17 weeks!

Here is a little 17 week shot (weird angle).....so yes, I am certainly showing! my pre-pregnancy jeans are long tucked away...even the good ole rubber band trick is not an option for my tummy!!! Three cheers for stretchy maternity pants!!

This pregnancy has been rough- all-day months of nausea (and all that accompanies it ;)...to spare ya the details), tiredness, lack of motivation (or as Russell sweetly accidentally worded it "laziness")....stomach flu & a terrible cold....Rylan got lots of TV time and cereal the last few months!!! The house has "been the messiest I have ever seen it our entire marriage"- Russell.....

Thankfully the clouds have lifted, energy is coming back, the nausea is subsiding and I am finally able to start gaining some weight! Not to mention resuming my OCD cleaning routines....a clean house and scrubbing toilets makes me feel better!

A loving tribute to my valentine!

My dearest Russell!!! I just LOVE these photos....those of you who know him well have seen this "look" of his.....yes, truly classic Russell caught on an old 35mm!!

These where photos taken of him at age 7 1/2 while he was carefully writing his Valentine's cards for classmates with older brothers teasing him from the sideline....

Grade school valentines where such an ordeal...From the looks of these pictures, it seems that Russ and I both stressed over this February tradition.....I remember carefully choosing all the "hey pal" cards for the boys and making sure that a "be mine" or "love ya" did not fall into the wrong hand...I even carefully choose the conversation hearts...heaven forbid I send false messages....

Russ still puts a lot of thought and time into every card he writes!!!! (He even practices writing the sentiment on a scratch paper...so, if you have ever received a card from him, it was well thought out!!) Needless to say, I have saved every precious card he has written me...I treasure them long after the chocolate has been consumed & flowers wilted....

This year he compiled (and found) our old emails from when we were just starting to date (this was before the time of personal cell phones & calling cards added up so we emailed back and forth..) It was so fun to take a walk through memory lane and get a look at our beginning!! What a treasure!!

Happy Valentines Day!

I know this is late, but Happy Valentines Day!! I was able to spend the day with Rylan but missed my other sweetheart dearly!!! Russ had a convention in FL the entire Valentines Day weekend...(Thursday- Tues)...I know,major bummer...I am sure it was planned & scheduled by a bitter divorced woman or a bitter lady who has never found true love....

Despite the distance from my main squeeze, I was grateful to have Rylan to share the day with!!! He truly is soooo sweet and kind. He gives the best hugs and tells us how much he misses us when we are gone....even if it a running an errand for an hour...he is really good for me & Russell's self-esteem.

Rylan got the traditional Valentine's candy & few trinket toys.....he is so easy to spoil because he goes "oooohhhhh, thank you mommy, thank you mommy.." then gives me a big hug and kiss!!!

Zoo & Salt Lick

We finally had a {WARMER} weekend and Rylan has been asking to go the Zoo so took a little trip to the Zoo 5 min from our house....We got to see some animals, feed some animals, and ride a little train through the hill country. Afterward we met up with our friends, the Laws, for some yummy yummy Salt Lick BBQ.