Yes, WE are having a baby!

Well it finally happened! Russ and I have entered the realm of realizing that we are grown-ups and feel that we can handle the task of raising another human. Even though it seems, to Russell, that I still need practice giving the dogs enough water!

We had been praying for a baby to come into our lives for over a year and we found out right before Christmas. Talk about a wonderful Christmas present! We thank God everyday for bestowing this gift to us!
As of today I am 13 weeks, but I feel like it has definitely been longer. I am so excited about this new LIFE-CHANGING event but I do have some concerns:

1. As I look around my classroom I see character traits that I do NOT want my child to have.....to those of my teacher friends you know what this means!
2. The sleep thing or lack of it freaks me out! I operate best on a minimal of 10 hours a day.
3. When we bring the baby home---NOW WHAT?!
4. One word: CHILDBIRTH ( For those of you who are in the " I have given birth to a human club" I need your advice)
5. Lastly will my backside ever return to its original shape? Or do I have to do lunges til I am blue in the face.

All in all I am sure all these concerns will be addressed at some point in time by my friends and family! I am very blessed to have two wonderful sisters-in-law who will help me with anything I need! Marcie, Russell's sis, who just had our precious nephew Jack in March 2007 and Enjoli who is expecting our other nephew Camden in June!

We go to our doctor on Friday, so I will post some more news and hopefully a 1st trimester picture then!

The Liberty Bowl-Go Bulldogs!

It was so cold!! Brrrrrrrr......

Me, Russ, Dad and Buck

Since Russ and I are used to those mild South Texas temperatures we enjoyed getting to wear our layers! This year we have been avid sports fans and we couldn't pass up an opportunity to spend time with Dad and Buck while going to a great football game. My favorite part of football games is definitely game food! I ate a corn dog, funnel cake and drank hot chocolate! Yum....but I soon realized I was not 13 anymore and cannot handle that much junk food! Next time I will know better! But they sure were tasty! Laura--I am going to have to say that Fletcher's Corny dogs doesn't have anything on the Liberty Bowl's Pup dogs!

Our trip to Memphis!

Russell and I went to the Stax Recording Studio with Dad and Buck! We saw where some great legends recorded their hit songs. BB King, Isaac Hays, Gladys Knight and the Pips

Russ and I downtown Memphis at the parade for the Liberty Bowl on Beale Street. Beale Street is famous for their home-cooking BBQ and the Blues....
Me and Russ with my younger brother, Buck! He is almost as tall as I am! Yikes!

Merry Christmas!

The sweetest dogs wearing their Christmas shirts from Grandma Patterson!
My mom with Jack on Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with their family and friends! Russ and I were lucky to be able to see almost all of our family! Mom and Rick hopped over to CC and enjoyed the Sebring festivities! Mick and Enjoli were in Germany, but hopefully they will come to the states next year! After Christmas we met up with Dad and Buck in Memphis to see the Liberty Bowl! Unfortunately, I only have a few pictures to share....but here they are!

Thanksgiving in Midland

Here are our snow pics from Thanksgiving!

We partake in an American tradition: the snowball fight!

Didn't work out so good for me, though.......

I was really cold!

This pic was taken AFTER he said he was sorry for nailing me with the snowball.

Russell's parents front yard!

Pictures from Fall '07

Oscar didn't quite fit into his hotdog costume this year and he was not happy about posing for this picture!
Me and Bea the cutest dog witch in town!
Russ was in tears from laughing so hard at Bea trying to take off her witch hat. You can see that little things amuse us the most!

Russ with Matt and Mark
Me and Russ with Mr. Jack

Winter Wonderland

Over Thanksgiving break Russ and I made the 9 hour track up to Midland to visit the folks! We had a great time seeing old friends and family and the best part of the trip was the beautiful snow! Now that we live in South Texas we have become accustomed to mild temperatures and haven't felt the extreme cold in a while. Whoa were we COLD!

The morning of Thanksgiving Russell woke me with the news,"It's snowing!" I felt like I was 8 years old on Christmas morning because I ran outside in my PJs to feel the snow. It doesn't snow often and I was scared that it might stop so I had to get out and play in slushy ice, but we were lucky because it snowed all day. We had a snowball fight, which Russ really nailed me. For some reason when we have these little contests on who will get who the most he ALWAYS wins. After I said truce, we got the dogs and tried to get them to cooperate for pictures. Of course they have a mind of their own and do not do what you want them to do.

After the turkey, Russ and his dad went to the deer lease with his crew of camo-wearing, camp-loving friends and I stayed with Mary to sleep and catch up on movies! One thing I have told Russ up front is that I am not a camper and will never be a wife who enjoys going to the deer lease! That is his utopia and mine is AnnTaylorLOFT!

We miss our Midland friends and can't wait to see them again in December at the Sebring's Annual Christmas party!