We were able to get away and escape for the weekend to Orlando! Yay! We met up with Shanam's parents and stayed at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. This is their awesome pool that we spent all Saturday afternoon in...hallelujah for being weightless :) My baby bump is definitely unmistakable now and I get so many comments from friends and strangers alike! I really love it :)
As we got closer and closer to the mountains, though, the clouds lightened up, the sun came out, and a beautiful rainbow appeared! This was definitely a good sign! And we totally lucked out, because by the time we got to our camping spot, the rain was gone for good! Never to come back all weekend!
While Shanam hit the trails on his mountain bike the next morning, Laura and I decided to play some golf :) I had only been to the driving range a few times in my life and I've always been secretly afraid to actually play on the course. Silly, I know, but I did gather up my courage and grabbed the biggest club of hers I could find. That made me feel better :) After a few practice swings, trying to work around my pregnant belly, I actually hit the ball and it soared straight onto the green down the hill! I could do it! Come to find out, real golf is just like miniature golf, but bigger :) LOL! The morning was perfect golf weather and the course was breathtaking! Sitting at 9000 ft, Cloudcroft is the 5th highest course in the US! And of course, driving the golf cart through the mountain trails was almost just as fun as hitting the ball :) I hit a few sweet shots and one amazing shot that we all deemed was the most awesome shot that day. (We were teamed up with another couple) My first hit landed the ball close to the lake's edge, and I decided that instead of trying to go around the lake, I was going to go over it. As soon as I hit it, it shoots off and literally SKIMS the top of the water and lands on the other bank!!! We were all in shock! My daddy would be proud :)
This was our sweet camping spot! There's nothing like a huge campfire, a good book, an afternoon nap, tin foil dinners, s'mores, and card games that go on all night!
The next day, we hit the trails! Shanam took off on his bike while Laura and I enjoyed the hike and gorgeous views! In the same time it took us to hike 4 miles, Shanam biked 20 :) That's my man!
The view from the trail was amazing! We could see all of White Sands 5000 ft below!
And this was our view on the 4th of July! We drove up to the highest point and overlooked the entire Ruidoso valley, hoping to see some fireworks :) No fireworks, but we saw plenty of elk and deer! The ride home was quite the event! Whole herds of animals were lurking in the shadows! It made for a very slow and cautious drive, but so cool, nonetheless!
She had her hands up by her face throughout the whole ultrasound and looked so content nuzzling right into the side of my uterus. Isn't she just beautiful!
She finally uncovered herself a little bit so we could tell what she was and when the technician pointed to that spot and said, "Do you recognize what that is?" Shanam and I both answered, "um...no, not really." LOL. Like anyone but the tech could really tell! When she told us it was a little girl, we both just looked at each other, squeezed hands, and smiled big. As I looked back at the monitor, tears welled up in my eyes and I could barely see for a little while :) I really wanted it to be a little girl :) And Shanam is happy to have a little princess. But make no mistake...she WILL learn how to throw a ball and she WILL know how to ski! (Shanam's words exactly)
And there she is, smiling sweetly, because of course, she is going to be a perfect little angel! Hehe :)
Last weekend was filled with Mariachi Bands, fish tacos, and grilled corn! Sometimes I really enjoy living in Texas :) It was our friend Andrea's surprise birthday party and we had so much fun eating and dancing! Shanam spent all Sat afternoon helping set up, it looked awesome!
Can't tell too much that I'm prego here, but there was no question when I stood up! :)
Ever watch that show where professional cake decorators compete and when they're done making their masterpieces, the final test is to transport the cake to the table? That's what I felt I was watching here! :) They did it, though, no problemo.
This place is soooo neat!! We decided to come check it out while we were camping up in Cloudcroft this last weekend. It's located on the other side of the Sacramento mountain range, and we had never been before, so we took a little day trip and are so glad we did! This is the largest gypsum dune field in the world, covering 275 miles! And some dunes reach up to 60 ft tall! There are only a few plants and animals that survive here because the dunes are constantly changing and cover everything in it's path. The white sand is absolutely beautiful!
This is the road that takes you into the park. We felt like we were on another planet!
Kids come and slide down the dunes in saucers, but Shanam decided to have his own fun :) We'll definitely be back with our kids, though! That's for sure!
Speaking of kids, our ultrasound is coming up! Post your guesses before the 28th if you want to get in on the action :) And p.s. Shanam had a dream while we were camping that it was a girl. So now he's unsure on his prediction of "Jr." It'll be fun to find out!!!
I just got back from a most wonderful, relaxing, rejuvenating 10 day retreat to Utah. By retreat, I mean I kicked it at my house with my family...napping, eating, and laughing. I loved every minute :) Shanam came and joined me for Memorial weekend, skied a bit, and then brought me back to Texas. I could have stayed there for a month, except for the fact that I can't live without Shanam for that long :) So, here we are back in Texas. Don't worry though, we already have our next trip planned for next weekend...camping in our favorite little mountain village of Cloudcroft, NM!
As you can see, my belly is getting larger every day! I love it and Shanam can't stop touching it :) We're getting more and more excited to become parents, and we'll find out at the end of the month if we'll be parents to a little baby boy or girl!
While in Utah, I was able to see my big little brother graduate high school, my other big little brother turn 16, play Mexican Train, visit with both of my amazing grandma's, visit with Bre and her adorable twins, shop for more maternity clothes with mom, walk in the Thanksgiving Point Gardens and see baby owls, see the 3 Musketeers in Salt Lake City after eating at an amazing Italian Pizzeria with Shanam's parents, and went for a nice little hike up in American Fork Canyon. My brother also asked me to photograph him and some of his buddies that graduated with him and we had such a blast! Great trip all in all! Next time we see our family, we'll have a baby!
The Homebirth of Lucia Mae from Sara Janssen on Vimeo.
I love the sweetness of this video!
