Memorial Day Weekend in Yellowstone

We love going to Yellowstone. We went Memorial Day Weekend and actually bought the seasons pass this year!

Bored in the car already... had to take a picture of Ian!

Slowest moving line ever to get in to the park! If we only knew this was going to be the theme of our trip...

Gotta take the Firehole Falls drive everytime!

On our way to Old Faithful... we were pretty much stuck in traffic our whole Yellowstone trip. It took hours to get to Old Faithful.

The traffic jam culprit...

You would have thought people had never seen buffalo before...

We went to minimal geysers. We spent most our time sitting on the road being bored :)

Plus it was kind of cold and rainy.

At least it wasn't snowing like most Memorial Days in Yellowstone.

We had fun though. Yellowstone is one of our favorite places to go!

Zions National Park 2013

After we were done in Vegas, we came back to St. George to spend Spring Break with my family at Grandma's house. We took the usual trip to Zion's National Park. It was very cold and rainy! Oh well, it was still fun. It had only been 5 years since Ian and I had been there :)

Warning: Lots of pictures, not very many words. Honestly it was 6 months ago and I'm pregnant... 

I don't remember much!

Dad sporting his flashy borrowed jacket! Oh man...

The park was very misty. At least it wasn't super hot.

He is just cute! And I love him!

I love my family!

Kaylee had to climb the giant rock.

We met a nice little squirrel friend. He was a bit nutty.

I have the best husband ever. He proudly carries my ugly bag... that everyone enjoyed using for their water bottles.

Oh man... a picture from back when we were much younger and skinnier :) The bottom, right picture in the collage above was taken exactly 5 years later.

It started raining cats & dogs on the way back! Then hailing... Glad we found a big enough rock for all of us to stand under.

Another photo reenactment... Back then, we were newly engaged and happy as ever.

Here we are newly pregnant and still happy as ever :)

We had enough fun riding up to the top, doing the hike, and being done with it.

Our picnic was freezing! So we shoveled it in, and headed home!

Vegas Trip 2013

Well... I'm finally getting around to posting about a trip we took back in April. Whooo! I'm so on top of it. 

We were planning on going to Washington DC to visit Jordan when he was back there. Then... we found out I was pregnant and things changed a little (Or a lot... in so many ways :). We both had time off work and a little money, so we decided to go to Vegas! 

We stayed at our usual place... Palace Station. Way cheaper than hotels on the Strip. Plus we had our car, so that wasn't an issue.  

We started our first day out at the Mirage.

And stayed around the hotels in that area. 

I love vacationing with Ian. We still do stuff, but love to sleep in, hang out and watch tv, and eat! It's so nice when all you seem to do is work...

This is what you get when someone in a hawaiian shirt offers to take you picture... Makes me laugh!

I don't usually hand my camera over, but he was quite insistent. It made me feel a little better he was an employee though. He later talked us into going to a time share presentation for free show tickets. "Talked us into"... more like wouldn't take no for an answer. But in the end, I'm glad we wasted 4 hours of our time. The free food and show was totally worth it!

We ended up choosing to use our free show tickets to go to The Ultimate Variety Show. I wasn't expecting much because there was a picture of a mime on the poster... but I would totally recommend it! We had so much fun! And laughed more than ever. 

I was glad our food was free too. We chose to eat at Planet Hollywood's buffet because it was in the same place as the show. That has to be my least favorite hotel/casino. It is just too big. Anways, I was was glad our food was free because all I could eat was salad and about 6 mini cheesecakes! And lots of orange juice!

The gondolas were so awesome. I wanted to splurge and go on one, but they were completely booked the whole time we were in Vegas.

Our kid may come out a watermelon. I couldn't seem to get enough at the buffets. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

We wandered the Strip a lot. But being newly pregnant, I didn't feel great and it totally showed in the pictures of me :) So I kind of put away the camera and just enjoyed being with Ian.

We headed down to Fremont St. on our way out of town. I love it down there. That's where I played my first slot machine! (Not on this trip) 

I was rather disappointed in my phones directions to get there... We ended up in total ghetto-ville. Quickly ran out of tourists and couldn't wait to turn around and find our own way there.

I couldn't resist this quick picture of Ian... It's not every day you get Elvis & Pee-wee Herman in the background!

We had to go get our famous Shrimp Cocktail. It was still kind of morning-ish, but oh well. As we were waiting in line forever, I saw pancakes that I just had to have. In addition to my shrimp cocktail... the thought kind of turns my stomach now :)

We had lots of fun on our little trip before the baby. Fun and so relaxing!

Baby Update #1

I thought I'd write a few things down before I forgot them... I partied way too hard at my 1st baby shower last night and didn't get home till midnight. I'm so ready for bed at... 7:30. Yikes!

We had a Dr. appt today. She measured his head first and made a comment that he had a big head. Um... you aren't supposed to say that to the mom! I told her that :) And brought up the fact that it was the first thing to come out... Haha! We laughed pretty hard. She re-measured and said it was normal after all. I'm relieved! :)

We learned our baby has long legs and she said he'd be tall like his mom :) He likes to be curled up in a little ball. He has been a little uncooperative for the last 3 appointments and not wanted to show his face very much. So no 3D ultra sound for us today either. And he has hair!! Who knew hair could be so cute through an ultra sound! Little spikes clumped together. I'm dying to know if it will be blonde or brown!

It was so funny today. As the Dr. was doing the ultra sound, the baby kept squirming away. It was fun to see him move up on the screen. She'd do a freeze frame to take a measurement and when she'd go back to check something else, he was gone :) It was the craziest feeling... Having her move the wand on the outside of me, and him moving on the inside of me. So fun!

He's measuring at 3 lbs 9 oz. His heart rate was at 134. And my fluid was at 13cm... whatever that means. But she said it was really good for how far a long I am. (30 weeks, 3 days!) We're getting there!

And... we've graduated from the high risk Dr! They were so happy for us :) Everything has looked great for the last 3 appointments, so now just my regular Dr. from now on.

A Little Late.. but A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

WE'RE HAVING A BABY!! 

And it's a Boy!

Due: October 26, 2013!

 

I've been really bad at keeping up with my blog... So here's the big announcement at 7 months pregnant! (On the blog anyways.)

My friend Sunni took some super cute announcement pictures for us. It was such a fun little photo shoot. Considering the excitement of the news and everything... we still couldn't believe it!

Through the whole pregnancy, I've been meaning to write little things down... that didn't really happen, so we'll see what I can remember. (Not much these days!)

We found out the good news March 9, 2013 at week 7. We were getting ready to go to Washington DC and needed to know what was going on and what we were doing for sure....

So I took a cheap little dollar store test and it was positive! Well, Ian had to tell me it was positive... I couldn't look. (Reminded me of Friends.) Once he told me and I confirmed, I couldn't believe it. It was a Sunday morning, but I made him run to Family Dollar and get a real test. Same results... 

Church was not quite the same that morning :) All I saw was babies, all I could think about was babies & how our lives just changed forever... In the best way possible, but still. It's a change. It's a huge change. I don't do well with change! But we are/were so excited.

We told my family over Easter at 10 weeks, but made them keep our secret for a while. We knew we couldn't afford going into debt over going to Washington DC, so we went to Vegas for a mini vacation instead. We really wanted to tell them the news before we went though.

A few facts I do remember: 

 I started feeling baby move around week 19. It felt like something was lightly tickling my stomach. Ian felt it move for the first time at week 26 (July 20th). I had a couple cravings early on. Sour Patch Kids & A1 sauce. No meat, just sauce. Weird! I really haven't had a lot of cravings, but they didn't come back till much later. Worst food aversion was green peppers. Although most green veggies made me want to toss my cookies! The smell phase was the worst! I couldn't even open the fridge without getting sick.

We found out it was a boy June 12, 2013. I thought it was a girl... But we are so excited for a little boy. It's funny how so many people were so disappointed when I told them it was a boy. And thinking I should be disappointed because I make hair bows. Dumb.

We have a few names picked out. We've had boy names picked out since we were dating... I never thought I'd be one of "those" people. So we'll see what we decide when he's born :)

(We're not telling anyone the choices.)

Seeing our little baby grow and progress from each ultra sound has been so awesome each time. Now that I don't have ultra sounds as often, I love hearing that little heartbeat! I LOVE FEELING HIM MOVE. That has to be my most favorite part of pregnancy. I love when Ian feels him move. He seems to hold still as ever whenever I put Ian's hand on my belly.... And I love that Ian talks to him.

Ian has been so good. He's helped out with the house extra. Made more meals. Really taken care of me when I've been sick or not feeling good. I love that he always makes sure I get enough to eat. I couldn't have asked for a better husband!

We are so excited for this little miracle. It's been such a blessing so far. We can't believe it's finally our turn!

Here's a little pregnancy questionnaire I found.

How far along: 28 weeks!

Total weight gain: 7 lbs

Maternity clothes: No, but I'm starting to consider the idea.

Stretch marks: Just a few.

Sleep: 2nd trimester was amazing. I feel that's quickly fading away...

Best moment of this week: When Ian happened to have his hand on my belly and the baby kicked harder than ever before. We both kind of looked at each other in shock :)

Miss anything: sleeping on my back.

Movement: so much movement. We are starting to see my belly move. Crazy stuff!

Food cravings: Sugar Cookies and Salt & Vinegar Chips.

Anything making you queasy or sick: if certain smells hit just right.

Have you started to show yet: starting to a little bit.

Gender: Boy!

Labor signs: I hope not yet.

Belly button in or out: In. I wonder if it will stick out... I doubt it.

Wedding rings on or off: on

Happy or moody most of the time: Ian may tell you otherwise, but I don't feel I've been too emotional. Other than commercials will get me sometimes. Haha. Dumb...

Looking forward to: the baby showers to begin!