Trip to the Dominican Republic!

My Sister and Darrin planned a fun weekend getaway to Punta Cana for Darrin's 30th birthday and had an extra room in their villa so they invited us. We thought it would be one of our last chances to travel/take a vacation before the baby comes so we took them up on their offer and we are so glad we did. We flew into Santa Domingo so we could see their house and how they live, which was important to me. It was so neat seeing the "Dominican way of life" that my sister and her family are accustomed to.

We went to dinner the first night we were there and afterwards the guys shared a few Presidentes (popular beer in Dominican) while the girls did a little shopping around the mall. I was impressed from day one with both Erin and Darrin's ability to speak and understand Spanish. At the restaurant Darrin so easily communicated our order completely in Spanish, saying even specific details of the order like that two people were going to share this item or bring Reagan's out first, etc. So neat! Then when my sister and I were shopping, she had no problem asking the lady in Spanish for a certain size or for a dressing room. I should have known my sister would master that first - all the shopping terms!  Anyways, it was very cool. For the remainder of the trip, if I needed a translator, I just turned to them and they pulled it off with ease.

Anyways, on to Punta Cana. We drove there - yikes what a drive. It was probably the least enjoyable thing of our whole trip but once we got there, boy was it worth it! The first night we went to a nice dinner at a really neat restaurant called Jellyfish where we celebrated Darrin's birthday. It was not in town and kind of tucked away on the beach so we would not have known about it had it not been for someone recommending it to us. The atmosphere and location were beautiful and the food was definitely not a let down. It was just overall such a great dining experience.

The Hard Rock hotel and resort was where we spent most of our time. The beach was beautiful and the resort was like a dream. We did a lot of lounging by and playing in the pool. The guys appreciated and took full advantage of the swim up bar. Us girls treated ourselves to pedicures at the spa one day. On the last day the guys did a zip line excursion and the rest of us went to the beach out in front of the villa. Grayson being so young didn't get to spend much time outside so we wanted to give him a chance to play in the sand.

Grayson has gotten so big and is like a big sack of potatoes when you hold him. His face just lights up when you look at him. He is so drawn to everyone around him and loves to be played with. Forrest called him Fred (flinstone) the whole time because his feet are so big. My favorite thing is this toy he sits in where he can roam all about the house. It was just so cute to see him run from one end to the other and turn around to see him when you didn't expect it. Reagan is at such a fun age. She is so shy but once she opens up, she is such a talker. She does the cutest things and you can tell she wants to be just like the girls. If me and Sister had on a hat, she wanted to wear hers. If we had our shades on, she made sure to put hers on too. She would randomly just say "Mae Mae, can I have some lip gloss?" She also asked me "Mae Mae, why aren't your nails painted?" My sister said she has even started to ask her, "Reagan is this outfit cute?" and Reagan already gives her an honest answer, "No that's not cute Mommy." Her and Grayson's personalities are definitely different, and almost opposite. Grayson is so laid back just like his Daddy and Reagan well, you know she is like Erin. :)

Overall it was a great trip! Lots of memories were made. I am so grateful for the time Forrest and I had together before the baby comes and am so thankful to get to spend time with my sister in the country that they will be living in for the next couple of years. As you can see, we got tons of pictures!

16 Weeks

16 weeks and headed to the Scarecrow Festival! That is if the rain slows down which I hate to wish for when we need it so bad. All day yesterday I was dreaming about the caramel apple and lemonade I was going to get and about purchasing a new Scentsy jar for the house. I had a lot of time to think about these things while waiting for Forrest to finish the Tough Mudder competition he did yesterday with some guys from his work. It was a definitely a day filled with dirt and mud, hints the name I guess. Even I just being a spectator was covered in dust! I definitely earned my festival treats today.

Tough Mudder

14 Weeks

I do not have much of an update from my last blog, but I thought I would at least mention we are officially over the first trimester. Whoop! Unfortunately, I welcomed the new trimester with a morning full of vomiting at work. It was quite miserable, but my fault. I think it was the big doughnut I ate at the beginning of the shift... sweets just sound so good but they do me wrong in the end.

I sported Aggie maroon all weekend starting with this tight shirt that I originally thought I might wear to the game and immediately thought heck no once I put it on. I did however think it was a good belly showing - one picture for blog, shirt. Speaking of the Aggies, I am not going to talk about that awfully disappointing game on Saturday, but I will mention I am excited they have announced they will be officially joining the SEC.

A couple other things I am excited about:
1.) Our fall calendar of events starting with our trip to Punta Cana with the Snider's at the end of October, finding out the sex of our baby November 1st, celebrating Forrest's 30th on the 5th, my Sis coming home in mid- November, and not to mention all the goodness that comes with every fall season for us like more Aggie football, the annual Scarecrow Festival, baking and spiced lattes, shopping, pumpkin patches and harvest decorating.
2.) This weather... hopefully it just continues to get better and better. I could be outside all day long even now and it is still in the 90's.
3.) Coming across cute baby things such as these two items I saw in PB catalog. I have loved this chair for awhile... I think it is one of their best sellers. I am just such a sucker for neutrals. Even once we know the gender, I think I will still want neutrals.

Anyways, that is the latest. I have appointment on Tuesday with my doctor. Thoughts and prayers appreciated that things continue to look great.

Today I am 12 weeks

 

Which means in two weeks I will be over the first trimester! I really have no complaints at all about how I have felt over the last several weeks and would say I have had a fairly easy pregnancy thus far. I do still take zofran but usually only need half the dose about once a day. It is very effective and I have not felt sick at all really since taking it. I feel tired sometimes but considering I work nights, fatigue really isn't an issue. I do not realize when I am being emotional or feisty but Forrest, in a very sensitive way of course, has told me he has noticed. 

Food is a strange thing. I guess you could say I have some food cravings and aversions...something either sounds good or it doesn't sound good at all. Usually things that sounds good are fruits, sweets, breads, and cereals. But then again these were all some of my favorite things before being pregnant. Two things I used to love and eat/drink almost on a daily basis were dark chocolate covered raisins and Starbucks coffees. Proof that pregnancy changes your appetite are that I have not been in the mood for either of these things one bit. I used to buy two bags of the raisins that would last me/us one week and as stingy as I was with them every night after dinner, Forrest cannot believe that my addiction has just suddenly disappeared. Coffee used to be one of my favorite things and again, I just have not been up for it. Nope, not even a Starbucks unfortunately. I am hoping my love for them will come back, considering all the fun holiday drinks are coming out. 

As you can see in the picture, I do have a little belly. Pants are a little snug and tight fitting shirts are not really an option. This picture is only descent because you know I am pregnant; however walking around in public I just look like I have a gut. With that said, until I can pull off the pregnant look, looks like it will be baggy clothes only for now!

Anyways, that is an update on me. I will blog soon about my next appointment which is set for Sept. 27th. I will be at 14 weeks by then....definitely something to celebrate. :)