We're having a G-I-R-L!!!! We found out a couple of weeks ago - visions of pink are now dancing in my head! The doctor's appointment went really well...but the technician was really upset because this is only the second time she's been wrong (she thought it was looking like a boy at 12 weeks). She is very happy and healthy and loves to kick me all the time already!

A really neat thing happened Wednesday night. I picked Brian up from the airport - he was returning from a quick trip to Utah to visit the fam. When we were getting ready for bed, she decided to start kicking up a storm - and Brian got to feel her kick for the very first time! It was so special - she gave him 10-12 really strong kicks that were actually shaking my abdomen a bit. Brian was so excited - he kept trying to see if she would kick some more. Those were the strongest kicks I had felt to date - we decided she was doing her happy dance since her daddy had just come home.

Pregnancy has been really cool so far. Especially now that the first trimester fatigue has lifted. I was able to completely avoid morning sickness, haven't had any heartburn (knock on wood for the last half of the pregnancy), I'm feeling great and I've been able to workout regularly at the gym. I'm still anti-chicken (a hold over from the first trimester) and we still joke that she's a vegetarian, although I can do some meat in small quantities. It has been so amazing feeling her kick and move during the day (and especially at night). I'm sure when she gets bigger it will get uncomfortable, but for now, it's a real joy. I really love how in love with her Brian is...he is always touching my tummy and saying hello to the baby - he is going to be a wonderful father. Now, if only we could narrow down that list of names - it's still a page long! :-)

Yes, I know it's been a while since we've posted...I can only plead life...it keeps interfering! ;-) The last few months have been super busy, but also super exciting! As you can see, we are expecting a little bundle of joy right around the new year...he (or she) will be our first and both of us are over the moon! I always knew I married a wonderful man, but his wonderful traits have only been magnified since I've been pregnant. It has been a really easy pregnancy so far...no morning sickness (I am so grateful!), just a strong dislike of anything meat related...especially chicken. We joke that the baby is a vegetarian. The tiredness of the first trimester is beginning to lift, I am fine as long as I sneak in a 30-45 minute nap, but I have a tendency to forget and by 9:30 in the evening I am so ready for bed! I have been able to workout regularly without any problems as well - as long as I get in a morning session I feel pretty great all day. My sweet mom gifted us with a comfy rocker and ottoman for the future nursery, and we have begun looking at items on Craigslist. It has been a strange but exciting experience so far, and we look forward to seeing our adorable little one around the new year. We will keep you posted!

HAPPY SPRING - OUR GARDENIAS ARE BLOOMING!!!

THE STRAWBERRIES ARE HERE!

Brian and I played hooky (with my boss' permission) to go pick strawberries this morning at Froberg Farm. Strawberry season just started. We had so much fun picking them! The farm also hosts a local farmer's market - we were able to get some beautiful fresh veggies to take home as well. All in all, a wonderful mid-week date. Take a peek at our haul!

YUMMY! We're planning on sharing, freezing and eating these beauties...

Ok, ok...so I know I post a lot of house pictures...but remodeling is a big part of our life right now...and we're finally in the home stretch! Brian and I just finished one of the biggest projects we've done to date...we laid down almost 1200 square feet of floating laminate flooring about a week ago. Let's just say it was a learning experience. The best part was learning to work together even better. We've done many projects together, but never one that took 10 hours a day for almost 7 days.

I will admit...when we started on Monday I was GRUMPY! It took us six hours to lay 1 small bedroom closet, one linen closet, and the final row of flooring that the back hallway needed to get completed. By the end of the first day, we had only made it through what I mentioned above and three rows in the living room. Boy was I discouraged! Brian kept encouraging me and things really started to come together on Tuesday afternoon.

The entire week was pretty crazy though...our refrigerator, stove, couch, TV cabinet and desk were all crammed into the office area while we were laying part of the living room...Brian called it his man cave - couch, refrigerator, TV and computer all within stretching distance. LOL! We survived on cereal and PB&J...and some yummy Thai, Vietnamese and the obligatory pizza.

Our friend Kenny came a couple of times to help out (his wife, Texas, made us a great dinner - we really appreciated their help!). The biggest blessing that resulted from our "vacation" was the chance we got to build something together - it was really cool to see things progress - and know that we were able to do such a massive project together...it was so great! I am so grateful for a husband who works side-by-side with me to get things accomplished...thanks honey! My dad came by on Saturday and did about 3/4 of the new baseboards in the house(thanks Dad!) - it looks amazing - check out the pics!

Jack-Jack loves it too!

!!!Spring Is Here!!!

We started spring planting this evening...it felt good to get our hands in the soil and plant some beautiful flowers. We still have a lot to do, including all the mulching, and fertilizing,
but the flowers are here!

What a fabulous weekend! We spent Saturday morning at our favorite place...the temple. It is always so inspiring. The peace and joy we feel is so wonderful...and it colors the whole day. We spent the afternoon at Reliant Arena with thousands of other people watching:

With Dave Ramsey. Totally COOL! This was our Christmas present from my family. We've read his books and listened to him on the radio, but nothing compares to seeing him live. He has an energy that fills the room and is totally inspiring. A lot of people have a love-hate relationship with him, but Brian and I love his program. Truth is truth, and his program supports what the Church has been teaching for years. Brian and I were already following his program to a certain extent, but Saturday's conference inspired us to speed things up and we have set a D-Day Date (Debt-Free Date) in October this year. That's right, no more school loans and no credit card debt by October...all we will have is a mortgage payment...how cool is that? We highly recommend his program, and if you can, see him live and in person...it's eye-opening!