Christmas in Pittsburgh

Happy Holidays!!! Nate and I had another fun filled Christmas with the Smith's in Belle Vernon...again, no snow - sorry Nate - but it's great to get together with family and friends. This year our family tradition changed a little, instead of going to my Nan's for dinner then going to my Nuni and Pappy's for dinner, my mom and dad hosted both traditions at their house. Twenty people sat around a big table and enjoyed Mushroom soup, Spaghetti with clam sauce, squid, smelts, pierogi's, Bolbaky, spinach and broccoli, just to name a few specialties. Looks like Nate and my mom are having a good time!

And for desert...Pappy's Birthday cake - he turned 82 this year. Happy Birthday Pappy.

And of course it wouldn't be a story without a picture of the belly bump -- 30 weeks! My dad thinks his is bigger :)

GO PACK GO!

Nate and I just got back from Wisconsin, and had an great time. We decided for our 2nd Anniversary we wanted to see Farve and the Packers play in Lambeau Field.
The trip started off a bit rough, my luggage didn't land with our plane "oh for heavens sakes", but I survived - barely (I got it by the end of the night). I don't know if you have ever landed somewhere and your luggage didn't, let me tell you it's not fun - and to top it off my emotions are on "high alert" right now, so the slightest upset sends tears falling out of my eyes...even if i'm more Mad than sad.
Anyway, we stayed the night in Milwaukee had dinner and went shopping at target (for stuff for me incase my bag didn't show up) - woke up early and drove an hour and a half to Grandma Hubbell's. We spent the day with her and Aunt Mary driving around Edgerton and Stoughton (Nate's old stompin' grounds). Grandma Hubbell took us on all kinds of back roads to get from one small town to another...which by the way, neither one had a Starbucks...but we did find cheese curds.
The next morning we got up early again, and drove about 2 hours to Green Bay - FOR THE GAME!! Lambeau Field is a field you have to visit! It was a one sided game, but it didn't matter becasue the Packers are the best team in the whole wide world, can't get any better than that. (I can't decide whose crazier, Steeler fans or Packer fans). I was expecting FREEZING temps, so I was all ready with the hand & feet warmers and blankets and extra layers and hot chocolate...but it was a really nice day. Our seats were great...it felt like we were 10 yards from the field, the sun came out once the game started and kinda warmed things up and then the wind would blow and cool things down...and about the hot chocolate - mmmmmm. GO PACK GO!
Sadly, the trip had to end. We got up early again and drove back to Milwaukee...passed A LOT of farms and maybe one Home Depo on our 2 hour drive...and maybe one Starbucks. When we landed in Phx, my luggage landed with us :)
We'll have to do it again...

6 months later...

Well...here it is...the 6th month bump :)

Brotherly advice

Thank you to eveyone who sent well wishes & gifts for our new family member on the way...one gift was most unique and i'm feeling the need to share. Recently, Chad and Lindsey sent us a baby gift - some cute little steeler booties and a Mini Safe baby handling kit. The booties are adorable, Nate loves them...but the Handling Kit is priceless and hilarious!!! My favorite part is the Responsibility wheel, but I also love all the magnets that show good tips. For example, a good way to calm the baby is by holding and patting its back VS the bad way which is giving the baby a bottle of Jack Daniels or something and a few others like the pics below. As first time parents we can really learn a lot - LOL. The kit really has some good advice, along with a lot of good laughs, thanks Chad and Lindsey.

Between Then and Now...

Nate and I enjoy traveling...some vacations are more relaxing than others, like laying on a beach in Maui or playing golf in Sadona vs. camping, and sometimes we decide to do road trips here in AZ, but where ever we are - what ever we're doing, we enjoy it all.
Over this past fall, we flew back to PA for a Jimmy Buffett party hosted by my wonderful parents and Christa & Dan's Bridal shower. My folks really know how to throw a party, and get all my relatives to come, so the trip is not soooo crazy for us. My brother and I spent the evening fighting over who makes better Margarita's (and Chad having to go to the store to get more Tequilla after I started making them), to fighting over who is a better bowler on Wii. Good times! We even found a moment to go watch the Pirates play...they seriously look like the "Bad news bears", but the stadium is definately worth visiting.
Next we flew to North Carolina for Christa and Dan's wedding. NC is nice, rainy and green. The wedding and all the events surrounding the wedding were beautiful. I just wish I wasn't so tired...it was a long, short weekend :)
And finally, we took a "roadie" to the Univ. of Phx stadium (A.K.A. Cardinals stadium) to watch the Steelers let the Cardinals win. It was not one of my better days, but it was still fun...sitting in the stands, watching the fans beat up on each other...and Nate making fun of me when the Steelers lost. It hurt for a little bit, but I'm ok now.
Our next trip isn't for a couple of weeks....For our 2nd Anniversary, we're planning to go to Green Bay to watch Bret Farve and the Packers play at Lambeau Field, and visit Nate's Grandma. I've never been to Wisconsin so i'm very excited about the trip...a little worried about how cold it's going to be...but excited!

5 months later

We just got back from our doctors appointment and everything looks good. Doc confirmed that Baby Hubbell is a little girl!! So it's ok to start buying pink...but not too much pink :) We didn't get as many good pics as the last time, but here are a couple of good ones.

It all started here :)

Some may know the specific day and time...I'm not that good. I do know that when Nathan and I traveled to California, visiting Santa Barbara, San Francisco and Sanoma Valley we had a great time relaxing and drinking wine. This is where we think it all started :)