Our Little Thanksgiving Trek-This will be long.

Ryan and I went to Utah this year for Thanksgiving to visit my family. After waking up at 2:30am Wednesday and having our dear friend Cecilia so willingly come pick us up at around 3:15 to get us to the airport, we got on our 6:15am flight with no problems or lines (although, we JUST missed the lines, they started right as we got through). When we got to SLC, we met up with about half of my family for lunch at Rubios in SLC. After that we really just spent the rest of the day hanging out at Greg's house down in Highland and spent some good quality time with each other. I feel like I'm missing something, but I don't think I am. By the time we got to bed that night though, we'd realized that we had been awake for approximately 22 hours... I was a tired little pregnant lady! Thursday we woke up fairly early and went to the store for some extra stuff, like some Mac and Cheese for Ryan to eat with his Thanksgiving dinner. Let me 'splain for those who don't live in or know what Mac n' Cheese is to the South. It's seriously considered a "vegetable" here. You pretty much can get it anywhere you go here and it's eaten with everything. And Ryan just loves it... so we knew he'd miss it since our traditional meal doesn't include it. But hey, the kids loved it! After our meal we hung out for a little bit and then we sent all the little kids downstairs so the grownups could talk and help my parents decide how to move on to the next chapter in their life. It was really cool to be there with my siblings and parents and figure out how to help our parents who have done SO much for us. After we talked for a bit and came to some conclusions and starting points for them- some of us went to see Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.

It was pretty cute... it had a really good message, but it was missing something. Not sure what- but it didn't completely satisfy me. I didn't really want to see that one- but all the kids did. It was fun to go with them though. After the movie we went back to Greg's and had dessert; apple pie, pecan pie, pumpkin pie and red velvet cake- and sang happy birthday to my dad since his birthday is tomorrow. Then we sat and talked some more while the kids played. It was just really cool to all be together and laugh and have a good time. Bed time followed shortly after that!

My sister in-law Sam and I had planned to go shopping EARLY the next morning at Gymboree for good sales on the clothes there for her girls and my little guy too. So I rolled out of the bed at 7:30am, brushed my teeth, brushed out my hair, wiped the residue mascara from under my eyes and threw a sweatshirt on over my ugly pregnant lady jeans and she came and got me at 7:45am! I know! Ryan asked if he could go, but I told him no- it was kind of a girls thing. So we set out on our way to the mall and Sam said Delinda (my sister) wanted to meet us for breakfast around ten because she was going shopping. So we went and did our thing and drove over to Mimi's Cafe where I saw Delinda... and then my sister Shauna and her partner Randi... and my mom... and, and, and... ANDREA! I was so surprised! Then realized that my friend Kate was there too... then saw another friend Bobbie... and then her mom... I was like "What the heck is going on!?" Delinda just looked at me and said "it's called a 'pssshhhh' (hand motion like a shower)!" Sam and Delinda had gotten together and thrown me a SURPRISE baby shower! I was SO surprised too! I had NO clue! It was so sweet and fun, and I felt SO loved and honored! So we had The Maxwell Girls including Linda, Bobbie, Trish and KK, Melissa, Kate, Andrea, my mom, Sam, Delinda, Claudia, Shauna and Randi! It was so great! Thank you to all who came and "showered" me with gifts! After the shower we took family pictures in the FREEZING cold wind, but it was fun. And it was the first time in a LONG time we've had everyone together.

After pictures we said our farewell to John's family and Shauna and Randi. That night Delinda and Ryan and I hung out with Andrea and Travis Green. Pretty low key.

Saturday was spent mostly with friends, in the morning we said goodbye to my parents and then had breakfast with an old friend of mine. Afterwards we SEARCHED for a large enough box to ship the crib, mattress and changing table in that my brother and Sam are so GENEROUSLY giving us. No luck, but it'll get here somehow! Then that night us and Delinda met up with Andrea, Travis, Mark, Ryan & Kate Webb and went to dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory at Trolley Square and then went to see the lights at temple square. It was lots of fun. Well, it was cold and we weren't there for long- but it was just right. Poor Delinda was feeling horrible and little did we know that she was suffering from bronchitis and a sinus infection poor girl!

Sunday was filled with sacrament meeting to listen to Greg's beautiful solo (that made me cry and the baby go crazy moving all over the place), cleaning up the place we were staying, resting a little, and a ride up to American Fork Canyon just before going to stay over at the Green's. We watched Hairspray (which I was a little skeptical about) and it was really funny! The next day we ate breakfast, thanks to Andrea's mom, and flew home! It was good to get back to our COMFY bed and little Ally and ... humidity! We had a REALLY good visit. One of the best I've had, I didn't get to see some friends I'd hoped I could- but there will be a next time, and our home is always open!! Only if I know you of course... :)

Tomorrow, when I have more energy and time I will post a slide show for more picture viewing. time for beddy bye!

I'm a tad bit emotional... dang hormones.

I've decided that I don't like it when my husband "goes missing", especially when I'm just about 6 months pregnant. See, every morning he texts or calls me to say that he's at work- which is around 7 o'clock. Well... when I hadn't heard from him by about 7:20 today I texted him to ask if he was there. Didn't hear back for a few minutes... so I called and his voicemail picked up right away. So I left a message. Then my poor little pregnant freak out hormones kicked in and the thought of previously heard sirens (and several of them) popped into my head. So around 7:40 when I hadn't heard from him, his phone was off, he wasn't answering my texts and hadn't called me from work or his work cell phone... NOTHING, I started to well, FREAK OUT. I knew there had to be something wrong because we're VERY communicative (willingly) with each other about where we are and what we're doing, etc. So I knew it wasn't him just "forgetting" to call me. So yeah... I didn't know what to do because I didn't have his work cell phone number. So I called his mom to see if she had it, her voicemail picked up right away. I called her work phone... rang and rang and then her voicemail there, me leaving a sobby message saying I'm worried about him. So at like 7:50 when I'm having to leave the house, I called his work and of course- they don't open until 8!!! AHHHH! Okay, so I'm crying at this point- have been for like 15 minutes. The dog is worried, my head is starting to hurt, I'm starting to breath crazy and get shaky... (I'm sort of embarrassed now to admit this) and I STILL can't get a hold of my RYAN! I of course had been praying my little head off that my man was okay and to please just let him call me! So I'm driving to work but thinking "okay, maybe I'll make a detour and go to his office and see if his truck is parked there and just tell work I got caught up in traffic... even though it's the holidays and NO ONE is driving out here...". I was a mess. I decided to call back in to his office and got his supervisor and got the cell phone number for Ryan and made sure he made it in and everything. Call the cell and he answered!!!!!!! Relief swept over me... and then the tears turned on again! He was okay! Everything was fine! He was safe!

He said he'd been trying to call me for an hour and 15 minutes and that my voicemail kept picking up right away. He'd gotten my voicemails I left him but never me on the phone... and while we were on the phone with each other finally, both of the text messages I sent came in... turns out there was something wrong with DUMB DUMB AT&T. Both of his parents phones weren't working either, and to my knowledge his mom's phone is still acting up even now 4 hours later!

Anyway- I came to realize even stronger than ever (like I didn't know before) that I love this man more than anything in the world and that I simply cannot live with out him! I told him he was NEVER allowed to leave me or get hurt. He just simply responded with "yes ma'am".

I mean, holy hormones Batman! I'd look at this stuffed frog he bought for me for Valentine's Day that the dog loves to sleep on and started to cry, I saw a picture of him on our table in the family room and started to cry... like I had already "lost" him or something. I started thinking of our trip we leave for tomorrow and how I wouldn't be going if he wasn't alright... it was HORRIBLE! I mean, all the worst thoughts that I could think of came to my head! The water works just wouldn't stop! And now... now I have a ROYAL headache, dry burning and glassy eyes and I'm all tuckered out.

Ryan thinks I should call AT&T and make them credit our bill for the month for making his poor pregnant wife so stressed out. He was almost to the point of freaking out too... so that made me feel a little better. Anyway... I'm okay, he's okay and I'm just not a big fan or the hormonal crap going on in my body right now. Happy Thanksgiving if I don't post before then. Oh and if you want some entertainment go to this article my sister sent me.

T.G.I.F.

I'm glad it's Friday. But it's panning out to becoming a pretty busy weekend. Which I'm not especially excited about. I guess it's life... but I'm sick of EVERY weekend being so busy! It's also that time of year too, so it's not slowing down anytime soon. Got engagements pictures to take of some friends, hair to get done, dinner with the in-laws to go to, Stake Conference, laundry...

I went to the doc today for my "24" week check up, even though I'm only 23 weeks. But we'll be in Utah next week so I had to go in early. Got to hear little guy's heartbeat, which always makes me happy. She measured me and basically told me I was good to go! Short and sweet! Next visit, the week before Christmas (at almost 28 weeks), I have to do my glucose test (blah) but the bright side is while they're waiting to test my blood they're going to do an ultra sound so we can see how our little guy is growing and all that good stuff. We're both excited to be able to see him again! I thought we'd have to wait until he came out before we saw him again. So that's something to look forward to in what will be (I've heard anyway) a wretched appointment. Anyway, we're headed off to Utah Wednesday morning until the following Monday for Thanksgiving. I am SO excited... I'll admit it- I'm "homesick". Even though Georgia is my "home" now... my whole family is out West and so I miss them and can't wait to be with them. Luckily every last one of us gets to be together for Thanksgiving. I'm SOOOO excited! And I get to see Andrea, and The Webbs, and Travis and hopefully some friends from my old work (cough, cough, hint, hint) and The Mathews and Emily B.! It will be fun. And also... the MOUNTAINS! REAL LIFE MOUNTAINS! Ryan's not looking forward to the flying part... but we'll get through it just fine. Anyway... I'm just about ready to leave work for the day. Peace out y'all.

Dashing Elves

I had to copy Shannon on this one... it was too funny to resist! Go here and check this cool little DIDDY out!!!

I Got Tagged By M.P. Vest

Seven things about me you might not have known...

1. When I was in about the 4th or 5th grade the neighbor girls and I would go in my room and put in my tape player anything from Paula Abdul to Tiffany to Wilson Phillips and sing along as if we were in a girl band. Sometimes we'd be brave and go with out the music and make up our own lyrics and tunes and record them on the the little black tape recorder with a teal colored record button. I did my own version to that rap song "Wild Thing" by Tone Loc. I wish I still had that tape... although, it might be REALLY embarrassing.

2. We had a bathroom window upstairs that looked over the roof of our family room and the back yard of the house. For as long as I could fit through it, I'd use the counter as a boost and crawl out the window and sit on the roof. I liked to sit up there (barefoot) to look out at our yard or down the hill behind our house. There were always such beautiful sunsets in Flagstaff and we had a good view of them from the back of our house. It was a quiet place to be, but now thinking about it- probably wasn't the safest place for me to be! And come to think of it, I don't think I ever got in trouble for being up there either... I wonder if I sneaked doing it. I can't imagine my mom loving me doing that. Although, I think they had me do it once because one of the bedroom doors was locked and I had to crawl out there and go to the bedroom to unlock the door. I could be making that up too though.

3. I had a crush on Jonathan Brandis when he was popular, for like a second. Back in like 1991 or 1992. A long time ago.

4. Even though I haven't in a while, I like to scrapbook. I'm not super creative when it comes to doing this, and I've only got like one stencil and just a few fun edged scissors- but I do it because I really love my pictures. I have two of those plastic storage containers FILLED with pictures. They are like gold to me and I would be so sad if they were ever taken from me or destroyed! So many memories therein contained! (Yes, I did say "therein".)

5. I like pickled beets. They have to be pickled though- not just regular beets. Another weird combination I like (and no it's not brought on by pregnancy) is warm blueberry muffins with a little bit of butter and a slice of sharp cheddar cheese. Also, a grilled cheese sandwich with a smidgen of honey or jam on top of the bread after cooked is delicious. Hey, Ryan even tried that one and thinks its good. Don't knock it until you've tried it. Plus, I blame it on my dad.

6. I used to have a pink blankey that was made for me (I think my mom and a friend of hers made it) when I was a baby that I LOVED. When I got older, I called it my "daddin". Not sure where that one came from. It was pink gingham on one side and then on the other it had pictures of this cartoon girl with red hair doing something... I think primping in front of a mirror and maybe playing tennis in a white dress...or something. It was quilted together with yarn knots. and by the time I was through with it when I was *cough* 16, all that was left was the pink gingham side which was completely see through and a little bit of the batting that was in the middle and the yarn ties. I used to sleep with it and take that thing every where with me- well, everywhere but school. I loved how it smelled (especially after my mom reluctantly washed it-tempted to throw it away) and would rub it's softness on my top lip. I used to also suck my ring and middle fingers on my left hand and twirl my hair. When I had to "retire" the blanket, my dad gave me a feather pillow that he didn't want to use anymore and that became my blankey subsitute. I still sleep with it to this day, rub it on my lip and I still twirl my hair (most of the time, I don't even notice it). But, no- I don't still suck my fingers. I stopped that when I was *cough* 8.

7. I rode the ride at the top of Stratosphere in Las Vegas, NV once. It was just about one of the scariest things I've ever done. It was cool and fun and stuff- but I'll probably NEVER do it again. Especially now that I'm becoming a mother!

I tag anyone who wants to participate. It was actually pretty fun to think of random things about myself. Some of those things I hadn't thought about in a long time!

My Niece the Dare-Devil

So my brother and his girls went to Disneyland this weekend and apparently my 5 year old niece Brooke is in love with Splash Mountain (good choice Brookey!) and loves the butterflies it puts in her tummy! They went on the ride three times! Here she is in front of my brother in the very back and behind the guy who looks like he's about to have a heart attack in the yellow hoodie! She's SOOOO cute!

P.S.- who couldn't love those cute little faces?

Thanks for loving me... I'm glad that people still do. Well, I'm still stuffy and congested and coughing and sneezing and Im thinking it's worse than a cold, so I'm going to the doctor this afternoon. Hopefully he can give me something that will get rid of what I think has become a sinus infection.

Okay, is it me- or are there a lot of people that call a sinus infection or sinuses in general just "sinus"??? Is that proper and I'm not getting it? I've heard on so many occasions "I think I have a sinus." And I think to myself, yes... we all have sinuses, and that's plural. I've come to learn that I have to interpret that to mean "I think I have a sinus infection." Right... See, there are several sinuses... not just one. Maybe it's a Southern thing... or have you heard people NOT in the South say that too?

Anyway... moving on, last night Ryan got to feel The Bun in the Oven or "Ben" as we have affectionately started to call him. He was VERY active last night so Ryan got to feel him move and kick and punch! Ry thought that was pretty cool. And how I know is that every time I've talked to him today he's brought it up... very cute! I'm glad he got to feel him though, because now he's seen him and felt him! It's all very real! I just looked at my Creepy Floating Baby thing and it says I only have 18 weeks left! WHOA! CRAZY! And yes, we're going with the name Benjamin Ryan for now. Well, I say for now- but it's really set in stone. We've got a back up though just in case he doesn't look like a Ben when he gets here. We both like the name though, and it feels right so that's what it is!

Well... I guess I better get back to work. Although, I don't want to. So not in the mood. Darn sales reps... (no offense of course to anyone who sells...)

In Addendum to

my post about the pearls, I received yet ANOTHER necklace in the mail yesterday. So now I have two; one broken and one all in one piece...hmmm, what to do???

P.S.- Does anyone love me anymore? I haven't had a comment in like three or four blog entries...

Mawwiage, that blessed arrangement- that dream within a dream...

In the span of 20 minutes, I've read two articles on marriage that have thrown me for a loop on the Today Show website. I don't know that I'll rant and rave about my opposition to the ideas both of these articles portray- but it does make me sad and my heart hurt for what I believe the true purpose of marriage and a family is, compared to what people seem think it is and seem to be missing out on. I like the Today Show, and I know they're just bringing to light people's "options" for different kinds of lifestyles and such, but I wouldn't EVER think of living apart from my husband by choice or not marry because it would just be better for each of us financially. The word that comes to my mind is SELFISHNESS in both articles. That's just me though. When you wed, you promise to become as one- it's not about you anymore... it's about your family you've just started. Anyway... I'll stop, but tell me what you think. Seriously- I want to know. I have to admit though, the second one is pretty funny though...
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21564357/ and
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21369007/from/ET/

Our Pumpkin Patch/Carving/Halloween Pictures

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Wake Up! Wake Up!

I'm so tired today. This is me... (except for I wish I had a monitor like that...)
Ryan and I usually wake up together in the morning, but today he got up a half hour earlier because he had to go in early and I just wasn't up to it. So I decided to sleep an extra 45 minutes... and set the alarm on my cell phone. At about 6:22am I got a text from Ryan saying he'd gotten to work. So I went back to sleep for what I thought would just be another 20 or so minutes. Well...I slept and had weird dreams and snored myself awake and thought "hmm, I thought the alarm would've gone off by now..." so I looked at the alarm and it was 7:29!!!! I have to LEAVE the house at 7:50! YIKES! The dork I am forgot to click on "enable" so the alarm would actually go off! So I busted out of bed, took Ally out and left her outside while I took the fatest wash-my-hair-and-face-and-body-shower EVER, got Ally back in, got dressed, blow dried my bangs, brushed my teeth, put shoes on and was pulling out of the driveway at 7:54am! I even got to work on time! G0 me!
But now... I'm suffering from that time I'm used to having to wake up and eat breakfast and check my email, play with Ally a little and actually enjoy The Today Show. I got a good amount of sleep though, which apparently my body needed. I'm like 98% sure Ryan gave me his cold he's had for almost a week. And Bobbie was right, having a cold and being pregnant at the same time SUCKS! I can take Sudafed, but it doesn't really do anything- plus I feel that it pushes my blood pressure up to high and that worries me. So I think the extra hour of sleep was good for me... I just need to wake up now!
I'll have some pictures up later tonight from Ryan and I carving our pumpkins and stuff. We have a busy weekend and sadly say goodbye to DJ tomorrow... I will miss her lots. I might even cry. :(
Sayonara for now.