Goodbye First Trimester

Hip Hip Hooray! My frist trimester is officially over. Thankfully, I haven't had a terrible time with morning sickness. Despite my nightly nausea, I haven't had much to complain about. Everyone always talked about how tired they were their first trimester, but man oh man did I have NO IDEA what that really meant until recently. Getting out of bed was a true challenge. Nap time was a must and always lasted longer than the typical power nap. I am rejoicing as I begin my second trimester and am beginning to regain my energy. WOO!!! 

Cooking however is still not much of a go... after spending so much time smelling the food, I'm over it by the time it's time to eat. My appetite has definitely decreased drastically. Lee jokes with me that I eat enough for a toddler lately. Food just isn't as enjoyable as it used to be... hopefully that will begin to change shortly too. 

On a brighter note, Lee and I were able to slip away for the weekend with my parents down to Dallas. A shopping trip was much needed before we head out for vacation in a few weeks... and a get-away was therapeutic for Lee as the summer-stress continues to increase. I'm beginning to believe summer is just as busy around our house as the football season.

Let the countdown to vacation begin!

7-On-7 Shootout of the South

This past weekend, Lee took part of his football team down to Little Rock for an invitation only 7-on-7 tournament. It was a blast! Although the heat was unbearable at times, the boys were troopers and held strong throughout the day. I was amazed by how many Beggs fans made the 5 hour drive down to southern Arkansas to root on our players. These boys are truly blessed!

As I was sitting in the shade trying to get ride of a nasty heat rash that had found itself covering both of my legs, I received a dreaded phone call from a fellow coaching wife. Towards the end of the first day, despite his amazing catch, one of our players came down hard on his ankle. He was taken to the medical tent where they called me over to get him to the ER right away for images to be taken to make sure he hadn't broken any bones.

If I hadn't be "initiated" in to the coaching wives club already, that day I most definitely found my badge. My phone was ringing off the hook that afternoon. Between parents calling, hospital staff asking questions, me trying to get the player admitted to the hospital, and all the while trying to keep contact between my husband and the players parents about what was happening with him... lets just say it was a crazy afternoon! Thankfully, no major medical care was needed. A trip back to the hotel and room-service was just what the doctor ordered for all of us, to say the least!

To see more pictures, visit beggsfootball.blogspot.com

It was that evening, as I was eating in the hotel with the fellow coaches and coaching wives, that I discovered a lovely pregnancy symptom also known as heartburn. My oh my... obviously, I had never experienced that before! I have been blessed with a easy first trimester and thankfully, that is one of the very few things I can even complain about.

Needless to say, I was more than ready to head to bed after we got all the players back to their rooms and settled down.

The next day went much smoother and our boys played their hearts out. Although we were only there for a short time, I was still very much ready to be back home. This little-momma was not a fan of Southern Arkansas' high humidity. Phew!

Now... let the laundry begin.

Our Little Bundle of Joy

First came love... Then came marriage...

NOW comes a baby in a baby carriage!

Lee and I celebrated our 3rd Anniversary on April 30th. That morning, I found out that I was pregnant!!! What better way to celebrate an anniversary than with the news that we will be having our first baby!!

It seemed like FOREVER before Lee came home that night. Truly the LONGEST hours of my life! I couldn't wait to share the special news with Lee the minute he got home. I had wrapped up my pregnancy test and let him open it. I told him I had gotten him an anniversary present so he was completely off guard. Although it took him a second to realize just exactly what it was, he was ECSTATIC!!! Definitely made for the best anniversary yet!

It was only a few weeks before Mothers Day when we found out, so we decided to wait to tell our parents until Mothers Day.

We gave these little gifts to our parents on Mothers Day to share our special news. To say they were excited would be an understatement!

There is no better way to ring in the New Year...

Baby Blankenship will be here in the beginning of January! 

"For every good and perfect gift comes from above..." James 1:17

My Prom Date

Yes, you read that correctly... Lee took me to Prom last weekend! (as chaperones that is)

Lee is always the life of the party!

Although the night started off a little rocky because we couldn't find anywhere to eat that didn't take a hour wait... we ended up eating at a random pizza place that was most definitely not suited for formal attire. Ha! Oh the looks we got when we walked in... priceless! But it all worked out in the long run. (However, Lee still owes me a fancy date night now)

This was the ceiling of the event center that Prom was held in.. How neat?!

We had so much fun at the BHS 2014 Prom. This is an incredible group of young men and women. It was a joy to be able to share with them in a big event like their junior/senior prom. 

Oh how our coaches had too much fun... =)

Coaches heading into the Photo Booth. Haha!

I am not looking forward to this group of kids graduating in May, but am excited to see what the Lord has in store for each one of them. 

Spring Break in Arizona

Did you think I disappeared? Life around our house has been eventful the past few weeks. We have been here there and everywhere.... from sporting events and family milestones to spring break get-aways and more house renovations.

My favorite part of March was the week we flew to Arizona to spend Spring Break with my brother. My brother is in his forth year of medical school and is currently doing rotations in Scottsdale, AZ. Since he wasn't able to be home for Christmas, we all decided that we would spend Spring Break with him. He was the best tour guide! He had every little detailed planned for us before we even arrived. Although he wasn't able to be with us during the days, he still had options and suggestions of where we should go and what we should do while he was working. He had even asked his girl friends where the best shopping, etc. was... he knows me well. =)

Arizona was beautiful! It was nothing like I had imagined. The weather truly was amazing (although I still don't believe them when they say it's not "hot" until it reaches over 115).

They had cacti EVERYWHERE. The shopping malls had even pulled the sharp points off of the cacti so that no one (particularly children) injured themselves.

Spring training was going on for many major league baseball teams and Jason had planed for us to go see the Giants and the Indians play. It was a toasty afternoon so we were very grateful that our seats were in the shade!

That night Jason took us out into the middle of the desert... really. To this little outdoor western themed restaurant that had a live band and lots of dancing. It reminded me of an old western movie. They had the best BBQ and such a fun atmosphere. Who would have ever guessed something so neat and unique would be out int he middle of a desert? (Wish I would have taken more pictures there)

(Side note: I learned something new about the desert that evening. It gets REALLY cold really fast once the sun goes down. Without humidity, there is nothing to keep the warmth in the air... wish I would have realized that before I packed all warm clothes. Ha!)

All of us at dinner (except for dad, who was taking the picture)

Later in the week, we made the long drive to the Grand Canyon. Although I may never live down this event with my husband and father, I am still glad we went! (It was 8 hours worth of driving to see the Canyon, that the boys weren't so thrilled about... but who can be that close to the Grand Canyon and not go?!)

It was absolutely breath taking beautiful!!! No one can see this and still claim that there isn't a God. Pictures don't even come close to doing it justice. 

(Side Note: If you ever make the trip to the Grand Canyon, don't expect to eat a good meal while you're there. Although there aren't many options, the options they do give you are not worth the crazy hiked up prices that come along with it)

The drive home was gorgeous. Snow capped mountains in the background and we finally saw TREES! I can only imagine someone from AZ coming to good ole Oklahoma... were trees are rampant! 

And back to the desert we went...

Although Arizona was nothing like I had imagined and expected, I loved our time we spent there. It is a beautiful part of our country that now is home to one of my favorite people. Although our whole family is ready for my brother to head back home to us, I am very thankful that he loves where he is and that he is only a short flight away. Hurry home, Jason! I'm sure Lee will need your medical attention by then... Ha! =)

Be My Bridesmaid Cookies

The daughter of my husband's superintendant recently got engaged! She called me asking for a little help in creating a fun way to ask her friends to also be her bridesmaids. So after collecting a few ideas from her, we ended up with these darling cookies.

She added them inside a box full of goodies for her girls. I loved making these cookies and am very happy with how well they turned out! 

Congratulations, Cassidy! 

Happy Wedding Planning!!

Baseball Galore

A dear friend of mine, and fellow coach's wife had a birthday today. So of course I had to celebrate by making her some sugar cookies!

With opening day upon us (despite this crazy icy Oklahoma weather), I decided that baseball cookies would be a perfect fit. Not only would it be a birthday love gift, but also a fun way to kick off the 2014 Baseball season. 

Stacy has been a blessing to me ever since Lee and I found out we were moving to our beloved town. Her joy is contagious and her smile is never ceasing. 

Happy Birthday, Stacy!! 

Hope you hit it out of the park this year! 

My first batch of cookies completely on my own. Phew!

Girly Birthday Cookies

Over the last several months, I have been in charge of the Athletic Department's hospitality room at every home basketball game. I have had so much fun cooking and decorating for our coaching staff, administration and school board members. Although a little overwhelming at times, it is a nice change up from the football field.

This past weekend was the District Tournament for Basketball and I recruited my mother to come help me cook. She graciously agreed and when she showed up at my house, she had birthday cookies in tow! Woo!!

My husband was gone at a football coaches clinic all weekend so friday night was a girls night at our house. Mom, a dear friend and fellow coach's wife, Jade, and myself had dinner out and then came back for some birthday cookie decorating. They weren't perfect as the icing was a little persnickety due to the humidity {or rather lack of} in my house. Baking is more of an art rather than a science... and now next time I know to factor in the humidity into my icing recipe.

Here is a look at the cookies I decorated...

Love Jade's Blue dress!

I loved our girls night and look forward to many more!