Endless Blessings

So the past few weeks have been a total blessing for us.  We had 3 showers for Holden, all with amazing friends and family.  Holden is a very lucky little man and I cannot wait for him to meet everyone that already loves him so much, including his mommy and daddy.

Sunday was the Hunt Baby shower.  It was nice to see everyone.  Haven't seen them since the family reunion several months ago.  It was a Fiesta themed shower, with cupcakes and a pinata!  Holden got lots of homemade gifts.  A blanket from Aunt Linda, a tabby blanky from Aunt Steph, a photo album from cousin Denise and his first Bible from his Pop and Obbie.  They also got him his first pair of Justin cowboy boots, they match his daddy's ostrich ones.

We ordered our car seat/stroller online and it was to be delivered on Monday, 1/17.  I had a doctor's appointment at 11:30, so I figured I'd take the afternoon off to wait for it, plus I had goodies from 2 showers that I could play with.  I had woken up at 3:30 that morning, so needless to say after my appointment and the grocery store with Chuck it was nap time.  When I woke up, it was like Christmas morning.  The UPS man had come early and the car seat was there!  I was so excited.  We put it together that night.  Here are some pictures.

Tuesday was also a very exciting day, as I was having my last shower at work.  I was completely blown away and thankful for all the wonderful gifts we received.  We got our pack n play, the play mat, the diaper bag a ton of clothes and many other sweet things.

Thank you everyone!  We truly are blessed to have some many wonderful friends and family. We cannot wait to introduce little Holden to all of you.

Nursery is Complete

It looks like a tornado went through the nursery after getting all the gifts from the baby shower home yesterday, but not to worry, that will all be cleared up soon.  The nursery is now complete, with the exception of his toy box, which hopefully Holden's uncle Bo will have completed BEFORE his first birthday considering it was a baby shower gift, but we'll see. Not like the little bear needs it anytime soon.

So just to back up, we started with plan walls, added chair railing and paint.  Then came the furniture, bedding and decor.  And we wrapped everything up with shelves in the closet.  I cannot wait to get Holden home and into his little bed for the first time.

Still working on this area, not sure what I want to put on his shelves

Beautiful and Memomorable Snow Day-1/9/2011

Well, I was a little worried to say the least on Saturday evening when it had been raining off and on and I knew the temps were going to drop.  My long awaited baby shower hosted by my amazing girlfriends was planned for Sunday.  So, all night and Sunday morning I prayed that the sleet and snow would just hold off until later Sunday so everyone could make it to the shower safely and return home in one piece.

We were very fortunate.  There was an amazing turn out!  I truly have some of the most loving and wonderful friends a girl could ask for.  Holden is definitely being born into a very special group of friends we like to call family too.

The theme for the shower was sports, with orange (Texas), blue (Cowboy's) and white colors everywhere.  They had the place decked out with sports balls, team memorabilia and the works.  AND, did I mention it was a brunch.  YUMMY!  I probably gained my weekly pound just in one day alone.  Oh well.

Thank you everyone for coming out and braving the winter weather.  Chuck and I feel so blessed to have each of you in our lives.  Here are a few pictures to enjoy.

Beautiful ladies:  Bekah, Jennifer, Me, DeDe, Jamie and Cari.  Thank you for making my shower so special.  I love you all!

Unplanned baby shower theme- Snow......

Zuppy

I love my dog.  He is like my first child.  I can only imagine how spoiled Holden is going to be, knowing how overly spoiled Zeus is.  I mean come on, who tucks their dog in at night, gives him a kiss and tells him, "Sweet dreams zuppy, say you're prayers."  REALLY!  But all that aside, he is the best dog ever.  I've never been so attached to an animal before, but can honestly say I would do anything for him, despite the drool, and drool and more drool.  And he definitely loves hims momma.  Here is a pic of him loving on my tummy the other night.  He is going to be such a great big brother dog.

He is so funny.  We normally keep the door to Holden's nursery closed, but on the weekends I'm normally in and out of their getting things ready.  One of Zeus' Christmas gifts from my sister was a new bed that matched Holden's nursery.  We placed it in front of the window because he likes to look outside, figured we'll just keep it in there until the baby is born.  Well, if the bedroom door is left open and Zeus is no where to be found for some time, I can normally guess exactly where he is.  He's laying on his new bed in the baby's room.  I cannot wait to see how he is when we actually bring Holden home.  I think Holden will have an automatic bodyguard and protector.  Zeus will be a permanent fixture, sleeping right along side his baby brother.

A look back at 2010

This year seems to have flown by.  We started 2010 by partying with our friends Brandin and Jennifer Davis and Shawn and Brenda at the Hilton Grapevine, making the unforgettable mistake of trying to ring in the New Year at Red River, and realizing very quickly that it was a mistake and heading back to the hotel to finish out the night with Tommy Alverson.

We then enjoyed all of our friends at our annual New Year's Day celebration with spirits, peas, cabbage and cornbread.

Chuck and I had decided after our 1 year anniversary (June 21, 2009) that we wanted to try to have a family.  Little did we know, that it would take us almost a year to be blessed with a little miracle.  And boy were we surprised.  Now I know that it can take a while to conceive and that for some, it takes a very long time.  I know the heartache that I felt month after month of negative test, but at the same time, I knew in my heart that I was going to be a mommy, one way or another and that I just needed to put my trust in the Lord, and HE would hear my prayers and answer them.

For those who really know me, you know that I always said how cool it would be to tell Chuck that he was going to be a father either on his birthday or on Father's Day.  His birthday came in went in Sept., which left me even more depressed knowing that I still wasn't pregnant.  But we didn't give up hope.  And fortunately for me, I have a loving and support husband who would hold me each night I cried and prayed for a baby.

Again, for those that know me, know that I am a planner.  I'm very structured and like to know what is next.  So to keep my mind busy, I enrolled and began working again on my Master's degree at the University of Dallas.  I love it!  I always did well in school, earning my husband nickname of calling me a "nerd" honestly. I really do like school.  This was a good distraction for me, in addition to planning and helping set up and decorate for my friend Lindsey's wedding.  In the midst of meeting with her caterer, the rehearsal dinner, the wedding and finals, it had completed slipped my mind what day I was at in my cycle.  Considering I had been monitoring it EVERY day for the past several months, I guess I had just let life take its course at this point.

SOOOooooooo, the BIGGEST news for 2010 came on Saturday, June 12th.  I had finished my last final and I guess with that behind me I started thinking about what day it was.  I figured, well, not like I haven't seen a negative test result lately, so what the hay.  I stopped on my way home, picked up the test and took it as soon as I got home.  Chuck and I were going to lunch with Deanna that afternoon, so I left it in the bathroom while I changed and got ready.  I returned a short time later and about fell over when I say that my normal "not pregnant" actually read "PREGNANT."  I teared up, but had to pull it together because Deanna was there and I wanted to think about how I was going to tell Chuck.  We went on to lunch and had come home before I realized that the very next weekend was Father's Day!  Now, if you've been paying attention, you'll remember that I said earlier that one of the occasions I would like to tell Chuck he was going to be a daddy was on Father's Day.  If this is not a testimony of my trust and faith in the Lord, I don't know what is.  My prayers had been answered!  I couldn't wait to tell Chuck and knew there was no way that I could wait a whole week, so I told him later that day.  It was a very special moment for us, one that I'll remember forever and will keep as one of those precious moments I'll never forget.  Not to mention that this would also be the weekend of our 2 year anniversary.

Now, the rest of the year seems to have flown by.  We are so fortunate and blessed to have such a wonderful, loving and support FAMILY.  FAMILY to us is so important because not only do we have our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters, but we have our FRIENDS who we call FAMILY!  My God bless each and every one of you in the new year, bringing you many blessings.

2010 has been so good to us.  I cannot wait to see what 2011 has in store.  And to kick it off, we'll be welcoming our little bundle of joy into the world in just a few short weeks.  We cannot wait to meet our little man and pray every day that he is healthy and happy and that we be God following parents, showing and teaching Holden all the many things that life has to offer and enjoying every second we have together.

Good bye 2010, HELLO 2011.