with John-Mark and Tiff and it was unbelievable!!  So much fun and I can't wait to go back when its warm:)

2011

We went to Austin so Tyler could run his second 1/2 marathon!  Such a great trip staying with my bestie Beth!!

Tyler had a work trip to San Antonio so he brought Paige and I along and it was a blast!  Some of our best friends Jeff & Jonice went also with their son so we got to swim, enjoy Sea World and SHOP!! 

Did I mention we found out we were expecting our SECOND little baby ?!?!?!  Paige is DYING for a sibling!!!! 

3rd Annual Kentucky Derby Bash!!! 

We spent 2 weeks in Las Vegas with my parents golfing, resting and celebrating another one of my dearest friends bachelorette party!! 

We found out we will be having a healthy, beautiful baby girl!!!  We are so excited Paige will have a sister! 

Obviously these are just a few highlights of the past four years and all of the wonderful, exciting things that have happened in our marriage.  We are so thankful, so blessed and so incredibly happy!  I love this journey that this growing family is on together and I look forward to so many more wonderful memories ahead!  I am so thankful to be married to a man that loves me so much, is the best father I could ever dream of having for my children and takes such good care of all of us!  My favorite place on earth is being right where Tyler, Paige, Oscar and Sista Baby are!  They are my life and my heart!  I pray that my girls find husbands that are like their daddy someday in the distant future!  

Thank you Jesus for the best four years of my life and I look forward to so many more with this incredible family you blessed us with!!!!!!!   

(Envision here a picture of Tyler, Me, Paige, Oscar and my belly.  Someday all of us will be in one photo...)

Viva Las Vegas!!!!!

I'm so sorry I have been a blog slacker!!!  Between morning (all day) sickness and summer fun and our amazing trip for 2 weeks to see Boppy and Grandma in Vegas...well, we have been pretty busy!!!  And I do mean busy!  Between my own hormone explosion happening at the creation of the baby in my belly and just being a mom...I have been so teary lately watching my "baby" get all grown up!!  I have several posts to catch everyone up on our little girls big milestones but we will stick to our trip for this one...
My parents live in Las Vegas and since I was in college I try very hard to visit every 3-4 months.  It is so very important now that there granddaughter asks about them every day!  Thankfully, since I am a stay at home mom, we are able to stay longer than a weekend! 
Paige, grandma and Luke (family dog) went on a walk every morning and about every evening!  They live on a golf course community and for some reason hundreds of bunnies gather and live in the quiet areas of the course where they walk!  Paige is still asking about the rabbits!!!  My dad's golfing buddy across the street has a fabulous pool so we also swam quite a bit!  Paige is obsessed with the pool and I really need to get her into some swim lessons since I am less than gifted in that department.  On the subject of swimming...Paige LOVED "swimming" in grandma's bath tub!  Its way bigger than any tub we have so she probably thought it was an indoor pool:)

Paige really enjoyed having grandma as her personal, gourmet chef too!  You can never go hungry at my parents house, seriously! Why is it the best food on earth is the food your parents make?!  Ahhhh how we enjoyed two weeks of indulgence!!! 

I also enjoyed a little girl time to celebrate one of my best friend's bachelorette party which happened to be in Vegas while we were there!!  Sooo much fun!!
                                          
Daddy had a great time too! Played several rounds of golf with my dad and enjoyed a few days off work!

And here are a few more pics to show some of our other activities!!
Shopping!                                                                 Monkey bars w/ boppy!

                                                sleeping in the princess tent with grandma

                                                 driving the grandparents weekend car!

baby slides                                                             feeding the fish and letting them nibble on fingers

 
Such a wonderful trip and so many wonderful memories!!  We already can't wait to go back!!!