Here it is folks! 16 weeks along. I'm looking forward to my belly getting nice and round in the coming weeks. Right now I'm in the stage where look like I just finished off a nice steak and baked potato! But I guess the baby is just about the size of a small potato. I actually have started to feel a little bit of baby fluttering. Kinda like butterflies in the stomach. :) I'm doing pretty good, I'm finally feeling relief from the morning sickness, and I'm oh so happy about that. I'm starting to feel the awkwardness in bending and sitting... and having problems when I sneeze! ha ha... Only women who have been pregnant know what I'm talking about. ha ha So embarrassing..
Here's a picture Jada drew for me. It's a picture of me holding the baby.
Here's another picture she drew. It's a picture of our family, including the baby. She drew a circle around the baby... maybe because it's still in my belly. She loves to kiss my belly and sing songs to the baby. She's going to be such a great big sister.
Here's baby #2's first ultrasound. Can't believe I'm going to be a mother of 2... YIKES.
A friend of mine recently released his first music album. He's a fantastic piano soloist, and compiled a beautiful arrangement of LDS Hymns that is unlike any other arrangement you've probably ever heard. He has a unique New Age style that adds a very beautiful flare to the Hymns. His style is similar to David Lanz or John Schmidt, if you're familiar with their music. I just wanted to post a link to tell him congratulations and for my friends to check out his website. Check out the song of the day. I think you'll love it!
Today is my dear ole Dad's birthday, so if you're reading, I just want to say Happy Birthday Dad!! I miss you! The other day my brother sent me a video clip of this guy who plays amazing jazz/blues on the piano. This guy has the same name as my brother - so he said that this is what he'd look like in 40 years if he had inherited my dad's piano talent! This will give you an idea of what my Dad plays like.
My dad is an amazing pianist and loves to play jazz. Watching the clip brought back so many memories watching my dad play his keyboard, and him teaching me the basics of jazz piano! I miss that so much. Growing up our home was filled with music. Either my dad or one of us five kids plunking away at the piano or someone singing along with the piano. These days, my home is only filled with music if the radio is on or if I have a free minute to sit down at the piano. So I really do miss that! One of these days, Dad, you need to send me some video clips or put them up on youtube so I can see you play!
My Dad lives in Hawaii, so I don't see him very often. (But I have to say, it sure is nice to have that excuse to go out there to visit him in paradise!) But we sure miss you very much. Last night Jada was looking at some family pictures and asking me who everyone was. She pointed at Grandpa, and I said, "That's my dad, and he's your Grandpa." And she said, "Yea, he likes to play with me." And I said yes he does. And then she ran away, and brought back a doll. And she said, "Grandpa gave this to me!" And I was floored! I could not believe that she remembered that. Last October he came for a visit, and she remembered that he played with her... (he really is an awesome grandpa. He'll spend hours playing blocks, and stuffed animals with her). And she remembered the doll that he gave her. So I guess he made quite an impression with her!
My dad always did fun stuff like that when we were kids too. Our tooth fairy's name was "Bob" and he'd leave the most hilarious notes and gifts in exchange for our teeth. My dad made up the funniest and craziest stories, and was always so believable. He wasn't afraid to make a big mess in order to have fun. Once we had a huge water fight and because we were in and out of the house so much, the kitchen floor was nearly flooded! He had the most interesting game of hide-and-go-seek ever. He would hide, and then tap the walls. We'd chase the sounds all around the house, but for some reason we could never find him. When he came out he told us he was hiding inside the walls and had a secret access that only dad's could go into because it was too dark and scary for kids. And he would tell the most fantastic story of what it was like walking inside the walls. And we totally thought our dad was the coolest.
One last favorite memory of my dad. I remember I was a little afraid of lightening and thunder as a kid, so one stormy day, he helped me to realize that the lightening and thunder were really cool! I was probably 3 or 4 - we had a carport, and we went outside and sat on the hood of the car and he taught me that the thunder would come a few seconds after the lightening... and we just sat and counted how long in between the lightening and thunder. I just thought it was the most fun thing in the world to sit out in the rain... and totally cured the fear too!
*Here's a picture of my dad. Peter Gabriel is his celebrity look alike! I think if he grew a goatee he'd look like his twin.
Well, we miss you very much Dad! Hopefully we can get out there soon, or get you out here for a visit. Hope you have a GREAT birthday!
Today Shane and I just finished our first triathlon, and it all went pretty darn good. This is a picture of me running the last 1/2 mile of the race to the finish line (I'm the one in back). Here's a new pic! I didn't realize that Shane also caught me on his phone coming in on my bike.
We've been looking forward to and training for this since about May. Shane's done really great with his training.... me not so much but for good reasons! My training these last 8 weeks have been pretty hit and miss... but I'll tell you what. I'm really glad that I've had this little race to motivate me to at least exercise a little through this first trimester. It's been a really rough with the morning sickness! I really don't think that without this to look forward to, and without Shane's encouragement, I would not have even got up and gone for a walk probably! There have been many times I haven't wanted to exercise these last 2 months, but I've always been glad when I just do. I have found that it makes me feel so much better.
So, as for the race, Shane rocked!! He finished at a time of 1:37. Me.. a much slower and steadier 2:23! I just kept chuggin along.. one arm, pedal, or foot in front of the other! But I'm really glad I decided to do this race. It really was fun and glad I finished!
Okay, a few interesting things that happened that made it a little more eventful! My strap to my goggles broke about 30 seconds after I started swimming. My goggles were getting some water in them, so I quickly tried to tighten it, and it snapped! So instead of the american crawl I ended up doing the side stroke, the back stroke, and modified breast stroke to keep my face out of the water. At first I tried just swimming with my eyes closed, but it was too unnerving not knowing where I was. But fortunatly the swimming portion was the quickest part of the race and the humiation didn't last too long!! :D
Next, the biking. I did train some on the bike, but not nearly as much as Shane did. And it pretty tough for me. It was extreme rolling hills the first 14 miles. The last 2 1/2 were flat but a really bumpy road. My training was either pretty flat, or on my bike trainer in our home gym. So, it was pretty tough. I probably got passed by at least 100 bikers! Oh, but I have to say... the racers and spectators were so nice! So many people said, "Keep going, you're doing great!!" And I love it, because they have no idea if you are really doing great... but I realized that "great" is just being there and participating and to just keep going. I needed those kind words and encouragements so many times!! They really boosted me up during the race and got me though. I loved it!! I have to say, I'm most proud of finishing the bike portion... it was definitely the hardest part for me.
The running was much better, fortunately. The first mile my legs felt like pure JELLO!! They felt so weird after you get off a long bike ride and then try to run. It's kind of like trying to run after your legs have fallen asleep. It's so weird and very hard! But after the first mile, my legs finally felt good and I kept a good pace and even passed a few people! (only a few though! :D)
But this is something we'll definitely do again. Hopefully we'll get some more pictures up later. Shane got done before me, so he grabbed the camera and found me at the end. So that's it for pics for now. But camera crews took pics along the course and we'll probably get them in a few weeks. I still haven't put up my 1/2 marathon pics! Guess I need to do that too.
And tremendous thanks to my friend Becky who watched Jada for us overnight last night and 1/2 the day today! You rock! Thanks for your help. Okay, I'm out, time for a nap!
Can you believe, I'm actually posting something on here? Goodness, I've been meaning to forever! I'll be amazed if anyone still checks my blog by now!
But thanks for the congrats Devri!! You are such a super sweet friend. Yes, we are pregnant. I'm about 11 weeks now. Morning sickness is kickin my rear right now, but hopefully in a few more weeks it will all be over! But yea, being on the computer makes me nauseous for some reason?? Not sure why!
I have an ultrasound pic and a cute drawing that Jada made of mama holding the new baby that I need to post! She's so excited... and hoping for a sister. Shane's hoping for a boy of course! Me... I'm just glad there's no chance of both of them getting their wish! (Only one baby in there :)
But love to you all, sorry I haven't checked your blogs! I'll be more with it soon!
Hey guys! Yea I know it's been over 3 weeks since I've been on here. I have so many things to post. I'm doing some decorating, and I'm wondering if any of you know any local people who do sewing? I have some really simple projects such as sewing valances and basket liners, but I just don't have the patience to do them myself, sad to say! Do any of you guys know anyone who sews part time / on the side?
