Experimentation Inspiration

Tonight we went to the temple and had a wonderful time feeling the peace, beauty, and awe that resides in and around that marvelous building. We shared new insights we'd received with each other and discussed the symbolism in the temple and the temple's role in our lives. We also marveled at how grateful we are to be sealed as a family eternally... The temple really is such an escape from the crazy busy world we live in, and better than that-- it's a glimpse of REAL life. :)

After we got out of the temple I noticed my mouth feeling extra dry and warm. Sam thought a couple small Chick-fil-A Icedream cones would be a great solution. I agreed. So we found the nearest one in American Fork and headed on over! As we approached the menu, the chicken nuggets screamed "Don't forget me!" So we splurged a little and got an 8 piece to share (they're teeny). The cashier asked if we wanted any sauces with our chicken and Sam piped up (not surprisingly) "Can we have all of them?" That was a great choice, my friends. Who knew a little fast food chain like this could have such an extensive, delicious and amazing sauce collection?! Polynesian, Honey Mustard, Buttermilk Ranch, Buffalo, Barbeque, & the special Chick-fil-A sauce. When we got home we opened them all and laid them all out to try... WOW. I can honestly say each one was amazing with the chicken. We're even tempted to ask them how much a big tub of sauce would cost or if they'd even sell something like that to any ol' customer, because man they were good. The sad part was running out of chicken way prematurely... all the sauces were still mostly full! So Sam decides to substitute with the next best thing: celery.

Clearly, I married a somewhat adventurous man. I love it! He's so enthusiastic about trying new things and I think will slowly pull me out of my shell of "get fettucini alfredo at almost every restaurant I go to"

Then he popped the question, "Would you try it? You've got to try this!"

 I resisted at first but finally gave celery dipped in Chick-fil-A sauce a whirl... and was PLEASANTLY surprised! It was great!

This was his "Holy cow! this. is. GOOD!" face. :D

I am so grateful for such a fun husband who loves to try new things and show me a new world of possibilities! As he so wisely put it, "If no one ever tried anything new, we'd never have so many delicious foods! Think of the people who eat pizza with ranch. I bet the very first guy to try that was ridiculed. But now look!" I have to concur with Sam. .... I LOVE pizza and ranch! So here's to being braver and more willing to experiment!

On the move!

At almost 17 weeks that little bug is an acrobat in there! And sure didn't like the midwife pushing that heartbeat microphone thing into my belly today, haha (150 bpm now). Sue, the midwife, had to move the thing all over following the baby and was chuckling because just when she'd find the baby (the heartbeat was so much louder and clearer this time!), the baby would nudge her back and move away quick! I felt some rolling bubbly flutters (not like gas) the other day while on the couch and a couple different times I've felt some repetitive jabbing twinges low on the right side. After a description of what those felt like Sue was pretty sure that was indeed the baby giving me some good kicks to the side haha. Maybe we'll have a little dancer or athlete?

(I always seem to get bigger at night?!)

Yeah Baby!

So, I know... Big surprise! Nat's like 12 decades behind on her blog again! So much has happened in the last few months, so this'll take a few posts to catch up, so bear with me please! This Summer I have all these goals of things I want to do now I have time to! Sam's in school and I'm just working 20 hours a week, so by noon I am done for the day and home everyday. My summer bucket list includes: reading for fun (Sam and I are reading the 3rd book in the Beyonders series.. so good!), crocheting (I found a cool yarn store in Provo on Center Street I want to check out), practicing piano and singing more, family history (we just took some names for baptisms and confirmations! it's so exciting!), be better at keeping up with dishes (workin' on it :D ), and journal more. I realized this blog is a great way to supplement my journaling, while keeping family and friends posted on events, thoughts, and pictures of our lives. So here goes... I suppose I'll start with the largest thing that's been on our minds the last three months...

Who knew less than a year after this:

We'd find ourselves with a special package on the way like this:

Sam and I are thrilled to have a little one on the way. When I found out I was home alone one afternoon while Sam was still in class. I had been having symptoms for a week or two (eating obscene amounts of ice cream, going to the bathroom every hour, extra emotions, etc etc) and Sam and I had joked about "Oh man, that'd be hilarious if you were pregnant..." But one afternoon it suddenly hit. I should find out. Today. I tried to put it off, thinking those at-home tests are more accurate if you wait till you're a little further along. I tried to dismiss it. But.... to no avail. The longest five minutes of my life inched past as I sat in the kitchen, eating a quesadilla half-heartedly and waiting for the results. TIME! I ran and looked at the test. Definitely a positive. Oh... a positive! WAIT WHAT?!?!? The next hour was filled with pacing, laughing, crying, and praying. I was thrilled! How to tell Sam?! I decided on setting up a scavenger hunt with sticky notes that led him around the house... eventually ending up at the oven. His reaction was priceless when he opened up the oven to find a banana muffin accompanied by a fortune cookie fortune that read "Good news is on the way." Our family members' reactions were pretty great too. Three separate members of my family all asked, "IS THIS APRIL FOOLS?!?!" to which I responded.. "Well.... it's May." Now, a couple months later, it's starting to feel more and more real. Hearing the baby's heartbeat a couple weeks ago was absolutely amazing. 165 bpm. It's an actual human living and growing inside me! Whaaaa! Sam's been awesome, singing and conversing with my tummy, making up songs about our child being nice and not kicking its mommy's spleen too much, and singing primary songs as well. Hahah! At first it was of weird to have someone addressing my abdomen, but it's so adorable now! My mom suggested last month I start taking those classic belly pictures to track how we grow and change. Here are the first two... You can see a TINY difference, no?

<--- about 10 weeks







just under 14 weeks --->






More to come, so stay tuned... :)