We're Back...

Michael and his fellow 5th years! They have worked so hard!
Michael and Will in the hotel wearing their hats!
Will and I overlooking the water in La Jolla.
Will's first plane ride! He was soooo good!

Will in the hotel bed, he loved sitting up on the pillows.
Us at the House of Blues for a reception! Will tagged along - it was non-smoking! :)
Rachel and I
All the girls at the Hotel Del Coronado (the oldest building west of the MIssissippi)
The 5th year wives! I will miss these girls!

We got back home today from San Diego, it was such a great trip! We took Will with us (I just wasn't ready to leave him for so long!) and, let me brag for a minute, HE WAS PERFECT! He slept on the flights and when he was awake he just looked around and smiled! We were able to take him out to dinner every night and you would never know he was there! We had a rental car that all the girls ran around in, so that was nice, I can't imagine having to get him in and out of cabs all the time! We shopped and went sight seeing during the day and he would just hang out! It was great, and I am sure that will probably not be the norm for future trips - but by then I won't be nervous to leave him for a short time!

San Diego is a great city, lots to do! The wives got to enjoy it a little more than the guys since they were in conferences for most of the day, but they were able to meet up in the afternoon, then go out to dinner at night! So that would be why there are many pictures of just Will and I and no Michael!

We went to La Jolla (pronounced "hoya") for the day on Saturday. Supposedly it is a place some stars like to frequent, but we didn't see any. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the recently "bald Britney," what is up with that anyway? Poor girl needs an intervention and a weave.

Oh yeah, they lost my bag. It still hasn't been located. Bummer.

Blog Withdrawl...

Hello from San Diego! We have been in San Diego since Tuesday for the AAOS Conference! Michael is a 5th year (the last year, hallelujah) orthopedic surgery resident, and their last year they get to go to the conference. The wives get to tag along as well and we have had so much fun! The weather here is incredible, so much better than what we have been experiencing at home! I now know why this is one of the most expensive places to live in the US. I have lots of pictures I can't wait to post when we get home. Anyway, we got internet access in our room and I had some time tonight to catch up on my blog reading which I have missed the past few days. Well back to the real world on Sunday - the trip has not been long enough!

My Vice

I had to blog something new so that the first thing that pops up on my blog is not the picture of Haley. It makes me too sad. So I have decided to share a recipe for the BEST cookies. I call them my vice because I make them so often and easily eat 5 or 6 in a sitting. I have actually been better about it lately as Michael is on a health kick and I have those last pounds of pregnancy to lose! Anyway, they are so easy to make and they are delicious. You can't overcook them though or they aren't as good, so be sure to keep a close eye on them in the oven! So here is the recipe:

Chewy Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies (I made up the name because I can't remember what the cookbook called them!)

1 brownie mix (if you use one with chocolate chunks in it already you can bypass the bag of chocolate chips)
2 eggs
1/2 cup of oil
Bag of semi sweet chocolate chips

Mix the brownie mix, eggs, and oil together. Add chocolate chips (you won't need the entire bag, unless you are a true chocoholic!) Spoon on to a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes (I always peek at them, I never use a timer) on 350. Enjoy!

Oh yeah, since I have made them so many times I even know the best brownie mix to use. Use the Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mix, it has the Hershey's syrup packet in it. This mix makes the best cookies.

Goodbye Haley...We love you

Haley at Halloween as Elvis
Haley's first hike


Today has been a tough day. As many of you know, Michael and I have a chocolate lab named Haley. Last night she was hit by a car and died. We took her to the pet hospital and there was nothing they could do as she had internal bleeding. We are so sad, she was the GREATEST dog. We got Haley a month after we were married 5 years ago. She went everywhere with us, she was our "first baby." We loved that dog so much, it has been like losing a family member. I posted a couple of pictures, I couldn't do anymore, it was just too hard looking at them. She was such a happy, spirited dog. She loved to eat Nerds (one at a time gently out of my hand!), swim in the Belhaven pond, do her tricks (which included "speaking softly" which was a quiet bark, SO cute), hanging out in Michael's office, going for rides in the car, the list is endless. We have so many great memories with her, it is so hard to believe she is gone. So hug your dogs tonight, rub their bellies, bring them inside from the cold, and take them for that walk you have been meaning to take them on.

Cousins

While we were in Nashville we went to visit some of Michael's extended family. Dee Dee and Toby brought Abby and Beau as well and we got some really cute pictures of the cousins together! Beau really likes grabbing Will and Abby loves to hold Will! You can see Abby is trying to control the two boys in the photos!

Recent Pictures

Will getting ready for bed!
Will posing!
My little cowboy!
Will and his Grandi
Will loves his swing!
Will and Grandad
Will and his Bumbo (I know it is purple, it was a gift and the only color Target had left!)

Will and his daddy!

Just a hodge podge of pictures! We also went to Atlanta on our way to Nashville to see my parents! They ate will up - they are so crazy about their grandson!

This was fun...

1. What time did you get up this morning? woke up at 4:44, again at 8:00, then 9:15 (new life as a mother!)
2. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the movies? Last Kiss (Zach Braff and Rachel Bilson, pretty good)
4. What is your favorite TV show(s)? 24 (obsessed), Lost, MTV reality shows (can't believe I just admitted that), oh yeah I love Talk Soup on E!
5. What did you have for breakfast? Nothing
6. What is your favorite food? Mexican food, Newk's Favorite Salad
7. What foods do you dislike? really greasy stuff
8. What is your favorite potato chip flavor? Jalapeno
9. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Coldplay X and Y
10. What type of car do you drive? Honda Pilot
11. What characteristics do you despise? Fake and Conceited
12. Favorite item of clothing? citizen jeans
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation where would you go? Back to Australia
14. Favorite brand of clothing? Can't name a favorite, I have too many
15. Where would you like to retire? Beach
16. Favorite time of the day? In the morning playing with my baby boy
17. Favorite color? Black
18. Favorite sport to watch? Football
19. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? My husband
20. Who do you expect to send it back first? no one, more of a blog topic
21. What fabric detergent do you use? All, Dreft
22. Coke or Pepsi? Coke
23. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Midday
24. What is your shoe size? Depends on how cute the shoe is! But usually 9.5
25. Do you have any pets? yes, Haley, our chocolate lab
**********FAVORITES**************** >
26. Shampoo? Dove
27. Summer or winter? Summer
28. Favorite Advertisement? Citibank identity theft commercials....shoot
****RIGHT NOW***************** >
29. Wearing? pink shorts, wife-beater
30. Eating? nothing
31. Drinking? Water
32. Thinking about?when Will is going to eat again
33. Listening to: SNL
34. Book - US Weekly magazine
35. Cried: first night Will came home
36. Drove a car: Yesterday
37. How many hours sleep? less than I used to
**********DO YOU BELIEVE IN**************** >
38. Yourself? Yes
39. Your friends? yes
40. Santa Claus? yes
41. Destiny/Fate? Sometimes
42. Ghosts? No
**********FRIENDS AND LIFE********** >
43. Who have you known the longest of your friends? Ryan
44. Who do you go to for advice? God, Michael, Mom, Dad, Lori,
45. When do you cry the most? When my feelings are hurt
46. Do you want your friends to do this and send it back to you? Well, yes

My Ebay Habit...

I have a problem, I can't quit bidding on items on eBay. I really don't know what made me start, but I can't stop. I don't know how many of you love to see your child in smocked clothing, but I do. The outfits are so cute and yet so expensive. So I have discovered on eBay that you can get brand new smocked outfit for a fraction of the cost they are in stores. I have bought numerous outfits that are $70 in the store and I get them for anywhere from $15 to $30 brand new. I actually hesitated to blog this information (you all have probably already discovered it) because soon when you all get addicted, you will be bidding against me on these precious outfits! :) It almost becomes a game when you get down to the last five minutes and you and another person want the same outfit, so you are going back and forth upping the bid a dollar each time. I get quite competitive and usually end up spending more than I want to on the item just so I can win it. It's sick... Anyone else obsessed with eBay?

Our 5th Wedding Anniversary

Michael and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on Friday. I can't believe how quickly the time has passed. We were looking through old pictures last night of us when we were dating and just married. We looked so much younger! It is so much fun looking back on all of those times. They are so easily forgotten. I posted a picture of us in Australia at Bondi beachabout a year and a half ago, it is one of my favorites! The sky was so gorgeous that evening the picture hardly does it justice!
We didn't do much for our anniversary, Will got to celebrate with us! However, we did go to our favorite sushi restaurant and it was delicious as always. We are going to Atlanta next week, so the grandparents are going to watch Will while we go celebrate our anniversary properly!

Check out my muscles...

Aren't naked babies the cutest!

More pictures!

Here are a few pictures of Will I have taken. I feel like I need to take pictures everyday because he is growings so fast. We had our 8 week checkup last Thursday, he is 14 lbs. 4 oz and 23 1/2 inches long! I can't believe it! He got his shots and was so brave :) He only cried when he received the shots and stopped when I picked him up. I am so glad I didn't have to watch him in too much pain!!!!
Today I went over to the school I previously taught at to say hello and clean out my room. They hired another biology teacher to replace me so I had to get my things out! It was kind of sad. I have been teaching there for almost 5 years (the whole time Michael has been doing his residency here), so I had made some good friends. Anyway I got to "show off' Will and they all say he looks like daddy!

Christmas In Nashville

The Family!
Will in one of his Christmas outfits!
Uncle Toby and Will
Uncle Berry and Will
Uncle Kyle and Will
Mimi and Will
Aunt Dee Dee and Will

Christmas In Atlanta

It has been a while since I have last posted! We have been traveling like crazy taking Will to see all our family and friends. It all started on December 15th, Michael had to work so my dad flew down to ride with me to Atlanta (thanks Dad). That would have been a tough trip to do by myself. So I spent a week in Atlanta with my family, then Michael flew to Atlanta and we drove to see Michael's family in Nashville. Here are a few pictures of the VERY proud grandparents with their favorite (only!) grandson! We had so much fun! Will loves his Grandi and Grandad!

Growing so fast...

I can't believe how quickly babies grow! Will is already outgrowing some of his clothes! Here are some new pictures of Will and a picture of our Christmas tree! I love the holidays!

Sweet Baby

I haven't posted in forever!!! I have been a little busy :) Being a mother thus far is wonderful and I expect it only to get better. It is exhausting and demanding, but so great at the same time! Will is so sweet! He loves to eat and is actually sleeping pretty well. For the most part he only wakes up at night to eat! I love this picture of him, it is a little blurry, but I love it!

Will is Here!!!

William Kelly Wells has arrived! He was born November 8, 2006 at 3:10 pm. He weighed 8 lbs 1 oz and was 20 and 3/4 inches! He is healthly and SO SWEET! We are in love. Here are a few pictures, I will post more later. Also, thank you all so much for all of the prayers that got us through 10 weeks of bedrest and a healthy arrival of our baby boy.

The latest, latest...

Tomorrow will be my last day as a pregnant person! I went to the doctor today. We had the ultrasound and Will's estimated weight was 7 lbs 10 oz - so not big at all! My blood pressure was a little high, nothing dangerous, but my doctor decided to go ahead and induce this Wednesday! So hopefully my next post will include pictures of our new addition...:)

Let the countdown begin...

So I tried to change the latest picture up a little bit. Every picture I have posted lately is of me, growing! Boring - so tonight (I turned 38 weeks today!) I had Michael set up the tripod so he could be in the picture too. I wish I had some fun Halloween pictures to post, but this Halloween was pretty uneventful. So anyway, here we are at 38 weeks and I do have some new info from the doctor! I have dilated (sorry if that is too much information, I feel kind of weird sometimes talking about my cervix! :), I am only at 1 cm, so my doctor decided to do the ultrasound on Monday to check his size. She still thinks he is big, so she is planning on inducing or a c-section (if needed) on November 13! Three days before his due date. Soooooo, if she still feels the same way about things on Monday - the countdown can officially begin!

The Latest

Well I went to the doctor yesterday and here is the latest...
I have not dilated at all. I will go back to the doctor on Wednesday and she will check me again (I will be 38 weeks), if I have not dilated we will wait a few more days and then she will do the ultrasound. If I have dilated she will do one that day. She wants to get the most accurate measurement of his size possible. So it is just a waiting game. It has been so great being able to get out and about and not worry about doing too much! I will keep you all posted...

Lookin' Large...

I haven't posted in quite a while so I thought I better do it while I can before the baby gets here! Everyone is telling me to enjoy these last couple of weeks because our world is about to be rocked!!!! I will be 37 weeks on Thursday! Which means he is term and I will no longer be on official bedrest!!! I have a doctor appointment tomorrow and she expects that I will have dilated some, so we will see! Either way, it is hard to believe that we will have our baby here in two weeks! WOW!

Dee and Beau

We have had so much fun since last Wednesday with my sister in law and nephew! Dee Dee helped out so much, doing laundry, making yummy desserts, and helping figure out what else I need before Will gets here. It was so great having her here! I miss her a lot! Beau is such a sweet and good baby! Michael and I loved being able to spend time with him! WHile they were here Dee Dee got Beau's Halloween costume. He is going to be a chicken, look at how cute he is in it! Thanks Dee Dee and Beau for coming to visit!

Baby Gear

We are busy getting ready for baby! Michael put Will's car seat and stroller together this week! My nephew Beau has been using his car seat to ride around in while my sister in law was in town keeping me company! He seems to be quite comfy in the car seat, so Will should too! Now Michael has to work on putting the swing and bouncy seat together. I know I will want those ready to go when Will gets here. I went to the doctor Thursday. I am 35 weeks! Everything looked good, I am starting to efface a little bit, but no dilation. My doctor said she would take me off bedrest at 36 or 37 weeks at my last few visits, so I asked her Thursday if I would be off bedrest at 36 weeks...Well she said, "Let's wait until 37." I knew it ugh!!!! Just kidding, I love my doctor, she has taken very good care of me through all of this!

Baby Update

Well as you can see I am getting larger by the day and Michael is getting skinnier! Michael even said I have a slight waddle! I didn't want to be a waddler, but I guess that is what big pregnant women do! I am now 34 weeks yea!!!! So that means 2 more weeks of bedrest! I went to the doctor yesterday and there has been no change, so that is good. All along my doctor thought I was going to have a big baby, so I asked her at my appointment if she thought he was going to be big still. She said yes! They will do another ultrasound at 37 or 38 weeks to see how big he really is - if he seems to be a biggon' she may do a c-section. We will see what happens, of course with the preterm labor I could still have him early and him not be that big! Time will tell.