Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
OKC Trip

Sunday, October 4, 2009
Pumpkin Patch
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Coogs VS. Red Raiders
Cousins at 4 months!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Paw Paw Chuck
4 Months old with lots of new tricks!

Thursday, September 17, 2009
"Pregnant" "Not Pregnant"



Monday, September 14, 2009
Football Season!!
Labor Day Fun!

Sunday, August 30, 2009
A very late 3 Months Old post



Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tyler's First Cold
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Dumpster Diving Trash Lady!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
12 weeks old!!

Thursday, August 6, 2009
Ear Nose Throat Doctor
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
HELP!!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Picnic - Cheap Dates!







Tuesday, July 28, 2009
10 weeks old today!


Friday, July 24, 2009
Pow Pow Pow
Height: 23 1/4 inches = 75th%
Weight: 10 lb 14.5 oz = 50th%
Head: 39.3 cm = 50th%
Yay for Tyler, he has grown and doing very well. He is very healthy. However, the Dr did let us know that his reflux is on the more extreme spectrum. That is why he is so fussy and has all the congestion and spitting up. He has been on Zantac for a month now and the spitting up has gotten better but the fussiness and the congestion is still the same. We upped his dose of Zantac and will try that for a week to see if it helps any. If it does not help, we will switch his medicine to Prevacid. I am hoping the Zantac will work.
After the Dr saw us and Tyler, the nurse came in to give him his shots. This time it was my bottom lip that stuck out. I felt so sorry for little Ty. I just hated seeing him cry when she stuck him. He got 1, 2, 3! painful little shots. I looked at Aunt Alli and her and I were both tearing up. Poor Tyler. I was told to nurse them after they get shots and they tend to forget about the pain. It worked. He was happy again in no time. He fell right to sleep after that too.
Alli and I ventured out into the pouring rain to head over to my lactation consultants house. This woman is probably so tired of hearing from me but I am really frustrated with the whole pumping thing. I know my milk machine works because Tyler is gaining weight and he is healthy but I can never get much out with the pump. I took my pump over to the consultant, Suzie and she said I was doing it right and it should be working and that I just need to get in the habit of doing it every morning. Well, this morning it worked and I got 3 oz out of one breast! It took some manual squeezing at times to get more milk out but it worked. I just think that the pump is not very strong because when the pump was on sometimes nothing would come out and I would take it off and try manually squeezing and lots of milk would come out so what the heck! Anyway, I am still not sure why the pump won't get much out but thankfully I got 3 oz today. I actually think I got that much because Tyler slept for 10....yes, 10 hours last night!!!! I think it was because of the shots though. We will see if he keeps it up.
Here are some pics I took on Tuesday when he turned 9 weeks old....I forgot the sign.
This is Tyler with his Great Grandma - Mamma Jane

Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Cuz We're Cousins...We're 2 of a Kind!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Them R Fightin Words
Tyler was really tired and fell asleep on the way there. He did so good...meaning he slept the whole time I wandered up and down the aisles! So I go to check out and Tyler opens his eyes. I thought to myself, "I hope he doesn't start screaming!" He did great! The checker started asking me how old he was and telling me how cute he was when a bagger came up and started unloading my basket for me. I thought that was very nice.
So as she did that I checked on Tyler...he was sitting in his car seat that was propped "securely" on top of the basket. After the bagger unloaded my basket she ATTEMPTED to take my basket, WITH MY BABY IN IT, to the end of the lane to load the bags of groceries. I quickly grabbed onto the basket as it started rolling away from me and stated that I would like to keep him close to me as I was not completely trusting the safety of Tyler's car seat sitting on the cart like it was. She looked at me as if I was some kind of deranged idiot!
The checker continued to ask questions and dote on him and when I was reaching into my wallet the bagger tried to take the basket AGAIN!!! Are you kidding me....do you wanna see me pull out a can??
I said again, this time with a teency bit of an attitude, that, "I would like to keep my baby close to me....was that a problem?" I asked the checker if that was a problem and she quickly said no and gave the bagger a dirty look.
I thought to myself, this little teenager girl is cruisin for a bruisin from an overprotective mommy on the loose! After everything was paid for and all the bags were in my basket I asked the checker if I could have some help loading all these groceries into my car and she said, "certainly, she (pointing to the bagger) can help you out." Oh great!
So, as you may have already guessed, the bagger is more than thrilled! She says to me, "I'll Push!" I was like.....over my dead body will I let you push my 8 week old baby boy out into a parking lot! No....I didn't say that. I just said, "No, I don't think so...I will push my baby...thank you."
Needless to say, she quickly put the grocery bags in the trunk and without a word was headed back into the store.
So am I a crazy lady with a mean streak or would you feel the same way?
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
8 Weeks Old-I get it!
I get it I get it! Finally I get it! I kept seeing bloggers take pictures of their babies with little signs sitting next to them describing how old they were. I kept thinking that is so weird...why do all the people do that! And then I started seeing how big their babies had been growing and it just hit me! I know I am a little slow sometimes! It is to show the growth from week to week! Well that is what I am going with anyway. So here are my very first "big teddy bear "" weeks old pictures!" I am starting with 8 weeks old but at least I am starting right!


So as of 8 weeks of life as a Mercer boy:
- You are starting to sleep through the night! Most nights you are pretty fussy. We go on a routine walk in the evening to help this fussiness. After our walks you end up eating about 8-9 and go to sleep. Lately you have been sleeping for about 6.5 hours and then waking up at 4 and needing to be fed again; but you usually go right back to sleep for about 3 more hours.
-You are holding your head up really well. It only lasts for about a minute and then you need support.
-You are sleeping in your own bed now! It helps me and daddy get better sleep and I think you like it too.
-You have not quite got the hang of puting yourself to sleep. Sometimes you will cry for 3 minutes and then be asleep and then sometimes it is 15 minutes. At the moment, you are crying in your bed and trying to go to sleep. I hate this part. I haven't quite figured out how many naps you need in a day nor have I figured out what your tired cry is compared to your "I am just fussy" cry. You seem to be fussy a lot so it is hard to tell.
-You are not spitting up as much now that we have you on Zantac. It didn't cure the fussiness though.
-You are about 11 pounds I think...I used a friends scale to weigh you at 7 weeks old and you were 10 pounds 12 ounces.
-You finally started smiling at me after you eat in the morning times. You seem to be really happy during that time. It is my favorite right now because if I do something funny or make a funny noise you will get a big grin on your face and make a cooing noise. 
-Like I said above, you are also starting to make cooing noises. It is mostly during the time right after your morning feedings. Sometimes you will do it in the afternoon if you are not fussy.
-You like to be held ALL the time and you LOVE to fall asleep on daddy's chest.
-You have a new mat to play on and you seem to like the lights and music it plays, but once again, it only lasts a few minutes and then you are not so happy to be on your back.
-You are not taking your pacifier very much. I think you think that when I give it to you it means you have to sleep and you get mad when I put it in your mouth. But there are times that you like it and it stays in your mouth about a minute and then you are done.
-I think you are going to take after your mommy in the sense that you are going to be very needy of lots of attention. Daddy will have to adjust to that one!
-Your 2 month shots are next week.
-You went swimming for the first time this week and seemed to really love the water.
-We have started taking you out places a lot more consistently now and you seem to do pretty well...you have your moments.
-As for me, I am finally starting to cook for my family. I am not that great of a cook to begin with but I have found that I am ready to get learning and I have done pretty well this week. I am just glad to have the desire to start cooking and cleaning and taking care of our house. I just have to be better about using the "nap" times wisely so that I can get a lot done!
Well, that is all I can think of for now. Happy 8 weeks Tyler!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Crazy times for Auntie Tori!






I am pretty sure that Tori wants children but not for a REALLY REALLY long time from now! It is good birth control for young people to be around little newborns!Sunday, July 5, 2009
Sleeping through 4th of July!!!!
I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday! We did! We were pretty busy during the day and then we went to my parents house that evening for a little party! At the party was Tyler's little cousin Norman! My has he grown. I am waiting on my cousin to send me the pictures of the 2 of them...they were so cute in their red, white and blue outfits! Hopefully I will get them soon!
So we started the fireworks at my parents after everyone ate up all the good food. I thought Tyler was going to love them but as soon as they started popping, he was not happy with the noise so we had to stay inside. I have to tell ya that 4th of July this year was a lot different then I had expected. I guess that's life as a mommy!
He had been pretty fussy so we decided to go ahead and head home. He cried the whole way home....poor thing....Steve and I will have that screaming cry engraved in our heads forever! That was a long 15 minute drive home!
As soon as we pulled up to our house he stopped crying...go figure! Anyway, he was hungry so I fed him and put him to sleep in our room. I really thought that he was not going to sleep well with all the neighbors popping their fireworks. Every time one of them went off I would sit up to see if it woke Tyler up....much to my surprise the fireworks were only keeping ME up. I did not sleep at all and TYLER SLEPT THROUGH THE WHOLE NIGHT!!!! YAY, it's official! Tyler's first night to sleep through and I don't get a wink of sleep myself!
I am just hoping that he will continue this sleeping through the night thing! I would love it if we both did! I should be able to post those pics of little Norm and Tyler soon. Meanwhile here are a few cute ones:


Saturday, July 4, 2009
Happy 4th!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Happy 1st Father's Day & Happy 30th Birthday to Steve
Steven Swanson Mercer II:
He is the man I married and when I did, I knew deep down in my heart that despite my fears of divorce, I knew he would be my husband forever. And, I knew he would be the greatest father to our kids.
We have been married a year and a half now and we just had our first baby...Tyler. Over the time that we have been married we have been through quite a lot with moving to Corpus Christi while Steve served in the Navy. Then we made some hard decisions regarding leaving the Navy and once we decided, we had to move again back to Houston...back home for both of us. We lived with my parents for almost a year while we went through more difficult times. We finally found a house we wanted to build and started the process only to find that it was not what God had in store for us. We found out we were pregnant and then began looking for a house to move into. We both got new jobs and were really anxious to move out on our own feet and finally we did in January of this year. Then May 19th, Tyler was born. What a year it has been! And through all of it, I got to see God move in Steve's life in some really cool ways. He was always the first to say, "We need to pray about it"....or "We will just have to trust God for this"....or "Don't worry, God has this all worked out and we just have to have faith that He will provide."
Over the course of this time, I have grown to love Steven more and more every day. I have learned to trust him more than I ever thought I could trust a man. I also never realized how much I loved him until our son was born. Steven really stepped up and became a very nurturing person to me and Tyler. He was such a servant the 2 1/2 weeks he was off of work. He helped out in so many ways and I am so blessed to have had that time with him during the first weeks of Tyler's life. He has showed me more times than I can remember that he is someone that I can always count on. I know without a doubt that if ever I need him for anything, he will drop everything for me. I really do feel like I am the luckiest girl alive being married to Steve. I love him so much and I know that Tyler already loves him so much.
Steve, I love you and hope that you have the best birthday ever! And we hope you have the best Father's day too!
Friday, June 19, 2009
1 month old and time to get out!
My sister-in-law came over and it was nice to see another adult face. Then Steve got home and had to leave again for softball and I just thought to myself....gosh, I have been alone all day with him...I want to go somewhere too! I did not want to make Steve feel guilty so I said nothing and then my miracle happened! My mother-in-law came over to get Allison, her daughter, and they were going to get Mexican food and a margarita and inside I was SOSOSOSO jealous but said nothing and then she said it....."Why don't you and Alli go and I will stay with Tyler!" You don't have to ask me twice that's for sure! RELIEF! Oh, is it bad that I was so happy to get out and have margarita? Erin....I know how you feel about the guilt....I felt it but it didn't stop me.
Allison and I went to Alicia's and had a margarita....my first in over 9 months. It was fantastic with the fajitas! Thank you thank you thank you Susan!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
4 weeks old!!
Tyler has been great, we have had a few really rough days and nights but for the most part, I think I have a pretty easy baby. I am getting to that point now where I have no idea what to do with him. When he sleeps and I have slept....I get things done around the house and when he cries, it's usually because he is hungry so I feed him. But then those times that he is awake and wants to be held....I really am feeling like a dummy. I have no idea what to do or say to him. I have tried reading books but he can't hold his head up yet which makes it hard to hold him, his head and the book. Today I tried my Hotslings that my friend gave me and he passed out in it. That was nice but it started hurting my shoulder and I couldn't get a lot done because I was afraid to wake him.
- He can lift head to a 45 degree angle when on stomach or a flat surface
- He can focus on faces
- He responds to bells or sounds in some way, such as startling, crying, or quieting
- He can bring both hands together
- He can smile spontaneously
The things that are on the list that he hasn't done yet are:
- Hold head steady when upright
- Lift head 90 degrees when on stomach
- Smile in response to my smile
- And vocalize in ways other than crying (cooing)
I am very proud of him and am really looking forward to what the next 4 weeks bring!
I was also advised that we should introduce a bottle to him at this stage so that he can get used to having my breast and the bottle. Here is a pic of Steve giving Tyler his first bottle. He had no problems taking it. He is going to be my chunky monkey with the way he is eating!


Friday, June 12, 2009
My new doo!
So today was the first day that I was away from baby Tyler. I have been pretty nervous about the thought of leaving Tyler for any length of time.
I decided it was time to make a change. I had been wondering if I was ever going to feel pretty again. I finally decided it was time to head to the salon and make some changes to help in the pretty department!
I decided that I would have Tyler's Aunt Allison come watch Tyler while I was out. I went to the salon and instead of calling ever 30 minutes to check on Tyler, I only called ever hour! Yay for me right?!
So I treated myself to highlights, color and a cut! Emily cut off almost 4 inches! I am so happy because now, my hair won't look so scraggly when I have gone all day without a shower! I can actually start to feel pretty again even if it's a figment of my imagination.
I know that sounds extremely vain but after being huge for 9 months and then having to be exposed to what seems like the whole world, one does what one has to do to feel "normal" again!
Here is me feeling somewhat "normal" again!
And this is what Tyler did the whole time he was with Aunt Alli. And I was worried! Ha! I was worried for nothing. Allison had it all under control every time I called!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Fluids fluids and more fluids! Oh My!


Sunday, June 7, 2009
Cousins!!!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Tummy Aches
Poor thing, I just wish I could take his pain away when he feels bad. I have found a good hold for him when he has these tummy aches. He likes to lay on his belly on my knees~legs. It seems to make him feel better.
Speaking of laying him on his belly....I have been letting him sleep on his side like he did in the hospital but I have noticed he prefers his belly. I wish I wasn't so nervous about SIDS but I just am and I have a hard time letting him be on his belly. Last night, after his 5am (I guess that would not be last night, more like this morning) I did put him on his belly instead and he went right to sleep.
He certainly is not on any kind of schedule yet but he is pretty consistent with his days and nights. He likes to sleep after his feedings for about 4 hours. He will eat about 9-10 and sleep til about 1:30-2am then I feed him again and he goes back to sleep for 4 more hours. During the day he is awake a lot more and eats more frequently. His feedings are definitely not consistent. I have been feeding him on only one side each feeding and sometimes he will eat for 8 minutes only and then other feedings he will eat for 15 minutes on one side. I wish I knew everything about nursing babies!
Here are some new pics of him from this week! Hope you enjoy them as much as I do! I love him so much! I could not ask for anything more in life! He is my little angel and I don't know how I could live without him!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Yay, Tyler's cord came off!











Friday, May 29, 2009
Cousin Little Norm is making his grand entrance very soon!!!

Here are the 3 cousins in our family that are pregnant!
Norman and Courtney, Aaron and Calli, and Steve and myself!
We are all due within a month apart from each other!!!

Gotta love that Tennessee beer! Love you Courtney!!!!
By the way, we wern't pregnant in this picture in case you were worried!

Monday, May 25, 2009
The Most Amazing Day of Our Lives!
Last Monday I had my 38 week appointment and I was 85% effaced and a "fingertip" dilated. I could not feel Tyler moving as much so my doctor sent me to the hospital to get a stress test done and to make sure the baby was ok. That kind of scared me. When I got there they told me the baby's heart rate had dropped a little so Steve went ahead and came to the hospital to be with me. Everything ended up being just fine and I went home.
I had an appointment on Tuesday morning to have an ultrasound done to see how big he was going to be. I decided not to go into work until after my appointment considering the day before was kind of rough. Steve left for work and I got ready for my appointment and then checked my email. At 6:40 my I was sitting at my desk and all of the sudden I had this warm sensation as if I just sat my butt in a warm tub; hence, my water broke! It was not a trickle either! I was laughing uncontrollably and called Steve and told him to head back! Until Steve got back I just paced the house laughing saying, "Oh my gosh my water just broke, oh my gosh!"
We headed to the hospital and I had just begun to have contractions after an hour had past since my water broke. They were so easy! I was actually excited to have another one 3 minutes later!
Once we got all checked in at the hospital we realized that the day was not going to be very good unless we got rid of our Nazi nurse! Thankfully she was replaced and sent home for being such a terrible nurse! We got a great nurse as her replacement! I think it was around noon that my OB came to see me and check me. By the time she got there she said I was 6 centimeters and moving right along! I had 2 massage therapist "Doulas" there with me and that was fantastic! I got massaged all the way through labor which is why I think I progressed so quickly!







I have so much I want to share and soon enough I will! For now, I am going to go and stare at my precious little baby until he wakes up again!Thursday, May 21, 2009
Tyler Jeffery Mercer has arrived!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
38 Weeks and in labor!
We will keep you all updated! My doctor is coming in to check me in the next hour to see how much I have dilated! I am sticking with my crazy dream that when she sees me next she will say.."oh my you are at a 10 and it's time to deliver!" Don't worry I won't get my hopes up though.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Kid-less dates at 38 weeks
First let me tell you about last night with Steve. He decided that we needed to have a date since it might be a while before we get one again! So he picked a great place...one of our favorites...Perry's Steakhouse! The reason it is one of our favs is due to the decadent Bananas Foster dessert they have! Oh my....yes it is to die for! It was kind of a weird feeling to think that was probably our last "kid-less" date we will EVER have again. We will never be the same again....as our Sunday school teacher reminded us.....our date conversation will now revolve around children unless forcefully done otherwise. We can't wait to NOT be kid-less!!!

The food was fabulous...Steve had their famous pork chop meal and I had the pecan crusted snapper! So yummy. My favorite by far was the end when we got to watch them flame up the banana's foster! You really have to try it!
So we headed home. About 2 am I woke up with terrible indigestion and cramping and a dull aching in my lower back. All I could think of was reading the "false labor signs" section of an article I read, of which described exactly what I was feeling. DARN! I could not go back to sleep due to the ache in my back. I tried everything and ended up on our super comfy couch and fell asleep at 4 am only to be woken up by reality....time for work. I decided that I would stay home today and rest. I have my appointment with my dr today at noon and I am praying she is going to tell me, this time, that I am 10 centimeters dilated and it is time to have the baby!!! I know....I know...I am still having that same ridiculous dream.
Anyway, we are ready...bags packed....double checked bags....had our hospital tour...cleaned the house (not completely)....we are ready for little baby Tyler to join our lives. I can't wait to meet him.
I will try to post a 38 week and 1 day picture tomorrow after my friend/co-worker, Madelaine, takes my picture in her office.
Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you...I have a scheduled ultrasound tomorrow morning to see how big baby Tyler is. Can't wait to post about that one! Pray he is not a 20 pound baby!!!!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Seriously!
I had my last shower which was awesome! My work gave me a shower and we had it at Chedders restaurant and I got a few great gifts and also a gift certificate to get started with my cloth diapering! I can't wait to purchase my cloth diapers!!!!
I will post some pics possibly this weekend.
After the shower, it just hit me like a ton of bricks....I am soooooo tired and wow I have some major pressure down in my pelvis right now. Like painful pressure! I am guessing this is Tyler getting ready to make his grand entrance! I wish he would hurry up and decide to come out!
Well, I am going to bed early tonight....I will post some more later!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Happy Mother's Day at 37 weeks! and Full Term!

Monday, May 4, 2009
36 weeks! and lots of showers!
Well, I am 36 weeks along today and had my Dr appointment this morning. I thought she was going to do the first pelvic exam but she didn't. I kind of was hoping that I would find out if I was dilated at all. I guess I am a little anxious....she said that starts next Monday at 37 weeks. She was able to tell me that Tyler was head down and in the perfect position. Let's hope he stays that way!
I have had several showers over the past month and I want to post some pics but I don't have pics from all the showers yet....so I will just post the ones I have for now. I do have to say that I feel very blessed by all the gifts and love and prayers that people have given us. We really are pretty much ready for Tyler now and it is such a great feeling to know that if he came today, we would have almost everything we need to take care of him.
Before I post the pics of the shower I wanted to let everyone know that my dad is doing much better emotionally. He is ready to start the Chemo drugs on Wednesday. Thank you all for the prayers. He had a rough time coming back to feeling himself after the surgery to remove the mass in his colon. It was difficult to know how to respond to what he was feeling but after much prayer, he is back to being himself and he said he is a fighter and to "bring on the chemo". Now we just have to pray the chemo makes him cancer free! Please continue to pray for this time that he will go through. He will have a treatment once every 3 weeks for 6 months and it takes a day to administer and about 3 days to recover from 1 treatment. I know he is a fighter and he will pull through this!
OK, now for the shower details and pictures! The first shower I had was with my mother-in-law at her work! Julie, thank you so much for throwing the shower. It was great of your boss to let you have it at work! Your co-workers were all so great to help too!





Then I had a shower with my 2 other cousins that are also pregnant. This was more of just a family get together. It is so much fun to share this pregnancy with my 2 cousins Courtney and Calli! And we are all 3 having boys! I am due June 1st and then Courtney is about a week after me and then Calli has a few weeks after Courtney. The boys will be so close in age! Can't wait for them to meet!
Here we are, the 3 cousins with our better halves!
Me with my Tyler Jefferey Mercer blanket, Courtney with her Norman Robert McDonald blanket and Calli with her Brock Emerson Keener blanket! How sweet!

We all 3 got the Diaper Champ....how crazy is that! No we didn't plan it either!

and...the 3 grandpas! My uncle Cliff on the left, Uncle Jay in the middle and my step-dad on the right!

Then I had "Game Day" Shower that was put together by some of my mom's great friends; Ann Sanders, Sherri Hroch, Martha Walker, Allison Morris and Kim Huff. Thank you so much for an awesome time. The theme was "Game Day" and they were all dressed up as if they were headed to a sporting event! Steve would have loved to have been invited to this one! We really are going to have a little sports guru on our hands!
Ann in her referee gear! And that was my chair that I got to sit in. I believe that is Vince Young's number! Go Texas!


And here is the diaper cake that Martha made with the help of Johnny! Thanks!

This was how the table was decorated...with bags of popcorn and peanuts and m&m's just like we were at the game!

More decorations...by the way, I loved the piggy banks in the above picture...the different sports balls! I used them in decorating Tyler's room!

This was a frame that had the "Game Day" menu in it!

I love the sports wrapping!

Wow, that was a lot of gifts to unwrap!

And this was the Stork that my mother-in-law brought! ADORABLE! He is a metal stork that is playing golf and he WILL be in the front yard holding a sign welcoming baby Tyler very soon!

I had another shower this weekend thrown by some of my great friends, Amanda O'Kelley, Leila Kassar and Elena Tubb. I don't have the pictures yet....Amanda is going to send those to me very soon....right???!!! Anyway, it was awesome too! We had it here at our house so that I could show off the baby room! Once I get some pics I will tell you a little more about it! Definitely was unique in it's own handmade way!
Well, it is late now and I need to go to sleep. I miss reading all of your blogs so it was great to catch up on all of them tonight! I will post some belly pics tomorrow of being 36 weeks and 1 day along! See you then!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A "Sports Fan" at 34 weeks and 2 days!
And here is the room: We got the chair rail up and painted the room and the chair rail 3 different shades of blue. Then we got the furniture and the glider in the room! I know that it is not that cute yet but it's a start folks! I have my first shower tomorrow afternoon...my mother-in-law is giving Steve and I a shower at her job. I am super excited!Monday, April 20, 2009
34 Weeks!
Oh and my exhaustion has come back in full force as well. I am so tired by the end of the day I just want to take a nap and then wake up, eat dinner, and go back to bed for the night.
I have my 34 week appointment tomorrow and I believe that is when my Dr wants me to start counting kicks and get more blood work done. Fun times!
Steve and I finally finished the baby room a few weekends ago and I love to just go in there and sit and rock away in my glider. I can't wait to be rocking Tyler to sleep in there! I will have to take some pictures very soon. Maybe I will take them tonight and post them tomorrow! I also have my first shower this week and then one this weekend and then one on May 2nd! I can't wait!
My job is starting to take a toll on me too...or maybe that is just the exhaustion?? Anyway, I will be glad to say farewell when Tyler comes! My boss now knows what our plans are and it feels good to get that off my chest!
Lastly, I want to let you know about my dad. Some of you may already know...that he was diagnosed with Colon Cancer on Thursday last week. He underwent surgery to remove the mass on Friday morning and the doctors believe they got it all out. I am so thankful that God allowed a successful surgery. We are still waiting on the pathologist to give us the results of the lymph nodes to see if the cancer has spread so be praying for that please. Thank you for all that have prayed for him. He is telling the story of how it all took place while praising God. He is giving God all the glory and he is in great spirits! Steve and I drove to Victoria this past weekend to be there with him and it was great to have good news and to see him begin his recovery with a smile! We love him so much and are thankful that this was caught so early and that he will have plenty more time with us! Baby Tyler can't wait to meet Papa Chuck!
Well, that is all for this evening...I will take those pictures now and try to get them up soon! I missed reading all of your blogs so I am going to spend some time catching up on the for the rest of the evening.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Blogging withdrawls!

Since I blogged last...Steve and I had our birthing classes which I learned so much more stuff! Even Steve learned way more than he thought he would. Now, all of the sudden, he is no longer afraid of delivery! As if he should be the one afraid! I am confident he will do great ;-)
We also found furniture that was a great price and opted to purchase it instead of using some that had been given to us. 

Obviously, we still have a ways to go before the room looks even remotely like this:
And also in this lovely room is our poor dog, Harley! He is only a little over 1 years old. He is still a puppy and he doesn't even realize his life is about to drastically change as well! He will no longer be our little baby. Here he is after a long day trying to snooze in his kennel while I type in HIS room keeping HIM awake! How dare I!


Well, I am getting tired....that must be why I feel like I am rambling on....I guess it is time for me to turn in and get some sleep. This definitely satisfied my blogging withdrawals! Good night for now!
Monday, March 30, 2009
31 Weeks and Major Drama!

Ok, the drama....so at my job, I am an assistant for a CEO of a company and it just so happens that my boss is out of town A LOT! And sometimes when he goes out of town he doesn't leave me a lot to do so I have time to get on the internet and update my blog, check my facebook, and do a little surfing. No big deal, right! WRONG! So on Wednesday, I was going to check the blog and when I got online and went to the website, it was blocked! So I checked again thinking that maybe it was a typo....nope, still blocked. I checked all the websites that I visit in my boredom while at work and all were blocked by the company. So then I started thinking, oh my gosh I am in big trouble and they have caught me doing this stuff and now I am going to be fired. I started feeling like I was on the Big Brother show and that people were watching me!
Well, the next morning, this nice guy comes by my cubicle and asks me if he could send me a funny video of a comedian doing a bit on colonoscopies. I thought sure, sounds funny. Well after I watched the video and laughed so hard I cried! I noticed he was no longer at his cubicle and the HR lady was cleaning his cubicle out! Turns out he was escorted out of the building and terminated for inappropriate content on the internet. I won't go into the details of that! I just feel really bad for him knowing that, that sort of behavior can really be a real issue in some peoples lives and I hate it for him and his family that he lost his job over it. I only pray he gets some help and is able to be free of that.
Well, that is the reason the company is cracking down on what everyone is allowed to do on the internet. I guess I feel better knowing that it wasn't me and like I said before, I have asked my boss to leave me things to do while he is gone so that I don't get bored, but as long as he doesn't do that, I kind of feel like I would not have gotten in trouble for checking facebook occasionally and updating my blog. I will never know now and now I just have to stare into space waiting for something to do! So, needless to say, that is why I will not be able to check your blogs and update mine as often. I love reading others blogs and now I can't....so disappointed!
There is so much more I want to blog about like how the garage fell off the house this weekend and how I learned so so much at my birthing classes, but my back is killing me sitting here so I will turn in for tonight and try to update more tomorrow night AT HOME :-((
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Coutdown Begins!


This weekend was very successful! Steve and David put up the chair rail for baby Tyler's room! Looks awesome! Also, my mom and I went down to Harwin and got a ton of decorating wall stuff for the house! I am so excited that our house is finally coming together! Then on Sunday, Steve and I drove down to Victoria to get the baby bed from my dad's house. He is giving us my sister's baby furniture. All in all, we got a ton accomplished this weekend! Yay!
Now we have to sand down the chair rail, prime it, paint it, and paint the walls of Tyler's room! Then we have to hang all the wall decor that I got and then we have to put the bed together! Next weekend looks to be pretty full!
I will take pictures of everything and post them tomorrow!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
29 weeks and Still Dancing!

It amazes me how much I can feel little Tyler moving around in my belly. I have been trying lately to figure out what is what regarding elbows, feet, arms and head bulges! I am not sure I am very good at figuring those things out yet.
As I am beginning my 3rd trimester, I am starting to feel anxious a little about meeting Tyler. I really can't wait to see his little face and all his features! I wonder and day dream daily about what he will be like and look like. I wonder since he is so active in my belly, if that means he will be active in life? He seems to love music because I feel like he is dancing along anytime music is playing.
Like this weekend...by the way....CONGRATULATIONS are in order to my brother-in-law, Greg and his new wife Savannah! I am so happy for the 2 of them and I will post some pictures from the wedding at the end of this post! 
But during the wedding reception, I was on the dance floor and having the time of my life dancing away! I noticed as soon as I needed a break and sat down for a few minutes that Tyler was not finished dancing. He was all over the place in there! I wonder if that means he will be a Kicker for some great football team or maybe a Long Distance Runner since he can go and go and go! I really just can't wait to meet him!
Something else that was really cool this weekend was last night. Steve and I were sitting on the couch and I was reading my book about pregnancy and I realized in reading the "29 weeks" part that it is possible for someone to put their ear to my belly and hear the heartbeat of baby Tyler. I immediately asked Steve if he wanted to try this and he was all for it! I told him I would be extremely jealous if he could hear it! Sure enough, after listening for a few seconds he came up with a big grin on his face and said he could hear it! How cool is that! I want to hear so badly but I guess since I have the luxury of FEELING Tyler ALL the time, it is only fair that Steve gets something out of this that I don't get!
Well, here are some pics from the wedding day! We had such a great time and again, we are so so excited to have Savannah join the Mercer family! 





Friday, March 13, 2009
Breakfast in bed?
Last night was his brothers bachelor party and Steve put it all together and grilled out at his dad's house for some of Greg's friends. The wedding is on Saturday and we are all so very excited for him and Savannah! Steve also has taken the day off today to help get everything ready for the rehearsal dinner tonight. He was glad to take the day off not only to help out but to catch up on some extra sleep since he knew that last night would be a long night and since we would not get much sleep this weekend.
I must say I enjoy riding with my husband to work every morning since we work so close together. I was kind of sad knowing that this rainy Friday morning I would have to ride alone while my husband got to sleep in. I admit I was also a little bit jealous.
I woke up at 5:15 this morning and very quietly got out of bed so that I would not wake him and after getting ready in the bathroom, I was expecting to open the door to the bedroom to leave and find him fast asleep. Much to my surprise, I smelled eggs and bacon! Just as I realized what he was doing he walked in the bedroom with a tray that my mother-in-law had given me for Christmas and on it was eggs, bacon, toast and juice for me! I was shocked! How sweet! I couldn't believe he sacrificed his extra sleep to make me breakfast almost in bed!
Sorry if it's cheesy, but I had to brag on him a little! He really is a great husband and so very loving and I can't wait to see what a wonderful daddy he will be for baby Tyler!
Steve, I love you so so much and you really are my 1 and only!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
28 weeks = Third Trimester! and Rodeo Time!
Tyler has been kicking me just as often but here lately it feels like he has learned Karate or something. He kicks so hard it kind of hurts my ribs. Sometimes it even tickles. I guess he is just running out of room in there. My feet are ever swollen all the time now. I am drinking at least 64 ounces of water every day and I need some other remedy for this. It's ridiculous.
Last night Steve and his brother and sister and I went to the rodeo to see Toby Keith and I was utterly amazed at how HUGE my ankles were. I even pressed into my ankle to see if I could feel where my ankle bone was and when I unpressed there was an indention where my fingers had been pressing!!!! OMG!!! So weird and so gross! They are much better this morning but good grief! The concert was pretty good but we ended up leaving a little early. The music was so extremely loud, I felt like I was hurting Tyler's little growing ears by making him sit through it. Plus Greg was not feeling well either so it all worked out that we left early. We also got to miss all the bad traffic leaving the rodeo....so worth it!
Anyway, so I am officially 2 days into my 3rd trimester and the symptoms that I hear about coming on in the last month are already here....leakage, cankles, exhaustion and lots of back pain. I am thinking it's going to be a long trimester.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
New Arrivals - Registered!
Friend, if you read this, know that we are praying for you and are so excited for you today!!!
I also have another great friend that helped me through the process of registering a couple of weeks ago! She has a 1 year old and I knew she would be a good one to take with me to determine which things I will actually need and which things I think I would need and never use! Thanks so much Stephanie for all the help! It was definitely overwhelming...especially the feeding wall! There was an entire wall dedicated to BOTTLES! Isn't a bottle just a bottle! I mean come on! I am so glad she was there with me because I think if I had gone with Steve or even by myself I would have looked at the giant "bottle wall" and ran straight out of the store!
There were so many things that I would have registered for and never used had my friend not been there with me! Plus there were things that I would have thought, "oh that is just a silly little contraption...I don't need that" and she told me that getting these particular items would be lifesavers for me! Wow, I have so much to learn! As I look back over the registry I definitely feel like I left a lot of things off but I will probably add a few toys here and there!
All in all, I think I will be set with the absolute necessities thanks to Stephanie!
Monday, March 2, 2009
27 weeks!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009
26 weeks and Anemic...slightly!
Then in my 2nd trimester all my energy came back in full force. I did not notice it until I got home one day from work and no longer needed to take a nap at 4:45pm-6pm and then go back to sleep for the night at 8pm. It was very obvious that part was over. I started getting the heartburn/indigestion pretty bad, but it wasn't anything that tums couldn't cure! I also have experience some back pain towards the end of my 2nd trimester...some that has been debilitating to say the least. This SI Joint pain stuff is for the cows! BUT, with a little physical therapy and a fantastic new "Back N Belly" pillow from Target, I am doing fine!
The upcoming 3rd trimester is what I am a little nervous about. Not just because it involves contractions, labor and delivery but also the exhaustion I hear comes back in full force as well as the heartburn and back pains get worse. We will soon see how bad it is.
My belly has been growing but I would say slowly growing. I was 37 inches around for a while and now I am only 37 and 3/4 around. I am afraid however, that I will be starting to grow much bigger much faster in the months to come! Time for more Tummy Butter!
I had my regular Dr appt the other day too and found out that I DON'T have Gestational Diabetes...YAY...but I am slightly Anemic. She said it was not too severe and that some over-the-counter Iron supplements would help. We shall see....I am going to pick up some Slow FE Iron today!
Well, that's it for now, I will post a pic next week...my last week of my 2nd trimester! Bring on the 3rd!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Valentines Day 2009!
After we got up, Steve hollered at me and said to come here and that there was this huge scratch on the wood floor. Considering that we are in our first home and it is new to us...I was upset and ran in there and stared hard at the floor. I kept saying that I did not see anything and for some reason I would not look up. I just stared at the floor and he finally had to say, Cristie....then I saw his sweet sweet surprise on the dining room table!!




I made him his favorite! Key Lime Pie....the really "so good, it's bad for you" kind!
Monday, February 16, 2009
25 Weeks! 105 days to go!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Swollen feet
Well, I wrote the above yesterday and after I spoke to my doctor, I decided it was time to down some major water for the day and do it everyday from here on out! When I went home, Steve was there with the guys unloading our NEW WASHER AND DRYER!!! I was so excited that I almost forgot how swollen my feet had been all day. Fortunately, Steve reminded me that I needed to drink more water and get my feet up! He can be so sweet sometimes! So after dinner I propped my feet up and started noticing the swelling going down!
Today, when I checked my ankles out....they were actually ANKLES! No more cankles! YAY! That does it.....I am drinking water all day every day!
Monday, February 9, 2009
It's Showering Boxes!
Well, we are all moved in now and I am just trying to find time after work to unpack and decorate. I am getting a little nervous knowing that I only have 3 1/2 more months until Tyler joins us and I don't even have his room ready much less, the entire house! I think yesterday I was a little down because of this. I am really anxious to know that everything is ready and as it looks right now....we have a TON to do.
I am 24 weeks today and really starting to feel Tyler kick me all day long....AND ALL NIGHT LONG! Good grief! Last night was yet another sleepless night due to my protruding belly and the punches and kicks coming from the inside! You would think I downed a box of sugar or something. I am trying to stay positive here and hold on to the hope that if I work really hard throughout the day, then at night I will be SO tired that nothing...not even being punched in the stomach would wake me up!


This weekend was a good weekend! We went to our friends, Brett and Steph's, house for their son, Zander's, 1st birthday party! Wow, what a look into the future that was for me! There were so many little ones there and they were all about the same age, 1! I just hope that I am ready for Tyler's arrival. Even though I was a live-in-nanny for 3 years during my college days and I babysat all the time growing up, I am starting to feel like I am not going to know what in the world to do when he arrives. It's a good thing I have lots of friends with new babies and lots of family close by!
I also went to my future sister-in-law's, Savannah, 1st wedding shower! YAY! It was a kitchen shower and it totally brought back all the memories of my own showers! I am so excited for her and loved all the things she got for her new kitchen! Savannah, you will love opening all those gifts up and using them for the first time! Can't wait to see you next weekend and watch you open up many many more presents!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
23 Weeks & A New Home


Thursday, January 29, 2009
It's Official - We are 1st Time HOME OWNERS!
Here we are signing on the dotted lines!
AND, IT'S OFFICIAL! We are the proud owners of our new house!

Closing Day!
We plan on coming back to work after we sign on the dotted line and then we will go and open the door to our new home for the first time this evening! We plan on taking both our parents out to eat to let them know how much we appreciate them and how much we love them for everything they have done for us. Our families really are the greatest ever. We both have families that are so willing to lend a hand in whatever need arises. We are so thankful for them and are excited they are such a big part of our lives!
I will post some pictures tomorrow of the newest home owners on the block!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
My Heart is Broken
I also have another friend that is struggling big time right now. Her mom is in the hospital and has been there for about a month now. She got sick over the holidays and it turned into a bad fever and a bad virus that has taken over her body. The medicines the doctors had to give her to get the virus to die has done a number on her body including her brain. And yesterday the doctors gave the results of the latest brain scan and it was not optimistic. They are hanging on to hope and praying for a miracle at this point. It doesn't sound like the doctors can do much more for her. I pray for her and my friends family that they have a peace from God to know if and when to let her go and be with the Lord or to hang on to hope and trust for that miracle. It also breaks my heart to know that my friend is about to get married in about a month and agonizing over whether or not her mom is going to be there or be with God.
I do believe that God can do miracles but like I said before, I also believe that sometimes He calls us home to be with Him. What is Your will this time God. I pray for these 2 families that You will wrap your arms around them and love on them and give them the strength to get through these trials you have set before them. I pray that you are glorified through what is going on in their lives. I pray this time of hurting and grieving passes quickly with an abundance of joy on the other side of it all.
In Christ's name I pray and ask these things,
AMEN
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Closing in 7 days!
Many of you know that my husband played football at the Naval Academy and he is a huge lover of sports all around. I purposefully, out of the kindness of my heart, scheduled everything around Super Bowl Sunday, February 8th! So the actual movers are showing up on the 1st to move everything into the new house. How sweet of me, right?!
When Steve and I started discussing how that weekend would go, he got furious all of the sudden and told me that Super Bowl Sunday was February 1st not the 8th! Whoops! Oh well, I guess. I can't reschedule everything now...it's too late in the game (no pun intended). So we will still move on that day but I am sure, no doubt, that we will be making a pit stop to someones house to see the game and then it will be back to unpacking all our stuff from storage and getting settled in the new house.
Sorry Steve....love you :-)
Despite the mishap...we are still so very excited to be moving into our new house...new to us! We are so thankful to God, because without His guidance in all of this we might have gotten stuck with a brand new house that has a cracked foundation and unable to sell it down the road. God has been faithful once again and we give Him all the glory!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
We found a house!!!!
Who would have guessed that the 1st day of the new year we would find a house! We found this house and I immediately loved it. The kitchen was my favorite and I kept going back into it and thinking..."I see myself cooking here!"
We decided to put a bid on it the following Monday. It was way over priced but we found out on Tuesday the 6th that the sellers had accepted our offer! Wow, that was easy!!! We got them down a little more on the price and we signed the contract on Wednesday! On Thursday we realized the VA interest rate was at 5% and we were told by a lot of people that was a great rate so we locked it in! Then the inspection was done on it on Friday and all was good! There were a few minor things that needed to be fixed but the sellers worked it out and now we are in business!
We originally had a close date of February 13th which is Friday the 13th! Now the lender is saying that he could have us close by the end of this month!!!! That means we will own a house by January 28th!!!!! OMG that was super fast compared to what we have experienced!
We are so so excited to move in and start our lives there! We can't wait to have people over and cook and just live as a family again! This will also give me 4 months before baby Tyler arrives to get his little room ready for him! I can't wait to start that process and do all the decorating and painting!!!! So fun!
God is so good and even though it is hard to wait for His perfect timing sometimes, He is always faithful to provide!!!
Here are a few pictures of the new house we will have and own by the end of the month!!!!



Tuesday, January 13, 2009
I got a little worried last night because I woke up in the middle of the night and realized I was sleeping on my back. I must have rolled over or something. My doctor told me that in the 2nd trimester you should stop laying on your back because the baby can press up against the main blood line to my brain which cuts off my blood and in turn cuts off the baby's blood. How in the world do you keep from rolling onto your back while you are sleeping~!!!
My belly is definitely growing more too. I keep putting the tummy butter and lotion on it every day and I still wonder, how in the world is my skin going to stretch any bigger (and I am not even that big!) I am so afraid of stretch marks but I guess I will live!
I have also noticed that my appetite has grown tremendously! I am eating like a piglet now! My cravings consist of Taco Bell Bean Burrito w/ no onions (I get 2 now instead of 1) and McDonalds #2 Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese and no onions meal. MMMM Yummy!
My next appointment is a week from today and I am anxious to see how much weight I will have gained. My last appointment I was only 3 pounds heavier than when I got pregnant. I thought it to be a little strange that at 18 weeks I had only gained 3 pounds in the whole pregnancy. I am sure that the scale will lean a little more to the right this time!
Anyway, that is the latest update!
Friday, January 9, 2009
18 Weeks belly pics


Thursday, January 8, 2009
New Years Eve 2008!








Monday, January 5, 2009
Anatomy Ultrasound!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Pictures of Christmas fun!
Christmas morning we spent at my sister's apartment - This is Ashleigh's tree!
Christmas morning at Ashleigh's - Mom, Raven (dog), David, Cristie & Steve
New Mercer Traditions at the Mercer house - Alli, Cristie & Savannah (Soon-to-be Mercer)
Monday, December 29, 2008
A Great Christmas!
We hung out with family Christmas Eve and Christmas day! We are so blessed to have so much family so close! It does make for a busy holiday...we were forced to eat about 3-4 Christmas meals too! We exchanged gifts and celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior!
Steve and I had decided to not get each other gifts this year since we were going to be buying a new video camera, washer/dryer, refrigerator, baby furniture, and last but certainly not least-a new house! However, much to my surprise....Steve decided to be sneaky and got me a gift anyway. I felt like a tool since I didn't get him anything, but I was still super excited. He got me a new Dooney N Burke purse! He knew I had been wanting a black purse but I was not expecting any name brand stuff. I never had name brand purses until he came around...sounds like he is into that stuff more than I am! Anyway, I was really happy and very surprised!
We both got a lot of great gifts from great people!
Even though this was Steve and my 3rd Christmas together...only 2nd as a married couple...we still have yet to have our own Christmas tree. That is what I am looking forward to the most for next year! I can't wait to have our own place and be able to decorate it with a tree! Well...maybe that is not the thing I am looking forward to the most....I would have to say that it would be the fact that we will be parents! Wow!
That just sounds crazy...I feel like I am way too young to be a PARENT! I am 31....I guess I am old enough but it just sounds so weird! I can't believe that in about 21 weeks, I will be a mommy! I am officially 18 weeks today and I have my big ultrasound appointment this Friday to see Tyler from head to toe and do all the measurements. It is called the Anatomy Ultrasound! I will also get a chance to see what the doctor saw in order to tell us it's a boy!
Like I said before, it was a great Christmas this year and we are so thankful for all our family and friends and the new things God has in store. I will post some pictures tomorrow of the holiday fun!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Pregnancy Dreams
Monday, December 22, 2008
17 weeks!
She also measured my belly and said that I was 17 inches from the top of my uterus to my pelvic bone! Sounds weird but I guess that is good since she said, "Right on track!"
I also got weighed again...that is probably not the most fun part! However, I have only gained 3 pounds since my last visit and actually that 3 pounds is all I have gained since I got pregnant. I am starting to wonder how tiny this little boy is!
I am finally starting to show a belly. I had to go and buy a few things at Motherhood this weekend. AND, I was totally blessed to receive a tub full of maternity clothes from my dear friend, Ashley. She also gave me a ton of baby boy clothes to use! I can't wait to try them on baby Tyler when he arrives! I can't wait to see what his little face looks like too!
My next appointment is Jan 2nd with a different doctor to see the full anatomy of the baby (from head to toe)! Can't wait for that one! My sister-in-law and mother-in-law are going with me to that appointment!!! How fun!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Step away from the hunt!
We are very excited about spending time with our families over the holidays. I am hoping for some relaxation time in those days too!
We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and we can't wait to hear how everyone's Christmas was when you get back to the blogging world!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Back to the drawing board...
We are going back to the drawing board now. We met with my cousin (the realtor) last night and kind of started over with this whole process. We are widening our area and we are being a little more open minded about things such as 2 story houses. I have never wanted to live in a 2 story house but I am going to try and not be so picky this time.
I know that God has a plan and already knows where we are going to be living. I just hope that He reveals it to us soon! We are hoping to look at about 10 houses this week before Christmas and then pick up our search after the holidays.
I will keep you updated!
Friday, December 12, 2008
No news yet...
We were told yesterday that we should know something more by noon today! We will keep ya posted!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Moving Forward...
On Sunday afternoon, my cousin Courtney, our realtor showed us a foreclosure that my dad had found on the internet. It is in the same area as the new construction, just a different neighborhood. The house is a lot less money and about 1,000 sq. ft. larger. It definitely needs new carpet, paint, and a few other things fixed, but overall David said that it wasn't anything he couldn't see as an easy fix. So Steve and I prayed about it and got some wise counsel and decided to put an offer on it. Yesterday we signed the paperwork for the offer.
We should know if they accept the offer within the next 24-48 hours. I haven't been able to conjure up much emotion regarding this because I don't want to get excited about it if God chooses to close the door. We are completely leaving it in His hands.
Now we just wait....I am praying for His will to be carried out! I will let you know soon :-)
Monday, December 8, 2008
God is our foundation!
Steve and I decided before we got married that God would be the center of our marriage and He would be our foundation. We made a commitment to allow God to lead us and guide us in everything we do. We have prayed and asked for Him to be completely involved in this home buying process from the very beginning and He has. That is why I am able to be joyful today. I believe with all my heart that He closed this door for a reason and that He will open a window for something different. He has the plans laid out for our lives and we trust Him and Him only. We don't really understand all the reasons behind why this is happening but we know that He loves us and will provide all our needs according to His will. That is all we want!
We will start the process over again looking for a home. We feel like building a new construction may not be the direction He is leading us in this time. Please keep us in your prayers as we try to follow His leading and as we listen to His voice. We are just asking Him for clarity and direction in this time. We know He has good things in store and that this experience is a blessing in disguise!
Praise the Lord for a God that cares about even the little things like buying a house!
Friday, December 5, 2008
A few house pictures!

This is from the kitchen looking into the garage.

This is from the kitchen sink looking over the bar into the living room.

This is looking into our bedroom and that is our window that looks out into the back yard!
This is me looking out my bedroom window! Yeah!
And here is the finished product thus far! Steve and I are really excited! Can't wait to have a party and invite people over!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Walls Are Up!
We put a contract on this house to be built back in August and because of hurricane Ike, the building process just started last week. The day we had our pre-construction meeting, we stopped by the lot to see if anything had been started and to our surprise they had already broken ground. A few days later they poured the slab and told us the frame would be up by last Saturday! We were shocked on Tuesday this week when we drove by and they not only had it framed but it had walls!!!! I am so excited! It seems like it will take no time at all to build!
I have heard that at this stage it seems to go by very fast and then slows down a bit before the cabinets go in. I am prepared to wait....I really just want a great finished product! Then after the cabinets go in, I was told that it will most likely be finished within about 45 days!!! We can close and move in! Yeah!!
We have our first 3rd party inspection tomorrow, the pre-sheetrock inspection!!! Hopefully their report will show little to no problems that would need to be fixed! I will get some pictures of the progress up later!
I can't wait to have a new home...our first home!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Baby Bedding!!!!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
IT'S A BOY!!!!




Friday, November 21, 2008
2 Big Days! - Boy or Girl???
Then after that amazing experience, Steve and I left the doctor to head to our PRE CONSTRUCTION MEETING!!!! Yeah, finally it happened! We have had a contract to build this house out in Cypress since August and we are just now having the pre-construction meeting! You can imagine how frustrating that has been to wait this long. The wait was pretty much all caused by IKE! The meeting went very well and everything seems to be in order! We went by the lot and they have already dug up the ground and will be pouring the foundation this next week! Yeah!!!! Hopefully we will be in the house the 1st week of March!
So that was 1 day full of exciting things and today, well today I have a special ultrasound with a special doctor. I say he is special because my doctor told me that everyone she has ever sent to see this doctor for this particular 12-13 week ultrasound has been able to tell the sex of the babies! That means that it is pretty likely we will be finding out the sex of the baby!!!
Wait....my mom came up with this idea that she would go with us to the doctor appointment today and bring a little box with a pink balloon that reads "It's a Girl!" and a blue balloon that reads "It's a Boy!" and she is going to give the box and the balloons to the doctor and tell him to not let us see what the sex is but choose the appropriate color balloon and seal it in the box! So, we will all leave the office with this special box with either a pink or blue balloon in it and since my birthday is on Sunday, she and Steve are giving me a small party at the house. She decided she would take the little box with the balloon in it to party city and have them blow it up (without her seeing it) and put the blown up balloon in a bigger box and seal it up. She will bring the box to the party and we will get to open on it on Sunday! I couldn't ask for a better present for my 31st birthday! I will get to open the box and see what color balloon flies out and then the world will know!
What do you think....
BOY or GIRL??????
Monday, November 17, 2008
1 Year Anniversary!
Let me preface this story with a little known fact about me. I am absolutely terrible at finding out what my surprises are before I get them. As a child I would go into my mom's closet and look at all my presents before Christmas morning. My mom always told me that I was just ruining it for myself but I actually found it exhilarating! So, as for Steve's weekend of surprises, I tried and tried to figure out what all he was planning. I have to say, he is getting better and better and keeping the secrets!
Steve woke me up on Saturday morning with a present. I was so excited to open it! I really had a good idea of what it was going to be....I thought it was a gold bracelet from James Avery that we had talked about in the past. I was dead wrong. I opened up a box from Robbins Brothers and saw a beautiful diamond necklace! I was really shocked because I was not expecting diamonds! I was so excited and then felt bad all at the same time. I had to give him his present next and let me just say....He did not get diamonds. He opened his first present Saturday morning and got a bottle of cologne that he had been wanting.
I found a good picture online and the story behind the necklace is it is the Journey necklace and is supposed to represent a lifetime journey of love together.I got ready to go to a friends baby shower and when I got back we left for the Renaissance Hotel downtown. The hotel was beautiful. We went to the room and were so excited to see a huge king size bed. We have actually been sleeping on a queen size for the last year and looking into getting a bigger bed. So, this was definitely a treat. We ended up walking around the hotel for a little bit and went back to the room. At 4:30 another surprise was coming. I was absolutely sure that the surprise was going to be a massage or something of that nature. I was so sure that I even told him what I thought it was to see what his reaction would be. He kept a straight face and just kept telling me, "well, you will just have to wait and see!" 4:30 came and there was a knock on the door and in came a bottle of champagne, strawberries, dipping chocolate, and whipped cream! OH MY GOSH! It was sooooo good! And, I was sooooooo surprised! Since I am pregnant, he even had a bottle of alcohol free champagne in the suitcase for me! He thinks of everything! We had such a fun time!


You can't tell very well, but I hung my new necklace on the wine glass.
We went to Michelangelo's for dinner that night and had Italian food. The restaurant was actually my pick and I have to say that we were not very impressed. It was just ok. We went back to the room and watched a great movie called Baby Mama!
The next morning we slept in and then went and had a great buffet style breakfast!I still cannot believe that it has been 1 whole year that we have been married. Time really does go by fast! We have learned so much and are still learning how to be married and love each other. We have our upsets but we still love each other so much. I am so blessed to have him in my life and I must say, it has been a great year!!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Renaissance Festival
On the way out 290, we saw a convoy of 18 wheelers and all kinds of trucks. It was the weirdest thing. We even called radio stations trying to figure out what they were there for. Our best guess is that the trucks were either for Extreme Homemakover or headed to Galveston for Ike relief. There were Wal-Mart trucks, HEB, Shipleys, MW Cleaners, and many many more. After seeing the convoy, the rest of the car ride out to the festival was not so much fun since I was feeling a little nauseous. We finally arrived and made our way in.
One of the first things I saw was a parade of costumes and I got a pic of a really weird scary one!

As we walked around taking it all in, we stopped and got lots of good food. I got blackberry cobbler and Courtney got some iced lemonade! Steve and Norm just drank beer! Then we started looking for all the cool shows to see.
With Courtney and I both being pregnant, it was very hard not to stop at every place and get some kind of food. I also ate a corn dog with Courtney, pickles, cobbler, and many more things. I did have to pass on the leg of meat....made me want to puke!
We saw some shows and then we went to the last show of the day where I got my pickle. I wore my shirt that says "Got Cravings?" and the pickle guy said, "Yes I have cravings, do you?" And I told him I had a craving for a pickle and he said, "well if you have cravings for pickles and ice cream you might start to worry." Then I told him I already have reason to worry and the punch line came when he said, "You're pregnant! Congrats! I love pregnant people because I can slip them the pickle and they won't get knocked up." I was extremely embarrassed to say the least!
As we were leaving we saw this:
He really freaked me out because I think he was drunk for one and two he just seemed really shady! Steve wanted me to take a picture with him but I was scared of him so I just took a picture of just him with me standing far away!Well, there you have it, my first trip to the Renaissance Festival!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Halloween
Anyway, so we spend Sunday afternoon before Halloween carving pumkins. Here are the pics to prove it!






So from now on, we will carve pumpkins every year and next time, we will carve 3, 1 for baby Mercer!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Product of Hurricane Ike
So, right before Hurricane Ike, Steve and I went to see my dad and step-mom and little sister, Tori, for the weekend in Victoria, TX.
Little did we know that our life would change 10 months later! On the way back to Houston after our weekend there, I got very sick with an ear infection and went to the doctor to get medicine. What I found out was that I had burst my eardrum and there was blood and puss coming out of it for days....I am sure you are excited to know that!
Hurricane Ike came and went and the Wednessday after Ike, I had a follow up appointment for my ear and the doctor wanted to give me certain medicine and she asked me, "You're not pregnant are you?" I told her that Steve and I had been trying but I really did not think I was. She said we had to have a blood test to make sure before she could give me this certain prescription. So I took the blood test and was positive I would get a call with the doctor giving me this prescription. About 2:00 that afternoon on September 17th, I got a phone call from my doctor and she said, "Well, I guess you better name the baby Ike!" "You're pregnant!"
It was the craziest feeling! I immediately started crying and I said, "No Way!" I had to leave work at my mom's because if not I would end up giving it away and I wanted Steve to be the first to know the news! I went straight to the mall and started thinking of how to surprise Steve. I finally found a tiny (size 0) pair of Ralph Lauren shoes and I had my plan!
I called Steve and said that we had not gone on a date in a while and I wanted him to take me out to a nice place! I made up a lie saying that my cousin Courtney and her husband Norm could go with us. He told me to pick the place and I picked Taste of Texas, the place where he proposed. I then headed over to the restaurant with the tiny little shoes and gave them to the manager and told him that I wanted them to come out on a plate when we ordered dessert that night.I went home and got ready and then had to tell Steve that Courtney called last minute and cancelled on us! Sorry Court! We ate dinner and ordered dessert and when the plate came out, Steve looked at the shoes and then went to touch them because he thought they were dessert and he thought the little horses on them were icing! He looked at me confused and that is when I pulled out my pee stick that very clearly read "PREGNANT"!!
He was shocked and started crying and was so happy! It really was one of the best moments of my life thus far! He grabbed my hand and prayed with me thanking God for this blessing!
So there you have it! We are pregnant! I am 10 weeks along this week and my due date is June 1st! We are very excited and can't wait to see what God has in store! I will post more about how the pregnancy has gone soon!
Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The Mercer's new blog!
So...for starters...in about 13 more days, Steve and I will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary! I can't believe we have been married a year! The time went by so fast! That is probably due to the fact that right after we got married we moved (or I should say I moved) to Corpus Christi where Steve was stationed in the Navy. I spent a lot of time getting our new apartment arranged and feeling like a home. We also had a new puppy boxer named Harley. (Julie, this is where I would like to throw in a picture of Harley-help) I will try and see what happens! When you are constantly taking a puppy out to go pee and poo, the day is gone before you know it!
We left Corpus and decided to get out of the Navy! Steve's last day was June 30th! Where does the time go! We were in Houston by the beginning of June settling into my parents house. Yes mom, your kiddos will always come back to haunt you! Steve started working for National Oilwell Varco and I worked for my mom until she couldn't take it anymore! I found a job recently at an engineering firm as the CEO's executive assistant (basically I am a glorified secretary). We were also on the hunt to find our own little house. We finally found what we were looking for. It is about 7 minutes East of the Mercer's house and 7 minutes West of the Parker's house (for those of you who don't know-that is my mom and David). We are going to build a new house and we got to pick out all the fixins on it! Our completion date is February 28th as of right now. Hopefully, we will be able to move in before then!And here we are now, almost 1 year of marriage. The time really did go by so fast.
Well, that is a really really fast and condensed update on our first year of marriage. More to come later!




















































Allison holding sleepy Avery!

