Frustrated fabric shopper

Last year when one of my cousins posted about her baby's nursery, and that she made the items for it, I loved the idea. So, now that I am pregnant I want to do the same thing. Make the items for my baby's nursery. I really like this idea, especially since I have an idea what I want, but the stores don't have it.

I have decided that I want a turquoise blue and lime green nursery. I feel that this is gender neutral enough that I can use the items again. I also want to have accents of silver and white, and maybe a bit of black, and yellow. If we have a girl I would add hot pink in a bit.

So, lately my mom and I have been on the look out for these colors of fabric, and I am getting tired of looking at so much and not finding a lot of what I really want. I have found that when I do finally find the right color it is either mixed with a color I do not want(usually brown), to feminine and flowery, or to old looking. This is why I am becoming a bit frustrated, but I am not giving up yet!

Wrong car

Today I was on campus waiting for Brian to run and get a few things from his office so that he could work at home today, and I had a funny experience. Just a few minutes after Brian had left the car I heard the door open. I thought that Brian was pretty fast or he had forgotten something in the car that he needed. When I looked over I got a surprise. At first I saw a woman's coat and then someone I don't know went to get into the car and we both got a shock. Some girl thought I was her ride picking her up. Turns out her ride was parked in front of me. Oops!

Holly's Gifts

As I was getting ready for the day, I suddenly came to realize that it was four years ago today that Holly's earthly mission came to an end and she was called home to heaven to continue her mission there. Just like many who knew her, I still miss her terribly, and every once in a while still find myself shedding tears over the loss that I still feel. Today has been especially hard, and I turned to the poem that I recited at her funeral to remember some of the many reasons why I love and miss her.

This poem was written by my cousin Jessica Duersch from the thoughts and memories that I gave to her. She did a wonderful job capturing who Holly was, and what she meant to us that loved her.

Holly's Gifts

I've been collecting angels ever since my birth,
To me God sent a real, live angel, Holly to this earth.

My room is full of figurines, angels of all sizes.
Holly, my dear sister is my angel of surprises.

Hide and seek her favorite game, we'd play most every day.
My books and things would turn up missing, "Go ask Holly," they'd say.

She'd take my hand and lead me, all the house around
To the spot she'd carefully hidden - my books -
A treasure found!

As sisters we would share a room and settle in at night.
Scared of the dark she always wanted - just a little light.

Of course I'd have to study and would read my books in bed.
I'd leave the room to get a drink and return to see instead...

Holly snuggled in my covers, taking up my place;
Reading my book - upside down - a studious look upon her face.

She'll walk to Winder Dairy and likes to swim all on her own.
I'd find her asleep on the kitchen stool, sometimes when I got home.

She's small enough to carry, with a big heart full of love.
Holly brings us lots of joy - our sweet angel from above.

Holly dances to the music when the movie's at the end.
Her tiny, flexible body has many ways to bend.

Just last week I washed my car and Holly came to help me.
She got the rags, a bucket and a yellow sponge. You see,

We worked together washing - to make the car so clean.
With the rags we'd wipe it down so no dirt could be seen.

Then Holly climbed up on the roof - cleaning with her might;
Leaving a trail of muddy shoe prints; not to my delight.

But then when it was my turn to pull all of the weeds,
There was my little angel, with just the help I'd need.

Running with her sweater and her backpack on from school.
My sister came to pull the weeds - and that was really cool.

I love her hugs and kisses - she'd always meet me on the run.
Those tender times of greeting show her love shines like the sun.

Everyday she'll call, "Mon, mon"- from the topmost stair.
She'd make sure that all us kids were there for family prayer.

Picture Holly standing still - with arms folded just right;
Her head bowed low and then you'd see her eyes were shut so tight.

I know that heaven sure took note of every prayer she led.
God knows His children, He understands the prayers that can't be said.

"A little child shall lead them and take them by the hand."
Just watch my sister Holly and then you'll understand.

That love that Jesus told us we should have for all mankind.
That's the love that Holly gives with heart and soul and mind.

Oh how she loves our neighbors and lived the golden rule;
She'll walk right in their houses and sit upon a stool.

The Bassetts and the Yorgasons often had a breakfast guest.
Her unexpected visits - left there homes so blest.

At Christmas time, Holly Noelle would put on a "Rudolf show,"
Fingers on her head like antlers and a cheery, "Ho, Ho, HO."

With few words and her persistence, she could say so much,
Her gestures, her example and her patient, kindly touch.

It doesn't take long to figure out exactly what she means;
She'll point at you, then model too, it's easy so it seems.

At our houses, Holly's the boss, you'd better all take part.
She'd want us all to do the actions and sing with all our heart.

So if you please would join me, with song and action too;
Once there was a snowman - Holly this song's for you.

(Sing - Once There Was a Snowman)

So my angel sister, thank you for your gifts.
We know you're on a mission, though your smile we all will miss.

Thanks to Heavenly Father for the real angel that He sent.
Our days with Holly will always be
Time that was well spent.


I love you, Holly Noelle!

Baby Kicks

For the last few weeks I have been able to feel the baby move(mostly in the mornings before I get up and at night when I go to sleep). It is so neat, I love it! At first it was soft and I wasn't sure if it was the baby, but I can definitely tell now when I feel the baby(I can feel the baby even now moving around a little). I can tell that the baby has been getting stronger in the last couple of weeks.

On Monday morning as I was laying in bed before getting up for the day the baby gave me a good hard kick(well hard enough that even my hand felt it). This really surprised me. Brian then came into the room, but the baby was done for the moment so Brian didn't feel it then. Though, last night as Brian and I were going to sleep, the baby was pretty active again, and Brian put is hand on my tummy to see if he could feel it moving, and the baby gave him a good "Hello" kick, and Brian felt it(I did too, and it was a hard one for the baby). I am so glad that Brian got to feel the baby.

Learning photography

Last week I started my photography class. I am taking the one through Jessica Sprague's website, and I already love the class. In just a week I feel like I have learned so much so far, but I know that there is a lot more to learn.

For the first week we learned about shutter speed and needed to take movement pictures in fast and slow for the assignment. What is better for movement than a toddler?! So I asked my friend Ashley if I could take some pictures of her little girl, Ainsley. On Friday we went to a nice area across the street(the weather for once was beautiful), and I took over 400 pictures(I got a bit carried away) of Ainsley exploring the place.

These are the pictures that I turned in for my assignment. The first one is in the faster shutter speed so it is clearer, and the second one is blurred a little bit because it is in the slower shutter speed.
I loved playing around with my new camera, and look forward to learning and taking more pictures.

Craving CHOCOLATE?!

I have been off of chocolate for almost six years now. The first few months that I stopped I had a hard time (in case you didn't know, chocolate is EVERYWHERE). I lived on Reese's Pieces while I got over the chocolate cravings (believe me there is no chocolate in them, I read the ingredients). For the last five years or so I haven't really had any big problems with wanting to eat chocolate, that is until recently.

I had joked that with this pregnancy I would have cravings for chocolate. Well, I think I might be. I haven't really had any cravings, but in the last few weeks chocolate has been sounding pretty good. I don't know why this has suddenly popped up, I mean, I haven't even tasted chocolate in years (unless it was an accident, that I quickly spit out). It is funny, but I have forgotten what it tastes like.

I decided to extend my Junk Food Challenge to a 40 week one, instead of just 40 days (this will last until a couple months after the baby is born). I am wondering if this might be why I have been eying the chocolates a bit more than usual.

I know that some say that cravings are telling you that your body or baby need it, but no one is going to convince me that we need chocolate. Nothing I can do about it, except ignore it like usual. I've done harder things.

First Baby Picture

Last Wednesday I had an ultrasound. It was so amazing to be able to take a peek at the baby. Brian says that I was smiling like a Cheshire cat, but so was he. I will be honest, most of the time I had no idea what I was looking at, but the lady that was doing it pointed some things out to us. I thought that she was so thoughtful to label the picture for us.

Before we had the ultrasound we thought the due date was August 21st or 22nd, but the baby was bigger then the doctor expected. The baby's new due date is almost a week earlier on the 16th. It was weird to have pretty much skipped a week ahead. When I had the ultrasound the baby was 14 weeks and 3 days along, and the baby is now a couple days over 15 weeks.

I am pregnant!!

It feels so good to finally let everyone know. Brian and I have know since the middle of December, but I need to find a doctor. I finally went in for the first exam on Tuesday, and we heard the heartbeat for the first time. It was so amazing!

We then went back on Wednesday for an ultrasound (I will post a picture soon). It was amazing to see our little baby! We then met with the doctor and found out the baby was larger then they expected and they moved the due date up about a week. So, the due date is August 16th.

As for how I am doing...I am GREAT!!! I think I am having one the the easiest pregnancies ever. I feel very blessed. I know from stories that it can be so much worse, and I am grateful everyday.

What I have been feeling...
-extremely tired all of the time
-hungry, hungry, hungry
-a tiny bit more moody
-only had morning sickness a few times (but my mom gave me an Essential Oil called Ease that takes care of that in less then a half hour)
-instead of morning sickness my blood sugar drops along with any energy I may have (this is when I grab any food that is in reach as fast as I can)

Brian and I are both very excited! This is going to be a wonderful summer!

Valentine's Day

This year Brian and decided to make Valentine's Day simple. We also decided to put our gift money together and buy Ticket to Ride Europe. So we just played a couple of rounds of the game, then made dinner together (we didn't like the idea of driving in the snow and facing the crowds), and then snuggled on the couch while we watched The Lake House.

I had surprised him with the movie. This was the first movie that we had ever watched together, and I have been wanting to add it to our collection for a long time. So, when I saw it for less than $10 I had to buy it. Plus, this movie is so sweet, and romantic. Why wouldn't a hopeless romantic like myself, want it?

As I said, it was simple, but we enjoyed it.

Here we go again!

I am, once again, moving the furniture around. I get into these moods that I just have to move something. Some girls have to get their hair or nails done, not me. I have to change the room around. I have to say that it would be a lot simpler to go some where and get a hair cut, but no I have to tear my apartment apart, and then try and put it back together again.

Brian is such a good sport. He never complains that once again there are piles of stuff everywhere, and that he often has to ask me where I moved something to. He actually is always complimenting me about how great the place looks, and offers me some ideas.

Here are a couple of pictures I took of the bit of chaos that I caused this time around (I've become a master at making piles).