17 Weeks...

Thanksgiving

What a difference a year makes!

Thanksgving 2009

Thanksgiving 2010
On Thanksgiving 2009 we were so giddy to have a special baby-secret that we decided not to share w/our family until we felt the time was right. Sadly, that secret turned out to be the first of three miscarriages we endured over the past year - pure heartbreak.

Moving on to Thanksgiving 2010...standing in the same place (seriously not planned, I promise), taking another picture, and patting my ever-growing belly - pure happiness!

This Thanksgiving I truly reflected on what a difference a year makes in our lives. I quietly thought about all I was most thankful for and this year I included patience! Not the kind that you hope to gain while waiting in line at the store or at a red light. This patience is much deeper and on a spiritual level. I am thankful my sweet Saviour chose Scott and I to embark on such a journey. It was not an easy or pleasant one, but to get us to the place we are now, I wouldn't trade
our journey for anything!
We are thankful and so blessed!

Wurstfest - 50th Anniversary

After Macee's princess party, me, Scott, Katie, Chris, and two of Chris' nursing school buddies hauled down to New Braunfels to celebrate Chris' birthday - German style!!! We went to Wurstfest - the 5oth Anniversary! Wow, what an adventure! People everywhere, food everywhere, beer everywhere! Quite a different experience from last year. It was definitely a fun time had by all, but not one I'll try to do pregnant again! I was so glad to be snuggled up in my hotel bed by 11pm!!!

Katie and I

and, no worries - mine was non-alcoholic!

Scott and I at the beginning of the evening...
...Scott and I toward the end of the evening!

(beer goggles & drink tickets; need I say more?!?)

A Princess Party

A couple weekends ago, we celebrated our precious niece Macee's 3rd birthday with a Princess Party! What a perfect celebration for such a precious princess! We are constantly in awe of Miss Macee Jane and both Scott and I love her dearly! It's amazing to think how time has flown by and she is already a such a big girl! We love you, MJ!!!!!

TT & Max the night before the party!

Ott and Daddy getting the birthday girl's surprise

ready for the party -- A NEW BIKE!
Dress rehearsal the night before...

...and the next morning, she's ready to greet her royal guests!

The party had not even started yet and she already

looks done w/all the photos!

Birthday girl and her mommy

One giddy princess having a ball opening her gifts

SURPRISE - a new bike for a big girl! She's already a natural!

You can have your cake and eat it too!

Baby brother enjoying his cupcake w/Ott!

September and October, Where Did You Go?

These past two months are a blur! In an effort to not make myself crazy and go back through all our Sept and Oct photos and try to post all of our comings and goings, I think I'll just hit a couple highlights!

On September 21, 2010, our newest nephew, Bryson Thomas Distel, was born! Bryson came into the world at 5:11pm and weighed 7.5 lbs and was 20 inches long! He has made his parents and new first-time grandparents (on both sides) very happy and everyone is sooooo in love w/him! We were able to meet Bryson just 3 days after he was born, but his Ott and TT still miss him dearly! We try to Skype with Tim, Amber, and Bryson every once in awhile so we can see the little guy! We are all eager to spend Christmas together in Lubbock!

Just another sweet pic of baby boy in his mama's arms!

On September 22, Scott and I celebrated our 3rd Anniversary! We enjoyed a lovely dinner at Hudson's On The Bend! No gifts for one another this year since we are still trying to get our master bath renovated, however, earlier that day we got the BEST anniversary gift any couple could ask for...

WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!!!!!!!!!!

(sonogram pic actually taken Weds., November 3rd at 12 weeks, but our first OB appt was the day of our 3rd anniv., at about 6 weeks - AMAZING!!!)

No wonder these past couple months have been a blur -- I've been busy growing a heart, brain, arms, legs, etc.! All this "work" has made me one tired gal, but I think the worst is behind me! I don't even feel like I can complain since I haven't been sick - not one time! A lack of energy and the constant need to close my eyes has definitely zapped me, but as I'm now entering my 2nd trimester, I'm feeling fantastic!

We are elated, thrilled, ecstatic, giddy, etc., however one word sticks out the most to us - BLESSED! After the year we've had, I don't want us to forget, for one second, how much of a miracle and a gift it is to actually get pregnant, stay pregnant, and give birth to a healthy baby. Scott and I have remained "on guard" the past couple months, but with each passing day, we are more and more peaceful and trusting that THIS BABY is the one the Lord has planned for us. Of course, it won't seem real and we won't be at complete rest (emotionally speaking) until we hold our baby in our arms!

So, here is to May 17th, 2011 -- it can't get here fast enough!!!!!

Praise be to God!

Our "Staycation"

The last week of August, my office was closed and Scott got off, too, so we could take a little mini vacation! We headed for the lake - the perfect spot to get away and not spend too much money!!!
From Friday to Friday, we went to our friend's ranch; fished; swam; ate; drank; drove into Burnet, Marble Falls, Llano, & Fall Creek Vineyards; napped; chatted w/neighbors; and had a sunset dinner date where our rehearsal dinner took place!

We packed in quite a bit for seven days, but the ease of knowing we didn't have things we had to do, but all the things we wanted to do made it so enjoyable! We have both said it was one of the BEST vacations we have ever taken! And, to think we were just an hour away from our front door! It's rare for it to be just us two at the lake, because it is our family's memory-makin' getaway, but it felt too perfect to step away from our real worlds -- just Tina and Scott -- and really enjoy one another's company at one of the places we hold most dear! We needed this trip and are so thankful we made it happen!

Scott, his friend and co-worker Kit, and Kit's brother setting up

a deer stand on the ranch.

On top of a sort of mountain, or HUGE hill of rocks, that

we hiked up to - what a view!

I'm smiling becasue I didn't see a rattlesnake on the way up! If I had, I would NOT have been this happy of a hiker!!!
Scott and Kit taking a siesta on the banks of the Llano River. Our view for the week!
We caught fish morning, noon, and night -- this particular night we stayed out until about 2am!!!

A quick trip to Fall Creek Vineyards and a cool & crisp sip of white wine on a very HOT day! More fish caught later in the week - it was amazing how they were schooling everywhere!

Scott taking a dip and cooling off! At times, the water didn't even seem to give us the comfort we needed to get away from the heat!
"Flag Island"
Our homemade ceviche & white wine from Fall Creek! Scott had this waiting on me one evening after I came in from chatting w/a neighbor! Such a lovely dinner date!

Scott and his best buddy - our sweet, precious, and

always faithful companion - Dog!

More fishing...

Our last night -- a sunset dinner date at Canyon of the Eagles!

Our Summer, in Pictures...

May 2010...

The start to our summer was a great one! Right after our motorcycle ride, we learned we were pregnant again! Sadly, we endured another miscarriage in June. More on that later in this post.

We celebrated Mother's Day in San Antonio! It was fun to share our pregnancy news w/everyone! A little early to tell folks, some people may say, but we've learned it's nice to have a support group if something were to go wrong.

Here is Scott's Mom (Grammy) with 3 of her 4 grandbabies!!!

On Weds., May 12, 2010 two wonderful things took place...Scott celebrated his 31st birthday and Chris graduated from Nursing School!

WAY TO GO CHRIS!!!

Congratulations, Chris & Happy Birthday, Scott!
We are proud of our guys!
Scott making a wish...

Later on that night, Chris and Katie threw a party for the Nursing School graduates at their home! It was the "Sumo Smackdown" complete w/sumo wrestling, a bounce house, BBQ, keg beer, a DJ, and burning of the students' scrubs!!!

This party was too much fun!!!!!!

We spent Memorial Day at the lake like we always do!

This weekend was all about family!

Here's one cute family...Lisa, Haylie, & Chad!

And, another good-looking family...Katie, Chris, Macee, & Max!

June 2010...

June was a month of laying-low! At the beginning of the month, I had to have another D&C because of the miscarriage. So, the first week we didn't do too much of anything. Exactly two weeks, to the day, of me going in for my D&C, Scott had to rush me to the E.R. because I was experiencing flu-like symptoms that did not subside for about 4 days. After several tests, we were told that I had meningitis! What?!? Needless to say, I was admitted to the hospital for two days so that they could monitor me. It took me two l-o-n-g weeks to fully recover - I have never felt so miserable!

Because most of the month of June was spent in a surgery center, the E.R., a sterile hospital room, and days/nights sleeping on the couch and in our bed, we don't have ANY pictures to display! It's really rather pitiful! However, we are thankful for the bumps in the road and firmly believe our precious Lord was, yet again, teaching us patience and reminding us where our focus must be -- on HIM! I'm glad to now say I have found peace in all of this and that life does go on! It's amazing, and a gift, to just be alive and HEALTHY!!!

July 2010...

The 4th of July Weekend was also spent at the lake! We can't be at the lake w/o taking a sunset picture! The sunsets are always beautiful and they astound me each time I get to witness one right outside the back door!

Scott working the waves on the wakeboard!

We celebrated Grammy's 60th birthday at the lake!

All the grandbabies wanted in on the cake!!!

The birthday girl, her children, and their children!

And look who else we get to hang out w/at the lake?!? Tim and Amber! Amber's parents bought a house on Lake LBJ, which is about 15 mins up the road from our lakehouse! We stopped by their place a couple times that weekend to say hi! I can't wait to see my soon-to-be nephew playing around this place soon!

One weekend while Scott was away at the coast fishing, I headed to Dallas for a girls (and baby) weekend! I was able to meet Traci's new little man,

Patrick James Redding...

...play around w/this little guy, Mr. Parker Bills!

And, yes, his expressions are stinkin' priceless!...

...and finally, meet Parker Trimble Brown! Proud parents Kristen and Benton, unfortunately, did not make any of the pictures (sorry guys)! My heart melted when I walked in their front door, was handed my new little buddy, and he went fast asleep on my shoulder! Awwww!

August 2010...

The first weekend of August, I flew to Lubbock for Amber's baby shower! Here I am w/the HOT mama-to-be before we left for the shower!!!

My sweet mom (soon-to-be "Mama Jo") and her best bud, Linda!

One of the many wonderful gifts Amber received at her shower!

This one was one of the coolest! A firetruck just like Daddy drives!

Seriously, how cute are they?!? I can't believe they'll be parents in less than a month! And, Scott and I can't wait to meet Bryson Thomas Distel!!!!!!!!!!!

After my flight back to Austin, Scott and I decided against our Sunday chores and, instead, drove to a winery that is about 40 mins from our house!

It was such a laid back and super fun afternoon!

One Friday evening in mid-August, we gathered the Chessher and Sahl families together at the Salt Lick! Who could pass up cold beer, yummy BBQ, and this fantastic group of family and friends?!? We were gathering together to send this handsome man back to Iraq...The guys: Daniel, Scott, Joe, Chris, & Dave

The gals: Maianne, Katie, Tina, Kathy, & Ashley

The next day, we drove to Victoria to celebrate

our niece, Sydnee's, 1st birthday!

The birthday girl, her sweet parents and one extra-large cupcake!

Scott's dad, Don and stepmom, Bonnie (otherwise known as Grandpa & Grandma)!

I love this pic -- such a precious family!

COMING SOON: Our week-long vacation at the lake!

That post will have to wait for another time! Until then...