DROPPING A LINE

I wanted to write REAL quick to say its our LAST day in
ARIZONA!
I can't believe we are packed and ready to go!
We'll take pics of the place CLEAN,
and I'll post my week 25 picture on the next post!
I hopefully will have the chance to post Sunday!
So until then!
Peace out Arizona!!
Can't wait to be back- UTAH!

Week 24

We're busy.
This will be short.
We went to bed last night at 1:00 AM,
and we both got up at 5:25 AM.
I'm tired, and not very clever right now.
So today will be pictures.

We are packing, and getting ready to head out FRIDAY!

We had SO much fun over in Mesa yesterday with Family.
Sorry, no pictures of that.

Friday is a BIG day!
Russ graduates,
We hit our 7 year mark(!!),
And we drive HOME to UTAH!

I sure hope that I can blog Sunday at the earliest.
But we'll see!
(I promise, I will take pics for week 25)

Until then, here are my new pictures!

Anywho!
I can't wait to blog from Utah!!
See you here then!

FEELING SAD TODAY

So, today it hit me how hard its REALLY going to be to leave.
We were called into the Bishops office today,
and he let us know that I was being released from my calling.

It was at that moment that it hit me,
We are going home, and SO soon!

As we sat and talked with our Bishop,
I realized how many things have changed since we got here,
how many experiences we have had here,
how much fun we have had,
how close we have grown here,
how much we have relied on eachother
and how much we really will miss most things down here.

This has been the BEST year of our Marriage so far!
(I know it was really our first year anyway)
Russ has done FANTASTIC in school!
He is now an Elder, and has used his Priesthood SO much!
I was called as First Counselor in the Young Women... ME!
We were Sealed in the Temple!
And we decided to have a baby!

Its nuts how much things have changed in a year!

-HEAT- No, I'll never miss you.

But my Young Women... Wow!!
What amazing girls!
I have had SO much fun getting to know them!
They each, INDIVIDUALLY, have incredible spirits!
What wonderful examples they were/are/and ALWAYS will be to me!
What strong testimonies these girls have!
When these girls get married, their husbands will be SO blessed!

I have served with AMAZING women,
Callie, Dani & Sherry
You have truly become my life long friends!

This is the bitter...

I knew it would be hard,
and I know it will be worth it.

But I think I am allowed to have one sad day!

For the wonderful people we have gotten to know through all of this.
You will be missed!

We will be back...
In fact we plan on being here every March for the Diesel Drags.
So we will see you in a year!

Ok, I think I got it all out!
Love you all!
See you here in a few days!

Week 23- START OF MONTH 6

And here we are again!

Everything is still going WONDERFULLY!
We are really enjoying our last few weeks together!
Not that we wont be together when we get to Utah,
but we spend almost ALL day together now.

I know that I was SO excited to be heading home a few weeks ago,
I am still WAY excited,
but its starting to become BITTER-SWEET.
Realizing that 2 weeks from today,
we say bye to all our friends here...
but we say HELLO to our MUCH missed FAMILY!

For me,
I think I will miss spending all day with my Russ.
How grateful I am that we had this year together!
So many memories that will we ALWAYS remember!
The laughs, the smiles, the hugs, the kisses,
the adventures & OH the LOVE!

I am REALLY going to live up these next 2 weeks!

Moving on to lighter things!
Yesterday we got our FIRST baby BLANKET!
AND I LOVE-LOVE- LOVE it!!
**Sue**
(Jeremy's mom- and a DEAR friend)
sent it to us
We sure do love her!!
She was so sweet to make it for us!
OH how much we love it!
Again, Thanks SO much Sue!
She is going to love it!
I just know it!

I think Russ wants one now too
but for him... & more manly :)

Here it is!
Isn't it SO ADORABLE?
WE REALLY DO LOVE IT!
(and I have ONE HANDSOME HUSBAND!!!)

And now on to pics for week 23
I cannot believe we are at 6 months!!
We also had our Ultrasound on Monday!
It was so fun!
We got a DVD!
We got some VERY cute leg shots,
I even got a 3D clip of her little foot!

Russ was able to go with me,
He wasn't TOO happy being the only man
in a room of 50 plus women,
but I know he was happy to see our little girl again!

She sure loves to kick and squirm when we do ultrasounds!

Other then that,
we start packing and cleaning next week!
We already started,
but now its time to REALLY get to work!

We will see you here in a week!

MY BIRTHDAY BOY

Yesterday was Russ' Birthday!

I didn't have a chance to blog because it was HIS day!
We did everything he wanted to do!

I surprised him at lunch,
I had all of his buds meet us at Buffalo Wild Wings!
(His all time favorite- too bad they don't have one in Utah)
It was a VERY fun lunch!
Here are the pics we got.

We took a lot sorry,
this is probably the last time we'll all be together.
I'll do my best to say who is who.

Well, there was us.
(Left to Right)
Eric, Jon, Jared, Luke & Reign
Reign is due April 1st, so we have a LOT of baby talk!
MIKEY... Need I say more
(Nearest to farthest)
Billie, Logan, Timmie -Or Thomas as he was called yesterday-
& the other Mike, Eric again.
Mikey & Jeremy, being them...
A "nice" shot of Joe.
And Tex, our stray cat. HA!
(Its a long story)

And there are the buds!

Whenever we go places,
we usually have this many guys together.
-Eric and Russ-
Its scary how much these two look a like!
(Minus Eric's long goatee)
People think they are Brothers/Twins!

We were then invited to a birthday dinner.
(For Timmie's wife)
Olive Garden, who can say no to that?
Talk about FOOD OVERLOAD!
It was really great!

We had a great time with
Joe, his wife and son- He is a HOOT!
Eric and his wife.
and Tim and his wife.

There were a LOT of laughs!!

Russ had a WONDERFUL DAY!
AND...
I was a good wife and made a cake!!
Its DELICIOUS!
Thanks for all the phone calls, texts and gifts!
I know Russ really enjoyed talking to everyone!

I am so grateful that my Russ was born 24 years ago.
I really think he was created for ME!
I'm so blessed to have him,
and I am one spoiled girl!

To many more birthdays to come!
I LOVE YOU RUSS!!

Week 22

"They" say to keep a journal during your pregnancy.

If you don't you will forget all the little stuff.
Well, of course I told myself I WOULD keep one,
but still haven't started.
I kept thinking to myself that my
Pregnancy was "uneventful",
so what would I even write about?
After losing MUCH sleep lastnight,
I realized I have a LOT that I could write down!

Of course I documented the BIG stuff,
but there are so many little things.

So today, This post is going to be like a journal entry.
One that talks about whatever things I think I have missed
and would forget in the near future.
Sorry if it gets too long for you!
I am sure I will really enjoy having all these little facts.

The BIG Events: (thus far)

September 2nd- Decided to start trying to get pregnant

November 11th- Found out we were pregnant

December 14th- Had our first appointment

December 18th- Had our first Ultrasound

Heard the heart beat, Russ was stunned by how fast it was beating.
We saw her little face, and watched her kick and punch like crazy

February 17th- Had our 2nd appointment- also second Ultrasound
Heard her heartbeat again
(You don't ever get sick of hearing that!)
saw her legs, her little bottom, arms, belly
She was too curled up to see what she was,
so we scheduled our next appointment

February 18th- I could finally distinguish when she was kicking!
And boy does she do it A LOT!

February 19th- 3rd Ultrasound,
Found out she's a SHE!
Saw her for an hour,
so many good views,
and got so many good pictures.

March 4th- Russ felt her kick for the first time!

Yes, last night Russ felt her kick.
It was so neat!
She was kicking SO hard.
Whenever her Daddy talks, she goes CRAZY!
He was just joking around and all of a sudden,
she kicked harder then she had yet.
I had him feel! She kicked his hand right away!
Then he kept talking and she kept kicking!
Truly a special moment!

I wasn't sure I was going to post this special event,
since it wasn't really mine to share.
But if I don't I wont remember it!

"People" say that babies only kick once,
and if you feel something more then once,
its more then likely hiccups.
Oh, how wrong those people are.
Our little girl kicks for 20 plus minutes at a time!
When you watch her on an ultrasound,
you can tell how active she is.
She never stops moving/kicking/throwing her arms.
Now she is getting bigger, and it hasn't stopped.

Can't wait till she is 6 plus pounds...
Please don't break any bones!

But I REALLY am enjoying feeling her right now!
I am even starting to poke her back so she plays with me!
Its so fun, and really amazing!


Fun Facts about our BABY GIRL:
She loves to kick!
She loves her Daddy's voice!
She was named back in December!
(We were down to one boy and one girl name)
She loves to roll all around!
She's sure seems to have a TON of room!
Some days she rolls to the front,
Other days she is in my back.
(I can look way pregnant some days, then look not so pregnant other days)
She wakes up around 9:00 AM and falls asleep around 10:00 PM
Of course she sleeps during the day,
but she never wakes me up, or keeps me up!

I thought of a lot more last night... Darn it!

BUT, We do get to see her again on MONDAY!
(I was asked to be a "model" thing? for an ultrasound class)

Random Facts about me:
I LOVE BEING PREGNANT!
I feel AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL!
I have only gained 9 total pounds so far!
(I was shocked that it wasn't LOTS more)
I can still fit in my regular jeans!
But I don't wear them!
(They are just fine until I sit down, then its too much pressure on my stomach)
I haven't gotten any new stretch marks!
I HAVE to have Reese's Puffs, and V8 Fusion juice for breakfast.
Yes folks, this is a must!
(Strawberry/Banana, Peach/Mango, Passion Fruit/Tangerine are the BEST)
I can still wear my wedding rings.
In fact, they still don't fit.
I have SO much energy right now!
I feel like regular old me, just fatter! :)
I have only thrown up once this entire pregnancy
(Thanks Grape Juice)
When I crave something, I eventually eat it,
then no longer crave it!

I haven't been wanting to eat anything lately as a matter of fact.
But no worries, I eat plenty!

I still don't like candy.
Its not a MUST have.
And neither is Ice Cream!
Weird- cause I LOVE Ice Cream.

I love to clean right now!
I can't get enough water!
Can't wait to get home to UTAH!
Good old amazing TAP WATER!

Speaking of Utah- Sensuous, you horrid little place!
I crave you like there is no tomorrow, and you are no where near!
Soon enough I will have you... soon enough!

Ok, I am sure I could go on forever, so that's plenty for now.
If I think of any other "cool" ones,
I'll write them down and add them to a later post.

And now, for some PICTURES!
22 WEEKS PREGNANT!
I sure am loving being pregnant!
I think I mentioned that before!

Tomorrow we have a FULL day!
Drag races, here we come!
We are SO excited!
(Ok, mostly Russ, but I DO love going!)

Today is also Russ' last day of this phase.
Only one more to go!
3 weeks from today,
we will be HEADING HOME!

And next week will be a GREAT one!
I will be posting more then one post,
All for my special someone!

Until next week!

Oh, and if there is anything you want to ask me, ASK!
I'll totally answer ANY, and I mean ANY
questions for you on my next blog.
People ask me things all the time.
That's how I come up with these "random" facts!
I love telling people what things I have been through,
or not.
So ask away! :)