Andrew's Got a Green Thumb!

In addition to the given hobbies of hunting and fishing, Andrew has also taken up an interest in gardening. "Emily's Garden" (which should really be "Andrew's Garden") has really taken off this year. We currently are growing Roma tomatoes, yellow squash, okra, green beans, strawberries, bell peppers, and cilantro.

We are going to have enough tomatoes to feed an army. They're still green, but there's a MILLION of them! The squash have also gotten HUGE. They are way bigger than we ever expected and there are tons of little squash just growing right along. Andrew's already harvested a few and I think we're supposed to have some tonight. We were having some issues earlier where they were getting all mushy and falling off before they were ready. After much Googling and trips to two different nurseries, Andrew figured out that there was a calcium deficiency. He bought some calcium deficiency stuff and problem solved! Last year our okra was RIDICULOUS! Several plants were seriously over 10 feet tall. Those suckers looked like trees and the ones we had two years ago made it through Hurricane Ike with no problem (a lot less leaves, but still alive!). It's still really early in the okra growing season, but if they grow like they have in the past, again, we will have enough to feed an army. We were both shocked by the green beans. Literally a day or two after he planted them, they had already broken the surface and now have leaves! Not too much to report on the bell peppers yet, it's still early for them too. The strawberries are a new adventure, so I'll be sure to update you on their progress.

Our squash harvest to-date/part of tonight's dinner:



The not-so-interesting-yet bell peppers and cilantro:



Our crazy big Roma tomato plants:



Side view (strawberries, green beans, and some okra in the front and the tomatoes, squash, and rest of the okra in the back):



Crazy big squash and Roma tomatoes:





Although I'm not quite as into it as Andrew is, I LOVE watching the plants grow. I'm just amazed at how they go from nothing (i.e. a tiny seed) into some huge plant that produces vegetables that we can actually eat. The seeds of those vegetables can be planted and the cycle just continues. It's the same fascination I've had with being pregnant (on a different scale, of course). It started with nothing, then with the meeting of two microscopic things, and now we have an almost 4-pound PERSON living inside me!!!... and this PERSON will be here, in our arms, in just a couple short months! CRAZY!!! I think DAILY about how much of a miracle creating a life is. God... you're pretty awesome!!!

On a side note, my hydrangeas have started blooming and are GORGEOUS!!!

High Adventure Treks for Dads & Daughters!!!

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the weekend of April 23-25, I went with my dad and 11 other father-daughter teams (all 8th graders) up to Oklahoma for a little backpacking and camping. We had a WONDERFUL time!!! The organization, High Adventure Treks for Dads and Daughters (HATS), came about as kind of a fusion of the YMCA's Indian Princesses and Boy Scouts. Indian Princesses was a father-daughter activity, but didn't focus on the outdoor skills that Boy Scouts provided. Additionally, even though Indian Princesses was a father-daughter activity, there wasn't as much a focus on the one-on-one relationship and communication between father and daughter. Most of the activities were all group-oriented. HATS really focuses on building the bond between a father and daughter and opening up the lines of communication during some of the most difficult times in a young girl's life. HATS picks up where the YMCA leaves off at 4th grade and continues through the 9th grade. Many of the girls and their fathers come back as mentors even after they have completed the 5-year program. Check it out! http://www.highadventuretreks.org/index.html

I took 300+ pics that weekend and narrowed it down to a few here. I'll let them speak for themselves.

The group photo before the hike...



My Pops and Me (yeah, never looked good in a hat!)





The always interesting spider web game...







There really was a BIG spider on the spider web!



Filtering our own water... yeah, we drank from this!



Dad explaining the filtering process...



Can you undo the human knot?



A REALLY BIG BUG!!! (No Thank You!)



Fire Starting Game (The pyro in me loves this!!!)



Tending the flame...



Teamwork...



The smack-talker and subsequent clear Winner!



The setting...McGee Creek, Oklahoma



My Dad... the Master Ninja



Special Father-Daughter Time... this is really what it's all about







Don't worry, they aren't trying to kill each other... it's just a game!





We are all connected...sharing experiences and take-a-ways from the weekend



I LOVE MY DAD!!!



HATS Website http://www.highadventuretreks.org/index.html

HATS Shutterfly Pictures Account http://hatsdallas.shutterfly.com/

I Heart My Co-Workers...

I really am so blessed to work with such a great group of people. I know so many people who can't stand their boss or the people they work with, and that most definitely is NOT the case here! I truly consider my co-workers (bosses included) friends and not just "co-workers or work friends" As most of you know, I also am so fortunate to have the ability to work from home. Deloitte has no doubt been extremely accomodating, and for that, I am truly grateful.

This past Thursday, one of my closest friends from work that has been there since I started at Avail Consulting right out of grad school, Jolee Aylesworth, graciously hosted a lovely shower at her home (which is gorgeous) in The Heights. Every single person from the real estate group who was not traveling was there. She even went out of her way to have a special sugar free cheesecake for Andrew. For those of you in Houston, you have to check out Three Brothers Bakery. This cheesecake was to die for. All the decorations were beautiful and the food was delicious! She is even knitting our little Tater a beautiful green blanket. She gave us a "sample" of it as a gift and I cannot wait!!! I LOVE anything that's one-of-a-kind or personalized, so this is really a special treat!

Dalia, Wanda, and Jolee



Candace, Miranda, E.J., Dan, Michael, Don, and Andrew



Beautiful Decorations



The Real Estate group collectively gave me a generous gift card to Target. Several people also brought gifts that included gift cards, a precious turtle layette set (thanks Candace!), the cutest little hooded towel with a duck on it and matching bath mit, (thanks Miranda!), and all kinds of fun bath toys (thanks Jonathan!). Andrew and I were blown away by everyone's generosity.







THANK YOU!!!!

Baby Steps...Literally

As some of my previous posts have mentioned, we have done little to nothing to prepare the nursery for our little Tater. Well...after this past weekend, I can officially say that SOME progress has been made. Andrew was totally on board and was a HUGE help this weekend. My goal was simply to make some progress on the two pieces of furniture that we wanted to refinish. One was the baby armoire and the other a dresser. The baby armoire was originally white/cream when it was in my mom's nursery, then she painted it yellow for my nursery, and then for some crazy reason I spray-painted it a teal color and added some crazy swirl things with a frog applique on the drawers. That was done a LONG, LONG time ago and I have no idea what I was thinking. Nonetheless, here is the progress so far.

Before (note crazy color and swirl things). Andrew did not want me using the stripper stuff even with a mask, but while he was fishing, I was determined to do something. So, I attempted sanding the door only. This took FOREVER!!! There were so many layers and even with an electric sander, it just took way too long. I knew heavy chemicals would definitely need to be involoved for the rest of the project. :-)



During (Andrew diligently stipping and scraping the layers away):



Primed!



Primed Drawers!



So, now that the amoire is primed, the hardest part of the whole dang process will be deciding what color to paint it! I got a couple samples at Home Depot yesterday, so we'll see what works the best. It's hard to know for sure until we've got the room painted. So, maybe I should just hold off until that point. BUT, the project-oriented side of my wants it DONE... and DONE NOW!!!

In addition to the armoire, I took a stab at the dresser drawers. They sanded SO much easier on the faces, but the curved edges will definitely take a little elbow grease. We got some more stipper and heavier duty steel wool and a wire brush to attempt to tackle the drawer edges. We plan on staining the dresser to match the crib, so we really need to do a good job sanding. I'm going to try to get a little done each day this week so that we might be ready to stain this weekend!

Sanded Dresser Drawer:



Whoop! PROGRESS!!! I was told to just take baby steps, so that's what we're doing!

Third Trimester... I think

Well, every source seems to say something a little different about when each trimester starts. So, I kind of averaged them together and came up with 28 weeks as the start of the Third Trimester.

Anyways, I hit that milestone this past Tuesday! Craziness!!! The little birdie ticker thing that's tracking my pregnancy keeps getting closer and closer to the 40 mark. Where on earth has the time gone?!?!

Tater has started playing a little game with me. He likes to stick different body parts in different places and let me guess what they are. I'm thinking that usually it's his foot or rear end. He's partial to sticking a foot up at the top of my uterus and into my ribcage... yeah, that one doesn't feel so great. He also likes to stick something out on either side of my belly button and make my tummy all lop-sided. I'm a little anal about symmetry, so this one really bugs me!!! It's just so funny because one second it will be there, and then the next it's in a completely different place. He's definitely an active little fellow.

I don't have too much to add here that I haven't said before. Generally, I feel great. I have lots of energy... even though I think it's more the adrenaline pumping when I realize how SOON our little Tater man will be here. It may also be because I'm trying to get as much sleep as possible now because I know our lives will be forever changed (in the most fabulous way, but one that doesn't involve much sleep) once our little guy gets here. We can kiss the days of 8-8.5 hours a night goodbye! It's definitely getting more difficult to do things, both because I feel like I have a weighted inner tube around my waist and because my back pretty much is hurting non-stop now. The lower lumbar part just hurts constantly and I have trouble bending straight over. I really have to swat to pick anything up. Rolling out of bed or up off the floor is challenging. I abandoned the body pillow and went back to the two small pillows, one between my knees and one under my belly. This seems to be working the best. Our bed just didn't have room for the body pillow... it felt like there was another body in the bed.

Here's some cool Week 28 facts:

Week Twenty Eight: May recognize your voice

You are 28 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 26 weeks)
The fetus has its own regular intervals for sleeping and being awake.
The weight has increased to 1000 grams and is 37.5cm in length.
2.2 pounds weight and is 14.8 inches in length from head to heel.
The feet are just over 2 inches (5.5cm) long.
The hair on the head is now clearly visible.
The milk teeth have developed under the gums.
The eyes are starting to move in their sockets.

Brain waves show rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which means your baby may be dreaming. Eyelids are opening. Eye color may change within the first six months of life especially if your baby's eyes are blue or gray-blue at birth. Remember to talk to your baby often; reading stories, singing songs has been seen to slow the baby's heart rate. He or she can recognize your voice now and will often calm to it later after birth.

Your uterus will be about 3 inches (7cm) above your belly button. During this time of your pregnancy, your belly will grow about half an inch (1cm) each week. If you have been following a nutritious, balanced meal plan, your total weight gain is probably between 17 and 24 pounds (7.5 and 10.5 Kg).

Branches of lungs are quite developed now, so there is a good chance that baby would survive if born prematurely now. If your baby is born this week, the chances of survival is now at least 90 percent. However, some complications are still possible.

I Hope These Things Come with Directions!

Last weekend (April 30th) we were so blessed to have a wonderful Diaper Party/Crawfish Boil with some of our dear friends, Nick & Sarah. They currently live in Columbus, OH and are expecting a little boy a month before us. The party was hosted by Nick's parents, Tim & Lisa, and some of our other dear friends, Andy & Cathy. The food was great and it was so much fun to get together with family and great friends!

Super Cute Diaper Cakes (Complements of Lisa)



Diapers, and Diapers, and Diapers... "OH MY!"



Nick & Sarah with their fancy diapers! :-)



The Dads-to-Be!


Right after Andrew's comment, "Almost as exciting as a new rod and reel." (Insert some serious sarcasm in his voice!)



Family!



Cathy & Andy



Wanda & Lisa



Dan thoroughly inspecting one of the most FABULOUS cupcakes ever with Emily & Joe



Jeremy & Jamie



Nana & Papa



Brother & Sister



Blake & Garrett