Celebrating

- First things first. We are excitedly expecting a baby at the end of March! I had my second check up today and that sweet, steady heartbeat is a sound I could listen to constantly.

• How Owen is feeling: Oblivious, and completely unaware of the drastic way in which his world will change come Springtime.
• How Treavor is feeling: Thrilled. Wondering how we'll handle two kids. He keeps saying "one takes so much energy!" Trying to decide if we will find out the sex. I really had to talk him into having Owen be a surprise, so I always told him the next baby would be his decision. He's thriving off of the little revenge he's getting by keeping me waiting, and not telling me if we're going to find out. I like not knowing what the baby is, but I don't like not knowing if I'm gonna be knowing or not. if ya know what I mean.
• How I'm feeling: Excited, grateful, humbled, nervous, happy the non-stop nausea has come to an end, lazy, tired, moody, and like i could (and do) eat almost everything in sight.

- Owie celebrated a happy happy birthday, receiving the much anticipated "hemet" complete with a jersey and pads. The helmet is big, and spins around on his head, other than that, he's in heaven.

Treavor and my sisters got him cracking up, while eating his cupcake.

- I am about three quarters of the way through The Glass Castle. Thank you Jo and Mal for the recommendation. It is definitely a page turner and I can't stop reading. What a crazy life! It's made me so grateful for my own, and heartbroken for her! Sheesh I feel like a queen after reading about her. I am on the family waiting list for The help. I guess Sophomore reading projects come first. I'll get it after Haylie.

- I love Summer and I might love Fall even more, but what I REALLY love, is the transition from Summer to Fall. It's that perfect open-your-windows-weather again, and I love it so much I can't stand it.

Owie boy

Two years ago, this sweet baby boy came into the world and changed my life for good.

Sometimes I wonder what I did without his playfulness, gentle hugs and strong spirit.

Happy Birthday you big, big two year old! I love you with all my heart!!

Treavy

Happy Birthday Treavor Howard!

Just a few of the things I love about my loving husband, best friend and the sweetest guy I know:

• He's down to earth. To him, People are people everybody's equal. He doesn't treat anyone better than anyone else, and rarely tries to impress.

• His freckles.

• He always has fun, and is up for anything, like sleeping bag stair sliding at the age of 28.

• When it comes to being a dad, well...he's simply the best.

I will forever be grateful for September 10th 1981.

With a cherry on top

We spent last weekend with our fabulous friends who had the fabulous idea of spending the night in Park City. It was a perfect end of school celebration and a fun getaway. The weekend included good conversation over good food, amazing caramel apples, hot tubbing, shopping, my very first massage, a beautiful stormy morning at breakfast that magically turned into an amazingly sunny day, and much needed quality time with Treavor. Isn't it amazing how little time it takes to get completely rejuvenated?! 22 hours to be exact in my case. We took about 3 pictures and this was the best of them. Gotta document right?

Also: The only thing better than leaving a nut-case-two-year-old-boy, is coming back to him.

As for Owen, life is good. He's usually pretty whiny, unless all three of us are playing football as a family. I don't know if the terrible twos are kicking in a week early. Hopefully it's short lived.

Here's where you come in:

Now that the days of required text book reading are over, I'm promising myself that I will read more novels. I feel like I've never really had the time to delve into some really good books, and I'm excited for the opportunity. Will you pretty, pretty please, tell me your favorite book? or list of books, or even just a good book. Chances are I haven't read them. I'll take any genre and (try) any level of difficulty. I'm going to start with The Help, because that's Mally's favorite. My promise to you, is that I will read the book you recommend, and I will report on it. And I'll return the favor by telling you, my all time favorite book is To Kill a Mocking Bird.

This is me shouting from the rooftop!

I PASSED MATH!!!!

Can you believe it?

I almost can't.

But, I did. It's no exaggeration when I say it is nothing less than a miracle. Sometimes I wonder if I even have a left side to my brain.

I passed! Which means I am finished with my degree in Behavioral Science with an emphasis in Social Work. I hope to use it in a career someday, but for now I'm just excited to be a wife and a mom and to get to my "after school ends" to do list like wipe down the kitchen walls and vacuum.

It may be the size of a postage stamp

but, Owen has managed to thoroughly enjoy our backyard this summer! Not a day goes by that he doesn't go to the bathroom cupboard and return with a swim diaper for me to put on him. I'm gonna miss the days of sitting on the steps observing his endless imagination. I love watching him lay down on his tummy and splash like crazy, Cause in his mind he's doing exactly what he sees the big kids do at the big pool.

Helping Grandpa Peters fix the sprinklers.

I've loved this summer so much. Over the last 3 months Owen went from baby to boy. He's as busy as ever and makes my life happy. Here are some updates on him:

No more bottle. It made me sad, but had to be done. We'll hold off on the binki for a while.

He loves trucks. He knows and recognizes the difference between all different kinds. When we're driving he'll sporadically yell out "big rig" or "digger" or "dump truck" or "fork lift".

He loves to sing at night. He'll ask for "tempo", "shine", "beap" or "Gog" ( I Love to see the Temple, I am like a Star Shining Brightly, Sun Beam, and I am a Child of God)

We went to a BYU scrimmage a week ago, and ever since he has been asking for a helmet. We have a little toy helmet that he has been so frustrated doesn't fit him. he'll balance the teeny tiny thing on his head, and gets sad when it falls off. I told him maybe he'll get his own helmet for his birthday. Now he asks for it every morning when he wakes up (must be dreaming about it) and through out the day. "Owie, hemet, white, pease" He has to wait a whole two weeks, and we somehow have to find a white helmet. Any ideas?

Him cracking up

We had a fabulous weekend spent at the farmer's market, playing in the back yard, napping in our beds, enjoying the Orem Owls game, and playing at Grandma Bell's.

These pictures of Owen cracking up, crack me up! He has 7 little cold sores right now, a few canker sores, and tender bloody gums, so there hasn't been much cracking up in the last few days. He displays his sadness and pain through tantrums, and kicking & screaming...it's been hard to remember to sympathize when he's acting that way.

I'm so sorry Owen that I gave you my cold sore genes, and I kissed you way too much while I had my own.

Looking forward to hearing that laugh again!