Snow!

We've had some decent snow storms in the past few weeks. We missed one while we were down south but it was cold enough for the snow to still be here when we got back. Since it has been so cold, the snow has really just stacked up. The snow has been great but the ice it is turning into has not. We are super excited for the warmer temperatures coming this week. I may be able to park in my spot by the end of the week!

Here are a few pictures from the last snow we got. After it was all over, we got a little over half a foot. Put that on top of what was already on the ground and we had a bunch of ice and snow!

Auburn loves eating snow!

Shovel, ice, repeat...

My snowman was covered in snow and my tree looks more like a snow topped mountain. 

My last measurement and it snowed a good hour and a half after this. 

Frozen, snow covered Magnolia tree

Pictures from AL shower

AL portion of trip

Auburn wasn't at my parents long before she was running around the yard and getting dirty. Since my parents bought some land behind the house they took down the backyard fence. This made it extra difficult to contain her and catch her. She thought it was hilarious when we got close to her and she would run off again. Thank goodness for the word treat. If not, she would still be outside running around the house. 

The best part about going home (besides seeing family, of course) is Momma's homemade strawberry cake, peanut butter balls, and sausage balls. You never go hungry at Momma's house!

Wednesday we got ready and drove to Columbus. Our first stop, McAlister's for lunch! Yummm sweet tea! After that I took mom to Babies-R-Us. She hadn't had baby time with me yet so I figured a store full of baby stuff would put a smile on her face. I think after three hours she was good. From essentials to just darn cute, we looked at it all. There was no way we were leaving without getting a few things. :) In the time we spent at the store, Doug got my oil changed, tires rotated, and went to about 5 stores. So he was more productive. We had more fun. :) 

After all that shopping I was in need of refueling. Luckily there was an Atlanta Bread right next door. We forgot about all the yummy baked goods they have there. I went for a cookie and ended up leaving with a cheese danish, two muffin tops, and a hot chocolate. Yummy goodness! And no, I didn't eat it all at one time. But man do I wish we had an Atlanta Bread close by!

Auburn's second home is my parents house. She loves playing with my dad and running around their big yard. She was exhausted every single night from all her play time. He even took her on walks. She doesn't get many of those this time of the year at home.

Play time with Grandpa!

Then pay time with Grandma!

Then nap! 

Spoiled much?

She loves curling up with her mommy :)

Wednesday night we had dinner with my mom's side of the family at San Marcos. It was great getting to see everyone and spend time with them. I knew it was going to be crazy at the shower so having that time to sit and talk with them was very nice! 

Thursday we headed to Auburn to see the new trees and do some shopping. I hit all my favorites: Kirklands, Tiger Rags, and J&M. I may have gotten a little (or a lot) teary eyed when I saw the Lutzy bracelet. :( Makes me sad. But the trees helped cheer me up! Unfortunately it was freezing and windy so we didn't stay outside too long. And instead of lemonade at Toomer's Drugs, mom and Doug opted for coffee. I went into Auburn Art and now have a new store to add to the list to visit. They have the neatest stuff. Expensive! But they have things no other store does. I got the best onesie for Mason's birthday. I plan on putting him in it, taking a picture, and taking it right off of him. That way he hopefully won't get it messy and I can frame it.

The start of his collection...

Even Auburn got a little something. 

That night we had pizza at the Williams' house. I have spent a very large portion of my childhood in their house so it was almost like a second homecoming. It had been a very long time since we all were able to get together. I can't wait for Mason to meet them and feel the love they have given me. After pizza Doug and I walked down to my aunt and uncle's house (Maria and Tony) for puppy time. My aunt got a new puppy a little over a year ago. I got to meet little Cooper last Christmas when I went home and we became instant friends (after a little piece of turkey). This year, my aunt's daughter got a puppy. So I had to go by to meet the new family member and see my old friend. I forgot how playful puppies are (and how sharp their teeth are)! Poor Cooper was getting terrorized the entire time. But I think he loved it! It was hard to get them to sit still or stop aggravating each other but it was so cute to watch. And I got lots and lots and lots of kisses! It made me want my next puppy even more.

Friday was a straight up couchin' it, no shower, lazy day. The only one that did anything was Auburn when Dad took her for a walk. That night she passed out! I guess the trip and all the play time finally wore her out. First  she was in Doug's lap then in my arms. I got my first taste of rocking my baby to sleep. It was amazing! Auburn never sits still while I am holding her. That hour was quite precious and will be most cherished!

Our last day in Alabama was the day of the shower. We got to the church early but we already had gifts and people waiting on us. I think for two hours I did nothing but hug necks and open gifts. I was exhausted by the time we left. It was a good exhaustion though. I absolutely loved seeing all my family and friends. Some drove many hours just to be there and some I have not seen in many, many years. I could have stayed for hours longer to catch up with everyone but Doug would have had to carry me out. I am ever so grateful for everyone that came. You all mean so much to us and we just can't thank you enough for celebrating Mason with us. I have a lot of uncertainty in my life right now but one thing I know for sure is that Mason will be loved oh so very much! We can't wait to introduce him to yall!

We almost headed home after the shower but the weather back home was not supporting that decision. There was ice and snow from the Carolina's all the way to our house. We got about 5 inches of snow at home. So we relaxed and did the entire trip on Sunday. Of course the little bit of rain the lingered made the trip a bit more difficult for Auburn and us in turn. We made it home in good time and went straight to bed since I had to work the next day. 

It was a long trip with a lot of driving but I am so thankful we have great family and friends who wanted to share this time with us. We will be heading back down before we know it with another passenger in the car with us. I think next time we are renting a van or a camper!

GA portion of trip

The trip down was long but event free. The most traffic we hit was when we came up on a funeral procession. The part that added so much time to the trip was the pit stops.  We both potty a lot, so we stopped for that. Auburn needed to potty and stretch her legs, so we stopped for that. We had to eat, so we stopped for that. I am one of those "drive until you get there" people. So I was very irritated with all the stops. But we made it eventually and in one piece so we were thankful.

On her "throne" in Mommy's lap

Half way through the trip I had to relocate to the back seat so I could prop my swollen feet up. When we stopped for lunch at Zaxby's Auburn climbed in the back with me, hoping to get a bite or two (which we all know she did).  

Mason was really excited to be in the south! He was moving more than he ever has! In the car he was a little more active than normal but he went nuts when we got to the hotel. As I laid in bed waiting on my dinner, I watched my belly move as he wiggled from one side to the other. It was a "straight out of Aliens" moment. For over an hour straight he danced around and made me very uncomfortable.

I forgot how many yummy places Augusta has to eat at! So many favorites... Monterrey, Mellow Mushroom, Steak and Shake, Shane's Rib Shack, T'Bonz, California Dreaming, Barberitos, Miyako, Pizza Joint, Krystal's, Giuseppe's, Carolina Ale House, McAlisters... the list goes on and on. It was so hard to figure out where to eat when we got in. Not only was it after 8 pm, but it was Valentine's Day and our hotel was right on the busiest road in Augusta. I was exhausted and had very swollen ankles/feet so I had no intention of leaving the bed. I told Doug just to drive to the closest place and get something. Since traffic wasn't bad he went and got my favorite salad, the Greek salad at Mellow Mushroom. The salad is good but it's their Esperanza dressing that makes it amazing! We didn't end up eating until almost ten. But there is nothing like going to sleep with a full belly. :)

For Valentine's Day Doug picked me up a box of chocolates. I am normally not a box of chocolates kind of a girl but apparently pregnant me is. I ate the entire box by Sunday. Doug did have a few pieces but I didn't share that much. I loved my box of chocolates but I asked Doug not to give me another. I don't want him to lose an arm if he tried to steal a piece but I really don't want my ass to be another box of chocolates bigger.

Auburn pouting when Doug left to go get dinner. She hates missing out on "rides".

Nothing fancy but it was so freaking good!

Auburn did really good our first night in the hotel. She barks and growls at every sound she hears. With Valentine's Day, there was much more activity in the hallways. But luckily everyone settled in early and we got some much needed sleep. We were really thankful the baby next door to us slept through the night. He/she was very vocal before they went to sleep. I guess it was a preview of what's to come. :)

Getting ready for the shower

Before the shower we went and got our Monterrey fix. I was really surprised to see one of our favorite waiters still worked there. It was nice seeing the familiar face. We ate at noon (with Church crowd) in about half an hour, for only $15! We so miss southern prices!

Thanks to the "Mom of the year" that sat behind us, we learned exactly how we do NOT want to parent. I could not believe the way she was talking to her children. She even called their dad and said horrible things about them, right in front of them. I know we all have bad days and we need to vent sometimes. But across the table from your kids (one who was more than old enough to understand the things she was saying) in a restaurant is not the place. Poor kids! And it was all over the second to youngest (total of 4!) not finishing his food. 

The shower at Sara and Wes's house was amazing. Her house is beautiful and she is a saint for opening it up for all our friends to visit with us. I want to, once again, thank them for giving us the shower. We are so lucky to have them as friends. We had yummy snacks, beautiful decorations, and great company. Once again, even though it has been awhile since we have seen each other, true friends always pick up right where they left off. It wasn't like it has been over a year, but more like weeks. I never realize how much I miss everyone until I am there with them. We made some really great friends in our short time there. I am so thankful for all of them. The gifts were great and very much appreciated but the time spent with them was much better! It was so nice talking and catching up with everyone. I can't wait to introduce Mason to them! Thank you to all who came to celebrate Mason with us! We love ya!

(pictures coming soon)

Unfortunately, Auburn did not care for us leaving her in the room when we went to the shower. I think she would have been ok if the cleaners weren't on our floor. They were very nice and told us not to worry about her. By the time we got back she was literally hoarse from barking. My poor heart broke hearing her. The cleaners were right across the hall and she wanted to be friends. They, once again, were super nice. They laughed and said, "She missed yall!" Ha! Needless to say, she slept very well that night. She was exhausted!

For dinner we went with our old neighbors to Shane's Rib Shack. Their daughter, Jordan, has grown up so much. We hope Mason is as smart and sweet as she is. We went by their house to check out the old neighborhood afterwards. Very little has changed, which was nice to see. Our house looked to be in good shape, so that was reassuring. We miss the old place but we both agree if we moved back we could not move back into that house. After having renters, it doesn't feel like our home anymore. :( But a big house with a big kitchen, garage, and fenced in backyard is worth the trade up! 

Auburn was very nervous that we were going to leave her at the hotel when we were packing up to head to Atlanta. She would sneak out the door and fly down the hallway every time we opened the door. The hallways were like her quarter mile track. It was the cutest thing. One time a man got off the elevator, rounded the corner, and ran into her. She barked and he jumped out of his skin. It was the funniest thing ever. The guy clearly was not a dog person and we all know Auburn loves everyone so it made for an interesting encounter.

The rain started right around the time we got into Atlanta. Since Auburn hates windshield wipers, she spent most of that trip buried in pillows and blankets in the backseat. She didn't even bark at the drive-thru people at Steak and Shake! I let my prego self get the best of me. I ate my chili cheese French fries and my strawberry milkshake before Doug finished half of his shake. Yeah, I am not proud of that moment. Doug got a good kick out of it. So glad I could amuse him...

When we got to our friends', Christin and Brian, house the rain was coming down and it was cold! Brian started a fire for us then made us a very yummy dinner. It was so nice putting my feet up in front of the fire and having dinner cooked for me. Doug has heated up / gone and went to get dinner but we didn't have the fire ambiance. For dessert Christin made what she called peanut butter fudge but it was the "healthy" kind so not much was ate. She redeemed herself by making a batch of Ghiradelli brownies. Now those were yummy! We spent the entire night talking and catching up. It was very nice and relaxing. I wish we had more time to spend with them but we only had one night. Auburn and Brian became best friends immediately. I am not sure if she was really tired or high, but she melted in his hands. I have never seen her so calm around someone. He just held her, rubbed her belly, and she drifted off to sleep. She even let him move her around at will. Normally she will growl, wiggle, then run off. Maybe Brian is the dog whisperer.

The next morning we slept in since the ice was going to delay us anyways. The city did good prepping for the storm but they couldn't get every single road. Plus, it's still Atlanta so we had no plans of getting up early to get in that craziness! This trip was better since the rain was gone but Auburn, at this point, was getting more confident in the car. She was standing up on the back of the front seat and jumping from front to back like a bunny! The only bad part was she couldn't see which spot was a "supported" place to land or not. There were a few falls and even some stuck moments but she survived.

My new shoes!

So last night my feet decided to swell up big time. I guess it's from all the running around we have been doing getting ready to head home tomorrow. I tried to put my feet up but there was stuff I needed to get done. When I woke up this morning the swelling had not gone down. My socks and shoes were already tight on me so I had no clue what I was going to wear to work. But Doug came to the rescue! I grabbed a pair of slouchy socks and Doug gave me his house slippers. They were a little long but my feet were not crammed into them! After another long night of packing these old feet and ankles are as big as ever. I have them propped up but I think the slippers will be my main choice the next few days.

Augusta Baby Shower Invite

How cute is this invite?!?!

Much about nothin'

We have not been up to anything new or exciting and not much is going on so I have had nothing to write about lately. This week we are gearing up for our trip to GA and AL. I can't believe it is already time for baby showers! Time is really flying by. Packing is quite easy this time around since my wardrobe options have been diminished. I have a few things I can still fit into (some maternity and some regular clothes) but I am not sure how much longer that will last. As many of you will see next week, my belly is really starting to expand outwards! I got some stuff online from Old Navy but it is all really big on me. I have to decide if I want to wash/dry to try and shrink them or if I just want to return them. I was really excited to have some new clothes for our trip. :(

Mason is still keeping me up all night (and all day!). His favorite time is after I eat. He really gears up then. He loves to poke me, stretch, and do flips. I don't have to worry about counting 10 movements per hour like the doctors recommend. He moves at least once every 5 minutes! He gave me a little bit of a scare yesterday. He had a very strong movement then was very quite and calm the rest of the night. The jarring move didn't scare me as much as the calmness afterwards did. He is never calm with his movements. I don't know if the one move wore him out or if he just got in a really comfy spot and didn't feel the need to move again. But today he is back to his old, non-stop ways. Joy...

My last doctors appointment went well. I passed the glucose test and my blood pressure is still low. Mason's heartbeat is really strong and my belly is growing at a good rate (this means he is growing and doing great). My energy is still up but my amount of sleep is fluctuating. Some nights I go with one bathroom break and a few wakeups. Others it is multiple bathroom breaks and wide awake at 3 am. When I wake up early and can't go back to sleep, I will just get up and head to work. I usually get 5 to 6 hours of sleep minimum so I am not being deprived yet. I chalk it up to preparation for Mason.