Ya'all Come Back Now!

So we are officially in Texas now! (Actually....for those of you who know us well....we have been in Texas since July 17th). I must say that Texas has been an amazing experience so far. I have had employees in burger joints take pictures of my baby. I have driven in downtown Houston and within a 3-block radius drove by what appeared to be a crack house and then "luxury" condominiums. On their behalf, the condos looked nice but seriously...would you want to live down the street from a drug dealer? I have also learned what TRUE humidity is. My friends....it is MUCH different than dry heat. Often, at least three times a day, I get the distinct impression that it wouldn't be a bad idea if I showered...AGAIN. As for Brandon....who's Brandon? I hardly see the guy anymore! He has a pretty intense schedule with law school! He is up and out to school by 6:45 AM. I usually see him that night around 8 PM. But don't get too excited! Once he comes home, it's back to the books until bedtime. So basically...I have decided that it is a VERY good thing that I am not a super needy person. I am what I like to refer to as "self-entertaining". If you don't believe me...ask my mom. Apparently, when I was a wee little lad, I would sit at the table writing my name over and over again for about three hours at a time. Yep...now that I am a mother...I know what all of you mothers are thinking...WOW!!! WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO HAVE THREE STRAIGHT HOURS OF PEACE!!!! Well...it is the price we pay for those cute little faces and fun memories!

Kennedy Lynn Frenza

Brandon and I now have a new addition to our family! Her name is Kennedy Lynn. She is currently 11 days old and is absolutely adorable. She has a head full of dark brown hair. She was born on September 18th at 6:07 PM. That same morning at 4:00 AM I was admitted to the hospital. It was a long day with a WONDERFUL ending! Brandon assisted in coaching me through the delivery process. He did an amazing job. I will be posting pictures in the near future once I get a chance to breathe!

It's a GIRL!!!

I am what some people may lovingly refer to as a blog slacker. "Yes," I have a blog, and "No," I do not update it frequently. Let me apologize now, and move right on to the news. We are having a GIRL!!!!! We are still thinking of names. We will most likely come up with our top three and once we see her choose the name that fits.

As for the pregnancy, I am doing good. No more nausea!!! YEAH!!!!! I am, however, getting to that awkward stage where sinking into the couch cushions can become quite a dilemma. Luckily Brandon is there to offer a hand and help me up!

One last note, totally unrelated to the baby, is Brandon and I will be going to see the Phantom of the Opera performed at the Venetian in Las Vegas! We are SO EXCITED!!!! I will try to be good and update our blog with our trip. Till then, have fun!

WE'RE PREGNANT!

So some of you might be thinking, "You're just barely announcing this?" While others might be thinking, " WHAT! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME SOONER!" The truth is I didn't want to prematurely announce anything until I was out of my first trimester.

Brandon and I are very excited and on May 4th we get to find out if it is a boy or a girl! As soon as we know, we will make sure YOU know!

Right now it all seems pretty surreal. I haven't felt the baby kick or move, but sure enough the heart is beating at every doctor's appointment. I don't think it has REALLY occurred to me that there is a little human in there. Perhaps this will change once he/she starts kicking and moving.

That's all for now. We'll keep you posted in four short weeks with our exciting news!

GRANDPA'S FUNERAL

The above pictures are: All of the grandkids, and the burial of my grandfather Karl West. I would be lying to you if I said that he isn't better off now. My grandpa was in bad health when he died. His death has caused me alot of reflection. Am I who I want to be? If not, what am I doing to change that TODAY. See, sometimes we live under the false pretense that we will always have tomorrow to make things better, to improve, to be come better, to mend a broken relationship. This simply isn't true. We don't own tomorrow. We don't know what the future has in store for us. All we do know is that we have the moment we are in right now. It is up to us to determine how that moment is spent. What do you want to change?

I can tell you right now what I want to change. My health, my testimony and spirtuality, and the strength of my relationships. The trick now is to live each day like it could be your last. Keeping that kind of passion in your day-to-day living can be tricky. Somehow, I do think it is possible.

TWO SWELL BOYS

Debbie, let me just say ahead of time, "I'm sorry." I will openly admit that I might have "borrowed" some of the pictures from your blog. :)

This entry is more or less a bragging session. I feel so grateful to know some pretty AMAZING boys!

One of them is my father. I LOVE my dad. He is one of my best friends. I owe a lot of who I am and who I am becoming to him. Thanks Dad!


The other ADORABLE little boy is my nephew Michael. He is SO stinkin' cute. I had the opportunity to see him about a week ago and also at New Year's. Now....I realize that I might be partial because he is family, but I swear he is the cutest little chubster! I am sure that my sister Debbie couldn't be prouder!

This is a picture of my father and my nephew together. This is the first time that my dad met his grandson. What an opportunity!

My "Love Affair" With Exercise

This is a lovely picture depicting my "love affair" with exercise. As you can see, the treadmill and stability ball are in the background. I think they have been in that position for about a week. The smile that you see in this inspiring photograph is genuine. Don't fool yourself...I am simply ecstatic about exercise.

Okay...honestly...I wish I didn't hate exercise so much. Then again, maybe I wouldn't hate exercise so much if I was in better shape and it didn't kick my butt to run a mile or lift some weights.