Visit to Idaho

Thanks to a wonderful birthday gift from my mom, Andrew and I (plus my mom) were able to take a week long trip to go visit my sister Karen and her family in Idaho! As me and my sister are only 2 1/2 weeks apart in our pregnancy, we realized it would be the only chance we would have to see each other before we gave birth to our sweet kids. We had a wonderful trip! We went and saw the BYU Young Embassadors, we threw Karen a baby shower, we took a wonderful walk on Sunday, tried to make sure the kids played nice together, my sister showed me how to make some fun crafts, we went out to lunch, played some card games, and mainly we were just able to relax and spend some much needed sister time together! I love her very much and want to give her a big THANK-YOU for letting us invade her home for a week. Below are pictures from our trip.

Andrew seeing planes for the first time, he was really excited, he kept talking as the planes went by, it was adorable.
Not the best picture, Andrew was being difficult, but here he is with Grandma about to take his first plane ride!

Mommy and Son
The smallest plane I have ever been on!

Side View

Sunday was such a beautiful day we decided to take a walk around the park...Andrew got tired so we put him in the back of the stroller.

My little/big man strutting his stuff!

Cousins: Andrew & David

Todd sucking their brains out

My Nephew David showing us his "Cheeks" while wearing his mommy's shoes! Sooo cute!

While I am having another boy, my sister is having a girl, and insisted on showing my how to make these clips for little girls hair, I am very pleased with mine and had so much fun making them, I even bought more material. I gave these ones to my sister-in-law Janell who just gave birth to my niece Cailyn!

I guess I was feeling really ambitious, because I also made all 4 of these nursing covers.

Karen modeling it for us!

My sister and I showing off our bellies! Karen is 30 weeks and I was 27 1/2.

Last time we took this picture, only one of us was pregnant, it was REALLY hard and funny to get our legs up that high. And I love the expression on my sisters face...she's ready to fight, and I just can't stop laughing.

Very much in love with our babies! Sorry my heart looks a little retarded.

Sisters and Sons!

Andrew got to play on the Tonka truck while we waited for our connecting flight home in Boise, ID.

Getting Bigger, The Both of Us

Andrew had his 15 month check-up today and he is getting so big! He is now over 26lbs, which puts him around the 75th percentile for his weight, and he is 35" tall - that is over the 100th percentile for his height! He is sure going to be tall (I love that idea), he can help mom reach things on the top shelf in the cupboards...well maybe not for a couple more years, but I love the fact that he is getting taller. He is such a cute and fun boy to have around the house! I love being home with him, watching him dance, and talk more, it is truly tons of fun. He loves MUSIC, it is probably one of his favorite things. He loves to dance (mostly spin in circles), and he occassionally likes to mix it up with bending of the knees. Below are a couple recent pictures on my little---or not so little man!

As for me, I am getting much bigger and quickly. I am now 25 weeks pregnant and the time just continues to fly by. I can't believe I am in my 3rd trimester, it seems crazy to me. I am soo sad that we haven't figured out this sweet little boys name yet, but I'm sure it will come with time. I keep asking Andrew what his brothers name is, but he doesn't tell me...maybe he wants it to be a surprise. This baby boy LOVES to move, A LOT!!! He moves much more than Andrew did, and it is tons of fun to feel him all the time. I love it. It's the best feeling to know he is in there and growing. At this point he is about 12" long and he weighs about 1lb 7oz.

I have started biking (outside) with my mom, and it's tough, but I am really enjoying it. I just hope the weather gets a little bit nicer so it doesn't hail on us (like yesterday) while we ride. It makes the ride so much more enjoyable when the sun is shining! We did 13 miles yesterday, 9 on which I pulled Andrew on a bike trailer behind me. We aren't going for record time here, but we did finish in just under 7 minutes a mile, which I am pleased with. I hope to be able to continue to ride for as long as I can and look forward to some sun-shiny days!!!

This picture was taken about 2 weeks ago, so I am a tab-bit bigger, but you get the idea!!!

Need Advice - Please Help!!!

For all you past, present, or future Pregnant Women, I need advice!!!! I am just now 24 weeks pregnant and, I crave nothing but sweets, chocolate to be more exact. Normally I rarely ever eat any types of sweets, and I did have more sweets cravings with Andrew (while I was pregnant), but this baby is 10x worse!! I am trying really hard to stay on a good eating regiment - you know, eat healthy and not eat the sweets, but my body is craving it!! Is there anything I can eat to substitite wanting chocolate??? Any tips would be most greatly appreciated! Thanks

Having a Little Fun

Because we have been so busy with the house, it is rare that Jon actually gets to see Andrew and spend time playing with him, but when he does he sure has a lot of fun! Jon loves to play with Andrew, and Andrew LOVES his daddy! When he see's Jon walk through the door he gets the biggest smile on his face, it is soo sweet. I love it when they get to play together! This is what Jon did last time they "played" together.

Jon used a marker and drew facial hair all over Andrew's face...he thought it was hilarious!!!

Seriously....who can resist this face!!!!

Trying on Daddy's Sunglasses!

A Tough Little Man

Yesterday I had an extremely frightening experience, (while at my parents house). The day started out great! I watched conference, bragged to my brother that I haven't been getting sick with this baby at all, and just had a very laid back fun day...and then as soon as the boys left for Priesthood session (4pm), I started feeling really sick! :( I think I cursed myself. I ended up with a severe migraine and started throwing up. While all this was happening and I rested on the couch, my sweet sister (in-law) watched Andrew for me. The problem was my parents have a long flight of stairs and Andrew LOVES the stairs, this posed a problem, because they didn't have a gate set up yet, so we just pushed the foot rest in front of them, which has been holding up..until yesterday. Andrew finally realized he could squeeze through on one side, however we had been watching him and telling him not to go through there, and Sarah had been getting him for me everytime he tried. Then the boys came home from Priesthood (I at this point was beyond sick and only wanted to go home) and Jon came over to comfort me and see how I was feeling. I was giving him a hug when the next thing I hear is "ANDREW FELL DOWN THE STAIRS!!!!!" I cannot express a mothers and fathers panic when you hear words like that. I ran to the top of the stairs and Jon rushed all the way down to our sweet son who had fallen to the bottom. I was crying and shaking at the top of the stairs as I grasped what had just happened. For those who have never been to my parents house it is close to a 10' decline down, around 16 steps. Needless to say it was a long ways for a little boy to go tumbling down. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending, as I stared down at my son in complete panic, all I see is a little boy, turning himself around, and getting ready to climb back up the stairs to the top, not crying but totally fine (I think he was a bit confused as to how come he was already at the bottom).

Andrew is a tough little man, and even after falling down so many stairs, he managed to walk away with only a fingernail size bruise on his lower back. I am truly grateful he is perfectly fine, and back to his trouble-making self! As a side note, my parents have a gate and had it up today when we returned to conference. We are so thankful it wasn't worse. We are definitely counting our blessings this evening! What can we say though...we have one tough little man!!!!

P.S. The picture is a joke, Andrew is completely fine!

Secret's Out!!!

I want to be the one to set the record straight and let people know that for those of you who have heard rumors...they are TRUE, Jon and I are happy to announce that we are expecting baby #2!!!!!! We are extremely excited and can't wait to bring another child into our family and home!

Progress....

It has been a long process and I'm pleased to announce we are making progress! Because of the stressful situation it has been we have definitely kept it quiet, but we are making good forward tracks and so I'm pleased to announce that we are building our very first home! We will be purchasing Jon's parents old property (also where he grew up) which is just shy of 4 acres, and absolutely beautiful! Our home will be 2 stories, 1200sq per floor, and I am sooo excited for some more room. We have severly outgrown our apartment and I can't wait for our home to be finished...a place to truly call home! I am sooo proud of my husband and the hard work he puts in, he will be building our home himself, with the help of family and friends! I am grateful to have a husband who works so hard, and knows what he's doing and how to get it done!

To explain some of the pictures: It was a tricky process, but we are building our home where an office used to be located. We are completely tearing down the office (and only leaving a bathroom), and rebuilding our home on that slab, plus another 6' off the front and 14' off the side. The pictures show the office (or what used to be the office), and you can kind of see the slab we added. I hope you Enjoy!!!

Andrew was GREAT! He sat in the back of my dads truck for a while and just watched.

The front of what used to be the office

The side of the old office

About to tear the roof off! Jon's dad drove the back hoe onto the foundation and lifted and tore it right off!

The roof is off, now time to clean up - we are making good progress, but still have lots to do!