Ben's 30th Birthday

So our dear dear Ben turned 30 this year!! 30- wait can we say it again 30!! I feel way too young to be married to someone who is 30 and Ben feels WAY too young to be 30! But people keep saying that the 30's are much better than the 20's and he will love it! So I guess we will give it a try, there is no turning back.

On his birthday we had the traditional Steak and Shrimp dinner and triffle for dessert.  The food was so delicious that we definitely over stuffed (thanksgiving moment).  For his birthday he got the complete Harry Potter set, the new Batman and the complete Star Wars collection- Can you say MOVIE NIGHT?  But what movie night would be complete without soda and popcorn- Yes, he is spoiled.  He also got a video game, pillow case and cool luggage tags.  He had a great time and as always, loved spending time with his family. 

The last thing he got for his birthday, which didn't arrive till later, was a new backpack from REI.  He went and tried on about a million, got measured, got checked and finally decided on an Osprey bag.  Ben has been using the same external frame pack his whole life and it finally died, so a new bag is a big deal.  He is excited to use his new bag (he wears it around the house and we going on walks with it around the neighborhood) and many of his friends/family have volunteered to go with him this summer to 'try it out.'  

New Years Eve

The entire week before New Years I was sick so we were not planning on a fun or extravagant New Years Eve.  However last minute I decided that I could make it to our friends big bash (but we were only going to stay for a little while).  We ended up staying all night; playing games, white elephant gift exchange, good food and lots of holiday catch up and chit chat. In the end we almost missed midnight and the ball drop because we were all do intent on the game we were playing. We have such great friends and I am so glad that we got to spend that special night with them.

January Absense and No Baby!

Sorry for the absence of blog posts lately- I have not been interested in doing anything lately. 

We are expecting our first baby, our precious little baby girl.  I have been eagerly anticipating her arrival.  At the beginning of January I was a little stressed; I was sick and everything wasn't ready.  Our nursery wasn't done, Christmas wasn't put away, my hospital bag was not fully packed, we didn't have a car seat.  I thought she was coming any day and I wanted to be prepared. However we have finally reached my due date (TODAY- January 30) and still no baby (I am beginning to be over prepared and I am going a little crazy).  The doctor said he didn't want me to go past two weeks- so we have scheduled an induction (Feb 8)- hopefully she will come on her own before then.

Many of my friends and a cousin all have a due date within a week of mine- this made the second trimester of pregnancy kind of fun- swapping stories, good and bad.  Now everyone has their baby EXCEPT me; People who's babies were due after mine even have their babies and no, they are not skinny premies, they are beautiful, plump and already out.  I know I should not be bitter about this fact; maybe I have a late bloomer, maybe she will be EXTRA healthy, maybe she is getting her beauty sleep and will come out the best and most beautiful baby of all, or maybe she is just lazy and content (which seems like it runs in the family).

So I figure I need to be less lazy and content (give her a good example) and get MORE done- so here I am, ranting about my unfair life and blogging about January.  Pray that I have her soon or you will hear me ranting about February also.

Marriage Moment: 'Make It'

Yes- I do realize this post is... 3 months over due but I am working on it.  (I just found a list of things 'to blog about' so you might be getting a lot of older posts).

Before my wonderful baby shower (thanks friends) in October Ben and I went to register for baby stuff.  Ben was reluctant to go with me but I promised he could hold the gun- which changed his mind.  I had printed off a list of things that we should register for (but we were still pretty lost) and so we made our way to the baby section of Target.

There were a lot of adorable things- each thing I pointed out (which was usually a shade of pink) Ben would analyze and then scan the other color (usually blue, green or yellow).  He was dead set against pink.

As we made our way to the overwhelming diaper isle I started looking at my list and pointing to diapers- infant, newborn, night, day...ahh!  We found some infant diapers for up to 8 lbs and I told Ben to scan it.  He scanned a small pack of about 8 diapers.  I tried to explain to him that the baby would be going through more than 8 diapers a day for the first little while so we would need more but he still looked at me reluctantly.

"Why can't we just get the big diapers?"
     "Because the baby will be an infant and small for a while."
"But why do we need to get diapers for less than 8 lbs?"
     "Because the baby will small for a while."
"Isn't she going to be over 8 lbs?"
     "I don't know."
"Well how big are you going to make it?"

This made me crack up- how big am I going to make it? Seriously? Well we have not stocked up on diapers yet but we will probably be getting some smaller ones- just in case I can't 'make it' as big as Ben expects!!

Christmas

COMING SOON- after I get over the humiliation I will be able to write this with more joy!

December Highlights

My blogging has been a little...lacking lately.  So instead of making 100 posts (because our lives really are that busy) I am just going to jam everything into one.  

Mat and Andi were able to get us a crib from a family in their ward for FREE!!  We were so excited and eagerly got ready to put it together when we found- the hardwear was wrong.  So we had to go to a couple different stores to find what we needed.  But finally we got it up.  All of our blankets are folded and in the crib (for storage) and the room finally looks like a nursery!  I have tried hanging up some of my baby shower decorations (I will need to adjust and fix them) and so it is getting more pink by the second ( I think Ben is warming to the idea of pink). 

 

On Tuesday, December 18, Ben's co-workers at Crocs threw us a baby shower.  They had catered in food and presents.  It was so much fun to see everyone, and meet new people, and to see the love everyone had for Ben.  Everyone is so excited for a new 'Crocs Baby' and they all raved to me about how good of a father Ben would be (like there was any doubt).  

Our rule growing up is that the house had to be "Christmas Clean" in order for Santa to come and I love Santa, so this tradition had stuck.  While on bed rest, in September, I planned our Christmas prep, maybe in too much detail, including my 'job list.'  Little did I know in September how big and uncomfortable I would be by the time December rolled around.  I tried to get a lot of this list done; I would occasionally get bursts of energy and succeed in one or two of my OCD tasks.  However I must admit that I did not completely Christmas Clean my house (and yes Santa did still come). So now I am trying to finish the list to "Baby Clean" the house- although I have been warned that some of the tasks should be saved till I was a little closer to my due date (moving the fridge and oven to clean behind, for example).  

Another big Christmas tradition is- GOODIES.  Again, I had this meticulously planned and again I fell short.  I did have one day of baking glory (followed by a day of exhaustion).  I made some delicious pumpkin bread and was able to get some snickerdooles for Ben.  Again I have decided that all of my other goodies will be saved for "Get Ready for Baby Goodies"- she needs to gain some weight...right?

Another thing that I detailed in my bed rest Christmas list was the decorations but again...I am always tired.  So instead of getting the tree up Christmas slowly crept up on us with NO TREE.  Instead of getting the Newson's extra tree and spending hours putting it up with lights (I am not joking, hours!)  I sent Ben to the church, late at night, and he stole or 'borrowed' a tree.  We had it home and decorated in a couple minutes.  I love the idea of having a fancy elegant and matching tree but Ben loves homemade and original ornaments, so this year we did both! I must admit that I like it. 

At the Stones Birthday Party (Dec 9) Grandma Baker gave Ben and I a pre-Christmas gift.  She gave us a beautiful nativity that used to be Nannies.  Grandma said that Her and Grandpa had given this to Nanny and she was now passing it on to us.  We both feel so special to have such a beautiful and important nativity.  Thank you Grandma.  

Another thing that we got from Grandma Baker were some baby cloths.  Grandma is an amazing (even expert) knitter and her talent is raved about.  She made us an adorable white outfit, which we have decided will probably be her blessing outfit, a beautiful blanket and some cute embellished blankets/socks.  We both are so impressed and will always treasure these amazing pieces and heartfelt cloths.