Our Baby's First Photo Shoot

We got to see our baby in action for the first time today which was very exciting! Everything looks great and we are happy to have such a cute and healthy baby! We decided to share some photos from the event.

Here is a great side view of our sweetie.

Here is a nice 4-D profile shot.

Can you tell what our baby is from the face alone in this picture?

Yep, it's a GIRL! Isn't she cute!

She's Got That Fluttery Feeling...

First a quick update from our second visit to the Dr. which was this past Monday. Things seem to be going well with the baby. The heartbeat was at 150 beats per minute and sounds strong. Even though I feel like I'm getting huge and showing a lot more, the Dr. says I'm measuring perfect for where I'm at so that's good. And, I only gained one pound in 2 months so that's also some good news! We set up our ultrasound for March 18, so only about a week to go and hopefully we'll know if it's a boy or a girl. We can't wait!!!! According to Jen, a boy is unacceptable and this baby has to be a girl. She's also very curious about a baby in my belly and tried lifting up my shirt this weekend to get a peek at the baby. As for the rest of my family, all they can talk about is how I'm "showing" now, in other words I'm getting fatter. I asked Timmy if he thought my belly was getting fat. He hesitated and Bryan informed him that when a woman asks that, the answer is always "No!" to which Timmy replied "But sometimes the answer is Yes!" Gotta love kids, they tell it like it is.

Friday another exciting thing happened. I was leaning my stomach up against my desk and started feeling a fluttery feeling, like butterflies. It continued most of the afternoon so I'm pretty sure it was the "quickening" or, the first time I could really feel the baby. I haven't felt it much since, but that was pretty neat. Bryan can't wait until he can feel the baby kicking.

Bryan sitting in our new glider rocker.
This is one of our first baby item purchases.

Also Friday at our monthly employee meeting both Bryan and I had to introduce ourselves to the company. Some people in Bryan's office were confused and told him he didn't need to bring his spouse for introductions, so then we had to explain that we were both new employees. We were standing outside the broadcast room just slightly hugging and we were kind of grossing people out. We didn't even notice we were being affectionate at all, but I guess we are still the sickening sweet couple we have always been.

Friday night we went for a romantic dinner to Milts. We had a gift certificate for a free meal there so we decided to finally go get dinner. We weren't expecting the extraordinary steak dinner we were so blessed to partake of. We are ruined to all other foods for the time being and wish we were more wealthy so we could experience that savory, tender meat again soon. But this will have to wait for another time, and hopefully another free coupon. I dream about that sirloin delicacy. Ok, enough about the food (but it really was quite delicious)!

That's all for this edition. This new time change is going to be killer so we need to get to bed. Have a wonderful week. We love you all!

16 Weeks and Showing

Well, as requested here is the first pregnancy picture we have taken. I know they tell you to take weekly pictures to track progress and everything but life has been busy and that just never seemed a priority. And if you think I look tired in this picture...well, I am! I just finished a 13 hour workday with only 2 bathroom breaks and a 10 minute lunch. I've worked 10-13 hour days the past week or two because I'm still learning and we are nearing month end which means the books have to be up-to-date. I've been getting help from my boss, and we are working hard to make sure things are finished. It's a good thing it's leap year so I have an extra day this month to finish!

So, I feel huge and I'm starting to show a lot more even at just 16 weeks (on Sunday). But according to my scale I've only gained 1-2 pounds since my last Dr. visit 6 weeks ago. I go again on Monday and can't wait to set up our date for the ultrasound, which could be anywhere from 2-4 weeks from now! We'll keep you posted...

Last week we had fun with my family coming over a couple of times. Pete got his mission call last Thursday. He will be serving in the Houston, TX South mission and leaves May 28! He's super excited and Bryan was excited to have him serve in Texas since he went on his mission to Dallas. Eric is graduating this weekend from Airforce basic training. He did very well and completed everything with top scores. I know he'll be happy to finish his tech school this summer so he can have Tracie back with him. We are also proud of Matt who played well in his region basketball tournament and made the all-region team. We also had fun having Jen, Timmy and Jodi over to play at our house for a while on Saturday. Family is a wonderful thing!

Well, that's about it for this post...until next time!

Celebrations of Love

We had good intentions of updating the blog this weekend, but things didn't quite go our way. I had been feeling very sick for over a week and last Thursday I got a call from the Dr. that I had a bladder infection, so they got me on an antibiotic and by Saturday I was beginning to feel better. Sadly, on Sunday I started getting a bad cold which I'm still trying to get over. At least I haven't had bad pregnancy symptoms on top of everything so for that I am grateful. I will officially be in my 2nd trimester as of this weekend and I'm excited for what most people consider the best time in pregnancy. Our baby is continuing to grow and is about the size of a lime (3 inches) and only weighs about an ounce.

This week is supposed to be a celebration of love with Valentine's Day and all. We celebrated our 18 month anniversary on Monday, but we really didn't get to celebrate much since I was sick and Bryan just worked on homework all evening. We don't have any real plans for Valentine's Day either, but hopefully we'll have at least an hour or so to spend together that day. We want our friends and family to know how much we love and appreciate them and we will be thinking of all of you on Thursday since it is a day to think about everyone we love.

People are requesting pictures of my growing belly. I haven't had time to take one yet, but trust me, it is beginning to grow more than I think it should. But the good news is I haven't really gained weight since I saw the Dr. 3 weeks ago (maybe just 1 pound) so that makes me happy. We'll try to get you a picture this weekend when hopefully we will update the blog again.

Our Thoughts on President Gordon B. Hinckley

On this special and historic day we would like to pay tribute to a man who has touched our lives and millions of other's lives all over the world. We first heard of President Hinckley's passing last Sunday evening as it was first being reported on TV. It's amazing that even though he was 97 and we knew the time would come eventually for him to pass on, he was so full of life that it seemed he was going to be around forever. We were hoping to see him reach 100, but we are happy for him that he now gets to be with his sweet wife Marjorie once again.

In his life he has won the highest civilian award: The Presidential Medal of Freedom, issued by the President of the United States only to to 8 other people in history in the area of religion. He has graduated past this life and received the greatest reward possible: exaltation. He touched every one he knew for good. He often stated how he didn't like being revered, but he also understood that people were in awe of his office, not himself. We do indeed, "thank thee oh god for a prophet," but we loved the man as well as the prophet because he wore the mantle of his office with a smile on his face. His humor was matchless and had he not been so busy being the president of the Church, he could have made quite a living as a stand-up comedian.

We all envy him, for he is one we know will be greeted by the savior on his arrival and we have no doubt that the lord will say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant, now enter into my rest.”

Till we meet again Gordon, you lucky dog you!