Watch Me Grow

So I'm realizing I haven't really been documenting my pregnancy.

And given the fact that the baby has stolen half my brain I figured I probably should write some stuff down in case I ever want to remember what being pregnant was like.

Unfortunately, I have no free time.

So since today is a snow day I am taking advantage of my extra time to blog.

I know I'm being really productive!

1. The Classic "Watch me Grow" Pictures.

Haha that title makes me think of the book of baby pictures my mom has of me and my siblings.

2. Pregnancy Symptoms

I was extremely tired during the 1st trimester.  

I would come home from work at 4:30 and just want to sleep for the rest of the day.

I have more energy now and can make it until the late hour of 9 before crashing.

I wasn't too sick as long as I ate first thing in the morning and every couple of hours during the day.

I haven't really had any crazy food cravings.

Although last month we went out for pizza and I just had to have a rootbeer instead of water.

The baby is super active.

Ryan and I have felt him move since week 18.

His movements are only getting bigger and more extreme.

 I have terrible calf cramps.

Can I just say that is one of the worst things to wake up to at 3 am?

The lower back pain is a bugger.

I have I hard time being on my feet for long periods of time.

Thankfully my job involves very little stationary standing.

Stuffy nose.

Seriously?

This is like the most annoying symptom ever.

 Permanent colds are no fun!

All in all though it really hasn't been too bad.

The whole process is just so fascinating and exciting.

I get more and more attached everyday and I can't wait to get to know this little guy!

Hey Girl Hey!

IT'S A BOY!!!!!

On Friday Ryan and I had the 20 week ultrasound and found out we will be welcoming a little boy to our family in April. 
It was so fun to watch our little guy.
I'm already so in love!
Everything looked good and he is measuring right on track.
My favorite part was to be able to see him move as I felt his movements.
At one point he made a fist and punched straight up.
Hopefully this little skill doesn't still happen after he is born!
 

Thanksgiving

This year was our first year having Thanksgiving at our apartment.

Since we only had Thursday and Friday off we decided it would be easier and less stressful.

And it was a great weekend!

We didn't make a turkey since neither of us really enjoy it and if we were going to eat ourselves sick you better believe it would be on food that we love.

 We had bean dip, pork roast with raspberry sauce, mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, honey cinnamon butter, peas, corn, and pumpkin dessert.

Ryan even got to play football in a turkey bowl with some of the guys from our ward.

We used Friday to get things done around the house and relax.

Saturday we went down to Chicago to go to the temple.

We did and session and then hit up Giordanos for some Chicago stuffed pizza.

Next we went to IKEA to browse and get an IKEA meal in honor of my brother.

It was a great trip to end a great weekend!

Dance Recital

I had my dance recital this weekend.

I had been looking forward to it for awhile because I felt like I had too much going on and I was exhausted.

Although I was sad to have everything be over since I'm not sure if I'll teach dance again.

I can't teach in the Spring because the baby is due the week of the recital.

And come Summer who knows where we will be.

I had tons of fun teaching dance and I'm going to miss these girls!

100th Post on Day 100

Now I know what you're thinking....

Day 100 of what?

I can't believe I've read 100 of these posts!

Hopefully this post makes it all worth it.

TODAY IS DAY 100 OF MY PREGNANCY!

That's right, Ryan and I are expecting our first child April 2013.

We couldn't be more thrilled!

It has been a long journey to get to this point full of ups and mostly downs but these 100 days have made it all worth it.

Welcome Calder party of 3!

Rhumba 4 Rainbow

Two weeks ago we had the privilege of attending the benefit Rhumba 4 Rainbow.

Rainbow helps children who have been victims of abuse or have witnessed others being abused.

It was a great evening of Latin dance, food, and a silent auction all for an amazing cause.

We took a salsa dance lesson.

Probably could have won the salsa dance contest with our new skills! (Just kidding)

We even put a bid on court side tickets to the Bucks vs. Clippers.

Clearly we didn't win because we are poor college students but it was fun to try.

I loved getting dressed up and having a night out with my handsome husband!

Thank you to our great neighbor for giving us their extra tickets.

Introducing.....

The newest member of our family.....

The iPhone 5!

Yes it is true Ryan upgraded to a smart phone and he talks about it like a member of our family.

Seriously, everyday it's "Siri this" and "Siri that"

In honor of this new family member we have had several "themed" days:

Five Phone Friday

Smartphone Saturday

Smartphone Sunday

Mobile Phone Monday

Tablet Tuesday

I guess one themed day (Flannel Friday) wasn't enough, but what can I say he is one excited parent!

Welcome iPhone 5!

Husband + Kitchen

A couple Sundays ago I was making lasagna and breadsticks for dinner.

I had a primary meeting that afternoon so I got all the prep work done right after church.

We then proceeded to skype with our friends and I had to leave early for my meeting.

As the meeting was wrapping up I realized I wouldn't have time to make it home in time to have the lasagna ready for our guests.

No worries,

Ryan was home and could put the lasagna in.

I sent him a text and proceeded with cleaning up after the meeting and then headed home.

When I drove down our street I noticed all the windows were open in our apartment.

Now this was weird for 2 reasons.

1. I am usually the one that likes all the windows open.

2. It was a pretty chilly day.

As I parked the car I realized why the windows were open.

I forgot to tell Ryan that I had breadstick dough raising in the oven (in a plastic bowl).

Now he did see me put the dough in the oven but lets be honest I can't expect him to remember that.

When I entered the apartment I knew I was correct by the awful smell of melted plastic.

The rack, floor, and heating coil of the oven were covered in melted (now cooled) plastic.

Thankfully we were able to put the lasagna in a neighbors oven so we could still have our guests over and I had garlic bread in the freezer so dinner was saved.

On the down side we spent a good couple hours cleaning our oven and it took a couple of days to get rid of the awful smell.

Apparently Ryan turned the oven on and then came back when it was pre-heated and opened the oven to FLAMES! 

He put our the fire and then made sure to get a good picture.

For your viewing pleasure, our delicious breadsticks (post fire)

UW vs. USU Football Game

Ever since we found out USU was coming to play UW we knew we needed to get tickets.

Turns out it is a lot harder to get tickets to a UW game than to a USU game.

In August we found out that UW had sold out of tickets.

We were crushed!

Then a miracle happened..

We got an email from the USU alumni association stating they had tickets for anyone interested in attending.

So we purchased tickets having no idea where they were in the stadium, but at least we were going!

Then the time came for game day.

We headed to campus, picked up our tickets at will call, and wandered around the stadium looking for our gate enterance.

We we arrived at our section we were stunned to see we were in the second row near the end zone.  

We couldn't have gotten seats this good through UW if we tried. (I guess giving up our firstborn child might have given us that opportunity)

The game was incredible!

USU was winning by quite a bit at the half. (14 to 3)

UW hadn't done anything right and started almost every possession with a false start.

Camp Randall Stadium was very subdued.

The Badgers came back in the second half to take the lead (16 to 14)

USU got the ball back with about 2 minutes left,

Moved the ball down the field,

And with 15 seconds left sent the kicker out for a 30 yard field goal for the win.

....

........

USU's kicker missed allowing the Badgers to win.

It was a heartbreaking game.

USU out played UW for the entire game and even the stats think USU should have won.

 In my book the Aggies won and I left the game so proud to be an Aggie!

End of Summer

So the Autumn Equinox (Sept. 22) has gotten me thinking that I never posted about the end of our Summer.

This is usually a happy time for me.

I love the crisp fall air.

Pumpkin treats!

Beautiful Leaves.

And let's be honest I was a nerd and actually looked forward to the first day of school.

This year is no exception.

I was so ready to be living in one place.

Start a routine again.

In my mind things were finally going to settle down (Haha boy was I wrong!)

So the weekend after our big vacation we headed to Chicago to visit the family I used to nanny for.

It was so good to see them again and their new home is beautiful!

We enjoy delicious Girodano's pizza and the Lincoln Park/Zoo downtown.

I loved being with those cute kids again and I'm so sad I can't be there nanny anymore!

Then it was back to Milwaukee.

Ryan had one week left of his internship.

We needed to move out of our "summer cottage."

And, I started my new job that Wednesday.

After a whirlwind of a week we headed down Indiana for Labor Day.

Apple and Raspberry picking in Anderson Orchard.

Apple Cider Slushes... yum!

P. F. Chang's

Shopping (our traditional activity)

Nature Walks

And of course SLEEP!

Now we are back in Madison.

Ryan has started school again.

Thankfully only one class this semester but he is plenty busy with his research and the class he T.A.'s for.

I am nannying full time for a new family and teaching dance one night a week.

So we are back on a schedule drudging through our routine and just as busy as ever!

BRING ON FALL!

Great Lakes Vacation

Last week Ryan and I set off on a whirlwind adventure to see the great lakes, church history sites, and Ryan's mission.  We covered 1,900 miles in 7 days!

1st Stop = Chicago, IL

We stopped in Chicago for breakfast at The Yolk with one of our friends from Logan, Brandon, who was there on a business trip.  Breakfast was amazing!  I got banana's foster crepes and Ryan got cinnamon roll french toast.  This is now one of our favorite places to eat in Chicago.

 

2nd Stop = Shipshewana, IN

This is a darling Amish town that was actually part of Ryan's mission.  We stopped here for some good old fashioned lunch.  The roast beef was so tender and they had delicious homemade peanut butter that was blended with marshmallows.  So far we have really enjoyed the food... Haha

3rd Stop = Cleveland, OH

We checked out Lake Erie and then spent the night in Cleveland.

4th Stop = Kirtland, OH

We went to see the Kirtland Temple and the Newel K. Whitney store/home.  It was really neat to be in two sacred places so close to each other.  Unfortunately it was pouring rain so I don't have any pictures but the temple was beautiful.

5th Stop = Palmyra, NY

Tuesday evening we did a session at the Palmyra Temple.  This temple has some amazing stain glass of the first vision and of trees from the sacred grove.  However one window is left clear so that you can look out into the sacred grove from the temple.  The temple actually sits on the original property the Smith family owned.  

After the temple we went to the Hill Cumorah.  Again, what a sacred place.  I wish I could describe these places better but no words come to mind.

 

Wednesday morning we spent about an hour in the sacred grove.  There was such a feeling of reverence in there.  It felt so different than any other forest I have been in.  We were indeed walking on hallow ground.

 After spending time in the sacred grove we toured the Smith Family homes and the original Book of Mormon Publication site.  I can't even fathom that about 24 hours we stood where so many angels have visited, including Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

6th Stop = Niagara Falls

These falls are incredible!  I am so glad I had the chance to see them.  We started on the New York side and walked through the State Park there.  However, you can't really get a good view of the falls because this is the side that the waters drops off from.

  

So we headed out to the observation deck (the green tower in the background of the first picture) and the views improved.

Since I am traveling with my sweet husband who is very interested in power electronics we had to check out the visitor's center for the New York Power Authority.  I have to admit it was pretty neat and the center was very well done but I think Ryan enjoyed it just a little bit more than I did!

Nikola Tesla was the man responsible for the design and was one of the first people to start experimenting with wireless power.

When I could finally pull Ryan away from all the neat toys we drove across the bridge into Canada.  We spent the night at the Marriott there and the views were spectacular.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone.  We sat and watched the falls for hours! The Canadian sides definitely has the best views, but as Ryan said the U.S. has the usable side.  

The view from our hotel room.

The view from the room at night.  They light up the falls and the colors are always changing.  Needless to say I was pretty excited about this portion of the trip!

7th Stop = East Lansing, MI

We left Niagara Falls Thursday morning and drove through Canada (passing Lake Ontario) to Michigan.  We stopped in East Lansing to see Ryan's first area from his mission.  I got to see his apartment, the mission home, and Michigan State Campus.

8th Stop = Grand Rapids, MI

This was Ryan's last full area of his mission.  We met up with a family from the ward there for dinner.  It was so nice to get to meet them and to get a glimpse into this part of Ryan's mission.  

9th Stop = Hart, MI

We spent Thursday night and Friday in Hart.  This was Ryan's second area.  We stayed with Pat and Bill.  Ryan introduced Pat to the gospel and since then we have stayed in touch.  Ryan flew out for their sealing and they came to Utah for ours.  Friday morning we went our to the grave of one of the ladies Ryan baptized on his mission.  Next we went to visit a family that Ryan became really close with.  They fed us a great Mexican Lunch.

That afternoon we headed out to Lake Michigan and the lighthouse at Little Sable Point.  Of course we climbed the 130 stairs to the top of the lighthouse!

That night Pat and Bill had organized a pot luck at the church in Hart so that Ryan could have a chance to visit with the Branch members there.  It was so nice to be able to meet everyone all at once.

10th Stop = Traverse City, MI

This was Ryan's third area.  We stayed with a sweet lady, Marilyn, who saw it as her calling to be the missionary grandma.  

11th Stop =  Lake Huron, Lake Superior, and Green Bay

Sunday morning we began the long drive home.  We headed home through the upper peninsula of Michigan.  This path allowed us to see the last two Great Lakes, Lake Huron and Lake Superior.  We also stopped by Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI before arriving home in Milwaukee.

The Great Lakes Circle Tour was definitely a fun, but exhausting, trip!

Calder Family Vacation

EEEEP! I can't believe it has taken me a month to finally write about our great vacation with the Calder's!

They were able to come visit for a week and even though it was HOT (record setting days of 100+) we had a blast.

Saturday

 The Calder's arrived after two long days of driving and were ready just to kick back and relax.  We had dinner and then headed to UW-Madison to walk around and check out Rhythm and Booms.  The fireworks were great only we tried to take and short cut and got stuck tramping through the woods in a dark with only cell phones as flashlights but we surrived!

Sunday

We attended church and then headed off to drive through the Aboretum.  After that everyone was ready to be out of the car so we head to the Madison Zoo.  Ryan is absolutely obsessed with this guy:

Monday
We drove to Chicago that morning.
First stop = Field Museum
Second Stop = Shedd Aquarium.  We had to wait in line forever to get in but it was well worth the $8!  From hugs aquatic snakes, to sea turtles with injured hind fins, to sea horse and frogs.
Third Stop = Giordano's for delicious pizza 

Tuesday
We woke up early to be to Sky Deck at the Willis Tower before it opened.
Luckily we beat most of the crowds and could zoom right to the top.

After getting our fill of the great views we satisfied my guilty pleasure and hit up the Loft sale

Then it was off to Panera Bread for a delicious lunch and back to the hotel to change for the temple.
Originally Ryan and I were going to do sealings or a session but last minute we decided to stay with the twins and do baptism and boy am I glad we did.
When we got there the temple workers were so grateful to see me and Bridget.  I guess earlier in the day something had happened with their computers and they didn't catch the fact that one of the brethren in a youth group didn't have a current temple recommend.  Unsure of which baptisms he preformed they needed to redo 70 female names that day.  It was one of the most spiritual experiences I have had at the temple in a long time.  To know that some of those women had been so excited for that ordinance and then to have it ripped away a few hours later would be devastating.  I am so grateful we were able to help out even if it meant getting baptized 45 times! This also happened to be the first time I was able to be baptized by Ryan :)
A member from the temple presidency came to thank us and he said something that really stuck out to me.  "It is not often that you have a chance to change someone's eternal destiny.  You have plenty of chances to impact it but few times to change it.  Today you changed eternal destiny!'
Ryan's cousins who lived north of Chicago were able to join us at the temple so afterwords we stopped at Wendy's for dinner.  Ryan's dad convinced one of his cousins to eat a 44 oz frosty and his cousin actually finished the whole thing!  It definitely qualifies for Man vs. Food.
That night was hit the Magnificent Mile.  We went to the lounge at the top of the Hancock Tower, got sundaes at Ghirardelli's, and checked out 'the bean."

Wednesday
We went to Millenium Park that morning to see "the bean" and the buckingham fountain.

Next we checked out of the hotel and headed to Ryan's Aunt's home for a 4th of July BBQ.
Seriously we ate for like 8 straight hours.  I have never felt so full in my life!  But Sheila just kept bringing out more delicious food like fruit platers, chips, homemade ice cream, oreos, homemade caramel popcorn, and the list goes on.  We enjoyed games and good conversation before heading to Milwaukee.

Thursday
aka the Bachelor Pad
We spent Thursday in Milwaukee showing his family where Ryan has been all Summer.
We went to one of Milwaukee's great beaches along Lake Michigan and then headed down town.
We found this amazing BBQ place called Smoke Shack. Seriously it is to die for!  If you are ever in the area you need to check it out.  Then we walked around downtown with mango smoothies from the market.
We finished out tour at the Milwaukee Art Museum.  By sure chance it was still open and admission happened to be free since it was the first Thursday of the month!
We were able to spend about an hour there and then watch the wings close.

Friday
We spent the day in Madison.
First we decided it would be fun to die of heat exhaustion while canoeing on Lake Mendota.
Next we went downtown to tour the capital, see the Veteran's Museum and have lunch at The Old Fashioned.
Finally we admitted defeat to the heat and headed out to Cave of the Mounds to experience nature's air conditioning.
On our way back we drove through the trollway and someone people even bought their own troll souvenirs.
We finished the day with the National Mustard Museum and dinner at Hubbard Avenue complete with duo of silks pie!

Saturday our visitors headed for I-80 W to return home.  It was a great trip and hopefully despite the heat we will be able to convince them to come back!

Summer Update

Where has the summer gone?  I seriously can't believe it is almost the middle of July! 

Ryan is enjoying his internship in Milwaukee.  He likes the project he is working on and has been really impressed with the company.  Who knows maybe in a year we could be moving to Milwaukee.  It is a little crazy to think I could become a permanent mid-west resident but I actually really like it here.

Due to Ryan's internship we are apart during the week but we both have Fridays off so we have tried to take advantage of three day weekends this summer. 
Here are some of our summer highlights:

1. Memorial Day
We spent Memorial in Indiana with my family and our friend Francisco.  We had a good time going on walks, duck pin bowling, playing games, and of course eating delicious food!

2. Baptisms
We have had the opportunity to attend baptism for two new converts.  It has been so great getting to know them and going to lessons with the sister missionaries.  The spirit that you feel during an missionary lesson is so strong and I have loved having the opportunity to work with the sisters in our ward. 

3.  Olbrich Gardens
These are incredible outdoor gardens in Madison. It was so beautiful and I think I drove Ryan crazy with how often I wanted to stop to take a picture.  I just couldn't help it.  I felt like I had my own "Secret Garden" like the book by Frances Hodgson Burnet.

 4.  Cave of the Mounds
This is probably one of my favorite things to do in Madison now in the summer.  The cave is about 30 minutes south west of Madison and is about 52 degrees all year round.  It is like having the world's best air conditioner.  The cave is also just really pretty with tons of cool stalactities and stalagmites. 

5.  Twin Valley Lakes
We were invited out to this lake by some of the families in our ward.  It is in a State Park and is really pretty.  We went kayaking and just enjoyed the sun and great company.

 6. Museums
I love how many things in Madison are free!  One weekend we checked out a couple of the free museums in the area.  One was the UW Geology Museums which had some cool fossils, dinosaur bones, meteoroids, geodes, and fluorescent rocks.  The second was the Wisconsin Veterans Museum which had artifacts from all the Civil, Spanish-American, WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf Wars.  It is really well done.  Since we were downtown we also stopped at the Farmer's Market for some hot cheese bread... YUM!

7. Chess
We have also gotten into Chess.  We leave the board set up so it is always ready to play.  I haven't won a game yet but hopefully by the end of the summer I'll be able to.  Call us nerds but it is nice to have something to do when it is too hot and humid to be outside.