Happy Birthday George!

Yesterday was my father-in-laws birthday. I'm not sure how old he is, he wouldn't say, but I would guess around 70. :) I've included a few of my favorite pictures of him.

In all seriousness, we have a great father and father-in-law and are so blessed! We are assured to always have a good time when we are with him. Quiet- no, safe- possibly not, but fun- always!

Louisiana/Texas Roadtrip

3 or so weeks ago Craig and I made the journey to Texas to check out some dental opportunities and we made a few stops along the way...

While driving in Louisiana we saw some cotton growing on the side of the road and Craig had never seen real cotton before. He thought it grew on trees so I was driving and stopped to make him go pick some cotton! (This is what it looks like for the rest of you who have never seen cotton- it just looks like cotton balls growing on a plant!)

Conveniently, the time we were able to go out to Texas happened to be the same weekend as the Florida/LSU game so of course we had to stop for that. Our friends Trent and Amelia came too, we were sad we had to ride in separate cars since we wouldn't be headed back to Florida for another week, but we still had fun!

Sometimes things get heated during this game.

But we managed to pretend we liked each other for the camera.

We left Florida Friday evening after work and school and drove to Baton Rouge, getting there around 3 AM, we got up around 6 or so to make it to College Game Day.

I'm smiling in this picture, but the reality was 8 hrs in the car, 3 hrs of sleep, standing for 3 hrs in a crowd, 26 weeks pregnant, not to mention LA humidity! I was not doing well by this point! I spent some time that morning crouched over trying to breathe and not pass out!

I tried to get a picture of Mike the Tiger, but I couldn't get a good angle.

Amelia took this picture, but I thought it looked really cool!

After Baton Rouge, we headed north 3 1/2 hrs to my parents. This was our stop off point between destinations. These pictures are all mixed up, but when we stopped on our way back to Florida my mom and other family threw a baby shower for me.

They played a game where everyone wrote down how many inches they thought I was around. I'm posting this picture since it shows how big I really am!

I have to include this story...it's an inside joke kind of but I don't want to forget it! Amber, the girl in the bottom left corner, was (is) my best friend growing up. We were inseperable from kindegarten on. So somehow we came up with this game of sorts. We both had really long hair when we were younger and we would collect the hair from our hairbrushes and roll them into hairballs (if this is completely grossing you out- skip ahead). So once we made the hairballs we would hide them throughout her house for her mom to find. We put them places like the bathroom faucets so when she turned the water on a hairball would come out. Other times just in drawers and stuff. We thought it was SO FUNNY. I don't even know how many months/years we did this. So, when I opened the gift from her mom out falls two hairballs! Amber happened to be sitting next to me and saw it and we were dying!! We hadn't thought about that for sooo long and it was so funny her mom thought to do that. I could NOT stop laughing and it was so awkward because it wasn't really something you could share with all the other people watching me open gifts.

Green and brown are the colors we're doing the nursury so everything at the shower was green!

My mom made this diaper cake and I thought she did an amazing job! Super cute!

Somehow I didn't get any pictures with my mom or anyone else for that matter. I have pictures of everyone else and pictures of just me, but no groups! :(

During our few days in Dallas we crammed in a lot. Craig had an interview and several dentists he was meeting with and talking to. Overall it was a very successful trip and we've pretty much decided Dallas is our next home and probably forever home! We're really excited, but REALLY sad at the thought of leaving Gainesville.

While there we did cram in some fun things, like a U2 concert in the new Dallas Stadium. The stadium might have been more impressive than U2.

Also, while we were there a dentist friend of Craig's took us out to this resturaunt. The reason I post about this is because it was the most amazing food we have ever eaten. EVER. Of course we won't be able to pay for a meal there for several years...but WOW.

We also got to spend some time with Cameron (Craig's brother) and wife Anne and their family. As well as Todd and Abby and their little boy. Abby is pregnant right now too and we took some pictures together, but I don't have those yet. I'll have to do another post later of all the things I forgot!

Baby Craig and Cassie

I just thought it would be fun to post a baby picture of Craig and me. This is what we have to work with... I think the only given attribute is that this little boy will be a chunk.

H&M

For those of you who haven't heard and are H&M fans, there is now a store in Orlando!

Dear Son,

*Disclaimer: This letter is based on actual events and experiences true to my life; however, they may not and will not apply to all pregnant women. Also, this may not be G rated, if this is a problem do not proceed.

Dear Son,

There are many things you have taught me so far:
(aka- Things no one tells you about pregnancy:)

1. It's possible to become so forgetful that when giving a urine sample you forget to use the cup and have to stop mid-pee and get one.

2. Other people whose babies are due at the same time will always be smaller than you. Feel free to justify this any way you'd like.

3. People secretly joy in watching you get fat.

4. You will think you are only getting a belly and haven't gained weight anywhere else...it's not true.

5. Emitting gases from you body was once unacceptable; however, when pregnant it becomes much welcomed as any extra room you can create is worth it- you may even look forward to it. You'll do anything to be more comfortable. I would still suggest this in private.

6. Strangers now feel like you must have something in common. Everyone has had a baby or knows someone who has had a baby. Anyone and everyone will talk to you, even in elevators where usually no one speaks.

7. If you are in school, people will stare, whisper, and feel sorry for your unfortunate situation. They will also be wondering if you're going to keep the baby.

8. Indigestion. You will be so alarmed you'll probably wake your husband in the middle of the night because you have no idea what is happening.

9. The most delicious foods can become painful to eat, probably your favorite. For me, chocolate.

10. Occasionally your belly will be touched and rubbed. I don't know how or when this possibly could have become acceptable.

11. It's possible to not recognize yourself in the mirror.

12. Upon reaching a certain size you can actually set things on your belly, just like a shelf.

13. If you secretly wished that when you got pregnant for the first time in your life you'd be well endowed, there is a small percentage of the population that do not get this perk.

14. People will say, "Sleep while you can", these people forgot or do not know what it's like to be pregnant.

15. When your belly starts to grow, it can hurt. Sort of like being sore from an ab work out except exactly the opposite is happening: any abs you had or hoped for are merely being destroyed.

Thank you, Son, for these valuable lessons.
__________
I'm sure as the days and weeks go on I will gain more knowledge and I'll be sure to share my wealth with you.

The Gainesville Sun

After an uplifting weekend of conference, I was pleasantly surprised to see this article in the Gainesville Sun:

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091005/ARTICLES/910059960/1034?Title=Mormons-told-to-exemplify-Christian-values-daily

I just thought it was neat that President Monson's message made it all the way to our local newspaper here in Florida!

Three things on my mind:

First, Yesterday I had my usual Dr. appointment and she says, "You're weight is good, but you probably don't want to gain that much EVERY month". (crap)
Today, A lady I work with says, "Yesterday this pregnant girl crossed the street in front of me and I was like WOW she's REALLY pregnant. Then I realized it was you Cassie. You looked really big in the outfit you had on yesterday." (Thank you.)

Second, Chandler Whitt told me about White Hot Chocolate at Dunkin Donuts. It's delicious if you haven't tried it. I think I'm addicted.

Third, I saw a girl wearing denim overalls today at UF. Are overalls back? I sure hope not, that was a mistake to begin with.