Tennis, Turtle Bay, Doctor and Family visits

Monday Dawson started back up with Tennis. He LOVES it. Natalie decided she would go too (she didn't want to at first but when she found out she could swim afterwards she decided it was worth it.) She ended up loving it and will continue playing as well.
Yesterday (Tuesday) Brad and I went to my Doctor for our prenatal monthly check up. We waited for about an hour before the Doctor saw us--always a bit annoying, especially when my appointment lasted maybe two minutes. I don't usually have any questions or concerns and the ones I have I usually google online or just know it's normal. We got to hear the babies heartbeat. It was a strong and steady 145bpm. I wanted to just lay there and listen to it all day! I have felt a few other really faint movements but nothing really strong. We go in next month, July 23rd, for the ultrasound and we are DEFINITELY finding out what we are having. I am so anxious to know and wish I already did know.
After my appointment Brad and I went to Mary's. We were sitting around and talking and all the sudden Asher rolled over. It was his first roll over and he acted like it was no big deal. He wasn't angry or crying at all. He rolled over 2 more times and then Mary got the camera out and he decided he was done. It was an exciting moment.
Brad and I took Dawson and Natalie out to Round Table Pizza for lunch, then to Turtle Bay museum, and ice cream. It was a busy afternoon. The kids had a blast at Turtle Bay. They have a bunch of displays that deal with Shasta County history, science, animals, etc. It is super kid friendly and there are a lot of hands on activities. The display we were most looking forward to was the LEGO display. This artist makes sculputres and pictures out of only legos. It was really awesome. They even had a classroom set up where you can make your own lego creation and put it up on display for the week. Dawson and Natalie both LOVED that. I got there and realized I forgot my camera so I didn't get any pictures. That bummed me out a bit.
When we got home my cousin Sarah from Long Beach, her mom, and another cousin, Amy who lives here in town came by to visit. We had a nice visit with them. It's always good to see them and catch up.
My brother will be here tomorrow for a couple of days with his kids. I'm so EXCITED to see them. They will be going to the coast to my parents house after this so we are planning on going over there for a few days to spend more time with them. I wish they lived closer. It's tough to be favorite auntie when I only get to see them once a year.

Aahhhh....Summertime!

I am LOVING summer vacation so far. Dawson gets to stay up late and sleeps in. We have had fun playing many games (go fish, war, i spy, yahtzee, etc.) Dawson is at a fun age to be playing games with. My oldest niece, Kayla, graduated high school last week. Dawson and I went down to Vacaville to celebrate with her. I am so proud of her. It was great visiting with all the family, especially my brother who came out from Utah as a surprise. Lori's daughter, Iris, giggled at me and we had fun playing together. I was pretty tired after those couple of days. My parents stayed at my house that weekend and we had a really great visit as usual.
Last night I was at a church BBQ party. It is always fun to get to visit with people that I never get to see at church because everyone is always teaching or something. Mary went with me and that was a lot of fun. While we were there I am pretty sure I felt the baby fluttering around for a few seconds. It didn't last long but it was defiently something. I got home and was telling Brad about it and wrote it down in my pregnancy book and then it happened again. It was awesome. I hope that it continues to happen more frequently. I can't wait to feel it kicking a lot and to have Brad be able to feel it kick as well. I go to the Dr. next week for a check up.
On Tuesday Mary and I were so lucky to be able to visit with 3 girls who we consider sisters. They lived with us as foster sisters for about 3 years when we lived in Weaverville. We had such a great visit with them and their families. We had a yummy BBQ. The kids all got along great. We don't all get to see each other often--the last time we got to see them all together was at my wedding 2 years ago.
Brad is finishing his last day of his music/art camp today so then he will officially be on vacation too. We are looking forward to a relaxing vacation and going on a couple trips.

The last week of 1st Grade for Dawson and Grandparents 60th Anniversary Party

Dawson finished 1st grade this past Thursday. He has a busy and fun filled week at school. On Tuesday 3 of the 1st grade classes went to the YMCA for a swim/play day. They got to swim and do outdoor play activities as well as have a picnic lunch. Dawson had a great time and I loved being there and getting to talk to other moms before the school year ends. I also had a great talk with Dawson's teacher (who we are going to miss!) She had the nicest things to say about him and was very complimentary on how well we are raising him. On his report card she wrote that he is a memorable child. On the last day of school the 1st graders from Dawson's class and another class rotated classrooms and did fun acitivites at different centers. I was in charge of teaching them how to hopscotch--they all had a great time. They then got a pizza party and ice cream sundaes. Right before leaving the 2 classes did awards. Dawson got 4 awards--the most out of both classes (I was so proud of him!) He got perfect attendnace for 3rd trimester, perfect attendance for the whole school year (the only kid in both classes to get that), collaborative kid award, and outstanding citizenship award (only 6 kids in each class get that a year so it's a big deal.) For earning the citizenship award he got to have lunch with the principal. After school was out Mary and her family and Dawson and I (Brad was still at work) took the kids out to eat at Olive Garden and somehow Dawson manged to eat his 3rd lunch of the day (he did not have dinner that night.) I just can't believe how quickly he is growing up. I am amazed still each day by how much he grows and learns each year. I am blessed to have him and am so proud of him.
Last night we had the opprotunity to travel to Fairfield to celebrate in my grandparents (dad's side) 60th wedding anniversary party. My mom's parents will celebrate their 60th anniversary next summer. We had a great time visiting with all of my dad's family. Instead of just having dancing/music all night they asked that each person in attendance share a talent--anything musical, something that had written, dance, etc. It was great fun seeing all the family share in what their talents were. I was very entertained and the night flew by! We didn't get to bed until 1:30 in the morning. I hope that Brad and I are as fun loving and full of energy like they are when we have been married for 60 years! They are truely a great example to all of us.

I'm so proud of Dawson

Dawson has been making great choices recently. He really is such a big help. I know that when I have this baby he is going to be an awesome big brother. This past week he finally passed level 2 in math at school. He has been working on it since January. He was so excited! Today I was teaching him how multiplication works and he figured it out instantly. He was telling me all the 2's and 10's. I love those light bulb moments--now if only he will remember it! He always makes a huge mess upstairs so we had a deal that each day he would clean a different area. The first day he cleaned off the stairs and the hallway. The next day he was in charge of cleaning his bedroom. He was up there FOREVER and I figured he was just playing (he gets easily distracted!) I told him the he could finish it up the next day because I wanted to spend some time with him before he had to go to bed. He looks at me and says "Why would you say you can finish it tomorrow?" and motions me upstairs. I go upstairs and he had cleaned his bedroom and play room. He was very proud of himself and I was so proud of him. He worked really hard. I was babysitting Natalie, Cora, and Asher the other day while Mary and Ben went on a date. I had laid Asher down for a few minutes and Dawson took it upon him to play with him and talk to him then fed him a bottle. He hasn't shown much interest in Asher up until that point. It was so sweet watching him talk to Asher. Dawson also continues to pray nightly for our baby that it will be strong and healthy. This prayer never gets old to me and just touches my heart. He is so caring at such a young age! I hope his great attitude and cheerfulness keeps lasting.
As for my pregnancy I have been doing really well. I have not had morning sickness at all. I do get sick to my stomach still if I eat chocolate (which I have tried a few times!) I do not really care for a lot of food right now it all tastes so blah. I am hoping that changes soon. I am also just so tired all the time. I remember being pretty tired when I was pregnant with Dawson. Tuesday Brad and I went to my doctor. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat...it was 150bpm. It was awesome to be able to hear it and everything is looking good. I have lost 2lbs (probably because I can't eat junk.) I was happy about that. I'm now 12 1/2 weeks pregnant so I imagine that in about 2 weeks or so I will get my appetite back and start gaining some weight.
There are only 8 school days left and so much to before school gets out. I am going to be helping out in Dawson's class a few days and hopefully going on a field trip with Natalie's class. I think that I am done subbing for the year--there probably won't be many jobs and there are only a couple days that I could work. This school year went by so fast!

I love being a mom

I had a great Mother's Day on Sunday. I woke up to Dawson climbing in bed with me all dressed (although he had to change because it was Sunday.) Brad and him each gave me a card, some roses, a kitchenaid cast iron pot I wanted, and Dawson designed a plate for me. I got lots of loves which always makes me happy. I also go to help Dawson give his first talk in primary. He read most of it on his own and I was so proud of him! My mom and dad were in town. It was great to be able to spend time with my wonderful mom on Mother's Day. After church we had lunch over at Mary's house and visited for awhile. After my parents took off we went to my in-laws to visit then over to Jill's (sister-in-laws) for a BBQ. It was a ton of fun and very relaxing for me.
I have been working a lot these last couple of weeks and have been SO tired. Today was my only day off of work for the week so I planned on sleeping in. I got a call from Dawson's school at 8:30 saying he was sick. I went and picked him up and we slept on and off until almost 4pm while we watched movies and various TV shows. It felt so good to catch up on my sleep! Mary, Cora, and Asher also surprised us with a visit this morning so that was nice.
On Thursday, I will be 11 weeks pregnant. So far everything is going great with this pregnancy. I have not gained any wieght :) In fact I have probably lost some. I can't seem to eat chocolate and most food sounds blah! I'm sure that will change shortly though. Dawson still says the sweetest prayers each night that the baby will be strong and healthy and that I will make the right food choices. It cracks me up. He takes good care of me as does Brad. They bring me water or snacks if they are up and getting themselves something. I feel so blessed! I am looking forward to going to the doctor next week and hearing the heartbeat. It will just help make everything seem real and let me know that everything is really okay.

We are PREGNANT!!

I found out that I was pregnant when I was only 3 weeks and 4 days along March 23rd--3 days before baby Asher was born (Mary's son.) I was so happy to find out that I was pregnant. I might have been in a little denial for the first few hours because it was something I had been wanting so badly for so long. I had a dream Sunday night about taking 2 pregnancy tests and the first one saying "I was a little bit pregnant" and then taking another one that said I was. So when I woke up Monday I decided to test. I took one and the line was SO faint that I swore it wasn't there. I took Dawson to school, came home and went back to sleep for another hour or so. I woke up and decided I should take another one because that first one was a cheapy dollar tree test. I took another one (not a dollar tree one) and there was for sure a line. So I was feeling pretty excited about it. I went to Mary's house to talk to her about it because I was a little bit freaking out. We went to Target and I bought a digital test and took that one around noon and it clearly read "pregnant". I was SO THRILLED. It seemed to take Brad forever to get home from work so I could tell him. I left him a baby bib and a card in his office saying "congrats daddy". He was so excited. We decided not to tell anyone until I was able to go my Dr. and to see the heartbeat. The Dr. scheduled my appointment for May 14th (11 weeks!) I was going crazy thinking something was wrong with the baby. I met with the nurse on April 22nd (7weeks6days) to confirm pregnancy. I told her my concerns and fears and she told me that it was just a waiting game. I left the office feeling so down. I was in the car and just started driving away from the office when the nurse called my cell phone and told me to come back, the Dr. would do a sonogram. I couldn't believe it! It was truely and answer to my prayers. I quickly (and safely) turned around and went back. The Dr. came in and I got to see the baby (we are calling it a blobby because it looks like a blob and a baby right now.) I was able to see the heartbeat right away and it was so amazing! I have to admit I got a little teary eyed. I don't know if the Dr. or nurse knew how much this meant to me even though I tried to express my thanks to them....sometimes words don't cut it. Brad and I are happy to finally be able to tell people that we are expecting on December 3rd. Dawson is so HAPPY and prays everyday for our baby to be healthy and strong. He is going to be an amazing big brother. Before we told him I was pregnant he prayed every night that I would have a baby. Brad has already gone a little bit baby crazy and bought a cradle, crib, and amroire. We did find them all for a good deal online though. We figure we would by that stuff because we have PLENTY that we will need. I haven't had TOO much morning sickness yet--I just have a little here and there. I'm sure it will get worse because it didn't get bad until later on when I was pregnant with Dawson. I'm always SO tired though and could sleep 10 hours every night and still take a nap or two during the day. I don't really care for chocolate either (mentally I think I want it but then I put it in my mouth and it's gross---I wish it was that way ALL the time!) Keep wishing us luck in this pregnancy! We hope it all goes smoothly.

Cora Daw. Isn't she absolutly adorable! I hope one day I have a daughter as cute and as sweet as her.

After the egg hunt....Dawson got the most eggs this year I think (thanks to his fast little legs!)

The Easter Bunny came! He was super excited (just not to have his picture taken)

Myself, Dawson, and Brad---Dawson was annoyed that we wanted a picture with him. He had better things to do (like go through is eggs.)


We had a fantastic Easter Sunday. My mom and all my sisters and their families got together. My dad had to stay home and my brother was in Utah wit his family. We went to church then had an egg hunt and BBQ. It was a ton of fun--especially with baby Iris and Asher. Cora was loving Easter this year--in fact I think she ate chocolate most of the day.
We had the week off of school so Monday morning Brad, Dawson, and I woke up and went to Sunriver, OR. We were there until Thursday. We had a great little vacation with Brad's parents. It snowed the first 2 days (didn't stick) and was pretty cold. When we got back into Redding the weather has been in the upper 80's which is a nice change.