Graduation Celebrations

This past Friday Ryan graduated with his MBA from Rice and we were able to celebrate this great occasion with both of our parents.  The investiture ceremony was held on campus Friday afternoon.  It was a great moment to see Ryan walk across the stage and it was an even better moment when they called Ryan's name to receive a Jones Scholar Award.  I definitely teared up when I saw him up there as I know how hard he's worked these last few years and he deserved this honor.

Ryan walking across the stage...

Ryan up front after he's received his award.  

After the ceremony we went to a favorite spot to enjoy a few colds ones (well, some of us did) and then we went to El Tiempo for dinner.  It was a great day and we are so thankful we were able to celebrate with our families!

The next day we continued on with the celebrations and had all of our friends over for a graduation party.  It was a beautiful day and we couldn't have asked for better weather.  We hung out in the backyard, grilled fajitas, toasted to Ryan and played a few games :)

Ali & Mark

Aaron & Nicole

Ryan & I

Sara & Kim (and Benny trying to sneak a bite....)

Leslie, Sara, Alison & I

Ryan & Tyler

Boys jamming out to some Jason Aldean...

We had a great time celebrating all weekend and then by Sunday we were exhausted!  It was nice to spend the day relaxing and just hanging out together.  Looking forward to many more weekends doing the same.  Well, at least until November... :)

13 Weeks

Yesterday I hit 13 weeks and I wanted to capture a few highlights from the first trimester.  I'm not sure I will do a weekly post but I do hope to capture a few belly pictures and feelings along the way.

• Naps have been a daily occurrence.  Ryan and I are fortunate to ride to work together and I drive in the  mornings and he drives home.  Everyday I'm able to catch a quick 30 minute nap on the way home and I'm not sure how I'd survive without these!
• No specific cravings (besides orange juice) but I have found myself more hungry in general.  I try to keep my extra snacks healthy but I do have a sweet tooth and I have a hard time denying that cookie sitting in the break room in the afternoon...
• Thankfully no sickness or nausea!  I feel very fortunate as I know how miserable that can be.  
• I've been able to keep up exercising for the  most part.  I do find myself tiring easily but I've managed to keep up my runs at the park and even my cardio class at the gym.  
• I'm still wearing normal clothes but they definitely are more snug!  I think it's time to bust out the belly band I just purchased at Target and will probably make the switch to maternity pants in the next few weeks. 

And here's the 13 week pic.... It's hard to tell but there definitely is a little bump/pooch there.  I can tell that I've been growing in other areas as well and I'm just trying to embrace this as it's all a part of pregnancy!

Baby Rudy

Ryan and I are expecting Baby Rudy this November and we are feeling so blessed and excited.  We found out March 9th and it's been so hard keeping it a secret. Well, we did tell immediate family and a few friends within a few weeks of us finding us but it's been fun sharing with everyone else recently.

So, here's our story.... :)

Ryan and I had decided in the fall of 2010 that we were ready to expand our family.  Well, as ready as you can be.... We were in no rush and new when the time was right it would happen for us.  So, fast forward to the spring of 2011 and I was a couple of days late.  At that point I had taken a few pregnancy tests and all were negative.  I was disappointed but figured I had at least one more month to enjoy vino.... Well, one evening it dawned on me that I was going about it all wrong!  I had been taking the tests in the evening when in fact the best time to take them was right away in the morning.  I'm not sure how I missed that fact but decided to take one the next morning.  I didn't tell Ryan because I really figured that it would be negative and no point in getting his hopes up.  Well, next morning at 5 am I pulled out another test and peed on a stick..... I hopped in the shower and said I'd read the results when I got out.  Well sure enough - I saw two lines.  Two lines..  Not just one.  I smiled.  Then I panicked.  Thoughts of "Oh my gosh, this is really happening" were going through my head.  "Are we ready??"   Then I smiled again.  Yes, it was really happening and I was overcome with joy.

I normally wake Ryan up around 5:45 once I'm done in the bathroom and that morning I did the same.  Except this time I casually mentioned to him that he was going to be a dad.  I've never seen a more confused expression on his face.  It was priceless.  He rubbed his eyes and looked at me and then it hit him.  I showed him the proof and he smiled.  We were going to be parents.  Let the journey begin....

Baby Rudy has already received so much love and has been showered with several gifts.  The day that Ryan and I actually found out I already had lunch plans with my mom.  I wasn't sure if I was going to tell her yet but I couldn't keep the secret.  There happened to be a Baby Gap right near us and of course we had to go in and purchase something.  We ended up walking away a stuffed animal that I know will be super cute in his/her nursery.  My mom also ran out that afternoon and picked up a stack of books.  I've also received a few other items pictured below...

Baby Rudy also received his/her first OU outfit!  Ryan wasn't too thrilled but I love it :)

My  mom also gave me a few skincare items for myself...

So far I have been really fortunate and felt fine most of the first trimester.  The biggest thing I've noticed is that I've been a little more tired than usual.  I also find myself craving orange juice which is something I was never really a big fan of before, unless it had champagne in it :)

All in all, Ryan and I are so excited and truly are blessed to begin this next chapter in our lives!

Exciting News...

Baby Rudy.... due November 19th!!

More details to come :)

School's Out!!

That's right.... school is out and Ryan is officially done with his MBA!  It's been a long and hard journey but Ryan has earned this and I couldn't be more proud.  Ryan gave his final capstone presentation yesterday morning and when he came home I surprised him with dinner reservations that night at one of our favorite steak restaurants in Houston.  He definitely deserved a celebration and I'm not one to pass on an opportunity to toast to this big occasion.

I've had several people tell me that his time in school has gone so quickly and when people say this we sort of laugh at them.  In some ways it has seemed like these past two years have gone quickly but then I think back to all the nights and weekends Ryan was gone or working on a project and I shake my head.  Working full-time and going to school in the evenings is no easy task and doesn't leave a lot of free time.  I think we're both looking forward to having our lives back to normal and having some time together.  I'm also looking forward to some of the other graduation celebrations we have coming up in the next few weeks!

Congrats Ryan - I'm soooo proud of you!