The Baby Furniture Has Arrived!

     Alrighty! It's beginning to get sink in that this is really happening!  The baby furniture was delivered today and I was so nervous!  I was hoping that it would be exactly right!  I rushed home from work to find several huge boxes.  I had Colby open one because I was dying to see if it was the right color. It was so perfect!  Now, I've really got to get to work on this nursery. I've got some time off from work for the holidays so I've got to get busy. I can't wait to see it all come together!

                                    Daddy's about to open up the boxes!

A sneak peak of the furniture

Heartbeat 156 bpm

Today was our second doctor's appointment at 14 weeks. Everything checked out great! I am gaining the proper weight and the baby had a strong heart beat of 156 bpm.  We were very excited and thankful for such a great check up. Check out the video link below to see what's going on in my pregnancy from weeks 15-20. (Please excuse the advertisement at the beginning of the video).

http://www.babycenter.com/2_inside-pregnancy-weeks-15-to-20_10308111.bc

My second doctors appointment at 14 weeks pregnant.

A Few of My Favorite Things

     Yes, every pregnant women has her cravings and I am no different. Mine happened to be very random at times while there are a few things that I must have every day. We were riding down the road yesterday and I told Colby that I wanted Captain Wafer crackers and Raisinets. Yeah, weird huh?

      Everyone asks "Are you still eating ice cream?" Ummm...does a forest have trees? Of course, I am still eating ice cream! Anyone who knows me well knows that I LOVE ice cream and cereal...preferrably the really sugary kind like Fruit Loops. Below you'll find a few of my favorite things that are ALWAYS at our house!

 Anytime, anywhere, any flavor!

 Fruit Loops

 Cheetos Cheese Puffs

Dole Peaches

Chocolate...ANY kind!

One thing that I liked BEFORE I was pregnant, but do not like hate now is corn! No idea why!  It's known as the "C-word" at our house. I don't want to see it, talk about it, or smell it.  Okay...enough about that! I can't bare to put a picture of the "C-word" on this blog because I would have to look at it every time I logged in. You get the picture! :-)

Oh yeah, how could I forget?!?  This isn't a craving, but it's a MUST HAVE!  My chair back massager. Love it! Thanks to my daddy and hubby! :-)

Big Sister, Dakota

As everyone knows, the first love of our life was our puppy Dakota! She is so loving and a big part of our lives.  She definitely knows how to get what she needs wants whether it's a treat from daddy or cuddling from mommy. We have had several trips to the vet and a few sleepless nights with this little one. She has definitely been preparing us for her little brother or sister.

Cocoa is the other little girl who has my heart. She lives with my parents and is almost 16 years old. This picture was taken on Christmas Eve.



First Gift

     After telling the news to everyone, we received our first gift from a very special lady.  My great aunt Maxine is very special to Colby and I.  She is my mama's aunt and the sister to one of the greatest ladies I've ever known...my Maw Maw also known as "Maw."  Colby and I have grown really close to "Aunt Mack" over the past few years.  Maw passed away on March 28, 2008 so our connection to Aunt Mack makes us feel very close to Maw.  Aunt Mack crocheted a beautiful white blanket and gave Baby Engel it's first Susan B. Anthony coin.  These were two hobbies Maw and Mack enjoyed together...collecting coins and crocheting.  The gift will always be very special to us.  My Maw will not be able to meet Baby Engel on earth, but what an amazing guardian angel he/she will have (along with Maw Maw and Paw Paw Mosteller as well as Colby's Grandmother Engel and Grandmother and Grandfather Laughridge).

My brother and I with Maw

Will post pictures of Baby Engel's first gift soon!

Our Teacher's Having a Baby!

    Monday morning came and I was so anxious to tell everyone at school.  Everyone mostly found out throught Facebook. If you know anything about Facebook, you know it's the biggest gossip media ever! Anyhow, I chose to read a book called "My Teacher's Having a Baby" to my first graders.  The book is about a first grade class and it shares the changes to expect from the teacher such as a bigger belly or being absent from school.  After reading the book, I told them there was a reason that I shared this book with them because THEIR teacher was having a baby!  There eyes lit up and one child said "You mean you?"  It was so sweet!  One child even said, "Well, you're still skinny!"  Oh my! That was music to my ears! I was already beginning to look like I had ate too much turkey at Thanksgiving, so I was ready to hug that child! The next day, another student said "Whoa! You're really sticking out today!"  All I could do is laugh!  I can't wait to hear what they say in the days to come!

The book that I read to my first graders.

Tell the World!!

     Thanksgiving had arrived and we were FINALLY able to tell EVERYONE!  OH BOY or girl! It was the hardest secret we've ever had to keep! The first stop was on Thanksgiving Day at my house and then we were off to share the good news with Colby's family the next day.  We were going to give everyone the Christmas card, but it was going to be difficult to get everyone to read it at the same time. As we were standing in a circle, blessing the food, I gave Colby's arm a squeeze to let him know I was about to tell everyone. My heart was pounding so hard, it seemed like everyone could hear it.  Uncle Jimmy always says the prayer so after the final Amen, I said "Wait! We can't wait any longer!  Baby Engel will be here in June!"  The whole house hollered!  (Yes, we say "hollered here in the South.) Many hugs, tears, and cheers were shared. It felt so good to finally tell everyone!

     The next day, we traveled to Colby's hometown in Hendersonville, NC.  Usually after everyone finishes eating, we pass out gifts. Colby and I decided to pass out the cards last.  We slowly watched each person's expression as they read the card. It was so exciting to see their eyes light up as soon as they read the card. Everyone was really excited for us!

      After telling our immediate family, we mailed the Christmas cards to the rest of our family to reveal the good news. We also posted it on Facebook and called some of our closest friends on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. If you know anything about the Engel household, you know that this day is one of the biggest days of the year!  We are house divided...USC vs Clemson!  The day was even sweeter after the Gamecocks won 34-13!  I texted my brother to tell him that the baby was no longer a secret.  He announced the news to everyone at his tailgate.  If you know my brother, you know that's A LOT of people! He's a proud Uncle!  I also kid (this means "tease" Northern friends) Colby and tell him that our first child will be named "Williams Brice." This is the name of the Gamecock's stadium!  He kids me back and says he/she will be named "Dabo Watkins" (Clemson's coach and a wide receiver). Haha!

     Finally it was no longer a secret!  We were ready to shout the news to the world!

Mommy and Daddy

Brandy's family

Colby's family

Mimi and Papa calling everyone on the way to the USC/Clemson game. They couldn't wait to tell  everyone!

The cherry on top!  34-13 Gamecocks!