HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODD!!!

It's Todd's 26th birthday today. So I thought I'd come up with 26 things that I love about Todd. They're in no particular order.

1. His smile.

2. His laugh. Especially when he thinks something is really funny.

3. His sense of humor.

4. His ability to get me to smile when I don't want to.

5. His sincerity.

6. The way he intereacts with kids.

7. The way he gets excited about our baby.

8. He lets me sleep in the middle of the bed and doesn't wake me cause he knows I haven't been able to sleep much lately.

9. He likes things cleaned & picked up.

10. He doesn't worry about the little things.

11. He doesn't judge.

12. He doesn't care what others think of him.

13. His hugs

14. He lets me fall asleep on him while he's watching TV.

15. His eyes.

16. His ability to dance and just have fun.

17. His love and knowledge of the gospel.

18. His desire to provide for a better future.

19.The way he makes me feel.

20. He lets me vent.

21. His encouragement.

22. His desire to become a better person.

23. The way he makes me strive to become a better person.

24. He lets me be me.

25. He allows our marriage to be an equal relationship.

26. The small simple things he does that are always a constant reminder of his love for me.

Hope you have a great birthday Todd! Love you.

New Pets

We finally got a fish tank that doesn't leak for our fish. The little tank has a blue divider in the middle that you can take out and then watch the fish flare up. For some reason Betta's don't like each other. The funny thing is, is that they can still see each other with the divider. Every once in awhile you'll see them looking through the little cracks. The red one is pretty aggressive. He's the one that usually starts the flaring. The blue one likes to go to the top and blue air bubbles. They are pretty entertaining. A lot more than I thought they'd be.

Anniversary

Well, I'd have to say Todd and I had a pretty good anniversary. I got home and he had a little gift for me sitting out. Sheri Dew's "God Wants a Powerful People". I really enjoyed her book "No One Can Take Your Place", and have been wanting this one for quite awhile. I also got some of the best pickles. Todd has learned that I'm not one for flowers and such things. Yeah they'd be nice. I see people that get them and think about me getting them, but then I remember they die. They're pretty the first day. I'd rather have food. Good food. When we lived in Denver Todd would surprise me with Blue Bell ice cream. He knew how to get to my heart. So this time, since unfortunately you can't get anything close to Blue Bell, he got me pickles. Seriously the best pickles. We both dug into them when I got home. So good and crunchy. But a little on the pricey side so we don't get to enjoy them too often! Mmm...I think I could go eat one right now....Anyway.....

Todd has been wanting a fish tank. So I tried looking and looking and couldn't really find anything decent for our budget. I'm sure if he went out he could have, but I decided we could start with something simple and work our way up to a nicer tank. So I went out and got him 2 Betta Fish and a tank that divides the two fish. Unfortunately when Todd went to put it together last night, the bottom was cracked and kept leaking so now we have to go get a new one. Our poor little fish are still sitting in their little tiny cups they came in.

That night we went to our usual Johnny Carinos. They've changed things up a little, but it's still our place. Then we went and did a little baby shopping. We got a gift card from Target so we went and picked up a few things. It's amazing how much a little baby can have. We ended our night with some delicious ice cream from G's Dairy. So good. It was nice to get out with just the two of us. We spend time together all the time, but I don't think we've really be out together, with just the two of us, for awhile. It was nice.

Utah Trip

This past weekend Todd and I were able to go down to Salt Lake and spend some time with family. My mom came up and helped throw me a baby shower with my cousin Kim. It was so good to see and spend time with her.

We started our trip by leaving after Todd got out of school on Friday. After some thought about planning our trip we decided that we'd drive the Buick down instead of our Mazada. It's bigger, a little more comfy, and Todd wanted to. He loves that car. The down side of the car... It has no AC. Just some advice, I wouldn't drive in a car, for 4 hours, with no AC when your 8 months pregnant and it's the first weekend it's reached 100 degrees!! It wasn't too bad though. Going down I pretty much sat in the back behind Todd so I'd be in the shade and more air was hitting me. It was pretty funny I think. Coming back home Todd got to sit in the sun the whole time while I was on the side with the shade. So we'd stop to get some cold water and pop cicles. Cool down a bit. Then head back on the road. When we left Salt Lake the car said it was like 98 degrees, or something close to that, but as we got closer and closer to home the temp just gradually went down. By the time we got to Rexburg it was 79!

Anyway, Saturday we had our shower. It was so nice. There was a bunch of family that I haven't seen in forever. My mom's friends that she hasn't seen in forever. I've always heard her talking about these people. She'd tell stories about her and her friends growing up and that. So it was fun being able to put a face with a name now. We got so many things! We truly are so grateful to have so many people that are generous and thoughtful enough to help us as we prepare to start our family. We got a high chair, some clothes, blankets, bath tub, bath essentials, and lots of books! Everything was so nice! The fun part was being able to talk with everyone and just enjoy each others company.

After the shower my mom took us to Babies R Us and helped us get a stroller and car seat. I love it!! We stood there forever trying to figure out which one to get. Todd would stroll one and then another. We'd take the carseat out and examine it. My mom would give her advice. Then we finally decided on one. Well, it was more like two, but Todd was nice enough and let us get the one I really wanted! The more I look at it and play with it, the more I love it. So we are now able to bring Everett home from the hospital!

The rest of the weekend we hung out and had fun. We went to Target and got some crib bedding and pacifiers. Went to lunch with my mom's friend Alice. It was such a good weekend. I'm so grateful I had that time to spend with my mom and go shopping for baby stuff with her. It's been hard not having her here, but I'm grateful I was able to have a little time with her!

2 Year Anniversary

I can't believe we've been married for 2 years! Well, I can, it's just gone by really fast. We've been blessed in so many ways and I know as we continue on the path we are going, that we will continue to be blessed. I'm so grateful for Todd and all he has done for me. He truly is an amazing husband. We've had our good and bad days, but through it all I wouldn't change a thing. Our bishop once told us that true love isn't the day you get married it's what develops through all the pain and joy you get to experience as you go through trials and learn from one another. I can truly attest to that. I have such a stronger love for Todd today then the day we got married and I know that it'll continue to grow. Happy Anniversary Stud Muffin. Love you forever and always.

Pregnant Woman Should Not Work

At least this pregnant woman shouldn't! I love my job, but sometimes all I want to do anymore is go home. I remember the beginning of the pregnancy it was hard cause I was constantly tired. Slept tons and always wanted more. But it was a different kind of tired. Don't know how to explain it. Now I don't sleep very well so all I want do is take naps during the day. It's gotten to the point that I wake up get ready for work and then go take a 20-30 minute nap before I go to work! When I get home sometime after dinner I usually fall asleep on the couch for a little bit. So I'd have to say the 2nd trimester was diffenately my favorite. I had engery. Slept great! Oh well. 6 more weeks! It's going by super fast.

Despite the sleepiness I've loved being pregnant. It does have it's good and bad days, but for the most part I've really enjoyed it. This weekend my mom and cousin Kim are throwing me a shower in Utah! I'm excited. I get to see my mom. She flys in tonight and then Todd and I will drive down tomorrow! Can't wait!

Cankles

I'm getting cankles. At least I think I am. Todd says they don't look like cankles, my ankles just look swollen. My feet have started swelling a little here and there before, but not too bad. Today though I noticed my ankles looked a little different, but it wasn't till this afternoon when they started looking really swollen. Then later I was talking with my neighbor and I noticed my feet were starting to swell, the best part there's a dimple in the middle of my foot! Oh joy! 6 1/2 more weeks right?!?

No More Looking

Pretty much since we found out we were pregnant I have been searching for a crib. First off they are ridiculously expensive. Well some are. So after awhile I decided to start looking on Craigslist for a used crib that we could afford. We even recently started looking on ksl.com since we are going to be in Salt Lake next weekend. There's been a couple that I wanted, but it always seems to fall through. When our neighbors got their crib I really liked it. It was the height that I liked the most. It sits lower to the ground which I thought would be perfect for us. But I kept looking for others hoping maybe we'd found something we liked within our budget.

Well, with all the waiting and looking we finally found it! Yesterday a lady posted a crib (exactly like Alma and Jessica's) and it looked really nice. Best part about it, it was a price that would keep us within our budget. I kept calling and calling so they would know I wanted it and not let someone else get there before me. So either they thought I was really annoying and wanted me to stop calling, or they knew I was really interested. I went and looked at it and knew it was the one. I was so excited. Todd put it up last night. The room is slowly starting to look like we have a kid now! Only 6 1/2 more weeks and we will! Now we just need to get a mattress and bedding and it'll be ready for little Everett.

Little Texan

My mom sent me a nice little package with some clothes. I got my first maternity skirt. I've pretty much just been wearing my regular ones unzipped and rolled down. Sad I know, but it works. But let me tell you a maternity skirt is WAY more comfortable! So are maternity lounge pants. Who would of thought! I also got some cute new black capris and a new shirt. My wardrobe is slowly starting to build up again! Of course Todd and Everett weren't left out. Todd got some candy while Everett got a new shirt picked out by his Grandpa. It's his first Texas shirt! I love it.

4th of July 2009

We had a great 4th of July this year! Todd had a four day weekend and I was able to get three day. We started it by being able to attend the temple with our neighbors. The temple was packed! I honestly didn't think it would be on a Friday morning, but I was wrong. Later we went down to Idaho Falls to get some ribs for our BBQ the next day and ended the evening hanging out on the balcony with our neighbors.

Saturday we went to the Rexburg 4th of July Parade. For such a small town they had one of the longest parades! We seriously never thought it was going to end. They had some pretty fun floats. We sat at the end of the route, which I think next time we wont do. Almost every time a group got to us they'd stop dancing, or doing whatever it was they were doing. But we enjoyed ourselves.

Then came our BBQ. We've had a blast having BBQs with our neighbors. Since we got our grill Todd and our neighbor, Alma, have talked about grilling ribs. So we thought why not do it for the 4th?! They ened up tasting pretty good. Todd and I learned what and what not to do for next time so hopefully we can continue to perfect them. The rest of the afternoon was spent sitting around and hanging out. The guys ended up going and playing some game while the girls just sat and talked.

Then came the night festivities! We ended up staying at our apartments and tried to watch the Rexburg fireworks, but due to some trees we were only able to get bits and pieces. Trent and Kim bought some of their own fireworks so we were able to watch them go off. It was pretty fun. Growing up in Texas we were never able to do our own fireworks. They had some sparkles, catepillers (i think that's what they called it), and few others. We had fun "ooooing" and "awwing".

The whole day and weekend was quite nice. We're going to be sad come the end of the summer when all our friends start moving away. But it was really nice being able to spend the 4th with all of them. I think we created some pretty fun memories that we'll always be able to look back on.

32 Weeks

Only 8 more weeks left! We're officially in the single digits. I still can't believe how fast everything is going, and it only seems that it will continue that way. I thought maybe it would slow down, but nope. Todd and I have a busy schedule ahead of us that is keeping us busy as we await our little boy's arrival.

We went to the doctor yesterday and everything is lookin pretty good. I'm measuring just right. Everett had a heart beat of 140 which the nurse said was pretty regular. The doctor went to see where he was, but he's still too high to tell. I could have told him that, but oh well. We feel him all the time, but I have no clue what I'm feelin. Whether it's his back, head, who knows. He's constantly kicking especially when I sit. His feet are down low so I think I smash them every time I sit, mainly when I'm sitting and leaning over. I like to poke at him and he reacts. Gives me a nice little kick. Yesterday when the nurse was looking for his heart beat she shoved the thing down in my stomach and he started kicking. Todd said he could see my stomach moving from where he was sitting. I guess he's just letting me know he doesn't want to be bothered!

We start going to our appointments every two weeks now. That just seems so unreal. I don't think I ever thought I'd make it to this point, but I guess everyone eventually does!

Dear Allergies.....

Please, Please, PLEASE go away. I'm begging you.

I don't get much sleep as it is and waking up due to sneezing, running nose, or burning eyes isn't helping much.

I'd like to be able to go on a walk and not regret it cause the rest of the night my eyes itch like crazy.

I'd like my eyes to look normal again. Not all red and puffy and like I've been crying for days.

I'd like my head to feel like it doesn't have constant pressure.

My throat would enjoy not being itchy and now sore.

And as much as I like having the AC on, it'd be nice to be able to keep our windows open more and not worry about wasting money. The weather's been so nice lately.

So please, I've suffered long enough. I've been a slave to you for years during the spring time. Let me just enjoy the summer. Please that's all I ask.

Nicki