You know you're pregnant when.....

1. You are SO disappointed because that bowl of spaghetti you just ate did not taste like root beer.

2. You make deviled eggs at 10:00 at night (after you run to the store for needed ingredients) only to find out that you don't really like deviled eggs and the thought of eating the 12 you just made repulses you.

3. You can't wait to wash all those baby clothes and on top of that you are thrilled when the clothes are dry so you can FOLD them and put them away!

4. You call clients at work to remind them of their appointment and you get distracted by thinking about how their first name would sound with your last name (still no name yet).

5. You cry at the drop of a hat (this is an obvious one)...not at regular sad things but at ridiculous things such as little kids (some you know....some you've never seen before) bumping their heads in church.

6. Random people touch your stomach as if it is public property. Some even talk to your stomach. Family and friends...great but strangers....really?

7. You think about how you (and your spouse) behaved as children and shudder when you start to imagine what great attribute or behavior your child will have to pay you back and in so doing even out the universe.

This is just to name a few of the little quirks that come with being pregnant. So I haven't blogged in awhile because let's be honest....I just don't have all that much to say. Things are going well. Blake is starting finals this weekend and will be walking on April 22. He won't be done with school until August but will walk in April to avoid missing a few reunions in August. I am still working at Wasatch Mental Health and enjoying it there. We're just getting ready for our little guy to come in about 2 and 1/2 months but other than that life is pretty much the same for us these days. Hope you're all doing well!

Goodbyes

There comes a time in all of our lives when we are forced to say goodbye to the people we love the most. Well in the past three months Blake and I have said two different sad goodbyes.

The first goodbye came January 1st when Blake's dear mother was killed in a car accident.

JoAnn Twitchell Holt was a beautiful and strong woman. She lived such a Christlike life in every way. She was the mother of 14 wonderful children. She had unwavering faith and courage to do what is right. She took everyone under her wing and always supported the underdog. She was a selfless woman who sacrificed so much for her children and grandchildren. We love her so much and are so grateful for our understanding of the plan of salvation that allows us to see our dear mother again.

The second goodbye came March 7th when my 99 year old grandma died in Idaho Falls. She was 3 months short of her 100th birthday.

Beulah Memmott Clayson was a shining example to all who knew her. She was kind and loving and served others with all her heart. She was a wonderful grandma and will be missed so dearly. She served the perfect Thanksgiving and Easter dinners complete with her best china, crystal glasses and silverware (real silver). She always worked so hard and sacrificed everything for her children and grandchildren. She was the best story teller. She would tell us Christmas stories verbatim from memory. She was a delight to be with and I have so many wonderful memories of her and grandpa.

These two beautiful women will forever hold a special place in our hearts. They have taught us so many important lessons. As Blake and I have talked about our upcoming roles of being parents we feel so greatly blessed to have had such wonderful parents and grandparents to teach us how to sacrifice everything and give all you are for your children and grandchildren. Life will not be the same without both of these women but I know that both of them would want more than anything for us to move forward in faith.

Garden Cottage Bed and Breakfast

Last summer I had the wonderful opportunity to work at The Garden Cottage Bed and Breakfast in Cedar City, Utah. It is the loveliest Bed and Breakfast I have ever seen. The Garden Cottage is surrounded by the most beautiful gardens with every wonderful flower imaginable. I was so enchanted with every single room. The husband and wife who run The Garden Cottage are equally as enchanting. They are sweet and interesting to talk to. Each morning they make the most delicious breakfast you have ever seen. This is an experience you do not want to miss out on.

The Garden Cottage is the closest B&B to the Shakespeare Festival. Well, this summer is the 50th Anniversary of the Utah Shakespeare Festival!!!! Lots of fun activites and extra events going on in addition to the 6 fantastic plays in the summer and 3 more in the Fall. You can check it out online at http://www.bard.org/. You can also check out the lovely accommodations at The Garden Cottage Bed and Breakfast at http://www.thegardencottagebnb.com/. If you have not been to The Garden Cottage call and Gary and Diana can set up a tour so you can see it for yourself!

Announcing.....

Little Blake Jr.... That's right...we're having a boy.

I'm hoping he looks just like his dad did when he was little because he sure was (and is) a cutie!

Sugar and Spice? Or puppy dog tails?

The countdown has begun....and since I love chains I made a "countdown 'til we discover our baby's gender" chain. Here it is....10 days!!! We can't wait. We feel like we know what it is and I'll tell you if we're right when we find out for sure!!

Also....I've been getting emails that update the baby's progress each week. Today I got one that compared the baby to a cantaloupe. haha I think it's funny to picture that. We actually had a cantaloupe on hand so I thought I'd share so you can all picture it too...weird.

Curse of the Pharaohs

Well I went to the doctor awhile ago and he said I've got the curse of the pharaohs.........

I'm going to be a mummy!

[He really truly used that joke!]

So I'm 17 weeks along and due somewhere around July 3rd! Blake and I are really excited for this next big adventure in our lives!

Tomorrow Never Comes

The following is a poem shared by Elder Costa in the October 2007 General Conference. Please take this poem to heart and appreciate every second with those you love because they will not be on this earth forever.

If I knew this would be the last time I would watch you sleep, I would hug you tighter. I would plead with the Lord to protect you. If I knew this would be the last time I saw you walk out the door, I would hug and kiss you and call you back to hug and kiss you one more time. If I knew this would be the last time I would hear your voice in prayer, I would record every gesture, every look, every smile, every one of your words, So that I could listen to it later, day after day. If I knew this would be the last time,I would spend an extra minute or two to tell you, “I love you,” instead of assuming you already knew it. If I knew this would be our last time, our last moment, I would be by your side, spending the day with you instead of thinking, “Well, I’m sure other opportunities will come, so I can let this day go by.” Of course there will be a day to revise things, And we would have a second chance to do things right. Oh, of course there will be another day for us to say, “I love you.” And certainly there will be another chance to tell each other, “Can I help with anything?” But in my case, there isn’t one! I don’t have you here with me, and today is the last day we have—our farewell. Therefore I would like to say how much I love you, And I hope you never forget it. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old. Today might be your last chance to hold tight to the hand of the one you love and show all you feel. If you are waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? Because if tomorrow never comes, you certainly will regret for the rest of your life Not having spent some extra time for a smile, a conversation, a hug, a kiss, Because you were too busy to give that person what ended up being their last wish. Then hug tight today the one you love, your friends, your family, and whisper in their ears how much you love them and want them close to you. Use your time to say, “I’m sorry,”“Please,” “Forgive me,” “Thank you,” Or even, “That was nothing,” “It’s all right,” Because if tomorrow never comes, you will not have to regret today.The past doesn’t come back, and the future might not come!