boy or girl????

I felt the baby move today. I have no idea how to even explain how it felt. It was so amazing. And I definitely have a belly!!! Pictures are imminent. Three weeks from tomorrow we find out if it is a boy or a girl!! We are so excited.

Christmas was great!! Joel loved his iSymphony. John and Fay and Scott and Netty loved the scrapbooks that I made them. It is always so nerve racking watching someone just browse through your hard work. And it always takes them less time than what you think it would take. But they seemed to really love it and that makes it all worth it!

Parts of this vacation so far have definitely been difficult. But after this morning...it has gotten so much better. I just can't handle the controlling, condescending, mean, and jealous stuff. I don't appreciate being called Little One. I don't like being treated with fake niceness when around certain people and then ignored later. I'm just glad I'm not the only one noticed.

Tomorrow I finally get to see Ashley. Enough said.

uh oh

I have a math final tomorrow...I haven't studied.

I have to finish an entire wedding album by Christmas.

I haven't seen Joel all day and I miss him.


OMG. Ashley and Brad got me the most amazing Christmas present ever. I have been wanting this purse for so long, and now I have it!!!!! And I also got a cute maternity sweater and tank tops!!
Our dinner was amazing...everything tasted so good! Afterward, Joel owned us at movie trivia, and then we went to see Enchanted. Such a happy movie.

uuuuuggghh

Done:
Statics final

Still left to go:
Physics final
Organic Chemistry final
Calc III final

Tomorrow:
Christmas dinner with Ashley and Brad. We have a cheese ball. And french silk pie. And ham. I'm so excited.

almost done

All this week I have had every opportunity to study for my Chemistry final. Have I?? Once. Only once...and I fell asleep 20 minutes in. It is so weird...I just can't make myself study. This is two hour long final about everything this semester. And you really can't study enough for these organic chemistry tests. The last test...I could answer every single question the book asked in the three chapters and yet I barely got a low B. I even memorized all of the slides he showed in class. Whatever.
This semester is done soon. I'm ready for new classes. I finally don't have a physics class. Except for the fact the my classes start at 7:30...I'm looking forward to next semester.

I seriously can't stop thinking about the baby. I really want to start decorating the baby room. I want to start making baby clothes. I want to know if the baby is a boy or girl. I want to hold her/him. I really want to cook dinner for "Joel and the kids."
yeah yeah...I know that one is a ways off.

I finally get to see Ashley tonight. Stupid homework has kept us apart. Well...maybe her homework. I can't seem to make myself doe my homework.
Woo for TV marathon. I'm so glad she has recorder thing. It is quite convenient.

Joel got an early Christmas present today. I took him to Hastings and got him Mass Effect. To most people this information is useless...but he was soooo happy! And that is what I like.

interesting suggestion...

So Joel came up with some new baby name ideas.
If it is a girl, he suggests Cortana.
But I think we both agree it's a bit to much to name a boy Master Chief.
Oh how I love him.

beating heart baby....this love is for real

We heard the heartbeat today!! It was beating 156 beats per minute. Oh my gosh I can't even explain how amazing that was.
Joel recorded it on his cell phone. It was that loud. It was so fast and so cute. I can't wait to hold our baby.
On the 17h of January we get to find out if it is a boy or a girl.
My tummy is getting bigger.
This is for real.

things that sound good to me right now...

1. Nutella on club crackers
2. Puffy cheetos
3. Wild Berry Skittles
4. Shepperds Salad from The White House Grill
5. Caesar salads
6. Honey Nut Chex
7. Fudge Tracks Ice Cream
8. Red Peppers

Things I am not okay with:
1. Chocolate in bar form (brownies are ok)
2. Cranberries
3. Not being able to drink pepsi or coffee
4. Having to wait until January or February to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl
5. Being overwhelmed with the responsibility to name a person (Oh, Nick...Nathaniel is actually one of the top contenders if the baby is a boy)!

At least we have the middle and last names down.

blah

It feels nice to be back in Moscow...though I really miss Post Falls and my family there.
So yesterday I went to the SUB to buy tickets for Joel and I to go to the Mae concert. The lady at the counter informed me that they were all sold out. I just stood there staring at her in shock and disbelief. Why had I waited so long? Why can't my brain just magically remember everything and tell me to go buy tickets sooner??? So once she broke the silence with, "Is there anything else I can help you with?" I said no and left. Mae is an amazing band. And they are going to be at the University of Idaho TODAY...and I don't get to see them. BUT...Ashley and Brad get to go! Which is amazing because they love Mae and maybe they'll take pictures for me! In high school, Ashley even had this Mae sweater that she used to wear almost everyday. She was awesome.

Joel and I have another doctors appointment this Thursday and we are having another ultrasound! And the best part is that we get to hear the heartbeat!!!!!! I'm hoping they can turn it up loud enough so we can record it on our cell phones! I can't wait to see the baby again!

Oh, and thinking of baby names is hard.

finally

It is Thanksgiving break. I can't even believe how long it took to get here. I was up until 4:30 this morning studying for Chemistry. Then I woke up at 8:30 to study statics and some more Chemistry.

School and being pregnant have made me so incredibly tired. I'm pretty much exhausted by 3:00 everyday if I don't take a nap! I can't wait until Sunday night when I can sleep until forever. And then I'll wake up on Thursday, eat a huge meal, go back to sleep, and then go shopping with Ashley. It shall be divine.

I guess I can't complain about being tired too much. I haven't really experienced the whole morning sickness thing. About 3-4 weeks ago, I was sick like 3 times, but other than that...I've felt fine! The way I'm going...labor is going to be painless!! haha. i wish.

dancing babies

Joel and I had our first ultrasound on Thursday. It was the most amazing thing ever. The baby was actually bigger than they thought it would be!! I am ten weeks, and the due date is June 7th. Joel and I couldn't stop smiling the entire time...wish I could have a video...we saw the little arms and legs moving like it was dancing!! And the doctor pointed out a small little flicker which was the heart beat. In three weeks we'll have another ultrasound and get to hear the heart!!
I am so thankful for this amazing technology...we got to see our little baby!!
This first picture is a front-on view. If you look closely, you can see two little dark spots in the head...the eyes!!! And the little arms are so cute!! The next picture is a profile shot. The baby is about an inch long.

I never thought it would come to this...

I just drove to Winco to get fudge tracks ice cream, a jar of pickles, and a can of pineapple. This craving thing is intense. I always thought it was kinda a joke, and it didn't really happen...or at least it was "talked up" to much more than it actually was. Nope!! I never thought a pickle could ever taste soooo delicious and satisfying.

Don't worry...I didn't mix anything together...everything was consumed separately.

unexpected blessings

We've told people. But it never gets easier...no matter in what form I am telling it. So here goes.

Joel and I are having a baby.

I took an at-home test, and when I saw the little blue plus sign I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I ran downstairs and showed Joel. Neither of us really knew what to do, and we didn't want to believe it. Two days later we went to the hospital to get a blood test and seven hours later I got a call from a nurse saying "You are definitely pregnant! Congratulations!!" When I first heard those words, I'll admit, I smiled...but then it really sank in. Then came the tears.

Ashley and Brad were the first to hear. I was really expecting a sad sort of shock. But they were so excited!! Especially Ashley! I was so relieved and filled with joy that she reacted that way.
Then we told Rachel...she was shocked, but excited! Then we told his brother and wife...and again with the happiness. And the we called Joel's parents in Africa. AND THEY WERE HAPPY! They weren't mad or disappointed. They weren't judgmental. They were genuinely supportive and happy.

When we first found out, we were in shock, disbelief, and downright angry. Joel referred to the pill as "birth out of control." This was not supposed to be happening. Our plan was to wait until after we graduated, be married for maybe 4 or 5 years...and it wasn't even our 4 month anniversary.

But then we prayed and talked to his family. We realized that God has his own plans. If He wants us to have a baby...we're having a baby. Breaking through birth controls run in Joel's family. He was conceived after his dad had a vasectomy.

Joel and I have gotten to the point where we are excited...still unbelievably scared and nervous...but excited! We definitely have things that are unknown and seem unachievable. Like our truck isn't baby-safe. We have our eyes on a Jeep Liberty. But anyways...we know that it is going to be difficult...we know that we may not be completely ready at this point in our lives...but we will be. God is going to provide everything we need and more. We are going to graduate from college. Both of us. We will make it work. And we will make it work as a beautiful family of three.

Ashley is going to be the best auntie ever.

Oh...and my scrapbooking room is now going to be a baby room. I'd say it's a step-up.

At the Red Barn sale, Brad's mom found this incredibly cute dress and I had to have it.
(We're hoping it's a girl)

happy birthday Ashley!!!!! (2 days later...)

Ashley is officially 19!! And as Brad put it, thank you God for letting her live this long.

tonight

Erika, Ashley and I going out for dessert!! woo celebration!!!
AND Ashley's birthday is next wednesday.

I have a test tomorrow. boo.

Joel's parents and sister came here last night! woo!!!

tomorrow is monday....again

I am so unbelievably tired. I've taken 3 hours naps both today and yesterday. I am still so tired and I have so much to do.
But I do get to see John and Fay this Saturday!! Hopefully this week will go by as quickly as the rest.

more driving....

in three short hours...Joel, Ashley, Brad and I are going to Post Falls. I'm quite excited.
I have so much homework it's unbelievable. Oh, and I lined up my schedule for next semester....one of my classes is at 8:30 in the morning. I don't even have a choice...its not offered at any other time. I have trouble getting to my 10:30 class. And its not a class that I can skip. The nice thing is that Joel and a different class that is only offered at 8:30. So we both can get up sickeningly early together. The funny thing is that when I was in high school, school started at 7:45...and I usually didn't have much of a problem getting up on time. weird.

Joelie took a picture of me in my new coat. i quite like my coat.

Red Barn Sale!! this weekend!! I am so excited!! I think we are going to go on a hay ride. even though I hate anything farm related....I think this may be fun because I'll have excellent company. Otherwise...i'd prefer to see that hay burn. tee hee.

i wish i could be a full-time housewife

I really enjoy school...a lot. I love learning new things and actually being able to apply it. Like in my statics class...we are doing rigid bodies in equilibrium. I've found myself, in everyday situations, breaking down forces and figuring out all the little vector equations and resulting forces. Seriously....what's my problem? But, when I'm at home and I'm cooking or cleaning or drinking coffee while watching the food netw0rk or HGTV....I feel quite content. It would be so amazing if my job could be my home. I want my family to be my number one in life. And even now, homework sometimes gets in the way of Joel and I spending time together...I can't even imagine having a full time job plus everything else we do. But then I think....if I was a stay-at -home wife (sometime later in life "mom")....all the money I've spent on my education will be a waste, and I'll never be able to have that amazing job. I'll figure it out sometime. I have time.
Maybe I'll scrapbook my dilemma. lol

I've really been inspired by the journaling blog I've found. I'd probably use more pictures than they do....but I really like the idea. I already have a list of what I want to scrapbook. Like my goals for the month/year, my TV "schedule," my favorite things in our house, favorite meals so far (with pictures!!!), all the amazing things about Joel, all the amazing things about Ashley, the jobs that I have had, all the members of my family and the interesting/weird things about them, my pet peeves...and tons more. Maybe I'll scrapbook about how I don't ever have time to scrapbook, but I probably won't ever have time to make it. haha.

The Red Barn sale is coming up!! I am so excited to go! I have to start saving up so I can get some more cute stuff!

iiiiits grape...soda

So Ashley and I scrapbooked and watched The Office last night. And before that...she made dinner...quite delish.

Not much is going on with me lately...I am just a happy camper. I do have a lot of homework though. On Monday night...I started a math assignment that wasn't due until wednesday! It felt quite nice; I think I may try doing it again and with other classes! oh, procrastination.

Joel and I get TV tomorrow!! Woo food network and HGTV!!

And these are some of the new things in my scrapbooking room that I like to stare at...


So this is what I did last night.

mmmm thursday

I absolutely love Thursdays. I don't have any classes. Normally I save all of my errands until today so I'm running around all day....but this week I didn't. I made breakfast this morning and I have been watching The Office with Joel.

AND THEN.....tonight we are having dinner at Ashley's home! AND THEN.....we are going to scrapbook with Ashley!!! OMG!! I am so excited.


My life feels weird right now. This week was full of tests...and tonight I don't have homework. I this may be the first day since school started that I haven't had any homework. And I am going to thoroughly celebrate with much scrapbooking.


This Tuesday is GREEK NIGHT!!! WOO!! Ashley, Erika and I:

are going to make baklava and Mediterranean chicken and Turkish cigars!! I'm so exicted!

carmelized yummy skewers

I want to scrapbook soooo badly!!! I just have so much that I want to be doing...and studying for a statics test and a calculus test for tomorrow is NOT one of them!!!

My scrapbooking room is now organized (thanks to the amazing Ashley soon-to-be Reynolds) and I just want to scrapbook!!!! OMG! I want to scrapbook my scrapbooking room.
My goal is to do a layout a day. Not all wedding layouts either...I need to mix it up a bit!
One layout every day....maybe more if time allows!


So I tried this new recipe tonight...carmelized beef skewers and saffron rice (from scratch)!!! It was so good!! I just love it when new recipes turn out well!

Okay, Okay...back to studying.

impending doom

organic chemistry test tomorrow......have been studying all day long....probably going to study all night long.








luckily I'm having fun!!!!! tee hee



I heart chemistry

landmark

For dinner tonight...I made steak for the very first time!! I marinated and grilled it and everything!!! And Joel liked it!!! He even wanted seconds!! My parents gave us a little mini barbecue and we've been having a blast!

Ashley and Brad are in Post Falls. sad

So tonight I'm making a card for my parents-in-law (!!!!!) and then it's studying time...chemistry test on wednesday!

whoa

So Ashley and I went to Paper Pals today (Moscow AND Pullman!!) and Shawna reminded us to update our blogs. I didn't think it had been all that long...but now I realize that it's been a week since I have sat down and typed out the happenings of my life.

Joel's birthday was on Monday!! He turned 20, and I think he had a pretty good birthday! It was so nice to be able to go back to Post Falls to visit our family. His parents are going to Europe, South Africa, and Granada in these next few months so we might not get to see them for awhile!!! AND we went to Red Robin for his birthday dinner...always amazing!!

So Ashley and Brad came over for dinner tonight and we had margaritas (virgin!) and enchiladas! It was so fun! They are seriously the two best people ever!!




My math teacher is horrible....I guess it's another semester of learning it on my own....

its procrastination week...

Ashley read about it in her new agenda....Joel said that he'd celebrate next week....

This week has been crawling by. I'm excited about tomorrow because I don't have any classes!!!! woooo!!! AND.....tomorrow Joel and I will have been married for two months!!!! It's hard to believe that it has already been two months...and they've been perfect!

So the worknight at Paper Pals was amazing and fun! I haven't had the chance to actually scrapbook in so long, and I absolutely loved it. I'm going to try to do at least two layouts a week, and maybe someday I'll finish the wedding album!

love

The first week of school is over...kinda hard to believe!! I feel much better about my classes though. I'm going to get through it just fine. I actually like my statics class and had fun with the homework!!! Physics class might present some challenges...mainly because the teacher is very hard to understand/listen to. Good thing I have a physics major husband, though!!

I went to Ashley's house this week for dinner...omg it was delicious!!! She made grilled salmon!!!!!! It was my first salmon experience...and now I'm hooked! The engaged couple came over last night for dinner and we had calzones that I made. I just love having people over for dinner (especially ashley and brad)!!!!

So Joel and I were grocery shopping earlier this week and about half way through I was all of a sudden filled with this extreme happiness and completeness. I was just like, I am with the one person that God wants to me to be with for the rest of my life. I have found him and he is perfect. We are a family. My entire life I have been praying for some sort of release from the broken home and family I group up in, and look what I have!!! tee hee!!! I just get so giddy and happy thinking about it!!

OH!! I must show my spoils of the Red Barn Extravaganza!! I love it all!!
cute little book shelves and a medicine cabinet for the bathroom!! I just love the measuring tape edges!!!
and I got a big window pane for two dollars!!! It will soon be the top of our coffee table!!! Oh!! and I got a cute white shelf for the scrapbooking room!

Speaking of scrapbooking....employee worknight!!! I am so excited!! I can't wait!! I'm going to print pictures today! I think I'm going to start the wedding album!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or maybe the bachelorette party! Oh so much to scrapbook, so little time (and spare money, in my case)!

friday

Ashley, Brad and I (Joel's working) are going to the Red Barn sale today. I am so excited! I really hope that we find some good stuff. We can't stay for very long because we have to work...but I'm just excited that we get to go!!

AND....I can take pictures with my digital camera!!!!!! Ashley got a new one from her grandpa....and she gave me her old one!!!! Seriously...she is the best ever. I carry it with me wherever I go....I just want to take so many pictures!

The last couple of days have been absolutely crazy. Good crazy. I am so happy for Ashley and Brad, and school starts soon, and we now have a Bed, Bath, and Beyond AND Old Navy in this great town of Moscow.

My dad's birthday is this weekend. Normally, we don't really do all that much...I usually rack my brain trying to figure out what to get him and just end up getting him a bag of peanut M&Ms (his fav). We have never really gotten along all that well, but after the wedding things have changed a little. Every time Joel and I go to Post Falls they load us up with fresh veggies from their huge garden, a cooler full of meat from their farm animals, and tons of offers to go through the shop to see if there is anything that we might need. So this year I've decided to do kind of a joint birthday gift for my parents (their birthdays are 10 days apart) and get a big frame and put a whole bunch of pictures of us from the wedding. There are so many good ones of my sister and her son, my mom and me at the salon, AND there is even a picture of my Dad laughing with my mom. Seriously, this is the only picture I have seen of my dad actually "for real" smiling in a picture. I think I might make that one a 8x10! I don't think my photographer realized what he accomplished!!

BOOKS!!!

So now is the time for Joel and I to start buying books because school starts in 11 days!!!! I'm not really looking forward to the actual purchasing part....but I am looking forward to the reading part, especially my chemistry book.


and my engineering book!!

I just hope that I can do well in these classes....and understand stuff too. That would be nice.

I'm going to Post Falls on Tuesday for an orthodontist appointment. I really love going to Post Falls because my in-laws are there. They seriously are the best family I have ever had and I am so blessed to be a part of their family. And Post Falls is quick drive from The Gap....the most amazing store ever. School starting in 11 days means that I get to go shopping. For paper, notebooks, pens, folders, paper clips, and lots of clothes. AND what makes it even better is that Ashley gets to come!!

So I finished my layout for Paper Pals. I don't have a digital camera...or any camera for that matter so I can't take a picture of it. But its in the store. Its not really my style....I don't really know what happened. Maybe I was just nervous to have everyone looking at it...judging. lol.

And I finished my window pane art. I painted! I mixed my own paint to get just the color of red that I wanted and I painted! Granted, I only painted swirls...but I painted!! It was just so fun and exhilarating I didn't want to stop. And Joel hung it up in our kitchen! If only I had a camera to take a picture.....(i keep hoping that maybe Joel will read this and get me one for Christmas....but then again....he does hear me everyday talking about getting a camera; I think he gets the point.)



oh, and Ashley comes in 5 days!!!!!! OMG!!!

AAARRGGGHHHH

I WANT A DIGITAL CAMERA SOOOO BADLY!!!

weekend

I went to another wedding this weekend. It was nice. It still is so surreal to see my friends get married. It still is so surreal that I am married!

Joel and I are looking for a church now. While sitting with my new mom this Sunday we realized that we really miss having a church to go to. Hopefully we can find one that Brad and Ashley like too so we all can go together like a happy family!!!

I am so incredibly happy and excited for them to be down here and for school to start!

Well...I'm just waiting for wedding pictures to come back so I can start scrapbooking. I miss scrapbooking so incredibly much. I just haven't had the time to do anything like that lately, but now that our house is in somewhat of an order, I'm going to be able to start again. I just need pictures!!! The hard part is going to be dividing my time because I'm making my brother and sister-in-law's wedding scrapbook too.......hopefully they will be patient with me!

just one more thing

hmmmm my first blog. I fear this will become an addiction.

I just got married about a month ago to a completely wonderful and amazing guy named Joel.
I really like to make to him dinner and clean our house.


We both are really excited to go back to school. We discovered that we both really like learning things.

My best friend is Ashley Peak, and she is the most amazing person ever. I totally admire her intelligence, faith, humor, wit, and pretty much everything about her.

I work at a scrapbooking store called Paper Pals. I love it there!!

I suppose that's it for now.