8 down, 1 to go

That's right! Just one month left before our baby girl arrives--we hope. Yesterday was our official one-month-left mark. But that's only because we still go by the due date our fertility doctor gave us over 6 months ago--December 23rd. Our ob/gyn has always said December 24th, but we didn't like that date as much so we stuck with the first one. So if you go by our ob/gyn, today is our one-month-left mark. Either way, it's pretty dang exciting and crazy!

Today I had a doctor appointment, and (as expected) I'm not even 1/2 cm dilated. I have been having A LOT of Braxton Hicks contractions these past couple of weeks but no real ones yet. Our baby is lively and has a strong heartbeat, and we can't wait to meet her!

Back by popular demand, my belly:

Scott took this pic last night. I feel huge, but people still tell me I look small for 8 months along. What can I say? I'm tall, and it's my first baby.

And this is our goal:

I bought this onesie a few months ago as a wishful goal.

Our doctor thinks I will most likely go late. They will induce if I go one week late without progress, but that would be on December 31st--a little too close to the New Year for comfort. Please pray first and far most that our baby girl is healthy. But please also pray that she comes this year--we really need the tax break and have already met our insurance deductible. :)

When do you think our baby girl will arrive?

34th Birthday

Last week I had a full week of fun birthday celebrations.

The Saturday before my birthday, I hung out at Temple Square with these fabulous friends from elementary/high school.

We had a delicious dinner at the Garden Restaurant (complete with these amazing fried pickles) and then watched the Joseph Smith movie.

My actual birthday was pretty low-key. I did some shopping and then worked late, so Scott and I had a very late, very yummy Thai food dinner.

The Saturday after my birthday, I had a little karaoke party with great friends and fam.

Not sure how Robyn ended up on the floor.

Good times!

These beautiful ladies are currently available...

Sam looks like he needs something to eat.

I loved the scrumptious better-than-whatever cake Carla made for me!

One last pic of my adorable twin nephews celebrating their 8th birthday just a few days after my birthday. Super cute!

So far, 34 hasn't been too bad. I was kind of dreading officially reaching my mid-30's, but I really have so much to be happy about. So what if I'm having my first child 5 years later than my mom had her 5th and final child at the age of 29! I'm 34, I'm happy and healthy, I have a wonderful husband, and I'm going to be a mommy soon! Yay! I am SO grateful.

Showered with love (& gifts)

I had 3 baby showers last month. It was great to see many friends and family that I hadn't seen in awhile.

Mission friends shower:

It was an intimate gathering, due to the fact that most of my mission friends no longer live in Utah and that a couple of them couldn't make it. But it was fabulous to be together and reminisce. Thanks Big Al & Lowrey!

Friends shower:

New friends from my current ward.

Friends from work and my old singles ward.

Friends from college.

Friends from my last singles ward.

More friends from the singles ward--plus one friend from high school.

Thanks to Carla, Kate, and Candace for throwing such a fun shower!

Family shower:

I didn't start taking pictures until after many people had left.

Fortunately, my aunt Michele got this picture in the middle of the shower.

My great-aunt, cousin (once-removed), and my grandma.

The shower throwers--my mom and my sisters, Christina and Jana. Thanks tons!

A side shot of me at the shower--31 1/2 weeks along.

Scott and I feel very blessed by the love and support we have received from you all. Thank you so much for everything!

Halloween festivities

Here are some pics of our Halloween festivities this year:

Scott and I carved pumpkins for FHE the week before Halloween. Scott was embarrassed that I put them on our doorstep because he said it looked like a 3-year-old carved them. :)

I had to carve a pickle out of the green on the back of my pumpkin. The seeds we roasted that night were delicious!

As usual, I enjoyed attending my niece and nephews' school costume parade. Faith was a beautiful Chinese/Asian princess.

Clay was M-M-M-Mario, and Cole was a jumping Luigi.

Scott and I dressed up for a party Friday night--thanks to Megan's idea. In case you can't read it, Scott's hat says "Bun Maker."

And this is what my costume says.

Diana and Sam dressed up as party poopers. :)

John and Megan were a crayon and a broken crayon. Thanks for a fun party, guys! Argh!

Jana was a cute cabbage patch doll.

On Saturday night, we had dinner at my parents' house and got to go trick-or-treating with these cute kiddos.

One last pic of the kids after their Fall dance festival at school. Cole & Clay did the Macarena, and Faith did a line dance to "Life is a Highway." Cute!

With Halloween over, I am more than ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

53 days to go...

...until my due date. Yay! It may not seem that exciting to you, but 53 is my favorite number. And I think it sounds like the perfect number of days to wait for this baby girl to arrive. Here's hoping!

Nostalgic road trip to CA

I had been going through California withdrawals for awhile now (hadn't been in 2 years), so we decided to take one last kid-free road trip a couple weekends ago. Scott wasn't so sure about going to Southern California, but I really wanted to show him the place where I spent most of my childhood vacations--Ventura--and he really liked it.

The nostalgia:

As a kid, we always stopped at Barstow Station...

...and Charlie Brown Farms on Pearblossom Highway.

Pure nostalgia--the hazy view of the ocean from my grandma's back deck in Ventura.

The people:

We spent a night in St. George with these crazy kiddos on our way to CA. (Too bad I didn't get a pic of Scott's nieces in Vegas on the trip home.)

My favorite road trip buddy ever--Scottie!

This is a picture of my other fabulous grandma. She died 6 1/2 years ago, and my grandpa died 47 years ago.

This was the first time I have seen the finished headstone.

I got to visit with my uncle and meet my new aunt.

The beach & pier:

I love the beach in Ventura! As a kid I never noticed how cold the water is.

View of Ventura from the beach--hazy but beautiful!

Self-shot on the pier in Ventura.

Watching the surfers in Ventura--one of my grandma's favorite pastimes.

The beach & pier in Santa Barbara--just a beautiful 1/2 hour coastal drive north of Ventura.

The wildlife:

Scott enjoyed tormenting/feeding the seagulls fries on the beach in Ventura.

And we both enjoyed watching this hippie dude walk his pet goats on the beach.

The crazy seagulls in Santa Barbara--just moments after we were practically attacked by them while feeding them fries.

Totally chill pelican on the pier in Santa Barbara.

We saw dolphins in the water in Santa Barbara. Can you see them?

And of course, the food:

Snacks from Charlie Brown Farms--delicious root beer & yummy vegetable and okra chips.

In N Out in Ventura--my grandma loved it, and so do I!

Scott enjoying his first fish taco ever.

Delicious Andria's seafood--a must-eat in Ventura.

And an authentic Mexican dinner. Yum!

It was a wonderful trip (minus the long drive home) and super fun to get away!