My first cutesy crafty mom type thing to make the holiday extra special...

I kind of forgot about Easter this year. I forgot about getting Easter decorations out. I didn't really plan any sort of meal, and the Easter Bunny didn't come. I'm not really doing the 'make the holiday extra special' mom type thing yet by making cute crafty treats and surprises for the family, but I know Dave kind of gets excited about that kind of thing. So in order to redeem myself I decided to make an Easter treat after church on Sunday. I made these and was kind of proud of them. It really couldn't get much more simple. I put dyed green coconut on frosted cupcakes and put what easter candy I hadn't yet devoured on top. They're easter basket cupcakes - and I can always get into cupcakes. :) Maybe this will be our new easter tradition...

Many random topics...

There are so many different things for me to blog about at the moment. I've been wanting to do a post for the last few weeks but had some technical difficulties. This post is going to be a hodge podge of different things that have been going on.

First, my mom, sister and two wonderful friends here in Provo threw me a baby shower! It was so much fun. I felt very, very loved. I decided I have the best friends in the world! I don't have any cute pictures of all my adorable friends, only pictures of myself opening gifts. I need to get some pics from Kristi's camera. Thanks to all my gorgeous adorable friends for being so generous. I got lots of tiny things that I've folded and refolded like 10 times. Love you lots!

Second, Ella has had a bit of trouble lately. I think she can sense that her world is about to change dramatically and so she's been a little more antsy than normal. The other night we came home to find the worst mess (by far) she had ever made. She normally will get in the garbage every now and then if we leave something good in there, but this was like a serious free for all...as you can see.



By the way, the diapers were from my sisters kids who had just visited for the weekend. I'm just glad she didn't tear into those!

Other updates - I found out for sure last week that I'll be able to work from home part time after I have the baby. For a while it was up in the air as to whether Omniture was going to be able to work with me on that, but I was able to get on a team that had a part time position that would allow me to work from home. I'm really, really grateful it worked out. Not that I'm dying to work after the baby is here, but I really needed just 1 more year at Omniture to get at some stock options that should make a nice little nest egg for us.

- The baby dropped this morning! It felt a little strange, but very good as I'm finally able to take a deep breath. He's kicking in a whole new spot now which is a nice change. Now he's kicking right around my belly button, before he was right on the top of my belly, in my ribs. I've been really energized by the change.

I think thats everything for now. Dave and I are finally feeling much better from our little bout with the stomach flu. That was so not fun...on so many levels. But we survived.

I'll keep everyone 'posted' (no pun intended) on any baby updates. Can you believe he'll be here in 4 weeks!?

Oh yeah... Happy Easter!

Delicious Music...

Megan and I were sick as dogs yesterday so we both just hung out at home. I was chatting online with my friend Chris Beus and he introduced me to Bon Iver. Perfect music for relaxing together on a sick day, thanks Chris.

Bon Iver - Flume:

Bon Iver - Skinny Love:

My green thumb...

Spring is peaking through the soil in our little garden. Every year I get so excited to see that my little bulbs survived the winter and are happily announcing spring is on the way!

Here are some pictures of the Crocus flowers that are in bloom. Crocus flowers are the best because they bloom very early, even in the snow.

8.5 weeks and counting...

31 Weeks: Yeah I'm all belly :)

New Pregnancy Observations:

1. Heartburn: Sweet Mercy. Its brought me to tears at times. I'm carrying really high and so I guess that causes the heartburn to be worse and more frequent. The doctor suggested I use Zantac instead of Tums so we'll see how that goes

2. Them - "You're about ready to have that baby aren't you?"
Me - "Nope I still have about 2 months"
Them - "Oh wow...hang in there"
Enough said.

3. Belly Acrobatics: In the last few weeks he's gotten big enough that I can identify body parts as they roll across my belly. It's not so much short kicks any more but short spells of rolling, pushing, stretching, etc. Its been really fun to watch and feel. Sometimes it makes me laugh out loud to see a foot protrude as he stretches his legs or to watch him roll and then roll again trying to find a comfy position.

4. Swelling: My feet and legs get huge if I spend all day on them or wear tight shoes. Its kind of fun to press my fingers in and watch the dents stay. By fun I mean gross. :)

5. New Kind of Excitement: We're getting so close and that has brought on a new kind of excitement. We get to meet our sweet little boy in just 8.5 weeks. We get to become Mommy and Daddy. I cant wait to hold him and smell his sweet head and cover him in kisses and loves. This whole thing is so incredible!

mmm...Steak!

A year and a half ago while Dave and I were in San Diego we accidentally had dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House. I say accidentally because we had no idea what we were getting into when we walked into the restaurant to eat.

We were visiting some old battleship right on the pier when we got hungry. Across the street we saw Ruths Chris steak house. Dave said he had heard of it, and that it was supposed to be way good. We were thinking it would be something like Outback or Ruby River both in quality and cost. We were wrong.

As we were being seated at our table we looked around and realized we were quite under dressed in our t-shirts, flip flops and shorts. Hmmm...we thought, maybe this place is nicer than we realized. Then the waiter handed us the menus. Both of us were in shock as the price for just a steak was anywhere from $30-$80! That didn't include sides which were served family style. We thought very seriously about just getting up and leaving but we were too embarrassed. We ordered the two smallest steaks on the menu with two sides. I wasn't sure I had an appetite left after doing the math in my head of how much this single meal would cost.

But then they brought out the food and after I took my fist bite I didn't think a thing more about the cost. It was the most amazing steak I'd ever had in my life. They cook the steak in an 1800 degree oven and then bring them out to you on a 500 degree plate where they season it with butter, salt and pepper. Thats it! Steak sauce on this steak would be a tragedy. The sides were excellent too. To top it off they brought us a free creme brulee for dessert. This was one of the best meals I'd ever had, in fact I think I'd choose it for my last meal.

Ever since San Diego we'd been dying to go back so for Valentines day we decided not to get anything for each other but to save up for another incredible meal at Ruth's Chris. It was every bit as good as we remember it!











I also have to mention the beautiful flowers Dave got me. I'm so spoiled!!! Tulips are my favorite flower. He managed to get me an incredible bouquet of 30 red, pink, and white tulips!

Madelyn's Blessing

Some pictures from our trip last weekend to my sister's where they blessed their little girl Madelyn. We had a blast!