Molly Jane

For Andrea

Here is cute Kaitlyn after Jeff combed her hair:

And this is the "I have 9 days left until the due date and I don't think this baby is ever going to come out" belly picture.

Must Haves

www.etsy.com

Utah doctors concerned about rise in pertussis cases - ksl.com

Utah doctors concerned about rise in pertussis cases - ksl.com

Hey guys, just want to send out another reminder. If you love my baby and plan on seeing her, please get up to date on all your immunizations.

Not immunizing is like saying "I dont' care enough about you, little baby, to do something so simple to prevent you from becoming sick and living in extreeme misery. And I'm willing to stay home from work and drop everything else I'm doing so I can be with you when you're in the hospital so that your parents can still go to work, or I'll pay them for their lost time."

Quick Update

We have been very fortunate with all the generous people in our lives.  We have had 4 baby showers and have everything we could possibly need and more!  Thank you to everyone who came to them and have been so supportive.  We have the car seat, stroller, diaper bag, crib mattress and bedding, and lots of diapers and so many cute little teeny clothes.  Anything in a baby size is so cute I can't even handle it.  Since Jeff works with all women, they had a work shower for him and it was fantastic.  It was fun for me to see him sit through a shower with the oooohhhh-ing and aaaahhhhh-ing of all things baby. 

Next thing, Jeff and I went on a date and did a little bargain shopping.  Old Navy was having their winter clearance.  We bought some baby stuff for next winter and the winter after that (yep...got a shirt for $0.61) and here is the amazing deal...
Original prices of everything: $151.25
Clearance prices + additional 30% off + additional 10% off coupon + $25 gift card = us spending $10.71.  Less than 11 bucks for $150 worth of baby stuff.  I was thrilled.  Jeff was thrilled.  Baby cakes couldn't care less, but she will have clothes to wear when she is bigger.  These were Jeff's favorite Old Navy purchases:

We'll definitely have to put a bow in her hair with that Star Wars onesie so people know she is a girl.

 Here is cute Kaitlyn.  Yes, that is iCarly on in the background.  It's Jeff's favorite show.  Next to How It's Made and Modern Marvels and Pawn Stars and American Chopper.  Actually I honestly don't know that he's ever seen any part of iCarly.  Anyway, Kaitlyn was dancing all morning with a little toy we got for one of the showers then she left the cutest little message for Grandma Williams saying, "Hi Gamma.  I love you.  I miss you.  Come bifday (Come to my birthday)."  She's just cute.

Showers

We had our first baby shower last night and it was fantastic. People were so generous and it was SO fun catching up with them. I have some absolutely amazing friends who I have met over the years and I am so grateful for each and every one of them. Thank you to all who came to support us and for the kindness in all the gifts. Baby Cakes is set on adorable clothing and fun toys. Unfortunately, the majority of the pictures turned out pretty blurry, but here are a few...

Cutest diaper cake EVER.  Thanks to Crystal (who's been my best friend forever and is pretty much just one of my sisters).  It's absolutely adorable and under those cute receiving blankets are lots and lots of diapers.  Thanks friend!  You're the best!

 Here are a few of the people who came.  Sitting on the couch on the left is Janet.  She's our non-blood-related aunt.  She's been there for every important event in all of our lives and is just absolutely fabulous.  We love Janet!  Next to her is Liz, Marian (who I used to work with at ARTEC), Betty (Liz's mom who is the counselor at Nibley Park where I did my first practicum) and my mom.  I love these ladies so much and miss working with Marian and with Betty.

Cute Marian and Pat (who I also worked with at ARTEC and also miss like crazy).  

This picture is proof that I was even there.  Thanks Uncle Spencer and Aunt Carly for the changing pad and all the diaper changing supplies.  We especially appreciate the offer for Uncle Spencer to change diapers.  I'm pretty sure Baby Cakes will be requesting her uncle to come downstairs often.

This is Erin and Crystal.  We met Erin when we were attending the singles branch.  She knitted the most adorable little dolls for our baby and she is one of the most amazing girls.  Such a trooper.  

Tara (who we love and adore and pretty much just need to have move back to Utah.  Do it, Tara.) and Michelle Jensen.  Michelle and her husband were in our branch presidency and we LOVE them.  They're some of our very favorite people.

Kannara (Crystal's sister) and my mom.

Desi (Crystal's other sister) and Emily. 
A HUGE thanks to Emily, Crystal, and Desi for all their work and making yummy food and the planning.  They are fabulous!
Thanks to all my other dear friends who came and I don't have a picture of.  They are all so wonderful and it was so great to catch up.  3 more weeks until Baby!

You Decide

We watched "The A-Team" last night.  I was waiting for Jeff to shower so we could run some errands today.  It was taking him forever.  When he finally came out, this is what he looked like:

I asked if he felt inspired after the movie.
He said, "No.  I've been wanting to do this for a while, but I just always forget when I cut my hair. So today I remembered that I want a mohawk.  I'll shave it before church tomorrow."
He also made sure to say that it would look better if it were longer/thicker.
I'm sticking with the A-Team inspiration.

Changes

I feel like we've been doing a lot of waiting.  Waiting for the baby and to find out what the plan is with nursing school and working after being on maternity leave and how long we'll stay living here before we (mostly me) will want a second bedroom and everything else.
This week is the last week of Jeff being school free and us being child free at the same time.  Jeff starts his CNA course next Tuesday which goes for 4ish or something weeks.  The due date for baby cakes is rapidly approaching...we have just over 4 weeks left with my weekly doctor appointments starting tomorrow!  It seems like it has taken forever, but also that it has come so fast.  We are so excited to hold our little girl and see what she looks like and what her little personality will be like.  I am anxious though and probably will be for the next month.  I hate not knowing when things are going to happen.   
The few nights that we have both actually been home this week have been nice.  We've been doing a lot of relaxing and I've been doing a lot of sleeping on the couch while Jeff stays awake and watches TV or a movie.  We're trying to enjoy these last few weeks as a "single" couple...but pretty much once Jeff starts the CNA class, we won't see each other at all.  He'll be gone from 7:30 a.m. until 9 or 10 p.m. every night.  I do appreciate him working so hard and doing everything he does so that he can have a career that he will enjoy so we can have a happy family life. 
It's hard to do any life planning or really planning in general because we just have NO idea what it will be like to have our baby here.  We don't know how she'll be and how easily we'll adjust.  I would love to know, but we will find out soon enough.  There is so much up in the air with our lives so we're just taking things one day at a time and know that everything with nursing school, work, and everything else will work out how it needs to. 
But for now, we wait and enjoy the moment. 

Miracles

Warning: long post.  I've had a lot to think about this week so here it all is...

It's been quite the week.  A lot of emotional nights for me...mostly just because I'm so unstable lately and am really looking forward to feeling a little more emotionally stable in the next few months...or whenever that actually happens. 
On Tuesday night, we went to a class about breastfeeding which was very helpful and informative.  We went to bed and around 11:30, Jeff's phone rang.  I heard him answer and say, "She flipped her car?  Is she ok?  Whoa.  Thanks for letting us know."  So, immediately I was all anxious and worked up and not going back to sleep any time soon.  I then saw that I had 2 missed calls on my phone, but that's not a surprise because my phone rarely works in our house. 
My mind started racing because I had no idea who had been in an accident and what happened and everything.  I kept thinking "what if..." and filled it in with every horrible tragedy I could possibly think of. (It's a curse really.  I do it all the time and freak myself out or end up sobbing because I make myself so sad when I think of things that could potentially happen to the people I love.)  Needless to say, I was in tears.  Not little, "I'm worried but know she's ok because that was the phone call" tears.  This was the UGLY cry that I hate that I do so often because I get myself so worked up and think about the worst possible scenario.
Anyway, I found out my sister, Mandy had been in a really bad car accident.  She swerved to miss a dog, hit some ice, ran into the curb or a phone pole, flipped her car, and slid along the road a bit, just hanging from her seatbelt and shielding herself from the airbags.  She called my parents from the ambulance and let them know. 

They had to cut her out as you can see from the pictures and had to cut her clothes off.  She was in a neck brace and on a back board and bleeding.  Even from all that, she didn't break a bone.  Or even crack anything.  She shielded her face and the blood was only coming from her tongue (which is super bruised after she bit it and it kinda looks like a lizard tongue.)  She is bruised all over and has a concussion, but nothing else.  Not to say she's not miserable, but seeing the car and hearing the story, I couldn't believe she was ok.  She went to the ER and was released by 2 a.m. 
This kind of stuff just doesn't happen.  Right?
But, occasionally, it does.  The Lord knows what He is doing and has blessed my family with so many miraculous experiences.  I immediately realized how blessed we are to have the Gospel in our lives.  How comforting to know that families are eternal.  Members of my family have had their lives spared in numerous ways and I am so thankful for the opportunity I've had to witness this.
I love my family.  Both sides.  They are all amazing people.  This week helped me recognize how much I take for granted and helped me realize how much I need the Gospel in my life.  I am thankful that Mandy not only survived, but is doing so well.  I'm thankful for medical personnel and technology.  I'm thankful for seatbelts and for people I love wearing them.  I am SO thankful for our little girl who will be coming in 5ish weeks.  What a miracle the whole process is.  We are so blessed. 

New Years

We're not big on New Years.  Or Valentine's Day.  Or St. Patrick's Day.  Or Halloween for that matter.  When we have kiddos, I think we'll enjoy them more.  For now, though, they're not really those exciting type of holidays for us so our plans were to just veg at home and not really do anything.
Those plans changed when we were invited to a party at Emily and Ben's courtesy of Maddie and Sam.  We had a great time just hanging out, playing, eating, and visiting.  We all were so tired, but forced ourselves to watch the ball drop, drink sparkling cider, and then leave to go home and go to bed.  Yep.  We stayed maybe 10 minutes after the ball dropped then left.  We're just that exciting.

 Jeff and Maddie frosted a cake.  No dessert involving Maddie would be complete without M&M's.

 Sam and I read Llama Llama Red Pajama.  LOVE this kid and this book. 

 People used to ask if we were twins.  Nope.  Not even close.

 There always has to be a little "cheers" involved in any eating time.

Sam being Lightning McQueen.  

I made Becca and Devin let us babysit Brooklynn while they went out for their anniversary.  She's just cute!

Kaitlyn LOVED her.  She kept saying "baby, baby" and being soft with her.  Jeff got Kaitlyn to say, "Mommy, I want a baby please."  She needs a sibling. :)  Good thing she'll be getting another cousin in just a little over a month.  She'll be such a cute cousin.  I can't wait to see her with our baby.

Jeff got a lot of good practice feeding, burping, and cuddling.

Kyle even joined in on the baby fun. 
We have the best families and are so excited for our baby to join us in 6 more weeks!

Festivities

I love the holiday season.  This Christmas was so perfect because we got to spend so much time with each other and our families and it was so low key.  Here are some of the pictures.  We played games with Amy, Joey, Spencer, Carly, and Kaitlyn on Christmas night, but we didn't take any pictures that night.  Lame.  We enjoyed the time though.

 Christmas morning after Skyping with our Oregon family and just before going to brunch with my family.

 Jeff made all these little boxes (below) and put the notes in them.  He did the hunting while I sat my pregnant self on the couch.  I cried.  I just am an emotional mess these days and everything makes me cry.  Jeff did a great job making it special and thoughtful. 

Yay! Craft stuff! I've been super crafty lately and LOVED all of this stuff.

 Jeff and Brooklynn.  He's really excited to be a daddy.

 Becca, Brooklynn, Maddie, and Devin.  Maddie was pouting literally 2 seconds before this picture.

 Sam kept stealing "tookies" from the kitchen.  Every time he left the room, he came back in with another one.

 Tired new parents. 

Maddie was being Mary and Brooklynn was Baby Jesus while we read the Christmas story from the Bible.  My mom had great plans for Sam to be Joseph but he didn't want any part of it.  Jeff stepped in.  Maddie told him they had to hold hands because they were married and quickly intertwined their fingers.  She then proceeded to boss Jeff and tell him he needed to build them a house with a door.  While my dad was reading, she kept saying, "Hey, that's me!  And that's you!  That's where we're going!  Brooklynn is baby Jesus!"  It was really cute.
We're so excited that next year we'll have our baby girl to join in the fun.  We did appreciate the stocking and gifts we received for her.  She loves them already!