25 Week Belly

Oh my...I just looked back at the last time I posted a picture of my belly (19 weeks). It has gotten a wee bit bigger since then, and I can't believe I am more than 6 months along. It's funny because other than my backaches and not being able to sleep very well I don't notice my belly getting that much bigger. I have raved before about the wonder of maternity jeans and I'll do it again. I love em. I want to wear them for the rest of my life. You just never notice that you are getting fatter in them because they just keep stretching and stretching and stretching...and, you get the point.

Holly Jolly Christmas

Christmas definitely snuck up on us this year! With Thanksgiving being a week closer to Chrimstas this year, plus work travel and just being overall swamped at both of our jobs Ralph and I felt like we didn't even really get to enjoy the season this year. It was about 68 degrees on Christmas Day, and after opening presents, we sat on the back patio in our short-sleeved shirts! I felt like I was home in San Diego for Christmas this year! Anyway, as usual, we spoiled Sadie with gifts (she got nice Candycane rawhide bones!) and we enjoyed our last Christmas morning together as a child-less couple!

This is me opening up my new COACH BAG!!!


Ralph tearing open his present!


Sadie enjoying one of her smaller rawhide candy cane bones!


Ralph helping Sadie open up one of her presents while she waits patiently!


Ralph wearing his new coat that Santa brought him!


The stockings...

Mmmmmm.. Peanut Butter Balls!

For those of you that know me well, you know that I really cannot cook or bake (except Chocolate Chip cookies-my specialty!) even though I try. Since I've been married, I have been trying to cook some recipes for dinner here and there and feel like I am getting better at it with the help of my sister in law and Mom.
So last night, I wanted to try one of my favorite desserts-- one my Mom only makes at Christmas time--Peanut Butter Balls! The problem is, this recipe is not really for beginners, or at least moron beginners like myself! Thanks to my wonderful mama being "on call" throughout the night, I was able to semi- pull it off! On a positive side-note, my wonderful husband was very supportive of the whole thing and told me I had the best looking balls he'd ever seen (HUH???) So BEHOLD!!! My batch of Peanut Butter Balls! I know I'll enjoy polishing them off.

The Great Christmas Tree Hunt

Ralph and I have made it a new tradition to drive up to the mountains each Christmas to a Christmas Tree farm, and chop down our own tree! It is such a difference experience than going to Target and picking one out (although I loved doing that too with my mom when I lived in San Diego!) Anyway, this year it was super cold on the day we drove up so we were bundled up good! After being Mr. and Mrs. Picky and totally indecisive, we finally settled upon one. Here is the nice man with the chain saw (uhh...weird combination of words) chopping our tree down for us. And then of course the finished result in our living room. We are now officially Christmas-ready. HO HO HO!

Our Trip to Monticello....Again

Since Ralph and I have lived in Virginia (keep in mind, just a little over a year now) we have been to Monticello four, count em FOUR times! For those of you who don't know what Monticello is, it is actully Thomas Jefferson's home and has been kept pristinely in place since the 1800's. It is beautiful and fairly nearby to Roanoke (it's about an hour and a half away) but at this point Ralph and I should join the Virginia Historical Society and give the tours ourselves! Each time we have out of town visitors to our home, they all want to see the historical landmarks in this part of the country. This is totally is understandable, so we take them to the most famous places--TJ's house being the most famous of them all. So when we first moved here, we went by ourselves. Then we went when my Dad and family came to visit in July. Then again in September when Ralph's friends came out from Chicago. Then again over Thanksgiving with Ralph's family from Chicago. Anyhow, I thought after all these times going, we should probably document our visit. So, here we are, though we look very tiny in comparison to this giant house, which by the way took 40 years to build, and Thomas Jefferson died here on July 4th, exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed, 4 hours before John Adams......

19 Week Belly

Okay, I don't want every post to be about my pregnancy, but I thought I'd give a quick belly update. Since we live so far away from everyone and I am hermit-like here in Roanoke, a few people have asked to sneak a peek at the growing belly. And is it ever growing! I felt like I wasn't showing at all a few short weeks ago and then all of the sudden something popped! I had to buy my first pairs of materntiy pants and am loving the elastic waistbands. I think I'll wear these for the rest of my life. They worked wonders on Thanksgiving!

I also felt my baby boy kick last night for the first time! About a week ago I thought I had felt him, but it was so soft I couldn't tell. But last night there was no denying it! Ralph and I watched the Bears on TV and the baby went kick-crazy! It was the coolest feeling in the world. I can't wait to meet him.

Well........