Happy Friday! It seems like it has taken forever, but today is the day! Today we find out if Baby Sparks is a boy or girl! We are off to the doctor this morning, so in an early celebration of this, I figured I would run through some "Old Wives Tales" about gender prediction. Just for fun...and to tide you over till later! So let's get started!
1. Chinese gender chart says: Boy
2. Pencil test says: Boy
3. Carrying high (girl) or carrying low (boy): Boy
4. Lots of morning sickness (girl), or not too sick (boy)?: Boy
5. Do you crave sweet foods (girl) or salty (boy)?: Both!
6. Is your skin clear (boy) or do you have breakouts (girl)?: Girl
7. Is the heartbeat high (girl) or low (boy)?: Girl
8. Have you been more clumsy (boy) or graceful (girl)?: Neither?!
9. Has your husband put on sympathy weight (girl) or not (boy): Girl
10. Consider your age at conception and the year of conception. If both are even or both are odd (girl). If one is even and one is odd (boy): Boy
11. My "mother's intuition" says: I don't know! Most of my pregnancy I thought Boy, and then for a few days Girl, but now I'm not so sure. If I had to guess I'd say Boy
12. The husband's "father's intuition" says: Boy
13. My mom says: Girl
14. My father says: Boy
15. Mother-in-law says: Boy
16. Father-in-law says: Boy
17. Sister-in-law says: Boy
18. Brother-in-law says: Girl
19. Other brother-in-law says: Boy
20. Husband's family history: Boy
What do y'all think?! Will we be buying trucks and dinosaur toys or princess crowns and dolls? Leave a comment with your vote!
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Friday, August 31, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Our Pregnacy Journey, Thus Far
So, since we spilled the beans about our little one, I figured it would be fun to go ahead and tell everyone our journey up to this point. It will also be nice to have it saved to look back on later. My pregnancy journal, of sorts.
Found Out We Were Pregnant: May 26th
I found out I was pregnant on May 26th at around 4 a.m. Jarrod and I had been trying for a few months, so there wasn't any "surprise" in that regards. I was about a day late, so we decided I would take a test the next morning. However, I kept waking up in the middle of the night to go to the restroom (from anticipation, mostly) and decided that I should just go ahead and take it. Might as well, right?! I can remember so clearly turning the test over and seeing the perfectly clear plus sign. I sat there in shock. In excitement. In pure joy.
I crawled back in bed, peeking over on Jarrod's side to see if he was awake. He stirred a bit, and then looked over at me and asked "So...?" I cuddled up next to him and just whispered "You're going to be a Daddy!"
Told Our Families: June 3rd
It was ridiculously hard not to tell our families right away. I wanted to tell Jarrod's family in person, but the next time we were going to see them was during his sister's graduation...which I was told explicitly by her not to announce that I was pregnant during that time. She is the youngest of four and wanted that day to be HER day. I totally understood, but at the time she told me we weren't even trying. We decided to tell everyone the day after her graduation. It was so hard not to just come out with it, especially when we got questions about when we were going to have kids. But, we kept our mouths shut so we wouldn't steal the focus from his sister's day.
His parents and all of his siblings came over to eat lunch together on Sunday afternoon. As we all gathered around the table, Jarrod stated that he needed to go grab the professional pictures from his MBA graduation (he had graduated just a couple of weeks prior). When he handed the envelope of pictures to his mom, she didn't see Jarrod in a cap and gown, but rather this:
It took her a second to process what she was seeing. She just looked up at us and asked "Is this for real?"
Later that same Sunday we flew back to Houston and drove to my parent's house that night. We did the same routine - Jarrod pretending to have MBA graduation photos. It took my mom a little longer to process it. Actually, she didn't get it at all. After a couple of minutes of trying to subtly explain what the picture really was, she finally got it. It was pretty humorous.
First Doctor Appointment: June 15th
I had my first ultrasound on the 15th at 7 weeks. We weren't able to hear the heartbeat (didn't have the Doppler machine set up), but we definitely saw it flickering on the screen. It was amazing. I cried. It made it so real.
First Time to Hear Baby's Heartbeat: July 6th
We heard the heartbeat at my next doctor's appointment when I was 10 weeks. It was 163.
That is pretty much it. I am now in my second trimester. Besides the occasional nausea, my first trimester was very easy. I am very lucky. I am now 15 weeks (about to be 16 weeks on Wednesday) and have heard the baby's heartbeat two more times - once was 159 and the other 152. We find out the gender at the end of this month and cannot wait. Definitely more updates to come!
Found Out We Were Pregnant: May 26th
I found out I was pregnant on May 26th at around 4 a.m. Jarrod and I had been trying for a few months, so there wasn't any "surprise" in that regards. I was about a day late, so we decided I would take a test the next morning. However, I kept waking up in the middle of the night to go to the restroom (from anticipation, mostly) and decided that I should just go ahead and take it. Might as well, right?! I can remember so clearly turning the test over and seeing the perfectly clear plus sign. I sat there in shock. In excitement. In pure joy.
I crawled back in bed, peeking over on Jarrod's side to see if he was awake. He stirred a bit, and then looked over at me and asked "So...?" I cuddled up next to him and just whispered "You're going to be a Daddy!"
Told Our Families: June 3rd
It was ridiculously hard not to tell our families right away. I wanted to tell Jarrod's family in person, but the next time we were going to see them was during his sister's graduation...which I was told explicitly by her not to announce that I was pregnant during that time. She is the youngest of four and wanted that day to be HER day. I totally understood, but at the time she told me we weren't even trying. We decided to tell everyone the day after her graduation. It was so hard not to just come out with it, especially when we got questions about when we were going to have kids. But, we kept our mouths shut so we wouldn't steal the focus from his sister's day.
His parents and all of his siblings came over to eat lunch together on Sunday afternoon. As we all gathered around the table, Jarrod stated that he needed to go grab the professional pictures from his MBA graduation (he had graduated just a couple of weeks prior). When he handed the envelope of pictures to his mom, she didn't see Jarrod in a cap and gown, but rather this:
It took her a second to process what she was seeing. She just looked up at us and asked "Is this for real?"
Later that same Sunday we flew back to Houston and drove to my parent's house that night. We did the same routine - Jarrod pretending to have MBA graduation photos. It took my mom a little longer to process it. Actually, she didn't get it at all. After a couple of minutes of trying to subtly explain what the picture really was, she finally got it. It was pretty humorous.
First Doctor Appointment: June 15th
I had my first ultrasound on the 15th at 7 weeks. We weren't able to hear the heartbeat (didn't have the Doppler machine set up), but we definitely saw it flickering on the screen. It was amazing. I cried. It made it so real.
First Time to Hear Baby's Heartbeat: July 6th
We heard the heartbeat at my next doctor's appointment when I was 10 weeks. It was 163.
That is pretty much it. I am now in my second trimester. Besides the occasional nausea, my first trimester was very easy. I am very lucky. I am now 15 weeks (about to be 16 weeks on Wednesday) and have heard the baby's heartbeat two more times - once was 159 and the other 152. We find out the gender at the end of this month and cannot wait. Definitely more updates to come!
Friday, August 3, 2012
Well, I've Got Some News...
We're having a baby!
Baby Sparks is due January 2013! We couldn't be more thrilled and excited!
Baby Sparks is due January 2013! We couldn't be more thrilled and excited!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Are you still there?
Hello!
...Umm...anyone still out there?
I know, I know...I have been on quite the blogging hiatus. And for that, I am sorry. Life has been such a whirlwind lately and, unfortunately, the blog took a backseat in my mind.
But things are settling down and I am back on track! Of course, it took a few of my readers scolding me for not blogging to kick me back in gear...so, apparently I have been missed?
Let me just quickly summarize everything that went on in the past two months: my mom's birthday, my dad's birthday, my father-in-law's birthday, Thanksgiving, a bridal shower, putting our house for sale, buying a new house, a cruise, my dad having surgery, Christmas, Piper contracting mange from the kennel we left her at, moving into a new house, still trying to sell our old house, a bachelorette party, New Year's and a wedding.
Alot, people.
I will be updating you on a few of those items later on next week. I promise. But, for now, I must get work done so that I can make it to the aforementioned wedding!
Glad to be back!
...Umm...anyone still out there?
I know, I know...I have been on quite the blogging hiatus. And for that, I am sorry. Life has been such a whirlwind lately and, unfortunately, the blog took a backseat in my mind.
But things are settling down and I am back on track! Of course, it took a few of my readers scolding me for not blogging to kick me back in gear...so, apparently I have been missed?
Let me just quickly summarize everything that went on in the past two months: my mom's birthday, my dad's birthday, my father-in-law's birthday, Thanksgiving, a bridal shower, putting our house for sale, buying a new house, a cruise, my dad having surgery, Christmas, Piper contracting mange from the kennel we left her at, moving into a new house, still trying to sell our old house, a bachelorette party, New Year's and a wedding.
Alot, people.
I will be updating you on a few of those items later on next week. I promise. But, for now, I must get work done so that I can make it to the aforementioned wedding!
Glad to be back!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Time Flies When You're Having Fun
This weekend flew by, but then again, I guess every weekend does. Speaking of time flying by, can you believe it is almost October?! Where has this year gone?
Anyways, here is a little recap of what went on in the Sparks' household this weekend.
Jarrod and I went to a "pseudo" going away party for one of our good friends on Friday night. He will be working out of state for awhile, but will be coming back every so often in 2 week stretches. It was a lot of fun hanging out with everyone and having a good time. Good luck, Chris! We will miss you while you are gone!
On Saturday, Jarrod's brother and sister flew in to stay with us for the weekend. I haven't seen his sister since May, so I was really looking forward to just hanging out with her. We all went out to eat at a local sushi restaurant and then came home and I made dessert. Which didn't turn out so well. Sadness.
By the way, you know you married into an awesome family when you make something that isn't particularly scrumptious, but they compliment it anyways.
The next day we got up and went to church, graduated from our Newlywed or Close class (we had been in the class for over a year...time to move to the next class!) and then Josh and Kristina left that evening to fly back home and Jarrod and I made a quiche for dinner. Which did turn out really well. Happiness.
Pssst...I made a couple of new dishes that turned out to be pretty good, so I plan on doing a full review in an upcoming post. Keep an eye out. :)
In other news...
As far as weight loss is concerned, I think I am back on track. Ever heard of Couch to 5k? It's a running program that helps people gradually build their endurance and train for a 5k. Although I am not planning on ever officially running a 5k, I figured it would be a good way to help speed up the weight loss process. Jarrod and I completed our first week (3 runs) and I actually enjoyed it! I downloaded the app on my smartphone, which was extremely helpful. It would beep when we needed to begin running and then beep when we needed to walk. This week we will step it up a notch and have to run for a longer period of time. Wish me luck!
Anyways, here is a little recap of what went on in the Sparks' household this weekend.
Jarrod and I went to a "pseudo" going away party for one of our good friends on Friday night. He will be working out of state for awhile, but will be coming back every so often in 2 week stretches. It was a lot of fun hanging out with everyone and having a good time. Good luck, Chris! We will miss you while you are gone!
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| Pretty friends at the going away party :) Why do I look so tired?! |
By the way, you know you married into an awesome family when you make something that isn't particularly scrumptious, but they compliment it anyways.
The next day we got up and went to church, graduated from our Newlywed or Close class (we had been in the class for over a year...time to move to the next class!) and then Josh and Kristina left that evening to fly back home and Jarrod and I made a quiche for dinner. Which did turn out really well. Happiness.
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| Quiche! |
In other news...
As far as weight loss is concerned, I think I am back on track. Ever heard of Couch to 5k? It's a running program that helps people gradually build their endurance and train for a 5k. Although I am not planning on ever officially running a 5k, I figured it would be a good way to help speed up the weight loss process. Jarrod and I completed our first week (3 runs) and I actually enjoyed it! I downloaded the app on my smartphone, which was extremely helpful. It would beep when we needed to begin running and then beep when we needed to walk. This week we will step it up a notch and have to run for a longer period of time. Wish me luck!
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| We take Piper on our runs as well and she is exhausted when we get home! |
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Discipleship, Dinner and Dessert
Jarrod and I had my cousin, Brett, and his wife, Kim, over for dinner last night. They are currently raising their support for CRU (formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ) and wanted to meet with us to share what God has been doing this past year and what their plans are for the future. I have so much fun having friends and family over to our house. Not only do I get to use some of our wedding gifts, but I also get to visit and hear what is happening in their lives. It was so wonderful to hear Brett and Kim's stories and see their passion for ministry. If anyone is interested in learning more about CRU or feels led to help them raise their support, let me know or leave a comment.
For dinner, Jarrod helped me prepare a garlic-lime grilled chicken recipe that I had found off of The Pioneer Woman's blog. I had never made it before, but I had heard good things about her recipes, so I thought why not! And it turned out wonderful! We paired the chicken with corn relish, baked beans and crescent rolls. It was certainly yummy. And may I just say that it is so nice to have a husband that enjoys cooking. Not only is it a huge help, but I love just spending that time with him.
As you all know, I will find any excuse to bake. So when I started making preparations for Brett and Kim to come over, I decided I wanted to make a dessert as well. More specifically this chocolate chip cookie recipe. I had made it once before and they were amazing. Unfortunately, though, there wasn't enough time and I had to scratch it from the menu. Sadness. But, seriously, you need to try them. Oh my goodness. They are incredible. Delicious. Mouthwatering. The best chocolate chip cookies I have ever had. Maybe I will make them this weekend when my brother-in-law, Josh, comes to visit us. I better say goodbye to my waistline now.
Goodbye, waistline.
For dinner, Jarrod helped me prepare a garlic-lime grilled chicken recipe that I had found off of The Pioneer Woman's blog. I had never made it before, but I had heard good things about her recipes, so I thought why not! And it turned out wonderful! We paired the chicken with corn relish, baked beans and crescent rolls. It was certainly yummy. And may I just say that it is so nice to have a husband that enjoys cooking. Not only is it a huge help, but I love just spending that time with him.
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| What dinner looked like last night! Photo by The Pioneer Woman |
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| Photo from the Bakerella blog |
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Home Sweet Home
My dad is coming home. Today. After being in the hospital for 3 months and 21 days, he is finally ready to be discharged from the skilled nursing facility and finish his recovery.
I want to say thank you for those who never stopped praying. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I will never be able to fully express my gratitude. God is so good. Please pray that he continues to progress in rehab and that his health remains stable. Even though he will be home, he still has a very long journey ahead.
"O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You have healed me."
Psalm 30:2
I want to say thank you for those who never stopped praying. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I will never be able to fully express my gratitude. God is so good. Please pray that he continues to progress in rehab and that his health remains stable. Even though he will be home, he still has a very long journey ahead.
"O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You have healed me."
Psalm 30:2
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
July 4th Weekend Wrap Up
Jarrod and I began our Fourth of July weekend by taking Piper to her first vet appointment (at least with us). She already had a couple of shots and other medications prior to the adoption, but we wanted to check her overall health and make sure we were on the right track. The vet decided that she probably got her first round of shots too early, so she got her second shots again. He also said that she looked to be 11 weeks old, about 2 weeks older than we initially thought. They grow up so fast!
We left from the vet and headed up to visit my dad at the skilled nursing facility. We brought Piper along so that he could finally meet the grandpup. I think he really enjoyed seeing her.
Later that night we went out for a sushi dinner and then came home to watch Marley & Me. I had never seen the movie before, but I had heard that it was good. I thought it was funny...until the end. Yeah, I cried. I think it is safe to say that any movie where an animal dies, I will be bawling my eyes out. However, I am pretty sure Piper enjoyed the movie. She was watching it intently with us. Anytime a dog would bark she would sit up and stare at the TV. Pretty cute and entertaining.
On Sunday we went to church and then headed over to our COR group leader's new house to grill. I decided to make dessert for the get together and used a recipe for cake balls from the Bakerella blog. I changed it up a little and made German chocolate cake balls. I think they turned out pretty well.
On Monday we cleaned up around the house, visited with my parents and then took Piper for a long walk. Afterwards, we enjoyed the sound of fireworks from the comfort of our living room. Piper slept through it all. Miles hid in his room.
Overall, a rather relaxing and boring weekend. But, it was a lot of fun and extremely productive. I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th as well!
We left from the vet and headed up to visit my dad at the skilled nursing facility. We brought Piper along so that he could finally meet the grandpup. I think he really enjoyed seeing her.
Later that night we went out for a sushi dinner and then came home to watch Marley & Me. I had never seen the movie before, but I had heard that it was good. I thought it was funny...until the end. Yeah, I cried. I think it is safe to say that any movie where an animal dies, I will be bawling my eyes out. However, I am pretty sure Piper enjoyed the movie. She was watching it intently with us. Anytime a dog would bark she would sit up and stare at the TV. Pretty cute and entertaining.
On Sunday we went to church and then headed over to our COR group leader's new house to grill. I decided to make dessert for the get together and used a recipe for cake balls from the Bakerella blog. I changed it up a little and made German chocolate cake balls. I think they turned out pretty well.
On Monday we cleaned up around the house, visited with my parents and then took Piper for a long walk. Afterwards, we enjoyed the sound of fireworks from the comfort of our living room. Piper slept through it all. Miles hid in his room.
Overall, a rather relaxing and boring weekend. But, it was a lot of fun and extremely productive. I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th as well!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Three Things Thursday
1. Hanging out with good friends always brings a smile to my face. This past Monday night, Jarrod and I had dinner with my cousin, Jessica, and her husband. We went over to their apartment and she cooked a delicious meal, pot roast with potatoes and carrots. Yum. We provided the alcohol and dessert. We were really excited because Piper was also invited to this little shindig. Jessica and Griffin have a 10 week old beagle puppy, Stoops, so we were looking forward to introducing the two and seeing how they interacted. It was interesting, to say the least.
Here are some pictures of them...fighting playing. I, unfortunately, wasn't able to snap a picture of Piper exhibiting her wrestling moves, but she did pin Stoops a couple of times. That's my girl.
2. I'm an old, married lady now, so I started clipping coupons. I have a lot of friends and relatives that have started doing the "extreme couponing" and, while I am not going to the extreme with it, I wanted to see if it really would help reduce our grocery costs. I began clipping coupons two weeks ago and since that time we have gone to the store twice. After looking at our receipts, it appears that we saved over $50. Not to shabby, if I say so myself. All of the items we bought were things we needed or used on a regular basis. I figure as time goes by I will get more used to it and have more coupons to work with, which will help me save even more. I also think that since we are saving so much money, my shopping budget should increase. Jarrod disagrees. He is no fun.
3. I love long weekends. July 4th weekend begins tomorrow and I am so excited. I can guarantee that I will be sleeping in and getting all the relaxation I can. I have been in a rut and have been feeling extremely exhausted lately. Who knows why, but I am hoping that an extra day off from work will fix that.
Happy Thursday everyone!
Here are some pictures of them...
2. I'm an old, married lady now, so I started clipping coupons. I have a lot of friends and relatives that have started doing the "extreme couponing" and, while I am not going to the extreme with it, I wanted to see if it really would help reduce our grocery costs. I began clipping coupons two weeks ago and since that time we have gone to the store twice. After looking at our receipts, it appears that we saved over $50. Not to shabby, if I say so myself. All of the items we bought were things we needed or used on a regular basis. I figure as time goes by I will get more used to it and have more coupons to work with, which will help me save even more. I also think that since we are saving so much money, my shopping budget should increase. Jarrod disagrees. He is no fun.
3. I love long weekends. July 4th weekend begins tomorrow and I am so excited. I can guarantee that I will be sleeping in and getting all the relaxation I can. I have been in a rut and have been feeling extremely exhausted lately. Who knows why, but I am hoping that an extra day off from work will fix that.
Happy Thursday everyone!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Memorial Day Weekend Recap
So here is a quick run down of what Jarrod and I did for Memorial Day weekend...
We started off by going to see the Houston Aeros play in Game 1 of the Calder Cup championship.
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| Go Aeros! |
Now, for those of you who aren't aware, I love hockey. I know absolutely nothing in regards to how to play the game, but I love the intensity. And the fights.
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| Fight, Fight, Fight! |
It was a great game - they won 3-1 against the Binghamton Senators.
On Saturday we spent the day running errands and shopping. Then, later that night, we hung out with some of our friends from our Sunday school class. It was a lot of fun to just hang out by the pool, grill and relax.
On Sunday we went to church and then headed up to Tomball afterwards to visit my dad at the hospital. It is amazing to see his progress. He can move his left leg and flex part of his left arm now. He still can't walk or move his left hand, but he gets closer to that every day. He still is on the feeding tube, since he cannot swallow properly. Hopefully he will get to eat some real food soon!
Monday was our day to finish running our errands and completing the "Sparks Weekend Cleaning Extravaganza." Jarrod did a little home improvement by replacing the faucets in our master bathroom with some fancier ones. I think it looks so much better now!
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| View of both sinks |
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| Front view |
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| Side view |
All in all, it was a very productive and fun weekend.
What did you do during Memorial Day weekend?
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Cleaning Confliction
A couple months after our engagement, Jarrod and I began to discuss transferring from our then single's Sunday school program to another one geared more towards our new founded relationship status. We researched a few classes our church offered, and decided on the Newlywed or Close class. The class is designed for newlywed and engaged couples to help prepare for the first year of marriage. It discusses topics such as communication, finances and conflict resolution. We knew the class would help us strengthen our marriage and better understand one another.
This past Sunday's lesson was on conflict resolution. The speaker began by asking the class to call out different topics that cause conflict within their particular household.
"Money!" one girl in the back proclaimed.
"Career," a guy towards the front stated.
"In-laws," another girl sheepishly said, trying not to make eye contact with her spouse.
As I sat there listening, I pondered what our biggest conflict was about. And as I looked over at Jarrod, I could tell he was doing the same. He turned his head towards me and in that instance we both silently mouthed our conclusion.
Cleaning.
Yes, you read it right. We fight about cleaning. It is such a silly and petty thing to argue over. And to make matters worse, neither of us remember what triggers it. We just know we are in the midst of organizing and cleaning when the gloves come off and things get dirty.
It's not that Jarrod doesn't clean or that I want the house to look like a magazine. I think we just have different expectations. I expect the house to be organized and tidy. I strongly believe that every item has its place and things should be put away after use. Jarrod expects things to be comfortable and livable, however, items can be placed wherever for easy accessibility. And, to add fuel to the fire, both of us are rather stubborn and set in our ways. So, in short, our expectations cause us to have disagreements.
This Friday begins Memorial Day weekend. It also begins the "Sparks Weekend Cleaning Extravaganza!" We are going to try and put what we learned in class to practice. Listening, understanding, compromising and forgiveness...
But, if that dining room table isn't cleaned off by Monday -someone Jarrod is going to get hurt.
This past Sunday's lesson was on conflict resolution. The speaker began by asking the class to call out different topics that cause conflict within their particular household.
"Money!" one girl in the back proclaimed.
"Career," a guy towards the front stated.
"In-laws," another girl sheepishly said, trying not to make eye contact with her spouse.
As I sat there listening, I pondered what our biggest conflict was about. And as I looked over at Jarrod, I could tell he was doing the same. He turned his head towards me and in that instance we both silently mouthed our conclusion.
Cleaning.
Yes, you read it right. We fight about cleaning. It is such a silly and petty thing to argue over. And to make matters worse, neither of us remember what triggers it. We just know we are in the midst of organizing and cleaning when the gloves come off and things get dirty.
It's not that Jarrod doesn't clean or that I want the house to look like a magazine. I think we just have different expectations. I expect the house to be organized and tidy. I strongly believe that every item has its place and things should be put away after use. Jarrod expects things to be comfortable and livable, however, items can be placed wherever for easy accessibility. And, to add fuel to the fire, both of us are rather stubborn and set in our ways. So, in short, our expectations cause us to have disagreements.
This Friday begins Memorial Day weekend. It also begins the "Sparks Weekend Cleaning Extravaganza!" We are going to try and put what we learned in class to practice. Listening, understanding, compromising and forgiveness...
But, if that dining room table isn't cleaned off by Monday -
Monday, May 23, 2011
Hook 'Em Horns - Graduation Style
As I mentioned in my last post, this past weekend was my brother-in-law's college graduation. Jarrod and I drove to Austin early Friday afternoon so we could meet up with the rest of the family. Once everyone arrived, we headed over to a restaurant to celebrate in true Sparks fashion. Nothing says congratulations more than yummy food and wine.
After dinner we headed to the Erwin Center, where the graduation was to be held. And then we sat and waited while 675 graduate names were called. And then Josh walked across the stage. And we cheered. And then Josh became an official Texas Ex.
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| Justin, Kristina, Jeff, Josh, Val, me and Jarrod after the graduation |
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| Three generations of UT Engineers |
By the way, I can't take credit for the photos. I brought my camera with me with every intention of snapping a couple of pictures to put up on the blog. But I quickly discovered that my camera battery was dead. As was my back-up battery. Thus, no camera. Good thing my in-laws are better prepared than me.
Congratulations, Josh! We enjoyed seeing you and celebrating one of your biggest accomplishments!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Celebrations and Commencements
Jarrod and I spent this past weekend in Midland visiting with family and celebrating his mom's 50th birthday. We had a great time relaxing and having some good 'ole fun. And let me tell you - the Sparks family sure knows how to party! I took my camera with me so I could document our trip, but I just plain forgot. I'm a bad blogger. I blame my brother-in-law's delicious margaritas.It was great to just have some down time and put work and life behind us for a few days. Although things have settled down considerably, it was still refreshing to have some time away from the everyday stresses. A moment to catch our breath, if you will. A pause before jumping back into reality. I am really glad we went. I think it was exactly what I needed.
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| My brother-in-law, Josh |
Don't worry, I will definitely snap some pictures this time. Unless they are serving margaritas. And then you are out of luck.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Good Morning - From the Other Side of the Bed
In response to my wife's recent post, I felt it necessary to provide some perspective and clarification on the topic of mornings in the Sparks' household. In no shape or form did my wife lie, but I feel there are always two sides to every story.
Everyone knows I'm a morning person. It really isn't a secret. Just ask my parents and siblings. I know my wife is not a "morning person," but I still respect her desire for slow to rise "quiet time." Usually I wake up and roll over to try and go back to sleep. Most of the time, though, I can’t, so I get out of bed and head downstairs so as to not disturb my wife's beautiful and peaceful slumber.
Now, in reference to the other day. It was a normal Friday morning and I did have the day off from work. I did wake up around 6 a.m. only 15 minutes before her alarm would go off for the first time (she tends to hit the snooze a few times). I had tried to roll over and go back to sleep like I usually do, but I just couldn't fall back asleep. She angrily told me to stop it and I did. I was softly chatting about how I got a nice voicemail from a friend and thought she would like to hear it. So I was getting to the voicemail and she listened to it and said "Aww...that was nice of him...now turn it off, please." At which time, I did. But it wasn't like I had it next to her ear with a bullhorn -- just loud enough to hear. At this time, she had snoozed twice through her alarm. I was asking what errands and chores needed to get done because I wanted to be a good husband and take care of my "Honey-do" list (which I learned about soon after getting married). I asked her what she wanted for lunch so that I could make it or put in a tupperware for her so she could save some minutes in the morning and she promptly hit me with a pillow. The girl has no appreciation sometimes for the nice things I do for her in the morning!
In response to the "tactics" I use, it simply is misconstrued. I turn on the lights in the bathroom (not shining in her face) so that I can see where I am going. The sheets are only "stolen" because she gets hot and throws them off and usually when I see this I will try to put them back over so she doesn't get cold. And I cuddle with her when she asks me to, because I know she likes it. I can't help it that latent body heat is exchanged.
It isn't torture at all and regardless, I will do everything I can to make sure my beautiful wife has her mornings as pleasant as possible.
Even if it kills me.
Everyone knows I'm a morning person. It really isn't a secret. Just ask my parents and siblings. I know my wife is not a "morning person," but I still respect her desire for slow to rise "quiet time." Usually I wake up and roll over to try and go back to sleep. Most of the time, though, I can’t, so I get out of bed and head downstairs so as to not disturb my wife's beautiful and peaceful slumber.
Now, in reference to the other day. It was a normal Friday morning and I did have the day off from work. I did wake up around 6 a.m. only 15 minutes before her alarm would go off for the first time (she tends to hit the snooze a few times). I had tried to roll over and go back to sleep like I usually do, but I just couldn't fall back asleep. She angrily told me to stop it and I did. I was softly chatting about how I got a nice voicemail from a friend and thought she would like to hear it. So I was getting to the voicemail and she listened to it and said "Aww...that was nice of him...now turn it off, please." At which time, I did. But it wasn't like I had it next to her ear with a bullhorn -- just loud enough to hear. At this time, she had snoozed twice through her alarm. I was asking what errands and chores needed to get done because I wanted to be a good husband and take care of my "Honey-do" list (which I learned about soon after getting married). I asked her what she wanted for lunch so that I could make it or put in a tupperware for her so she could save some minutes in the morning and she promptly hit me with a pillow. The girl has no appreciation sometimes for the nice things I do for her in the morning!
In response to the "tactics" I use, it simply is misconstrued. I turn on the lights in the bathroom (not shining in her face) so that I can see where I am going. The sheets are only "stolen" because she gets hot and throws them off and usually when I see this I will try to put them back over so she doesn't get cold. And I cuddle with her when she asks me to, because I know she likes it. I can't help it that latent body heat is exchanged.
It isn't torture at all and regardless, I will do everything I can to make sure my beautiful wife has her mornings as pleasant as possible.
Even if it kills me.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Good Morning, Sunshine
I am not a morning person.
It really isn't a secret. Most of my family is aware of it. My mom claims I was happy in the mornings when I was younger, but evidently I have become grumpier with age. Don't get me wrong, its not that I hate the mornings. I just cherish my sleep. Due to that, I need a set amount of quiet time before I can converse with the outside world. I have to wake up gradually. But, once I have fully woken up, I am good to go.
My husband, on the other hand, is most definitely a morning person. Every day he wakes up, with a smile on his face, before the sun even rises. This wouldn't be an issue, except for the fact that the boy loves to talk. The concept of "quiet time" is lost on him. He goes on and on and on about the most random topics. And if that wasn't bad enough, he uses every tactic he can to wake me up from my peaceful slumber.
Take the other day, for example. It was a normal Friday morning, except that Jarrod had the day off from work. I, unfortunately, did not have the same luxury. It was around 6 a.m., about 30 minutes before my alarm was scheduled to go off. I had been sound asleep, but was suddenly awoken by the bed's movement. I turned over to realize that Jarrod was rolling back and forth on the bed. I mumbled something angrily at him, and he soon stopped, allowing me to drift back to sleep. About 5 minutes later I heard a familiar voice loudly stating "To listen to your voicemail, please enter your password and then press #." He was listening to his cell phone messages on speakerphone. I mumbled something angrily at him again, and he quickly turned off his phone. Then, not even 5 minutes later, he started talking about his plans for the day. He began listing all the errands and chores he wanted to accomplish. It was when he started asking what he should eat for lunch that I finally turned over and smacked him with a pillow.
The boy has no shame when it comes to waking me up. He has also used tactics such as turning on the lights, stealing the covers and exuding a tremendous amount of body heat while cuddling.
It is torture. He is lucky he is cute, though. Otherwise, I would have killed him.
Seriously, don't mess with me in the mornings.
It really isn't a secret. Most of my family is aware of it. My mom claims I was happy in the mornings when I was younger, but evidently I have become grumpier with age. Don't get me wrong, its not that I hate the mornings. I just cherish my sleep. Due to that, I need a set amount of quiet time before I can converse with the outside world. I have to wake up gradually. But, once I have fully woken up, I am good to go.
My husband, on the other hand, is most definitely a morning person. Every day he wakes up, with a smile on his face, before the sun even rises. This wouldn't be an issue, except for the fact that the boy loves to talk. The concept of "quiet time" is lost on him. He goes on and on and on about the most random topics. And if that wasn't bad enough, he uses every tactic he can to wake me up from my peaceful slumber.
Take the other day, for example. It was a normal Friday morning, except that Jarrod had the day off from work. I, unfortunately, did not have the same luxury. It was around 6 a.m., about 30 minutes before my alarm was scheduled to go off. I had been sound asleep, but was suddenly awoken by the bed's movement. I turned over to realize that Jarrod was rolling back and forth on the bed. I mumbled something angrily at him, and he soon stopped, allowing me to drift back to sleep. About 5 minutes later I heard a familiar voice loudly stating "To listen to your voicemail, please enter your password and then press #." He was listening to his cell phone messages on speakerphone. I mumbled something angrily at him again, and he quickly turned off his phone. Then, not even 5 minutes later, he started talking about his plans for the day. He began listing all the errands and chores he wanted to accomplish. It was when he started asking what he should eat for lunch that I finally turned over and smacked him with a pillow.
The boy has no shame when it comes to waking me up. He has also used tactics such as turning on the lights, stealing the covers and exuding a tremendous amount of body heat while cuddling.
It is torture. He is lucky he is cute, though. Otherwise, I would have killed him.
Seriously, don't mess with me in the mornings.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day!
Today I would like to say "thank you" to the moms in my life.
To my mother,
Thank you for supporting me in all my aspirations. Thank you for loving me and sacrificing for me. Thank you for raising me in a Christian home. Thank you for teaching me right from wrong. Thank you for showing me how to be a good wife.
To my mother-in-law,
Thank you for raising your son in a Christian home. Thank you for teaching him how to be respectful and loving. Thank you for being so warm and welcoming to me. Thank you for your support and encouragement.
Jarrod and I love you both so much. We hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day today.
Thank you for supporting me in all my aspirations. Thank you for loving me and sacrificing for me. Thank you for raising me in a Christian home. Thank you for teaching me right from wrong. Thank you for showing me how to be a good wife.
Thank you for raising your son in a Christian home. Thank you for teaching him how to be respectful and loving. Thank you for being so warm and welcoming to me. Thank you for your support and encouragement.
Jarrod and I love you both so much. We hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day today.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Royal Wedding
Like most of the world, Jarrod and I watched as Kate Middleton walked down the aisle to marry Prince William this past Friday. We didn't wake up early to watch, but we did catch a few minutes of it as we got ready for work. We saw their first kiss live and then watched them say their vows after we got home.
Everything was beautiful - I particularly loved her dress. I was surprised that it wasn't as bold as Princess Diana's dress, but it was definitely classic and timeless. Truly fit for a princess. It was very lovely.
Watching the wedding reminded me of a joke between me and my cousin, Julia. While visiting her in Italy about two years ago, I confessed that, like every little girl, I had dreamed of marrying Prince William when I was younger. I wanted to be a princess. I mean, I certainly acted the part - all I needed was the official title! We both agreed that I was destined for royalty and we devised an imaginary plan to accomplish just this.
Julia was to start a bakery in London. She would quickly make a name for herself and the locals would not be able to resist her delicious treats. As such, the prince would become a regular visitor of her bakery. Then, one day, while the prince was selecting his desserts, Julia would slyly suggest that her cousin would be a perfect match for him. Enter me. Beautiful as ever. He wouldn't be able to resist.
It was foolproof.
But, as fate would have it, I met a Texas grad at a Baylor happy hour. And the mission was aborted soon after. Obviously. And I have been thanking God ever since.
Everything was beautiful - I particularly loved her dress. I was surprised that it wasn't as bold as Princess Diana's dress, but it was definitely classic and timeless. Truly fit for a princess. It was very lovely.
Watching the wedding reminded me of a joke between me and my cousin, Julia. While visiting her in Italy about two years ago, I confessed that, like every little girl, I had dreamed of marrying Prince William when I was younger. I wanted to be a princess. I mean, I certainly acted the part - all I needed was the official title! We both agreed that I was destined for royalty and we devised an imaginary plan to accomplish just this.
Julia was to start a bakery in London. She would quickly make a name for herself and the locals would not be able to resist her delicious treats. As such, the prince would become a regular visitor of her bakery. Then, one day, while the prince was selecting his desserts, Julia would slyly suggest that her cousin would be a perfect match for him. Enter me. Beautiful as ever. He wouldn't be able to resist.
It was foolproof.
But, as fate would have it, I met a Texas grad at a Baylor happy hour. And the mission was aborted soon after. Obviously. And I have been thanking God ever since.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Meet the Family
I feel it is only fitting to introduce the family that will be inspiring this blog. I mean, I am not going to talk about myself all the time. Just most of it. Hey, that's how I roll.
So, without further ado....
Meet Jarrod. An amazing husband and friend. A ridiculously good looking man that brings copious amounts of love, laughter and entertainment to my life.
Meet Miles. My furbaby. A curious little guy that loves to cuddle. Loves his mice and treats. Is definitely spoiled rotten.
Meet the Parents. Vince and Carolyn to be exact. A Yankee father known for his "war stories" and a mother who loves to shop. I think they like Jarrod more than me.
Meet the In-Laws. Jeff, Val, Josh, Justin and Kristina. A rather rowdy bunch, these individuals never disappoint when it comes to entertainment. They are fun, sarcastic and very family-oriented. My kind of people. Hence why I married their son.
And there you have it. My family. I am glad we have now been properly introduced. And with that, good night Internet world.
So, without further ado....
 |
| Photo by Kristin Rae Photography |
Meet Miles. My furbaby. A curious little guy that loves to cuddle. Loves his mice and treats. Is definitely spoiled rotten.
Meet the Parents. Vince and Carolyn to be exact. A Yankee father known for his "war stories" and a mother who loves to shop. I think they like Jarrod more than me.
 | |||
| Photo by Helen Byrd Photography |
And there you have it. My family. I am glad we have now been properly introduced. And with that, good night Internet world.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Lessons Learned from Barney Stinson
Jarrod and I love the TV show, How I Met Your Mother. It is such a funny and entertaining show that personifies true friendship. And, as strange as it may sound, I have to say that Barney is one of my favorite characters. Sure, he is sleazy and treats women horribly - but he values his friendships and would do anything for his best friends.
I am not going to lie - life has been rather stressful for Jarrod and I since our wedding. What was supposed to be our "honeymoon period" quickly turned into, what I believe, one of the hardest times of our lives. Everything seemed to be falling apart around us.
In just the past month my dad suffered a stroke, had to have emergency surgery on a perforated bowel, had blood clots in his legs and lungs, and an infection in his blood and heart valve. He was on a ventilator in ICU for over a week. Doctors were only giving him a 10 percent chance to live. To add to the chaos, my cat had a sudden psychotic episode and I had to deal with some scares with my own health. It has seemed, what could go wrong...did.
Life has certainly been emotional and stressful. Saying I was depressed and sad are understatements, but the love and support from friends have helped lift my spirits. And, during this time, I was able to identify my true friends. The ones that truly cared about what was happening in my life. The ones who called me to see how I was doing. The ones who consistently reminded me that they were praying for my family. The ones that were there with supportive and reassuring words.
What I am taking away from this experience is how to be a better friend. To make sure I am there when my friends need a helping hand. There when they need someone to listen. And there when they just need encouragement. As Barney says, I am going to stop being sad and be awesome instead. An awesome friend.
True story.
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