Progress

Things are a-happenin' in the nursery. There has been much consideration and I have agonized over every decision. Hours have been spent on Potterybarn's website weighing the options of drapes and lighting. Finally yesterday I hit the checkout button and spent my gift cards that have been waiting to be emptied since Christmas (thank you dear employers of mine!). They didn't go very far but I procured a fabulous drape (yes, just one) and a darling lamp and shade that are the perfect shade of green. I am going to make some roman shades that will complement the drape and color scheme, more fabric decisions!

One aspect of nursery art is complete and was just hung this morning. I love, love, love them! They are perfect and make me smile. One more big project to do for the wall, a mirror to maybe refinish and when I finally commit to names maybe initials will be on the wall as well. We shall see.

Craigslist was my friend yesterday when we picked up an antique refinished dresser and I scored the perfect blue nightstand at Home Goods last weekend. I can't wait to see it all come together!

Here is a sneak peek:





And I am 24 weeks along now, 6 months! Wowza! October 22nd is our goal, 37 weeks. Just over 3 more months to go.



All glammed up for Wicked, my birthday present from Phil. It was awesome, we loved it. Thanks Babe!

*Dr's update: I have gained 10 pounds, 2.6 lbs are babies + all that goes with them...
We are healthy and happy. Um, in the next month they are supposed to DOUBLE! Maybe I won't post weight stats then... Here's to the final stretch!

Utah-Part 2

After SLC and trekking around the Utah Valley we headed to Park City. We visited a ski resort and zipped down the Alpine Slide, which is like the bobsled tracks. It was a lot of fun! Sorry no pics as both Phil & I were too busy having fun. After we stopped and ate a delicious caramel apple and a double scoop of ice cream. We then drove towards our bed and breakfast which was on the other side of the mountain. We, of course, opted for the scenic route, over the mountain instead of around.

At the crest of the mountain we came across a lookout, pulled over and hiked down a bit to a hidden lake. Along the way there was snow!



I realized I need to let my crazy snow-white legs see the sun.



The beautiful lake, which was swarming with mosquitoes. I didn't stay long.



And Phil's baby also had a photo-op. Many thanks dear Titan, we couldn't have traversed these many mountains without you!



We hiked (notice a trend here?) Mount Timpanogos. It was steep and taxing but this belly survived. Phil was proud.



We finished our tour of the Salt Lake Valley mid-week and headed south to Ephraim to visit my mom. They were moving so we helped pack and load. We enjoyed the great company, fabulous weather and I munched quite regularly on my nephew Kash. Gorgeous child that I neglected to capture with my camera.

Phil had an off-roading adventure with the truck that resulted in 4 new tires! Hooray!

He went fishing and sliced 2 of the tires clean on a metal culvert as he was on the forest service road. Luckily he was rescued by his kind father-in-law and numerous people who let him hitchhike into town with shredded tires in tow. He left at 5AM and returned after 3PM. And poor guy, he didn't catch any fish.

The next morning he left with Link (father-in-law) to quad ride up the mountain to let more water out for the farmers. (Link is the water master). Phil had a good time and returned very dirty. Link showed him the Milky Falls up Manti Canyon and Phil took me up there to check them out.






This will serve as the belly pic, 22 weeks.

Needless to say we had a fabulous time and were saddened to return home to the 115 degree weather that will stifle us this weekend. He officially wants to be a snowbird. I told him he has to wait 35 years.

Utah-Part 1

Friday, June 26th, 2009 we headed off to Page, AZ to start our vacation. We left after Phil clocked out and the truck was loaded up. We arrived about 6 hours later and crashed in our crappy hotel (expedia hotel reviews were wrong!). After breakfast and showers we headed out to Horseshoe Bend, hiked the trail and beheld the wonder.



We hit Glen Canyon Dam to be tourists and then Antelope Canyon was next where we were taken onto the Navajo Reservation and led through the slot canyon that was carved by wind and water. Really beautiful but it was terribly overcrowded with numerous tours.









After the caves we were on the road again. We had a very productive morning and began the trek to SLC. We arrived and this time slept in wonderful accomodations.

Phil was in his element as we soaked up all the gorgeous mountain scenery, hiked numerous trails and reveled in the cool weather.





We drove through the Timpanogos Mountains along the Alpine Loop and everywhere you looked you saw this! (Sing it with me, "The hills are alive!!", I really did sing this numerous times.)









We stopped in Sundance and rode the ski lift up the mountain. It was gorgeous and I was just a wee bit nervous dangling along the mountainside, I made Phil pull down the "safety" bar and I survived.

Project Nursery

The Problem: Nursery decor for one boy and one girl residing in the same room and for the time being, the same crib.

The Process: Search endlessly online for crib bedding and ideas.

End up disgusted and frustrated with the lack of COLOR and pizzaz good enough for one picky mama. Pastels do not appeal here.

The Solution: Make your own.

Project A: Custom Canvas Art full of whimsy and modern touches of color=totally cute & tickles my fancy.



Project B: Custom Crib bedding. Turquoise & Lime Green, perhaps toeing the line of feminine but has the bright color I crave and hopefully our son will forgive me & turn out thoroughly boy despite my decorating choices.

I spent almost 3 hours in the fabric store weighing the options, ridiculous but necessary. No turning back now.



Project C: Another wall piece for over the crib, stay tuned...



Project D: Reupholster one ugly glider, photos to come.


And finally, a belly shot, approximately 19 weeks.

We were camping and the babes were definitely present.



As if I didn't take long enough to post this time I will be heading for Utah tomorrow and will return with lots to post. No worries.

Bumpity Bump

Since you asked...

My bump:

Can't tell yet from behind.



And there she be! 18 weeks (4.5 months)



Already feeling pregnant. The body is changing and it is only going to get worse, I will soon be large and in charge! But I am happy. Blessed and loving it.

I can feel both babies moving now, our little girl is still in 1st position and her movements are deep where her brother resides up top and he is more fluttery. Her head is also residing on my bladder. Fun! I already get up at least twice in the night and am having a hard time imagining getting up multiple times a night and staying up to feed the babes.

Everything checked out wonderfully with my ultrasound on Thursday. Healthy babies weighing in at 7 oz. each. We are still undecided with names. Phil says I am over thinking it and that we have 4 more months. I'll crack him...

Nursery plans are underway. I am going to try and save money by keeping decor simple and making some "art". We were dejunking this weekend and pulled out Camden's box and took out the various blankets and a few onesies we received. Phil declared that we are "pretty good on baby stuff" and only need a "few more things". I laughed and told him he has no idea what we need and how much "baby stuff" they will require. I told him we still needed to get a dresser and he asked why? Oh, that boy. So much to learn. Again, I'll crack him.

Weekend Drive

Phil is in love with Google Earth. The boy will spend hours, yes hours!, traversing the earth and all it's hidden treasures. He had an itch to get out of the house last weekend and after mapping out our course we took off. After I expressed concern and woe for gallivanting around the Arizona desert and back roads with Phil's "vast" experience and mapping on just little ol' Google Earth. I had visions of getting lost in the wilderness and ruining the truck, etc. I shouldn't have worried.

We headed up north towards Roosevelt Lake and continued on to find this beauty.

Workman's Creek near Young, AZ

The weather was gorgeous and as we climbed higher temperatures dropped into the mid 60s.







We drove to the top of the mountain, ate our lunch and went up to the lookout tower where a forest ranger was on the lookout for lightening strikes as a storm was blowing in. We saw a lot of crazy lightening and one struck and started a plume of white smoke. We got to see the guy jump into action and then we let him do his job and headed back down the mountain. It started raining, hard!

And then...



Hail!



It was pounding the truck hard and Phil worried about his baby getting dents. We survived and it was really fun.







We head back up there next weekend for some fun camping. Meanwhile Phil is constantly on the look out for more Arizona gems for us to enjoy while we can.

Road Block

Two weeks. That is my average it seems. Why is it that pregnancy saps the life out of me and I have nothing to write about? What the heck did I write about before?! Where did the ideas and minor creativity flow from? From whence it came it is surely stymied now. I feel as though I have nothing new to share and I don't want to turn this into a baby blog. I will still update here and there about the littles but surely there must be more to my life! Or not. Either way, I give the recent happenings.

I shot my first wedding a few weeks ago. It was fun, stressful in the beginning but I think it went pretty well. I had fabulous support from two great ladies who assisted me in shooting and the bride is pleased with the outcome. Today I second shoot with one of my dearest friends Liz. She is fab and I love her.

I am down to 3 days a week with hygiene. I gave my notice to my Thursday office (you know, when we were still going to med school this year). I thought myself gracious and kind as I let them know 12 weeks in advance of my departure plans. Well, the office manager, not wanting to "miss out" on the amazing hygienist opportunities out there found someone a mere two weeks after I told them. What the!? I still had 10 weeks to go! Oh, well. I am not too heartbroken, it was a crappy shift, 9am-7pm in Queen Creek. Long days. So I am a part-timer and life is good.

I got released from Young Women's on Mother's Day. Almost 3 years. It was good and it was time. I am now a functioning member of Relief Society, I haven't been there in years, always serving elsewhere. We will see how long it lasts.

That is life. Nothing short of amazing, right? Right. Things are good and stable on the home front. We work, we come home. That's about it.

Next on the list: naming the children. Any ideas?