Sleepless in Seattle... er Mesa

ah... the joy of being pregnant: many sleepless nights wandering around the house, looking for something to do, but in all making sure to make as little noise as possible because there's a really tired husband - who works so hard both at school and job - in bed... snoring away.

Well, so far tonight, I've read the grocery ads twice over, studied my "Stir-Fry" cookbook (half temping to cook something from it RIGHT NOW), cleaned and scrubbed the kitchen stove vent (dripping with oil... what!?), made lunch for tomorrow, commented on people's blogs, stalked people on Facebook. What a productive night, right? It's only 5am still... (I've even been tempted several times to start reading the Harry Potter series... wow.)

I suppose I could write a bit about my thoughts thus far...

Our little baby Sawyer is due exactly TWO WEEKS from today... and he definitely is getting feisty about letting me know he's still in my tummy. "Oh don't worry Sawyer... I KNOW you're still in here" [as I pat my stomach]. My doctor today asked me what the game plan was, meaning do I have plans to be induced, a certain day I wanted to "deliver", did I care to be early/late? I told her there's been few discussions made about the day of Sawyer's arrival - mostly because my sister-in-law is getting married just 5 days before the due date (relatives, especially the great-grandparents will be in town). I've just accepted the fact that I can't please everyone, and that Sawyer will come when he wants to come. I'm not irritated, and most certainly not angry, for those who have made suggestions to when I SHOULD have Sawyer, but I firmly believe in letting my body "go through its course".
I've been reading (or actually finished it) a book called "YOU: having a baby" (yes, by Dr. Oz himself) and I've learned quite a bit about the human body, mostly of pregnant women of course, and it is just amazing to me how our bodies are programmed in AUTO mode. Heavenly Father, you are AMAZING. So many details that you just wonder, "how in the world does the body know to do THAT? it's just CRAZY!" Anyways, my body will "know" when to introduce Sawyer to us. :)

 My first pregnancy picture... yeay! [taken 07/2011]

 

There's that bump... [taken 07/2011]

 

Hurrah for LOVE [taken 07/2011] 

As far as preparing for the baby, I've got my hospital bag packed, the car is "baby ready", our house is decked out with cute baby supplies and decorations, and ASU professors have been notified that if Greg for some reason runs out of the classroom all frantic holding a phone in his hand, it's because Sawyer is more than ready. What more could I do? You tell me. Nesting has been my full-time job for the past few months.

Speaking of jobs, I've started back up again at my old job creating wedding invitations. I'm only there Tuesdays and Thursdays... I will see them couple more times (maybe) then out comes Sawyer! Then couple (few?) weeks of recovery time, then back to work few hours a week. I will only be working til mid December latest. I have STUDENT TEACHING starting Spring 2012. Grrrrrrraaaaaarh. Good and bad.

Good = only 2 semesters of Student Teaching and then I graduate!
Bad = 2 semesters of Student Teaching. period.

back to work... it'll be good to be bringing in income... enough to pay the month's rent and tithing. :) that is... only for two months. ha

Have I blabbed long enough? I THINK NOT!
the end.
["Trouble Sleeping" just came on my playlist... thank you Corrine Bailey Rae... ya think?!]

Summer Projects

Being pregnant and without a job... and it's summer time. What to do... what to do...

I've had a few projects in mind to keep me busy!

The first big project was sewing ALL of Sawyer's baby bedding:
Bed skirt
Quilt
Receiving blanket
Bumpers
(we cheated and bought the fitted sheet... ha)

We decided to hand-sew all of them because we bought a MINI-crib and it's dang hard finding bedding sets for a MINI-crib. and it's way cheaper. :)
So it was a success! Thanks Carole Billings for helping me out... big time! (I'm an amateur sewer... yeay for straight lines!)

Next project was crocheting a baby burp cloth. I've never crocheted before in my LIFE! It was easy, but then it cramps up your fingers. and you have to have patience. and more patience. loop by loop...
I'm suppose to crochet other fancy frilly stuff around the edges, but... it's a burp cloth. no need for fancies!

I'm wanting to organize my recipes and random magazine cut-outs... i have the binder and sheet protectors, just got to DO IT!

Other projects have been cleaning the house. cleaning and organizing things like crazy.
oh, and baby shower invites! :)

that's about it.

The Ultimate Update of ALL Time

A whole school semester went by without posting anything... gee. I stink at this.
So here's the ultimate of all updates:

I attended ASU this past semester, and I'm in the Early Childhood Education program. I have one more year of school left (2 semesters of Student Teaching) and that's it! Well, I'm suppose to start Student Teaching this next semester, buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut...
well. the baby takes priority. :)
Yes, well if you haven't heard, Greg and I are expecting our first baby this September!
We've decided to name him... Sawyer Martin Billings.
Sawyer just because it's cute and unique.
Martin because my father's middle name is Martin, and he got it from my grandmother's maiden name.
In honor of Grandma Ruth Rowley :)

So a baby is coming... WAH! How exciting is that!? : D It's scary... but it's happening so what do we do, right? I've got lots of support and help~ very needed! We've already bought the crib, mattress, diaper changing table, clothes, diapers.
Carole (Greg's mom) has been helping me make a customized baby bedding set, because the crib we've purchased is a MINI crib... and it's SOOOOO hard to find bedding for mini cribs... cute ones any ways.

We have 3 baby showers planned: one with Carole in charge, one with my mom in charge, and one up in Utah.

Speaking of Utah, there are TWO weddings coming up, both cousins of Greg's. 4th of July weekend. We're all going to be up there, so that'll be fun! :)
yeay, another vacation, because I'M ON ONE NOW!! as I type.

Kellie graduated from Highland High School and now we're up in Payson at a a resort. relaxation... aaaahhh... but missing my husband so much. First time being away from my husband... :(


Aside from all this, straight A's! woo!
And Greg has a WHOLE another story about HIS school semester... miracles upon miracles...


PHEW!

that was alot of stuff.

more to come later~

Getting a hair cut... no... not just one.

this was a while back (12/29 to be exact) but... here you go.

love my Jessie~ (no... she didn't cut it)

What went on throughout the Christmas Holiday

Greg and my Christmas days were filled with Trombone caroling, visits from out-of-staters, shopping,  photo shoots of a cute niece, eating, singing and partying.

My primary kids did great on the 2 songs they performed during sacrament mtng. (ps I WAS the Primary Chorister, but now they've called me to be the 2nd Counselor in the YW... BEEHIVES!!)

Geordan and Dan (Greg's bro) came down from Utah and brought a little present for all of us... Baby Zoey~ She was born early October and is the cutest little thing (along side of my nephew Ryker, who is only couple weeks younger). We were on our way to Wal-Mart for a photo shoot... smiled the whole way there. The entire time at Wal-Mart... no smiles!!!!!!! We gave up... then... the ride home? You guessed it... smiled for auntie Nat the whole way home! :)

My grandparents bought all of us tickets to go see the Dutton's perform!!!!!!!!!!! If you haven't heard of them... check this link out~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lsnP2y0cEo
okay, so Piers Xed them... he doesn't know what he was doing. boo
but they are one talented family ;)

Christmas Eve morning, we got up @6am to be ready for breakfast at Greg's parents' house! ... then we opened sibling gifts. Then had lovely breakfast... German panckaes (aka hootin' nannies, or roller coasters. strange names...).

Whitney (Brad's fiance) had my name and gave me a spiral bound hymnal... what a novel idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Geordan had Greg's name and gave him really nice polos for work!
 

Greg had to work from 9am until 8pm... so he missed out on the party at Gpa and Gma's house. My sisters and I performed Stille Nacht (Manheim Steamroller's version of Silent Night) and What Child Is This. beautiful as ever (I was only the accompanist so I can't take credit here). Greg arrived at the party just in time to pick me up to go to his parents' house for another party. Well, more or less, playing card games and eating junk. haha

Greg and I went home after a while of playing games... and decided to watch Ratatouille. When the movie ended, it was already after midnight... technically 2:30am... HEY! it's CHRISTMAS! we could go to sleep. SO...

we opened all of our gifts. :)

THEN we went to bed. Woke up @ 8am and got ourselves ready to go to my parents for our family gift exchange. Did I already say how much fun watching others open gifts was??? :)

 

Then to Gpa and Gma's place by 1pm for gifts and lunch as well. My family and I performed three other songs as a gift to Gpa and Gma: 1st my sisters and mom and I sang "Holy Child", 2nd Greg sang "A Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" piano by me, then 3rd me at the piano and WHOLE family (including dad. hehe) singing "Angels We Have Heard on High". It was really amazing... should've video taped it!!!!!!!!!!! THEN to Greg's parents for more gifts. BUSY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to have to tell you the most exciting gift EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greg and Grandpa worked on a project together...
they built me a NEW ENTERTAINMENT CENTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so beautiful~
and Gpa, Gma, and Greg's parents went all in to buy us a flat screen tv. pretty awesome. :)

All of our other gifts were wonderful as well~ I got Greg a guitar. He's pretty excited... lol

I was so excited to give everyone our gifts... so much fun!!!

It's so nice to live close to your family... love them all~

Well, I hope your Christmas was filled with as much hustlin' and bustlin' of fun as ours was.

Digging up old photos Part 3

These were taken on the day of the wedding at the temple and at the reception~
enjoy...

STOCKINGS!

I had a  heck-of-a-fun time making these stockings!
Tayva informed me of her cute stockings her mother made for the whole fam, and that she was going to make one herself (for her future husband and children? hehe). I'M IN!!!!!
I'm really not much of a sewer. sure, I can sew a straight line, and I've made pajama pants here and there... but other than that? yeah, not much. But I felt adventurous (and didn't want to spend $15+ for a good CUTE per stocking at Target etc.)...

I bought the double-quilted fabric at JoAnns: one side = snowflakes, other side = candy cane stripes
ON SALE for $12.00 per yard. Only needed 1 yd. for making 2 stockings! :)

So Tayva's mother made her stockings without a pattern. without a pattern. WITHOUT A PATTERN.
so we made ours... you got it... without a pattern.

It was so much fun!... but SO much work! took me... hmm... hours. But it's done~

Our friend Tami Larsen stitched the names on our stockings! Aren't they cute? Ask me how big her stitching machine is. go on. "mmmhmmm... yes, well, her machine is as big as a refrigerator!"

there you go.