Traveling fools!

I know.....I'm FINALLY posting a blog.  I actually am feeling okay right now, so here goes.  It might be short, but at least it's something.  So we left last Wednesday and flew 12 hours (plus layovers) to SLC.  I know that my prayers were answered because I didn't start feeling really sick until we got to my aunt Laurel's house in Pleasant Grove.  It was a long day, but we had made it.  Than we turned around the next day and flew up to Spokane, WA where Ben's awesome sisters, Ramona and Brittney (sorry if I spelled your names wrong) came and picked us up to head to West Richland where he's from.  Again, I felt pretty good.  It was a last minute decision to go up there but I'm so glad that we did.  It was well worth it!  We were able to surprise Ben's mom, Vicki.  It was her birthday and the fam had planned a surprise birthday party for her.  She was definitely surprised!!  It was so much fun!!!  Paula flew in from Cali so we were all there, except for Ben but he was feeling really left out!!  Anyway, I would say that Lilli got spoiled, but we BOTH got spoiled!!  It was so good to see everybody and just be there.  You don't realize how much you miss your family until you come back after being away for a while (a year for us) and see them again.  Lilli got to spend time with her cousins Hope, Kyra, Levi, and Harmony.  They all played nicely together, except for the occasional cry of, "That's my toy and you can't have it (mostly------all from Lilli)."  She also got to see all of her aunts and uncle.  And of course her Grammy and Pampa.  Lilli really loved the family and warmed up to them quickly.  Here are some pictures from the trip.  We went to a really cool park that Lilli just loved.  She didn't want to leave.  Thank you to everybody for making our trip so wonderful!!  We miss you and love you all!!!!

So after our trip to Washington, we flew in to SLC (1 1/2 hr flight, not bad) and traveled the 3 hours home.  Oh, but I forgot the best part, or worst rather, when we got to the ticket counter the lady at the desk asked me for Lilli's shot records (I wish so badly now that I had said I didn't have it).  Well, needless to say, because Lilli had been 2 for 3 days now, I had to pay almost $200 for a ticket for her.  I had no idea, because I was thinking I had already paid for a roundtrip ticket and didn't need to pay for her.  Anyway, plus I was sad that we were leaving everybody and I wasn't feeling too hot, I was a mess.  I just started crying and was not happy.  But we made it and that's that.  We're here in Cokeville now, enjoying our time here.  I'm so glad I came.  My parents and siblings have been great with Lilli and I've been able to rest, though I've been sicker here than I ever have been.  The last 3 or 4 days have been awful, waking up barely making it to the bathroom to throw up (sorry, not a pretty picture I know).  I think I'm having a boy, little stinker!!!!  The time change has totally thrown Lilli's schedule out the window, but hopefully when we get back to Georgia we can get back to a somewhat normal schedule.  We miss Ben terribly and wish he were here with us!  We talk to him everyday and it just makes me realize how much I depend on him and love him!  He's a wonderful husband and father!!!!!!!  

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Going back to Cokeville!

So I'm going back to my roots for a month to live.  I'm very excited!  I know the Lord totally answered my prayers.  I had been looking for tickets and any time I would look for different dates and stuff, the price of the tickets would go up $100.  They were up to $700 when I last looked, then I looked on Saturday and found a ticket for almost $150 less than that.  Yea!!!  I was so excited!  We kept praying that we would find reasonable prices and we did.  My parents offered to pay for half so that was nice.  I'm hoping to have a lot of fun (assuming I'm feeling better by then).  I'm glad Lilli will have her Nana and Papa and aunts and uncle to play with her.  I hope to go to Bear lake several times and go camping or atleast have a cook out up Pine Creek.  I'm actually really excited.  Plus, I'll be missing the hot hot summer here (It's almost 100 degrees right now and it's 9pm, not to mention that with the heat index it's probably hotter).  Cokeville has mild summers compared to here.  But I'm excited to Lilli to have the experiences I had growing up.  Plus, I'll have someone there to take care of me too. :)   I just hope that we make it on the flights.  We fly out on the 18th of June at 5:50 am from Augusta, get into Charlotte, SC. Then have a 5 hour flight from Charlotte to San Diego.  Now why we fly to San Diego, I do not know, but not to excited about that.  Then it's a 2 hour flight to SLC.  I think we get in at around 2pm.   I told my mom that I probably won't be up for driving another 3 hours to Cokeville, so we're most likely going to stay at my aunt Laurel's that night.  I really hope we make it.  Be praying for us, please!    Anyway, I'm really excited and I know it'll be a lot of fun!  I know Lilli will have a good time!

Updates Updates Updates

I know it's been a while since I've last blogged, but it's hard to when I don't feel very good.  This week has actually been okay as far as being sick.  Yesterday I felt pretty good, so I took advantage and cleaned the house, had some friends over, and let Lilli play in the pool.  I think the hardest part of being sick is that I can't do things with Lilli and keep her entertained.  We do a lot of sitting in bed while she watches her Playhouse Disney, and Dora while I'm trying not to throw up.  I swear I have every episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse memorized.  Today I felt okay, so I pulled out the finger paints and let Lilli go to town.  She had a blast.  She was jumping on the table and was so excited.  It was fun for me to see.  We've been swimming a lot and playing in the water.  It's easier for me to let her play in the pool so I can just sit and relax.  But she's getting so big.  She's learning so much.  She knows how to count to ten.  Today she turned around to us and said, "Triangle."  Sure enough, she was holding a triangle shaped sticker.  I was so amazed!  It's also been fun to hear her have actual conversations with my parents and family over the phone.  She answers questions and tells them what she's doing.  It's so cute!  Today she talked to her Aunt Paula.  It was fun to hear her talk.  

Ben just finished a really hard class called Political Geography.  It was really hard and he was really stressed out about doing well in it.  Tonight he called me from work and said that he missed getting a full A by 3/4 a percent (he's been waiting for his professor to grade his final paper).  I was so proud of him!  He now has an overall GPA of 3.93 or somewhere around there.  He's so smart and I'm so proud of him.  I can't imagine having a family, finishing your school, AND working.  He's leaving for Washington D.C.  on the 15th (Father's Day) and will be gone for 6 weeks.  I'm not looking forward to being away from him for that long.  I've been trying to find a good price on tickets for Lilli and I to fly back to Wyoming for a month.  I really want to go.  There's nothing like Mommy taking care of you when your sick (when your husband can't), plus Lilli will have her aunts and uncle (and Papa) to play with her.  That will ease my mind knowing she's having fun.  I guess we'll see.  It's a little frustrating.  Haven't found tickets and an affordable (and AVAILABLE) price.  

That's about it for us here.  I do have pictures but I haven't downloaded them yet.  Someday.  We're just trying to survive.  

Look for the sunshine through the clouds

I think in our times of trial, we are so focused on those hard times that we forget about the many blessings we have.  Lately I have been having a really hard time with being sick (yes, morning sickness has been worse this go around), feeling so tired all the time, crying all the time and feeling hungry all the time.  I was telling Ben last night that my emotions are out of control.  I just feel out of control!!  But I've been thinking a lot about a Relief Society lesson our R.S. President shared about looking for the sunshine through the clouds.  It was such a good lesson, and obviously I needed to hear it.  So I'm going to list 10 things I've been blessed with.  Here goes, in no particular order:

1.  I have been blessed with a very loving, supportive, patient, intelligent, willing husband (I could go on).  He has helped me so much, even as simple as getting me toast in the morning so I don't throw up.  What a sweetheart!  I don't know what I'd do without him!

2.  I have a beautiful, healthy, happy little girl who brings such joy in my life.

3.  I am a member of the only true church, and feel the blessings as I live my life the way I'm supposed to.

4.  I have a wonderful family (both mine and Ben's) who are supportive and I know who pray for us everyday.

5.  I have all that I could ever need.  A beautiful home, a running car, food, clean running water, etc.

6.  I have wonderful friends who are concerned and worried about me, and who seem to know just when I need them.

7.  I have been blessed with the simple things, like the Disney movies to keep Lilli entertained while I'm sick in bed (she watches them in our room so I can lay down).

8.  I have a healthy body.  

9.  I have one beautiful baby, and now have one on the way!

10.  I have a loving Heavenly Father who is aware of my trials, afflictions, and sicknesses and has blessed me with the comfort I need to get through each day!

Remember, look for the sunshine through the clouds.

Mother's Day

Ben really went out of his way to make Mother's Day a special day.  We went out Saturday night with some good friends to dinner and a movie.  Earlier that day, Ben surprised me with a gift certificate to Motherhood Maternity, so I can get me some cute maternity clothes.  I let someone borrow my maternity clothes (ALL of them) and she's moved away and I don't know where she is.  Ben thinks I totally planned it, but I didn't, not really anyway.    Then I went to go to bed after our date, and he had hidden some piano music.  Sunday morning he let me sleep in and made me breakfast in bed (a yummy omelet with spinach, tomatoes, and cheese).  Ben had to work that day and so I know he wanted to make the day extra special.  He definitely went above and beyond.  I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful husband and a beautiful daughter (with one on the way).  

My own mom is such a great example of what a righteous mother is.  I hope that I can be as a great a mom as she was.  She's my best friend and I love her so much!  I don't know what I'd do without my mama!!  Not only is my mom a great mom, but I'm so grateful for Ben's mom, Vicki, as well.  She has been a great mom and gram gram and we love her so much too!  I love my family!!!

Baby #2

Yes!  That's right!  Ben and I found out this last week that I am pregnant with our second child!!!  I can post it now that all families know.  We're very excited and anxious.  Lilli doesn't quite understand just yet, but whenever we say anything about a new baby, she gets pretty excited (for a second and then she's distracted).  I haven't been to the doctor yet, but I think I'll be due sometime in January.  I'll know for sure when I see my doctor.  But thanks to all of you for your love and support!  We're going to continue to need that as our family expands!!!!!!!

Sunglasses, Strawberries, and Water!

Ben thought it would be fun to completely soak Lilli with the hose, so I thought it would be fun to soak him too.

She was being so goofy yesterday!

Ben got these Little Mermaid sunglasses for Lilli.  Don't mind the hair.  She had just woken up from a nap.

This summer has been fun so far, and it hasn't even really started!  Lilli loves water.  I've mentioned several times before that she is my little water baby.  One day it was super hot, so I turned on the sprinkler, put her swimming suit on, and let her get all wet.  I just love her swimsuit!  She had such a good time.  Just the other day, we went over to our good friends, the Pilkington's, and she went swimming in their little kiddie pool.  Lilli stayed in the water until I MADE her get out.  She was turning purple and shivering and shaking all over!  How long do I leave in there until she gets hypothermia??!?!?  She wasn't too happy about it, but when we got home I put in her in a warm bath.  Yesterday, for play group, we went to a strawberry patch and picked a whole bucket full of yummy, delicious strawberries.  Lilli ate them more than she picked.  Not to mention the first 3 strawberries I had put in the bucket, she took one bite of each and then put them back in the bucket.  I guess she just wanted a taste.  By the time we got home, she had eaten about 20 strawberries (no exaggeration either) and was a complete mess.  She got a bath when we got home.  She was mad when I took the bucket inside.  She already had two in her hand but I guess wanted more.  Silly girl!!!  I love summer!