Christmas Card

Today is New Years Eve and much like last year, I have put a roast in the slow cooker, and we will probably spend our evening catching up on our Netflix and relaxing on the couch. Ideal. We call New Years Eve rookie night in Aspen. Town is a crazy show on New Years Eve, and in fact, Byrant and I were at the same party 3 years ago, but due to the crowd and circumstances outside of our control, we didn't meet. He didn't believe me when I told him I was there, until I showed him a picture I have from the party of me with a group of girlfriends and him in the background! Ha! Cover charges for parties range from $100-$1000 per person, and this preggo isn't going to shell out that kind of cash to watch a slew of drunk crazies get into trouble! :)

My boss again so generously gave me the afternoon off today, which means the girls from the office and I are going to take a few runs on Aspen Mountain this afternoon. It is absolutely gorgeous here again today, but more snow is in the forecast for this weekend. This is the first winter season of my life that I am not totally excited about the insane amount of snow we are getting. Although I have been able to enjoy some great powder runs this year, it is nothing like my usual powder hound seasons. Thank the Lord that last year was completely epic and record breaking and we took total advantage of every powder day we could.

Here is a picture of our Christmas card this year, in case yours got lost in the mail! :) I got them out late...my apologies!

Happy New Year to you!

Best,

Becca, Bryant, Baby and Burger

Flip Flops and Somersaults

This week has been really busy with the holidays and company in town. We really enjoyed seeing my parents for the week of Christmas, and my boss surprised me with an extra day off. We had no problem filling our time with family and fun. Christmas was a blast! Bryant and I spent Christmas Eve night at Trev and Amy's and spent the day with them opening gifts and hanging out. We didn't get to ski as much as hoped due to the sub zero temperatures, but were still able to get out of the house a few times to enjoy the snow.

Yesterday and today our little man has been doing flip flops in my belly. Yesterday for the first time, I actually saw my stomach move without putting my hand on it first, and today, my colleague Stacy felt him kick too. I wish he would have been more active last week when my mom was in town, but I know she will definitely feel him when she comes out in March.

We have another check up on Friday. This is the awesome (sarcastic) gestational diabetes appointment. I get to drink a disgusting sugar filled orange concoction and have my blood drawn to test for gestational diabetes. I have a hunch I don't have anything to worry about, but you never know.

Bryant and I are getting so excited to meet our little man. He (the baby) got some really fun Christmas gifts, too, which made things seem more real. We also got 2 huge boxes of adorable 0-9 month baby clothes from my sister-in-law, which was awesome!

This week we are just back to work and our "normal" schedule.

Until the next adventure,

B, B, B & B

Snow Snow Snow!

 

This morning we woke up to yet another major dumping of snow! It was piled almost a foot high at our front door! My parents are in town so, dad, Bryant, Mali and I spent about 30 minutes scraping off our cars this morning. Mali took advantage of everyone being outside and coaxed us into playing ball with her. She had to tunnel through the snow because it was so deep.

Oh the joys of living in a mountain town. We feel so blessed to live here.

I forgot to mention in my blog yesterday that my parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last night. We had them over for a great steak feast and tonight we are going to take them out to a nice dinner in Carbondale with Trevor and Amy Jo. I can't tell you how proud I am of them and how they have maintained such a strong loving relationship through 40 years. They truly have a model relationship, and I am so thankful for them and the love they share.

A Great Holiday Weekend

Bryant and Khloe walking to the car after the Nutcacker, Sunday night.

Last week was filled with several holiday get togethers and celebrations. We started off on Wednesday with my Bible study party at our friend, Heidi's house. We had a great evening with a secret santa gift exchange and a heated game of Battle of the Sexes. Thursday we went to Trev and Amy's for our dinner group Christmas party. We enjoyed Trevor's luge-like sledding hill topped off with home made clam chowder and Koo Koo bread. Friday I had my work Christmas gift exchange (all of the ladies from work), and last but certainly not least, Saturday my parents arrived, but not without challenges.

We all headed out to the airport Saturday morning, knowing my parents were in the air and heading into Aspen from Salt Lake. Despite our high hopes, their plane was diverted to Grand Junction and they had to ride a charter bus 3 hours into town. Although this wasn't the ideal scenario, Trev, Amy, the kids and I were all able to head into town, eat ribs at Hickory House and finish up most of our Christmas shopping. By the time we were finished, it was 3:30 and time to pick up mom and dad.

Saturday night was the annual Regan Construction Christmas party/Insanely inappropriate white elephant gift exchange. As usual, it didn't disappoint. Mark ordered in 200 oysters from Washington State (yes!) and the food was amazing. It was a really fun time. Bryant came home with a talking toilet paper roll holder (recordable), and I was the winner of a large black "Pimp" goblet.

Sunday we went to church and then headed to Snowmass for a day of family skiing. It was so nice to get out again. The clouds parted and we enjoyed an awesome day of blue sky, toasty Colorado skiing. It was great! To top off the holiday weekend, the whole family went to the Aspen Santa Fe Nutcracker. It was great as usual. Tait was even thoroughly entertained by the dancing.

My parents are here until Friday and we have a week full of fun activities and relaxation.

Belly Pic Week 22

All is well in preggo land! I slept through the night again last night, and I feel great! Last night I was in bed reading with my hand on my belly. I pressed slightly into my stomach below my belly button and felt something really hard. At first it kind of scared me and then, I put my hand back and it was gone. That was the first time I have felt the actual body of our little man and not just his crazy dance moves! It was pretty cool!

My mom and dad arrive on Saturday and will stay through Christmas. We are so excited to see them and to spend Christmas at home in Aspen.

22 Weeks!

Wow. Time is flying by so fast these days. Our little man is growing a lot this week. His brain is developing along with his senses. He can hear the beat of my heart and my breath. He wiggles his fingers, sucks his thumb and touches his face. His lungs are continuing to mature and he practices the motions of both breathing and swallowing. This week he is about 8 inches long from crown to rump and weighs about 12 ounces.

All in all, I feel awesome. I do have a recent bout of pregnancy insomnia (self diagnosed) and haven't slept well at all for the last two nights. It could be due to travelling as well, but I either way, I am praying for a good nights rest tonight as we have a really crazy couple of weeks ahead.

I feel our little bug moving on a regular basis now and Bryant talks to him as much as possible. We can't wait to meet him in April!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!

Best,

Becca, Bryant, Baby and Burger

Back in Snowy Aspen

Last week, Bryant and I travelled to Myrtle Beach to spend some time with his family and check on our place. It was the first time I have seen our house at the beach, and I was pleasantly surprised. We had to fire our property management company in the fall, and no one has been checking on the house regularly since then. It made it through hurricane season with very minor damage and the interior was in much better shape than I thought it would be after being rented out all summer.

It was great to see Bryant's family and spend time with them. We rented cruiser bikes and were able to enjoy the beach despite it being unseasonably cold. We also went to an amazing lighting display at Brook Green Garden near our house.

As usual, no matter where we are, it is always so nice to come home. Our flights were right on schedule and despite a major storm blowing through Denver and Aspen, we made it home without a hitch. We were not only welcomed by several new feet of snow, but lovely decorations outside our house.

We got totally punked by my brother Trevor and his crew. Bryant is a minimalist when it comes to Christmas decor, and I happened to mention that to Trevor before we left. As we drove up to our house Sunday night after travelling all day, I said, "Wow, our neighbors went all out! Oh no! That is our house!" We pulled in to be greeted by an illuminated waiving penguin, awful wrapping paper covering our front door, redneck tinsel garland hanging from our lattice, and a huge sign out back, that you can see from the highway that says "Go Santa!" Oh my word. I was mortified. Several of my colleagues drive by our house on their way to work, including my boss. Thankfully, I confirmed that no one noticed from work.

Our munchkin is moving like crazy and did great on the trip. He is getting bigger and bigger. More and more people on the street are finally asking me if I am pregnant.

We are so crazy this week with Christmas festivities. We have parties Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday we go to the Nutcracker. My parents get into town Saturday morning, and I can't wait to see them!

We are still getting a huge dumping of snow. Today we are supposed to get another 8-14 inches in Aspen. The girls in the office are skiing right now, and I so want to be out there with them. Hopefully I can break away for a top to bottom run on Aspen tomorrow.

Our Christmas cards are late being delivered, and I am really hoping the make it to you before Christmas! I have all of the envelopes addressed, stamped and waiting to go.

I have uploaded a lot of pictures on Facebook from our trip and several other occasions.

Becca

Off to the Beach

Bryant and I are travelling to Myrtle Beach to spend a much needed weekend with his family to celebrate Thanksmas!

We are so excited to see them, and I will be sure to fill you in on the highlights of the trip when we get home.

Until then,

Becca, Bryant and Baby Ragan

1st Day Skiing

Saturday I finally had the opportunity to go up skiing on Aspen Mountain. The snow has been slightly sparse so far this season, but we found some great stashes and really enjoyed ourselves. Bryant had to work up on the Frying Pan all day Saturday so I met up with a couple of girlfriends. The snow was great on the runs that were open and we were all taking it pretty easy because of the random rocks/twigs poking through. It was the perfect day to start the season, and to top it off, I felt great. My little man is a perfect ski buddy and I would like to think he really enjoyed himself too! :)

Today he is moving and shaking like crazy. It is so fun to have the regular reminder of him growing and developing in my belly.

Practicing Parenthood

Yesterday Bryant took Mali up Buttermilk, a local ski hill that hasn't opened yet. They hiked to the top using his AT gear and turned around to ski down. She was playing with sticks as usual and trying to keep up with her daddy skiing down the mountain. He didn't see her come up behind him and turned right into her with the back of his skis. The edge of his ski cut into her front leg. At first he didn't think much of it because she ran the rest of the way and hopped right into the truck, but when he got her home, he realized it was worse than he thought.

He took her to the weekend vet and they dug a rock out of the hole, repaired a tendon and stitched up the wound. Poor Mali has a soft cast up to her shoulder. My nieces stopped by last night to sign it and cheer her up. She was so drugged up she hardly noticed.

This morning she was much better. She was able to hobble around outside and go potty without much encouragement.

Bryant and I couldn't help but laugh at our (over)reaction to her being hurt. And he brought up the fact that we are having a little boy, so we probably have many many nights of nursing wounds and broken bones in our future. Isn't it funny how the Lord can use these experiences to prepare us for what's in store?!

I took more pictures of pitiful Mali but left my camera at home. The one above is from my phone.

Until the next adventure!

Becca, Bryant and Mali Burger

Somersaults and Flip Flops

As you may know, I have had some issues feeling baby Ragan move. It was a little worrisome for me, especially when moms would ask, "You are 20 weeks and haven't felt him move?!" I couldn't definitively tell you I had, and therefore didn't want to fool myself into thinking a few gas bubbles were my munchkin exercising.

However, yesterday, when we had our ultrasound, not only did I see the bugger move on the screen, but I absolutely felt him move too! It was so amazing to associate the bubbly feeling in my belly with my baby. And now, all day today, I have recognized my little baby boy moving like crazy! What an amazing experience! I still can't believe I am carrying our baby and he is growing and thriving in my belly. Wow. I can't wait until Bryant is able to feel it on the outside so he can share in this. Baby is a mover and shaker. He must be having a lot of fun in there dancing to my Christmas music!

Becca

Bryant's Little Hunting Buddy

After so much stress and anticipation, we saw our little man today. He is so handsome and everything looks perfect.

Of course I am biased, but he is such an adorable baby. The nurse tried and tried to get a straight shot of him, but he wasn't very cooperative. He was too busy sucking his thumb and playing with his man parts to pay any attention to his mommy and daddy.

Needless to say, we can't wait to meet the little bugger in April.

I can't thank you enough for your prayers, thoughts and sweet comments.

To many boyish adventures ahead,

Bryant, Becca, and Baby Boy and Mali B

Ignorance is bliss...or anxiety

Today is the day. It is finally here. I have been looking forward to this day more than any other in recent history, with the exception of our wedding.

I can't help but relish in our ignorance this morning. As I sit here with my feet up on a box under my desk and my belly protruding past my belt line, I can assume that everything happening in my hopping uterus is perfect and fine. However, today we have our big reveal appointment and not only do we get to hopefully find out what color to decorate our nursery, but also how everything is coming along inside. I am so mixed with the emotions of anxiety and excitement. I have been praying over my womb and baby since we found out we were pregnant in August, and today more than ever.

Only 1.5 hours until we get to peak inside baby's little world. I can hardly sit in my chair, and focusing on anything bigger than running an errand is impossible!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and gender guesses! So far I think about 90% of you think it is a girl!

Until we know,

B, B, Baby B and Mali B

20 Weeks Down...20 To Go

Today marks the unofficial start of my 21st week of pregnancy. It is unofficial because I have been given 2 due dates. Some websites say my change over day is Wednesday, some say it's Saturday. Either way, we are close enough.

As you may know, because I can't quit blogging and/or talking about it, our big ultra sound appointment is tomorrow at 2:00pm mountain time. I will have way more to discuss after that appointment, but until then, you can use this link to see what Baby Ragan is up to this week...What to Expect Week 20.

There is a lot of hiccupping and movement happening, and I can occasionally feel it now, which is nice and reassuring. It feels like a golf fishy is swimming around in my belly. It is wild! We listen to the heartbeat about 1x a week and it has consistently been around 150. Pretty even keeled like his/her daddio! :) This week, the little bug is the size of a cantalope!

My belly is growing a lot these days too. It is so wild to catch my reflection in a mirror or window. I am occasionally caught completely off guard by my siloutte. We have been bad about taking pictures, but I will try to get one up this week. People on the street are actually asking if I am pregnant now too, rather than just thinking I put on my winter blanket.

It seems like every day I hear about another woman who is pregnant that I or someone close to me knows.

Until tomorrow (unless I am inspired to write again today!:))

Best,

Becca

Oh Christmas Tree...and Mali

 

Bryant and I spent last Saturday morning setting up our Christmas tree and decorations. I had to order a new tree skirt because my ghetto Target purchase from a couple years ago has gone awol. I am so excited about the new one and even more excited that it will last long into our marriage. This is our second Christmas as a family, and we are so excited that next year there will be yet another addition!

It took several attempts to get Mali to pose, but we finally got a picture worth posting. Now, we need to put a few presents under the tree!

One more sleep until the big appointment. Thank you for your prayers and support. I will be posting any news once we get out of the doctors office tomorrow afternoon.

Best,

Becca

Only 3 More Sleeps...

The anticipation is killing us. We only have 3 more sleeps until our big ultrasound appointment. Not only is it exciting because we hope to find out the gender of our bambino, but we also get to find out if everything is healthy and normal up to this point. We haven't been to the doctor since October 19th, which seems like a lifetime ago, so reassurance will be awesome.

On another note, our friends, Jackie and Marc take their baby Alexa to Denver tomorrow for a big CTScan appointment on Wednesday. They found a tumor on her lung in utero and the doctors will measure whether it is still there, it has grown, or not changed at all. We are praying it has completely dissolved and won't require surgery on sweet little Alexa. She was born about 2 months early and is doing really well. Please keep her and her mom and dad in your prayers over the next couple of days.

Hopefully I will be spilling most exciting news on my next post both about our baby and baby Alexa... check back around 4:00pm mountain time on Thursday as our appointment is at 2:00pm.

Thank you for your prayers and support...WE ARE SO EXCITED!

Love,

Becca, Bryant and Big Sister Mali Burger

So Thankful

Amy Jo and I infront of our feast after a long day of cooking and fun.


Yesterday was crazy, but in a really relaxing, low stress crazy kind of way. Bryant and I woke up around 8:00 and I immediately started cooking. I prepped the turkey and stuffing and baked two pies before we left the house with a car full of food and cooking gadgets on our way to Trev and Amy's. We stopped by a friend's house to pick up a bakery made pumpkin pie (a very last minute Thanksgiving request from my husband), and finally made it to the Everett's around 1:00pm. The turkey was in the oven by 2:00 and we were in the middle of a crazy cooking circus! By 6:00, the turkey was resting, and the food prepped. I was so anxious to taste the turkey as this was my first in about 6 years and that one was horrible. However, much to our surprise, the turkey was perfect. It was probably one of the best we have ever tasted, in fact everything was the best we have ever tasted! Thanksgiving dinner was a success! (On a side note, I used Martha Stewart's Perfect Roast Turkey Recipe and brined it per her instruction for 36 hours. The turkey was organic, free range and fresh...oh so good!)

As we sat around the dinner table passing around the food and filling our plates, we went around the table saying what we are thankful for this year. Here is a sample:

Khloe (age 5): Turkey and food (which she rarely eats anyway)
Kyla (age 7): Family
Karsyn (age 9): Family and food

This blog would be too long if I tried to list the many things I am thankful for this year, but first on my list is my family. We are so blessed to be surrounded by incredible family members who are not only our parents, cousins, and siblings, but best friends too. I am also thankful for our bun in the oven, and a healthy easy pregnancy so far. I am thankful for my husband, who is my number one here on earth, and the many adventures and exciting things the Lord has allowed over the last 2.5 years since He brought us together. I am thankful for my job and the many doors it has opened and blessing that have come from it.

And today, I am thankful for the dumping of snow that we woke up to. The Roaring Fork Valley is covered in a blanket of white. I couldn't rewrite a better day to put up our tree and decorate for Christmas (after work).

So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, thank you to you, for your continued support, prayers and friendship. We are truly grateful and feel absolutely blessed to have you in our lives.

Our Sincere Thanks,

Becca, Bryant, Baby, and Mali Burger

The view from our back porch this morning, looking toward Aspen.

19 Weeks! Almost Half Way There!

Today I am 19 weeks pregnant and can hardly believe it! For the most part I feel great, with a few minor exceptions. I have been hiking quite a bit this week with different girlfriends, which has been really fun. I feel really strong, but I can also tell I am getting bigger. Per my midwife and Amy Jo's suggestions I started taking papaya enzyme pills for my heartburn which has all but eliminated it! I can even drink oj minutes before bed time and not suffer the consequences.

Two nights ago I had the first mid night snack cravings of my life. I was laying in bed half asleep and suddenly sat up, starving. I went downstairs and got a quick snack, and was just fine. I woke up the next morning laughing at myself.

This week, jelly bean is the size of a large mango, about 6" long from crown to rump. I can finally feel a little movement now and then when I lay down and really pay attention to my belly (and usually after a sugar jolt from a big glass of oj). Bryant always puts his hand on my belly and tries to feel something, but hasn't been successful yet. We are hoping for external movement in the next couple weeks. For more on baby this week, visit, What to Expect When Expecting: Week 19.

Next Thursday we have our big ultrasound appointment. We are so excited, not only to hopefully find out the sex of the baby, but to be reassured that everything is healthy and growing as it should be.

Thank you so much for your continued prayer and support. I will update the blog if anything exciting happens before then.

Best,

B, B, B & Baby

Claritza's Quince

 

Saturday night Bryant and I went to my little buddy, Claritza's Quince. This is a traditional party thrown for Latino girls who turn 15. The closest thing I can compare it to is a debutant party in the south. They wear really fancy dresses, she had a court of friends in tuxes who danced with her, there was a dj, and 100+ guests. The food was awesome and abundant. It was a great party! I met Clari when she was 11 years old and can't believe she is 15! She is becoming a beautiful young lady and I am so proud of her. Click here for more information on the Buddy Program.

Week 18...Already?!

I have a prenatal yoga dvd I do on occasion at home. They have three pregnant woman participating in the program, all at different stages of pregnancy. One is at 18 weeks, the other at 25 and the instructor is about to pop at 37 weeks. I remember watching it and thinking, "wow, that woman is 18 weeks pregnant and look how much she is showing!" And now, here I am starting week 18. Last night I took a quick swig of oj before leaving the house and immediately felt like I swallowed a lit match. For one who has never experienced heartburn before, this is going to be a tough symptom to swallow, literally. All in all, I feel great. I can feel my stomach muscles stretching out, especially around my belly button where I had my surgery last year. Last night when I got into bed, it felt like my stomach breathed a huge sigh of relief from being tossed about all day.

Today I went on a hike at lunch with the girls from work. I felt really strong on the hike, which was encouraging as I haven't kept my activity level as high as I had hoped in the early days of pregnancy. The great news is that ski season officially starts next week, and I am really looking forward to (carefully) hitting the slopes this year. It will definitely be all about moderation, but there is nothing like a great day of skiing to drag you out of the warm house to tone your quads. And, I can officially then say that the baby started skiing 3 years before I did! :)

This week Jelly Bean is 5.5 inches long, and believe it or not, their little home (my uterus) is the size of a cantaloupe! They learn how to yawn this week, which I think is the cutest thing imaginable. For more details on the life of baby Ragan use the following link: Baby Ragan Week 18

Memory Lane

Last night I turned on my old laptop and took off a bunch of old pictures. I have posted them on a web album for you to enjoy. They vary from our marathon in Switzerland in 2006, 24 hours of Moab 2006, our honeymoon in Europe, the Christmas Bryant proposed, my trip to Africa in 2004, and various adventures in Aspen. Enjoy a walk down memory lane Ragan style by using the following link: Random Pics Through the Years 2004-2008

Sunshine + Skiing = Colorado

Today the sun is shining and it is so warm we ate lunch outside. This is really rare for November in Aspen, but we will take it, especially since I know we will be mostly confined to our offices/homes by the snow in the near future. Ski season is right around the corner and I am really looking forward to hitting the slopes this season despite having to modify my skiing style. :)

Staying home while everyone skis late in the season is going to be very hard for me this year, but at least, per my midwife, I can ski until I can't find clothes to fit anymore,which will hopefully be most of the season. I will just have to take it easier, which will also be hard. Bryant and I discussed the preliminary ski "rules" yesterday. No more fast skiing, no bumps, nothing extreme. I will definately have to watch my back for the psychotic beginners going mock 5 down the hill completely out of control.:) I am very grateful to live in a place where pregnancy isn't considered a medical condition and most adventurous activities are highly encouraged.

We are nearly finished with week 17, which is really hard to believe. Only 2 more weeks until we find out the flavor (hopefully). We are continually praying for everything to be normal and healthy. I feel great, and my energy level is still high, but I spent about 2 hours on my hands and knees scrubbing our floors yesterday and hurt in places I didn't know I had. Youch.

Thanks for checking in.

Best,

Becca & Baby

Week 17 Belly Pic and Heartbeat Update

What a relief. Last night I was finally able to find Jelly Bean's heartbeat with the fetal doppler. As much as I say I wasn't nervous that I couldn't find it, I was SO relieved to actually hear it. It was right at 150 still, which is perfectly average.

We are going to try to be more diligent about taking weekly pictures from this point on because my belly is completely changing from week to week these days. To view the progress so far, check out our belly pics album.

Baby Week 17

Today marks the first day of week 17. Things continue to change around my waist line, but my energy has returned in leaps and bounds. It is so nice to come home and actually have energy to clean and do projects rather than just plop on the couch and rest all evening. Bryant and I are anxiously awaiting our December 4th appointment, so much so that I bought a fetal doppler. So far, I can't find the heart beat, but that doesn't make me nervous, I just don't know what I am doing yet. We only have to wait three more weeks from tomorrow, but it seems like an eternity.

This week baby is 5" long from the top of his/her head to the bottom of their rump, about the size of an open hand. The baby also starts hearing noises, these are mostly strong white noises from inside my body, but he/she can also hear the muffled sound of what is going on outside. So, what does that mean for me? I have started (continued) singing to him/her at the top of my lungs on our way to and from work everyday, and Bryant talks to baby through my belly several times a day if not much more. There is so much to share with him/her that we don't even know where to begin.:)

Here is a picture of what our baby looks like this week, he/she is actually starting to look more and more like a little person:


For more information on the growth and development of baby Ragan this week, check out What to Expect Week 17.

On another exciting note, one of Bryant's colleagues' wife went into labor today. I imagine she has a long day ahead of her as she checked in this morning at 3cm dialated. They are having a boy, and we can't wait to meet baby Buckingham.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow...

This morning we woke up to about 5" of fresh snow in Woody Creek. It is a really wet and heavy snow, but we will take what we can get. The women's FIS Worldcup race will be held on Aspen Mountain the weekend after Thanksgiving, and it is always a sprint to get enough snow on the hill before the racers arrive from all over the world.

With the snow comes talk of the holidays. On our way home from dropping the girls off at DIA to fly back to Washington, Amy Jo and I were overcome with guilt that we hadn't bought our husbands anything in the midst of all of the insane shopping we did over the weekend. So, we stopped at Bass Pro Shop and picked up a few manly gifts. The store had unveiled their holiday decor and displays that day. There was Christmas music blaring and trees and decorations everywhere. On our way home we had several long discussions about what we should do for the holidays this year, as this will be our first "at home" Christmas as a big family since they moved here 2 years ago. I think we came up with some good ideas and I am really excited!

So in light of the snow and holiday talk, I have changed the background of my blog to a more wintery scene. Afterall, it is only 2 weeks to Thanksgiving when I finally get to trim our(much to my dismay...fake) tree and pull out the Christmass itunes.

Bryant and I are going to Myrtle Beach in early December to celebrate both Thanksgiving and Christmas with his family, and about a week after we get back home, my parents arrive in Aspen to help us celebrate Christmas. I am really looking forward to this holiday season...Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Partly because it is always an amazing experience in Aspen, but mostly because we should know the sex of baby Ragan by then, and we are that much closer to meeting the little bean.

Girls, Girls, Girls

This past weekend 3 of my best girlfriends and I met up in Denver to spend a weekend catching up and hanging out. It was so much fun to see them and be in the big city for a few days. We laughed, cried (due to laughter), shopped until we dropped and ate at some great restaurants. We had our make up done 2x in one day, and enjoyed some truly great girl talk.

I finally found some maternity clothes and am finally comfortable during the day. It was a challenge not knowing the sex of the baby because I was so tempted to pick up a few things for him/her, but just couldn't do it before we know.

If you are even considering getting away with your girls, I would encourage you to bite the bullet and go. It will be well worth the time and investment.

The highlight of the weekend, however was coming home to a my husband and dog, to a clean house, laundry done and smooches all around. This morning he even surprised me with breakfast in bed. What a stud. :)

Until the next adventure,

Becca & Baby

Much Needed Girls Shopping Weekend

This Friday night two of my dearest friends in the world, Kelly and Sarah are flying into Denver for a girls weekend of shopping and hanging out, and Amy Jo and I are driving down to meet them. Ironically, all three of them were my bridesmaids. I am so excited all four of us to be together again. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful women in my life.

Tomorrow is going to be crazy with open houses and trying to get out of town, so I will be sure and upload pictures and stories on Monday.

All the best,

Becca

Nesting...and Purging

This weekend we decided to clean out some of our closets (literally) that have been filled to the brim with boxes since we bought our house, almost 2 years ago. My mom has been shipping me random boxes over the past 2 years of everything from my old barbie collection, to my high school cheerleading outfits. They have slowly piled up and consumed what little storage space we have in our house. I had no problem throwing away Bryant's old things, love notes, pictures etc, and I thought it would be easy for me to go through my boxes and purge, but on the contrary, I wanted to keep almost everything. It was a good decision on Bryant's part to stay outside at the storage unit and babysit my efforts, or I wouldn't have accomplished anything. In the end, I am down to 1 large box of "memory" items I can bring out and show my kiddos until they roll their eyes in boredom. Going through the boxes and looking at old school newspapers from both high school and college, reading cards from friends, looking through old pictures brought back a flood of memories and I am really glad we made the effort to do it. I am so thankful for everyone of the memories and the people who I was able to experience them with.

As for baby news, there isn't much to update this week. The only thing changing right now is my waste line, which is slowly disappearing. I am hoping to feel the little bean in the next couple of weeks.

All the best to you,

Becca, Bryant, & Baby Ragan

Heartbeats and Other Wild Things That Come Along With Pregnancy

Today we are exactly 14.5 weeks. My pooch is protruding out past my belt line and it is a little hard to get used to. I have 2 pair of pre-preggo jeans I can still wear so long as I fasten them with a rubberband, but have started pulling out the maternity hand me downs this week.

Monday we had a great check up and heard our munchkin's heartbeat. It was 150, which is exactly average according to Dr. Knight. Our next appointment isn't until December 4th, and we are scheduled to have the "big" ultrasound. Hopefully baby Ragan will cooperate and spread their legs so we can tell the flavor.:)

This has been such a wild and fun ride so far. I can't begin to imagine what we have in store. I am pretty much over the nausea I had in the 1st trimester, but am now unable to fall asleep at night and wake up absolutely exhausted in the mornings. For a woman who loves her 8 hours and can't currenly recoop with a cup of coffee, this has been a struggle, but worth it in the end, I am positive.

Aspen has slowly lolled into off season, and things are pretty low key at work and home, and we are loving it.

The vacation calender is out and ready to be filled, so let us know if you want to come on a ski vacation to Aspen this winter. We have a guest room with a great view, at least through April.

Until the next adventure...

B,B & Baby

It's Official!

After 3 months of waiting to spill the beans, we are finally sharing the news that we are pregnant. Our official due date is April 23rd, but that really means, sometime in April.

We couldn't be more excited to meet the little one. So far, everything has been textbook, and we are continually praying for more of the same. We have another check up this afternoon.

I will be updating the blog regularly.

Best,

Becca & Bryant

 

After Counting the Sleeps, We Are Down to One!

After planning the big trip for nearly 5 months (which is about 4.5 months longer than Bryant and I usually plan trips), it is finally here. My mom arrived yesterday to watch Trev and Amy's kiddos for the week (bless her heart), while we bake on a beach and play hard for the next 8 days. Tonight we drive to Denver and we fly out tomorrow morning at 7:15.

I have always wanted to go to Hawaii and can't tell you how excited I am that we finally get our chance!

Until our safe return,

B, B, T & A

Let it Snow!

This morning I woke up at 6:00 and went downstairs to let Mali out and feed her breakfast. When I opened the door, I was totally taken off guard by a dusting of snow on our front porch!

Growing up in Bonney Lake, Washington, the first snow always accompanied a huge rush of adrenaline. Irregardless of how little or how much snow fell, my best friend Sarah and I would pull out the sleds and head back to the "sinking spot" on their llama farm and do our best to get a few runs in before our hands and feet froze off. That rush has carried long into my adulthood and it seems that no matter how unexcited I am about the end of summer, the first snow always excites me for the winter, and upcoming ski season.

Enjoy this pictures I took this morning. One is out my front door, the other is of the highlands bowl and the last one is the view from my office looking up at Aspen Mountain.

Many blessing and surprises to you today.

Becca

The view out my front door this morning!

The Highlands Bowl Covered with Snow (white peak in the background)

The View of Aspen Mountain From my Office

Pig Roasting

This weekend we went to Gunnison to send off 2 brothers, Leo and Romo who have both worked for Regan Construction as laborers for nearly 5 years. Leo spent the last year working at Rock House Ranch near Gunnison, while Romo stayed in Aspen working for Bryant and Mark. They will both be going home to Mexico City in about 2 weeks, and they will be missed.

The drive to Gunnison in the summer is much shorter than it is after the snow falls. We were able to go over McClure and Kebbler Passes (Kebbler is a dirt road that is also a cut off to Crested Butte in the summer). The conditions were great and the scenery incredible. The summit of McClure is over 11,000 feet and Kebbler is around 10,000 feet. After about 2 hours of driving, we made it to the ranch. Rock House Ranch is nearly 1000 acres and incredibly beautiful. I absolutely love being back on ranches and this was no exception. The main house was perfectly suited for this property with a huge garden in the back yard and beautiful view of the Gunnison Valley. The owner had several horses on site and immaculate facilities. The highlight of the entire day however, was the pig roast. The ranch hands put a pig in the ground and roasted it overnight. Bryant has been talking about doing this for a long time, and it was fun to actually go through the experience.

The pig was about 130 pounds and oh so tasty. We had pulled pork tacos for dinner and they were wonderful!

Mali also came with us and spent the day playing ranch dog. It was fun to watch her run around playing with other dogs and getting into mischief of one kind or another.

After a long day of hanging out at the ranch and saying goodbye to both Leo and Romo, we drove home in pouring rain and snow at times.

Sunday we helped Trevor and Amy move their family into a beautiful home near Basalt with absolutely breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains. We are really excited for their adventures ahead.

We only have 3 sleeps until we drive to Denver and head off to Hawaii for a week! I am so excited!

Until the next adventure!

B,B & B

How Great is Our God!

Bryant and I had a really nice weekend around the house. Friday night we went out to dinner in Carbondale with Trevor and Amy, and on the way home, we stopped by their new house to see where they are moving next weekend. It is a really nice area above El Jebel, about 20 minutes down valley from Aspen. They have incredible views and a nice home. We are really excited for them.

Saturday we went into Aspen, had lunch with the owners of the Ski Haus, and Bryant went to the gym. While he was working out, I went to tour the new OB unit at the hospital with my good friend, Emily who is 20 weeks pregnant, and just found out they are having a BOY! Saturday evening I headed to Glenwood solo to go on a much needed Target run. On my way I stopped in to see our good friend, Jackie and meet her sweet little baby, Alexa. She was born 2.5 months early, but is now home after spending quite a bit of time in the hospital in Denver.

Yesterday I went to a baby shower for a friend who is having a little boy and is due mid November. Baby showers always warm my heart, not only because I love being around excited new moms, but because I really appreciate when women gather together to support another woman. If you have read the book, The Red Tent, you will understand what I mean. More often than not, the amazing tradition of woman surrounding each other in support is lost in our hectic and crazy world, which makes me appreciate these experiences more and more.

Sunday afternoon I hiked Smuggler Mine with Mali while Bryant rode his mountain bike on the Smuggler/Hunter Creek Loop and again, stood in awe at the top as I soaked in the incredible view from Independence Pass to Mt. Sopris.

But despite all of that excitement, the highlight of the weekend was church last night. Bryant and I have been intending on trying our Sunday evening service for quite a while, but last night, we finally made it happen. Much to our surprise they were showing a movie that many people have told us we should watch. Pastor Louie Giglio is featured in two movies that piggy back each other. Last night we saw, "Dare to Dream: Indescribable," which is sort of the prequel to "How Great is our God." We were blown away by the message and in absolute awe of how great our God truly is and how small we, and our petty problems truly are. If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend it.

Our weekend experience was perfectly culminated this morning as I drove to work over McClain Flats. I looked over at Snowmass and the Rocky Mountain peaks behind it and saw an amazing scene of orange and yellow leaves capped in snow at the peaks. Our God truly is great...and we feel so blessed to live in an area where we get to enjoy the beauty of his greatness on a regular basis.

Love and Blessings,

Becca and Bryant

Union Oyster House Clam Chowder, Modified Everett Style

As promised, you will find the recipe for my mom's clam chowder below. To be fair, she found this recipe at the Union Oyster House while traveling in Boston when I was a kid. She has modified it, and I have modified it further. As I mentioned before, this chowder is worth the effort and perfect for a fall day. Enjoy!

1/4lb salt pork or bacon (I have used both and prefer the bacon)
2 small onions - diced
1c butter
1c flour
1 large (51oz) can of clams
3 8oz jars of clam nectar
20 fresh clams (or however many you prefer)
2 pints half and half
2lbs potatoes, peeled and diced
salt and pepper to taste
dash of Tabasco
dash of worcestershire sauce
dash of Tony's Creole Seasoning

Brown bacon, and onion and cook until glassy. Add butter and heat until melted; add flour a gradually, stirring constantly with a whisk. Do not brown the rue. Add half and half, clams and juice. Stir slowly to avoid lumps. Add potatoes, Tabasco, worcestershire, and Tony's. Simmer until potatoes are soft. Add the fresh clams 10 minutes before serving and cook until they open. Serve with bread or in a bread bowl. Garnish with a dash of Tony's. ENJOY!

*I like to cook my potatoes on the side while prepping everything else so you don't have to simmer the soup as long.

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Fall, family, friends, Aspen, getting great news, a great Sunday sermon, hearty soup made in a slow cooker, the anticipation of snow, ski season and the holidays, hiking through golden yellow aspen trees on a cool fall afternoon...and on and on and on.

This week and weekend brought quintessential fall days to our lives. Over night Aspen went from a warm summer destination to a crisp and gorgeous fall getaway. The leaves changed so quickly this year that it surprised us all, and best of all, the golden leaves seem to be staying around longer than ever too.

Last week I made my mom's famous clam chowder and Bryant and I had Dave and Emily over to help enjoy it. It was so yummy and brought back a rush of memories from my childhood. For the most part, I stuck to the recipe, but changed 2 things: I added 2 more jars of clam nectar and about a tbs of Tony's creole seasoning in addition to the Tabasco sauce called for in the recipe. Because we don't keep many family secrets on the Everett side, I will try to remember to post the recipe for you to try. It is worth every minute of effort you put into it!

This week was pretty slow at work, so I continued my intense studying for my real estate exam. So far, I have passed all quizzes and practice exams on my first try. Everyone I have talked to (who have taken then test in the last 10 years) says it is the hardest exam they have ever taken, so I am a little nervous. My goal is to finish the entire exam process and have my license in hand by the first of the year. Please pray for me and my efforts as test taking has never been a strong point for me.

On Friday night Bryant and I met up with Trev, Amy Jo and the Bridges family at the Basalt homecoming football game to watch Karsyn Jo and her best friend, Gracie Bridges perform with the dance team at half time. With no Aunt B bias, I have to say, Kar Jo was the BEST dancer out there! :) She did a great job, and both mom and Aunt B were so proud of her! Amy Jo and I are both having a hard time getting used to the fact that neither Basalt nor Aspen have cheerleaders, only dance teams. At least their dance programs have a lot of talent. However, I think it takes away from the Friday night football experience.

After the game, we enjoyed a night on the couch with Mali. As Bryant watched college football, I cuddled with Mali and watched the Sex and the City movie on his laptop. I have to say, the movie was so good! Every woman should watch it. Have your girlfriends over for a girls night and laugh and cry together.

Saturday we got a late start getting out of the house, but took the dogs (we were watching Mali's boyfriend, Hudson) to Glenwood Canyon to hike the Hanging Lake trail. I have wanted to do this hike for sometime, but alas, as soon as we had the dogs out and on their leashes, a group drove by and let us know, to our dismay that dogs aren't allowed on the trail. We decided to let them play in the Colorado river for a while, which was a blast for them, and hilarious for us. They are so competitive with each other that they would almost drown the other dog in an effort to get the stick to shore first. They are just like little kids. Because we couldn't hike, we took the dogs to town and did a smaller hike up Smuggler Mine Road. The fall colors were breathtaking, and because we were in Aspen, we had to stop by Paradise Bakery and get icecream too. Yum.

Sunday we went to church and again, met up with the fam. Church was so great. One of our staff pastors spoke (as Steve was out of town) on the vine and branches. No matter how many times you have heard those verses, they are always powerful. Sunday afternoon we hiked to Cathedral lake with the whole family. Bryant gets the Bruncle of the year award as he carried and listened to Khloe Gabby nearly the entire hike. We don't call her Gabby simply because her middle name is Gabriel. That girl can talk. And talk. And talk... The hike is 7 miles round trip and all of the girls and Tait did awesome! I was so proud of them!

The fall colors, again, were amazing! We got to the lake and the guys tried to fish, with no avail. I think the water was too cold for them to move! We passed people coming down as we were hiking up who said they got snowed on at the lake. Brrrrrrrrrrrr. As much as I love the snow and look forward to it every fall, it is also hard to say goodbye to not wearing coats and boots every time you walk outside.

So, that is our weekend in a nutshell. So many of my favorite things. Thanks to those of you who read our stories. We sure love sharing them with you, and would love hear yours too.

For pictures of our exciting weekend adventures, see the photo album links on the upper right hand side of the page.

All the best...and happy harvest season.

Becca, Bryant and Mali Burger

An Amazing Week!

We had an incredible experience in Cabo last week. The resort was like nothing I have seen or experienced. Bryant knows a great couple who bought a house he built last year. They offered their 4 bedroom condo to us for a week at Esperanza Resort. Our good friend's Dave and Emily were able to come as well, which made the condo feel a little less huge. Despite 2 days of a tropical storm (housekeeping had to put sandbags at the base of the door leading out to our deck due to the rain) we had an incredible time. The spa was the best I have ever visited. They have outdoor showers and the treatment I got was amazing. We met a great group from Arkansas and hung out with them at the pool bar several afternoons.

Needless to say, it was hard to come home and get back to work.

I have posted the pictures from my camera on the list to the right, and will put Emily's up as soon as I get them from her.

Buenos Dias!

B,B & B

Esperanaza!? What?!

Over the past few weeks I had a feeling my husband had something up his sleeve for our anniversary. He was acting a little fishy, but I just couldn't put my finger on why.

Yesterday at lunch he started asking me about my schedule next week. I said it was the same as any other, a few appointments, but it isn't too busy.

The he dropped this bomb shell..."Good, because we are going to spend the next week at Esperanza Resort in Los Cabos!" What?! Are you kidding me?

I am truly the most blessed wife on earth. I didn't think he would be able to top last year, but he did it again.

So, tomorrow night we head to Denver with our good friends, David and Emily Garaffa, and we fly out Sunday morning to paradise...

Time.

Today, my youngest niece started kindergarten. It seems like yesterday, it was the summer I was living in San Diego and working at the Sheraton and Khloe was born. So often children wish their youth away, I know I did at times. They can't wait to get out on their own so they can start "doing whatever they want." (quote from Khloe Everett last week) But, then you get to an age when you realize that time goes by faster and faster every year...can you tell I am approaching another birthday?

When I reflect on this last year I can't believe how fast it has gone. Bryant and I are just over a week away from our one year anniversary. This time last year, we were planning all of the last minute wedding details and welcoming family and friends to town.

This year has been an absolute adventure. We went to Italy and Croatia for our honeymoon, road tripped to Washington for Christmas and played hard in Colorado this the rest of the time. I love being married, and I especially love being married to Bryant. I feel so blessed to have met such an amazing man who daily reminds me of how exciting life can be.

So, as I embark on my 27th year, I am grateful for where I am in life right now, for where I have been, and for where Bryant and I will go together...

Crested Butte or Bust 2008!

Bryant and I had an incredible weekend hiking to Crested Butte from Aspen with a group of friends. Despite discouraging weather early Saturday morning, we were blessed with an incredible day. It was absolutely perfect.

We met at 6:00am and drove together to the Maroon Bells trail head, about 20 minutes outside of Aspen. We loaded up our gear and headed out of the parking lot around 7:00am with high hopes, but the weather looked pretty gloomy. About 100 yards out of the parking lot, the lightening was so close, you could feel the electriciy in the air and the thunder rattled into your bones. We decided to wait it out for a little bit. On our way back to the shelter, the hail pounded our heads and backs. We waiting about 20 minutes until we had a window of opportunity and gave it a second chance. By 7:30 we were on our way! About 1/2 mile into the hike the hail started pounding us again, so we took shelter under a big tree. After this storm let up, not a single drop of hail or rain fall the rest of the day. It was really amazing.

We hiked through some of the most incredible country I have ever seen. From Crater Lake to the exposed saddle on top of West Maroon, the views were spectacular. This was by far the most amazing scenery I have even seen on a hike.

The wildflowers deserve their own paragraph. Due to the huge snowpack we had last winter, the ground is still pretty soggy in areas, but the wildflowers are absolutely incredible! We were surrounded by meadows of color almost the entire hike.

Emily Garaffa (who is preggers) offered to pick us up at the trailhead on the Crested Butte side. We made the 45 minute drive into town and found our little Victorian house in town. I found this house on www.vrbo.com, which is my new favorite site for vacation rentals. It was very quaint and only 1 block from downtown Crested Butte.

Sunday we walked around the farmer's market in CB and made the 3 hour trip home.

We had such an incredible weekend. You can enjoy our pictures by clicking on our picture gallery on the right.

Squeaky Clean

I was walking to the post office yesterday and stopped by Bryant's office to say hi to him and Mali. As I walked into the office, Mali came out from under his desk, covered in dirt and filth. We had company coming in from Chicago, so I took her to Barking Beauties, 2 doors down from Bryant's office. These are pictures of how beautiful she looked when she was finished. Squeaky Clean.