Updates!

Some pregnancy happenings:

Sam is getting much bigger and it has been so neat to really feel him moving around now.  There are times that you can see my stomach pushing out!  He is over 2 lbs, and feeling that extra weight in my tummy is a big change.  The best way for me to describe it is that it's like having a 2 pound dumbbell jiggling around in your belly.  It definitely makes walking or moving fast a challenge.  I totally get the "waddling" that pregnant women do.  It is so much more comfortable to walk that way!  I am trying not to though :)  Don't want to make it a habit.  So, if you catch me waddling, tell me to quit it!

I had my glucose test last week and I found out yesterday that I passed!  Yay!  The day of the test was so hard.  I couldn't have any sugar 24 hours before my appointment.  I didn't realize how much sugar I eat each day.  I accidently had my coffee that morning.  I didn't even think twice about putting sugar in it! Ooops!  But, I laid off the cereal, didn't eat my brown sugar Pop Tarts, my chocolate chip granola bars, or any of the yummy treats my team brought in to celebrate one of our fellow team member's birthday that day!  All worth it though, since now I don't have to go back in to do the 3 hour test had I failed.

Being pregnant has proven to be such a blessing and an amazing experience.  Every day is a new experience!

It's almost Halloween!

Clint and I will be at our house for the first time together since we moved in in 2007!  We usually travel to Austin to spend Halloween at his parents house.  His parent's house is known as the "Halloween House" in Northwest Hills.  Sharon, Clint's mom, sets up 5-6 different scenes all around the driveway and the front of the house.  They hand out full size candy bars, and at any given time, there is a line that stretches all the way down the driveway and into the street.

Clint's mom handing out candy

Just the first half of the line!

Although we will miss being with our family and friends in Austin, it will be fun to be home and enjoy our own (although small compared to the Culp's) decorations and trick-or-treaters.  I am looking forward to sharing pictures of my costume :)

Another exciting thing in my life is that my brother, Kyle, and one of his childhood friends are starting their own CrossFit training company!  He  has been working out using the CrossFit model for several years and is now going to start training others!  Check out his new website!  http://SandlotFitness.com/  Kyle's girlfriend, Alex, started teaching Zumba!  I can't wait to take a class of hers in the spring!  Her site is http://www.zumbayourkiesteroff.com/

My dad also stared his own website/gallery for the Colt .45s: http://colt45scards.squarespace.com/

I guess we are becoming a website family!

Baby Shower

Wes & Megan (Clint's brother and our sister-in-law) and Mom & Dad Culp threw us a baby shower this weekend!  It was so fun!  Megan decked out her house in Halloween decor and everyone went all out with yummy food and treats!  It is has been so much fun to celebrate with family and friends!

Megan spent hours and hours creating these adorable invites!  Didn't they turn out cute?

Megan & Wes

Spooky diaper cake and baby pumpkin

Clint & his mom

Soon-to-be grandmas!  My mom & Clint's mom

Aunt Juuuuuuuudy, Alex, my brother Kyle, & my Dad

Feeling the bellies! 

Courtney, me, and Kay-Kay

Jessica, Chase, & Kyle

Josh, Jeremy, & Katherine

Mom, Juuuuuudy, Alex, & Kyle

My mommy-in-law!

Baby Fund!!
I started collecting change several years ago that I named, the "Baby Fund."  I had no idea that my brother, Kyle, had been collecting change for us too!  This jar is almost full!!!  Such an awesome baby gift!  Thanks, Brother Bear :)

Thank you, Wes, Megan, Sharon, and Ray for a spooktacular time!!!

27 Week Belly Pic

27 weeks and growing, and growing, and growing...

Viva Las Vegas!

After Clint passed his test, I met him, his sister Sherri, and her fiance, Dan, for one final Vegas vacation.  We had a great time!

Double Frozzzzen Hot Chocolate!  Delicious!

We got to go to Pawn Stars!  Unfortunately, Chum Lee wasn't working (nor were any of the other guys), but we did see the big bouncer that guards the door!  It was awesome!

Me, Clint, Dan, & Sherri

Clint and Me

Clint is the master at getting us deals in Vegas.  This trip he had us booked at three different hotels at the same time!  Bellagio (where we actually stayed) as well as Encore (where the pictures above are taken) & Imperial Palace because they each offered us free play or a gift card of some kind.

Thanks to Sherri and Dan, we also got to enjoy all kind of sticks and snacks in the "Free Rooms" in Caesars and Planet Hollywood.  The room is actually called the "Diamond or Seven Stars Club" and is for players club members who have a certain status with Harrah's, but we call it the "free room" because you get free stuff: drinks, snacks, hot food.  I got to enjoy an unlimited amount of shirley temples!  Yummy!

Congratulations Clint!!!

Clint had his big CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) test last Wednesday in Phoenix!  He did awesome!!  Here's a little more information about this designation he earned.  (pretty big deal, in my opinion!)

Clint had a nice surprise in our hotel room on Thursday night! (Thanks, mom & dad!)

A CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) is a recognized expert in the commercial and investment real estate industry. The CCIM lapel pin is earned after successfully completing a designation process that ensures CCIMs are proficient not only in theory, but also in practice. This elite corps of CCIMs includes brokers, leasing professionals, investment counselors, asset managers, appraisers, corporate real estate executives, property managers, developers, institutional investors, commercial lenders, attorneys, bankers, and other allied professionals.

A CCIM is part of a global commercial real estate network with members across North America and more than 30 countries. This professional network has enabled CCIM members to close thousands of transactions annually, representing more than $200 billion in value. As a result, the experts who possess the CCIM designation are an invaluable resource for commercial real estate owners, investors, and users.

CCIMs have completed a designation curriculum that covers essential CCIM skill sets including ethics, interest-based negotiation, financial analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis, and investment analysis for commercial investment real estate. CCIMs have completed a portfolio demonstrating the depth of their commercial real estate experience. Finally, they have demonstrated their proficiency in the CCIM skill sets by successfully completing a comprehensive examination. Only then is a designation candidate awarded the coveted CCIM pin, joining the ranks of highly skilled commercial and investment real estate experts.

 Over 15,000 commercial real estate professionals have earned the designation. Currently, 5,500 professionals are pursuing their CCIM designation.

http://www.ccim.com/about-ccim/what-ccim

Sam's Room

My mom, dad, and Aunt Juuuuuuuuday came in this weekend to help get Sam's room ready!  It turned out well, we think :)  We painted three walls a light grey-blue color and then a darker accent wall that the crib is against.  The room has a Port Aransas, fishing, nautical theme.  All of Clint's and my favorite things!


We also got clothes washed and hung in the closet.  It is amazing to think Sam will fit in all the tiny outfits.

Sam's beautiful crib from Aunt TARA!!!!

My parents & me

Baby Shower

We had our first baby shower on October 1st in Austin hosted by Kristen, my mom, Mommy Elsass, and Barbara!  It was so much fun!  Thank you for putting together a beautiful shower and to those who came to help celebrate Baby Sam.  He is already one spoiled rotten baby!

My mom and dad

Cutest diaper cake ever! 

Great friends from high school and college

The Culp girls

Aunt Juuuuuuudy, Aunt Jean, and me

Kristen (baby Stella) and me

We also had our latest doctor appointment on Monday.  It went great!  Nothing new to report.  I got my glucose test drink.  Looks disgusting.  I have to drink this orange drink, which the doctor said tastes better with vodka, shoot, and then go in for a test in two weeks.  I'll let you know how it goes :)  Hope you're doing great!

30th Birthday

I turned 30 on September 22nd!  I was going to wait to turn 30 until next year, because I thought, "How much fun can I really have on a birthday while being pregnant?"  Well, my wonderful husband, family, friends, and class proved me wrong.  This turned out to be one of the best birthdays ever!

I came to work and found this gigantic blow-up cake in my classroom from the PTA!  My class was so sweet too!

After school, Clint had us flying out to Las Vegas for a long weekend!!!  I was so excited!!  We got married in Vegas at the Bellagio 4 years ago, so whenever we go I always have so many great memories.  When you fly into Vegas it is always a mad dash to get to the tram, race to get your luggage, and then stand in line for a cab (which can take up to or over an hour sometimes!).  Therefore, I was "in the zone!"  We got to the tram faster than most others, got to the baggage carousel, and all we needed to do was get the bags and race to the cab line.  Normally, I can get our bag(s) while Clint parks himself at a slot machine nearby, but this time I needed help!  I couldn't lift both bags by myself.  Clint kept walking off to talk to his parents on the phone, and it was driving me nuts!  He wasn't around me and I just knew the bags were going to pass by and he was going to be nowhere in sight.  Then waiting for a cab would take even longer.  Finally, Clint came back over, I think he could tell I was getting fairly annoyed by him walking around talking on the phone instead of watching for the bags.  Clint turned to me and said, "Hey look!  Do you think there is another 'Sam's Mom' here?"  I looked over and saw a limo driver holding a sign that said, "Sam's Mom."  I just laughed and shrugged it off.  Sure there is, just keep watching for the bags!  Geez!  Focus!  That cab line is getting longer and longer by the second!!!  Clint kept on talking about the sign, and finally, I clued in.  Duh!  I'm "Sam's Mom!"  I immediately started crying!  It was the sweetest gift ever!  Clint had arranged for a limo to pick us up and take us to the Bellagio for my birthday!  How awesome is that?  He was on the phone with the limo diver because he wasn't there when we came down the escalators.  That's why he had been walking away.  I felt terrible.  What a great start to my birthday weekend in Vegas though!!

As far as the pregnancy goes, everything has been wonderful!  I have been feeling really good and Sam continues to grow and move around.  It is such a neat experience to be able to feel my baby boy making himself comfortable in my belly.  Clint has also been able to feel him move more now.  Sam is definitely getting stronger and his kicks and punches more powerful!

Below is my latest belly pic.  Just when I think there is no possible way that my stomach can get any bigger, it does.  I have gained about 20 lbs now, so I am hoping my doctor will approve at my appointment tomorrow afternoon.  At the last appointment he told me I hadn't gained enough and said to have an extra bowl of ice cream every night.  That has definitely been a plus to pregnancy :)

We have started receiving baby gifts too and had our first baby shower this weekend.  I will be posting pics soon!!  It was so much fun!  My family is coming next weekend to help paint and organize the nursery, so I'll have some pictures of Sam's room to share soon too!  This has been so much fun and I don't want it to end, but I also dream every day of holding my sweet boy in my arms and just staring at him.  I just can't wait to see what he looks like!

More to come!  I hope you had a great weekend too!