It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

I have been waiting for this last weekend for a very long time now. And I'm sure you all know why......

Remember how I'm a nerd? And I read these books over and over again and never get tired of them? Oh yeah, me too.  I have been counting down the days until November 19th since I heard that was the release date.  And I'll just say this, I was not disappointed.  And I even cried at the end. But I'm not going to say any more than that.

Second: Yesterday Erik and I went with some friends of ours to cut down our own Christmas tree!  Erik and I have sworn for the rest of our lives we will get a real tree because we love them so much, so what better way than to go out and cut it down yourself?  So we loaded up early yesterday morning and set off for Cameron, just outside of Flagstaff.  We had the boys in one car and the girls in another which was full of lots of girl talk and singing to Christmas songs.  Erica and I traded off driving, and lets just say I have a lead foot just like my mom:

 (Actually my parent's speedometer is broken on their tahoe, I'm not that daring)

Erik and I had to search for a while until we found the perfect tree, the "Douglas" for this year.  After lots of searching, and many maybes, we finally found him.  So Erik grabbed the saw and got to work.

He's not as full as last year's Douglas, but we still love him.  We are so happy that we got him so soon, more time to enjoy him!

After we cut down our Christmas trees, we stopped by the local Indian stand for some Navajo Tacos.  They were soooo good! Mine just had beans and cheese so it wasn't as big as Erik's, which was massive.

Erica and Albert brought Ruby, and she was so much fun as always.  I love this picture of the two of them, and it just proves how Erik is going to be such a good dad.

And then I see this picture and all of my fears and anxieties and stresses are confirmed that I am going to be a terrible mother!  Maybe it will all change when it's your own child (I hope).

 (P.S.... like my earmuffs?)

And then I just had to add this picture because I thought the name was so funny.  It was a stocking hanging at the fireplace at the restaurant, and I thought the name "Delfred" was hilarious.  I couldn't get enough.

(Sorry if you know anybody named Delfred.....)

We hope you enjoyed your weekend, and as are excited about Christmas as we are!

I'm excited for this weekend....

But I'm not going to tell you why, just yet.

:)

P.S.They started playing Christmas music on the radio today.  I am a happy person.

October's Events

***Warning: Picture Overload***

October has been such a fun month, its such a shame I haven't blogged about it until now.  Lucky you, you get it all in one big massive post!

October is breast cancer month and every year my family does the breast cancer walk in Phoenix.  My very special Grammy is in her 5th year of remission, so she is officially a SURVIVOR! She has fought so hard and we are so proud of her! We do all of his for her.  The whole family:

Erik and I after the walk. We nailed that 1 mile family fun walk.

The next week my mom, sisters and I went to Time Out For Women in Phoenix.  It was Friday night and all day Saturday so my wonderful dad got us a hotel room for the night so we made it a whole girls weekend! Even though I see these girls almost every day, we haven't had a whole trip like this in such a long time it was so great to be able to spend time with them.  This picture was taken right before my mom fell off the bed, many laughs and many wet pants (which weren't mine! It runs in the family I tell you!).

This year I also went back and cheered at the Mesa High homecoming game with all of the alumni.  Let me tell you this much, it is not as easy as it once was. 

It was so great getting to see all of the girls again, especially this girl!

My family goes to the state fair every year, mainly to watch the demolition derby.  I was so involved in the derby I forgot to take pictures.  But the day was full of indian fry bread, eating fudge, and watching Ruby cry petting the animals. 

This year my family decided to throw in a little competition with our pumpkin carving and we had a contest.  Erica won with her Dwight Schrute carving.  

Here's Erik and me with our pumpkins:

Mine, anxiously awaiting the arrival of Jude-Man

And Erik's, as always keeping up with what is going on in the world today

Erik and I (mainly Erik) planned a Halloween party on Friday with a bunch of our friends.  It turned out a lot better than expected and was a lot of fun! Here's us in our Halloween costumes. Me: Buddha.  Erik: it's a surprise. :)

Here's part of the group, the ones that were able to gather for the picture:

The party consisted of lots of games, throwing screw drivers at Jacob Black, and twister:

Erik worked so hard on his costume, and I thought it turned out so good! 10 points if you know who he is by this picture:

20 points if you know who he is by this hint:

Anyone get it???

Leave a comment if you know who he is!!

We hope you all had a good October and a Happy Halloween!!

I'm pregnant, don't judge

 

Today I wore my slippers to Target.  Well it started with me wearing them at work, and then to Target.  Because I haven’t shaved in who knows how long and the weather is cooling down, I have taken a liking to wearing tights every day.  So I slipped on my favorite stretchy black dress that is oh so comfy and fits very nicely over the baby bump, and threw on my argyle tights (yesterday was hounds tooth day).  I thought I would try dressing things up and put on some red heels, and then quickly regretted it as I was walking into my office.  Those shoes are hardly bearable when I’m not pregnant.  Well lucky me, I’ve started bringing my slippers to work (it helps me believe that the weather is cold outside). I only wear them when my feet are under my desk, and anytime I get up I put whatever shoes I’m wearing that day back on. That way the boss will never know.

During my lunch break I decided to go down the street to Target to look at baby clothes and to find a shirt for my Halloween costume (which I’m not telling you what I’m going to be, you have to wait and see!).  I decided to take my slippers with me.  So for a whole 45 minutes I walked around Target in my “business attire”, and wearing my slippers.  I got many funny looks from people, but I just gave them a look right back that said “I’m pregnant, don’t judge”.

**Side note: I hit 29 weeks pregnant yesterday! Picture coming later of my ever growing belly**

random story for today

When my mom was pregnant with us she chewed ice all the time.  It kind of carried on into when we were growing up as well.  I chewed ice all through junior high and high school, I could never get enough (that was my mormon addiction).  Although when Erik and I got married, he quickly put a stop to that bad habit.  He always tells me that the first work that he is going to do as a dentist is not going to be fixing my teeth from my addicted days.

But now that I am pregnant I completely understand what my mom was talking about when she said that she just had to have her ice while she was pregnant and that nothing else could substitute.  I don’t want it like I used to, I NEED it now.  I am blessed to have one of the best ice machines at work, and I fill my 32 oz cup with ice at least 4 times a day.  Erik tries to stop me now all the time by taking my ice away from me, but when I get that crazy look in my eyes and say slowly “GIVE.ME.MY.ICE”, he has learned to oblige.

The other night I was at my parent’s house while Erik was at school because I don’t like being home alone, it scares me.  I bribed my mom into going to Sonic with me to get ice, and because she’s the best she came along for the ride.  While I was there I decided to get one bag for my house and one bag for hers so they can have good ice too (and so that I can have good ice when I go over). Shockingly, I left my bag of ice in her freezer when I left that night.

So last night when I was at my parent’s house, again because Erik had school, I remembered my ice! I put it in the back seat of my car and drove home….and went straight inside. My precious ice stayed in the back seat of my car all night.  I finally remembered at about 6 o clock this morning, right after my leg cramp went away.  I quickly jumped up, threw whatever clothes I could find on (which ended up being Erik’s sweatpants and the dress I wore to work yesterday), and ran out to my car.  I thought I was going to find the plastic bag sitting there in a huge puddle of water.  I thought my car was going to stink horribly, and I was going to have to do some serious repairs for weeks to get it back to normal.  Instead when I threw the back door open, I found my bag of ice still sitting there completely frozen.  It had lasted through the whole night without melting.

Fall is here :)

26 weeks

I had planned on posting a picture last week, I promise.  Things got a little crazy and before I knew it I'm at 26 weeks.  First I would like to say how grateful I am to have such an amazing family in my life.  My sister and brother and law, Erica and Albert, have been going through a hard time and have just suffered a great loss.  My heart reaches out to them, and I wish I could do so much more because words never feel like they are enough.  My sister has shown great strength, and I look up to her more than she knows.  She has always been the one that has had to endure what the rest of us know we could not.  She is such an amazing mother, wife, sister, daugther and friend, and any one who is blessed to know her would say the same.

I'm getting towards the end of my second trimester, and I am definitely feeling it.  It's amazing how I will read about other women who are pregnant and hardly have back pain or soreness, and go to the gym 3 times a week.  I can barely make it from the couch to the bathroom without getting out of breath.  Heck to the no, you ain't getting me on a treadmill.  I have even successfully mastered the waddle.  I try so hard to walk normal, but when I have that massive pain that feels like there is a crank trying to pry my groin area open, its a little hard not to. I can start to feel the pressure of him constantly now, and he's not even 2 pounds.  I don't know what I'm going to do when he weighs more!

Last night I actually saw my stomach move when he did for the first time.  It was just a punch, but it was so weird seeing my stomach move as he did.  I have seen my stomach move so much since, and he has even punched a few times as I'm laying here.  I try to get Erik to come and watch, but everytime he tries to see it Jude decides he wants to take a break.  He's such a jokester, playing tricks on his dad just because he knows he's watching. 

My camera wasn't charged, so we had to take this picture on my phone.  Sorry for the fuzziness.  I feel like I look in the mirror and my stomach sticks out so much more, and then I see a picture and it doesn't look as big as it does in my head.  Nevertheless, I still think I look pretty big for only 26 weeks, but that's just me.

P.S.-Dear Jude,

I already love you so much and can't wait to meet you.  But, I would really appreciate it if you would stick your foot somewhere else besides in my ribs at 2 o'clock in the morning.  It would help me sleep, and probably make your day better too.  Plus, dad won't be so upset with us in the morning for tossing and turning all night.  Only 3 more months left and we get to see you. I started working on your bedroom this week and I think you're going to like it.  Dad has bought you a lot of cute clothes already, and he has them set up in your dresser ready for you to wear.  I think he's most excited to meet you, but he's a little nervous you won't like him (don't tell him I told you that).  Of course you and I know that you love me best, but you can pretend that you love him more.  It will be our little secret.  I love you so much my little Jude Man and I can't wait until Heavenly Father is ready to let you come and be mine. 

Love,
Mom

25 weeks

Today marks 25 weeks, its crazy how fast time is going! I don't have a picture to post today because the hard drive for Erik's computer crashed today (sad day), so I'll post it tomorrow.  This week he is a little over and pound and a half, and he is the size of a rutabaga.  What is a rutabaga you ask? I'm not sure you'll have to google it, but it looks like a potato-onion thing.  I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and she said that everything looked perfect! It is so great to hear those words come out of your doctor's mouth.  I was also super suprised when she told me I had only gained 15 pounds.  Excuse me what? She laughed a little bit and told me not to worry and that it was all baby weight.  Oh no, I'm not worried about gaining weight at all.  I was more shocked that I had only gained that much, because I eat like a cow! I'm basically the family garbage disposal! For instance, today alone I ate:

-4 pieces of toast-

-an entire sleeve of oreo's-

-3 pieces of pizza-

-about 15 strawberries (give or take a few)-

-about 2 potatoes-

-a salad-

-3 rolls-

-and about a gallon or so of water-

........................I think her scale was broken. 

But tomorrow I go in for another ultra sound, we're so excited! At my last ultra sound they told me that my placenta was looking lower than what it normally should be, which could result in placenta previa.  Normally I wouldn't have another ultra sound this soon, but they need to watch it to make sure it starts moving its way up.  When talking to my doctor she told me it was a 99.9% chance that I didn't have placenta previa because this is my first pregnancy and my placenta wasn't too low, but they always order the ultra sound to make sure.  So that means we get to see Jude again! He has been kicking more than usual, which I LOVE :).  He is starting to turn himself upside down now, so right now he is sideways (or so the doctor said).  About a week or so ago as he was trying to turn around, I got a nice punch in the groin.   I know Jude was just trying to make room for his growing body, but it caused me to not be able to walk straight! Erik had to help me out of the car and practically carry me inside.  Once I laid on the bed he sat next to me and brushed my hair and rubbed my back until I fell asleep because I was in so much pain.  When I asked the doctor what that pain could have been she just said that he is running out of space and he's not used to it, so he was trying to make room.  Meaning I got a nice left hook to the crotch, and a sleepless night.  But I'll do anything for my Baby Jude!