Home again, home again....

Whew! Can't believe it's almost been a week since I got home from Virginia! Again I ask, where does the time go? Seriously!

I had an absolutely wonderful time with my sister and her family. I got a crash course in being a mommy and loved every minute of it. It's still a weird thought to think of my sister as a mom, but she does a stellar job and she and her husband love that sweet baby to pieces. Aubrey is like a mini-Kim, so it's really funny to see some of Kimberly's personality traits coming out in this almost 3 month old baby! The three of us ventured back to the DC area to take me to the airport and I got to help baby clothes shop. Well, I didn't really help, I just got to hold the baby! Of course, the beauty of being the aunt is that you can just hand the baby back when the diaper explodes!

Since being home, I've been working hard at my new job. I absolutely love this job! It's the perfect combination of highly skilled nursing and hospital busy, but not the stress. I work mainly at one clinic with two other nurses, but help out at the other one when they need it. It started out as being just part time, but I've managed to get full time hours by helping out at the other clinic. It has been an absolute blessing.

Jason and I have started the uber fun task of picking stuff out for wee one Russell. We spent a long time at Target yesterday looking at strollers, car seats, breast pumps, you name it. SO MUCH STUFF! It's insanity that someone who is now 3 inches long and the size of a lemon needs this much gear! I will be 14 weeks on Tuesday....whew! I'm holding myself back from too much shopping until I find out the sex of the baby, which should be at the end of March. The sonographer already says he knows, but I'd rather go with the sono of an older baby! Jason and I have our predictions, but we'll see!

The next few weeks will be busy busy busy! I've got lots of hours scheduled and even some play time with my sweet little friend K and his sister! Jason and I are taking our last just the two of us mini trip for awhile in a few weeks...and I can't wait! We had been saving and pinching for the trip and finally got the last little bit this week. After that, it will be nothing but work and saving for our first family vacation, which will hopefully be to Disney World with the boys in June! It will be an interesting trip, seeing as I'll be about 28 weeks pregnant and not able to go on some of my favorite rides! It won't matter a bit because our two sweet boys have NEVER been there and I will get to see the eyes of a first time Disney experiencer! THAT will be so much better!

Thanks to everyone who has kept this pregnancy in your prayers. So far, I have not had any serious issues and have been blessed to really not have much morning sickness or other issues. My energy gets better by the day! I haven't had any complications from my clotting disorder and our most recent sonogram showed a healthy and active little being. My next focus will be that 18-20 wk sonogam which will not only show the sex, but more importantly, look at that wee forming heart. I have faith that it will be completely normal, but seeing as that my nursing background is in heart defects, I have that in the back of my mind as always being a possibility! God is always in control and He has protected this wee one until now so I know He has the ultimate plan in mind.

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend and a phenomenal week!

Beginnings of my Virginia adventures

Yesterday, I boarded a plane to go meet my beautiful namesake, Miss Aubrey Lynne. As in true Stephanie fashion, the plane trip was quite the adventure. I seriously have NEVER been to Washington DC where I don't have a completely entertaining plane ride. It all started in 2001 when Michael and I went to DC when I had a conference at the Holocaust museum. We actually started a book of all the crazy people we encountered! From the so called African prince at the airport to the really loud pharmacy people at CVS, these are all documented in a spiral notebook (which I think Michael still has). Anyways, this trip was no exception. I sat next to a man who was taking his family to DC for vacation. He drank out of a mystery flask the ENTIRE 2.5 hour flight and subsequently became louder and more boisterous as the flight went on. Towards the end of the flight, he started telling me all about the evils of the American government and how proud he was to be Indian because they gave the world Yoga. It was actually quite sane conversation for someone as trashed as he was! I actually saw him stumbling to the bathroom once in the terminal. Hilarious!

Kim and Aubrey picked me up (WAY past Kim's bedtime!) and we made the 2 hour drive to her house. We spent the day today wandering around shops and experiencing life with a wee infant. From the blowout at Costco to the screaming fit at Target, it was quite the day! It's made me a little more aware of what I am in for! I know Jason knows exactly, but it's one thing to take care of babies at the hospital and then leave them at the end of the day! It's very eye opening! Needless to say, I'm exhausted, but it's a good kind of tired. Aubrey is absolutely precious....smiling and talking (when she's not pooping and eating!).

So now I must shuffle off to bed. I made Kim give me my shot tonight, and she was not thrilled at the prospect, but she did fine. I don't do well giving the shot to myself, which is why I have designated my husband as the shot giver. He does so much better than I do!

It's only 8:10 Texas time. I am pathetic! Good night! :)

Russell family adventures

First of all, let me say that I really need to get working on the "bring your camera" angle. We had such a fun day yesterday and I didn't take a single picture! Bad mom! :)

Jacob and Andrew are here this weekend and we've been having a wonderful time. I got home late on Friday night, but they'd already been adventuring with Jason. Liberty was in dachshund heaven with her two favorite little ones back in the house.

Saturday morning, we woke up for our traditional pancake and bacon breakfast. This is typically the first thing out of their mouths when we pick them up. "Um, do you think we can have pancakes for breakfast?" Hilarious. After breakfast and getting ready (and a rousing game of Just Dance 2!), we headed out to enjoy the absolutely BEAUTIFUL Texas weather. It was a gorgeous 65 degrees with sunny skies and no clouds. We went to the Fort Worth Nature Center and explored all the trails we could find. They even have a little building with a lot of Texas reptiles and fish on display. My favorite was the caged prairie dog. I think that was Liberty's favorite, too. She REALLY wanted in that cage. The park ranger actually came up to me and said "Um, ma'am? Your dog is angering the prairie dog. Can you please remove her?" Yikes. We hiked all over the trails and ended up all muddy, but exhausted. We headed out just as they were closing the gates because after all, "Those left in the park after closing will be locked in overnight". Not an adventure we wanted to partake in!

After the hiking, I of course had three ravenous males on my hands. We fed them and they wanted to go hang out at Jason's dad's house for awhile. I think they love it over there because there's always seeming to be some science experiement with fire. This one involved a windshield wiper fluid bottle, alcohol, and a propane torch. Use your imagination. We were there for several hours before pouring two very tired boys and a comatose Liberty into the car to head home. Once home, we unwound with an episode of Sponge Bob and I think the boys eyes were shut before I even turned out the lights for bed!

Today, I came to work for a few hours, managing to sneak out of the house while everyone was still sleeping. I'm hoping they are getting lots of good sleep after our weekend of adventuring while I am happily giving medicine and sticking people for IV's! Not sure what is planned for the rest of the day, but I do know that Andrew has to finish his Valentines for his class party tomorrow. It's a "sock hop" and he's "encouraged" to dress appropriately! He didn't like Jason and I's suggestion of slicking his hair back, but he might roll up his pants and wear some white socks with his dark dress shoes. Who knows. He's thoroughly convinced that none of his teachers are going to dress up. I told him that I can guarantee they will be dressed up...teachers ALWAYS love a day out of dress code!

I've got work at the beginning of the week, a sono appointment on Wednesday (YAY!), and fly out of here on Thursday for an extended weekend to meet my niece, Aubrey. Whew! I'm going to be busy! :)

Jason surprised me on Friday with a BEAUTIFUL flower delivery of a dozen red roses. I just love my husband so much! It seems weird that we've been married for five months already. It seems like much longer. I still can't believe that we're gonna have a baby in August, but I guess I have a little longer for that to sink in! :)

I continually seem to be amazed at the blessings God has provided to me and my little family. I can not seem to thank Him enough.