Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We were in San Antonio, our home away from home, Sunday through Wednesday. We love going to the riverwalk, I think we have been there 4 times this year. We usually stay on the riverwalk and just eat and walk around while talking about where we are going to eat next. It is always so beautiful this time of year. We got back just in time to go to my brother's for Christmas Eve dinner. James and I really didn't get anything for eachother just our little mini vacation and a Playstation 3. Men and their toys. He's been wanting one for a long time and since he's been working really hard lately I told him I wanted him to get one for Christmas. I didn't really want or need anything anyways. The only things I wanted are for the nursery and I already know we are going to get those. I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of the lights on the riverwalk.

SHE'S ALIVE!!

I am now on week 24 and I haven't felt her move much. In fact I was not sure I had felt her at all. There were times when I thought I would feel something but as soon as it caught my attention it was gone. It probably only happened about 4 or 5 times within the last week. All my books and from talking to other people I thought I would feel start to feel it at about 18 weeks. I was not ever worried because every time we heard the heartbeat it was really strong and Dr. Manning said she could hear her moving in there.

So on Wednesday we ate dinner and I thought I would just get off my feet for a minute before cleaning up my mess. And I am pretty sure I could feel her moving. It felt like my intestines were rolling in my stomach. It only lasted for about 20 seconds. But it was the best 20 seconds I have had since becoming pregnant. I just can't believe that there is a baby in there. A little girl in my class who is 2 was telling my about her mommy and daddy and right then it hit me that one day this little person would be walking around calling us mommy and daddy. It is just soooo surreal. I cannot wait until the day that little Olivia will be here.

I did have a Dr.'s appt. yesterday it was my glucose screening. I won't know anything until next week about that but everything else checked out good. I did ask her about movement and she said it was a little unusual that I wasn't feeling her more often. She didn't seemed concerned and said she is probably just lazy. Off to a busy day shopping, baby shower and then a Christmas party. Not to mention that we bought a tree last Saturday and it still does not have one decoration on it.

Vacation

The first week of November we went on a much needed vacation to Virginia, Atlantic City NJ, NYC, and Washington DC. We were gone for 9 days and is was so hard to come home. Here are just a couple of pictures.

It was so beautiful up there. This picture does not do the scenery justice.The trees were so beautiful.


We went to this awesome restaurant called the Melting Pot. It's a fondue restaurant. We started out with a cheese fondue and a salad. Then we had our entree, lobster tail, steak, shrimp, ravioli, pork tenderloin, salmon, chicken, and vegetables. They gave us a boiling pot of broth and we cooked our own food. This restaurant is genius. They charge $100 for you to cook your own food. Then we had dessert! It was a turtle chocolate fondue. We dipped rice crispy treats, pound cake, cheesecake, brownies, marshmallows, strawberries, and bananas.

On the boardwalk.

In Central Park
In NYC

While we were there we got to visit with my aunt and uncle and grandma for a couple of days. This is me, James, grandma, Aunt Barbara, Eliana, and Uncle Marlon having dinner.

It's been waaaaay too long!

I am as horrible at keep up with this as I thought I would be. So much has happened in the last four months! James and I are expecting our first child, a little girl. I am due March 31st and can't wait to meet Olivia Paige. So that makes me about 22 weeks, 5 months (according to the books).

Everything has been pretty good this first half. I had about 6 weeks of morning sickness. Not anything I couldn't handle. I have been eating more fruit, especially green apples, and sour stuff. But I do think that James has had some sympathy symptoms. For about 3 or 4 weeks he had to have ice cream, either Dairy Queen or Sonic, late at night. At about 9:55 he'd ask if I thought he had enough time to make it to Dairy Queen which closes at 10.

The only thing that has been really tough is the fatigue. I am still always so tired. I used to say up till about 11 or 12 but now I am ready for bed at like 7. But I guess it could be worse.

This is one of my favorites.



I cannot believe how amazing God is. Did you see that little foot? I just don't know how anyone could abort these precious little miracles. But that's a whole other post.



Here is her profile. I think she has her daddy's nose.

Welcome

Welcome to the Smith blog. Here is a little background info. We are James and Ashley Smith and have been married for four years. We have two yellow labs who are spoiled rotten. James owns a framing contracting business which keeps him really busy and I am a preschool teacher. I just thought this would be a good way to update everyone on what goes on in the Smith house.