Zion National Park!

We took a trip to Zion National Park for the weekend following Thanksgiving! We had such a wonderful time hiking and exploring.  We stayed with Hailey, Austin and Olivia & were able to meet up with Heather and Dolan on Saturday!  We hiked the Emerald Pools after we arrived on Friday, and we hiked Angel's Landing and the Weeping Rock on Saturday.  We left early Sunday morning.  It was a short and sweet trip, and the weather was perfect!

Heather and I at the top of Angel's Landing

King of the Mountain

Hiking Angel's Landing

Jeff {scarily} close to the edge at the top of Angel's Landing

Jeff, Traci, Dolan, Heather, Hailey, Austin and Olivia

Hiking Angel's Landing

Happy Birthday to Mr. Andreason!

Warning: cheesy post to follow.  If you are repulsed by sappy, squishy, and fuzzy things, now is your opportunity to stop reading. You have been warned. ;)

Sunday is Jeffery's 28th birthday! I am a little early in this post, but I am hoping we are so busy celebrating this weekend, that I will not have time to write on Sunday. 

I'm feeling even more fortunate to have Jeffery in my life this year, as we embark on parenthood together.  I love that this is something he has always wanted and am thrilled to be able to share in these moments with him.  I feel like the luckiest wife alive when I think of who Jeff is.  I can't imagine a more perfect person for me, and I am forever grateful he was born 28 years ago.  There are just SO many things I love about him.  I wouldn't change a thing about him.  I am certain his single, most important goal in this life is to make me happy.  If you were to ask him his goals, somehow they would all translate to how he will improve his life or himself to better serve his family.  He truly is amazing & he sure knows how to make me feel loved, special and important. So I hope this weekend, he feels the same way he makes me feel every single day.

I love you, Jeffery!

Dear Baby Boy

We got to see you on the ultrasound on November 6th and were so ecstatic to see a cute little body moving around.  We also found out you are a BOY.  We are so excited to meet you!  Your daddy was grinning from ear-to-ear and said "Woooo!" when your gender was revealed. I may have gotten a little teary eyed.

I have been able to feel you move more and more every week.  It was around 15 weeks that I was sure I was feeling you move.  At 19 weeks, your daddy was able to feel your little movements.  I like to take time out of my day just to focus on you and your movements.  I realize what a miracle it is and how many people may never have this amazing opportunity to carry a child, so I like to really cherish these moments. (Especially while the kicks aren't making me pee my pants.)  I have noticed you like to move after I eat and when I sit still or lie down.

We have started clearing out the office, which will be your nursery.  We also went out and bought an outfit for you right after we found out you're a boy.

 We love thinking and talking about what you'll look like.  In the ultrasound, it looked like you have Daddy's nose!  We also learned you are big! In the 85th percentile for weight and the 70th percentile for length.  Perhaps we have a future linebacker growing.

We love you so much already and so look forward to the day we get to welcome you into our arms.  Keep growing big and strong! You are so loved by so many people already. April can't come soon enough!

Expecting a BABY!

We are so excited and thankful to be expecting a baby in April!

I always thought I would tell Jeff in a fun way when I found out I was pregnant. I thought it would be such a fun thing to do! But when I got my first positive pregnancy test, he had just left the house.  So, naturally, I went against everything I had set out and called him up, happily announcing he was going to be a DAD!

I am 12 weeks, as of yesterday.  Such a happy milestone for many reasons.  One, our risk of miscarriage is now much lower.  Two, I am nearing the end of the first trimester and I am hoping this also means I am nearing the end of sickness.  I have had no appetite and have felt queasy most days, all day long. 

I am already showing, although most people don't notice.  I just look like I ate a few too many desserts haha! I cannot wear my jeans- it's been that way for a couple weeks.  I haven't gained any weight yet, though.

Also, I think I felt the baby move just yesterday.  It was a very light little flutter right after I rolled onto my tummy.  It was a sensation I had never felt before, so I can't imagine what else it might have been! :)

We can't wait to find out if our baby is a boy or girl! And we can't wait to have an ultrasound that shows more than a little baby bean!  Such an exciting and fun time in our lives, we are looking forward to all of the new experiences in store.

Catching up!

Obviously, I am not the best blogger.
UPDATES:
Many life changes have taken place since I last blogged and that is likely why I fell off the blogging wagon.  I graduated! I started my job in the NICU as a nurse! I started Weber State's BSN program!
Jeff is still in school.  Story of our lives. STUDENTS for LIFE.
I injured myself rock climbing 6 weeks ago.  I was going for the top move on this boulder problem in Little Cottonwood Canyon and fell on my ankle wrong.  I completely tore the biggest ligament in the ankle and basically demolished all the little ligaments and tendons too.  Luckily all I needed was some rest and physical therapy!  I still have issues with it, but I am back to biking, climbing and hiking as tolerated. :)
We went to Europe in March. I posted the photobook I made from the trip on the blog! We had such a wonderful time together and can't wait for our next trip!
We went to the Dominican Republic in May.  Our good friends Amber and Kirby got married! It was so beautiful and it was such a fun and relaxing vacation!
I have one more semester left of the BSN program at Weber, thank goodness! I will be done in December!
Ike is living the good life like always. ;)
We cut down our huge pine tree in the backyard in February and have attempted to replace it with a peach tree. It's not looking promising! :(

Europe 2014

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Work hard, play... later!

Well, like every other semester in our lives, we don't see each other nearly often enough.  Jeff is busy all week before the sun comes up and long after the sun goes down.  His one consistent day off is Sunday.  However, that is my consistent day ON.  I am busy all week as well - working by night and school/preceptorship by day.  It's a busy life, but it will all pay off eventually.  (At least that's the plan!)

I have started my preceptorship for nursing school.  It is like the grand finale for clinicals.  I am in the NICU at the U (yes, my current place of employment) and I couldn't love it more! It is the best job and I am getting so much closer to everything I have been working toward.  7 MORE WEEKS and then I graduate! Oh thank goodness.  (Although, I will be doing the RN to BSN program just a couple weeks after graduating.)

Jeff received a promotion at work!! (yep, another!)  He is SUCH a hardworker! I am so proud of him.  He is now the manager of the area he is working in at Biofire.  Meanwhile, he spends 20+ hours a weeks for school.  What a total rockstar.  I'm a lucky, lucky girl.

We purchased memberships to the recreation center in our hood.  It is fabulous.  They have so much to offer and it is affordable.  I have been going to the gym and lifting 4-6 times a week and Jeff is able to go 2-3 times a week. Fitness is really important to both of us and it has provided some much needed stress relief.

Perhaps it is all of the above that is keeping me from blogging.  Perhaps.