Christmas Card Outtakes

We saw Santa at Bass Pro Shop!  It was the only way I could get Carl to go!  Gentry wasn't too impressed.  It was free and we got a free print.  This was the only shot I got.

She was hard to excite.  That's me trying to tickle her thigh.  Nothing.  I think she was overwhelmed by all the rednecks.  By rednecks I mean part of my family.  They were there.

Then we got a picture with the taxidermy polar bear to round out the trip.  Gentry was still unimpressed.  That was until her Dad took her around the store.  When Carl and I met back up he said that she expressed to him her Christmas List.  It is oddly similar to her Dad's list.  We had a good time!

OFFICIAL CHRISTMAS CARD OUTTAKES

Leggings too close to flesh color.

Distracted by ornaments.

Over it.

Shiny.

Look at that head.  

No wonder she can't sit up for more than a few seconds by herself!

\

I love this face!

Showered with Love

 Shower at FUMC Preschool

Perritte UMC Baby Shower

Everything I've always dreamed...

It's no secret that I want to be a mom. 


 It's all I've EVER talked about.  


EVER. 


 When I was a preschooler and my parent's asked me what I wanted to be, my response was,"the first person pregnant in high school."  Really it's all I've ever dreamed about.  


Every part of it.  From conception until my wonderful children gather around my coffin to say goodbye.  I have always dreamed of the day I would tell my husband that our lives would forever be changed and we are going to be parents!  I thought it would go something like this:

Anyone else a Lucy fan and remember this episode?  Lucy tried and tried to tell Ricky that she was pregnant but Ricky was too busy so she went to his club to surprise him.  What really surprises me is that he didn't know she was pregnant because it's not like maternity wear was all that discrete in the 50's!    

  My husband works for the BSA (Boy Scouts of America) and we were trying for parenthood in the most stressful month for a District Scout Executive.  The month of September is when they have School Night for Scouting and recruit kids by the hundreds to join the awesomeness that is BSA!  In fact, my husband was opposed to the idea to try in the month of September because he was so busy.  That was until I pointed out the fact that I only needed him a few times for like 5 minutes and if we indeed were to get pregnant the baby would be due in June, which is his slowest month, where I would need him for days!  Well much to my shock, we had in fact achieved the almost impossible.  (If you want to check out my journey to get pregnant click the link).  When I couldn't get a hold of my busy husband I opted for a modern day Lucy style telling.

I texted him!

Here is the transcript:

(Shortly after I had privately taken a digital test at work)

9/22 8:02AM ME:  Today is my early day.  Wanna have lunch?

9/22 8:35AM HUSBAND: Sure

9/22 8:58AM ME:  Cool.  I get off at 1.  Where do you want to go?

9/22 9:19 AM HUSBAND:  Can we go about 1:30  I have a boy talk that starts at 1:15

9/22 9:47AM ME: Cool.  Where?

9/22 9:49 AM HUSBAND: Cotton Patch?

9/22 10:08 AM ME:  Sounds good.  I have a gift card.

9/22 10:57 AM HUSBAND: Hey can't go to lunch have a united way lunch that I have to go to

9/22 10:58 AM ME: :(  Will I see you at all tonight?

9/22 10:59 AM  HUSBAND:  Don't know

9/22 11:50 AM ME: Well I have something to tell you...do you want me to text you?

9/22 11:51 AM  HUSBAND:  Yes in a meeting.

9/22 11:54 AM ME: 

9/22 12:02 PM ME: Your boys work. (In case he didn't get the picture)

9/22 12:27 PM  ME:  Are you at Home Depot yet?  (sorry, inside joke)

9/22 12:29 HUSBAND: No I am at franks wishing I could pound beers.

9/22 12:35 PM  ME:  Are you freaked out!  I wanted to tell you over lunch or tonight!

9/22 12:35 PM ME: ?

9/22 12:38 PM HUSBAND: I am trying to block it out by listening about the texas state budget

9/22 2:11 PM  ME:  Are you running away?

And that is how I told Carl we were expecting.  For the record.  He didn't run away.  Very much the opposite.  He has stuck by me more than ever before and I am so excited to see what kind of dad he is going to be!  I would just like to point out that I asked him if he was running away at 2:00 PM because you would think that as soon as the meeting was over that he would have called me!!!!!  Nope.  Not Carl, my mild mannered husband, went about his day like normal.  In fact the next time I saw/talked to him was later in the evening!  

So now I blog.  I am going to try and back it up and do a week by week sort of a journal for my own personal records.  If you know me, you know I am kinda blunt and I don't hold back.  I apologize in advance if some posts are too graphic.  There are things about pregnancy that NO BOOK will ever tell you!  I promise I will give fair warning to the posts about poop.  Yes, there is a poop post in the works!  Carl and I appreciate any prayers or good thoughts you may have for our family and I hope you join us on our newest journey!

Viva Las Vegas: Day 1

On July 6th (my 28th birthday) Carl and I along with our friends Ryan, Kelly, Britney, Cullen and Sarah headed to VEGAS! We have all been friends for almost a decade but we had not been on a trip all together during that time. Ryan, Britney and myself had been to Vegas within the last 10 years. Sarah went with her family when she was a child and didn't really remember much. For Carl, Cullen and Kelly this was the first time! So what did we do?

Tuesday, July 6th:

Carl, Kalena, Ryan

Sarah

Cullen, Britney, Kelly

Flew from Houston International to Las Vegas! We arrived in Vegas around 10AM. We checked into the MGM and went over to New York, New York.

Kelly wanted to have a real New York Slice! (We all had our priorities on this trip! Most of us had food requirements! This is why I hang out with this group!) Carl and I got a hamburger around the corner (OK I got a veggie burger). I think Kelly was pleased with her choice!

We then went walking. and walking. and walking. We walked up and down the strip marveling at the greatness of it all. We headed back to the hotel and some dipped into the pool (me) and some napped (Carl) and then we decided to walk the strip at night to see all the "shows". We stopped to eat at The Lux Cafe in the Venetian.

It was wonderful! The Lux Cafe is owned by The Cheesecake Factory. The menu at The Lux was just as big as the one you get at The Cheesecake Factory and there were similar menu items but The Lux was a step up and had a international feel. This is what we ate:

The Grand Appetizer Platter

Serves four or more! A Grand Assortment of Our Most Popular Appetizers Including Spinach Artichoke Dip, Crispy Thai Shrimp & Chicken Spring Rolls, Duck Potstickers, Buffalo Chicken Rolls, Cheese Steak Spring Rolls and Vietnamese Chicken Summer Rolls. Add: Seared Ahi, Crispy Ahi Sushi Roll and Edamame

I loved the spring rolls, duck potstickers and ahi sushi roll.

 

If I remember correctly here is what everyone ordered for dinner:

Kelly: Wiener Schnitzel: Austrian Style Thin Crispy Coated Veal Medallions. Served with Mashed Potatoes and Braised Red Cabbage

Sarah and Britney: Crispy Caramel Chicken: Crispy Battered Pieces of Chicken Breast in a Spicy Thai Caramel Sauce with Mushrooms, Onions, Red Chile Peppers, Garlic and Ginger. Served with Rice

Tried this! IT WAS SO GOOD!

Kalena: Indochine Shrimp and Chicken: A Fusion Dish of Chinese and Indian Flavors. Jumbo Shrimp, Chicken, Onions and Sweet Ginger all Sauteed in a Delicious Spicy Sauce of Curry, Plum Wine and a Little Cream Topped with Sun-Dried Cherries and Apricots. Served with White Rice

It was yummy but more like something you would find at Cheesecake Factory.

Carl: Fettuccini Alfredo: Wide Pasta Ribbons Tossed in a Rich Parmesan Cream Sauce. Can Also be Ordered with Chicken.

Ryan: Grilled Fish of the Day

Cullen: Chicken Royale: Lightly Breaded Sauteed Chicken Breasts Served Over a White Wine Butter Sauce with Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and Herbed Carrots

We didn't finish dinner until well past 10 PM so we started on our journey to see all of the night shows and miserably failed.  We only saw the Bellagio water show and it always lives up to it's hype!  Before the show we did see a street fight between this small white guy and two large black men.  It literally happened right next to us.  I was pretty nervous but Sarah remained calm cool and collected!  We did manage to take a little time for a photo op.  Carl was less than thrilled :)

And that capped off day 1!  Stay tuned for the rest of the story!

Something about Summer

Summer is back and the only way I can tell is because our AC is on the fritz at the office. I am waiting for the boss to say we can come in cut-offs and flip flops tomorrow. A girl can dream. I miss those long summer days as a kid. I wish I could take back every utterance of "Mom, I am bored." What was I thinking.

So far this "summer" (it isn't official by the calendar's standards) Carl and I have gone to Stephenville, TX for my cousin's wedding. You may know Stephenville as the place where Jewel and her hubby Ty live or you may know it as the town that was abducted by aliens a few years back. I didn't get any pictures of the wedding but I did get pictures of the Dublin, TX Dr. Pepper Plant and Dino Valley in Glenrose, TX. If you are in the area I suggest you go to both. It's fun and CHEAP!

Carl wanted to know if he could keep him.

Yup. That is an actual dinosaur track. Really. Really.

This was my gift to Carl for our 2nd anniversary. No, I didn't get him a huge DP. I got him tickets to go on the plant tour (actually my uncle Randy ended up paying for everyone) and buy anything he wanted at Doc's Soda Shop!

The only other big event for the summer SO FAR...was BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL! Again. I didn't bring a camera. I had to be at work at 10 AM but I did manage to eat blueberry pancakes and scope out the festival before going in to work. I went with the usual suspects: Kelly, Ryan, Andrew, Britney and Cullen. They stayed long enough to be swimming in their own sweat.

Here is Drew! Isn't he so big?

I am amazed EVERYDAY at his ability to sponge EVERYTHING.

Here is a small list of his latest "tricks":

• He can show you his muscles and make a face of one who is lifting something heavy
• He can say: Mama, Dada, Bubble, Bok (block), Ba (ball), Bath, Buh Bye....he loves 'b' words
• He will "swim" on command.
• When you ask him where his nose is he will point to his ear.
• He thinks he's really good a the fake cry. It makes people laugh.
• He says 'hi' and 'buh bye' to ANYONE.
• He loves to dance.
• He will kick his legs in a fit of excitement for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
• He can growl, blow kisses, wave hi and bye, attempt to blow bubbles in the pool, flirt.

And that's just all I can think of right now. Cool Kid.

Finally I can't forget about my Tilly. I had to add this picture of her after a long day of digging.

I tried to tell her that the dirt on her nose really gives it away!

Two Years!

Carl and I have completed year two of holy matrimony!

I can't believe it! Like many things it feels like forever and yesterday we were at our wedding day. What a year it has been. Just some of the highlights I can remember:

• 1st Anniversary celebration in Austin Texas
• Going to Memphis to see Dave Matthew's Band, Graceland, Rock and Soul Museum and eating ribs at Rendezvous
• Carl's first Hallmark Family Reunion in Texas Hill Country
• Carl graduating from SFASU
• Carl getting a job with Boy Scouts of America.

It's been a sweet ride. It has been an amazing journey! I am so proud of the man I married. (As I type he is cleaning out his "Man Room" I mean who is this new graduated grown up guy?!?!) Can't wait to see what year 3 brings!

Oh PS. He even did good on the anniversary gift! Check it out below! She is my new favorite designer. I first saw her on cfhsuband.blogspot.com and I fell in love. Now I have my own necklace! Check her out at lisaleonardonline.com!She has awesome promotions where part of her sales benefits a family in need.
Can't get much better than that!

I love my husband

I don't say it enough! I love Carl Jonathon Hanke. He really is something. Here is just a little run down of Carl....my perception of him!

Name: Carl Jonathon Hanke

My Nicknames for Carl: Babe, Baby, lover, babycakes...oops...only Steven can call you that!

Hair color: dirty blonde

Eye color: Blue

I like when Carl wears: Jeans and a t-shirt with his white Pumas...so cute!

I hate when Carl wears: His Boy Scout uniform shorts on normal days

Carl goes to bed at: around 11:30 to midnight

Carl starts his day at: around 8 to 9:30 AM

Carl has too much: facial hair

And not enough: actual hair on his head....he is sporting a mohawk

Carl likes when I cook: hamburgers, baked ziti, casseroles

Carl's favorite dish that his mom makes: beef strognoff

Carl doesn't like to eat: lamb or sushi (my favorites!!!)

Some of Carl's favorite pasttimes are: frisbee golf, boy scouts, Wesley , making music.

Carl's least favorite things to do: dishes, shopping, going to class.

Carl is best at: playing instruments; mostly drums and guitar

Now you know.