Where to sit?

A couple weeks ago, Adam & I attended an Operetta @ Pierce college. I sat next to an older woman who was excited to know all about my pregnancy. Since my belly has been obviously with child, people who would normally ignore me are overly excited to strike up conversation about it. It's fun to see the excitement people have over a new little life that they don't even know. By the end of the performance, the woman, Bonnie asked if she could send me some scrap-booking stuff. I thought for sure she was just trying to sell a product. Much to my surprise, today I received a large package in the mail with a beautiful "Creative Memories" scrapbook inside, complete with all the papers I'll need, some pens and other extras along with poems and words of wisdom about motherhood. Inside there was a hand-written letter congratulating me on mommyhood-to-be. No strings attached. Just a generous genuine gesture of kindness from a complete stranger who had no obligation to do anything for me. Makes me want to do something nice for someone else.

Confetti time!!!

With a ton of prayers and a blessing, I was able to pass the final exam. Much to my shock and utter amazement, I got a 'B' in the class. I'm so grateful I never have to take it again! I don't have to leave my newborn baby to retake it. It's over! I'm so thankful for everyone's prayers and encouragement and for those who helped me with my homework. I feel like making confetti out of all my stats homework and having a big parade!

This was me the last few months...

My statistics class was an accelerated hybrid course that met every Saturday morning (Yuck!). I put more time into studying and homework than any of my other classes combined and I was still failing for most of the semester. I was so inundated with thoughts of Stats, that I was nightmaring about it. I thought, why on earth don't I just drop this class already?

shotgun wedding!

Adam made the shotgun. It was a perfect finishing touch. (Halloween 2009)

Taylor baby's beat

I took Carter with me to my doctor's visit. I was so excited b/c this was the fist time I got to hear Taylor's heart. Up until now, I've only seen it beating.

21 weeks preggers

Hiking from the Griffith Observatory to the top of the HOllywOOd Sign. It was beautiful, but there was a little more climbing rocks than I expected. Hmmm... How much longer am I going to be doing this kind of thing, I wondered.

2-year anniversary vacation

We came to New York not just to see the sights and feel the culture but to be together. Life is crazy hectic sometimes with our mismatched schedules, but we always manage to connect whenever possible. It was wonderful to be side by side for a whole week straight. Here we are resting from a nice bike ride in huge and lush Central Park, New York.

Veterans Memorial, D.C.

Thank you to all of you who have served our country and given the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of freedom. Thank you to all of you who are willing to do the very same thing now.You are remembered and we pray your efforts will never be in vain.

Gaithersburg Maryland

The Coon Family! When sister Leak and I first met Maria, she didn't believe in God and felt like it would be impossible to change. Within a few weeks, miracles happened and it's hard to believe that this is the same woman. Here she is with her eternal companion and family. It was a blessing to stay with Maria and her family a few days before her deployment to Afghanistan.

D.C.

We also drove to D.C. and got to pass through were I served my mission. The temple was awesome as always. The last picture I have here, I was a missionary about to return home to L.A., not knowing what life would bring. Who knew I would be here 6 years later, a wife and mother-to-be.

New York

The restaurant was so heavily decorated that Adam's whole head was lost in a cloud of random chili pepper lights and beach balls.

Allison Lucas was so kind to give us a comfy place to stay while in the big apple. The sign on the outside of this fabulous Indian restaurant read "Garden-Like View". We realized later that it was talking about the vase with fake flowers!!

Aug. 2nd, 2009

So, we went to church and wandered the streets of New York in our Sunday clothes the remainder of the day. Adam had a backpack on the whole day and he took it off for just a brief moment in beautiful Central Park. Just then, he was gifted this thoughtful organic souvenir from a passing bird.

July 26th, 2009

Well, now we know our little apartment can hold a family gathering just fine. 14 peeps for dinner and dessert. It was fun to have family in town from Spokane.

August 1st, 2009

On my birthday, we departed L.A. on a New York bound airplane. Perhaps it was the altitude, but Taylor baby was kicking up a storm. I have been telling Adam about it all the time but whenever he has tried to feel her kick, it has been in vain. The best birthday gift was to see Adam's face when he put his hand on my belly. Our little girl kicked back like a buckin' bronco and her daddy said, "I felt it! Hah, I felt it again!" Finally, she proved that it wasn't just gas. ;)

Today was an exciting day! We got to go to the Radiology department to get our little baby thoroughly inspected. We had our fingers crossed that the baby would not have its legs crossed. Well, the baby was a sweet little napper during most of the visit despite the zangy sugary orange juice I chugged before hand and we needed the baby to move around to see if it is a boy or girl. I was told to get up and walk around a bit. Well, after skipping, dancing, taking a stair master op, jumping, twirling, and entertaining Adam who didn't know what else to do but laugh at me, I was invited back in to resume the ultra sound and our baby moved to a perfect position for us to know that She is a girl! Our little daughter showed us how she makes a fist and we got to see all of her tiny perfect little fingers extend. She has a normal heartbeat and everything looks great. Life is amazing, every bit of it.

Latest baby picture taken 7/16/09

I don't know how much Norris our baby will have, but there's definitely some Chuck Norris! Yesterday I felt him/her kicking for the first time. Many women have described it to me as butterflies fluttering, but I think it feels like a little goldfish swimming into the side of a bag of water.

The girls I take care of found out a few weeks ago that I'm going to have a baby. Since then, their dormant toy chest of baby dolls and accessories have been utilized on a daily basis. Here you will see the girls with their shirts stuffed with dolls. 4 year old Kate claims that her baby is starting to pop out and that I need to take her to the hospital. Sophie even gave birth to a baby horse and a baby mermaid. They also walk around hiccuping and blaming it on the babies in their bellies because since I've been pregnant, I randomly hiccup all the time.

As many know, Adam's job is a greasy one. One would think that it couldn't be very romantic scraping grease in exhaust ducts, but yesterday, I got this picture text message from Adam while he was out working. I'm always happy I married him.

While I was on my mission in Maryland in 2001, I was able to meet an amazing woman, Nancy Daniels. She had incredible faith and courage and a great laugh. After learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, she decided to be baptized. I decided to give her my first set of scriptures that I received at my baptism when I was 8 years old. At first she declined because she said they should be a family heirloom for me, but I really wanted her to have them. She took them on one condition. She said she would keep them until I had my first child. I never dreamed she would remember that promise, but as soon as she received word that I am with child, she was good for her word. I just received this package today. It was neat to see the picture she taped inside and to read all of her little notations in the scriptures.

I haven't barfed since Thursday night and I haven't dry heaved since Friday night. Just some good clean nausea since then. Could this be the beginning of the end of morning (and noon and night) sickness?? I hope!!!!!!!!!!

My bump

Today is the first day someone noticed my baby belly without knowing I am with child. It was my boss's coworker, but he verified with my boss first as not to offend me just in case I wasn't. Smart dude.