So we hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We sure did, because my mom came for a visit. Mommy's are so great. She took care of me the whole time because I was throwing my guts up. She played with Sydney and gave her some much needed motherly attention. I hate living so far from family, so it was really nice to have her here for a few days. We ate dinner at Ben and Allison's, and it was really great. We did the usual Johnson trip, and just relaxed the whole weekend. I bawled when she left, and now here we are a week later, and still sick as a dog. Nick has been great through everything. He is mom, dad, chef, and maid. I lay on my couch all day until I have to go to work, then I go sit on a chair and tell girls what to do. Dance has been really hard to go to everyday, but hopefully I won't be sick much longer. We went to the doctor on Thursday and had an ultra-sound. The doctor says everything is looking good and that I am not as far along as originally thought. BUMMER. My new due date is July 12, which means a week after that. Well anyway, enough about me. We went to Santa's Farm last night, and Sydney was terrified of Santa. I told her she could have a candy cane if she sat on Santa's lap, so we got some pictures of her crying and sitting on Santa's lap. Right when she got off she said, "I want candy mommy." It was so cute. Then she told all of our family that she saw santa and that he was, "Really, really scary." That is one of her new favorite phrases. It is so cute how she says really. Anyway, we are going to Utah for Christmas and we are really excited. We are so excited to get caught up with family and friends and spend time in our home towns.

Yuck

I was hoping that this pregnancy would be better than the last one, but it's not. I finally lost my winning streak of not throwing up. It all came crashing down on me yesterday. I threw up three times. I guess that is better than the at least six times a day I would do it with Sydney, but I was hoping that I would just rock this pregnancy and never throw up. Oh well, I guess I'll keep on plugging away since that is the only thing I can do. So I'll keep you posted

Oops

So I left out some important info when I posted our exciting news. I am about 7 weeks pregnant. I know, not far at all, but I know like the day I get pregnant, not really, but pretty close, because I feel like crap so I've known for about 2 1/2 weeks. I think everything is going well. I have an ultrasound on December 4 to see if there is in fact a baby growing, but from the feel of it, I'm pretty sure there is. I've also had some weird cravings, well not weird, but whatever, watermelon, fried chicken (couldn't stand chicken with Sydney). I can't stand the smell of chocolate. I about died today when Sydney ate some chocolate chips in front of me. I haven't thrown up yet, and I'm about 3 weeks further than I was when I started throwing up with Sydney. I'll keep praying, because every day I get a little more sick. So my due date is approximately July 7, but we'll know more when I get my ultrasound. So I think that about covers it except I forgot how much blood they take from you when you go for the first doctor visit. Nine vials. It took about 30 minutes to get the blood to return to my left arm. I'll keep everyone posted better. Sorry for the vague post earlier.

Number 2

Okay, so we wanted to wait, but we can't. A lot of you probably know, but baby number two is on the way. I'm not far along at all, but I'm so sick that I'm remembering how miserable I was when I was when I was pregers with Sydney. Oh well, you do what you need to, to get the babies here. So anyway, yoo-hoo for us we have another baby on the way. We'll keep you posted on updates and progress.

Halloween and other funs

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I know funs, not a word, but whatever. So I know these are so late, but I finally got time to post our pictures. We had a fun party over at Megan and Kolby's house. It was a great time and we love our great friends here in Houston. Nick went fishing with a guy he works with down in Galveston. Anyway imagine my horror when I get a picture on my phone of a five foot long bull shark. Yeah then Nick proceeds to tell me that he tried to pick it up by it's tail and the shark came roaring back to life and tried to attack my Nicky. I am not thrilled that sharks are so near the bay, but that is why I avoid the ocean, and the fact that I almost died in Hawaii, but whatever. So here are some pictures of all of our fun times these last few weeks. Enjoy loves!!!

Grandpa and Grandma come to visit

We were so lucky to have grandma and grandpa come for a visit this last week. We have been missing family so much, but have been so fortunate to have a visitor about every two months since moving here. I don't know what I would do if that weren't the case. We went to Johnson Space Center again and lets just say we will use our pass that we bought. We'll be going again in November when my mom and Russ come for Thanksgiving. We went to the zoo, Tin Roof (our fun bbq spot that we love, locally owned and one of kind.), Nick's uncle Clifton came for a visit, swam in still 90 degree weather. Someday it will cool down, just visited and loved every minute of it. I was so sad when they left and I cried so much after we walked away from Scott and Susan. Yeah I'm a big baby, but I love having family around. Sydney loves Grandpa, she was his little buddy. There is just something about grandpa that she absolutely adores. Maybe it's the fact that he is as smitten with her as she is with him. It was so fun and we are so glad that we had the opportunity to show them around Kingwood, and Houston. MIss you already and can't wait for our next visitors, or our next trip home.

Potty Time

I am so happy right now. Sydney was naked in our living room this evening web camming with Grandma, Grandpa and Abby and started doing the potty dance, so I whisked her into the bathroom, sat her on the toilet and waited. She always asks for "paper" and I told her that she couldn't have toilet paper until she went pee pee. So we waited for a few more seconds and she went in the toilet. I was so happy because now she knows what it feels like to go in the toilet and she can tell me if she has to go. I am so happy!!!

Update

Okay so we have had power back for a week now and can I say that it is so wonderful. The city is slowly getting back to normal. I think all of Kingwood has power now and the grocery stores are getting groceries back in stock. It's kind of eerie walking down a grocery store aisle and seeing nothing on the shelves. This week we got back to the normal grind, and it was quite refreshing to be able to schedule things and stick to them. The studio got power on Sunday night and we had classes the next day. Out of 12 girls from my first class, 25 from my second, 31 from my third, I had a total of 11 girls show up for all three classes. It was a "fun day" if you catch my drift. It was an interesting night. Nick is on the floor and loving it. Everyday that he comes home I ask him how he's doing and he always says, "I don't know I think I'm doing okay." Whatever that means I'd like to know. So I don't know how he's doing, but he likes it. Sydney is just drving me nuts and entertaining me at the same time. She didn't have a nap today and decided that she was going to wake up an hour after I put her to bed, so here we are, sick of each other and dead tired, but not sleeping either. However, on a bright note, we got rid of the paci!!!! I am so excited to be rid of it. She still askes for it when she is sad, but she has learned to sleep without it. I am so thrilled you have no idea what dread it has caused me, but it's going great. All in all it's been a great week and a very scheduled one too. Love you and hope all is going well. Have a great week.

Surviving Ike

So we officially got power on Thursday night around 11:30. We were lying in bed and all of a sudden, we heard the air turn on and three lights come on. I sat up in bed seriously freaked out, because I had been so long without power and started whisper screaming to Nick to have him get up and be just as excited as I was. We ran around the house for a few minutes and called and texted all of our family and other Kingwood/Houston friends. It was really exciting. This week has been a big trial for me and I have been less than friendly, but I am so thankful for all of the power company workers who have worked 16 hour days to get our city up and running again. So many out of town power companies sent workers to help the Houston power companies and that is so great. You wouldn't believe how many power trucks there are roaming the streets of Houston and surrounding areas. It's so great. Here are a few pictures of some of the damage around. I didn't get any of the inside of Kingwood, but it was pretty bad. Downed power lines and lots of trees down. I mean lots!!! Well here are a few. Two are of the two trees that Ben and Allison lost in their backyard. We are so glad that we are safe and that we didn't have any damage done to our apartment, although Nick said it sounded like it was being torn off of the foundation. We are so thankful for all of your prayers and thoughts. We love you and appreciate you all so much.

We survived

So Kingwood still doesn't have power, so this is just a quick post at my cousins house. We survived, without any damage to our house except lost power. A friend called Entergy (our power company) and they said that 80% of their customers would have power by September 25 and that all of their customers would have it by October 5. Just know that if I don't have power by then I will have officially gone insane. It's been a big trial for me and I have been really nasty to Nick, but we are doing okay considering. We'll tell you all about Ike when we get our internet back. Until then we love you all and thanks for all the prayers and thoughts.

y"IKE"s

Okay so here we are today watching the news and looking at this horrible storm that is coming our way. Nick seems to think we will be okay here in Kingwood, but I am looking at the weather blog on one of our local news stations and we are expecting 100 mph sustained winds and flooding and of course tornados that are caused from hurricanes. To top that off, Nick has to work and will most likely be spending the night at the center, so Sydney and I will be here all by ourselves literally holding down the fort. So when we lose power and that means my life line which is the computer we will have to rely on the cell phone to let you all know how we are doing. I'll get back on as soon as I can and hopefully we'll still have a house to live in. Love you all.

Tag

I usually: complain about going to dance during the week, but am fine once I get there
I wonder: if we'll end up back in Utah (I hope)
I regret: a lot of things none of which I can think of at the time
I Love: Sydney, Nick, immediate and extended family. Friends, crafting
I care: about my family
I always: check blogs. I'm a stalker as Nick would call me. I have no other contact with friends or family so I love to check in on people
I worry: about everything, all the time.
I am not: organized, scheduled (really bad with my job)
I remember: all of the choreography I've done this year so far. That's a lot
I believe: in our wonderful gospel, it has been such a blessing since living here in Houston
I dance: at work and with Sydney in our house
I sing: everywhere, but mostly at the dance studio
I argue: when Nick tries to tell me what to do
I win: arguments with Nick
I lose: my keys, my cell phone, Sydney (wait what???)
I listen: to Sydney singing to me I love it
I don't understand: um this question... Just kidding, I don't understand the price of gas either Kristie good answer
I can be found: at home or at the dance studio
I am scared: of going to bed without Nick at home
I need: a personal trainer, chef and maid
I forget: call people back all the time. It's a horrible habit, but I listen to messages and then don't call people back
I am happy: reading a book, watching a movie, scrapbooking, spending time with my family
I tag: Katie, Jodie, Carli, Kortney, Holly (unless you're having a baby)

Just an Update

Okay so we haven't posted an update for a while so here it goes. For Labor Day Weekend we went to Austin. On Sunday while we were trying to go shopping down town and to the "bat fest", yes blood sucking nocturnal mammals, I got out of the van and threw my back out. I hobbled around all evening and was in a lot of pain. So needless to say I've been in to see the chiropractor three times this last week. It's not better at all, because I have to dance every night, so we'll see what this week brings. Nick has some great news. He passed the simulator portion of his training and is now on the floor officially. We are so excited for him and all the hard work and dedication he has put into this job. He is a great provider for our family. Hopefully smooth sailing will continue until November 8 when he hits his year mark. Sydney is learning so much and growing, kind of. We took her to the doctor this last week for her two year well exam and she weighs 23 pounds (5th percentile), is 34 inches tall (50th percentile). Yeah she's tiny, I know. I've been instructed by her doctor to start giving her some carnation breakfast drinks, so she can get some calories and nutrients. We are hoping that she will just grow on her own and not get any lower on her growth chart, but we think she is perfect the way she is. Well that's about all that is going on with us. We hope all is well with everyone and that you are all safe.

I was tagged

{3}

I was tagged by Christine


3 Current Goals:
1. scrapbook more often
2. further my education
3. study the gospel and do more family history (I know two answers, but I really need to do them.)

3 Current Obsessions:
1. Organizing
2. decorating
3. making crafts

3 Fears:
1. the man sized bugs that exist here in Houston
2. Nick dying (lately I've been having some bad dreams about that)
3. Dogs, I hate dogs except Cocoa

3 Random Facts:
1. I love baked treats
2. I am good at football. I throw a better spiral than Nick.
3. I want to be an interior designer

Now I tag... Carli, Jodie, and Kortney

Tragedy

So I got a phone call from my mom this morning saying that the plane that takes her office to Moab Utah crashed and killed all on board. It was 10 people. Most of them I knew well and the other three I had never met. If you want information on the plane crash you can go to ksl.com or any other Utah news website. I just wanted to say how sad I am for all of the families that lost family members in the plane crash. It makes me so thankful for the Atonement and the opportunity I have to be sealed to my family for all eternity. I am so thankful for the gospel and the peace it brings into my life during times of turmoil. I can't imagine what it must feel like to lose a father, spouse, child, brother or sister, but I lost some friends in the plane crash. I am so sad and heartbroken, but I know that these families can be together again. I am so grateful for my family and the blessing they are to me. Please remember my mom in your prayers as she worked closely and was friends with her co-workers. Love you all and hope all is well with you.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Sydney's birthday party

Sydney's birthday isn't until August 29, but we wanted to be able to have Auntie April and Aunt Abby here. Abby has been living with us this summer and it is her last week with us, and April came to pick Linden up from Texas where he has been working for the summer. We are so glad to have both of them in our home this week. Anyway, we had a little birthday party for Sydney and these are a few of the pictures. The cake was my first attempt at fondant and tiered cakes. It was definitely a family effort, but I think it turned out pretty cute. My next one will look much better. Sydney thinks she is such a little princess, but she is a little devil princess. We love her, but I don't know if I'm up to a whole year of this terrible two stage. Hopefully my hair will still be brown by the time she is three. Enjoy the pictures.

Sydney The Great

I Finally Got It!!!

Mmmm Sucker

This is Sydney eating her giant gum ball that Nick won at a restaurant that we ate at this evening. I can't believe how messy one girl can get. The whole time she was eating this thing she just kept saying, "mmmm sucker". And if you have heard how Sydney says her rrrrrr's she rolls them so badly. My favorite saying is, "unlock the dooerrr." She just gets more funny to me everyday. I can't believe that I have a two year old. She is such a funny and fun girl and I wouldn't want it any other way, even though most days I want to rip my hair out when she still isn't in bed by 11 pm. Yes tonight is one of those nights. Well enjoy these pictures.

The Temple

On Saturday Nick, Abby and I had the opportunity to go to the temple. Thanks so much Ben and Allison for watching Sydney. It is a beautiful temple, and it was nice to see that many members. We had a full session and it was great. Here are a few pictures that we took outside the temple. It's a lot smaller than it looks in pictures. We are going to try and get there at least once a month because it takes a while to get there.

Big Failure

So after many failed attempts at getting this video on our blog, I have had no success!!! If anyone has any advice or help for me that would be great. I don't know what to do. Thanks for all your help. I'm sure I'll get some excellent tips!!!

Mama I'm a Big Girl Now!!!

Sydney has decided that her crib is a trampoline, so Nick will put her inside and let her jump around for moments on end. She was jumping on Sunday and Nick said, "Sydney climb out of your crib." So she proceeds to hoist herself up on the railing of her crib and does a flip out of it. We decided that it was time to put transform her bed into a big girl bed. Here is a video of other reasons she needs a big girl bed. We love Sydney and she keeps us fully entertained daily. Wish us luck on actually getting her to sleep all night in her bed now. It's interesting!!!

Nick's Space Heaven

So Brandon is in town visiting Abby and we went to Johnson Space Center yesterday and had a really good time. We took a tram tour and got to see Mission Control. We got to see a Saturn V rocket, (huge and awesome). We got to see some moon rocks and the Apollo 17 capsule. It was a fun day and all Sydney wanted to do was go down a slide in the kid land. Here are the pictures!!!

Make a Smilebox photobook

Vacations and such

Okay so I finally decided that it was time to get all my pictures from Utah and other fun events. Here they are. Sydney and I had a blast and hope you enjoy looking at all of our pictures.

Some Random Pictures

So I am in Utah at my in-laws and was browsing through all of the pictures they have and I found these funny random pictures of us sometime around Valentine's Day. They are so funny. We went to the Mayan for dinner one night before I left for Texas and Sydney was terrified of the Mayan warrior. These are the funny pictures of that. She is so silly.

Craziness

Okay, so these past two weeks have been completely crazy. Last week I was spending all my time preparing for this week. We had been on a break from dance, and I was trying to coreograph and prepare lesson plans and get all my stuff organized, so I was feeling a little stressed. Well then this week hit. Wow, I didn't realize how stressful the first week of a new year at dance was. Abby and I have been going non stop since Monday and we are pooped. We each teach about six hours a day and that means little or no sitting. It has been a good week I think all in all for both of us, but it is nice to have the first week out of the way and know what we can expect for the rest of the summer. Well today I was going to Walgreens to pick up a prescription for Sydney because every morning she has woken up with a new bug bite on her arm, and they are huge!!! So my mom had Dave call in a prescription for her and I went and picked it up today for her. Well, me being the bad driver that I am I went down the wrong side of a one way street right into head on traffic. So I had to hurry and turn into the right lane of traffic, and cut someone off and got honked at and the bird I'm sure. It was really scary. It has been a day. I have also started getting migraines everyday again. Well enough of this rant. It has been a good week reagardless. Sydney has been so good and things have been working out pretty nicely for us. Well hope you all have a good week. Sorry if this mess didn't make any sense.

Five Cinque Cinco {5} Cinq Funf Vijf

Okay so thanks to Christine I have been tagged yet again. Here we go.

5 places I go over and over:
-The swimming pool
-The dance studio
-Sydney's room
-Carli and Donny's
-The shave ice shack

5 people who email me:
-Stacey's Dance Studio
-blogspot comments
-my mom
-all the online shopping confirmations
-of course all the spam

5 favorite places to eat:
-Cafe Rio (I miss it so bad here yucky tex mex)
-PF Chang
-Carabbas
-Mimi's Cafe (Miss it too)
-Zupa's

5 places I'd rather be right now:
-In bed
-The swimming pool
-in a clean house (amen Christine)
-on a vacation away from Houston (coming soon)
-Utah!!!

5 favorite TV shows:
-Grey's Anatomy
-The Office
-Friends re-runs
-Project Runway (Christine you can come watch it with me)
-So You Think You Can Dance

5 people I tag:
-Allison
-Sarah
-Maria
-Katie
-Kristie

Take time to smell the flowers

So as you know we think Sydney is so adorable. I just had to post these. She loves being outside. It doesn't matter what she is doing as long as it's out of the house. So here are a few pictures.

Laloo Sydney

So I decided it was time to post some pictures of my sweet little girl. She is such a blessing to me and I thank my Heavenly Father every day that He sent this special girl to us. Somedays, yes I do want to pull my hair out by the end of the day, but when I tuck her into bed she makes the day all worth it. She gets wrapped up in her "banket", and holds on to her baby, and gives Nick and me both kisses, and says, "laloo mommy." She is so sweet. I am so thankful that I get to be her mommy and teach her all that she needs to know. So to you Sydney, I laloo.