Life... For now

We're HEEERRRREEE! In Washington!! We live here now, finally. After 4 long years in the wintery depths of Idaho, we are finally out! I think it's pretty obvious that I didn't like it there. I had a hard time making friends, in the married student wards, and everything just seemed so clicque-y (I don't know how to spell it). Maybe I was trying with the wrong crowd. I feel like there were only a few good things to come out of living there. 1) The birth of Chloe :) of course 2) Blake accomplishing that no one of both of our families had accomplished before, and that was to get his bachelors degree. I'm so proud of him, and I know he's going to go on to do great things.

I love being home to use my mother and mother in-law's cameras. They happen to have the good ones. Haha. So we got some pretty good pictures over Christmas, which this computer isn't letting my upload right now. Ugh, bummer. Soon though, soon. Or, all of my friends on here I'm friends with on facebook, so I'm pretty sure you'll get to see them there. My facebook page has probably changed into Chloe's facebook page. Haha.

Blake is now looking for a job preferrably in the health science field, but will really take anything at this point. And he heads to Spokane on the 23rd to take the MCAT the morning of the 24th. He's pretty stressed with everything going on at this point in life, but I know that soon it'll slow down.

My parents  house isn't finished to move into yet, so we are patiently waiting. Meanwhile we are living with Blake's parents, for which we are grateful to not be in their mobile home. So far as there are some down points (like being the most poor we have ever been) and Blake having a rough time finding a job, everything seems to be working out, so you just gotta have the faith right?

Chloe has been sick again, either a virus or teething, we aren't quite sure. She hasn't really slept the last 2 nights, and her fever even got up to 103.7, for which we went to urgent care. They then swabbed her for the flu which came back negative. Good! She had the flu shot before we came home. But she's been so sensitive about her mouth that we figure it must be teething, but I guess a temp of 103 doesn't make sense for teething. Maybe I'm wrong. And other than that, my life is pretty mellow. I hang out all day with Chloe, Blake studies and searches for a job. And everyone around us is working, and doing their own thing.

I should be packing...

She's grown a ton in the last 2 months huh!? I swear she's gone through a growth spurt in just the last week or so, in length. Some new updates about my [not so little] little girl. 1) She loves her cheerios. She's always loved her food, but these things are seriously the best. it's nice to put her in her chair every once in a while and let her occupy herself with the little donuts. On a different but same note, it's also been really fun to feed her off of my own plate, because she has 2 teeth now!! She loves almost everything. She's only really given a funny face to pickles. I think that maybe they were a little too acidic. But she kept trying to eat them. 2) She is on the verge of walking. I swear any day now. She's still not confident enough to stand on her own. She will though, she gets something in her hand and then realizes she's not holding on to anything and immediately reaches for the chair or couch to be safe. But if she's holding on to one hand she'll walk, slowly. But that's how it all starts. 3) She loves to clap, and wave. 

Last week I took it upon myself to knit her a hoodie! {More time wasted when I should have been packing) Well I guess it wasn't wasted, because she's got a really cute hoodie that came out of it. It's a bit big, but I can roll up the sleeves and it's so big she can probably wear it next fall too.

  

You can't really see but the hood has pink and white stripes on it. I'm quite proud. :)

Only 2 more months and my baby will be a whole year old. Where is the time going?!

What is enough these days?

Chloe's been sick the last 3 days. She's had a fever of 101+. Scary, right?! The second I first saw 102 the first time, it took everything in me to not panic. To keep calm and just call the on-call nurse for our pediatricians office. Oh, and except that he didn't answer the phone... all night... So I called Sunday morning and finally got a hold of him. He said, pump fluids and keep up with Tylenol or Mortin to keep the fever down till I could get to the office on Monday. Blake gave her a blessing last night, and that was such a great comfort for the both of us. My main concern was that the fever would get really high during the night, but after the blessing (I didn't even listen, I was trying not to laugh the whole time because Chloe farted) I felt much better. This morning, and she felt fine, not hot at all! 2 o'clock and she's warm again so I called and took her into the doctors, turns out it's probably just a virus. So fevers usually last about 2-4 days, and that means it should break tomorrow, and Chloe will start feeling better. I NEED for her to feel better.

So now for a different topic, but it will all tie together in the end. General Conference was last month, and I have the hardest time listening to General Conference, I'll admit, it's hard. But this one in particular hit me real  hard. There were 2 talks that were meant for Blake and I. Sadly enough I can't find my notes right now, so all I can remember is L. Tom Perry talked about scripture study. And I don't remember what the other talk was exactly about but I remember the apostle said, that when raising our children, just going to our regular church meetings and mutuals aren't enough anymore. Even when I was a teenager it was hardly enough, I think. So if just attending our regular meetings aren't enough anymore, this means regular family home evenings and family and personal scripture study are a MUST. 

Blake has been trying to get me to read the scriptures with him since we got married. But my excuses were (in the morning before he goes to school) "it's too early, like I can try to concentrate" and (in the evening before bed) "I'm too tired". I'm so lame. I've never ever been good about reading my scriptures. Too many times have I tried and failed miserably about even trying to read the Book of Mormon all the way though. I always make it to about 1 Nephi 8. Ok, don't make fun. I swear I have ADD. There was one time when I was in middle school, that my parents would sit us kids down at night and we'd read the Book of Mormon together, and again let me be the first to say, I'm a terrible listener. But that is the 1 and only time I've made it through the whole Book of Mormon. (How BAD right?! Feeling guilty right about now)

Having Chloe has literally been life-changing. My taste in clothes and overall style (in home) and how I conduct myself is different. I am trying to make attitude changes because I was always pretty negative and mean. It's been hard, and I mean really hard. I have never been one to think before I speak and that's been the hardest thing to change. More than anything I want for Chloe to be a positive person, so I need to be that example for her more than anyone. Blake and I get up every morning around 7 and read a chapter of the Book of Mormon together, and since the last General Conference, I've seriously tried my hardest to read to Chloe every night when she has her bedtime bottle. We started in Matthew, I don't know why but I've always been drawn to that book. (I'd like to name my boy Matthew but the idea of everyone shortening his name to Matt drives me absolutely crazy). We are about to chapter 20 and with every night, it's getting easier and easier to just pause my show on netflix and take the 10 minutes to read to her. I've discovered I'm "killing 3 birds with 1 stone". 1) Reading to her, which will eventually create an interest and love for reading herself. 2) I'm teaching her the importance of studying the scriptures and 3) I'm getting my personal study in while she's still too young to read on her own. I'm so glad we've started this trend. We are starting off the day with a good note AND ending it with a good note. When we read the scriptures, I have more patience throughout the day and am noticing my testimony of them grow. I actually wanted to read another chapter in Matthew after I put Chloe down, and I've never felt like that. Also, while she's been sick, trusting in the Lord has been easier. So to the title of this post, What is enough these days? Will just simply going to church meetings and reading the scriptures be enough for when she's a teenager and raising hell? (Because Karma sucks and she'll probably be like me). No, it's probably not enough, but it's a small step in the right direction, and it can only help. I wish we could be better about family home evening, but since Blake is working every Monday night right now, it's been put on the back burner... Till then, I'll just keep reading to Chloe.

PS - CHLOE FINALLY HAS A TOOTH!! Just had to throw that in there :)

8 Months!

I may say this a lot but time is seriously flying! I cannot believe my baby is 8 months old! Even more so that it's already October! We will start with the Chloe update first though:

Chloe is army crawling! She hasn't really changed from the scooting on her tummy yet. I think she's become content with the fact that she can even move. She's getting more able to pull herself up onto furniture faster and faster, and even less enjoyable, started throwing temper tantrums. Oy! Changing her diaper is a nightmare because she arches her back and tries to get away. Now, you can only imagine if she was sitting up and playing with my phone when I get a text message and have to take it from her to reply. She throws her head back so far she slams to the ground, screaming and yet again arching her back. Somehow, I still feel like she is too young to just put in a corner and let her figure out that those are unacceptable. So I just refuse to give her my phone back. Any suggestions readers? 

Still no sight of teeth unfortunately, but everyone keeps saying that the longer it takes for them to come in, the better off they'll be. So you can imagine that every time she's fussy or upset I'm blaming it on teething, when I don't even know if they'll be coming in soon. However we have had the 3 close calls with ear infections. Thankfully I know when it's time to take her to the doctor just before the "redness" (as the doctors keeps saying) in her ears become full blown ear infections. This is becoming frustrating though because they keep putting her on different antibiotics. So amoxocillin, and omnicef haven't worked, and the one she was on recently has worked... so far. It's only been about a week or 2 so we will see. 

Chloe's personality is definitely starting to show. She dances to songs and loves to be outside. I'm sure we will be discovering a ton more about her though in the upcoming months.

It's October! I seriously can't believe it. No seriously, I'm having a really hard time getting into the holiday spirit this year because some much is happening! My parents came to Rexburg to drop my brother off for school, and took a few things back home so when we move the load will be ever so lighter. That meant I had them take the holiday tote. Since most of the stuff I had was for Christmas I felt like it needed to go. That's ok, Chloe wont remember it right? And next year when we are home everything will be so much more epic. I'm just a little sad that all of her firsts are gonna suck. (Not her first birthday though! I have something so much fun planned... or at least the general idea is awesome.) 

We seriously just cannot wait to be home already. Blake is sick of Dairy Queen, and I'm ready for a winter not here in Idaho. I want Chloe to be near her grandparents, so they can be there with us to enjoy her already spunky personality. Blake is sure she is going to be a little social butterfly.

6 Months!

So, I don't do very much other than take care of Chloe, I have no excuse for being terrible at this blogging. But about a week ago as I was thinking about how bad I am at it, I came to the conclusion that as long as I'm updating it every other month I should be good. Right?

I can't believe my baby is a half of a year old. These 6 months have flown by so quick! And I know that the next 6 are going to go by even faster with even bigger milestones to work towards like crawling and walking. Not to mention all of her teeth! Teething has been really hard. I'm pretty sure she's getting 4 teeth at the same time on the bottom. The 2 center ones and her K9's. Everytime we feel (because, let's face it, her tongue hides her gums when we try to look. She's just as interested about the swollen lumps in her gums as we are) the most swollen part of the gums are where her K9's are coming in. I'm so confused by this. Good thing we go to the doctor this Thursday.

Chloe has a favorite show. It's "The Cat in the Hat, Know's a lot about That". Ok, the song is actually really catchy, and I don't mind watching it with her. The other shows I could live with out. But funny story; Chloe woke up incredibly early one morning. And she's usually up for about 2 hours before going down for another nap. So 2 hours landed nap time at 8:30 when the Cat in the Hat comes on. I put her in her crib and she starts to freak out. Blake walks in her room and says out loud, "She knows the Cat in the Hat is on". and She goes, "BYAAA". It seriously sounds like, "Ya". Like she would know that the Cat in the Hat is on. Funny for us, maybe not so much for you guys. It's incredible the amusement you receive from your own children. I remember thinking people going on and on about their kids, before I had my own, and thinking, "Why is that so funny?" Now I know better.

Chloe loves food, and still gets frustrated every time the bottle is emptied. I've discovered if I say, "It's all gone FOR NOW", she doesn't freak quite as bad. She's eating all of her vegetables, meats, and fruits! But not quite a fan of water... So to keep her hydrated I have been giving her Pedialyte (baby gatorade). That's another thing I will be talking to the doctor about. Because I think I remember someone saying about not giving them too much juice? I don't remember.

We are sooooo close to getting out of Rexburg as well! As I'm sure I mention in every post, Blake's almost done with school!! He will be receiving his Bachelors Degree in Health Science THIS December! And then we are on the road back to Richland, Washington for about a year and half before Medical School takes us elsewhere for 4-6 years. We are so grateful for my parents letting us live with them so that we can recover from Rexburg and get back on our feet for Med school.

As for me, I'm just hanging out with Chloe most days. I've been trying to keep in shape with the Insanity Program. My legs are definately smaller! And my pant size is smaller. I am having a hard time keeping motivation to finish it. Excuses, excuses right? Eh, I'm bored. I wish my attention span was longer than a goldfish's. So I try and try and try. But I can't get past the first week of month 2. What keeps you guys motivated? I've got nothing right now. Haha.

Well, life is moving and so are we (in December!!!)

4 Months Old!

Whoa! So it's been a while! Been busy I guess! So where I don't have everything memorized I'll just combine it all into one big post.

Chloe is getting so big! Double her size from birth in fact. She's Laughing and smiling, and rolling over. She just turned 4 months old yesterday. Which meant a doctors visit and shots. I hate it seeing the nurses give her shots. I start crying as soon as I see the needles, because I know what's coming next. And where Chloe isn't a huge fan of the binkie, it's hard to soothe her!  So while its been a moody couple of days, she's pretty happy when your attention is given to her. We started her on cereal yesterday, and I'm not sure what she thinks of it lol. Her face looks so disgusted with the spoon. She'd rather have it in a bottle, but what baby new to the spoon likes it?

Blake's taking a huge course load this semester, so we can get out of here in December. He's applied for graduation and we are just waiting for him to finish! We are so excited to be getting back home and away from Rexburg. Based on when Blake will be graduating and still needed a couple of courses for Medical school pre-requests, we are going to be behind a year in getting into medical school. So he's looking to be Medical School Class of 2018!  Or at least that's after the initial 4 years of medical school. Here we go!

I had the opportunity of working for an amazing salon for the last couple of months. But where it was a struggle to be away from Chloe, and since we are moving away so soon, it was by mutual agreement between me and the owner that I leave. It makes me sad that I had to go, but I know it's for the best. And I know that the Lord has his plan for my family and I. So in my free time, I'll be cleaning and taking care of Chloe. I'm going to pick up a hobby like digital scrap booking on the computer, and I'm excited for it.

Upcoming adventures include, Blake's brother Andrew and his wife Danielle coming down at the end of June to meet Chloe, 4th of July weekend trip to SLC for a family reunion. And after that it's all up in the air, but moving home just before Christmas is an absolute definite!

1 Month old

Ok, So Chloe is really 6 weeks old now but I'm thinking at least a monthly update with her doings and her monthly picture on here will be awesome! So as for milestones... I don't know what ones count and what ones don't because quite honestly, they're all milestones when its you're kid. So a few notes:
-Chloe does wonderfully on her own (When she's not fussy) at 6 weeks we are just getting over the fussy weeks (says the pediatrician). And Blake and I are really noticing. She's easy to put in the swing and leave her be for 15-20 min. Same goes for her bouncer. She's so content with studying her surroundings!
-On the note of studying everything around her. We're noticing she loves to see new peoples faces. She'll just stare. It's actually quite funny. She's so incredibly alert.
-She's got smiling down! Last night at 4:30, she needed to be changed and to eat. So I get her out of her crib and put her on the changing table. As I start talking to her about changing her diaper and how she's not going to like the cold wipe, she smiles. Haha, it was the biggest smile I'd seen yet.
-Chloe is picking up on her schedule. Come 7 o'clock, She's dozing. And for sure, within the hour she's sleeping.
-She gets the hiccups at least 2 times a day. The nurse at the doctors office says it's totally normal. But is it totally normal that these hiccups are violent like Blake's? Who knows, I just hope that they don't hurt her when she's grown up like they hurt Blake.
-Sleepy Laughs aren't all too common, but when she does laugh while she's sleeping, it's a good one! Still only a couple of giggles while she's awake.

I think that's all I've got for the 1st month... But now that I'm done being the mother that talks her baby way up, I'll update you on us parents.

Blake is still at Dairy Queen. He was promoted manager the week that I quit, and although he hates the job, the pay is good. There is talk of him changing our course for life, as he's decided that Medical school is not for him. He's come across so many personal revelations to ignore now, and is considering Nursing or Epidemiology (disease control).

I just got a job here in Rexburg at Tami's Salon. I am so stoked people! Finally leaving my days at Dairy Queen behind permanently and I assure you that I will NEVER look back. I am sad that I will be leaving Chloe at home, but I know that she will be safe with her dad, as we have been fortunate enough to work out our schedules so that we may never need a babysitter. However, Lacey will be in town, and if the time comes that she does want to babysit, I'm sure we can come up with something so that she is able to.

Life is so good right now! The only thing that would make it better would be that we were closer to home. 8-10 hours away just isn't close enough.

Life As We Know It

It's still surreal that Chloe is finally here! I can't believe life has changed, but OBVIOUSLY for the BETTER! :) Here's the Story:

So sorry if it may be a little more than you bargained for, I'll try to keep it as PG as I can.

Friday morning 5 am I woke up, just because I couldn't sleep, went to the bathroom to find blood on my toilet paper. This left me slightly worried because this pregnancy had been textbook. NO blood at all since my previous period. So I thought, "Well good thing I have a doctors appointment at 10, I'll just talk to him about it then". 8 am rolls around and I go to the bathroom again, and there's a little more blood. "Hmmmmm, well, I can last 2 hours to talk to the doctor". 9am and I go to the bathroom AGAIN, and even more blood. I call the doctor and they have my come in for my appointment early. I went in and was monitored, and everything looked good. Doc came in and said, "it just looks like you're showing the early signs of labor, but they can come and go for days before you actually have the baby" Well goodie, or maybe this could be a bad thing.

So I started feeling real contractions, but I was in the mindset that She was going to stay there till I made her come out at our induction on Tuesday the 7th. But come 1pm I decided, that maybe I should start timing these, just to see what's going on. The times were pretty consistent, all within 10 min of each other. But until they were 5 min apart for an hour and growing with intensity, I knew I didn't need to go to labor and delivery.

3 pm comes and Blake gets home from school to see that I'd started hurting and didn't want to go to work, but I was still feeling like I was going to be fine for the night, and I never would have thought that I was going to have her by the next morning.

So Blake goes to work at 5pm, and 2 hours later, I had decided that these contractions were growing with intensity and they were seeming pretty regular, so I called Blake and had him come home so in case we decided to go.

8pm and we get in the car and head to the hospital, just to get checked out, and see what they think. They checked me, and I had little to no progression to what doctors had been saying at previous check ups. 1 1/2 cm dilated and 80 % effaced. The nurse says to me, "on a scale of 1 -10 of pain 10 being hit by a car, how bad is your pain level?" "oh about 7-8" "well honey, I've got news for you" She then says she called my doctor and he said to let me go home, and to come back when contractions were 2-3 min apart and so bad that I can't walk or talk through them.

Well, that pain came at about 11pm. 11:30 I was admitted, and 4 cm dilated and 90% effaced. I got in and they gave me my epidural. (Medicine sent from Heavenly Father!!) I was able to get some sleep, and Blake was able to get ahead on his homework. Later on (I can't recall the time) The nurse came in and checked me, all that we were waiting for now was for my water to break.

4:30 am, my water broke. Man oh man, like a water balloon popping between my legs. I couldn't believe it!

5:00 am start pushing. 5:15am Chloe is born! As a first time mom, the staff was impressed I got her out so fast. They told me that women usually push for an average of 2 hours with their first. Doc said, "the next baby you have, I will give you my call schedule and I will be your doctor" haha. Chloe Lynn Anderson was born on Saturday February 4th, 8lbs 7.9oz, 20 1/4 inches long, and sooooo beautiful! Friends, I am sooo in love with her, and I cannot wait for you all to have one of your own so you can feel this way for your little ones also!

Notice of Eviction

This one is for you Chloe...

Doctors got your father and I excited about how you were measuring 2 1/2 weeks ahead, a week and a half ago. The only thought we had was, "We will get to meet her sooner!"... Especially when Doc said, "If you're still pregnant by next week we will do an ultra sound to get an estimated weight". If I'm still pregnant you say eh? You can come this week!!! ... WRONG.

This last Thursday, they checked me. And you might remember because the nurse poked your head. We had the ultra sound that said you were weighing in at about 8lbs 6oz. I know these things can be wrong, but our family has a history of big babies. Sorry, you were not blessed with petite genes. (Well maybe, if you're anything like your dad). Let me make note here that the nurse also told me, "I don't think you'll be pregnant another week". YAY! I WANT TO MEET YOU!

Well little girl, it is Saturday night of January 29th 2012. You're due date is just a week and a day away. Which means you're coming out soon, whether or not you like it. It may be cold here, especially in Idaho, but mommy can not have you using her bladder as a punching bag and ribs as a soccer ball anymore. It's time for you to come out. So on Tuesday, if the doctor gives me permission, you have till next Saturday to come out on your own. If not, I'm making you.

Love, Mommy

Optimism

WELL, December was a fail! As far as blogging goes. But this year is going to be better! My explanation for Decembers lack of posts. Dairy Queen. We were working our tails off to make sure we'd be able to take the holiday off and still be able to pay bills. Also to add 2 doctors appointments, and my Relief Society calling + a little thing call Pintrest kept me off this lovely website, to update all that read.

We were able to go to Utah for Christmas, where we were able to see 2 of Blake's sisters and his brother and wife (my good friend!), as well as my whole family from my mom's side. It was really nice to be able to get away from Rexburg for just the little bit. And I've got to say, this winter has not be nearly as bad as in the past! There still isn't a foot of snow on the ground! (Knock on wood). I'm so incredibly happy for this because I would rather it not snow till after Chloe's born so that maybe the ride home from the hospital wont be stressful. But I am really becoming grateful for this warm (for Rexburg) weather.

But as it is the beginning of the year, we have new years resolutions. One of mine is to be more kind and optimistic. Blake's got a full year of school, difficult classes, job shadowing, and the MCATS ahead of him this year, and while I barely see him while he's taking regular classes at BYUI, I know this year will be particularly difficult for the both of us. I never liked loosing to school with him, but this is one that really counts. Luckily I'll have our new baby to keep me distracted (I'm sure she'll keep him distracted too). But he'll be able to pull through. So for mine and Chloe's sake I need to be more positive and kind.

Chloe's room and everything else of hers is ready to go! All that needed to be washed has been washed, and everything that needed to be sterilized has been sterilized. The crib and changing table have been set up, and her sheets are on the bed. Diapers and wipes are ready to go for when she's home, and even the diaper bag has been put together. All that needs to happen now? Get my hospital bag ready... She's already taking the priority over my life. I must say though, she is welcome to come anytime now, by all of us I'd say. Blake just wants to see our baby and no one elses, and I'm just about fed up with the right side of my ribs being her soccer ball (I'm pretty sure they're bruised underneath). And the constant stabbing pains in the lower region have got to stop. I'd rather not be sleeping at this point... which I also can't, I'm so uncomfortable. All for a good cause right? All of this will erase from my mind the second she's born.

So needless to say we haven't been too busy but we have had tons to think about with school, and Chloe coming. My days at Dairy Queen will end this Friday, and I am so excited! But really conflicted about what I do after my last day, and before Chloe comes. I definitely think I take after my grandpa Madsen, and am a workaholic. I'm a pacer, and I pace while I'm bored. The house can only be so clean, can it?

She Calls them Whoopies

One of my really good friends, Jennie, breeds basset hounds, and some of the cutest ones EVER might I add. I've had so much fun seeing litter after litter of her beautiful babies, and they get better and better with each litter. One of the first litters we really became friends during was her "D" litter. "Sunny Delight", or Delight as we call her, has always been my favorite. Then there's "Fannie" and "Francis" from the "F" litter. (I just loved Francis color) and she just recently, like Sunday, Dec. 18th recently had her "H" litter. Man, oh man! Poor Lovey (the prego dog), we were really wanting her to get pregnant this time around because when Chloe will be born in Feb. when these pups will be 7 weeks (at their cutest), so that we'd be able to take some dang cute pictures of her with the puppies. So Lovey was Artificially inseminated (only twice) but she gave birth to a whopping 13 puppies! (That's a lot). She went into labor Saturday night, and Jennie texted me this morning saying that there had been 2 puppies born and that she was about to take Lovey in to get the rest of them out by C-Section. (If I had 13 in me, I'd want to have a C-section too!) So I made my way to the vet, saw the 1st to pups, and they were so cute, and FAT! This is a good thing. So we are waiting for the vet to get some of his staff together, and while he was gone to change into his work clothes from church clothes, Lovey gave birth to her 3rd babe. It was breech! But it was an amazing process to witness. So on and so forth, they get Lovey down under anesthesia and another puppy pops out! Then she actually gets the poor dog cut open and the doc takes the rest of them out. Me, Jennies sister Shandi, and their cousins were all taking the pups out of their sac, and rubbing them dry and getting them to breathe. OMG, it was just like 101 Dalmations! But there were so many, I was rubbing two puppies at once, and everyone else had at least one other too, then the vet tech brings in two more, we all looked at each other like, "Holy Crap!" But it was fun! Definitely hope that I get to be part of another litter arrival in the future!

On another note, I haven't updated much. I just haven't gotten around to it. And I keep forgetting! Nothing going on here at our house otherwise though. Work, play, more work, and sleep. I'm getting tons of sleep, I can't fall asleep but once I finally do, I wake up anytime between noon and 1pm, a whole half a day... wasted. Better enjoy it while I can though! Chloe's room is all set up and ready to go. Her pacifiers and Bottles are boiled and sterilized, now I just need to manage some of her clothes in to the washer and dryer. (I'm slightly scared things will shrink though... hence the procrastination)

Blake and I's anniversary is Monday the 19th, so we will celebrate our 3 years together! Tuesday, we've got a baby appointment to make sure everything is still on track. And Wednesday we head to Utah! We are so excited, Blake has been long awaiting another break. (Even though Thanksgiving wasn't too long ago, haha)

Grateful

Ok... I said I was going to do a Thankful list on Thanksgiving. I did not do that but let me start off with things that I am grateful for so I'm not a total hypocrite:
1. My family
2. A job
3. a roof over our heads
4. a car to drive back and forth from WA to ID
5. nail polish
6. friends who support us
7. the opportunity to mother one of God's children

etc. etc.

Thanks giving was great! We went home to Washington on Tuesday. On Wednesday we spent time with both families, Thursday we spent with my family and had dinner with them, then on Friday is when Blake's family was having their dinner. So we were lucky and didn't have to eat 2 Thanksgiving dinners in one day. Then Saturday was my awesome baby shower! I got so much, Blake and I are figuring the only thing we really need to buy before Chloe gets here is wipes. How awesome right!? She got tons of clothes and Blake and I got our Christmas gift from my parents early, which happened to be Chloe's crib bedding which I know what not cheap. (That's why it was both of our Christmas gift). But that's ok, she's got beautiful bedding that I get to look at. Both her and I are incredibly spoiled. My dad also got her some awesome Harley Davidson outfits, which probably are my all time favorite so far.

As of today I am 30 Weeks 2 days along! Only 9 weeks 5 days to go! Woo hoo!

Time is going by fast this year!

Homeward Bound

Thursday is Thanksgiving, and Tuesday we drive home!! Yay, although the drive will more than likely be treacherous, we can't wait to just get there already. So the plan is to leave as soon as Lacey is ready. We are both excited to be home this year for the first time since being married, to have 2 thanksgivings. (As if my self esteem wasn't shot already, I have to have 2 Thanksgiving dinners). I just need to remember portion control, right? As for that "Thankful" list. I plan on coming up with a few things, and posting them ON Thanksgiving.

Saturday will then be my baby shower. I'm so excited! I have no clue what'll go on since I haven't really been to a baby shower before. But I can't wait.

Well it's off to work... lame. Tuesday night just needs to get here sooner. I could use some loving from Moby :)

Birthday Boy x25

Blake will be turning into an old man this week, 25 whole years of age! Tuesday is his birthday and I can never get away with any surprise. (Well I did last year with an Xbox). I had plans with his friend to go and get a coat he wanted and a game he is wanting, and surprise him with the coat sunday before church and the game on his actual birthday but that didn't work out. Snow prevented me from getting to Idaho Falls without him as a driver, and I spilt about the game because I knew, that he knew, what I had been wanting to do. (You know when you have something hiding but you know that the person you're hiding it from knows what you're hiding? Dang that sense!) Anyways this game is Modern Warfare 3... Ever heard of it? We were at the check out at Wal-mart, and the cashier looked at ME and said, "play call of duty huh?" well I went along with it, "Oh yea, I'm totally addicted, I can't bring myself to stop playing." Anyways, he was pretty excited for the game. Happy Birthday Blake!!! (And Andrew!!)

More of an update, 1) I actually announced my pregnancy on facebook. I was so nervous to put it on, I had no idea why, it was definitely an adrenaline rush. So many congrats, Thanks guys! I go to the doctor again next week (28 weeks along) to be tested for gestational diabetes, and probably to hear her heartbeat again. She's been measuring a week bigger than I am along, so I continue to have my fingers crossed that she'll come a little earlier vs. later. I can't wait to have my baby in my arms, not my gut.

I was also called to be Relief Society Secretary last week. Woo Hoo! I'm actually pretty excited to have a calling like this one. Although every calling is important, everyone knows how important this one actually is. Hopefully it'll help my build my testimony for the Relief Society, since I've certainly had my struggles with it. I do worry about fulfilling it though... I've been the biggest airhead since being pregnant, I really hope I don't forget something vital!

Art was created by Hands

In all 3 places that Blake and I have lived since being married, we have been greatly blessed with todays modern conveniences. i.e.- washer/dryer, dishwasher, microwave.... that might be it. Because we are aware that a lot of places don't offer the washer and dryers or microwaves, and sometimes even dishwashers. (At least not in Rexburg). So to have them in our apartment has been a great blessing.

Now in this post, I'm not going to talk about art. But except maybe the art of cleanliness? About a week and a half ago I was doing the dishes and realized that we were out of dishwasher detergent. Sad day, that meant that the whole pile of dishes in the sink (that takes about 3 days for us to accumulate to fill the dishwasher, because 2 people don't use THAT many dishes) now had to be done by hand. I suppose this was okay, because I don't have anything else to do while Blake is at his internship and I'm home alone. Blake had been gone most of the day for some convention sort of thing about health. And when he came home, I told him, we were out of detergent, and that I had to do the dishes by hand. He then said to me, "You know what I learned today? That the toilet is often more clean than the kitchen sink, so I hope you disinfected it too." He then mentioned that it should probably be done several times a week. Ew, gross right?

So I've been doing the dishes by hand, out of laziness to go to the store and buy detergent. How pathetic. But after I had been doing this for a while, I've been learning, that our dishes are actually probably more clean when washed by hand than by putting them in the dishwasher and having it do the work for me. Now I don't know about everyone else, but I do like to eat off of clean dishes. And I don't know if it's the fact that our dishwasher sucks, or if I'm just going through that "nesting" thing people talk about, but I'm liking having "cleaner" dishes. After doing the dishes by HAND I'm able to disinfect the sink, so that maybe our kitchen sink can be cleaner than our toilet. Not to mention, the dawn with Olay in it, smells delightful, and also helps keeps my hands feeling nice, and soft. (pruney with the water, but that goes away.)

Martha Stewart Who?

So for my sisters birthday I decided a long time ago I wanted to do something red, black and velvety... of sorts. We both LOVE red velvet, and especially when our grandma Madsen made it, it was the best ever. So, I wanted to make some cupcakes and had the idea of dying them red and black (her favorite colors), and doing a ladybug thing, since ladybugs have always been her thing.

Here are some pics:

Before Frosting

After Frosting

Can you see the ladybug? The red frosted cupcakes are a chocolate chip cupcake food colored black, and the black frosted cupcakes are red velvet. Both with a cream cheese butter cream frosting. I tested out the chocolate chip cupcake recipe a few weeks ago, and they were dang good, but this time, not as good as I remember? But I have to admit, I was so taken aback by how awesome the red velvet ones were, I thought that I would never be able to make a cake or anything red velvety as good as my grandma! She must have blessed me with the gift.

On a completely different note, I've recently become more infatuated with nail polishes eye shadows etc. And you would have thought that I would have become more during school... But that was pretty much all hair I must say, I've been loving me some free time to experiment with my make-up and see what I can get away with, and what I know how to do. I'm becoming more and more obsessed with the health of everything, especially skin care. (I've always loved learning about hair care too). So now I just need to find more money to buy a few more things to "try out". One day. One day I hope to have all kinds of make up to do my kids, for their prom etc. I mean why not? And as for my little girl on the way, I really really can only hope that her ONLY addiction will be to nail polish. :)

Bored eater? No, I'm a bored Worker

Alright so let me start out by saying, I've been working for Dairy Queen for 5 WHOLE YEARS. (August was the anniversary, sad I know). Blake has been working there for a collective 22 months? I think like 2 months in high school and now almost 2 years here in Rexburg.

I'm slowly finding that I'd rather be working, than sitting around. Dont get me wrong. I love my days off, and it's nice to have them once maybe twice a week. But since there is seriously nothing around here... I'm so bored out of my mind. So on any given day of the week, you'll find me working at Dairy Queen. I hate it there, it's too demanding and for what recognition? None! Yet, I'd still rather be there, doing something, than doing nothing at home.

So, I was officially graduated from Paul Mitchell, The Hair Academy a long time ago. I've got my license, so wouldn't you say it's time for a new job? I thought so till that pee stick from First Response had 2 lines! Girl Anderson will be here in February (we're thinking her name will be Chloe Lynn), so that leaves me with a job that I hate, pregnant with a beautiful little girl, and a cosmetology license that has not really seen the light of day. I'm thinking March will start the search for a new job. One that I can use my education with, because let's face it, Dairy queen is keeping me from full happiness. AT DAWN I BREAK! (In March, that is)

I believe

Today was one of the better Sunday's in a long time. (Well conference is always good). Blake had the opportunity to stand in the circle with our good friend Mikal Rex as he blessed his new baby girl Verona Doll Rex. It was a great blessing. I'm sure it made him more nervous for the blessing of our baby sometime in February. Hopefully we can figure out a name by then!

It was also fast and testimony Sunday for our ward. I knew within the first seconds at my grandmother's viewing that I'd be sharing mine the next testimony meeting we had. You know that fiery burning sensation of, "oh man I have to go up there" that you get? I don't get that feeling very much. We can put it this way, the last time I bore my testimony Blake and I were only dating, so it was a good 4 years ago. Also, the next week I was asked to give a talk. So I was a little hesitant today. I bore my testimony about The plan of Salvation, and eternal marriage. It Needed to be shared, after what happened with the passing of my grandparents. I know that they are together and happy. Their time on earth was well spent, and I know that if I ask, I can have their help and assistance as I go throughout my life. They are missed terribly, but with a little prayer, I can feel their presence. I love them so much, and I can only be happy that they are happy now. My grandmother knew EXACTLY what I needed to get through this rough time of her passing, and she knows EXACTLY what I need to get through this trial of living in Rexburg. She was a truly remarkable person, and knew me well.

To them, Jim and Lana: I love and miss you.

Baby, it's cold outside

It snowed ALL day yesterday! Plus it's freezing today. Rainy, but still cold. It was on average of 40 Degrees today. But date night was tonight, so despite the freezing weather, we went out. :)

Date night was sort of a surprise, I didn't think we would be going out. So after work I came home, got ready to do out, Blake hustled me into the car, and we went for what I thought would be a drive and a usual walk around wal-mart. (There isn't that much to do for cheap around Rexburg). We pulled into a parking lot, and Blake asked, "How does Chinese sound? We should try the Yin Yang place, I hear it's good." So we did. And it was good, it was nice to finally go out for dinner since we hadn't been in a while.

After dinner, we went to Brolums for Hot chocolate. Stephens Hot chocolate that is, The BEST EVER! (Well for home-made, I will never stray from my favorite, Black and White Hot Chocolate from Starbucks). However at Brolums, They were entirely OUT! I guess all the snow yesterday, and cold-cold rain today. So we went to Wal-Mart, only to find that they don't carry hot chocolate yet(I wish it was a super Wal-mart). Then to Albertson's to find that they only had Chocolate raspberry flavor and Dark Chocolate left. Holy cow, Almost no Stephens hot chocolate in all of Rexburg. We came home, made a cup of HC and turned on Greys Anatomy. Needless to say, today was a good day. Despite the Cold weather and rain... BOO.

A Clean home is a Happy home

I'm so proud of myself! Because, seriously? Who knew keeping a clean home was this hard!

I'm getting in a good groove though. Blake has his internship in the mornings 5 days a week, and we work in the evenings 3-5 nights a week. so on my one day off closest to Sunday, I take it to clean the whole apartment. Which doesn't take too long, but I'm so glad that I'm finally getting in the hang of it. Who wants to live in a messy apartment right? Not me that's for sure.

After the Apartment has been cleaned, it feels good to sit down and surf the web or whatever. And I'm a lot happier when the apartment is put together, with things where they belong, and I don't see dust, or garbage on the coffee table. I also really like it when I can see the lines from the vacuum in the carpet. :) But I think my vacuum maybe broken, it doesn't create lines anymore, or I don't think that the spinny thing in the bottom spins on the carpet, or something. We will have to figure it out!