4th of July 2011

We spent the 4th of July with Vicki and Dave at their house for a swim and cookout party. Dave cooked hamburgers and hotdogs and my mom made her chili and deviled eggs. Jerod came with us and he was soo excited to pick up fireworks from the fireworks stand and to go swimming all day. Jerod and Brent bought gas bombs, blackcats, roman candles and I made them get sparklers for me!! Jerod and I jumped straight into the pool when we got to Vicki and Dave's and only got out to eat and shoot off fireworks. Grams, Peeps, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Leon, Brad, Jessie, me, Brent, Jerod were all there to celebrate the big 4th. Jerod did a lot of tricks jumping into the pool and the adults had fun playing on all the water floats. We all ended the day by eating homemade ice cream with fresh strawberries. Well, I had to get bluebell ice cream but it was still darn good. I love the summer and can't wait till we have our little one and we can add him/her to our summer fun!!

Stopped at the fireworks stand to pick up the goods


First things first, fireworks before swimming I guess

Pool time!!


Dad and Dave in deep conversation, you know it must be important


Brad and Jerod couln't resist lighting off a few sparklers

Hey I want to light one!!

Jerod helping me out to get mine lit

Now the big boys want to play

Jerod lighting a smoke bomb

Brent and Grams

Vicki and Dave

Mom hogging all the noodles

Jerod loved jumping all the fountain

Dad and Mom

Jerod imitating his favorite wrestler, John Cena


My crazy dad

Jerod finishing off the last of the sparklers

Hawaiian Falls and Jessie's Bachelorette Party

I couldn't let the summer go by without taking Jerod to a waterpark for a fun filled day. I took Thursday and Friday off last week from work so I could spend a whole day with Jerod and then spend the next day recovering. He has never been to Hawaiian Falls in Garland and I was soo excited to take him. We invited Caden and Carla to come along with us and we all had a blast together. Jerod rode all the rides except for one, the "Torpedo". Caden rode it and loved it. I'm sure Jerod would too but he couldn't get over the fact that the bottom of the floor fell out from under you and you went shooting down the waterslide. Once he is able to ride the torpedo, I think he will be ready to go to Schlitterbahn. Jerod's favorite ride was the "Half Pike". Him and Caden went down that one 3 times and me and mom went down it too. Mom screamed bloody murder the whole time because she literary thought we were going to go over the edge of the ride and possible die I guess. She's so funny. Mom surprised me and ended up riding several rides I didn't think she would even attempt but she sure did. Jerod also experienced a wave pool for the first time. He had an absolute blast with that. We ate all kinds of food from nachos, fries, dip-in-dots, snowcones and chips. We all had a lot of fun and I paid for it the next day. I was completely worn out but it was totally worth every minute!! Can't wait till next year, hopefully we'll go to Schlitterbahn!!!

Hawaiian Falls with Jerod and Caden


Jessie's Bachelorette Party
Jessie's Bachelorette Party was on Saturday, July 2nd and it was a lot of fun!! The night started at Hotel Intercontinental in Addison for her lingerie party and then we had a fabulous dinner at Trulucks. I wanted to get the crab legs soo bad but instead I had to get a well done steak. Luckily that place knows how to cook and my steak was very good. After dinner the girls went across the street to Pete's Piano Bar but I had to leave after dinner because I couldn't be around all the smoke inside Pete's. Jessie had a great time and it won't be too much longer and their wedding day will be here!!

The Bachelorette has arrived


Getting the party started

All the girls at Trulucks in Addison

Happy First Father's Day Brent!!

John and Kathy invited Brent, me, Brad and Jessie over the day before Father's Day for a cookout and swim party to celebrate father's day with John. Pool and food, you can count me in!! John cooked hamburgers and hotdogs and Kathy made an amazing strawberry pie. I love her desserts!! We spent the whole day just hanging out by the pool enjoying the day.

Happy Father's Day John

Sweet Kathy


Happy Father's Day B-rent

Brent trying to balance on the big volley ball

John giving it his best shot

Kathy couldn't resist trying too

Ahh soo nice

Brad and Jessie

Love hangin by the pool


Brent's First Father's Day
Brent celebrated his first father's day on Sunday, June 19, 2011. I thought long and hard about what to do for Brent and I came up with getting him a couple of baby books he could read to the baby when he/she arrives. I asked his mom what Brent's favorite childhood book was when he was growing up and she said he loved "Goodnight Moon". I don't remember that one as a kid but she said he liked it. I also wanted to get him a daddy book since it was father's day and luckily I found the "Daddy Hugs" book. I had my little nephew Jerod wrap the books and write Happy Father's Day on the package in marker to give the gift the feeling that a little kid wrapped it.

The morning of Father's Day, I woke up excited about Brent's big day. I looked out in the backyard like I normally do every morning to feed the alley cat and I couldn't believe what I saw...5 baby kitties. I ran and woke Brent up and said there was a big surprise for him outside. He jumped out of bed and I told him to look in the backyard. He loves cats and couldn't believe the little alley cat we have been feeding must have had baby kitties a few days ago. We watched them eat from inside and then Brent couldn't resist wanting to pick one up. They all ran away when he went outside but then they came back after we went back inside to finish their meal. While Brent was watching the kitties, I went and got his gift from my hiding spot. He looked surprise that I had a present for him. He first ready his card then opened his books. When he opened "Goodnight Moon" he said he loved that book as a kid. He read the whole thing before opening the other book. After Brent opened his presents we met my family for lunch to celebrate father's day with my dad. He wanted the movie True Grit so that's what I got him.

Happy Father's Day!!

Brent's first father's day gift

Brent's favorite book as a kid

Reading the "Daddy Hugs" book


Baby kitties on Father's Day

First Doctor's Appointment

My first doctor's appointment was on Thursday, June 9th and it was so exciting. I have been waiting for this day just as much as I had waited for my wedding day. It was such a surreal feeling walking into the doctors office knowing this was for real. Brent and I kept saying to each other as we were walking up that we couldn't believe we are going to be parents. I thought this appointment would be my "Big" appointment that everyone was telling me about but it ended up being an appointment to confirm the pregnancy and to answer any questions we may have had. When the nurse came out to get Brent and I from the waiting room, she said hello and asked if we were ready for our first sono. I was beside myself with excitement knowing we were about to see our baby for the first time!! The nurse took us back to the sono room and Brent and I just sat there in amazement. The doctor came in and got started right away. I of course started to cry when the image of our little one came on the screen and you could see the little heart beat beating away. Brent got way more excited than I thought he would as he leaned over me stroking my arm and asking the doctor all kinds of questions. Half way into it, our doctor looked at us with a puzzled look and asked, "do twins run in your family?" We both looked at each other with shock on our faces and said we didn't think so. Our doctor said I did get pregnant with twins but one of them didn't make it. I didn't really know how to feel at the time but afterwards when it had a chance to soak in, I did morn for the one I lost. After my sono, the nurse took one pint of blood and then we were all done. I will never forget that day for the rest of my life!!

Waiting on the doctor to arrive

Looking at the screen that will soon display our baby

That's either Ella or Preston

Memorial Weekend

The weekend of Memorial Day was packed full of activities. First we had Josh and Natasha's BBQ, then Natalie's going away party and finished up the weekend with a Memorial Day bash at our house to reveal to the rest of the family our big news. I was exhausted afterwards but it was all worth it!!

Josh and Natasha's BBQ
Josh and Natasha invited everyone over to their house to celebrate Memorial Day a few days early and I couldn't wait to go and tell my close friends the big news. As us girls sat around the pool, Sue was talking about her nursery and I said I would have to start shopping for all that stuff soon!! Sue with a big smile, asked, "are you pregnant Hols?" I of course said, "YES"!! It felt soo good to finally say the words that I have been waiting to say for such a long time. I loved every minute of it and we had a blast watching little Logan and Grant play in the pool and talk to each other as if they were having a deep conversation. Fun day and great friends!!

Just spilled the beans to Sue and Natasha

The 2 prego girls



Logan playing around with his momma

Such a sweet boy

Watching their daddy's play water volleyball

In deep baby conversation


Natalie's Going Away Party at Hotel Zaza
The night before Natalie was to depart for Cameroon Africa, Red's parents threw her a really nice going-away-party at Hotel Zaza. The night was filled with laughs, cries and one big surprise. Natalie looked gorgeous as usual and it was good to see her close friends and talk about fun memories and how excited she is about her new adventure. Towards the end of the night, a friend of John and Kathy's got the news that I was expecting. As Brent and I were talking to Brad and Jessie (who didn't know we were pregnant yet because we were going to tell everyone the next day at our cookout) John's friend came over to say hi to Brad and to congratulate him and Jessie on their engagement. After she congratulated them, she turned to me and said, "I hear there are congratulations to you as well, congratulations on the new baby!" Jessie and Brad quickly turned to me and Jessie shouted out, "Your PREGNANT!!" Not really the way I was expecting to tell them, but it was kind of funny the way it happened and we'll never forget it.

The family at Natalie's Going Away Party

Daddy and Momma

The Blue Shirt Boys

We'll miss you Nat

Nat and the girls

Nat and the boys


We ended the busy weekend with a grand finale by revealing to our grandparents, bothers, sisters and cousins that we are expecting our first child!! Everyone thought we were just inviting everyone over for our first cookout at our new house but little did they know they were in for a much bigger surprise. I decorated my new kitchen chalkboard with baby toys, pink and blue balloons and baby blankets and wrote on the chalkboard, "Baby P Coming Jan 2012". As everyone made their way into the kitchen, they were a little confused at first but then realized what was going on. Grandma was the first to see the board and started to cry when she realized I was pregnant. Grams and Peeps were second, followed by Bub, Michelle and Jerod. I thought Jerod would be a little happier than he was but all he was concerned about was getting another girl he had to deal with. He's hoping for a boy!! Vicki made blue and pink cookies that were very yummy to help in the celebration and everyone got a chance to make their mark on the board whether or not they thought it would be a girl or a boy. The majority thinks it will be a girl, I guess we will find out in January!!

Baby "P" coming January 2012

I think it's a girl

Brent thinks it's a boy

Proud momma and pappa either way

Couldn't do it without my momma

Some of my spring decorations for the our party

Brent grillin it up. Dad supervising of course

Brent and Jerod playing a little catch


Family photo. Can't wait to add our little one to our next family photo