Happy One Month Birthday William

On Saturday, 9.10.2011, it was William's One Month Birthday....can you believe it? I am shocked that a month has past since we met that sweet little face in the operating room.

I guess the time really does fly by as people say....I'm so glad we have cherished every moment - even those ones in the middle of the night and the day time ones when you are so sleep deprived you can barely think.....!

We are so blessed with this little boy-he brings so much joy, fun and giggles each day....we can't wait for you to meet him and for him to be a part of your world....

slowly but surely....

I promise....i'm slowly getting it together and I do feel a blog post on the horizon....so many things to discuss....for now I will leave you with a few teasers....

Life is good:)

i love my dad...but i'm not so sure about bath time...

i flashed a smile (for a brief moment) and made my mom and dad so excited....

i also have a serious side....someone has to with these silly parents....

and apparently i love to shop with my mama:)

our newest adventure.....

Hotel Palomar

What a treat our weekend turned out to be.....

Friday after work Orie and I headed out to Hotel Palomar for a weekend of pool time, sunshine and relaxation. It was fantastic!

I was certain that as soon as we checked in to the hotel that William would decide to make his arrival....no such luck! We enjoyed dinner in the Central 214 restaurant....a fantastic hotel room with a bath tub so deep I could barely step out of it......fabulous amenities....an infinity pool that I don't think we got out of on Saturday....and just a fabulous weekend of relaxation! It was also a nice bonus to get a little last minute tan before summer ends....

We hope you enjoy some pics of our last minute getaway....hope your weekend was just as much fun wherever you were!

the awesome room at Hotel Palomar....i forgot to photograph the other side of the room which had a full sitting area with couch, chair and coffee table...

the bathroom and amazing bath tub.....don't cringe...it was clean.....

orie enjoying a little vino as we head down to check out the pool on friday evening....i'm pretty sure he enjoyed the last weekend of relaxation almost as much as i did.....

di and orie enjoying a little evening by the pool....we went back after dinner to swim and enjoy....

the infinity pool at Hotel Palomar....

those are the chairs we sat in the next day....

pretty much where i lived on saturday and sunday....it was perfection....i was at the pool by 9:30!

orie being silly with his feet and a photo of me....

Hotel Palomar is VERY pet friendly so we decided to bring Grace over on Saturday for the evening....when we returned with her she had her own bed brought up to the room, a dog bowl, fresh treats and bottled water.....they definitely spoiled her like a guest!

checking out the fresh treats.....


checking out the bed....she actually preferred the ginormous king bed with us....imagine that!

It was such a fun weekend....if you are ever in Dallas for anything - fun, business, shopping, whatever...you should check out Hotel Palomar....it is fantastic!

The Aveda Institute

ahh....what a little treat that I just discovered....the Aveda Institute....

This is basically a spa school where you can receive services from students undergoing supervision....this means it's much less expensive and they are trying super hard! It was a win win for me yesterday on my visit. I got almost an hour and a half service for $40....WOO HOO!

I basically called the salon and said that I was 40 weeks pregnant and I needed to be pampered...what did they have.....she said I have a 4:00 facial and I said - SOLD....

It was perfection...and felt like it went on forever and forever.....it even included a little hand/arm/neck/foot massage....oh wait...did I say foot massage....that's a mistake...they wouldn't give me the foot massage. The girl said that since I was pregnant she wouldn't mess with my feet and I said no it's fine....well when her instructor came by to review everything she let me know that they wouldn't be able to focus on the feet because I was 40 weeks pregnant and they didn't want to trigger labor....I let them know I was totally okay with triggering labor, I would sign a waiver, whatever I needed to do....NO GO...she assured me she would just focus on the other areas longer - BUMMER....i tried though....
When reviewing my skin needs and going over what facial treatment I would receive I just kept saying that I was there to feel like goo and completely be pampered! I am sure the girl thought I was a little wackadoo....

It was the perfect way to spend a hot afternoon too.....it also got my wheels rolling for how I was going to spend the next few days waiting on baby....I was thinking either a complete spa day or maybe a little something else that involves a swimming pool....we'll have to see what else is in store for us this weekend....I'm sure it will be fun!

Hope your weekend is grand....enjoy it....all 110 degrees of it!

Tick Tock

Well....we don't really have a full calendar this week as we wait and anticipate William's arrival. I am trying to stay busy....and have a few projects and running around I can do but not much.

Dallas this week is having an UNBELIEVABLE heat wave but we are not letting it knock us down....I figure if I just drink a ton more water and don't stay outside too long that it should be okay....so far so good! I rocked the roads today!

Here are our latest happenings.....

Last night Amy and Joe invited us over for a pre-baby dinner. It was such a fun evening....especially with their two boys....I think Orie quickly saw the entertainment our sweet William is about to bring to our lives!

I learned that Amy is a gourmet cook....I should have learned this sooner! My big sister asked why she wasn't serving Mexican but Amy assured her the chicken sliders were SPICY! They were spicy - but just the right amount of kick.....

We had chicken sliders, a pesto potato salad and corn with mango.....she also served a corn and black bean salsa...it was all amazing and I know Orie was thrilled to have such a delicious home cooked meal. Thanks Amy and Joe.....we will dine with you guys any time!

I was in charge of dessert.....I immediately had a craving for an ice cold lemon ice box pie....well you know that I am NOT A GOURMET...can't even pretend to be. So I had to dig deep to remember that someone I know had a super easy recipe for a lemon pie....so easy it should be in that cookbook that all college boys have - A Man A Can and A Plan....

It was 12 oz of cool whip, one can of fat free Eagle Brand milk, one small container of frozen lemonade concentrate.....mix all three together....pour over graham cracker pie crust....and then voila....you have pie! I put mine in the freezer and I think this consistency is better....however my sources say you just refrigerate it.....your call on that one....Maybe you should try this out during these last few weeks of summer vacation...it was the perfect hot summer night's treat! I think I even impressed Orie!!!

Today I met two of my girlfriends Frannie and Lee for lunch......we went to Kathleen's Sky Diner.....I have never heard of it but it was fantastic.....I never doubt a lunch destination when I am dining with a gourmet chef....I guess that's another perk of my friendship with Lee....They were both without babies....while sad that I didn't get a little squeeze I could tell they were enjoying their moments away from mommy land.....even though some of our main topics of conversation were mommy moments....it was the perfect lunch date!

It was so fun and I love catching up and having a good time with my girls....we are all Shreveporters away from our families and many of our friends.....Frannie reminded us today that it is so great we have each other....I couldn't agree more!

After my lunch date I hopped over to get my long anticipated mani and pedi......I received this gift certificate from a sweet friend after helping her with some child care....it wasn't really a hard job and definitely did not deserve such a nice sussy - if you know her sweet CWT then you know that it was a day at the beach taking care of him.....

As soon as I received it I knew I would save it for my final mani and pedi before William's arrival.....I was hoping it would be just the spark for William to enter the world. So today seemed like a good day to get it.....Well....it was an amazing relaxing experience and William danced the entire time.....but no labor yet......not quite sure this kid is getting the memo?

Walks - check....spicy foods - check....pedicure - check.....not sure what he is waiting on.....

After my mani/pedi I killed some time in Target....if you ever need something from Target just let me know...I can probably tell you the exact aisle and shelf location....I seem to kill a lot of time in there just walking around....such a fun store!

What are you doing with your week? Anything fun....who cleared their schedules so that they can come to Dallas if they get a phone call?

comings and goings....

We have had some action lately.....lots of fun happenings....

I had another lunch date with Lee-Taylor....my faithful friend....we even met for Mexican....but the spicy food certainly didn't spark William into anything! It was great to catch up with her after she had been on a fun wedding weekend that Orie and I weren't able to attend. I loved getting in one last lunch date with just us girls...and no baby yet...it was perfect!

We met with our insurance guy and set up life insurance for me...I think this is so morbid but then again I do have a slight fear of dying in childbirth so I guess it's better that William will always have good child care....It was my first time meeting our insurance man....Orie usually handles all of it. It was kind of refreshing to put a normal person's face with a name. He was very informative and helpful with my questions. He even loved our house which always makes a gal feel good!

My mom came over to Dallas and played with me for the day and then took me and Orie to dinner that night....she was off bright and early the next morning but we still had plenty of time to get lots accomplished....I felt like Wonder Woman that day. We packaged all of William's hospital treats (more on that later...)....washed a few new things for William's wardrobe and then surveyed his newborn selections....I think mom approved! After that we were off for some lunch and some errands....we de railed slightly at Central Market (an errand on the list) by way of the gelatto counter - YUM.....we found new knobs for my bedside table so that it is functional again....a new piece of art for our bedroom.....a hamper for William's closet....some new clothes for mom (another slight derailment from the listed errands....)....and a bumper for William's cradle.....all in all a very successful day!

That evening we all headed to Fish City Grill for a delicious dinner and then home for some relaxation and some dessert.....there were a few hospital treats leftover:) Orie was thrilled to finally be able to have one....they had been off limits until I filled William's goody bags!

We love having visitors.....who wants to come next?

Orie had a man date this week with Brad....they were off to an LSU gathering....hoping to win some tickets to the LSU vs. Oregon game.....they didn't win but I think they had a good time. After the LSU shin dig they were off to top golf for some gaming and I think a few beers. I love that Orie gets to have some guy time....I know he loves me tons and tons but I am sure he enjoys his man time too! I just piddled around the house not knowing what to do with myself without Orie at home:(

We hope your happenings have been fun lately.....what have you been up to?

Anniversary Celebration

You will have to forgive the delay in pictures and the quality of the pictures.....this is what I get for not bringing my real camera and relying on Orie's iPHONE....what was I thinking?

Orie came home after work and brought me some beautiful gerber daisies (flowers...he was on track for traditional!). We got ready for our dinner date and headed out to Fearing's at the Ritz-Carlton. It was such a fun evening and the food was delicious! Being pregnant sort of means you can eat whatever you want but it also means there is no where for it to go....I definitely over indulged this evening....but it was so yummy!

We love to talk about our wedding weekend on our anniversary. We always go through each moment and what we were doing....I think each year I learn something new about that day....!

I hope you enjoy some pics of our evening out.....

di with her flowers....i love gerbers...

aren't they gorgeous? they really lasted a long time too....

Orie's package....

and his present...I had to hide it and fool him with a little package....he got "flowers" too....don't you see them in the painting?

Di at dinner....my wine was alcohol free...chosen by the Somolier(sp?) to make me feel festive! it was really just nice grape juice:)

Orie at dinner....almost a teeth smile

the appetizer....a mini crab cake, a lobster taco and a duck tamale....delish! some kind of shot too as a palette cleanser....

Orie's dinner....a buffalo tenderloin


Diana's dinner....bar b que tenderloin with chicken fried lobster...can you say yum? and don't let that crispy outside of the tenderloin fool you...they cooked it perfectly on the inside for a prego!

the flowers at the entrance of the Ritz are always PHENOMENAL....tonight was no exception...the most beautiful peonies I have ever seen....

us....a little grainy and blurry but it will have to do....

I wish I had remembered to photograph the other shots/pallette cleansers and our desserts....
One of the shots was the freshest orange juice citrus blend ever...and tasted just like a fuzzy navel...I felt like I was on the beach in Destin for sure

For dessert....I had chocolate cake - YUM....and Orie had peach ice cream with english butter cookies and a blueberry peach glaze...it looked amazing....so bummed no photo but our desserts really didn't hang out long on the table!

What do your anniversary celebrations look like? We hope you still enjoy each other and have a date night at least every once in a while!

what's our deal....

with car troubles?

So....as I think I mentioned...I had to replace all four of my tires a couple of weeks ago - boo hoo....no fun at all!

Well, on Orie's way to work this week....he had a blow out...just a few blocks from our house. The tire was not replaceable and he had to buy a new tire for his car. I swear....I think someone is putting spikes in our driveway or something. We really haven't driven through construction lately so we are just baffled by all of this. Surely our luck with bad tires and car trouble is over right?

Did I mention that my car wouldn't start last Friday....the battery was dying but there were a few things I had to go do (that had a time table) so I cranked it up finally and drove on to my destination. Orie told me to go directly to the dealership and get them to check it out but I knew I needed to head to my "meeting" first (I certainly can't tell the blogging world what was so important that I had to go to....but I am sure some of you can imagine....) and then I could go to the dealership. He asked me what I was going to do when it didn't start after my "meeting"....I wasn't really sure about this....I guess I figured I would just call the roadside people again.....

Sure enough....it didn't start after my "meeting" and I just sat there in denial....I couldn't lose this battle - he would laugh at me for sure and remind me that I should have gone straight to the dealership....so I had a conversation with my car and willed it to start and several cranks and horrible sounds later it started - WHEW! I then went straight to the dealership and prayed it didn't stop on my way there!

It was definitely the battery and I was within my warranty by about 10 days - I am a lucky girl! Audrey even came and picked me up from the dealership and we were still able to have our lunch date.....I was very grateful....I am getting sick of hanging out at car dealerships.....!

You would also think that we drive really old run down cars.....when in fact we are very lucky to have 2 great cars.....we're just having a love hate relationship with them right now and hate is prevailing!

Fruit and Flowers

Well....it's a fruit and flowers kind of day around here.....why you wonder? Because it's our 4th Wedding Anniversary today and the traditional gift for the 4th year is fruits and flowers.....how random!

A traditional present was a hard one to come up with this year but I think I did well - more to come on that after Orie opens his present after work!

It's crazy to think 4 years have gone by since we got married and even more time has passed since we met and started dating....days never get old with Orie and that's just the way I like it!

Happy Anniversary Orie....I'll marry you any day!

still one of my favorites....there is never a dull moment with this one...

I just love it when he "teeth" smiles...

one of my all time favs!