Brody's 4th Birthday Party

 Brody's 4th Birthday Party

Saturday

September 29th, 2012

This year Brody's Birthday was on a Monday, so we had his party the Saturday before. We got Star wars birthday invitations and drove around handing them out to all his friends. I wish I would have taken a picture of him, he was so cute and excited! He couldn't wait to have his party!

It seems so weird to me to be having his party outside, especially at a splash pad wearing bathing suits! I'm so used to it being cooler by now. In Washington there's no way we would have been able to have his birthday party at a splash pad. The park was so fun and such a good idea, it has lots of fun toys as well.
 

Me and my Birthday boy! I still cant believe that my son is 4 years old, where has the time gone. I have had so much fun with him over the years building some great memories together.

 

 

Normally a child having fun on a swing would not be a big deal at all, but for Brody it is. He has never really enjoyed being on swings, and he especially hasn't liked going very high. For some reason today he had a blast on the swings! He wanted to go higher and higher!

 



 

Getting ready to sing happy birthday.

 

Brody was so excited about his Star wars cupcakes. He even got to stay up late to help make them!

 

I love that big smile.

 

Ian was so great, he helped all of the kids get their cupcakes and ice cream. I didnt have to do anything! He even bought ice cream cones, what a fun dad! All my friends of course were great with helping as well, Im very lucky to have made some great friends here.

 



 

I wanted to get a picture of these cute boys, this is what I got haha.

 

He was such a happy boy :)

 

Opening his presents. All the kids kind of scattered for this part but heres his friend Tucker watching him open his present.

 



His friend Kaleb gave him this sparing thing, I cant remember the exact name of it (they are really into karate). Brody thought it was pretty cool when Josh told him to hit him with it!

Tyson and Quinne enjoyed the present opening, I think they really wanted to be the ones opening them though!

 



 

We of course had to get him something Star Wars.

 

We asked Brody what he wanted to do at his party. His only real request was to have water balloons! He has been quiet obsessed with them, asking for them for weeks but we made him wait till his birthday.

 

 

They all of course had a blast. It went fast but I'm so glad we (Ian) took the time to fill them all up, it made Brody so happy.

 

Our happy growing family. I love being with these two guys, they are everything to me. I'm so glad Brody had a wonderful party. We have been so blessed with some amazing friends and family, thanks everyone for coming and making Brody's party special!

27 weeks

27 weeks

Tuesday

September 25th, 2012

 

 

How far along? 27 weeks 4 days

Total weight gain: As of my last appointment on Thursday the 20th 16 pounds. That freaks me out a little bit but my doctor says he’s not worried at all, that he doesn’t think Ill be a big weigh gainer. My belly is measuring between 26 and 27 weeks, which is right on track.

Maternity clothes? Same as last week, just a few shirts and my leggings. I need to do something about my pants soon though.

Stretch marks? Still no new ones.

sleep: Sleep is ok. I have to get up to go to the restroom at least twice a night. Some crazy dreams and acid reflex have also been keeping me up.  

 Best moment this week? I had a couple good moments this week. Thursday of course was a great moment. We got to hear our little girl’s heart beat. Also Wednesday we got to go to the temple. It was our stake’s temple night. We have wanted to go for a while now; it was so good to finally get there.

 Miss anything? I’m actually not missing too much this week, other then the usual being comfortable. I can’t wait to comfortable fit into pants again.

 Movement: Yes, she can be quiet the little mover at times. My doctor told me at this week’s appointment to pay attention to her movement. That If I don’t feel her for a while lay down and make sure I feel 4 movements within an hour.

 Food cravings: Shaved icees still sound completely divine, other then that really no cravings that stand out to me though. In that way this pregnancy is completely different then my last.

 Food aversions: Still ground beef. We had spaghetti with beef in it this week and I was actually able to handle it though, granted I stayed away from any big chunks of beef. Really any kind of raw meat grosses me out, even when I cook chicken the raw meat gets to me.  

 Boy or girl: Girl :)

 Labor signs: No, and I pray that it stays that way for a while.  

 Symptoms: Back pains. I have been having some crazy dreams too, like scary nightmares. I had also been having this weird symptom that I didn’t even really know what it was. At first I thought it was heartburn but when I told my doctor what I had been feeling he explained to me it was really acid reflex. So not fun! I had been getting it really bad at night. Luckily he suggested a medication and it has been working miracles!

 Belly Button in or out? Still half way in half way out.

 Wedding ring on or off? On.

 Looking forward to: Brody’s Birthday! His birthday will be Monday October 1^st and we will be having his party September 29^th, the Saturday before.

 

26 weeks

26 weeks

Wednesday

September 19th 2012

 

How far along? 26 weeks and 5 days. I was a little late on my picture taking this week.

 

Total weight gain: Ugh no Idea, I have my doctor’s appointment tomorrow though and will find out.

Maternity clothes? Just a few shirts and the belly band really. Oh and the maternity leggings I swear I have been living in!

Stretch marks? No new ones :) Thank goodness/

Sleep: It’s getting worse. I’m feeling more and more uncomfortable the further along I get.

Best moment this week? Saturday and Sunday was stake conference. I especially enjoyed the adult session Saturday night because it was just Ian and I and we actually got to sit together!! It was so special and so sweet, only the third time it’s happened since we have been married since he is in the bishopric. I hate to sound complainy, but I really do miss sitting by him.

Miss anything? Other then being comfortable in normal clothes, the only thing I miss is a good foot and back massage. Oh what I would do for a regular back massage!

Movement: Yes. Its still really on and off though. Some days I will hardly feel her at all. She has been going insane some nights though, like to the point to where it keeps me up.

Food cravings: I would still give just about anything for a shaved icee. I have also noticed I’ve liked corn a lot lately, I find myself wanting it with every dinner.

Food aversions: Ground beef still grosses me out; I can handle it a little more as long as it is mixed in with something else and in very small chunks. But there’s no way I could eat it in say a hamburger.

Boy or girl: Girl!!! Our little princess.

Labor signs: No, none.

Symptoms: Exhaustion. It keeps getting worse and worse, just an overall lack of energy. My back and feet hurt more too. I could use a back massage just about every night. It’s too bad Ian is at school or works constantly though so he’s just as tired as I am.

Belly Button in or out? Still half way in half way out.

Wedding ring on or off? Still on.

Looking forward to: Being comfortable in bottoms again!! I’m completely fine with my shirts, but almost any pants I wear I’m so uncomfortable.

Miss Grandma Great

 Missing Grandma Great

 Wednesday

September 17th 2012

 

My Grandma Straley was such an amazing women. She was so incredibly kind and giving, we never left Grandma Straley's house empty handed. She loved to see us happy. She was also very funny, she would say the wittiest things, her humour always made us grand kids laugh. I knew she was a wonderful Grandmother but I never realized the extent of it until I had Brody. I don't know if its because I was older or because I was able to see her love my child but I saw an amazing side of my Grandmother when my son was able to call her Grandma Great. My Mother, Brody and I made lots and lots of trips to Seattle to visit this sweet lady. It was always such a treat to be with her. Brody would play in the front room and Grandma would just sit there and stair at him for hours. She always loved just looking at him, she would say how beautiful he was...and then she would always laugh and say she could call him beautiful because he was still little. She was always so kind and patient with Brody too, even when he got a little older and wanted to get into all her special pictures and papers, she kindly just showed him the pictures. My Grandma had her phone right by her chair so she didn't have to get up, Brody always wanted to play pretend phone with her real phone, so she found an old phone just for him and the two would play phone...it was so fun to watch. I always remember her having building blocks, the wooden ones that were painted colors. Brody LOVED playing with these, they were the first thing he went to. Grandma always loved watching him too, she would comment on how smart he was and how well he could stack them and build them. At one time Grandma had some kittens in her back yard, and when they weren't there there was always birds or squirls...she always enjoyed standing by the sliding glass door right behind her chair showing them to Brody, he of course enjoyed this too. When we weren't there visiting Grandma would ask my mom when we were going to come next so she could see Brody. She was so loving towards Brody. We all miss her very much. I find myself thinking of my sweet Grandmother often, wishing she were still here. It is so sweet to see Brody miss her too, very often Brody will walk up to me out of no where and say "Mom I really miss Grandma Great" with a sad look on his face. But he knows that Grandma Great is in Heaven and very happy. Whenever he talks about her he always brings up her ice cream. He tells me he loved going to Grandma Greats because she always gave him pink ice cream. I believe he is talking about the peppermint ice cream she had a few times. Grandma passed away in March, and we have been missing her ever since.

 

 

I cant remember exactly but this was either the first or one of the first times Brody visited Grandma Great. She couldn't get over how cute he was, she thought his clothes were adorable too. She would say "I didn't even know they made clothes like that that small." I think she really liked his tiny baby jeans.

 

 

I just love this 4 generations picture. This night we all went out to eat at Apple Bees, when Grandma was around this age she always enjoyed getting out and going to eat with us.

 

Evan and Grandma. She always wore these fun sweaters and those comfy pants. That is exactly how I remember my Grandma. We bought her new clothes a couple times but she always went back to her ones she was used to.

 

I just love these pictures of Brody on Grandmas lap :)

Anya and Grandma in her front yard.

 



 

We all loved going down to Lake Washington to walk around and eat, but my Grandma and I especially loved going because it meant Ivars! We both had a thing for their fish and chips and clam chowder. She was definitely my Ivars buddy. I really miss these days, It was always so beautiful and you couldn't find better company! 

My Grandma was crazy about Bennie babies. When they first came out she would go to the store with all the tons of other people that wanted them and buy the new ones. It was her fun thing that she did. She had most of them put away in a huge chest but the lucky few right here got to be displayed. Brody always loved checking them all out, he thought they were pretty fun. Grandma liked to shared them with him too, as long as he was careful with her babies :)

 



 

I just adore this picture of Brody and Grandma Great looking at each other.

 

Grandma Great would always come outside to wave us goodbye. It of course also always consisted of lots of hugs and goodbyes.

I truly miss this sweet little lady every day. She always seems to cross my mind, I miss her kindness and love. My Grandmother adopted my mother when she was 40 or so (I'm not sure on the exact age). Back then that was very old be to having children. Both my mother and her sister are adopted, I have always admired my Grandmother for this, for her willingness to put her life aside and take two children into her home and love them and be such an incredibly amazing mother. I admire this women so much, she was so smart..always had wise words to share with us. One of her things she would say is to be the bigger person. I will always try to live by that.

 



 

I am so happy for my Grandmother, here on earth she was not a member of the church so the chance that she has had to accept it in heaven makes me rejoice for her...that she is in such a wonderful place. I am so happy for her that she is with our Heavenly father and Christ. But we still cant help but miss her. It really is true that death is only sad for those left here on earth. I am so thankful for the knowledge that we will see Grandma Straley again. Until then we will be missing her.  

We Love Swimming!! 

Thursday

September 13th, 2012

 

Apartment living isn't the greatest, but one of the perks is having a swimming pool! We would never be able to have a pool if we had our own house so that's definitely a plus to living in an apartment, especially here in HOT St. George. We use it often, and love ever minute of it! Brody is quiet the little water boy, he would live in the pool if I let him! He even started swimming all by himself this summer, we are so proud of him!

 

He got some new glasses and loves them! I personally think he looks pretty cool in them :)

 

 

Swimming with Mr. Treyven. He is the little boy I babysit, and he have him every day of the week so he usually gets to go swimming with us.

 

Soaking up the hot hot sun. We sure love that it's September and still plenty hot out to go swimming.

Family Fun Night

 Family Night

Friday

September 8th, 2012

 

A couple nights ago while I was getting Brody ready for bed he told me that he wanted to sleep in mommy and daddy’s bed, that it would make daddy really happy, haha I couldn’t help but laugh at that remark. So he told him that this weekend we would have a slumber party in our bed and watch a movie with popcorn. Let’s just say he was very excited about that.

So Friday after Treyven (the boy I baby sit) went home we all went over to our friends to go swimming. After that we headed over to Grandmas for preschool. Brody always enjoys going to school, especially because he gets to play with his cousins afterwards. When we were all done with everything we headed home to have our family night. We rented The pirates band of misfits and had popcorn. After the movie we had ice cream with chocolate syrup and sprinkles, Brody’s favorite!! Then we finally all headed to bed in Mommy and Daddy’s bed. It was a bit of a tight squeeze but we managed to make it work, and Brody thought it was the coolest thing ever which is all that matters to me!

 

 Getting ready to wach the movie. Please excuse the crazy hair, just went swimming.

 

 

Brody's favorite, Ice cream!!

25 weeks

25 Weeks

Friday

September 7th 2012

 

 



So, I’m going to start a fun new thing to remember all of the details about this pregnancy. I wish I would have started this sooner!! But Here I am at 25 weeks and I figured there’s no better time to start :)

How far along? As of today 25 weeks exactly

Total weight gain: About 12 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Yes, some. So far I can still zip one pair of shorts and can get away with using the belly band. The only pair of maternity pants I have are leggings, that I absolutely LOVE! So comfy. I can still get away with most of my normal shirts. My Sunday clothes are what I’m in trouble with; most of my dresses are too short now since I have the bump.

Stretch marks? No new ones from this pregnancy, that I can tell at least. My old ones are more noticeable now that I’m pregnant again though. Thank goodness there’s not a lot of them!

Sleep: It’s on and off, I think it depends on my day. If I’ve done a lot that day and my back hurts I have a hard time getting comfortable. But then other nights I can sleep through anything. I always have to get up at least once to use the restroom, sometimes up to 3 times!

Best moment this week? This week has gone by so fast yet so slow! Ian has been super busy with school, studying and work. We haven’t had a chance to do much. Tuesday Brody and I did a nature scavenger hunt, He had so much fun! We ended it at the park and laid a blanket out so we could look at everything we found. He had to find things like something rough, fuzzy, straight, beautiful and other descriptive things like that. It was so much fun watching him get excited about it. It was so hot though, I was glad to get back inside and rest!

Miss anything? I miss my energy, and just being able to handle doing normal things. Also being able to button my pants!

Movement: Yes, finally can count of feeling her move everyday :) Its almost like clockwork too, every evening. Some days she is a lot more active then others though.

Food cravings: Oddly enough I haven’t had a lot of cravings with this pregnancy, which is quiet contrary to my first. There was about a month that I could kill for some firm juicy green grapes. I still love grapes but wouldn’t necessarily call them a craving. I do enjoy cantaloupe, which is something I CRAVED with Brody. As of now, I could seriously down a shaved icee every single day. Ian treated me to one the other day, mango guava and peach. It was a tall cup of heaven right here on earth!!

Food aversions: Beef, more specifically ground beef. In fact just talking about it makes me want to hurl. Just the smell of it cooking grosses me out. It’s weird because I have never had a problem with ground beef before. Let’s just say we are eating A LOT of chicken around here…like every single night. Poor Ian has been such a trouper about it but I know he misses his hamburgers and hamburger helper.

Boy or girl: Girl!!! Our little princess.  

Labor signs: I don’t think so. Just the other day I got a very sharp pain, it happened a little less intensely a few more times that day then never returned. Maybe Braxton hicks? But no serious signs of labor at all and I hope they stay away until 40 weeks.

Symptoms: Exhausted. My energy level is pretty low, especially if I go outside. I’m thinking this St. George heat may have a little something to do with that though. It’s nothing like the first trimester though when I could hardly stay awake, all I wanted to do all day every day was lay in bed. Also I think I’m starting to get heartburn. It has just happened this week. It’s not quiet full on heard burn but I’m afraid it may be coming. Which stinks, I didn’t get heartburn until the last month with Brody! Back aches are another thing; my back has been hurting a lot more the last few weeks.

Belly Button in or out? Kind of half in and half out. Definitely not all the way out though.

Wedding ring on or off? On. It gets tight during the middle of the night but other then that it fits just fine.

Looking forward to: Cooler weather. And to get a break from babysitting! The mother of the little boy who I babysit is pregnant and will be going on maternity leave mid November. I can’t wait to have a break to just relax and enjoy my family!

I asked Ian today to help me take my weekely pictures, so hopefully next time I wont have a phone in the picture too!

Bump Pics :)

 The ever growing baby bump :)

 

I have been bad about taking bump pictures. I didnt even start until almost half way. So I have been trying to take them every week since. Heres growing little girl and I so far :)

 19 weeks 4 days

 

19 weeks 5 days.

I wanted a picture where I was actually dressed up for my 19 weeks. I look so much bigger then just the day before, maybe its how Im standing?

20 weeks 2 days.

Home from church.

 



 

21 weeks 6 days.

After a long day of shopping (mostly baby stuff) with Ian and Brody.

22 weeks.

We went and picked up a bunk bed for Brody today, hes very excited that his little sister will eventually be on the bottom so he can sleep on the top. 

 

23 weeks

Had our doctors apoitment today. Everything is going great. And despite me feeling like Im gaining a million extra pounds Im right on track, in fact a little under with weight gain!

 



24 weeks 1 day

Brody had school today with Grandma while Ian and I enjoyed a shaved icee, one of my pregnancy cravings! So nice to have time together. 

Bunk Bed Fort

Brody's new fort bed!

Monday

September 3rd, 2012

 

Recently we got Brody a new bunk bed, which may I add he loves! He thought it would be pretty cool to turn it into a fort, so we gathered all the big blankets we could find and turned his bed into this! He has had a blast in his new fort! We brought his guns in there and got all the bad guys, brought the lab top in to watch Star wars, and just plain had a blast.

 



He of course wanted to leave it up to sleep in, I mean how fun is that! Also he had to have his gun right next to him, just in case.

 



 

Its crazy how much fun you can have in a fort! I'm so glad we were able to have a fun filled day together! I sure love this handsome little man :)