SMILE!

So today I went to the dentist for the first time since they took my wisdom (teeth of course). I was so proud, if I was still a kid at Dr Ross' office I would have been in the 'NO CAVITY' club and got a super cool picture on the wall! The hygenist kept telling me how clean and plaque free my teeth were even though it had been 3 years since my last appointment. Then to top off the great oral exam, the dentist walked in to check my mouth, and the first thing he said was " Oh you were right, she has great teeth!" Call me silly, but it felt great to hear a pro telling me how great of a smile I have. I may be in stretchy pants cause I'm getting a huge gut, but my smile is still attractive! One place I don't have to worry about the baby messing up! HA! Teeth can't get stretch marks!

Needed Pep-Talk

For some reason last night I could not fall asleep. Ok, the reason was I was stressing out about all of the things I haven't been doing well lately. One of my pregnancy symptoms is getting down on myself. Yesterday, I woke up feeling really good, and started to be productive. While folding laundry I had to run to the bathroom and get sick (WHEN WILL I BE DONE WITH THAT!?). After getting sick, I couldn't calm my body back down, so I had to just give up and go to sleep. I woke up from my sleeping and was shaking and still all weird. This just made me really mad. I was angry that AGAIN I wasn't getting the housework done, and I could barely think of how to take care of myself. This pleasant mood carried with me for the rest of the evening (sorry Jon!). I then took those thoughts further and started to stress about why I was becoming a mom. If I can't take care of myself and keep a clean house, what was I thinking becoming a mom! So that was some of what was going through my head while I was trying to sleep, and then while sitting at the computer.

After checking my email, and not being suprised to find nothing there, I felt inspired to visit the church website and read a talk. So lds.org loaded, and there it was, the First Presidency message from President Uchtdorf " The Influence of Righteous Women". This message was just perfect for me last night! For those of you who haven't read it, look it up! It is short and sweet, but left me feel uplifted and ready to take on the world. One paragraph in particular hit me hard last night:

"May I invite you to rise to the great potential within you. But don’t reach beyond your capacity. Don’t set goals beyond your capacity to achieve. Don’t feel guilty or dwell on thoughts of failure. Don’t compare yourself with others. Do the best you can, and the Lord will provide the rest. Have faith and confidence in Him, and you will see miracles happen in your life and the lives of your loved ones. The virtue of your own life will be a light to those who sit in darkness, because you are a living witness of the fulness of the gospel (see D&C 45:28). Wherever you have been planted on this beautiful but often troubled earth of ours, you can be the one to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (D&C 81:5)."

Last night (and let's be honest, lots of days and nights lately) I have been dwelling on the things I am not doing perfect. I have been beating myself up over things that really don't matter (so what if the dishes are still in the sink! I'm growing a baby!) I need to do a better job at being faithful and positive in my life, because I know from past experiences that when I am relying on the Lord and focusing on His plan for my life, everything else starts to fall into place. I am so grateful for this message! It has helped me to get my butt in gear (as my mother would say). I know that I will never be a perfect wife or mother, but if I stay close to the Lord and have faith in Him, everything will work out.

Baby Belly

So just a month ago I started to feel the baby kicking and moving around, but the past few weeks the kicks have gotten MUCH stronger. This morning a kick actually woke me up! I was laying there after being kicked awake, and realized that when baby kicks, she makes my stomach jump now! It looks kinda creepy, but cool all at the same time! To mom's out there you prolly think I sound funny, but this is the first time I've had my stomach jumping from the inside.... it was kinda a sci-fi moment for me. Having her getting stronger only makes me want to get her out here sooner... I guess I can wait 100 or so more days.... oh that sounds so long!

3 Years and going strong!

So today marks Jon and I's official 3 year of marriage!! I must admit with a little shame that Jon knew the date and I had it wrong... I thought the 19th was our wedding day, but alas, it is the 17th. 3 years was just so long ago I couldn't remember. Today we don't know what we are doing to celebrate, all our plans depend on when Jon gets home from work. But to celebrate today on our blog I have some new pictures to post. Our dear friend Bri does photography on the side, and wanted to try out some of her new equipment on us. She was really great, and took two not so photogenic people and our crazy dog and gave us some really cute pictures! If you or anyone you know is in Knoxville TN and needs a photographer look her up.

Here is a prime example of us not being so photogenic..... when Jon saw this one the first time he laughed and said "we dont look so good in pictures do we?!"

Here is an example of our not so photogenic dog... his freakishly long tongue is sticking all the way out in almost all the pictures we got! lol

Here is a good shot that shows just how round I am getting. Sadly, I am not one of those women who just have a beach ball up their shirt prego look, I am getting round everywhere!

This is one of my favorites, along with the one at the top of our blog.

Thanks again Bri for using us as your models! It was fun, and it is nice to have professional shots of our little family!

And happy ann. Jon! Thanks for all the good times, and the wonderful future I have to look forward to. You make every day worth living.

Wedding Bliss

So my beautiful friend Jill got married this past weekend, and I was lucky enough to make the trip to Ohio to be there. As a bonus, I got to spend time with my family too! I just LOVE Ohio! I was able to make it to the temple for Jill's endowments and also for the sealing. I have a few pictures from the happy event. I was so excited to see lots of my old and dear friends. Jill was beautiful and perfect.

Me and Jillian at the temple.

The married girls with our Jill at the temple-- trying to be serious, but below our true colors come out!

Jill and I (and Adrienne) at the reception. Jill looks so great!

The group from stake dances growing up. We have so many great memories together. Just a few people are missing, but overall we got most of us to Ohio at the same time!

Overall, the week was so much fun. From seeing my family, working on baby stuff, hanging by Allie's pool with the girls, and being there for all of Jill's big moments, I was exhausted and elated all at the same time. I love my friends and family so much!

Half Way There!!

Today marks a HUGE milestone in my pregnancy... 20 WEEKS!!! I realized yesterday that I was almost half done, a part of me wanted to cheer, and the other part cry! Cheer because I am half way done with being pregnant, and cry because I still have half to go! I feel like I've been pregnant forever! Hopefully this second half will feel much faster, I'm much less sick than I was in the beginning.... so that will possibly help. I am getting a baby bump, so that is exciting! I will post a picture of that soon, right now I just woke up and no one needs to see what that looks like!

Oh and anyone out there who is pregnant or will be shopping maternity clothes anytime soon I would suggest going to Khols. Jon and I went there yesterday because we had a coupon, but found their maternity section had a clearance rack. There wasn't lots to choose from, but I got a pair of pants that were originally $40 for $8! I was pretty happy! It's worth checking out.

So I hope everyone has a very happy August, since it kinda marks the end of summer. I know I plan on enjoying my August to the fullest! I will get to see one of my best friends married, and have my 3 year ann. with my amazing husband! And let's not forget that August gets me closer and closer to December!

Its a...

GIRL!!!
At the appointment today they did the ultrasound and told us we are having a little girl! We are both really excited. Our little girl is modest, as the ultrasound tec told us. We had to shake my stomach FOREVER to get her to uncross her legs enough to see what she was. I guess that is a good sign, she's already a good girl! lol. But aside from the girl news she looks totally healthy.

Old Pictures

One of my goals in life is to keep a scrapbook. So yesterday I decided it has been awhile since I looked at my book and done anything. I realized I had some work to do! But, for some reason I didn't feel like getting everything out and starting work, so I just looked back at all my old pictures. I always get so happy when I look at the good times. Looking back made me remember some of the many blessings I've been given. I pretty much have had the best life anyone could ask for!

Just for laughs, I'll post one picture from Jon and I's early dating.

He really looks like his dad in this one... maybe this is a glimpse into his future!

Ive been given homework!

So today I went to the beautiful doctor to have a checkup. I have lost over 10 lbs! Isn't life just unfair, before I tried getting pregnant I worked out really hard to try and be in better shape, but didn't lose a pound, but now (which MUCH too much throwing up to thank) I'm droping weight with no problem! But the doctor wasn't impressed. I was very dehydrated (thanks to a wonderfully uncomfortable night last night), and she said she doesnt want to see me dropping this much weight. So, for homework, before my next appointment she wants to see me gain at least 5 lbs. Part of me wants to laugh, when have I ever had to TRY to gain weight?! That answer is never!!! She even gave me permission to eat anything and everything I wanted. Lol--- as the fat kid in me starts to sing and daydream about icecream and cake...

So if anyone has any tips on how to gain weight while still throwing up let me know! Id love any help I can get!!

Oh and in 3 weeks we are going to find out what we are having!!! I cant wait!! Jon and I both really want a boy, so logically we are prolly going to have a girl! what do you think??

Drum Roll Please..........

So a post or so ago I promised some exciting news...... so are you ready??!!

WE ARE PREGNANT!!!

Yes, the time has officially come to tell everyone that we are expecting our first. I am due Dec 19th, which sounds like forever away.... but hopefully time will fly! I am finally finished with my first trimester (sadly not done with morning sickness, I guess Im just not that lucky!), and my belly is starting to stick out some, or at least more than normal! It was so strange getting the first ultrasound and realizing that something really is growing in there! We are both very excited and feel very blessed to have a kid on the way. On the days that Im not sick I am even more excited!

I hope that news was exciting enough! I thought it was! It has been SO HARD to not tell everyone since day one. At least Im better than my mom, who tells my entire branch the first week after we found out... she claims it was an accident. I will keep you updated at things progress!

Lucky Day

ok so i know i promised good news but that will have to wait another day. yesterday our trusty old truck breathed its last weeze. Jon was in an accident, (thankfully everyone was ok) and it is 100% dead. the truck that took us to all of our dates is dead. I feel the need to mourn, not only because it has been a part of Jon and I's life from the first time I met him, but it was so cheap to own! Now we have to buy a new truck, happy father's day Jon... yay. Our good luck with cars continues.

Wait for it...

So at the moment I am at my mom's house in Ohio, and will be here for 2 weeks. While here, lots of fun things are happening, so anticipate pictures to come later (maybe much later as my husband STOLE my digital camera for work...and i am using a disposable one!!) and i will tell lots of fun and interesting stories when I get back to TN. Just know that in 2 week the post will be so big and so exciting that all my fans will be thrilled! (and by fans I mean my friends who actually are kind enough to read about my semi-boring life!!) So until then, start getting excited! lol. Yea I know I'm weird...