shout out to all the mommas...

Andy and I have made a fabulous life out in Denver.  It has not been an easy journey, but what kind of journey is easy?!  We have jobs that we both love, we have a beautiful house, we have tons of recreation opportunities at our fingertips, and, best of all, we have made some great friends that have become like family.  


Since we started this journey, there have been many that came before us.  I am super blessed to be surrounded by amazing females who are also pregnant and most live in Denver.  It is insane, actually!  It's like we all made a pregnancy pact or something (I promise that we didn't)!  


When I stop and think about it, I always smile and here's why...  


Pregnancy is kind of scary, at least for me.  Don't get me wrong, it is exciting, but there are some weird things that happen and Google has definitely become my best friend.  But, how cool is it that I have all of these great women that I trust to call on?!  They are WAY better than Google and always tell it like it is and make me feel at ease.  I am so thankful that I get to go through this with so many other women that I admire.  


The great thing is, I feel like they are all my guardian angels.  They are going through everything ahead of me, so I get to reap from their experience and knowledge.  They get to pave the way and I get to follow.  


After our experience last fall and winter, I have come to terms that this is the time that I was meant to be pregnant.  I wasn't meant to lead the way.  The universe knew that I would need support around me to make it through this journey.  


Here is a look at the beautiful ladies that I am privileged to go through this journey with in order of their due dates...


Hayley Schneider - June 21st

Dana Tucker - August 7th

Martha Krueger - August 17th

Heather Vanderwal - September 3rd

Libby Bishop - September 22nd

Lori Nelson - November 18th

The other thing that is amazing about this experience is that we will always have this support around us.  It doesn't end after the pregnancy.  We will always have these amazing couples around us to go through parenthood with.  We will be VERY busy with birthday parties and our children will grow up together.  So, that means that the support that we feel will also transfer to them.  They are being born into an instant support network.  


I get goosebumps each time I think about this and even as I write these words.


It's no little thing to go through pregnancy and begin the journey of parenthood.  It does make it so much better to go through it with these amazing women by my side to ask questions of, calm my nerves, make sure things are normal, laugh about the crazy things that happen to your body, and think forward to the future together.


Thank you ladies for being my guardian angels as we embark on this journey together!  You all mean the world to me and more!  

rolling thunder...

I am really proud to be the daughter of my father.  For many reasons that I won't go into now, but for one specific reason that I want to tell you all about today.  

My dad has always been into motorcycles.  He started his passion with Harley Davidsons and when I was a little girl he swore he would never ride anything else.  I went on my first motorcycle road trip when I was in high school with him and Kelley and we road around Lake Superior.  It was terrible.  There was wind, it was cold, and it rained every day of the trip.  I wasn't able to enjoy any of the scenery because I was extremely cold and bored out of my mind.  I think even my dad was miserable on this trip, but it is definitely an experience I will always remember because I was able to appreciate his passion, even if I didn't in the moment.    


He even had his bike custom painted and has been in numerous periodicals for it.  Check it out for yourself!  What a stud!

Eventually, he evolved from Harleys to Indians and he and Kelley owned many vintage Indian bikes, one of them even included an old police bike with a side car.  Now that was my kind of riding!  


Eventually, even this passion evolved into a dream to build his own bike.  I will never be able to explain what exactly this bike is and be able to do it justice, but I can tell you that it was built my my dad's own two hands with his dear friend, Sharky.  I can also tell you that it is made from all original, vintage Indian parts.       

Right now, he is embarking on an amazing journey from California to Washington D.C. with his friend, Kiwi, to honor POW's and MIA's from the U.S. military from all conflicts at an event called Rolling Thunder.  

More about this in a minute, but I have to pause here and tell you another thing I love about my dad that he has always tried to instill in me as well...that is to not care what other people think of you.  He truly lives this way in everything he does and is not afraid to do and wear what he likes.  So, if you ever get the chance to meet my hero, he will be wearing a ripped, sleeveless T-shirt and his "happy shorts", which are made out of cotton with a tie dye design.  You will also eventually look down and see his toes and notice that they are always painted.  This journey deserved the best and here is the latest design adorned on my dads peds!

Ok, back to Rolling Thunder.  My dad has been looking forward to this event and journey for a very long time.  He left sunny California and has been slowly making his way across the country with his mate, Kiwi.  They meet interesting people at every gas or food stop, stay in cheap hotels, ask locals for restaurant recommendations, sometimes get lost, take back roads, and the best part is that they blog every day about their adventures.  

I read many blogs, but this has been my favorite to read recently.  One of the reasons is that I am used to talking to my dad every day and haven't been able to with this trip, so it makes me feel him as I read his words each morning.  I can picture each experience and often laugh out loud at how he describes things or the situations they get themselves into.  

There was one day that I was almost brought to tears as I read this blog and I felt an overwhelming proud feeling for who my dad is.  It finally hit me how important this trip is to him and the symbolism behind what he is doing.  I guess you could say that I had an "aha" moment.  I highly encourage you to read his words from that day and if you are as moved as I was, follow their entire journey because each day has been filled with more stories just like this one (Note: My dad's posts are all titled with their total mileage and his friend, Kiwi's posts will usually say the town and then his name in the title).  

It is hard to explain or put into words how my dad's journey has also affected me except to say that I was and am proud of my dad.  I think it is a little and special thing to be able to say that you are proud of your parents.  So many times people are embarrassed of their parents and I, of course, have those moments just like everyone else.  But, right now, I am beaming with pride in who my dad is and what he stands for.  It is even more special to me that some day my child will know him and be able to look up to him just like I do.  He/She will be able to hear these same stories and be overwhelmed with pride that Greg Johnson is their grandfather (PePe).  I love you dad and am so proud to be your daughter!  

showering with love...

We had the great pleasure of hosting our dear friends Hayley and Kyle Schneider's baby shower in Denver.  We did not do it alone though, and had the amazing creative help of our friend, Michaela.  This was the first shower of any kind for all three of us, so the planning process was definitely that...a process... as we worked through everything that needed to be done and thought of ways to make it special for the Schneiders and their new little girl.  

We had more than one planning session and quickly realized that with it being a couples shower, Michaela and I could not do it alone and needed a male's perspective and input, hence our desperate call to Andy for any and all future planning sessions.  

It was awesome to see all of our hard work come into reality and I, for one, enjoyed every minute of the event as I watched how happy  Kyle and Hayley were to celebrate with all of their close friends.  It turned out to be a laid back, no nonsense, enough man and enough woman kind of event and I think everyone left with an idea of what is ahead for the little Schneiderette as she joins us in the very near future.  

See for yourself...

The lovely dessert was made by the one and only Michaela using the William & Sonoma cupcake mix.  They were delicious!  

The theme of the shower was children's literature and we wanted to be able to give the little Schneiderette a jump start to her first library.  We all know that Readers are Leaders!  Andy gets all of the credit for the party favors (which he definitely thought was a crazy concept).  Each guest was able to take home a little wine or whiskey bottle to enjoy!

We all got to place our bets as to when the little princess would grace us with her presence.  Some were very strategic with their guesses and some were just plain mean (betting baby would come on the day of Hayley's brother's wedding or very late into July with her due date on June 21st)!

We had plenty of libations and eats for everyone throughout the event.

The boys had some bonding time around the fire and smoking some stogies!

The girls made their own fun with some Midwest cornhole and good old-fashioned gossip!

Overall, it was a fabulous event and although we were exhausted afterwards, it was worth every moment and penny spent to make one of our favorite couple's happy and to welcome their new miracle into this world.  We are so thankful to have such wonderful people to call our friends and that is a little thing that makes every day in Denver worth it for us!

moms' weekend...

Last weekend, we had the pleasure of hosting my mom and my Grandma in Denver.  We started Thursday by celebrating their arrival and also my mom's birthday.  We went to the Blue Bonnet for a little Mexican feast and then enjoyed a fire on our patio.  

Friday brought more of the same.  We made a nice dinner in and played some cards (Wizard is our game of choice).  We made it an early evening since both Andy and I were under the weather and Andy had his soccer championships the next morning bright and early.  

Saturday brought celebration from Andy and his school.  They ended a fabulous season with not one, but four city championships (7th A, 7th B, 8th A, and 8th B).  This is a huge deal and has not happened for many years.  He was beyond excited.  

Meanwhile, the ladies and I went to the mall to get our shopping on.  We all had some luck and I even purchased my first maternity outfit (and got lucky as it was on sale)!  It doesn't quite fit yet, but I know it will soon and can't wait to wear it!

Saturday night, we had one of the highlights of the weekend.  Andy and I have been dying to go to the new restaurant, Linger, in Denver for a long time.  Every time that I have tried to make reservations, it is impossible to get in unless you want to eat at 9pm, or on a weeknight.  So, I bit the bullet and made reservations a month ago for this special night.  I figured it would be a great way to experience the new eatery while among family visitors.  

From the moment we walked in, Linger did not disappoint.  The ambiance, decor, our waitress was all A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!  The food is out of this world and I don't even know where to begin to describe it while also doing it justice.  We were all overwhelmed and a little intimidated by the menu, but decided to order a variety of dishes and give everything a try.  To our surprise, it was some of the best food any of us have ever eaten.  We would all highly recommend this place for locals and visitors alike.  

Sunday brought much celebration as we had two mothers and one mother-to-be in the house.  Andy was feeling severely under the weather, so just us ladies headed out on the town.  We started in Cherry Creek at Crepes & Crepes for some crepes (obviously).  They were delicious!  Then, we ventured out on the road to check out Estes Park.  As we made our way up the mountain, it was looking like rain, but nothing had happened yet.  Just as we pulled in to our first stop, the weather rolled in and it started to pour and hail.  So, we just peeked around the Stanley Hotel for a bit and then headed back down the mountain.    

The main event was our next stop, which was Ciatono Winery.  The main reason for this stop was because my Grandma confessed that she had never been to a wine tasting.  Well, we couldn't have that, so we checked that off her bucket list right away!

My mom and I had already been here, but it was just as enjoyable the second time around.  As you enter, there is a beautiful pond with cabins to your right and the wine tasting room to your left.  We settled in at a table in the tasting room and snacked on some awesome cheese, salami, and crackers as we enjoyed the libations.  My Grandma was quite a dare devil and tried all 5 whites and most of the reds.  She even found some new ones that she liked!  We took some time and roamed around the serene property and have already begun planning next year's Mother's Day right at this spot! 

It is such a privilege for me to have these two beautiful women in my life.  They have been a large part of shaping who I am today and also the kind of mother I hope be in the near future.  There is no little thing about what these women have done for me and the continued support and love they show me every day.  I look up to them and admire what they have both accomplished.  I only hope when our little Groettum arrives, I can spend my life showing him/her the same amount of love that these women have showed me. 

commercial...

Last night, while I was catching up on some of my Tivos, a commercial came on that I watched multiple times.  This rarely happens as I usually just fast forward through all commercials until my show is back on.  I HATE COMMERCIALS!

There was just something about this one that made me stop and watch.  It probably had to do with the cute little babies that were filling the screen.  I watched it once and was smiling from ear to ear with tears running down my face.  I watched it again and then yelled at Andy to come watch.  

I could watch this commercial over and over again and not get sick of it.  I know not all of you will like it, but I felt the need to share because it does that little thing to me that not many things can do...makes me smile, cry, and ultimately fills my heart with goodness!  

silly thought...

While avoiding my work today, I decided to look up our baby's zodiac sign.  If he/she is born on time (November 17th), they will be a Scorpio with topaz for a birthstone.  If he/she is born a few days late (November 23rd), they will be a Sagitarrius with turquoise as a birthstone.  

Facts for each of these signs: 

Scorpio
-focused
-determined
-emotional
-complex

Sagittarius
-ethical
-humorous
-generous
-dynamic
-compassionate

More importantly, here are the birthstones: 

Scorpio = Topaz

Sagittarius = Turquoise

I'm not going to lie...I am hoping for a late arrival of little Groettum if only for an amazing birthstone.  I know that I am only 12 weeks and that by week 39, I will probably be singing a different tune.  But, the little thing on this cloudy Friday that makes me smile is thinking about baby Groettum's birthstone being turquoise!

new reading...

As you all know, I am an avid reader.  So, it is probably not surprising that I have been getting my hands on everything I can get to read about pregnancy including apps for my phone, books, websites, and blogs.  I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you!


The first thing I downloaded was What to Expect When You're Expecting.  I have always looked at this book and thought that this is the bible of pregnancy.  As I have gotten further into this book, it truly has an abundance of information.  

Another book I recently downloaded is Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mother's Soul.  I was getting a little tired of reading only books with facts and needed to read more about feelings that we would go through.  This book has been great so far and the waterworks have flowed multiple times as I read people's wonderful stories.  

I also found that I needed to laugh and I needed the whole truth.  So many times I feel like women hold back all of the information because it may be embarrassing or seem like it is inappropriate to tell someone.  But, I like to do my research and I would rather know everything than be surprised because someone wanted to be polite about what actually happens during pregnancy or birth.  So that is how this book came to be on my Nook.  

I absolutely love these apps.  I read them both every day and even downloaded one of them for Andy.  It gives you just enough new information each day to not be overwhelming, but to also fill the craving to know what is happening.  The Baby Center also gives you a checklist each week so that you know what the heck you are supposed to be doing!

Here are some blogs that I was introduced to from one of my bloggiest friends, Hannah.  It has been nice to read real stories of woman going  through pregnancy and having a newborn. 

Words of Williams

Cultivate

e.piph.a.ny

rockstar diaries

The Wiegand's

You should check them out too!

I have definitely needed this new reading and it has been the little thing that gets me through each hiccup or milestone and tells me that everything is normal.  But, one can't bog themselves down with too much reading on one topic, so I am shifting gears a bit to dive into this...

12 weeks...

Wowser!  There's that word again!  I have noticed myself saying or thinking it very often lately, which my students find very nerdy.  No matter how dorky the word may be, it is the perfect word to describe how our 12 week appointment went last week.  

Our appointment wasn't until the afternoon, which I was not a fan of.  I had to sit through the entire day feeling anxious, excited, and unmotivated to do anything at work because all I could think of was 3:30pm.  Even though the day seemed to drone on and on, I did make it through and raced over to the doctor's office after school to meet Andy for our appointment.  We waited in the waiting room anxiously and then we finally heard, "Lindsey?" and that was our cue that it was our turn!

At this appointment, we got to meet our doctor, who came highly recommended.  I was nervous and was hoping that we would like her and to our surprise and happiness, we both loved her instantly!  She is a younger doctor, super knowledgeable, patient, and excited.

She took time to answer all of our questions and didn't act like she had heard them a million times or that they were silly.  She made us feel at ease when she shared that she had also had multiple miscarriages and now has two daughters.  I hate that I feel this way when I hear this news, but it honestly feels like someone instantly understands what we have been through.  

Now the part that we had been waiting for, hearing our baby's heart beat!  Again, wowser!  There was a loud whirring sound and then, all of a sudden, a distinguishable 'boom, boom' of a little, tiny heartbeat.  Andy and I both lost it and cried happy tears!  I think this is and instant piece of mind for all expecting parents and it is a clear sign that things are okay.  The Doppler measured that our little Groettum's heart is at 171 beats per minute (BPM), which we were told is excellent.  The normal range is 120-180.  We thought our appointment was over after this, but were pleasantly surprised when our doctor asked us if we wanted to see our little one.  I am quite sure no parent would say no to this offer, especially when you don't usually get to see your baby at this milestone appointment.

Here, wowser isn't strong enough to describe our feeling.  It was AMAZING!  We saw the little feet, which were crossed in a relaxed position.  We saw a little hand above the head.  Most of the time as we were watching, our little one was just chilling, but all of a sudden, he/she jumped a little bit on the screen.  Also, AMAZING!  I know that most parents are biased and think that their kids are the cutest in the whole world and I am no different.  I may as well jump right on that bandwagon now.  I mean, look for yourself...little Groettum is already a looker!    

Andy and I were flying pretty high after our appointment and had planned to celebrate on a date out to dinner at a new restaurant.  We were both craving a little seafood action, so we made our way to Max Gill & Grill in Washington Park.  It was fabulous right from the start!

We ordered some appetizers, I the walnut crusted goat cheese served with apples and crackers and Andy a dozen raw oysters.  We sat in their outdoor patio and it was super cute with trees built into the decor, twinkling lights hanging above us, and the decor made you feel like you were out East gearing up to eat the fresh catch of the day.  If you closed your eyes, you could probably imagine the saltiness of the ocean in the air!    

For the main course, Andy settled on the cioppino and I went for the king crab legs, which I have been craving for months.  It was beyond our expectations and by the end we were stuffed to the gills (get it?)!  We were two  happy campers.  Not only were we enjoying a fabulous, romantic date night together, but we were also reveling in our new role as parents-to-be.  We shed a few happy tears throughout dinner and talked excitedly about the future.  

I am not going to lie, the journey of parenthood is not all sunshine and rainbows.  There are plenty of things that we are terrified of and the unknown is scary, but this night we celebrated and put our fears to rest if only for one night.  The little thing that I always come back to when I get nervous or scared is that we are on this journey together.  So, no matter how scary things get or if life gets really hard, we have the other by our side to hold a hand or give a shoulder to cry on.  On the flip side, when things are so exciting that we can't even form words, we can also feel comforted that there is only one other person in the world that knows exactly how we feel and it is okay to just say nothing.  

little bump...

Like every pregnant woman before me, I have been wondering when I would start to show and have a little baby bump.  I have not only been wondering, but kind of obsessing and claiming that I have one (even at 6 weeks).  I have also learned that those false baby bumps are just the result of extreme bloating from my uterus growing at a rapid pace and all of the hormones charging through my body.  

Despite all of that, I think that I can finally say with no doubt that I now have the precious baby bump I have been waiting for.  My clothes are becoming tight and show a bulge where there used to be none.  I am by no means ready for maternity clothes, nor does it look completely obvious that there is a baby in there, but to me, it is something!  I have been anxiously waiting for this and am happy to show it off for you.  Behold, the little thing that is my little lime inside my belly, evidence that this is actually happening!  

What do you think?

extra, extra, read all about it...

There are many books, blogs, websites, journals, and other periodicals that are out there to help you through pregnancy...but, there isn't any literature (at least that I have come across) that tells you how hard it will be to keep a secret THIS big. 


That's right, the Groettum's are having a baby!  After what this past year has brought, it is a serious blessing and we are over the moon with excitement.  Actually, that doesn't even begin to explain how happy we are!  


Here's the scoop...


You all read my previous post about our frustrations and troubles over the past year.  We had gotten to the point where if we weren't pregnant in March, we were ready to stop trying (because that's when it seems to happen for everyone).  I started to get anxious to take a test, but kept talking myself out of it because I didn't want to be disappointed.  Finally, when Andy was at the gym, I decided to go for it.  I had to talk to myself about each scenario to prepare myself for whatever was about to happen.  I decided that if it was negative, we could call our doctor to start the arduous process of  testing to get some answers and help to start a family.  If it was positive, well, obviously I would be excited.  But there was something else I had to think about, what if it was positive and we had another miscarriage?  Well, I decided that if that happened, we would be able to be referred to a Reproductive Endocrinologist, so we would at least be moving forward to have our dream of starting a family.  I cried when I read the little stick when I saw what it said...

Meanwhile, I paced around the house holding the stick until Andy got home and was able to show it to him (this made Chewy very nervous).  When he saw the stick, an instant smile broke on his face and then a look of worry shortly followed.  I told him the mental process I had gone through in my head and he agreed with me.  We hugged and braced ourselves for the road ahead.  


Since that night, a lot has happened.  We told a few close friends and most family, I found my favorite non-alcoholic drink (Shirley Temple), we had visitors, and we had our first doctor's appointment.

We were ecstatic to make it to our first appointment.  This was a huge milestone for us and yet, we were still nervous.  What if we didn't see a heartbeat?  What if something was wrong?  


Our worries were quickly swept away as the appointment went on.  The nurse practitioner took us through family history and said we didn't have any risks to worry about, she said all of my symptoms were a great sign, and finally, we got into the exam room.  


There is nothing better than having your first ultrasound and seeing the little person inside of your stomach.  Andy and I were both speechless (except to continuously ask if everything was okay).  
As we held hands, we watched the little baby show up on the screen exactly where it was supposed to be.  I felt a little squeeze from Andy as the nurse pointed out the heartbeat, which was a little white flicker on the screen.  Wow, is all I have to say!


I, probably like many others, had an idea of what the first ultrasound would be like from the many romantic comedies I have watched.  It completely beat my expectations.  In the movies, the woman always acts like she can't see anything and then gets really sad.  I had prepared myself for this, but what we saw was very distinguishable.  There was a head, a spine, some arm buds, and it was very clear what was in the picture.  See for yourself...

Ultrasound from our 8 week appointment

We have now had our second appointment and are 12 weeks along in the pregnancy.  We are ready to share it with the anyone who will listen to our news.  We want to shout it from the mountaintops and come out from our little bubble that we have created for ourselves as we play the waiting came of the first trimester.  We are very ready (although a little nervous) to be parents and welcome everything that is ahead for us on this journey.  No matter what, we will tackle the obstacles and the celebrations together and there is no little thing in that.  


There is nothing small about this miracle, besides its actual size right now, which is a lime!  We are embarking on the journey of parenthood, which is HUGE.  I am growing a tiny human being in my stomach, which is also HUGE.  We are extremely grateful for everyone's positive energy and prayers that were sent in our direction.  I am a strong believer that they helped our little Gizmo stick around this time.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and souls for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers as it truly demonstrates the power of what the human mind can do and what the universe is capable of.  

Shirts that my my dad and Kelley had made for us (Chewy is not sure how to feel about this yet)!

Stay tuned for more about the transformation that is happening in our life...








  

family walks...

We have started a tradition that I have been thoroughly enjoying lately...family walks!  

We have always walked Chewy daily, but only one of us would do it and it would usually be whoever came home first.  These were great walks where I would catch up on the phone with friends or family or listen to some music.  But I have to say that family walks have been SO MUCH BETTER!  Here's why...

When Andy gets home from coaching soccer, we take off with our furry friend by our side (I am not the only one that is a huge fan of this new tradition)!  One of the first things I noticed was how differently Andy and I walk Chewy.  I keep him very close and don't give him much roaming room.  Andy let's Chewy smell, pee on everything, and have a loose leash.  Poor guy, must be a little confused...but, he seems to be handling it ok and enjoying the family time and the fresh air.  Another thing that is soothing about our walks are that we get quality time to talk.  Andy and I are good communicators, but this time allows us to slow down and discuss our days at school, what plans are coming up, and just whatever is on our  minds.  

We have mostly been walking around our neighborhood park, which has been extremely busy lately.  There are kids, families, dogs, people exercising, and the older generation has joined in the fun as well (the other day we saw two older ladies playing boccie ball together in the boccie ball court...so cute)! 


The other night, we ventured down the green way by our house that follows Cherry Creek from downtown all the way out to Aurora.  We made our way down to Four Mile Historic Park.  This is a super cute little park that has animals and teaches kids and adults about the pioneer days of Denver.  From the outskirts, you can see little houses, tee-pees, barns, and tons of animals.  

The whole reason we walked down this direction was because Andy wanted to show me the horses.  We made our way around the park and found them!  There were quite a few in the corral and they were beautiful.  It made me instantly happy and made me feel like I had a part of the country right in the city.  A bonus that it is right in our neighborhood.  Side note: Chewy also LOVES horses and became rather whiny and excited to meet the big animals.  So, of course, we walked up to the fence and started talking to them.  After a few minutes, one of them came over and decided to check us out.  He was a beautiful horse who was spotted with black and white spots.  He sniffed Chewy and looked us up and down.  We talked to him for awhile and then decided to make our way home.  


To our surprise, he followed us!  I was convinced that he could tell that we were horse people.  He followed us all the way around the fence until he couldn't follow anymore and we had to say our goodbyes.  We definitely bonded with our new friend and decided to give him a name...so, we call him Rex (I like to say Rex Effex)! 

I am super excited that Andy showed me this little gem in our city and I can't wait to go inside the park and check out all of its history.  I also can't wait to go back and visit Rex and his other friends.  I am sure that our new tradition will continue and become our daily routine.  It is and will be a fabulous time for our family to bond with each other and slow down from our fast-paced lives.  We also get to connect in a way that is special in my heart.  All of these things, make our family walks a little thing that I look forward to every day.