... Backpacking in the Catskills

Before I met Shannon and her family in Utah I got to go backpacking for a couple days in the Catskill Mountains of New York (again, this is the East Coast we're talking about. The mountains were small but they were quite a relief from the city). We did about 18 miles in the 2 days, "climbed" 3 "peaks", and had a very uninvited black bear show up in our campsite that night. We had just finished dinner and had luckily hung our bags before heading to the tent for the night. It was really dark by now, and being in the woods alone on that side of these mountains we must have heard every creaking tree and falling leaf. While my friend was on edge throughout the evening, I grew used to the noises, that is, until about 20 - 30 minutes later when I heard distinct heavy foot-steps coming toward our tent. My friend and I started yelling and screaming at whatever it was and I grabbed a flashlight to search around... from within the tent, of course. While still yelling at whatever it was (at this point it could just been an overweight chipmunk) my flashlight caught the reflection of the bear's eyes, and they were a lot higher off the ground than a chipmunk! We really started yelling at that point and, gratefully, it soon ran off. Since I saw it's eyes with my flashlight I knew it was close to the tent, but it wasn't until the next morning that I realized he was REALLY close; right under the tree from which we hung our bags about 40ft from our tent! Yeah, we should have hung our bags a little farther away.

... Utah!

Here's a few pics of us and the fam in Utah. We had SO MUCH fun with them there! She actually got to spend about 3 weeks there! (Four-wheeling in Spanish Fork Canyon and playing softball with the family @ Hobble Creek)









Oh yeah. And we brought our Wii to Utah for all of us to play together. We found out that we got some good little boxers in the family. Check out our little 3 year old niece get a quick knock out. And now that we taught them all to hit, it was time to leave...

... Indiana!

And finally, we flew from Utah to Detroit to see my parents, brother, and extended family in Indiana/Michigan. We never planned to fly directly there, we were supposed to fly back to New Jersey and drive to Indiana. But with a delayed flight in Salt Lake City which would result in a missed connection, the free upgrade to first class going to Detroit instead sounded great to us! This was Shannon's first time meeting all her new in-laws. Actually, Shannon had LOTS of firsts on this leg of our summer trips; first time flying first class (mine, too), first time to Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, and therefore Chicago (where I lived when I was little), first time seeing fire flies (she's been fascinated by them since), first time eating Dairy Queen ice cream, first time seeing "real live" lilly pads, and more! And since Indiana was always the destination of our summer vacations growing up it was a blast for me to go back. Highlights; seeing parents, Patrick, new cousins, and going for rides in my Uncle Joe's boat!

... Baby Update

And now we're back. Shannon's pregnancy is going well. Shannon's completed 34 weeks now: It's getting so close! Actually, she got what will probably be the last ultrasound last week. I think she (the baby) has already had a botox treatment! Do they actually do fetal botox treatments now-a-days? Well, somehow or another she's got real Angelina Jolie lips already! Even the technician agreed. I don't have the pictures scanned onto my computer this time. I might get them soon. Before the baby comes, though, we'll be moving to a new apartment. It's a 2 bedroom and it's still on the Jersey side of the Hudson! We're excited! We'll have a lot to post in about a month or so, but I can't guarantee much until then. Promise we'll be posting a lot more when we have a little girl to show off. That's what blogging's really for.

A-Z

A-Z

I got tagged by my friend Brittney so here are just a few facts about me. Enjoy! :)

A. Attached or Single: Attached to my wonderful husband Sean and our soon to be baby girl!! :)
B. Best Friend: Sean of course!! But also Britt since our good old softball days, Megan through our Raintree days and definitely my mom!
C. Cake or Pie: Cake all the way.
D. Day of Choice: Saturdays. It's the only day we have to do absolutely nothing :)
E. Essential item: Lotion
F. Favorite Color: I can't even commit to a favorite, so for the time being...Green.
G. Gummy bears or worms: Neither...I hate gummy candies!
H. Hometown: Right now Sean and I live in West New York, NJ but I grew up in Springville.
I. Indulgence(s): Doritos, Dr. Pepper and/or Cherry Coke, SLEEPING!!!!
J. January or July: Definitely July. I hate the cold.
K. Kids: Little 'Baby Girl Reed'...on the way. :)
L. Life is incomplete without: Family and friends
M. Marriage Date: August 16, 2007
N. Number of siblings: 3 sisters and 2 brothers.
O. Oranges or apples: Oranges! I don't like biting into apples. (I agree with Britt)
P. Phobias or Fears: Being hurt and anything creepy/crawly!
Q. Quotes: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
R. Reason to smile: My hubby and baby on the way! And warm weather!!
S. Season of choice: Summer. I love the sun!
T. Tag: Shelly, Amy, Kaycee
U. Unknown fact about me: I have double jointed fingers and I can make my throat blow up like a frog. ;)
V. Very favorite store: Target
W. Worst habit: Watching too much T.V.
X. X-ray or Ultrasound: Ultrasound! It's amazing to see our little girl move around in there and to see the development over the weeks! :)
Y. Your favorite food: I love Italian, Mexican, and Chinese.
Z. Zodiac sign: Capricorn

"It's" a GIRL!!!

Hey everyone! We had our 20 week check up recently and brought home these pics of our new little girl! The last couple of days have been SO fun after having seen our baby again, and especially, to find out that we have a daughter on the way! The doctors said that everything looks good. As for now she weighs about a pound and is measuring about 6 days ahead. She's already fitting in w/ our tall families. We can't wait to see her in August!

A New Addition!

Here's the newest addition to our blog. But we've got news for many of you: Shannon and I are awaiting a new addition to our family, too!!! We"re really just beginning to let the secret out. For those of you here in New York/New Jersey with us it's been no secret that Shannon is pregnant. We knew sickness is normal with pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester. But we think Shannon has been especially sick. There was no chance of hiding it. It made us a little worried for a short time in January, but after a very exciting doctor's visit yesterday we were able to see how much the baby has developed over the past month. It looks human now! And as we watched the ultrasound yesterday we got to see the heart beating, too! That was the best and most unbelievable thing to see! Shannon and I have constantly thought back on that over the last two days. We'll post the 2 ultrasound pics that we've gotten so far for family. I'm sure they're the ones that really want to see them. And for our college friends in disbelief, we'll post them as proof! Oh, and as of the last couple of days Shannon's beginning to show a little, too! Very little, of course, so don't expect too much. But Shannon definitely feels it. We're excited!!!


(The first pic was our first view of our baby about a month ago. Shannon was not even 2 months pregnant yet so you can't really distinguish much. Cute anyway, though, right?!)
(The second one was taken yesterday, at about 11 weeks pregnant. Now you can obviously see the head, you can faintly see a leg or two, and if you look closely you can make out the heart below the jaw, too!)