This summer my husband and I will be welcoming a beautiful baby girl! And as much as we want her to be here already, we are truly enjoying the journey because these are nine special months we want to treasure as much as possible.

So here are a few things Paul and I have done to enjoy our time as expecting parents.

Celebrate!
I'll never forget the day we had our first ultrasound.  Soon as we left the doctor's office, we treated ourselves to lunch at Perry's Steakhouse.  Not saying it was a huge celebration, but it was all we could do on a Friday during lunch before heading back to work.  But trust me, we'll never forget that lunch as it officially marked the beginning of a new and wonderful chapter in our lives.

Go on dates to baby-friendly places
Rather than looking for hip bars Downtown or hitting the best happy hours around, we now seek restaurants with nice, outdoor patios and family-friendly settings we can envision bringing Baby Coffman to this summer.  Crisp in the Heights, for example, is ideal for a Sunday brunch after church.  It offers a cozy patio, lots of shade and the most delicious sage sausage and provolone hashbrowns.

We've also picked Barnaby's Cafe off Shepherd as a future Coffman family outing for their delicious breakfast menu which includes fresh, hand-squeezed orange juice and my all-time favorite 'green eggs', plus they allow dogs on the patio!  You can't beat that!  Just make sure to get there before 10 a.m. to beat the long wait.

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I ran into this post last week, and it got me thinking about the characteristics of my now-husband, and how I quickly knew I wanted to keep him forever.

1.  He treats my parents with utmost respect.  When he first met them, he didn't know a single word in Spanish, nor did my parents in English, but through the years Paul has gone above and beyond to show them the gentleman he is, how much he cares for me, and how appreciative he is to be part of the family.

2.  He treats my friends like his own.  He is genuine and fun, and always there to lend a helping hand, whether it's for his friends or mine.

3.  He loves dogs.  I knew whoever I married had to love my dog just as much as I did -- nonnegotiable.  Not only does he love my dog, but also Ruckus who joined our family last fall.


4.  He is an amazing cook.  He can cook just about anything, but no one comes close to him when it comes to cooking steaks and smoking brisket!

5.  He plans for the future.  While you can't predict the future, you can sure plan for it financially, and my husband has done that to a T.

6.  He takes responsibility for his actions.  He'll never whine or complain, nor will he blame anyone else for anything that happens to him.  He holds himself accountable for every action he takes and it's consequences, and for that I admire him.

7.  He supports my every dream and ambition - From winning my first Lone Star Emmy to my dreams of writing a book and opening my own PR firm, he supports me in all AND cheers me on.



8.  He knows how to dance! Luckily I discovered his great dancing moves the first night I met him, and danced to 'Shout'.

9.  He knows how to make me laugh every day. - Even if I'm in tears or ready to pull my hair after a stressful day, he always manages to make me burst out in laughter.



10.  He loves me and all my little quirks.  I tend to make up my own words (fuzzy, shiznay, mother-A), and dance whether anyone is looking or not, and I refuse to mix flavors when I eat, among a few other quirks.  But he loves me just like that, lucky me!

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We've been married and living together for nearly three months now, and we've yet to hang up any pictures, art or decor on our walls - nothing.  In fact, there's still a few unopened boxes here and there, and we avoid the garage at all costs since there's still furniture waiting there.

But as bare as our walls may be and as mismatched as our furniture is, it still has that warm cozy feeling every time we walk in.  It's not the decorations, or the family pictures or the furniture that make a place 'home'.  It's the people that live in it, and in our case, the DOGS!

We are a family of four, for now.  When kids come along, it'll be four plus 1, 2 or how ever many children we have.  If you're a dog lover like us, you'll understand how these amazing creatures become a part of your family because nothing beats fumbling to unlock your front door and hearing their paws scrambling down the stairs racing to greet you after a long day at work.  Or taking road trips with the dogs eager to take the front passenger seat!




Or best of all, simply enjoying a relaxing Sunday afternoon with your dogs bumming out on the sofa alongside you and your love.



If you have a dog waiting for you at home, make sure to let them know how much you love their furry faces!  Because without them, your house would really be empty.

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Just 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela you will find this beautiful island, six miles wide and 19 miles long, featuring crystal blue waters, soft sand, rich culture and the happiest people you'll ever meet.  There's no wonder their slogan is 'ARUBA, one happy island'.

We stayed in Oranjestad the first couple of nights, which is the downtown area of the island.  There you get to appreciate the Dutch-influenced architecture, indulge in exquisite seafood and even gamble at the casinos.  And if you stay at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, you get free access to their private island where you'll get to hang out with the flamingos!




 The rest of our trip we spent it in what can only be described as little heaven on earth - Palm Beach, Aruba.




Nearly three miles of crystal blue water, soft sand, captivating sunsets and lots of happy hour!  Our favorite bar was The Beach Bar.  They had happy hour from 12 to 4 pm and then AGAIN from 7 to 9pm. Who can say no to delicious mango-piña coladas for $4?!  Not us!!!

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• Take a road trip with my favorite girls  

• Have a Martini night (dirty martinis, appletinis, lemon drop martinis, you name it!) 
• Take a picture in front of that Austin 'I love you' sign

• Go back to Dizzy Rooster where I met Paul and have a pineapple malibu (the drink he bought me)

• Dance until my feet hurt
• Revisit with our dogs the spot on Galveston Beach where Paul proposed
• Have a Friends and Parks & Rec marathon with my siblings

• Lose 5 lbs
• Spend an entire day relaxing - simply relaxing
• Meet J.J. Watt!

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The moment he gets down on one knee and says those four little words (Will you marry me?) is absolutely magical, and you'll want to remember it forever. But the truth is, soon as you respond Yes!!!!! time will fly by so fast all these moments leading up to your I DOs can become a blur.  So keep the following tips in mind, and remember the journey is just as important as the destination so cherish being engaged just as you would being married.

I said Yes! on August 24, 2013

Take a trip
Even if it's a simple one-day getaway or a whole weekend, just hit the road.  He loves you with all his heart and knows soon as a date is set, you'll disappear in all the wedding planning madness. So give him your undivided attention, he deserves it!

We took off to New Orleans the weekend following the proposal, and it was perfect.  It gave us the opportunity to reflect on our 3+ years of dating, plus get the inside scoop on all the details leading up to my proposal, including how he asked my parents in the Valley for my hand in marriage in his broken Spanish!

Newly-engaged trip to New Orleans

Forget your wedding plans 
Not forever, obviously, but for a few days or weeks and E-N-J-O-Y being engaged.  Flaunt your ring, get a manicure, meet up with your girlfriends, especially if they're engaged too, and soak in all the excitement that comes with this new chapter in your life.

Coming up in September 2014, future Mrs. Key

Get off Pinterest
I actually got off that same day and didn't log back on until a month ago.  Pinterest is amazing, BUT it can also be overwhelming.  There will be a gazillion things you'll want to Pin from color combinations to dresses to centerpieces and much more.  But for now, focus on the present, your recent engagement.

AVOID! Temporarily

Continue to date your fiance!
Yes you will be spending everyday with him for the rest of your life, but that doesn't mean you stop dating him in the meantime!  With all the wedding planning to be done, he's going to feel a bit left out.  He may not voice it for fear of getting assigned a wedding task, but I'm sure he misses spending good quality time with you where flowers, music, decorations, and catering aren't part of the conversation.  So go on a date with him and leave the wedding talk at home!

My date tonight, my forever tomorrow.

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