We are back "online"!!!

What a whirlwind the past two weeks have been! We just got our internet back up and running today since Hurricane Ike blew through town. I've got TONS to update on and will be making posts all week. We finished the bathroom remodel, weathered IKE, and had another Dr. appointment. Check back later, I've got pictures to post and lots of info to fill you in on. It feels SO good to be back online!

"Labor" Day Weekend

So apparently my mom and I misunderstood the point of Labor Day Weekend. Instead of resting from all the work we usually do.....we created more work for ourselves by starting quite a project. We spent ALL of Saturday and ALL of Sunday removing not one but two layers of wallpaper from our master bathroom walls. Why did John and I decide to do a bathroom remodel the first weekend after school started instead of during the summer......who knows. I think we both realized if we didn't get it started now, it wasn't ever going to get started. So here are pictures before we started steaming, ripping, tearing, sanding, and spackling......

And here's how our bathroom looks now.......quite the danger zone!

Here's a picture of Oakley checking out a sample tile we bought. He's standing on the carpet (eeww!) that will hopefully be gone soon and replaced by gorgeous tile. We're also replacing the vinyl flooring in the guest bathroom and laundry room with the same tile.

Hopefully this new "look" is temporary. I hope to have paint on the walls this weekend and tile on the floors soon after that! Too bad I'm EXHAUSTED now and have to teach all week!

Oakley has a new trick!!!

As you know Oakley takes puppy classes at PetSmart once a week. The classes are great and are teaching him things like sit, stay, come, and how to walk better on a leash. John and I have been teaching him some tricks too. He has completely mastered "Speak" and tonight John finally got him to shake! I'm SO proud of my smart dog!

Baby's First Pictures!

Well the ultra sound went great! We were able to see the little "nugget" come to life on the screen. We were able to see the heart beating and make out different parts of the body. Right now the baby is measuring just under an inch. Hard to believe that little thing is making me so tired and my stomach hurt so much! The heart rate was a speedy 188 beats per minute. Mine was through the roof as well because of nerves! We're still on for April 3rd as a due date. It was so absolutely amazing to see this little life that is forming inside me. I can't wait to meet this miracle that John and I have created! Here are the pictures we got at the appointment. Enjoy!

The Newest McGowan

Well.....looks like John and I are going to join the ranks of parenthood! We found out we were pregnant a few weeks ago and couldn't be happier! Yes, nervous too, but excited! I went to the nurse last week for the routine bloodwork and a quite lengthly list of questions and go back to see my doctor for my first ultrasound on August 28th. The nurse told me my tentative due date is April 3rd. So.....now there is going to be MUCH MORE to blog about!

Oakley

In May our family grew to include the cutest little furry creature, Oakley. He is a chocolate lab and just the sweetest thing on Earth. He's about 5 months old now, so here are a collection of pictures we've taken of him over the past few months. He's a great dog, just all puppy. He jumps on us a lot and both John and I have many scratches and scars from scratches to prove it. Oakley is currently attending puppy class at PetSmart on Thursday nights. Hopefully we'll be able to post a graduation picture when the class is over!

Anyways, here's our baby.....OAKLEY!!

He is just TOO cute!

San Francisco Trip

In June John and I went on a wonderful trip to the San Francisco area. We were able to do so much while we were there. John is a great trip planner and had all of our activites all mapped out before we left.

This is the entrance to Sterling Winery. We went there first thing after we landed!

This is the first trip where we got up the nerve to ask strangers to take our picture. Good thing we did because we love this picture. It was SO beautiful there....just really hot! We toured the winery and tasted (ok....I tasted) about 5 different Sterling wines.

We were able to do a lot of things in San Francisco also. We stayed outside of town in Vacaville, CA and drove into San Francisco a few days to do some sightseeing.

Angel Island State Park

Alcatraz Tour (SO COOL!)

Inside the Prison, you can see John with the headphones on. We wore them so we could tour the prision ourselves instead of going on the guided tour with the tour guide.

We walked across the Golden Gate Bridge. Two times actually.....across....and then back to the car!

We rode on a trolley car

And of course no McGowan vacation would be complete without a NASCAR race. We went to the race in Sonoma at Infineon Raceway. This was my favorite race we've been to so far. It was a rode course built into the mountains. It was absolutely gorgeous!

I think we both agreed this is one of our favorite trips we've ever taken. The weather was beautiful and we were able to do everything we had planned which also included visiting the Petrified Forest, Pier 39, the Jelly Belly Factory, and a Budweiser Brewery.