We did something Spontaneous!

For Memorial Day weekend we had planned to go to Bryce Canyon.  I booked the campsite and we were all ready to go.  Unfortunately, the weather was forcasted to be awful! It was cold and raining in Bryce.  Usually that wouldn't deter us too much, but this was extreme for hiking and camping.  A high of 50 and a low of 34 was not want I would call inviting.  I was super upset when we checked the weather Friday morning.  There was no way I was going when it was like that.  So after I about cried before I left for work, Brody decided to take matters into his own hands and plan something.  He started to search out cheap flights anywhere in the near vicinity.  By some luck he found super cheap tickets to San Francisco.  I talked with Pam, who also luckily didn't have any plans that would keep up from joining her for the weekend.  So after a great deal of persuasion (I was pretty reluctant).  It's a bit stressful to take on such a trip so last minute.  We decided to make the journey.

We left Saturday morning and definitely did as much as possible in our 48 hr trip.  We were a bit delayed of course. (we hate flying) but that didn't keep us for experiencing tons!  I will simply list everything we did...because it is quite the impressive list!

Saturday

-Fly in
-Lunch at World Famous Tony's Pizza in Little Italy. Had the most amazing pizza ever! It was called the Barcelona (manchego cheese, quail egg, proschuto and some type of sausage)
-Pier 39 to see the sea lions and eat donughts
-Drove past the famous Boudin restaurant that makes sourdough bread.  For some reason they were throwing fresh made read from the side of the road...odd i know.  Brody caught a loaf through the window
-Golden Gate Park
-Billionaire Row

on to Berkley...
-with a stop by in Oakland to see Pam's inner city school
-Berkely bowl- interesting grocery story full of the most hippy people I've ever seen, but had more produce than any place I've ever been
-Berkley campus- apparently it is ok to smoke weed on the campus
-Berkley bell tower 

on to Los Gatos...
-explored downtown
-ate delicious Thai food (Brody claimed it was the best he'd ever had)
-stayed at Pam's old roommate's house in their amazingly comfy beds!

Sunday

-Palo Alto for church
-viewed the old Facebook building
-Stanford campus and cathedral

on to Santa Cruz...
-Beach time..too bad it was too cold to relax
-Ice cream at Maryann's some famous place-  soooo delicious

on to Danville...
-dinner at Pam's grandparents
-Walnut Creek

Monday

-Oakland Temple
-drive through downtown San Fran to look at buildings
-Shopping
-ate street food (hotdog and a pretzel)

Airport and home!

My only complaint is that it was cold there as well.  But soo much fun thanks to Pam and friends!!

And we have a...

So I feel horrible!  I was logging on to blog about our crazy, last minute trip to San Fran and I realized that I never even blogged about our big day last week.  I guess that is what happens when you are super crazy at work and personal life (and have a pregnant brain)

But we are happy to announce that we will have a little...

Girl!

We were pretty shocked to hear the news.  I didn't realize how much I had thought of the baby as a boy so changing my thinking was an adjustment. (still is)  but I think now that it is sinking in, Brody is getting more excited.  (he really wanted a boy) 

I was also very happy to see that her heart was healthy (as far as they could tell).  She has all her arms, legs, toes and fingers.  She also has has all her organs and everything else seemed to check out perfectly.  She is just the size she is supposed to be, so no early due date for me. 

After the appointment, we were just so exhausted.  All that anticipation and nervousness took a toll on us.  We went to dinner at Sugar House BBQ to celebrate and then on home, where we did nothing, but relax.  Unfortunately my phone died during the appointment so I couldn't call anyone right away but my mom (since i have her number memorized). 

I am excited to see all the new developments of the baby now and feel a bit less worried about her being healthy!  I've been feeling pretty well, but I am definitely growing.  My clothes don't all fit me anymore.  I have to change a bunch before work because most of my skirts or pants for work are higher waisted.  Oh well...its just the beginning...

Just a picture..and happenings lately

So I surprisingly have adjusted quite well to not being in school.  When I graduated the first time from BYU, I was devestated.  I didn't know how to live life as a non-student.  I didn't embrace just working and having other hobbies.  Frankly, I hated it.  Now I couldn't be more the opposite.  I love just coming home and being able to read what I want, do no homework and relax.  I haven't really started up any of my summer hobbies.  I have been pretty busy with getting stuff ready for our big move in a few months and hanging out with Brody.  For the first time in our marriage, he isn't studying for any tests or certifications (long story why) so he actually comes home and wants to hang out after work.  It's amazingly different than life before.  I can't get used to this though, because soon he'll go back to be busy every second of the day and night.  but for now I am enjoying the summer.  (sometimes I wish I could be working even less...but I know I am just lazy)

Last weekend, we had a couple of date nights.  We went to Cheesecake Factory on Friday with Ryan and Kristen and Saturday we took some stuff up to a garage sale at Brody's mom's house.  Unfortunately we only made $1 from the sale, but at least we got rid of a bunch of stuff and we got to go to lunch and shop with his mom and Cache.  I got a new dress and tank (with room to grow for the baby).  Saturday night we baked Papa Murphies Pizza and went and saw the Avengers! It was a good weekend.

Pregnancy lately has been pretty good.  Though, I have had heart burn quite a bit which isn't fun. I also feel like the bump is really starting to emerge.  (it grows exponentially during the day, relatively flat when I wake up in the morning and huge at night)

2 days till I find out the sex!!

18 weeks!

17 Weeks

17 weeks!

I recently visited the doctor (last Thursday).  I heard the heart beat and was assured that all is well.  I have been waiting to feel the little turnip (that is how big it is right now) to move, but I haven't been lucky enough yet.  Of course paranoia enters my mind about every little feeling/ or lack thereof.  The doctor is very assuring (considering it is my first pregnancy, so I obviously don't know what to expect).

I was given good news.  I was able to schedule my next ultrasound much earlier than I expected.  I will be going on May 24 to find out the baby's gender (and hopefully to find out that everything else is as expected.  healthy and developing as the baby should) Everyone thinks it will be a boy.  (I am not so sure)  I have been feeling quite well lately.  I haven't had as much adversion to certain foods and I haven't really been craving as much lately.  I now have enough energy to work out and do basically anything I could pre pregnancy- which is awesome :)  According to my doctor's scale I've gained three pounds (so I didn't gain any more after my influx of weight at 13 weeks)  Now I can gain a pound of week..crazy! The doctor told me that my organ were poking out..lol  I still don't stick out much, but I guess it is noticable to him. 

In the other parts of our lives, we celebrated Mother's Day this weekend. On Saturday, we had brunch in Big Cottonwood Canyon and then walked around Silver Lake.  It was quite cold that high up, with snow and ice still visible.  I was not dressed warm enough!

On Sunday we spent the day with his Dad and Brenda.  The women (eventhough it was mother's day) made all of the dinner.  Fajittas with homemade tortillas.  I made the tortillas and they were a hit.  We had a good relaxing day, but I felt like I ate way too much. 

This week we are working on cleaning out our house and getting rid of stuff (preparing for the move).  We will be taking stuff to Brody's mom's garage sell on Saturday.  Hopefully we will make a buck or two.  We are also trying to plan a short trip for Memorial Day, but are looking for friends to join.  We've thought about Mesquite, Bryce Canyon and Wendover.... hopefully the trip will come to fruition.  I hate summers that are all work and no play!

House Hunting in Michigan

I spent most of my 15th week of pregnancy in our new home of Michigan!  I was a bit nervous to fly out and visit because we are for sure moving there sometime this summer.  I was hoping that I would like it. 

Thankfully we took this trip now instead of a couple of weeks ago.  My energy has significantly improved- which helped, because we were non stop busy the entire trip! We left on Friday morning, flying out of the Provo Airport (because it saved us $100), had a lay over in Denver and then on to Detroit. 

Saturday we spent most of the morning house hunting.  We saw many horrible and ugly houses that were in serious need of rehab.  I kinda knew this before going into the trip  (because of the property taxes, Brody's school and the new baby coming) we are staying within a strict budget.  We don't want to be house poor either.  All the houses in Ann Arbor in our budget will have to be redone!  We could afford to live in a nice, new, big home in the neighboring town, but we are worried that that type of house would not be a good investment- (won't be as easy to sell in a few years, nor will renting it out be as simple)  Ann Arbor has a great rental market- so even if our house doesn't appreciate in 3 years, we would be able to at least rent.

Holding our house hunting book- in our not so nice hotel.

Saturday night we went out with some new friends (Brody had reached out to a BYU alum in the part-time program)  We went to dinner with him, his wife and baby.  I am excited to at least have one friend when we get out there.

Sunday we went to church and then drove around forever! We investigated every corner of Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor.  We wanted to make sure that we know all the neighborhoods, in case a house comes on the market that we are interested int (while we are out in Utah).  This drive solidified my desire to live in Ann Arbor and not the neighboring town. 

Monday we did more house hunting.  This day we found a house that I really liked.  It had a ton of potential.  It will be alot of work, but I really liked the bones and the yard.  So far its the only one that I was actually interested in.  Tuesday was spent with Brody in interviews.  While he worked, I explored the mall.  It actually has a lot of good stores, but it is very small and there is no Nordstrom. 

On Wednesday, our last day, we explored Detroit.  The poor city is so run down and scary- and we didn't even drive through anything dangerous.  We explored the GM building, looked across the river to Canada and went to Detroit's great art museum. 

GM building- I only took pictures of the nice parts of Detroit

On the 'people mover'- from here we got to a bird's eye view of most of the city. (we got to see many burnout and abandoned buildings!)

Overall, it was a fun trip, but very busy.  Hopefully Brody will be hearing good news from the job he wants (this week or the next) and then maybe we can make an offer on the only house I liked!


In other news- I think my body is reverting back to first trimester.  The last 2 mornings I have woken feeling nauseous and last night I had a bout of first trimester exhaustion.  It was a good reminder of what I have to be grateful for..I'm hoping that was only for a day!! I will update next week after my 16th week appointment.