Oregon

This past week I had a chance to spend a little more time in Oregon with my family. It is always fun to visit, but time is especially precious to us now with dad being sick and our new baby on the way. It's an interesting balance we're learned to strike between the highs and lows of life. We continue to learn to recognize God's presence in both and to acknowledge His hand in it all. While I was up there my siblings continued to amuse themselves with my growing belly. Sadie received many rubs and pokes and Kendra and my cousin Michaelah even spent some time practicing for when she arrives. Although I'm not sure that I'll be leaving her with them anytime soon. :)

One of my favorite things about Oregon in the summertime is all the fresh fruit! I especially love the blackberries that grow around my parents' dairy and am so glad that I was able to bring back what I picked on the airplane.

Finally, on my last day there Dad surprised us by requesting to take a trip outside to see what the boys were up to. Robert started building a new barn a little while back, Ryan purchased a new welder which he is putting to good use making all the stanchions and gates for the barn, and Mom, Grandpa, and Caleb have been working on getting a garage ready for the winter. Dad has been so worn out over the past few months that he hasn't felt up to getting outside at all recently so this was hugely encouraging to us. These are the little moments that have become anything but little to us. They are the moments that encourage us on and remind us to be so thankful for every "today" that we get to spend together.

2nd Trimester Photos

My brother Robert asks me almost every time we talk how big I am, well all my brothers ask for that matter. I think that they are secretly wishing and hoping that by the end of my pregnancy I am enormous! :) I on the other hand am not wishing the same thing although it has been fun to have a visual reminder of Sadie's presence as well as all the kicks and pokes that tell me she's growing bigger and stronger every day.

Week 20

Week 24

Week 28

Fun Projects and Messy Projects

Brandon is on to the kitchen and is currenly in the demolition phase. Yikes! What a mess! However, I'm learning that this is the process of things in a fixer-uper. Sometimes life has to be messy and crazy before it can get to where we want it to be.

Meanwhile, I have been working on a few fun projects of my own. I got a sewing machine last Christmas and it has been in the box ever since. However, with some time on my hands this summer I decided to get some use out of it. First I made this cute nursing cover.  For a first project it was super easy and fun! I actually made 3 of them over the course of about a day. Then feeling a little more confident I moved on to making curtains for Sadie's room, that's what we've decided to name our baby girl by they way. My friend Melinda and I found a great fabric store in Anaheim called M & L Fabrics. Their prices are similar to JoAnne's but they have so many more choices. It was actually a bit overwhelming at first but we found fabric that matched Sadie's bedding and I can't wait to go back.

Our Family Room

Another room successfully completed. The kitchen is next. Yea!!!! 

1. First Brandon refinished the hardwood floor in this room. 2. Then he widened the opening between the kitchen and family room. 3. Next he reframed the the new opening. 4. Finally we finished painting and started decorating.

Go Angels!

On Monday Brandon and I got to go and watch the Angel's play the Rangers. Brandon got the tickets from someone at work and we knew they were good seats but I for one didn't realize how good they were until we got there. We were in the very front row, field-level. It was a lot of fun and we couldn't get over how close we were to all the action.