Sugar and Spice

And  all that's nice. That's what little girls are made of. We found out that we are having a girl! We are so excited. We would have been happy with either one and I am just glad that everything is still going well and on track. 

It was really fun to go to the ultrasound and see our little baby wiggling around. It is pretty obvious that it is a girl. We got a few good shots that made it very clear that it was a girl. The night before we were at the Messenger's and they did the needle test on me. Where you get a needle and some string then hold it over my hand to see what direction it goes in. Supposedly, if it goes sideways it's a boy, if it does circles it's a girl. It was going pretty sideways so they were all convinced it was a boy. Sorry guys...no boy this time. =). When we went to tell my family I had my dad guess what before and his intuition told him it was a girl. Then he did some muscle testing to see and he pretty much knew it was a girl before we told him. =)

So I am now 20 weeks, halfway there! I have been feeling really good, normal not to bad. I am having a harder time putting my shoes on and picking things up off the floor. I am outgrowing some of my clothes and had to get some maternity pants. I found some awesome ones at Ross for only $15! I was jazzed about that. One of my minor complaints is that I tend to have a stuffy nose often throughout the day. Not to bad just annoying when trying to sleep or eat. 

I am getting more and more of a belly and feeling the baby more often. That is one of my favorite parts. It feels kind of like a bubble going by but stronger. Sometimes it feels like a finger just brushed by me but on the inside. =) 

Now that we know we can do something fun with the baby's room. Now that all the blasted fairies are gone in the purple room. She will be a very loved little girl and have her Daddy wrapped around her finger. Justin just melts at the little girls in our ward and neighborhood . 

So now comes the fun part of getting everything ready for her! 

September Happenings

Some other fun September happenings. Jinni, Justin's sister turned 16! Her party got a little slighted with the baby announcement but she was ok with it. She's such a great girl and we love her lots. Since she's legal to date she's been on a date almost every weekend! 

This picture makes me laugh a lot. But she's still cute. =)

Jinni got a fancy tablet toy like Justin and I thought it was funny as we are having a family party and this is what these two are doing. It must be a genetic thing. At least their mouths aren't open like the Stoddards. =)

We all Volunteered to help Jourdan with a big school project that she was a part of. She had an internship at the American Heart Association and worked to put on this big event. There was quite a few different races going on, booths about stroke and heart health, health screening and other fun stuff. It was a pretty fun event. It was pretty awesome to see all these stroke survivors do the stroke walk and trying so hard. 

I told Justin I sure do love Jourdan a lot to get up at 5 in the morning to be there at 6 to start helping. =) It all worked out and we got some free girl scout cookies in the deal so it all worked out. =)

I was being very domestic and made jam with some berries that Justin's Grandma Messenger gave me while we were there. I was nervous about it but it all turned out and they all sealed. I was so glad. We go through jam super fast so it will at least get us through till the end of the year hopefully. I continued in being a domestic goddess and got some pears from my parents and canned them . They really won't last long. I think I made about 10 smaller jars and I think we've all ready had 3 or 4. =)  It was fun and got me excited and wanting to do more, I am excited for apple season to be coming up. 

We are doing really well. Not much to report on the baby issue. I have been feeling really good, going for a walk most mornings and able to get the things done that I need and want to to. I do tend to need a nap around 3-4 in the afternoon. We'll find out what we are having next week! Which all of us are excited about. 

Fall!

Fall has come to the Utah mountains early this year and it is beautiful! I swear I haven't seen leaves this red in a long time. Last year the leaves left something to be desired , but not this year. They are out in full bloom. So because my lovely spouse always bugs me when I suggest going for a hike I went to visit my family in Logan who are always up for a hike. 

The canyon was so pretty. I had to take some shots with my camera while driving. Yeah.....maybe not the best thing to do but. I couldn't help it. It was also a perfect day for a hike. Blue skies, warm, and delightful. 

Around every corner I was like.." Oh wow....that is great", after a while I had to just concentrate on driving. On my way back I saw so many people pulled over to the side of the road taking pictures. It was really pretty with the sun setting. 

When I got to my parents we left to go on a hike to Tony's Grove. That is a great place. It is great in all seasons except winter when you can't get there. It has the prettiest wildflowers in the summer and great leaves in the fall. We were just a little late for the bright yellow of the Aspens that are up there but it was still nice. I told my sister that I wouldn't be a wimp this time and it was a good normal hike. 

I went with my mom, sister, and her boyfriend. I forgot to take any pictures of the group. I need to get better then that. But we had lots of fun chatting, laughing, and enjoying the view. 

I am always amazed at how pretty nature is. How picture perfect is this view!? I am so grateful for such a beautiful place so close. As always we ended the hike with a shake from Charlie's yum. It's been a while since I've had one of those and they never cease to disappoint.=) It was a great day spent with my family and doing something fun since I had to work all the next day. 

Visitors!

For a weekend in September Justin's brother Jayson, and his wife Neha came to visit all of us in Utah. We had lots of fun visiting playing games and eating some delicious food. 

One day the fall leaves were looking really pretty so we went on a little jaunt up in the canyon. We were missing some of our group this day and I kept forgetting my camera when we were all together, darn it. But anyways here are most of the group. 

All the originals.

All the girls.

Almost everybody, we were missing Ben and Tony. 

We had lots of  fun being all together for most of the weekend. Jayson and Neha love to cook so they usually treat us to something that they make. This time they made us savory tarts and a very yummy lemon pie type thing. I can't remember what it's called. It was all very good. Justin said to me, "They like cooking and I like eating so lets go over." True story, =) 

As always time just flew by and they had to get back to San Francisco for jobs and school. We'll miss them lots and see them soon for Thanksgiving. Just so you guys know there are quite a few houses for sale or rent on our neighborhood *wink wink nudge nudge*. =) 

Happy 2 years to us!

Today marks our two year anniversary of marriage! We are still so happy and in love. We've been talking about what we remember in waiting for our wedding day and how it all went. 

We've also talked about how much we've learned about each other and how we have grown to love each other more each day. 

One thing that I have been trying to do more lately is to fill up Justin's love tank. Whether that be by building him up with kind words, or making him feel special, or just kissing him for no reason other then I love him. I have noticed that it has helped us so much. Also I get that same kind of treatment in return so we don't have much to complain about. =)

Justin's been really cute lately and going about doing things for me and then when I ask him to do them he just says, " wiggle your nose" aka bewitched. So I do then ask him to do it again and find that he already did it. 

We have had a lot of changes happen for us this year in a short time and I have relied on Justin so much for support, help and reassurance that everything will work out. 

I know that we'll make it and make it last for forever. That thought keeps me trying and finding new ways to love my husband and show him that love. I am grateful for the sealing powers of the temple and that I can be with my love, my sweetheart, my husband for forever. 

The Big News

Hi all, if you  haven't guessed yet we are having a baby! I am due the last week of February into March and am feeling pretty good. We told all our family last week so now we are spreading the news!

I have been feeling pretty good. July was really hard for me, feeling gross, weak, and tired with a big ole' house to clean. But other then that not too bad. I had an aversion to chicken for a while, the sight, smell, taste.Bleh. Even eggs but that is getting better.Fortunately, I only threw up once, unfortunately it was in an Inkley's parking lot. The first of many embarrassing things to happen to me I am sure.=) I am 14 weeks and almost no sickness unless I go too long without eating.

We are so excited! Justin especially. After we were married two months or so he brought up having kids. I wasn't quite ready then. We weren't exactly planning for right now but are grateful for the fun surprise. At our last appointment we were able to hear the baby's heartbeat and that was really cool. We will be able to find out if it's a boy or girl in October and let you all know!

So we went and told my parents. I made a onesie that says the number five on it since it's my parents 5th grandbaby. They were cute and my mom got all teary. My dad always complains that he's the last to know anything. So we were all together at the table about to play a game and it still took him a while to figure it out. My mom had to say, " Ralph, Alaina's giving us baby clothes." My dad just looks at us. It was funny. They are excited and happy for us.

Then the next day all of Justin's family was over for Jinni's sweet sixteen birthday party. We  thought about waiting till Justin's mom's birthday in a few weeks but my belly is getting bigger and I didn't think I could hide it much longer. It's kind of a long video but it is only a snippet of how excited his mom got. It's the first one on Justin's side so everyone is excited. We got her a onesie that said " Grandma's little peanut on it."

Video below:

Then we told Grandma Michilena, she's so cute. She is a little hard to understand so I'll do a translation underneath.

She starts off talking about something I am not sure then teases Justin about what chair she's sitting on. Then Justin has them both close their eyes and puts the onesie in front of them. She looks at it and says, " Is this for you baby?" Then she tells Jyana that she's next and talks about how it will be her 4th great grandbaby. Then she ends by telling Jourdan no babies yet. She's cute. Justin's mom could hardly stay quiet till they got home the other day.

So there you have it. We are going to be parents. yikes.  It will be good, we feel very blessed and grateful for this opportunity.

Summertime smatterings

Justin got a new toy! He's been hemming and hawing about getting it and then one day he finally did! He got a nexus 7 tablet. It's basically an Ipad but with Google instead of Apple. ( Justin is kind of anti apple. ) 

He's been having lots of fun with it, playing games mostly but also doing some writing. I have been having fun with the games as well. Sometimes...Justin will even let me take it to work. 

This little bro of mine had a birthday and turned 15. He's is getting so big and tall. I used to be able to win any argument by taking him down, I don't think I can do that any more. =) He's a fun and energetic brother. We love him.

This was by our mailbox one day. I love it for so many reasons. The spelling of lemonade, the attempts at how to spell house, and the fact that I have no idea where "lizzy house" is. Got to love all the kids in the neighbor hood. Our neighborhood has been great. We've had our lawn mowed twice by secret service neighbors. We are so grateful. 

My sisters and I worked on one of my mom's summer bucket list items. To summit Mt Timpanogas! It's different then the cave hike, it's on the other side of the giant mountain. It was a really pretty hike, but very long about 6.5 miles round trip. I was surprised by how green everything was in July especially since it was when all the fires were happening. 

Yeah....we were going to go to the top of that bad boy.I was kind of being a wimp and had to take lots of breaks. I was sorely out of shape but we still had fun.

When we got to the almost top we saw cute little mountain goats. Just hanging out. In all my hikes around Utah and other places I have never seen a Mountain goat in real life. So I thought it was pretty cool. By the time we got to this part we were all so tired and really didn't want to summit. But the views were still pretty.

We had fun and were super tired. We came home to an awesome dinner made by Justin. We've been having fun this summer and hope that you have too!