Merry Christmas to all!

Mr. G and I drove up to Texarkana after work on Friday and celebrated Christmas with the Gross family over the weekend. Since we were all together, it was decided that everyone would just tell the kids that Sunday was Christmas so that we were all together to watch them open their presents. Christmas is so much fun with little ones around. Plus, its fun to see other family's traditions. One big difference is that in Matt's family, "Santa" presents aren't wrapped, they are set up all around the tree. So there were train sets, bikes, dolls, trucks, and a trampoline all in the living room. It creates quite a scene for the kids to wake up to. I think this tradition is one Matt and I will incorporate with our kids. Pretty neat!

After the Christmas celebration wound down Sunday, Matt and I headed back to Arlington. I was on call Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so I had to get back. Christmas Eve we spent with my mom and Doug and did our gift exchange. All of our family definitely spoiled us, as they always do. We sure are a lucky couple! Matt and I did our gift exchange later that night. Every major holiday we set a limit on how much we will spend on each other. And every year, we both completely disregard it. If we spoil each other so much, our baby is in for a treat!

The plan for Christmas was that ALL the Grosses (and my mom and Doug) would come to our house for the big meal. Mother Nature decided that wasn't going to happen. Snow, ice, and wind meant driving was much too dangerous. So instead, Matt and I had a quiet Christmas just the two of us. We went outside and played with the dogs in the snow, watched a couple reruns of Breaking Bad, had a snowball fight, and made snow angels in the front yard. We lost all desire to cook, so instead we drove aimlessly around Arlington looking for the best fast food joint open on Christmas day. I can have fun doing anything with my hubby!

This weekend was the first time I had people tell me I was "showing". As excited as that made me, I really just look thicker than normal. There isn't any roundness to my belly. So to a stranger, I don't look pregnant, just a little bigger than I actually am. My new goal is to look pregnant by my birthday- and I think I will! Hooray! This week (15) the baby is the size of an apple or an orange, depending on which website you read. January 24th is our next big appointment. That's the day we have our anatomy ultrasound and they tell us the sex of the baby if we want to know. Regardless what we decide, it will be great to get another picture of our little one now that they look more baby like.

Isn't he cute?

I love our first home!

Hello 2nd Trimester!

They say the second trimester is the easiest, but I had a pretty easy first trimester so we’ll see. Nothing is really new on the baby front. I am at the end of my 13th week, the baby is nearly the size of a lemon, and it’s pretty much smooth sailing until the third trimester. My belly has gotten a little thicker but my pants still fit and nobody except Matt and I can tell a difference. I got to hear our little stinker’s heart beat again this week. This time my doctor was in charge and he let me record the sound. It took him about 15 seconds to find it and I was not prepared for this delay so I began to worry. I tried to look calm on the outside but on the inside I was freaking out. That little lub-dub sound was music to my ears! The heart rate was 160 this week. He/She is working so hard!

My hubby was out of town this week for work. I always hate when he leaves, but I do believe that absence makes the heart grow fonder. My mom and I took advantage of his trip and spent a girl’s day shopping for baby stuff. I normally hate shopping, but shopping for your baby is quite fun! Plus, now I have more ideas on how to decorate our gender-neutral nursery. I am glad Matt and I are not finding out the sex of Baby Gross but it sure does complicate things sometimes!

Before he left, Matt got our Christmas lights hung so our Christmas decorating is complete. It’s such a relief to have it all done but in the back of my mind I realize it all has to be taken down in a few weeks! Now we are gearing up for many different Christmas celebrations we have coming up. It is certainly going to be a busy time for us but we can’t wait to spend it with family.

Christmas tree and Matt's presents. 

Christmas living room!

Mr. Gross, Mrs. Gross, and Baby Gross

The four legged children's stockings. :)

13 weeks. Belly: 30 inches.

Thanksgiving and More

I have been slacking on my blog these last couple weeks. A lack of pictures, news, and motivation all play a part. I am ready now, though!

I love the holiday season. I love getting together with family knowing that next year it will be us +1. It’s fun to think of all the “lasts” we are having. Our last Halloween admiring how cute everyone else’s children look. Our last flight to AZ for Thanksgiving before we are “those people” who brought their baby on board. Our last Christmas without a visit from Santa. I often daydream about my life a year from now. I will lie quietly on my bed and try with all my might to feel my baby move. Of course, it’s much too soon for that but sometimes I think maybe, just maybe, I have a Hulk baby that will sock me so hard I actually feel it this soon! I try to remember not to rush through this process, as it is a beautiful one in itself. I am just so ready to meet this bambino. I am sure once the baby is here, my life will be different than anything I have conjured up in my imagination.


Matt and I have been so busy lately. We celebrated Thanksgiving early with his family. It was wonderful and we had a great time. Thanks to the Hutchinson’s for having us!!

We flew to Arizona the day before Thanksgiving to spend the long weekend there. I always love going home. It’s the little differences that make it feel like home still. The traffic lights are all vertical. There are mountains in every direction. Seeing old places where I have memories attached. Driving on roads that all run north/south or east/west. Most of all though, is the people I love there. It’s so nice to catch up with family and friends. With the wedding, I was extra spoiled this year and got to see everyone 4 or 5 times! It’s so nice that Matt loves going back with me. For some reason I don’t understand, he likes the desert. I think it’s the geologist in him. I, however, think it is ugly as sin. If I never saw another Saguaro Cactus, I would be just fine. We did go on a nice little hike in Payson to see the Tonto Natural Bridge which we all enjoyed. Once we got under the bridge, we had a Subway picnic. How fun!

Sunday we tagged along to the Cardinals game with my dad and brother’s usual crew. Tailgating with them is always a hoot. My dad and a friend bought a short bus that they are making into a Cardinal’s Tailgating bus. Needless to say, tailgating with them is no little fiesta. My brother had gone dove hunting the day before so Matt cooked up some Dove Poppers. I chose mine without the jalapeno and ate 6 or 7 of them! Stay tuned for pictures of the bus!

We flew back to Texas on Monday. We set up our Christmas tree and a few decorations we bought. I’ve never had a fake tree so I am trying to warm up to the idea. Being the paranoid safety freak that I am, I like that it is safer than a real tree. I do miss the smell of pine in my house though, but once I find some pine candles that should do the trick! I’ve decided that when the baby comes things are going to need to be way more festive. For now though, I am happy with our understated Christmas décor.

Things don’t slow down for the Grosses in the coming weeks. This weekend we are hosting our kickball team’s Christmas party. Next week is my work party. Then Matt leaves for work for a week (so sad) and I have yet another doctor’s appointment. When Matt gets back we have his work party. Then an early Christmas with the entire Gross clan. And finally, Christmas in Arlington! Whew!

Before our early Thanksgiving 

On a rock. 

At the natural bridge.

Dad and Julie

On a big ol' rock.

In front of a huge fountain in AZ.

Matt and I in front of the bus.

The entire tailgating crew.

Matt cooking dove.

Sonograms and Date Nights

We got our first peek at our little bambino this week! The sonogram wasn't quite what I was expecting but a wonderful experience nontheless. Matt was right there, holding my hand, as we looked at the screen and saw a peanut shaped blob (the baby) in a sea of black (my uterus)! I must admit, I think our blob belongs on the cover of a magazine. In all seriousness though, it was truly an eye opening experience. I often wonder "Is there really a baby inside of me?" Logically, I know there is... but I don't look pregnant, I don't feel pregnant, and I am not sick. I read about all these changes going on inside me and sometimes I wish I could just see in there to verify everything is on track! It was nice to see our baby so clearly and know that I really DO have a baby growing inside me!

I wasn't super crazy about the nurse who did our sonogram. Matt and I were so excited to see our baby that we were just babbling on about how perfect he/she is when the nurse flipped on the sound for the heart beat and then flipped it off again. Looking at the sonogram, she only let it go long enough for seven beats. At 165bpm (our baby's heart rate), that's about 2.5 seconds worth of sound. It was over before we really knew what was going on. I was a little bummed we didn't get to soak in the sound of our baby's heart, but in the end I am just thankful that everything is on track and our baby seems healthy. 
 

After the sonogram, we went "fully public" with our pregnancy. Originally, we had thoughts about waiting until we finished our first trimester but word was spreading pretty rapidly anyway. It's been a blessing to receive so much support from everyone. While most of the reactions have been very joyous and right on track with what the "normal" reaction would be some have been quite interesting. I work with about 70 men; some of whom haven't mastered the art of filtering their thoughts. Here are just a few comments: "So that's why you had to get married!", "Oh, I didn't know you were polluted!", and my personal favorite, "It's a good thing you got married because nobody is going to want you after you've popped out a couple babies!" I know the guys mean well so I just take it with a grain of salt and a chuckle.

Other than the sudden increase in phone calls and text messages asking how the baby is doing, everything is business as usual at the Gross house. Matt and I are trying to make sure we go on plenty of date nights since date nights will soon consists of watching Dora the Explorer and scrubbing spaghetti sauce off the floor. Last Friday, we went to Dave and Buster's for dinner and some fun. One of the highlights was drinking my first Dr. Pepper since being pregnant. Oh. my. God. It was so good. Once we hit the games I let Matt win more tickets than me, just to be a good wife. We walked away with a beer mug that we'll never use and a night of smiles. I'd say that's pretty darn successful.

The following day (last Saturday), we went to the Dallas Mavericks home opener. Although it was fun, I was reminded that basketball is certainly not my sport. My exhaustion kicked in at halftime, but I managed to make it through the 3rd quarter before we left.

This weekend we had wanted to go visit my sister-in-law and her husband but my boss was out of town and I felt like I needed to hang around town in case all hell broke loose in Mansfield. So instead of heading to Oklahoma, we went to Olive Garden on Friday and came home and watched Shark Tank. Saturday we had dinner with my mom and Doug and I dominated in Yahtzee. Now it is Sunday, and Matt and I are making lunch and waiting for the Cowboys game to start. It's the only time I enjoy watching my husband's excitement get crushed. Sorry, honey!

We also finally started taking pictures and measurements each week! We take them on Wednesday since that is the first day of a new week! This week Wednesday marked the beginning of week 8. My belly was 27.5 inches around at the belly button. Since I don't have a baby bump quite yet, I just feel awkward in my pictures, especially when I think about posting them on this blog. I think it will be fun though to look back on where I started once I am about to pop!

Oh, and one more quick note- I did finally notice a change in my body. My belly button isn't as "innie" as it normally is. When I noticed I called Matt into our bedroom and we both sat looking in the mirror, oogling at my new belly button. I am infatuated with this first physical sign of Baby Gross.  I took pictures (which I will not post). It's the little things.

At the Mavs game

8 weeks

Model Baby.

Cute bib we got from future Uncle Nick!

From my mom and Doug and their trip to Disneyworld.

The back- so cute!

Happy Halloween!

Matt and I love Halloween but not because we like to get dressed up. Instead, we look forward to cute little ones coming to our door in costumes they are so proud of. Matt bought enough candy to feed our entire neighborhood, adults included.  It was our first Halloween in our house so we weren't quite sure what volume of spider-men and princesses to prepare for. Our neighborhood is what some call a "mature" neighborhood. Most of our neighbors are older couples with grown children and sometimes grandchildren. It's pretty quiet and I don't often see many little ones running around. We did have a boy who came by one day asking me to buy something from his fund raiser catalogue. He wasn't exactly the salesman but I figured I would help him out and bought $10 worth of stuff from him. The next day, Matt saw the boy and his family loading up a U-Haul- they were moving! I'm pretty confident I got hustled by a child.

Anyway, we did get a few trick or treaters by the house. By the middle of the night, I realized we had drastically overestimated our child to candy ratio so I was giving it out by the handfuls. We still managed to have quite a bit leftover so I took it to work today. Food never lasts long at a police station.

Last weekend Mr. G and I went to a costume party celebrating the engagement of a wonderful couple that is friends of the Gross family. Matt insisted we go as a beer drinking German couple which was great, until we found I am preggo. So he was a beer drinking German, and I was just a German (or a "germ" as our neice called us). All the excitement had me worn out by about 9:30- this little bambino inside me is taking every ounce of energy I have!

Pregnancy Update:
I am now approximately 7 weeks along and our little guy/girl is the size of a blueberry! This week he is starting to grow hands! So far I have managed to escape any vomitting. Occasionally something I eat will just "sit funny" and make me feel a little queesy but if I just give it 15 minutes or so, it will feel a lot better. The hardest thing has been dealing with the exhaustion. I always feel like I have been awake for days. Most days, I need at least one nap (two or even three if I am lucky!) to make it through the day. Beginning this Sunday, Matt and I are going to try to take measurements  and pictures of my belly each week. I can't wait for the baby bump! 4 days until we get to hear the heartbeat!

Things I have learned (continued):

Pregnant women can sleep anywhere, under any conditions- they can sleep in a car, they can sleep at a bar, they can sleep in chairs, they can sleep on stairs, they can sleep in the nude, they can sleep off a bad mood! The fact that a woman's breasts get larger during pregnancy may seem cool. It's not. They hurt. Stories about sweet babies will make a pregnant woman cry (thanks for the books Leslie!). Being pregnant may not entitle you to back massages whenever you'd like them, but it does earn you one every other day (thanks honey!).

My in-laws. It's been great seeing them so much lately!



My husband, his sexy legs, and our nephew, Austin the skeleton.



Allie the witch and Austin the skeleton!

A pregnant woman's breakfast and lunch.

Mr. and Mrs. G + 1

I must admit, when I started this blog I had a bit of an ulterior motive. After just getting married, I sensed more life changes were going to be right around the corner. Little did I know, the change was already here! 

I have been, uh, late... if you know what I mean. Being the impatient person that I am, I wanted to take a pregnancy test immediately. Matt, though, thought we'd "jinx" it and wanted to wait. Anyway, we went to play kickball last Tuesday (10/9) and we were both pretty grumpy because our team got murdered on the field. Losing, particularly that bad, does not suit Matt and I well. We may have a slight problem. On the way home, in my grumpy mood, I took a slight detour to Walgreen's to pick up a pregnancy test. I knew my wonderful husband was opposed to taking a test (for fear that we might anger the pregnancy Gods resulting in a negative) but I just didn't want to wait any longer. When we get home Matt started making dinner and I B-lined it to the bathroom. Holding that test I slowly started to see a vertical line which I had never seen before. It wasn't a "-" this time... it was a "+"!!!!! I had to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I B-lined it back to the kitchen to show Mr. G. He took a quick look and I saw his face light up. Let me tell you, nothing clears up a grumpy mood more than seeing that little plus sign. Matt picked me up, I wrapped my legs around him, and we held each other for several minutes knowing that in 9 months, we’d be parents.

So the next day, I made a doctor’s appointment to get my pregnancy confirmed. I have never been so excited to pee in a cup! When the nurse finally came out, she simply said “congratulations”! My husband wasn’t there, so I just hugged her instead. She did just tell me I am going to be a mommy after all!

As thrilled as Matt and I are to be pregnant, the timing made things a bit difficult. We had a wedding to go to with his whole family that very weekend and I knew they would catch on (especially since there was an open bar that I’d be passing up!). We really didn’t want to bring our news into the Miller’s big day so we left a day early to spend the night with his parent’s in Shreveport. Matt and I had to skip gambling that night since it was far too smokey in the building for me. We went down the next morning though, and all four of us took money home from the blackjack table. I like to think our little peanut was the good luck charm.

We had to tell my mom via phone. It wasn’t quite what I was wanting but we were alternating vacations and I couldn't wait two weeks to tell her. Sorry, Mom! Of course, we had to tell my dad and my brother the same way since they are so far away. They are excited to have another Cardinals fan in the family. I think Matt may have something to say about that though!  

My favorite thing thus far about being pregnant is reading about all the changes my baby is going through. On our way to Houston I was reading out loud to Matt from the website BabyCenter, which is absolutely amazing by the way. Our little bambino (or bambina) is currently the size of a sesame seed and looks like a tadpole. How stinkin’ cute! I have a sesame seed tadpole growing inside me!!!! On November 5th, we get to hear our baby’s heartbeat. It is unreal.

I have also learned a few other things in this short time: Way too many people smoke. Being pregnant makes you tired. Sierra Mist is the best non-diet, caffeine-free soda. It is very hard to minimize chocolate intake. You’re not supposed to eat tuna when you’re pregnant (oops). Lunch meat is also off limits unless "heated to steaming". And lastly, pregnancy does not grant you free back massages whenever you want them (although I think it should).  

To our little one: If you ever read this, know that you were created with an immense amount of love. Your Mom and Dad loved you from the moment you were just a plus sign. You are our very first little miracle and we cannot wait to meet you. Now be good in there and try not to wreak too much havoc on your Momma's body!

I will leave you with some pictures from Lance and Tiffany’s beautiful wedding! 

My handsome husband and I.

I am pretty sure I have the most amazing in-laws.  

I can't even blame my bad dance moves on the alcohol!

Our precious niece Allie and the new Mr. and Mrs. Miller. 

The Basics of Mr. and Mrs. G

Welcome to a little window into our lives! I wanted to create a blog since we have family and friends spread out over the southwest. I can’t promise that I will be as diligent about posting as I should be since life can sometimes wreak havoc on plans. Since there are some that haven’t been able to come out since we bought our home last December, I’ll start there and give an “in a nutshell” version up until the present.

Matt was renting a place in Dallas when I met him. When we started to get more serious, I moved in with him. That rental just never felt like "home". First off, its Dallas… that should speak for itself. Matt’s truck being stolen TWICE didn’t help either. We had a tiny yard and 3 big dogs. It just didn’t add up. We knew his lease was ending in December and we decided it would be a good time to buy a home.

We had a pretty limited area since Matt works in downtown Dallas and I work in Mansfield. We needed something in the middle with easy access to the TRE (a commuter train that runs from Fort Worth to Dallas). After several days of hitting the pavement with our Realtor we found a great home that we both really liked, let’s call it the Creekside home. We kept looking though, as we wanted to be absolutely sure this was the one. Finally, we were certain it was the one. We were going to make an offer but we had already made an appointment with our Realtor to see one more home. Matt and I were actually arguing that day so I let him go alone since we were pretty settled on Creekside anyway. A couple hours later Matt calls me and says he needs me to come to this new home because it was perfect. I drove over, and instantly fell in love. We put in an offer that day, and moved in less than a month later. We couldn’t be happier with our first home!

So fast forward a couple months to March 2012. Matt and I were celebrating our anniversary and he took me out to celebrate. At the end of the date, Matt proposed! Let’s be honest, I knew it was coming (Matt is terrible at secret keeping and I am an excellent secret finder outer) but that was still one of the best moments of my life! Once I said “absolutely yes” he whisked me off to dinner at Joe T Garcias which is where we had our first date. He had arranged for both our families to be there to celebrate and we all sat there for the first time united as one family. It was wonderful!

Fast forward again until September 2012. With all of our family and friends surrounding us, we tied the eternal knot! So now I am officially “Gross”, and couldn’t be happier about it! We left for Alaska shortly thereafter to celebrate on our honeymoon. We realize this may not be some people's "dream" honeymoon but it was certainly ours! Somehow we managed to acquire a new four legged family member from the other side of the country. So now we have four dogs! We are at our limit- and this time I mean it! 

So that brings us to the present! We are two newlyweds just figuring out life as it comes. We don’t know many people in Arlington so we joined a kickball league and play every Tuesday. This week, Matt was out of town for work so I had to go solo and it sure does make me appreciate having him there! He just makes things more fun! Thankfully, he comes home tomorrow so he better be ready for a big ol’ bear hug!

Our first home. Pictures don't do it justice- Hank Hill doesn't have anything on Matt's yard!

Our living room is a work in progress but it's getting there!

Our families at dinner after Matt's proposal.

Two families united as one.

We had a little fun at our wedding. :)

Bridge in Denali National Park.

Matt cooked our fish right after we caught them!

On the boat in Glacier Bay.

Dinner with Mr. and Mrs. G.

Adventure Karts... I think my driving scared Matt.

Salmon fishing.