Introducing...

BAILEY ANN ALT!


She's definitely a baby GIRL!!!


Pretty little baby foot :)



Our cute little Princess.


She has her Daddy's personality... sticking her little tongue out at us already!
What a cutie pie.


She is absolutely perfect and we love our little girl SO SO SO MUCH.

$10.43

Yep, that's how much ALL of these cute things were for our little girl!

The giraffe plays a cute song that I am sure will annoy the poo out of me within a week.

But it's for our little girl.

Our LITTLE GIRL.

I can't stop saying that.

AAAAAND I got everything here for $10.43.

Life is good.

If You Wear White Pants On Your Birthday...

You will inevitably sit on something while getting ready.

You will get in the car, and drive far away to your yummy dinner location.

It will be 107* outside, so you will make your hubby check for sweat marks.
*Heck, you are pregnant after all.*

When he checks out your bum he will then say, "It's fine, wait... what is that?? Did you poo yourself?!"

You will be mega embarassed in the Short Pump parking lot.

You will jump in the car and insist that you have not lost control over that bodily funtion. That you must have sat in something.

You will comb the car, looking for the culprit.

Eventually, your hubby will say, "Oh!! Weren't you sitting on that towel while you did your makeup?"

You will realize that you used that towel to wipe makup off of the counter the day before.

Whoops. Hmm... I guess I need to do laundry more often.

You will then spend 10 minutes in the 107* car debating on what to do next.

Eventually you decide to run to Target.
*Oh Target, thank you for never failing me.*

You will sit in the car while your hubby goes inside and attempts to pick out a pair of maternity shorts that are modest, fit, match your outfit and aren't super expensive. All just by looking!

When he comes outside, you will be thrilled that he was successful. And although the shorts are a bit shorter than you'd normally wear... now that you've changed your clothes in the car, under a quilt, on a 107* day, on your birthday... you just want to go to dinner and don't care!

Lesson learned, NEVER NEVER NEVER wear white shorts on your birthday.
And ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have your hubby check out your butt before you leave the house!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

That's right... we're TEAM PINK.

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!

Little Bean looked FABULOUS and is growing right on track! :)
She is breech, which just means I'll get extra ultrasounds to check on her until she moves! :) -And the doctor defintiely thinks she'll move with no problems.
Yaaay!!! We've got lots of pictures to come of our little PRINCESS!! :)

Pink or Blue?!

Here we are already!! Tomorrow morning we have our 20 week ultrasound!!

Is Little Bean PINK?????



Or is Little Bean BLUE?????



Thanks to Betty for being my model! :)



Stay tuned...

Nobody Warned Me...

I'm completely convinced that there is a club for all pregnant women that I wasn't invited to. Nobody told me that cute maternity clothes are a myth unless you are independently wealthy. Or warned me that you will get the flarties at the worst, most embarrassing possible times, (ie: while giving a Relief Society lesson).

I'm 100% sure that there is another hoax/conspiracy going on that nobody has filled me in on.

Please tell me why they tell you to drink INSANE amounts of water...



But nobody warns you...



That in addition to wielding a Flame-Thrower that is tossed up your throat about 8 million times a day (hello heartburn), somehow each sweet little mango giggles as they take away all control over bodily functions. Most importantly at this point... the ever-essential function required to take care of all the excess fluids that are being forced into your body.

Dear Bean:

I know you're worth it. But must you dance on my bladder every minute of every day & night? I love you anyway Sweet Pea. Mommy's going to make an unnecessary bathroom run, 'just in case'.

Just In Time

Who would have thought on this day two years ago... we'd imagine what the future had in store for us?

Never in a million years did I dream that in just two short years, we'd spend our anniversary getting an ultrasound at 20 weeks and finding out the sex of the little Bean that will change our lives.


Never in a million years did I dream that in just two short years, we would be preparing to go to the Temple as a family of three.

What an amazing journey it has been so far, and it is just beginning! I am so in love with my family.

I have been gong back and forth with the lovely company that we went with for our photography/videography at our wedding. I was so happy with the pictures they took for us. The editing was 'ok'. But attempting to get the copies of our DVD's, photos, etc. was practically impossible. Hence, me finally posting our wedding video just four days shy of our second anniversary. Better late than never I suppose.

I LOOOOVE my husband. Just in case anyone was wondering. :)

Heat Wave!

Holy cow it's been hotttttt!!!!!

This is the "WeatherBug" on our computer from Jul 6, 2010.

HOLY COW it's been hot!!! (I couldn't help but say it again!) A pregnant woman's nightmare.

Planning...

As many of you know, since Matt has joined the church, we are planning on going to the temple next spring. It is definitely one of the most exciting things I have ever gotten a chance to plan for. I have been waiting for this day since I was a little girl.

Bruce R. McConkie stated:
"The single most important thing that anyone can do in this world is to marry the right person, in the right place, with the right authority.”

I am beyond excited to be sealed to my wonderful husband for time and all eternity in this beautiful building. We will also have our sweet little Bean sealed to us. Sometimes it's all too much to imagine!! But somehow in the midst of all of the baby planning and preparing to go... my mind wanders to what will happen afterwards. Since our first wedding didn't quite go the way I had planned... I have a few ideas of some fun things to do this go round.

Heck **you only get married once right?!**

When we got married, one of the most important things to me what that I could have pink peonies in my bouquet. They were my mother's all-time favorite flower. And it was super important to me. Unfortunatley, with the timing of the wedding and the color scheme we finally settled on (based on the venue that I wasn't too fond of either...) I wasn't able to have my pink peonies. This time... NOTHING will stop me!!! :)

Since I originally did the 'ridiculously ornate' gown with a semi-cathedral length train, I am going to go for the much more simple this time.

A tea-length white dress (with a shrug of course). Simple, elegant and beautiful.

I wonder if I could simply get this one altered to add more of a sleeve/top. Hmm...

And for a little bit of personality... and simply because I can, I am definitely going to go for a sexy little number like this!! Not every bride gets to show off her gorgeous shoes! Why not make a statement...

Since Matt got to pick the tux for the first-go-round (which he did a wonderful job of, I might add...) this time it's my turn. This is a simple, classic three-piece Ralph Lauren suit that he can wear again and again.

With a spectacular pink tie of course!

And an adorable little addition:

Finally... you can't have a party without CAKE!!!! I adore this set up. I may go for cupcakes, as it's more economical and fun. But we'll see. I may even make the cake myself. I'm thinking homade hors d'oeuvres and a fun little backyard celebration. **Sigh** exactly what I always wanted.

WHO COULD ASK FOR A BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE?! :) :)

18 Weeks!

Your Baby in Week of 18 of Pregnancy:

Your pregnancy back pain may have you tied up in knots, but your baby's getting ready to bust a move. At five and a half inches long and five ounces in weight, she now may be large enough for you to feel her twisting, rolling, kicking, and punching her way around the womb. Plus, she's developing yawning and hiccupping skills (you may feel those soon, too!) and her own unique set of toe and fingerprints.

Your Body in Week 18 of Pregnancy:
Oh, my aching back! If you've uttered those words more than once this week, here's why: Your uterus, now about the size of a cantaloupe, is causing your body's center of gravity to shift, pulling the lower back forward and pushing the abdomen out (so now everyone can see that you’re pregnant!). On top of all that, joint-loosening pregnancy hormones are wreaking havoc on your muscles and ligaments, adding up to one big ouch!
(Thanks whattoexpect.com)

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the size of a sweet potato!) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin, and her ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from her head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.
(Thanks to babycenter.com)

I'm doing pretty well. Definitely starting to enjoy pregnancy. The fatigue and heartburn aren't any fun... but having the belly is something I'm really enjoying! The reason for my crazy emotional outbursts and insane "must-have-blueberry-toaster-waffles" obsession is finally peeking out!

In just one short week, we will have been married for two years!! AAAANNNNDDD... that is the day of our next ultrasound!!! I can't wait until Monday! :) :) :)

**I think that is the ONLY time I will EVER make that statement!!lol**

Slightly Obsessed

Ok, anyone who knows me knows that I have a TINY obsession with Vampire literature. (See... I even capitalized vampire!) I have an issue... I know. I have read TONS of books about Vampires. Everything from Twilight, to the Southern Vampire Mysteries, Anita Blake Novels, Vampire Academy, and I even tried to wade through Interview With The Vampire. (Anne Rice is nuts!)

My conclusions... I still love vampires. There is something enthralling about them. I don't know if it's the danger, the romance... who knows. I just soak it up. After reading the Sookie Stackhouse books, I decided I needed to clean up my reading a bit. So I started some vampire hunting of my own in the Young Adult section of the library.

That's when I ran across these:

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!

They are AAAAAMAZING! The plot line is incredible. The writing fantastic. The love and friendship plot is so intense you really feel so attached to the characters. And I think it's high time there was a Heroine in a vampire book that could really kick some butt.

These are a little different than your traditional "vampire trying to main stream in high school" book. In Vampire Academy the vampires stay hidden from humans, live among their own kind and attend school together. There are two kinds of vampires. The Moroi (good, magic wielding vampires) and the Strigoi (bad, murderous, night-0nly vampires). Naturally they are enemies and the Moroi rely on half-vampire, half-human "dhampirs" to be their Guardians and protectors.

Enter Rose (a beautiful brunette dhampir) and her best friend Lissa (a pretty blond Moroi). The story is fantastic, and there is no way for me to go into any more of the plot without simply gushing and telling you entire story. You'll just have to believe me and read them for yourself.

By the way, you can order the first three in a paperback set for $9.95 here.

As part of my obsession I have been seeing characters in my head who I want to play the parts in a movie. (The rights have been bought!!! I'm hoping late 2011 or early 2012 PLLEEEASE?!)

Those of you who have given in to my begging and read them... here goes my tentative picks.

I do hope that mostly "unknowns" will be cast. And I PRAY that they don't change the plot too much.

ROSE: Maggie VandenBerghe
Beautiful, strong, and a pretty kick-'a' character.
If I hear one more person suggest Megan Fox, I'll scream and never talk to them again.



Lissa: Emily Schaffer
Much more delicate than Rose & possesses a magic that is unheard of among the Moroi vampires.
Ironically enough, she did the main voice for the last 2 audio books in the series. Coincidence?? I think not!


Christian: Adam Gregory
Completely underestimated by his peers and a bit of a trouble maker.



Adrain: Xavier Samuel
The rich boy with a bad attitude & a drinking problem.
I did not choose him simply b/c he was in Twilight.


And ***Sigh****

Dimitri:Jared Padalecki
It's practically impossible to cast someone who is god-like. But Jared is pretty darn close. He's gorgeous and looks good with long hair. What girl wouldn't swoon?


And he looks pretty fabulous in a cowboy hat. Mind you this is conditional on his ability to produce a gorgeous Russian accent. We'll see.
Hey, they do live in Montana and he does like to read Westerns. MMmmhmm.


Yes, I know I have a problem. BUT... once you sink your teeth in (pun intended) you will too!

17 Weeks!

You're 17 Weeks Pregnant. Your baby measures about 4.4 to 4.8 inches from crown to rump and has doubled its weight in the last two weeks to about 3.5 ounces. Fat begins to form aiding heat production and metabolism, the lungs are beginning to exhale amniotic fluid, and the circulatory and urinary systems are working. Hair continues to grow on baby's head and her eyebrows and eyelashes are filling in. You're showing more, with an obvious swelling in your lower abdomen. A five- to 10-pound weight gain (whew... totally don't feel so bad now! lol) is typical by now. You also may be noticing an increase in appetite. (Thanks Webmd.com!)

Your Baby in Week 17 of Pregnancy

My how your baby has grown! She's about the size of your palm, weighs about five ounces, and is developing some body fat (join the club, baby!). Her heart is now regulated by her brain (no more random beats) to beat 140 to 150 times per minute — about twice as fast as yours! What else is up? She’s practicing the survival skills she’ll need at birth — like sucking and swallowing.

I thought this was hysterical:

Week 17 Pregnancy Tip: Snoring

If your partner finds your new snoring habit about as sexy as a hippo in a thong (which, by the way, you're starting to feel like), take heart. The stuffiness that often triggers world-champion snoring is common and temporary, another unexpected (make that inexplicable) side effect of those pregnancy hormones at work (that’s right, even your nose is affected by pregnancy hormones!). Try putting a humidifier in your bedroom, using one of those nasal strips on your nose to open up your nasal passages (doesn't look pretty, but it works for some people), or sleeping on a couple of pillows to keep your head slightly elevated. And if he still complains, buy him a set of earplugs — or banish him to the couch for the night; after all, it's more important that you get a good night's sleep these days.
(Thanks whattoexpect.com for a good laugh!)



The weekly emails say that Bean is the size of an Onion!!! No wonder the weight gain and "showing" came out of nowhere!! An avocado to an onion in a week!! And Bean will be the size of a sweet potato by Thursday! Hopefully on the 26th our little Mango will be big enough to show us the goods!!! Being pregnant is finally getting fun! :) :)

Another exciting pregnancy note... I felt Bean move for the first time yesterday!!! I was taking a much needed Sunday nap (my favorite!) and when I woke up and rolled over... BAM! There it was out of nowhere. I guess Bean really does want me to lay on my left side. :) It was sooo cute! I haven't felt anything since, so I'm guessing it won't be an everyday thing just yet. But when we had our ultrasound last Monday, Mary was amazed that I couldn't feel anything. Bean is rather active, so hopefully the movements will pick up and I'll get to feel it more soon.

The past week or two I've encouraged Matt to read to Bean before we go to bed. Since Bean can hear him now (how neat!). He finally gave in last night and took a big book of nursery rhymes to read. He put his face about 2 inches from my belly and started yelling! LOL What a goofball. I'm amazing Bean didn't kick the poo out of me for being startled. I let Matt know that Bean can hear him when he speaks in a normal voice and doesn't need to be hollered at. He or she isn't misbehaving quite yet! :) I have an awesome husband, and a pretty rockin baby too. Life is good.

This hippo in a thong is going to hunt down a snack!

What Do You Do...

When you feel like one more day at work might actually make your head explode??

GO TO THE BEACH!!!!



So that's what we did. Jen and I took Friday off from work (I took Thursday too and it was SPECTACULAR) and decided to head to the beach. Since she had evening plans, I had the bright idea to go to Yorktown, Va. It's not quite as far as Virginia Beach and I hadn't been there in years. What a GREAT IDEA!!!



It was every bit as beautiful and uncrowded as I remembered.



We layed out on snuggly beach towels, drank Kool-Aid, read Vampire Books, and enjoyed soaking up every moment. If holidays and the 4th of July are an ice cream sunday...
then this was the yummy dollop of whipped cream and the cherry on top!!



Of course we can't do the beach like 'normal' people. "Sand-wiches?" YUCK! No thanks. So we brought plates, silverware, cups & cloth napkins!!! Classy girls here!



Sooo yummy. We had so much fun!! We definitely need to do that again soon. I love the secluded beach and the tiny town atmosphere. Perhaps I will take another vacation day soon...

As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free...

What a wonderful 4th of July we had this year! It hasn't fallen on a Sunday in years, and it was so special to get to celebrate at church! Just like every year, we went down to Colonial Williamsburg to see the Fireworks. It was spectacular, just like always! It's such a fun tradition, I was so excited to get to share it with Bella this year. I'm not sure if we'll be able to go next year, with a seven month old (yikes!) but we'll see!




I decided to do Bella's hair for the occasion! How adorable is she??



Waiting, waiting, waiting... The 95* weather wasn't too much fun, but we still had a blast!

She was sooo excited!

Still waiting...


Then the fireworks started... She did NOT like the loud noises!!!


It took a few minutes, but Matt calmed her down and she was yelling "Boom" right along with each one!






The fireworks were beautiful as always (and my old camera didn't come close to doing them justice...) but it was a wonderful holiday anyway! I love my family!

This has always been my favorite "Independance" Hymn, and I couldn't resist sharing!

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible, swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat.
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer him; be jubilant my feet!
Our God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me.
As he died to make men holy,
let us live to make men free,
While God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
"Battle Hymn Of The Republic" Hymn #60
Julia Ward Howe