Jonathan & Erica

Baby G - Week 28

2012-01-21T11:24:00.000-06:00

Jonathan was in Orlando this week so he picked up a little treat for Baby G at Disneyworld...a Mickey Mouse and a onesie. I, on the other hand, found this cute hat that kinda reminded me of Flash...it was too cute to pass up.

I went to the doctor on Monday and things are moving right along. I had my blood drawn for the gestational diabetes test and everything came back fine. Yea! I haven't really been watching my weight or noticed how much I've gained so I asked the nurse about it. Turns out I've gained about 15 pounds, which is good. She said the doctor would be quick to let me know if it was an issue. We start going to the doctor every two weeks now so we'll be heading back this Friday.

I also have to monitor the baby movements, counting 10 in a two hour time period. So far this hasn't been a problem and he usually moves 10 times in a matter of minutes. Baby G seems to be most active in the evenings. It must be his play time. I seem to be sleeping a little better at night, but maybe this is just because I've been a little more tired. Either way, I'll take it. I'm off the Indian food kick...this week it was Mexican. Jonathan is predicting I'll move to Chinese next since I seem to like starchy, ethnic foods.

What I Did on My Day Off

2012-01-17T19:06:00.000-06:00

I baked!

I'm sure this is not terribly shocking to anyone, but I did attempt something new. I've been wanting to try my hand at kolaches for a while now. I have very vivid memories of how these tasted from the local bakeries in and around Weimar...who am I kidding, Jonathan and I still stop at Weikel's Bakery almost every trip to Weimar. Until Jonathan met me, he thought the best kolaches were in West, but he has since learned about the greatness of Weikels.

I used a recipe from Rebecca Rather of Rather Sweet Bakery, and adapted the toppings to my preferences. I made poppyseed, cheese and raspberry. I'm a little disappointed with the dough...it didn't rise enough and ended up pretty dense. I'm thinking the water was not hot enough when I put the yeast in. It wasn't fluffy and light. But for a first attempt...it wasn't a complete failure, and they are still edible...trust me I've eaten my share over the past few days!

A few weekends ago, Staci sent us home from Kelsey's party with about a dozen lemons. I left them sit on the counter for about a week because they smelled so good! Then, I made lemon bars and pitchers of fresh squeezed lemonade...which I don't think I've ever made before. These have to be the juiciest lemons ever! It only took about three lemons to get one cup of fresh juice. Unfortunately, I only have two left, but I'm seriously considering planting a lemon tree in the backyard. I wonder if Flash would eat the lemons as they fell to the ground?

My favorite...poppyseed!

The juiciest lemons ever!

Baby G - Week 27

2012-01-14T14:03:00.000-06:00

The second wave of exhaustion is definitely kicking in. Most of the days this week, I came home from school and just sat on the couch for a while. I was just so tired. After reading on the Internet for a while or watching some mindless TV, I was good to go for a few more hours.

One of the little girls in my class told me early in the week, "Mrs. Green your belly isn't very big." Of course that day, I had on a black shirt which hid it. By Thursday, when I wore a sweater, she said, "OK, maybe it's bigger than I thought, but it's still not very big." I could only laugh. My students also want to know if I will come to visit them after the baby is born. As the time is getting closer, it's getting more real for them.

I think we've finally settled on a name! But you guys will have to wait a few more months to find out. You can guess all you want, but I don't think anyone will get it. Jonathan and I finished registering for baby items this weekend. And the last big item for the nursery came in the mail this week so Jonathan hung it today, but it has Baby G's initials so pictures will come later.

So latley, I've been thinking a lot about mac & cheese. I wouldn't say craving it, but kind of like the Indian food, I want it once a week. Luckily, the heartburn has pretty much gone away except for an occasional appearance. I'm still not a fan of most meats. I can do ground beef and chicken when it's mixed with something. I told Jonathan our kid may be a vegetarian. I do have a pretty big sweet tooth, which really isn't a surprise. And I've been getting my fill between baking goodies and Blue Bell ice cream. Jonathan has also been partaking in the sweets, but he has been hitting the gym pretty often. Sleeping, or lack of, remains the same. I go to the doctor on Monday, and they will draw blood for the gestational diabetes test. I'm crossing my fingers I pass and laying off the sugars this weekend!

Kelsey's 5th Birthday

2012-01-08T11:05:00.000-06:00

Kelsey celebrated her 5th birthday yesterday. She actually turned 5 in late December, but with the holidays it's always hard to fit in a birthday party too! Here are a few pictures from the party. I tried a new way to upload photos and the layout went a bit crazy so just ignore that there are pictures all over the page.

I think Kayla has her hands full with these two!

I love this picture of these two waiting for cake!

Finally - a smile.

Baby G - Week 26

2012-01-06T17:33:00.000-06:00

Finally!

Jonathan was finally able to feel Baby G...we've only been trying for about a month. I first felt him the week before Thanksgiving. Each time I would tell Jonathan that the baby was moving, he would come over and put his hand on my belly. And it was like the baby knew, and he would stop immediately. Last night, we were watching TV, and Baby G started his evening play. Jonathan was able to feel several big punches/kicks.

Otherwise, it's been a pretty quiet week on baby watch. I went back to school this week, and boy, am I tired! I think it's a combination of back to school and getting close to the 3rd trimester. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I may actually be able to sleep more!

Poor, Neglected Flash

2012-01-03T15:08:00.000-06:00

With all the preparation for Baby G, I think Flash has been feeling a little neglected. At least he would make you think that. He is always ready for a belly rub or some attention. Keep in mind he spent four days playing with Tex and Cooper over winter break. Well, playing may not be the right word...more like watching, avoiding and hiding.

Yesterday, Jonathan got down on the floor and rolled around with Flash. Then, he made Flash howl. I really wish these pictures had sound! Flash lasted for about 10 minutes, and then he flopped over for a belly rub.

In the evening, we lit our firepit and sat outside to watch the sunset. It was the perfect ending to a great day!

Fredericksburg

2012-01-03T14:50:00.001-06:00

Jonathan and I took a little trip to Fredericksburg on our last day of winter break. We basically woke up and decided lets drive down, visit a few shops and eat some German food. I love being close enough that we can just wake up and decide to go. It was a beautiful day and there was not much of a crowd, which made for a pleasant trip. We strolled up and down Main Street, popping into a few stores. Then, we decided on Auslander for lunch. I wasn't craving potatoes and sauerkraut, but it sure hit the spot! I was looking forward to visiting Rather Sweet Bakery, but we discovered that it closed earlier this year. Boo!

On our way out of town, we decided to make a pitstop in Luckenbach. We were last there almost seven years ago for our first anniversary, and not much has changed since then. We did get Baby G a Luckenbach onesie because everybody is somebody in Luckenbach. We spent a little time listening to the live music, while enjoying a bottle of water and Shiner Bock...I'll let you decide who had the water!

Baby G - Week 25

2012-01-01T18:57:00.000-06:00

Things are moving right along. I can't believe how this time is flying by. It was odd to think this year at Christmas that next year we'll have a little one with us. So a few highights for the week...still having trouble sleeping. I told Jonathan yesterday that I've enjoyed being pregnant more than I ever thought I would, and the only things I miss are wine and sleep. This may be too much information (TMI), but it made me laugh so I wanted to remember it. I discovered this week that I can no longer shave my legs in the shower...the whole bending down thing just isn't working. This never even crossed my mind before, but it's funny how even simple things change. I've also been having stomach pains...it just feels like my stomach is stretching. It's nothing to worry about just that expanding feeling.

We, well mainly Jonathan, have been busy working on the nursery. The main components are ready, and we just need a few finishing touches and the baby goodies. I love how it's coming along, and I think Jonathan is just relieved that I've been able to find the things I wanted. We also registered for all the baby goodies. After 2.5 hours we still weren't done so we do have to go back one day for a few last things. Baby stores are intimidating...there are just so many choices! Jonathan has spent considerable time this break replacing the outlets in the house. He's putting kid-proof outlets on instead of the regular ones so little fingers can't get to them.

Baby G's first Christmas tree ornament.

Jonathan looks thrilled!

Flash's contribution to the bed building.

Nursery in progress!

Christmas in Grapevine

2012-01-01T18:19:00.000-06:00

We spent a few days in Grapevine, celebrating Christmas with Jonathan's family. I should mention that it's become a tradition to receive gifts wrapped in odd boxes...so no, Jonathan did not receive a box of cake mix. We also had the chance to see some of our friends. Now, that almost everyone has kids the parties and get togethers are a little more tame.

Baby G - Week 24

2011-12-23T16:54:00.002-06:00

We started the nursery this week, and I use the term "we" very loosely since Jonathan is doing most of the work. Last Sunday, Jonathan painted the nursery. We picked out a color called "Niagara Mist" to put on the walls. We decided on just one color to keep the work simple, and went with a light color since I thought a darker blue would make the room look small and dark.

Flash having one last wiggle before he gives up his room.

We took the closet doors off since they opened out and would hit any furniture along the wall. In place of the doors, we decided to hang curtains in case we need to hide the mess that may be the closet. I was incredibly lucky and found the exact curtains I wanted at the first store I looked. Jonathan again breathed a giant sigh of relief because he didn't think I would find what I wanted. He feared us hunting for months looking for some curtains that didn't exist.

Yesterday, we had the carpets cleaned...to get rid of all the Flash hair, and Jonathan hung the blinds and curtains. Jonathan has also started "safety proofing" the house. Mainly, he's just replacing the electrical outlets so little people can't get their fingers in there. Here's a sneak peek.

Today, we went to the store and purchased a bed. However, the box is too big to fit into the car so we'll have to go next week and pick it up with a little help. Recently, we had a few old newspapers framed for the nursery. Jonathan has been collecting newspapers since he was a kid and we thought it would be cool to put some old sports papers in the baby's room. (Thanks Laura for the great idea!) Our other project over winter break is to figure out some sort of closet organization. We need some sort of shelving or drawers for storage in the closet.

Today, Jonathan and I went for massages. I was hoping they might be able to help with my legs at night and the pain in my hip. The lady gave me a few tips and really worked on those areas so we'll see how the next few nights go. Over the past few weeks, I've really had a thing for Indian food. I've always liked Indian, but now I pretty much want it on a weekly basis. Surprisingly, it doesn't give me heartburn (knock on wood).

Christmas Gifts

2011-12-23T15:14:00.000-06:00

Jonathan and I exchanged Christmas gifts early since we'd be traveling tomorrow. Normally, we don't get each other gifts, or we buy something for the two of us together. So when Jonathan came home one day and said, "I got you a gift" my first thought was what are you talking about? Which led to my next thought of oh, crap now I have to brave the stores the week before Christmas since it was too late to order online. He tried to tell me it was something we could both use and that we actually needed this item and not to worry about getting him anything. I couldn't do that...I had to think of something to get him.

So this past Monday after school, I headed to the mall. I was not thrilled about this adventure. To my surprise, I found an open parking spot right by the door, but I thought for sure my luck would end there. Turns out, I found exactly what I was looking for at the first two stores and was in and out in less than 30 minutes. It truly was a Christmas miracle!

Jonathan got me a keyboard for the iPad (which we had talked about before and we can both actually use) and the new iPhone 4s...I love it! I got Jonathan a nice set of cufflinks...so really, he got jewlery, and I received technology items...seems kind of backwards?

Weimar Christmas

2011-12-21T17:15:00.000-06:00

Here are a few pictures from Christmas in Weimar this past weekend. Wrapping paper and bows were flying everywhere :)

Baby G - Week 23

2011-12-18T09:14:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday, Jonathan and I went to the Paramount for a concert. I haven't been too keen on going out or parties these days, but the Paramount is nice, clean and you can sit down. We saw the Gourds, Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison. We had a great time, and Baby G made his presence known. I'm not sure if he liked the music or if we were disturbing naptime, but he kicked the entire time. We may have a music lover on our hands.

The bedding I ordered came this week. And I'm happy to say I love it! Jonathan breathed a giant sigh of relief since we didn't have a backup plan and hadn't found anything else we liked. We only ordered the items on the crib - bumper, sheet, bedskirt and blanket. We picked up a few paint samples and are trying to decide on a color for the nursery. Flash wanted to be part of the process too. As we were holding the samples up to the bedding, he would sniff and rub and the bedding. I think he's still trying to figure it all out!

My students have been so cute. They are all trying to come up with names for the baby...most of which is a play off of their name. They have also taken to keeping me fed. I had three different students bring cookies this week and another brought muffins.

We went to the doctor on Friday and had another ultrasound. During the first, Baby G was not very cooperative so there were still a few things they wanted to see. This time he was super active. I've noticed that usually between 2 and 4 is his playtime. The doctor was able to see everything they couldn't the first time, and it's still a boy. Everything looks great and he's growing right on schedule.

I've had crazy heartburn the past week or two...just about anything can make me grab for the Tums. I started carrying a baggie with some in my purse. My legs are still giving me trouble at night. Usually, I sleep well for 3-4 hours, and then I toss and turn. Friday night was the worst. I barely slept the entire night and finally got out of bed at 5 a.m. The nurse suggested a warm bath before bed to relax the muscles and nerves so I'm going to give it a try. Otherwise, I still think I've had a pretty easy go of it.

Finally Fall!

2011-12-18T08:35:00.000-06:00

This is the tree in our backyard. I swear one day it was green and the next it turned to beautiful shades of fall.

Holiday Cookies

2011-12-12T20:16:00.000-06:00

I was ready for some holiday baking this past weekend. Actually, I'd planned to bake the weekend before, but ended up being tired and really just sitting around most of Sunday. I figure I can eat as many cookies as I want guilt free this year! I tried a new recipe that called for just a dab of almond extract and it was fabulous. I will be using this recipe in the future!

Merry Christmas Flash

2011-12-12T19:47:00.001-06:00

Flash received an early Christmas present this past weekend...a new bed. The padding in his other one was pretty worn down and with our bedroom floor being tile, we decided it was time for something a little more comfy. At first, he wasn't too sure about it and just sniffed around. But it didn't take long for him to give it a try. He seems to like it since he was laying in it during the middle of the day yesterday. Although, he lays the wrong way in the bed so he looks really scrunched.

Baby G - Week 22

2011-12-10T08:48:00.000-06:00

We're a little over half way and really starting to think about the nursery. I think most of the work will happen over winter break. The bedding I ordered should be here this week! And we took some pictures to be framed so they should be ready to go by winter break. So far I resisted the temptation of soft cheese, but this week I caved. And I think Baby G was a fan...he was kicking like crazy!

We had a little scare yesterday. Me and my two left feet stepped in a hole on the playground and fell. Luckily, I fell mostly on my hip not directly on my stomach. I called my doctor and nurse, and after a few questions they thought I was fine. I wasn't too worried. I felt fine and I felt the baby kick after, but I just wanted to be sure.

I made my first baby purchase last week. I was on Amazon looking for some things and came across kid books so I ordered Buenas Noches Luna (Goodnight Moon in Spanish). It seemed appropriate that the first thing I would buy for our child would be a book.

We go back to the doctor this Friday for another ultrasound and visit.

Baby G - Week 21

2011-12-04T12:30:00.000-06:00

We're slowing getting Baby G's room together. The closet is clear and the furniture is out. Now, we just have to find a new place for Flash's house, which could take some getting used to on his part. We're still throwing around names, and I think we may have settled on a middle name.

I've been feeling the baby since the week before Thanksgiving, of course at that point I wasn't sure if it was the baby, gas or just stomach gurgles. But I'm starting to feel him more often and what seems to be bigger movements. Jonathan will come and rub my belly, trying to catch the movement, but we haven't had any luck so far.

The Monday after Thanksgiving, I told my students it was a boy. About 68% of them thought it was a girl too! We found the percent to make it educational! The next day, one of my sweet students brought me a gift - bibs and socks!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2011-12-04T12:13:00.000-06:00

Here are my Christmas trees for this year. I already warned Jonathan that I'd have to get one for Baby G's room at the after Christmas sales.

Sports tree for Jonathan's office

My Santa tree in the dining room

Living room - it has all of our travel ornaments


In our bedroom - the ornaments from when we were kids

Surprise! It's a boy!

2011-11-27T16:13:00.000-06:00

At our doctor's appointment, we had the sonographer put a picture of the baby and gender in an envelope. Our plan was to come home, enjoy a nice meal and find out together. So I made one of our favorites, boeuf bourguignon, for the big reveal. The only thing missing was a glass of Bordeaux!

Jonathan and I both thought it was a girl...and surprise it's a boy! Most of our friends, family and co-workers also thought it was a girl. Only a handful or so were guessing boy.

Over Thanksgiving, we shared the news with our family. I made cupcakes with blue icing to tell my family.

And, I made cake balls to share the news with Jonathan's family.

Baby G - Week 20

2011-11-27T15:51:00.000-06:00

It's been an exciting few weeks! We recently learned the gender (more to come), and we're starting to get into full baby mode. It seemed like up until this point we couldn't really do much as far as getting things ready. However, this Thanksgiving break we took on cleaning out the closets. The closet in the baby room was our catch all after the move last year. It was the place we stuck things when we didn't know what to do with it or if we would deal with it later. And the time has come to deal with it!

Jonathan and I walked through a baby store yesterday, and we felt completely overwhelmed. There are so many choices! Our plan is to take my friend Elizabeth shopping with us over Christmas break so she can tell us what to buy and what to skip. I did order some bedding online that we liked, but we'll see once it gets here.

This week is the first time I've worn maternity clothes (mainly pants). I can still get by with some of my regular clothes for a while longer. And luckily, I think I'm pretty much set thanks to Veronica and the giant bin of clothes. I'm still not sleeping very well at night. Generally, I sleep great for the first 3-4 hours, and then I toss and turn for the rest of the night because my legs feel like they are going numb. I bought a pregnancy pillow, and it's helping some. However, it takes up over half the bed so poor Jonathan is scrunched on his side. I think this sleeping issue is here to stay. I've also had crazy heartburn recently. Normally, this isn't an issue for me so I can only imagine it's baby related.

Addison's Birthday

2011-11-27T15:21:00.000-06:00

Our niece, Addison, turned six earlier this month. To celebrate, she had a pageant party, where all the little girls wore their best dresses, had their hair and make-up done and walked the runway. It was quite a show! Here are a few pictures from the big day.

The Birthday Girl!


Colton watching the pinata

After the pageant

Baby G - Week 18

2011-11-12T07:48:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, Jonathan and I went to visit Veronica and the boys in Killeen. Veronica offered me a whole bin of maternity clothes so I couldn't turn her down! I was not looking forward to spending hundreds of dollars on clothes I'd wear only for a short time. We watched the UT game, played with Carson and Ryan and chatted. Then, we headed off to Grapevine.

When we arrived there was a surprise waiting for us. Baby G's first blanket! Jonathan's grandmother, Sue, made it for us from UT themed material. Jonathan decided, between this blanket and the football cocoon his mom bought, Baby G will be ready for the NFL draft.

We go to the doctor on Tuesday to learn the gender. Jonathan's travel plans have changed so we don't have to wait until Friday to actually discover if it's a boy or girl! Thank goodness, I'm not sure I could have held out three extra days, knowing the answer was sitting in an envelope in my house.

Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T18:24:00.000-06:00

Today, I was able to do something extra special. I have a student whose dad has been deployed in Afghanistan since earlier this year. Today, he came back home!

The students had a holiday, but the teachers had a professional development day. This afternoon, we lined the street by our school and welcomed him home as he arrived from the airport. Neighborhood kids made signs and posted them along the route. It was amazing to see such a sense of community and unity, and I can honestly say I'm thrilled to be apart of it!

So thank you to those near and far who serve so we can live free.

Baby G - Week 17

2011-11-06T08:42:00.000-06:00

It's been a pretty quiet week, which is nice considering the week before. We did go back to the doctor on Friday for a quick checkup. Everything is looking good! We had a quick ultrasound and listened to the heartbeat - 151 beats per minute. I also ran into a girl I know at the doctor's office. She is due in just a few weeks, but I had no idea she went to the same office.

I'm still having trouble sleeping. When I'm on my side, it feels like my leg is starting to go numb. I asked the doctor about this, and she said it's normal that my nerves are compressed. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about it. Hopefully, I can find a more comfortable way to sleep. I told Jonathan that if I could eat soft cheese and drink wine, I wouldn't even know I was pregnant. It's been much more pleasant than I imagined. I'm sure I'll be cursed with the worst few months ever just for saying that.

Nearly, everyone I've talked with thinks we're having a girl. I've gotten responses like, "you just seem like girl people" or "I know it's a girl because you're having such an easy time" or "I just know it's a girl." Jonathan said my data is skewed because I mostly talk with women because guys don't care about that sort of thing. I reminded him that some of these same people hoped for a boy for their own child or guessed boy when someone else was having a baby. Just a few more weeks and we'll know. It kind of reminds me of waiting for Christmas when I was a kid. Time seems to go by slowly, you shake all the gifts five times under the tree to see if you can figure it out and then you have to wait some more!

Baby Fashions

2011-10-28T18:14:00.000-05:00

Baby G is on the way to starting quite the collection of clothes...mainly thanks to Susan and Leah. I on the other hand have resisted the urge to buy....mainly because I don't know if I should buy pink or blue. Don't get me wrong I've done my fair share of looking and have bookmarked several links, but I haven't clicked buy just yet.

Baby G - Week 16

2011-10-28T18:03:00.000-05:00

Apparently, Baby G thought he/she was not getting enough attention because he/she gave us quite a scare last night. I was getting ready to take a shower and noticed blood everywhere on the floor. Jonathan immediately called the emergency nurse, who relayed our situation to the on-call doctor. After monitoring the situation for a few hours, they determined I should rest and see my doctor today for an ultrasound and checkup. My doctor determined everything was fine, but couldn't really find a reason for the bleeding. We did get to hear the heartbeat and had a bonus ultrasound. Now, the baby actually looks like a baby! The heartbeat was 158 beats per minute, and he/she was again quite active for the pictures! My doctor wants me to rest for the next couple of days and no exercise. I'll go back next Friday just to make sure everything is OK. Well, if it's a girl she's already causing drama!

This past week, we visited two more daycares close to our house. We've decided to get on the waiting lists for two of the three we visited. We're really hoping for our first choice, but our second option isn't bad either. And like with most things there are pros and cons to both. Hopefully, we have the daycare situation nearly figured out.

Yesterday, I told Jonathan was the first day I actually felt pregnant. I haven't had to wear any maternity clothes yet, and I haven't started to show much. However, yesterday I wore a pair of jeans that were pretty tight and with the shirt I had on there definitely was a little pooch starting. Unless, I balloon up over night, I think I can wear my regular clothes for a few more weeks (minus that certain pair of jeans!). My energy has been good, and I'm OK with most foods. I really haven't had a craving for anything crazy yet. I have had some trouble sleeping, mainly with trying to sleep on my side. I toss and turn from one side to the next, but I got a body pillow so hopefully it will help.

Gypsy Picnic

2011-10-22T18:00:00.001-05:00

So I intended to go to the Texas Book Festival today, but then I woke up and decided I much rather go shopping. Namely, I wanted to check out Sur la Table in the Domain so I sent my friend Elizabeth a text to see if she was interested. She mentioned they were going to the Gypsy Picnic at Auditorium Shores, and when there is food involved these days, I'm easily convinced. So we were off to check out the "trailer food festival."

Jonathan and I were both excited to see "Traditional Argentinean" empanadas. They were good, but it didn't come close to Jorge's roadside stand in Chile. I think I will never look at empanadas the same.

Our friends Raf and Erica own the Irie Bean on South Lamar so we were excited to try some of their food. By the time we got there, they were sold out of the Quinoa and Sweet Potato Griddle Cakes, but we managed to score one from the back. It was awesome and had the slightest hint of ginger.

We also tried the Jerk Chicken. I loved the fact that it had just the right amount of spice.

We had two favorites of the day...one from Trey's Cuisine - Steak Mac Croquettes. Mac & Cheese and steak, how can that not be a winning combination. Plus it was fried and topped with ranch...can you say heart attack?

This was our other favorite - Prosciutto and Fig Preserve Kolache with toasted pistachio from The Zubik House. Holy moly talk about delicious! I need to figure out how to make these.

This was the Smoked Pork Shoulder Kolache with local honey, jalapenos and onions also from the Zukib House. It was good, but no where near the Prosciutto and Fig Preserve Kolache.

Baby G - Week 15

2011-10-22T09:57:00.000-05:00

I told my students this week that I was pregnant. One of the teachers on my team said she gave her students Smarties with stickers that said "I have a sweet surprise." However, her students couldn't guess the surprise. So I made it a little clearer for the students and gave them these...

They were so excited! The entire class came up and gave me a huge group hug. I had to hold back the tears. Then, they wanted to know when I was due, if it was a boy or girl, would I miss school and if I'd come and see them after the baby was born. Then, the excitement moved on to names, they started compiling a list of names, which included all of their names too. It was so cute to see such joy and excitement. I also ran into some more of my parents from last year, and they were excited and said their kids were so happy too. It's really nice to be apart of and accepted in the school family.

I told Jonathan I would be pregnant all the time if it meant I would keep getting foot rubs. Right now, I'm averaging 2 - 3 a week...I could definitely get used these! I keep asking Jonathan if I've been crazy or out of control, and he says not too bad. So to say the least, he has been AWESOME!

Last weekend, I went with Jonathan to Forest and Pat's tailgate for the Oklahoma State game. I've been putting it off because it's been so hot, and I have to go to the bathroom often. I decided that tailgating is definitely not as fun when you're pregnant.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

2011-10-22T09:21:00.000-05:00

I've had a thing for pumpkin recently. Normally, I am a pumpkin fan, but can satisfy the urge with pumpkin pie and a pumpkin spiced latte from Starbucks. This year though, it seems like every other week I'm thinking about pumpkin. So last weekend I made these.

Luckily, John and Jordan came over to watch the Cowboy game otherwise, we would have been living on pumpkin Whoopie Pies this week. They were quite tasty and satisfied my pumpkin urge for another week or two. I got the recipe from here.

So my first pan of "cookies" looked like big globs of mess. I didn't realize you have to shape them and press them down to make the cookies look pretty. And by themselves the cookies don't taste so great.

I Like These Packages

2011-10-15T18:42:00.000-05:00

We got these in the mail today!

I'm both thrilled and sad...only 5.5 months to go! Jonathan had a customer event in Napa, but he couldn't go since he was playing Pinehurst...such a tough life;) So the co-worker who set up the event and hosted his customers sent some wine from the winery they visited.

Baby G - Week 14

2011-10-15T07:42:00.000-05:00

We went for our monthly visit to the doctor yesterday. They performed a "tummy check" where they listen to the baby's heartbeat. It was 156 beats per minute. Jonathan and I both found it interesting that the baby's heartbeat can be faster when they are moving and playing, but slower when it is resting or sleeping...so who knows if we caught it during rest or play. At our next appointment, they will do an ultrasound to check the gender. I'm so excited! I can't wait to find out if we're having a boy or girl.

I lost weight from the last appointment, but that's probably because I wasn't eating much up until about a week ago. At this point, the doctor's not worried since most foods are appealing again. On a random note, I haven't had this many zits since I was a teenager...my skin has been awful! And my hair seems extra dried out and stringy. So far those have been the only real downside to being pregnant. I read an old wives tale on the Internet that said if you get a lots of zits during pregnancy you're having a girl since the baby is taking all the beauty from the mother...we'll see how true it is in a few weeks.

Since I'm a planner I already have my subs lined up for my maternity leave. Actually, one of the 4th grade teachers retired last year so I wanted to make sure and ask early to ensure I get her. She agreed to cover May, and I have another sub to cover April. The April sub was a long term sub last year for another 4th grade teacher who went on maternity leave. I feel very comfortable with these two ladies since they will know most of the kids and parents. However, I knew once I mentioned it to the ladies in the office, word would be out. The even told me, we're not very good at keeping secrets. So it was not shocker yesterday when my room parent from last year came up and gave me a huge hug and offered her congratulations. She said you know once the office knows...the entire school will know.

Baby G - Week 13

2011-10-10T15:48:00.000-05:00

I've felt like a new person this week. I expected a long, tiring week. It was a long week, but I had way more energy than I anticipated. I also have most of my appetite back. I'm still not a fan of proteins, but everything else is sounding pretty good. I hope this means it will be smooth sailing in the second trimester.

This morning I had a little spotting, but I called the doctor and she didn't seemed too concerned. So told me to monitor it throughout the day, and if it got worse to come in. However, as of this afternoon all is well. We go back to the doctor this Friday.

On a side note, last Friday we went out to dinner at The Melting Pot downtown. As we were walking out, my doctor was walking in, and she recognized us. This made me feel a little better since we will be paying her thousands of dollars!

Halloween Costume

2011-10-10T12:19:00.000-05:00

Flash is ready for Halloween...he's going to be a hot dog! Surprisingly, he didn't put up too much of a fight and tolerated the costume.

Donuts

2011-10-10T11:44:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, Jonathan went out for donuts, and he came back with this little treat. It was the perfect way to start off a Saturday. Too bad the longhorns couldn't keep it going.

The Genographic Project

2011-10-08T18:08:00.000-05:00

When we found out we were pregnant a couple months ago, we suddenly became interested in genealogy. In fact, we wasted away an entire Saturday researching our family trees on Ancestry.com.

I had become exposed to a project between National Geographic and IBM a couple years ago to map human migration patterns using DNA analysis. While 99.9 percent of human’s DNA is the same, there are certain mutations that happened over time that allow scientists to pinpoint the evolutionary ancestry of a certain person. They do so by collecting DNA samples, analyzing the results and identifying the mutations to categorize a person by “haplogroups.”

While the evidence points to human life originating the Africa nearly 200,000 years ago, the path that led to us populating the world was less clear. The Genographic Project has provided better evidence to track our migratory evolution. Since the project’s announcement in 2005, nearly 400,000 people have participated, including Erica and myself.

Erica's Haplogroup

I was able to order two kits for myself, since the study can analyze both the “X” and “Y” chromosomes for a male. It’s a simple kit that just required us to collect DNA samples by swabbing the inside of our mouths for a minute. We placed the cotton swab in a special tube filled with solution, and sent it in to the lab. We could track the status of the test online, and about eight weeks later, we were able to view the results online.

Erica’s results show her to be a part of Haplogroup J. This means that her maternal lineage (mother’s mother’s mother’s, etc.) originated in eastern Africa, before the tribe migrated north in Africa, then into the Middle East. From there, her human ancestors split off to either India or Europe. I’m guessing that Erica’s multi-great-grandmother headed to Europe. But that’s just a hunch.

Jonathan's maternal haplogroup

My maternal lineage resides in Haplogroup U, which also starts in eastern Africa, migrates within the continent, before heading north into the Middle East. My ancestors went north from the Middle East, but then split three directions as it headed toward Europe. One group migrated back south, and into northern Africa. Another headed into western Europe, and the third darted north into Scandinavia.

My paternal lineage belongs to Haplogroup Rb1, M343. This group took a more unique route directly out of Africa and into the Middle East. But instead of heading immediately north and towards Europe, these ancestors migrated north and east into Central Asia, into present-day Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and southern Siberia. From there, they migrated west into Europe, reaching present-day Italy, France, Spain and the British Isles. This Haplogroup also makes me a direct descendant of the Cro-Magnons who dominated human expansion into Europe. These people are famous for their cave drawings in southern France.

Jonathan's paternal haplogroup

Baby G -Week 12

2011-10-01T08:56:00.000-05:00

It'S been a pretty uneventful week. There is nothing major to report other than I have a cold. Unfortunately, at this point I can only take Tylenol so I've been trying to rest, drink juice and be patient. I'm still exhausted in the evenings and waiting for that energy to come back to me. We go back to the doctor in two weeks for our next appointment.

Birth Announcement Party

2011-09-25T15:55:00.000-05:00

Susan and Darrell had a birth announcement party this past week. They told all their friends it was a late birthday party for Darrell, but when they arrived they had another surprise in store. I think they are a little excited about Baby G :)

Susan said the poster took her entire conference time to make!

S'mores

2011-09-25T15:37:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I saw a commercial for tailgating and s'mores. Well, it was all I needed to decide I must have s'mores. Luckily, Jonathan lovingly agreed :)

We roasted our marshmallows over the gas stove and enjoyed their ooey, gooey goodness.

Ready for Fall

2011-09-25T15:29:00.000-05:00

So this past week, I decided I was ready for fall...even if it's still 100 degrees outside. I bought a few fake gourds and leaves to decorate the mantle and a pumpkin scented candle. Jonathan added to the motif yesterday with an orange mum. So now, I just need the temperature to drop about 20-30 degrees to really feel like fall.

Dressed for the Game

2011-09-25T15:25:00.000-05:00

These are from last weekend...my guys watching the Cowboy game. You'll notice that Flash looks thrilled to be dressed up and having his picture taken. He is not the most compliant when it comes to putting on his jersey. He usually tries to bite your hands and starts to growl.

Here Jonathan and Flash strike the Heisman pose.

Artwork

2011-09-25T15:20:00.000-05:00

I had these framed a few weeks ago. Both are from Peru, and remind us of the wonderful adventure we had.

Baby G - Week 11

2011-09-24T14:43:00.000-05:00

Now that the news is out, I want to use our blog as a "memory book" for us and Baby G. So if you're not interested in hearing the latest developments, you won't hurt my feelings. I want to remember this time and the excitement we're feeling.

I think I may finally be turning the corner on some foods. Not that I'm craving a steak, but I think a hamburger sounds pretty good today...and s'mores! For the past two weeks, I've had trouble sleeping at night. I'll go to bed and sleep for three or four hours, but then I'm up because I have to go to the restroom. Then, I have trouble falling back asleep so I'm up for hours at night. It seems like a never ending cycle....tired during the day, but can't sleep at night.

We visited the daycare next to my school. We've heard it's extremely difficult to get in, and there were already 12 people on the waiting list for next August! We're new to this whole daycare thing, but it was pretty impressive. Jonathan and I both liked the staff, facilities and proximity to my school and our house.

Donuts and B-B-Q

2011-09-18T08:10:00.000-05:00

I swear this combination was not the pregnant lady's idea! I've told Jonathan for years that Round Rock donuts are my absolute favorite. However, unless your willing to drive to Round Rock, they can't be found. I made the comment about them again last weekend, and by mid-week Jonathan suggested we drive up on Saturday morning for donuts and then go over to Taylor for b-b-q. He wanted to try Louie Mueller's. So we set out for donuts and b-b-q yesterday morning.

The donut place was insane. The drive through line wrapped around the entire block, and the line inside was out the door. Nevertheless, we picked up 1 dozen hot, glazed donuts. Oh I was in heaven, and Jonathan even admitted they were pretty good! Then, we headed over to Taylor for b-b-q. This place was old school...no air, prices written on butcher paper and you could smell the place for half a mile. Jonathan ordered brisket and we were on our way. I only had a few bites...it just doesn't sound good to me right now, but it was quite tasty. When we got home, I had to shower because I smelled of smoke and b-b-q...I couldn't take the smell.

Baby G

2011-09-17T08:10:00.000-05:00

Baby G is due April 10!

We're very excited to have a new addition on the way. We've been to the doctor twice and were able to listen to the little heartbeat. Yesterday, Baby G was quite active for the pictures. I'm feeling pretty good. I felt nauseous for a few weeks, but nothing major. I do have several food aversions. I can't stand steak, chicken, eggs or fish. For a while, fruits and vegetables were also on that list. Baked potatoes and bagels have been my go to foods when nothing else sounds appealing. Now, I'm just exhausted and asleep on the couch by 8 most nights.

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

2011-09-11T11:53:00.000-05:00

It's September which means it's fall, right? Well, maybe in another 2 months we'll have fall-like weather. Although, I will admit the 90 degree temperatures this week were a welcome relief to the 110 degree afternoons we were having. So I decided it was time for a little pumpkin. I made these yesterday...

They were yummy and hit the spot with pumpkin. I found the recipe here.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Tart

2011-09-10T14:51:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, we went to have dinner with one of Jonathan's friends from high school, Aaron. Jonathan and Aaron randomly ran into each other one day, and they discovered they work in the same building in downtown. So I made this raspberry cream cheese tart for dessert...it was super quick and delicious.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Tart
(adapted from Bon Appetit)

Crust
10 whole Graham crackers, coarsely broken
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Filling and Topping
2 8oz. Packages of cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. Vanilla

2 1/2 pint baskets of raspberries
1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam

For crust: Pre-heat oven to 375. Grind crackers and brown sugar in processor until coarse crumbs form. Add butter and process until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press crumb mixture firmly onto the bottom and up sides of 11-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Bake until crust is firm to touch, about 8 minutes. Cool crust on rack.

For filling and topping: Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in medium bowl until smooth. Beat in sour cream, lemon juice and vanilla. Spread filling in cooled crust. Chill until firm, at least 4 hours.

Arrange berries over filling. Whisk jam in small bowl to loose consistency. Drizzle over berries. Serve immediately or chill up to 3 hours.

Meet My Mack Brown

2011-09-10T14:18:00.000-05:00

I realized today that I never posted a picture of my Mack Brown. Jonathan gave me the yard art for my birthday. I originally wanted to name him Louie or Lola but Mack Brown just seemed more appropriate. In case your interested, you can find your own at The Natural Gardener.

A Moving Subject

2011-09-06T19:24:00.000-05:00

The gentleman who taught our camera class suggested shooting your pets since they are quick moving subjects. Obviously, he doesn't know our dog...he's less than cooperative most times, but not moving anywhere fast! The first picture cracks me up...Flash doesn't like the flash on the camera. In each picture I took his eyes were squinting.

Pictures with the New Camera

2011-09-06T19:16:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pictures I've taken with my new camera. It's been fun "experimenting."

This Week

2011-08-19T19:10:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy week! I had staff development and put the finishing touches on my room. Although, I must say, I feel way too prepared for this year...it's like I'm forgetting something BIG! I'm sure it will hit me this weekend and I'll be scrambling at the last minute.

I had a wonderful birthday on Wednesday, receiving many cards, phone calls, text and e-mails. I always say it's hard to get excited about my birthday because it means school is about to start. Jonathan got me an awesome gift..a new camera. And not just any camera...a really fancy one so I can take awesome pictures. I've been playing with it this week, but we are going to take an actual class so I can learn all the ins and outs and bells and whistles. Flash has proven a less than eager subject so far! He also got me some yard art...I named him Mack Brown...I'll let you imagine until I post a picture!

On my birthday, we went to eat at Eastside Cafe...if you've never been you should try it. They have beautiful gardens on their property which supply some of the fruit and vegetables. They also have live chickens! They use local ingredients and buy local beef. We had 7 p.m. reservations, but had to wait for 10 minutes because they were full...not a huge deal. However, they comped an appetizer for us because we had to wait....service at its best!

So I find it just a little ironic that I got a camera for my birthday, but I'm posting a really bad picture that I took with our iPad...such is life.

A Visit From the Dursts

2011-08-14T13:45:00.000-05:00

Dustin and Veronica came with the boys for a quick visit this weekend. Dustin is on a short two-week leave, and they've been visiting family and friends. I can't believe how big both of the boys have gotten. Carson will start school next year, and Ryan is already walking!

A Little More Chilean Food

2011-08-13T14:26:00.000-05:00

Here are a few more of our favorites from Chile...

My college roommate, Laura's younger sister lived in Chile for several years. Before we left, she gave us some fabulous tips. In fact, we tried most of her recommendations, which is probably why we ate so well! This was basically pot roast and sauce over noodles...it's the Chilean version of spaghetti. I only enjoyed the pot roast at Liguria in Santiago.

We were excited to try seafood not found in the U.S. These were abalones...or giant sea snails. They were tasty, but nothing I can't live without.

This on the other hand was something I'd eat each day if possible. One evening in Vina del Mar, Jonathan and I ventured over to Concon to eat at La Gatita. It was the popular spot to eat so popular in fact it was featured in the New York Times. However, when we arrived they were closed! So we went to the little restaurant next door. And I ordered my favorite...sea bass!

In Valparaiso, we went to Cafe Turri...it was probably our favorite meal of the entire trip. Besides amazing food, they had a rooftop terrace for you to enjoy lunch while overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This was Frutos del Mar al Whiskey y Comino (Scallops and shrimps in whiskey and cumin). I knew Jonathan was excited about this, but I was a little apprehensive about the whiskey flavor. Much to my delight, it was very faint and almost gave it a sweet taste.

A little wine to go along with a nice lunch and to enjoy the view.

This was our lunch at Cafe Turri...Civet de Liebre (stewed hare). This tasted a little like Boeuf Bourguignon (which I could eat everyday as well!), slow cooked in red wine with mushrooms, bacon and carrots. If I could recommend one meal to someone visiting Chile....this would be it, hands down.

Chilean Food, Part 1

2011-08-08T12:39:00.000-05:00

It's our friend the pisco sour, again. This is the Chilean version.

Yes, french fries are a pizza topping in Chile. If you look closely there is also an egg. I've seen this done in European countries so it wasn't as shocking as the french fries.

We ate a lot of these...Empanadas. This was probably the best of the entire trip. It was at a little roadside stand called Jorge's. The owner, Jorge, didn't speak English, but he was excited and kind even though our Spanish wasn't so great. He knew all about Obama and Arnold Schwarzenegger...the terminator (not his latest headlines).

A few local brews Jonathan tasted.

This was a mushroom risotto in a cheese bowl...so creamy.

And this is what Jonathan had for dinner...steak topped with eggs and served with you guessed it...french fries!

And this was the dessert that went along with the previous two pictures...this was the small portion. Literally, this could have been an entire meal by itself.

After leaving Santa Cruz, we drove west toward the coast. Along the way we stopped at a tiny place in the middle of nowhere. We saw a sign along the road and decided that was our lunch spot. It was, by far, one of the most unique places I've ever eaten. They had dirt floors and a open fire in the middle of the restaurant, but they also had white table cloths and more wines than main courses on the menu!

I ordered the cutlets, thinking one. I was shocked when the owner brought on three...this was just my meal. But it could have easily been enough for both of us! By the time we left, Pablo offered to be our tour guide if we ever came back to Chile. He sent us away with full bellies and his phone number!

Casa Marin was probably our favorite winery visit on the trip. It's a small family owned winery that makes a great Sauvignon Gris and Pinot Noir.

Peruvian Food

2011-08-07T19:27:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to write about some of the food we enjoyed in South America since we got back...it's just taken me a while. Here are a few of our favorites from Peru. This is potato dumplings, topped with trout, avocado and citrus. I want to try to recreate these...they were fantastic! I have to admit this is not what I pictured when I read the menu, but it was a nice surprise.

By far my favorite dessert of the entire trip - quinoa flan. I'm going to give this a try this week! And maybe it's a little healthier since quinoa is a grain? Well, maybe.

Both the Peruvians and Chileans will tell you they make the best pisco sour. And they both claim it as "their drink." Well we sampled both...it was our duty to find out who makes the best pisco sour. The Chileans use lemon, while the Peruvians use lime and a little more froth on top. I think the Chileans make a stronger pisco sour, but I liked the Peruvian ones better.

This was lomo saltado...it was on every menu in Peru. It's beef with onions, peppers and tomatoes, topped with french fries. Overall, it was pretty good, but I think I could actually make this dish pretty easily.

This is grilled alpaca. We ate this several times in Peru. It must be cooked, kind of like chicken, until it's pretty well done. So just the piece of meat by itself is a little dry, but throw a sauce on top and it's great.

In all the reading I did before the trip, I kept reading about cuy (guinea pig). I guess it would be considered a delicacy. This was the one thing I had to try on the trip...when in Rome, right? Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would come head on with teeth still in the mouth! Jonathan got a great laugh out of this. The meat tasted fine, but it's hard to find the meat on such a small body. Personally, I don't like working that hard for my food. And I was not going to pick it up by the legs and dig in like the locals. We ended up going for pizza after this meal.

Jonathan Relaxing

2011-08-07T18:03:00.000-05:00

This is what I saw when I looked outside Saturday afternoon. We worked in the yard in the morning and gave Flash a bath. By the time we finished, we were hot and stinky. Jonathan decided to use the Flash bathtub for his own pleasure.

Flash the Melon Stealer

2011-08-03T08:51:00.000-05:00

After dinner last night, Flash went outside for his usual evening walk around the yard. At one point, I looked out and saw a little tail poking out between the okra plants. This was the only time we caught him in the garden since his middle of the night romp several months ago. He was having a nice dessert...one of my cantaloupe plants had started blooming again. And Flash took it upon himself to give it a taste. At this rate, I may never have a cantaloupe for myself!

Cooking

2011-08-03T08:49:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, I made French toast. I haven't had it in years and it tasted so good!

Last night we made Indian food for dinner. We made mango lassis, bhindi (okra) and chicken tikka masala. Well, Jonathan did most of the work...but I helped :)

Favorite South American Photos

2011-07-31T17:10:00.000-05:00

So if you don't feel like flipping through all 1600 photos we took in South America, click here. This is an album with our favorites.

A Visit with Old Friends

2011-07-31T16:38:00.000-05:00

On Friday, I had the chance to visit and have lunch with my mom's best friends. I keep in pretty regular touch with JoLynn, but I hadn't seen Connie and Karen in years. Come to think of it, the last time I saw them might have been my wedding...over seven years ago! It's amazing how even though we hadn't seen each other in ages, we jumped right back into catching up about families, our lives and the usual things. I hope to make this get together a more regular event....rather than waiting another six or seven years.

Silly me, I left my camera at home so I didn't take any pictures, but next time I'll be ready!

Weeend Projet

2011-07-28T21:24:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, we finally got Jonathan's office "sorted out." Since moving in, Jonathan has been using my old desk and our office was in a constant state of clutter because it was not big enough. We finally purchased him a "real" size desk and spent a large portion of last weekend putting it together.

I agreed to help until Jonathan started yelling at the desk or a piece for not working correctly. Then, I said I was quitting and going to read a book. We made it thought the entire process without any yelling so I was on the hook for helping with the project.

Here's out final project...

This is what we started out with...

And, of course, Flash wanted to be part of the action until it was nap time.

Then, Flash went into supervising mode.

Jonathan's Birthday

2011-07-26T16:50:00.000-05:00

On Jonathan's actual birthday, we were climbing Machu Picchu (some guys have all the luck!). So his birthday dinner was postponed until the Saturday after we returned. I made Boeuf Bourguignon, my take on Chilean potatoes (well as best as I could remember from Liguria in Santiago) and a Chocolate Stout Layer Cake...it's exactly what it sounds like!

Jonathan also requested some Blue Bell to go with his cake. The cake was great...so moist. However, I wasn't that big a fan of the icing. It was just a little too bitter for me. Next time, I think I'll try something a little different with the icing.

Summer Drinks

2011-07-26T12:28:00.000-05:00

I gave up cokes at the start of summer...no real reason. I didn't drink one for about a week and then decided to see how long I could go. After about a month, I split one with Jonathan and realized they didn't taste as good to me any longer. I have been drinking lots of sparkling water...it's my new favorite. But at some point, I decided I needed something else every now and then. I gave these a try on Monday...

Jalapeno-Lime Spritzer (from Real Simple)

In a pitcher combine 3 cups club soda, 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, 1/4 cup agave nectar, 1 thinly sliced lime and 1 thinly sliced jalapeno (seeded, if desired). Serve over ice.

Even though the jalapeno wasn't muddled it still gave the drink a little kick!

Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade (from Bon Appetit)

12 oz frozen, unsweetened raspberries
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 liter bottled chilled sparkling water
Ice cubes, fresh raspberries and lemon slices

Combine frozen raspberries, sugar and 1/2 cup water in medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and berries thaw. Increase heat and boil 3 minutes. Strain raspberry mixture into bowl, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible; discard solids in strainer. Mix lemon peel into raspberry syrup in bowl. Chill until cold.

Stir raspberry syrup, lemon juice and sparkling water in large pitcher to blend. Add fresh raspberries and lemon slices.

***I would use less than 1 cup of lemon juice...mine came out pretty tart and I added more sparkling water. When I first tasted the drink, it tasted very concentrated so I just filled the pitcher up with sparkling water to dilute the syrup. That probably almost doubled the water I used.

Alpaca Slippers

2011-07-26T12:10:00.000-05:00

I am now the proud owner of these! I can't wait until it's actually cool enough to wear them.

Home

2011-07-21T21:56:00.000-05:00

Jonathan and I arrived back in Austin late Tuesday afternoon...a little over 24 hours from when we started our journey home. And we were greeted immediately by the stifling Texas heat and humidity. So long winter! I spent most of yesterday and today washing a ridiculous amount of clothes and sorting through the 1,500 pictures we took on the trip. I guess we went a little camera crazy. I'll narrow it down to the top 100 or so and post a link.

Chile and Peru were amazing places to visit. Both countries have some of the nicest people I've ever met, and we had a chance to practice our Spanish quite a bit. The landscapes of both countries were incredible...not something you see everyday. Jonathan and I both felt Peru was full of history and traditions, while Chile was a little more modern and advanced. Both countries reminded us more of Europe than the US. We felt completely safe and comfortable throughout the entire trip. Never did we feel like we were in danger or might be the victim of a crime. In fact, complete strangers offered to show us wineries, asked us to join them for dinner and offered to be our tour guides if we ever came back. We sampled local foods (I'll write more on this later), drinks and wine, and we discovered Peru has a few good wineries...who would have thought? I can't say enough good things about both Chile and Peru...they made us feel welcome and gave us lasting memories.

Machupicchu

2011-07-18T19:19:00.000-05:00

Erica and I are laid over at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru right now... waiting for our 10:50 p.m. flight to Ft. Lauderdale, where we land around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday morning. We land at DFW later that morning.

This caps off a whirlwind adventure - a trip of a lifetime, so to say.

We spent Friday and Saturday traveling by train through the Inca's Sacred Valley to Machupicchu - what an incredible site! Our train on Friday got us to Aguas Calientes (the village at the base of the mountain holding Machupicchu) around 9:45, so we got checked into the hotel, and made it to Machupicchu by 11:00. We spent most of Friday dodging tour groups and stiff-arming prospective guides, and explored the massive ruins on our own. I do mean massive - the pictures don't do justice to the enormity of the place. We did a pretty good job exploring on our own, and identifying all the main attractions (Temple of the Sun, Main Temple, Tres Ventanas aka Three Windows, and various tombs, terraces and quarries). We wrapped up our day perched at the Guardhouse, taking in the picturesque views you usually see on postcards. (That's where we took the picture, below, of us with Machupicchu in the background.)

On Saturday, we woke up shortly after 4:00 a.m., got breakfast and went to stand in line for the first bus up. It turns out that about 300 other crazy people had the same idea, so we actually caught the seventh bus up. Our intention was to watch sunrise over Machupicchu. It turns out that you don't have to get up at 4:00 a.m. to do that. Since Machupicchu is situated within the massive Andes mountain range, it became daylight, but the sun did not actually crest over the mountain horizon until 7:15 - which was a remarkable, and breath-taking site. This is the subject of the photo below without us in the frame. (If you think I'm using the words "breath-taking" a lot, I am... the views are spectacular, but combined with the thin, high-altitude air and the constant stair climbing, you really are constantly stopping to gasp for air at Machupicchu.)

Having explored the ruins in full the previous day, we took it easy after catching the sunrise. We strolled through the ruins - again dodging tour groups at every intersection, before coming to a quiet terrace on the other side of Machupicchu. I laid down to take a snooze to gather energy for my ensuing climb of Huayna Picchu, the tall mountain on the right in the backdrop of Machupicchu.

We had heard that climbing Huayna Picchu was a "must do" while at Machupicchu, but were still very nervous about the steep hike, and alleged rope ladders. But I was determined... It was my 31st birthday, and I wanted to say that I made it to the top. We were supposed to enter Huayna Picchu (where they only allow 400 visitors a day) at 10:00, but the staff didn't get us through until 10:45. This made us nervous, given that we had to get up and down, and out of Machupicchu in time to check out of our hotel and catch a 3:00 train. But we did it, reaching the base of the summit at 11:40. I took off up the last remaining steps, reached another level that required a squeeze through a narrow cave, and a short wooden ladder to reach the summit, where I was greeted with several dozen hippie kids occupying the peak boulders. I squeezed through them, so that I could say I made it to the top, but I wasn't hanging around to make any friends. I soaked in the views, took a few pictures, had a hippie kid take my picture, and hustled down to the base.

For someone that inherited the fear-of-heights gene from my mother, I am awfully proud of this accomplishment. To be truthful, I was so busy looking down at my feet, and watching every step, that I didn't have too many opportunities to look over the edge to get scared. But when I did, oh brother, was that a steep and nasty fall down off a narrow ledge with no barrier.

Sights from Cusco

2011-07-14T21:54:00.000-05:00

The walls are Incan walls from around 1200AD. We also caught a parade on our walk back to the hotel tonight.

Cusco, Peru

2011-07-14T21:45:00.000-05:00

Jonathan and I spent yesterday in Santiago. We did as much as we could for one day, without being completely exhausted. We enjoyed lunch at La Liguria, strolled Avenue Pedro de Valdivia (he was a Spanish conquistador that founded Chile) and went to Cerro San Cristobal.

Today, we were up at 5 to catch our flight to Lima. After and 1.5 hour delay, we were on our way to Peru. We connected in Lima and flew to Cusco. It was a tight connection because of the delay, but we made it with about 30 minutes to spare. We arrived in Cusco with a few hours to explore. We spent most our time walking around and saw a few Incan walls. Cusco looks very much like a European city....tiny streets, even tinier sidewalks and unbelievable buildings. So far it's an incredible city.

Both of us are handling at altitude pretty well. We did take altitude medicine to prevent being sick, and I felt awful yesterday. However, today, climbing the hills wasn't even too bad. Cusco is around 11,200 feet above sea level, but I'm not out of breath all the time like I thought I would be.

Andes from the Plane

2011-07-14T21:12:00.000-05:00

These aren't great pictures, but it gives you some up close pictures of the Andes.

Driving in Chile

2011-07-14T20:23:00.000-05:00

My foreign driving experience is over. By-in-large, it wasn't that bad... until the final day (yesterday). Driving on the highway, and throughout the countryside was relatively carefree, but the large city of Santiago, during rush hour, was another story.

I owe a lot of my thanks to the large truck that turned left from the center lane, causing me - also turning left, but from the proper, lefthand turn lane - to panic. I did a quick curb check, to the delight of the local bystanders. It was there. My little curb check knocked the hub cap loose. I popped it back in, and it came loose again. That little scenario repeated about half a dozen times, with constantly giving up, but trying again. Every Chilean and they're dog tapped my window, flashed their brights at me and honked.

Fortunately Hertz Santiago zip ties all of their hub caps on, so I didn't loose the hub cap, I just jingle-jangles my happy ass all the way from downtown Santiago to the airport.

I know they were just trying to help, but with all the traffic, and missed turns I was getting really frustrated. As frustrated as I was, Erica was twice as irritated at me for my persistent swearing and muttering.

Santiago

2011-07-13T20:32:00.001-05:00

Valparaiso

2011-07-12T23:07:00.000-05:00

Chile - Day 5

2011-07-11T22:57:00.000-05:00

Jonathan and I had the chance to explore Vina del Mar today. It's a beautiful city...that could pass for many cities in Europe and the US. We saw Castilla Wulff, gorgeous views of the Pacific, Mueso Fonk and Reloj de Flores. At Museo Fonk they have the only Moai statue on the mainland (from Easter Island).

This evening we ventured out to Concon for dinner (a small town about 12 miles up the coast from Vina). There was a restaurant that received great reviews from the New York Times and locals. Of course, we found it and it was closed (our navigation skills were put to the test when the main road was closed, but we still found it pretty easily). We went to the place next door and it was AMAZING! Neither of know exactly what we had, but it was incredible!

Tonight, we're sitting on our balcony watching the waves crash in from the Pacific and sipping wine.

Vina del Mar

2011-07-11T22:48:00.000-05:00

Vineyards at Casa Marin

2011-07-11T17:38:00.000-05:00

Some of the vines were planted pretty steep. I don't think I'd like to farm those!

Chile- Day 4

2011-07-11T17:33:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Jonathan and I drove from Santa Cruz to Vina del Mar. It was quite foggy for most our drive so we couldn't enjoy the Chilean countryside. However, we had lunch at one of the most unique places I've ever been. It was a few miles off the main road, and had dirt floors, and open fire place, but they used white table cloths. There were four items on the menu to choose from, but they also had a least a dozen wines. Jonathan ordered the steak, which was enormous. I ordered the cutlets (pork) and three arrived on my plate. The was so much food we could have easily shared a plate! Below are pictures from our lunch. By the time we left, Pablo asked for our number and address and gave us his. He said if we ever come back to Chile he'd like to be our tour guide. Chileans are extremely nice and very generous....I can't say enough good things about the people we've met.

We also stopped at Casa Marin yesterday afternoon. They are a small family owned winery, producing mostly whites and Pinot Noir. Jonathan and I both agreed this winery had the strongest line up of wines from top to bottom that we tasted. Our tour guide was the owner's brother, and he drove us around the vineyards and gave us some amazing views. Overall, all of the wine tours have been great! They are a little pricey, but you get to taste the best wine and all but one we were the only people on the tour.

Chile-Day 3

2011-07-09T17:31:00.000-05:00

The dirt road was actually part of an Interstate...it was a bumpy ride. We went to Vina Santa Cruz and Hacienda Araucano today. Vina Santa Cruz also had llamas and both wineries had some interesting workers....sheep. They eat the grass and other things in the vineyards after harvest. It was pretty cloudy and overcast today, but the views are still incredible.

Santa Cruz

2011-07-09T17:26:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pictures from around Santa Cruz. It will give you an idea of the houses, streets and main plaza area.

Chile-Day 2

2011-07-08T21:32:00.000-05:00

Today, we visited several wineries, and my dream basically came true...we poured wine from the vats to drink! This is probably more exciting to me than anyone else. We also rode in a horse drawn carriage....watch out Kate Middleton! The tours, tastings and wine were all fantastic, and we were able to find our way pretty easily minus one slight detour through the vineyards on a one lane road. I'll write more about that later.

Tonight, we watched the Chilean soccer team play Uruguay on tv in a local restaurant with several locals. We also met a very friendly Chilean named Richard who lived in the states for several years. He spoke to us in English so I guess we stuck out from the crowd:)

Overall, we are both enjoying Chile quite a bit and as far as we can tell we are the only tourists in Santa Cruz.

Casa Lapostolle

2011-07-08T21:29:00.001-05:00

Chile-Day 1

2011-07-07T20:07:00.000-05:00

Today, we went to Concha y Toro and drove south to Santa Cruz. Neither of us slept well on the plane so it's been a long two days. However, watching the sunrise over the Andes is something I will never forget. We actually flew along side the mountains so we could take in their magnitude. It was breathtaking!

We had a slight moment of panic when our GPS system did not work in our rental car. Luckily, Jonathan printed maps for us, but I still managed to get us going in the wrong direction. However, we found our way and, the GPS started working and driving wasn't too bad.

Things we've learned about Chile

2011-07-07T19:58:00.000-05:00

Things we've learned about Chile so far...

1. 80's music is all the rage...it's all we could find on the radio.

2. There are stray dogs everywhere. They just wander the streets and follow people.

3. French fries are an acceptable pizza topping....tomorrow we try the empanadas!

4. Don't expect dinner until 8p.m. at a restaurant....it's happy hour until then.

5. Jonathan found a craft brewery here in Santa Cruz....the heart of wine country.

6. Driving a stick is like riding a bicycle...some things you never forget.

7. Huevos and pan (eggs and bread) are sold by everyone, everywhere...you're never in short supply.

Tomorrow....more exploring!

4th of July Fireworks

2011-07-05T11:13:00.000-05:00

I really feel like we had one of those only in Texas moments last night. Jonathan and I watched fireworks from the side of the road while sipping wine. Why you might ask? The city of Austin cancelled their fireworks due to the lack of rain and fire hazard it posed. So with few other options, we drove down to Kyle to watch their display. The plan was to park at the school or a nearby neighborhood, but by the time we got down there cars were lined up along the roadside with chairs, coolers and food. So we did the same. Here are a few pictures from my phone. In the last one you'll see the headlights just to show you how close to the road we were.

Kristen's Visit

2011-07-04T11:04:00.000-05:00

Kristen came into town last week for a quick visit. On Thursday, we went to Sago for lunch with Mariam and Elizabeth. Then, Kristen was awesome and ran a few errands with me that I needed to get finished before we leave for our trip. For dinner, we made homemade sushi...one of my favorites! We stuffed ourselves silly!

On Friday, Kristen and I literally sat around and relaxed all morning...it was fabulous after a crazy week! I wasn't much of an entertainer, but it was nice.