Jessica gets married

Chris and I said "I do" 17 days after our engagement. It was perfect! The gazebo was beautiful. Our parents, siblings and grandparents attended. The ceremony was short and sweet, we didn't forget the rings, no one passed out and I only cried a little.

We had a slight altercation with a wasp landing in my hair, but my mom was able to swat it away without me noticing. I felt something tap me on the back of my head but I was in another world at the moment so I didn't really know what was going on. The only thing that distracted me was the heat! I didn't feel incredibly hot, but I literally had sweat rolling down the back of my legs. I know it's not what everyone pictures on the beautiful bride, but there it is. It tickled so I kept rubbing my foot on the back of my leg. After the ceremony, my dad said "did your legs itch?" Haha.

After the ceremony, we took tons of pictures, had a great lunch, and ate the most heavenly cake ever. Chris got cake up my nose- thanks babe!

Here's some of my favorite pictures from the wedding:

Wedding Plans

To all of you women who have had normal weddings:

How did you do it?

My tiny little wedding has stressed me out beyond belief, and my mom has done everything she can to take the stress off it me. Is it because I'm pregnant? Is it because I'm already high strung as it is? I was worried about who was coming, more worried about who couldn't come, worried about pleasing everyone to the point that I didn't even want a wedding anymore.

[I mention being high strung because apparently the men in my life seem to believe this. Yes, father and Chris, I'm talking about you. Don't think I am unaware of your telephone chats. Yes, it's weird. Yes, it's unnerving that my fiance and father get along so well and talk about me when I'm in the other room. I prefer this over you not getting along, but sometimes I wonder what you talk about when I'm not listening!]

However, after meeting with the pastor last night, I feel 100% better about everything. Talking to him really put everything into perspective. We're getting married. That's the important part. Like my mom said, our families are coming together to celebrate our marriage. I can't really stress out about spending the rest of my life with the man I love.

The meeting with the pastor was interesting, but helpful. He asked us why we were in such a hurry. Chris kind of gestured towards my belly. Thanks, hon. The pastor said "well, why now? Why not 3 months ago?"

Yeah, why not 3 months ago?

Chris said he wanted to save up for the ring. Honestly, I didn't even want a ring. Not that I don't absolutely love the ring he got me. It's sparkly and beautiful and perfect. Okay, maybe I wanted a ring but I didn't absolutely need a ring. But I respect him for wanting to do things 'right.' And the ring is nice too.

We told the pastor we've been talking about marriage for quite a while. He said, "you've been doing more than talking!" Well, yes. Thanks for pointing that out.

He asked if we were living together. Yes. He just shook his head. For a minute I was kind of afraid that he was going to tell us he couldn't marry us because we were living in sin. Fortunately, he's not that kind of pastor. He said he wasn't judging us or criticizing us, just trying to get a complete picture of our relationship.

He asked Chris if he was ready to marry me. He asked him like 5 times. Does he think I'm not marriage material? Come on now! I thought he'd ask me if I was ready. No, he asked "do you think Chris is ready?" Poor Chris. I told him absolutely, without a doubt. We don't want to get married again someday, this is a forever decision and we know that. I don't want Chris around just because I think Emily needs a father. I want Chris around because I love him. We may have done things a little backwards, but I'm happy with the final result. I think we have a pretty awesome little family.

In other fun wedding news, I got my dress! I went shopping with my mom and sister last weekend and found a super cute black and white strapless dress at A Pea in the Pod. I also found shoes and jewelry and made an appointment to get my hair done Saturday morning. All I need is a pedicure tomorrow or Friday and I'll be ready! My mom ordered the cake, which is going to be delicious. Chris wasn't too excited about a cake at first (it was a simple wedding, remember?) but after I told him about it he changed his mind.

Is it bad that I'm almost as excited about the cake as I am about the rest of the wedding?

Mom is picking out flowers tomorrow and she is personally putting the bouquet and centerpieces together tomorrow night with a friend. It's going to be beautiful!

Most importantly, we got our license on Monday so the whole thing is legal. The marriage license is all sorts of official looking.

I'll be Jessica Tyre in three days! Three days!!

30 weeks!

30 weeks. That's 75%. When you think about it, that's a solid C. Passing, but nothing to brag about. I really want to be in the A+ range.

In baby related news, nothing too spectacular or new has been going on this past week. She is still moving around a lot, but not kicking so hard anymore. That might have something to do with the fact that she is running out of room and can't get as much force and speed on those kicks as she used to. In the next 10 weeks she's going to get very squished.

When I eat, I feel like I'm going to pop. Like, if you were to stick a pin in my belly I feel like I would pop. Like a big balloon. So uncomfortable.

Speaking of comfort, does anyone care to tell me what that feels like? I seem to have forgotten. I hurt when I lay down to sleep. I hurt when I'm sitting on the couch. I really hurt while I'm driving in the car. My back KILLS when I'm at my desk at work. I'm ok when I'm sitting on the toilet. When I walk for too long, I start to feel like someone kicked me in the crotch, really hard, and that hurts even if you're a girl.

I realized this week that I can't remember what my belly used to look like. You know, when it was flat? I thought I could stand to lose a few pounds back in January. What the heck ever, Jessica. Look at you now! Granted, I don't look bad. I'm sorry to those women who gained 80 pounds during pregnancy, but I am so glad my weight gain has been on track so far. At the beginning, I was honestly worried that my skin couldn't stretch. I mean, I know that it happens, I just couldn't imagine it.

I also don't remember the last time I zipped up a pair of pants. I'm going to be walking around with my fly down for weeks after I get out of these maternity pants. Now I just pull up and go. Like a 4 year old.

I read that Emily can see light when her eyes are open. Kind of like when you shine a flashlight through the palm of your hand- she sees the light in a red tint. You could say she sees her world through rose colored glasses right now. I like to think she's fairly content in there. I've been feeding her well. Lots of fruit, as many veggies as I can stomach (read: not many, but they're there) and the occasional (almost daily) bowl of ice cream. What a life.

She's also finally losing her body hair. According to the books I've read, up until recently she's been covered in a kind of fur, like Roger I guess. It kept her warm. Now she's starting to fatten up so she doesn't need it anymore. Go Emily! Put some meat on those bones!

Now I'm off to meet my mom to plan my wedding. Because I'm getting married. Next weekend. With a pretty dress and flowers and family and the most amazing man in the world. I can't wait.

I'm getting married in 10 days and...

My grandparents from Pennsylvania are going to be here!!!!

I can't tell you how happy that makes me, it's going to be the best wedding ever. I thought that with such short notice they wouldn't be able to make it. I really wanted them here but knew it was a longshot. But now they're coming!

July 31st is my wedding day AND my grandpa's birthday. He said he couldn't ask for a better birthday present, they're just so excited.

Happy dance!

I'm Engaged!!!

It's a sad day for the single women of our tiny little town. One of Blanco's finest bachelors is officially off the market. Not that anyone would have gotten near him before we were engaged, considering he had a crazy pregnant woman following him around everywhere.

I can't help it. You'd be the same way if you managed to sink your claws into trap trick enchant a man like him.

Now, it wasn't a complete surprise. We have been talking about marriage for a while now. A long while, I may add. We discussed getting married before the baby arrives. Considering she is going to be here about 10 weeks from now, I was really hoping he'd ask me soon. I'll admit that I haven't been very patient.

Last Tuesday, Chris asked if I'd like to go out to dinner with him the following night. So I don't have to cook, he said. Well, we had just discussed a new budget in which we would not go out to eat, but cook at home instead. He said he knew I'd had a few rough days at work and he thought he'd treat me to a nice dinner. I couldn't argue, it sounded great. He told me to pick out a restaurant on the Riverwalk in San Antonio.

Wait, so he's taking me to a nice dinner AND he's driving out to San Antonio on a Wednesday...

Maybe my cooking has been lacking? Honestly, I was more concerned over which restaurant to pick because I was tired of cooking. It's hard to cook when you have to stand a foot away from the stove so you don't burn your belly. I picked one- I can't remember what it was now, but I even looked up prices and reviews to make sure it was good, but not too good, so I didn't feel guilty about it.

He met me at work on Wednesday. I had packed a cute dress so I didn't have to wear my smelly work clothes out. He looked good, I told him. He didn't seem nervous, so I figured we were just going to dinner. As we were driving out, he said "It's a little too early for dinner, I'm not really that hungry yet. Let's go there, I think you can pay to go up to the top and see the view of San Antonio." [points to the Tower of Americas]

I'm in. That thing looks awesome. We discuss how tall it is. Is it as tall as the Space Needle? Isn't there one like that in Dallas, but it's a big ball or something? Yeah, I think there's a restaurant at the top of the one in Dallas. How the heck do we get over there?

We found it, we parked, I stopped to look at a map. I act like I know what I'm doing. "We want to go to that elevator, the one that goes to the observation deck." Chris politely pretends to listen to me. We walk inside. We get in line for the elevator. The WRONG elevator. "Chris, we aren't going to the restaurant, we're in the wrong line."

"I think this is the right one. I'm starving, let's just eat here."

Okay? When the man is hungry it's best to feed him right away, so I don't complain. I begin to get suspicious, but I don't complain. The ride up was awesome. You get to look out a glass window as you go up a million stories (I don't know how high it was but I got a little dizzy at one point). We walked into the restaurant, Chris says "reservation for Tyre."

Mmm hmm, he's up to something. Is he going to propose? No, if I think he's going to then he's not going to and I'm going to get all excited over nothing. Just enjoy your dinner. Hey, that steak looks good...

We're seated and Chris points out that the room is slowly rotating. I freak out a bit. Once I realize we're moving, I get a little dizzy. Like if I stay in my car when it's parked on the ferry going over to Port Aransas. We start talking and the dizziness goes away. We order our meal, we both got steak and shrimp. It was delicious. We ordered dessert even though I was stuffed. I ate it all, it was delicious. I had stopped wondering about what he was up to by now because I was distracted by the food and the view.

Then he stands up. To "stretch." Except he gives me this funny look as he's standing. I go back to looking out the window, thinking this "stretch" is a walk to the bathroom or something. Then he's on the ground next to me. No, not passed out. On his knee. Oh good God.

He starts talking to me. It makes me cry. I buried my face in his neck because I thought everyone was looking and I didn't want them to see the pregnant girl crying. He says everything right but I can't really remember exactly what it was he was saying. I just kept nodding my head. He stopped talking, I may have continued nodding, I'm not sure. "Is that a yes?" I nod a little harder.

There are few times in my life that I am completely speechless. This was one of them.

I managed to get out "You made me cry in front of everyone!" Smooth, Jess. I know I said "I love you" at some point. He put the ring on my finger and everyone clapped. Like in a movie, it was kind of weird.

Everything after that is pretty unimportant because I was just SO happy that I kind of floated through the rest of the evening. The people at the table next to us took a picture.

You can tell we're genuinely happy because our eyes are all squinty.