As you can see the snow was pretty deep...Johnny was behind a white mountain of snow as Frida bravely watch out for dangers in the forest.  Not to protect me but to run away and leave me for dead if it came down to it!

Johnny was feeding a male buck on the front deck of the cabin, talk about brave and tame.

Joey went for a walk one afternoon and was able to take some beautiful pictures of the Brazos Cliffs covered in white.  The cliffs are just a short walk from the cabin and in the spring for about one week they release their snow pack with a breathtaking waterfall.  It truly is a wonderful place and we enjoy spending time there.

Our White Christmas in Chama

We hit the road on Christmas Eve and headed north to spend some time away from it all.  Joey had a few days off and I am off for two weeks so spending 5 days in Chama is just what was needed.  There was a ton of snow and I think that if we were there any longer cabin fever would have set in!  As you can see we made some new friends.  The deer are tame and love to eat whatever you will feed them!

As you can see I love to decorate for Christmas.  It gives the house such a warm feeling.  I am working on trying to get Joey to let me leave it up all year, but that does not look like it will be happening.  It is a strange feeling knowing that next year at this time we will have a new little helper when we decorate.  HOW AMAZING!  We get to add a new stocking to the mantel.  

Breech
Heartbeat 140
Measuring 25 Weeks
Ultrasound Results Good
Placenta In The Back
Adjusted Due Date Based On Size
March 20th 2009

HOW AMAZING

Here is what is going on - A CALENDAR OF GROWTH

Week 1 The tiny new organism passes into the womb.
Week 4 (1/8in 3mm) The embryo has the basis of a heart, brain and nervous system.
Week 6 (1/4in 6mm) Head, arms and legs, as well as a digestive system, develop.
Week 8 (1in 2.5cm) Brain, nervous system and muscles become active.
Week 10 (1-3/4in 4.5cm) Eyes start to form. Webbed fingers and toes emerge.
Week 12 (3in 7.5cm) Gender is evident. As muscles develop, movement increases.
Week 16 (6in 15cm) With a spurt of growth, the baby becomes more energetic.
Week 18 (7in 18cm) Fine down covers the body, and bone begins to replace cartilage.
Week 20 (10in. 25cm) Hair starts to grow on the head.
Week 24 (14in 35cm) The baby may suck its thumb and hiccup.
Week 28 (16in 40cm) The greasy vernix protects skin. The brain becomes more complex.
Week 32 (16in 40cm) Your baby is completely formed.
Week 36 (18in 46cm) Becoming plumper, the baby grows finger- and toe-nails.

Check out the Invitations!

I have been so excited to make our baby shower invitations.  They match the safari theme that we are planning to use in the baby's room.  Who knows it could all change.  Here is a sneak peak at two of them!

Thank you Jennifer and Billy (the worlds best neighbors) for the cute and very true card..I hope the baby knows how to raise us!  SCARY!  It is so nice to know that we have such good friends who are supportive!

HERE HE IS!!

We want to thank everyone for all their support.  When John got back to school on Monday we recieved our first official BOY gifts.  Thank you all once again for sharing in our Journey.  

More pictures of our adventure!!

Alicia and Us!!  HOW CUTE WE ARE!  

We found a nice bear in the mountains of Park City...if only we could have found a Moose!

I like the picture of Mike and Alicia!! 

Our Utah Trip!!

It is official...IT'S A BOY!!!  We had a great trip and got a chance to hang out with Alicia and her family in their home town.  We saw some beautiful sites and had a great time shopping with Alicia and Mike for our little boy.  We stayed in a condo in Park City Utah which was across the street from one of the ski jumps built for the winter olympics.  We had a fun day with Alicia and Mike exploring Park City.  We got to see the SHOE TREE, Shop, and yes even discover that the rental car could not clear rocks in the road...OUCH!!

We have new pictures.  Everything is going good and we are told that we have a very long baby.  I wonder if that means we are having a tall kid? Take a look and you be the judge!

It's a Dad Kind of Thing It's a dad kind of thing to protect you And see that the world treats you right, To offer his willing assistance Any hour of the day or the night. It's a dad kind of thing to stand by you If one of your bubbles should burst, To make sure you know you're important And know that with him you come first. To give you his all but still wonder If there's something more he could do - It's a dad kind of thing to keep showing That he'll always be there for you.

How Amazing!

How things have changed!!!!

Look at me NOW!

Week Fourteen

• Thyroid gland has matured and your baby begins producing hormones which will be used throughout his or her life.
• In boys, the prostate gland develops
• In girls, the ovaries move from the abdomen to the pelvis
• Your little one may have learned to suck his thumb by this point!
• Your child's bones are getting harder and stronger by the day!
• Your baby's skin is very transparent still
• Lanugo (very fine hair) covers the baby's body and will continue to grow until 26 weeks gestational age - Generally this will be shed prior to birth. Its purpose is to help protect baby's skin while in all that water!
• Your baby is 3.42 inches (8.7cm) long and weighs about 1.52 ounces (43 grams) - approximately the weight of a letter!

Week 13

Week Thirteen

• Your infant is about 2.91 inches (7.4cm) and weighs around 0.81 ounce (23gm) - This is about the same weight as 4 quarters.
• If you could peek in again you may spot your baby as he begins to practice inhaling and exhaling movements
• Eyes and ears continue to move and develop
• Baby's neck is getting longer, and the chin no longer is resting on his chest
• Her hands are becoming more functional - Your baby may find it comforting to start playing with her fist.
• At this point all nourishment is received from the placenta
• On your next doctor visit you should be able to hear heartbeat with a Doppler by now - (Don't worry though if you can't, the heartbeat can be confirmed through U/S). Your baby's heartbeat is much rapider than your own and may remind you of the race towards birth that he is running!

Week 12

Week Twelve

• Vocal cords begin to form - While perhaps not quite ready to be introduced to the nearest opera stage, your infant will use these immediately following the moment of birth. Bet you can't wait to hear that first cry!
• Those precious eyes begin to move closer together - Are you wondering if he will have mommy's crystal green eyes, daddy's laughing brown ones, or maybe out of the gene pool will emerge grandma's clear blue!
• Ears shift to their normal place on the side of the head
• Intestines move farther in to your child's body
• His or her liver begins to function - Responsible for cleansing the blood, storing nutrients, and providing needed chemicals, this is an important event!
• The pancreas begins to produce insulin
• Guess what? Your baby's average size is now at a whopping length: 2.13 inches (5.4cm) and weight: 0.49 ounce (14gm)

HERE I AM!!!

Here is the baby's first photo shoot.    

Well we met the baby on Friday.  And wow what a cute baby!!

Can you find the baby's eyes?

Week Eleven

Nearly all structures and organs are formed and beginning to function.
Fingers and toes have separated - Take a glimpse at how incredibly precious your child's tiny feet are at this point.
Hair and nails begin to grow
The genitals begin to take on the proper gender characteristics - It will be just a few more weeks before your ultrasound can show if you are having a boy or a girl! Have you been dreaming of pink or blue?
Amniotic fluid begins to accumulate as the kidneys begin to function - This fluid, consisting primarily of water, helps provide a cushion for your baby while she's nestled within your womb.
The muscles in the intestinal walls begin to practice contractions that digest food.
Your baby is about 1.61 inches (4.1 cm) long and weighs 0.25 ounce (7gm).

Week Ten

Baby is now called a fetus in "medical terms". You, however, may have chosen the name "peanut," "angel," "jumping bean" or simply "miracle."
The most critical part of your infant's development is complete. Now you are headed into a period of rapid growth.
While a bit strange to envision, your baby's head is now about half its length - Soon the rest of the body's growth will catch up but this area is prepared to keep up with the rapid brain development!
Eyelids fuse shut and irises begin to develop - Eye color is also determined by this point.
Placenta begins to function this week or next - The placenta is the organ responsible for both the provision of nutrients along with the removal of waste to keep your baby growing strong!
Your baby will be about 1.22 inch long (3.1cm) and weigh 0.14 ounce (4gm) at the end of this week

Week Nine

Baby has begun movement - While still too small for you to feel, your little one is wriggling, shifting, and dancing already! Makes you almost wish for a window to peek in whenever you want!
Most joints are formed now - and trust that your little one is practicing bending and flexing.
Fetus will curve its fingers around an object placed in the palm of its hand - This is amazing to see! At only nine weeks, if you happen to have an ultrasound, you may observe your infant fascinated by everything he or she can lay their fingers on (mainly other fingers, toes, ears and nose!
Fingerprints are already evident in the skin
Average size this week -- length 0.9 inch (2.3cm), weight 0.07 ounce (2gm)

Week Eight

Cartilage and bones begin to form - At the end of this week your baby will have already completed 1/5th of the journey 'til his birthday!
The basic structure of the eye is well underway - The position is more "newborn" like already!
The tongue begins to develop
Intestines move out of the umbilical cord into the abdomen.
Body grows and makes room - Two months along and this little one is growing inside and out by leaps and bounds!
The fingers and toes have appeared but are webbed and short
Baby's length (crown to rump) is 0.61 inch (1.6cm) and weight is 0.04 ounce (1gm)

Week Seven

Elbows form - Again, taking a peek inside you could see your baby's fascination with bending and flexing. Later you will swear you can enlist your child as the star of the next "Karate Kid" movie!
Fingers start to develop - These digits often become your baby's first toy!
Feet start to appear with tiny notches for the toes - It is fascinating that at less than a half inch, your little guy (or gal) already is leaving "footprints" on your heart!
Ears eyes and nose start to appear - Although they may resemble an alien life form, these all "shift" soon enough into a more normal appearance.
Intestines start to form in the umbilical cord - Did you know that initially the intestines are not formed inside your baby's body?
Teeth begin to develop under the gums - Thankfully, right now you won't be dealing with teething pain!

ALICIA....OUR BABY MAMA

THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR DREAMS COME TRUE AND NOT JUDGING US! YOU ARE TRULY ONE AMAZING PERSON WITH A GREAT HEART AND WE ARE LUCKY TO KNOW YOU.
J&J

WITH LOVE

OUR JOURNEY HAS ONLY BEGUN...
BUT OUR LOVE FOR YOU HAS LONG BEEN HERE.
IT HAS BEEN POWERFUL BEYOND YOU IMAGINATION.
YOU WERE BROUGHT INTO THIS WORLD WITH LOVE AND LOVE WILL ALWAYS BE HERE FOR YOU.
YOU HAVE MADE US SO HAPPY AND WE ONLY HOPE THAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.
AT ONLY SIX WEEKS OLD, AND YOU DO LOOK LIKE A LITTLE SEA HORSE, I VOW TO YOU THAT I WILL BE HERE FOR YOU FOR ALL ETERNITY AND BEYOND, BECAUSE YOU ARE MY DREAM, MY HOPES, MY LOVE.
SEE YOU SOON LITTLE ONE!!

YOUR DADDY...
JOHNNY!
XOOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

THE TEST

Well after many tests...the line is very clear and dark now...Check it out!

It's True

We have wanted to have a child for a long time now and have had a very hard time getting this far. It feels great to know that Alicia is now pregnant with our baby. We feel that we could not be more blessed to have found her and her family. Our paths where meant to cross.
Alicia, Thank you for being who you are!

The Journey Begins!

After a long and difficult journey.  Down a very bumpy and emotional road, we can now see where we are heading.  And let me assure you that the view is breathtaking. 

Last night the phone rang after 9:00p.m.  I am sure you are thinking "So what" but our phone never rings.  It was the florist, and she said that she had some flowers to deliver.  "Flowers?  For who?"  It was not a wrong number, they were sent to us.

10 LONG minutes later the doorbell finally rang.  I made Joey go to door, I could not do it.  

He opened the door took the flowers and shut the door.  He turned to me and said....

WERE PREGNANT.  

WE ARE HAVING A BABY!  Yes that's what I said.  A baby!!  

So I guess it is safe to say that our lives have been dramatically changed.  It's a good thing our phone never rings, I do not think I would be able to go through all that again!!

I never thought flowers would change our lives, and we could not be happier.