An Announcement Worth Blogging About...

Okay... so not quite a year since the last post... wow, that might be a record :)

So many times, I started to write a new post, but I wasn't exactly sure what to say or know exactly who would even read it. Recently, though, I've had a few requests for updates from sweet friends that we don't get to see enough. As nice as Facebook is for quick posts and random pictures, I guess it doesn't serve as the best place for telling stories and recording memories... This first post might end up being a little long to help us catch up, but here goes...

Although most of you have already probably heard... the Ballards will be a family of 3 this summer! Baby B is due July 22, and we couldn't be more excited! Let's be honest... this blog will probably become mostly about the pregnancy and the wonderful changes our family will be going through to prepare for having a child in our home. Here's a picture from Week 14. My plan is to post a new one every 2 weeks until the 3rd trimester, then every week after that.


Although, I was pretty sure I was pregnant already, I decided to wait and take a pregnancy test on my 26th birthday, November 21. I'm a pretty forgetful person, so I thought that would be a good way not to forget the day we officially found out we were pregnant. I took 2 tests just to make sure, and then left them on the counter for Brian to see. He was excited, and I think we both just said, "Cool, huh?" or something like that. Haha! It was all pretty surreal. I was just over 5 weeks at that point. We had a birthday party for me with my family at the house that night and kept it a secret!

Our original plan was to make an announcement on Christmas Eve to my family, and the night before to Brian's family... But I really wanted to be able to tell them both together, so we planned a graduation party for Brian (yay for no more school!) at our house the weekend before Christmas, on December 19th. Everyone from our immediate families was able to be there, and we couldn't wait to tell them. I had been having morning sickness from right at week 8, and evenings were a hard time for me, so it was difficult keeping it a secret for most of the night. When it was finally time for Brian to open graduation gifts, he said he wanted to thank everyone for their support and encouragement while he was going through school. He said it felt like at this point in our lives we had so many "blessings", and that we had one more "blessing" to tell everyone about. After a pause that felt like a minute, we both yelled "We're having a baby!" Everyone cheered and clapped and hugged... and several people may have been teary-eyed. It was so fun and sweet, and I was so glad I didn't have to keep the secret from my family any longer.

Over the next few weeks, we told the rest of our family members, our friends, and our co-workers.... then made it Facebook official! Everyone was so sweet and excited for us. We were really humbled by all the encouraging words and still covet the prayers from everyone for a healthy pregnancy and upcoming adjustments to life with a baby at home.

Pregnancy-wise... I had morning sickness from about week 8 until week 12. Although, I did feel queasy in the mornings while I was getting ready for work, I felt worse from the late afternoon into the evening. I never actually "got sick", but feeling nauseous for weeks at a time really wears on you. I was extremely tired and, as Brian would attest, I still lack energy in the evenings. I lost a total of about 6 lbs. during that month because I wasn't eating as much as normal. As soon as my morning sickness symptoms started to subside, I started noticing a little belly bump, around week 13. I'm still wearing my normal scrubs to work everyday, but I'm down to only 2 pairs of regular jeans. I broke down and bought a couple of pairs of Gap maternity jeans (the demi-panel kind) and they are now my best friends!

We have started cleaning out the guestroom closest to our bedroom, to make it into the nursery. Brian floored the other half of our attic, so we can start storing more things up there. Once we find out if Baby B is a boy or a girl (I'm taking a poll - look on the side), which should be the first week of March, we will start to make plans for decorating! I can't wait!

So, that pretty much brings us to the present.. Week 15, day 5.

Please comment if you made it all the way through this post! :)

Just thought I should add some random pictures....

My first 5K and Brian won 3rd place in his age group

Mia and my niece, Kinley, dressed as Dorothy for Halloween

Loree, Allison, and I at the Women of Faith Conference.

Baylor vs Tech at the new Cowboys Stadium

New bedding for our master bedroom. I've since added some pretty ivory quilted euro shams.

Update on the past 7 months

Well, it's definitely been a while since I was motivated enough to update everyone on Team Ballard... but I constantly feel guilty for reading everyone else's blogs, but not keeping up with ours. Here goes, in no particular order:

I'm so proud of Brian right now. He comes home from a full day of work, helps fix dinner, and then usually does school work. As of January, he was halfway done with grad school. He's also training for triathlons, so usually 2-3 times a week he goes swimming in the morning and running at lunch time. The biking has been harder for him to schedule, but he fits a ride or two in during the week as well. And amazingly, he still finds time to fit me and Mia into his schedule too.

My new hobby as of January has been getting healthier. I've tried not to view it as dieting, but I have lost about 12 lbs in the process. My plan all along has been to make this a life-long way of living. I haven't been doing anything crazy; just keeping track of my calories taken in and calories burned. I have been using a Body Bugg, a calorie and step counter that 24 hr Fitness sells, and that they use on the Biggest Loser (one of my favorite reality TV shows). Brian and I have cooking more at home, making healthier choices when eating out, and trying to be more active altogether. One or two nights a week I make it to my favorite work out class, Turbo Kickboxing. If you haven't seen or done it, google it. It's basically choreographed punches and kicks set to current hip hop music. It's great!

Both of my sister-in-laws on Brian's side (just want to clarify so I don't spread any rumors about Aubrie) are pregnant. Loree, Brian's brother's wife, is due April 30th with her second baby. Their first, Kinley, is 2 1/2 now. They are going to have a boy and name him Cade James. Allison, Brian's sister, is due June 9th. They are also having a boy and naming him Michael Marius. It will be so fun to be aunts and uncles again! We are thoroughly content with this, by the way.. in case any of you were wondering. :)

We have really enjoyed the NCAA basketball season this year. As many of you know, Baylor's men's and women's teams have been playing really well in the tournament. Well, as of tonight, the men lost to Duke. But we are proud of their efforts to make it to the Elite 8. The women's team is still in the game, so good luck, Lady Bears! Sic Em!

Well, I think that's all I have the energy to write for tonight. I know there are lots of other things I could include, but after 7 months, it's kind of overwhelming to decide what to write about.

Until next time... Goodnight!

Team Ballard Update

Hey Hey Blog Friends,

I still read all of your blogs religiously, but can't bring myself to spend the time to update ours. I've been given a hard time recently (including last night.. by my father-in-law, no less!), so I decided an update is crucial.

In no particular order:

1) We closed on our house at the end of May, and have been working on getting everything in order for the past few months. It's a lot of work, but we love it! If anyone's ever in the Plano area, give us a call. We'd love to have you stay with us.

2) Brian went to Taiwan for almost 2 weeks at the beginning of July. It was our first time to be apart that long since we've been engaged! TI sent him over there (his first business trip... and he went all by himself) to work with a customer of theirs. He did a great job, ate weird food, and came back safely. Thank the Lord. Mia and I were fine here, too. My parents came over a few nights to help do some stuff around the house, my sister spent the night with me, and we went to my grandparents lakehouse over the weekend for the 4th of July. That helped the 12 days pass more quickly.

3) Jake and Aubs got married on July 25th! The wedding was beautiful and fun, and Brian and I felt so lucky to be a part of it. We're so happy that Aubrie's officially in the family, and can't wait to see what God has in store for them. They're living in a cute little apartment in downtown Fort Worth, and I know they're loving it!

4) Remy and I are work-out buddies again. As of July 23rd, we've been meeting at 24 hr Fitness 3 days a week at 6am. It's hard to get up that early (most of you know, I'm NOT what they call a "morning person"), but I feel so much better and more productive now that it's in my routine.

5) Mom and I are signing up for our first 5k in October or November. I'm putting this on here, so that we can hold each other accountable. We've talked about it and looked at races, but putting it in print should hold us to it! Wish us luck!

6) John and Allison (Brian's sister and brother-in-law) are moving to Minneapolis, MN in September. John got a job, and Allison is looking for one. We're sad they won't be as close, but we're so excited for their adventure! I know it will bring them closer together, and make us appreciate our family even more.

7) Mia turned 2 on July 2nd! I know some of you will laugh that I'm posting about our dog, but she's our baby, as of now, and we love her! She's really such a good dog, and we can't imagine our life without her right now.

Well, that's all that I can think of off the top of my head. If something else comes to me, I'll try to remember to post it!f

Thanks for reading, and I really will try to do better about posting more regularly!

Much love,

Team Ballard

P.S. 8) Also, I'm slowly becoming a brunette. I had my hair colored brown, then had her put some highlights and lowlights in to make it look more natural. I like it.

I've been re-hired, but I'm on probation...

So... most of you guys who read this blog already know, but... we have big news!

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!

And we're just a little excited about it... We close May 29th, and will start moving things in soon after that. Here are some pictures: (I hate that it loads them backwards....)

Rachel is fired

So...in the last 4 months, Rachel's blog readers have only gotten 1 teaser update. I know Rachel is still reading your blogs, but hasn't been updating her own...that just doesn't seem fair! Here is an update on our lives the last few weeks:

-Brian went camping with all of Jake's groomsmen

-Brian turned 25, yay for lower auto insurance!!!

-Brian did a triathlon

-Brian's truck rolled over 90,000 miles last week (his 1st vehicle by the way)

-We had a big Ballard Family Easter gathering at Brian's grandma's house and the great-grandkids hunted Easter eggs

-We are still looking for a house

-Rachel had her first work trip (to a conference in Austin)

-Went to OKC for Clay and Lindsey's Wedding

Let's see how long it takes for Rachel to realize her blog has been updated. Shhhh!

P.S.-Rachel still has a job, she is just fired from blogging.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, etc, etc...

I've been a bad blogger recently, but my cousin, Katie, motivated me to at least get my feet wet again. It's too late for me to spend much more time on the computer, but look forward to these updates coming soon:

1) I'm now employed!

2) Brian started grad school!

3) My parents are turning 50 :)

4) We're looking to buy our first house!

God is truly blessing the Ballard's at the moment...