Christmas fun with the families

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Ours was great but busy as always. We've already decided we will be staying at home next year with our Zoe girl and let whoever wants to, come to us. I LOVE getting to see everyone, but I just can't imagine trying to do it all with a 9 month old! We may feel this way too because this year we didn't have our "home" to enjoy over the holidays. I will say that just yesterday I was thinking about how glad I was to not have to worry with putting up Christmas decor!

Scott and I got a lot of gift cards to restaurants and the movies which is really what we'd asked for so we could have some date nights considering we are homeless right now. (Not really! We are so very blessed to have our families right now, just not much alone time these days) This baby girl got good and spoiled and we've only just begun! I will try to post pictures of her fun stuff later. She got hats, bows and blankets and a few other little fun things! I had more fun opening stuff for her than myself by far!

Here's a few random pictures I snapped. I wish I had more of my whole family together but this is all I got. Still some keepers for sure :)

Scott helping mom in the kitchen!

Yummy munchies before dinner mom prepared.

Me, Scott and Zoe! Last Christmas as a family of 2. :)
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My brother, Paul and his girlfriend Natalie. So glad she got to spend Christmas with us!

Uncle Paul got caught by the camera lovin' on Zoe :)

Doc's elf hat that he wears proudly every year for the past 3 years.



On to Christmas with Scott's family.. At his mom's Ashtyn was the center of attention! She racked up, too! She got her own little recliner and this horse trailer was her favorite I believe. She absolutely LOVES horses.

Uncle Scotty with his little sweet pea.

Ashtyn was so excited to watch "Spirit" on her new princess TV

Then on to Scott's grandmother's house.. with his Step mom and two half sisters.

Scotty with Anglique and Sophia. These girls are SO excited about being Aunts!

Scott with his great Granny who turns 89 next month! Might I add.. I love this picture of my hubby. He looks (and is) so sweet.


Happy New Year, too!!!
P.S. Don't expect any big post or pictures from my new years. I hope to be in bed before the turn of the new year :)

southbound

We are officially moving/moved out! Scott took a week off to come home and get everything packed up and ready to haul off to storage in Shreveport. We had no luck house hunting last Thursday so off to storage we go! We love our realtor and we know there's a home there for us, just didn't find it that one day.

With the help of our family (as always!) we got most of our stuff moved. I took off Thursday to help pack and seriously over worked myself. I tried not to, but there was just SO much that had to be done! It was physically and emotionally draining. I woke up at 6:30 and couldn't lay there any longer thinking about what all needed to be done. About 5:00 that night Luke came over to help Scott load up boxes on the u-haul, I ordered us pizza and crashed out on the couch about 7:00 and didn't move til I had to get in bed. EXHAUSTED. Friday, Scott, Dad and Scott's brother loaded up the big stuff and hauled it all down to Shreveport to storage and headed straight back. Poor Scott worked so hard his whole "vacation" week and was worn smack out. When I got home from work Friday I came home to this:


I didn't think we'd still have our TV but they couldn't fit everything on the uhaul so we will be making one more moving trip. This is where we spent all Friday night and ALL Sunday. We seriously ate breakfast and lunch in front of the TV, took a nap then finally about 4 decided we should get showers and do something. Like I said.. we were just WIPED OUT.

Here's a few pics of our messy house and the boys loading up!




Saturday we had a very eventful day. We went to visit my sister-in-law and her baby girl, Ashtyn that morning. Never a dull moment! Then, went by Scott's grandmother and great grandmother's to visit for a bit. Then on to Marshall, Texas to my grandmother's book signing and shopping/walking around. My cousin and her fiance and my aunt and my other cousin and all of my family was all in Marshall, too so we got to all hang out for awhile before going to our big family Christmas down on Caddo Lake.



Scott and I in Marshall at the court house. Broadmoor Baptist choir was singing on the front steps. They have an ice skaing rink and lights decorating all downtown. We had our second date and first kiss there. :)





My Dad's cousin's step daughter's baby (eazy enough, right?) She is 8 weeks old and she was so precious! I held her probably more than anyone there. :)


I look "oober pregnant" (as my co-worker Daniel would say) in this picture.


Annnnd the official 29 weeks prego pic! (please excuse the lack of makeup, this was moving day and we got half way put together to go grab some lunch!)

home sweet home

We are going to meet with a real estate agent tomorrow and she's going to show us 8-10 houses we're interested in or she thinks we may like. We are very excited to get the ball rolling on the house hunting!
I've driven by this one a few times and I love it. It's in the Broadmoor area which we are most familiar with and would really like to be.

This one is in Bossier and I haven't seen it in "real life" but it looks cute from the pictures I've seen.

We have been looking in mainly Bossier and the Broadmoor area in Shreveport. The one thing I love the most about the houses in Shreveport is SIDEWALKS! Perfect for jogging along with baby Zoe in the stroller.
No matter how many houses we look at, it still makes me sad to leave our home..


Headed to Shreveport now!
Wish us luck!!!

zoe's first

Scott got me and Zoe matching turquoise bracelets when he was out in Scottsdale Arizona a couple of weeks ago. I absolutely LOVE them. He told me he'd gotten me one big gift and one small gift. He did good. He's gonna be the sweetest daddy.


Zoe's first bow! I bought not long after I found out the sex of the baby. Surprisingly I haven't gone bow crazy. My day will come.


And Zoe's first real "outfit" I bought her. I've bought her little things here and there but this is her first outfit. I got it at Carter's outlet store on the Boardwalk in Bossier. I could've bought the store out. I found shoes that matched it perfectly but they didn't have the right size. Love this little cardigan! And the pants have little bows on the back.

And here's mommy at 25 weeks!

boring blogger

I really feel like I have nothing to blog about these days. Other than the babe in my belly of course. But we actually have A LOT going on!

1. Our house is officially up for rent.
2. We're actively looking at houses in the Shreveport/Bossier area.
3. Scott is in Arizona this week for training.
4. I was in Shreveport from Tuesday night to Friday morning last week then Scott was home for the weekend then we drove back to Shreveport on Sunday for him to fly out to Arizona.
5. I'm putting major miles on my car these days.
6. I've visited 2 day cares that I'm on the waiting list for with at least 20 people ahead of me. Not cool. Absolutely loved one of them.
7. I'm living with my parents so I don't have to stay home alone.
8. Scott's living with my Aunt and Uncle in Shreveport.
9. I have no idea where I'm going to work after Zoe gets here.
10. I'm probably skipping out on the Christmas decorations and tree this year because we really won't be home enough to enjoy it and we're actually hoping to be out of our house by that time. I got to thinking earlier, I will be in FULL Christmas spirit next year with a sweet 9 month old baby girl in our (hopefully) new home! :)

I must really be showing all of the sudden because I've had probably 10 customers ask when I'm due or regulars say they didn't even know I was pregnant and can't believe I'm almost 6 months along and they're just now noticing I'm prego. Funny thing is I have on leggings with a flowy tunic top. I wear tight shirts all the time and on one hardly says anything!

I went to the doctor this morning and everything looks great. Zoe is 1 lb 5 oz and Mommy is up 13 lbs from my first visit. Five of those pounds are from this past month. WOWZERS. We went ahead and did another sonogram (per my request) because they told me 80% sure she's a girl last month and that just wasn't enough for me. Today, they said 100% sure, it's a girl. Good thing, because the pink purchases have started.

Hopefully, a belly pic to follow from today! It's on my iphone so I've got to upload it later. Sorry, so not on top of things these days.

23 weeks

I'm sure glad I have this blog to help me keep up with how far along I am. For whatever reason I began questioning myself and my "what to expect when your expecting" app. I couldn't figure out if I was 22 or 23 weeks and I thought my app was wrong for whatever reason! Stupid. I'm losing it for sure.

I've done this before and I don't really have anything to blog about and I'll be 23 weeks in two days but I'll be on the road to Tulsa to Megan's so I won't be blogging on exactly 23 weeks! Wow-was that a run-on sentence? ANYWAY, I stole this from Jen, who is 21 weeks prego! Also, with a baby girl!

How far along? 22 weeks and 5 days

Baby's size? The length of a spaghetti squash, almost 1 lb!

Weight Gain? 8 lbs last doctors visit

Maternity clothes? both maternity and regular.. more maternity here lately though

Stretch marks? no.. trying really hard to prevent them, applying lotion twice a day!

Belly Button in or out? In

Sleeping? Been sleeping good considering I'm not sleeping at home in my own bed with my hubby.

Foods I am loving? everything really.. liking spicy foods and jalapenos more than ever. ready for some (cooked) sushi this weekend!

Foods I'm hating? still don't like brocolli

Movement? yep lots, especially at night. scott has yet to feel her kick but my mom felt it last night so i'm determined to make him feel it very soon!

Best moment this week? tomorrow will be, getting to go to shreveport to see scott!

Symptoms? hunger!

Gender? Zoe Elizabeth

What I miss? honestly? wine and margaritas! sorry, it's true. :)

What I'm looking forward to? going to see scott tomorrow for the night and going to tulsa for girl's weekend friday!!!

Weekly wisdom: always have food close by


Milestones: just realized i'm almost 6 months along? holy cow

Emotions: just a bit sad since scott has left for shreveport, but it's hard to get too upset when he's still so close and we're still excited about our new life in louisiana with zoe!

Hope everyone has a great end of the week and weekend! I know I plan on it!

truckin along

22 weeks Friday!



I never took a picture of my scarecrows and pumpkins on the porch so I thought it'd be cute to take my prego picture with it. It's always nice to have a change of scenery.

Scott and I went to Linden last night for his sister's senior night football game. His dad is in from India for a few days and he and Tonya walked Anglique across the field before the game.. Or so we thought before the game. They canceled the game because the refs didn't show up!! I've never heard of such. It was almost time for kick off, bleachers full on both sides, and they announced that the game was canceled and rescheduled for Saturday at 11. Crazy. Honestly, neither Scott or I were disappointed. It was cold and we HATE the cold.

We stayed the night in Jefferson last night (Friday night) and went antique shopping (although we rarely ever actually buy anything, we just like to roam and look) and just piddled around town all morning. It was LOVELY. The weather was perfect!

Our favorite place down there is the general store. And yes, coffee is really only 5 cents!

How cute is my hubby?

Old men hanging out playing checkers.. they were too cute. I had to snap a picture.

This is the only jack-o-lantern you'll be seeing from me this year!

John Wayne and Scotty


Our second favorite place in Jefferson? The Hamburger Shop. They've got KILLER burgers and the best pie in town. The walls are covered in $1. I know we have 2 in there for sure, maybe 3 but we added another today. Our first one is right above the door when you walk in and it's from before we were married because it has "Amy McGuire" written on it.


And here's ours from today. It says "Scott & Amy W & Baby Zoe (in the belly)" :)
One day we'll be in there searching for it with little Zoe tagging along with us.

video

Here's the video of sweet Zoe! I have watched these videos several times since last weeks doctors appointment. I love seeing her kicking around in there.. Almost as cool as feeling her kicking around in there!

zoe from Amy Wenzel on Vimeo.

pretty in PINK!

Well, in case you haven't already heard through FB, text or twitter.. It's a girl! And we couldn't be happier! We both thought girl and we were right. Scott was so sweet during the sonogram. He just wanted to make sure everything looked okay and she was growing at a normal rate and we had nothing major to be worried about. He asked her what exactly she was looking for and what she was seeing. Once we got in the room to see the doctor, he was asking him the same questions. He's gonna make a great daddy to his little "Daddy's girl". Scott asked if I'm excited to have "my girl". I have been telling him I need a girl because I never had a sister! I would have been just as happy with a healthy boy, but I'm pretty excited about this baby girl! :) :) :)

I forgot to stop back by the front desk to schedule my next appointment when I left because we were so excited and side tracked! After standing in the parking lot for 20 minutes making our phone calls and sending out texts we headed straight to Target! I told Scott that was the first place I wanted to go and buy something PINK or BLUE. NO MORE YELLOW! I love yellow, but that's all I've been able to get so far. I was ready to start buying sports and dinosaurs or flowers and hearts!

I've decided to go with lime green and brown for the main colors to decorate with. Although I have awhile before I officially decorate a room, I think those colors will be my main focus on "stuff" for the nursery.

I have meant to upload the video to my blog from the sonogram but it's been a busy week. Hopefully this weekend I'll get a chance to share that with you. It's pretty neat! She kept opening her mouth and we could see her little tongue.. I told Scott she's already a talker!

We have officially decided her name is Zoe Elizabeth! I have been stuck on Zoe for sure but the middle name I wasn't positive on until a day or two ago. Yesterday I looked up the meaning of Zoe and it is "life" and the biblical meaning of Elizabeth is "consecrated to God". So her name full name means "life consecrated to God". How sweet is that? I love it.

Happy Friday!!! 21 weeks today and a picture and video to come, next post!

sunday funday

Sunday morning, we over slept. Opps =/ But, It was so nice getting to sleep in two mornings in a row. We never get to do that because either I work on Saturday or Scott has drill in Shreveport so he's up at the crack of dawn or we are up early getting ready for church. I'm not compaining, I'm just saying.. sleep is a precious thing to me! Especially these days, I've been waking up alot in the middle of the night and having a hard time getting back to sleep. I've become a very light sleeper. I guess my body is preparing me for a screaming baby in the middle of the night. :)

Anyhow, we bummed around Sunday morning, made breakfast and relaxed and it was lovely. Around noon we headed down to Caddo Lake to try out the new fish resturant I've been wanting to go to. I think I was more interested in the fish than the resturant but you can't judge a pregnant girl. I'd been craving fish for almost 2 weeks and to get any good fish you've gotta drive about an hour into Arkansas or head the other direction an hour into Texas. The fish was soo yummy and hit the spot! They also have jalapeno hushpuppies that are to die for. I think I've mentioned Big Pines before in a post about it burning down. It's the old fish resturant we always went to growing up down at the lake and they had the best hushpuppies. Well, this new place stole Big Pines cook and the hushpuppies are the EXACT SAME! Talk about making my day! (I would be upset that they stole Big Pines cook, but I'm pretty sure Big Pines is a thing of the past and never coming back.) We stopped by my MIL's on the way to eat to pick up my camera that my bonehead husband left there last weekend. (That's a whole 'nother story)




We sat outside and the weather was perfect. Not hot at all!



The view was beautiful!



Yuuummmmy



After we ate we hung around outside for a little while longer. They had a swing and a picnic table (behind me) and then of course the doc.



And last but not least.. I took a couple of pictures this morning of the baby bedding!

Of course I would love to have a picture of the bed all put together with the bedding on it, but considering only God knows where we'll be when the baby decides to come, that's not gonna happen anytime soon! But you get the idea.



The bumper, sheets and ties are all the little polka dot pattern.



I love it and I think we'll be able to do lots with these fun colors!

Next Post: Annoucement of baby Wenzel's gender!!!

half way there!

I really had good intentions of taking a cute picture when I was dressed up cute. That didn't happen. Oh well. Maybe later! This is really what I look like everyday after 6 PM and most weekends, anyway. Yoga pants, everyday.

This baby sure is growin!



Here's Scott's 20 week picture. HA!



This is not a good picture what so ever. I just thought it really shows my belly good! Ya get a different angle on my growing belly. :)



I love it! This morning I rolled over from my side to my back and I could SEE the baby in my belly. One side of my stomach was protruding out next to my belly button! I could feel it pressing on my stomach so I lifted up my shirt to see and I was amazed. Scott was pretty impressed, too. I just can't wait til we get to see our little one moving around in there on Tuesday! Boy or girl, I don't care at all. Just a strong healthy baby and we are happy. :)

relocating

We are moving to Shreveport, LA! Scott took a job with the same insurance company he's currently with and he starts November 1st. I, however, will remain in good ole T-town til baby Wenzel arrives. I would love to go ahead and get settled in down there, but for financial purposes it's best for me to stay here and finish out my job and use the maternity leave they provide. I won't be able to transfer with my job but that is okay by me. Not to sound ungrateful, but I look forward to doing something else. Rather it be in banking or elsewhere, we will see.

We are planning on renting out our home and buying one in the Shreveport area. We've looked in Bossier City, Haughton and Benton. We are open to living on the outskirts, but once again, we will see. I'm on the waiting list for 4 different day cares. One in Bossier, Shreveport, Haughton and Benton, because I don't know where we'll live or where I'll be working I've got to be sure I have the whole Shreveport/Bossier area covered.

Thank God for family.

My Aunt and Uncle who live in Shreveport have offered for us to stay with them for as long as we need to. They have two girls, Lara and Jessie, who are off at college so they have the extra space right now. Scott will stay with them while he's there working and if need be me and baby will be there shortly after it arrives. This is our first answered prayer of many. Where God leads, he provides. This is what I have to keep reminding myself to keep from stressing. Stress is the last thing I need to have right now. Of course naturally I get a little emotional thinking about leaving behind our house we've made a home and our amazing friends and family, but I know God has great things planned for us. On the other hand, it's exciting thinking about new jobs, new house, new church and of course new baby!

Speaking of baby Wenzel... I got some pretty cute baby bedding at Target Monday! I'd been eye balling it and told a friend about it. She called Monday and said they had it on sale and only one set left so I asked mom to go snatch it up ASAP and I love it! It'll be fun decorating with bright colors and really whatever I want since it's not "theme". Which I'm totally NOT against, I actually like, but this was just too good of a deal to pass up. This is going to be our bargain baby. Lots of financial changes coming up! I'll have to take a picture of it and post later because it won't let me save the picture from the website.

Stay tuned for a week 20 prego photo! (probably coming Saturday!) I can't believe I'm already half way there. Exciting and scary! Kinda like everything else in my life right now. :)

19

We were married on January 19th. We find out the gender of our baby on October 19th. And as of Friday I'm 19 weeks pregnant. (no prego pic this week, stay tuned for week 20. I tried to take a good picture but complete failure, I wasn't happy with any of them.)

Back to number 19..

My Great Grandfather on my Dad's side, Papa Joe, and his wife, Mrs. Toby were married on 9/9/1919 at 9 A.M.. He built our lake house that we still have in the family and named it "Paradise XIX" (19). Papa Joe put XIX on everything. He had a shop behind their house and was always tinkering with stuff and making random things like play guns, little cars and who knows what else. Those are the two things I remember my Dad having that Papa Joe made. This man is still mentioned at every family Christmas and talked about so much that I feel like I know him. Dad use to tell us stories before we'd go to bed and it was always either about when he was growing up or a story about Papa Joe. Dad refers to him as "the coolest".

I think it's kinda funny that 19 is engraved in my mind because of a man I never even met. When we chose our wedding date my dad said "Grandma Betty is gonna love that y'all are getting married on the 19th!" Maybe our baby will be born on February 19th? HA! I hope not, that's a little early, but it would be another cool thing to add on to the famous number XIX.



Also, my Grandma Betty just wrote a book titled "Karnack and the Adventures of Paradise XIX". She had it published and is in the process of setting up a book signing at a book store in Marshall, Texas. I started reading it yesterday and it's pretty interesting so far.