Season of Sarah

The month of November is a busy one for us! We have our Anniversary, 6 days later is my birthday and because of the timing of when Olivia will arrive it is also the month that we had to have the baby shower.
Our Anniversary was PERFECT. It was the type of day that we both love. We ate a delicious breakfast, watched our wedding DVD, watched 2 movies, ate our wedding cake (which was honestly just as good as when Aunt Lu first made it), went to a movie and ATTEMPTED to go to our favorite Main Street restaurant. We probably should have checked to make sure it was open before we went. Of course it was closed, so we headed to another restaurant instead. It was also good but I think my favorite part was how we just looked at each other and laughed about how funny it was that we'd been waiting to eat at Henry's all day and then it wasn't even opened. We like to laugh.

That same weekend Jennifer, Mom and Viki threw me and Olivia a BEAUTIFUL baby shower. It was so perfect. It was so great to have all of my friends and family celebrating her upcoming arrival. She had so many sweet touches that just really made me feel special. The diaper cake she made was filled with wash cloths, blankets and washcloths. She also made some adorable "lollipops" that were made of washcloths and baby spoons. I appreciated the hardwork she put into it so much. Here are some pictures of that day.



Notice the cute letters attached to the flower vases. Jen is going to attach those to a picture frame for Ms. Olivia's bedroom.



The note on these says "Thanks for celebrating Sarah's Bun in the Oven!" So cute!!!




These are the cupcakes Viki ordered for the shower. They were so delicious!




Jen had these adorable Layette's strung up. The one in the middle is a little ballerina outfit. I can't wait to put her in the other two layettes. She is already pretty in pink!


This diaper cake is so cute! It has flower hairbands, monogrammed diaper covers, burp cloths, lovies and blankets. I don't want to ever take it apart! The lollipops on either side are washcloths with baby spoons. How creative!


Our friend Elizabeth made this diaper wreath for us to hang on the door of the hospital and our house. I love that her name is on it and it is in yellow!


Here are the girls! We are missing our Texas girls! We'll have to take this shot again in December. Hopefully I can still stand upright at that point. :)



Here is Grandma Viki! She is so excited about her first grandchild!



Here is the picture that will most likely go in Olivia's baby book. This way, when she gives me a hard time I can show her how much I sacrificed to bring her into the world.

Progress...

I am happy to report that there was a lot of progress made on Olivia's room this weekend. I got to begin Saturday with a pre-natal massage, thanks to Kris who got me one for Mother's Day. I was finally able to use it and it was so worth it. I realized during this massage that my body pillow, which I stole from Kris, was pretty flimsy and the trick to sleeping more comfortably would be buying a new body pillow. What a difference!

Next, we went on a hunt for a dresser for the little one's bedroom. The crib we bought does not have a matching dresser so we decided to try and find one that would serve the purpose we needed but would still look nice with the crib. We believe we have found what we want. We agreed that the damage that a small child will do to a piece of furniture is pretty risky, so we'll go with low cost now and eventually get her a nice bedroom set. The dresser we found is at Target and we'll be buying that soon and putting it togther. I say "we" but we all know who is really putting it together. I just get to point my finger and watch.

After the dresser search we were off to see our little lady during a 3D sonogram. We scheduled it for 1:30. I don't think I was thinking clearly because I know that that is her quiet time. We got to Peek-a-Belly and sure enough our little lady was wrapped up in a tight little ball fast asleep. We tried everything! We ate spicy food and a coke before we went, we drank OJ, ate a cookie, played her Kings of Leon (her favorite music) and poked and prodded. She wouldn't have any of it! We left the place with a CD of about 10 pictures. Luckily we get to go back on Friday and try again. This time we'll be going later in the day. She loves to stretch out in the evening so hopefully that will be better.

On Sunday Kris decided to attempt the crib! I can't wait to post pictures of it! The room looks awesome. We won't be posting pictures until it is completely finished. The crib,bedding and glider/ottoman all look so perfect in the room. Now we just walk into it and look around. We are so amazed that this room will be our daughter's room. We ordered a wall decal that is a beautiful tree that we will be putting up too. I know we still have 10 weeks to go and that that is a lot of time but doesn't feel that long.

The Nursery

When Kris and I moved into our new house we knew which room would be the nursery. The one closest to us and the one that accumulated all of the junk until we were ready to turn it into someone's room. Here are some before pictures.

Kris was mostly excited about getting to try and prime those awesome electric blue walls that the previous owners thought were a winning choice.

I wish I could really capture the fantastic light fixture with the energy saving light bulbs. This combination made every single person who ever saw the room squint, I am NOT kidding.







I think the best part for me was clearing out all of the junk. We got to get rid of things we didn't need. This fact alone gives me chills. I hate clutter. I can't stand having too much stuff. I realize that I need to overcome this because a child will bring more clutter than I can imagine, but as the Mommy, I hope to limit it.



This is the room, empty. The daybed was mine as a child and has been dismantled. Kris was able to get it up into the attic. The trundle bed is now under our guest bed and the dresser is also in the guest room. I won't be posting after pics until the Nursery is completed.

May we introduce...

The most exciting part of the summer was finding out if we were going to introduce Avery or Olivia into our family! I don't think I have ever been more excited about anything...except getting married of course. Technically it wasn't summer any longer. School was back in full swing and now everyone knew we were having a baby. We anxiously anticipated this day.

So may we introduce Ms. Olivia Lynn Goodwin!

After all of my girl dreams and feelings it being a girl, I had convinced myself it was a boy. Turns out we were right from the beginning. Olivia Lynn is already so loved. I can't wait to actually meet her and hold her in my arms for the first time.

Here is the sonogram picture from that appointment.

Telling the family...

So here is how it went down.....

We knew we wanted to tell the rest of our family members either in person or as "in-person" as possible.

We decided that we would be telling Kris' Mom in person so she would know before she left for her trip to Germany. We drove to Viki's apartment with a little gift in hand. She needed us to pick something up for her at Wal-mart so while we were there Kris picked up a bib that said "I love Grandma". We got to her apartment, handed her the bag and started chatting. Eventually she decided to check out the bag and found the bib and just stared at it for a minute. She had the funniest look on her face. Finally she said "Grandma?" and then FINALLY she got it! The moment was priceless. We had finally shared our news.

We told Aunt Lauren by calling her up and asking her if they could make a "Whiskey Gentry" onesie by Christmas time....she also took a second but got it and said she would!

We called Grandma Joanne and asked her what she'd like for Christmas, after telling us she wasn't sure, Kris asked her if she'd like to be a Great Grandma and in true "Joanne" style she said "Well I guess so, if I'm gonna be." priceless....

Tuesday, April 27 is my Dad's birthday. We had discussed how we would tell them. I wanted to be sure and see their faces when we told them so we made up a story about wanting to test out our webcam. Mom and Dad went along with it. While we were g-chatting with the webcam I told Dad that we had some birthday cards for him that we had forgotten to send. So We held them up and showed him. The first one was from me, the second one was from Kris and the third card looked like this....




Next came The Goulds and The McDonalds!
We are lucky to live so close to Jen and Derek so we went over to their house with our camera. We had recently gotten our kitchen painted and wanted to show them the pictures on our camera. I let Jen scroll through until she got to the picture of the pregnancy test I had taken. That was how we told Jen and Derek. Next came Maddy and Dylan. Baby G wrote them a letter that looked like this...



As you can see that is the copy that we made for Harrison and Annelise. We tried repeatedly to get Kris and Lydianne on the webcam with us and unfortunately were never able to. We called them and ended up telling them over the phone. It was very fun and I they were excited. I think Lydianne even cried a little. I am pretty sure they said to us "Well it's about time!".


After that we made the calls to our other extended family members. Everyone was thrilled for us and I don't think anyone was surprised.....I can't imagine why.

I should back up...

I am a terrible blogger! I want to get better at it and I think now is the perfect time.
We should back up to April 26th, 2010, that would approximately 24 weeks ago. Kris and I had decided we were ready to grow our little family. We spent the weekend wondering if we'd been successful. It's funny...when we first talked about trying to get pregnant I would constantly say "Let's just see what happens. We won't get obessessed." Then reality sets in and you actually start wondering...constantly. So over that weekend we decided to pick up a box of tests and I took one Saturday and Sunday and got negatives both times. Monday morning rolls around... I get up and decided I couldn't make it through the day unless I knew so I took a test. Imagine my surprise after several no's to see this little picture.....


Well of course I was stunned for about 3 seconds. Then I raced into the bedroom and pretty much scared the crud out of my peacefully sleeping husband....(now I know that at the time he knew I would take a test and was just waiting for me either wake him up or not). He shot up from the bed, I shoved it in his face and we both just smiled and were practically speechless. I still can't believe it. What a blessing we have been given. It was Monday, April 26th and it is the best Monday morning that has ever happened.

Now, here was the crappy part, we had to go to work. We both knew this amazing news and were so thrilled and we had to go to work. Of course we both kept it to ourselves for a little while...

Confessions of a New Dad To Be

6 months to go. Well technically 5.5 months. 5.5 months until our worlds forever change for the better. Don't get me wrong. Sarah and I love our time together, sitting on the couch or being able to just pick up and go where we want, when we want. But we often say to each other that our house feels kind of empty. When we have our nieces or nephews over, we love it. We love having someone else in that house to help fill it up. Yeah, a 100lb dog helps fills things up, and he'll forever be our 1st child and a part of our family, but the two legged kind is different. At least I hope it has two legs. Sarah recorded a show on Discover about Octopus Man. I couldn't watch it. I sure hope we don't have an octopus.

So anyway, let's see. We find out next month what we are having. I really think that will help me wrap my brain around this whole deal. Dance recitals or baseball games? Hair braids or buzz cuts? Barbie or GI Joe? Of course it is entirely possible we have a baby girl who likes baseball, wants short hair, and wants to play with GI Joe. Or a baby boy who wants to dance, has long hair he braids like Snoop, and has a strange fascination with Barbie. While either of those scenarios may cause Daddy some moments of disconcert, we'll manage just fine.

The trips to the doctor's are rather interesting to me. I find myself wondering about the lives of the people we see there. There is a couple that we always see, and it's crazy to think this couple will go through the same things we will, almost at the same time. You see young single girls, and you wonder if they have the same excitement we have, or are they scared out of their minds? It's all pretty much insane, but we love it. We'll keep everyone up to date on things from here out, and again vow to better at this whole blogging thing.

Setting Up House

I wanted to be sure and post pictures of our new panel shades! Yea!!! We have such an oversized window I never thought we'd find something good to cover them but we did and they are beautiful.



The reason one side is white and one is brown is because we still have to paint the kitchen. That will happen on Wednesday. I LOVE decorating!

Spring Break, Fences and Trisha Yearwood

There are days I am so tired of teaching that I wish I could do ANY other job...but then comes Spring Break and I remember the beauty of time off!
This was a very productive one.

We had a fence put in. Harper loves it, I love it, but the person who REALLY loves it is Kris. I have never seen someone so excited about anything. I have to say I think getting a fence put in rivals the BCS Championship....maybe.

The fence dude came recommended by some friends of ours who had a fence put in. We have been anxiously awaiting Our tax return so we could finally fence in our yard for privacy and for Harper's sake. I have to admit that when I mopped the floor today it was nice to shoo the "puppy paw print" captain out of the house while the floor dried.
Monday he came by for his deposit, Tuesday he came at about 11 am and stayed until 3:00. I was getting a little peeved since he said he would have it done by Wednesday. Wednesday came and he arrived at 11 and left again at about 3. He ended up finishing on Friday night by about 8:30. He was a very nice guy, worked really hard and gave us a beautiful fence. I have to say since it was our first experience with a contractor, it turned out really well.

Here are some photos of the finished product.













Harper has a new favorite spot! This is how he is planning on spending his days and evenings. He doesn't actually like to be out there alone right now.



This morning Kris was outside BRIGHT and EARLY to start clearing out the brush that was right at the back of the fence. He worked really hard on it and was given multiple compliments on his hard work. We are now looking for ideas on how best to landscape it but we know it will be a little at a time.
We have also decided on kitchen paint colors and we bought curtains and a rod for the family room. We sure do love setting up house!

On Thursday, Jen and I went to Borders in Marietta for the Trisha Yearwood signing. I just happened to get an email about it and just knew we had to go. Here are some pictures of that day. :)










I asked her what her favorite song was and she told me and then she asked me what mine was and I was at a loss. How embarrassing! Kris and I talked about it and at least I didn't say "Independence Day" or "Jesus take the wheel" (none of which are by her). It was really fun and I am so glad that Jen and I got to go. I also have a really great new cookbook. I can't wait to try some of the recipes.

Spring Break was really fun! I am looking forward to summer vacation even more now. I have big plans for decorating and just relaxing!

Take me out to the ballgame!

For those of you who really know me, probably the only people who will ever read this blog, you know that I really do not have any interest in sports. Not even an inkling of excitement for it. Newsflash! Kris knows I don't like it very much. I didn't pretend to be a sports lover to get him to marry me. What I DO love is making memories with my husband and watching him get excited about things. Whether it's sports, getting a new fence or using his brand new lawn mower. I know that at some point all of these "firsts" won't be quite as exciting but I know that we'll always find the fun in doing them together.
Every year Kris takes off of work for the opening day of baseball. It's a really big deal. It just so happens that it is usually the beginning of my spring break. This year was no different. We woke up, had a yummy breakfast and went to the grocery store to get the supplies for our very first "Goodwin Family Opening Baseball Day Celebration". Cheesy? Absolutely! Fun? Yep! It is just one of this things we do to create memories and start traditions for the little people who will come around one day. No, that isn't an announcement.




In honor of this day I tried my hand at making home made onion rings....I don't mean to brag, but...WOW! I did a pretty good job. I have always loved to cook but I am really enjoying cooking for someone. Kris, of course, made some delicious hamburgers and we watched some baseball. Would it have been easier to just go out and buy some burgers and onion rings? Of course! What would be the fun in that?

A Man and his Toys!

Well a lot of time has past since I last posted. I didn't feel we had anything very exciting going on but we actually did. We traveled all throughout February and March. I will add more pictures from our trips.
Over the last few days I got very sick with Swine Flu! Yuck! I never felt more sick. Kris did a very good job taking care of me. After a long 3 days of being cooped up in the house I woke up from a nap to find my husband outside using his new weed-eater. It has been really fun watching him get to buy his first low mower, drill, weed-eater and learning how to take care of the lawn. I just thought I'd share!

That was not on the Weight Watchers plan, dear.

So Sarah and I have been doing WW together, and so far it's been a great success for us both. As of yesterday morning we were both down 10 lbs!! Yay to the Goodwins, right? Keep on the right track, right? WRONG!!! Let me tell you how we both celebrated this occassion.

Sarah had a girls night, that included Jennifer and some other girls. They had a great time, so I am told. It was girl's night...I wasn't there. They went to Henry's, a Cajun style restaurant in downtown Acworth. Sarah got shrimp and grits, and something that was apparently called Seafood Ooo-La-la. Doesn't it sound so healthy???

I went with my buddy Adam to Old South BBQ in Smyrna. Adam grew up eating at this place, and wanted to go badly. Naturally, he decided to ask his dieting buddy of 15 years to go with! How nice, huh? I had the pork plate, which was pulled pork in all its deliciousness, with fries and brunswick stew. Oh, and don't forget the garlic toast and the sweet tea!! Yum.Mo.

Now ask yourself, did they stop there? Why no!! Sarah was so thoughtful and kind, that she brought home bread pudding that we could eat together.....at 10:30 at night. But boy was it all kinds of good!

So the moral of the story.....we didn't weigh ourselves this morning, b/c we may well have gained the loss back in one fell swoop. But man was it fun!!

Rambling.....sometimes incoherently

And no, I haven't been drinking. It's 2:17 in the afternoon people, on a Thursday!

I'm sitting at work here right now, in the exciting land of carpet. But what is interesting to me is that right now in my office there are the following nationalities:

Two Dutchmen

One German

One New Zealander (who is talking to a Pakistani on the phone)

One Alabamanian

Do any of you remember that song on whatever kids show..."one of these things is not like the other..." Yeah, that's me right now. Good grief.

Been a while....

....apparently Sarah and I are horrible bloggers. Like the worst ever. I actually think we could get our dog, Harper, to blog and it would be (a) more entertaining, and (b) updated more often. Think about it. He's home alone all day. He's got nothing but time on his paws. He could totally run this blog!

So here's the deal. I want to do better. Even if other people don't think what I have to say, or Sarah, is all that exciting, it is to us!! Maybe the blog will eventually become the one you come to have to your pants bored off. Or to cure your insomnia. But come read it, and see what ya think!

Jetlag=Crap

I've been home a week now. Well, a week tomorrow. It was Sunday before I felt normal again. I didn't care for that too much. But I made it, obviously.

As I said, I worked, and worked, and worked. We would leave the hotel at 8, and come back at 8. I had 3 channels to choose from that had English. BBC News, CNN World, and Sky Cinema. Sky is apparently a mass media company. They have radio stations, TV stations, etc. They broadcast their Sky Cinema channel in English and German. So even though I had no interest in watching the recent hit 'Australia', it was on. Time to go on a walkabout!

So what else is new? Sarah and I are trying to get to Texas to meet our new niece Annelise. Hey....that rhymes! And I saw a dude with his pants tight rolled at the store today. That was the best thing to happen since this morning.

Gutten Tag!!

So in two days, I will be on my way to Germany for a week! No, it isn't for fun. It's for work. I will fly out Thursday evening at 5:20, and arrive Friday morning at 7:55 German time. From there, it's to the hotel to shower and (hopefully) get a chance to catch a nap, and then start work at 12. I will work from that point on, until Tuesday night. They may not even let me sleep. And for those of you that don't know the people I work for, that isn't very far fetched.

What a day!! I waited 17 years to get to this point, and it feels great! Now I admit, I would have preferred to have the game play out with Colt in there for 60 minutes. But I truly believe the outcome would have been the same in the end, and that's not being braggadocios. That's just being a fan, or a homer as I have been called. ;)

I also think it's greatly amusing that I was told yesterday come hell or high water, I had no excuse not to come to work...on time. So I was here, but the man who issued such edict....cannot get out of his driveway and will not be working today. How you like them apples?

Hello! To all of you who will come and check in on how our life is, thank you. I promise you will find it much less exciting as time passes! ;)

Sarah and I are new at this blogging thing, so bear with us as we meander thru the blogosphere. But for now, I am counting the minutes until Alabama claims their unprecedented 13th National Title. Rooooollll TIDE!!

Just Getting Started....

Hello Friends and Family,
I've been "threatening" to start a blog and decided today was a great day to do it! We'll see if anyone really cares to follow it. After a whirlwind couple of months Kris and I are finally settling into married life and we are enjoying it! After our wedding we were able to rest at home for the week, get settled in, unpack our gifts and then pack our suits for Aruba! We had a great time and really never knew what day it was or what time it was. We managed to find the perfect spot by the pool and claim it for the week. It seemed like everyone could tell we were on our Honeymoon and of course everyone gave us advice. Here are some pictures of our trip!