Snowball Fight!

Non-Crappy Starring You! eCards on JibJab

Starring: Jaxson, Paul, Tommy, Samantha, & Sam

It's a..........

Girl!
I had another ultrasound today at 18 weeks and she said it looks like a girl! The baby was breech and sitting really low so it was hard to see, but, two weeks ago I had an ultrasound and they thought it was a girl also, I just didn't tell alot of people. But with two ultrasounds and this pregnancy being completely different than Jaxson I'm pretty positive it's a girl. This will be the first girl in my family since me, 24 years ago. So we're are very excited! We will name her Ehlana, we have yet to confirm the middle name. Her nick name will be El. I can't wait! I'm getting really excited for a newborn baby. She will be arriving the beginning of May.

New Nephews

I am so proud to announce that Steve's sister and her husband are adopting two, two year old boys! We are so excited to welcome them into our family! They are grandchildren numbers 8 & 9 on Steve's side. (10 & 11 are coming in May.) The new boys are just a month older then Jaxson which makes 5 grand kids with in four months of each other! I can't wait for the family reunions! We are so happy for Jill and Jason. They are truly a wonderful example to us. Through the years of struggling with infertility they grew closer together and had faith that one day they would be proud parents. We wish them all the happiness in the world and we're so happy that so many prayers have been answered. I can't post pictures of the boys yet, but they fit right in with their blonde hair and blue eyes. They are so cute! We can't wait to meet them, they might come for a couple days at Christmas. Pretty soon we won't remember what our family was like with out them!
Congratulations, Jill & Jason, you're going to be wonderful parents!

Santa's Voicemail

Some of you may be wondering why I emailed you a link to Santa's Voicemail.com. Well, it's my brother, Neil's, awesome new website! He's a Business Major at BYU Idaho and this is his first Internet Business. I think it's a great idea, and part of the proceeds go to Make-a-wish foundation!
I have a direct link in "My Links" so please check out the website and if you don't mind, email it to all your friends and family.
Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We sure did! We made the 3 hour drive to Steve's sister's house in Northern Virginia and stayed with them until Friday Jasxon's Birthday. I'll post the video later. (I need Steve's help for that.) Jaxson had a great time with his cousin's Kate and Alyssa. He calls them "Cake" and "Sissa."
Thanks giving morning we went to a park to play.






We later enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at Laurie's in-law's house, Jane and Frank. It was great to spend time with family and friends.

Daddy's Boy

Jaxson has been really into doing things just like Daddy lately. It's really cute to see him look up to Steve so much. I can get Jaxson to do anything by saying, "Daddy does it." Sunday he didn't want to wear is belt. I said, "Daddy wears a belt." He had no problem putting it on while saying,"Da Da's belt, Da Da's belt." He didn't want to wash his hands yesterday so I told him,"Daddy washes his hands." Problem solved! He got $5 for his birthday so we let him decide who would "hang on to it" Mommy or Daddy..... of course he said, "Da Da's money!"
That's our Daddy's Boy!
Jaxson's new trick is counting! He says 1 2 3 4 (I have to say 5) 6 (I have to help with 7, too) 8 9 10! We are so proud of him and he's pretty excited about the attention he gets from it too! I'm so glad he's smart just like his Daddy!

Jaxson's Birthday Party

..

Jaxson had a great Birthday party with 6 of his friends. We celebrated a week before his birthday because of Thanksgiving. We will have cake and open some more gifts on his real birthday, the 23rd. The camera battery died so I didn't get many pictures of his party but I got some pictures of him playing with his new toys the next morning. I can't believe my baby is turning 2 years old!

The Holidays are coming....

The Holidays are coming very soon and I'm really excited to go to Washington and Utah. We get to see all our family this year which is a special treat! I've been alittle obsessed about Christmas shopping lately. I'm all finished accept for some stocking stuffers for Steve and Jaxson. I started with getting ready for Jaxson's birthday and getting Steve's sister's gifts ready before we visit them for Thanksgiving. I don't like shopping in crowds so I just kept going until I had just about everything I needed. It's nice to not have to worry about it any more.
I've also been busy with my new calling in the Young Women's. It's been great, I love the sister's I'm working with and I really excited to get to know the girls. I technically have two callings. Last week I taught my Sunday School class and part of Young women's. It was fun though, I really love studying the gospel.
Steve had a fun time on a camp out with the Young Men. He came back with a few wounds from a bee bee gun fight they had.... not my idea of fun, but oh well!
Jaxson is a blast to be around he's started singing his ABC's.... well he sings
A, B, C, C .....A, B, C, C.... it's too cute.

Halloween Night

Happy Halloween! We hope you all had a fun & safe night! We had a great night. It began with some early trick or treating around our neighborhood. A couple of our friends joined us. Jaxson did good, he didn't say "trick or treat" but he did say "thank you" at every door. As you can tell the baby belly is still growing!
After trick or treating (and some candy.) My best friend Emily came over and baby sat Jaxson (he was already in bed) so Steve and I could go out to a real adult party! His class had sponsored a party for the whole med school. It was at a club down town. It was the first time I'd been to a club like that. The bouncer had to look up our names on the list and everything. It was pretty fun. It was really loud but people's costumes were pretty funny. I just ate the whole time and we talked to some of Steve's friends. We didn't stay long. It made me very grateful for my simple and I guess some what boring life style! We felt old even though we're the same age as most of his class mates. I had to keep reminding myself that these people are the future Doctor's of America. Kinda scary!

Children's Museum

Steve had last Thursday and Friday off. Yeah! So we decided to go to the Children's Museum for some family fun! We had a great time. Jaxson's favorites were the bubbles and the train room. Steve got really good at making bubbles. They had a grocery store for the kids and all kinds of hands on exhibits. I hope to get a year family pass for Christmas. It'd be great to take Jaxson whenever I can.

My Baby Bump

The baby bump is making an appearance! It has grown quite a bit just in the last couple weeks. I'm wearing maternity pants (mostly for comfort.) Shirts depend on the style. I try to accent the baby belly in hopes that I don't just look fat.
I had a doctor's apt today at 12 weeks. They had a new portable ultra sound machine and I got to have another ultra sound! I love my doctor's office! It actually looks like a real baby! (Instead of just a blur.) I got to see the baby moving. It moved it's arms and kicked it legs, it was so cute! They can't tell the gender this soon but my ultra sound to find out what it is will be at 18 weeks. Just in time for Christmas Vacation!

Halloween Fun!

This Wednesday we went to our church for Truck-or-Treat. People decorate the trunks of their cars and the kids walk around the parking lot trick-or-treating. Unfortunately it was raining so the festivities were moved indoors. Jaxson cried putting on his costume and whined most of the time we walked around. He didn't really appreciate the event and didn't understand why he couldn't eat the candy already in the bucket. A couple days ago he wanted to wear my witch hat. It was really cute, he kept it on all evening. I can't wait for Halloween to come! I hope he likes real trick-or-treating better!

Family update

I wanted to just post a little update about what we're up to.
Jaxson is turning 2 next month! I'm very excited planning his "Doggie Party" He's talking up a storm and as most of you know he's really gotten the hang of talking on the phone. (Instead of just listening and smiling!) He seems to learn something new every day! His latest obsession... seat stealing. He thinks it a very funny game. Every time Steve or I leave a chair for a moment and then want to return to our seat Jaxson runs as fast as he can and climbs up on it. He says with a silly grin,"Mama's seat!" or, "Dada's seat!" It's pretty cute! I usually make a big deal of it and pretend to sit on him which he finds hilarious. He's at such a fun age!

Steve is doing well in school. He enjoys it for the most part. He's been going to the gym and running 4 times a week and I'm very proud of him! He's been great these last couple weeks taking on a lot of extra chores for me and spending time with Jaxson. He's really excited to spend time with his parents who are in town this weekend. We'll also get to see his sister and her family the next two weekends which is always great!

I'm hanging in there battling the morning sickness. (Or all day sickness.)I had a couple good days and hoped I was over it. Ha! I'm now back to throwing up once or twice a day and nothing sounds appetizing. Hopefully I only have a couple more weeks of this!

The new baby is 10 weeks and about a inch long! Everything seems to be going great!If you want to see what the baby looks like go to:
http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-10-weeks

The weather has been so hot and humid here that one day I took Jaxson outside and let him play with the hose. He needed a shower afterward but it was worth it! I sure wish fall would come soon....

Very Merry Un-Birthday!

Jaxson's best friend Samantha has been talking non-stop about birthday parties since their other friend, Macie, celebrated her's a couple weeks ago. Her mom, Emily, said she was thinking about making cup cakes and giving her a present to open for fun because her real Birthday isn't until March. I thought it was a great idea! Friday we baby-sat their kids and threw Jaxson and Samantha an Un-Birthday party! They colored pictures, played with play dough, opened a few gifts (I'd already had), played with balloons, and ate cup cakes! They had a lot of fun!

..

Look at how much I've grown!

Here's a picture of the new baby at week 8 and one day.(Everyday counts!) They changed my due date by one day to May 9th. "She" (I can dream right!?) is 15.9mm long and the heart was beating strong.
Here is a picture of Jaxson enjoying a snack at his new table, and building blocks. He's getting pretty good!

Jaxson is going to be a Big Brother!

We're PREGNANT! And very excited to add another baby to our family! We apparently have perfect timing and the baby's due May 10th, just after Steve finishes his year of classroom studies and starts his rotation year. Which makes the baby just 7 weeks old. If I choose to have a C-section then I'll probably have the baby a week to a week and a half early. I'm still undecided about whether I'll have another C-section or try a VBAC (vaginal birth after C-section.)I'm studying up on the Internet trying to get as much information as possible but I have yet to really discuss it with my doctor.
This pregnancy has already proven quite different then my first. Luckily I'm not as sick! Yippee! With Jaxson I started throwing up at 5 weeks and continued to throw up almost everyday until a couple days after I had him, I don't recommend throwing up after having a C-section.... Extremely painful! But I've only had basic nausea which seems to be under control with a lot of rest and eating almost continuously. I'd like to think this is due to the fact that my body is much healthier than with Jaxson. I started eating healthy, exercising regularly, and taking prenatals as well as an extra B vitamin long before I got pregnant. It seems to be working okay. Almost anything is better than last time. I think being able to stay home instead of working full-time at a stressful job is helping as well.
I've already loved my experience with my OB here. My first appointment was at six weeks (in Utah they won't see you until you're 12 weeks.)And they've done 2 ultra sounds. At this last one we saw the heart beating which means my chance of not bringing home a baby drops to only 3%. That's very comforting. I have another ultrasound next week so they can measure the baby, or little peanut, and give me a really accurate due date.
So, in the pictures there's a black oval and in the top of it the baby looks like the number 8. Isn't it so cute?!
Jaxson doesn't really understand what's going on, if I ask him where Mommy's baby is he points to his stomach. It's really cute. I hope he understands more as he gets older, he'll be 2 & 1/2 when the new baby comes.

Bubble Boy

Here are some cute pictures of Jaxson enjoying his bubble bath.

Now Steve's it! (This is his first post on my blog!)

Tag, I'm it!
5 things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Starting senior year of High School
2. Working at Disney Land
3. Playing drums
4. Playing tennis
5. Wasting my money on another man's wife!

5 things on my to-do list today:
1. Go to class
2. Study
3. Go to Gym
4. Have family night
5. Play play station

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Chips
2. CANDY!
3. Soda
4. Nuts
5. Fruit

5 songs I know the lyrics to:
1. Hey there Delilia
2. Face Down
3. Unforgiven
4. if I just Lay Here
5. I'm a Child of God, in Japanese

5 Things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off student loans
2. Invest in a Surgical Center
3. Golf any time
4. Buy a Big Screen TV
5. Travel the world

5 bad habits:
1. Eating bad
2. Losing temper
3. Staying up too late
4. Being idle
5. Road Rage

5 things I’ll never wear again:
1. Flannel shirt
2. Overalls
3. Band uniform
4. MC Hammer pants
5. Stussy T-shirt

5 favorite toys:
1. Lap top
2. Play station
3. Cell Phone
4. Golf clubs
5. Camera

5 people I'm tagging:
1. Your Mom
2.
3.
4.
5.

Summer Time!

Our first summer in Virginia is ending. It's been very memorable. The best part would be the beach house trips with Tim & Laurie & family. It's been great to live just 3 hours from Steve's sister and her family. We've also enjoyed many trips to Busch Gardens our local theme park, camping trips, playing in the back yard, and going to the beach which is our family favorite. Steve & I are both originally West coasters so it's been great to live close to he water again! Although I'm looking forward to the fall & the Holidays, I'll miss the summer (just not the humidity!)

Tag, I'm it!

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Just turning 14
2. Going to church dances
3. Baby-sitting
4. Teaching piano
5. bumming rides off from my sister

5 things on my to-do list today:
1. Mop floors
2. Yoga
3. Make dinner
4. Organize craft table
5. Plan Sunday school lesson

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Ice cream
2. Choc chip cookies
3. Kashi Crackers
4. Chips and salsa
5. String cheese

5 songs I know the lyrics to (these are ones I sing almost daily):
1. How much is that doggie in the window (The doggie one!)
2. Jesus wants me for a sunbeam
3. Old mcdonald had a farm (The doggie or kitty one!)
4. Clean up song
5. Do as I'm doing

5 Things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off student loans
2. Buy a new couch (I hate my couch, but I refuse to go into debt for furniture)
3. Buy a new car (probably a mini-van)
4. Give very nice gifts to family and friends
5. Go on vacations

5 bad habits:
1. Tickling my husband (he doesn't always appreciate it)
2. Procrastinating
3. Not returning phone calls
4. Interrupting people
5. Being judgemental

5 things I’ll never wear again:
1. Over sized sweat shirts
2. Scrunches
3. Sparkling blue eye shadow
4. Chunky heeled shoes
5. Stick on earrings

5 favorite toys:
1. Lap top
2. Camera
3. TV
4. Stroller
5. Car

5 people I'm tagging:
1. Mala
2. Lisa
3. Mom
4. Dad
5. One of my brothers who don't blog (Neil or Carl..)

Steve's Birthday

Birthdays are a great time to tell someone how much you care about them. Steve celebrated his 27th birthday today and I wanted to make a post that showed how much Jaxson, Hunter (the cat), and I love him! I appreciate how much he supports us and works hard to give us everything we need. He is a great provider, wonderful father, loving husband, and insightful spiritual leader. He is a very passionate, ambitions, and hard working. He is a wonderful example of the man I want Jaxson to become. Marrying him was the best decision I've ever made.
We love you very much!

Free MySpace slideshows, photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

*I'm not sure if the music is working right so hit the little speaker button if you don't hear anything!*

Thank-you for the Birthday fun!

I just celebrated my 24th Birthday, it was great! Thank-you to all my wonderful friends and family who sent gifts, cards, and happy birthday thoughts!
The celebration began with a lunch at Red Robin with some of my close girlfriends (and their kids!) Steve had the week off between semesters and stayed home with Jaxson so I got to enjoy a warm meal for a change! The morning of my birthday He made me breakfast and I opened a few gifts. We then drove up to Steve's sister, Laurie's home in Northern, VA. It's about a three hour drive. Laurie graciously watched Jaxson as Steve and I went out for steak and shrimp (my favorite!) We then enjoyed some delicious cup cakes to top off the fun day. We stayed with Tim, Laurie, and their two girls for the rest of the week it was a great time full of movies, good food, card games, and playing Wii.
Thanks for the great Birthday and another year full of blessings!

What is a PA?

As most of you know Steve is attending PA school. He just finished is 2nd semester. We have been asked quite often, "What is a PA?" (which is a common question considering the profession has only been around for 40 years.) So I thought for those of you who don't really know, I could clear some things up for you. A PA is a Physicians Assistant. Meaning lower than a Doctor, but higher than a nurse on the medical food chain. A PA is the Doctor's "right hand man". (Because it is generally cheaper to staff a PA than share your practice...) You may have noticed that when you call a doctor's office they might say, "The Doctor won't be in that day, but would you like to see the PA?"
So, I guess the question really is, what is the difference between a Doctor and a PA?
Well, schooling for one. Steve only has 15 months of classroom work and the med students have 18 months. (It seems like 2 years because they have summers off.) Other than those 3 months there isn't much difference between their studies. Steve has the same professors and takes most of the same classes as the 1st & 2nd year med students. But, one of the main differences is experience. (Which is where you gain the most education anyway.) PA's only have 1 year of rotations, the med students have 2. The med students also have a residency. PA's do not. (Which is one of the most appealing things about the profession!) We also don't have to worry as much about malpractice insurance. The doctor's usually cover the PA, although we have had many people suggest Steve carry his own insurance as well.
Doctor's have the freedom to prescribe or do ANY procedure that they feel is needed. PA's have the freedom to prescribe or do any procedure that the Doctor gives them freedom to do. They can prescribe drugs, fully assist in surgeries, (which is what Steve wants to do) and even own their own practice in some rural areas! PA's have to certify every 6 years and Doctors actually don't have to certify, but some do.

The official definition is: A health care professional licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a Physician.

All in all Physician Assistants are more than capable in helping patients. Especially if they've been in the field for years. So when the receptionist asks if you'd like to see the PA instead of the Doctor I hope you feel more confident in answering yes!

There's No Place Like Home

Jaxson & I made the long 7 hour trip home to Washington for a visit. Steve had to stay home to finish his 2nd semester. He was very lonely and we missed him a lot. Jaxson even cried and said, "My Daddy." It was so sad.
But, we had a great time! I miss living there so much. My sister, Terra and I went up to a Girls Camp my mom was directing and talked to the girls about family relationships and our experiences as children, teenagers, and adults. I hope it helped the girls be able to handle those hard teenage years and make good choices to prepare them for the future.
Jaxson and my sister's two boys spent a lot of time playing outside. Jaxson loved playing fetch with the dog. We also went to our friends cabin. It was a blast! Sadly we had to leave my youngest brother, Carl, home. He's now 16 and had football, driver's ed and other things he couldn't miss. We played at the lake, swam in the pool, and played games.
Here are some pictures of my family (full of boys!)

Steve's New Calling

It's official, Steve was finally sustained as Elders Quorum President. He was a little disappointed to leave the Young Men's, he really liked it. The Bishop said he went back and forth trying to decided whether to make him the Young Men's Pres or Elders Quorum but he thought it would be best to make a big change. Steve's already had a couple service projects and some people needing his council. He's doing great already! Now all he needs is for his counselors to be called. Jaxson is still doing great in Nursery. He has alot of fun with all his little friends and I love going to relief society with out him! I am still teaching the Gospel Principles class for the investigators and new members. I think it's been my favorite calling so far! We love our ward and it's been great to be so needed.

Jaxson is learning to feed himself with utensils. He usually does really well, accept for this night... he had queso for the first time and loved it! Needless to say he had his bath early that night.

Jaxson vs the Queso