Last week I spent the week helping my parents kennel train Shelby.  She did fabulous!  She slept in my room with my pups, so she could see how they do it.  That's right-  I slept with three dogs in my bedroom! (wouldn't have it any other way)  She only got up twice every night, and let out a little "I have to potty!" bark...so cute!  By the second day, she was already going into her kennel by herself AND still hasn't pottied in the house.  I like to think of myself as a puppy whisperer...although my parents would probably say more of a drill sergeant.  I was a little nervous leaving little Shelby on Friday, but left my parents strict instructions--I bet they'll do fabulous!

I went home Friday afternoon because Mike and I had our second Childbirth class Saturday morning. This was a very interesting class because we learned about all the different pain medication options we had during childbirth--which I will definitely be using! I'm sorry if this makes me less of a mother, but I definitely appreciate modern medicine and what it can do for me!  We spent half of the time in the class, and then the second half was spent doing a tour of the hospital.  It was a good thing we were up and out of the classroom because Mike and I were highly annoyed with the couple behind us.  Let me paint you a picture--  We were shoved in these tables with very little room, and Mike likes to have his room (to say the least).  Well, at one point he was scooting his seat back and barely bumped the table behind us, and the lady freaked out and said, "Are you kidding me?" and grabbed her stomach like Mike punched her or something.. Mike said he was sorry, but they obviously starting griping about us in some other language.  Needles to say, we needed some fresh air!
The tour was great..we got to see our Labor/Delivery rooms, the nursery (which had a brand new baby in the window), and our recovery rooms.  I think I'm really going to like the hospital, and everyone seems really nice!

Saturday evening, we drove BACK to Granbury for Spud and Victoria's wedding shower!  It was a really nice shower with some fabulous food!  It was nice visiting with everyone (feel like we don't get to see them very often), and I think they got some good gifts!



Saturday morning, we had two more baby classes:  Baby Care and Breastfeeding.  I'll tell you this.. Mike is such a trooper!  I liked the baby care class because they went over all the little ailments and weird looking things your baby might have when you bring them home.  That was helpful because they were all things I probably would've freaked out about if Grace gets!  They also went over how to swaddle and change a diaper..all good stuff.  Breastfeeding was also VERY interesting.  It really is crazy how good breastfeeding is for your baby and the mom! Our teacher told us this crazy story about how her daughter got a mild eye infection, and when she called her doctor he told her to rub some breast milk on it before she spent all the money on antibiotics.  She swore that it healed overnight...pretty crazy!

AND.....we finished the nursery!!

Well, most of it anyway.  We still have a glider coming from my wonderful grandparents, and we're having trouble getting the light to work-but other than that, the majority is ready to go!  Have a look:

WILD WEEKEND!!

This past weekend proved to be yet another fabulous time!  It was jam- packed just like last weekend, but that's apparently how we like them!  The week was pretty busy for me- working on the nursery. (Don't worry, I'll post pics soon-it's getting very close to being complete!)  Little Grace has proven to start moving quite a bit more in the past couple weeks, and I can tell she is definitely growing!  I know she's growing because Mike and I have noticed that my belly button has started to try to escape :(.  It's one of those things you know will ultimately happen, but mine is trying harder and harder everyday to poke out- aahhh!  Oh well, guess I'll need to get over that...AND start wearing looser fitting shirts!

On Friday, Mike and I decided to meet some friends for dinner and movie--sweet, I know.  We met Tyler and Susie, Gabe and Chandra, and Matt at Chuy's for some Mexican grub before we headed to the movies.  We met Cecily and her mom to see 'Horrible Bosses.'  Let me tell ya- Mike and I are pretty easy to please when it comes to cinematic adventures, but this movie was hilarious!  We've always been, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" fans, so we were pretty interested to see how Charlie Day did..and he was very funny!  Jennifer Aniston was mighty scandalous too..for all you male viewers!  Go see it!

SATURDAY...
We started our day off bright and early with our first (of many) baby classes.  This one was 4 hours long, and it was all about childbirth.  Let me tell u..Mike was having a good ole time with this!  We both saw our first childbirth video...AAHHH!  Quite interesting-to say the least!  Well, at least we're one step closer to being ready to raise a human-Ha!  After class, we packed up the dogs (again) and headed to Granbury (again)!  Our nephew, Clay, is turning the big 5, and we were supposed to be meeting them at Fossil Rim for his b-day party...but Nate and Ariana were sick so that wouldn't have made for a very go

od time. :(

SUNDAY...

Since we were there anyway, we decided we were going to Fossil Rim and having our fun!  It was soo much fun!  My advice to you is to go early like we did.  We got there around 8:30, and it was nice and cool!  Mike and I posted up in the back of the truck, while Mom and Dad stayed inside to enjoy the air conditioning.  Mike was a little uneasy about being so exposed to all of the animals, but I found that to be quite entertaining.

Another good thing about going early in the morning is that the animals are up and hungry!  The first hour, we spent a good amount of time feeding different kind of deer and zebra...

After about an hour into it, there is a half-way point with restrooms and a gift shop.  I thought it was pretty funny that when I went to the restroom, I noticed a huge sign that said: "Please do not wash your feet in the sink!"  Apparently, that's a big problem they have with the women there!  My mom also got me a cute little bracelet that says, 'Grace.' (couldn't help it..it was just so cute and giraffe print!) 

The second half of the tour was awesome!  

That's when we saw some HUGE deer and giraffes-UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL!  We also saw the cheetah compound, which was great- but all the cheetahs were enjoying their siesta time!

If you ever get the chance to check this place out, you definitely should!  It's really fun getting to see all the animals so close and feed them!

FOSSIL RIM

LAST BUT NOT LEAST....

After lunch in Glenrose, my parents decided to go see a puppy prospect.  They have debating whether or not to get a puppy for a while now, and have been keeping their eye on this lab puppy--but hadn't seen it yet.  Mike and I knew that all we had to do was go 'see' it, and it would all be over. 

We went to see the two black lab puppies that were left, and they were precious (to say the least)!  OF COURSE, they decided now was the time to commit to the puppy raising..don't know why it took them so long!  So, needless to say, SHELBY is the newest member in our family. I did find it funny to tell my parents that...between Landon and us there will be four dogs and a newborn baby at their house during the holidays!  Yee haw!!

 

Crazy weekend!

FOURTH OF JULY!

The fourth of July was crazy fun and BUSY.. we were all over God's green earth! On Friday, I went with my good friend Jennifer Beall to the Ranger game!  It's always fun watching the game with Jennifer because, not only does she know EVERYTHING you need to know about the game, but she has some fabulous seats!  Mike met us there after he had a little HH with his work buddies.  We watched the Rangers whoop up on the Marlins and win 15-5.  Much better game to watch then the painful game on my birthday!


Saturday was a busy day- We woke up, and got ready to FINALLY go out on the lake!  We packed our bag and headed that way.  Matt rode with us, and we met Tom and Patsy at the boat shed to do all the heavy lifting.  It was such a beautiful day out on the lake, and party cove was slowly getting ready to party.  It's definitely a different kind of fun on the lake when you're six months pregnant, but you know what?? I had just as much fun floating around on my noodle.  

*Mike busting a move in his life jacket diaper!

After a while, we went and picked up Robert and Clay.  Clay finally had his first real lake experience.. besides the one when he was still in diapers and turning dangerously red!  He had a blast doing what kids do- jumping off the boat, climbing on the boat, repeat!  

*Favorite times at the lake!

After lake time, we got ready for a good ole BBQ at our good friends' Tyler and Susie's.  I tell you what-there might not be anything better than a chili dog after a day on the lake with fruit! (Sorry Doc, I'll work it off later!)

Saturday morning, we got up and headed to Greenville.  We met up with our great, long-lost friends- Curt and Jenny at his parents' house.  They have a fabulous place...so much fun.  Our day consisted of floating around in the pool, working on our tan AND playing with their nine little puppies!  They were half German Shorthair Pointer/ half English Pointer---perfect!  It took all of my self control not to take one home with me!  Mike and I usually don't have much self control either.  Look at these precious faces:  

That evening, we went to a lakehouse party on Club Lake and it was a good, old-fashion time!  We got out our lawn chairs and feasted on some BBQ and watermelon (of course), watched a pontoon parade, almost watched someone catch on fire from fireworks, and listened to a live band sing 'Old McDonald' to all the little kids (precious)!  At the end of the night, they had the most awesome firework show over the lake...but of course we had to end the night with Curt and Mike almost killing themselves with $250 worth of store bought fireworks!

We left Greenville around midnight, and were headed home to pick up the dogs and off to Granbury. That's right-we're crazy!  After a quick shower and a cup of coffee, we were on the road again.  Finally made it to Granbury about 3 a.m.  We woke up with the dogs about 7  the next morning, and got to visit with my parents and Yaya & Papa!  My mom, Yaya, and I left around 9 to go to downtown Granbury to watch an amazing parade and do a little shopping.  There were a lot of little stands that sold the cutest bows!  I started my bow collection, for sure!  Check 'em out!  The green one is from my mom (still deciding on a Grandma name). 

 It was about 1000 degrees outside--don't think I've ever felt sweat roll down my legs, ugh!  So, after about an hour, it was pool time!  While lounging in our pool attire, my dad and I realized we were about the same size- so we decided to do a comparison.  What do you think??

After watching-yet another- fabulous firework show, we were headed home after a busy couple of days. Now, we just can't wait for Grace to celebrate our next 4th of July with us!