It was a White Christmas

Hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas! Garrett has had numerous visitors over the holidays, including nearly all of his grandparents, great-grandparents & a few aunts & uncles...

We spent Christmas day as a family of 3! Believe it or not, we got up to feed the little man in the morning, but all managed to sleep until around 11 AM! Later in the afternoon, Garrett met Chase Gardner! Chase is the son of our friends, Greg & Kelly, & was born just 4 days before him. They both slept nearly all the way through their first "play date"! Last night Garrett slept in his car seat next to us while we dined on some yummo Chinese food.

Photos top to bottom: White, party of 3 on Christmas; 4 generations in the Houser family...my grandmother, Boots Houser, my dad, Ronnie, me & Garrett; Brian's parents, Gary & Martha (aka, PopPop & Grammy) with Garrett by the tree; my parents, Ronnie & Becky (aka, Grandmom & Poppa) with Garrett & Huckleberry.

Garrett's first lunch date

This week has been rather adventurous...I went solo with Garrett on Monday & Tuesday - not too bad except the slight meltdown he & I both had Monday night after Brian got home from work! We were both happy to see him!

Brian's mom, Martha, arrived on Tuesday night & has been helping us this week. Again, what would we do without our moms to get us through these times? B's dad & sister, Gary & Julie, will arrive today! Lots of hands to love on our little man.

Garrett had a dr appt yesterday. He's regained his birth weight, plus 2 ounces, so he's up to 7 lbs, 6 oz! Yahoo! His sleeping & eating is going well. Brian & I are actually surprised & even though it could change at any moment, we're not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. We'll take it for now!

On Thursday Garrett & I had our first lunch date with some of my co-workers (seen in the photo here). Peter, Lee & Lauren all got to gaze at our "perfect" (yes, you guys, he IS perfect - every stinking little part!) baby boy. It was great being out & catching up with each of them!

Merry Christmas!
Beth

Merry Christmas

As Dr. Suess - that wise old sage - said in How the Grinch Stole Christmas..."Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more."

For me & Brian, this year, it definitely does. We can't express our joy over the gift we've been given this Christmas season. Garrett has been - in the 9 days he's been in our family - such an amazing addition...bringing laughter & tears galore! (Even Brian's shed a few tears, people!)

So we hope this holiday season brings you & your family something beautiful & magical too...Just had to share a few pics of our little guy!

PS - Thanks to great-grandma Houser for the uber cute Christmas outfit & great-aunt Sybil for the first Christmas blanket...they, of course, make some darling photos!

Staying Alive

Who knew Garrett already knows how to disco?...Looks like he's "Staying Alive" in his little Moses basket! & for those of you who have seen Brian's 5 dance moves, this is an encouraging sign that perhaps one White man will make us proud out in da' clubs. So, you'll also notice the orange outfit & UT hat he's dressed in...yes, yes, folks it's true...Brian has created another Volunteer for the UT Nation!

It's been a good week so far...my mom, Becky, has been here with us all week & has certainly helped make my life a lot easier transitioning to being at home with Garrett. What would the world do without Grandmas hands to help & hold our babies? I love this shot of my mom's hands just loving on Garrett while he sleeps.

Garrett is also adjusting well to life at home. He had his first dr appt on Wed & had gained back an ounce of the 8 he lost in the hospital. Feeding & sleeping are currently not a problem for our little guy. We'll see how all of that pans out in a few weeks when the "newborn slumber" has worn off.

Welcome to the World, Garrett DeArmon White!

Garrett DeArmon White made his way into the world on Saturday, December 8 at 12:26 PM. He weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces & was 20.5" long. Garrett is in honor of Brian's dad, Gary. DeArmon is in honor of Beth's grandmother, Betty Newell DeArmon.

Garrett has overwhelmed his parents with more love & emotion than they could have ever imagined. He is perfect in every way & has stolen the hearts of his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins & friends.

Beth & Brian are so grateful to God for the amazing privilege of being able to raise Garrett.

Our due date is today!

Update from dr appt yesterday...He feels that Baby White is going to be on the scene in the next few days. As in, I will not be seeing the dr for my scheduled appointment on Monday morning because the baby will already be here. No guarantees, of course, but the Houser-White clan is on standby ready to swoop in from all over the SE at a moment's notice!

Baby scored 8/8 on the ultrasound "test" yesterday which is all very good. They're estimating him/her to be around 7 pounds, 9 ounces. We saw a sweet little profile of the baby...each time we tried to look at the face head on, though, he/she held its hand up directly in front of its nose/mouth! The tech also pointed out the fuzzy line around the head which is apparently dark fuzzy hair! For some reason the thought of our little munchkin with dark hair is very funny to us!

Ok...that's it from the White House...we'll keep you posted! It's hard to believe that Dec. 6 has finally arrived!
Beth & Brian

Baby Arrival Update

Quick note...Doctor said today that the baby hasn't moved much since last week. I "might" be one cm dilated & "maybe" 25% effaced. We'll go next Wednesday for another check & an ultrasound & I'm totally stoked about seeing the bebe skeletor one more time! We'll keep you posted! Dec. 6 - our due date - now seems so far away!

Beth & Brian

Check out the belly!

Brian & I did a maternity photo shoot when I was right at 36 weeks pregnant. We had a great time...as the photographer really shot "us" first & then focused in on the "belly"! We had a great time at Mike's studio here in Roswell. He's out on 8 acres of land & has his studio on the back of the property. There are more than 200 photos, so I tried to pull some of my favs. If you want to see "the complete collection", let me know & I'll send you the site & password info.

I would recommend that anyone who is pregnant definitely have maternity photos taken. As conscious as you might feel about your weight, you will only be pregnant & really "look" pregnant one, two or three times in your life. You should capture that for yourself & your child. I would love to have seen my mother's bare belly when she was expecting me!

Baby White also wanted to be a big part of this shoot...you can see him/her sticking his heel/butt up on my belly - specifically the shots where I'm laying on my back. Check out the difference in the one that's in color to the one that's in black & white. I was laughing so hard during the shoot...my belly looks like a camel!


So, as of today, we're 8 days away from Baby White's due date. I have an appointment tomorrow to find out I've dialated any further. Last Wednesday, the doctor said I was "the tiniest centimeter" dialated, so we should continue to expect a December baby! I have to admit, I'm finally ready. The discomfort in my back & recent carpal tunnel have made working, sleeping, etc. a bit miserable...but all in all, I have so little to complain about...We are so blessed to have a little baby for Christmas! We are just so anxious to find out if it's a boy or girl...who he/she will look like...who will the baby act like!

Enjoy the photos & we wish you & your families a wonderful holiday season...Check back here for more info on Baby White's impending arrival!
Beth & Brian

Celebrating Baby White, Georgia Style

Thanks to our friends who so graciously showered us with love, excitement & gifts for Baby White in mid-October! You guys have been so thrilled over our little "surprise" & we can't thank you enough for all of the prayers, support & encouragement you have provided during our pregnancy. As we told you that night, you have truly become our "Atlanta Family" for the last 8 years & we are grateful beyond words for the impact you've had in both of our lives.

Thank you also to our family who made the drive & were finally able to meet many of our friends here!

I've included 2 photos from the evening! Have more to post of the recent few weeks & Laurie, I promise I'll post a belly shot once more before I go into labor! Hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

A little "babymoon"!

Several of our friends advised us to take the time - while we still have it - to get away, just the two of us, before the baby came! We originally intended to go to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, BUT when the pregnant lady found out that it was a 2-hour hike from the airport to where we were staying - the trip to the DR was nixed. All was not lost, though...Brian simply redirected us to Grand Bahamas...a quicker flight & only 10 minutes from airport to hotel!

It was great having time to read, lay by the pool/beach, journal, talk, eat & drink - do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted to do it! Despite a huge storm on Tuesday (my birthday!), we still had an incredible trip.

Brian & Robyn, Clay & Emma (my bro, sis-in-law, nephew & niece) came back from Charlotte with us the night before we left. Robyn was sitting in our room with us while we were packing. She pointed out that this would be one of the last times the two of us only packed for the two of us! It made me giggle to think the next trip Brian & I take together will include our little one in tow - so that will mean a car seat, stroller, pack & play, diapers, wipes, etc.!

While we vacationed, Brian & Robyn were working away in our house. As a gift for the baby, Brian (my bro) wanted to paint our nursery & do molding for us. He did an awesome job! (We'll post pictures once the nursery's complete after baby White arrives.) AND Robyn cleaned my house, folded all the clean laundry, organized my pantry! Plus, Brian hung a new blind for us on our backdoor, changed some lightbulbs outside & repaired drywall in the garage! We are so thankful that they were so generous in creating the nursery & doing so many things for us around the house!

Hope everyone's doing well & had a Happy Halloween!
5 weeks & counting -
Beth

A soccer player, a pimp & a princess

I LOVE the photo of Clay (our nephew), Brian & Emma (Clay's lil' sis, our niece)! It looks like it's Halloween & they're already in costume! We had just come back to my parent's house after Clay's soccer game (he scored two goals @ his game this past weekend - way to go, buddy!). Emma was running around in her princess dress & Uncle Brian decided to snag her "dress-up" hat - which obviously makes him look like a pimp!!! Hysterical!

The weekend we were in Charlotte our family & friends threw a shower for me & bebe White! It was incredible to be surrounded by so many women who have been an integral part of my life in one way or another. I know that this little one will be loved & cherished by them as well!

xoxo -
Beth


Aunt Beth, Clay & Uncle Brian at the soccer game!








Jill (Smith) Blanton & Joy (Clippard) Seger are two of my lifelong friends - we've literally all known one another for 30 years, went kindergarten through high school together, attended the same church, our mom's worked in the nursery together! I'm "finally" following their footsteps into motherhood!







My sister friends!!! Kimberly & Stephanie Orr are like little sisters to me! Both of them were junior bridesmaids in our wedding 8 years ago - next month Stephanie will walk down the aisle to be a lil' Mrs. herself! They have both grown into such beautiful women & I'm grateful for them & their sweet momma, Miss Linda!!! Love you, girls!

It's Baby Shower Time in TENNESSEE!!!

In early September, our TN family threw us a beautiful shower. It had a "Sweet Pea" theme - which is very special...not long after we knew we were pregnant, Brian & I were at an Amos Lee concert where he played one of our favorite songs - "Sweet Pea"! So we've always talked about our little one as our Sweet Pea!

Just want to say a special thank you to Gary & Martha (Poppy & Grammy to the baby!) for hosting the shower in their home & to Michael, Becky, Julie & Aunt Linda for all they did to create an evening where we felt everyone's excitement over the baby! It was a special night & we're so grateful for your generosity!

Here a few pictures from the evening...Top photo are Beth's parents - Ronnie & Becky; Beth & Brian; Brian's parents - Martha & Gary. At the bottom is our sister-in-law, Becky; Brian's brother, Michael; Brian's sister, Julie; & our nephew (Becky & Michael's son), Jackson is on our laps! & finally...a photo of Brian - note the fear in his face (Michael's trying to prepare Brian for fatherhood with a nice little guide!)!

The babydome!

Brian has taken to calling my belly the babydome! :-) It cracks me up every time he says it.

So...much to the disappointment of the guys who look at this blog, I'm posting additional photos of my belly. So, girls...here you go! I'll try to be better about "taking" the photos, as well as posting them.

Baby is doing well, moving ALOT...I was 31 weeks yesterday, so the single digit weekly countdown is on...9 or so weeks & counting!!! Hard to believe - as this whole pregnancy has just FLOWN by for us. We've had 2 showers so far - one in TN with Brian's family & one in NC with mine. I'll be posting those photos in the next week - so check back!

Have a wonderful weekend!
Beth

A day at the High

This fall my awesome cousin, Katie, ventured out into the college world & is now a full-time student @ Lee University in Cleveland, TN!!! Go, Katie!

The BEST part of this - as she is DEFINITIVELY one of my favorite people on earth - is that she now lives only 2 hours from us!!! The first weekend in September, Kate came for a visit & we had an awesome time - the pictures here are from a trip down to the High Museum. Dustin & Kelly Jo went with us as well!

So proud of Katie (as she's one of the most beautiful people I know - inside & out) & so THRILLED that she lives so close! Can't wait to see more of you, chica!!!

I'm wit Chingy, at the Holidae In

Friends and Family,

Well, it’s official.

I gave my two weeks notice this morning. I am ending an 8-year career in the automotive advertising industry and jumping to hotels.

No, I am not the bellhop.

I have accepted a position with an ad agency in Historic Roswell called Ogilvy Action and will be the Group Account Director on the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands. You can check out the agency at www.ogilvyaction.com. I’m looking forward to this challenge but also a little nervous to start something so new to me. The agency is made up of about 25 people and they want to double that number by next year. The agency is growing like crazy and I’m excited to be a part of that.

I want to thank everybody who has been praying for me during this time and I ask that you continue to do so as I not only start this new challenge but that of being a father (which scares me more than anything). Oh yeah, speaking of scary things – since Beth has been pregnant she has developed an uncontrollable snort that happens only once daily/nightly at around 3:30am every night. It sounds like the noise the vacuum makes when accidentally sucking up a shoe. She never wakes up during it…but of course, I do. Please pray for that.

Thanks again for everything you do for the both (three) of us,

Brian

Here we grow!

Many of you have asked to see a photo of my growing belly...it's been very fun to watch my belly get bigger. Based on the way it looks, most "people" are saying that it's a boy - carrying low & out front! We'll see...Brian's still holding out hope for that little princess! The photo here was taken at 23 weeks. I'm 25 weeks today. & besides the excrutiating heat we've been experiencing here, I have no complaints about pregnancy!

The other two photos are of us at Babies-R-Us a weekend or two ago registering. Crazy Brian took the gun to everything you can imagine...he LOVED scanning all of the items. We ended up in the toy section - big surprise! :-)

Our baby waved to us!

It's still overwhelming - in some ways to know that we'll soon be parents, but it is starting to sink in that our whole world is about to be turned upside down. It's strange to think that after 8 years of marriage, it will no longer be just Brian & me.

We had our second ultrasound today!

At the ultrasound the baby was moving all around...the tech said he/she is a wiggle worm & she kept telling the baby to be still (wonder how many times Brian & I will use those same words to this child in the future?!?). The baby literally kept waving at us & his/her mouth was moving EVERY time we saw the face - geez, wonder which parent that comes from? Would be a total toss up, right?!? HA!

Dr & tech said everything looks great...the baby is anotomically right on schedule & doing great. The morning of July 4th (just before Brian & I launched into our first 10K!) I felt the baby move. It will apparently be a few more weeks before Brian is able to feel the baby moving - which has been disappointing to me b/c I love feeling the baby move - it really is the craziest, most amazing feeling in the world!

Thanks for your continued love & prayers for me, Brian & the baby as we embark on this journey!