Ryan and I made it to UTAH!!
Barely... haha I hate flying without my husband with a baby! (stresses me out!)
My wonderful family was all waiting at the airport.
Best. moment. ever.
It's absolutely gorgeous so expect lots of pictures.

Complete Winter Wonderland.
I almost started to cry when I got off the plane!

Feels like Christmas!

Yesterday we got Ryan's first Christmas pictures taken.

I got some behind the scenes pictures with my phone.

ANNDD I will just let the pictures speak for themselves.

Melts. my. heart.



 Rainy days might be some of my favorite.

It is the ultimate excuse to lay in bed and cuddle for hours.

That's exactly what me and this little babe did.

We talked about really important stuff like milk and toys.

He always has so much to tell me.

I would like you to admire Ryan's sweet mohawk he has goin on today!

Say hello to the "FUN" tree!!

So my mother-in-law bought a smaller tree for upstairs in their house.

We call it the "kiddie tree".

She bought all types of ribbon and last night her and I created THIS!

She is AMAZING at bows. Seriously. The best.

It turned out so dang cute!

Good luck to my sweet husband who is taking law school final #3 out of 5 tonight.

This craziness will be over in ONE WEEK from today and he will officially be 

HALF WAY DONE with law school.

Hallelujah. Happiness and stress "freeness" here we come!

P.S. the babe and I currently have Josh Groban Christmas CD on repeat.
LOVE!!!

xoxo

A LOT.

(He watches bachelor with me, so I guess we balance it out ha)

My husband is an ESPN fanatic. Seriously obsessed.

I grew up watching lots of sports so I understand the game.

We have always cheered for the same teams,

however this weekend, we had a house divided.

Some good friends of ours invited us to the Rockets vs. Jazz B-ball game this weekend.

Our sweet little Ryan went to Mimi's and Papa's (Aaron's parents) and we went to the game.

I grew up going to Jazz games.

Aaron grew up going to Houston Rocket's games.

Aaron has been to quite a few Jazz games with my family while we lived up in Utah.

So in my little brain I just assumed Aaron would be cheering for the Jazz with me because... 

well because I'm his wife haha.

On the way to the game, I was saying things like "when WE win, when WE play tonight.."

"WE" as in "the Jazz".

All of the sudden Aaron stops me and goes, 

"Wait a minute! Who is "we"? I'm cheering for the Rockets! 

Why in the heck would I cheer for the Jazz!?"

It hit me.

 We would be cheering for different teams.

The competitiveness inside of me was eating at me the entire game.

Guess what else? 

I wore Rockets color shoes without even realizing it.

Fail.

Sad story. but such a fun game, and I got the picture I have always wanted.

Ok not really, but it's funny anyways.

Aaron said because of my hispanic blood it was more appropriate that I be the darker player and he be the pale one. haha fitting right???

I love date nights with the husband, but seeing this sweet face at the end of the night melts my heart.

Happy 15 weeks this week little one!

Holy cow time flies.

On my birthday, I hung out with this little peanut all day long.

He was my date for the day,

and he is just the cutest date there ever was.
I received the sweetest package from my family in Utah,
and my sweet in-laws brought me dinner.

I woke up to this note by my bed.
Made my entire day.
Greatest birthday present I could ever ask for.

I was soo spoiled.
I have the sweetest husband, baby, family and friends ever.
Thanks for making it so special.
Bigg 22!
I feel old!

In my experience...

I feel like pregnancy goes a little like THIS.

Finding out you are pregnant= PURE excitement

You build up the excitement to tell everyone.

You are dreaming of if it's a boy or a girl.

The morning sickness is a little shadowed by the excitement. (in my case)

You finally tell THE WORLD.

All the "Congratulations!" puts you on a high for about 2 more weeks.

"Worrying Stage"

"Is my baby growing properly? Is it healthy?"
"When does the first trimester end?!"
This morning sickness thing is getting old!

"Am I showing yet?"

Food doesn't sound good.

Smells make me gag.

I don't feel like exercising.
I'm so emotional.

Blood tests at the OBGYN are NO fun.

I am exhausted all the time.

I want to feel my baby kick!!!

Happy stage.

Out of that first trimester swing- Usually more energy.

Find out the gender.

PURE EXCITEMENT once again.

On a high for a few weeks.

Now you can shop for your baby, pick out themes for the nursery, and think seriously about names.

Some feel the baby kick during this time which I describe like Christmas morning.

Starting to show.

Hitting the HALFWAY point- JOYESS MOMENT.
Sigh of relief after that 20 week anatomy scan.

"People just think I've gained weight, where is the definite ball??"

"How come it feels like it's been ages since we found out the gender?!"

I'm really really hungry.
When is this second trimester going to end!?



10 weeks and counting.
Stoller, crib, etc... CHECK.
Baby showers are fun.
I HAVE TO PEE!
Ok, now I can't sleep.
I'm uncomfortable.
I'm tired of wearing maternity clothes.
I want to go shopping for real clothes!
I just want to see my baby!




 9 months is a really long time.
Is this ever going to end!?
I love my basketball.
Birthing class is fun.


It could be any day now.
I'm so excited.
Ok, why is time going so slow!
I feel like a beached whale.
Exercising is hard with 20 extra pounds.
I can't sleep.
I'm really really hungry!
I'M JUST READY TO HOLD MY BABY!


Full term.

It's FINALLY here.
Best day of my life.
He's perfect.
It was worth every. single. second.


Alright, I know pregnancies vary depending on who you are,
but I will be honest and say that I loved being pregnant. ( didn't love every minute - but overall loved the experience )

However, I believe that pregnancy is what you make it.
Just like everything in life.

Pregnancy has a way of turning your hormones upside down, inside out, and all around.
It can make you sad and depressed one minute, and then happy and energetic the next.

In no way did I have a perfect pregnancy, however, I look back and have NO regrets.
I loved each stage to the fullest.
Looking back, it was some of the best moments of our lives together. ( my husband and I )


I came up with 5 ways to survive the ups and downs, while keeping your sanity, emotions level, and keeping happy.

I felt like working out while pregnant was so unproven to me.
I didn't know how much to push myself, how far to go run, what was safe and unsafe, etc.

I learned that YOU know your limits.

My doctor always told me,
"just make sure you are able to carry on a conversation. If you do that, you are not pushing too hard"

EAT.
Eat eat eat. If you are working out, make sure you are fueling your body with healthy foods to keep your baby healthy.

I have been there, trust me, pregnancy is EXHAUSTING at times.
HOWEVER, if you make the effort to work out in the process, it is SO worth it in the end.

I made a goal when I found out I was pregnant, to try and do something EVERY day.
It didn't have to be big!
Sometimes it was a run, sometimes it was a little walk.

I was able to run my whole pregnancy, up until week 35.
I was so slow, but it didn't matter,
it kept my sanity,
it kept me happy,
and it kept me healthy. (healthy weight gain etc.)

I had an 8 pound baby 2 weeks early- I think it kept my baby healthy too:)

Working out helped me to feel strong through labor
and also helped me recover quicker.
I was able to get right back into my normal routine without feeling like I was starting from ground zero.


This might sound crazy but I'm a believer.
It makes you feel good.
On those days where pregnancy has taken it's toll,
it brings you out of the slump:)



My favorite time of the day was when my husband and I would just lay in bed and feel the baby kick each night.
We would talk about everything baby.
I loved those nights.
If you are having your first- trust me, life changes with a baby!
Enjoy every minute.



ENJOY IT!
I craved the most random things at the most random times.
This was another big reason I worked out,
I worked out to eat what I felt like eating. (because you are allowed to:))
Enjoy the late night runs getting ice cream:)

When I found out I was pregnant, my mom told me, just always remember...

"Pregnancy is not a disease."

Haha I remember laughing at the time, but that phrase would always pop back in my head.
9 months is a really long time people.
It's a long time of excuses, "not feeling well" and mood swings.
Your spouse does not deserve 9 months of that.
Somedays you will be tired, somedays sad,
but that phrase of "pregnancy is not a disease" would pop into my head,
and you can make it happy.
It's all about how YOU make it.

We took Ryan trick or treating for the first time.
Pretty sure my 2 month old baby held his own trick or treat bag.
We were dying.
It was hysterical.
We only went down one street, and then he pooped out. haha
But he got about 10 pieces of candy.. and let me tell you, they were good ones!
(probably because I picked out what "he would like best") haha
Then we trick or treated my in laws- and got big bags of candy ha so we are SET.
I married the halloween grinch.
hahaha and I don't even think he will mind me telling you that.
He is proud of it.

However, I should clarify and say he has dressed up with me in the past.
Like last year... We were nerds.
But he did admit Halloween is more fun with a baby:)
And I AGREE.
Best halloween yet.
Even though it is 85 degrees,
I'm making pumpkin bread, trying to wear "fall" clothes, and enjoying every minute with my little fam!
Oh I almost forgot...
Ryan has a second costume.
Thanks to my mother in law.
Here's my little cowboy.
(the beanie came off .2 seconds after this picture was taken)
Hello warm Texas weather.
Happy Halloween!!!
andddd on to my favorite time of the year! yayy
xo

 This little peanut is 2 months old!

I can't believe it's already been 2 months.

He is growing too fast!

Alright, Ryan is the KING of blowouts.

(one day he will be embarrassed I told you this)

I don't know what it is -

but 2 months hit and it gave him a green light to blow out once a day.

Making it so mommy and daddy give him 2 baths per day.

This picture was a 4 AM blow out,

that turned into Ryan peeing on daddy when he was changing him,

and not too long after he spit up all over mommy,

so it was an early bath for us all!

We took Ryan to the doctor to get his 2 month old check up!

As soon as we get into the doctor's office- BOOM- blow out. All over.

Of course... right in front of the nurse. 

Way to make an impression sweetheart.

Once he was changed- he was as happy as a bee.

He weighed in at a solid 12.4 pounds-
60th Percentile for weight

(I must be eating a feeding him really well!- he's really bulking up haha)

and was 24 inches long! -
Putting him in the 83rd percentile for height.

The doctor said he is very long and lean.

I guess he has a small head?? He was in the 25 Percentile for his head circumference haha

After he was weighed and measured,

it was time for his shots.

I knew I was going to cry.

My poor baby!

He was so happy- kicking away and gooing at the nurse.

Poor little one had no idea what was coming.

(warning- this next picture will break your heart!)

 3 shots later- oh my goodness he was so sad.

My heart was breaking and I shed a few tears.

If anyone ever hurts this little boy in the future- I will beat you up.. seriously.

My poor baby!

(P.S. look at those thighs! He's got a little roll! Oh my gosh I'm in love!)

Some people say their babies handle shots really well- and are back to normal 30 minutes after-

not our little one.

He has been so fussy, and I have not put him down since... he just wants to be held and cuddled.

He found out that he can make noises.

He's a little talker!

He always seems to have something to tell me.

He discovered he can grab something but doesn't know how to let go!
haha he held this toy for about 15 minutes before I pried his hand open to let go.
It was so funny.. He just stared like "what the"

I will feed him about 9:30 or 10 PM
and he will go until about 4:30 or 5 AM! yayy!
It's been a work in progress but he is doing so well!

His smile melts me!!

We are still lovers of tummy time, mommy's milk, bath time, and cuddle naps.

He is growing like a weed.

and we love him more than anything in the world!

 Mac book pictures with the babe!
 Little megs! love her.
 Giving Ryan a bath in our kitchen sink! ha
 He LOVES his baths with grandpa!
Love all my boys!
Lauren was everywhere with little Ryan.
Hence why I have lots of pictures of her holding him.
She did not want to put him down.
Ryan was so spoiled.

Sunday my cousin was being blessed in church and we headed down the mountain to see it.
2 of my aunts just had babies!
The baby on the very left is one month older than Ryan,
and the baby on the right is 2 weeks younger than Ryan.
So fun that they are so close in age.
They are somehow related... second cousins?? not sure how that all works out.
My darling Grandparents with their 2 new grandchildren and very first GREAT grandchild!
My happy baby! I love him!
We ended Sunday with Aaron showing us that he can hula hoop,
and taking Aaron to the airport to go back to school:(
I stayed the rest of the week,
and got to watch this pretty girl cheer!
So we hung out with Ryan every second