What will September bring?

Hopefully a baby!! Along with her arrival I'm excited to hopefully: have no heartburn! paint my toes without it being awkward, a comfortable position to sit, wear my normal clothes, hips that don't hurt and fingers that don't swell... Etc. But mainly the no heartburn.

35 weeks

36 weeks

Her room is ready (except for the curtains my mom is making). I made one last trip to target and got the last few things I registered for that I think I'll need. I've had a lot of time this summer so everything is washed and put together. I had 2 baby showers last month and got so much stuff! At the one here I mostly got clothes and the one in Boise I got a ton of diapers. Thank goodness because those are necessary things!

At the baby shower in Twin- all the bows they made for Aizy :)

Our grass is in and looks so good! Paul has done a great job with it and it looks like a lawn! We also got a water softener so this place is becoming a home :)

September brings football season, Paul's fall love (wake boarding is his summer love). I don't mind the games but I don't get into it like he does- it is about the only time he really gets worked up. Aizy is due the day before BSU's first home game. Since he has tickets to the games, he'll go but I told him if I start having contractions he has to stop what he is doing and come home ASAP! My mom had long labors so I expect to as well.

She's due 20 days from today and I'm not sure what else to do with myself. My list of things to do is completed for the most part. I always want to scrapbook, maybe I'll get some of that done!

These days

4th of July weekend- Annie has a watermelon and Retha and I look like we do!

Since the trek I have been spending lots of time organizing. Kitchen cupboards, dresser drawers, spare closets, etc. there were lots of things that I kept saying, "I'll do it later," and later finally arrived! I've done some crafts and baking. I figured out how to use the program mom got me for Christmas and used it to cut vinyl lettering for a decoration in the baby's room.

Before

After

Paul's parents bought a boat 4th of July weekend so we've done that quite a few times. Paul LOVES wakeboarding.

For our anniversary present (i cant believe it will be 3 years on Monday!!) we got a new bedroom set and TV console from Costco (great prices!) That lead to a lot of rearranging taking place and things getting moved to the basement.

My mom came to town and she is going to make curtains for the baby's room. Summer is here and has been for a few days. She went up to girls camp with me Wednesday night. Thursday we went to Hands On and got our creative juices flowing. We went camping Friday night and boating Saturday. She also helped me make homemade bagels for the first time and they are quite yummy! We are doing another craft today and then there's a get together tonight for Becca and Greg, and Jared who are all leaving us this week :( i've kept her busy!

Summer Vacation to CA & trek

So much has happened in the month that school's been out! We started the summer off by a girls only trip to California. Brittney, Summer, Mom, and I drove to Hemet and spent some time in Orange, too.

We started the trip out camping up near Idyllwild, CA for the weekend.
We did some hiking while we were up there which helped prepare me for the trek! We did about a 3 mile hike and stopped at this beautiful pond at the top.
We did some shooting, too.

(This one's only a pellet gun-25 weeks pregnant)

After a weekend of camping, we stayed a few days at Grandma and Grandpa's in Hemet. We did some serious shopping! The trunk was already full and at that point I wasn't sure if everything would fit for the trip home.

Then we went to Uncle Derek and Aunt Melissa's for a few more days. We went to Huntington Beach with Uncle Derek, but it was only in the high 60's.

The next day we went to Disneyland with Uncle Josh.

After a little over a week we loaded Mom's car back up and drove back home!

We got back to town on Saturday night and Monday my friend, Brooke, came to see me before she moved! We went to Shoshone Falls and there was so much water going over! It was beautiful.

Thursday after that Paul and I left for the trek our stake was having. It was a "mini-trek" because we just went into the South Hills but it was a great experience.
Neither Paul nor I were exactly thrilled to go but it was wonderful. I learned so much about the Pioneers and only have a tiny tiny understanding of what they sacrificed.

The End of the Year

Over Memorial Day weekend I went to Boise and Paul stayed home to work on the yard- but the weather didn't cooperate very well. I got a crack in my windshield from road construction on the way there and now it's a huge crack! More than 12 inches- I'm not happy about it. My mom and I did some baby shopping (Dad's going to have to give her a limit!) Brittney and I saw the newest Pirates movie, which was good! But would have been better NOT sitting in the 2nd row next to a man who smelled of cigarette smoke... ew!

(23 weeks pregnant but you can't tell in this one- I like this picture haha)

I came back to 2 1/2 days of school. Tuesday we had our awards ceremony and ice cream party. Wednseday was Freedom Day; we walked to CSI and played at Frontier Field. I got the first sunburn of the season yesterday! Today was a 1/2 day and I had my students pack up and load my room for me :) My room is empty, empty, empty and my car is full, full, full!

Whatever will I do with myself now, you may ask? I have no idea and I'm ok with that! Well, in a week Mom, Brittney, Summer and I are driving to California for a while to see the family down. Then at the end of the month Paul and I are going on the Trek with our stake. After that, however, I have no plans until a baby comes in Septermber :)
(23 1/2 weeks prego but you can sure see it in this one!)

(baby bedding, no mattress yet but I couldn't wait!)

Mother's Day

This year for Mother's Day, Paul had a reason to need to get me a gift. Last year he bought me a table I wanted and Mother's Day was the excuse to give it to me.

On Tuesday, Paul came home from work and asked me what was wrong with my phone. He had tried to call me and it didn't work, so he said, "You try calling me." Well, I tried and it didn't work. I assumed I was sitting in a bad spot but I was rather absorbed in my book and didn't think much of it. Then he was complaining about how it wasn't working and tossed me a new phone :-) Silly boy had gone and switched my service and tricked me. So, my mother's day gift was a new phone. On Sunday there was a card and a stuffed animal on the counter for me when I woke up- so thoughtful.

I said to him, "You should make us some pancakes while I do my hair." I pulled out the batter and told him you mix it with water, spray the pan, and cook the pancakes. When I came out, this is what I found:

"What in the world..?!" "Well it was runny so I added more to make it thicker." I laughed so hard, I didn't know you could mess up pancakes. I ate most of this one, but he left it on the other side too long and it became a little crispy. The other one he made was much too black for my liking. It was the thought that counts!

Thursday was my ultrasound and... it's a girl!! She kept her hands up by her face the whole time and rocked and even rolled over while we were trying to determine her gender.


My mom was here this weekend, with Summer, and we registered for baby things. My work is having a shower for me in a couple of weeks and I had no idea what to register for. We walked up and down Target and she said, "Oh scan that." or "You'll need a few of things." I just pointed and clicked! She's very excited to have a granddaughter!

Baby bump and more

I never did post how I told my parents and sisters that Paul and I were expecting. It was my parents anniversary and they were driving through Twin on their way back from Salt Lake. They stopped and I gave them a card with a copy of the ultrasound in it (the 8 week one) and said that they might not be able to see the family resemblance yet, but in September they might! Then I had them open the gifts, and take the ones home for Brittney and Summer.

Summer's says "World's Coolest Aunt, "Dad's says "Grandpa in Training," Mom's says "Grandma...coming soon," and Brittney's says "Aunt- the only job I need!"

I haven't been good at taking the weekly pictures like I wanted. I've been wearing loose shirts to cover up what looks like a large Thanksgiving meal, so it was hard to find a day where the shirt actually showed what was going on. When I went in at 12 weeks the doctor said he wouldn't be surprised if I went another 6 weeks without needing maternity pants and so far he's right (I'm 17 weeks, so I plan to pass his 6 week expectation.) I may just be carrying too high to really need new pants yet.

This is me at 14 weeks...

This is me at 17 weeks... (it's not a great picture- can you tell I haven't been tanning?!)

Today 2 of my students came up and gave me a gift bag. It's not teacher appreciation day so I assumed it was for the baby and I was right. I peaked in the bag before school started and saw fabric, I thought maybe some cute sheets. But when I opened it during recess (while they were there) it was a quilt! They had made it together. It's so darling and so sweet of them. Those 2 are great girls! :-)

Paul and I are really excited to start this new part in our life. I'm excited to not have to get up with an alarm anymore (I realize a baby is an alarm of it's own kind, but it's different!) I told Paul yesterday that I had been feeling the baby, on the inside, and he said, "WHAT!? Why didn't you tell me sooner!" But I really hadn't been sure that's what it was... I'm still not positive because everyone describes it as a flutter and that's not how I would describe it. I'm pretty sure I've been feeling the baby move for about a week now.

My next appointment and ultrasound is May 5, and then we'll get to see if it's a girl or a boy! Naturally, I'm hoping it's a girl and Paul hopes it's a boy. But it'll be loved just the same, no matter what!

Monday & Tuesday in the Big Apple

I forgot to mention that Sunday after dinner we walked around Times Square a bit. We went into the world's largest Toys R Us and a 4 story Forever 21. Brittney and I are in the top windows, I'm on the right and she's on the left. I love Barbie... (well I used to.)

Monday was rainy and not pleasant weather. We started the day by hopping on the double decker red bus at Times Square and doing the south loop. We drove past the Empire State Building, Chinatown and Little Italy. We stopped to do a little shopping at Union Square and ate lunch at a Whole Foods. We got back on the bus and drove by Ground 0, Battery Park (but it was too foggy to see the Statue of Liberty).

That night we ate dinner at an Italian restaurant called Beco. Mom, Brittney, and I went to "Phantom of the Opera" and Annie and Mary Ann went to "Catch Me If You Can." Phantom was so good! It was like the movie, but on stage. I was very impressed with their effects and backdrops.

Tuesday the weather was much better! We went to the Top of the Rock and had a great view of NYC.

We took a taxi to Lincoln Square and saw the temple, which is hard to distinguish from other buildings except for the angel on the top! Hannah, Paul's cousin, met us for lunch and we did some exploring. We went to Central Park and saw the Belvedere Castle, which used to be a meteorological look out. There was an exhibit going on but guess what? It was only open Wednesday-Saturday! Bummer, but it was still a neat view.

After Central Park we took our 1st subway ride! Hannah had to be at a rehearsal so the other 5 of us got off at Battery Park to see Lady Liberty. We didn't go all the way out there because it takes a few hours and there were lots of sights to see! We left Battery Park, hopped on the subway, and headed back north towards our hotel. We made it to the Grand Central Station stop and then tried to make it to Times Square. Opps... we got on the subway headed the wrong way. We ended up in Queens. If you look at a map, you'll see that Queens isn't even on the right island!!

So we had to hurry up and down the other side to get to Times Square. Brittney and Annie wanted to get ready and the rest of us just needed to change. We let Annie, Brittney, and Mary Ann to take the first cab. Mom and I took the second (some taxi drivers would take all 5, but not when we needed them to most!) Mom and I beat them by about 2 minutes because our cabie was CRAZY! Mom had to close her eyes and remind herself to breathe. I think he went 40 down Broadway, which involved a great amount of weaving.

For dinner that night we went to Club 21. The play that night was Wicked. All other plays start at 8. But guess what?! Not Wicked on Tuesday nights!! So we got there at 7:35 and the play had started at 7. Needless to say, no one was happy. Why didn't we look at our tickets? I do not know. Anyways, the play was awesome!