Nursery is Done

We got the plantation shutters put in today, literally one day before my due date. Whew! So I guess that makes our nursery officially done and I finally took the "after" pics of the room tonight. Look back on past blogs to see the "before" to remind yourself, if you want. Notice the fun bedding my friend Sarah made for me--LOVE IT SARAH!!! The baby pics on the wall are of Ryan and I that I found when we were about the same age, in the same pose, with the same ugly 1970's carpet, in different colors, we are leaning against. Weird right? I thought it would be neat to see who the baby looks like. The "G" is either for Guendaline "Guen" Ann Fennell or for Graeber "Grae" John Fennell. We will see any day now.

Last of the Baby Showers

This weekend was a nice 3 day weekend with my husband. Since Ryan worked this past Saturday, he had this Friday off. Now that I have my weekly ob/gyn appointments on Friday, he went with me. I got up early and went walking before my appointment. It was actually a pleasant, not so hot morning, to take a walk. Then we went to my 920am appointment where the doc told me that I have gained 21lbs and now 1.5cm dilated. A whopping 0.5cm more! Not any other news besides that. Then Ryan and I were off to Lowes to do some returns, Target to pic up a few things, ate at Which Which for lunch and then HEB for some groceries. We came home and cleaned up around the house and I was exhausted after that. I took a long nap and woke up to get ready for shower #3, my work shower (see pics). It was at 7pm so when people got off work they could come too. It was very nice and once again, got lots of prezzies! Shout out to all my work peeps---THANKS! I came home around 930pm and crashed, even after my long nap.

Saturday got up and made Ryan and I a big egg breakfast. I wanted him to feel great for when he later had to go and donate blood at our church blood drive. I drove him there and back and of course he did fine. We did stuff around the house and I started cooking for our guests that were coming over that evening. We had Sarah, Aaron and Chris over for dinner as one of our last quiet dinners before this baby comes. I made a replica of La Griglia's Paglia e Fieno which is Fettuccine, Grilled Chicken, Mushrooms, Peas, Pancetta & Parmigiano Reggiano with a salad and cheesecake tortes for dessert. We had fun visiting and enjoying their company.

Sunday, we went to church and our Sunday school class had a prayer brunch for us. It was very nice and people gave us lots of prezzies there too. Right now, it is neatly packed away in the baby's room, but I know in a matter of weeks all that stuff will be strewn over our house. Being the neat freak that I am, that makes me freak out, but I know I will get over it when it comes to sleep vs. cleaning house. This evening Ryan installed the carseat for my carseat check at the fire station this Wednesday and I packed my hospital bag. I think we are ready for this kid. I don't know what else I can do to prepare except get lots of sleep. 11 days and counting...

The Final Days As A Couple...

Ryan and I both worked Saturday. Today, Sunday, after church, we went to the Astros game for free with tickets Ryan received at work. So we decided to head to "the big city" and go see the game as part of some fun last activities as a COUPLE. We had a good time but left early (at the 7th inning) because we were both tired. We did manage to eat some yummy baseball food of nachos and a hamburger. That put us into a nice food coma when we got home. I have to work tomorrow but Ryan has Labor Day off, hope you do too. Here are some pics from our big outing. 18 days and counting...

Shower #2 in Houston

Wow, this weekend was a whirlwind. It started with my first day off Thursday. I ran many errands, went to the mall and happened to find a new dress for my shower for $15 (see pics), came home and cooked a few things for the family that was coming into town the next day.

Friday I went for my usual walk around the neighborhood. Then off to my now weekly appointments at my ob/gyn's office. Everything is still the same, no changes, so that is good. I went to get my nails and eyebrows done for the big weekend, notice my pink toes to match my pink dress. My parents arrived into town right after I finished up at the nail salon. We met at my house and they got to see the nursery for the first time, although still not complete. We went to have lunch at the yummy Blue Water Seafood and had some poboys. We drove around my neighborhood because my parents are considering buying a patio home or renting an apartment when the baby comes. We did drive-by's of about 5 different places. Then I took them back home to rest and I headed to my hair appointment. You would think I was getting married again with all my beauty treatments. After my haircut I came back home and chatted with my parents and Ryan came home from work. Ryan's mother and Ryan's aunt, who flew down from Princeton, New Jersey, just for my shower, came over that evening. Aunt Linda's visit was a suprise to me. So nice! My sister Missy drove in from Austin and so did my friend Randi and by the time everyone got to my house it was 8pm. We had burgers on the grill and called it a night.

Saturday morning Randi and I got up early and went walking around my neighborhood before she, myself and my mother got ready for the shower that day. Ryan and my dad went to work on the house doing a list of "honey do's" that was a mile long. Mom, Randi and I left for Amazon Grill where Randi, Sarah, and Tootie were putting on the shower. It was so nice. Sarah made all the flower arrangments herself, Tootie brought the cupcake mini's which were darling and Randi made my homemade baby shower invites. We had a good time eating ceviche, amacones, empanadas, with salad and their yummy salsa with plantain chips with some delicious LOOKING mojitos and margaritas. It was perfect for the ladies luncheon. Then we opened prezzies and I made out like a bandit. So much baby stuff, I cannot wait to show you in the final pics of the nursery (soon to come). After the shower we headed home and showed Ryan and my dad all the stuff from the party. I am sure they were thrilled. Randi headed back to Austin that afternoon and Ryan and I rested while my parents went to Mass that evening. For dinner Saturday night, Tootie and Chad came over and we had pizza from Double Dave's and a homemade salad. I was still so full from the shower that I did not eat anything.

Sunday, Ryan and I went to church and came home where my mom had made lunch of King Ranch Casserole, rice, beans. Ryan's mom, Ryan's Aunt, Tootie and Chad all came over again for lunch. After everyone ate, everyone went home. My parents headed home to San Marcos and Ryan's Aunt was flying out early the next day. I rested that evening since I had to work Monday. I was exhausted. I hope that you had a great weekend as well. It was so much fun to see all my friends and family this past weekend. Love, Liz----Count down 23 days!

3rd Year Wedding Anniversary, part II

These past 3 days off, starting with Thursday, were pretty busy! The first day off I got up early and straightened up the house for my vanpool friends to come over. These are the girls who I ride to work with and they wanted to give me a mini baby shower. We had it at my house so they could see the nursery. It actually turned out really well. They all came over and brought some yummy take out Chinese food and a delicious cake. We visited for a long while and they got the tour of my entire house since they have not been here. After the shower luncheon I ran some errands for Baby G.





Friday consisted of going to my 35-week appointment at my ob/gyn's office. I had the Group B Strep Test done and was checked to see if I am dialated. I am 1 cm dialated, 30% effaced. Whoa! It was a reality check again that this baby is going to be here before you know it. Actually, I asked if 1 cm meant anything about delivering anytime soon and the doc said that there are women who are dialated 3-4 cm and don't deliver until 40 weeks. But he now wants to see me every Friday from here on out. After the doc's appointment I went downtown to my friend Sarah's house where we went shopping and ate at Red Onion--YUM! It was great to visit and catch up with her. I got home early that afternoon and relaxed. When Ryan got home from work that evening, we watched the movie I Love You, Man--which I would definitely recommend. Very funny!

Today, Saturday, we celebrated our anniversary, finally. Since Ryan and I both worked on Wednesday, August 19th, we decided to celebrate it today by going to eat at a place called Ouisie's Table. Usually Ryan and I always go out to eat for our anniversary at a sushi place since that is where we went on our first date and since we love sushi. Because I still am a little scared to eat raw fish while preggers, we went to Ouisie's instead. It is a cute/romantic Southern food place in the galleria area of Houston. We have been there once for a wedding reception of our great friends, Aaron and Sarah, but wanted to go back to actually dine at the restaurant. Ryan got their famous chicken fried steak and I got their shrimp and grits. Both were delicious! We got some sort of fruit bread a la mode for dessert and it was great too. It was a nice leisure lunch and a little cheaper than eating there for dinner, plus I have to work tomorrow.







I hope that you had a great weekend. Next weekend is chalked full of activities with family in town and baby shower #2, so stayed tuned...

Three Years Ago Today....

I married the man of my dreams! Happy Anniversary Ryan. I love you more and more each day. Me

Getting Ready for Baby

Ryan and I refer to this kid inside me as, "Baby." Ryan and I wonder when this kid is like 16 if we will still say, "Baby, take out the trash," or, "Baby, you need to do your homework." My only complaint I have about not knowing the gender is not about the silly "theme" for the nursery or what color clothes I need to buy, but that we can't refer to it by one of the names we have picked out .

Anywho, I have not written in awhile cause last weekend we were so busy. Busy, of course, getting ready for Baby. Ryan and I both had a three-day weekend that started with Friday. We went to borrow Ryan's sister's truck to get some more hand-me-down furniture from my NICE NICE friend Julie. Props to Julie here!!! She not only gave us her crib but the dresser/changing table, rocker, side table and shelf that all match as well. We are so lucky to have these generous hand-me-downs.

After going all the way to Julie's house and then back to our house to unload everything, we headed off to the Woodlands and went to the Pottery Barn store to finally get an adult bed to go in the bedroom with Baby. The plan is for the person who is on maternity/paternity leave will sleep in that room with Baby to tend to he/she during the night, so the other person that has to get up and go to work can get a good night's sleep without a screaming baby in our bedroom. That is the plan; we will see what happens.

Regardless there is a bed finally in that bedroom for when the kid grows up--a freakin, NICE, EXPENSIVE POTTERY BARN BED. Luckily we used up all of our GC's from our wedding to buy this bed plus a little extra more. On the way home we stopped at Mattress Firm and got some Tempurpedic mattresses. I don't think I will ever want to sleep in our bedroom again with our regular mattress after sleeping in Baby's room on the adult bed. We spent a lot of money that day and that makes me nervous, so we got home around 7pm and chilled. Our bed and mattresses should be delivered at the end of this month, hence why I have not put the "after pictures" of Baby's room on the blog. I want it to be completely done before we take pics.

Saturday, I got up and went walking and went to the grocery store to get some fajitas. The Homers, Sarah and Aaron and Aaron's brother Chris, came over for dinner that night. Sarah, my seamstress friend who made all my bedding for the crib, saved the day and fixed the bumper that I ruined in the wash. She brought over her little sewing kit and unstitched everything and unfolded the foam pad and sewed it back up. I know it seems simple but to me, with no sewing skills whatsoever, she saved the day! Props to Sarah! We visited and ate and ate and ate. Sunday was our day of rest. I don't quite remember what we did but I know it was not nearly as busy as the Friday and Saturday.