My Adorable Niece!

I just had to put up this picture of Keiya, my adorable niece. Here she is in her Christmas jammies and matching doll outfit that I made her. Every Christmas she gets the jammies from me. Keiya is going to get her first cousin in April! Keiya looks calm in this picture, but don't be fooled! She has pleanty of energy!

Baby Update!

Here is a recent picture of me and the belly. I am just over 6 1/2 months now, and the doctor said that my measurements and weight are right on target. I feel pretty smashed on the inside, just below the ribs. I know this will only get worse, but I am still enjoying being pregnant. Even though I haven't been sleeping well at night, I still like nighttime. I like to put my hand on my stomach and feel where she is and just relax.

After we got back from Colorado for Christmas I decided to do some sewing. Since we have quite a few newborn outfits from my sister, Erin, Chris suggested I make things in larger sizes. I have a lot of fabric that needs to be used sewn, and Chris says that I can't buy ANY more fabric until I have used up what I have. So I firgured that I had some time- I may as well get some of it used. I made a cute dress and then decided to make a matching cap. Then I had enough fabric that I could make some little bloomers. I followed the pattern, but Chris says they are huge. I tried to explain that they have to fit over a diaper. So, lets hope they fit the baby when the rest of the outfit does. I will have to be patient since the dress is for a baby close to a year old.

I know it is nerdy, but I get such a kick out of putting a little tag in the outfits I make that says "Made by Mom." I am going to be a mom...I feel like I'll have it all- the greatest husband I could imagine and a little baby! With that I can be patient and wait for a house and space for baby and other things that come with a husband done with law school.

Christmas Break!

We had a very nice Christmas break in Colorado. We spent the holidays with Chris' side of the family and it was so nice that all his siblings could make it. It really was a peaceful time, and the food the entire time was fabulous! Chris' mom really went to town on the meals, and I felt really spoiled. It was fun to play Settlers of Catan, my favorite game that no one here plays me. I still didn't get my fill though, because Chris' siblings aren't quite the fanatics that I am. That is one thing I do love about Christmas time, though. I love going over to the Hofer's house (home of my friend, Ashley) and playing Settlers until late. My siblings play with me, too, but sometimes they all make a pact and gang up against me. Some other things that I loved about Christmas this year were...drinking a glass of egg nog (Chris let me since it was pasteurized), turkey and ham dinners, sleeping in pretty much every day, singing Christmas songs around the piano on Christmas Eve, and watching the home video of a Christmas Eve program in the Elmore home from many years ago. It was also the first Christmas I ever had that there was snow on the ground. But there wasn't much snow. It really didn't snow while we were there. But it was still different and more wintery to me than Lubbock or San Diego. Although it is fun to go and play outside with your new toys as a kid outdoors in San Diego.

It is fun to think that next Christmas we will have our little girl. I am sure the sleeping in will be but a dream at that time, and other changes will surprise us, but we are so excited! It was fun at Christmas to get a few things for the baby...Shelly (Chris' sister) gave us a little tiny red outfit for the baby and I got a boppy pillow from Mom Lisonbee. My mother also gave me some cute blouses so expand my shrinking wardrobe.

Chris' sister, Shelly, is due with a little girl on January 27th. I was so grateful for the oppurtunity to make her a blessing gown, and it really turned out better than anticipated. I actually just lengthened a dress pattern, even though I have some blessing gown patterns, but I was going for fast since it was spur of the moment. But I was so glad I got to do this. Most people already have one, so I haven't done this before. Now I get to plan on making one for our baby!

Chris Shows Texas to his Brothers!

Before we left to Colorado where we spent Christmas, two of Chris' brothers, Nick and Jordan, came out to visit. Chris had finished with his finals and I still had about 2 weeks left of work. The boys flew in and began their trip right away. They visited Austin, San Antonio and Houston. Along the way they made many stops at famous "Texas sites" like the Dr. Pepper factory that still makes the origional recipe of Dr. Pepper and a famous BBQ restaurant that is apparently one of the top 5 in the U.S.

In Austin they visited the state history museum, which is huge and really quite entertaining. Chris and I went two summers ago. But the boys all agreed that their favorite stop was San Antonio, where they stayed in the Mariott at the Riverwalk. The Riverwalk is this amazingly beautiful area with shops, hotesl, restaurants and music all along this really pretty river. There are a lot of trees and the river has these little boats that people can eat a meal on, or just float up and down on. Chris said there were Chrismas singers on the boats this time and that the whole area was lit with Christmas lights. I am sure that the pictures just don't do it justice- they never do.

One other thing the boys liked about San Antonio was the mirror maze and lazer game. They were put in a room with lazers that they had to try to get to a certain spot without setting off the lazers. Nick had the best time, and proudly sacrificed his body to get it (He got rug burns from diving and avoiding the lazers). All the brothers agreed that they would love to do this again!

The boys were glad to get back to Lubbock for a little relaxation from driving...until the next morning when we left for Colorado. Chris loved the time with his brothers, and he was thrilled for the chance to get to spend some quality time with them.