You, me, and baby

As Scott and I get closer and closer to due date I can't help but think of all the changes that will occur in our life. It has been just the two of us for so long that it is hard to imagine having a third person coming into our family. It's a little scary to think it's not going to be just him and me, but him, me, and baby as a family of three. I know that things will be totally different, but I also know that they will be way better! We will have a precious baby that is part of him and a part of me and I just can't wait for all the love we get to welcome into our home.
Now a little bragging:
Scott has been the best husband throughout my whole pregnancy, he has been so patient, supportive, sensitive, and understanding. He has calmed me through all of my crying episodes, irritability, nausea, and tiredness. He has filled in for me when I wasn't able to cook, clean, or do the dishes. He has made trips to the store for either my upset stomach or sudden cravings.
He has been my rock through these 9 months of pregnancy. I honestly don't know what I would have done without him.
He has taken part in my obsession with baby gear, registering at stores, and researching/reading all the ratings on different brands. He has listened to my constant talk about the nursery all summer. He has become an expert at putting together "baby stuff." He came with me to all my doctor appointments and was very comforting when it came to my worries. Whenever I get scared and nervous about this whole parenting thing I just remember I am in it with Scott, and we make a great team. 

There is nothing that has warmed my heart more than seeing Scott prepare to be a dad, kissing his son, reading him books, talking to him, singing him songs, and touching my belly to feel him kick. I can already see how much he loves him. I cannot wait for the moment I see Scott holding our baby boy.  I know he is going to be the best dad.

The next 4 years...

Scott started Optometry school this past Monday. He has worked so hard to get where he is and I could not be more proud of him! He worked so hard this past year studying for the OAT, scoring high, and completing his applications to several different schools. Getting accepted to his number one school was just the cherry on top.
We couldn't have been more blessed with the location we are at right now and this baby coming soon!

I am so excited for him and this new beginning.

I know he will do so so so well and I cannot wait to see him as a doctor one day.

It's going to be a long hard road but it will be worth it.

Luckily he hardly ever gets nervous, totally opposite of me. So much so that I can't help but get nervous for him because he is so calm all the time.

Here's to 4 years of studying eyeballs!

dropping him off was a little sad for me, this summer has been so nice having him with me pretty much all the time. It was the best. 

It was also my hubby's Birthday on the 21st! Unfortunately he had orientation all day at school but we had fun celebrating that night at Red Robin.

It has been one hectic week!

We moved EVERYTHING last Monday, Scott started orientation on Wednesday, his Birthday Thursday, and he started school this last Monday.
He has been so great.
Him and his dad pretty much single handedly moved all our belongings up to our second floor apartment, which does not have AC by the way.
Scott keeps telling me that it is very common for people in the Northwest not to have AC which me and my pregnant self thinks that is ridiculous.

Thank goodness the weather will cool down soon!

snickers brownie ice cream cake I made for Scott the weekend of his Birthday!

Dear husband

Dear husband,

Thank you for biting off the rotten part of the apple before giving it to me.

Thank you for playing me Bohnanza for the thousandth time because you know how much I love it.

Thank you for rubbing my stomach when I don't feel good.
Thank you for being the driver because I'm horrible with directions.

Thank you for talking to our baby every day.

Thank you for making a blue print of our apartment because you know how anxious I am to move in and decorate our home.

Thank you for letting me pick out the ice cream flavor at the store.

Thank you for going on walks with the baby and I.

Thank you for killing every spider I find.

Thank you for being willing to paint my toenails ever since my bump has gotten in the way.

Thank you for always waiting patiently for me to get ready.

Thank you for being money conscientious.

Thank you for popping my back every single day.

Thank you for playing with my hair cause you know how much I love it.

Thank you for being a hard worker and going to school for our family.

Thank you for being my best friend.

Thank you for encouraging me to start an Etsy shop and complimenting my work, always.

Thank you for always trusting my taste in decor.
Thank you for being the designated trash emptier.

Thank you for making me laugh daily.

Thank you for loving me unconditionally.

Thank you for making everything that is important to me important to you.

Thank you for always grilling my turkey burgers for me.

Thank you for folding the laundry.

Thank you for being aware of my feelings.

Thank you ahead of time for changing all of the dirty diapers ;).

Thank you for coming with me to all my doctor appointments.

Thank you for reading books to our baby.

Thank you for helping me with all my ongoing projects.

Thank you for being the best.

xoxo, your wife

Happy Birthday America!

This fourth of July was spent in Vancouver with Scott's parents. It was a fun weekend filled with many block parties, delicious food, friends, family, games, and fireworks. What more could you ask for?

I loved that the fourth of July fell on a Friday because it made the weekend feel so much longer.

Scott and I have recently become obsessed with the card game called 'Bohnanza.' Side-note, we ordered it off Amazon on a week day and received it in the mail the next morning! Gotta love Amazon Prime, and my sister for letting us use her account ;). We probably played it about 10 times this past weekend, I highly recommend it!

Here in Vancouver the firework shows are not only on the 4th but the day before as well. They are pretty crazy...great, but crazy. When I say crazy I'm saying that you are literally about 20 yards from where they light them off and there is a continuous explosion of fireworks from start to finish. By the end of the show you can hardly see from all the smoke. There is also a chance that one of the fireworks will fall over and fly into the crowd, which has happened and did happen this year. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous to watch the firework shows. I didn't want the fireworks to be too loud for the baby! Scott convinced me that the baby would be fine, and that he is swimming in amniotic fluid so the noise would be very faint.
I still covered my stomach with lots of blankets, just to be safe ;).

Last year Scott and I came up with (what we thought) a funny patriotic photo, so this year we thought we should top it and incorporate our little baby.

This was all Scott's idea, he thought it would be the funniest thing to wrap a flag around my baby bump. To my surprise, I actually really love this photo!

Oh you know, just draping the flag casually on the shoulder, compliments of Velenti

The baby loves to be kissed by his daddy

Can you guess who thought of this photo? Haha "guns, motorcycles, and sexy women"

Happy Birthday America, we love celebrating you!

Homemade goodness

Last year Scott and I took some homemade raspberry jam with us to school that my mom made. We loved being able to just pull a jar out of the freezer every time we ran out of jam, plus homemade jam is delicious. So we decided we wanted to make some of our own strawberry jam for this upcoming school year. 

My mom has always made homemade jam and I have always loved it, and I am so happy to be continuing the tradition. 

We used MCP pectin and followed the 'easy freezer jam' directions that came with it.

Neither Scott or I had a clue how many strawberries we needed let alone how many batches to do or how many jars are made with each batch. This is probably why we ended up with A LOT of extra strawberries :). So not only did we make strawberry jam but strawberry pie too.

 We were lucky to have my mother-in-law's food processor to chop the strawberries, otherwise it would have taken FOREVER!

Lots and lots of strawberries, the kitchen smelled divine.

My little homemaker :)

We ended up with a dozen jars of strawberry jam. I will say that we could not believe how much sugar we had to use for three batches, but the jam sure tastes great ;). We are pretty proud of ourselves! I look forward to making homemade jam again with my hubby when we run out in a couple years or so haha.

1 year!

I can't believe a year has already gone by since Scott and I kneeled across the alter from each other.

It has been the best year ever. 

I love Scott more than I ever have before and am so glad to call him my husband.

For our anniversary weekend he planned a trip to Long Beach, Washington. It was so nice going on a vacation with just the two of us...and of course our little baby in my belly ;)

I don't think either of us thought I would be pregnant by our one year, but we are both so thrilled that I am.

We drove to Long Beach Saturday morning until Sunday. We ate at the best places, had the most delicious desserts, and enjoyed many walks on the beach. It was the perfect weekend for this trip, the weather was fabulous, not a rain cloud in sight the whole time. At Long Beach, you are able to drive right onto the beach next to the shore line, so in the evening we watched the sun go down from the trunk of our car while sipping sparkling cider. We stayed at a cute little beach house just a few blocks from the beach and watched a movie by a fire at night.
It was a great way to celebrate our one year.
Reminiscing on our year of marriage, I can't help but smile. I think we have both grown so much in our marriage, it has been a great time!
Here are a few things I have learned since marriage:

+a sense of humor is a necessity
+boys have different, but great ideas
+sharing your life with someone makes everything so much more fun
+horror movies aren't as scary with a hubby to go to bed with
+it's okay to be wrong
+the little things are the big things

I love you Scotty! Thank you for being the best husband and making me smile daily.

(enjoying the sunset and sharing a sparkling cider bottle)

(Happy one year)

(Stopped in Astoria for lunch and had the best pizza)

(4 mile bridge, it was like driving up into the sky)

(4 mile bridge)

(our walk to the beach, picture perfect)

(wedding cake topper tradition, it still tasted great)

S P R I N G

Today it got up to 59 degrees, the warmest it has been since we moved in! It felt like heaven. Scott even whipped out his flip flops when we ran to the store today for some last minute items. We also WALKED to the gym. This is a big deal...usually I have to bundle up, run to the car, and shiver on our leather seats the whole drive just hoping and praying there is a front row parking spot.

I am loving this warm weather!

Scott graduates in 17 days!!! We move in 18. Whoop. I am so excited to move to Washington and get started on baby projects and nesting. Since Scott doesn't start school until August he will be selling dish in Vancouver this Summer, I think he will do really well at this. Hopefully he has a good experience. As for me, I am going to try to find a part time job somewhere and I am also wanting to open up an Etsy shop, finally. I have been talking about it with Scott this whole semester and have just been dragging my feet. So I am setting a goal right now to open shop by the end of April. 

Our next ultrasound (the gender reveal) is April 14 which is three weeks away, but we are dying to find out the gender...sooo we are taking a last minute trip to Utah this weekend to go to Fetal Fotos to find out! YAY!!! I am so excited, ever since my last appointment I just keep telling Scott how I want to see our baby again! I was even looking into buying one of those at home dopplers so I could listen to the baby all the time! Then I realized that probably wouldn't be the best thing for me, I would become way too obsessed. Scott would probably wake up at night to see me listening to my belly haha. 

Yesterday Scott and I decided to try the wedding ring gender prediction test. We tied my ring onto some string and Scott dangled it over my belly. At first it really didn't move, and then it started twisting in a circular motion. At the time I thought this meant I was having a boy, which I was actually surprised because I really think I am having a girl. Come to find out circular is girl, back and forth is boy. So final results: girl. I know this really isn't a true indicator and is just a bunch of bogus, but it is still lots of fun. 

Before we find out the gender I am going to try all the old wive tales just so we can get some guesses going :). 

Post soon to follow.

Love day

We were so excited to spend our first Valentines Day together, and married, what could be better? I wanted to make it a very special day, so to start the day off right I made chocolate chip heart pancakes for my Valentine. I thought making the pancakes heart-shaped would be much easier than it was (the picture is from my second go around)! Unfortunately Scott had school all day, so while he studied and attended his classes I made some delicious cheesecake to enjoy after our dinner out and got all dolled up. 

We decided we weren't going to get each other any gifts but rather just go out on a nice date, to my favorite chinese restaurant in the whole wide world I might add. It all worked out perfectly too, because before Scott got home, he called me with the best news and BEST Valentines Day present we both could have received...he got accepted to Pacific University of Optometry! Tears of joy filled my eyes when he told me the great news. We are both so relieved and feel SO blessed to be able to have gotten into our number one choice. We are so excited to be able to be close to family while he attends his next four years of schooling. 

I couldn't be more proud of my husband and all of his hard work he has gone through to get where he is today. I'm so lucky to be able to have him as my eternal Valentine!

Running on happiness

This semester seems to be going by so s l o w l y. What has only been a month seems like three. Is it graduation month yet? Is it time to move? Although Rexburg is the pits, I will say that I have enjoyed oh so much the months Scott and I have had living on our own. We have been able to get to know each others likes and dislikes, what makes us each happy, create a daily routine, and most of all appreciate one another more. I may not say it now, but eventually, I know I will miss this little apartment of ours. Right now, it's time for a change. We are ready for bigger and better things ahead.

My favorite thing about living in Rexburg has been living with Scott. Scott does anything to make me a happy wife. Even though he is a full time student, he doesn't hesitate to help me with grocery shopping, meals, or dishes. There is nothing that warms my heart more than Scott lending me a hand. He always makes time for us and I am so thankful for that. I know Optometry school will be a lot more time consuming and stressful, but I'm not worried about it. I know how hard of a worker Scott is and know he will be able to balance school and family successfully.

Scott and I are headed to Washington this weekend for Scott's interview at Pacific. We have waited so long for this. We cannot wait to find out where we will be for the next four years. We are nervous but so excited. We are ready for this next chapter in our lives, but for now I will enjoy the next few months leading up to it. We are very happy.

Proud wifey

Today Scott got a phone call and email from Midwestern letting him know that he has been accepted to their school. WOOHOO! He interviewed there this past Thursday. Scott is so happy that he can now cancel his flight and interview at Southern college of Optometry in Tennessee. He really did not want to have to fly out there (that school was our last choice). We are so excited. Midwestern is our second choice for schools, he still has an interview at Pacific in February. We are very anxious to see if he gets in there or not. We would love nothing more than to end up living in Oregon for the next four years, close to his and my family. If that doesn't happen, I am ready for the heat! Rexburg has been so cold lately, Arizona isn't sounding too bad ;).

So blessed

EVERYTHING seems to be falling into place. Scott and I have been blessed with so much. Scott has already heard from three of the four schools he applied to for Optometry school, one being our number one choice, Pacific. Before Scott started school he wasn't sure whether he was even going to apply for Optometry school this year or wait a year. There was a lot to complete before he could submit his application, but everything has gone perfectly and he has done so well! We couldn't be happier. Scott applied for graduation this past week and will be graduating in April. I am so proud of him. 2014 is going to be a great one!

A Merry Married Christmas

Before the month of December I kept going back and forth as to whether we were going to do a Christmas card. I'm sure you can guess which one of us didn't want to. In the end I designed and ordered them! I'm so glad I did. I eventually want to collect our Christmas cards over the years and keep them in an album for us to look back on when we are old :). Maybe then Scott will enjoy them ;).

Getting into the Christmas spirit

Originally I wasn't going to decorate for Christmas this year, because I figured we were only going to be in Rexburg for about a week in December, but of course I caved. Who doesn't like Christmas decorations, even if it is short lived. My favorite thing is to turn off the lights with the Chrismas lights plugged in...perfection. Oh and dancing with my cute husband to Christmas music during his study breaks ;). What better way to get into the Christmas spirit? I have to admit, I have had my Pandora station on Christmas music ever since November 1st. I love this time of year and know I will love it even more with my husband :). 

OAT

It's the weekend of the OAT. It's finally here, I thought it would never come. There has been non-stop studying up until now. I'm so proud of Scott and the work load he has taken on this semester. This test will be very hard but I am confident that Scott will do just great. I have said it before and I'll say it again, I married one smart guy! He seriously is.
We are both ready for this weekend to be over. Both anxious for the results and what the future holds. It will be a huge weight off our shoulders once this test is over. Scott submitted his application last night which was really exciting...for me anyways, it just made Scott even more nervous I think ha. "What if I forgot something." Now after this test it's just the waiting game.
We are both so grateful for our supportive and loving family members who have been keeping Scott in their thoughts and prayers. We are so grateful for home teachers who were able to give Scott a blessing on Sunday. We are grateful for the priesthood. We are grateful for the power of fasting. All of these things have helped and blessed Scott. It's because of these things that I am able to feel more calm.

 (Yes, I actually took a picture of him submitting his application. Scott thought I was ridiculous for taking a picture, but I thought it was an important moment. What kind of wife would I be if I didn't document these things ;))

Thirteen things we're thankful for in 2013

We are grateful for...

1. Our comfy apartment we live in

2. For car belts that no longer squeak 

3. Only one more semster left for Scott after five years of undergrad

4. For the attonement 

5. Nightly prayers 

6. Family that lives within driving distance 

7. For our surplus of gift cards from our wedding

8. Kissing, cuddling, and hands to hold

9. The application for optometry school is almost complete 

10. Our crock pot that never disappoints 

11. Good health

12. Walks to the park on unusually sunny days 

13. Each other's sense of humor 

{6 m o n t h s}

Time does fly when you're having fun! We can't believe we've already been married for 6 months. I've loved every minute of it. I'm so grateful for our temple marriage and the knowledge I have that we have an eternity together. Scott thought it was a little silly celebrating 6 months...boys (sigh). It's half a year!

The past 6 months have been filled with unforgettable memories and firsts:

:: No more long distance

:: Honeymoonin' in Cabo. This was my first time out of the country and was the best vacation ever

:: Traveled to California for two weeks and worked as newlywed carnies

:: Started our blog together

:: Spent the first 3 months of marriage in and out of motels

:: Scott attended his first Wilson family reunion

:: I attended my first Lindquist family reunion

:: Visited our favorite ice cream parlor several times while staying in Vancouver {Salt & Straw}

:: Scott decided he wanted to go into Optometry

:: Many Redbox runs

:: Bike rides

:: Movies in bed

:: Travels back and forth from Vancouver to Prosser

:: Purchased and refinished furniture for our future home

:: Scott learned what distressing painted furniture meant

:: Moved into our first apartment together, a place to call our own

:: First time attending a married student ward. We like it

:: First Halloween together

:: Sunday walks

:: Wrote a bucket list together

:: Took all of our wedding presents out of their boxes

:: Cooking and baking for Scott everyday

:: We've learned how to beat the system on Netflix...several different cards=several free month trials
:: Watched the entire series of Breaking Bad, White collar, and now onto Dexter

:: Fell in love over and over again

I love celebrating our marriage, even if it is just 6 months. I look forward to celebrating many more. "You make me feel a range of emotions, but mostly, all I feel is happy." Love you husband!

(As I woke up to Scott in the shower this morning I decided to hurry out of bed and write a little note with my lipstick on the mirror)