Bless You Joyce Avery . . .

Today at work, an adorable little old lady came in and told me I look ready to explode! Is it weird that her comment made me blissfully happy? Someone thinks I look VERY pregnant. Bless that woman!

Tales of the Belly. . .

Everyone keeps asking for pictures of me and my belly. While it is definitely getting bigger I still am a little embarrassed that I am not showing more. (maybe our little guy is shy) When I tell people or when they ask if I am pregnant they always say "Oh but you are so tiny!" "Are you really that far along?" I am sure they are just trying to be nice. But I WANT to look like a pregnant lady!! oh well! I can feel him in there kicking around all the time, so at least I know that I am pregnant. Enjoy the pics of me and my growing belly!

Kiersten to the Rescue!

Thanks to IM Flash I am left without a husband at night most nights of the week until January. (Thanks for working so hard Scott! What a guy.) One night a couple of weeks ago, I was alone and having a pregnant hormonal day. Meaning I was hysterical for really no reason at all. Kiersten happened to be in town for Thanksgiving and luckily she was brave enough to come spend the night with me. She brought enchiladas (provided by Gwenya), we talked for a while, watched a chick flick, and hit the sack. The next day when Scott had woken up we went for a walk around the neighborhood. It was freezing, but we had a lot of fun!

The REAL High School Musical

For those of you who don't know Disney's High School Musical was filmed at my high school. Amazing right? or not. But anyway East High decided to produce their own High School Musical to be performed at the very place where the movie was filmed. The play received national recognition, not so much for the quality of the play (sorry Erik, it would have been WAY better if you were the lead!) but simply because of the location. Erik played a part in East High's production and we went to see him. I love watching him on stage. For those of you who think you know him, think again. This kid can sing and dance with the best of them. My grandpa was getting such a kick out if it. He loved it.

The Joy of Thanksgiving!

We spent our Thanksgiving in Park City at an incredible cabin that was generously loaned to us by a friend of Linda. The cabin itself was unbelievable and the view was breathtaking. It was so nice to have everybody together in one place again. We had lots of yummy cooking thanks to Linda's culinary skills and Clark's generosity. Amber had surgery the during the Thanksgiving break, but she got sick of just laying on the couch and offered to cut fruit for dinner. The problem was that sitting or standing wasn't an option. So we made her a bed on the counter!! Adri spent the week carrying around her "baby" (aka her blanket) while Sally played Sleeping Beauty. Adri learned how to give Grandma Linda a massage. I don't know who enjoyed it more. Michelle and I compared bellies while she was in town. She clearly wins the belly contest!

Help me with Baby Bedding!

So . . . I am struggling. I don't know what do do for my baby's room!! Please post a comment about the ones you like! Thanks!

Jeremy Comes To Cook!

A tradition is being formed. Jeremy has come the last two years in a row for my birthday to cook an incredible dinner! This year he brought Kody to help and enjoy the cooking party. We started the day at the Asian Markets, getting all kind of ingredients that I didn't understand. The little Japanese lady at the first store was impressed with Jeremy's knowledge and kept asking, "How you know? Where you learn?" It was great. Then it was off to "Emmo" (Emmigration Market) for the pork loin that Jeremy had on special order. Market Street Grill was our last shopping stop. We needed prawns, big ones. Sadly the ones they had were not quite satisfactory to the chef so we had to improvise. Once back in my mom's kitchen the party really got started. We learned how to make gnocchi. It is an Italian pasta made entirely out of potatoes! It was very fun to make. We also made Udon soup (a traditional Japanese workman's soup), magno salad with a lime cilantro avacado dressing, and a Japanese dessert that I can't remember the name of. Thanks Jerem! You are the best! But you already know that!

Once Last Girls Fling with Linda

Before Linda flew back to Texas all the girls got together at Gardner Village to enjoy the Halloween festivities and each other's company. We wandered around the shops, admired the trinkets and clothes, oohhed and aaahhed at the little kids costumes, checked out the funny witches and enjoyed a meal at Archibald's. It was so great to have Linda here for a few days. It felt like home. We were sad to see her leave but know the Texas boys need her too!

I have been tagged . . .

Here it goes:
1. I simply adore my husband - I can't imagine my life without him. He is my everything and I fall more and more in love with him each day. Cheesy but true.
2. I am secretly jealous of pregnant women with big bellies who experience strange pregnancy symptoms (like cravings or swelling) - I feel like I have been a pretty boring pregnant lady. More emotional than my usual self but nothing too exciting.
3. Currently, I am totally engrossed by the Twilight book series - Yes, those are the young adult vampire books. It may sound silly, but they are really addicting.
4. I love the fall - I love everything about it. I love the chill in the air that begs me to put on a comfy pair of sweats and indulge in hot chocolate on the weekends. I love the colors and the smells. I love the atmosphere of the changing holidays - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
5. I absolutely love football - Call me strange, but I love to watch football! I love curling up on the couch with family and/or friends and getting all worked up about the game. It completely relaxes me. I feel like I can let go of everything else when I am watching football. I love to get lost in the game.
6. I can't wait to be a mom - It is terrifying, yet exhilarating at the same time. Some days I feel like I am crazy for trying to be a mom, and other days I can't wait to start this new phase of life. I am excited and terrified for the challenges that are ahead.

So now it is my turn to tag my fellow bloggers! I choose. . . Megan, Capree, Bexi, Nick and Elisa, Tara and Owen, and Katie May. Now you guys have to post 6 facts or habits about yourselves. Then at the end of your post, tag 6 other people and post their names, and then go to their blog and leave a comment letting them know they have been tagged and ask them to go to your blog for the rules! HA!

Belly Progress . . .

I am now twenty weeks pregnant!! How did this happen!! I can't believe how fast the time has flown by! My belly is starting to stick out a little more. I still just look thick around the middle though. The most exciting news is that I have been able to feel our little guy moving around the last week or so. It took me a while to recognize the sensation as the baby moving. It is a strange combination of a tiny finger poking me, and bubbles inside me. I love it. It is so reassuring to feel him moving! There really is a baby boy in there! After our ultrasound Scott and I went out to buy something for our little guy. We bought him a race car blanket, some blue onesies, and a blue hat and sock set! I am so excited we are having a boy.

Bruderer Reunion!!

It was thrilling to be able to spend a little time with Clark and Linda and the rest of the kids. We have missed being able to be together all the time. Although the circumstances weren't entirely planned, or reason to celebrate, (We love you Adam!) we loved being able to be in the same room with each other again. By the time this picture was taken, it was a little late and we were a little loopy. Oh well, it was fun to laugh together!

OUCH! for Amber!

Amber sacrificed her mouth for the sake of research a couple weekends ago. She had her wisdom teeth pulled, but just on one side, they thought it would be fun for her to go through this twice! Her cheek looked extra swollen, but I think that was mostly because we could she her normal cheek vs. the surgically altered one. (For the record, that is ice strapped to her face and a cold cloth on her head to help with the nausea.) April and I got to play nurse all weekend with Amber. It was great. Actually very relaxing. All three of us have been working really hard lately and it just felt incredible and relieving to have an excuse to veg all weekend long. Thanks for getting your wisdom teeth pulled so that we could have a veg out weekend. I am looking forward to round two!

The Final Results Are In!!!!!

It was so amazing to finally see this adorable little boy in my tummy!! There really is a little one in there! He was rolling around like crazy but we got a real good shot of "HIM." Throughout my pregnancy I have really felt like it was going to be a boy, but you never know. The first time I saw him on the monitor I said, "Look! There HE is! Oh wait! I still don't know!" Shortly after that he proved to me that he was in fact a he. It was so reassuring to see him, and know that there really is a little one in there. It was even better to know that everything looked good, normal, and healthy. His heartbeat was strong, his spine was intact and straight, kidneys looked good, bones were there! In the top picture it looks like he is sucking his thumb. We have an ultrasound shot of my brother that is almost identical! They videotaped the whole ultrasound for me so I can watch it on the days that I am doubtful that there really is something in my tummy!

Pumkin Patch!

I think everyone should go to a pumpkin patch and pick out their own pumpkins! There is a huge pumpkin patch on 90th South on my way home from work. Last month I noticed that the once barren field was FULL of pumpkins! And there were tons of people wandering through them with wheelbarrows! So that was Scott and I's date night the other night (Isn't he so handsome! I am so lucky!). We went to the pumpkin patch and picked out our very own pumpkins. It was much more exciting than grabbing one out of the bins at the grocery store! I can't wait to take baby boo with us next year. I decided that this is going to be our new Halloween tradition. I love this time of year!

Conference Weekend

Jason came up to our place and went to Priesthood Session with Scott on Saturday night. They took a trip to a luxurious drive through called Carl's Jr. foll0wing the meeting. Sunday morning the Utah Bruderer clan met up at April's for some delicious French Toast and to watch the Sunday Sessions. It was so nice to be with family and veg out. We all took naps in between sessions. Very relaxing. After the last Sunday session we had a soup buffet which was delicious. Being pregnant and having an unsatisfiable hunger at the moment I had some of everything! To top the night off we played a rousing game of scum! Scott and Jason were clad in matching lounging clothes and looked very macho! I made the girls take a "belly picture"with me for my pregnancy journal. I told them to suck in to show how "pregnant" I am. (So maybe I am sticking it out a little!) Silly I know!