25 weeks

Here's the 25 week baby belly. I feel like I'm really starting to get big.

Also, we got our crib yesterday!!...and I'm so excited to set it up. We'll have to wait until after the holidays though because the baby's room still has a lot of stuff that needs to be moved out before it has room for the crib. This is what it looks like though (only ours is in black):

Oh, and for those of you wondering, it's 5pm and I only have 2 more items to check off my to-do list. YAY!

We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and is able to relax and enjoy in whatever way you may be celebrating!

to- do list

Brett and I are leaving for a 2 week Christmas vacation on Saturday morning and I have quite the to-do list before we go.

Who thinks I can get all of this done tomorrow??

-3 loads of laundry (folded and put away)
-run to the bank to deposit checks
-check our mail (i have to go on campus to get our mail, so it's more than just a walk to the mailbox)
-pay bills
-clean out car
-vacuum
-sweep/mop bathrooms
-take out the trash
-throw out all leftovers from the fridge
-clean and put away dishes in the sink
-move out 3 residents from their townhouses
-take a 25 week prego picture and post :)
-begin packing
-AND have a Christmas movie date with a friend

We shall see...

Also, my hair is driving me nuts right now, so I'd like to get it trimmed before we go, but that's at the bottom of my to do list. We'll see if I get around to it.

Oh and in case you're wondering...yes, I am that person who has to have the entire house clean and in perfect condition before leaving on vacation. I just hate coming back to a messy home. It's an illness.

crib bedding

I love my mom. She has agreed to make my crib bedding since I haven't been able to find ANYTHING I like in the stores. Everything is too themed for me...animals, abc's, trucks, planes...they just don't do it for me. So, I went out today to find fabric and am so excited with my picks (not to mention that it was all on sale).

I was planning on going with black, white and cream and then sprucing it up with more colorful accessories, but then I found this fabric and couldn't resist.

Thanks, mom! :)

pregnancy dreams

Ok, I seriously had one of the WEIRDEST dreams last night. I will spare you all the details (believe me, you don't want to know) and get straight to the weird part. . .

Our baby came out of me in a box - like a box a doll would come in, with a window screen and everything. And apparently we were blessed with a "Deluxe Version" baby...or so it said on the box. This "Deluxe Version" included a little hat, pierced ears (what??), socks & shoes, and an ID bracelet. No clothes... but, whatever.

Chalk it up as weird pregnancy dream #3. In the first one, I gave birth to our baby at 14 weeks and she was fine...very small, but fine. And yes, I said "she." Because when I had that dream, we didn't yet know we were having a boy. The second one included me giving birth to a baby whale.

Sweet dreams, everyone. Sweet dreams.

ducks

and no, not the Oregon Ducks. The Civil War is over, people!

I'm now 23 weeks pregnant and realizing how quickly this little boy is going to be out of my belly and in my waiting arms. With that thought comes the realization that I better get moving on preparing for his sweet arrival. So. . .

My brain has been consumed with all things baby! I have done a self diagnosis and seem to have come down with a case of mommy madness. Seriously - I don't think there is a baby website, book, or magazine I haven't looked at. I have browsed through cribs, changing tables, strollers, carseats, and bedding, like there is no tomorrow. Funny thing is, I still haven't made a single decision on anything we want/need. I tend to be pretty picky and particular about what I want, and on top of that, I find myself thinking, "What if I find something better?" Which brings me to the next issue: the naming of this child. What a huge responsibility! Brett and I go in circle after circle discussing names and seem to get no closer to making a decision. Good thing we have a few months left, right?

I remember being like this when Brett and I were engaged. I'm such a planner and organizer and like to be totally prepared ahead of time - so much so that I end up STRESSING myself OUT! It's absolutely ridiculous.

Earlier today, my mom posted on my sister's CaringBridge website about having all her "ducks in a row." She wrote the following: "I really like to have all my ducks in a row. I like to have a plan and be able to stick to the plan. I recognize that God is showing me that maybe HE wants my ducks in a circle. . . or maybe HE doesn't even want me to know where my ducks are. . . OR maybe it doesn't even MATTER where my ducks are!! What a thought! "

This was a great reminder to me. I would love to have all my "ducks in a row" way before our little guy gets here so I can feel like a super prepared and organized mommy. But all in all, does it really matter? We are SO BLESSED and SO THANKFUL for this baby and shouldn't that be my focus? Thank you, Mom - for passing on your somewhat crazy, obsessive, organizational trait. But more so, for reminding me that sometimes "it doesn't even matter where my ducks are."

Oh and why not add a recent baby bump picture. Here I am at 23 weeks -

momma & baby...20 weeks

...

and we're so excited.

seeing him move around was the most incredible sight i've ever seen.
i've fallen in love with the little guy already!

our little timmer weighs right around 10 oz. and is about 8 inches long - which apparently means that we are measuring right on track with our due date.

oh and i'm totally okay with the fact that i was wrong and brett (and pretty much everyone else) was right. i'll try to scan the ultrasound pictures and post some within the next couple days.

A Busy November

I can't believe it's already November. I'm just about halfway through my pregnancy (what...already!?!), the holidays are right around the corner, and so much is going on this month.

I just got back from a 10-day trip to Hawaii with my 2 best friends, Sarah and Lyndsey, and it was such a great time. I'm sure I could take up quite a bit of this blog post with all the fun, relaxing and crazy times we had, but instead, I'll just post a couple of pictures.

The pictures include:

* a hike into Green Sands Beach

* snorkeling at Snorkel Beach

* dinner in our Halloween costumes, provided by Sarah

* and a day at the Hilton

I just returned from Hawaii on Friday night and I'm only home for a week before heading out again to go be with my family. I'll spend a week in San Francsico, helping out with my sister's chemo treatment in the hospital, and then home to Nevada for the week of Thanksgiving. It will be really good to see my family, but my poor husband...he is having to survive without me for 3 out of the 4 weeks this month.

So...in this week that I am actually home...

We get to find out if our little one is a he or a she, and we can't wait. As I've mentioned before, Brett thinks it's a boy, and I think it's a girl. Our ultrasound is on Tuesday afternoon at 4, so come back on Wednesday to find out who's right.

Here is my 19 week baby belly:

16.5 weeks and counting

perfect remedy:

I haven't been feeling super great the last couple of days...and by that, I mean I've been feeling HORRIBLE!

* Sunday - I spent all day in my pajamas, mostly curled up on the couch.
* Monday - I taught my classes in the morning and then came home, put on comfy sweats and slept until Brett got home at 4:30.
* Today - I felt as though I might be coming down with the flu. Headaches, chills, nausea, the works.

However, I took my temperature and all was normal. I took another nap (along with some Tylenol) and woke up feeling much better. Maybe it was just a little bit of morning sickness I experienced - at least that's what I'm hoping. I keep freaking myself out that I'm going to come down with the stupid swine flu.

Even though I was feeling crummy this morning, I had a lunch date planned with my good friend, Katie (who's visiting from Southern California this week) and I didn't want to miss out on seeing her. So, I freshened myself up and ventured out.

Getting out of the house was the start to my perfect remedy. It gave me a much needed energy boost and after a great lunch & catch up time with Katie, I decided to continue my outing and made a few stops at TJ Maxx, Ross and Borders. I don't know if it was the simple act of shopping, or the great deals I found, but by the time I got home, I was feeling MUCH better! :)

Here is the list of items I found and the wonderful prices I paid for them:

Ross:
3' x 5' area rug (to be used in our kitchen) - $7.99

TJ Maxx:
4 bath towels - $10 total
2 bath mats - $8.99 total
6 kitchen hand towels - $4.99 total
1 cutting board - $5
&
1 of these:


$3.99





I just love a good deal...

15 and Fall

Fall is here and I'm loving it. Typically I only love the fall in Salem for about a month or two. And then . . . the rain starts. And I count down the days until the sun shows itself again. For now though, I'm enjoying it. I spent last Friday enjoying fall to the max. I started off the morning with a pumpkin spice latte and a walk in the park with a good friend, followed by sweater shopping at Old Navy and a new haircut. Nothing says fall like pumpkin spice latte's and sweaters.

Tomorrow I'll be 15 weeks along in my pregnancy...almost half way there. I have another appointment next Thursday and then the appointment after that (which will be at 20 weeks) is when we find out what "it" is. He or She?? As of now, I have a feeling "it's" a girl. For no reason other than a feeling. Brett's feeling is definitely a boy - of course. But I have no doubt that if it's a girl, he'll be wrapped around her little finger as soon as she arrives. We'll find out either way in just 5 weeks! Here's the baby belly at 15 weeks (okay, 14 weeks and 6 days to be exact).

Hope you're all enjoying this fall season...

what's that? a baby belly??

So, I'm pretty sure my belly popped out a little over the weekend -

Yeah?

keep growing little one!

and so it begins . . .

new addition to the family...

we got a puppy!!....


ok, not really - although, how cute is she?? I wish this was a new addition the family, but we have an even better addition on the way!

Brett and I are expecting baby #1 and we couldn't be more excited. Due date is April 4...almost 12 weeks down, 28 to go!

Thankfully, I've had a fairly "easy" first trimester, although I don't know if Brett would completely agree with that statement. Mainly I've just been super exhausted (ok, ok...and maybe a teensy bit moody). Speaking of being exhausted, I think a nap is calling my name right now.

get it out of there!!!

by tomorrow afternoon/evening, this -

will be GONE!

Sara's surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning where they will remove the tumor, replace her femur and her knee, and do a partial hip replacement. Bye, bye tumor - hello bionic woman with the titanium leg! It should be about a 4-6 hour surgery. Prayers are deeply appreciated as we are all a bit nervous...especially little miss herself.

what we've been up to:

spending time with family

at the pool / lake / beach

and loving on our adorable nephews

on the road again...

Sorry no pictures this time - just a quick update on what we'll be doing for the next couple weeks.

Brett and I will hit the road again here in just a couple hours. I'm just waiting for him to get home from his LAST Master's class of the summer. YIPPEE! Now he's really on summer vacation.

We'll head to Medford first to spend a couple days with Brett's parents and go to a wedding there, and then we're off to Fallon to see my fam. It will be so nice to see Sara and my parents at HOME and NOT in the hospital. Heidi and Brady are coming too so almost all the family (minus Sam-bo) will be together for a few days. We are really looking forward to it.

After a few days in Fallon, we will head back to Medford to spend the rest of our time with Brett's WHOLE family...yep, his older sister, brother-in-law and our adorable nephews are coming in from Arkansa, then his older brother is coming from Hawaii, and obviously we'll be with his parents as well. We are so excited to see everyone and especially to see our newest nephew, Jackson, who we haven't met yet.

God is good - we are blessed with such amazing families who we LOVE spending time with.

I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures to share upon our return...

san fran. hospital. amazing sara. stupid cancer. stronger family

I just got back from spending 9 days in San Francisco with family. 7 of those 9 days were spent in the hospital while Sara received her chemo treatments. She was discharged from the hospital for a couple days in between treatments and we were able to enjoy a bit of San Francisco. She'll be at the hospital doing more treatments until the end of the month...but she's already half way through the pre-surgery chemo. She inspires me more and more every day.

little miss sunshine

adorable x's 2

a recent pic of our nephews - carson & jackson :)

i L-O-V-E a good deal

I was - and still am - SO excited to have found this beauty yesterday afternoon:

I think I'll use it in my living room to put blankets in...and I may even paint it a different color.

Take a look at the original price...do you see that?

Does that seriously say $99.99? I would NEVER pay that much for this little thing.

But I would pay $16.50, and I did. What a steal of a deal, huh? Craft Warehouse was having a sidewalk sale and everything was 50% off it's last ticketed price. There were several pieces of small furniture including a a B-E-A-UTIFUL cream sideboard/table thing that unfortunately, I happened to lay my eyes on just seconds after someone else did. I was totally hovering, hoping she would decide against it, deciding whether or not I should try and arm wrestle her for it. But I gave up when she took a pen and paper out of her purse and wrote "SOLD" on it (I think she knew I was hovering). BUMMER.

Also, I purchased this on sale for only $5. I don't know where I'm going to put it yet, but for $5...I'll find a place. :)

pretty :)

In other (and way more important) news - I'm heading down to San Francisco this weekend to be with my sister and parents for her next dose of chemo. Please pray for her strength and peace of mind and for my parents as well. It's going to be a long 3 weeks for them. Sara's hair began falling out early this week and it got to the point where she needed it shaved off. She just had it done yesterday and that was pretty traumatic for her. I think the reality of everything hit her pretty hard and it opened her eyes to how sick she really is. She still is the most beautiful woman ever - even with no hair. And I think both my dad and brother had their heads shaved too - but they're definitely not as pretty as she is. Check out her CaringBridge website throughout the next few weeks for updates. The link is at the top right corner of the page.

We thank you so much for your continued love, support and prayers.

Happy 4th!

We were able to enjoy another fun visit with the Officer's this weekend and it was a great way to spend the 4th of July. Hope it was an enjoyable weekend for all of you as well!