Christmas at the Coast

We were able to spend Christmas on the Oregon coast with Mike's parents. It was beautiful weather and wonderful being able to relax and enjoy a slower pace.

37 Weeks

Christmas in the Kitchen

Sugar Cookies

I woke up this morning a little crazy after a night of baby dreams, so I decided decorating sugar cookies would be just to link to a reality without responsibility that I needed. I called Katie and she was over in minutes. It is nice have family around to enjoy the traditions of our childhood.

Getting Christmas Ready

Mike has been adamant that Christmas festivities not start until Thanksgiving is perfectly enjoyed and done with. We did indeed check enjoying Thanksgiving off the list (pictures pending) by playing hard in Utah with family, but when we got back we were so busy with work and school that we haven't really had the chance to properly welcome the Christmas season. However, on our way home from the gym today, we did find a fabulously full and fragrant tree to put up. Here's to the start of enjoying winter.

Feeling Loved

Two fabulous gals from work put on a incredibly clever and cute baby shower this week. I am a lucky girl to work with such a smart, articulate, passionate, and funny group.

In true English department style, they asked everyone to bring their favorite children's book as a gift and everyone wrote their favorite quote from the book on a quilt they are putting together.

Smelling chocolate diapers.

Baby Shower

Pink marks the spot

Katie's pinked living room

Onesies and burbclothes to decorate

Owl "piggy" bank to be filled with advice

Decorating onesies before the paty starts

Katie did a beautiful job putting on my baby shower! The house looked perfect and we had a nice turnout.

Fabulous Surprise

Friday night, when Mike and I got back from a night of sushi (pregnant-friendly cooked ones for me, of course), I obeyed my exhausted body's demands and flopped on the couch to take an 7:00 nap. Just as Mike started making fun of me for falling asleep so early, Katie knocked on the door. I roused myself and as we were talking someone else knocked on the door. Megan, from Utah was on our doorstep! We all sat around talking when someone else knocked. Brittany from BYU! It was so good to see those girls, but not quit perfect until the fourth knock when I found my mom, all the way from China, on my doorstep! It was so much fun to see them and we had a delightfully fun weekend. They were there for my baby shower and we were able to squeeze in lots of girl talk!

Baby Wecker's Family Tree

With the rainy days keeping us in and the college football games keeping Mike entertained, I have been working on a few projects. I recently combined and condensed some of our family heritage into little stories about some of the women baby Wecker comes from. My favorite was about Lousia, who made her husband a pair of pants from difficult to come by material and found, when her husband couldn't sit down, that they were too small. She cried, he laughed and eventually they added a big flannel piece down the sides and claimed they brought stripes in pants into fashion. It felt like such a relatable modern emotion and skill - the ability to find the courage to try new things and the humor to enjoy the situation when it doesn't turn out. I printed out a story from each woman in a book form from Shutterfly.

28 Years

27 was a fabulous year. I am so lucky to be spending my time with a wonderful husband, in a beautiful city, working at a good job, and expecting a little gal. Life is good.

Apple Crush

I can't get enough of these apples! Katie and I got some here before and this weekend I dragged Mike back out to this farm so we could get some more. It is especially fun because I didn't even know I liked apples, but I seriously can't get enough of the crispy one. This is the closest I have come to a pregnancy craving.

27 Weeks - My View

I am officially no longer able to see my feet while standing straight. A little disturbing and a little fun.

Apple Picking - Year Two

Last year my sister Katie starting telling everyone how much fun picking fresh fruit was and after months and months of raving about her activity of choice, we all found out she had only actually been once. So, this year, we have set out to become true fruit pickers, attacking each fruit as it comes in season. We haven't done great, but today we found the apples and pumpkins. We also downed several classes of apple cider and a carmel apple lasted all of three minutes. I love hanging out with this girl!

Baby's Room

Perhaps we should do a reveal when the room is completely done (translation: when we have added some pink) and the baby is closer, but I am so pleased about how lovely the room is turning out. Baby is already so lucky to have grandparents that are spoiling her.

The Wedge

Mike's parents are in town for the weekend and in between sessions of general conference Mike's dad asked if there were any cheese stores in Portland. I looked it up online and as it turns out, this weekend was the cheese festival downtown. We jumped in the car and headed for the festival. Turns out I don't like cheese quite as much as I thought I did. Mike and Paul, however, were in heaven.

25 Weeks

Baby Wecker is growing right on track and moving all the time now. I feel like I wasn't showing for so long and now, all of a sudden, there is little hiding it. Beside the difficulty I am starting to have squeezing between desks in the classroom, I feel really good.

Hiking Horsetail Falls

Dad came to visit and we had such a good time watching BYU sports, eating out, playing golf, shopping for the baby, and hiking. They are leaving China soon and we are crossing our fingers they move somewhere fun for us to visit. We want Baby Wecker to be able to see the world but we also want grandparents close by. Can't a girl have it all?

Now we are looking forward to a quick visit from Mike's parents. We are pretty lucky to have such great family!