Christmas 2009

The whole family after Christmas Eve church!

The lights I (and Peyton!) put up all by ourselves!!

The Christmas tree! (of course it was up just after Thanksgiving!!)

Christmas was wonderful again this year! Holidays always means lots of traveling for Blake and I, but we think maybe with Peyton next year, we will request everyone to come to us!! :) Blake and I drove in (yes the 4 hour drive because of bad weather-no flying) Wednesday night, just in time to shop for a few last minute gifts! Christmas Eve we met our friends Adam and Courtney for breakfast. We always enjoy seeing them-we are thankful for such wonderful friendships! From there we went to my parents to get ready for my favorite thing about Christmas-Christmas Eve church!! I have always loved this service since I was young and Blake knows how important it is to me! We have only missed it once in 5 years! Not sure if it was preggers hormones, or the thought that next year we will most likely stay in Louisiana for the entire holiday, or just the amazing orchestra during the last verse of Joy to The World, but tears filled my eyes...I love Christmas! I love that my Savior was born for you and me, to then save you and me!! I wanted to shout from the roof top the last verse...

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

and wonders of His love,

and wonders of His love,

And wonder, wonders of His love!

What made your Christmas so special? Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday season! have a Happy New Year blog friends!!!!

Baby Broussard has a name!!!!

So after a lot of discussing, tons of suggestions, and a book of 55,000 names, we finally agreed upon a name for our little one!! Drum roll please........Peyton (no middle name just yet for a boy) and Payton Lane for a girl!!! Haha That's how bad it was, we could only decide on one name regardless of what gender he or she is!!

Only 7 more weeks until we know which version of Peyton/Payton we will have!!

Meet Baby Broussard!!

The scan quality is not too great and if you are like me, you can only pick out the head! haha The first picture is of his face, you can actually see his eyes and open mouth on the actual copy. The second is just a side profile of head and body. He only has arm and leg buds at this point, but you can make those out as well.

His first picture!!!!

11 wks and Dr update

Hello 11 weeks and hello little pooch! Going from a 6 pack to having a little roll is a bit weird but I am embracing this time!! Haha Its the only time in my life I can cheat on our normal healthy practices! Blake and I went to the Dr. last Wednesday, just a follow up and to hear the heartbeat!!! My Dr. is so laid back and is always helpful to both Blake and I, who always ask a ton of questions! After telling us to not freak out if she could not find the heart beat (at 11 weeks its still really early to try and find with the doppler) she began to mash around. Blake commented on if it was ok that she pressed that hard on my tummy! Bless her, she said that since I am so skinny, we found it!!! I was thankful for the compliment, due to the newly settled roll on my abdomen!! So there it was, our baby's healthy heart beat! 144 beats a minute, old wives tale states that's a boy!!!! Haha So we scheduled my first ultrasound for Friday. So two days later back for more, this time it was unbelievable! After taking many pictures of parts inside of me, she finally focused on our baby!! He was moving around a bit, in fact the tech made a comment about it! I like to think he is running in there!! The heart beat was 176 this time....ummm that means girl! Yikes! These old wives tales are killing me! So I guess the suspense remains until 20 weeks. Everything looked and sounded great and healthy!!

As for me, I am looking forward to the 12th week...I hear I will have some energy and will stop this gagging mess!! I sure am over the violent gagging! Although happy to finally being showing signs of pregnancy. For the first 7 weeks I did not feel any different at all! Well then came week 8 with gagging every time I was hungry or smelled anything that didn't seem right!! Ha The sickness strangely put me at ease, I no longer felt like this wasn't real! The gagging gave me a sense of reality! Yay! But now that I am a believer, I am ready to not gag anymore!! :)

Next appointment is in January!! Will keep you posted!!

Well HELLO!!!!

Ok, I have not fallen off the face of the earth!!! Work has been a bit crazy with new changes in our office, our home computer was on the fritz but got one that works!! and this pregnancy thing has got me feeling BEAT after work everyday!!!

I have to share a story from work. We have a lot special needs patients, and anyone who knows me, knows that this is such a gift to be able to work with people with special needs on a daily basis-even if just for 30 minutes out of my day! :) Since high school I have enjoyed being with special needs people, I unlike many, am not uncomfortable around them. Earlier this week a lady in her mid 40's, I would guess, came in for her annual check up. We take these patients pictures for their files to help with identification purposes. When I went for her, I realised we needed to take a picture for her file. So I called her name and when I asked if she could smile for me, she had a wonderful personality and was pumped that I wanted to take her picture! She thanked me for taking her picture and again thanked me when I told her how pretty it turned out. I brought her back to the room, all the while she is thanking me for letting her come, and thanking me for letting her sit in the "main chair" in the room! While waiting for Dr. Landry, I sat with her and we had the nicest chat. She was very excited about going home for Christmas, told me how her family was coming to take her from the home where she lives, to her real home for a few days. After Dr. Landry was finished with the exam, and after her thanking him for it, we were on our way up front when she asked if she could have a copy of the picture I took. Of course I told her yes and went to print one out for her. Our printer takes a bit so i sat at the front counter with her discussing her brand new outfit she was very excited to be wearing! A girl after my own heart!! After telling me the reason she wanted a copy of the picture was because I told her she looked pretty in it and she wanted to take it to her family so they wouldn't forget her, she grabbed my hand and thanked me more!

When I tell you this warmed my heart to spend this 30 minutes with her. She was such a joy to be around. The simple things-she was so very genuinely thankful for, and expressed it at that! I started to think about how I need to say thank you more often. I can only hope to be more like her in her gratitude to those around me.

Tell someone thank you for something small that you are truly thankful for today!!

8 WEEKS!

Baby Broussard at 8 weeks! Excuse the ugly pink scrubs, my Monday attire for work, but you can see a little bump that was not there before! I was so proud of my flat 6 pack and now there is just a little layer of fat on the last section of that pack! haha

I go to the doctors at 12 weeks, so expect a pic in December! All is well with me and baby :)

San Antonio Journey!!

This is me...so TIRED!!!!!

Ready for a crazy post?! My Marathon journey started Friday after my Sports Med Appt. Loaded up Champ and we were off to Houston! We arrived around 6pm, just in time for a wonderful Lasagna dinner at my mom's! Saturday, after my dad refereed a couple of games we were back on the road to San Antonio. We just made it before the expo closed, to pick up my race packet. We picked a nice Sonic dinner and headed to the hotel where we caught the Texas Tech Red Raiders BEAT OSU!!! Shoot 'em up!!! Turned in very early, after all, big day on Sunday! Ok, here's the good part...Sunday morning I woke up and got ready just like any other marathon, only this time I was SO nervous...more nervous than ever...not just nerves about running a marathon...but because 6 days before I found out I am PREGNANT!!!! Yes, that's right, I was running for 2!!! So of course most people were worried about me running, so I was contemplating just running the 1/2 marathon, even though I was cleared by 2 OB's and my sports med doctor. I talked to my dad and after receiving his advice I decided I would in fact just run the half. I didn't know how much this would actually affect me. At mile 10.5, runners had to make a choice, full marathoners to the right and 1/2 marathoners to the left. When I forced my legs to the left, I started to cry. Not because of pain, but because in my mind I was failing myself. I have never started something in my life, and not finished it. I will receive a DQ (disqualification) for the marathon race because I had signed up for the race and did not complete it, but will receive an official time for the half marathon. Then I started to think about why I was reacting like this, I mean after all I had another 3 miles to figure myself out!! Mixed with emotions of hormones, and the experience of a race for me, came a realization that its not about me anymore. I had made this decision for someone else, not me, for little Baby Broussard! I then began to look at it as a good thing. Still hard for the competitive side of me to see that DQ, but a good decision overall! Race went well! Finished with a 2 hr 25 min time-satisfied with that!!! I did meet 2 pregnant girls at the start of the race who were a tremendous source of encouragement and information. Thank you Christy (6 mos pregnant) and Kristen (3 mos pregnant) who I don't know your last names, but thank you for all of your words!! These girls were running the half marathon!! Not to mention their cute shirts that said "One Bad Mother Runner" on the front!!

So as soon as I crossed the finish line, met up with my dad, we were in the car AGAIN to head home. We were able to go look at our old house from when we lived there when I was younger. It was sad to see it is not kept the way my parents had kept it, but good to see something familiar! Once getting back to Houston, took a break for a few minutes and was back in the car to head to Louisiana. Did I mention I had to do all of this traveling because my boss would not give me Monday off?!?! Yep, still bitter!! I arrived home around 7pm, with enough time to take a bath and head to bed early! YIKES! Long and fast weekend!!!

All in all it was a great time, I had a blast with my dad! I liked having a weekend with just us :) He was such a good chauffeur and support system at the race!! My mom is the ultimate dog sitter and gave Champ royal treatment while we were in San Antonio, so much that I left him for the week and will pick him up when I go back into town next weekend. Thanks mom and Hannah!!

Ill post more on the pregnancy later, just excited to announce to everyone!! Praise God for this baby in me!

Have a great week!

San Antonio here I come!!!

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."

Ok, off to San Antonio for the Marathon on Sunday! I will post Monday afternoon about my journey. That is if I am still alive...my boss did not give me Monday off...I guess I love a challenge! YIKES! Pray for my SI joint on Sunday, and my attitude at work on Monday. (I'm bitter..can you tell?!)

"You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face."--Gatorade

The decision I am faced every mile 17!

Thursday!! My favorite day of the week!! Have a great one!

:)

"The greatest pleasure in life, is doing the things people say we cannot do."-- Walter Bagehot

This one made me smile. Any of you who know me, know this is me! It doesn't matter if you were or are someone who is saying I can't do something to be spiteful or just honest, I will kill myself proving to you I CAN!!! Haha I love a challenge! Even from when I was little, my parents would agree, what I set my mind to, I try to accomplish. Thank you to all of my friends and family who have always supported me and pushed me when I needed it along the way!

Happy Hump Day!!

Happy Tuesday!

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed.Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows that it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve.It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle when the sun comes up you'd better be running.
(But, unless you're a runner, you won't understand.)
-Anon

I've posted this before...I just LOVE it!!

Inspirations for the week

I will be posting an inspiration for each day the next 6 days leading up to the marathon on Sunday(all running quotes of course!! Ha). The butterflies have officially begun. I am nervous and excited! The anticipation is always intense the week of for me. Please pray for this new injury discovered last Friday...SI joint and all the muscles surrounding it. I will see my sports med doc only once more before Sunday-YIKES!

Here is a little thought for today...

"Tough times don't last but tough people do." - A.C. Green

Happy Monday :)

SUCCESS!!!!!

The Chili Cook Off was a complete success!!!

Thank you to everyone who came and showed support for Running Hope! I appreciate the travelers, Sara and kids OK, Mom and Sarah TX to take time to drive out and support both Running Hope and me. Thank you to the cooking teams, Acadian Contractors, Acadiana Flight School, Sugar Mill Pond and Wet Tech Energy. Thank you to all of my in-laws who ALL came out and stayed the entire event. Thank you to The Picardy Birds who did a fantastic job supplying us with wonderful music and talent!

It is because of ALL of you, that I surpassed my goal of $5240! Thank you again!!

What can I say...

I can only imagine how much I will love my children because I absolutely love this little guy!!! This is my precious godson who is just cute, funny, sweet and has got a charming personality already at age 4! I can only hope to have little guys just like this turkey!!! Just had to share this sweet picture :)

Happy 3 yrs!

Wow! It has been 3 years already that Blake and I are married. Happy Anniversary Blake!!! Love you!

Sorry I keep posting the same picture of Blake and I, we don't have many pics together-I'm always behind the camera :) Also all of our pics are on my crashed laptop :(

Fredricksberg, TX

Just a quick post and few pics from our annual trip to the hangar hotel!! Starting with our 1st anniversary, Blake and I flew to the hangar hotel. We met a couple, Phil and Sara, celebrating Sara's birthday (same day as our anniversary). They live in the Humble area and had made the trip once before. It didn't take long for the 4 of us to agree that this needed to be an annual thing!! So each year since 2006 we have met there for a weekend of fun!! Our party has grown each year, this year we had 17 in our group!! How fun! It is always the same weekend as the Wine and Food festival in town! Such a relaxing weekend full of fun, wine, friends, flying and memories!!!

How cool!! We flew over UT stadium! You can even see the longhorn on the field!!! Hook 'Em Horns!!!

Our hotel!!

Me and Emily! They are our friends from Louisiana who joined us for their first trip to the Hangar Hotel!! We had a blast together!!

Emily and I running on the taxiway alongside of the runway!! This was HEAVEN to me!!! Emily is running the 1/2 marathon in San Antonio in November, she needed a run in this weekend so I was all over it!! We ran 9.5 miles Saturday morning and then joined our husbands in the diner for breakfast!! Running and airplanes all at the same time...HEAVEN!!!!!

PS. Congrats to Phil and Sara who informed us they are expecting!! After Wednesday, we will have to call you Dr. Sara and Phil!!! Way to Go Sara!!!

Queen Sydney!!

This weekend was Sydney's homecoming! She made Queen! Blake and I drove her in a white convertible BMW in the parade. Then she was crowned at the dance Saturday! What a beautiful Queen!!

Friday at the parade
Sydney being officially crowned.

Beautiful!!

The whole court. Poor Syd, you can't see her because they gave her 2 dozen of roses to hold!!! It was cute, she didnt know what to do with them!!

Look out Vera Bradley!!!

You cant see but on the navy part there is very detailed pleats that I am proud of!!
This bag is my favorite! It looks like a Vera Bradley bag that I would buy!!

Even though a part of me felt old for sewing on my vacation, I am excited to reveal what I made!!

Look what I found!!!!

This is Champ's Halloween costume this year!!! He is the cutest pumpkin at the pumpkin patch!!!

Fun!

These are a few pics from our fun evening on a party bus to Baton Rouge. We had about 25 people get together for a few of our friend's birthdays to get a party bus and drive to Baton Rouge for dinner and drinks! What fun friends and neighbors we have!!

Auntie Ry and Uncle B

As of 2 weeks ago Blake and I are an Aunt and Uncle for the first time! This is Aubrey, our niece!

One day she will be big enough to actually wear the outfit we got her!! Geaux Tigers!!!!!

Finished!!!

I mentioned a while back that I had 2 pieces of furniture from my Granny's house that I was planning to refinish, well finally I started on them and now I'm done!!! Here are some before and after pics!!!

Let the count down begin!!!

1 month from today is the Chili Cook-Off Benefit to honor Samuel!!

I am so excited, and thankfully everything is already starting to come together!! Please begin to pray for this event!

Begin to donate or pledge now...

http://members.shaohannahshope.org/goto/samuelmark

All proceeds benefit the Running Hope Foundation. Running Hope supports the efforts of runners and walkers as they raise both awareness of the orphan cause and funds for organizations that are making a difference in the lives of orphans around the world.
Running Hope is proud to partner with and support to Shaohannah’s Hope through all of their fundraising efforts. Shaohannah’s Hope is dedicated to helping prospective adoptive parents overcome the financial barriers associated with adoption. They accomplish this through grants to families who are already in the process of adopting.

For more information please visit showhope.org or runninghope.org

Playlist

I've been searching for the best song for my playlist...I found it!! This is Alive Again by Matt Maher

ENJOY!!!

I woke up in darkness

sounded by silence

oh where, where have I gone?

I woke to reality

losing its grip on me

oh where, where have I gone?

Cause I can see the light

before I see the sunrise

You called and you shouted

broke through my deafness

now I’m breathing in

and breathing out

I’m alive again!

You shattered my darkness

washed away my blindness

now I’m breathing in

and breathing out

I’m alive again!

They never loved you

you waited for me,

I searched for you…

what took me so long?

I was looking outside

as a love would ever want to hide

I’m finding I was wrong

Cause I can feel the wind

before it hits my skin

Cause I want you!

Yes, I want you,

I need you

And I’ll do what ever I have to

Just to get through

cause I love you

Yeah, I love you!

RUNNING!

Running is the classical road to self-consciousness, self-awareness and self-reliance. Independence is the outstanding characteristic of a runner. She learns the harsh reality of her physical and spiritual limitations when she runs. She learns that personal commitment, sacrifice and determination are her only means to betterment. Runners get promoted only through self-conquest.

I found this quote and could not explain running any better!!!! I have blogged in the past about why I run, self fulfillment, is the best way I can describe it. Whether it is spiritual, physical, and or emotional, it all comes down to fulfillment! It gives me such purpose. To know that I have reached limits that most are too weak to try, gives me a sense of accomplishment!

I am however, looking for a new challenge and goal...any suggestions?!?!

Happy Birthday!!

Happy 29th Birthday Blake!!!!!!!!

Be the kind of women that when your feet hit the ground each morning the devil says "Oh CRAP, she's up!"

OH HOLY MOLY AND OH THANK GOODNESS!!!!!

Oh HOLY MOLY!!! I have had the privilege (not really) of having what Blake calls "Bayou Butt!!" This is also known to runners as chaffing!!! YIKES!!! Well everyone here swears by the phenomenon Boudreaux's Butt Paste!! Let's just say I too, now swear by it!!! Haha It is working!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy birthday to my friend Sara!!! We were just talking yesterday how we feel so much more like sisters than cousins, cousin-in-laws for tht matter!!! Happy birthday to someone who is caring, loving, and beautiful inside and out!!! Love and miss you!!

Governor Bobby Jindal

Blake, Governor Bobby Jindal, and me

This was from the other night at a political party that we, along with 24 others, hosted. I was a bit nervous, I don't think I have ever met anyone political before. I didn't want to look or sound like an idiot. Well the looking like part was difficult, it was POURING down rain when we arrived-explanation of the nasty hair! We had a great time and everything turned out well. Other than being introduced all night as Blake's wife Rayne (pronounced Rain over here!) We enjoyed our time with the Governor and the night turned out well.

YAY!!!!!

Yay! I am so excited, Jordan is the winner of Big Brother 11! I have been cheering for her and Jeff since day one! Mainly Jeff because he was SO good looking!!! I am pumped this sweet, cute, little waitress with a southern accent won!!

Biggest Loser started last night too. All I can say is OH MY. Not due to the contestant's sizes, but because of Abby's story. Abby lost her entire family, husband and 2 children in a car accident. To hear her open up and be so honest on national tv, to the details of wishing she had been in the car with them, is amazing. My heart hurts for this complete stranger. I am already hoping she wins this season. Oh the things God has in store for her life! To be spared in such a terrible situation.

Way too many new seasons of shows! Thank goodness for DVR!

Its Official....

As of 12:00pm August 30, 2009 I am a private pilot!!! I passed my checkride with the FAA examiner. It was a rough 4 hours, very tiring...I am so glad that I have accomplished this goal I had made when I first took a ride in a Cessna 172 with a friend/instructor at my job at the flight school, when I was just 19!!! It still really has not sunk in yet, a little bit this afternoon when I took my first passenger...Blake!!! We had a blast!!!!

I'll post pics this week, I think I may turn in early tonight :)

God's little creation...

I do not think I posted about these little guys yet, but I thought it was so cute! This is a bird's eye view (no pun intended) of a candle vase in my in-laws back porch. A mama bird had made her little nest inside of it and laid 4 eggs. My father-in-law were out sitting one afternoon and he showed them to me. We watched as the mama bird would wait for us to go inside and then come to the vase and feed her little babies. When I would walk up to take a picture of them, they would hear me coming and throw their little heads back and open their huge mouths and wait as if I was there to feed them!!! It was so sweet! I mean their huge eyes weren't even open yet!! They are just so ugly that they are cute!! Haha I just loved watching them and thinking about how God created nature. It was just a beautiful little thing!! I am so thankful I was there to see them!!

New Orleans Weekend!

Last weekend, we had a girls trip to New Orleans!! We had a blast! We came home with lots of laughs, memories, funny stories and jokes! We went to meet up with an old co-worker who just moved there, and to have a little fun on Bourbon of course!!!

Brooke, Emily and me on our way to the N.O.
Polly and I-excuse the nasty hair-the girls curled it and then we went out in HUMIDITY and danced so much we were so SWEATY! haha GROSS!!

Polly, Brooke, Me, Emily, Ann, oh and that would be ROY!!!!!!!

Us girls again! And that would be "the Big show" there in the blue shirt and white glasses! YIKES!

Look at the sweat on homeboy here! Wow that is some dancin'!!!!

Ann and I-lookin a bit rough towards the end of the night! Haha