35 weeks

Yay!  Almost there!  I feel like it has gone by so fast, and but is gong by so slow at the same time.  As of now... I have 2 1/2 weeks of work left, 4 1/2 weeks till Baby Due date, and about 2 months till moving till Nebraska.  I don't feel to stressed, but I am getting extremely tired.

 This past weekend I bottled 28pints of hamburger.  That was a LOT but it saved us from having to move frozen meat.

My co-workers from various areas in Arizona 

who drove long ways to come support me.

Two weekends ago I had my baby shower.  It was a BLAST!  I am so grateful for all of my friends and family who showed up!  I feel so blessed to have so many people supporting me.  It was really busy and lots of girl time.  I got so many fun outfits, blankets, bibs, toys, and lots and lots of other baby stuff.  I am ready for this boy to come! 

Moving...

Leaving Omaha Nebraska 6 1/2 years ago, I never thought I would be going back to live there...

For those of you who don't know, Will has wanted to be a Lineman (the one that works on the power lines).  In order for  that to happen, you take a 1 year course in college for it, then you need to get on as an Apprentice for 4 years before becoming a Journeyman Lineman.  Well, he finished is college course over a year ago, and we have not found ANY job openings.  It is so hard to get in with APS and SRP... so we started looking for other major electrical commercial opportunities to give him more experience.. nothing.  Finally, fall of 2012, we decided we need to start looking out of State for Apprentice Lineman jobs seeing with the baby coming, he needs to get started with his career.  He's had a job, but it isn't what he wants to do.  Personally, I would rather encourage Will to find a job he enjoys doing so he is a happier husband when he comes home from work.. and with that comes sacrifices. 

We hadn't heard anything back from all the applications we filled out.  My Dad started helping us look near the middle of Dec., he had found pretty much the same stuff we had, but also mentioned that the Omaha World Herald (where he move half of our family out there a and has been working for the past 10 years) was looking for someone.  It is a general Maintenance position including anything from fixing toilets and doors, to working on huge AC units and other commercial electrical stuff.  They have been looking for someone for 6 months.  We decided to turn in a resume and see what happens...  My dad gave them Wills Resume on a Friday morning, and by lunch time Will received an e-mail asking for a time on Monday to call and talk about details.  Over the weekend we prayed and  thought long and hard about everything and decided if they were willing to make us an offer we could live off of and benefit from, and since we haven't hard back from any other apprentices, we decided we would start seriously thinking about the opportunity.  We were already planning on having to move out of State, and moving to a State where I had some family and friends would be easier with a new baby then a completely new state where we know no-one. 

Friday before Christmas we called them back and told them we were interested.  We did not tell anyone except immediate family because we still weren't sure if it was going to go through.  There had just been a lot of talking  about taking the job, and them wanting Will, but nothing official.  After 2 long weeks of waiting for the HR department to get back to work from their vacationing, They contacted Will this Wed. and emailed the official job offer letter, application, and lots of other paper work to turn in by Friday.  We filled everything out and turned in Friday while Will put in his two weeks to work on Friday as well.

I know it seems like a quick decision, and a lot of things happening in a short time, but we feel this is the right decision for our family.  I admit it, I am scared to be living by myself with Will gone, and me due with a baby, lots of packing to do, truck to by, house to get ready for rent, work to figure out, house to find to stay in for NE, but I know the Lord is on our side and it will all come together smoothly.  It will probably be ruff for a bit, but Heavenly Father has already blessed us so much and we need to be willing to go where he wants us to go.  I will miss all my family and friends in AZ, but am excited to move closer to my parents and back to some NE friends.  I am greatful for all of our Families support and willingness to help over these next few months.

Happy New year to a whole new year of experiences and possibilities!

Family Hike

I am 33 weeks today, but this is me at 32weeks Hiking with my Family.  I look HUGE compared to my cousin Keeley.

 I didn't feel like dressing up all cute for a prego picture, so I just took a picture off Facebook from last weekend.  My parents came into town for the holidays, and we were able to go on a traditional Kent Tryon Family hike last sat.   Here is are starting picture...

Yes, this included me, 32 weeks pregnant, Kaylene carrying her 3month old, and about 7 kids under the age of 10, plus a few more kids and adults.

 We started going up "Cardiac Hill" which is what my dad calls it... and yep, I was about to die.  I enjoyed the first half hiking with my 3 yr old niece because she had a nice slow pace I could keep up with.  I defiantly started to feel the extra 30lbs I had on and can't wait to get back into shape after the baby so I don't huff and puff anymore.  After finishing our "highway" of a trail, we took a U turn and started "bushwhacking" our way down the ravine following a creek only.  Man, there were all kinds of thorns, and bouldering, and bottom slides on rocks for us to tackle. 

This is about 1/3rd way down.. we went all the way down to the bottom.

After about 1/3 way down this ravine, we stopped for lunch and kinda wondered what we were all doing here... I knew what to except and always trust Dad to get us out... the question is when.  Luckily, the "bushwhacking" part of the hike was easier then the "highway" trails because we had plenty of short rest periods waiting for the people in front, or helping the little ones.  It was great!  After passing through the long... creek... ravine, we passed by a couple thousand cactus with only 2 minor injuries, before hopping back onto the "highway" trail back to our car.  4 1/2 hrs later... we were heading home.  Man were my arms and legs sore for a few days, but it was a great hike! 

Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas! This year was very busy with lots of family, games, and fun!  We started off our holiday celebration with driving to the bank and paying off my Honda!  We were so excited it only took us 2 1/2 years and it's officially ours!  Sat. night we had our Lamoreaux Christmas party, followed by 4th Sunday dinner with Will's family.  Monday I worked a long day, while Will spent time with his family.  Then we headed to the Tryon Christmas Eve party!  I had a blast helping out with the nativity my sister Camilla directed. After leaving that we went to the Merrill Sock Hop and partied some more.

Here is our Sleepy Christmas morning picture (I know, it's pretty bad).  Sat-Mon night I hadn't been sleeping well, and was up late each night with parties.  I was excited to be able to sleep in till 7ish Christmas morning!  Did it work?  Nope?  Wide awake at 4am... so when Will's alarm accidentally went off at 6:30 I gladly started waking him up so we could read Luke 2 and open up gifts. 

Around 8 we left go to eat breakfast at my sister-in-laws house with my parents and siblings.  Will had a blast playing magic with the boys, and I enjoyed visiting with sisters, holding little Shane, putting about 5 puzzles together and playing games with the nieces.  I was even able to talk to my out-of-town between Christmas and Christmas Eve. 

After playing hard all morning, we went home for a quick break, I took a  nap, then headed over to the Merrills Christmas party.  We brought over our new games to play.  His family had their annual tournament... this time including putting together airplanes and flying them.  Will one for distance, while I was lucky to keep mine going straight and not to constantly turn Left (I could never fix that).  We played games far into the night before heading home and crashing.  I finally had a good nights rest Christmas evening! 

I am grateful for all our family and the fun we can have with them as we support each other.  Although we had 4 nights straight of parties, it was great to be reminded of Christs birth each time and remember the reason we celebrate Christ.  I am so blessed to have the gospel in my life and be reminded of all of my blessings. 

29 Weeks

Just keep growing, just keep growing.  So I decided I love being prego!  It hasn't been to bad with morning sickness.  I was able to run/walk 2 miles about twice a week during the 2nd trimester, and had lots of energy.  Starting this 3rd trimester I have been really tired.  Not sure whether it's the baby thing or work starting to get SUPER busy, but I haven't been running in the past 2 weeks.  I decided I should probably hold off running from now on until after the baby... It's just so hard to believe that I am now huffing and puffing just pushing the extra large wheelchairs down the hall.  I am not used to being this out of shape... oh well...

I am so excited for Christmas!  Take it, I only get Christmas day off, but this season has been really nice!  I haven't been too stressed.  All of my Christmas shopping has been done and mostly wrapped since the beginning of December, and last weekend I made chocolates/candies with my sisters and delivered some of those.  It's been great listening to Christmas music.  We still need to go to the temple lights.  Will is taking his final for his LAST class to finish is Associates degree.  My mom and dad come in next week and then we have parties every night from the 22nd on and I am sure I am going to be exhausted, but I am so excited!  Yay for Christmas and family!  I am so grateful to have family close by to spend time with on the holidays, and for a day off work, Wahoo! 

28 Weeks and still kicking

Entering the 3rd Trimester...  I am kinda excited, but it still hasn't quite hit me yet that I am going to be a mom in 3 months even though my belly is getting bigger by the day, and the scale is about to break.  Co-workers are getting excited and calling me "Mommy", "Little Mom" or "How are you guys...".  It's been busy with the holidays, so I am guessing after Christmas it will seem more real how soon we are to being parents.

Thanksgiving was pretty good, I worked for more then I thought I would so Will and I had dinner with his Dad.  We "Goosock" -ed a roast.  Goosock is something Wills Dad grew up on, so his Grandpa made up the recipe and would cook it with the cowboys  and is AMAZNIG!  We usually have it with turkey, but since we decided the day before Thanksgiving we would spend it with his Dad, we used a Roast and it was almost better then the turkey!  I realized how grateful I am to have a husband to support me.  Even though I wasn't able to get off in time to spend Thanksgiving with my family, I am glad I have great in-laws who are always welcoming and willing to play games.  There are multiple other things I am grateful for, but I won't list them all..."

We set up for Christmas today!  I am really excited for Christmas this year.  I don't know whether it's because we have all our shopping finished all ready, because I have the day or, or because after Christmas it's that much closer to a new baby;  I am pretty sure though it's because my parents will be in town for Christmas!  I only have Christmas day off but it will be so nice!

So, each year, I have tried to make an ornament for our Christmas tree to represent something we did that year.  I have a total of 4 and I am excited to see the collection grow as the years go by.  I have always been someone who liked the "natural" ornaments versus having the tree look perfect and match.  These are the ones I have done so far and the stories behind them...

 2009 The day after Thanksgiving, Will took me out shooting with his family.  This was before we were an "official" couple.  (He was probably testing to see how good of a shot I had to see if I could even be on his list of prospects).  He hung up ornaments because they are fun to shoot and see break, except, he accidentally bought the plastic ones.  I ended up taking this one home with me because I was so shocked that I was actually able to hit a target!  Needless to say, it was a nice keepsake to add to the tree after we got married.

2010  We got married for time and all eternity!  Just under the bow, if you can see it, is a ring.  We went to take my ring in to be sized and it was killing me to not have something on, so we ended up buying a cheap fake one.  I was glad we did because they forgot to take the ring out to be sized and we ended up having to wait for 2 weeks!

 2011  This represents the year we became home owners!  This "house" is actually a card Will made and gave me for Christmas the year we were dating... I never know what to do with cards, and this one had more sentimental to it because he spent the time to "craft" something, I LOVE it!  So even though I got it in 2009, I thought it fit perfect for our 2011 home owners year.



2012  Will came up with the idea this year, to make a wood block and put pictures on of all that we have done... which wasn't really much, so I put where we traveled.  You can't see all the sides but there is 1.  Horton Springs-our first backpacking trip together. 2. Albuquerque, NM- where we went for him to have a 4 day vacation while I took a continuing ed course.  3.  San Diego- we visited his dad.  4. Jerome- we went with Camilla and Dan.  5.  2nd year anniversary picture  6.  Favorite picture of me for the year with "Merrills" 2012

Baby Project...

I decided I didn't want to use a dresser to put all the baby clothes in because it was going to take up too much room, and I didn't like the way it would fit in the room.  Instead, I took an extra bookshelf we had around, and it fit perfectly in the closet!  I wanted to find some cute bins to put in them for all the babies clothes to go in, but they were ranging between 5-10 a piece, and I couldn't ever find a size/design/style that I liked.

Doing some research on Pinterest... I found this blog which seemed to be the easiest.  I used her pattern for the outside of my box, and the spray adhesive worked GREAT!  Super easy, although probably not to do the best prego... so I had Will help me for faster results!  I didn't like the link/blog she used to make for the inside of the basket, it looked too complicated for me, AND I do NOT like draw sings... so difficult to sew them and turn them inside out and look cute and perfect... NOT for me!

Instead, for the inside, I used the EXACT same pattern that I cut for the outside with a few changes.  1.  I added 1 inch to each side (so the "total" of my big rectangle was 2in total extra in width/length.
2.  She has you cut a square out of each corner, and then in an inch.  On that part, I added 1/2 in to each side for extra seam allowance.  I then sewed up the angle, and the side.
3.  I finished with a 1/2 seam and put in some elastic.

I liked the idea of being able to take out the inside to wash it...just in case.

The total cost for me to make 6 boxes:
* polka dot material $12 (I LOVE going to hobby lobby because 1. less decisions to make for fabric.  2.  40% OFF coupon to use whenever!)
* Brown inside fabric $4 twin sheet from Goodwill
* Spray Adhesive $6
* Elastic $1.50 (I already had enough in my supply for 4, and just needed to buy some for the last two)
A grand total of about $4.00 per box with a cute design that I LOVE and matches my room, insides I can wash, and just the right size I wanted. 

***I am still debating on whether to spend time painting the bookshelf white or not.  The inside of the closet is white, so I was thinking it might match better, but I really don't like painting... so I might just keep it brown.***