Surprise!

Wednesday night, 9:08pm, sitting down to watch Indiana Jones

"Mmmm, Jon, do you want me to make you carmel popcorn for the movie?"

"No, but will you make some for this weekend?"

"But why? Just to have?"

"Yeah, for your birthday....er like if we go to a movie or something..."

"Just to have? Like we are going to carry a big bowl of carmel popcorn into the movie theater."

"... Can't a guy just crave some carmel popcorn? And will you make a full batch? No half-batches..."  

Friday afternoon, 4:32pm, (we were supposed to have left for our "surprise birthday date" by now).  Jon comes running up the stairs panting,

"Lis, do we not have any pancake mix?"

"Pancake mix? Why do you need pancake mix for our date... are we having a sleepover tonight?"

"Yeah, so will you pack the toiletries? And a change of clothes." and he takes off back downstairs... I think I saw a gleam of sweat on his forehead.

I knew something was up, but I didn't know what until about 6pm that night. Jon took me to Deer Valley where to my surprise, we unloaded a car-full of food and overnight stuff into a sweet condo overlooking the valley. To make the surprise getaway even better, Jon had invited some of our friends to join in the party and have a big sleepover. The next day we went shopping at the outlets and got together with our families. All in all, it was a huge surprise, and a really fun weekend. My husband really out did himself this birthday, how did I luck out? Thanks Jon, I loved it!

A New Obsession

I closed the book on recording my photos and journaling about them (a glorified way of saying the dreaded word, scrapbooking) for a time when school and work took the front seat in my life. I had the goal of catching up when life wasn't so crazy (don't we all hope for those moments, but they never seem to come?). 3 years went by, and still no progress in the record- keeping area of my life. Well my friends, life right now has taken a turn, and suddenly I have a few extra hours in my days, and I have turned back to my goal of catching up. The past 3 weeks I have done an entire year of our lives... I thought I would share a couple of pages that bring back fun memories.

I have a friend who designs digital scrapbooking images and I have gotten some ideas and downloads from her. This is her, Natalie Malan's, scrapbook blog. 

I still have 2 more years to catch up on, so here goes...

September

One Saturday evening we drove through the mountains and here is what we found. 

My favorite season is here in full swing! There really is nothing else like it, I love the mountains. Jon and I are loving the first autumn of our lives that we haven't spent at school (minus Jon's two mission years in Argentina). NO HOMEWORK, EVER. At least for me. Jon has started studying for the GMAT that he is taking in November, and then he is applying for grad school. 

Before and After: baby girl Crosby's nursery. We chose a bright yellow to go in her room, and the rest of the nursery plans are in the making... literally. Both of her grandmas are beginning their projects... quilts, bedding, and curtains. This is one more part of preparing for a baby that I am totally excited about.

The real proof

I already knew that there was a baby inside of me... I've had 3 ultrasounds to prove it, watched her move and seen her progression. I've listened to her fast little heartbeat each month, and my profile is getting pretty thick around the midsection. The evidence is perfectly clear that I am really pregnant, but it has all been surreal until now. 

There really is no way to describe the feeling that I am going through to anyone who hasn't felt it before, but it is SO COOL. I can feel her doing somersaults. I can feel her stretching out her arms and legs... it feels like someone is nudging me from the inside. I finally believe that she is REAL. 

So now I am in. No more resenting the growing body that I have always feared. If I get to be in charge of this little baby girl from now on, bring on the bigger clothes and the constant nudging.

Home

Well, today ended the long summer of vacations. I am FINALLY home to stay.  This summer we went on the usual family vacations... Henriksen's to Lake Powell and Crosby's to Newport Beach. But we also added in a few extra trips to California... and by a few, I mean four more. Each was in support of a family member's graduation, wedding, and birth of a baby. We are glad that we were there for each event, but the drive to and from California has become far too familiar in such a short period of 3 months time.  And our new home in American Fork has become far too unfamiliar. It feels so good to be back. Here are some highlights...

Our last night at Lake Powell on the way to the sand hill, sometimes we have too much fun together. Michelle and I survived the heat as the 2 pregnant ladies on the trip with Dad's frequent use of the AC. I finished my first trimester there, and started feeling a better once we got home from our family vacations.

and back to Newport Beach...
Jon and Aaron, best buds for life! Congratulations Aaron and Lindsey!

Welcome to the world, baby Jenna Juli Neilsen! Congratulations Michelle and Scott!

She is a PERFECT little newborn, always on best behavior! I loved spending the week taking care of her with Mom and Juli. Now that I am feeling a lot better, it made me so excited for my own baby. Seeing my sister all stapled shut made me realize that I'm glad I still have 4 1/2 months to prepare for all of the labor and delivery stuff... eek!

But who wouldn't want one of these for their own? AH! This is what I'm excited for...

Pretty Pretty Princess

This is my first post (maybe last), but I think it is a special occasion. As of yesterday, IT is now a girl! We are very excited as you might be able to tell from our FIRST outfit. Many believe in certain, what some may call fortune telling, tricks to find out the gender before modern technology. We had heard of several different techniques. Chinese calenders, rings on strings, frequency of intimacy, even our nurse gave us an 80% promise that it was a boy due to the heart beat at 14 weeks. One thing we have figured out though, is that you can trust technology. Wait for the ultrasound. From Jon

We are going to have a baby

YES, it is true! Our baby is due February 7, 2009 which makes me almost 15 weeks today. We find out Monday, Aug 25th what we are having, and we ARE SO EXCITED!

So the question is, what do you imagine Jon and I being parents of first... a little JJ running around, or a mini-Lisee? 50/50 chance that you will be right, so what do you think?