As requested, pictures of the Nursery

We aren't done yet, there are some wall hangings and other items to put up, but as requested here are some preliminary pictures.
We have things set up for the most part and now it's about organizing and details.
The room is themed with Precious Planet by Fisher Price. So we put in the border at the mid level and green for the bottom (earth) and blue for the top (sky). It helped that that room was already blue and all Ruel had to do was paint the lower half and put on the border. But he did a really good job and I'm pleased with how things turned out. In that same weekend he put together the glider chair and crib. It was SO cool to come home one day and find that the nursery was nearing completion. It makes Christina's arrival seem that much closer.
I also snuck in another picture of myself. I noticed my reflection in the mirror and thought, "Eh-ghad, is that me?!? My tummy is getting so big!" I guess going into month 8 though, that's expected.
June 6th is my baby shower and I'm so excited (thanks to Jen Norton who is hosting along with friends). After that, it's Dr's appointments and waiting for her to arrive. I hope she's happy and content until her due date and then arrives right on time.
Lots of love,
Kaycee

Lunch with Friends and then Luau?

On Saturday, Ruel let me out of the house (laughs!) to go and meet with friends for lunch. Kellee and I had met a few times over the last year, but it has been more than two years since I saw Tina. It was so wonderful to get back together. We ate at a restaurant in Moss Park called Carreira's. Very good Italian food. As a matter of fact Ruel finished my Calzone this morning for breakfast.
Following lunch, I came home and talked to Ruel about going out to Walt Disney World's Polynesian Resort to attend their nightly luau show. I'd heard good things, and figured we'd both enjoy being out and having some good food. Well...
Upon arrival they said that the show was pretty booked but we could go on the wait list. So we trudged out ot the area which had been set up to look a lot like Survivor! It started to drizzle, the drizzle became a steady rain, and finally the heavens opened up. "Never fear!" said the perpetually upbeat cast members. "Unless there is a lot of lightning and the storm does not pass, the show will go on!" We waited, the rain continued to pound. Suddenly lightning, followed by close thunder shook the little hut we were under. Everyone looked around nervously. It was raining so hard that the drains could not keep up and we were standing in water most places. It was relentless. Finally, the announcement, "We're sorry, but tonight's show has been cancelled." So much for luau. Not to be disuaded in my foray to have a fun Disney evening, I told Ruel, "let's go inside and eat at one of the other restaurants." We walk back in the still pouring rain. All of the restaurants are packed, we wait to find out how long before we could seat. Another prepetually upbeat cast member asks, "anyone not on the wait list yet?" Thinking this is our chance to snag a small table, I raise my hand and say, "yes, us!" To which he smiled, and said, "we are not taking any more people for tonight's dinner service. And so it went for the other restaurants. Next we take the monorail...I will have a Disney evening by golly. It is packed with wet people. I know not where they came from. We stop next at the contemporary. Same scenario, no more for tonight's service. We couldn't even get in to Chef Mickey's which was a BUFFET! I was getting perturbed, hungry and tired, not a good combination. It was only on the return trip to the Poly that I figured out what might have contributed to a packed evening at all of the hotels; it was Memorial Day weekend! I looked over at Ruel and told him I would've never ventured to tourism mecca had I realized it was a holiday weekend. We decided to leave and just get food somewhere along Semoran. It ended up being Tony Roma's and was quite good. So went our attempt at an evening out.
Here is a picture or two and an update of my pregnancy:
I'm now 30 weeks and 3 days along

4D UltraSound

On Thursday, May 14th, the last day of my 29th week, we had our 4D UltraSound.
What a truly amazing experience.
It was incredible.
Ruel, Mom and Dad were there to witness.
Of course, as is usual with our little one, she was not cooperative at first. The tech said she was looking directly at my back and it wouldn't do any good for the 4D. So I had to go out, drink water, move a lot and see if she would reposition.
As luck would have it, she did.
As we watched, she continually moved her hands, yawned and even opened her eyes a bit!
We have the DVD and can't wait to share with family and friends.
I feel like finishing week 30 on this Thursday, May 21st, will be a major milestone and I'm getting so excited.
Next pics will be of the nursery. Ruel worked really hard last week on getting everything together and I've been folding and putting things away constantly.
Hope everyone is well,
Kaycee

Our 1 year anniversary

I'm behind on blogging, so I will have to post a few times this weekend.
On Sunday, April 26th, we celebrated our 1 year anniversary. It was a wonderful day!
Ruel and I switch off on planning events and so since he had Valentine's this year, I got the anniversary.
I decided it would be really romantic to go back to the clubhouse where we got married; Eagle Creek Country Club in Narcoossee, FL.
I called ahead and asked if they could recreate our wedding meal, figuring it would help us remember the special day. The staff was more than accommodating and kepts saying they had everything set up and a few "special surprises."
When we arrived, we were both astounded to find that the team had REALLY recreated our reception, right down to the linens on a sweetheart table. As you can see from the pictures, they did a wonderful job and that doesn't even convey how great the food was (and plentiful).
In addition to all the effort they went to to recreate our special day, they also gave us 2 champagne flutes, a memory board with pictures from our wedding, and then, above it all, they came by to wish us a happy anniversary and that the night's meal would be on the house! Ruel and I were speechless. It was such an amazing evening.
So, for all of you in Central Florida, here is my plug for Eagle Creek, just south of 528 on Narcoossee Road, the staff and chefs are wonderful and we both highly recommend the location for events and even just lunch or dinner. Kim Rice is the head chef and she really is amazing with the food (and loves to serve her famous Key Lime Pie).