Karmela meets Santa

The day after Thanksgiving I went with Kelly and Karmela to meet Santa Claus. I had bought Karmela this dress about a week before, and couldn't wait to see it on her. She looked absolutely adorable and knew it! As soon as the dress went on, the smiles did too. The nap on the way there must've been a good thing, she didn't cry at all when meeting Santa for the first time. She was all smiles and giggles. Such a sweet girl.Being that I'm due two days before Karmela's first birthday I can't help but look at her and think... "this is how big Ashlynn will be next year". What a difference a year makes.

Gobble Gobble!

I love Thanksgiving. Any holiday that brings family and friends together will always be at the top of my list. It is also the official start to my favorite holiday... Christmas! The day started with my dad making breakfast for Mike and I, and then Mike was off to play football with some friends while I stayed home to watch the parade with my dad. Then it was off to Mike's grandmas house for a lot of good food with a lot of wonderful people. One of my pregnancy cravings has been turkey sandwiches, so I was in heaven will the delicious turkey! I was definitely stuffed and sleepy by the time we made it home.

Baby belly

Being pregnant has definitely been an experience for me. The first three months were filled with a lot... I repeat... a LOT of all-day sickness, and a scare that threatened to take this baby back to heaven. After a lot of prayer and a little bed rest, I finally got to my second trimester. What a difference from the first! My energy isn't quite what it used to be, but since the vomiting stopped I've felt more like myself again. At 17 weeks, we found out we are expecting a little girl.

Now, at almost 19 weeks, she is fully developed. Feeling her poking, kicking and rolling over in my stomach has been such a beautiful experience, and earlier this week Mike finally felt his daughter kick for the first time. My belly popped out at around 16 weeks, so I'm finally starting to actually look pregnant. As of November 11th I had only gained a pound! I'm hoping I start gaining some weight soon, but gaining weight has always been difficult for me, even when I eat like a linebacker.

Next week is our 20-week ultrasound where they check everything, brain, lungs, kidneys, heart, bones, and will re-confirm that she is a she. Just about a week to go! I can't wait to see my baby girl again.

Our beautiful ride... (so far)

I was meaning to start a blog after we got married, but being the procrastinator I am, didn't get around to it until now. Better late than never, right? Our life together has been an exciting journey, and we can't wait to find out what's to come. Let me catch you up on our "beautiful ride"...

Mike and I met in late 2004 through mutual friends at, of all places, IHOP. Little did we know, but that night turned out to be the start of an unbelieveable journey. On Valentines day 2005 Mike showed up at my work with flowers and a card which read "will you be my girl?". It didn't take long for me to realize this was the man I would grow old with, and a year later on the day before Valentines day he got down on both knees and asked me to marry him. I did just that on May 12, 2007 in a sunset ceremony overlooking the ocean in Palos Verdes, California followed by an unforgettable reception.

In early August, we received the best blessing God could bestow. I felt kinda... off... one morning, and realized "aunt flow" was late for her monthly visit! After ransaking under our bathroom sink I finally found a pregnancy test and took it... "One line for no, two for yes" was the only thing going through my mind for the next 3 minutes. I looked at the test, and there was one and a half lines! I asked my dog "what the heck does that mean"? I ran to the drug store and bought the fool-proof "pregnant" or "not pregnant" brand and rushed home. After taking both, both confirmed "pregnant"! After having it re-confirmed by my doctor later that day, I thought, "how am I going to suprise Mike"? When he came home, I gave him a present consisting of a baby blanket and a pregnancy test. After pulling out the baby blanket he asked "how is this a present for me?" I then informed him he was going to be a daddy.

The smile on his face melted my heart, and we are so excited for the next chapter of our lives to begin.