Coming along....

I can't tell you how many times I wake up in the middle of the night and start thinking of everything I need to do. I get bad anxiety, then I discreetly do wedding stuff at work and then come home and do wedding stuff. I feel much better. The only thing I am kind of stressing about are programs. I need to get those made but first, I need my mom to talk to the music director at the church and have him "approve" my music choices. I was even more worried before because I didn't even know what music we were playing....haha, yeah. Less than a month away and no music. Brett helped me today and now I do know and it is such a relief!

Last week was my bachlorette party (1st one!) and it was fun! We went to Pete's Piano Dueling Bar. I got to go up on stage and after that, we left and went to some other places. We were home by 1am!

Next weekend is my 2nd! I am NOT having a 3rd. I don't have time and 2 is definitely enough. I love having friends everywhere but I don't need 3. I was fine with 1. The girls that are hosting the 2nd party insisted on having the 2nd one so it makes me think, is it really for me or is it a good excuse to get away?? Either way, it should be fun!

Here are some pictures from the bachelorette party last weekend. After I publish this, I am going to add some shower pictures to my last blog.











This picture is funny because we stole the landscaper from next door and he was our "stripper." No Mom, he did not strip, but he enjoyed taking pictures with us!

Wow...

February 5th was my last blog!! It seems like I just wrote it. When I created the blog, my intentions were to write on it! I knew wedding planning was time consuming, but I still thought I would be able to squeeze in time to write. Well, as you can see, I haven't! When I'm not working, I'm listening to music or thinking of of things for my wedding. I do a lot of research on the internet and then before I know it, it's way past my bed time.

I know in one of my past blogs I mentioned I was scared that no one would come to the wedding, no one would come to my shower, blah blah blah blah blah. Quite the opposite is happening. Dustin and I have truly been blessed. I thought since I moved to Houston, I wouldn't have so many people that cared and now I feel so crazy for thinking such a thing! We have had 3 AMAZING showers! Our first one was here in Houston and it was so beautiful. While I'm on the subject, I need a photo with my hosts/hostesses at the wedding!! Thank you Perry, Cinda, Bob, Linda, Brandon, Tiffany, Brandon and Suz for such a great shower. It was catered, and the cake was awesome! We were blessed with awesome things to fill the house! I hope everyone had fun and thank you for coming!

My second shower was a complete surprise. My boss threw a surprise bridal shower for me. One of my lunch buddies took me off the property "for lunch" and then she got a "call" and told me there was an emergency and we needed to go back! I'm closely involved with any emergency on the property so I called Security and asked them what was going on. She played it off like someone fell down the stairs and broke their leg. We came back and I saw our day maid and asked her what was going on and she says, "oh Miss Sarah! I don't know! I have an emergency!" I'm thinking, yeah, I know! Where?! What's going on!? I followed her (we were walking really fast) and she lead me right into a conference room where there were 20 people standing around and they said, "surprise!" I was so confused! I'm pretty sure the first question I asked was, "who broke their leg?! Are they OK?!" My boss had Pappasitos cater, the room was filled with gifts and people I see everyday...(that sounds bad but I really love the people I work with everyday!)

My 3rd shower was in New Mexico where 26 attended out of the 28 that were invited. I just can't say enough how blessed I feel. I didn't know so many people cared! I have been writing Thank you notes like it's my new day job.

Now TONIGHT is my bachelorette party. I am so excited! We are starting at Tiffany's house for dinner and then taking a limo downtown to Pete's Piano Dueling Bar. Suz says it is a BLAST and it sounds like it! All of us girls are going to dress up and go out on the town. I feel like I should take a nap because I don't stay out very often but I'm so excited, I wouldn't be able to sleep!

Not only am I going tonight, but some girls from Lincoln (my company) are planning a girls weekend for me in 2 weeks. I don't know where we are going but I do know it involves laying out and sippin on girly drinks. THEN last night, some other girls I work with (at Exterran) told me they are going to take me somewhere for their version of a bachelorette party. AAGH....Dustin is going to hate me. Not that I feel like I need to get any "partying" out of my system, but whether I like it or not, I will be getting any "partying" out of my system. I am going to be EXHAUSTED come time for the I Do's!

Well, this is a wrap. First I need to say how thankful I am for my Mother and my Grandmother. I am so fortunate to be raised in a Christian home where my parents cared and gave me curfews, wouldn't let me date until I was 16...I mean, where would I be right now if I didn't have what I have? I was very close with my grandmother and still am. I love them both. My sister is an AMAZING mom. She has had a lot going on and is now raising 3 boys and working 2 jobs. I don't know how she does it.

I am so happy for all my friends that are new mothers. I have several who will be celebrating mother's day for the first time this year (well, celebrating it for themselves.) I don't think I worded that right but you know what I mean, right? I have 2 friends that are with child...Happy Mother's day to you too, Candace Hebert and Sarah Hickman! You count too!

Thank you everyone for such an awesome pre-wedding. I made the guest list back when I didn't think anyone cared and we invited over 300 people...haha. I can't wait to see how this turns out. Should be interesting!

Trying to kill time...

What better way to update my blog then when I am trying to stay awake at work?? I work at the Exterran buildings and they clear the property before 3, my boss has an excuse not to be here every Friday (hmmm, really does she think I am that dumb?) and I am now the ONLY warm body on the property besides our security. Don't worry though. I plan to climb the ladder of success and step on every toe and face getting there...gracefully of course!

I booked a DJ! I need a florist and a hairdresser and I can't think of anything else. I can't WAIT for it to warm up. I am in dier need of a run...more like a lot of runs. My skinny pants don't fit and my skinny pants and my wedding dress are about the same size so you do the math.

I was looking through pictures today and Dustin and I haven't taken a picture together since our engagement pictures. We never take pictures together. He said something about a slide show at the rehearsal dinner and I'm thinking that is a possibility but none of the photos are going to have the BOTH of us in them. haha! I think it is kind of funny! I just feel weird asking people to take photos and if I feel weird asking, Dustin feels 100 times weirder (word?) asking or knowing I just asked. BTW-our photographer that took our engagement pics raised her prices about a month after our session and she is asking for our first born child in exchange for a 4x6 photo. Just FYI. If you don't see many of our pictures, that's why. I need to sell a couch on ebay before I buy a picture to put on our save the dates so if you don't see one in the mail anytime soon, that is why! Good news is our photography package in NM includes either a bridal session or engagement session. I'm thinking Dustin and I will take some a couple of days before the wedding. Of course they won't be ready by the wedding but they will be great keepsakes.

Well, I am going to clean off my desk, go home, and hopefully the buildings won't come crashing down before 5...after 5, it's not my problem anymore :)

My mom put a posting in the local newspaper back home and I'm trying to upload it into the blog...I will post that and some pictures from the bridal fair last week this weekend...I don't have the pictures on my work computer.

It's Coming Along!....

Dustin and I have accomplished a lot this weekend. Friday I picked out colors and Bridesmaid dresses. Saturday I picked out my OWN dress with help from Tiffany and Candace! I also scheduled a photographer on Saturday!! Today Dustin and I confirmed how many are going to be in our bridal party and who we want. I picked out flower girl dresses online but need to wait until Jadyn comes in March to figure correct sizes. I feel like we got so much accomplished and I am very pleased! One of my bridemaids called me today and already went and tried on her dress. This is so exciting! Next Sunday, I am going to a Bridal Extravaganza at the Houstonian. I am hoping to get ideas on center pieces and bouquets. I have a vision but I am also open minded. I wouldn't mind leaving the place with some merchandise either. That's the latest! I would post some pictures of dresses but can't for obvious reasons. Off to bed...

Less than 6 months to go!

I haven't ordered invitations, I haven't found a dress, I don't even know my colors. It helps I know who I want in my wedding party but I don't know how many I can have. I really think Dustin thinks we can just wait and do all of the planning the last minute! It couldn't be that he just wants me to do all the planning because he is too opinionated! He told me I couldn't have more then 5 bridesmaids but I put my foot down and asked for him to compromise.

For New Year's Eve, I went to a friends house. It was fun!

You know what my fear is? I go to all kinds of showers here. I go to bridal showers and baby showers. I would throw showers for my friends and bachlorette parties for the weddings I played a part in. I'm afraid when it comes my turn, no one is going to come to my showers or bachlorette parties. It's like the nightmare where no one shows up to the wedding you worked so hard to plan! Is this normal??

I have good news. My "Required Maintenance" light has been on in my car for the past 10k miles. You may think I'm crazy, but I avoided taking my car in because I am so scared of what the problem is going to be. I don't have a "favorite" mechanic or a mechanic I can trust so naturally, I am afraid I will have to pay $600 to change out a timing belt or something. I took my car to get the oil changed today and I let them talk me into new filters. My light went off!!!! That's all it took! Thank you little baby Jesus!!

I don't have any pics just yet. Maybe I will post some tonight!

Christmas time!

Christmas was good this year! Besides finally having a time and place for the wedding, Dustin and I got to spend Christmas with Jadyn. She received entirely too many presents that she didn't even have time to play with everything before she left. Santa brought all three of us a Wii so we have been playing since Friday. We did stop and socialize a couple of times, but for the most part, we have found who is really good at bowling, tennis and Maria Bros. I am the bowling QUEEN. Don't mess with me! My arm is sore!

Me and Dustin's mom at Linda's

Tiffany crimping the girls hair with the crimpers they received for Christmas from Brittany.

The family went to Bob and Linda's for Christmas. It was a lot of fun. We played a fun game, ate good food and drank good wine. Jadyn is losing her teeth and she had a stubborn tooth that has been hanging on for dear life since she got here last Friday. Well, being the fearless child she is, she let Brad tug on it and after a good pull, it came out! She was really excited to lose a tooth on Christmas and while she was in Houston. Her mom says Jadyn wanted to lose a tooth here to see if the tooth fairy is more generous here in Houston. It was fun! Christmas was definitely great closure to a great vacation. I had the whole week off and now I am going to work tomorrow. Not only am I going back to work, I am getting back into the swing of working out again. I have exercised but it has been inconsistent. My work outs can't keep up with my calorie intake and it is beginning to show!

Here are a couple more pictures! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and please have a fun and safe New Year's!

It's time!

I feel so relieved we have a date. My next step is confirming bridesmaids/groomsmen...this is the next stressful part for me at least. Of course my sisters are going to be in my wedding...I wouldn't have it any other way. I have several friends that I want in the party but Dustin won't let me have a big wedding party. I think I am just going to start drawing names. As soon as he confirms his number of groomsmen, I will confirm mine. I have also been looking at dresses. I have tried on dresses once and now I have been looking in several magazines, internet and even Ebay...I haven't found anything that I like. I need to find one soon because it could take some time. It is hard because I don't really want to bother anyone to go with me to try on dresses here in Houston.

Look what my sister sent me and I received it in the mail today!

It matches my tree perfectly because it has little red berries on it and my tree has little red berries with pine cones! Thanks, Kristin!

I was surprised last week when my boss told me I needed to take my vacation days. It is kind of sad that I need to use them because I haven't been able to use them, but the good thing is I get to use them next week and have the whole week off! I'm really excited and it is perfect because Jadyn will be here and Dustin has the whole week off. It worked out REALLY well.

I hope everyone is having a good week. I'm hangin' with the girls tomorrow night at Natalies and everyone at Candace's on Friday so I forecast a busy weekend!