help haiti heal

Haiti definitely holds a special place in my heart...

About 4 years ago, my sister and her husband told us they were adopting two beautiful kids from an orphanage in Haiti. I remember coming back up to my dorm in Logan, from hearing the news in Ogden, and being so filled with excitement and love for these two kids, and I didn't even know them yet. A year later, in October of 2007, Michelle and Scott were able to travel to Haiti, and spend time in the orphanage getting to know they two kids before they brought them home to America. The first time we met them, it was amazing to feel the overwhelming love for these beautiful kids! They didn't know any English, and you could tell they already loved their mom and dad so much as they turned for them for comfort, even when they didn't understand a word they were saying.

Today, things are so different with Savannah and Jordan! They are both in school, and can't get enough of it! They have such fun unique personalities and an amazing love for life! I honestly can't imagine them not in our family, they fit perfectly and are meant to be in their home here.

Last year, when the earthquake hit Haiti and took so many lives. I couldn't help but feel that much more blessed for these two being in my life. I am so glad that they were here safe and sound! But there were so many others in Haiti who were hurt by the earthquake, and now a year later as they are trying to rebuild, it seems impossible to help in anyway. But even the smallest things can help. Praying, sending small donations, even just a moment of them in your thoughts.

Yesterday while out shopping with a friend, I came across these t-shirts at American Eagle. All proceeds of these shirts go to help the Haitian community rebuild their schools, and train teachers. It broke my heart when the store clerk told me they had been marked down in price from $15.50 to $9.95 because no one was buying them. They aren't listed on their online store any longer because they were a special during the month of January. But they are in stores! Go get one, and Help Haiti Heal!

Babysitting Weekend

This past weekend, Jan 28-30, we had Ryan's older sister's 4 kids stay with us here at Grandma and Grandpa's house. It was their dad's 30th birthday, and Kristen had planned a big surprise party for him, so we got to have their fun kids all weekend!

They got here on Friday night, after Norm and Kim went to pick them up, we had pizza and sodas, and then watched Horton Hears a Who! Such a cute movie! I wish I would have gotten a picture of the boys watching, you could tell they were so tired, but didn't want to miss a minute!

Saturday morning, Grandma Kim made them all a yummy breakfast, and then Julie and her two kids Ty and Maddie came to meet us/pick us up to go to see Tangled at the theatre. Ryan had to study, and Kim stayed home with Navi. So it was me, Julie, and Norm with 5 little kids. Luckily we got to the theatre early enough to get them all settled in with their little bags of popcorn portioned out, and the root beer distributed to the right amount of sippy cups :) They loved the movie!

Daxon and Maddie

Griffin, Mason, and Ty

During the movie, we had a funny experience. Daxon asked me to take him to the bathroom, so we went. And he just stood there, and kept saying he didn't want to flush it cause it was too loud, and he wanted to go in his potty at home...I'm sad to say, I didn't know what to tell the poor little guy, and he ended up not going that round. About 20 minutes later, he REALLY had to go (about 4 sippy cups of root beer in him at this point) so Julie took him. I figured as a mom she might know what to say to help him feel more comfortable. It worked! He finally went, and as she was on her way back to the movie with him, I was on my way back out with Griffin and Mason. Haha! oh the joy of potty breaks!

After the movie, we decorated some Valentine sugar cookies, they all had a blast, and had fun picking out different colors and sprinkles for each cookie. Maddie loved to frost, lick off the frosting, then frost again...and lick the spoon! She is so funny!

The boys!

Daxon

Griffin

Mason (loved it so much he couldn't even look up for a picture, haha)

Maddie's cookies! (with a big lick through the middle one!

After cookies, Julie and Jaab packed up their kiddos and went skiing, and the three Dahl boys were getting worn out. We made a bunch of floor puzzles with them, then turned on Shrek, and Dax was a goner! He fell right asleep during the movie. Ryan and I went on a date that night.

building puzzles with Grandma Kim

Griff

Mason

Sunday morning, Norm had to speak in church, so Kim went with him. Ryan and I stayed home and watched the kids. He was in charge of the boys, and I was in charge of Navi. She is such a happy and easy baby! She hardly makes a sound besides giggles!

cute Navi!

Once Norm and Kim got home from church, they packed up the kiddos and took them all back home. We really had so much fun, and I don't know how Kristen does it every day! We were all so exhausted, and we had 4 adults here to 4 kids! She is an amazing woman that's all I know!

It's a boy!

We went to Fetal Fotos in Murray after Ryan's interviews at the U of U on Thursday (everyone cross your fingers he gets into their PT program!!!!) and we found out we're having a

BOY!

I was only 13.5 weeks along so it's still realllllly early to tell! But hopefully this babe won't be pulling any tricks on us and switching genders before the 20 week ultrasound with our doctor.

Here is the proof, all you other moms out there, tell me how real 'it' looks to you. (I heard some baby girls might be swollen and look like a boy?)

first view, kneeling down with bum in the air...and the manhood!

Next proof, laying upside down, and manhood is right there....I feel pretty certain it's a boy, but I want your input too!

This little babe made for an interesting and now funny trip to Salt Lake. At the time though...not so funny!

Ryan pulled over at an exit in Ogden to get gas, I am sitting in the car waiting, feeling just fine. Ryan gets back on the freeway, not even on again for 10 seconds, and I start gagging...bad! I told him I thought I was going to throw up, he asked if he should pull over right there on the freeway, or pull off the next exit, and before I had time to even answer, I'd thrown up in my hands, on my shirt, and coat, and pants. Lovely! Probably the most disgusting of my embarrassing moments! He pulled over and I got cleaned up (with my gloves cause we didn't have napkins in the car) and Ryan gave me his pajama shirt to change into.

So, back on the freeway, now wearing a huge men's t-shirt, throw up stained pants, and fuzzy socks...we make it to the U of U, and I was reading directions to the building off of Ryan's phone to him while he was driving up the windy roads. By the time we got to the parking lot, I had to get out again while he looked for a parking spot cause I was too nauseous again. So, I'm standing over a dead flower bed, in my lovely outfit, throwing up, while applicants are walking by me up to their interviews. Talk about horrifying! Ryan finally pulled back up next to me, and said he couldn't find a spot anywhere, and was going to be late. So off he went, and I was stuck with a car running in the middle of the parking lot while I stood there finishing my 'business'.

It wasn't the greatest start to the day! But it makes for a funny story now! The rest of the day went great! I got a whole new CLEAN outfit to wear for the rest of the day, we went to lunch, found out we're having a son, I got to see my friend Allie, and we went to dinner with our friends Alex and Danielle, AND Ryan's interviews were awesome! I'd say the pro's definitely outweighed the con's that day!

13 weeks

Well, there you have it! I'm officially out of the first trimester and into the second.

• I feel like I've had the 'morning sickness' pretty easy. I have thrown up more in weeks 11 and 12 than in all of weeks 1-10...and that was probably only 4 or 5 times total.
• I'm not nearly as tired as I used to be in the heart of the first trimester. I used to fall asleep watching TV, movies, reading, even just sitting for a minute I'd catch myself with heavy eyes. I feel like now I'm getting energy back.
• I still am able to wear and button my normal old jeans (I even proved it in this photo) However, they do feel tight sometimes so I'll put an elastic through the button hole and button to make them a little more comfortable.
• I have definitely been breaking out more...I hear that means its a boy?? (anyone know if this theory holds true??)
• I haven't really had any cravings, just food aversions. For instance, overly seasoned or very rich foods really make my stomach turn. And if I had to pick a "craving" it would be little-kid-foods, like Mac and Cheese, corn dogs, hot dogs, PB&J, cereal and milk. So I think that bland foods are my cravings.

Also, please don't judge me from this photo! It was taken after dinner, and of course the belly gets bigger after eating. (It looks more like a gut than a baby!)

Christmas!

Christmas Eve was celebrated with the Doyle's. We started the party early so the kids wouldn't get home too late and miss Santa coming! We had so much yummy and delicious food! Appetizers including, shrimp, dipped pretzels, homemade salsa, cookies, cheese ball, fudge (which I was not proud of...it turned into soup and was called fondue for for the rest of the night!), and many more.

After appetizers, and some fun ornament making for the grand kids, we of course needed more food, so we dug into our delicious annual turkey dinner. Ryan's dad always makes a killer turkey and homemade stuffing, we had yams, Waldorf salad, jello, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade rolls and Ryan's cran-Sprite drink! It was soo good, and we all ate so much, but loved every bite!

After dinner, the kids put on a lovely nativity for us, narrated by Ryan (of course with his big deep voice!) There attentions spans are short, and the bible story is a little long...so we got the 'sweetened condensed' version with the wise men appearing right along with the Shepard's, and little Maddie was the angel and Mary all in one! It was so cute!

After Nativity, we decided it was time for presents, all the kids opened all theirs all at once, loved the puzzle, and play dough they got. We adults did our gift exchange, and somewhere in the mix Norm and Kim received this gift from us!

It was so much fun to see their reaction, Norm handed it to Kim to open across the room, and the minute she opened the box, and peeked inside, she shut it quick, and looked up at Ryan and I with big eyes, then at Norm, and said "Norm you need to come here!" It wasn't even seconds after that everyone was screaming and hugging, and me of course crying! It was the best present we could give!

Christmas morning, we watched ELF, and Kim made delicious crepes with fresh strawberries, blackberries and whipped cream on top. Ryan and Norm got into a funny whipped cream fight, we were dying laughing! After breakfast, we opened our gifts. Ryan got me some new jeans, a couple shirts, gloves, and books from the Hunger Games series. I got some other clothes and a cute new purse from Norm and Kim. Ryan got shoes he's been dying for, 4 new movies, lots of clothes....we were spoiled! After gifts we got showered and ready for the day and headed down to Ogden.

We all met up at my parents house at 3:00 and immediately started into the presents...it took us 2 hours to open everything! My parents spoiled us as well: I got new shears for cutting hair, a cross-stitch my mom made with our wedding date and names, new clothes, and comfy neck pillow for long car rides, a ear muff/headband thing. Ryan got some more movies, the PlayStation Move, candy, clothes, and I'm sure other things I'm forgetting.

But anyway...onto the fun stuff! To announce our pregnancy to my family I had made 6 blocks, on the front of each was F A M I L Y, and on the sides was a bunch of snapshots of our family over the last year or two, and on the back of the Y block, was a picture of our ultrasound. Ryan got a video of my mom opening the gift, and it is the greatest video ever! The Y block is the 4th one she pull out...it's pretty obvious when she knows...

It was truly such an awesome Christmas, Ryan and I feel so blessed to have all our family to close to us to celebrate the holiday's with. Next year, will be very different from this...probably moved out of state attending Physical Therapy School, and we'll have one more member in the family. We are so excited to see what fun new adventures 2011 has in store for us!

Happy New Year everyone! I wish you all the best in the upcoming year!

announcement!

Attention Attention!

We have some very exciting news!

I'm currently 10 weeks pregnant and we couldn't be happier!

Our baby is due July 26 2011!

Congratulations....you now know our secret!