full term

That's right- full term! 38 weeks today.  Time is absolutely flying by, especially with Christmas right around the corner keeping us super busy! I can hardly contain my excitement. Baby girl is still healthy as can be and squirming around like crazy. I just can't wait to meet her!

 37 weeks

Aches or Pains: My poor feet! They don't hurt all the time, but that's definitely the first place the pain kicks in when I've been out and about too long. 

Other Symptoms: I'm definitely slowing down these days... Anyone who knows me well knows I love to run errands. I'm also a really fast walker, so I'm used to zipping around the grocery store, zipping in and out of parking lots,  and being super efficient with my errand-running. Needless to say, errands aren't nearly as fun with a waddle. 

Cravings: Nothing in particular anymore. I'm actually losing my appetite quite a bit. Not because I'm nauseous or queasy, but because it's so incredibly uncomfortable to be full! There's not a whole lot of room in there for my stomach to expand, so...a little bit goes a long way these days. 

Sleeping: Still hard to turn from side to side, but I'm getting more and more used to "being uncomfortable" and sleeping much better as of lately. 

Nesting: ...is a real thing. I keep reading that my "motherly instincts" will start to kick in as baby gets closer to arriving, and it's so true. I can't even tell you how many times I've organized her closet and folded (and refolded) all the clothes in her dresser. I'm constantly "tidying up" and finding new places to deep clean. 

Final Baby Preparations: We've taken our birthing class, our breastfeeding class, chosen our pediatrician, packed our hospital bags and installed the carseat. We are READY! The best part of all this "final prep" was taking our hospital tour- that really made this whole thing seem real! I loved the staff, loved their policies, and was just super impressed with our whole experience.  I also loved meeting our pediatrician! I had gotten lots of great recommendations, but felt so good about my first "new mom consultation," that I cancelled all the rest. He is so fabulous and I know he will be a great fit! 

Nerves? Anxiety? None, whatsoever. Yes, I'm anxious, but only anxious-excited! Everyone's always asking me if I'm getting nervous, but I'm not at all. Probably just because I'm naive and have no idea what I'm in for. The real person they should be asking is Ryan...he might have a different opinion on the matter ;)

Daddy-to-be: ...has been so great. He puts on my shoes, rubs my feet, and even painted my toenails the other day! It is so cute watching him get more and more excited to meet his little girl.

Less than two weeks, people. Two weeks!!

 (The progression...)

30 weeks

I cannot get over how quickly time is going by...30 weeks already?  That's a pretty big milestone if you ask me! This is all starting to get very real.

I know it's annoying, but I love being pregnant! I'm still feeling great and haven't felt much discomfort at all yet. Hoping for a few more good weeks before that starts to kick in. The belly is definitely getting bigger though, especially in the past few weeks!  The best part is feeling her squirming around in there all the time! It never gets old. I just love it!

26 weeks, 28 weeks, 30 weeks

• Aches or Pains: A little bit in my hips/sides when I get up after sitting or laying for a long time. Also, some crazy painful charlie horses in my calves! What the, random? 
• Other Symptoms: Some occasional heartburn, but nothing crazy. And starting to feel some Braxton Hicks contractions which is kind of cool! 
• Cravings: Donuts and Dr. Pepper have never tasted so good--neither of which had ever been temptations before I was pregnant.  Ice cream too, but I can't really blame that on the pregnancy, not much has changed there :)
• Baby Items Purchased: My most recent obsession has been with hair bows. I tried to hold off for as long as I could, but it happened. I can't stop. I didn't think I had bought that many, until Ryan informed me that this baby has 29 hair bows. "She has more hair accessories than I have shirts! And she's not even born yet!"  This is only the beginning, I'm sure...
• Nursery: ...is complete! It has been so fun to put together. Now all we need is a baby!
• Worst Moment (as of lately): Getting a COLD! I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but a nasty cold when you can't take any meds for it is pretty miserable. Couldn't sleep, couldn't breathe, couldn't swallow- sure glad that one's over.
• Best Moment (as of lately): I have 13 friends who are also pregnant right now- 13!! 2 sisters-in-law (which makes me SO excited to have cousin babies so close in age) and 11 other friends! It is SO fun to be going through this whole pregnancy thing at the same time and it makes me so excited to raise our babies together :)

A little sneak peek... Like I said, all we need now is the baby! We cannot wait to meet her!

baby on the way

Yep...it's true!  We could not be more thrilled to announce the upcoming arrival of our very first baby girl.  I figure now that I'm halfway there (20 weeks!), I'd better start documenting my pregnancy and sharing a little piece of our excitement! 

First of all, this pregnancy has been a breeze. (Sorry ladies!)  I really have been so blessed to have it so easy.  I had been warned that the first trimester would be brutal, but besides a few queasy weeks (7-9), the only other symptoms I experienced were a weird appetite and some serious sleepiness.  I could sleep in until 10 and still desperately need a 3 hour nap by the afternoon.  No nausea, thankfully, just some motion sickness and dizziness at the beginning.  Now that I'm into the second trimester, my energy's back and I'm feeling great!  

Now to catch up on the past 20 weeks, a few pregnancy updates...

• Suspicions on Gender (before we found out): I knew for sure it was a boy...mostly because I wanted a girl so bad and I knew I wasn't that lucky. You can imagine how ecstatic I was when we found out :)  I think I insulted the ultrasound technician with how many times I asked, "Are you sure?" "Are you really sure?" "Are you absolutely positive?!" At 16 weeks they were "99% sure," and at our 20 week ultrasound they confirmed, once again, that she is indeed a little girl. Still dying of excitement!
• Aches or Pains: None, really. Just barely starting to feel some back discomfort while sitting or laying in certain positions. I'm sure this is only the start...
• Sleeping: Lots and lots of it! Starting to get uncomfortable just in the past few days... I've always understood how a big belly would make it difficult to sit up and move around in bed, but WOW, I did not realize how soon those muscles would go away- long before the belly even comes! (Didn't even realize rolling over in bed required any muscles...) My abs are gone. It's pathetic.
• Maternity Clothes: Thankfully, not yet! Let's be honest, I'd much rather be spending my pennies on baby girl's wardrobe, not on new clothes for me I'll only be able to wear a for few weeks at a time.  There's definitely a little baby bump there, but luckily I'm carrying high enough that it hasn't affected my pants yet. Hoping to hold out at least a few more weeks!
• Cravings: No consistent cravings, but whatever it is that I'm craving in the moment, I MUST have it. This has ranged from Kneader's turkey sandwiches and real-fruit strawberry popsicles in the beginning...to ice-cream, popcorn, cake, donuts, fast-food breakfast, KFC (what?!), and pizza in the recent weeks. Hopefully I'll start craving fruits and veggies one of these days...whoops!
• Baby Movement: Just started feeling her this past week! It feels like little twitches inside me, sometimes it even tickles. I absolutely LOVE IT. There's really a baby in there!
• Baby Items Purchased: TOO MANY. I can't help it! My parents were generous enough to spoil us with our stroller/carseat combo (thanks mom and dad!), and other than that it's just been lots and lots of clothes. My personal favorite purchase has been her sparkly pink jellies (pictured below). I'm dying. (Oh, and I guess we bought a crib and a changing table/dresser set too. But that was months ago, WAY TOO EARLY, we are aware. Clearly first-time parents, cut us some slack :)
• Best Moment So Far: Catching Ryan sneaking around the nursery...peeking in her closet at all her clothes, "test driving" her stroller... :) I think what I'm most excited for is watching him become a daddy. He just adores this baby girl already and it is absolutely melting my heart. 

We are so in love already! December cannot come soon enough!

life in logan

I can't believe we've been here in Logan for over 6 months and I still haven't gotten around to posting about it.  Maybe it's because it still feels like we just barely got here, andddd we're already on our way out? It's been nearly impossible to really get settled knowing we'd only be here a short time...but with that said, we really have enjoyed it! Logan's a funny little place...small, pretty, and definitely has a unique culture about it. Although I've kept myself pretty busy working from home, Ryan's rigorous school schedule has left me with LOTS of time on my hands to get creative with. 

Here are some random little updates about my life in Logan...

-Sweatpants and slippers have become absolute staples in my wardrobe. (When sweatpants and t-shirts significantly outnumber the amount of REAL clothes in your laundry each week, you know you live a great life)

-This is the view from my kitchen window. Not even kidding. Probably what I'll miss most about this place..

-I found my long-lost love of reading! What better way to spend a long, cold winter than snuggled up with a good book? The dream. 

-Ryan and I have had lots of bonding time. We've gone through phases of Scramble, Bananagrams, Jim Gaffigan, and The Hunger Games.  (We read The Hunger Games at the same time, and every time we'd talk about it Ryan would insist, "this isn't book club!," but I totally ate it up)

-Trips to Costco and Target have become a TREAT! I'm like a kid in a candy store every time we make the trip down. I will never take them for granted ever again... 

-I've picked up all sorts of new hobbies! Reading (as mentioned), crafting, QUILTING (who am I?) My latest project has been this BYU t-shirt quilt. Not bad for a beginner!

-I started giving plasma. There's a donation center right around the corner from us, so why not? Even better than the little extra "fun money" I earn each week is all the PAMPERING!  Ryan's absolutely terrified of needles, so even the thought of me getting stuck makes him crumble.  Every time I go he pretty much begs me at the door to stay. "You don't have to do this! You don't have to go!" Ha! I'll take the extra TLC :)

-I'm obsessed with Aggie Ice Cream.  I know that makes me a traitor and there are very few things that will ever trump my loyalty to BYU, but it is to die for.  The BYU Creamery is hard to beat, but as much as I hate to admit it, the Aggie's win on this one. 

-I've learned to love winter. MAYBE it has something to do with the fact that I'm not walking to and from campus everyday (which I definitely haven't missed...), and I'm not forced to be outside in the cold at all with an exception of getting the mail and the 2 seconds it takes to get in and out of the car. Or, maybe it's because we lucked out with the most mild winter in the history of Logan winters.  We'd been warned right and left about the brutal winter that awaited us, but it has been a breeze. I remember feeling freezing cold exactly ONCE this winter...ironically after seeing "Frozen." (And after seeing the movie, winter seemed magical and enchanting...it just added to the experience!) Either way, I'm not complaining! 

I'll be honest, I'm a total extrovert and this "laid back lifestyle" isn't exactly my thing.  Anyone who knows me well knows this is quite the change of pace for me and that I can hardly function without being busy! (Hence the desperate search for new hobbies...) Needless to say, it has been an adjustment, but I figured I'd embrace it for this short period of time we're here--there's not a chance I'll ever have so much downtime ever again in my life! Overall, I think it's been a good thing and we've made some pretty good memories out of our little adventure here. We might even be a little sad to leave. Here's to living up our last little bit before real life sets in! (Updates to follow...)

a very merry christmas, indeed

It sure has been a Christmas to remember!  I think we maxed out on our Christmas celebrating...if that's even possible to do.  With a little bit in Utah, a little bit in D.C., and a little bit in Boise, we sure packed it in! Here's our Christmas season in review...

I grew up on "The Forgotten Carols," and when I was a little girl, I was even in it!  It was such a fun trip down memory lane to see it again for the first time since then...12 years later! I loved every minute. 

Next, the annual visit to the fabulous Christmas lights on Temple Square.  Never disappoints!  

Our company wasn't too bad either.

Then, we made our way back east!  One of the coolest things to do in D.C. leading up to Christmas is seeing the "ICE" display at the National Harbor.  After bundling us up in huge, blue parkas, we were sent on a 100-acre walk through an entire Christmas display chiseled completely out of ice.  

Always a treat!

Another treat was to see my ANNA! After living together for the past 5 years, she moved back to Virginia this summer.  Boy, was it good to see her and get us 3 original roomies back together! We took a boat ride back to the National Harbor and were blown away once again by all incredible Christmas lights and decorations.  I think the Gaylord National Resort takes the cake for the best Christmas display I have ever seen.  New tradition--set. 

We also spent a night downtown walking around the monuments and seeing the National Christmas Tree.  In Ryan's protest of "no more pictures," this was the best I could get. 

Then to top it all off, the Washington D.C. Temple.  Christmas wouldn't be complete without a visit.  And of course, what better way to remember the true meaning of Christmas than to walk the beautiful temple grounds. Christ is the reason for the season. I am so grateful for this wonderful time of year to reflect on His birth, His life, His example, and His sacrifice for us.  May we all keep this wonderful Christmas spirit all year round.  

proposal story

It's funny how many little "anniversaries" you have before your REAL anniversaries start kicking in. Anniversary of your first date, anniversary of your first kiss, anniversary of the proposal, then every month of your first year married. (Ryan's a pro- he knows every one!)  So silly, I know, but sometimes you just can't help it.  Let us have our year of being crazy-in-love-newlyweds, will you?

Humor me in our latest milestone- one year ago today, Ryan popped the question. 

It's been fun to go back through my journal and relive all the details and feel the excitement all over again.  Here's the story...

So, I knew it was coming.  We had been going ring shopping, and I was even THERE when he bought the ring when we were in Boise for Thanksgiving.  Ha, I don’t think we really meant for it to happen that way, but as everyone always says, once you KNOW, it’s not really about the surprise anymore…you just want that ring!

Even though it wasn’t exactly a “surprise” anymore, he sure kept me on my toes those next 3 weeks waiting for it! The suspense was almost worse knowing it was coming. I knew he had the ring, I knew he had talked to my dad—but when was it gonna happen?! Talk about torture! Of course Ryan was LOVING it, and drew it out as long as he possibly could.

The MEGA-tease started about 7 days before he really proposed.  Every night he had some big, elaborate date planned.  ALL my favorite things—he nailed it every single night. Malawi’s mac & cheese, Rocky Mountain Chocolate apples, Riverwoods Christmas lights, Chipotle, Temple Square, a carriage ride through the Christmas lights at Thanksgiving Point...HELLO! Every night was set up to be the perfect proposal—any one of those things would have been just fine. Looking back, it was the BEST week ever—it’s a shame I could hardly even enjoy it! Wearing all my cutest outfits, painting my nails every day, preparing the perfect “reaction”—goodness, I was a wreck.

After all the fake-out dates, came Tuesday.  The BUSIEST day of my life.  All 3 of my finals were on Wednesday, so naturally, the day before I was beyond stressed.  We had plans to go up to Bryce's house in Draper that night with all our friends for a Christmas party, but unfortunately, it was on that dreaded Tuesday night.  I crammed ALL DAY so I'd be able to go, but when it really came down to it, there just weren't enough hours in the day and I was completely overwhelmed.  I had to bail. This is coming from the girl who NEVER backs out of social plans—especially for homework... NEVER. Since this was a first for me, I thought for sure Ryan would understand and let me off the hook, but he really pushed it! Not in a way that would make me suspicious at all, but kind of guilted me into going since we'd had these plans for a long time and everyone was expecting us to be there.  He promised we'd just make a quick appearance, so, what the heck, I just went. We got up there, hung out, had a cute little hot chocolate bar, played games, had a great time.  

Then Ryan wanted to take me to see the Draper Temple! He had mentioned a few days earlier that he wanted to go look at the Christmas lights at the temple while we were up there at Bryce’s, so I didn’t think anything of it. Besides, “temple grounds” were one of my only requirements of where not to propose, so there was no suspicion.   Bryce’s house is right in the neighborhood of the temple, so Ryan wrapped me up in a blanket and we started walking.  He took me on a back pathway behind the house and said it was a “short cut.” Lucky for Ryan, I’m completely directionally challenged, so when we started walking the complete opposite direction of the temple, I hardly noticed.  It was super cold and extremely windy, but Ryan was just being so adorable, I just ate it up and let it happen! After we had been walking about 15 minutes, trudging through the snow in the freezing cold, and were no where near the temple…I started to catch on…which was luckily right around the time we arrived at our destination.  We turned a corner and kind of came up over a snowy hill, and….there it was!  The snow was covered in candles and roses.  After gigging and squinting and smiling uncontrollably, Ryan took me into the middle of it all, told me the sweetest things he’s ever said, got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him! I only wish I could remember all the details… It was cold, and windy, and I wasn’t even dressed cute (dang it! After all those fake-out nights!), but I’ll never forget how happy I was. After we had our moment, all our friends ran out from the woods and started celebrating with us. It was the perfect set up…just “us” for the proposal, but all our friends close by ready to attack us with hugs and tears and tons of pictures.  We spent the rest of the night making phone calls, gushing about plans, and toasting with sparkling cider.  Wouldn't have had it any other way. 

Don't even ASK how all those finals went the next day...like I'd ever be able to contain my excitement and actually focus...but who cares! I was engaged! We were married on April 27th, and I still couldn't feel luckier to have such an incredible guy ask me to be his :) 

marcie's wedding

My best friend is MARRIED!  Talk about the happiest, happiest day :)

Here's a little background on Marcie and I... We've been friends for over 18 years. 

Friendships like that don't come around everyday.  

We rode the bus home together in elementary school for playdates, had lemonade stands, rode our "first airplane all by ourselves" together, and ate a bowl of ice cream almost everyday after school before dance team practice. We love Potbelly's sandwiches, lifesaver gummies, Bagel Cafe breakfast sandwiches, and went through obsessive phases of Zac Efron and The Jonas Brothers.  

We bawled our eyes out together all night long the night before she moved. 

From dance recitals, Halloweens and Achievement Days skits...

...to countless sleepovers and photo shoots...

...to girls camps, proms, homecomings, dance team, concerts, boyfriends, vacations, cell phone curfews and zillions of other high school happenings.... 

...to our WEDDINGS.

Talk about a lifetime of memories.  

It was so fun to get away for the weekend and road trip down to St. George to celebrate this girl's special day.  In the sealing room, after filing in towards the back, Marcie's mom stood up and said, "Lisa! Get up to the front! You're family."  I was so touched.  She was right; to say we're best friends just doesn't cut it.

I remember when I was engaged, Marcie told me that my wedding would be "the second best day of her life," only after her own wedding.  Having experienced both now, you were right Marcie-- experiencing the joy and happiness of my best friend's wedding has absolutely qualified as the second best day of my life.  

I love you, Marce! Couldn't be more thrilled for you :)