Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...

That's what little GIRLS are made of! So I'm a little behind on updating the blog, but 3 weeks ago we found out that we're going to be welcoming a little girl in July. We would have been thrilled either way, but it is just so much fun to know now. We decided to not find out in the doctor's office and to find out together at home...just the two of us. No big revelation party, just a sweet night at home. Here's some pictures I took to capture the moment. Patrick also made her a little video.

Although on a blue sticky note, it says "Congratulations, It's a girl!"

No clue what we're looking at...glad there was a note attached.

Before Patrick's basketball game that night, we stopped by Target to get a few girly things. First little onesie and 2 hair bows...

Her dad wore one of the head bands to his game to show his team we're having a girl! Don't worry, we've already given it a good wash.

...and now, the naming process begins. It might take the two of us a little while to agree on something. I'm determined to have a name early enough for some cute monogramming to be done. :) 

Kick baby, kick!

Saturday I felt my first really big movement from little baby McGuire. Up until now I've felt little flutters and even a small poke that I think was a kick, but this time I think it might have been a full flip! Maybe it was the waffle with syrup that I had that morning...if so, I might have to try that more often! Either way, it was the first big, undeniable movement from our little one. Such a special moment. With pregnancy- your body changes, you feel emotional, you crave things, you might feel nauseous...these are certainly things that tell you you're pregnant, but there is nothing that tells you like when you feel him/her move! A very special moment...I look forward to the many more! 

I had Patrick take a picture of me to document the special day. :)  The bump is certainly starting to make itself known. 

We find out on Tuesday if our little one is a boy or girl...we can't wait!

Happy Birthday!

Patrick's 29th birthday was on Thursday, so we celebrated with his favorite-a meal at home. Every birthday of his has been a struggle for me because I think he would want to celebrate like I would-a nice date away from the house. Every year I ask him what he'd like to do-and every year it is the same response..."just have a night at the house with you." And he's actually serious. After several years, I think I'm beginning to learn that. 


His traditional birthday dinner since I've known him has been: crab cake sandwiches, sweet potato fries, salad, and a yellow cake with chocolate icing. I was determined to make homemade sweet potato fries even though we've found some really good and extremely easy ones at Trader Joes that are already made. To me, a birthday dinner means you have to make it more difficult too, right? It is all in my head-something else I'm trying to learn too. I did have some help from good ole Fresh Market with the crab cakes though. Last year I cried when the crab cakes didn't turn out as pretty and perfect as I wanted. And I wasn't pregnant then. So this year, I got some help. 


On a separate note, we also got a new camera! It's been on my wish list since we found out we have a little one coming. I knew exactly what I wanted my Christmas money to go to-and we finally got around to doing it! I'm slightly obsessed and hope that the new camera will motivate me to fix my problem of not documenting our life enough. From the looks of these pictures, maybe I documented the birthday dinner a little too closely. I was excited about the new camera though! 

And here's just a little random one from one of our "family dinners" last night. Realizing now I should have gotten one of the guys too. I'll learn this whole documenting our life thing eventually. 

Tag, you're it!

My great friend Heather tagged me in this fun little game, so here we go...

The rules for tagging:

1. You must post these rules.

2. Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

4. You have to choose 11 people to tag and link them on the post.

5. Go to their page and tell them you have linked him or her.

11 Things about Me...

1. My blood isn't actually red, it's orange. You might think I'm crazy unless you are a Clemson graduate-and then, you probably understand completely. There really is truth in the fact it was ranked #1 "happiest student body". 
2. We're expecting our first child in July! It still seems a bit unreal to me. Oh, and my sister and I are pregnant together!
3. I can't count. Because the first time I wrote this post, the #3 was missing. 
4. I love traveling. I'd love to go to: Hawaii, Colorado, Italy, France, Austria, Germany and Australia. I'd also love to go back to California, Africa, and pretty much any of the Caribbean islands. 
5. I traveled to Kenya in 2007, and it was one of the most amazing, life-changing trips I've ever been on. Words can't describe the beauty that is there-in the people I met and on the safaris. It was unreal, and I'd love to go back. Next time, I'm bringing Patrick with me.
6. I've been somewhat obsessed with whales since 3rd grade. I would love, love, love to go on an Alaskan cruise and get to see them-up close! 
7. Tall buildings and big cities make me giddy. 
8. One of my favorite snacks is: ritz cracker, peanut butter, slice of cheese, and a jalapeno on top. I know what you're thinking...but you should try it. Several friends in college thought the same thing until they tried it-they now love it too. :) Let me know if you try it! 
9. I can be quite indecisive. Sometimes it drives me crazy. I probably wouldn't waste so much time if I could just be a very opinionated and decisive person. 
10. I love teaching-except for the whole initial getting up and having to go to work thing. Oh, and the grading of the papers. It is a job that can empty me of much of my patience and strength and yet it is so fulfilling and rewarding at the same time. I love it!
11. I used to want to be an astronaut when I grew up-there's a part of me that is still admittedly a nerd about outer-space. And as one of my students told me, "Mrs. McGuire, it's never too late to reach your dreams." ha, I think he was only 8. 

1. Who was your first crush?

John Norman-4th or 5th grade I believe. I'm not even sure how much we actually talked. 

2. Where do you see yourself in five years? Be honest.

Busy being a wife and mom of two-whether or not I'm still throwing teacher into the mix too is undecided. :) 

3. If you could travel to one country for a week, where would you go, and where would you want to stay?

Oh goodness, somewhere in Europe...maybe Italy at one of the gorgeous cities by the sea. 

4. When are you happiest?

I am especially giddy when I get to travel to fun places...but if we're talking on a more regular basis then I'll go with Saturdays, relaxing or taking a fun trip with the hubs-and preferably one in the summer. I'd even take Fall or Spring...the cold though, it kind of makes me angry. 

5. When was the last time you cried?

Wednesday-but I'm pregnant, so it happens a little more often than it used to :) 

6. Mountains or Beach?

Beach, and I would love to be there now! 

7. If you had unlimited money, which store would you visit first?

Pottery Barn-I would buy the whole store. 

8. What is your favorite quote or verse?

John 16:33-a reminder that God is so much bigger than all of our troubles

"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

9. If you could wake up tomorrow with a new talent, which would you choose?

Singing, definitely. 

10. If you could have any zoo animal as a pet, which would you choose?

I've always thought a monkey would be a fun pet.

11. At your current stage of life, what is your ideal date?

Honestly, as cliche as it is-dinner and a movie. I love watching movies and hey, you have to eat. :) Whether it is take-out from our favorite Thai restaurant and a movie on the couch or a fun dinner out and movie at the theater. Patrick also jokes that any real date with me must involve yogurt from one of the fro-yo places. :)

My questions are:

1. If you could have someone play you in a movie, who would you choose?
2. If you won the lottery, what would be the FIRST thing you would do with your money?
3. What song will always bring you out on the dance floor?
4. What is one quirky thing you do that others may find strange?
5. If you could change your profession to anything without having to go back to school, what would you choose?
6. What one superpower would you choose to have?
7. Who is the one famous person you would like to meet?
8. If you could live during any time in history, when would you choose?
9. What is your favorite photograph?
10. Would you rather be 4' or 7' tall?
11. If you could only do one dance for the rest of your life, would it be the macarena or the electric slide?

Since I'm new at this whole blogging thing, I don't really have 11 people to tag that have a blog and/or haven't already done this. We'll go with what I got...I tag: 

Meagan @ Night Owls and Early Birds (I know Hea tagged you too-but she had 12 so I'm snagging you)

MaryEllen @ The Adventures of a Big Girl

Ruthie @ Ruthie Dean

Liz @ Rob and Liz

Stephanie @ O Happy Day

Coming July 2012...

I'd say our biggest news right now is that we're expecting a little one to come in July! We are very excited and anxious of the new life that awaits us. It is all starting to feel more real now. Before it was mostly nausea and the ever so slightly tightening of my shirts...oh, and naps. Lots of those. Three weeks ago, we went for the big 12 week appointment. It was supposed to just be what the doctor called a "boring" appointment. We weren't supposed to see an ultrasound- we'd quickly get a chance to hear the heart beat (certainly a very special moment-but also surprisingly rushed) and then it was mostly blood work. Lucky for us, our doctor was stuck in surgery and there was a little wait time. Our nurse offered to give us an ultrasound while we waited. We gladly accepted!

We were absolutely amazed at what we got to see. I wouldn't normally think to share an ultrasound picture, but this one is just too precious and much of the reason for why my pregnancy has become more real. No longer was our little one just something that was the size of a lime-but it was someone, someone with little hands and little feet...and the tiniest toes you'll ever see. See what I mean...

Another one bites the dust...

After never thinking that I'd actually start a blog-here I sit. Everyone else is doing it, right? I think my convincing moment was after reading a friend's blog about all the things she and her husband did in 2011. She had her cute little links to all her blog entries for the past year. You can check it out here. I realized that I wanted a place to keep track of our life-so no matter how bad I might be at this, I thought I'd give it a try...and no better time than the present. Although by present I mean for the past several days weeks -as figuring out this whole blog thing has been quite confusing. You'll have to bear with me. 

To start off, here's my attempt at trying to highlight our married life so far...

 We bought a house in March of 2010

We got married in July 2010

Went on a honeymoon to Grand Cayman

Enjoyed our first Christmas being married

Went to Vegas and visited Patrick's brother 

Celebrated our first anniversary with a trip to San Francisco and Nappa

...and realized that I should probably take more pictures of what we do to capture the moments.