to tell, or not to tell...

Ray and I have had much discussion on baby names and whether or not to tell the baby name we have picked out before the baby is born. People just have strong opinions about these things like baby names and do we really want to know? We just aren't sure... Maybe the difference would be to say "our baby's name is ---" instead of "these are names we like/ are thinking". When I tell people that we aren't going to tell the name, many say "that is a good idea, someone will always say, Oh you can't name them that, i knew a girl in 2nd grade with that name and she was so mean" or something like that... So what to do... We have not totally nailed down a name yet, but are pretty strong on one, just not sure of the middle and last name combo.

My sister Allison was surprised we are thinking of not telling the name and said "I don't care if you name her Sassy just so long as I am Auntie Allison"...

So, my question is this- What do you think? Did you tell your baby name and wish you hadn't because of the feedback? Or, was it fine- once the name was set people just said wonderful things about the name you had chosen"

it's a...

girl!!! We are so excited and can't wait for Ray to be outnumbered... :) I know he will be a great dad to a little girl... just like my dad is.

UTI...

So, I have had a pretty terrible lingering cough for the past month and a half... along with that some congestion, sneezing, etc... About 2 weeks ago my back started hurting pretty bad just at my rib cage on the left side. I talked to different people and they said it was possible to injure your ribs with bad coughing- however, all that I read said that there was really nothing that could be done and you just had to give it time to heal. So, I didn't really rush out to see the doctor, especially since no xray's with the pregnancy (which is the only way they can really diagnose a rib injury).

Yesterday morning I was putting on my socks and coughed and heard/ felt a pop/ crack sound. Then I was keeling over with the worst pain EVER! Thankfully Ray had not left for the gym yet so we went to the St. Joe's express clinic to see what they said. The doctor had me give a urine sample, which i thought was kind of wierd... Then the nurse came back and said "He is diagnosing you with a urinary tract infection", like she herself thought it was a bogus copout. It really upset me because, hello!, something POPPED! I could tell she felt bad and I asked her if she thought he would have at least done an xray if I wasn't pregnant and she said "probably so".

So, that is fun... hopefully things will get better... It is really painful to laugh, cough, sneeze, etc... All those things that I am still doing a lot of with the lingering cough and congestion...

Bridge Lesson

Each year in May, my dad, his cousins and now the son-in-laws (God bless 'em) get to partake in what they call Petty-Co Sports Extravaganza. Back when my dad was in High School, his dad and his dad's brothers and their sons started getting together each year for this men-family reunion/ sports competition. Over the years it has changed a bit as far as the "sports" they play, and now they have 3 events. Bridge (always been part of the weekend), washers, and either dominos or golf. The intensity of the weekend has also changed since only one of the original brothers is alive and he does not attend anymore. So, it is not stressful like it used to be when my dad would first go (my Papa and his brothers weren't known to be the kindest, gentlest of souls, especially during competition). They also pass around trophies for the winner in each event and "The Best of the Best" and "The Worst of the Best", that they take home for the year, add their name to it and bring it back the next year.

This will be Ray's fourth year to go and partake in this Petty tradition. He has been happy for Tucker (Rebecca's husband) to join him the past 2 years, so he wasn't the "Rookie" anymore. Bridge is definitely the most challenging event for Rookies, so Ray decided this year he needs to practice. Last night we had our first Bridge lesson with D, dad, Ray and I and it was pretty fun. I enjoy card games, but I can definitely see how complicated this game is, and we have only scratched the surface. Hopefully our weekly practice will help Ray shy away from the "Worst of the Best" trophy in the competition this year.

Purse for Iga

Sunday was our Polish neighbor's 3rd birthday. It has been fun getting to know them over the past few months as they have only been in the US since September. Iga is 3 and just about the cutest thing EVER... I went to Joann's and got the cutest fabric and ribbon to make her a little purse for her birthday. She loves the color yellow and I was so happy with how it turned out... made me excited to have a little girl (which was great, because I have mostly been hoping for a little boy, mostly because my fam growing up was all girls, except my dad). I guess I didn't get a picture that shows the inside, but it is hot pink with light pink polka-dots. The strap is green and white polka grograin ribbon and the yellow satin ribbon.

ONE week from tomorrow

Boy or girl, boy or girl, I don't know, we will find out!
I can't believe it is almost here! I can't wait to find out whether Ray or I will be outnumbered... we are definitely opting for the surprise at 20 weeks and not the surprise at 40 week option for this one!

Valentine's Day

We decided about two weeks ago to grill out steaks at home for Valentine's Day. We have discovered that buying fillets and ribeyes from Readfield's (the local meat market) and using the Weber charcoal grill makes better steaks than the fanciest of steakhouses that we have been to. PERFECT! It is just hard to pay that much when they aren't as good as we make them at home! I also found this recipe for White Chocolate Raspberry Bread Pudding that I was going to make. But, it made a 9x13 which would take us forever to finish (and well, we shouldn't finish it). So, I called Don and Monie (basically our god parent's if we had some) and they joined us for Valentine's Day dinner. We had such a nice time and the steaks, crash hot potatoes and corn on the cob was wonderful... and do yourself a favor and make that bread pudding- amazing! For the leftovers I have not bothered with the white chocolate sauce and I think it is just as good without it. I also used fresh raspberries, because HEB didn't have any frozen ones- delish! Crash hot potatoes are now our go-to potato with steak- they are so good... actually I have always loved any Pioneer Woman recipe I have tried.

It was so nice to stay in on such a crowded restaurant day, I think we will make this a tradition. Ray and I will partake in our other yearly Valentine's poem tradition tonight. This was an idea from our pre-marital counselors... we write poems reflecting on the past year each year at Valentine's and it is so fun to look back (i have them in a red valentines scrapbook that I put together). Neither one of us are steller writers or poets by any means, but they are still fun (and pretty cheesy trying to rhyme). It is neat because we have one from every valentine's day we have been together since our first V-Day was after we were already engaged and in pre-marital counseling). It is a fun tradition that we hope to carry on with our kids once they are older...

Aqua Moms

I just started taking Aqua Moms water aerobics at The Therapy Center with a hospital in town. I really like it and highly suggest it to any preggo ladies out there that have it in their town. Right now it isn't too challenging, but just a nice very moderate cardio workout. It feels really great to be in the pool and the company of other women in the same place in life is fun. It is also a wonderful change from Gold's. Something different and I know it is going to just feel better and better the further along I get. I am so glad my boss' wife told me about it!

Double Birthday

Ray was very excited because we received a letter from the doctor in the mail following our most recent appointment that moved our due date up! It was set at July 24th, but the letter said July 15th, Ray's birthday (so, Karen, we might make it to the 17th for your birthday after all). We thought that was pretty fun! I just hope that sticks and we really are that far and don't have to wait until August, esp if the baby is late, which I know is common for a first baby.
We shall see... so excited...

Ray's Desk

Pictured above is the front view. Ray came up with this design and he did such a great job with the design and execution! the box beam at the bottom hides computer cords and there are panels on each end that open to deal with cords.

Below is the Side View. He used pieces of sheet metal and distressed (rusted) them with bleach in different designs, then bolted them in place in a mosaic style. The inside panels are painted a deep brown color that pics up the dark rust color.

In the (fairly) newly painted office. The color looks quite a bit more pink in the picture than in real life (so much better than the old mustard yellow!). It looks so Nice! Of course in the back are both his electronic and acoustic drum kit, all of his favorite things. Ray finally got some sound-off pads for Christmas for his acoustic set so he can play without disturbing the neighborhood.