Jack Ryan Shields

He's here......Jack Ryan Shields was born today at 1:17 p.m. He weights 8 lbs 6 oz and is 21 inches long. He has LOTS of blond hair! I have a few pictures on my cell phone but none via computer so no pictures of him to show you just yet.

Both he and Ashley are doing well - both tired. I am so JEALOUS of Ashley's labor and delivery! She went into the hospital last night to get induced to avoid having a c-section because the doctor told her she had a narrow pelvis and Jack was already measuring over 8 lbs as of last week. The injected some gel on her cervix last night to soften it and planned on starting pitocin this morning to help things along. I talked to her around 11 a.m. and she was 6 cm dilated and they had just broke her water. Within an hour she was dilated to 10 cm and ready to push. She only had to push for 20 minutes! In fact, she had to hold off pushing so the doctor could get there to deliver Jack! What a GREAT labor/delivery for her first baby - so jealous of her! She did a great job!

Happy Birthday Jack!!!!!!

Shower and Shopping

This past weekend, my mom, Harper, and I went to Norwalk to attend my BFF Ashley's baby shower. Ashley got a lot of great stuff for Jack who will be arriving sometime in November! This was Harper's first 'outing' and she did a great job - slept a lot! Everyone at the shower loved her ;)

Ashley, Harper and I

Ashley opening up her gifts

While we were in the Des Moines area we decided to do some shopping - Grandma is already teaching Harper how to shop! We stopped at the CUTEST shop called the Pink Hippo, which sells bows, headbands, shoes, leggings, photo shoot clothing ,etc for little girls. ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE! So of course Grandma bought Harper some bows to wear!

Uh-Oh - I'm already figuring out how to pull the bow off my head!

Take this off of me mom!

Tummy Time

Over here Harper

Hi big girl!

Chillin in my boppy pillow

Getting ready to watch football with Daddy - I was good luck for the Hawks again!

Secret Send-Off

On Wednesday Adam and I went to Des Moines to get a few last minute baby items (well nursing apparel for me), go to Camp Dodge so Adam could apply for tuition assistance for his classes this fall, and most importantly, to attend a surprise going away party for Aaron, Abby's boyfriend! Aaron is leaving Sunday morning for Iraq :( He is a firefighter with the Iowa Air Guard and will be stationed as a firefighter at one of the airports in Iraq. Abby planned a surprise party for him at Champs Sports Bar in West DSM - it was a very thoughtful idea on her part! Way to go Abby! You're starting off on the right foot as a military girlfriend already!

Adam and I with Abby

Awwww - Abby & Aaron! Best of luck to you Aaron! God speed!

It's a ......

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to Ashley and Ryan for expecting a little baby boy this November! Now did you really think I was talking about me?! Ashley and Ryan found out the gender of their baby yesterday and are very excited! Adam and I are excited for them too and that everything looked healthy. I have 3 friends having babies this fall and ALL 3 of them are having boys!! So - will I jump on the bandwagon and have a boy too? Or try to even things out by having a girl? I guess we'll find out in 12 more weeks! We are having a 3-D ultrasound tomorrow and we're really hoping that we don't accidentally find out the gender. I guess it's a risk we're willing to take in order to get a better look at our baby! I probably won't get the pictures from the ultrasound up until Sunday because we're heading back to Northwood for the 4th of July. We hope everyone has a FUN and SAFE weekend! Happy early Birthday America!!!

Supper with Friends

Last week Adam and I were able to spend time with some of our friends, which never gets to happen because of his work schedule. On Tuesday night, one of my good friends from high school came up from Des Moines to visit us. She had never visited our new house yet so she came up and I made us supper. It was so nice to just sit around for a few hours and visit - we need to do that more often!

Abby and I enjoying some Shade Tree popcorn

On Friday night, we went to Signatures and then to the casino with two other couples from Clarion. It is so weird because tons of people from the area love to go up to Northwood to gamble and eat at Signatures! I guess when you live there it's not as exciting, but we still had a good time.

Not much else is going on around here - pretty boring week. We went to a few graduations this past weekend and ate way too much food! I'm finishing up my last week at the After School Program - finally! Not sure what I'm going to do this summer - probably a few different part time jobs again. Still don't have a teaching job for next year yet - but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that something will open up. Adam is hoping that it starts to warm up so he can go golfing again - its been a cold and rainy week. He is really hoping that the weather cooperates this Sunday b/c he is in a golf tournament down here and his dad, brother and friend Bradley are coming down too.

Ashley and Ryan

My best friend Ashley, and her husband are expecting their first child in November! I am so happy for them - they will be GREAT parents! Ryan is already off to a good start by reading 'What To Expect When You're Expecting' with Ashley. He is very in tune with the changes Ashley is going through - what a good hubby! I know he will continue support her throughout the pregnancy, which could turn into a second job! Ashley hasn't been feeling very well and finally got prescribed some nausea pills earlier this week. She feels like a million bucks now and is enjoying pregnancy! I am so excited to be able to experience pregnancy and raising a child with her. Our due dates are 8 weeks apart and I couldn't be more thrilled! We enjoy endless emails and phone conversations about being pregnant - I really wish we lived closer so our children could grow up together - but we'll just have to make play dates every couple months!

Ashley and I met our freshman year in the dorms at UNI - and we've been best friends ever since! We were roommates for two years and I would room with her for another 20 if I could! We had so much fun - hardly any fights like most roomies have. Here are just a FEW highlights of our friendship - there are A LOT more that I should not probably mention :)

• many nights on the hill and main street - followed by delivery from Papa Johns or Jimmy Johns
• attending the Waterloo Blackhawks hockey games
• getting inducted into the College of Education
• weekend trip to Milwaukee for a Twins vs Brewers game (GREAT weekend)
• weekend trip to Minneapolis for a day of Valleyfair and night out on the town
• graduating from UNI
• being in each other's weddings
• meeting up in Vegas for supper and drinks
• experiencing our first pregnancy together

Here are a few pictures of Ashley and I - I LOVE HER!!!!!!!!

Ashley and Ryan with Adam and I - June 2006

My witness at our Justice of the Peace Ceremony - June 2006

Ashley signing our marriage license! June 2006

Ashley's going away party =( June 2007

Ash was my maid of honor - March 2008

I was a bridesmaid in her wedding - August 2008

Ash and I in Vegas - December 2008

Vegas Vacation

Happy New Year to you all! Hope you had a safe and fun holiday! Adam and I had a blast in Vegas over NYE. It was so nice to get away for a few days and enjoy some warmer temperatures. Vegas was absolutely PACKED with people while we were there - which was to be expected. We definitely didn't come home any richer - however we were up about $300 on our first night - must have been beginners luck! We did A LOT of walking around - both of our legs were sore the entire trip - maybe it helped keep some pounds off from our food and drinks! We met up with Ashley and Ryan one night and ate ate "Dicks Last Resort," where the waiters are purposefully rude to you and make you hats to wear with very inappropriate sayings! On New Years Eve we joined 300,000 other people on the strip and counted down the new year and watched the fireworks. We also ate at Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar." The food was delicious and drinks were served in a mason jar - just like the song! On our last night, we saw the "Blue Man Group" - it was awesome! We also walked around some more and saw a few free shows. We had planned on visiting Freemont Street - but there was so many people that we decided not to - traffic was terrible and it would've cost a fortune to take a taxi. We definitely want to go back when it's not as busy. Next time we want to see more shows, eat at fancier restaurants, and hit up a popular nightclub.

On our way to the airport - Adam is already ready to party!

Let's GO!!

Day 1 - checking out the strip and drinking a few beers

In front the Excalibur - where we stayed

Ashley & Ryan came to our room for a few beers before dinner

The honeymooners :)

Waiting to eat at "Dicks Last Resort"

The infamous hats

Day 2

"...and we like to drink our beer from a mason jar"

and margaritas ;)

I should've cashed out sooner :(

Who knew he was such a serious gambler?!

Hanging out on the strip on NYE

Night 3
Waiting for the show at Treasure Island

Eiffel Tower at Paris

Fountain show at Bellagio