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?

Back from the Dead

Perhaps this title is inappropriate given my last post, but I am going to be better about frequent blogging and updates. This pregnancy has sapped my desire to cook, clean, blog, etc. Life has been simplified, no longer do I cook glorified regular meals (sorry, cooking blog!) and we get by with the basic housecleaning, usually picking our clean undies out of the dryer or off the couch where they have resided for some time now. I have lofty goals of a spic and span house this weekend.

Now on to the juicy tidbits, a lot of big news around here! First and foremost:

Behold, my little ones first "photo shoot";









We are having one of each! So excited and more importantly they are healthy and completely sound. Our ultrasound tech also scanned Camden and remembered us and was so thrilled, a much different experience this time around with her. Instead of her wearing her "poker face" and not saying a word as reams of images were spilling out of the machine with Camden, she freely pointed out things and talked the hour away.

As you can see Baby B is our boy as is evident especially in his 3D pic. And Baby A is our sweet little girl. I cannot wait to see what Phil & I have created and kiss these sweet bodies all over!

I am feeling well. Heartburn is not my friend and is always present, even with the most benign foods like watermelon. I can't wait to stop choking down Tums but even if I was kissing the toilet everyday it would be worth it. And I am grateful, so grateful and blessed.

And because this post is too long already I will add more big news.

We (read mainly Phil) have been struggling with the decision to continue with med school this year. Overwhelmed with the prospects of no income, 2 new babies, 1 overly stressed and non-existent husband, paying for COBRA insurance $$$, being a state away from family and friends during this pregnancy and early days of the babies...

We decided to put medical school on hold. Phil requested a deferment and we got news that it was granted. We will start medical school next year and take this time to enjoy our new life, savor our babies and have the peace of mind that we will have a stable income, wonderful insurance through Phil's work and I will have my dream of a helping and involved husband and father for our children. We have worked hard to get these babies here and I want to relish the experience. So we will.

You can all come and see my babies and I am sure I will need the help!

April Twenty-Fourth

Dearest Camden,

Time flies. And it is cruel that time fades details, senses and feelings.

3 years ago today you were born. 3 days later you left. Cruel. But necessary.

I prepared myself to open up the tote that holds all things Camden. To immerse myself in the details, refresh the sweet feelings that occupy my heart. I awoke early this morning and began to do just that. I removed the 2 bins on top of yours in the office closet, slowly opened the lid and let my gaze wander over the contents. Soft and fluffy blankets from numerous friends and family, onesies from an aunt that were never worn, hospital bracelets, nursing pads, newborn diapers, the list goes on.

I pulled them out one by one. I smelled the blankets for a trace of your scent but you were long gone. In a clear hospital bag near the bottom I found cut ID bracelets with "Baby Boy Gunnell" and the doctor's name. One for me and one for you. There was the blue suction bulb that your father used tirelessly to clear your airways when we brought you to my hospital room to die. His attempts were futile and heart-breaking to watch. Near the end I asked him to let you be, just let you go in peace.

There is a small container holding sweet clippings of your downy soft brown hair. I opened it but just looked, I didn't want to disturb one piece. There is the hospital binkie that looked so big on your little face but is so small. Also in the bag is a small black puppy, donated by some caring soul and it resided in your isolette with you. Cards from family and the hospital staff offering condolences and caring words. A beautiful gift from a stranger who heard our story, a pair of pristine white booties, hand crocheted and delivered by a ward member who loves us.

Tears began to fall, my glasses catching the drops. I stopped and put the contents back in the container. I wanted to share this with your father, so tonight, after we visit your grave we will spend some time honoring you, refreshing our reserves and our memories of you.

I remember. I remember the pain, the joy, the heartache and the journey. I remember you. I love you and cannot wait for our reunion.

Love, Mom

I am alive.

And well. I haven't felt the blogging desire lately and have nothing new to report. I am 10 weeks along and feeling relatively good. Tired for sure! I am in bed by 9pm every night and could take a nap everyday if I didn't have to work. I have no desire to really cook anything and my cooking blog has been neglected. Sorry.

Yesterday Phil and I went to Camden's grave site and set up chairs and enjoyed the sunshine and cool weather. After tidying his headstone we each read in our scriptures and reflected on our would be almost 3 year old. It is hard to imagine and slowly he is fading from my memory. I don't want it to happen but time has certainly lessened the pain and reality. I can conjure up real emotion and heartache if I want to delve into such things, but now is not the time.

All in all, it was a nice way to spend an Easter afternoon, pondering the time when we will meet again. Giving thanks for a Savior who makes such a reunion possible. I am truly grateful.