Happy July!

Our new house guest arrived this week, University of Florida baseball and football player Riley Cooper. Riley is most likely being drafted by the Texas Rangers but playing for the McKinney Marshalls for the summer (so we are his host family!) We all chilled by the pool his 1st night talking Gator sports and reminisced about Gainesville memories. Good times, good times! He will be here until early August and Trey is loving having someone to talk football with!

Dantes is doing great! He continues to love all new foods he tries and is starting to get a little temper when he eats it all and still wants more. But he is so stinkin' cute you just have to laugh at him! He is also swimming almost every day and really starting to show improvement! He is great at holding his breath and not sucking down the water!

Last year at this time Jake went to doggie heaven. I still think about him almost every day - so many happy memories. Crazy to imagine that the year has flown by so fast, and oh how our lives have changed! Well hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July holiday!

Dantes has his 1st tooth!

So sorry I haven't updated in forever. But now that there is more going on with Dantes, I will try to update more! Anyways, Monday morning I noticed his 1st tooth starting to make its way in! The second one is now starting to poke through as well. So he will have his 2 bottom teeth pretty soon! Too hard to capture in pics, but soon enough! He also started food (sweet peas and sweet potatoes) and likes them! He is really eating alot, so guess that explains why he is already 19 lbs! He is getting so big so fast. He is almost able to sit up by himself and now he prefers sleeping on his stomach, as he rolls on his tummy as soon as I put him in his crib! Speaking of sleeping, he is up to 9 to 12 hrs straight, so yeah for that! Trey and I are fine - just loving being parents! It is so much more fun and easier than I ever expected! But luckily, he is such a great baby - I mean little boy! Texas summer is here and nice and hot. We all spend lots of time in the pool! He like playing with his toys in the water and the tanning ledge is wonderful. He will start swimming lesson in a few weeks, more like survival swimming skills, like floating. But he loves the water and doesn't mind getting his face or ears wet! But he has been taking baths in the big tub with us since he was about 1 month old, so he is very used to water! Trey has been playing golf more often and I have jumped on the P90X routine, so working out at home with those DVD's and really like it. Well guess that's all for now. Hope everyone is enjoying the summer!

Dantes is here!

OK a little late in this post, but hey its been a little crazy lately! He was born 12/30/2008 at 8:57 pm. He weighed 8 lbs 0.3 oz and was 20.5" in length. Well we just had his 2 week checkup and he weighed 8 lb 9 oz and was 21.5" in length.

Being parents is incredible! And its true that you must nap when he naps! I learned that the 1st day home. He is a great eater and sleeper. So far we have had only 1 crazy night (think he had gas!) where I didnt get much sleep (ok about 2 hrs) but luckily I got to sleep in that next morning.

Overall, the newborn stage is going great, better than I expected. Labor was more difficult than I expected (I have much more respect for all Moms!) and the entire process of bringing a life into this world is truly a miracle!

It's a waiting game now! And Go Gators!

Sorry it's been so long since my last update! We had an ultrasound 11/20, just to see how big Baby Dantes was getting. It was estimated that he was 6.8 lbs and was 97%in all four categories (head diameter, body diameter and leg measurements)! They expect that babies gain about 1/2 lb / week, so based on that, he should be a good sized baby! But I was almost 9 lbs and Trey was just under 8 lbs so figure he will be atleast 8 lbs, possibly closer to 9 lbs! I am now visiting my doctor weekly.

I am still feeling great! I have gained 25 lbs and don't look huge - everyone is shocked that I am 37 weeks pregnant! I continue to work out(elliptical) and teach my Aqua class on Monday nights, so think that helps alot. I just took maternity pictures this past weekend, 12/6 (see pictures below). Also I am still working, I feel fine so why not! Plus thats more time off after his arrival!

We are all ready for Dantes'arrival - car seat in the car, all the clothes and blankets washed, changing stations set up. Trey is stressing a little more that me - he loves making his "To Do Lists" but that is good for making sure we have everything ready (in his eyes)! Well guess that's all for now - hope everyone is enjoying the Holidays and getting ready for Christmas!

We are also very excited because the Florida Gators are headed to the National Championship game - playing the Univ. of Oklahoma! Unfortunately we won't be at the game in Miami, but will be watching with friends and family here in Texas with Baby Dantes! GO GATORS!!!

Baby Dantes' Nursery!

We're getting closer now! The nursery is finally done - yeah! And Dantes continues to get more and more clothes from our amazing friends! We had our 1st shower (pictures to follow soon)! We are so thankful and blessed to have such wonderful friends! We also had our childbirth classes (and surprisingly it was great and very informative), so are done with that! We plan to take a breastfeeding and a sign language class, but still have a little time for that. I am still feeling pretty good - some back soreness and hip pain every now and then, but not every day, so that's good. And our course Dantes is doing great; he's moving around alot, especially whenever I stop moving. Anyone looking at my stomach can see him moving,which is really neat! I am going to the doctor every 2 weeks now, and measuring right on track! I have gained 20 lbs, but now she said I should expect to gain about 1 lb per week. Well guess that's all for now! Hope everyone is enjoying the cool fall weather and has a happy Halloween! More nursery pics... http://picasaweb.google.com/gatrme/NursuryOct2008#

The 3rd Trimester is here!

Fall is officially here, and my new favorite season since being pregnant! We traveled to Fayetville, Arkansas to watch the Gators kick some Hog butt last weekend. It's always fun to tailgate for Gator football and what perfect weather. Dantes' 1st Gator game! Speaking of Baby Dantes, he is kicking and moving like crazy. I am officially in my 3rd trimester (29 weeks) and I had my 1st braxton-hicks contraction today too, and it makes me really think about an epidural! But we have our 1st childbirth class 10/18, so that should be a true learning experience! The furniture gets delivered this weekend, so the nursery will be well on its way to being done soon! Pictures coming as soon as it arrives!

Can you believe fall is almost here! YEAH!

I always think I don't have much to say, then I start typing and the words just start flowing!Anyways, August and September have been great! It's finally starting to cool down, so Trey and I have been spending alot of time chillin'in the back yard, walking and riding bikes. And our course, fall brings out favorite sport - GATOR FOOTBALL!

On the baby front, lots there too! Little Dantes is moving around like crazy - big kicks and punches! Even Trey can feel him now too! We had an ultrasound this morning and everything looked great - he is about 1lb 9 oz. now and measuring the size of a 25 week old baby! On the Mom front - I am feeling great! Still working out alot - mostly aqua, swimming and walking. And my belly is finally starting to "pop" (as you can see from the pictures).

We also are making progress on the nursery! The walls are a handsome Ralph Lauren "Spanish Bluebell" color. We finally decided on bedding - which was very difficult because Trey and I couldn't agree on anything! We chose custom bedding with plush, soft fabrics - the main pattern is a navy, light blue, light green and white vertical strip. It should be done this week, so I will post pictures soon! We also ordered the furniture - it's a deep chocolate wood color. I have also ordered draperies, so now just need to get Trey to install the rods. A good friend gave me tons of clothes too, so he is set on clothes for at least the 1st 8 months! Well guess that's all for now! Hope everyone is enjoying the final days of summer!