Surprise!

I've been extremely busy this week but, I thought I'd let you all know that my husband and I found out on Thursday that we're expecting another Girl! We are very excited and can't wait to welcome Arielle Marie-Grace to our family this April. Just 20 more weeks! We're halfway there!

Breast Cancer Walk: Brides Making Strides

So today was my 3k Breast Cancer walk. And before all the aches and pains set in I figured I'd let you all know how it went.A group of girls who I chat on a wedding message board with everyday decided we all wanted to do this together. These girls, although I haven't met them all in person yet, are the best girls ever. Each one is sweet and I am happy that I have them to talk to everyday. We're all very good friends and we're like a family on there. So it's no wonder why we'd all get together and do something for a good cause. Not everyone was able to make it but regardless we had a good turnout. Our team raised $1,650!

So the walk was held by Tempe Town Lake right down the street from ASU. It was a great turnout! So many people and groups there. Everyone was decked out in pink and cheering all along the way. It was good to see many women out there wearing sashes saying "survivor" on them there. They had so much enthusiasm!

We also found out that Tiffany LOVES to clap. Here she is clapping up a storm!

Top: Tiffany and I very excited to start! Bottom: Our new friend Sarah who brought me a sleeper for my new baby girl.

So the walk started at 8am and we were all very excited. I had never done a walk before and was very motivated for this one. My husband didn't believe I'd be able to make it since I'm 4 1/2 months pregnant... but I was surprised to find out that it wasn't as bad as I thought! I called him as soon as we were done and he was proud that I made it and I was proud that I suceeded in something that meant so much to me.


We talked along the way and it helped to pass time. It gave us a good chance to be girls, and mess around, and get to know eachother a lot better. And of course we had to stop and take pictures of us on our journey.

Here we are posing in the middle of the mountains.

Here we are in front of Tempe Town Lake, nearing the end of the walk.

Left to Right: Jenni, Nicole, Monika, Sarah.Lisa, Tiffany and I

Tiff's socks demonstrate how we felt when we were done.

So all in all it was a very good morning for us. By the time we were done we were hungry so some of us went to In n Out and got burgers. Who does that? Burgers after walking??? Well apparently us! It was goooood too!

Here we are resting afterward. We did it girls! Yay!

I wanna say Thanks to all the girls who participated or collected donations for us!

Jenni - Thanks for stepping up as team Captain and getting us all on board with this still.

Tiff - Thanks for being my carpool buddy/driver. I love you! Let's get ready for May!

Sarah - Thanks so much for the adorable sleeper! My husband and I truly appreciate it. It was good to finally meet you and get to know you!

Also a big thank you to everyone who donated on my behalf and supported me on this. And a big THANK YOU to my aunt Angelica who made a very generous donation for me! It meant the world to me and I'd like you to know that!

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Hi... I just wanted to let you know that my Mother and I will be walking with a group of girls on Saturday Nov 17 for the Breast Cancer walk they are holding at Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe, Arizona.

The money raised through Making Strides Against Breast Cancer helps the American Cancer Society fight breast cancer. Any donations big or small would be much appreciated. Please help me raise the money to find a CURE.

I hope you will support my efforts by making a donation on my behalf using my personal online fundraising page below. It's safe and simple. All you have to do is click the link below and follow the few easy steps. If you wish to donate in cash, let me know. Last year, 450,000 Making Strides participants raised $45 million ... and they did it one donation at a time. So, whether you're able to give $5 or $500, every bit truly does help.

Hope starts one dollar at a time. Hope starts with me. And hope can start with you.
Thank you in advance for any support you may be able to offer.

<3Michelle Duckworth

DONATE HERE

**Remember all donations are tax deductible**

Once again thank you so much for your help.

A Tribute

Tim McGraw - If You're Reading This (Already Home)

Birthday Wishes!

Today, I would to send birthday wishes to 3 very important people in my life. My mom turned... well she turned 30 today! 30... because my older brother is 29 already. Wow he caught up to her quick! Also my two cousins Valerie (14) and Alexis (15). It's funny to have 3 people on the same side of my family share a birthday. So happy birthday to you all! And many many more!

(Alexis as a baby)

Now I especially want to tell you about my cousin Alexis who turned 15 today. Here she is. Isn't she gorgeous?

Alexis holds a very special place in my heart. She's my little cousin, and she's my friend, but she's also so much more. I am 8 years older than her but I have also felt like she was a daughter to me. Yes, I understand that it would be quite impossible for her to be my daughter with such an age gap between us... but that's what I feel.

I have watched Alexis grow up to be a beautiful young lady. When she was little, she was my mini-me. We were ALWAYS together and she followed me everywhere. I never got tired of her. She did everything with me and I used to love dressing her like me. We matched a lot of the time. Pretty much we were inseperable. And of course I grew very attached to her.

By the time she hit her pre-teen years and I was a teenager... we didn't spend as much time together. But I always tried to make sure she knew I was there for her. I watched her accomplish many things. She has made me proud in so many ways. I don't know if she even knows this but she has.

I've watched her grow into her own person and discover who she is. She is beautiful both inside and out. She loves everyone and although she is quiet and reserved she has a heart of gold. I see her take care of her younger brother and sister and love them when most people wouldn't even want to put up with them. She loves her parents and you can tell by the look in her eyes. Ok so maybe her mom stalks her from windows with video cameras... but it's good to see she is rarely embarrassed by her parents. Once you realy get to know her you'd see that she is funny, loves to read and always has her head stuck in a book, she loves animals, she also enjoys watching scary movies which is something we definately have in common, and she truly just has a love for life.

So my baby, today on your "quinceañera", I wish you all the best that life can bring to you. You are a hard worker and I know that you will go far in this life without a doubt. It doesn't matter what you decide to do, you will succeed and make a difference. My life is better because of you... better because you are a part of my life. I want you to always know that I am here for you whenever you need anything. I love you more than words. Happy Birthday.

Love your cousin Michelle

Alexis and my aunt... the lady resposible for raising such a wonderful child

My New Pets

I've been dying for a puppy for some time now. But living with my parents has prohibited me from owning one. My daddy hates pets and won't let us bring a dog to the house. Even if I promise to take good care of it. So as we were walking out of the house two nights ago... my husband walked into the rocks in front of our house and caught me this!

I don't know how he saw it in the dark, in the rocks, and with him being sooooo tiny! He's no more than an inch and a half long including his tail! Growing up in Arizona we're used to these little lizards everywhere. Not a day goes by when we don't see a few. After he picked it up (Can you tell he grew up here in the desert? These suckers are quick and he's a pro at catching them.) he came over to me and said, "Baby, I got you a pet. He proceeded tp show it to me. I had no idea what he was even doing in the first place so I was scared at what he might show me. But it was a teeny tiny baby lizard.



I always have my camera on me so I immediately snapped the above picture!



We brought it into the house and remembering that my Brother-in-Law had an unopened brand new reptile tank... we went to his room and showed him my pet and he quickly got up to open the tank. My husband and his brother were like little kids putting the tank together and playing with the lizard... who I was calling "Tiny".



Soon my sister and nephew (my kids were in bed already) came over to see what all the commotion was about. My nephew was so curious to see what was in my husbands hand. So my husband holds out his hand to show him and the lizard jumps out of his hand and onto the floor. Panic broke out and my husband quickly picked up the lizard before we lost it under furniture. My nephew had us laughing so hard because he kept saying, "No I'm scared!" The best part was when he came over to me and said, "Tia, I'm scared... No! The dinosaur is gonna get me!" He had us in tears laughing so hard. So with that I decided to name him Dinosaur... Dino for short.

(This is Dino in his new habitat)

After he was all set up my husband decided that one was not enough and he went into the front yard and caught me another one. This one is regular sized and not as cute. But he did it for me and that's all that counts. Plus who finds so many lizards at 12:00 at night?

(This is T-rex... but I call him Rex for short)

So now I have two little pets courtesy of my husband Junior. I may not like creepy crawly things... but he sure does know how to make my day (or night in this case) because he thinks of me always. He said I wanted a pet and for now this was the best he could do. To go through all the trouble of setting up a home and catching them for me is incredible. I can't believe he he thought of me when he saw a baby lizard. He the best, more than I can ask for!

Baby Juan Jr Part II

I just can't get enough of this kid right now... so I'm sharing with you 2 of my favorite pictures from this weekend. WOW! Two posts in one day? I'm setting a personal record!

These are some little slippers I bought him while he was here this weekend. I LOVE them so much and he looked adorable in them!