5 Weeks to Go

We are getting so close to our baby's arrival, and we are all so excited! There is so much going on that the time is passing really quickly. Strange as it sounds, I am actually hoping to go over a little bit for two reasons. Jeff has finals the week before I am due, and we are right in the middle of a move and I could use any extra time to get unpacked and settled. Daisy was born two days late and Levi came nine days early, so it's really hard to tell. We started moving into our new apartment last weekend...finally. It is going to be nice to finally be settled and to have most of my stuff back! I'm not looking forward to changing wards, however. We love the ward we are in! Cast your vote on what you think our little one might be. With roughly five weeks to go, here's the best and worst 5:

Top 5 Reasons I Would Complain If I Weren't So Excited:
1. I can't wear my wedding ring anymore.
2. I have more than one chin because my face is so swollen (a kind sister in my ward came up to me after Relief Society and asked if I was expecting, which is always kind of a funny question at this point. When I answered yes she said, "I looked across the chapel during sacrament meeting and thought to myself, 'My, Natasha's gaining weight in the face. I wonder if she's expecting.'" Yeah. What do I say to that?)
3. I can't remember what it felt like to sleep, or to be able to get out of bed in the morning.
4. I got heartburn for the first time in my life. (It was actually more like esophagus burn, but people who have had heartburn tell me that's it.)
5. I still have so much to get ready!

Top 5 Reasons I Love This Stage of Pregnancy:
1. We've spent so much time together and it's getting so close that I feel like I already know my baby.
2. I still work out in the morning...and love it.
3. Everyone is so nice (like letting me go before them in the grocery line and offering to carry stuff for me.)
4. Preparing for labor, which is hands down the most miraculous thing I have ever been a part of in my entire life.
5. The end is in sight!

Sibling Class

We went to the Sibling Class at the hospital for Family Home Evening. The kids were so much fun! Daisy took everything very seriously and listened carefully to all the information. In Levi's little world the whole production was just for him and he loved every minute of it. They got to put on doctor gear before heading up to see the new babies in the nursery. When we got up there Levi was asking which one of the newborn's was "we're baby." We explained that none of these was our baby, that ours was still in mom's tummy. It was cracking me up that in his mind we will go to the hospital and just pick up our baby when it is time.

The instructor told the kids what they have to do before holding the baby (wash their hands, ask mom or dad, and sit down) and then showed them how to hold a baby. Daisy was so careful to follow all the instructions and even asked me later that night if I could watch her with her doll and make sure she was doing it right.

Levi is so excited to be a big brother. He is certain that the baby is going to be a boy and he even gets a little feisty when we mention that it might be a sister. He tells me over and over every day, "I big, huh mom. The baby little." I was pleasantly surprised with how careful he was with the doll in class since he is pretty much not careful with anything. When we walked in he said, "This my class! You my teacher?" He definitely earned the prize for the most participation.

I would also blog about Kindergarten registration since that was the big event in Daisy's life this week, but I'm in denial about that whole thing so until August gets here we will just pretend that it is not real.

Happy Birthday!

We celebrated Jeff's birthday! He requested pancakes, sausage, chocolate milk and a ham & cheese omelette for breakfast - so that is what he got! He spent the day at work and then scarfed down lasagna (another birthday request) before heading off to Young Men's. When he got home he opened his gifts and we had birthday cake and ice cream. Hopefully we will get to go out this weekend and complete the celebration.

I always give him a hard time about being born in the 70's and being an old man. The fact is he somehow finds a way to become better each year. I wonder what kind of a guy he'll be when he really is old! He loves school and is doing so well. It is so exciting for me to see this change in him as he feels more successful and purposeful. Since he is gone more often and studying all the time it has become a nightly ritual for him to play with the kids for a minute after family prayers. It is their most favorite part of the day. They ask him, "Dad can you rough me up?" They laugh and laugh and beg for more (and no, it is not a calming, soothing, bedtime activity.)

Top 5 Things We Love About Jeff:
1. He is SOOOO patient
2. He is the silliest guy we know
3. He can't say no to ice cream (or most other sweets)
4. He gives lots of kisses and hugs
5. He always makes time for us

Draper Temple

We went to the Draper Temple Open House! The temple, of course, was beautiful. It was so much fun to go and do something out of the ordinary with our family.

First we met at a meetinghouse in Draper where we watched a short film about temples. Then they moved us to the Cultural Hall where we waited to board the bus to the temple.

Since neither of my kids have ever been on a bus before, the short bus ride to the temple was actually one of the big highlights of the trip for them.

The temple took over two years to build. It was breathtaking. One of the first things we saw after entering the temple was the baptismal font. Levi: "Dad! Look at the bulls! I'm gonna ride the bulls! I'm gonna rope 'em and ride 'em!" He was even more excited when he realized there was a 'swimmy pool' on top of the bulls. Daisy liked seeing "all the things on the inside" but the "baptizing" was her favorite part too. I loved all the woodwork and framed art. There were a lot of beautiful original pieces. Best of all, however, was the HUGE Celestial room. The ceiling was so high it felt like it went clear up to heaven.

After touring the temple we went to another meetinghouse where we had cookies and saw some displays about the gospel. This is a picture of our family just after our tour. The kids weren't overly impressed with the temple itself, but I think that is because they are too young to understand the significance of the ordinances that take place there. Regardless, I do hope that they will remember going there and live their lives so that they can return again and again.