Life with the Rudys

Family Love

2012-01-29T16:25:00.000-06:00

This past week Henry was able to meet his great grandmother from Tulsa. She was in town for a few days and I loved being able to spend time with her and that she was able to meet her great grandson. Henry has also had the pleasure of meeting his other great grandmother as well as Ryan's granddad. Henry is so fortunate to have met such special people!

Hooray for Sleep!

2012-01-25T09:50:00.000-06:00

We had a big night in our household last night and I have to share.... Henry slept for 7 1/2 hours, took a bottle, then went back to sleep for another 3!! The last two weeks he has been sleeping longer stretches but this by far is the longest. We've been having trouble keeping him swaddled lately as he has grown out of the size small Summer Swaddleme and he is not quite big enough for the next size. He manages to get out of both and his arms start flailing which wakes him up. We had a few bad nights and decided to try another brand. We switched to the Halo SleepSack Swaddle last night and it was a miracle! When I was rocking him back to sleep I didn't want to put him back in his crib. He is growing up so quickly and I love this time right now with him.

And on that note, I have to share a picture of my big boy. He is already watching TV on the couch and hogging the remote :) Where did the time go?!?

Two Months...

2012-01-17T20:48:00.000-06:00

Henry Ryan.... you are two months old!

This past month has flown by since we've been so busy with the holidays, packing, moving and unpacking! We are excited to be in our new house and are getting settled and in to a routine with you. You are such a growing boy and at your two month appointment you weighed 11 pounds, 12 ounces and were 23 1/2 inches long. You have grown out of all your newborn clothes and are wearing 3 month clothes but I think you'll be out of those soon too!

You are such a happier boy these last few weeks since we've had you on medicine for your reflux and we also switched you to soy formula. You still cry for us every now and then but your daddy discovered you like the song Little Black Submarines by the Black Keys and that always seems to calm you down.

You are sleeping much better at night and usually go down around 9 pm and are up at 1, 4 and then up for the day between 6-7. These last two nights your long stretch has been between 5-6 hours though and we're only getting up once per night so hopefully that will be your new norm. It's definitely nice getting more sleep at a time!

When you wake up in the morning you are generally happy and after you have your bottle you like to play on your mat in your room.

You also let your mom dress you up and take lots of pictures in your cute outfits.

You are really starting to smile and coo which makes our hearts melt. You are such a cute baby!

You are typically awake in the mornings and take your first nap between 11-12. You tend to nap most of the afternoon which is fine since I can get a few things done around the house and then we usually go for a walk with Bennett.

You are really noticing things in front of you and love looking at the light. You are also a very active baby and you hold your head up so well. I imagine when you finally start crawling that you'll be all over the place!

These last two months have gone by so fast but we are loving every minute with you. Looking forward to what the next month holds!

Happy two months Henry!

Benny Love

2012-01-08T20:09:00.000-06:00

Benny has been such a good dog lately and is so sweet around Henry. Every night when I go to give Henry a bottle Bennett follows me and lays right next to the glider. I can already tell he is protective of Henry and I can't wait until Henry is older because I know they are going to be best friends. I have captured a few shots this past week and I had to share.

Benny loves laying under Henry's crib. I think he mostly likes sleeping with something over his head but I love that he naps under there while we are in the room :)

Every morning during tummy time Bennett lays right by us. Some days he tries to lick Henry but mostly he just watches :)

I caught Bennett on Henry's mat the other day. I promise I washed this afterwards but I had to snap a quick pic.

Tummy time love :)

Napping on Henry's dirty clothes...

Christmas 2011

2012-01-03T21:10:00.000-06:00

I'm a few days late on posting this but it's been pretty crazy around here. These last few weeks we have been celebrating the holidays with family and friends, packing, moving, unpacking and taking care of a 7 week old baby! We just got the internet hooked up today in our new house and I want to share a few pictures from Henry's first Christmas so we have this to look back on.

Ryan & Henry on Christmas Eve

Christmas morning

My little candy cane :)

Family photo on Christmas day

My other favorite boy :)

Merry Christmas

2011-12-22T12:22:00.000-06:00

From our house to yours

I absolutely love receiving Christmas cards and displaying them in our house throughout the holiday season. Ours have been mailed out and I wanted to share on the blog as well. Click below to see our cards from years past!

2010 Christmas Card

2009 Christmas Card

One Month...

2011-12-18T10:24:00.001-06:00

Henry Ryan.... you are officially one month old!

These past few weeks have gone quickly and every night I go to bed wondering how the day went by so fast. Being a mommy is definitely hard work but it's worth every second. At your one month appointment you weighed 8 pounds 11 ounces and were almost 22 inches long. Definitely a growing boy which is great. You are still wearing some newborn clothes but are able to fit in 0-3 month outfits now. While we love you to pieces you've been somewhat of a fussy baby lately. You have a hard time feeling content and seem to cry most of the day when you are not sleeping. We found out you have reflux and the pediatrician prescribed us some medicine to help with this. We're hoping it kicks in soon so you feel better and we're all able to get some rest around here!

A recap of your first month...

The first week and a half that you were home we were lucky to have your dad with us. During that time we celebrated your first Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for this year!

That evening you watched the Aggie game in your Dad's lap but unfortunately the outcome wasn't in our favor. We're hoping we'll have better luck in the SEC next year.

I've taken hundreds of pictures of you this last month and only a few have turned out really cute. You are a squirmy little baby but I do love this one I was able to capture below.

We've started putting you on your tummy to help build your neck muscles and you seem very strong. You kick and lift your head up. This only lasts a few minutes and then you let us know when you are done :)

You watched your first OU game and unfortunately this did not end in our favor as well. At least you looked cute!

You've really started to enjoy bath time now that we are actually able to put you in the tub. We usually give you a bath every night as part of your bed time routine.

Lately you have a bad case of baby acne and it makes me so sad! I know it doesn't bother you and that it is pretty common among babies but I'm hoping it clears up soon.

Usually your dad will give you a bottle around 8 pm and then we'll lay you in your crib for bed. We started swaddling you with blankets at first but you quickly learned how to get out of those. We've had much more luck with the velcro swaddle me blankets. Typically you sleep until 11 or 12 at night and then are up again around 3 and then 6 in the morning. You are up fairly often in the night but you usually go right back to sleep after you eat and we change your diaper. We're looking forward to when you sleep longer but I know this phase will pass soon enough.

During the day you are very alert and like to be held or in your Bjorn. You normally take a nap in the morning and then again later in the afternoon. Sometimes you nap in your crib, in my lap or your seat. You always seem to have your hands up when you sleep which is pretty cute :)

In the afternoons we try to get out and go for a walk with Benny. You love to ride in your stroller and lately you've been loving your Wubba Nub pacifier.

We attempted your one month pictures in the cute onesies Nicole made for you but our photo session didn't go so well. You had a hard time sitting still and I could never get a good picture. You then proceeded to spit up on your shirt which made the sticker soggy and it tore. Hopefully our two month picture will go a little better :)

Happy one month Henry!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2011-12-15T17:05:00.000-06:00

Well, it's not beginning to look like Christmas at our house since we are moving in 14 days (woohoo!!) but it is at my parents house! It makes me sad that I do not have a tree or decorations up for Henry's first Christmas but we have enjoyed the lights at their house. We spent the night last Saturday for my mom's birthday and took a few pics of Henry in front of the tree. He had the most adorable outfit on and we had to snap a few. We even tried to get a picture with his brother but neither one of them seemed to cooperate :)

Check out the back of his pj's!

Annual Christmas Dinner

2011-12-14T09:52:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday we had our annual Christmas dinner with friends and we had a blast! This is our third year to continue the tradition and this year Nicole & Aaron hosted at their house. Their house looked beautiful and they went over the top with yummy appetizers, drinks, and dinner. It is so nice to get together at this time of year with friends and celebrate this joyous season. It's also nice when you add a sweet baby to the group :)

Click here to see dinners from years past! 2009, 2010

Sneak Peek

2011-12-07T16:54:00.001-06:00

Last week we had newborn pictures taken by a talented photographer and she sent me a sneak peak this afternoon. I'm in love with this photo and had to share my sweet baby boy. Henry did so well during the session and allowed her to take a ton of shots. I can't wait to see more!

Bennett meets Henry

2011-12-05T16:36:00.000-06:00

Ryan's mom kept Bennett while we were in the hospital and the first night we were at home. Bennett has always been our first baby and you could say he is a little spoiled. We were nervous how he would react when we brought Henry home but honestly he has been great. He really didn't pay much attention to him until he heard him cry for the first time and then he was a little curious of who this extra person was in his house. He sniffed him and has tried to lick him on several occasions. It's also funny how Henry doesn't react when he hears Bennett bark but I assume he was used to hearing this sound while in my belly.

Henry & Bennett meeting

Already protective of his little brother

My boys :)

Henry's Friends and Family

2011-11-26T15:55:00.000-06:00

While in the hospital we had so many friends and family come visit us and welcome Henry into this world. We are truly grateful for their support, love and help these last two weeks. I wanted to post a few pictures from our time in the hospital and when we first came home. We really appreciate all you have done for us!

As soon as Henry was born my Mom updated the wreath with his name and numbers and immediately posted on our door. I absolutely love it and it's now hanging on the door to his room

Henry with my parents

Henry with Ryan's parents

Henry with his cousins and Aunt Becca & Uncle John

Henry with his cousins and Aunt Rhonda & Uncle Danny

Henry with Aunt Courtney & Uncle Ryan

Henry with Nicole and Aaron

Alison & Mark

Dad getting Henry dressed to head home

About to head home!

First car ride

With Leslie, Kim & Erich

Thanks again for all your love and support!

Henry's Birthday - November 15, 2011

2011-11-23T15:40:00.000-06:00

Last Tuesday, November15th, we celebrated Henry's birthday. We welcomed him into the world at 12:25 pm and our lives have forever changed and our hearts are filled with love we didn't know possible. Henry has been with us a little over a week and I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I wanted to post his birth story so I can document all the events of the day....

Ryan and I had gone to the doctor the Friday before and the decision was made to go ahead and induce labor for the following Tuesday. Everything was fine and I had progressed enough that we felt comfortable with induction. It was weird knowing we had only a few days left as a family of two but enjoyed our time by eating at our favorite restaurants, sleeping in, spending time with Bennett and taking care of a few last minute things. We also had several house showings on Saturday and an open house so we were busy preparing for that. Our house had been on the market nearly six months with only one offer and that one weekend we received two offers. The timing couldn't have worked out better even though we were busy negotiating the sale and working through all the paperwork. That Monday night Ryan and I went out to eat, finished packing our bags and tried to get some sleep. I think I slept only 3 hours that night as I was anxious and nervous about the next morning. We had to be at the hospital by 5 am and my alarm was set for 3:15 am. The alarm went off and I jumped in the shower and then woke Ryan up so he could get ready. We managed to get out the door by 4:20 with everything we could possible need for the next few days :)

Once we arrived at the hospital everything happened very quickly. We were checked in, comfortable in our room, and had the Pitocin in by 5:45. The first few hours went quickly as nurses were in every 15 minutes or so checking on us and increasing the dosage.

At this point I was having contractions but wasn't in much pain. My doctor came in at 7:30 to break my water and checked my cervix. At that time I was 1-2 cm dilated and 90% effaced. We settled in for what we thought would be a long day as she said typically you would dilate 1-2 cm every 2 hours. Around 8:30 the contractions really started to pick up and I was feeling them more in my back. At 9:20 the nurse checked my cervix again and said I was almost 4 cm dilated and was progressing very quickly. I was actually in quite a bit of pain and asked for the epidural. There were several other women in labor at the same time and I was about 4th on the list to receive the epidural. My nurse slowed down the pitocin as she wanted to make sure I received the epidural before progressing much more. They brought in another doctor to give epidurals and I was able to receive mine at 10 am. I was a little nervous about this but honestly it wasn't bad at all. I started to feel relief instantly but still felt contractions on my right side. The nurse checked me again and I was still almost 4 cm dilated. The nurse said they wouldn't check me again for awhile and we started to relax. My mom was there at this point and we all chatted for the next hour and a half. Around 11:15 Ryan was getting hungry and decided to walk over to a nearby Whataburger to grab a quick lunch. I felt sure that this baby wouldn't be here until late afternoon at the earliest. The nurse came back in at 11:45 to check me again and surprisingly announced that I was 10 cm dilated and that I was ready to push! She then asked where my husband was. Of course I panicked and said he had gone to lunch. My mom called him and he rushed back just in time. They were trying to get a hold of my doctor so we had a little time thankfully. I couldn't believe how fast I had progressed from a 4 to a 10 and I think all the nurses were surprised as well.

I was feeling all sorts of emotions but was more excited than anything else as we were about to meet our baby boy. The doctor came in shortly after Ryan got back and we began pushing. Henry Ryan was born only 15 minutes later at 12:25 pm weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces and 19 inches long. He was healthy and absolutely perfect :)

The whole experience was amazing and I can't even describe the love I felt for this child when I held him for the first time.

I was very fortunate to have a great experience and a fairly easy labor and delivery. Throughout the next few days we had quite a few visitors and feel so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. I'll save that for another post :)

And one more of our sweet boy. I have a feeling you'll be seeing him a whole lot more on this blog :)

Baby Rudy has Arrived!

2011-11-19T15:06:00.000-06:00

Introducing

Henry Ryan

6 pounds 9 ounces

19 inches long

Born November 15, 2011

12:25 PM

We are very blessed and absolutely in love with our new baby boy!

Updates

2011-11-09T19:47:00.002-06:00

In case you're wondering, Baby R is still snug in my belly and has decided not to make an appearance yet. I go back to the doctor this Friday and hopefully I'll have another update then. I've had some contractions this week but for the most part we're doing OK!

We had our house cleaned today and it was such an amazing feeling coming home to a spotless house. Now, if only we can keep Benny from shedding and messing it up before this baby comes...

In other news, my blog received a face lift today and I love it! Marina at Penny Lane Designs hooked me up and I love her work. I wanted something simple and fresh and I think we achieved just that.

And lastly, our new house is really coming along and we should close sometime mid to late December. We went by the other day and our kitchen cabinets and counter tops were in. So far it looks great and I can't wait to see it all come together!

Happy Wednesday!

38 Weeks!

2011-11-06T20:10:00.000-06:00

We have officially made it 38 weeks. I hate to complain as this has been a great pregnancy for me but I'm starting to really feel the aches and pains of being so close to the end. Everything is so much harder and I find myself grunting when I have to pick something up off the floor. In good news, when I went to the doctor this past week she said I had progressed even more. I go back this Friday and I'm anxious to see where I'm at then. Assuming he hasn't come already :)

A few updates....

We have way too much Halloween candy leftover at our house for someone that is due in less than two weeks. I've always had a sweet tooth but it's been taken to a new level... :/
Our stroller arrived this week and I LOVE it! Ryan put it together and it's looking good in our house just waiting to have a little boy to ride in it.
Ryan also installed our car seat this past week. We are all ready to go in case we have a late night trip to the hospital.
I picked up the last few necessities for the hospital this weekend so for the most part our bags are packed. Well mine are at least. I'm not sure what Ryan is planning on bringing but he doesn't seem too worried :)
Ryan and I went to the movies again this afternoon. We are slightly obsessed with movie popcorn and are trying to get in as many movie/popcorn dates as we can before Baby Rudy comes.
About halfway through the movie I started getting intense lower back pain. This is a new feeling for me and I was slightly worried. I got up and walked around and the pain went away but still scared me a little bit. Not sure if it means we are close or if this is just part of those aches and pains that come with pregnancy this late in the game.
And lastly, I'm pretty sure my belly resembles a torpedo.... Is this normal?!?

Sweet new ride...

38 weeks :)

37 Weeks!

2011-10-30T08:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday marked 37 weeks which means this baby is officially full-term! It's a little crazy to think he could come any day but I'm hoping he bakes a little longer. I have been going to weekly appointments and this last week I was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I know I could stay that way for weeks but it's still exciting to see that we're making some progress! I've had a few contractions so far but nothing consistent or even that painful.

A few updates...

The whole nesting feeling hasn't come over me yet and I'm starting to wonder if it ever will. My house is dirty and there is a lot I could do to get organized for this baby and preparing for our move in 6-8 weeks. I'm not quite sure why I'm procrastinating but every time I start to do something I decide sitting down on the couch watching a new episode of Parenthood sounds much better.
Ryan and I recently discovered the Parenthood series on Netflix and we're hooked. We've laughed, cried (well, that was me) but find it very entertaining.
I have washed most of the baby clothes at this point. I'm yet to organize what I will take to the hospital and what we will pack for the baby but I figure we have time. I think...
I've started envisioning crazy stories in my head of when my water will break and I'll go into labor. I know it doesn't always happen like that but I can't help but think of the worst timing possible and convince myself that is when it will happen.
I'm also hoping it doesn't happen in the middle of the night. When I've gotten up these past few nights to use the restroom and glanced into the mirror I've been scared. I'm not quite sure how my hair manages to get into such a tangled mess but these last few weeks it's been frightful! I just hope that I'll have time to hop in the shower and freshen up before making a trip to Labor & Delivery at 3 am...
I went to put on my one of favorite tops this past weekend to find that it no longer fits. I normally wear this top with leggins and my belly is so large in front now that it's incredibly tight across my backside. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that my bum has gotten a little larger lately but the fact that the shirt is using all it's fabric to cover the front and not the back. Regardless, Ryan informed me I could no longer wear it. Bummer.... looks like I'm down to only a few outfit options at this point so if you see me lately there is a good chance that I'll be repeating clothes...
This past weekend Ryan and I have savored the time as just the two of us and have slept in, visited our favorite restaurants and went to see a movie. Not too much longer and we'll be a family of three so we are taking advantage of the time we have just the two of us for now.
And lastly, I'm dying to share the news of the name we have picked! I've come so close to saying it in front of family and friends but I'm trying to be strong and wait until he makes his big appearance. Not too much longer!!

Large & In Charge at 37 weeks :)

Benny at 37 weeks :)

Yes, Benny is always trying to get in the pic with me so we thought we'd take his own so he felt included. And yes, he has packed on a few lbs too.... The lack of running lately and increase in donuts and pizza in his diet has taken to his figure. Here's to hoping we'll both shed the pounds quickly after the baby arrives!

Baby Shower!

2011-10-19T20:00:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday some of my best friends and sister-in-law hosted an amazing baby shower for me. Everything was absolutely perfect and they went over the top with all the details. The invitation was adorable and the theme was "Lauren's little Gentleman" complete with bow tie cut outs draped from the mantle.

I left the shower feeling so blessed by all the family and friends in our lives and everything they have done for us during this special time. This little boy sure is loved and he's yet to even make an appearance!

All the details....

When we pulled up to Alison's house we were greeted with this cute sign....

The entryway was filled with flowers and a wish tree where everyone wrote out wishes for Baby Rudy...

The living room was decorated with gorgeous flowers, cute banners and wreaths...

The food was delicious and some of the hits were the rosemary skewers, fruit cones, mac & cheese and of course the mini bundt cakes!

Some of the girls...

A few of my moms friends...

We received so many great gifts. This little boy has the cutest wardrobe, softest blankets and even vintage books!

Looking cute Mimi :)

All the hostesses.... Thanks girls!!

Alison, Nicole & I

Mom and I :)

Thanks Anna for coming all the way in from Tulsa for the weekend!!

And lastly, the cute onesies Nicole made. You will definitely be seeing him in these every month :)

34 Weeks!

2011-10-11T20:16:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday I hit 34 weeks. My doctor said I was measuring 34 weeks when I saw her last Wednesday so I'm crossing my fingers that I won't go past my due date and we have less than 6 weeks to go. So far everything still looks good and I start going every week this next time. Where has the time gone?? Baby prep is officially in full swing now that the wedding is behind us and I'm looking forward to getting everything organized here soon. As most of you know, we are moving in the next few months so we haven't done a nursery or put anything together until this point. It's looking like we'll still be in our house though when he arrives so Ryan and I did set up the crib this past weekend. It was fairly easy and I only had to ask Ryan to take it apart once so we could get the mattress height right. The instructions indicated to put it at the highest notch for a newborn but I failed to think of what that would do to the crib skirt. Lesson learned - it was way too short. Ryan was good though and only gave me one look when I so kindly asked him to redo it :)

A few updates....

Every time I get in the elevator with someone else they feel the need to comment on my growing belly. When I tell them my due date they give the "Oh wow, that's soon" comment and then mention how our lives are about to change. I don't always get the feeling they are saying this in a good way though....
This past Sunday morning Ryan and I caught the end of the movie Knocked Up. I've seen this movie a ton of times and normally I find myself laughing through most of it. This time I cried. Thoughts going through my head of how that is going to be us in a few weeks in the hospital. Thoughts that freaked me out with the fear of delivery and then thoughts of pure joy when we actually get to meet him. Too many emotions going on with this chick right now...
Nursing bras suck. Maybe I'm the only one that feels this way but I would like to wear something with a little support and apparently they don't recommend this at first. Looks like I won't be venturing out of the house anytime soon after he arrives.
Do people actually wear Belly Bandit's and do they actually work?!? I really have no intention of wearing this uncomfortable contraption but if it works I may change my mind. I was kind of OK with having a post pregnancy belly for a little while and since I won't be leaving the house anytime soon with my nursing bra that lacks support I'm probably OK...
As I mentioned above, Ryan and I put the crib up this past Saturday. Benny wanted to be included and was constantly in the way. Actually, he wouldn't stop laying in the middle when we were trying to put it together. I'm pretty sure he's starting to get the clue that big changes are about to come...
OU/TX was this past weekend and I managed to squeeze into an OU shirt. I'm pretty sure I have officially stretched it out but I was determined to show my support. It did seem a little odd to be setting up a crib on this day when I'm usually cheering them on with an adult beverage in my hand. It's true, we are getting old...
And on a positive note, things are going well and we're beyond excited to meet baby Rudy. Only 39 days to go - the countdown is on!!

34 Weeks!

Benny looking sad in the crib...

And the finished product :)

Ryan&Courtney's Wedding Weekend

2011-10-08T19:35:00.000-05:00

I'm a little late getting this posted and I actually started last Monday night but had a hard time putting my thoughts into words. The weekend was wonderful and I'm really happy for my brother and his new wife. Everything was beautiful - the rehearsal dinner flowers, my mother and the mother of the brides' toast, the bride's gown, the ceremony, the cake, the father/daughter dance, the getaway car and of course the bride and groom. It was a wonderful celebration and one we'll never forgot. I took quite a few pictures on Friday but failed to get very many Saturday night. I'll share a few from that night but I really want to save those for another post when we have some from the awesome photographer.

We were greeted with a fabulous welcome bag when we arrived at our hotel. A delicious bottle of Prosecco was included that is chilling in our fridge and will be enjoyed shortly after Baby Rudy arrives. We were also loaded up with tons of snacks which is perfect for this preggo chick :)

The rehearsal dinner was held onsite at Clark Gardens at a beautiful venue overlooking a small lake. My mom had a vision for how she wanted everything to look and I think she pulled it off with the help of DFW Events. Everything was beautiful and the evening was perfect.

Table Assignments...

Table Arrangements...

View of the table, lake and fabulous musician who kept us entertained all night!

Ryan and my mom :)

Courtney and her best friend, Taylor

Courtney and I

Cousins!

Ryan & Court :)

Some of the wedding party

Family

More family...

Delicious popsicles served for dessert!

Mom, Court & Me

Ryan and I

A few pictures from Saturday...

Getting dressed

The beautiful cake

Mom and I

Ryan and I

The ceremony

Cutting the cake

Congrats Ryan and Courtney!

32 Weeks!

2011-09-25T14:20:00.000-05:00

I officially look really pregnant and feel really pregnant. There's no denying that I'm 8 months along. Everywhere I go someone asks me when I'm due, is it a boy or girl and is this my first. I even had the checkout guy at Kroger ask if he could push my cart out to my car. I truly don't mind answering the questions as everyone seems genuinely interested and happy for me. I've only had one incident when the crazy sales lady in the shoe department at Dillards asked if she could touch my belly while putting her hand on my stomach even after I gave her a crazy look. I'm happy to answer any questions but please don't put your hands on my stomach. Especially if I don't even know you...

A few updates...

Since my last post I've been to the doctor twice. We had an ultrasound at 30 weeks and we're able to see our sweet little boy. He's grown so much since our last peek and at 30 weeks he was measuring about 3 pounds. She said I was measuring a little ahead of our due date which is fine by me! Everything is checking out fine and we're grateful to have a healthy little boy growing in my belly.
I scheduled the rest of my appointments until our due date and I start going every week at 35 weeks. Crazy....
My coworkers hosted a baby shower for another girl and I and we are so thankful! They gifted us with many nice things.
I received an invitation for a baby shower my friends are hosting for me in October and it is absolutely adorable. I can't wait to see what they come up with :)
My brother's wedding is this weekend and I'm so excited to celebrate this great occasion with them. I'm a little concerned about my bridesmaid dress fitting as it was pretty tight when I tried it on yesterday but I'm hoping I won't grow too much in the next week... Maybe I should have passed on the donut holes I ate this morning :/
Ryan's aunt made us the cutest rompers out of his dad's dress shirts. I can't wait to dress him up in these and take his picture!
All in all, things are still going well!

Work shower

Cute Rompers

32 Weeks :)

House Update

2011-09-24T09:27:00.000-05:00

Our new house is officially underway and they have made quite a bit of progress in just the last few weeks. Ryan and I drove by yesterday after work and we were excited to see that we now have a roof and windows! It's pretty crazy to think that in just a few months we'll have a baby and a new house but Ryan and I are looking forward to all the upcoming changes. I just hope we can handle them all... :0

Belly updates coming soon!

Courtney's Bridal Shower - Part II

2011-09-14T19:36:00.000-05:00

This past weekend my mom and I went to Weatherford, TX for another bridal shower for Courtney. We drove up Saturday and had a nice afternoon checking out the town and we actually went to the wedding venue. The rehearsal dinner will also be there and we wanted to check it out one more time to tie up a few things before the actual weekend.

Later that evening we enjoyed a nice dinner at a local restaurant and came back to the hotel and relaxed before calling it a night. We woke up Sunday morning and drove into Forth Worth to hit up Buy Buy Baby. We don't have this store in Houston which is a shame because it seems so much better than Babies R Us. We both picked up a few new items for Baby Rudy :)

The shower was that afternoon and everything was really nice. Her sister and best friend handled most of the details and they really did a great job.

Love the hanging pom poms!

Wishing Tree

Bridal Bingo and yummy homemade sugar cookies

Best dessert ever. Seriously, you must try these!

So many gifts!

Courtney with her best friend and sister

Courtney and her mom

My mom, Courtney and I

Opening gifts :)

This weekend we have one more celebration before the big day. All the girls are headed to Fredericksburg for a relaxing weekend spent lounging by the pool, at wineries and time at the spa. Is it Friday yet?!?

29 Weeks

2011-09-05T17:39:00.000-05:00

I'm officially in my third trimester and according to my pregnancy app on my phone we only have 75 more days until our due date. Yikes.... where did the time go?!? Don't get me wrong, we are so excited to meet this little guy but reality is really hitting and I'm thinking of all the things we still need to do...

What's new?

I realized I can no longer paint my toenails. I went to take the polish off my toes and this was a much harder task and took way more time than was worth it. Ryan didn't offer to help so I made the executive decision to only get pedicures between now and November 19th :)
Heartburn has set in. It hasn't been terrible but I find myself popping tums about once a day.
I am officially going to the doctor every two weeks now. We have an ultrasound on Thursday and I'm excited to see that sweet boy that is constantly doing somersaults in my belly.
I'm waking up at least once to go to the bathroom every night. On the weekends when I can actually sleep in a little I wake up either because I have to go to the bathroom or I'm hungry. Once I'm up it's over and sleeping in is out of the question.
I miss shopping at Banana Republic. I receive daily emails about their new Fall line and it's hard not to look. BR was always my go to shopping place and I'm looking forward to being able to fit into their clothes again. Someday...
I also miss margaritas. I don't know if it's the heat but that is the one drink I miss the most.
We purchased a glider last week. The estimated delivery date is Nov 2nd which is cutting it close but I'm excited. Besides, we don't exactly have a nursery at the moment to put it in....

Here's a sneak peak of the bedding. The bumper and crib skirt is a white and light blue seersucker and I've paired it with a printed sheet. I have another sheet that I plan on using as well and I love the combo. Now, if only I had the crib set up so I could put this together...

And lastly, here I am at 29 weeks! I know I had a few rants I mentioned above but honestly pregnancy is going great and I'm loving every moment. The countdown is on and not too many more weeks until we get to hold baby Rudy!

Courtney's Bridal Shower

2011-08-30T19:45:00.000-05:00

This past weekend a few of Courtney's friends and I hosted a bridal shower for her at my parents house. We had so much fun planning all the details of the party and everything turned out beautiful. I can't believe their wedding is in a month but I'm looking forward to all the festivities between now and then. Enjoy the pics!

When you walked in the front door...

Delicious spread! We had a tortellini salad, rosemary skewers, bruschetta and cheese and crackers...

A close-up...

We served peach Bellinis :)

And fresh fruit tarts from La Madeline

The bride to be with her beautiful mother and sister...

Courtney and her friends...

Courtney and I.... can't wait for her to officially join the family!

All the gifts :)

And lastly, a picture of Courtney with all the hosts...

It was such a fun day and I'm looking forward to these next few weeks!

Weekend at the Beach

2011-08-21T17:57:00.000-05:00

This past weekend we loaded up and headed to the beach with some of our friends. We rented a house in Port Aransas for the weekend and we were looking forward to getting out of town for a few days. The boys wanted to spend some time golfing at a new course down there and the girls wanted some time in the sun. Some of us arrived Friday afternoon and Ryan, Tyler & Mark were able to get in a round of golf. Alison and I rode along as well and enjoyed the scenery. I think I overestimated my ability to be out in the heat that long as I didn't feel so great but I will say the ice cold mango towels they had out every few holes definitely helped!

That night we ate in town and called it an early evening. We're definitely not the same crazy bunch we were back in college but I don't think anyone minds :)

The next morning the guys got up early for another round of golf and Alison, Nicole and I headed down to the beach for a walk and to set up chairs and an umbrella. We laid out for a few hours and then came in to cool off and to figure out our lunch plans. We ended up grabbing burgers at a local spot and had lunch once all the guys came back to house. We then set out for an afternoon on the beach! We lasted a few hours but I couldn't take too much time in the sun and everyone was ready to head in at that point. We enjoyed some time on the patio of the house with a few snacks and then all got ready for dinner. We ventured over to a nice seafood restaurant in town and enjoyed waiting out on the back porch for our table. We had quite a view of the boats and enjoyed watching everyone come in.

Later that evening we hung out at the house, listened to music and played a little poker. Again, not a crazy evening out on the town but I think everyone was content.

We headed back home this morning but I think we all agreed that it was a nice break from the norm and we all had a good time. May even be a new tradition we'll continue year after year. Hopefully with some babies in on the fun next year ;)

I also wanted to mention that today is Benny's 4th birthday! I can't believe he is 4 years old already and he has truly been such a great dog to us. He stayed with Ryan's parents this weekend and they celebrated this milestone by giving him a special treat this morning with a candle! We received a text with this picture and it made me smile. Glad to know he is in such good hands :)

25 Weeks!

2011-08-07T14:54:00.001-05:00

This past Saturday I hit 25 weeks and it's hard to believe not too much longer and I'll be in the third trimester. So far pregnancy has been going very well and I really don't have anything to complain about. I know things may change as we get closer to the due date so I'm trying to soak it all up now and enjoy this time. A few highlights...

Bedding and furniture have finally been decided and ordered! I know Ryan was sick of me asking his opinion on colors, fabrics, etc. but we've finally decided on something and I'm really excited about. I haven't set anything up yet but I will share details and pictures as we get closer.
Running is no longer a part of my exercise routine. I just wasn't comfortable anymore and I have since moved to walking. Ryan and I have been able to take longs walks on the weekends with the pup and I really enjoy this time together. I wasn't able to carry on a conversation during our runs anymore so this has been a welcome change. I'm still going to my cardio classes at the gym though and I think I'll be able to keep this up for some time.
Shopping for maternity clothes is fun. Yet my wallet has taken a beating... I am still struggling with finding clothes for work though as there seem to be so many cute options for casual weekend wear. I'm trying to find items that I can wear for both and of course the items I do find tend to be pricier....
Shopping for baby clothes is even more fun. I have quite a few cute items already that I can't wait to dress our baby boy in...
Prenatal massages are a must during pregnancy! Ryan gave me a gift certificate for our anniversary in June and I just used it last week. I had a 90 min prenatal massage and it was pure bliss. I think I'll definitely be making another return before November.
Weight gain has slowed down in the last few weeks. I'm actually a little surprised as I find myself eating large cookies in the afternoon at work but I guess I should be thankful for now. I hear that about this time it can really pack on so I'm sure my time is yet to come. Let's just hope it holds off for another few weeks since we're going on a beach trip with our friends and I am still hoping to wear a swimsuit without completing scaring everyone...

25 weeks :)

And just because I haven't shared a pic lately of this cute guy... Regardless of the heat he still wants to be outside playing with the ball!

Have a good week!

23 Weeks and A Baby Shower!

2011-07-25T20:51:00.001-05:00

This past Sunday Ryan's sisters hosted a wonderful baby shower for us! Everything was amazing and we feel so blessed with everything we have received. Before I get to the details though I want to share a bump picture before the shower at 23 weeks. I feel like my belly is growing everyday now and I continue to be amazed that there is actually a little boy kicking around in there :)

On to the shower... I must admit I was a little nervous at first as I really am one of the first of my good friends to have a baby and I haven't been to very many baby showers. I was afraid I would not know all the baby lingo and not even know what some of the gadgets were that I would be opening but in the end it all worked out. At least I'd like to think that I fooled everyone and looked like a natural "mom to be" that has read all the baby books...

Ryan's sisters had really outdone themselves and all the details were great. They had cute onesies, socks and hats hanging from the mantle, a cute diaper cake on the table, baby pictures of Ryan & I and even cake balls that looked like little baby rattles!

It was fun to mingle with all the guests and we enjoyed a delicious lunch before opening gifts. All of our nieces and nephews were there and I had a ton of little helpers :)

I couldn't believe how generous everyone was and feel so blessed with all the gifts we received to welcome this new baby into our family.

My Mom, Grandmother, Courtney and myself

Ryan's sisters

With my Mom and Ryan's Mom

Since we are trying to sell our house we decided not to bring everything back to our little two bedroom home and my wonderful mother offered to hold onto it for the time being. I hated that Ryan wasn't able to see all our things so my mom snapped a few pics of everything. Now, I just need to remember what we all received in case anything happens to go missing. I know she already has a stash of baby items for her house and I think I heard her mention at the shower that she needs her own pack and play, towels, clothes, etc....

It was a wonderful day and we're so thankful to have such amazing family and friends in our lives!

Recent Happenings

2011-07-19T20:15:00.000-05:00

What's going on with our lives? I feel like a lot actually. Between trying to sell our house, building a new one and getting organized for this baby on the way we haven't had much free time lately! I can't say I would change anything but it definitely seems like the days are flying by.

A few weeks ago Ryan and I met a decorator at the design center to start picking out everything for our new home. We spent nearly three hours with them and barely picked out the kitchen and master bath details. It was a little overwhelming at first but I'm really excited to see everything come together. Ryan and I actually have pretty similar taste and while we like the traditional look we like to pull in things a little more contemporary as well. We may not have picked things that will fit everyone's taste but I think it will really look good. Here's a sneak peak of the kitchen details....

We've also been busy lately trying to keep our house clean for any showings we may have when we're not home. This is definitely a challenge with a black dog that is shedding like crazy right now but for the most part we've managed to keep up with keeping it clean. We haven't had any offers yet but hopefully we'll see some movement here pretty soon. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep up with keeping it clean! I've been complaining lately on how much my it hurts my back to sweep and then mop and clean the wood floors. I'm hoping he'll suggest we get a temporary maid but he hasn't quite picked up on my hint. Either that or he's just ignoring me...

On the baby front we've been busy finalizing our registry. Ryan's sisters have offered to host a shower and we're having it this Sunday! They planned it on short notice so one of his sisters could be here since she will be in town and I'm glad it all worked out. The invitations they sent out are super cute and I can't wait to see what they have put together and to see everyone...

Ryan's sister also brought with her two huge tubs with lots of baby gear and little boy clothes! I'm pretty sure he is going to be the best dressed little baby in town. My mom and I have also been stocking up on a few things as well.... :)

Lastly, we've been preparing for my brothers wedding which is only two months away. A few other girls and I are hosting a shower for Courtney and I can't wait to post the details. The invitations are so cute and I think she is going to love it all. More to come on this...

Like I said, we have lots going on right now but I wouldn't change any of it! Hope you're having a good week :)

20 Weeks!

2011-07-04T19:46:00.000-05:00

Halfway there! Hard to believe that in just a few short months we'll finally get to meet the newest member of our family :). This week we have our big ultrasound and I'm anxious to see him again and make sure we have a healthy baby boy in there. A few highlights of the past few weeks...

I think it's safe to say "I've popped!" I'm no longer able to hide this growing belly of mine and mostly wearing maternity clothes. I still have some tops that I'm wearing that are "flowy" and some dresses that I can pull off but most pants/shorts are now maternity.
Baby Rudy is kicking away! I felt him a few weeks ago for the first time but the kicks are getting much stronger now. I can't see anything from the outside of my stomach but definitely on the inside. It's such a crazy but great feeling.
Ryan and I had our first trip to Babies R Us to start taking a look at things we like/need, etc. It was obvious we were first time parents as we strolled down every aisle questioning what everything was for and how it works. I think we spent about 15 minutes trying to open and close one stroller... We somehow managed to pick out a few things and called it a successful day.
I've been looking at bedding and nursery furniture but we haven't been able to decide on anything. As for a crib, I always thought I wanted white and Ryan is leaning more towards espresso. We did find one we both really liked though and was a compromise for both of us. I'm not sure we're going to go with it but it's in the running!

On another stop on our baby shopping day we came across a life size Benny. Wouldn't this be cute in the nursery?? Haha, I don't think we'll need another black lab hanging out at our house (even if it is stuffed) but I had to snap a picture since we had so much fun playing with him.

20 weeks :)

Wedding in MA

2011-07-03T07:53:00.000-05:00

This past weekend my cousin David married his high school sweetheart in their hometown of Amherst, Massachusetts. I haven't been up there in years and I was excited to be able to spend a long weekend there with our family. We flew up bright and early Thursday morning and had the rehearsal dinner at a cute restaurant in town that night. The wedding was on Friday but we had several hours to explore around the town during the day. Our first stop was actually a pizza place called Antonio's. Antonio's originated in Amherst and their second location was actually in College Station. Extreme ends of the country, I know. Anyways, Ryan and his roommates visited this pizza place more times than I can count when they were at A&M so of course we had to try the original out. We actually tried it out twice while we were there and it did not disappoint :)

Later that afternoon we got ready for the wedding and headed over to the church. The best thing about this weekend was that it was cool which was a nice break for us Houstonians. They actually had the stained glass windows open in the church which made for a nice breeze.

Ryan and I after the ceremony

My cousin Sarah and I outside the church

Beautiful cake at the reception

I didn't get many pictures of the bride and groom but this is right when they were about to enter. Her dress was actually her mom's that they had updated and altered which was really special.

My Mom and I

Cousins Katie, Sarah and I

The next day we had a post wedding breakfast at my aunts house and then another party that evening with all of the wedding guests. We had a great weekend overall and loved seeing everyone. I'm looking forward to catching up with all them in October when they are down in Texas for my brother's wedding!

It's A .....

2011-06-16T19:56:00.000-05:00

BOY!!!

We had a fun surprise yesterday and found out the gender earlier than expected. I had an appointment scheduled for Wednesday morning and Ryan didn't come with me since it was just a regular check-up and we didn't think he would need to be there. When I was talking to my doctor she asked if we knew what the gender was yet. I told her no but that we were planning on finding out. She asked if I wanted to find out. Again, I said we were planning on knowing the gender but our ultrasound wasn't scheduled for three more weeks. She then said, "No, do you want to find out today?" I think I looked at her a little confused and said something along the lines of, YES! The only problem was that Ryan wasn't there. In the end I couldn't turn down an ultrasound since we haven't had a peak since I was 8 1/2 weeks along. We decided that she would see if she could see anything and if so, she'd make me close my eyes and would print off a few pictures for us. I got to see the sweet little face and then I shut me eyes as she said she was able to tell the gender. Next thing I know she is handing me a sealed envelope that included two pictures with notes written on them and gave me a hug.

As soon as I left I called Ryan and told him I was picking him up for lunch and that I had a a fun surprise for him. Luckily Ryan and I work together because there was no way I could have waited until the end of the day. We drove to a nearby restaurant and opened up the envelope in the parking lot. Sure enough, the pictures confirmed that it was a boy!

We couldn't stop smiling and walked right away to a Baby Gap that was nearby. We picked up our first blue outfit and took a picture so we could send a text to all our family and friends to spread the exciting news.

Now, let the shopping and planning begin :)

Sold!

2011-06-12T18:39:00.000-05:00

That's right folks. Not only will Ryan and I be having a baby this year but we'll also be building our new home! We can handle it all.... right??

This past Friday Ryan and I signed a contract to build a new home out in the suburbs. We've been city folks ever since we've been married and absolutely loved our house and time we've spent in town. However, now that a baby is on the way our priorities have shifted and we're looking for a house closer to where we work and with a little more space. We are the weirdos that actually work in the suburbs and have been driving out of town these past couple of years to the office. We're about to take our commute to 35+ minutes to about 10 minutes and we couldn't be more excited.

The only issue is that the house won't be done until January and the baby is due in November.... I'm hoping by that point we'll have sold our house and will be living in a rental which should be interesting but hopefully manageable. At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Anyways, Ryan and I are thrilled about our decision and looking forward to this new chapter in our lives!

16 Weeks

2011-06-05T19:24:00.001-05:00

Hard to believe I've hit the 16 week mark and I can't believe it's been three weeks since my last pregnancy update! I will try to do a better job but I feel like there hasn't been much change. I will say I've been feeling great and not as tired as I was in the first trimester. Here's a few updates:

I went out and bought quite a few maternity items this weekend. I've been able to wear some regular clothes with the help of the belly band but I think it's time to switch to full on maternity pants. They are much more comfortable. I haven't really "popped" but I think we're getting pretty close!
I'm still keeping up with exercising whether that is going for a jog, attended a cardio class at the gym or long walk. I don't think I'll ever be able to cut this out and hope I can keep it up for quite some time. I'm also looking into taking a prenatal yoga class here soon.
Weight gain is progressing.... I don't plan on sharing an actual number but I'll just keep it as I'm in the suggested range :)
No cravings, still just find myself needing snacks more often throughout the day.
I have an obsession lately with strollers. There are so many options out there and I have no idea where to start. Any suggestions???
Ryan and I plan on finding out the gender but we still have 4 weeks until we'll know. The doctor likes to wait until the 20 week ultrasound and the wait is killing us! Honestly, I'm more anxious to see the baby again and make sure everything looks good. A boy or girl makes no difference to me but Ryan still thinks boy.
We have a few names in mind but at this point we are keeping that to ourselves.
In other news, Ryan and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary this past week! We were pretty crazy and stayed home and ordered in a pizza. It's not quite the same when you can't pop open a bottle of bubbly but we enjoyed our evening at home with each other and talking about the future.

16 weeks :)

Graduation Celebrations

2011-05-16T21:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-05-15T18:24:00.000-05:00

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

2011-05-14T10:06:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-05-10T18:58:00.000-05:00

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

More details to come :)

School's Out!!

2011-05-01T09:31:00.000-05:00

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!

Recent Happenings

2011-04-04T19:33:00.000-05:00

I seem to be struggling lately with coming up with actual posts but the least I can do is capture our recent happenings with a few pictures....

Two weekends ago I took a girls trip to NYC. I went with my mother in law and three sister in laws and we had a great time despite the fact that it was extremely cold! We hit up all the major hot spots in the city, went to three shows, ate yummy food and even visited The Today Show on Friday morning.

This past Friday night we went to a surprise engagement dinner for one of my best friends from high school. Her fiancé had a great proposal planned and we all met up at one of our favorite restaurants to celebrate. Can't wait for the wedding next Spring in Mexico!

Erich & Kim!

Best friends since high school :)

On Saturday we went out to my parents house to celebrate my Dad's birthday. The guys played golf during the day and we all stayed for dinner at their house. I snapped this pic of Benny on the way out there. He wasn't very happy that he was stuck in the back sandwiched between two golf bags...

On Sunday we went over to Aaron & Nicole's house for a crawfish boil. We had a great time relaxing and hanging out on their back porch :)

We've had a lot going on lately and it's hard to believe that it is already April. But the best part about that is the official countdown is on until Ryan's graduation!! Only 40 more days until he walks across the stage. I'm not counting or anything :)

Life Lately

2011-03-20T07:40:00.000-05:00

Somehow I've let it go nearly three weeks since my last post, yikes! So, in an attempt to play catch up I'll post a few pictures of recent happenings in our household...

A few Saturdays ago we celebrated Kim's 27th Birthday at St. Arnold's Brewery here in Houston where we all had several tastings and sang Happy Birthday over a yummy cake Leslie made.

It was a beautiful afternoon so we decided to head on over to another patio. Unfortunately Ryan was in class that day so he missed out on all the fun activities but we managed to have a good time even without him :)

The weather has been great lately and we've been spending a lot of time in our front yard throwing the ball to Bennett. He could do this for hours...

And he loves rolling around in the grass...

My new camera bag from Kelly Moore came this week and I could not be more excited! It's the perfect mix between a stylish purse and camera bag. I ordered this back in January and I have been waiting for it to get here. The timing is perfect though because I go to NYC later this week for a girls trip and you better believe I'll be sporting this bag.

I tried it on as soon as I got home from work. The color is beautiful, it smells yummy and fits just right. The best part is you can wear it over the shoulder or messenger style.

Our azaleas are in full bloom right now and they look beautiful. I'm not sure if they have ever looked this good while we have lived here but we are sure enjoying it right now.

I blogged a few weeks ago about the new couch we ordered from West Elm and it finally arrived this past Friday. I am loving the color and it will be perfect with a black dog :)

We've ordered another chair for the room and now I just need to pick out a new rug, new pillows, and new paint for the walls. I love the idea of changing the room up but I'm really struggling with what to put in here. Everything I seem to pick is out of the budget :(

That's it for now! Hope you're enjoying your weekend :)

Weekend Fun

2011-02-28T20:29:00.000-06:00

This past weekend Ryan had class all day Friday and Saturday but we still managed to squeeze in some fun. We went out to dinner Friday night with Alison and Mark at one of our favorite restaurants in our neighborhood, Zelko Bistro. I'm still thinking about their mouth-watering fried chicken...

Saturday I ran the Rodeo Run 10K with a coworker of mine. This was the third time I've ran since the half-marathon last month so I was little nervous how it was going to go. Thankfully, the weather was great and we had a great run.

That afternoon I did a little window shopping since Ryan and I are planning on changing up our living room and I actually ended up purchasing a new couch at West Elm. We've had our eye on it for awhile now and finally pulled the trigger. Now I need to get busy on purchasing everything else and actually decide on a wall color...

That evening Ryan and I had a date night at Tiempo. It's rare lately that we have a meal together so it was nice to go out and enjoy good food and relax.

The weather was beautiful on Sunday and we had plans to meet all our friends up at a local restaurant that afternoon to celebrate Nicole's birthday. We had a great time hanging out with friends on the patio and it was a great way to end the weekend!

Still Here....

2011-02-15T19:31:00.000-06:00

I've been meaning to sit down and blog but I've been struggling lately with something interesting to write. However, I want to keep this blog updated on happenings in our household (exciting or not) so I'm going to give you a bullet point list to recap our last two weeks.... I know, don't get too excited : )

Ryan has been at school
My car died one day after work and I had to hitch a ride home with a co-worker
My car sat in the parking garage for four days before it was towed out
We were convinced it wasn't the battery but the repair shop told us otherwise. I guess we should have tested it before we paid for a tow truck....
Ryan has been at school
Ryan got a new job at work (yay!)
Ryan has been doing two jobs at work until they hire someone else...
Ryan has been at school
I had a fabulous dinner with two of my best friends. Yay for fun times with girlfriends!
We picked out a new couch, chair, rug and paint for our living room. Now we just need a tree with green leaves in the shape of dollar bills to grow in our back yard so we can purchase new furniture...
Had a great evening at a delicious restaurant with Ryan, my parents, brother and his fiancé
Found out three friends of mine are pregnant in the last five days. Something must be in the water...
Ryan has been at school
Discovered Ryan's car now has a problem...
Had a relaxing Valentines date at home with Ryan which included a heart shaped pizza from Papa Johns and a bottle of red wine... Doesn't get much better than that. Seriously.

All in all, these last couple of weeks have been good but I must say Ryan and I both are ready for him to graduate. Between school and work we barely have time to see each other. It will all be worth it though in a couple of months when he graduates!

Hopefully my next post will be a little more exciting and won't have a picture of pepperonis...:)

We finished!

2011-01-31T20:35:00.001-06:00

All six of us finished 13.1 miles this past Sunday in the Houston Half Marathon. It wasn't easy and it definitely rained on us but we finished. And that's the important part. We toasted to completing the half-marathon afterwards at Cyclones with our families and it was a great moment. It was especially great to be dry. And done.

I also accomplished my goal and finished right under two hours at 1.57.57. And Ryan had a great run and finished at 1.36.30. Cheers to another great race for the books!

The fab runners - Alison, Nicky T, Chelsea, Me, Ryan & Mark

Ready to Race

2011-01-29T19:38:00.000-06:00

Ryan and I picked up our race packets today and we're ready to race tomorrow morning! I'm not sure the weather is going to cooperate but we're planning on running rain or shine. We both have a goal in mind of when we want to finish but that could go all out the window if it's pouring rain. Either way, we're looking forward to a safe, fun run and then brunch afterwards with all our friends and family!

Birthday Weekend

2011-01-16T11:18:00.000-06:00

I've had a great weekend celebrating my 27th birthday and I owe it all to my husband, friends and family! Ryan and I went out to eat Friday night and then last night we went out to one of my favorite restaurants, El Tiempo, with all of our friends. We had a great time at dinner and then came back to our house for a little more fun. We had a fire going outside, played a couple rounds of cornhole and just chatted :)

Now we're spending today being lazy since it's cold and rainy outside which is perfect. I'm also blogging right now from my new laptop thanks to Ryan!

Thanks for all the calls, texts, facebook posts, emails and gifts! It makes entering my late 20's not so bad :)

Back to School, Part III

2011-01-11T19:11:00.001-06:00

Ryan started back to school this week for his last semester of his MBA. That's right, his LAST semester. Woohoo! So, in honor of him having only a few months left, I poured myself a glass of wine, heated up some leftovers and plan on catching up on my DVR of all the shows Ryan can't stand watching.

I've posted here and here on Ryan going back to school and both times I had set big goals for myself to accomplish during those months. This time around I haven't exactly set any goals as I plan to spend my free time hanging out with girlfriends, learning how to cook from my mom, taking Bennett on runs and simply enjoying being alone every now and then. Cheers!

Fun with Friends

2011-01-05T21:11:00.000-06:00

This past weekend our good friends, Anna and Reid, came to visit us for a few days. They flew in Thursday night from Tulsa and we picked them up at the airport around 11:30. Their flight had been delayed and they hadn't had much to eat at that point. We decided to hit up a local Mexican restaurant that was open 24 hours for a little late night grub. Surprisingly, the food was actually pretty good! We stayed up pretty late that night chatting and catching up so we didn't quite get an early start the next day.

We lounged around Friday morning and then went to the park for a walk. Afterward, we cleaned up and went to lunch at a yummy Italian restaurant in Rice Village.

The rest of the afternoon we did a little shopping, drove around the area and then hit up Specs for some bubbly and snacks for later. We had reservations later that night at Backstreet Cafe so we relaxed at home awhile before getting ready. I think we may have relaxed a little too long as we rushed around to get ready since our cab showed up before we thought. We did manage to get in a glass or two of champagne though and snap a few pics :)

Before sitting down at the restaurant...

Anna & Reid...

We had a blast that night at dinner and our waiter treated us like celebrities. Seriously. So many fun laughs were had and memories made!

They passed out all kinds of goodies to ring in the new year. Oh, and way too much complimentary champagne.... Good thing our cab driver Lucky was there to pick us up!
The next morning we went to brunch at one of our favorite spots. We ate a big meal, came back and relaxed and then took a long walk in our neighborhood. At that point we got dressed and then drove out to my parents house to spend the night. OU was playing in the Fiesta Bowl and since five out of the six of us (including my parents) went to OU we wanted to watch it all together. We had a fun evening filled with dinner in the wine room, watching the game outside by the fireplace and even some time in the hot tub.

The next morning my mom made a delicious breakfast and then we headed out for a really long walk in their neighborhood. It was a beautiful day and felt great to be outside. Afterward, we cleaned up and went walking around Market Street in The Woodlands and had a late lunch/early dinner at a new favorite of ours, Hubbell and Hudson.

We came back to my parents, took one last pic of all four of us, picked up Benny and headed back to our house.

It was Sunday evening at that point and we were all tired from our fun filled weekend. We watched a movie and just lounged around. Unfortunately, Anna and Reid had to leave early Monday morning and I was sad to see them leave. I hate that we live so far apart and barely get to see each other. However, I'm thankful for the time we spent with them last weekend and look forward to our next get together. I'm pretty sure it's our turn to go to Tulsa!

Best of 2010

2010-12-31T09:58:00.001-06:00

As we near the end of the year I want to take a look back at all the great moments from 2010. I did a similar post in 2009 and 2008 and want to continue on the tradition. I love looking back through the posts and pictures and I'm reminded why I keep this online journal. Enjoy!

In January I ran my first half marathon with Alison, Mark and Nicole. This was such a big accomplishment for me as I never would have dreamed I would run 13.1 miles, especially in the time that we finished!

We traveled to Beaver Creek in February with some of our best friends. We hadn't skied since college and it was a little rough at the beginning but we picked up our groove and had a good time on the slopes.

My good friend Anna came to visit me in March. Ryan had class all weekend and we were able to have the best girls weekend. We spent a lot of time shopping, chatting, walking, laughing and of course drinking wine. I think my favorite memory is our venture to CostCo.... :)

We also spent a weekend out in the country with our friends. Ryan's parents hosted all of us and our dogs and we had a great time. We had our fist adventure antiquing and it was a day I won't ever forget!

April was the month of travel. I was fortunate to spend several days in the wine country with all the girls on my mom's side of the family. Tons of laughs were had and several glasses of wine were drank... :)

Ryan also traveled to the Masters in Augusta with his brother in laws. They had a great time watching golf and then playing a few rounds. All the guys then drove to Kentucky where they met up with the girls. We spent a weekend at Ryan's sisters house in Lexington and seriously had a great time. The weather was amazing and we had another fabulous day out at Keeneland. Unfortunately, our pocketbooks took a beating that day but we had fun trying :)

May was a fairly relaxing month as Ryan wrapped up his first year at Rice. That month we had a fun spontaneous date night where we ended up a Phoenix concert. We also celebrated our good friends accomplishments as Leslie graduated from Dental School and Sara from Law School.

We celebrated our third wedding anniversary in June. I was actually in Orlando that day for a work conference but we had a great dinner out when I came home. We also took a weekend trip to Austin that month. One of our favorite bands, Passion Pit, was playing and we decided to make a weekend out of it. We visited a local winery, ate yummy food and jammed out with all the high school rockers.... :)

That month we also celebrated my parents moving into their beautiful new house. We popped a yummy bottle of Dom for the occasion :)

In July celebrated the 4th with our good friends. We spent the day by Kim & Sara's pool and then watched the fireworks from their apartment rooftop. We had an awesome view of Downtown Houston! We also spent several weekends that month hanging out at my parents new house and laying by their new pool. I also signed up to run my second half-marathon in January 2011 and this time Ryan will be joining me!

My cousins all came down in August to spend a week at my grandmothers house. We were able to celebrate a recent engagement of my cousin David and we are so excited about their upcoming wedding. We also celebrated Benny's third birthday that month.

In September we spent another long weekend at my parents house. You see a theme here?? We spent Labor Day weekend out there with my brother, his fiance and some of their friends. Lots of golf was played by the guys and lots of pool time was had by the girls.

I also traveled to Norman, OK that month for work. I was able to spend a night with one of my best friends, Kari, and we hit up all our favorite Norman spots. I loved just being able to catch up and chat with her and of course I loved spending time with her baby, Bernie :)

In October Ryan and I took a fabulous trip to New England. It has been on our list for sometime to see this area of the country in the Fall and we were able to do it this year. We spent one night in Boston, traveled to New Hampshire next and then spent our last day in Portland, Maine. It was one of my favorite trips by far!

In November we had our annual Rudy Rivalry as the Aggies took on the Sooners in College Station this year. The Ags ended up on top this time but we had a blast tailgating and enjoying the game. We also took our new neighbors with us and I think they had a good time as well :)

We spent Thanksgiving that year at one of Ryan's sisters house and I managed to bring a yummy dessert despite my baking failure. We also spent time at my parents house and snapped a few family pics...

We traveled to New York City in December as this has always been on our list of things to do as well. We had a great long weekend in the city enjoying the lights, the food and the general Holiday spirit.

Lastly, I'll leave a pic of Ryan and I on Christmas Eve...

We've had a great year and I can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for us. I already know we have several graduations in the family, a few weddings and a few trip ideas. We'll see what else life throws at us!

Happy New Year from the Rudys!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T15:09:00.000-06:00

From Benny the black-nosed reindeer!

Cleary, he wanted nothing to do with being a reindeer. He prefers to be treated as a human :)

Annual Christmas Dinner

2010-12-23T08:32:00.000-06:00

Last year I hosted our first ever annual Christmas dinner with friends and last night we continued the tradition at Ali and Mark's house. I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked but I did want to share this one I took with my phone...

The table was beautiful, the meal was delicious and the company was even better. Seriously though, we sat at this table for hours with all our best friends and had a great time hanging out, laughing and celebrating this wonderful time of year. I'm so grateful that we started this tradition and look forward to many years to come!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-21T11:47:00.000-06:00

From our house to yours...

Ryan and I are off this week and enjoying every minute relaxing, spending time with each other, friends and family. Hope you are all doing the same. Merry Christmas!!

NYC Recap

2010-12-17T19:22:00.000-06:00

As promised, here is the full recap from our fabulous trip to NYC!

We arrived on Friday early afternoon and quickly dropped off our bags at the hotel and headed out. We spent most of the day walking down 5th Avenue in awe of all the people and lights. We ventured in several stores, decided we couldn't afford a thing, and walked right back out. I failed miserably on Friday with my camera and only managed to get one picture on my iPhone. I snapped this while in Saks.... I think I could have stayed in there for hours if Ryan hadn't dragged me out...

That evening we took the subway out to Soho and dined at Balthazar. Balthazar is a famous French Restaurant and it did not disappoint! We were not able to get reservations but we put our name on the list to sit in the cafe/bar area and walked around the neighborhood for a while and stopped at a pub to grab a quick drink. We actually ended up chatting with another guy there who happened to be an Aggie who had noticed Ryan's ring. He gave us some great restaurant suggestions and places to hang out. We finally made it back to the restaurant and enjoyed the food. I would definitely recommend if you are ever headed to NY!

The next morning we woke up late, bundled up and headed out for a day of walking. We first headed to Central Park which is by far my favorite part of the city. Even though most of the trees were dead and most of the water was iced over, it was still a beautiful site.

I could not believe how many people were out that day. People were jogging, walking and just hanging out. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a Saturday.

We walked around for about an hour and decided to head towards one of our fave lunch spots in the city. We ate at Shack Shack last time we were there in 2009 and simply had to go back. This time we went to the location in the Upper West Side.

Mmm my mouth is watering just thinking about this food...

We were sitting next to the window during lunch and we overheard a little boy say, "Look Mom, there's Santa! And another one!" This had our attention and we were quite amused to see several people dressed as Santa Claus headed down the block. Didn't think too much about it though as this was New York and people were pretty crazy there...

After lunch we walked back through the park to get to the Upper East Side. That's when we saw a few more Santas.....

And then I was really intrigued. And I had to get this on film. I couldn't believe how many there were!

And then we stumbled upon this....

I've never seen so many red suits and white beards in my entire life. And I loved it. We kept our distance though as these Santas were not ones that you let your kid sit in their lap. I think it was only 1 pm and most of these Santas had been boozing since who knows when. Yes, it was a full on NYC Santa Pub Crawl. And yes, we googled it...

We spent most of the afternoon walking around and then headed over to West Village via the subway to have a change of scenery. We were hoping to find a cute pub to park ourselves in that afternoon but were oh so disappointed when we discovered Santa didn't only hang out in Central Park.

We did manage to find a quiet spot (finally!) and then ate an early dinner at Extra Virgin. We received this recommendation from a friend and enjoyed another delicious meal :)

It was fairly early in the night at that point and I convinced Ryan to head back down 5th Avenue so I could snap a few pics at night.

Snowflakes at Saks...

Beautiful bows at Tommy Hilfiger...

Red Ribbon at Cartier...

Then we decided to man the crowds at Rockefeller Center. Big mistake. I've never seen so many people in my life! There was no convincing Ryan to stop for a pic so I was able to snap this one as we feared for our lives to get out.... I kinda like it though :)

At that point we headed back to the hotel to rest our feet from a loonnng day of walking.

We woke up Sunday morning, refreshed, and ready to head out. But unfortunately, this day it was raining.... I had come prepared though and brought an umbrella and thankfully Ryan had a hood on his jacket. We grabbed a quick Starbucks and headed to the subway....

We were headed to Brooklyn to eat lunch at the original Grimaldis. This place is legit. Cash only and you have to wait outside in a line to get in. Thankfully there was a covered area or we would have been soaked! The food was well worth the wait and we enjoyed every slice...

At this point it had stopped raining and we decided to attempt to work off all the calories we had just consumed and walk back across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Here's one of the few pictures we have together from the trip. It's a little cloudy in the background but you can sorta see the Statue of Liberty on the left....

It actually cleared up some in the afternoon and we wandered around Soho Village. We had dinner reservations later that night so we cleaned up at the hotel and then set out. We dined at Osteria Morini and I think this was a personal fave for me. I loved the atmosphere and the food was amazing!

It actually started raining again later that evening and Ryan and I decided to try Rockefellar Center one more time on our way home. We were convinved it would not be near as crowded because of the rain and for the most part we were right.

So instead of having beautiful snow in the background we have rain. Oh well, we were happy and it was a great moment!

I also decided it was a good idea to take a picture with the gigantic Nutcracker :)

And to end the trip, we grabbed one more drink downstairs at our hotel. Cheers to a fabulous weekend getaway in NYC!

In summary, we walked a lot, we ate a lot and we had the BEST time!

We're Back!

2010-12-14T20:09:00.000-06:00

Another great trip for the books! Ryan and I traveled to NYC last Friday for a fun weekend getaway and came home last night. I promise a full recap soon but right now we're both busy at work, Ryan's taking his last final for the semester, I'm trying to get the laundry done and my house desperately needs a cleaning...

Oh yeah, and I need to actually think about getting some shopping done since we're only 11 days away from Christmas! Until then, I'll leave you with this fun picture of 5th Avenue....

And yes, it's that fabulous in person :)

Thanksgiving Baking Failure...

2010-11-25T10:10:00.001-06:00

My part for Thanksgiving dinner this year was to bring a dessert. Not the turkey, not a side, but dessert. Sounds easy, right?? Wrong. At least for me...

Yesterday morning I was talking to my mom and we were discussing ideas for something I could bring that would be fairly easy and delicious. Last weekend she had made this recipe for a party at her house and they truly were yummy. I'm heading to my in-laws today and this dessert seemed perfect. Someone else was already bringing a pie and I thought to myself, "who doesn't love anything with chocolate??"

I made note of all the ingredients and Ryan and I headed to the store after running a few errands yesterday afternoon. As expected, the grocery store was packed but we managed to get in and out in a descent time. I had most of these ingredients at home but needed to pick up a few of the items. We first stood in the baking aisle forever trying to find heath bits o'brickle. We never ended up finding this exact bag but I think we found something comparable. The next thing we needed was eggs and milk. We wandered over and grabbed a few eggs but couldn't find the milk. I debated googling Eagle Brand milk but decided against it since 8 million people were standing around so I just grabbed a Kroger brand bottle of 2% milk. I told myself Eagle Brand must be a specific brand found in Arkansas and that the Kroger brand would be just fine as a substitute. Big mistake....

1 yellow cake mix
1 egg
1/3 c. butter
1 (14 oz.) Eagle Brand milk
1 c. chopped pecans
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1/2 c. Heath Bits O' Brickle
After following all the instructions I carefully placed the pan in the oven to bake for 30-35 minutes. I thought it looked a little funny but convinced myself it was fine. 35 minutes later I pulled the pan out of the oven and knew something wasn't right. I quickly took a picture and sent it to my mom asking her if hers looked like this last weekend.

She was nice and responded that hers was a little browner and that maybe I needed to put it back in the oven. We wrote back and forth a few times then she just called me. We went over the recipe and decided I had done everything right. Then she asked me if I had used sweetened condensed milk or evaporated milk because that might have made a difference. I told her I used 2% milk. And she laughed. Then I laughed. Then I decided that I should have just picked up a cheesecake to bring for dessert.

The first batch. And yes, it was terrible....

I was then determined that I was going to make something for dessert and wasn't going to give up. I asked Ryan if he would so kindly go back to the grocery store to pick up Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk and another box of cake mix. If only you could have seen the look he gave me....

I grabbed my keys and braved the crowds once more.

I came home, popped open a Corona, and pulled out my already washed baking bowls and utensils....

I also decided to take pics along the way in case anyone else wants to make this recipe.

Please note that if you use regular 2% milk it does NOT look like this. If only I had taken a pic the first go round. This is what it should look like if you use Eagle Brand milk....

Ready to go in the oven! Once again, if you use regular milk it is much runnier than this. I also used chocolate chips this time instead of pecans.

And here's Benny! He was always near the action in case I accidentally dropped something....

Right out of the oven...

And the finished product! I was actually able to cut these up. They weren't runny and doughy like the first batch! And yes, they are delicious. I may have sampled one or two this morning :)

I also want to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Ryan and I are so blessed and we are looking forward to spending the day with his family and then my family tomorrow.

New York, New York!

2010-11-18T19:16:00.000-06:00

Ryan and I have always talked about going to New York City around Christmas time and we are actually making it happen this year. We went last summer and loved every second of it but also want to experience the big city amongst all the holiday lights and festivities.

At this point we have two round trip tickets and a hotel but now we are looking for a few restaurant suggestions. Dining is very important to us while traveling and we want to make sure we get it right :)

On our last venture to the big apple we had some great recommendations by Militini but we are looking for something new this time. So far I have a few ideas from a friend of mine from college that actually lives in the city but I would also love to hear suggestions from anyone else!

(image source)

Back in the Groove...

2010-11-17T19:10:00.001-06:00

My lack of posting on my training for the half-marathon has been reflective of how my actual training has been going... I can come up with many excuses but I've just simply had a hard time getting my runs in throughout the week. And because of that my longer runs on the weekend have struggled. Well, that is all about to change and I think I have finally found my groove and I'm in love with running again. It's a good thing too because the race is 10 weeks away!

I have a feeling the cooler weather has something to do with it as I've had some really great runs this past week. This past Saturday I managed to get in an 8 mile run and I couldn't have done it without my running partner...

He looks a little sad here but I swear he wasn't even one bit phased after running for over an hour. Did I mention it was raining on our run?? Of course when we started the sun was shining and about three miles into it the rain starts coming down. I was feeling good so I decided to stick it out. I'm thankful I brought a towel with me because Benny and I both were covered with mud when we finished! I also think its time for a new pair of kicks...

Benny and I were feeling good after our run and he gave me a big sloppy kiss on the way home. I actually think he was licking the salt off my face but we'll just pretend it was a kiss :)

I've got 9 miles coming up this weekend so I hope it goes well. I'll keep you posted!

Rudy Rivarly Recap

2010-11-08T19:25:00.000-06:00

This past Saturday Ryan and I had a blast rooting for our teams at Kyle Field in College Station. Unfortunately for me my Sooners did not pull out a win but I can say Ryan left the game with a big grin on his face. Scroll down for a brief recap in pictures....

The weather was awesome and we had a great time tailgating during the day. Thankfully I had several other Sooners to hang out with :)

I was also excited to meet several OU Alpha Chi's...

These girls were super sweet and they were kind enough to show me the new AXO hand signal. I also discovered that my picture is still on one of the old composite boards in the house so at least I don't feel that old!!

Ryan and I also convinced our new neighbors to come to the game with us. They assured me they were neutral since they both went to Georgia Tech but I'm pretty sure I saw them rooting for the Aggies on more than one occasion in the game...

Alison and I!

Alison and I with our Aggie husbands. What were we thinking?!? Haha J/K. I'm pretty sure they are "whooping" with us in the middle!

Much cuter...

Our annual Rudy Rivalry picture...

One last pic before we went into the stadium...

Another fun game in the books but I'm already looking forward to next year when we dominate the Ags in Norman!!

Rudy Rivarly

2010-11-06T10:05:00.000-05:00

Ryan and I are headed to College Station today for a little Rudy rivalry fun as the Sooners take on the Aggies. I'll be back tomorrow with an update and pics but click here, here and here to see recaps of our fun little tradition over the years.

BOOMER!!

New England Trip Recap - Part III

2010-10-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

I'm finally getting around to posting part III of our weekend tour of New England. Thanks for sticking with me! If you missed my other recaps scroll down or click here for Part I and here for Part II.

As I previously mentioned, Sunday was a beautiful day and we were anxious to get started on our next drive. We were headed to Portland, Maine and had heard this would be the most scenic and beautiful drive of our trip. And it definitely was...

I've never seen Fall Foliage like this and I felt like we could drive through this all day. Ryan and I jammed out to Ray LaMontagne and enjoyed the views. I also snapped a few pics of us again on the drive...

After driving a little over two hours we arrived in Portland. We decided we wanted to stay at a local hotel and this one was great. The Portland Harbor Hotel had a great location in the city and had fantastic views.

I took this picture from the window in our room. I told you the views were great!!

After we dropped our bags off in the room we headed out for some lunch. Our concierge pointed us to a great spot where we dinned on clam chowder and enjoyed a few local beers by Shipyard...

We then headed out to explore the city and ended up along a trail that walked along the water's edge.

A ton of people were out on that day and it was nice to see everyone enjoying the weather.

After walking along the water for awhile we headed back up to the main area of downtown. Many of the streets were the original cobblestone which was so cool to see.

And I had to take this picture for Benny :)

After walking around we headed back to our hotel to catch the end of a few NFL games. We relaxed and enjoyed a few drinks by a fire in the hotel lounge.

We had dinner reservations later that evening and this was by far the best meal of the trip! We ate at Fore Street which was just a few blocks from our hotel. I would highly recommend this if you are in the area.

The next morning Ryan and I were able to sleep in a little and then started our trek back to Boston to catch our flight. We were sad to leave and could have easily spent another week in this area of the country but had to get back home. The trip was definitely a success and we hope to go back one day.

I also need to give a big thanks to my parents for keeping Bennett. She sent many pictures of him throughout our trip so we were able to get our Benny fix in even though we weren't with him. Thanks Mom&Dad!

New England Trip Recap - Part II

2010-10-21T20:33:00.001-05:00

Now for Part II of our weekend tour of New England.... Scroll down or click here for Part I.

Ryan and I woke up Saturday morning to a beautiful sunny day in Boston. Where was this the night before when we actually wanted to walk around outside?? Ryan walked a few blocks to pick up the rental car and then came back to pick me up at our hotel. I was sad to leave but excited about our drive we had ahead. I think I was much more enthusiastic on our two hour drive than Ryan was or maybe he was just annoyed with me trying to take pictures of him with my phone. Either way, I wanted to share these pics so you can see the beautiful fall foliage in the background...

The drive was going well and was very relaxing until we got into White Mountain National Forest and it started to rain on us. Then we lost service with our phones which meant no GPS. Ryan made a few comments at that point about how it would have been nice to have the Garmin with us. Luckily we came across a sign pointing us in the right direction or the rest of the car ride could have been ugly...

We arrived at the beautiful Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire right around lunch time. It was much colder there (think low 40's with 15 mph winds!) so we quickly carried our bags into our room. I didn't get any pictures of the outside at this point so the hotel tour would have to wait. I did snap a few pics though of our room which was small but very quaint. We were staying in a historic hotel which had recently been renovated and I loved that they kept the original feel of the hotel intact but just updated the amenities.

We grabbed lunch at this point and then decided to head out for a hike around the resort. It was pretty chilly and sprinkling so I didn't get very many pictures. I was wishing I had brought my gloves along so I didn't exactly want to take my hands out of my pockets. I did snap a pic along the way though of Ryan at the half way point.

We hiked for about an hour and a half which was more than long enough for me. It was late afternoon at this point and Ryan and I came back and put on dry socks and headed to the Great Hall for a few beverages. I brought my book and Ryan his iPad and we lounged around and relaxed for over an hour. There was also a wedding going on that evening so I was able to watch the bride walk down the aisle along with all the other women in the lobby area. I didn't snap a pic this time though because I couldn't have been very discreet.

Isn't this fireplace so inviting? I love the moose on the wall and the chess game on the table. A perfect way to spend a chilly Saturday afternoon :)

Ryan and I cleaned up and headed to another lounge for a few drinks before dinner. We had a yummy meal at the resort and then called it an early night.

The next morning we woke up to sunshine and had a beautiful view outside our window. I decided I needed to snap a few pics so we wandered around the resort that morning.

I love the entrance of the hotel. So timeless and lovely.

A view of the patio that wraps around the entire backside. Aren't the mums beautiful?? I have no idea how they keep them alive and looking good for so long. I would show you a picture of the mum currently in my backyard but it's too embarrassing....

More pretty flowers...

A view of the golf course and Mount Washington in the background.

Ryan checking out the views...

"Wait, I'm not ready! I've got to get this ugly camera bag off me!"

Unfortunately, this is the only picture of us two on this trip but at least it's a good one. :)

After Ryan and I toured the resort for a while we loaded up and set out for our next stop.

Next up, Maine!

New England Trip Recap - Part I

2010-10-19T21:23:00.001-05:00

I've decided to split my recap into three separate posts so I can capture all the details of our trip. This is mostly for my benefit to document our travels so feel free to scroll quickly through the pictures if you like.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Ryan had a break from school and we decided to take full advantage of this time and book a mini vacation. We debated several cities to go to and after coming across a fabulous deal on flights we booked two round-trip tickets to Boston. Fast forward several weeks later (as in the week before we left) and we still hadn't booked any hotels. Being the planner that I am I was slightly freaking out. Ryan seemed unphased by this and I simply tried to let myself just go with the flow. Anyways, we booked our first night in Boston through hotwire.com and luckily stumbled upon a gem of a hotel. And with that, I'll lead into...

Adventures in Beantown

Our vacation started off bright and early Friday morning as we showered, dressed and took our time packing our final things before heading off to the airport. We were staying at my parents house since they were taking care of our little boy Benny and we had dropped him off there the day before. It was not until we said goodbye to my parents and drove out of the neighborhood that we realized we were cutting it a little close. As in I'm freaking out thinking we are never going to make it but trying to be the good wife by saying "Honey, you may want to drive a little faster..."

We arrive at the park and ride with less than an hour until we take off and quickly jump on the shuttle. As soon as we pull out Ryan turns and asks if I picked up the garmin in the backseat. Oops.... who needs a garmin now anyways when we have GPS on our phones??

The next hurdle we faced was Ryan leaving his bag at the check-in line. Luckily people don't actually listen to the intercom when they say to be alarmed if you see a bag all alone. Anyways, we finally made it through the security line and boarded our plane with minutes to spare.

Our chaotic morning was all worth it though when we arrived at our hotel in Boston. The InterContinental was modern, luxurious and relaxing all at the same time. Of course I pretended to be PW and took pictures of the hotel room...

After quickly changing into warmer clothes (did I mention we arrived in the middle of a Nor'easter??) we headed off to find lunch. The concierge directed us to a fabulous pub down the street which did not disappoint. We dined on burgers, fries and a couple of Sam Adams...

Ryan and I used our iPhones to help navigate us throughout the city. What would we do without them??

After lunch we headed out to the famous Boston Common Park to take in the scenery and Fall leaves.

We wandered around Beacon Street...

Ryan took in lots of history...

And I stumbled upon a beautiful wedding party in the park taking pictures. I'm a sucker for weddings and I'm just thankful I had my zoom lens on so hopefully I didn't seem like a crazy stalker...

I also took in some of the history and landmarks as well.

Ryan and I wandered around the city for a few hours looking at shops, people, parks and homes. We eventually stopped at a Starbucks to warm up then headed back to the hotel for a few hours to relax.

That evening we dined at a fabulous restaurant in the North End called Panza. I had read great reviews and we actually had made reservations earlier in the week. The food was delicious and I loved the intimate feel of the restaurant.

And now I'll post one final pic from that day. As I mentioned earlier, the Nor'easter definitely brought some strong winds, rain and cold air but that didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves. Ryan always makes a point to walk everywhere we go and this weather didn't stop us this time. Needless to say, my umbrella did not survive the evening....

Next up, New Hampshire!

Back to Reality...

2010-10-18T20:48:00.000-05:00

Why does vacation always seem too short?? Ryan and I spent this past weekend traveling throughout New England and we could have easily spent an extra day or two up there. Who am I kidding? We could have spent another week up there! We had a fabulous trip and traveled to Massachusetts, New Hampshire and even Maine. I promise to post a full recap soon with tons of pictures but for now I'll leave you with a picture of us two in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. In the meantime, I'll be unpacking, catching up on laundry and heading to the grocery store...

Cute vs. Crazy

2010-10-10T18:02:00.000-05:00

This past weekend Ryan and I stayed at my parents house to watch their dogs since they were out of town. Champ and Koby are old but so sweet and calm. I mean, how much cuter can they be???

We also watched my brother and his fiance's dog as well. Benny and Georgia may be cute but are definitely not so calm when they get together. I think this picture says it all....

Don't worry Mom, I swear I hosed them down and dried them off before they slept on the couch/bed! :)

Life Lately

2010-10-03T10:25:00.001-05:00

These past two weeks have been super busy in the Rudy household and I'm just now sitting down to capture it all in commentary and pictures...

Last Saturday Ryan, Benny and I loaded up and headed out to the farm for one night. It was the first weekend for antiquing in Round Top this Fall and Ryan's mom once again took all the the girls out for a day of shopping. My mom joined us this time as well as Alison's mom and we had a great day and managed to buy a few things....

Meanwhile, back at the barn Ryan and his dad were busy with their tools building a deer blind. You're not supposed to shoot deer on their land but you clearly need a fort-like box so you can watch them for hours on end without them seeing you, right?

I asked a lot of questions during the building process and I think someone got a little annoyed of me talking and taking pictures...

So I then decided to turn my attention to the deer that were by the feeder and use them as my next photo subject. I decided that I could see them just fine from up at the barn and I didn't need to be hiding in a box...

I also managed to get a few shots in of the cows...

And Benny...

And then I retired my camera and enjoyed the rest of the time in the country. It's so peaceful up there and I love sitting out on a rocking chair watching the sunset. Life seems so much slower up there and I love getting away from the city even if it's just for one night.

As soon as we pulled back into our driveway last Sunday evening life seemed crazy again. Ryan had quite a few things to do for school and I barely saw him this past week. I did manage to get some girl time in during the evenings though and had a wonderful night out with Nicky T just chatting and catching up over a bottle of wine. I also met another dear friend one night for dinner and even met up with her another evening for a run. This weekend wasn't much different as Ryan had class all day Friday and Saturday and while he was gone I managed to get a long run in, cleaned the house, brunched with friends and might have done a little shopping :)

Ryan did make it out last night for an evening of fun and we celebrated the glorious OU victory over Texas! We met up at our usual spot for fajitas and margs....

Then we decided to be adventurous and actually head out to another bar instead of going home for our usual 10 pm bedtime. The weather was beautiful last night and it felt great to sit out on a patio and drink a few cold ones with friends. I also made Ryno take a mini photo shoot with me...

Take 1 - Clearly he missed me a lot these past few weeks...
Take 2 - Hmm, something must have been more interesting on ESPN
Take 3 - Yay! We finally got a semi-cute one!

And lastly, I'll leave you with one final picture of Ryan and I. I couldn't resist.... :) BOOMER!!

Now that I am caught up I am going to enjoy this beautiful Sunday by relaxing and putting up my Fall decor. I'm also planning on picking up my first bag of candy corn for the season :)

Have a great week!

Beantown, Here We Come!

2010-09-22T20:33:00.000-05:00

In just a few short weeks Ryan and I will be headed up to Boston for a little vacation and it couldn't come fast enough. Ryan has a break from school and we've been talking about making a trip during that time but we just couldn't decide on a place. We went back and forth between a few cities and finally decided on Boston. We actually have been there a little over three years ago when Ryan ran the Boston Marathon but this trip we will have more time to relax and really explore the city. We also plan to spend a night or two in New Hampshire or Vermont but I'm leaving that up to Ryan to plan out the details. All I know is that we have two round trip tickets and we're headed north to see the fall season in its finest.

Let the countdown begin!

Good Times in Norman

2010-09-19T19:26:00.000-05:00

This past week I had the opportunity to travel back to Norman, OK for work and I had the best time. I'm not sure I can really call it working because I love being back on campus at OU and attending the Career Fair for college recruiting. While I was there I found time to hit up of a few of my favorite spots on Campus Corner for food as well as shopping. I picked up a new OU game day shirt and I can't wait to wear it on Saturdays.

I normally come back from this trip on Friday but this year I stayed an extra night and I'm so glad I did. I stayed with a good friend of mine from college and we met up with another sorority sister of ours for dinner. I really wish we would have all taken a picture but we were too busy chatting and catching up with one another. They also introduced me to a Pizookie which is one of the best desserts I've ever had. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to hit up one of the BJ's here in Houston so I can satisfy my cravings...

The next morning Kari and I lounged around her house and watched Bride Wars. I felt like we were back in the Alpha Chi house again as we spent hours simply chatting with each other and watching wedding movies. We did manage to snap a few pictures before I headed out and I had to post this one. Kari and her husband have the cutest dog named Bernie and he reminds me so much of Bennett. It's probably a good thing we don't live closer to each other because who knows what kind of trouble those two would get in!

Thanks again Kari for hosting me this past weekend! I loved spending time with you and look forward to our next visit together!

Fashion Favorites

2010-09-11T17:23:00.000-05:00

With Fall right around the corner it's hard not to get the itch to completely revamp my wardrobe. Most of the clothes I buy are things I wear to work that can transition into weekend wear. I have picked up a few items recently and wanted to share what I am loving right now and will be in my rotation over the next few months.

Top Left: I bought these Revas last April and have not had the chance to truly enjoy them. It quickly became too hot in Houston and I wasn't caught wearing anything but flip flops and sandals. I'm sure I'll make up for that lost time though this Fall.

Top Right: Skinny jeans from Banana Republic. I bought a pair last year and absolutely loved them so I scooped up another pair during one of BR's sales recently.

Middle left: I bought this skirt from BR a few weeks ago and I can honestly say I've worn it every chance I get. I love the comfort and the color and it's a perfect day to evening option.

Bottom left: I love the Jackie Cardigans from J Crew and while I don't have this color yet I'm hoping to pick it up soon ;)

Bottom middle: I bought this purse off BR a week ago when they were offering 40% off and free shipping. I couldn't resist and I must say, I'm loving it! I was worried it would be too small but it's perfect and holds just the essentials.

Bottom right: I actually picked this scarf up today from J Crew and I can't wait to sport it once it gets a little cooler. I have a feeling I'll rotate this with lots of colors!

So if you know me you'll most likely be seeing me wearing these essentials this Fall. Hope you don't get tired of them!

The Countdown is On....

2010-08-31T18:42:00.000-05:00

That's right folks. 4 days until College Football. 4 more days until College Gameday. 4 more days until it's acceptable to sing Boomer Sooner throughout the house. Oh, and for Ryan's sake I guess I better mention 4 more days until Aggie Football. And believe me, there's no way I'm forgetting this with the daily reminder right next to our door :)

Birthday Boy

2010-08-21T17:32:00.000-05:00

My little boy Benny turned three today! Where has the time gone?? He is really growing up. Well, some days he is. Except for here, here and here. Anyways, since we don't have any children yet I think is perfectly acceptable to treat my dog like a child and spoil him rotten on his birthday. Ryan may feel differently but I made sure to sing Happy Birthday bright and early this morning in bed resulting in an ugly stare from a sleepy husband. Ryan did cave a little later in the day though and we made a stop at PetsMart to pick up a new toy and collar to celebrate this milestone.

It has been three hours since Bennett received his toy today and so far it has remained in one piece. Maybe this toy will actually sustain the "extreme chewing" it promised!

And like any good Mom I had to get a picture with the birthday boy :)

Happy Birthday Benny! Here's to another year and hoping that you really do grow up enough that we can trust you outside of your crate all day! Nah... who am I kidding??

Photoshop Failure

2010-08-17T21:13:00.001-05:00

As I have mentioned before I started messing around in Photoshop about a year ago. I can't say I have come very far in that time, but hey, I'm trying :)

A couple of months ago my mom approached me about a beautiful moving announcement she had seen on Minted and asked if I could replicate that but use doors instead of shutters. Sure, no problem. This should be easy, right?? Boy was I wrong. It was much more complicated than I thought. I spent hours and hours trying to turn actual pictures into sketches to put on the invitation. And the only good thing I can say that came out of this was that I learned a few tricks along the way.

Anyways, my future sister-in-law came to the rescue! I'm not quite why my mother didn't ask her to begin with since she actually is going to school to study this but maybe she was just trying to boost my ego and give me a little confidence :)

Courtney kindly asked to see what I had come up with so far and a few short hours later she whipped a fabulous announcement together! She took three different pictures of the doors and actually drew them in Photoshop. I can barely make a straight line so I'm not quite sure how she did that. Maybe that is why she gave me five books on the basics of Photoshop the next time I saw her....

Without further ado....here is the finished product...

Isn't it fabulous?!? I would show you the whole thing but I don't want to give too much personal info out. The envelopes and return address labels matched the announcement which really pulled it all together.

I'm trying to convince her she needs to start her own business and I even offered that she can use me to help build her portfolio up. The holidays are right around the corner and I may need a super cute Christmas card to send out .... :)

Back to School, Part II

2010-08-03T20:19:00.003-05:00

Exactly one year ago I wrote a post documenting Ryan going back to school part-time to get his MBA. I mostly talked about how bored I was going to be in the evenings without Ryan here. In that post I mentioned that the first evening he was at school I had taken Bennett for a run, made dinner, took a shower, played fetch with Bennett and watched two episodes of Property Virgins on HGTV. Looing back, not much has changed since then for me.  Let's see, tonight I took Bennett on a walk, I poured myself a glass of wine and made a salad out of a bag for dinner. Then I attempted to watch TV while Benny the Brat barked at me because I wasn't paying enough attention to him....

I had high hopes that while Ryan was at school and studying in the evenings I was going to become a novice photographer and that I would master all photohop skills.  Oh, and let's just throw in there that I was going to run multiple marathans because I had so much free time to run the past 12 months.

Haha, lets get real here... While I didn't quite accomplish the things above (I might have set the bar a little high...) I will say that I enjoyed taking pictures with my Nikon and learning the different settings this past year. I will say that I learned a few tricks in Photoshop and managed to create my own blog header and edit my pictures. Oh, and I will say that I ran my first half-marathon and signed up for another one which I'm pretty excited about.

So while I'm extremely proud of Ryan for earning his MBA and starting his second (and final!) year of the program I also want to note that I have accomplished a lot for myself in the course of the year.  Now I just just need to come up with some new goals for myself. Maybe I'll crack open a few cook books and actually learn to make a few things around here. Nah...let's be real here. Frozen pizzas and cereal will always be in our future. Sorry Ryan... :)

Someday...

2010-07-29T19:48:00.000-05:00

One of my dear friends from college started a blog. Finnnalllly. I'm still working on a few (yes, I'm talking about you Anna!) but I'm absolutely thrilled that Kari J has started a blog and I can now keep up with the daily happenings in her life.

Kari titled her blog "Someday by KJ" and I think she got it just right. Her first post included a beautiful picture of her and her husband with these words to follow...

"We will..someday." What a beautiful yet terrifying concept. Seasons in life allow us certain freedoms and opportunities. If we did everything we ever wanted in one week, what would we have to look forward to? Yet life is short, so make sure to eat dessert first. Everyone has their own "someday." Whether it's to get married, have a baby, take that dream vacation, find the perfect job, build that house on the corner, or forgive a friend...I want to share my SOMEDAYS with you...

Please stop over and say hello. You won't be disappointed!

13.1 - Here we go again!

2010-07-27T19:46:00.000-05:00

Last January I completed my first half marathon and I loved it so much that I have ~~foolishly~~ signed up again to run my next 13.1 miles on January 30, 2011. And the best part about it is that Ryan will actually be joining me this time. However, Ryan and I run at completely different paces (I bet you can guess who is faster) and we won't be running side by side. I'm definitely ok with that though as we both have a goal in mind for this race and I wouldn't want to slow him down :)

My plan was to keep up my running throughout the spring and summer and I managed to do pretty well in the spring but I have since dropped off. I am definitely blaming my lack of running lately on the sweltering heat we've had in Houston. Even though it probably won't cool down anytime soon I hope to pick it up a notch in the next few weeks as I have a brand new toy to train with this time :)

Ryan and I have been eying the new Garmin Forerunner 110 since this spring and quickly snatched up a "his and her" pair when they became available. I can't say I have used mine as much as Ryan but so far I'm impressed. I love that it tells me when I've hit every mile, what my pace is, my heart rate, number of calories I've burned and then I can go online and map my run. I must say it's pretty fancy and makes it easier to get out on the trails.

Here's to my next half marathon and I look forward to logging my miles and tracking my progress on here!

Slumber Party

2010-07-23T10:31:00.000-05:00

Last Friday night we had a slumber party with our five year old niece. Her mother dropped her off at the office after work and we took her home for a fun filled evening with her coolest Aunt and Uncle :)

When we got home we posed for pictures on the bed...

And we hugged on Benny. However, Benny was a little jealous as he wasn't getting all the attention for once...

And we went to dinner and colored on our menus and ate salads. Well, actually Caroline was the only one to eat a salad. I thought most children ordered off the kids menu but not this grown up girl! She knew exactly what she wanted :)

We decided we needed a little sugar so we splurged on icees and Nerds...

And we watched Despicable Me at the movies...

And then we came home and realized our AC was no longer working. No more pictures after this point as we were all a sweaty mess in the house. We managed to sleep through the night though and woke up bright and early the next morning and worked in the yard. Yes, the yard. My five year old niece insisted we pull weeds and sweep the back patio. She also said she would clean the house. Hmmm I knew it was a little dirty but I guess she pointed out the obvious. Anyways, Caroline is welcome back to our house anytime :)

We have a pool! Well, my parents do....

2010-07-14T20:46:00.000-05:00

I mentioned a few weeks ago that my parents moved into their new house and that it deserved a post of its own. And it most certainly does. It does just because of the fact that they now have a pool. I don't know about anyone else but if you live in Texas you need a pool. Or at least know someone that has one nearby. I wanted a pool my whole entire life growing up and now, when I'm 26, they decide to build a house with a beautiful pool. Good thing the house has plenty of room for my little fam of three because they don't know it yet but we are moving in :)

Anyways, I wanted to share a few pictures because their new house is beautiful and my parents spent so much time on every detail that it wouldn't be fair to not share this with others. And now for a tour of some of my favorite rooms...

Great Room

We normally find oureslves gathering in the kitchen when we all get together and now we will be able to cook, hang out at the island, eat at the table, watch TV and no one would be left out.

One of the many old doors

I know this picture isn't exactly a room but I wanted to show a picture of one of the doors. My parents carefully selected old doors and had them refurbished to fit their house. I love that they did this and it really adds character to the house.

Wine Room

I think the picture says enough but everything about this room is amazing. I love how you have to step down to enter the room and I love the antique brick on the walls and ceiling. Oh, and I kinda love all the wine in the room :)

Master Bath

Now this is truly one of my favorite rooms. Look at the tub!!! I think it's calling my name...

Outdoor Living / Pool

There she is. The pool. The pool I always wanted. And it's everything I dreamed of.

More outdoor living

Even though it's the hottest time of the year here in Texas we have still spent tons of time out here already and I imagine that will always be the case.

I hope you enjoyed the tour. I know I sure did and I wasn't kidding about moving in. Mom, I know you're reading this so I hope you don't mind.... I promise Benny won't go swimming too much :) Honestly though, they have built this house for their family and I'm so excited for all the fun memories to come here.

Also, I couldn't end this post without a picture from Ryan's birthday night. My mom cooked up a delicious meal and we ended the evening with a delicious carrot cake. Unfortantly, I do not get "wife of the year" as I did not bake this but I did pick it up from a fabulous local market and that counts in my book :)

Fun on the Fourth

2010-07-06T20:35:00.001-05:00

Ryan and I spent this last Sunday celebrating July 4th with some of our best friends. Ryan played golf that morning and we then headed to our friends apartment for an afternoon at the pool. Later that evening we all put on our most patriotic clothes and headed to the rooftop of their apartment where we had an amazing view of downtown Houston. We enjoyed hamburgers/hotdogs, listened to some great music, enjoyed a few cold beverages and anxiously awaited the fireworks show. All in all, it was a great summer day and we had a blast celebrating Americas birthday!

That's not the only birthday we are celebrating in our household as Ryan turns the big 26 this Friday. We've got plans to spend the weekend at my parents new house with the whole fam and I'm sure they'll be tons of pool time, golf, laughs and good food and wine :)

Recent Happenings

2010-06-25T20:11:00.000-05:00

I promised to provide more pictures on my blog and to keep with my promise I have provided all my faithful readers with a few from recent happenings. I can't guarantee that they are very good pictures but they are pictures. And they actually include people and not just dogs. So here it goes...

Last weekend Ryan and I made the short trek to Austin for a little weekend getaway. This year has been so busy with school and work that Ryan and I simply needed to get away. And sleep. And relax. And that we did. However, when we arrived on Friday evening we had a little problem with our room key. As in it wouldn't open the hotel room. And the guy swore it would work and yet it didn't. Every. single. time. At this point it's past 9 pm we are starving and in need of an adult beverage. Ryan decides he's had enough and boldly marches down to the front desk and demands a new room. We didn't exactly get a new room but we were promised when we came back from dinner our keys would work. I guess Ryan didn't look scary enough but they did give us two complimentary breakfast buffets the next morning. Not quite a new room but hey, I'll take a delicious omelet any day :)

The next morning Ryan and I slept in and then enjoyed our delicious FREE breakfast downstairs before making plans for the day. We decided to hit up a local winery just 25 miles south of Austin called Mandola Estate Winery. I'm pretty sure it was 11 am and we had already tasted five wines each. Who's judging? I'm pretty sure it's ok to drink before noon when on vacation.

After we sampled some Texas wines we drove around a bit and then decided we would go back to the hotel and then spend the afternoon walking around. That lasted about 20 minutes. Ryan and I were soaking wet and decided what the heck were we thinking. Walking around in 100 degrees?? Not exactly relaxing. So we hit up a local convenience store for a six pack and went up the roof-top pool at the hotel. Now we're talking. I was much happier reading my magazine next to a pool, beer in hand, with a great view of downtown Austin.

After a leisure afternoon we cleaned up and went for an early dinner at Iron Cactus on 6th Street. We enjoyed some great food and then headed to the concert. The concert is actually the real reason we made this little trip to Austin as one of our fave bands, Passion Pit, was going to be in Texas. What we didn't realize was that while the doors to the venue opened at 7 the band didn't actually come out until 10:30. Clue number one we are getting too old for concerts. Clue number two was that we really were the oldest people at the concert. I'm pretty sure all the other boys were wearing skinny jeans and had just graduated from high school while Ryan had on khaki shorts and a polo and almost has his second college degree. Anyways, we had a great time hanging out, err sweating, waiting for the concert to start.

I told you we were sweaty...

I will say the concert was great though. The venue really was awesome and we jammed out with the rest of the skinny jean wearing, high school kiddos and promptly headed back to our hotel afterward for a cold shower and slept for about 12 hours. I told you we were getting old but it was wonderful.

Moving on....

Last night I went to dinner with three of my best friends, Kim, Sara & Leslie and we had a great time catching up with each other. After dinner we headed back to my house and enjoyed another glass (or two) of vino. Ryan so kindly took this picture of us which I think might have been the third of fourth try. We couldn't stop giggling and while this one isn't perfect it was still the best. Oh, and Leslie is officially moving back from Dallas to start her career as a dentist here in Houston and I'm looking forward to having the whole gang back together.

In other recent news, my parents moved into their new house today. The house we have all been waiting for. And it has a pool. I don't want to say too much as this news deserves a whole post for itself...

Happy Weekend!

Benny times two...

2010-06-16T21:26:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we watched our friends dog Wyatt. Wyatt also happens to be a puppy. Who is playful. And who sheds. Does that remind you of someone?? Does a black lab named Benjy come to mind??? Wyatt and Bennett happen to be great puppy friends who love to wrestle, play tug-a-war, sleep in the A/C and did I mention wrestle?

While I absolutely adore our friends golden retriever I have come to realize that I am not a two dog person. Definitely not a two (BIG) dog person in a 1,200 square foot house. My wood floors took quite a beating with all the thrashing around in the house and I think I swept up enough dog hair after Wyatt left to create a whole new dog! Now, I'm not complaining too much as I'm a softie for these dogs and the fact that Bennett slept for two whole days afterward was pretty great....

And as promised in my previous post - I have pictures!

I hope you don't mind looking at a few close-ups of the dog. See, they can be cute....

And then they can be mean...

Enough of the dogs. So what did Ryan and I do this weekend? Well, Ryan spent quite a bit of time in the yard Saturday afternoon...

And I supervised while drinking a cold one. Oh, the life:)

Rudy Updates

2010-06-09T20:59:00.000-05:00

What's going on in the Rudy household lately? Since it's been a couple (or 10) days since I last posted I thought I would give an update in bullet format....

I spent Memorial Day out at my sister-in-law's house laying out by the pool. For about 6 hours. And my white body turned a deep pink color. And it hurt. And 9 days later I'm still peeling. Oh, I also want to note that my brother-in-law is a fabulous pool boy. If he is ever looking for a new profession I'll know just what to suggest :)
That next day I headed to the Sunshine State to attend a conference for a week in Orlando. I had a great time at the conference and met a lot of really great people. I also had the chance to go to Epcot while I was there. And I may never go back. Not really my scene. Not sure if that was because a bird pooped on me while I was there or maybe it was the $40 they wanted to charge me to eat bratwurst at the Beer Garten. Haven't decided yet...
While in Orlando Ryan and I had our third anniversary. Yes, third! I toasted in honor of us that evening at the House of Blues and we officially celebrated on Saturday at Vic & Anthony's. We love to celebrate big occasions with a great dinner and this one did not disappoint.
Now that Ryan is no longer in school my grocery bill has more than doubled. I can no longer get away with eating cereal for dinner and I'm forced to actually buy food. Does ravioli and frozen pizza count?? I'm not really sure but I do know it's more expensive than cereal. Ryan also commented tonight that maybe we should change up our three dinners that we eat every week. I might need to dust off the crock-pot again....Any suggestions on quick and easy dinners to make??

Annnd that's about it. Not too exciting but I didn't want to leave you hanging too long. Hopefully I'll be back soon with pictures!

Milestones

2010-05-31T20:30:00.000-05:00

This weekend Ryan completed his first year of his MBA at Rice. Woohoo! He's half way there and we have both survived. And yes, I said both. I know I didn't actually have to go to class, work on projects and take the tests but I was there mentally for him. Always cheering him on. Reminding him it's all worth it. It's been a tough job but someone has to do it :) Anyways, I'm super proud of him and for all he has accomplished so far.

On Sunday night we attended our good friend Sara's graduation party. Sara recently graduated from Law school and we were so excited to celebrate with her. Not only did we celebrate Sara's recent accomplishemnt but we also got to hang out with our other good friend Leslie who just graduated from Dental school. We all went to high school together and it's crazy to think that since that time Leslie has become a Dentist, Sara a Lawyer and Ryan's on his way to receiving his MBA. Such big milestones and I'm so proud of them all!

Benny needs a Pedicure

2010-05-25T20:31:00.002-05:00

We have a problem in the Rudy household. We have a black dog, (a.k.a. Bennett, Benjy, Schmoopy, Doofus, etc.) who happens to have the longest nails in lab history. You see, this is a problem because he scratches the floors. And he jumps off the bed in the middle of the night and likes to prance around the wood floors to make just enough noise to wake us up. And these nails hurt when he paws at you at 6 am in the morning. And did I mention they scratch our floors??

Yes, this is a problem. However, this problem could easily be solved if Ryan and I took our long-nailed furry friend to Pets Mart to get them filed down. Or even if we bought clippers and did them ourselves. Nah...that would be too easy.

It's been months now that we've been saying we need to take care of this problem and I'm not really sure what's stopping us. Maybe if I threaten to paint them a nice shade of OPI Passion Pink Ryan will take care of these freakish long nails :)

Relaxing Weekend

2010-05-16T16:29:00.000-05:00

We've had quite a relaxing weekend in our household which is rare so we made sure to enjoy every moment. Friday night we hung out with some of our besties (Aaron&Nicole, Mark&Ali) and hit up our usual spot for dinner at El Tiempo and then came back to our place to play some dominoes. It's been forever since we've all hung out and it was nice to spend some time catching up. Unfortunately I did not get any pictures that night as it was pouring rain and our hair was soaked once we got to the restaurant. Oh well, I think we got over our frizzy hair once our margaritas arrived :)

Saturday was also rainy which actually made for the perfect day. Ryan and I have been talking about how we would love a Saturday where we didn't have much going on and we could just hang out at the house and relax. We also had my parents dogs over the weekend since they were out of town and I loved being able to spend time with them. I think Benny was a little jealous with them around though as they were getting quite a bit of attention :)

The weather cleared up Saturday night and we tried a new restaurant that just opened up near us. I would definitely recommend BRC to anyone in the Houston area and we will be headed back soon!

I'm also sure today has been the laziest day of all. We slept in, went to lunch and I've been messing around in Photoshop this afternoon and Ryan's been catching up on school work. Nothing too exciting in our household but it was definitely a nice weekend.

In other news, Ryan and I were discussing at lunch today that our third wedding anniversary is coming up in the next two weeks. Not only is it almost our our anniversary but Ryan will have soon finished his first year of his MBA and I will have been working for four years!! Where has the time gone?!? Either way, I think we'll have a few good reasons to celebrate :)

Spontaneous Date Night

2010-05-05T21:01:00.000-05:00

It seems we've been out of town quite a bit this past month and this last Friday afternoon Ryan and I found ourselves home with not much going on. We were tempted to stay home and relax but we've been wanting to try a local brewery here in Houston as they do a tour and tasting in the afternoons. We quickly scanned the internet for more details and realized that if we hurried we could make the tasting as they only keep the taps open for an hour or so. We were pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed ourselves over at Saint Arnold Brewery. We were given several tokens to sample their beer and enjoyed them all. The best part about it was the laid back atmosphere. They had many tables set out and people were playing cards, Jenga, and just enjoying themselves. We sampled a few beers, played a few rounds of gin and headed home to relax.

After we came home we decided we would try a local Mexican restaurant for an early dinner and then come back home for the night. Half way through our meal Ryan looks at me and says, "Did you know Phoenix is playing in town tonight? If we hurry we might be able to make it." I look up, pleasantly surprised, and say "Let's go!"

The next thing I know we're standing outside Verizon theater, handing over a wad of cash to some sketchy guy outside selling tickets since it was sold out. Thankfully, we made it in and our tickets were legit. We walked in just in time to grab a beer and catch the start of the show. Phoenix is one of our favorite bands and we had the best time at the concert. I loved that we were spontaneous and just went with the moment. We truly had the best day together and it's something I'll never forget.

We even had such a good time that when we got home we booked tickets to see Passion Pit in Austin this summer.

Oh, and since I can't write a post without a picture I'll leave you with this fabulous picture of me at the concert. I know my eyes look Chinese and I'm slightly embarrassed to show a picture of me with a beer this gigantic but I'm happy and that's what matters :)