Ho, Ho, Ho ~
See pics from Henry's first Christmas >>

Here are a few of my favorites --

Henry’s Holiday Spirit
Henry’s getting into the holiday spirit this season with lots of shopping, decorating, parties and traveling.

Henry and Max sat in Santa’s lap. Max was born just one week before Henry.

We also went with the Hughs’ to East Texas to cut down Christmas trees.

Cousin Taylor at only 3 weeks old even came to the tree farm with us. This tree was the perfect size for Henry but a little small for our living room.
So Matt picked this one to saw down. Henry has been to 3 Christmas parties already this year. Last weekend we had a dinner party at our house. Our supper club now includes 5 couples and 3 babies. Vivian had fun chewing on beer cans….don’t call CPS, they weren’t open and we were watching her VERY closely.

Now we’re at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort. Matt had to come here for a business trip so Henry and I decided to tag along. There was a full rainbow right outside our window when we arrived. Today we’re going to visit Great Grandma Hughs.

See more pics >>

Thankful for…
I’ve got so much to be thankful for this year. That’s because last year at this time Matt’s Aunt Hy was dying of cancer. She was the amazing violinist that played at our wedding. She went so quickly – diagnosed in October, died in December. Six months prior we lost Matt’s Grandma Anne, and the month before that I had a miscarriage. 2004 was a rough year.

But in January 2005 I got pregnant. Eight weeks later Erin and Mike announced they were pregnant too. It was so much fun being prego at the same time and even more exciting was our boys’ births this fall. Erin and I had always planned on having babies together so the cousins could grow up together like the Hughs/Wilson and Bryarly/Georig/Tlucek cousins.

I’m also thankful I’ve had so much time off work to spend with my little sweet pea. Everyday Henry grows a little more and does something new. Being new parents is tough at times but our family and friends have been so loving, supportive and helpful. And Matt is amazing. I knew he would be a good father but I was afraid our relationship would take a backseat to our new mom-dad roles. I was wrong. Our love wasn’t divided when Henry arrived, it grew infinitely. I am truly blessed.

Our New Ride
My sweet honey-bunny bought Henry and I a new car this week. We're sportin' an SUV now. It makes me look more mom-like, don't ya think?

IT’S A BOY!!!
Henry’s cousin Taylor arrived on Monday, November 14th. My brother Mike and sister-in-law Erin didn’t want to know the sex of the baby so we’ve all been anxious to find out if little Taylor would be a she or a he. Henry was rootin’ for a playmate so he was super-excited when the nurse un-swaddled our new bundle of joy revealing his goods.

Mom and baby are doing GREAT!

Click here to see more pics >> Taylor stats:
Born c-section 11/14/05 12:20 pm
7 lbs, 8 oz
19 ¼ inches long
Red hair just like mom & dad

7th Annual Halloween Party ~

We had another successful Halloween party. I counted 75+ people in my backyard at one point during the party. But at the same time the night before I was a little nervous. We had some minor issues crop up last minute –

1. House was a wreck
2. The decoration were still in boxes
3. The toilet was out of order
4. Our band got in a fight and flaked out
5. Henry cried for 12 hours the day/night before
6. The kegs we ordered didn’t arrive

It was a true test of faith.

You see I don’t have time to clean, much less decorate the house with a 1-month-old that has to eat every 3 hours. So I called Martha our maid in a sheer panic asking if she could come help me out. She and her team arrived at noon the day of the party and worked their magic. My in-laws arrived about the same time and helped us decorate the house. They also helped with Henry. Problems 1 and 2 solved.

We noticed our toilet was leaking so Matt had to tear out the wood flooring, let all the baseboards dry and then replace the wood, stain it and put the toilet back in. He got the floor all fixed up but the toilet was still sitting in our backyard the morning of the party. Matt went to Home Depot four times for parts and absolutely could not get the toilet put in. It wasn’t leveling out. Who wants to sit on a rocking toilet? Matt was cussing, so I called a professional. Our plumber arrived a few hours before the party and now we have what Matt calls the “super-flusher”. Problem 3 fixed.

The band we had last year has been telling us for a year now they would play again. Jonathan, my brother-in-law and also the lead singer, even confirmed with them 2 weeks prior. Then they all decided that acoustic is no fun, they wanted to be “plugged in”. Matt and I said no. They were plenty loud last year and I didn’t want the cops coming over. I got a noise violation, Class C misdemeanor, before and it takes 6 months of probation to get that off your record. Well, come to find out, Jonathan has like 3000 songs and has DJed events before so he brought all his equipment over and kept the party entertained for hours. It was just as fabulous as the live band last year, so problem 4 resolved -- I LOVE YOU JONATHAN!

Poor, sweet Henry doesn’t like Chuy’s. Who knew? It’s my favorite restaurant. We took him there for lunch Friday. I enjoyed salsa, jalapeño ranch dip and the delicious Chuychanga with green chilis –YUMMY. About 4 pm Henry started crying and didn’t stop until around 4 am. He’s a breastfed baby and my delicious lunch gave him severe fire butt. All that crying wore him out so he slept most of the day Saturday. Guess I’ll have to watch what I eat from now on. Issue # 5 fixed.

Kegs – please kill me now. This was stressful! My neighbor’s roommate had been telling us for months that he has “the hook up on kegs”. So Matt told him exactly what to order and they agreed the 3 kegs would arrive at our house Friday before the party. All day Friday we waited and waited and no kegs. Our sweet neighbor Fred got involved and started calling around, checking on the kegs and they kept saying they are coming, they are coming. 10 am Saturday morning, still no kegs.

Now come on! How can you host a Halloween party with no beer? A dirty house, no decorations, no toilet, no music AND NOW NO BEER – I don’t cuss but F&#%!

I started calling liquor stores and they all said they have kegs but you have to order the party pack 24 hours in advance. (The party pack includes the tap which is very important.) Panic set in then the phone rang. A nearby liquor store had 3 kegs so Fred and Matt hopped in the truck and problem 6 was SOLVED. Thank God!

So how did the party go? FABULOUS!!! We had some of the most creative costumes this year. And I got to hang with all the super-fun Click Here chicks. Jonathan really had the crowd pumped up. With all of Henry’s crying the night before, I was a party pooper around midnight. So Jonathan and Matt played host until about 1:30 when everyone was left. So you see – all you have to have is a little faith and everything will work out.



CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PARTY PICS >>

Not so fabulous week ~

Well I hate to be a complainer, but this week hasn’t been so good. It all started last Thursday. Henry was particularly fussy and wasn’t napping during the day. I called the nurse and she basically said keep feeding him, maybe he’s hungry. Not helpful.

Then Friday I had to volunteer up at the church. They put me in the baby room, so I went from fussy Henry to more fussy babies. And these babies weren’t a cute 8 lbs like Henry. They were between 20 and 30 lbs. Since I had a c-section only two-and-a-half weeks prior, I really shouldn’t have been lifting these monster babies. But I did. Up and down for over 2 hours. I left the church crying…my body ached.

Saturday started out great. I sat on the couch all day and watched our Longhorns trample Colorado. But then later that night Matt was in the dog house. Let’s just say I got 2 dozen roses on Sunday.

Then Monday I woke up from a late afternoon nap with a scratchy throat. I called the doctor on Tuesday and was able to get right in. The doc said it was just sinus congestion and gave me some nasal spray and Claratin. Wednesday I woke up with laryngitis and couldn’t hardly talk. Matt took the 4 a.m. feeding last night so I got to sleep a full 7 hours – heaven!

I’m feeling a lot better today, so I’m just going to take it easy. Matt’s company is throwing a big western party on Friday, and I sure don’t wanna miss that.

Okay, enough about me. Henry is doing great! He’s 8 ½ lbs. now. He’s napping better and loves riding in the car.

Oh, and my beautiful, wonderful sister took these amazing photos of Henry. She's a great photographer. Wanna see more pictures? Click here >>

And the 7th Annual Bryarly Halloween party is quickly approaching. Check out our Halloween website >>.

Henry Update -- Week 2

Henry and I got home early afternoon on Friday after being in the hospital for about a week. I was feeling especially antsy to get out so mom and I made a mad-dash to North Park Mall late Friday night to pick up a dress to wear to Cindy’s wedding. It's crazy -- get out of the hospital Friday then go to the wedding Saturday? But these are my best friends. I was supposed to be a bridesmaid. I really didn't want to miss it. So Mel and Jonathan (sis and bro-in-law) came over on Saturday night to baby-sit. We arrived about 20 minutes late – we’re on baby time now but made it just in time to hear Tara sing the Ave Maria. Then we ran over to the reception and made it home just in time for Henry's 11:30 feeding. He slept the whole time we were gone. What an angel!

My mom stayed with us for about 5 days. She and Matt were a big help. There’s so much to do, I didn’t realize. When you spend 6 to 8 hours a day nursing; it’s hard to get things done. I'm slowly adjusting to this 3 to 4 hour feeding schedule. Henry sleeps pretty well and only cries when he’s hungry and when we’re changing his diaper. He likes to be swaddled so when we change him he gets cold and screams. He’s going to hate this cooler weather. Our old house isn’t all that energy-efficient.


Our friends Kelly and Joel from Tulsa came to stay with us the next Friday for TX/OU. That was Henry’s worst night yet. He just wouldn’t go to sleep. He's been a pretty good 3 to 4 hour sleeper but by 5 a.m., we’d only got 1 ½ hours of sleep. Finally I woke Matt up just beside myself crying. Then, not 2 minutes later, Henry was sound asleep. Important lesson: keep Henry up during the day so he will sleep well at night.

Matt calls Henry the Messiah of UT Football. Before he was born, and before football season even started, Matt said we’d beat OU and even predicted we’d go to the national championship. We’ll see…so far our horns are making us proud.

Henry Hughs is Here!

Henry arrived via c-section on Monday, September 26, 2005 at 2:01 p.m. He’s a healthy 7lbs., 7 oz. and is 19 ¾” long. You can read the birth day play-by-play below, or go right to the photo gallery.>>>


Birth Day Play-By-Play
The c-section was scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, so as you can imagine, the week prior was filled with anticipation, sleepless nights and lots of running around in an attempt to tie up loose ends. At work I had to train the new guy. Downloading six years of information in 8 hours is impossible. So is sleeping when you know your life is going to change completely in just a few days. Change in a good way. And not sleeping because I was excited, not worried or nervous. I guess that’s the best thing about having a c-section. I knew when it was going to happen and didn’t have to sit around tapping my foot wondering “is today the day?”

Well, the day finally arrived. I couldn’t eat or drink anything 8 hours prior, so I woke up at 4 a.m. and had breakfast, then slept until almost 10. We had to be at the hospital at noon and since I’d come in on Saturday prior for blood work and pre-admission, they took us back to my room almost immediately. For the next hour or so, they gave me a gown to wear, checked my vitals and called the anesthesiologist in. Everyone had told me the epidural hurts -- they stick a long, thick needle in your lower back. For me, it wasn’t that bad. I didn’t see the needle and I don’t remember it being really painful. I didn’t realize I’d be numb from the rib cage to my toes. I couldn’t even move my feet.

My OB’s schedule opened up so they wheeled me into the OR 15 minutes early and prepped me for surgery. Matt changed into his scrubs and they raised this curtain up so we couldn’t see anything – not that we’d want to see it. Instead I just listened to Matt chat with the anesthesiologist and nurses. Bananarama and Tom Petty songs were playing on the radio. Then I hear Henry screaming at the top of his lungs. Matt and I looked at each other…what do you say? We were totally speechless. The nurse handed Matt our little guy and he brought Henry right over to me. He was perfect. Nine months of questions were answered in the first few minutes. The docs sewed me up while we took pictures and Henry got cleaned, weighed and swaddled. I was in recovery for about 2 hours before they moved me into my room, which happen to have a great view of The Richards Group building. I stayed in the hospital until Friday.

Everyone says c-sections have a longer, more painful recovery. Maybe for some, but I was up walking around the very next morning. One nurse said I was getting around better than most of her “vag patients”. It was very painful when Matt made me belly laugh. I’d hold my stomach really tight and my eyes would just tear up. I kept telling him no more jokes! But you know Matt – that’s impossible. I’m lucky to have a husband that makes me laugh. It was just bad timing.

He's too sweet -- he gave me a heart-shaped sapphire/diamond necklace in the recovery room. I LOVE YOU HONEY!!!

Thanks to everyone that came to visit me, Matt and Henry in the hospital. Henry is already very social. We had almost 40 guests.

Note to those that did come:
As promised, here is Melinda's Chocolate Oreo Ball recipie.

Ingredients:
1 package of oreo cookies (not reduced fat)
1 package of cream cheese (not reduced fat)
1 package of Almond Bark Chocolate

Instructions:
Blend package of oreos in blender until fine grains. Hand mix cream cheese and oreos until blended. Melt 4-8 squares of almond bark chocolate in microwave. Put wax paper in rectangle dish. Make balls out of oreo and cream cheese mixture. (sometimes helps to put in freezer/fridge for couple minutes to help hold form) Roll oreo balls in chocolate and place on wax paper. Place oreo balls in freezer to form. Leave in Fridge or leave out to enjoy.

Fun-Times ~
About 6 months ago, one of my best friends, Cindy, asks me for a $200 check to pay for my bridesmaid dress. Cindy was getting married on Oct. 1. I was so barely pregnant at this point, I wasn’t really telling anyone until the doc confirmed all was good. Problem was, my due date was set for Sept. 30th – the day before Cindy’s big day. So I stalled a few weeks, avoiding Cindy and her request. But finally I had to break the news, I wasn’t going to be able to be a bridesmaid, and I’m not even sure I’ll make her wedding. It’s my first bitter-sweet motherly sacrifice.

So let me officially introduce you to my best friends – we were all on high school drill team together.

Cindy – dentist – the bride.
Kelly – recently engaged – buds since 1st grade.
Tara – world traveler (cruise ship showgirl). Moving back to New York soon.
Connie – lives in New York. Artsy. Her oil paintings hang in my home.

I'm 9 months pregnant, but that wasn't going to keep me from celebrating Cindy’s backelorette party last weekend. All of Cindy’s bridesmaids met at my house for a few pre-party drinks and a lingerie shower. Cindy specifically asked for skanky panties and we couldn’t let her down. We then walked over to Terrill’s for dinner and more drinks. (Well, they drank. Prego had water.) We walked back to my house and I played designated driver, dropping the buzzin’ bachelorettes off at Sense and Candleroom. Not sure what all happened at the clubs -- the details are a bit fuzzy, but I understand a good time was had by all. The group taxi-cabbed back to my place around 1.

Well, that wasn’t late enough for the two most drunk chicks – not going to name names but let’s just say Tran took Cindy home, Tara and prego mama watched a little TV, the other two stumbled up to the closest bar for more fun times.

So here’s where the story gets good. Close to 2am I played “mom” and called to see if they needed a ride home. It’s only 2 blocks away but hey, I was still up. The chicks had decided to walk back to Sense, which is easily 2 miles away, but they headed the wrong way and went south on Greenville. You DON’T walk south at 2am! You just DON’T. So I jumped in the Volvo, again very “mom-like”, and went searching for my drunk pals, who I found sitting on the curb about a ½ mile from home. I picked ‘em up, brought ‘em home and they crashed at my place. Fun-times!!!

Party Pics – click here >>

Graduation day ~
I must look like I'm on the verge of labor. I’ve got strangers saying, “Whoa! When are you due?” Friends are all asking, "Is your bag packed?" I know I've gotten bigger in the past couple of weeks but come on....I feel fine. I really think Henry isn’t coming before Sept. 26th, but so many people have told me, no way – he’s gonna be early. We’ll see.

It is true what they say, you get a sudden burst of energy a few days/weeks prior to delivery and I've been a mad woman running errands, cleaning up the house...I've even got Cindy's bachelorette party tonight. Eight wild chicks are meeting at my place - fun, fun! I’m still working and it seems like there’s something goin’ on every night, so lately I’ve been getting home close to or after 9.

Matt and I have been taking Shackleford to doggie training twice a week for the past 4 weeks. I’m proud to say, he graduated…with honors! Yep, he made a 100% on the doggie obstacle course.



Shackleford is a pretty well-behaved dog. He now knows sit, stay, down…the basics. Really we signed him up for the class to get him used to other dogs. He likes small dogs and friendly dogs. But he hates shepards, border collies, blue heelers. He barks are ‘em and then goes right for their jugular. He’s never lashed out at people, so we think he’ll be fine with Henry. The class was helpful for discipline but he still freaks out when his “alpha-male” complex is threatened. Oh, and he hates cats too.



Wanna see more pics of Shackleford? Click here >>

Baby Shower #4 ~

Matt’s super-fab admin, Christy, arranged a baby shower at the office. Here are some pics – Thanks Christy!!!

Roadtrips ~

Well, I went on my final roadtrip before Henry arrives. Actually, we went on a two roadtrip this month. We met the Wilson’s in New Braunfels three weeks ago. Art brought his Harley. I didn’t go for a ride on it but Erin and I did go tubin’ down the river!

The following weekend Matt’s cousin Amanda got married in El Campo, Texas. Richard got a 2-week leave from his assignment in Germany. Doesn’t he look so-fab in his uniform?

Julianna brought the kiddos down from Minneapolis. (See Austin peeking in from behind Bob?)

There were probably 500 people at the wedding. Jenny, Matt’s cousin in red, is also pregnant. She’s about 4 months along in this picture. And Amanada sure looked amazing. It was a really fun wedding!

More wedding pics -- click here.

Then last weekend was Chris Bludau’s wedding in Victoria. I’m done traveling for now, so Matt had fun with Richard and all his old high school buddies at that one.

The nursery is just about ready for baby Henry! Here are some new pics.
Shackleford seems to think we're fixing this room up for him. Little does he know what's coming very soon.
Oh, and I'm 35 weeks today. Only a month to go - YIKES!

Baby Shower #3 ~
This shower wasn't for me. It was for my fabulous mom! You know, she and my dad will be first-time grandparents of TWO grandbabies by Thanksgiving. Yep, my sister-in-law, Erin, is also pregnant, so I secretly arranged a grandma shower for my mom.


She's been playing Bunko with the same group of ladies for over 15 years now. Bunko is a dice game that doesn't take too much concentration -- so the ladies can eat, drink and chat once a month.

Well, this month my mom showed up for Bunko and was surprised to see Erin and me there. She was even more surprised when all her grand-baby gifts were pulled out. Who knew grandparents need so much stuff?

To see more grandma shower pics, CLICK HERE --
And use the arrow keys at the top of the page to scroll through the photos.

Baby Shower #2 ~
We had the most fabulous weekend – man I’m exhausted! Our good friends Kelly and Joel from Tulsa came into town for a quick visit.

We met Kelly & Joel on their honeymoon in Playa Del Carmon, Mexico 5 years ago. Matt and I were celebrating our 1 yr anniversary. We shared an hour-long bus ride from the airport over to the hotel and became immediate drinking-buds. We were in-separable during the entire trip and have been great friends ever since. They even named us godparents of their 2 boys, Nick and Noah. And Kelly is pregnant again! Their baby girl is due in Janurary 2006.

Kelly and I, two prego mamas, stayed out until 2am babysitting our husbands and playing catch up on Friday night. Then Saturday, we headed over to Valerie’s for my 2nd baby shower. Valerie and I have worked together for 5 years and go to lunch almost everyday. She really knows how to throw a great party! The Cafe Max food was DELIC! And how adorable is this cake? Valerie ROCKS!
All my Click Here friends came with oh-so-fab gifts for baby Henry. Here are some party pics.

My Grampa drove Eve in from Arkansas for the shower. So then on Sunday Matt and I headed to Sachse for a quick dinner with them and the rest of my family.
The pooches got some good "cousin time" in. You know it's hard getting 3 doggies to pose together. It took like 15 minutes to get this shot. CHEEZE!!!