It runs in the family

I finally found some pictures of my childhood when my hair was more red,

but it's Monday and there are three new episodes of Smallville to watch online, so I'll try to post them tomorrow.

I did find this picture of my boys and my little niece, Amber.

She got the recessive genes as well.

So, what do you think? Is our new baby going to be a red-head?

Like father, like son

Look at my cute boys!

(I'm partial to the red hair and freckles)

My friend Vanessa took this picture of Dillon. You can't tell, but he's holding a ring pillow for a tutorial she's doing next week (I cropped it out so as not to ruin the surprise). Anyway, it reminded me of this picture of Todd from first grade, so I lined 'em up together. I love how their opposite eyes are squinting the same way.

People always ask where our boys get their red hair, and we tell them "from every side". I need to scan some of my old pictures so you can see that my hair was once quite red as well. (maybe my mom would want to do that in her spare time...hint, hint)

Things I love...

Every now and then, I make a new list of "happy thoughts". Just reading through it makes me smile. They're in no particular order...

I love:

-staying up late and laughing with Todd
-Dillon's smile...sunshine comes out of his eyes.
-curly hair
-warm colors (I'll just never be a "blue" or "purple" girl)
-makin' stuff
-decorating with homemade stuff, family photos, inspiring quotes, or things that are sentimental in some way (random pieces of art remind me of hotel rooms and museums).
-the seasons...all four of them.
-quilts with applique or stitchery on them. I love the detail.
-strudel and spice candle or wax melts
-watching Caleb with younger kids and babies
-positive pregnancy tests
-scalloped edges
-coconut shrimp
-the ocean
-my testimony of Jesus Christ
-talking on the phone with friends
-displays. It's all about the display.
-Jamba Juice
-opening the blinds in the morning and letting the sun shine in
-oatmeal. In cereals, desserts, and mixed in my meatloaf, meatballs, and Salisbury steak. If it has oatmeal in it, I'll probably like it.
-music. All kinds. I prefer to have music playing in my house all day long.
-when Brayden starts spouting scientific facts that I have no idea about.
-reading clever, funny, or inspiring blogs
-brainstorming idea's with my dad
-a clean and organized house
-eating out (no cooking and no dishes)
-harvesting the garden
-pretty table settings
-Chocolate molten cake (I've never been a cookie or brownie girl, and I don't like frosting)
-lot's of pillows on a tall bed. Todd will never understand, but it has to do with "the display"
-working with my family
-rolling over onto my tummy for the first time after giving birth
-going to the temple
-Relief Society. Time Out for Women. Women's conferences.
-my Mom and my Mother-in-law
-collecting idea's and recipe's
-spending time with family
-traditions
-finding an answer in the scriptures
-ultrasounds (when they're looking for a baby, not an appendix)
-the "funnies" in the Reader's Digest
-jetted tubs
-sleeping kids

I'd keep going, but there are three hungry mouths in the kitchen...

Small town livin...

I went to the grocery store this afternoon to see what the deli was serving for lunch. Monday is supposed to be Italian, but it was Chinese...'cause they never follow the schedule. I decided to have the chicken lo mein, but I had a few other things I needed, and decided to get my lunch last so it would still be warm when I got home.

By the time I got back around to the deli counter, I was in the back of the longest line I've ever seen in this county (except for the annual demolition derby). The man in front of me, Mark, offered to let me go ahead of him, but I told him I was just fine.

And then it happened.

Mark got the last serving of chicken lo mein.

My heart hung heavy as I got up to the counter and ordered plain old rice.

I came home and promptly e-mailed Todd, cursing Mark for taking the last of the lo mein, and he promptly e-mailed me back saying he'd be happy to "bust him up" for me, if only he weren't a former navy seal.

Just as I took my first bite of rice, there was a knock at the door, and my friend Julie (whose husband came home teaching last night) stood there with a container of soup and a loaf of artisan bread.

Cue the "Hallelujah Chorus".

Thanks for lunch, Julie. It was much appreciated. Todd thanks you too, 'cause he's no match for a navy seal.

Later in the day, I stopped at the bank to make a deposit before taking Caleb to basketball practice. I only had one kid in the van, but look what we got:

Three suckers. Because Sister Duella knows me, and knows that I have three kids. I can't stop smiling about it.

We showed up to basketball practice, and the door was locked. Candi was there with her son, and made a few phone calls to see if anyone knew what was going on. No need for a phone book...everybody knows each other's phone numbers here.

Todd had just informed me that the coach and his family were in California today, so I rolled down my window and told Candi that unless he'd gotten a substitute, there probably wouldn't be any practice.

That was fine with me, because Brayden had an "off day" and decided to stay home. At least this way he wasn't missing his practice.

We got home, and I asked Caleb to bring in the garbage can. A minute later we heard screaming (mixed with laughter) and ran outside to this:

We never shovel our driveway since it's not paved, and apparently it's gotten a bit slippery. Luckily he was not hurt at all, and we all got a good laugh.

The neighbors were probably laughing too.

I saw it!!!

Today I saw my Magnavox DVD Screensaver hit the corner.

I didn't think it was possible. But it is.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you must have a life.
The following YouTube video will help you understand:

Amazing

I think in the past I have taken this process for granted, but this time, I just can't get over the miracle of this baby growing inside me.

I had my appointment on Saturday, and to my surprise, the doctor did another ultrasound. I certainly wasn't going to complain! Everything looked good. The baby was squirming around, and the boys got to see it. I wish I had a picture of the boys' faces. They were grinning from ear to ear, and afterwards Dillon said, "Our baby waved at us".

Six Weeks:

Eight Weeks:
Eleven Weeks:

The baby is supposed to double in length this week. It's just amazing to me that a few weeks ago we had a "blob of cells" and now we have a baby with fingers, toes, a beating heart, and the ability to move around and even swallow.

Birth is truly a miracle.

Thinkin' things...

Believe it or not, I actually have TWO friends who who share my due date.

I found out today that one of them miscarried...and it breaks my heart.

Sometimes, when I read about fetal development each week, I wonder how any of us made it. There are just so many things that can go wrong. Birth is truly a miracle.

My morning sickness is starting to be a little bit better, which I am both grateful for, and nervous about. I have learned a lot about faith, hope, and patience.

I go to the doctor on Saturday, and I'm anxious to hear the heartbeat. I've come to the conclusion that no matter how many times I see or hear the heartbeat, it's not going to be enough to stop the nagging fear of something going wrong.

I am grateful for the peace I feel. I know that my pregnancy is in the Lord's hands. I have learned the importance of hope, and I have hope that everything is going to be okay this time.

So far this pregnancy has been similar to others, in that I crave fruit, fruity drinks/smoothies, and bread. When I'm not pregnant, I would choose vegetables over fruit any day. Also, my meat of choice has been chicken, when I would normally choose beef.

I have been more sick with this pregnancy, but I have also been more able to come up with foods that sound good, which is interesting to me. The question is whether I can get my hands on what I want in the middle of nowhere. Oh, what I wouldn't give for a Jamba juice franchise in the neighborhood! And then there was the day that I only wanted chicken chow mein...

My brother and sister are gonna love this: My microfiber fuzzy blanket, that's on my bed, makes me gag. Just touching it makes me want to hurl. Normally I LOVE soft fuzzy blankets...to some of you this will sound completely bizarre, but textures, sounds, smells, thoughts, and seeing things like the microwave, dirty dishes, and the toilet make me gag. Todd wore a sweater to church last Sunday and I had to sit a few inches away because I couldn't handle touching his sweater. It's a pregnancy first for me.

And now I'm off to the boys' basketball game. Do you know how many smells there are in a crowd of people? Wish me luck.