Baby Name, NYC trip, and New Car!!

I first want to apologize to my disappointed readers for not having posted anything in over a month! I promise to not make that a habit and will try to make this blog a little more interesting! I actually have lots to blog about, so I'm finally devoting time to getting this down...and you will need to devote some time to read it!

After much thought and conversation, Josh and I finally decided on a name for our baby boy. His name will be James Robert! Josh wanted a J name, and there are several James's in my family, so we both agreed that was the perfect name for him. Robert is Scottish like my dad's side of the family.

Last week, Josh and I went to New York City for a trip that he earned with his work. We had a wonderful time, but it was definitely not a relaxing vacation. There is so much to see and do there, so we tried our best to get as much in a possible. Here's a run down of the trip to my friends who keep asking me what we did, and I keep putting them off saying I'll blog about it!! (sorry again!) Wednesday the 7th, we arrived in the Big Apple in the late afternoon (it was already dark), and headed down to Soho for dinner at a great restaurant with all of the people who won the same trip. Thursday was probably the most relaxing day of the trip. This was the only day that Josh had meetings (from 8-11am), so I got to sleep in and recover a little from traveling. We stayed at a hotel on the south side of central park, so everywhere we went was a beautiful 15-20 minute walk. Needless to say, I got in good shape and was sore from head to toe. That afternoon, we ventured out into the city for some good pizza. NYC has the best (ok, second best only to Chicago, Dad...if you're reading this) pizza in the country, so I had been craving this for weeks. We had gotten two recommendations to go to John's Pizzaria in Times Square. We got a little overwhelmed trying to find it, and when we did, it was closed for a private party! We ended up going to a random hole in the wall type pizza place that was pretty good. From that point we explored the city and met up my cousin and her husband, who came up from Rhode Island to spend a day and a half with us there! We were very excited that they were able to do that. The 4 of us went to my family's favorite restaurant in NYC, Carmine's. When we got there at 4:45, they told us that the waiting list was already closed because it was packed and booked up for the whole evening. They told us we could wait and eat in the bar, so we sadly sat down, wishing we had made reservations...apparently way in advance! Good fortune came our way, though, when they guy walked around asking if anyone wanted to get on the waiting list! We jumped on it, and got a table around 5:45!! It was even better than I remember and worth every penny. After dinner, we headed over to see The Producers on Broadway, which was pretty good! No Phantom of the Opera, but it was very entertaining. Friday we woke up to 6-8 inches of the most beautiful snow I've ever seen! We had booked a 5 and 1/2 hour tour for that morning and walked all the way to Times Square (me holding tightly on to Josh's arm so I wouldn't fall), hoping that it wasn't canceled. Luckily, just as everything does in the North, it still went on like it was nothing! We got to see lots of great sites on this tour, including most of the main sites to see in NYC. You'll have to look at my pics to see. After that, we went to Macy's to do the tradional Christmas shopping. It's pretty impressive with 8 or 9 floors! Friday night, the 4 of us went to dinner at a great pub called Pig in the Whistle, and then we went to see The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. That was very good and is a must do for everyone at Christmastime! After that we said good-bye to my cous and her husband. Saturday was a very fun day filled with shopping. We went to FAO Schwartz and had so much fun buying James some toys and such. We also took the Subway down to the trendier part of NYC, Soho (got its name from south of houston street...pronounced How-ston there oddly enough) and Chinatown, where I bargained for a few items. We ate the traditional hot dog and hot pretzel from the street vendor for dinner, which for some reason tastes better in NYC than anywhere else, and then headed back up for shower and change for the big Dinner Cruise around the tip of Manhattan with all of the people on the trip with us. That was amazing, and I couldn't quite capture it in pictures, but it was the most beautiful view of Manhattan I'd ever seen! Sunday we only had until 1pm before we had to head to the airport, so we went on a Carriage Ride in Central Park, which was gorgeous and still covered with snow, and then headed over to Rockefeller Center for lunch. That was then end of our very enjoyable and very exhausting trip!

The other exciting news is that we finally got a new (to me) car! It's actually used, but we've been searching for a good deal on a used car that's in really good condition and finally found the right one for us in Dallas! It'll make a great Mommy-mobile...much safer and more convenient than my old car. I'll have to say, though, I got quite emotional when we got in my car yesterday and headed up to Dallas to make the trade. On The Road Again by Willie Nelson was playing on my ipod, and I got choked up thinking about all of the places this car has taken me in the past 9 years! It took me from high school to college to my newlywed years, and it was very good to me...hardly ever giving me any problems! Josh laughed at me as we cleaned out the remaining things in hidden places, because I had about 15 tapes that I hadn't listened to since high school. He asked me if I wanted him to throw them away, and I couldn't believe he would even suggest such a thing! =) I am not a pack rat, but music is a big part of my life, and I spent a lot of time making those tapes! I wasn't too sad though, when we finally got the keys and drove off in my very first SUV! I will take pictures and post them very soon. Y'all were getting on to me for not blgging, and now I've given you all an ear-full...or eye-full I guess.

It's a...

I am elated to announce that we are having a happy and healthy (and active!) baby BOY! The doctor spent a lot of time with us and is confident that our little boy is perfect in every way. I can't thank everyone enough for your prayers and encouraging words. It was such a comfort to us. I love my nephews and can't wait to have our own little boy! These pics below are of a foot and diaper changing position. You'll have to click on it to see it larger.

A prayer request

I have a prayer request. Today I got a call from my OB saying that my alpha fetal protein levels were mildly low. This could be a sign of down syndrome. While 60% of the time, this test shows a false positive, I am still concerned. We will have an ultrasound done on Friday. Please pray that everything goes well and our baby is healthy.

Baby Update

A quick baby update...I just started feeling the baby move this week! It is the neatest thing and makes it feel more real! I'm 16 weeks now and feeling great! 3 more weeks til I find out what I'm having!!!

Firsts and Lasts

I was tagged by Elizabeth and thought this was a good one. Here it goes!

First Memory:
Making a magnet for my mom and dad in Bible School that said "Thumbody loves you" with my thumbprints going across. I was 3.

First Kiss:
Jerrod. I was almost 16.

First Concert:
George Strait Music Festival.

First Love:
Josh

First lust: Brad Pitt (I was in love with him before he was big) and Tom Cruise

First thing you think in the morning:
Can I make it in time with one more snooze?

First book you remember loving:
There's a Girl in the Boy's Bathroom

First pet: A cat named Smokey

First thing you think of when you hear the word vacation:
Right now, the excitement and antipation of our New York City trip in December.

First best friend:
Audrey and Kimberly

Last time you dressed up:
yesterday for a reception a fellow teacher at my school (my mentor last year) who got the Region Elementary teacher of the year award!

Last thing you ate:
breakfast burrito for lunch

Last CD you bought:
Black eyed Peas

Last time you cried:
Yesterday afternoon for like 2 minutes and last night for my friend receiving her awards. (I'm a little emotional lately!)

Last time you told someone you loved them:
Getting off the phone with Josh after school

Last really fun thing you did:
Really fun date (yes...I actually went on one!!!!!!!! I didn't back out this time to veg on the couch!! Read this blog if you're confused.) with Josh Friday night. We went to my favorite restaurant and got Crab Cakes, Coconut Shrimp, and Creme Brule (sp?)...it's all about the food to me! Then we went to Starbucks for my favorite drink, and then to Motherhood Maternity to buy me something. He surprised me with this in celebration of our pregnancy.

Last thing you watched on TV:
The Office, and then I fell asleep watching the next show.

Last Halloween costume:
Josh and I went as nerds who are stuck back 15 or so years ago.

Last Concert attended:
Amy Grant and Vince Gill together.

Now for the fun part...I tag the following

Kim
Suzanne
Amanda
Nicki
Kristen
Rebecca

Next Big Thing

Today I had my 12 week appointment, and I got to hear the heartbeat! I didn't realize I'd get to hear it, so it was a nice surprise. Josh came with me, because he heard the doctor say that we'd hear it this time, but I missed that somehow. It was beating 160 beats a minute...pretty fast! I almost burst with excitement when I heard it and looked over at Josh, who couldn't wipe the smile off his face. I never knew how exciting this would all be!! It helps me stay focused and remember why it is that I'm breaking out, gaining weight, not fitting into 95% of my pants, etc. It's just so neat and such a new, bizzare, cool experience to hear your own baby's heartbeat for the first time!! Anyways, just thought I'd share that moment with you guys!

An Unwanted Visitor

I had quite the exciting morning this morning before work. Right after Josh left, I was greeted by an unwanted visitor...a snake...in my bedroom! I was standing in my bathroom and thought I saw something in the corner of my eye. I looked over, and a snake was staring right at me. I froze and it slithered quickly under the bed. Not knowing what to do, I called Josh (who has an EXTREME phobia of snakes) and asked him to come back. Now, those of you who know him at all, know that this was very hard for him, but I had morning duty at school and didn't have time to fool with it, so he came back to help me. With my sister's direction (she gardens a lot and has had to do this plenty), we coaxed it out from under the bed, Josh picked it up with a shovel, took it over to the tile, and chopped it in half! I was so proud of him!! Luckily it was just a garden snake, but now we're both scared to go to sleep tonight! Josh says he's even scared to come home today! The funny thing was afterward when he was vaccuming the dirt up, he was blocking the doorway, so I tapped him, and he just about had a heart attack! The look on his face was hilarious!! I posted a picture of the snake...no it's not huge, but a snake is a snake!

The Woman's Mind...an Ever Evolving Thing

Ever had a night like this? This morning Josh and I started planning what we were going to do tonight. We hadn't been on a real date (getting dressed up and staying out the entire evening) in a while. We have been either staying in and hanging out all night, going to a restaurant and then going home and hanging out, or getting pizza or fast food and then catching a movie. We decided that tonight we would actually go to a nice restaurant and then go see a movie and maybe even end the evening at Barnes and Noble. Well, that was this morning. As the day progressed, Josh and I were thoroughly enjoying staying the same way we were when we woke up and working around the house, and I kind of got the urge to just cook tonight with Josh and then going to a movie. Josh agreed that that would be fun. Then Josh found out that Georgia (his favorite team) was playing at 7:00, so we decided to still go to the store to get the ingredients to cook, cook together, and then watch the game. Then, we were getting so much done around the house, and we still hadn't gotten ready for the day (around 5:00), so I kind of felt like skipping the cooking and going to Taco Bueno. Josh laughed (at all of my mind-changing) when I asked him and said that was fine. Then, I didn't feel like putting on make-up, so I suggested we just go through the drive-through. He laughed at me again! So here I am, blogging and listening to a lot of clapping and "YES!"'s and "THERE YOU GO!"'s, but I'm perfectly happy with the way our "romantic date" turned out!

Question

I have a question to all you ladies who have been pregnant before. Did you take hot baths while pregant?? I am a hot bath addict, being cold natured, and have heard conflicting things about whether or not it's okay to take them while pregnant. I know they shouldn't be boiling hot, but what about a warmish-hot one? I have pulled a muscle in my back, and last night all I wanted to do was soak in the tub, but I was too scared. Any thoughts?

Happy Days

Life has been good lately...for several reasons.

1. My nausea has subsided!!! I didn't know how long it would last, but week 7 it went from all day to just morning (which seemed wonderful to me), and then week 8 (this past week) it was almost non-existent! Let's hope and pray that the rest stays like this past week. I even had an energy boost in the middle of the week that made me feel like myself again. It gave me all kinds of energy to focus on school, enjoying this last bit of time of just being a couple without children, and just being excited about the whole reason for going through this...a baby!!

2. The beginning of the year craziness at school is almost over. I feel like I'm starting to settle into my new class and that I'm getting to know them better. I always go through a period of really missing the class/family I had the past year (I'm not always the best at change), but I'm starting to feel more like this is my class (if that makes sense...probably only to teachers). This class makes it VERY easy on me, too, because they are just the sweetest, calmest, cutest little bunch of second graders I've ever seen! I pretty much just go there and teach...and not have to worry about discipline. I think God had mercy on me, knowing that I was going to be pregnant! The crazy thing is half of my class is new to our school, so it could have been interesting.

3. Fall is in the air!!!!!! Yes, it has been in the low 90's, but that 10 degrees makes a huge difference, not to mention the low humidity. It's also something about the angle of the sun hitting the earth...and hearing football in the background!!! I just love it!!! It makes me so happy and brings back all kinds of happy memories and thoughts from the beautiful falls in Arkansas (along with the excitement of being back at school) and happy fall days from my childhood.

4. We just went to our first meeting with our new life group and absoultely loved it! Our leader was the life group minister at his old church and moved here in the spring. He wanted to start up a new group, and since ours kind of died off last year, it was perfect timing for us! We are very excited about forming new relationships and getting spiritually fed in that way.

I hope your days are happy ones as well and that everyone has a great start to a new week!