39 Weeks--Yes I'm Counting!!

So, I went to the doctor yesterday morning on my 39 week mark. I went in hopes of finding out that I am 3 cm dilated and ready to have this little one, but that was not to be. Instead I was to be crushed by the announcement that I am not dilated at all, not even a little, and she may not be coming until she's good and ready. Apparently she already has a mind of her own-- although I have no idea where she gets that from. Maybe someone just forgot to teach her that whole do what your parents tell you to rule. (We tell her to come out everyday, and so far she isn't listening.)

Despite things not going as (I) planned, I am trying to look on the bright side. She is doing very well and seems content enough to stay where she for a bit longer. This also means that Etienne and I will have a little more just him and me time for the next who knows how long (which is a very nice part of the bright side). Good News though: The doctor did confirm that he does still believe that she is indeed a girl. Miracle of Miracles!!

When she does decide to come, I will try to put something up on here to let everyone know. So keep checking back and cross your fingers for me.

America Trip #2

First just let me say, if anyone reading this is a frequent flier, then don't ever ever ever fly with Continental. You will probably regret your decision if you do. I did---several times.
Back to the main point of going to America for a second time in a matter of a couple weeks....A few days after getting home, we received news that there was a man who was emotionally attached to our house (weird? yes)--it being the home he was born in and grew up in. Because of this attachment, he was willing to offer us 3 of his houses (all rental properties like ours). Since this wasn't an easy decision for us to make over the phone, we decided it best if I flew back to check out the deal.
So I flew to Ohio on the worst airline known to man and after arriving my dad and I went to work. After a short time, we realized that the guy we were dealing with wasn't exactly the upstanding citizen he continually told us he was. I got to learn a lot in those two weeks about exactly how much info people can access about you on the internet and how easy it is to access it. We found out all kinds of lovely info on our friend. Long story short, we decided not to take the deal, and we began work on our own house.
All in all, it wasn't the worst thing that could have happened. I did get to hang out with the fam and a couple friends for another two weeks, and of course---- I got to visit TACO BELL!!! Heck yeah!


So here are some of the pics and a video of one of the houses that Shady McDodgerton wanted to trade us for. It was really quite a cool house, but would have cost way too much to renovate. I took this video when we were still thinking of doing the deal. Can you hear my optimism? C'est la vie!

Home a Day

The crappiest thing about coming home from vacation is going back to work, but what about when you don't go back to work??? Of course someone has to work, so in our family that is Etienne. What is crappier still, is when your spouse goes into the Swiss Army for 3 weeks (with no likely chance of coming home for the duration), the day after you get back from being practically joined at the hip for almost 7 weeks.
Yes this is what happened to us after being home from America only a day. Gotta love mandatory military service. The crazy thing is that the day Etienne got there, he got really sick (thanks to his BFF Re-chard--you know who you are!!!) and had to go into the infirmary for the rest of the day. Then the next day, they sent him home for 2 days. I was sad he was sick, but happy he was home.
The day he went back to the army, my cousin Andrew came to visit and saved me from a couple days of miserably missing Etienne. We went to all the tourist traps around St. Gallen but mainly hung out and caught up on each other's lives.
He left on Sunday and because of some strange happenings in Ohio with our rental house, I decided to fly back to Ohio for a couple weeks. Little did I know what those two weeks would entail.....

(to be continued....)

America Trip #1 Week 4

Our last week was mainly spent waiting on finalizing the purchase of our house. (No we aren't moving to America any time too soon.) We bought a duplex to rent out as an investment. It took a lot longer than was expected, so Etienne spent a lot of time with my Dad working at his rental properties, and becoming his comical clone, while I spent time with my Mom, April, and my amazing friends I love who are still in Ohio without me.


(Yes Sean that pic is just to show the world what an incredibly talented brother I have!!!)
So in the end, we said our sad goodbyes and flew back to the Land of Milk and Cheese.

America Trip #1 Week 2 and 3

Week #2 and 3: road trip.... We started the week out with a road trip to Chicago to see my oldest friend, the incredible Vaneesha, and finally got to meet her boyfriend Logan. Hey V, here's a public thumbs up on Logan!! We stayed there for two nights and left midday on Tues for the Far West!
Let me preface this part of the trip with the fact that it was all Etienne's idea. I have driven that part of the country too many times to be excited, but that didn't deter Etienne at all. He loves wide open spaces. (no reference to the Dixie Chicks here---Etienne hates country music.)
We drove and drove and drove and ended up in Ogalala, Nebraska, where of course there was no vacancy in any hotel other than the "Grey Goose Lodge" due to some big motorcycle race. Surprisingly, it turned out to be pretty nice despite the name.
From there, we drove through Wyoming, stopping along the way to see some small historical sites (again Etienne's idea--can you tell) and ended that day in Green River, Wyoming at my Aunt and Uncle's home.
The next day we headed down to Provo to see Jeff, Etienne's Italian side of the fam, and to visit with Karch; Etienne's comp from the mission, and Amanda; good friend from when I lived there. We packed a lot into 3 days and then started back.
On the way back we hit a cool storm coming through Wyoming, stopped at all the historical sites we could possibly fit into one day, and then stopped to stay in our room in Ogalala again. We woke up the next day and drove straight through, all the way back to P-burg. We ended the 3rd week with my Mom and sisters throwing me a baby shower. Thanks to everyone who came and/or sent gifts. I am really grateful and very excited to use everything on our little one!!!!

America trip #1 Week 1

I have been home from America for a while now, but I thought I would fill you all in on the blessed details, so here they are. We had an amazing time while we were there--kind of a last hurrah for our pre-child life.

Week 1: we spent in beautiful Ohio with my family. It is always nice to be surrounded by the fam, especially as it continues to grow and get more and more loud. The week started out fabulously as everyone arrived and Alayna announced that she is also expecting!!! Congrats Al! While we were all there, we went to the world famous Cedar Point, worked on some house projects, and had a fun family bonfire barbecue.
For Etienne and I, Cedar Point, I am sad to say was a huge disappointment. You see I love Cedar Point, but being pregnant at Cedar Point means you can't ride any of the rides. So really what's the point!! Also, because Etienne hates rollercoasters, let's just say he wasn't too thrilled about waiting in line for 2 hours just to get on one. Good times.... However, we did get to spend time with family, so ultimately it was worth it. The reunion was all too short and sadly had to end, so after only 3 or 4 days, we went our separate ways. Etienne and I are really looking forward to our next chance to spend time with you all. We love you.

Guess who's back?

Sorry as usual, but these days my life feels a little crazy. It seems over the last 4 months it's been one thing after another, but things are finally settling down--at least for the next month hopefully. We've had lots of fun this summer with our visits from Mom and Dad, Al and the Men, my cousin Andrew, and Dani's girl Brandi, also we've gotten to spend a lot of time relaxing with fam in Italy and America, so now it's time to hunker down and get back to real life even if it does feel a little surreal at times. Well I'm back and I love y'all so let the posting resume.....