The Real Meaning Of Christmas

I saw this video today and I guess the pregnancy hormones got the best of me. I couldn't stop crying. I will never fully comprehend the emotions, the faith, the responsibility, and the hardship Mary must have felt to bring Christ into this world. This Christmas especially, I am cherishing the fact that I am rounder than ever, completely exhausted, but yet so blessed to bring a baby boy into this world and to be a mother.
I just pray I can teach him to understand what Christmas is really about, as does this child telling of Christ's birth understands it.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Oh Baby We're Gettin' Close!

Well since baby is going to be here in 3-5 weeks I thought I'd do a classic "pregnancy post" as to not disappoint anyone. Here I am about to burst it seems at 35 weeks! However, I'm feeling great, nothing to complain about, no swollen limbs, achy back, leg cramps etc so far, but I guess I may have a couple weeks before all that comes. ? The "extra baggage" in the front is getting a little old I must say, and I find myself fantasizing about doing hundreds of crunches and other such things. :) BUT, I'm focusing on the positive and this is what I do like about pregnancy I've decided.

1. Maternity Pants, now, they aren't so bad. I don't have to worry about forgetting to zip my zipper up after going to the bathroom. It's awesome. I seemed to have done that frequently before I was pregnant:(

2. I've become even more health conscious. It's not that I ate unhealthy before, but being pregnant I've really tried to watch what I'm eating, how much, etc.. After all, I'm eating for a little guy too! It's become a good habit and hopefully one I can keep at!

3. The "expectant mother" parking spot at the local grocery store. Thought it was the dumbest thing before I was pregnant, now I'm thinking, hmmmmm, not such a bad idea. I just used it the other day at a packed full parking lot. I was in no mood to shop which isn't uncommon. I hate shopping. Even though I'm perfectly capable of walking from the back of the lot, it was rather convenient and I was okay with it.

4. Feeling him move. He's been moving lots and lots lately and I love it. I couldn't feel him move until I was almost 24 weeks, not sure why, and it always worried me. Now I'm worried he is going to kick right through me sometimes! He likes to jab his foot at my ribs as of late, but I'm grateful to know he is okay in there:)

Checking In

So I hear that you're suppose to update these blog things. I am beyond horrible at it. Good news is we are still alive and doing well! Here are some fun things we have been up to as of late.
We went up to Brighton to spend Halloween with the Krogh family. We sure are a bunch of crazies, and of course, found a way to have a great time!
I was a pregnant cheerleader and Kyle the quarterback who got me in a bit of trouble. Ha ha. I'm 31 weeks and I would like to say the pregnancy is flying by like some girls say, but then I would be lying. It seems like I've been pregnant FOREVER and I'm praying these last 9 weeks go by quick. Hopefully with the holidays coming this will be the case and he'll be here before we know it. Can't say I love being pregnant, but I do love that there is a little guy in there who I love more than anything already! I feel so blessed to be a mother soon and to be able to have children. I know the crazy things it does to the body and sacrifices you have to make that DRVIE. ME. NUTS. will be SOOOOOOO worth it. Can't wait.

We had an ultrasound the other day to see how he was growing and everything looked good. The doctor said he was measuring a week ahead, which isn't really a big deal at all. Maybe he'll just be a big boy? Here he is, the tech got a great face shot.
Hi!!!!

In other news, we finally made it into a session at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple on Friday night. We've made a goal to attend the temple every month. We've missed some months and have had to re commit ourselves. We have no excuse as the temple is only 8 minutes from our house. I always wonder when I'm inside why it's so hard for us to get to the temple? It's so beautiful and peaceful.

Using the good old blog to advertise and other ramblings

So this may be tacky, lame, or whatever. I figure it's just another place to put it. I'm selling my wedding dress! Sooooo, if anyone is interested or knows someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, who is interested let me know and I'll give you the details :)

Here she is.

And here is a closer view of the dress...and a photo just for memory sake. The chocolate that he got all over my dress has been taken off by a good dry clean, so no worries there. On a more random note, Kyle and I have been married for 1 year and 8 months! Crazy. I feel like it's been longer than that, not meaning it in a bad way, it just feels like I've been with him FOOR-EVER. ha ha:)

And while I'm here I guess I should actually give an UPDATE and POST something. I am such a horrible blogger. I've decided that I never was really good at writing/making cool journals, scrap-booking, or other such creative activities. Why would I be good at this?

Anyway, these past couple of months have been pretty busy for Kyle and I mostly consisting of working, girl's camp, scout camp, and working on the house and yard (it's never- ending.)


This is our current project. The baby room! It's not really even close to being done but at least we aren't using it as a storage room anymore! We cleaned it out, painted it, and ripped out the carpet so we can get new carpet in this room and in the front room as well.

We (and by "we" I mean Kyle. This is true for most of the big projects as I hate to admit I have no idea how to fix or install anything) also put in a new door! All I have to say is Hallelujah! It doesn't sound like it's going to break down every time you open it and not to mention the "sticky" sound it made. The prior homeowners thought it was a good idea to paint the door and everything else going over the creese in the door, straight to the molding. Now I even know not to do that.

Front room. Didn't we just tear this apart not too long ago? Like I said, we are getting new carpet yay! And Kyle AKA "Handy Man" has decided to make a little window bench. Looks good so far! My husband is somewhat of a "perfectionist" and claims he didn't finish the walls well enough so he re-did them. We are changing the paint color too in the front room because I really wasn't too fond of it to begin with. Okay, so I hated it. I'll post another picture when it's all done and put together.

Kyle just got back from Scout Camp last week. He is a good man to take a whole week off work to be with these adolescent folk. Don't get me wrong, they are great boys, but they are teenage boys nonetheless and are sometimes crazy and a little immature. I don't know how he does it, he is so good with them. Oh wait, I'm having a boy. I guess I better get use to 'em. But at least I'll have a few years to prepare before he is a teenager.
I'm glad Kyle's back and I have to say despite my claim to be miss independent I missed the hubs, and may have lost important beauty sleep without him sleeping by my side. :)

Here he is being really happy on top of Angel's Landing. This picture makes me smile because this is seriously Kyle's personality. Always so positive about life and pretty much anything else that comes his way.

As for me, I'm keeping busy growing a person:) 20 weeks and counting! If anyone can convince me to post a classic pregnant belly profile photo you get a gold star and just MAYBE I'll post one. I always thought that was kind of silly. Sorry. If you want to see my changing pregnant body you will just have to come visit me in person. Otherwise, you will just have to take my word for it.

It's a BOY!!

We FINALLY had our ultrasound today! Turns out our little alien is a BOY! Ultrasounds are so amazing. I loved seeing him squirming around in there. Everything looked great! He was a little shy and had himself in a tight fetal position so we weren't sure if we'd be able to see the gender. But he finally moved just enough for us to see his little BOY parts!


Side profile shot

Candycorn Baby

So ever since I've been pregnant I have had some pretty crazy weird, vivid dreams. I've always had some pretty interesting dreams, but this is just getting ridiculous. Every morning I wake up thinking, "What the...?!?
Last week I had a dream that I can't seem to forget. I dreamt that when I gave birth to a little boy, he came out with really olive, dark skin but he had bright orange hair! Nothing against red heads, they are adorable, and nothing against olive skin people, but a combination of both, doesn't look good. So I remember thinking my heavens my kid looks like a CHOCOLATE CANDY CORN!! I couldn't stop thinking about those chocolate candy corns and how much my baby resembled it. Of course, everyone else didn't see it, but I kept insisting that he looked like a candy corn and I was getting frustrated...
Interestingly enough I've kind of been craving those chocolate candy corns ever since. Anyone know where I can get some?????

Summertime

Here are some pictures of what we've been up to the past month or so. Kyle had a week long training in Ohio for work last week. I didn't want to be alone the whole time so I took work off Thursday and Friday and went up Wednesday night to Bear Lake to spend some time with my family. It was nice to get out and get some sunshine. Kyle came up on Saturday and joined us for the day.

Bear Lake has a Cafe Sabor now so we had to go. Yum, I love Cafe Sabor.

Hanging out with my nephew, Lucas. I hardly ever get to see him since they live in Vegas:( Every time I see him he has grown a ton! What a cutie.

Nate and Stacia.

Friday morning we went up to Minnetonka Cave, it was so fun.
Katie and I on the drive up. I think we may have gotten bored listening to Clark's political views and starting taking pictures:) Jk Clark.



We went on a little hike nearby while waiting for the tour to start.

And of course what's a Bear Lake trip without some time on the beach.

Fourth of July, I know, I'm a little late on posting about the 4th. We had a barbeque at my sister's house and watched the fireworks. My dad's b-day is on the 4th and mine is the 9th so we did a double bday celebration.

This is how I told my family I was pregnant! I made my dad's cake and I totally forgot to take a picture of the cake BEFORE we cut it. Duh. So just pretend it's not cut and beautiful. This will be my parents 7th grandchild! Wow, you two are old:)


My dad got the game "Latterballs" for one of his presents. Of course, Kyle was all over helping him put it together:)

Then we had a latterball tournament

The Parade earlier that day.

And here we are passed out after a long day of fun...:) Phew, that was a long post, I'm impressed with myself.

The Word Is Out.....

We'Re HaViNg A BaBy!!
I'm due January 9, 2010 and I'm almost 14 weeks along! Seems like an eternity away:), but we couldn't be more excited for this new adventure. We find out in just a few weeks in the big ultrasound what we are having. What do you think, BoY or GiRl?

This has dampened any spark of ambition...

If you don't know what movie line my title comes from, we can't be friends. Just kidding. It's from Anne of Green Gables, one of my absolute favorites. Speaking of which, I haven't watched it in forever! Today, any spark of my own ambition really has been dampened though. I'm annoyed and a little fed up, and this is why.

I came home from work early today. Reluctantly using two of my cherished "personal leave hours", it all began with a nice visit to a little family living in North Salt Lake. I had been to the home previously. It's a "dirty home". Nothing out of the ordinary in my profession. And by "dirty" I don't mean dirty dishes in the sink, a few crumbs on the floor, toys and clutter everywhere "dirty". I don't mean "dirty" under my mother's terms. Or by my husband's terms for that matter. (He's a little OCD clean.) Oh my sweet mother would perhaps stop breathing completely if she ever stepped foot into any of the homes I've been in. I mean dirty as the smell of urine strong enough to make you want to pass out, dog pooh on the carpet for who knows how long it's been there, clutter like you've never seen it kind of "dirty" (if you've every watched "Clean House" you may have a glimpse of what I'm talking about), decaying food everywhere, dirty diapers that were neglected to be taken out to the garbage for I don't know, a month or so ago kind of "dirty"!

So if you're thinking this is why I went home early,you're wrong. Unfortunately this is part of my job. A lot of families have lovely houses. They care about their children and themselves enough to keep it clean and safe no matter how big or small the house is, or how much or little they have. And it's really quite enjoyable helping these families. However, there are some that really, really, really struggle in this area. I mean, seriously! Heaven knows my dear friends at my previous job are dealing with this environmental neglect probably more than I do, so they understand me. But I still see it.

After spending almost an hour in this home, an HOUR mind you, what sent me home early was a little conversation that went like this...
Me: "Okay, well I'll see you guys next month. Good luck finding a job, use some of those employment services and things I told you about....etc, etc"
Parent # 1: "Sounds good, I'll probably go out next week looking when these kiddos are feelin' better"
Me: Oh, do they have a cold or something?, I didn't know, that's no fun."
Parent #2: " Oh yeah, we took 'em to the doctor yesterday, they both have the swine flu"
Me: "Uh...........serious?"
Parent # 2: yeah, it's been a little been of a pain....
Me: "Um......so maybe if they have the swine flu you should call me and tell me that BEFOREHAND, perhaps, so we can cancel and it won't spread, like, to me, I don't want the swine flu" ?????????

And the rest is just a blur. Seriously. You think parents would be intelligent and capable enough to not invite anyone in their home for an hour, playing with their children, and sitting on their dirty infested couches and CANCEL an appointment if they have swine flu. Well I guess if they aren't smart enough to clean up the urine accidents on the carpet after a month, why would they be intelligent enough to do that!

Seriously annoyed. That's what I am. I came home early partly because I was just fed up with some people and this job. I've had it. Completely fed up. Secondly, so I could take a shower, scrub till my skin nearly came off, drink orange juice,take my vitamin C, and sanitize my hands, and drink 10 glasses of water, in hopes that I don't catch something.

Happy 26th Birthday Kyle!

I want to wish Kyle a HAPPY BIRTHDAY today. He's 26 now, an old man:) Oh wait, I guess that makes me an old woman then since I'm almost a year older than he is. Okay, I take that back. 26 years and younger then ever, and the most amazing person I know.... Happy Birthday to my,
Outdoorsy
Environmentally Friendly

Athletic


Handy Man

Always happy...and a little cheesy:)

Smart,Studious

A little bit country

Spiritual

Sincere, honest
And let's not forget, obviously, good looking:)

Best friend ever

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Water Fight

This is the result of my harmless threatening joke to sprinkle Kyle with the water hose today after work. Soaking wet. Burr.

Memories

I have heard before that you think of your mission almost everyday of your life, even if it's just for a minute. Sadly, this isn't entirely true for me now and I don't know if it is for everyone. I wish it were though. Isn't it crazy and sad that memories just fade and fade as time goes by? It's sad that we forget things, especially things that were such a huge part of our life at the time.

I was looking online for some posters and art to put in my house and came across these pictures of Buenos Aires. For the first time in a long time I felt truly homesick (accompanied by a crazy-weird like lump in my throat) for the place, the people, even the smells. I guess that's usually a really dorky, nerdy, RECENTLY returned RM thing to do, not someone who has been home for 4.5 years (oh dear, I'm old.) But ever so randomly, memories can come at you super strong I guess. They pop into your head and heart without warning...




What an AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL place with so much culture and character all in one city, and what wonderful people.