Baby Updates

Well, since it has been over a month since I've updated this blog with anything, I'll start with some baby updates.

Baby Hopper has been determined to be a BOY! While we were not so secretly hoping for a girl, we've been blessed with another boy. My gut feeling was that it was a boy. I was born to be a BOYMOM. Baby Boy Hopper has been named. His name is Corben Keith Hopper. Corben has been Jason's boy name pick since I was about 8 weeks along. Originally, we were going to spell it with a "K", but Colby and Tristen's names. Keith is after Jason's dad. Both Tristen and Colby have part of Jason's name as their name, so it was only fitting that we carried on the tradition.

My pregnancy thus far has been so smooth. I really can't complain about it. The past 12 weeks have been blissful and I've felt great. More recently, I've had more aches and pains, but nothing to cry about or complain about. Today, I'm 23 weeks along and I can't believe a week from today I'll be 6 months pregnant. People at work are finally starting to feel comfortable asking me - when are you due? I don't see a lot of people at work and it isn't like I've made some big annoucement that I'm pregnant. The people I work directly with (which is only 4 executives) have known since I was 13 weeks. In the last 2 days thought, I've had 4 other people stop my and congratulate me. It is kind of funny to see their face when I tell them I'm almost 6 months pregnant. Here is a snapshot of how my bump has progressed:

 

We have started on the nursery. Well, I say started, we've purchased the furniture and it has been delievered, and I've ordered and shipped the fabric for our bedding to be custom made. I'm pretty sure I searched every baby bedding website out there and nothing really struck my fancy. I didn't want any characters or a specific theme. I'll post pictures of the bedding once we get it back from the lady who is custom making it. I can't wait to get it back so we can start painting the room and putting everything else together. I found the perfect lamp today, but didn't buy it just yet b/c I'm not sure what color we are painting the room. I may just go back and buy it anyways. Here is an idea board of what our plans are:

I guess I've now reached the nesting phase. Although, I don't know that I'd call it nesting b/c I'd still be doing it if I wasn't pregnant. I've cleaned out closets and organized crap that should've been organized a long time ago. I usually clean out the boys' closets every 3-4 months b/c they outgrow things so quickly. Yes, just like a baby, these boys are growing like weeds. Tristen has out grown 2 pairs of jeans since the end of January. What is that...a month and 1/2? Seriously? The kid won't quit growing. He's grown 3 inches since last year and I don't think he's stopped yet.

So, there you have it. A baby update. :)

Busy, Busy Weekend

We have a busy, busy weekend ahead of us. It is the start of the neverending Baseball Season. Colby's tournaments start this weekend. Tonight Colby has practice. I'm going to hang out with my baseball mom friends. Tomorrow Colby has a 9am game and I have a 10am dentist appt. We'll all head BACK to Grapevine for Colby's 1pm game. I just found out about a surprise b-day party tomorrow at 5:30. I'm not sure if we'll make that.

Then, tomorrow evening, my sister-in-law, Haylee and I are heading to Divine Cosign, which is a huge baby consignment sale. We actually get to go to the First Time Mom's pre-sale. I'm super excited. Although we don't know the gender yet, I can at least look for some things that are gender neutral. I'm not really looking for clothes. I'm more looking for the gizmos and gadets Baby Hopper will need. In other baby news, we had the name discussion again last night. Boy this is going to be hard. I thought we had made some progress the last time we talked names, but we are pretty much back at square one. I have a boy name that I like and he has a boy name that he likes. Neither one of us are crazy about the other's. Then there is a boy name that we both like, but isn't our #1 choice. Girl names.....is pretty much the same way. I'm 99% sure we already have the middle name for either one down.

Jason is making a lot of progress on his Beetle. My guess is it will be close to complete within the next month. I really hope I'm right. I'm ready for that thing to be FINISHED and I'm pretty sure Jason is ready for it to be done, too.

Other than baseball, babies, and the beetle, not much else is going on. We are planning a camping trip with several friends for the first weekend of spring break. Yes, I will be camping when I'm 5 months pregnant. LOL!

Dallas Snowpocalypse 2010

Snow started falling early in the morning on Thursday, Feb 11th. I think it began falling around 2am. No, I wasn't actually awake, but that is what the oh so trusty weatherman said. (Actually, I probably was awake either readjusting my pillows to get comfortable or to empty the ole bladder that happens numerous times a night.) Alarm clock goes off at 6:20 for Jason to get up. I usually try to sleep for another 10-15 minutes, but I decided to turn on the news. Within 10 minutes of watching they announce that our school district has closed for the day. Not really sure why they did bc it wasn't that bad out. Jason and I both went on to work. It snowed ALL.DAY.LONG. I swear it was like I was teleported to Colorado or something. The flakes were HUGE.Jason's work closed early...around 315. I could hear my bosses at the end of the hall making calls to our branches advising them of procedures for the morning. The procedures - be at work on time. Sad, but true. I was told that b/c I wasn't 'essential staff' I could come in when I felt it was safe. I took my laptop home so I could do a few things that I needed to get done before 10am. The snow continued to fall and was still falling when I went to bed at 9pm. It was soooo pretty. DFW airport got 12.5" of snow. We don't live far from DFW airport, but my guesstimation is we got right around 9". The boys had an absolute blast playing in all of the snow. I think they changed clothes 3 times yesterday and went through 15 pairs of socks. Guess who is folding the laundry basket today........the boys! HAHA! Their school along with probably EVERY OTHER school in DFW is closed today, so they are enjoying a snow day with Dad. Colby was supposed to have a baseball tournament this week, but it obviously has been cancelled. (I'm secretly excited about this!) Below are a few pics from my phone.

View from my 8th floor window at work at 9am

Trees by my work on the way home

Colby's snow man - with a mouth made of beer caps and pennies. Really? It isn't like we didn't have oreos or fruit snacks or SOMETHING else in the house besides BEER CAPS?!? LOL!

Backyard - morning of Friday, Feb. 12th

Picture of our neighborhood as I'm leaving for work

View from my parking garage at work on Friday.

-- Post From My iPhone

Text Conversation with Jason

I'm at work while Jason and the boys are enjoying a snow day at home. I'm sitting at work and my back is seriously killing me, so I decided to let Jason know. LOL!

Me: O-M-G....My back hurts sooooo bad!!!
Jason: Sorry baby. I can rub it when you get home.
An hour later.....he responds:
Jason: This will make your back feel better......You might have to sit down for this.......... (with a lot of space in b/w this).......................................... I'm doing laundry!!!!

I literally busted out laughing! I honestly don't mind doing laundry. I know, I'm strange, very strange, but I'm thankful J is helping on his rare weekday off.

Caution - Busy Times Ahead

The whirlwind of our busy lives that typically begins after 5pm is about to start back up. We have enjoyed the nice break. Although, we have remained fairly busy with Tristen and all of his extra-cirricular activities.


Tristen's basketball season is coming to an end. He and his team have done AMAZINGLY well and we are so proud of Tristen. His team's record is 5-2!!!! They have 2 games left and I really think Tristen will miss basketball. 3 weeks ago he joined the Cross Country team, which surprised us b/c he really hasn't ever been a 'runner'. He just came home one day and said, I'm joining Cross Country. So, now he is at school at 7am for Cross Country practice. They have practice 5 days/week. Plus, he then has basketball practice after school. Mondays are his basketball games and Tuesdays are his cross country meets. He has had 2 meets so far. He placed 6th place in his first meet! He was SOOOO excited and we were so proud. They were running against 2 other schools. This last meet, I'm not sure what place he came in, but I know he was 2nd from his school. I think he was probably 11th or 12th to finish. Jason and I switch off who leaves early each day so we both aren't having to leave work early. Thankfully, we both have quite flexible jobs and employers who understand. While I appreciate the games starting early so that we aren't out until late on school nights, it is quite chaotic in getting to his games/meets on time. Basketball games start at 5:30 (actually they always end up starting early) and Cross Country meets start at 5pm. I work 26 miles from home/school and Jason works about 20 miles from home/school. Not to mention the games/meets are spread out across the school district, so that means even more travel time.Tristen is also in Student Council and often has to be at school early to participate in meetings and other things that Student Council is doing around the school. He is a busy, busy kid, but he has learned to manage is all so well and his grades have remained strong! Both Cross Country and Basketball wrap up in February and then it is on to Track, which he is required to participate in regardless. If you play football, which he did, you are required to run track, which is some school rule. We are glad that he has become so involved at school. He has come a LONG WAY since this time last year!!! We couldn't be more proud of him!

Colby's baseball is starting back up. They've been practicing twice a week since December and games and tournaments will start in February. He has tournaments the last 3 weekends in February and then 3 tournaments every month thereafter until July. HOLY MOLY! Goodbye weekends! Besides tournaments, his team will also be playing league play which will be during the week. So, we go from one busy schedule to the next. Next year it will been even more chaotic with both Tristen and Colby in athletics. 7th grade plays on one day and 8th grade plays on another day AND we'll have a newborn!!!!!!!!!

We are having Colby's 12th birthday party this weekend b/c all of our weekends in February are booked with baseball and our family trip to Shreveport. We'll be heading out to Shreveport on February 5th for our 4th annual Mardi Gras trip. Although I won't be participating in any of the drinking festivities that are usually occurring, it will be a fun trip. The boys look forward to this every year.

We have our next baby appt on Feb 9th, which won't entail much, but the appt after that which I'm assuming will be on March 9th will be the BIG sonogram. I CANNOT WAIT! I'm ready to start buying stuff!!! It will soon be time to start on the nursery. I've already been 'window' shopping on the internet. We plan on doing a few 'improvement' things to the house before the bebe comes too. Painting the nursery and the hall bathroom, changing out hardware to oil rubbed bronze pieces, replacing ceiling fan in living room, and a few other things. Next year, I'm planning on us rennovating the kitchen (Jason hasn't received this memo yet.....so shhhh!!!!) Although I say that I plan on rennovating the kitchen in 2011, my plans my change and us use our tax return for a nice family vacation instead. Jason is talking about a cruise, but I really want to go back to Mexico. We'll see though.....as that is still a LONG time away, well really...it isn't.....just a year from now.

Pregnancy and Stupid People

I swear either people have suddenly become more stupid or I have absolutely no tolerance for stupid people anymore. Maybe stupid isn't the correct/"PC" word, but it is the word I'm going to use for this blog. I'm 99% sure it is due to pregnancy hormones, but I seriously am ready to fly off the handle and be THAT "pregnant lady".

Specifically speaking, Colby's new baseball team. I'm so put out with the coach and his wife. I'm trying to plan the poor kid's birthday party and we don't have a finalized schedule for his tournaments yet. In some roundabout blunt words, I specifically told these people that. I am trying to plan, and you say we have tournaments scheduled, but you can't give me a schedule. I will say I'm less than impressed with their organizational and efficiency skills in running this 'business'. If I send you an email with a couple of questions (two to be exact), please be so kind to answer ALL of the questions. My list could go on and on. Colby's birthday is Feb 13th. We will be out of town the 1st weekend in February and then he has tournaments the following 3 weekends, so I have no clue when he'll actually get to have his party. Tournaments are so unpredictable that you can't plan for anything on Saturday or Sunday, EXCEPT to be at the baseball fields.

Another thing, I'm pretty sure every day I get behind the stupidest/slowest drivers. This didn't happen before I was pregnant. I mean do I have a sign on my car that I can't see that says, "This lady is pregnant. Make sure to piss her off?" I'm sure I could make $$$$$ if I had a camera installed in my car that recorded all of my antics of screaming at people. It really doesn't help that I have a 26 mile (one-way) commute to work. I think I'm ready to move back to Wink (my hometown) where there were absolutely NO stop lights and the only time there was 'traffic' was after a Friday night football game.

Contemplating...

I am contemplating make our blog private for various reasons. I have completely decided yet, but if you read our blog and want access to our blog, email me or message me on facebook to let me know so I can add you to the 'reader list'.

Family disclaimer - I already have all of you on the list.