It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We (namely I) decided with everything going on this year to tone down the decorations this year and just take it easy. Thankfully I have a husband who decided to ignore Scrooge (me) and take it upon himself to add some festive cheer to our house this year. Here is the result. Great job Jim and thank you. Even though I did not have the energy to do any of it I certainly appreciate the look and feel of the Christmas spirit alive and well inside our cozy little house!

SO HAPPY...

Jim and I found out on Friday (November 16th) that our little baby is in fact a boy! I think Jim was in a little bit of disbelief at first. So far the first child for each of Jim's siblings has been a girl and of the 5 cousins there is only one other boy so we were a little shocked we got one on the first try :) Everyone else (minus Jim's family) was sure we were having a boy, but I for one had no clue either way. Every time I dreamed about the baby it was a girl and whenever I would accidentally slip and call it by a gender it always was a girl. So much for women's intuition I guess :)  In all honestly, I was hoping for a boy first. Clearly I would have been happy either way, but I like the idea of having a boy to take care of and protect any future siblings. I'm sure it has something to do with having older brothers growing up.

Now that we know the sex I can not wait to start getting things organized and ready for him. I have been making lists and plans of everything I want to do but so much of it depended if it was a boy or girl. Yet another reason I am overjoyed its a boy is: everything I pictured in my mind was for a boy. I just could not wrap my head around pinks and purples and tutu's and hair bows, I mean I would have, and I am sure I would have loved it but in my mind what I pictured was so BOY

I am sure Jim is less than thrilled with the plans I have for the nursery (and the rest of the house) but it's just too much fun to dream and think of what we need and what I want to do and how I want everything set up. I mean you never know if we will be blessed with another child so I am taking this as a once in a lifetime opportunity and planning accordingly. Now, don't get me wrong I am not planning on going all out and spending millions of dollars we don't have on this kiddo. No sir, I am a proud bargain shopper and plan to use things we already have and throw a coat of paint on it to make it like new. I have been checking out blogs, and etsy and pinning away on pinterest for inspiration and ideas. That said, I did find one new piece that I just could not live without. I have been searching high and low for a large dresser that we can also use as a changing table in the nursery. I finally found this guy yesterday and fell in love! Its the perfect size and exactly what I was looking for. I knew it was meant to be when I took my mom to see it and we ran into the owner/seller of said piece and we happened to know each other. She gave me a great deal and I just couldn't say no.  Sorry Jim!



Sienna's shower...

Last weekend I got to head over the mountains for a baby shower for Dawn. Dawn, and her husband Dave, will be welcoming Sienna into the world sometime in Mid December and I for one am so excited. I feel like she has been pregnant FOREVER! This trip was also the first time I got to meet Cooper. I cant believe it took almost 7 weeks to meet this little guy! I took full on advantage of the baby time and pretty much stole him for the entire shower. He was so chill during the entire shower and did not make a peep while all of us girls ooh'd and ahh'd about how adorable he was. I love him! and Harper! and Sienna! Here are some quick pics of all our time together.

 Dawn and I. She is 34 weeks and I am 14. I hope I look that good in 20 weeks!

Auntie Stone getting her first high 5 from Cooper

Harper and Cooper got some quality time together too! Cooper will soon have another girl competing for his attention...

...though I hope Sienna is not as forward as Harper ;)

Almost all of us girls together again. So weird to think that in 6 months there will be two more babes in the mix. 

Me getting some baby practice in. Coop makes it look easy!

It is always a great time whenever any of us gals can get together but adding these babies into the mix has been an such a bonus. We have been through so much together over the years and it is amazing to see where life is bringing us now. I am so excited that we can all share the joy of parenthood together. Watching Megan and Jacquee (and soon to be Dawn) as mom's is incredible and I feel very blessed to be able to observe them, learn from and lean on them when needed.

Finally....

Its been a long journey to get here but Jim and I are happy to FINALLY let everyone know:

we are expecting our first child (Boy or girl?) in Early May!

I have been chomping at the bit to write this post but waited until Jim felt comfortable enough with the whole process. With him things can take awhile. Hence us being married 6 1/2 years before this announcement could be made :) He always joked that it would be 5 years before we even talked about kids and I always thought yea right, 2-3 at the most. Well well well who would have thought Jim was right  (see I can say it)! We started talking about it a year and a half ago, and had some issues once we decided yes we were actually ready to be parents. So fast forward another year and a half after our first discussion and here we are at 13 weeks, 5 days!

Some things to note thus far about my pregnancy:

I found out I was pregnant on August 23rd (day 13).

I woke Jim up from a dead sleep to tell him. His reaction was priceless.

We told our family and closest friends that same day.

The first trimester was not fun.

I have been nauseous and tired since day 3 of my pregnancy.

So far we have had 3 ultra sounds and baby is looking and sounding great!

S/he has a heart rate of 156

The second trimester seems to be going a little better...more energy, less nausea.

Good, solid, sleep has been hard to come by for the past month or so.

We could not be more thrilled to say that we are FINALLY going to be parents!!!

 

Welcome to the world...

Recently two very special people were brought into the world by 4 very special people! We could not be more excited about these little bundles of joy!

On September 16th, our good friends Jacquee and Chris Layton welcomed Cooper Christopher Layton. He is just the cutest thing ever and I can not wait to get to Seattle to meet him, and steal cuddle him ;)

3 Days later on September 19th, our newest niece, Lauren Paige McCollum, was born to Cassie and Joe McCollum. Jim and I were lucky enough to be one of the firsts to meet her. She is already so alert and aware of her surroundings and I can't wait for more snuggle time with her! Thankfully Joe and Cassie live here so I won't have to resort to kidnapping for some quality time with her.

side note #1: if you are keeping track of the McCollum brood thus far that makes 4 girls and 1 boy...Gabe is less than thrilled with these numbers :)

Sidenote #2: If you are an avid follower of this blog (and why wouldn't you be) you will know about the struggle that is Jim and hospitals. I am happy to report Jim voluntarily went to the hospital to meet Lauren. Once he learned it was still going to be awhile before we got to see her, he left to buy Joe some congratulatory liquor and throw up get some fresh air. I will say he did make it back in and seemed at ease holding a barely 2 hour old baby; so all in all I will take that as a win. Baby steps, people, baby steps!

Hospitals: 285- Jim: 2

Luckily we have quite a few more friends having babies in the upcoming months so this score could even out a little.

Congratulations Jacquee and Chris and Cassie on Joe on your perfect additions to your family. Jim and I are over the moon excited for you!

Ready for football...

It's finally that time again, my favorite time of year...cougar football time! There is nothin better than a sunny fall afternoon, good friends, good drinks, Pullman Washington, and a cougar win on a Saturday! Seriously it's one of my favorite things :)

Today was the home opener against the Eastern Eags (ka-kaw!) and Simpson and I headed down and met up with the Snyder clan. Jim unfortunately had to work but will be making 3 other games this year. Here's a few pics of our beautiful day at the new Martin Stadium.

A view of the updated stadium from the street

Getting our Tailgate on with Chris, Megan and Simpson

Loving all that Crimson!

Here come the COOOOUUUUGGGGSSSS!!!!

Here we go!

Defense Cougars Defense!

That Furney's got a foot!

In case you were wondering the Cougs held on for the W an head to Vegas with a 1-1 record.

Also I have to add as a fan nothing beats hearing Glenn Johnson making the calls over the PA at Martin Stadium or Bob Robertson doing the play by play on the radio. We are so lucky to have the best in the business working on the Palouse! And nothing gets me more prepared for Cougar Football Saturday's and the easing into fall than those two voices.

 

Till next time, Go Cougs!

summer rundown...

Well, it's official; summer is coming to an end :(

School starts back up on Tuesday for Jim, but he has been hard at work since the middle of August. I figured before its get too far past us I better catch up on the randomness that was our summer. So here we go with a quick rundown thru pictures of what exactly we did on our summer vacation.  

I took a ride in a cop car...for work

we drove to Seattle a couple times

We celebrated Stone turning 30

more celebrating...Welcome to the club Stone, I'm glad I'm no longer alone up here!

We took the dogs to the lake

Bledsoe seemed to enjoy it, Beasley not so much

The summer Olympics took over my life!

Hootie came to Northern Quest

Steve turned 30, yet still plays with dolls

Jim and Harper Bonded

Jamie and Al hosted a bomb.com BBQ!

Jamie and Al became parents to Nimbex!!!

We found a parrot in our yard, courtesy of our crazy bird neighbors

Mommies (and Me) night out

Love these ladies!!!

I got a lot of pedicures :)

Harper watched her first Coug game!

And finally,

I attended Gleason Gras with 3 of my favorite Gals. What a fun and inspiring night and the perfect ending to another great summer

At least with summer ending it means the start of something I love just as much if not more...

Cougar Football Saturdays!

And let me tell you...