The Nursery Mural is complete!

We live in one of the top 10 towns in the U.S!!

Did you know that Kennesaw,GA. made it as one of the best towns to live in that is "Family Friendly?!"


Just thought we'd share this exciting news!
We actually had no idea-until we saw the sign downtown about being one of the top 10. So Mike researched it and we were impressed!
Come join us anytime!
Blessings to you all,
Jenn, Mike and Baby Riese

36 weeks

Here is a photo of me at my neighborhood baby shower (and most recent)! The shower was put on by the ladies I play Bunko with! Once again, we were blessed with many more items for Baby Riese...including my swing!!
I am all baby (as you can see) and very ancy for Baby Riese to arrive. 4 Weeks today or less! We have another ultra-sound on July 31 to make a decision as to when Baby should come and how to have baby Riese arrive.
We will keep you posted!
Blessings to all,
Jenn, Mike and Baby Riese

Abbey's guest for the week...

We have a special guest for the week!
Meet Bailey...he is a 14 week old westie. His mom and Dad are on vacation and we are the sitters for the week! (He is keeping us busy,But we are having fun!)
Abbey likes to play and then there are times she just wants to lounge around and do her daily routine-and not be bothered by a puppy!
Bringing back memories of our first few months with Abbey!
Blessings,
Jenn,Mike and especially Abbey

Counting down!

Today is July 9th and a special "Happy Birthday to Nana Riese in NY!"
If we go by my NEW Due date (Aug. 20th)...we are down to 41 days!Amazing how fast time has really flown by!
We are TRYING to get ready for Baby Riese (as you can see!) The nursery is a storage room so far and we are waiting for part of the crib to arrive (that was broken)! Once it comes we will get rolling on the rest. About 90% of the baby items we have are because of the baby showers we have had for Baby Riese! Words can not express how grateful we have been for the gifts and blessings we are receiving!
I am at the phase where my stomach is getting bigger each week and I am not able to eat as much...I have to eat little bits now! Baby Riese is really growing and I am not really gaining much more weight. It is all going to "BIG" Baby Riese! (I think Baby Riese will be at or just above 9 lbs!) We might be doing a poll! (Mike was 10 lbs. 14 oz...so it will be interesting!)
Here are some of the interesting things I have discovered with this first pregnancy:
1.I am a chocoholic and Baby Riese is not (Chocolate has given me heartburn!)
2.Ladies have been great in public restrooms and always say "You go ahead!" I use to stick my stomach way out...and now I don't they just have pity on me and gladly let me have the next stall!
3. GA. heat does make a pregnant ladies ankles swell...if you are outside all day! (I have only had them swell 2 times!)
4. My blood pressure is better being pregnant?! Hmm! (106/68)
5. Never was a big Mexican food lover...but now I am.
6. Always hated OJ-and it has been a morning drink for the past 7 months.
7. All major department store bathrooms are in the children's section!
8. Sleeping was the best 2nd trimester (not so great anymore)!
9. Kicks in the womb are the most incredible feeling.
10. Coupons for baby are exciting to get in the mail.
So many more interesting things...these are just a few thought I have had the past few months. I will have another sonogram the last week of July to see how BIG baby Riese and gotten and we will make a decision then...when Baby Riese should arrive!
In the meantime I am enjoying these last few days and staying busy.
Blessings to you all,
Jenn, Mike & Baby Riese

Check out my Slide Show!

5 Years today!

Happy Anniversary, Mike!
I love you and I am so excited to be here today celebrating 5 years of marriage!
WOW! Brings back great memories of today!
Looking forward to many more memories with you!

XO

Update

Mike and I are in NY visiting with his family! It has been so relaxing and enjoyable!
My sonogram went very well on Wed. and was exactly what my Dr. was predicting! Baby Riese (at 30 weeks) was 4 and 1/2 lbs. and measuring to be 33 weeks along! Lots of hair already..might explain all the heartburn I have had the last few months! At this point,my OB is planning to enduce me around 38 weeks (which would be between the 16-20th of Aug.)I will have another sonogram the end of July to see how much more weight baby has gained! If Baby Riese is really big, then we might just have a c-section! I am fine either way...we just want a healty baby! Anything to have the baby earlier too! Mom and Dad Riese plan to arrive in GA on the 18th of Aug. so that should be just about right!
The family had a baby shower for me on Saturday here! It was wonderful 26 ladies came and we were blessed with TONS of items off of my registries, clothes, books and Mike's favorite...3 Baby SU onesies!!! We narrowed down 1 to bring the baby home in!
I will post photos and keep you all posted with the news and growth of Baby Riese!
Blessings to all,
Jenn, Mike and Baby Riese
PS. Happy 52nd Birthday today to Dad Riese (future Papa Riese!)

Happy 1st Birthday Sam!

Today my nephew Sam (in Canada) is 1!!!
WOW-hard to believe. It was so precious to see him @ 6 weeks old out there. He is getting so big already!

Uncle Mike and Aunt Nenny hope you have a wonderful 1st birthday! We love you!
Aunt Nenny and Uncle Mike

YEAH!

I passed the test!

No News is GOOD News!

It is 3:00 and no call from my OB. office yet! No news so far IS good news! If I do not hear from them by 5:00, then I have successfully passed my diabetes test!
Today is my relaxing day!!
I have been busy and on the go all week. I chose to do nothing today, but a few litte jobs. A big chore is my thank you notes from last weeks shower. So far, I am making some progress! I have another baby shower next Saturday (June 23) with the family up in NY, so the sooner I get these thank-you notes out of the way...the better!
Looking forward to a nice weekend with Mike!
Blessings,
Jenn, Mike and Baby Riese

My 29 week check-up!

Here is the latest photo of me at 29 weeks! (It was from my baby shower on Saturday, that some of my co-workers threw. It was wonderful and the stuff we got was a real blessing!)
Today,I had the ever so famous...gestational diabetes test! (You can see the lovely little orange-looking soda drink!)I will find out Friday if I passed. My DR. is not to worried and was proud that I had not gained any weight since my last visit 4 weeks ago! I got an "A" for the day from her. I hear it is hard to keep the weight down in the last tri-mester so I felt great about that! I have only gained 24 pounds thus far and it would be great to do no more then 30, but we will see!
I got some BIG news today! I have a new due date...Aug. 20th! I was originally due, Aug. 25th! My O.B. upped my due-date by 5 days. I am also measuring BIG! So, the other big news is we get to have another Ultra-sound on Wed. June 20th! YEAH! We get to see Baby Riese again. My Dr. will be looking to see how BIG baby really is and/or if it my uterus that is measuring me "bigger." I am measuring closer to a 31 week pregnancy. So if all this means a shorter pregnancy...AMEN. Everything else was fine!
We are looking forward to seeing Baby Riese for the 3rd time! I will keep you posted on Baby News!
We are off to NY. on the 20th, following my ultra-sound. Looking forward to a nice 10 day stay!!
Blessings to all of you,
Jennifer, Mike and Baby Riese

Sunburn!!

I was in the sun tooooooo long yesterday and now I am paying for it!
I know how sensitive your skin is when you are pregnant...and looks like every 30 minutes I will have to re-apply the sunblock! I forgot to yesterday, and was enjoying the floatee I was on. My friend Samantha came over and we just layed in the pool! OUCH! My legs hurt today! No sun for awhile for me! (Stupid me!) Live and learn. Baby of course is fine (since my stomach was not exposed at all!) I am taking tylenol and drinking my liquids!
So summer officially arrived for me on Tuesday @ 10:00 AM! I was all done and do not regret it! The garage is a clear picture that I am officially done! Looks like we have a fun project ahed of us!
Speaking of projects...Mike is going to attempt to assemble the crib tomorrow. I have my 3rd baby shower tomorrow morning! I am excited. This one is being thrown by my 3 close co-workers and close to 25 ladies that I taught with or I taught their kids for 2 years are all coming! I will have to post photos tomorrow!
Off to go apply more aloe-vera!
Blessings to all,
Jenn

Baby Shower Blessings!

My class had a baby shower today for me and overwhelmed me with gifts!
They wheeled in the stroller I registered for, filled with baby supplies:diapers, wipes,rattles, diaperbag, 2 baby blankets and much more! Then 2 of my kids come walking in with the "Patchwork Pooh" bedding set that I registered for! I began to cry and was overwhelmed, (as you can see in the photo)!
Later on in the day, one of my students came in and brought me the car-seat! Unbelieveable day! Mike and I are touched with gratitude for all that I did receive today. He still has yet to see it all! He just got the phone call of "guess what we got...!" Teachers may be underpaid a bit..but sure are blessed with gifts of appreciation at NCCS.
It is a tradition at my school that they do a monetary collection the last week of school for the teacher. So they opted to do the Baby shower theme as my "farewell" gift from teaching! I will really miss my days of teaching, but I am really looking forward to the new chapter of "motherhood" in my life!

Overwhelmed with baby shower blessings today,
Jenn

Happy Memorial Day

Hope this day is restful to all of you!
We have friends coming over for a BBQ. The smoke is not in the air today and we will be able to go to the pool!
Here is my latest (27 week photo)Last week of the 2nd Tri-mester! So exciting to be getting near the end. Praying that I survive the hot summer days!

Blessings to you all!
Jenn, Mike & Baby Riese

Summer days and we need rain!

PLEASE PRAY FOR RAIN IN THE SOUTH!
We have gone almost 3 weeks and really had no rain! When we do get it, it only lasts for a short while. You may have heard about these wild-fires in southern GA and into parts of FL. Well, the fire/(smoke) is so severe and they have not been able to put the fires out yet. So we have numerous mornings where we awake to "fog" but it is SMOKE from the south! You actually walk outside & SEE and SMELL the smoke from south GA. It is like you just had a camp fire in your neighborhood, and the fire still has not gone out. It is very sad!
Last week, we had to keep all the kids indoors on Tuesday. It was an 85 degree day and the smoke was so severe! We did not want to mess with the asthmatic children and be inhaling the smoke ourselves. Being pregnant, it is harmful to me too! So we desperately need the rain and have been banned from water the lawns and flowers during the week. We use to be Tues/ Thursday & Saturday. Now the state law is Odd # houses can ONLY Water from Midnight to 10AM on Sundays and Even # houses do it on Saturdays.
Fortunately my rose bushes are budding and the marigolds that my mom planted for me in March have come back.
We will NOT be at the pool today! To "smokey"! Hopefully tomorrow we will have some better air and be able to enjoy the pool. We got plenty of sun yesterday!
Have a wonderful memorial day tomorrow!

13 weeks till baby Riese is here !

Hard to believe that in about 3 months baby Riese will be here!
WOW...time has flown by!
And as the time has flown by my belly has expanded. I actually discovered 4 stretch marks this week on my belly and I knew they'd be coming sooner or later.
This weekend I have to get fitted for Mike's brother's wedding! Mike and I will both be standing up for Brian and Courtney's wedding, on October 27th. Hard to know exactly what size I will be in October. Praying I am doing as good as my dear sister who just had her first 7 weeks ago and is already down 24 pounds! GO JULIE! I am all for the "feeding naturally too!"
I have been told to just order 2 sizes up from my "before pregnancy" size. The date happens to be exactly 8 weeks after Baby Riese is (hopefully) born! (October 27th!)
I am praying HARD that Baby Riese chooses to come out early! It would make life a little easier on me to loose those pregnancy pounds in time for the wedding if Baby Riese does come early!
Baby Riese is currently still sitting very low and I hope baby just "pops" out at the end instead of moving up.
I must say it has been pretty uncomfortable at times and makes me have to "pee" ALOT~ some days more then others.
I had an appointment yesterday and all is going good! My next appointment will be the Gestational Diabetes test on June 13th. I have the lovely "orange sugary" drink in my fridge. I hear it is lovely!? I will keep you all posted. Looking forward to that visit (just kidding)!
We will be in town this weekend (for the so needed)long 3 day weekend!
Mike is away and comes home tomorrow. "I miss you babe and can't wait to see you" (neither can Abbey-since I am no longer able to get down on the floor and play with her!)
Have a wonderful Memorial Weekend to all of you!
Blessings,
Jenn, Mike & Baby Riese

My new Job... beginning in August!

Joy emailed this to me...and we have seen this forward many times!
But now we are about to take this new career on in our lives!
All you moms out there will agree I know with the many responsibilites it requires.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Being a MOM-
Long term team players needed for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing work variable hours which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in faraway cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Must provide on-site training in basic life skills, such as nose blowing. Must have strong skills in negotiating, conflict resolution and crisis management. Ability to suture flesh wounds a plus. Must be able to think out of the box but not lose track of the box, because you most likely will need it for a school project. Must reconcile petty cash disbursements and be proficient in managing budgets and resources fairly, unless you want to hear "He got more than me!" for the rest of your life.

Also must be able to drive motor vehicles safely under loud and adverse conditions while simultaneously practicing above mentioned skills in conflict resolution. Must be able to choose your battles and stick to your guns. Must be able to withstand criticism, such as "You don't know anything." Must be willing to be hated at least temporarily, until someone needs $5 to go skating. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.

Also must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million chap, plastic toys and battery operated devices.

Also, must have a highly energetic entrepreneurial spirit, because fund-raiser will be your middle name. Must have a diverse knowledge base, so as to answer questions such as "What makes the wind move?" or "Why is the sky blue?" on the fly. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT AND PROMOTION:
Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required, unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
You pay them, offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered, job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right!


So, I am about to embark on a new job that will never end.. and I know that no day will be the same! I am really praying that the Lord leads me to be the mom he wants me to be!
I am down to 15 days left at NCCS! AHH! I am overwhelmed and dreading where to start with the packing of my personal belongings.
I still have to get through:
end of the year requirements, report-cards, award ceremony, this Friday-Field Day and then the following week...end of the year party!
It will be a BUSY 2 weeks!

I will let you know how it all goes!
Blessings,
Jenn

Happy Birthday Grace!

WOW!
Our neice GraceE is 3 years old today!
She has been so excited for her birthday!
We love you Grace and hope that it is a FUN-pretty, pink Princess and My Little Pony Day for you that you have wanted!!!

XO
Aunt Jenny, Uncle Mike and Cousin Riese :)

Best Friends & both pregnant!

Here are some photos of our fun weekend!




YUP, my best friend Joy and her husband, David are expecting their first baby 12 weeks after Mike and mine! We have been best friends since 96 and we always talked about it...but never actually dreamed it would happen! YEAH! We also love being 2& 1.2 hours apart! They came to visit us for the weekend, following his brother's wedding in Chattanooga!

We also had Mike's cousin Chad and his girlfriend Rachel in town too, from VA. It was a full house...but the company all bondeds and got along great. Saturday the 3 of us girls went out shopping to locate the right window rods for Baby Riese's new curtains. We had to go check out dishes that Joy has been having her eye on! The guys of course went to shoot some hoops.
Following our Saturday afternoon adventures, we grilled Ck and then went to "Dave and Busters." It is like an adult Chucke-Cheese! Played big video games and the good ol'ski ball! We had to much fun!
When Mike gets the curtain rods up I will post the photo. I am starting to get ancy to get the nursery done, before I lose my energy the last tri-mester. Still have alot in me and all is going great. Baby Riese is kicking lick crazy and I am feeling good. The GA heat gets to me, and certain days it keeps me out of car-line at work! My boss doesn't need a 5 month pregnant teacher passing out at car-line (when the kids go home!)Only 3 and 1.2 weeks left with my class!
Have a wonderful week!
Jenn, Mike and Baby Riese :)