Breaking Glass

Since I have been pregnant I have broken 10+ glass items.  I have lost count.  Clint looked it up online and there is an old wives tale that it could be a sign of good luck.  I think I am just more clumsy.


The worst glass I broke was by far a half-full bottle of Goldschlager that rolled out of the freezer, crashed all over the kitchen floor, and took over an hour to fully clean up.  The other night I broke Buoy's dog bowl.  Luckily it slipped from my hands inside the sink while I was putting some water in it.  Clint was so sweet and just jumped up and said he would take care of it.  Thank goodness, because I was about to lose it.  I was so frustrated with myself.


A few nights later, a very, very small piece of glass that gotten stuck in our floor mats caught my toe and sliced me open.  I was able to grab a paper towel and hobble to a chair.  Unfortunately, my huge, giant, big fat pregnant belly was limiting my ability to bend over to reach my foot.  It was quite the sight.  I was home alone, blood squirting from my toe, and I couldn't decide if I should call my neighbor to come and get the glass out of my toe or if I could do it.  I couldn't go get tweezers because I would have tracked blood all over the house.  I kept at it, having to bend down for a few seconds and then sit back up to catch my breath.  I finally got it out though.


Pregnancy lessons I learned?  Try really hard not to injure my feet or toes, because I can not reach them anymore.  Use plastic whenever possible.

Happy Halloween!

Clint and I have this life-size mad scientist for Halloween named "Dr. Shivers."  He used to move his head and say spooky (really funny) sayings like, "Let's play a game. It's called, 'Fun With Electricity! hahaa!' or 'I need a victim, I...I...I... mean volunteer."  He is pretty awesome.  He also has a microphone hook up so you can talk for him.


The first year in our house I had him on the front porch on a motion sensor.  I knew someone was coming when we started talking!  Of course, the first trick-or-treater to come was a 3-year-old little girl who started bawling crying because she was scared of Dr. Shivers.  The parents also felt the need to give me a lecture on how he was "too scary" to have on the porch like that.  Oh, brother!


Now Dr. Shivers stands in our front window during the month of October.  Everyone who comes by the house does a double take trying to figure out why that strange man is always in the window!  Here is a picture of him from that first year.

So, this year for Halloween, I didn't tell Clint my costume.  Well, I dressed up as Dr. Shivers!!  Clint's face was priceless when I walked out.

Although the trick-or-treaters this year were few and far between, it was still fun to sit on the driveway, hand out candy, and watch the families come by to take pictures with Dr. Shivers and some of our other decorations.  It is also neat when people compliment the house.  We had one mom tell us that her son makes them drive by every day, just so he can see our decorations!


This Halloween also made us even more excited for next Halloween when we will have our own little trick-or-treater to dress up and take to pumpkin patches!


Hope you had a spooktacular Halloween too!


Other guests that love Dr. Shivers....

Jeff & Dr. Shivers

My parents & Dr. Shivers

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