Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Meeting Lauryn!

Yep! You read that right.... I finally got to meet Lauryn Jane! I fell in love the second I had her in my arms! She is one of the most beautiful babies that I have met. Oh those big blue eyes and that big smile of hers...*sigh

Here are a few pictures of that sweet little girl!

Ohh you just wait til those big, blue eyes open up..............
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There they are! :)
Me and Mama Kendra and Lauryn

So precious! I miss her already =(

I think it has finally hit me that, one of my best friends, is a Mommy... I still remember all the talks we had about the fears of having a child(pregnancy in general, labor, ect!) Now she is living it! I can't wait until my day comes now, especially after seeing her and her husband, Lucas, with their sweet little girl!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Labor Day Weekend

My Labor Day weekend seemed to have started just a little bit early(minus the fact of having to work on Friday). My long lost friend, Jen, came to KC Thursday afternoon to see me as she was planning on being in the city that weekend for a friend's wedding! We went out to eat at one of my favs; Texas Roadhouse(!) and enjoyed a night in watching a movie and catching up on life!
I went to work on Friday, hit up the gym with Mark when I got off, and then we were off to a couple friend of ours house that night!
Saturday morning consisted of deep cleaning our apartment! It took me literally most all of the morning! I had to conclude my cleaning to watch our Hawkeyes play at 11 though! :)
After the Hawkeye's game, we ventured out to do some shopping, dining, and baseball game! We purchased a discounted mini grill to get us by until we actually get a house and can use our gas grill that Kyle and Darci gave us as a going away/birthday gift last year!

After an afternoon of shopping down at Legends, we hit up Granite City for some food and refreshments before the baseball game! After we got done stuffing ourselves, we ventured on over to the baseball game where we were planning to see the KC T-Bones play. Well, not without stopping to see these that were being displayed in the parking lot of the game first!!!!!!!!!!
I even got to drive sit in/start up/rev the engine in one! ;-)

It was hard for Mark to actually 'want' to go to the game after being on a viper-high, but I pulled him away and we went and enjoyed a beautiful night at the ball park! The T-Bones ended up losing but a good time was still had!

My 3rd Home...feels that way anyway :)

Back in April, I thought my world was going to "end"; & that was when my stationary bike took a crap on me! :( One day I was riding it and totally lost all resistance! *sigh* I not only rode my bike [most] every day to maintain my weight, but also to relieve stress [jam out to some good tunes and think, all while burning calories! ;)]
Well, thankfully the weather was getting nicer so my world wasn't completely ended cause I got to walk outside! Well that lasted for a couple months until one day I about got hit my a car while in the crosswalk! There are some crazy drivers out there people! Haha.
Well, in the mean time, there was a gym that recently opened in Lenexa, Lifetime Fitness, that Mark and I were very interested in.

One Saturday we just decided to go on in there for a tour! We were pretty much knocked off our feet... it was so nice, convenient, friendly people/staff, great equipment, spacious, luxurious, and may the list go on! The facility has a big huge, spacious cardio room with elipticals, cross ramps, stair climbers, treadmills, stationary bikes. The weightroom is also very spacious with free weights, machines, treadmills and an area designated for ab workouts, ect. Now here is where we get to the good luxurious part!--> indoor/outdoor pools, hottubs(!), dry saunas and a Cafe Court! There is also two basketball courts, rock climbing wall, child care center, and even a hair salon!

It was very hard for us to turn down joining "that" day, but Mark and I wanted to talk things over before committing to a membership.
A little more time passed, the weather started getting warmer hotter(to where it was almost unbearable to do my cardio outside, unless I wanted to have a heat stroke!) and we just decided, "you know what, let's do this, what do we got to lose?! We are going to join the gym!"
And we did just that!!! We joined the gym!
I have been very dedicated to going 5 days a week, sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on what is going on that weekend! THIS is what keeps me going everyday when my "fuel" is running low:
Never want to look like THIS again!....

Also:

My Marky has kept me very motivated, dedicated, and everything else that runs along those lines! This picture was taken before he participated in the Body Building Competition in May of 2006. I know I can never be as 'big' as him, and I'm not trying to be, but his hard work and dedication helps me! Thanks babe!

And last but not least:

My dear Mother/friend--- She is actually the one who got me started on Weight Watchers and she has inspired me along my whole journey! My mom has also lost some alot of weight! She introduced me to alot of yummy, healthy recipes and always blesses me with her home cooking when I come "home"! Thanks Mama!!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Family Vacation.August.2010

The first week in August, I took a week off work and headed up North to spend quality time with the family!

Friday night when I got home, we were on the run to my cousin, Austin's, going away party before he took off for the Army! Austin's unit will be leaving for Fort Irwin on the 18th. Good luck Austin, you are in our thoughts and prayers!
After a weekend of R&R(rest and relaxation), we wasted away in Okoboji-ville all week long! It was great!
I heart Okoboji!
Mom and Dad out enjoying the beautiful night.
Me and Mama

Dad even let me drive the boat!! :)

...and this was the result after one afternoon out on the water...a bit crisp

Looky what we came across! Okay, for those of you who don't know, which I'm sure most every does know; but Mark's idol is Arnold Schwartzenegger. So yeah, I did a lil pose for him!

We went to the Dry Dock one of the nights to eat...view of the Lake

Thursday afternoon, our vacation in Okoboji came to an end :( but there was still more to look forward to! Something that almost everyone looks forward to!...... Family time!!! Okay, not only family time, but Wedding time! :-] My cousin Evan got hitched! Congrats Evan and Jenica!
Laura, Shayla, and I at the wedding
Mom with her two favorite girls :)
Laura, Shayla and I again

All in all, a fun time was had by all and went by way too fast, as always! Sunday morning came and this girl headed back down South!

#1 Fans of........

Our Iowa Hawkeyes!!
Iowa vs. Iowa State.... yep! Iowa won! :)

Me reppin' the Hawkeyes! My new shirt our besties, Kyle and Darci, got me for my Birthday!

Me with one of the biggest Hawkeyes fans EVER! Her and her hubby, Kyle, have season tickets and are their #1 fans at every home game! (they came down to visit last year when the Hawks were away)

Even Abby got to join in on watching a game with us!! Gooo Hawks!

Kansas City Chiefs!!! (fingers crossed for a good season! :))



& last but not least, Goo Royals!

Babies, Babies, Babies!

Not only one baby, but there are three!!

One of my best friends, Kendra, gave birth to her beautiful baby girl, Lauryn Jane, born on August 7th:


I know.... you can't even tell she is pregnant! June 2010

Another one of my best friends, Kalla, gave birth to her handsome baby boy, Pierce Halen, born on the best day of the year, August 25th [my birthday!!!!!!!!!]


Me and Kalla... May 2010
And I just might add one more picture of Pierce...simply because this is how Uncle Marky sleeps too! ;)

And last, but not least... my best friend Darci's sister, Wendi, gave birth to her handsome baby boy, Hayden James, born on September 12th.

Please keep Hayden in your prayers as they detected a heart murmur on him when he was born and he was not breathing correctly. They ran tests and found out he has pulmonary hypertension, which means he is breathing like he is still in the womb and not like he should on his own. At birth there are some valves that are supposed to close and then the baby breathes through his lungs, but that didn’t happen with Hayden. He was life flighted to Des Moines. The nurses and doctors said they have seen this before and comparing Hayden to recent cases he was the most stable!

Mark and I get to meet 2 of the 3 babies this weekend!!! We are more than excited :)