Family Weekend

Brandon and I were very happy to have both of our parents in town this weekend. Brett and Debbie came in Friday night and we met them at the Olive Garden in Topeka, Kansas. It had been almost a year since we had been there to eat and it was so yummy.
On Saturday my parents joined us and we started the day off with KSU Football vs. Missouri and it did not turn out the way that were wanting it too. Later that day we went to the Men's Basketball game vs. Western Illionios and the team did not play as well as they should, but we still got the win.
It was great to have them all here with us this weekend and we also love it when family comes to visit. Here are some pictures of us while we are watching the basketball game. I was bad and didn't take a lot of pictures this weekend. so this is all that I have.

Here is everyone together at the basketball game.

My parents and I during the game.

Brandon and his parents during the game.


We are looking forward to the short work week and seeing lots of family for Thanksgiving. If you are traveling we hope that you have safe travels and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Only 7 more days until we find out what our little rookie will be!

*Tip...If you click on the picture it will enlarge for you to see better.

Babies first movements!!!!

Baby is moving!

I was thinking that I was feeling something last night, but today made it clear what I was feeling. For about 3 hours this morning the baby was very active on my lower right side and I knew then that I was feeling the baby move. Brandon just happened to be in my office this morning, so he was able to feel him/her move. We both are very excited and this just makes finding out what we are having in 10 days seem incredible!

19 Weeks...

How your baby's growing:
Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing 6 million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born.

I have started to show a little bit more, so we will post pictures soon. Only 11 days left until we find out what we are having!

Garth Brooks/Wood's Baby Shower/Family

Brandon and I outside of the Sprint Center getting ready to go in for the Garth Brooks Concert!



Mom and Dad ready for the big show. Sorry that my husband is still a little kid and can't help himself and gave you both the bunny ears. Love the hat Dad!




It didn't take long, but we found our seats and are so excited. If I would have known that it was going to be over an hour before Garth came out I would of taken the time to stand in the long line at the bathroom. I never left my seat because I didn't want to miss anything.



This is the view of the stage from our seats. I took pictures during the concert, but they didn't turn out very well. The seats where great and we had a great view of everything going on. Thanks Mom for working so hard to get us the tickets! Brandon and I loved it. This was a show not to miss and I am glad that we had tickets.



Saturday night we went to a couple shower for our good friends Ryan and Carrie Wood. Brandon and Ryan played baseball together at Graceland. It was great getting to hang out with lots of our friends and to see people that we don't get to see very often. Here is a picture of Ryan, Carrie, baby Wood, baby Yoder, Me, and Brandon. We are so excited for them and can't wait to meet their baby next time we are in there to see them.



Brandon and I at the shower where they hosted it at the Peanut in downtown Kansas City. As you can already see in this picture Brandon is having a fun night and let me tell you all he paid for it on Sunday. If you were wondering I was not feeling sorry for him one bit!



Ryan and Carrie opening the gift that we got them. Good luck to you two and I hope that you got everything that you needed. We love you both!



Brandon spending a little quiet time with baby Audrey. This is the second time that they have seen each other and since Brandon was not feeling very well, he loved it that she was happy sleeping on his chest. Audrey was great all day and it was nice to be home for the day to see her.



We had Wrigley with us over the weekend at my parents house, so when Jon came over on Sunday they had lots of fun playing together for the first time. I love this picture! Jon's face tells it all and he is laughing because Wrigley loved to give him kisses. Wrigley was so good and they played well together all day.



Mom, Elsa and Lily. Everytime I tried to take their picture the flash would bother Lily and her eyes would close. This is the best shot of the three of them while we are watching KC try to play football on Sunday.


Brandon and Jon are outside playing with Wrigley. Brandon showed Jon that Wrigley likes to play tug of war with the socks. Jon was having so much fun and Brandon is being a good Uncle and watching over the two while they play to make sure that they play nice.



We had a great weekend packed full of activites. It was so nice to get to see everyone. We weren't planning on staying in town on Sunday because we had a basketball game to get back for, but since Brandon wasn't feeling so great we ended up getting to spend time with the whole family. It is always fun to spend time with the little ones. We love you all!

18 Weeks...

How your baby's growing:
Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

I have not felt the baby move or atleast I don't think that I have felt anything like a movement. I have read everything that says what it would feel like and I am just not getting any of those feelings right now. I'll let you know as soon as I feel anything. Only 18 more days until we find out what we are having!

Belly Pic at 17 weeks...

As promised I said that I would post a new belly picture at 17 weeks. There is not a huge change, but there is a little bit more of a bump.

I also just got my hair done on Wednesday, so you can tell me how much you all love it!
I didn't add a side view last time, but this is a better view to see the little bump that I have going on. I did take these pictures right before we went to bed and I always look a lot bigger at night. Brandon is so sweet, because every night before I get into bed he looks at my belly and is so excited that it is growing.

Since I am now in my second trimester "the honeymoon stage" I have been feeling so much better. I have more energy and I don't fall asleep on the coach around 8pm anymore. I have gone 2 full weeks without any signs of morning sickness..YEA!! The only thing that I have right now that has become a bit of a pain is that I am getting a lot of nose bleeds. I have already had 3 this week.

Brandon and I are just loving life right now. We had fun last night talking about baby names. We have a few that we both like, but we still have awhile before we are going to be set on a name

Another belly pic coming at 21 weeks...so keep checking for more updates.

Week 17...

How your baby's growing:
Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.

The United States and Australia are the only two industrialized nations that don't guarantee paid maternity leave. — The Project on Global Working Families

-Brandon and I went and talked with our HR rep in the athletic department to find out if they provide paid maternity leave. Well they don't...big surprise! They do have a program set that would allow me to take 12 weeks off if I have enough vacation and sick leave to get paid, otherwise it would be unpaid leave. We also found out that Brandon can transfer his vacation and sick leave over to me to use along with anyone else in the department. So even if we have to use most of our vacation and sick leave, I will be able to stay home for atleast 6 weeks or more. I am thinking that more would be great, but we will just have to wait and see what we can do.