Answers

I guess it's true...there really aren't that many people that read this. But that's okay, I will still write here (more for me than anything else).

It's time to answer the few questions that I did actually get, so here goes:

C.C. asked: If I could live anywhere, where would it be? Hmmm...there are lots of places I would like to visit, but I don't really know that there is one specific place I would like to live. My choice of living destinations changes periodically, based on the circumstances and what is going on in my life. Sometimes I would like to live in certain places so that I could be closer to certain family or friends. Sometimes I would like to move someplace where no one knows us so we can "start over." For some weird reason I have always wanted to live in Montana (but not in the winter time!). And sometimes, I like living here in Abilene...because it is familiar. So I guess I don't really have one specific place I have always wanted to live. (Nice answer, huh!)

Kelly asked: What names have we chosen for the baby? Nice try, Kelly! Did you really think I would answer that? You'll just have to wait like everyone else!

Ronnie asked: What makes me most nervous about being a parent? Where do I begin? The list of things that I am nervous or scared about is pretty endless right now. I'm nervous about actually delivering this baby (yikes!). I'm afraid I won't know how to take care of a child. I'm afraid of doing the wrong thing (which I know will happen many times!). I'm not real excited about diaper blow-outs and projectile spit-up. I'm afraid of disciplining, or not disciplining a child. I'm nervous about all the things I will be responsible for teaching a child. The list goes on and on. But honestly, I think the thing that is most pressing on my mind lately is the anxiety about loving a child the way a mom should. It's weird, but right now I don't feel like I love the baby enough, and I think maybe there's something wrong with me that I don't feel that love yet. Sometimes I think I should be more exciting about having a baby, but it just doesn't seem to have really hit me yet. I thought when I saw the first sonogram I would feel something different. Then I thought when I heard the heartbeat for the first time that would do it. But so far...nothing has really given me "the feelings" that I think I'm supposed to have. Don't get me wrong, I am happy about having a baby, I guess I just had all these expectations in my head about the way I thought it was supposed to feel, and so far those expectations haven't been met. Does that make any sense?

So, any more questions?

Weekend Update

We had such a great time this weekend. Being in Plainview, and on the Wayland campus brought back lots of memories from the years I spent there. Friday night a group of us got together and had a great time catching up and looking back. It was lots of fun looking at old yearbooks and old pictures and laughing at the silly (and sometimes stupid) stuff we did. And even better was looking at current pictures of everyone's kids and families, and hearing what everyone is doing now.

Mike & Summer, Kevin & Sarah & Elizabeth, Eric & Mandi

Sarah, Mandi, & Summer (This is kind of a tradition for us...just missing Kala.)

Here's an upright shot of us (Mandi, Sarah, Summer).

Saturday morning we made our way to the famous Spudnuts Donuts establishment, where we again spent time talking and laughing with good friends Sarah & Kevin, and Summer & Mike. We proceded from there to the campus where we (unsuccessfully) were planning on attending the actual "reunion" part of the festivities. Since we obviously missed that, we gave ourselves a tour of the campus and oohed and aahed over the new student activity center. (Where was a place like that when we were there??) I think the most memory-inspiring activity was the trek through our old dorm. Summer and I dragged Eric and Mike up and down all the hallways of the dorm, pointing out which rooms we lived in, who lived in each of the other rooms, which stairs we had to drag our friends up in the middle of the night when they were not able to do so themselves (ahem...Michelle!), how the bathrooms had not changed at all, the basement where the laundry area was still quite stinky and scary, and even the backyard with a funny (although somewhat unfortunate) story about laundry and misfit kids (Rachel). After a yummy lunch at Leal's we went the the basketball games where we caught up with some other friends and had a good time visiting. Overall, the time spent in Plainview was really great, and I guess we will make the journey again in 10 years! (Maybe we won't wait that long this time!)

Following our time in Plainview, Eric & I went to Lubbock where we spent Saturday night and Sunday with our good friends Kelly & Kory. Kelly and I met while working as auditors together at DK in Abilene. She has been, and will always be, an amazing friend, a delicious and talented cake maker and decorator, a fun scrapbooking buddy, and a genuine person who I am happy to call my friend! We had a fun time with she and Kory Saturday night eating pancakes (you've got the love the Lion's Club!), playing pool (although not the original plan), watching wedding videos (Eric's favorite part!), and eating chocolate pie (yum!).

Kelly & Mandi

Me & Eric...we don't have very many pictures of us, and this is why!

Kory & Kelly

So, other than being super tired, everything about the weekend was great. And I can't wait until I get to see my friends again!