These are a few of my favorite things...

I've had lovely birthday today. I thought I would share a post on some of my favorite things as of late...

One of my favorite places to eat is Nicolette's Cafe. I enjoyed a birthday lunch there today with Amy and A.M. Aparently Ryan tried to plan a suprise there for us and had described us to the wait staff on the phone he said we would be there at noon but apparently they didn't spot us even though its a pretty small place, he was pretty disappointed. I say its the thought that counts.


One of my favorites things at Nicolette's is their ribbon cake, yum!!


This is my newest favorite addition to the nursery, its pretty comfy, as you can tell Rory likes it.
I was trying to just take a picture of the recliner I guess Rory thought she should be in it too.



I got new bedding for my birthday another new favorite! Again Rory hopped up there just before I was taking the picture, I guess she's confused when I get the camera that it may not actually be a picture of her I am trying to get.

Amy got me this fabulous wallet for birthday, definitely a new favorite.

I've done a pretty good job of restraining myself from baby clothes purchases. But all these tiny bathing suits have been wanting me to buy them really bad. I finally caved today when I saw this little one at target for only $6.99. I hope she loves the water as much as her momma does!

Traditions...

Well this week is the week I turn the big 29. I am taking off work on my birthday which I try to do most years. It was really fun growing up that my mom often let me miss school on my birthday which was one of the best gifts of all. I guess that's carried over to adulthood, so when I can I love a day of playing hookie on my birthday to take a break from ordinary which may be even more fun as an adult than it was as a kid. I can't wait to decide what traditions we may want to create for our baby girl that she can take with her.

So here's my latest picture at almost 29 years old, 30 weeks pregnant, on my 11th Valentines Day with Ryan:

3rd Trimester update.

Dear Pregnancy (AKA God's really great design for sending his children to the world),

You have been pretty easy on me, I must say. You followed almost all the common rules for me, you caused me to be sick but not crazy sick during the first trimester. The 2nd tri-memester was as many books said you be would be fun and the real honeymoon phase of this journey. I am now off into the 3rd trimester and you faithfully brought me back to some of the sleep issues from the 1st trimester of waking me up randomly at 3:00 and keeping me up till 6:00 several nights this week. Some may say this is preparing me for the sleepless nights in my not so distant future but I agree that one of my books put it best thats like saying dieting could prepare you for starvation. I am glad you left me out so far on any swelling, crazy cravings or much heartburn and even more thankful at this point to have no complications of any serious nature.

We have much left to do on our to do list and so I am glad you give me nine months to do that, well I am hoping its nine months to do that. At the top of our list is to find a name. So far the contenders have been bated back and forth: I wanted Ava, then Ryan countered with Elise, I came back with Sadie and Ryan came back with No. So the name game continues. We completed our child birth class and I must say it was truely mostly enjoyable and a bonding experience with Ryan. I am realizing what lies at the end of this journey is going to be one of the most joining and amazing experiences we will have together. Ryan now has asked me to simple call him "coach", I am not sure about that but I am glad that he will be the one holding my hand as I say goodbye to you pregnancy and hello to our baby girl.

resolution update...

Welp our 30 day resolution for January was as to limit our eating out to one lunch meal and one dinner meal per week. I fell off the wagon a bit the last week of the month but overall I would say we meet that goal at about 85% so I consider that pretty successful. We are carrying a lot of the habit on, I try to get our lunches ready the night before each week night and generally eat at home most week nights. I am not sure how much money or calories we saved but I am sure it was much improved.

On to February's 30 days, well 28 days. We are committing to reading scripture and praying together each night. I am already enjoying that connection time at the end of our day and the challenge of making it consistent each day.

Getting ready for baby...

Here's some pics of progress on the baby's room...

Rory was very interested in the activities going on in this space, she made herself at home on my painting chair one afternoon when I was doing touch up work:


We got the baby furniture in and Ryan put that together:


Rory again curious as to what is going on, we've tried to explain it to her but I still think she will be surprised when we bring her baby sister home:

The crib and the bedding:

I found the lamp shade and base at walmart and glued the beading on for a girly touch:

We got registered, next week we have our child birth class, lots of things coming together, Today is first day of the 3rd trimester!

Houston Weekend

Last weekend Amy and I headed to H-Town to visit our college roomie and her family. It was just what I hoped it would be lots of shopping, great eating, warmer weather, relaxing, late night chats and sleeping in.

We had lots of fun playing with little Q. She loves her books:

This was probably my favorite place we ate, Amy says its the most perfect restaurant for me and I agree. Those who know me well know I harbor a deep love of cheeseburgers. (This love even goes back to high school when I was a cheeseburger for Halloween one year) I try to keep myself at one a week, most weeks I am successful but I will make a blog confession this weekend alone I had two but I am back on the straight and narrow.

Q. is so smart she even could say Amy's and I names by the end of the visit. (I am "Heber" and Amy is "Ammmy"). She is such a sweetie!

We did have a little adventure on our flight back the first issue came up when the plane we were suppose to board they stated has been taken out of service for a mechanical issue. So we waited just about one hour for another to arrive. Then when we were about to land in OKC on that plane we are descending and getting closer to the ground when the plan suddenly speeds up and goes back in the air. The captain comes on to say "Sorry folks the conditions were not right for landing so we will go around and try again". Luckily the second time worked out. I guess all is well that lands well.

love it!

Introducing my new blog layout! My life long dear friend LB designed this banner and set up the new template you see. So sweet of her to offer to do that for me. Our dad's roomed together in college and our family's friends since. The fact that we've never gotten to live in the same state never stopped us from being close friends throughout our lives. I think its pretty special when friendship is passed on from one generation to the next.

Thanks LB, love it and love you!