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These past few weeks have been FULL. Full of work, school, ice, illness (oh and the holidays!?)…it’s time for a much needed winter break! But even among the chaos there have been really wonderful moments like this past Friday when my sweet husband treated me to a fantastic early birthday date! We went out to the Gaylord to see the ICE! Exhibit and it definitely did not disappoint. I was wary at first hearing that the conference room the exhibit is in would be a chilly 8 degrees… but it ended up being one of the coolest experiences (pun completely and totally intended)! I would love to make this a tradition or at least add it to the list of things to do during this holiday season even if we don’t make it every year.

All of the sculptures are made completely out of ice (aside from some slight embellishments) – even the path ways! The large exhibit which included slides for the kiddos was Nutcracker themed. There was a smaller exhibit that was themed around Christmas in New York and then it all ended with a beautiful Nativity.

Happy belated thanksgiving everyone! We are currently down in NOLA enjoying family, friends and of course beignets. We spent the day yesterday with my wonderful in-laws eating our fair share of turkey and playing silly games.

Every year, my dear husband goes on a retreat with the men in his family. This retreat usually falls the weekend before Christmas and is always a time for him to refocus and center himself for the new year. Ever since I have known him he has gone on this retreat and I was always a little jealous of the time he spends away growing closer to God and reflecting.

Switching gears to my life – for the past 6 years I have been volunteering on and off with our church’s Lifeteen program and have LOVED every single minute of it. Every fall we go on a retreat but I am always leading a small group, giving a talk, or running around in the background. I’m ministering to others and not being ministered to. While this is fabulous and I love the opportunity I am being given to serve others – I have been feeling lately that I am running on empty. This is a feeling that has been pretty consistent the past year or so…just very worn and disconnected from my faith life.

Well what do you know – a little opportunity for me to retreat has popped up! But this is no normal yay Jesus clap your hands, sing some songs, play some games retreat (like the ones I have been helping out on as of late)… it’s a silent retreat.

One little detail I left out about my husbands retreat, is that it’s silent. Well for the engineer-computer-nerd-type, I would imagine that being quiet for a few days isn’t that big of a deal. I talk to people, a LOT, every DAY, as my job. I am constantly making to do lists and taking notes and writing and planning and… silence is hard for me. So needless to say…I’m a little nervous.

I should be finishing up packing right now but baby was hungry so we had a snack and I decided to write a few thoughts down. I’m thankful that some other ladies I have gotten to know through church are coming on this retreat as well and while it will be silent, I won’t be going about it alone. I think it’s going to be eye opening to spend so much time with my computer and cell phone completely turned off and my mind turned on to God. I’m ready for the challenge and the hopeful refreshment I’ll be receiving this weekend.

Prayers are greatly appreciated & I’ll be praying for you too! 

I have yet to really delve into the depths of pregnancy details because not much has happened. Aside from the exciting discovery that we were having a little babe (which is a post all on its own) nothing has really rocked the boat as far as how I feel or look. This past week I started to feel a little bit more bumpy in the tummy area and today I really felt like I looked pregnant. However, the above picture may or may not be an accurate depiction of bump-age because it was taken after a full day spent at the Texas State Fair. So not only is that my baby in the bump but a food baby comprised of almost everything fried that the fair had to offer. Things really have been pretty easy thus far in the baby journey and I’m praying that they continue this way. My first trimester rendered minimal nausea and no morning sickness for which I am the most thankful. Really, the biggest change has been my endurance during the day and how easily I get tired (falling asleep at work, when your work involves 20 eight year olds, is usually frowned upon).

The biggest excitement: I’m pretty sure I felt a few movements today at the fair (somebody thoroughly enjoyed the chocolate pie shake I was having). Little jumps like muscle spasms or twitches which was pretty weird but also pretty incredible.

On to another week of growing a human!

Joining Jen and some other lovely ladies for a quick Friday recap of our week. My goal next week is to actually post this on Friday. 😉

1. New name! – So I have been “blogging” (I say that because I am still a member of the consistently inconsistent bloggers club) for a little over a year now and up until this past Sunday the title of my blog was still the place holder of “in progress.”  A part of me appreciated these transition words because I felt that the lent themselves to where I feel I always am in life – a state of progress – but I have been wanting something a big more permanent. I was inspired by the following picture that was taken at our engagement shoot two years ago at one of my favorite places in the world Cafe du Monde.

 

2. Bumpdates! – I have taken a 12 week photo and a 13 week photo the past two weeks and have meant to post them on Sunday but they have slipped through the cracks of a packed schedule. I am planning on making up for lost time this week but honestly… no one is missing much. I have a slight bump after I eat dinner most nights but really have little to show for my pregnant self at the moment. I just inherited some maternity clothes from the wonderful, Heidi (my waistline thanks you!) and placed my first order for maternity pants from Loft and I’m ready to make good use of them all!

3. Reading list: Currently on the lookout for a new book to read. Preferably one that does not involve caterpillars and talking cats and dogs. It’s hard reading during the school year but I was able to accomplish a goal of reading at least ONE grown up book this summer, I think I might be able to do the same during the year…maybe.

4. School: It was a tough week this week. It has honestly been a tough couple of weeks but we are making it through. Just really challenged with this group of kiddos this year due to some extremely varying learning styles but they are pushing me to provide for them and meet their needs. It is just going to take some extra preparation on my part and sacrificing some time on the weekends. Teaching is also a job that unfortunately lends itself to self comparison and I’ve caught myself doing that this past week more times than I would like to admit. Time to rest assured that I am doing everything I can do and that I am a good teacher… that is just one of those things that is easier said than done.

5. Things on my heart:  We are heading down to NOLA for Thanksgiving again this year and I’m ready to be with the other half of my family. We vacationed with my in laws at the beginning of the summer and spent a good chunk of time with them down there and in Florida but it’s time to head back. I love it down there and I’m definitely missing some special people (and beignets, let’s be honest).

6. Date night: We went to go see Gravity last night and HOLY. MOTHER. COW. GEEZ. That was probably THE most stressful movie I have ever seen in my entire life – but also the most amazing. Sandra Bullock, that lady, I completely underestimated her acting abilities. If you haven’t seen it I won’t elaborate but as a person who is extremely freaked out by space travel I thought it was an amazing movie and I got over my fears pretty quickly. It’s great.

7. And here are more engagement pictures… because after pulling up the beignet picture I just had to look through all of them, naturally. All photo cred goes to our amazing photographer and friend, Jessica Renee Photography.

Happy weekend!

Rejoining the world of quick takers and following Jen and the lovely bunch for 7 quick ones!

This week we finally let the cat out of the bag and told our family, friends, and coworkers the news that we have been keeping secret these past couple of months. We are so happy to finally let people know and share in this joy with us. I still can’t believe that there is a little baby growing inside of me right now; I’m sure that will feel more real as the weeks progress. We are just so lucky and blessed to have such wonderful people surrounding us who are so excited for us.

🙂