apple picking

I'm all about fall. ...Until spring rolls around and then I think I like spring a lot, too. Oh and then summer is good... But right now, it's fall, and I'm totally jumping on board with everything orange and pumpkin. Last year was my first time going to a pumpkin patch, in determination to do all the fall things, and this year was my first time at an apple orchard! Baby has been loving apples and I love to bake, so while maybe we didn't need a bucket full of apples, it sounded like a good idea :) And it was! Uriah doesn't like apples (or applesauce or bananas or... my kid is so weird) but he loves the fact that they look like balls, so he was kicking and throwing the ones he'd find on the ground (and bruising a few of the good ones throwing them into the basket) Stephen and I taste tested until we were a little sick, but man they were good! We ended up with Jonathan and Golden Delicious apples - some being displayed on my counter making it look so much like fall in here, and some are currently in the oven in a loaf of apple bread (if it's good, I'll share the recipe!) It was a fun way to spend a few hours of our Saturday, together as a family before Stephen starts a new, busier, rotation. The weather was overcast, but nice, and we practically had the whole place to ourselves. I love getting to experience new things with Uriah and I'm excited to make this a fall family tradition. So, until next year...

Oh, and have I mentioned? Wink (the penguin) is an official family member. So I guess baby makes five...?

Boise's Fit One

Two weekends ago was Boise's Fit One 5k. The walk used to be called Women's Fitness, and as the name suggests, was a womens only walk. I have been doing the walk with my mom and sister (and aunt and cousins and friends!) since... I can remember?! We would always make a weekend out of it - coming to Boise, staying in a hotel all together, doing the walk in the morning, going shopping and swimming in the pool - I loved doing it! I skipped a few years in college and then while we were living away, but last year, the first year it was no longer "Women's Fitness", my sister came up to Boise with her girlfriends and we did it together for the first time in years! This year my mom was able to be here, too, as well as my aunt and two of my friends and their babes (one, in the belly!)

It was a fun day in perfect Boise weather - dancing at the starting line, weaving through the other walkers on the path through downtown Boise, a picnic waiting for you at the finish line in Ann Morrison park - though the forever long bus line in the heat at the end was sorta a major bummer...

I decided to do the walk sorta last minute and I'm so happy the others jumped on board with me! Uriah loved the company, too - "Parper" and "Natta" are his best friends (he doesn't really care for Remi or David- I think we're going to be in trouble when the baby comes!)

I got a little bummed during the walk when I realized I wouldn't be around next year to participate, but this year was a good way to finish my walk participation, for now!

a family of four

Baby Wall number two is on the way and we are thrilled and feeling so very blessed! 

Thank you, mom, for the pictures - our first as a family of FOUR! ;) 

To see Uriah's announcement pictures, click here

positive

July 17, 2014

Four tests in a month and a half, none of which Stephen knew about, all of which were negative. You guys, my hopes were high. See, we knew we wanted a baby in 2015, but we'd be spending 4 weeks at the beginning of the year in Seattle and moving to who knows where and starting residency in June, so there was a little planning involved. We knew that no matter when our baby came, we would be thrilled and we would make it work, but if we could control it, a little, make some hard situations a little easier, well we were going to try. So, we decided we'd start trying in June, giving us a March baby, and if we didn't get pregnant, essentially, right away (in the first three months) we'd hold off for awhile and try again in the winter so the baby would be born in the fall, after the craziness of residency had settled down a little. I had convinced myself that I was ok with that plan - I had always wanted a fall baby, anyway. But when it came time to try, I became desperate to get pregnant right away. I was ready. And, therefore, a little paranoid. I was overly hopeful. And every test I took (each time way too early) made me scared that God's timing wasn't our timing.

When I started to get headaches and cramping and a little nauseous and so tired and started peeing all the time, I honestly thought I just wanted to be pregnant so bad that my body was starting to act like it. Surely it was too early to be getting these symptoms? It took everything in me to not go out and buy a pregnancy test a week(s) before my missed period. I didn't want to go through the disappointment of reading another negative sign, because surely it was going to be negative. Four days before my missed period my sister convinced me. I was honestly feeling hopeful and excited, but trying desperately not to. It was too early. But, I threw Uriah into the car and literally ran into the store.

I bought a pack of two knowing it was going to say negative because it was too early. I would just take the test again in five days.

Just like when I found out I was pregnant with Uriah, the test immediately started to fill in the negative line. I tilted the stick in every direction trying to catch any sign of a vertical line in the light. It took a long time, but right at the end of my hope I started to see a faint line. It was faint, but it was there. My body may be able to fake pregnancy symptoms from hope, but my body couldn't fake hcg levels. I was pregnant. I screamed and sighed and laughed and cried and when Uriah came running into the bathroom worried about momma, I smiled and assured him they were happy tears. His smile and hug made me cry all the more. I get another one. I get to do this again. I get to give him a baby sibling.

Stephen was coming home in the next few hours, so once Uriah was down for his nap I tried to clean the house up a bit. It seemed appropriate to have a clean house with dinner on the table when Stephen got home. I wrote a little note "to Daddy" that said "I'm going to be a big brother!" on the inside and was going to have Uriah give it to Stephen when he came home. I had it sitting on the dining room table with a few things Uriah had picked up from the park earlier that day for daddy, waiting for Uriah to wake up. He was still sleeping when Stephen got home and I was trying so hard to keep it all in that I forgot the note was on the table. After he'd put his stuff away and I attended to the dinner some more, I saw him pick up the note on the table... I couldn't see Stephen, I just saw the note lift, open and fall to the table as he came around the corner with shock and excitement on his face. With a silly smile plastered to mine we hugged and cried together. "Really?!" "Really?!" "You found out so early!" "Oh my gosh!" "We get to have another one!" "We're going to have a baby!" "We're going to be parents, again!" Wiping away each other's tears we danced around the kitchen together in excitement. And in total disbelief that it happened so quickly for us. We'd only been trying for two months, and this was actually our first real shot at it since I was in Oregon when I was most likely ovulating the first month. We are so lucky to be pregnant at all, but at the most perfect time for our family... Disbeief and extreme thankfulness for His timing. There is always a reason, a purpose and a plan.

After returning from Seattle mid February, our baby is due April 1st, a month and a half before graduation and three months before moving. This is exactly what we hoped and prayed for and I can't believe it's really happening.

To read Uriah's "positive" post, click here

Five Friday Favorites

Another round of Five Friday Favorites of blogger/Instagram mommas! I'm pretty sure no one that follows my blog doesn't already follow these ladies as well, but they're favorites of mine that are worth sharing!

1. Natalie

This beautiful momma is one to two - the cutest twin boys you ever will see! I can't imagine having twins, but Natalie makes it look so easy (and stylish!) though she often admits it is not, and I love to hear the truth from mommas! She is a very talented photographer, making her own pictures of her boys even more drool worthy, and an incredible do it yourself-er. Her and her best friend, Britt, run the Three Little Crowns blog, which is another most follow along with. (Which would technically make this post "Six Friday Favorites", but that doesn't sound as good so let's just pretend.) There you will find more of Natalie's heart spilled out on pages, pictures of her sweet boys and lots of "I wanna do that!" projects. She has always been so sweet and encouraging to her followers and I have loved getting a glimpse into her little Canada life. You want a happy feed to follow? Natalie's your girl.
Instagram: @natalieyoung29 // @threelittlecrowns
Blog: Those Young Twins // Three Little Crowns

2. Tisse

Tisse has such a beautiful heart and soul and she captures it so well in her pictures and words. She sorta makes me wanna be a hippie, in the very best way possible. Because if I could pull off a long flowered skirt with natural hair and face, well I would. And she does, beautifully!, and her originality and freedom are inspiring. She's a fantastic yogi and mother of one sweet little Navi who is constantly being quoted on her Instagram pictures (and she says some seriously cute stuff, guys!) She has been in love with her husband since she was 14 (makes for the sweetest love story) and lives with him and their dog pack on the most beautiful piece of property you will ever see. She also has her own Etsy shop, Rad Earth Supply Co, where you can find beautiful hand stamped bracelets and clothing for you and your little. And! Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, she announces that she's expecting another little babe this April...!
Instagram: @tissespieces
Blog: Tisse's Pieces

3. Grace

Grace refers to herself in third person. This momma is one to four... under the age of four...! Married to a resident, with a fellowship right around the corner, Grace is constantly writing the cold hard facts of raising her wild brood while working around night shifts. (I figure if she can do residency with four, I can do it with one, right?) She is hilarious and honest and an absolute breath of fresh air! I have no idea how she does it all, but she does it with so much, well, grace! Her children are a d o r a b l e - the whole blue eyed, blonde bunch. I came across her feed when she was pregnant with their youngest and have loved following along ever since. My favorite line from her "about" page on her blog reads, "She likes her births medicated and her Hulu extra trashy." You don't want to miss this one, folks, I'm tellin' 'ya!
Instagram: @camp_patton
Blog: Camp Patton

4. Kate

A new momma of two, this California beauty has been such a sweet friend to get to know. I have loved following along during her pregnancy with sweet Olivia and have loved her honesty in the transition process from one to two. All mommas know theres plenty of good and bad in parenting and it's comforting to know we're not alone! Loving her life as a stay at home mom, Kate is always posting pictures of her babes, yummy goodies, craft projects and family pictures. She is a crazy talented decorator (you should see her little one's nursery!) and I swear her kids could be fashion models (both for their adorableness and style!). She is so sweet and genuine - I love having her everyday pictures pop up in my feed, making me feel like I'm seeing pictures of a good friend. When are you guys visiting Idaho again? ;)
Instagram: @fourfischies
Blog: The Little Fischie's

5. Mrs. Measom

This brunette bombshell is a happy momma of one sweet little boy. Her son, DC, has a killer set of blue eyes - drool worthy! She followed her hubby and his career this summer from Utah to Michigan and it has been so fun to follow along on their adventure (moving with a babe, I know how you feel!) Her home is crazy well styled (seriously K, can you come decorate for me?!) and, so is she! I love getting fashion inspiration from her posts. You'll also find on her blog plenty of YouTube videos sharing her current favorites and beauty tutorials. In her spare time (though I still don't understand how moms ever have any of that) she started and runs her own Etsy shop making crazy beautiful wall hangings. In one of her most recent Instagram posts, she talked about women encouraging women instead of bringing each other down and competing with each other - and that's just who she is, loving and encouraging.
Instagram: @xomrsmeasom 
Blog: xo, mrs measom