My husband ROCKS

So we've had this house since January, and we've gotten some painting and fixing up done- but have had to do it a little at a time for monetary purposes. Ryan worked some overtime for the big boss and they gave him an extra $200 so we decided to use it to buy paint for our biggest problem room, the family room and entry way. It's been long overdue... the room was partially mustard and partially WHITE, so it's nice to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We still have a large portion of the room to finish but Ryan got a good start on it all! We'll need some recruits for the rest. But it looks so good so far! I wish I could help more... but uh, I think I have a pretty good excuse! I picked the colors though... so I guess I kind of helped!

Fire place wall, our "accent" wall.

The Entry Way

We used the accent color on the wall the door is on too.

bird

Ryan here. I chased an ugly bird the other day.

Ryan out!

B.S. is doing just fine...

We went to our 16 week appointment today. We got to hear our baby's cute little heartbeat which was about 140-something BPM (I suck for not remembering the exact number), and he measured me... but he didn't tell me that part. Everything seems fine and normal and our next apt is October 25th! Wait, Oct 25th?! That's like a whole stinkin' 5 WEEKS AWAY! BOOOOOO! 5 weeks feels like a universe away... And I have to admit, both Ryan and I were slightly to extremely disappointed that we didn't get to see little B.S. today. Which I'm not really sure why I expected to be able to in the first place when last time we went he told us we'd have to wait until the NEXT time after this apt. I guess I got to reading too much online and got my hopes up even though I know that even though it IS possible to see what the gender is at this stage- it's just not too common to find out now. So I got myself (and Ryan) all worked up for nothing. But in the end, all I really care about knowing is that the little one is first of all alive, has a good steady heart rate and is growing- which it totally is! I haven't gained any weight back since I lost the 10lbs in my first trimester, but I am sure getting bigger. And I have felt it moving which is fun! Not a lot yet- but it sure didn't like getting poked today by the little machine thing the doc used to listen to it's heart! It kicked or something right when he was poking me! It was cute! It's a really cool and unusual feeling.

Oh and I don't know about all you other prego people out there in Blogland, that have this wonderful symptom, but my nose has been stuffy! Not having a cold or allergies stuffy, just stuffy. And it's ANNOYING. Everyone at work thinks I'm sick or something.

Okay, enough baby talk...Heather OUT.

Reasons To Love Ally

She's DANG cute...

She's entertaining.

(I HATE my laugh in this... just ignore it...or pay attention to it since I brought attention to it just now...crap...)

And she is a little snuggle bear.

What's not to love?! She's a fun friend to have around. Can't wait to see how she and the baby will get along.

Our Pregnant Bellies
from the top of the falls Silly Kids Ryan & Ashley
We went to Amicalola Falls State Park today with our Ashley and well, the hike up to the falls was just too much for all of us for a number of reasons, but let's just say it was too late in the day. So we found the road that you can actually DRIVE to the top of the falls, duh... so we just did that instead and spared ourselves the 600 and something stairs! It was sure beautiful though and relaxing to be in the nature.
Then on the way home in the middle of the country we stopped at THE CUTEST pumpkin patch (Burt's Pumpkin Farm) and walked around! I loved it! I decided right there and then that was going to be a tradition with the Smith Family. A trip to the falls and then to the pumpkin patch to get a couple of pumpkins and other goodies they have there. They even had hay rides and tractors and it was just fun. I've always wanted to go to a pumpkin patch like this so it was WAY exciting to find one! They had GINORMOUS ones and little itty bitty ones, white ones, gourds, pumpkin bread, popcorn, apple cider- it was just fun! We were there a little too early to get a pumpkin yet- but maybe we can go back. Again, I just sure do love the Fall! It really was a fun day. And it gave me more reasons to love Georgia!

I got this lucky shot...

Atlanta Georgia Temple

Piedmont Park, The City, Ryan and Michael and Lori

I'm a Sleepy Bear

Why is it that almost every time I tell someone that right now I need AT LEAST 10 hours or more sleep, they're surprised? I'm pregnant for Pete's sake! I'm working, eating, sleeping and moving for 2! And not only that, but the little one is constantly growing and needing nutrients and health even more than I do! The reason why I'm so tired TODAY is because last night we went with Michael and Lori to Piedmont Park, which for those of you not familiar, is a really cool park smack dab in the middle of downtown Atlanta that has baseball fields, dog parks, fishing, grilling and playgrounds, and lots of green space among lots of other amenities. We went to Improv in the Park and got our blankets out and enjoyed the WONDERFUL cool night air. However, it didn't start until 8 and we didn't get home until 11pm. And although it was worth it and LOTS of fun, 11pm is about 2-2 1/2 hours past my bedtime! And on top of that I was already pretty exhausted yesterday from not sleeping so great the night before. My sciatic nerve is not my friend right now.

I'll post some pictures tonight. I don't have many- but I've got a cool video of the city skyline and moon.

I liked today's LDS Gem

"[The Lord's] sweet assurance . . . can guide you and me--in our time, in our day, in our lives. Of course, we will face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God's approval. Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully, but also as a determination to live decently.
A moral coward is one who is afraid to do what he thinks is right because others will disapprove or laugh. Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well."

(Thomas S. Monson, "The Call for Courage," Ensign, May 2004, 55-56)

okay, so I read this one wrong the first time and got 0%! yikes! it's fun though, it only took me one more try to get it... once I really read the directions!
http://www.njagyouth.org/colortest.htm

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

Oh what a beautiful day! Seriously, yesterday and today have been BEAUTIFUL days! There's a perfect breeze, the temperature is nice and cool but not too cold, the sky is blue with out any humidity in the air. I LOVE the Fall, despite Ryan's uncanny dislike for this time of year. Mostly because that means his days of working out in the cold are coming... which I understand. But I still love when the weather becomes bearable again and the leaves start to change and the breezes are so pleasant. I love the different holidays that the Fall ushers in, it's like a lead into the fun times! But I already discussed this last year. This year my goals are to go to a corn maze, for us to carve pumpkins, to get some Halloween decorations, hopefully pull off our surprise Halloween costumes, do some outside activities like campfires or camping in general. Things like that.

The weather has given me a renewed sense of energy... I guess being in my second trimester helps too. So I made homemade cookies today! Don'tchya wish ya had sooooooommmmmmeeee?????

I took the recipe from Better Homes and Gardens cookbook and just took out the shortening part (mostly because I don't have any, but think it's too much) and they turn out perfect! YUM!

It's official

I have ANOTHER headache. See the thing is- I am not a stranger to headaches, and bad ones at that. Before I got pregnant- I had them FREQUENTLY, and by frequently I mean like 2 or 3 times (or more) a week. BUT I guess Heavenly Father was graciously sparing me from this constancy in my life through my first trimester because I never really experienced one of my "bad" headaches then. But Monday and again today, I've had "one of those headaches". The kind that feel like they could turn into a migraine at any time? Yeah, "one of those". I think it could be either how I'm sleeping or my pillow situation. Or lack of sleep... or just being pregnant! Or it could be that I've had too much sugar today and not enough water too. It sucks though, because honestly Tylenol does NOTHING for my headaches. Heck, 4 ibuprofen barely touched them when I wasn't pregnant. So I basically just have to deal with the pain. I broke down and took the advise of many comments on pregnant friend's blogs made by mothers who bought body pillows to sleep with during their pregnancies. I bought the most unobtrusive one as to not kick my hubby out of bed. It's a little strange looking and hope I understand how to use it correctly, but I am pretty excited about it and hope it will help lessen the headache situation! Or at least help me sleep more comfortably, especially as the pregnancy progresses! Should ship pretty soon!

Other than that- I have been feeling a lot more energy in general. Although it comes in spurts. I haven't been as nauseous, the last time I threw up was almost two weeks ago- so that's promising. Although I'm not counting on it never happening again. I've been craving pickles. I've been feeling the need to munch all the time. I feel hungry A LOT. I still can't eat a lot in one sitting though. I do get full really quick. My next doc's appt is in two weeks and I'm anxious to see where my weight is at and if we'll get to hear the baby again. My pants are getting tighter and I'm getting more and more self conscious because I honestly think people can't tell if I've just gained more weight or if I really am pregnant. I feel the expanding and Ryan notices it too. But he seems much more excited about it than I am right now! I'll be more excited when you can really tell! I also really just can't wait until I can feel the baby and I am super excited to find out what it is which wont be happening for another 6 or 7 weeks, sad. I guess that's not that long considering how quickly the last three months have gone. Okay, that's all for now. I hope not all of my blogs feel like prego postings.

It's very unusual for me to remember what I was doing EXACTLY one year ago to the date let alone 6 years. But for the obvious reason of this being the "anniversary" of 9/11/01, I wanted to document what I was doing and how it affected me.
At the time I didn't have my own car, and my friend Ryan W. had lent me his Jeep to drive home to my dive of a basement apt in Orem, UT the night prior. I had to go pick him up pretty early in the morning so I could take him to work and on the way there was listening to 107.5 The End (which no longer exists) with Chunga and Mister (who do still exist) when Chunga announced that a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center buildings in New York City. I, of course, did not believe him, because he's a joker and can never be taken seriously. I just thought it was one of his stories that he told. They cut to music and I merrily went on my way to Lehi, enjoying the fresh morning air blowing through the open Jeep with no top or doors on.
I got to Ryan's house and as I approached the top of the stairs to his family room, he said "get up here, did you hear about this?" and right then we watched on the news the second plane fly into the second Trade Center tower. I couldn't believe my eyes! I thought this had to be a mistake! What was wrong with the pilot?! Did they miss the airport and not notice a large building in front of them? I was confused; heart broke for all of the people on the plane, and for all of the people who had just arrived to work for the day. I called my mom in Logan to see if she had heard, and neither she nor my dad knew anything about it. I told them to quickly turn the news on and hung up.
I don't remember what happened for the space of the next couple hours until I got to work at Fotogenix in the mall and had to go into my darkroom to start the up the machines so the chemicals could warm up enough for me to start the responsibility of printing the portraits I was in charge of. My job was easy, but being in the dark all day and that particular day listening to the radio and sad stories and speculations of what happened and why- not only in NYC but in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon, was depressing me more than usual. I had to leave, I couldn't be there alone in the dark anymore. I remember leaving work early with out getting in trouble- and I think it was because basically the whole mall shut down on that horrible day. I remember going straight home and I literally sat on the floor (mostly because we had no where to sit at our apt) and watched and recorded the news for the rest of the day.
I listened to the stories of the men on one of the planes who tried to fight to survive knowing that they were putting their lives at risk but were willing to do so to save their fellow passengers. I listened to the wives of some of the passengers who talked about getting phone calls and hearing their last goodbye and "I love you" from their beloved husbands knowing they'd never see them again. I was so saddened by the people that were forced to jump out of the building and wondered what compelled them to take that action, and also wondered what I would do given the circumstance. I was saddened for the people who didn't know if their lost ones had made it or not, I was saddened for the people who had to walk and walk to find somewhere to get medical treatment, I was saddened for the people who had to give those people medical attention in such horrid circumstances. All of them, in my mind, were heroes to me. I couldn't and still can't imagine having to go through such a grim and frightening ordeal.
I don't know that I'll never forget that day- not only because of the severity of the attacks but because of how real it made life seem all of a sudden and how unsafe I felt for a moment in time in my own country. I cried a lot that day, overwhelmed by the sadness and destruction. I'd never experienced such an awareness of people who weren't in my own little world and my bubble.
I think today I'm affected by it because I'm now married and have a little one on the way- and the thought of losing my husband makes me so deeply saddened. The thought of losing ANY of my loved ones makes me feel so somber.
I can’t imagine how difficult it is for those who were directly affected by that day, because I know that it wasn't just one day. I know that day will go on and be relived forever. And I pray for comfort in those people's lives. I know that even though I sat and watched it all happened on the television and wasn't actually there, that it had a huge impact on my life. I was and am so grateful that I was safe and that no one I knew had been hurt or killed.

Am I the Only One...

that would be PERFECTLY fine if in the Cheddar Chex Mix they only had the corn chexes in it? I mean, I'll eat the wheat ones and the pretzels- but I usually eat all the corn ones first (IF I have my own bag. Because after all, dad always told us "no picking!"). The crunch is just right (much different from the wheat crunch) and the combination of flavor is just like a little bit of heaven to me! They're just so yummy with that powdered cheddar on them! In order of importance; CORN chex, wheat and then pretzels and I hardly (if ever) eat the Cheese crackers in there. They're just not the right taste of cheddar to go with the glorious little corn guys- they ruin it for me. I know, I'm a nerd- but I've thought this every time I eat it... and yes, I keep eating it because it's so dang good! Anyone agree? Disagree?

I'm a big fan of pedicures anyway. But in my opinion, it should be a MUST for a pregnant lady to get a pedicure. Whether or not it's "professional" doesn't matter. I do however, believe that a foot rub should be involved as well as a leg rub. And a massaging chair is always a bonus. For me, it's going to be a necessity as much as I can to get one... because wow, happy is what mine made me!

Sponge Bob lives in Bikini Bottom...

That's what Seth kept telling us all weekend! He's a way cute kid! (No people or children were harmed while taking this picture of Seth holding a knife aimed at ME!)

We had a really good time in Florida. The drive down didn't seem too bad once we made it through the unnecessary but not surprising traffic in Atlanta. The drive is really actually pretty, especially the horse farms that we drove by. And the sunset was awesome with some really beautiful clouds. We actually made pretty good time and got there before 10:30pm. Saturday we had fun going to Brent and Jill's property they're doing a housing development on, and the boys rode 4 wheelers while the girls sat in the cool air conditioned office chatting away. The view was great too because it's right on the Indian River and they've built a lovely little deck out back over looking it and the palm and oak trees with the Spanish Moss hanging from them. Jill also picked a star fruit and cut it up- I didn't eat it because she said they're better cold, but next time I'll try one. Regardless, they're a very pretty and interesting fruit- so I took a picture! That afternoon we just hung out and took it easy and tried to cool down from being out in the heat. Also Ryan had to recover from his little "accident" his wife wasn't very happy about on the 4 wheeler. I wont go into details other than he's fine thank goodness. We planned on going to Sunset Waterfront Bar and Grill but it was too rainy that night, so therefore the wait was horrible- so Jill and Brent treated us to a very fancy meal at a very fancy restaurant. I felt completely under dressed and was worried that we'd not find anything to eat there, but we had fun and the food was great and we even got some entertainment by a lady who seemed a little overly dramatic about her food, when it came and how it was cooked. I mean, it was to the point of head in her hands funny! She was pretty upset about having to send back her salad twice. Anyway- it was a nice dinner out and Sunday we woke up to Brent making pancakes and we quickly got ready for church. After Church we basically just chilled out and napped and played and watched the tube for the rest of the night. We planned on going for a walk on the beach, but stormy weather prevented us from doing that. Monday we woke up and Ryan and I went to Ron Jon's Surf Shop and then went to Cocoa Beach and played in the water. There was a surfing competition going on, but not many waves- so there was just a lot of people there mostly. There was one guy who was standing on his surfboard and rowing himself with a paddle. That's one way to do it! The water really was perfect, it wasn't to cold and also the waves were minimal so it was easy to hang out in. After the beach we met up with Jill, Brent and the two boys and went to the Sunset bar and grill (finally) for lunch. It was just great! The weather was perfect, we got a table near the water and the food was good. I got my crab... that's all I really wanted. After that we went back to the property for one last ride on the 4 wheelers for Ryan and Brent and got to visit with some friends of Brent's business partner and his wife. We left shortly after that to drive home. Which seemed like it took FOREVER, when in all reality- it didn't. It was just WAY TOO LATE... and 6 hours of sleep for a pregnant lady is not a good idea. Anyway- we realized that after this trip, we'll have been to three coasts this year! We sure have been lucky to travel as much as we have- and we've still got one more trip left! Home to Utah for Thanksgiving!

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