Christmas Part 1

Christmas Eve with my family usually consists of some type of take-out for dinner (it has been Chinese food the last couple of years) and then we open all the gifts that are under the tree which are mainly from our parents, grandma, and other family members. Then we go to bed and wake up to new presents from Santa, which are not wrapped and usually set up and ready for use. Then we just go to our pile of presents and explore!

These are some pictures from 2008 Christmas at my parents. I missed my nephews and nieces so much this Christmas. There were only 2 kids at Steven's house so it wasn't as crazy as my family. Next year we are hoping to have my whole family in Vegas for Christmas. So that should be 18 (maybe 19....) grandkids and 14 adults!

Christmas with Steven's family is different than Christmas with my family. This was my second Christmas with Steven's family so I was a little used to their traditions.

Steven's family makes mini pizzas for dinner on Christmas Eve and doesn't open any presents. There are presents under the tree which are from family members etc. Once the kids are put to bed, the adults get out the Santa gifts" and place them on the fireplace (where his family usually puts the Santa gifts) and stuff each others' stockings. Then we are off to bed!

On Christmas day Steven's family starts with the youngest person in the family and everyone opens one gift at a time. It is a very long process and this year we started at 8 am, took a breakfast break from 10 to 10:30ish and then went back to opening until after 12!

I told Steven that I wanted to start a tradition on Christmas Eve where everyone gets to open 1 gift and it is always the same thing- PJs. This year Steven and I opened our Christmas PJs on Christmas Eve and they were matching bottoms. This year we also want to start buying different Christmas story books and read them throughout the month of December.

More Christmas festivities to come (and I know you are all thrilled to keep reading...)

Stocking Time

Steven's family has this tradition that started many,many,many years ago where we make stockings for every member of the family. Generally the stockings are made when it is a baby's first Christmas or a new spouse's first Christmas.

Steven's stocking was made back in like 1983 when he was born by his grandma. We made my stocking back in 2007 (the Christmas before we got married) and this year we made our baby's stocking. We decided to make it this year since next year we will be Vegas for Christmas. The general tradition is red tops and white "legs" for the girls and white tops and red "legs" for the boys.

It is a fun tradition and I enjoy making the stockings. They obviously are not top of the line since I am the one who made it! But I think they are really cute!

Moldy, Moldy, Moldy...

Steven and I had a pretty rough day on Saturday. We were getting all our school papers from the fall term put away and cleaned out. I was in our baby's room where we keep our bookcases and I decided to clean off this entire shelf for some reason. And our bookcase doesn't have backing so once I moved all the books I could see the wall. And this is what I saw...

What is that you might ask? Well, it is MOLD. That is right! Black, fuzzy, gross mold growing on the wall. Not just any wall, but the baby's room wall! I got Steven and we decided to pull out the rest of the bookcases and then behind our second bookcase we found this....

EW!!! Even more mold! I swear, we are clean CLEAN CLEAN people... This is so not our fault! We just happen to live in a house that was built in the 1940's and our landlord apparently hasn't had it inspected lately.

I am kind of freaking out because I know types of mold can be dangerous for your health and HELLO, I HAVE HAD A BABY GROWING AND DEVELOPING IN MY TUMMY FOR THE LAST 7 MONTHS!

So our main concern right now is our baby. I am calling my Doctor tomorrow just to let him know and see what he thinks. Our landlord is sending over someone tomorrow to take a look at the problem. I just hope it isn't the entire wall of the house that is covered in mold and needs replacing. That is our second concern, if the whole back wall of our house needs replacing WHERE WILL WE GO! If that is the case, I don't know what we would do.

The baby is due in 2 months! I hope this gets resolved before that. Wish us luck!

Backpack for Diaper Bag

Today is officially the last day of finals and it feels great! Steven and I had finals every single day this week so it has been pretty crazy. Plus, we had a lot of studying to do these last few weeks before finals and we are so grateful for the short break. Final grades aren't posted yet but we are both feeling pretty good about our grades.

Even though I am taking 6 credits this winter, I have cleaned out my backpack and have put away my school gear. My classes are online and I will only need to go to campus to take my tests at the testing center.So, I am officially trading in my backpack for my diaper bag. (I know I have 2 months to go but it isn't like I am carrying the diaper bag around instead of a purse or something... you get what I mean).

Here we are on our first day of school, August 31. (I am about 14 weeks pregnant.)

And here we are today, December 18, (almost 30 weeks pregnant)after a long and hard semester.

And here is my new diaper bag. Some of you may find it plain and boring but I love it! First off, it is brown and brown is my favorite color. Brown also goes with a lot outfits and Steven won't feel too girly carrying it around. It has more pockets than I know what to do with- but it has a spot of everything I can think of. And of course I already have it packed up and ready to go.

This is the outfit I plan on taking her home from the hospital in. Aren't the tiny snow boots the cutest? (thank you Whitehead family!) (I know some of you experienced moms are thinking I am crazy to already have an outfit picked out. Don't worry, I am also packing other clothing in smaller and bigger sizes since we aren't sure of how big/little she will be)

Today was also a great day because we got our recliner! We bought this recliner in Vegas over Thanksgiving and the box was so huge that it wouldn't fit in our car (which we knew when we bought it) So my parents were going to bring it up in February when they come to see the baby. Well, we didn't think it would fit in their car either! (they have a rather large SUV) Then my friend Kasidy told me that her parents were coming up to UT this week to help her pack up her apartment (she is leaving for a mission). They drove up their big 16 seater van and the box BARELY fit in their van. So needless to say, it finally arrived and it is all set up in the baby's room. It was one of the last things we needed and I am so happy to have it!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday next week! Steven and I are traveling to ID on the 23rd and we are so excited to be with some family. I am sure I will post more before our travels but just in case... Merry Christmas!

Baby Bump: 28 Weeks

Today I went to the doctor and had a baby check up. It was great to be able to hear the baby's heartbeat again and everything seems to be going just perfect. I am all set up to take my glucose test in the next 2 weeks and I will go back to the doctor in 4 weeks. After my January appointment the doctor said I will start having appointments every 2 weeks! And I will get another ultrasound at around 34 weeks. I am so excited for my next ultrasound, I am rather nervous because I had one ultrasound at 9 weeks, at 20 weeks, and now 34. 14 weeks between an ultrasound just seems like a lot of time. But I am being positive that everything is going just fine in my tummy. She moves and kicks me enough to let me know that she is growing big and strong!

Random Facts:

- I get Braxton Hicks/contractions all the time- I am not liking the feeling
- I have heart burn A LOT
- No swelling...yet
- My total weight gain since my 9 week appointment: 16 lbs (not to bad I think)
- Our diaper stash is currently at 580 (size 1 to 2) I know we will go through them fast but its a start!
- My belly measuring right on track
- I have gotten 2 bloody noses (I NEVER get bloody noses so I am guessing that being prego and the cold has something to do with it)
- I can't take my shoes off anymore, Steven has that job!
- Our nursery is pretty much ready to go!

Now we just need a baby to put in the car seat. I am tired of pushing around an empty stroller! yes... I have been pushing around the stroller for practice. Steven and I need to practice, we run into walls all the time!

Baby Bump: 28 Weeks

I love deals!

It seems that I always find a good deal when I not even looking. I have been pretty lucky lately when it comes to finding a good deal, especially when it comes to baby items!

Item 1: Baby Exersaucer




Suggested Retail Price: $59.98 at BabiesRUs
Our Purchasing Price: $3 at a yard sale

Item 2: Space Symphony Motion Gym (theme of the motion gym varies)



Suggested Retail Price: $64.99 at BabiesRUs
Our Purchasing Price: $30 plus $5 S/H from Kids.Woot.com

Item 3: Graco iMonitor Mini Digital Monitor



Suggested Retail Price: $99.99 from BabiesRUs
Our Purchasing Price: $30 plus $5 S/H from Kids.Woot.com

These items are some of my favorite. Not only for the good deal but because I think they will be really great for our baby. Another item I have recently gotten that I LOVE was our baby bouncer. This was a gift from my wonderful sisters and mom for my baby shower. The night we got home from Vegas I opened up the box and set it up. I love it!

28 Weeks

I am officially in the 3rd trimester and I have less than 12 weeks to go! I know that 12 weeks still seems like a long time but I remember when I was only 12 weeks along and here I am 28!

Steven and I were talking a few nights ago and we were thinking back to when we first found out we were having a baby. We remember saying back in July that the baby would come after it starts snowing. And now there is snow on the ground and I was like "Wait... are we really that close?!" And we are! The holidays have really helped time go by fast (along with school).

The last day of fall classes is Thursday and finals start on Monday. This was probably the last time I will be a full time college student! I am signed up for classes during winter term, but only as a half time student. Then during the spring and summer I am going to try to complete my internship which should be about 6 credits. Then I will only have like 30 credits to go! I will probably only take 1 to 2 classes a semester after the baby comes. But I am determined to finish! Steven will be working on his Masters degree during that time so all together he has about 3 years left which means I will have 3 years to finish!

Friday I have another doctors appointment and I am excited to see how the baby is measuring and hear her heart beat. I will also be posting another baby bump this week!