We're Pregnant!

There was a lot more to February then I shared in my last update! The best birthday present that I received was a positive pregnancy test!!! Right before my birthday on the 17th of February, I took a pregnancy test. There were no reasons for me to take the test, and I had no symptoms, it had just been a few weeks since I last took one, and I was just curious! And then to my surprise, it came out positive!!!!

It was crazy. And I was confused as to how far along I was. Everything in January, and February cycle wise was completely normal. So I called my OB who told me to take a blood test with my regular family Dr, to confirm the pregnancy, and have a quantitative hCG blood test done to determine how far along I was.

I was told that I was about 4 to 5 weeks along at that point and time.

Finally made it into my OB 3 weeks later ( the longest 3 weeks of my life ) for our first official appointment, and ultrasound. I have been seeing Dr. Hansen in Evanston for a couple of years now. He is a wonderful Dr, so I have decided to continue with him throughout my pregnancy. He had prepared me for the ultrasound, and had told me that according to my blood work I was 7-9 weeks, but probably more like 7. Seeing as blood results can be off. So at that point he had told me we were probably going to be seeing what would appear as a "jellybean" on the screen. And that there MIGHT be some appendages, but that they might not show up as arms and legs quite yet.

So I was prepared to see my little "bean castillon" ( as the girls at work call him ) yes him...no I do not know the sex, this is just wishful thinking on our part :O)

Well then, the Doc got down to business, and then a baby popped up on the screen. Then Jamie spoke in awe...right after he spoke our little baby started wiggling and squirming around like CRAZY. And there were arms, legs, a head, and you could even make out a face! :O) He looked as if he were running in my womb! So active, it was unbelievable. Jamie and I were misty eyed, and in complete awe. Our little baby was so alive, and real, I finally felt pregnant! It was a blast watching him on the screen, I could have watched it all day. So cute. Then our little one did something I was not expecting. He stuck his fist in his mouth! And started pushing his feet and hands up against the walls. It was crazy. Then Dr. Hansen spoke up...saying "WHOA...wow...well lookey here, you are A LOT further along than I had anticipated." You are measuring....11 weeks.

It was a very welcome surprise!!!!

Jamie and I just couldn't believe what we had just seen. It was awesome sharing that moment with him. Definitely special.

So today I am 3 months along. And I have felt great! I haven't had any morning sickness. That was one thing throwing me off, I was expecting to be living with my head in the toilet. But not once have I got sick. I am very thankful for that! The only strong symptom I really had in the beginning of my pregnancy was lack of energy. I was just really tired for a couple of weeks. And that really was about it. Then I had a few other symptoms, tenderness, urinating frequently, and food preferences. And on the plus side, my skin never broke out! Actually have a nice glow. Phew!

Seems everything has balanced out now, and I feel spectacular! My energy levels are high, and I just all around feel great!!

Everything is just falling into place! Jamie has been wanting kids since the day we got married 4 years ago...but we also wanted to have things in our life established before we started a family, and we have for a couple of years now. It feels fabulous to start our lil family!! We had been trying to get pregnant since the beginning of August, and I was getting a bit flustered!!!

Summit has noticed a change. A month ago we began to notice that he has become a bit over protective of me. Especially when Jamie is not home at night. He definitely can sense that I am pregnant. And recently he has become obsessed with my belly! He always lays his head on my tummy now, and sniffs it, and even has begun to lick it. Quite odd at first, then cute, but now kinda annoying lol...but still adorable. Its just hard to get ready in the A.M when all he wants to do is corner me and hug my belly. :O)

February Update!

February was pretty much amazing!! Jamie and I celebrated the day of our engagement on Valentine's Day in 2006, and my 24th birthday!

I made a home cooked meal consisting of broiled lobster tail, mashed potatoes, and steamed veggies. It was a total surprise to Jamie! Along with some lovely gifts he was not expecting!

I had the best birthday ever! I must say, I cannot thank enough my family, and friends who called me, texted me, and facebooked me all day long with birthday wishes. It really made me feel so loved by everyone. So again, THANK YOU!! I love you guys :O)

I had some WONDERFUL birthday gifts as well... :O)

Jamie and I also took the Scouts on a snowboarding trip to Beaver Mountain!! We have been teaching the Scouts how to snowboard, and ski to receive their Merit Badge for a few months now. We had such a blast! They all really did amazing! We had sunny blue bird skies, temperature in the high forties, and a fresh 6 inches of snow! It seriously was one of the funnest days I have had on the mountain!! And we all came home rocking goggle tans! :O)

These were just some of the boys that came with us on our trip! We had a total for 14!

The Sunday after snowboarding Jamie and I had to speak in Church as well! I have only spoken in Church 3 times now...and I have come to the conclusion that it DOES get easier with practice! I actually enjoyed it this time. It was fun! I am always impressed with Jamie when he teaches/talks as well...he is just so knowledgeable when it comes to the Gospel, I am so thankful for that!! Our talks went really well! Thank you to all of our awesome ward for your thoughtful words!!



Hector and Sue went to Iowa to visit Travy, Crystal, Carson, and Coop for a week. So lil Harlee needed a baby sitter! I gladly said we would be the ones! It was fun to have the lil guy around, but also a bit nerve wracking as some times. I think I will hold off on getting a 2nd dog. I was going to purchase an Alaskan Klei Kai (Toy Husky) but I am gonna wait another year, see how I feel about taking on that responsibility later!




Summit LOVED having Harlee around. He just adores all dogs as it is. Harlee has always been a bit intimidated by Summit and his 150lbs of muscle lol...but he warmed up to him in a couple of days, they are the best of buddies now!!

Another adjustment to our life has been new furniture. Jamie has been wanting to get a new couch for the downstairs. I personally loved our couch, it was new,it was huge, and great for company, but horrible if you fell asleep on it. And it was micro suede. If Summit rubbed up against it, it grabbed his hair. No biggie, just brush it off...but still..annoying. So we wanted leather. I have been all for it! But it certainly is a change. We went smaller. And with a different color than I truly wanted. But I still like it. I just can't wait to paint the walls a light tan color, and buy some more furniture to help bring out its character a little bit better. I think doing that will help me settle in with the new couch. It has two recliners in it. Which is fabulous, but I was still wanted a lil bit bigger. I wanted cup holders, and built in massagers as well. And the ones we looked at I just wasn't liking, and then I started to think of the electronic features, and we decided against it...in case of it wearing out some day..didn't want to deal with that whole issue! We are thinking about buying a gigantic lovesac to go on the other side of the couch by the fireplace?? Nonetheless we will be buying another piece of furniture to stick over there to have more room for guests. Here is a photo of the before and after..


Before..



After...

Jamie just had to have this painting of a few Elk! It really is a great piece! BUT we WILL be moving the spot of this...I am going to be getting a huge horizontal painting of SNOWY covered Tetons to go across the wall above the couch!!!

I will admit it is awesome to have all this room downstairs now. Those big couches had huge ottomans (with nice storage :o/ ) that stuck out too close to the couch. Left about 2 feet of walking room between the couch and tv...not too shabby, but stick a Great Dane in your house, and tell me if you would need more room! I need more room....I can't wait to build a house!!!! haha.

I can't wait to see what the month of March will bring..But even as exciting will be April!! Jamie and I will be spending 5 days in Las Vegas! Celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary and his 27th birthday!!

We will be staying in a very nice and newer hotel called the Wynn Las Vegas on the North side of the strip. On Jamie's birthday I booked dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, and a night out watching his favorite comedian Jerry Seinfeld do standup!!!

Other than that, we plan to relax, swim, hit the spa, walk the strip, dine out, and SHOP! I can't wait for our lil vacation!! Much needed! And great things that needs be celebrated!!

Tis the Season!

I love my stockings! Thank you Mrs. Stephanie Reading, and Brandie Spalding...you guys surely are pretty fabulous friends!!! Steph made the bear and moose, and Brandie specially made Summit's stocking!! These ladies are quite the crafters!! They have some really cute things left over from the craft fair if anyone is interested let me know and I can get you their information if needed!!

Decorating our tree this year was fun! Jamie and just love this time of year, and the special thoughts of our Savior that come along with the season!!


Christmas tree hunting this year was a real workout! There was a lot of snow this year up where we hunt for our trees...made it quite a vigorous workout! I for the life of me couldn't find a tree that I liked enough to cut down...Jamie loved every tree he saw. But I just wouldn't have it!! After 2 hours, and burning around a thousand calories from hiking later, we went to find Hector, Sue, and Nat. They had found a tree! I...still couldn't decide on a tree. I told Jamie that we could go back to one of the tree's he liked...so back to the beginning of our hike...but I just couldn't get myself to like his tree!! It was NOT full enough!!! So we had decided to go back to the truck for lunch!

When we came out of the woods to the road, we found Hector, yelling at us a few yards up the road, we ran over to him and he said "Hey JULAY!! I found yous the perfect tree!!!" To my surprise he had!!! :O) It was the perfect height, and plenty thick! I was so happy, and Jamie was so relieved!!! He was about to have my head by the end of the tree hunt! I am thankful he was patient enough to let me drag him everywhere through the woods in deep snow!!

Summit enjoyed decorating the tree with us as well! He was a bit upset the first day we got the tree in because we put it in front of the bay window, which is HIS spot...he looks out quite frequently to look outside, and keep watch for us. Jamie and I had got the lights on the tree the first day. I went to work, and came home from lunch...Summit was fine. I went back to work and came home when I was off...I walked in to see my tree laying on the ground...Summit laying on the floor ashamed at what he had done, and the lights half way unstrung leading down the hall to our bedroom. Haha poor buddy...I came to the conclusion that he got behind the tree to see outside, and got tangled in the lights, got startled, knocked the tree over, and fled down the hall!!! I was mad at him, but really couldn't help but laugh to think of what the situation must have looked like!! Hilarious I bet!! He has not been near the tree or bay window since! :OP


We finally got the vanity top on, and new fixtures!! We can now officially wash our hands after we use the bathroom!! YEY! I am REALLY happy with the vanity top!! It is so hard when they only give you a little sample to look at to judge the color and texture. This is Rustico Noche. Muy Bien I must say!! It looks fabulous with the tile and bronze fixtures!!




As for the new fixtures. The original one as you know didn't work out. I like the new fixtures just as much though! same color, just a 3 piece set is all.


Still a nice chunk of work to do. We are gonna wait till January to do the shower. Then just carpet..and we can move our bedroom downstairs!! Then we can purchase our pine bedroom set to match our bed!!

Take a Moment

I had the pleasure of attending a session at the Vernal, Utah temple this weekend, with Sue Sue, and Grandma! We had such a nice time, and the weather was beautiful all day! Couldn't have been any more perfect!

I am so thankful for temple blessings, and the hope and happiness they give my life. You hear people speak of the peace that one feels when at the temple. It never gets old for me. I love that feeling, it always makes me awestruck. To just be content, no worry of work, cleaning house, school work/intern work, life in general.

I have been getting so involved with the Church the past couple of months, I would have thought that I would have bitten off too much to chew...but it doesn't feel that way to me. I actually feel like I have more time?? How odd...:O) I thought my life was too busy to do much of anything else...but then I take on a few more church related hobbies/activities/service...and it created more time in my day!?

I am so thankful to have converted when I was 17, and to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This church is my foundation, and I do not know where I would be today. I have enjoyed the many amazing times I have been able to see friends, as well as family members of mine come unto the Church and be baptized. I am so proud of their choices in life, and it is great to watch their spiritual growth!!! I just wanted to take the time to tell you all how much I love and appreciate the church, and the temples they provide!!...Off to Choir practice!!!

I am thankful for my husband

I just need to start off by saying how thankful I am to my lovely husband for the great man that he is!! I am thankful for the hard work that he puts fourth for our lil family :O) I am very grateful for the skills and trades he has learned thus far in his life. And I can't wait to watch him teach our children all that he knows.

Our master bed and bath is coming along. We have gotten the toilet installed and running..No more having to run up stairs!! Our vanity finally came in too. We haven't gotten that setup quite yet. I just picked up the top this past weekend, and Jamie has been on graves. So he hasn't had the time to put the top on.

The lighting is a bit crummy, so it looks more red than it actually is. I went with a Noche Rustico Traveterine top with an attached under mount porcelain sink. Very pretty! And the fixture I picked is pretty cool too!

I can't wait till it is finally done! We still have the shower to Sheetrock, tile, insert lights, and fixtures...Then on to the bedroom. I think I have decided to just go with carpet rather than hardwood??...still a little indecisive...



And then paint..ugh...I have been fighting over colors..not sure what I want to do..this seems to almost be the hardest part of it all! I was supposed to have the painting done before we installed the toilet...lol...Let's see if I can get a color picked before thanksgiving??? Ya..wish me luck!




On my hunt for all this bathroom stuff, I found my couches and recliner finally! Jamie is happy to have a recliner back in his life...and guess where he put it??? Yea, he put his little "gamer" space smack dab in the middle of my couch down stairs...ha...But my hubby deserves it!!! He is doing all this hard work, I could treat him to a little man space!


I decided to go with something that was made more for a sitting area, rather than the lounging look.. we have all the lounging furniture we could ever need downstairs!!

All this home improvement makes me want to have every room re done now lol! ...we have decided to take it a year at a time, and do one room a year if feasible..it isn't cheap that is for sure!!