The verdict is in...

We had an ultrasound yesterday and we are having a GIRL!!!! We are naming her Lydia Ann. We are both very excited! She is measuring exactly to what we had been told was her due date so the due date is still May 15th. Only 19 a half weeks to go!!!!

"It's the holiday season...

so whoop-dee-doo, and dickeree dock, and don't forget to hang up your sock..."

It's definitely that time of year, and for the first time in my life it's a white time of year. Remember this picture...


This is from the "First Official Snow" post I did about a month ago. It didn't really snow much after that until last weekend...

I would like say that this is what it looks like now, but unfortunately I took this a week ago, and now it's gotten worse. I don't like the snow. Yes, it can be pretty, but it's cold, slippery, and I haven't been able to feel my toes since I was in Mesa, AZ for Thanksgiving. BUT it's been Rain/Snow-ing for the past 2 days and when you have rain and snow you get SLUSH. I HATE SLUSH!! Imagine walking the whole way (which is only one block for us, but still) to church in a 1 or 2 inch deep Icee. It's miserable, especially since I don't have any snow worthy shoes yet. And it makes driving conditions horrible which isn't good for anybody. Needless to say, I can't wait til we leave for sunny AZ this Friday for 2 whole weeks. My toes are getting warmer just thinking about it :)

In other news, Robert and I learned a valuable lesson today. In case anybody is curious, if you ever want to give yourself a heart attack just do a fingerpainting project with a Primary class of eight 5-year-olds. (If you want to get technical, only 7 of them are 5. One boy is a Sunbeam who refused to go to his class today, but wanted to come to ours.)

The Primary Presidency asked every class to do a secret service project. So Robert and I both somehow came up with the bright, same idea that we could use some fingerpaints that we've had for a long time but never used and make a poster. Once the paint dries we will write Merry Christmas on it and leave it on an inactive widow's doorstep with some cookies. I think it turned out great. But the process was tense. The kids were great! They let us roll up all of their sleeves, they all took turns without fighting, and as soon as they were done with their 2 handprints they let us clean up their hands with a wipe. But Robert and I knew that all it would take was one kid to accidentally bump another kid with some paint for a paint fight to explode. But we made it without a single drop getting anywhere it shouldn't. Talk about taking a leap of faith.

This was also our last Sunday with this Primary class since we are leaving for Christmas. I can't believe I made it all the way through class without crying. I have grown to love each and every one of these kids so much!! They all have such individual, sweet, special spirits. Some of my favorite quotes from this year...
During a lesson on forgiveness, Jacob says "Um, I forgive white people all of the time, but I only forgive black people some of the time (pause) I just don't see them as often."
Annabel sees my new hair color and asks "Hey, how did your hair change colors?" "I dyed it" She then looks horrified/worried and says "IT DIED!!"
There are so many more fun quotes and stories and also a lot of testimony building spiritual ones, but a lot of them are "you had to be there" moments.

Here's Robert with our class

And then it was my turn, but by then they had already lost interest :)

Anyway, I'm sad that this year is over, but I'm excited for what next year has to bring. The Presidency told us today that they are debating putting us as the Primary music, but aren't sure if they want to do that to me, knowing that it won't be long before I am huge pregnant. But we would love the chance even if it is for just a few months. It's our DREAM! Only time will tell. We will still be happy if we stay right where we are at CTR 5.

And last but not least, by popular demand, my first baby bump pic.

We actually took this a little more than a week ago, so I might be a little bit bigger than I am in this pic, but it'll do for now. Robert's uncle might be doing an ultrasound while we are in Mesa. So we might know what the baby is before Christmas!! I can't wait to find out. I don't care either way, I just want to know!!

That's it for now. Happy Holidays!!!

In Sickness and Health

I know it's been a while since I've updated, and I will definitely do that soon. But today I came across this video on lds.org and I was bawling by the end of it. I don't think I share enough of my testimony and faith on here, so I wanted to be sure to post this right away when the feelings are still fresh.



As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly known as the Mormons)I believe that if my family and I live righteously and in accordance with the plan that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have set for us, my family can be together forever.

Robert likes to joke about how many guys he can think of that must have been really disappointed to find out that Robert had snatched me up and taken me off the dating market before they had even gotten a chance. But I knew without a doubt that among all of the possibilities out there, Robert was the one that I wanted and needed. He is always happy with life and loved me purely and unconditionally right from the start, and he was someone who had lived his life in a way that turned him into a man that I could love just as much in return. And if you are going to be with each other forever, you need to love each other. This isn't a starter marriage, this isn't just for now, or until death do us part. This is for FOREVER. We're in it for the long haul and enjoying every step along the way.

Our goal is to love each other more everyday and we've been successful so far. I hope that when we've been married for 53 years we will be just like the old couple in this video. Maybe I'll be the one who's memory is fading, but Robert will be sitting there with his arm around me talking and joking about how we were failed high school sweethearts that got a second chance and have loved each other ever since. Or maybe Robert will be the one who's memory is fading, and I'll be there holding his hand and talking about how it took Robert 45 minutes of stuttering, stammering, and rambling while driving in circles before he finally got up the nerve to tell me that he liked me for the first time. I don't know what the exact situation will be, but I do know that we will be together and we will be happy then and forever after that because we have each other and the Gospel in our lives.