Us? Well, we're having a baby.
Thanks for asking. ;) giggle

I'm 18 weeks and a day. Whew. Crazy.

My hair is still blowing from this windstorm.

But, I'm happy and still in shock.

I've never really been one to jump into the dark without a flashlight. After over a year of "whatever happens, happens"...it happened. And it took me over a month to realize it. Me...Mrs. Organized, planner, chart it all out....woke up one Saturday morning and realized she was pregnant. And didn't say a word for a week. Yep..to nobody...not even my incredible husband. Of course I hadn't tested, I mean...I just knew. Like somehow my body forced the idea up into my brain and woke me up bright and early to announce it. I needed some time to absorb. I wasn't sure that it would happen. Not that I had given up hope by any means, I just figured it might not happen. I never stressed. I wondered. I had faith. I knew some day I would be a mother, I just wasn't sure how it would happen. There are no road maps, no guarantees. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. I didn't have any medical reasons to support either way, just the thought that maybe it wouldn't be so easy. It turned out, it was and it wasn't. God had His time and He let us have some more "our" time and I'll always be forever grateful. Because...it was perfect and needed for us, and I am thankful that we will have celebrated 4 incredible years together before this amazing gift (and I truly feel that this is the best present ever) will make his/her entrance into our love. This child is wanted, craved, adored and is from our Heavenly Father...and we don't even know him/her yet. What a blessing to be so wanted, so loved.

How terrifying to know that we are responsible for another soul. So many hopes/dreams/so much faith wrapped up into a tiny person who has yet to hear his/her mother's voice.

Sickness is over (again...whew...gag)
and sunshine has set in.

I do have some advice. Don't loudly whisper to your friends..."Is she, isn't she?" It's far too tempting to retort in a (mockingly) shocked way..."No, I'm not, why do you ask?" But, alas, that's the imp in me and I can't help but giggle mid-sentence. And if you happen to be a male (any male, but especially one in your 60's) and you say something cruel like, "My, but aren't you looking motherly today," and upon further probing you admit that you actually meant FRUMPY, (yes, frumpy), be prepared to hear an earful and you best duck your head on the way out. I mean, who doesn't have a bad hair/body/face day once in a while? If you don't, don't answer me.

Of course, if you happen to be nearly everyone else who says amazingly positive and uplifting things about being a mom or how wonderful pregnant women look, I love you and thanks. I feel wonderful, have not gained too much and think my bump is divine. Plus, hubby really digs the "evolving" me. Oh, and tomorrow, we get to find out what gender peanut is.
We're happy.

We've been back from the cruise for a week already. We had a great time! It was my 1st. No problem with sea sickness, but I will say it can be a bit unsettling at times. Eventually you get used to it. In fact, once we were on dry ground, I still felt like I was on a boat. LOL

We ate to our heart's content. It was Delicious! People ask me how the cruise was and I keep replying "Yummy". I didn't really even gain any weight. Maybe a pound? Good deal all around.

Cozumel was okay. The island was pretty, the water was pretty, the "Mayan Ruins" were not. Expensive joke, but oh well.

It was great having the whole family on board. Even neater having visitors at our services on Sunday. We had 4 visitors on a cruise ship. Wonderful! There were like 20 of us total.

My favorite part besides the food, but dressing up for dinner and getting TONS of free pics taken. We chose some really nice ones to buy when they were on special, plus we split a package with Dave/Janice so they were affordable. Seriously, you can't beat free sitting fees. Most of the photographers were pretty good. We stayed away from the cheesy backgrounds and Bryce refused to have our picture taken with the piano and roses (LOL), but we did find some good ones.


Work seems to be getting more streamlined. I cleaned out another portion of the office on Friday and was able to throw some junk away. One office has been painted. Dave's will probably be next, followed by the main waiting area and then hopefully mine will be renovated. I need a wall knocked out, a new doorway put in and to reconfigure my desk. I'm currently using a countertop in a cubby hole with my back facing the only window. :( I saw an office in a magazine that was seriously the CUTEST one I've ever seen. They used hot pink, green and white and it was beautiful. Very energizing and organized. Makes me sigh. Here's hoping.....

I get such a high from saving money.

Last night I bought:

2 tubes of toothpaste
2 boxes of Cheerios
2 bags of candy corn
8 bars of soap

for.....$1.48

Today I saved at Target.com with free shipping and 10% off of entire purchase (which consisted of ONLY clearance items). Total savings before the 10% and the free shipping was $120. I paid $56 for 10 items. Yes...10 items shipped to my house. And, I used Ebates so I get 3% back.

L.O.V.E. I.T.

ahhhhh....

This, my dear friends, is why I am blessed to be able to go on vacations. And I consider it part of my full time job. Saving money.

Bryce and I just got back from Cabo San Lucas. We had a great time and it was nice to see it 3 years after honeymooning there. Can't believe its been 3 years! We noticed a lot of changes. Mainly, new construction. The resort we stayed at was called Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach. I HIGHLY recommend it! It was truly beautiful!

I'm trying to catch up on work, laundry and I am so tired (we got up at 4am yesterday). But, I did get a nice tan. Crazy, huh? White, pasty me with some color. Oh! And the weather here is amazing! It was actually cool and pleasant. SOOO wonderful to come back to. I love Fall!

I really enjoy Fall and Winter recipes. The holidays just make me feel so happy and excited. I know it is still warm out, but it actually seems a bit like Fall here. (If you squint really hard and turn up the a/c.) Today my MIL let me borrow a new copy of Taste of Home magazine. The recipes just looked so delicious, I couldn't help myself. Tonight I made:

Chocolate Chunk Muffins (not from the magazine)
Cranberry-Orange Scones (not from the magazine)
Mini Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Pumpkin Spice Chex Mix
Pumpkin pancakes

NO I did not eat all of these things. I didn't even sample all of them. I just wanted to make them. The pancake batter is in the fridge for tomorrow's "dinner." I'll be taking some of the stuff to work to get it out of my house. :)

So, now I'm tired but happy. I got it out of my system. Until next month's issue....