Wiggin' Out

But not for the reason you may think! Last night, I went to my first-ever Wig Party in honor of our friend Trish's 30th Birthday party! I had so much fun and I'm so glad I went! Beau was in Austin this weekend so (while he was greatly missed and I was asked 100x where he was) it was great to be with my girls!

I went over to Nikki's house early and hung out with her and Thea, which I haven't done with girlfriends in so long! It was nice to lay around and chat...well, I "lay", they were buzzing around being productive. :)

We soon headed to Madison Ave., this month's hottest bar/club in Uptown, which will no doubt quickly be replaced by some other new place before Christmas. Ha! I'm so cynical. But seriously, you should have seen the traffic to get into that place when I was leaving! McKinney Ave. was practically shut down. Sorry, back to the story...

We had such a great time dancing and being stared at by all the non-wig-wearers. Their sad looks wishing they could be friends with us was almost too much to take. Ok, I'll stop. But seriously, a great night and thanks to Thea for the fun pictures and my awesome virgin cocktails! I think I was drunk on O.J. ;-) Happy 30th Birthday, Trishy!!

I don't think we ever successfully got the whole group together. It's like herding cats.

Life might just be better as a readhead! ;-)

WTF will never be the same!

My company has a Work Time Fun (WTF) event about once a quarter and they vary from Cinco de Mayo parties in the park to the occasional big event like everyone heading out to Sneakie Pete's on Lake Lewisville. They bring everyone together outside of the office and are always a good time. This past week, we had our first ever "mystery" WTF event where they simply told everyone to meet outside in front of our building at 1pm and to dress comfortably. I'm still in amazement at how they kept this a surprise from everyone!.....

Three charter buses awaited us, each with snacks and a keg of beer. For about an hour, they drove us past everything from a putt putt place, to top golf, to Dave & Busters...Finally, we pulled into the parking lot of North Park mall. The surprise? A big "Thank You" from RAZOR to the employees for our hard work - each one of us received $200 in North Park Gold and about 4 hours to play. What a treat!! It was fun (and very different) to shop with co-workers. I bought sweaters but my favorite story of North Park Gold being well-spent was a group that headed to the patio of Kona Grill for drinks. :-) That probably would have been a part of my plan too about 2 or 3 months ago!

Everyone had a great time and I will never forget that day! Truly special! Philip, a co-worker and friend, and I joked that we could hear Oprah in our heads, "YOU GET $200! YOU GET $200! YOU GET $200!". hehe...

Here is a shot of Anna, Carissa and I coming off our bus. I'm sure we will be seeing this picture again in a staff meeting....

Finally, I will never forget the VP/Operations pumping the keg like it's something she does every day - too funny!

Is this really happening? (or First Sonogram)

I went to my first doctor's appointment this morning and I am pleased to report that Baby Reynolds has a strong heart beat of 143 and everything looks great! Dr. Jacoby was wonderful about everything - even caffeine and sushi and he says that he gives an epidural at 1 cm., all of which makes him the new man in my life! Just kidding. But he did say that one cup of coffee every once in a while and smoked salmon and tempura sushi rolls (not raw) are fine. They also gave me a fun little gift bag of pregnancy stuff. I was very disappointed not to have found a crib in there.

So, I guess this is really happening! I will feel much better after my 12th week when risks go down but until then, I will be preparing (and planning decorations) for this exciting time in our lives!

Here is the sonogram. Isn't he cute?! Just kidding. But Beau and I think it's a boy. Despite the fact that it doesn't have private parts yet. He/She is looking to the left, sitting upright with a little nub arm sticking out. The Monday after Thanksgiving I get to hear the heartbeat. Oh, and the due date is officially June 26, 2010. But who really delivers on their due date?! My Mom said I was 4 days late, which if this baby isn't headin' out the morning of the 26th, we're going to have words. More later! :)

Questions & Updates

I promise I won't always talk babies (yes, I will) but lots of changes going on now....

First, I get a lot of the same questions from people – here are some of my favorites:

When are you due?

            Around June 26^th, 2010

Do you have any symptoms?
            Yes, the typical 6. EXHAUSTION, frequent urination, crazy emotions, nausea, lots of saliva and sore boobs. I have a new respect for expecting women! I was going to be the fabulous prego chick in heels and skinny (maternity) jeans, dancing the night away with my girl friends (w/ a water in hand) proving that nothing has to change just b/c I’m with child. Ha! I’m still “fabulous”….if that means unbuttoned jeans under a baggy shirt, passed out by 8:30pm on the couch, saying ‘no’ to social events that begin after 8pm, but if I do make it out finding the nearest bathroom in case I need to hurl and the nearest chair  b/c I just want to SLEEP. All the time. If that isn’t fabulous, I don’t know what is ;-)


Do you miss wine?
            Yes. Do you know me? I also miss soft cheese. Sushi. Coffee. Crab & shrimp. Corona Lite. And I also miss anything else that I can’t have that I don’t even know about yet ;-)


Were you trying? / Was it an accident? / Were you surprised? / Did you mean to get pregnant?
            Really? Have some tact! I totally get the curiosity b/c a) everyone knew/thought I didn’t have baby fever and b) we never told anyone we were planning for this next step. It was very important to both Beau and I that we keep this between us in case we struggled with it. I just had this feeling that it would take us a long time and we didn’t want anyone (our parents) expecting a “Good News!” call every time the phone rang. So yes, we were “trying”.


Second, here are some things I have cried over that would NEVER have had me crying 2 months ago:

• The DMV closing at 5 when their website says 6 and me showing up at 5:15 - tears
• Almost getting mowed down in the parking lot of said DMV by a distracted motorist on his cell - hysterical
• Getting confused by the stupid Parker/75 pass over and ending up heading South when I was trying to go North on 75 - emotional breakdown
• (P.S. the top 3 all happened in the same afternoon - NOT a good day!)
• Biggest Loser voting off the girl that lost her husband and babies in a car accident - actually I would have cried at this anyway
• Beau not being "excited" enough about baby talk - was I expecting a ticker tape parade? Yes.

Last, here are some changes being made around the house:

• Beau and I are switching sides of the bed! He is closer to the bathroom and walking ALL the way around the bed to get there seems impossible at 2am. In fact, I just lay there debating whether I should climb over him and whether that would make him mad. ;-) Sooo, why do I have to pee so much when nothing is even pushing on my bladder yet??!
• We are keeping Brinkley outside during the day more so that he can use more energy and be calmer in the house. I’m still trying to figure out how we will have a baby crawling around with our two dogs – they lack any concept of personal space!
• We now have a baby-mobile! My parents so kindly traded us their Yukon for my Camry. I should have thrown out baby talk years ago! J

Graduating (or We're Having a Baby!)

Can you believe in less than a year I went from reading....

The Knot.....

to The Nest.....

to The Bump?!

 Beau and I have never really been ones to waste any time when we want something but really?! Wow! We couldn't be more excited to announce that we are expecting a baby in June 2010! It is very early (probably too early) to be telling people but we are just thrilled! I am 6 weeks and 2 days along (or Paw Caldwell would say "you're going into your 7th week" ;-) ). I don't really like to get all sappy in public but feel that it needs to be said....we are truly blessed to have God right there on board helping us make every decision we have made recently - with this last one really being something out of our control! It hasn't escaped me that this is such a blessing and completely out of my control and for that we are truly thankful.

Soooo, is this the part where I compare it to a fruit? Why not?! And so begins the blog subjects that I never anticipated writing about.....

This week we are a sweet pea!

This week's major developments: The nose, mouth and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape! His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long.

How cool is that? 

Cheesy Honesty Survey

I don't normally do these but I like that it can live here so I don't clutter up my friends' Facebook news feed ;-)

HONESTY......Can you fill this out without lying? You've been tagged, so now you need to answer all the questions HONESTLY.

1.What was the last thing you put in your mouth.
Broccoli (covered in cheese)

2.Where was your profile picture taken?
At our wedding

3.Can you play Guitar Hero?
Nope

4.Name someone who made you laugh today?
Ryun Pollaca - our creative director at work

5.How late did you stay up last night and why?
10:30, b/c that's normal

6.If you could move somewhere else, would you?
Somewhere like Wilkes Barre, PA? No. Somewhere like Tahiti? Hell yes.

7. Ever been kissed under fireworks?
Yes.

8. Which of your facebook friends lives closest to you?
The very handsome Beau Reynolds

9. Do you believe ex's can be friends?
Sure. Until they marry someone else. ;-)

10. How do you feel about Dr Pepper?
Loves it.

11. When was the last time you cried really hard?
Sunday. The first time in forever.

12. Who took your profile picture?
Kristi Rockenbach

13. Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Shelby. She's a person!

14. Was yesterday better than today?
Yes, I was home sick, which is always better than a day at the office. :(

15. Can you live a day without TV?
I would say no, but we managed just fine in Tahiti!

16. Are you upset about anything?
Yes. See #14.

17. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
What? Yes, bitter.

18. Are you a bad influence?
I have been accused once or a hundred times.


19. Night out or night in?
I like them both.

20. What item could you not go without during the day?
My Shelby. Oh, and food and water.

21. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?
Uncle Ruben. Miss him :-(

22. What does the last text message in your inbox say?
K

23. How do you feel about your life right now?
Home with the hubby and doggies so it's perfect!

24. Do you hate anyone?
Nope.

25. If we were to look in your facebook inbox, what would we find?
messages.

26. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass?
With flying colors. Passionately against them.

27. Has anyone ever called you perfect before?
Do I count? KIDDING.

28. What song is stuck in your head?
What is that song called that goes..."A little bit of Sandra in my life, A little bit of whoever by my side...." Strange!

29. Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m., who do you want it to be?
I'm keeping this one from that last person ;-) === At that hour it better be publisher's frickin' clearinghouse with my 10 million dollar check

30.Wanna have grandkids before you’re 50?
HELL NO. That would be babies havin' babies and that won't fly in our house! :-)

31. Name something you have to do tomorrow.
Drag myself out of bed to go into the office.

32. Do you think too much or too little?
Depends what it is.

33. Do you smile a lot?
I like to think so :-)

My Favorite [Foody] Things

Here are some of my favorite (and easy) grocery store foods that I just can't seem to get enough of lately. Healthy? No. Goooooood? Yes.

I have a slight obsession with anything cinnamon & these are more like something you buy from a bakery, less instant laziness. Perfection!


Beau and I have had a lot of fun finding new things to put in Pillsbury dough!! I LOVE this stuff and could eat it every day. You can really get creative with the insides - but you probably already know that. We mostly fix chicken packets and pepperoni rolls. The latter was served at our housewarming party :-). Perfect with warm marinara sauce. Mmmm....



Another lazy piece of heaven - the CPK pizzas. All toppings, both thin and regular crust. Great for when we just don't feel like cooking, which is about 6 nights out of the week :-)


These little suckers are wonderful AND guiltless. However, not so when you eat the whole box in 1 day. Just sayin'.


Maybe 1 day you will get a snapshot of my favorite restaurant foods - but that list is much more lengthy and requires much more thought!

Housewarming Party

Yes, yes, a post about something that happened 2 months ago. BUT, now that Kodak Gallery changed their website, I can once again pull photos from my friends' albums without buying them. I know, lame. But here is the day in pictures - we had a GREAT time and I only wish Beau and I had taken pics of all the guests. We had about 40 people here but since these pics are all from 1 camera....you only get shots of my friends :-)

I never knew how stressful hosting a party can be!! We won't be doing that again for a while! But I think the food table is pretty - very proud!

There's no "I" in Reynolds

We are now going on 3 months of Beau being home from traveling and I can't tell you how much we are enjoying it! He has now affectionately become known as my "house husband" and I LOVE coming home to him and the doggies each day after work! (well, I would REALLY love staying home with them every day!)...I dread the day he is put back on a project but we know it's coming. His company is finalizing a deal with an oil company in Arkansas for which Beau has been assigned. He has still been on the payroll this past 3 months, which always surprises people. It has surprised us too but as I have mentioned before, he is SO blessed to have a manager who believes in him!

Since my hours at the office haven't lightened up that much, Beau has truly taken on the role of the house husband and I think he really likes it! He is so sweet and has really gotten into cooking dinner recently! He's not too bad at laundry either ;-) He helps out so much by making my coffee, going grocery shopping, exercising the dogs so they are calm when I get home, the list goes on - I'm so thankful and blessed to have found him! :-)

A Guilty Gripe

I'm feeling guilty about having such a ridiculous complaint but let me explain first....I should start by saying we are SO blessed for all our wedding gifts and all the thought and love put behind each gift from family and friends. So, yes we are very thankful to have this "gripe" but I just don't understand why companies put their little branding stickers on EVERYTHING! And not just that, but you can't peel them off easily?! Think the sticker on the glass of a picture frame. How many times have you not been able to peel it off in one quick swoop?! Never. Well, we registered for, and received, 12 BEAUTIFUL place settings of this flatware!! SO excited!....The designer put their sticker on EVERY piece?! What is that about? AND they didn't come off easily. You would think a distinguished company would order better adhesive. SO, that's my gripe - 60+ irritating little stickers later, but we're ready to eat!! ;-)

Inspiration

Recently, I have become increasingly inspired by people who turn their hobby into a profession. Whether it's b/c they no longer have to go to their 9 - 5 (more like 8 - 8) or that they have the luxury of doing something they truly love, it's a beautiful thing. Additionally, I also admire "Do It Yourself"ers. Here is a website that sums up all of this!! I wish I had 1/2948 of the creative streak this couple has. I also wish I had their job! ;-) Every project on this site has inspired me. If only I had the time [sigh]....

They also made the cover of The Nest! My new, most favorite magazine and further inspiration to make this house of ours more of a home....

Time Flies

I can't believe it has been almost 10 years since I was in the Coronation. It REALLY doesn't feel like it's been that long and I can't believe how time flies. My mom scanned my portrait and sent it to me today, which is why I'm having such a random flashback. :-) It is one my favorite memories and very similar to the planning and excitement of a wedding - even the 4 or so days of events. I'm so appreciative of my parents for giving me such a great gift and I will never forget the whole experience! I LOVED my dress and still look forward to going to my parents house and spending time with it :-) Of course my mom has it on display! I still can't believe the amount of detail and work that went into the making of it. The fittings were some of my favorite times - getting to see the progress of it was really cool. And you can't tell here but the dress is quite stunning under good lighting - in fact, all of the Coronation dresses are. Maybe one day my daughter will get the opportunity! :-)

Duchess of the Egyptian Emerald - 2000 Coronation