Feels Like Spring...

Just wanted to put in my two cents about the GORGEOUS weather today! We're supposed to have a high of 61! Hallelujah! I have our sliding patio door open as I type, and it literally feels like spring...unfortunately, it won't last. We're supposed to be back in the 30's by this weekend! Ughh...I've never been more ready for spring and warmer weather!

I talked to my dad last night, and he said he had just been outside to take the trash out, and there was no wind (unusual in west TX) and everything was so calm and peaceful, and it was 78 degrees...hard to believe it's still winter, he said. To which I replied...oh, it was really nice here today too...sunny and 45!??!? Man, what I wouldn't give for at least 70 degrees?

Hopefully, it will start to warm up a little soon...my parents and sister are coming up here March 13-18...and I would love to have nice weather while they're here!! C'mon mother nature...please cooperate!

Let the Countdown Begin...

We had a Dr.'s appointment Thursday the 12th before we left for Chicago. Everything looked good and is right on track. Heartbeat was strong at 150 and the baby was very active while the Dr. was doing the doppler...it was really neat to hear! Dr. Padratzik said everything was going perfectly.

I am 19 weeks, 3 days today! I can't BELIEVE we are almost 1/2 way there! It has gone by so quickly, and has been wonderful. I feel so blessed and lucky to have had such a good pregnancy so far. I had very little morning sickness in the 1st trimester, and have really felt great the whole time! I'm starting to show a little, but don't have to have maternity clothes yet (maternity pants are almost a must, but I can still wear some of my regular jeans/pants)...but I've bought a few things here and there just for fun. :) Plus, my friend Brittyne from church let me borrow all of her maternity clothes, as she was pregnant with both of her girls in the spring/summer...awesome!! Thank you Brittyne!!

We go for our big ultrasound next Wednesday, March 4th!!!! I can't wait to find out if this little one is a boy or a girl!! After that day, the real planning will begin...nursery furniture, bedding, registry items, and not to mention...clothes!! :) So fun!!!

I'll be sure and post the u/s pictures and results next week after we get the big news!!

8 days and counting...stay tuned! ;)

Chicago

We had a great time in Chicago Valentines weekend! It was incredibly cold...but didn't really snow (a few flurries one day, but nothing big)...so we were thankful for that. We didn't do a whole lot...did a little exploring, went to the aquarium, ate some wonderful meals, LOVED our hotel (and the location), did a little shopping and took naps every day! It was a wonderfully relaxing Valentines/Birthday trip. Here's a brief recap:

Thursday 2/12 Colby took the day off (thank goodness) and helped me get everything ready to go. I had packed the night before, but there are always a ton of "little" things to be done the day of. We had a Dr.'s appt. that morning at 11 (will post about that next), so that made it a little more hectic. Left the Dr.'s office, headed home to load up everything and everyone (dogs were having a vacation of their own!) and were off. We took the dogs to their vacation spot...Country Acres...and headed to the train station.

Leaving St. Louis by train...

The train ride was great. Honestly a nice way to get to Chicago! The country side between here and there isn't that exciting...but at least you can get up, walk around and stretch your legs during the trip. We got into Chicago around 8:30 that night, and took a cab to our hotel, got checked in, and went off in search of dinner. We already knew we where we wanted to go...but were excited to find out it was only 2 blocks from our hotel!! :) Bonus! We went to Giordano's Pizza on N. Rush. Famous Chicago deep dish pizza after a long day...yummmm.

Giordano's Pizza

We got back to our room that night around 11pm, and heard this thud-thud-thud-thud...repetitively. Instantly knew it was someone on the treadmill in the fitness room 2 doors down...ughh...it was SO loud! In fact, there was a water bottle on my nightstand, and you could see the water vibrating every time the guys foot hit the treadmill! Needless to say, we called the front desk and asked to change rooms! Got to our new room, which was fine (we thought)...got settled in and ready for bed, and realized they had moved us to a full size bed...from a KING reservation! We were too pooped to change again that night, and decided to just call in the morning.

Friday 2/13 Called front desk first thing, and were able to switch into our 3rd hotel room...third time was a charm, this room was perfect. 21st floor+ GREAT view+ King bed+ away from fitness center = bliss.

View from our room

After we made the room switch, we headed out to explore. After a few failed attempts of trying to find the metro station (read: walking for 45 minutes in the FREEZING cold), we finally found it, hopped a train, and headed to a place my dad had told us about that he had seen on Food Network: Hot Doug's.

Hot Doug's ...line is wrapped around the other side of the building!

Famous for their hot dogs, and french fries cooked in rendered duck fat. Yeah...doesn't sound that appealing, but believe me...they might possibly have been the best FF I've ever eaten...and believe me, I'm a FF connoisseur! :) We found the place, and also found a line of about 20 people wrapped around the building waiting to get into the tiny-hole-in-the-wall place! We diligently waited in line (we weren't about to give up after the journey we had to get there!), and finally made our way into the warmth after a 50 minute wait!!!!!! It was worth it, food was great! On the way back to Michigan Avenue, we stopped by the shops at North & Clyburn and looked around for a while. Went into the Land of Nod store and looked at baby things=fun! We bought a flip video camera that we had been looking at for quite a while...it's addicting and tiny. Then made our way back to the hotel to rest a while and play with our new camera. After our daily relaxation, we got ready for dinner, then took a taxi to our restaurant...Mon Ami Gabi. Had a great french dinner consisting of escargot (yum), shrimp gabi and steak...mmm. Then headed to another place I had researched called Hot Chocolate for dessert. It was fantastic as well, and very quaint and trendy.

Dessert at Hot Chocolate

Saturday 2/14 Headed to Bank of America Theater to see about getting tickets to Jersey Boys...but, a) the line was already incredibly long, b) the only seats they had left were either behind a pole or had limited view for some other reason, and c) there were only so many tickets left for each performance. So...we figured our chances of actually getting tickets was slim...so we headed off in search of breakfast. After breakfast, we wandered around the Loop area for several hours, then ventured toward the aquarium.

Skyline from Aquarium

The aquarium was packed (being Saturday), but we made the best of it...although my favorite part with the whales and dolphins was closed for remodeling. So, we spent a few hours there, then grabbed a snack from the street vendor outside and headed back to the hotel for a nap. After naptime, we got ready for dinner and strolled down Michigan Avenue for a while.

Water Tower at night

But, it was SOOO cold and windy, that we decided to head to our restaurant (Mambo Grill) early to see if they could get us in before our reservation time (which was 9:30pm). As luck would have it, they had a booth ready for us as soon as we got there (1 1/2 hours early!), and we had a delicious and romantic dinner. We got dessert to go, and headed back to the hotel...exhausted.

Ready for a night on the town...view from our room

Sunday 2/15 Woke up early, got everything packed and ready to go, and headed to the lobby to store our luggage while we went to eat. The night before, we had called Amtrak to see if we could change trains to get on the earlier one...which, thankfully was possible...so our new train was scheduled to leave Chicago at 1:45. We went back down to the Loop district for breakfast to the Bongo Room, and had another small wait...that place was packed! Breakfast was great...then we headed to Water Tower Place to look around for a little while. After that, we went back to the hotel (which was around the corner) to grab our bags and head to the bus stop. Got to Union Station in plenty of time change our tickets and relax for a bit. The train back to STL was a lot nicer than the one on the way up there. It was a superliner...so the seats were on the top level, there was a dining car (with outrageously priced food), a snack/lounge car, and much nicer/bigger seats than the previous train. We got back into STL around 7:30 (which was much better than the 11:00pm we would have gotten in if we had kept to our original plan), picked up the puppies who were very happy to see us, and headed home. It was a great weekend getaway!!

Colby didn't have to open his laptop or check his work email ONE time...hallelujah!! It's so nice to be close to fun places you can go on the weekend! :)

My Granny

As some of you know, my dear, sweet grandmother passed away on January 30th, almost two weeks ago now. I wanted to share a tribute that my sister, Lauren, wrote that was read at the funeral. It really sums up Granny's life and relates to everyone how special she was to all of us. Mom and her 2 brothers and 2 sisters wrote down all their memories and reflections of Granny...and Lauren (being the masterful writer that she is) put it all together so beautifully and eloquently. It really sums up who she was, and the legacy she has left. We will all miss her dearly.

A Tribute to Wilma
Everyone who knew Wilma Langford Dudley knew she was special. The ways in which this unassuming woman stood out are innumerable. She radiated a quiet strength, and the breadth of her gentleness and compassion were matched only by the depth of her heart. She was serious about her Christianity and looked for ways to share her faith. Wilma always set a good example, which her family and friends will always cherish.

Wilma's capacity to love was one of her most amazing attributes- routinely befriending those in need and never hesitating to share anything at her disposal- including her friendship, warmth, compassion and loyalty. She consistently looked for and found the good in others, always focusing on their most important characteristic as a child of God. She was unfailingly generous with her time and talents and could always be counted on. She took pride in her family and looked on every member with unconditional love which they felt with every word and gesture.

Wilma knew plenty of meager times in her life, but was always undaunted- becoming a master at the art of "making do", whether it was turning a few ingredients into a family dinner, using her considerable talents and creativity to construct precious gifts, or coaxing beauty and nourishment from the tended soil. She loved creating, gardening, and nature. Wilma never batted and eye at hard work, and if there was a task at hand, she was ready to roll up her sleeves. Everything she did held a reflection of her sweet spirit, inner joy, and servant's heart.

As her health was failing, her perspective was "God's given me a good life- should I complain about a few bad days?" This statement embodied her outlook on life and her quiet optimism. Wilma often counted her blessings, and all whose lives' she touched count her among theirs.

Wilma was deeply loved by her friends and family and will be sorely missed- but their hearts are warmed and they rejoice on her behalf, knowing she has finally gone home. Her beautiful spirit radiated from the inside out. One look into her sparkling blue eyes and you knew you were in the presence of a true ambassador of God's love.