Our baby's first photos!!

Yesterday was our ultrasound. The place we went to get it done is across the street from where I work. Three of my clients work there and were there at the time we went and we were lucky enough to have one of them do the ultrasound. She was so good. Michael was allowed in the room the entire time and she showed us so much. They have a notice at the front desk saying they charge $10 for each copy of a photo but the tech gave us a CD with 24 photos on it!! I am so happy to have more than one photo to remember that experience!

We were able to find out what we are having... a BOY!! I'm so happy we were able to find out. Michael and I are both so thrilled to start our family off with a son! It's still hard to wrap my head around but I cannot stop thinking about it all! We got to see his adorable little body and he was moving around so much. I was laughing because of how much he was moving. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Michael and I were both in awe the entire time. Now that I have been able to see him, I can't stop thinking about when I will get to meet him, and now June feels very far off! At least I can start to shop!!

I love the profile of his little face.

We could see him sucking a little bit in these ones(not on his thumb).

Here's his little foot measuring just over an inch!

And here's a belly photo of me at 19 weeks!!

Six more days!!

Six more days until our ultrasound!! We are so excited to see our baby and find out if it will be a boy or a girl! I will be blogging all about it next week.

Yesterday Michael finished his national exam AKA his last exam ever!!! He started working at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre at the beginning of the month and now that he doesn't have to studying in the evenings he is all mine!!

I have been TERRIBLE for not posting any photos of my baby bump, but it IS there and I hope to take some photos on the weekend when we go up for Michaels graduation and when I am looking decent.

Not much else to say so I will blog next week! Maybe I'll even do two posts!

Updates

Just a quick little update on here. More for me to write down and be able to read again someday than anything. I'm 16 weeks now and have started to feel a lot better. I am only getting sick about every 3-4 days. Smells aren't bothering me as much. I am still pretty picky with what I eat and I always feel I have to really think about what I want to eat because many things make me nauseous still. I have lost about 10lbs and will probably start gaining weight now that baby is getting bigger. My pants are getting very tight and I recently bought some pregnancy clothing at Target in Kalispell!! We are getting excited for the 25th this month to find out what this little baby will be. I am starting to actually feel like I am pregnant now and like I can enjoy it because I'm not always sick.

We are SO excited about this year and what it will bring us!! A lot of changes are going to be happening. Michael starts his new job (yes, you read that right)!! It's a temporary position here in Calgary at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre as a Radiation Therapist!! After he writes his national exam on the 18th we can start to look for a permanent position in Alberta-if there are any.

We had a really great holiday this year. We started by heading down to Lethbridge. We spent Christmas between my Mom's, Michael's parents, and my Dad's house which was extremely exhausting but really fun. We lazed around with family until the 31st and headed down to Echo Lake to the Malmbergs cabin with some friends and rung in the New Year with them! We played games, ate, and shopped. Now we are back in Calgary, getting back into the swing of real-life. Hope you all had a wonderful time with friends and family!!

After 8 years of school my dear Michael has finished and will soon be moving on to a career!! He first got a degree in Neuroscience at the U of L, graduating 2006, just before we met. He continued to go to University for another year, unsure of his next step. Then deciding he wanted to become a Radiation Therapist, spent the next year taking the pre-requisites for it and doing an Co-op at the Research Center in Lethbridge while working with a few scientists in the labs. Just after I graduated from hair school, Michael and I moved up to Edmonton so he could start his 2+ year education in Radiation Therapy!! Last Thursday my very smart and hardworking husband finished his schooling!! Any ideas on how excited I am about this?? He has his school final exam tomorrow and his national exam is in mid-Jan!!

After what seems a lot of education in our three years of marriage between the two of us (and Michaels previous 6 years) we are very much looking forward to the changes that will take place in our lives this year. Michael will start working in January which will be a welcome change (I'm just hoping it means we can upgrade to a main floor). Maybe a change of location as well?? Also we will be welcoming our first child into our family in June! So this coming year has been highly anticipated for us!!

As for anything new for us right now... there isn't much. I am still sick off and on but hoping this stage of pregnancy is over before Christmas. I haven't had any cravings yet, but unfortunately chips are something that I keep far away from...*normally its my favorite treat. I have been eating well but can't eat a lot of one thing. I have a hard time sleeping, mostly because of stomach aches, being very uncomfortable, and getting up to use to bathroom alot!! I feel my pants mostly are starting to tighten, but haven't turned to maternity pants yet. I mostly have just retired my tighter pants and have been wearing lots of baggier clothing. I have been reading lots, and am starting to attend a lot of doctors appointments! We were also able to hear the baby's heartbeat last week!! It was so exciting for us and it made it seem a little more real-although everything is still very surreal for us! And I wouldn't say I have started showing, I just look fat right now, so I think I will wait until Christmas to get a baby bump picture taken to post!

Anyways, we are both looking forward to having a good chunk of time off for the holidays to spend with friends and family.

If I don't write again before Christmas, Happy Holidays!!

Also, don't forget about the poll up top on the left!! Ultrasound is Jan 25!!

Week 10-so sick

Never in my life have I been so sick for so long. I am nauseous and throwing up constantly, and the $180 bottle of Diclectin I purchased has done nothing for me yet. I have now been sick for 4 weeks and this past week has been THE worst! I find it really difficult with working 40 hours a week in a somewhat physical job on hardly any sleep recently, no food to give me energy, dehydration, and the regular exhaustion that comes in the first trimester... Let's just say I'm not a very happy person to be around. Michael has been HEAVENLY throughout all of this. He rubs my back while I'm throwing up, gets me any kind of food I think I can keep down, and is doing 100% of the housework right now. I am so blessed to have him in my life.

Today is our 3rd Anniversary!! I KNOW!! Three years!! I can't even believe how fast it has gone but it has actually been an amazing three years. I feel incredibly blessed to have Michael as my husband!! Although our anniversary is today I don't think we will be celebrating today because I am not feeling well and we planned to go out for dinner so we want to make sure I am feeling okay to enjoy the meal!! But I will hopefully take some photos when we go out and post them here!! Here is a little note I found this morning:

It's about time....

Michael and I are expecting our first baby June 22, 2011!! We are SOOOO excited!! We celebrate our 3rd Anniversary next week so we are excited to finally start expanding our family!!!!! More to come on how the pregnancy is going so far!

MIA

Sorry I have been kind of MIA lately... I am busy with my full-time job plus doing hair out of home. We also go away lots on the weekends. Michael has started studying for his exams. He has one school final in December and then he is DONE school!! But then he has a national exam he takes Mid-Jan... So he is stressed, I am stressed, and I'm just not keeping up on the blog. I'll try to post again soon!!

How much fun did I have Saturday night?? You could probably tell from just looking at these photos!!

 This is about where it started getting crazy!

Just to let you all know Lindsay Cooper and Amy Merrill are the sweetest girls everrrr! We had sooo much fun. Oh and I forgot to mention this was a triple date... YES our husbands are around-downstairs playing XBOX, while we took 100+ photos... But if any of you know me, I loveeee a good photo shoot. So no, we didn't get any photos of our hubbys this time........

This is also my second post today so make sure you keep scrolling!

fall

So far Fall 2010 has been fantastic! We have had amazing weather and hung out with super cool people! Here are some photos of our Fall so far!!

We went to Edmonton to visit friends and went to the Corn Maze... Yes, we went last year, but it's just so fun, how could we not go again? Plus it was like 24 that day I think!

 Sun was soo bright

 The Malmbergs, Bennetts, and Mendenhalls and two other couples but I had just met them and now I feel super rude because I forget their last names! We had soo much fun though!!

 Classic racing

 Michael and I went on a walk and got some WONDERFUL fall pictures! Its so yellow right now and so many leaves on the ground!

 Love love loveeeeee this man!

rucurious??

It's been a very slow day at work. In fact, I am at work right now doing this post.... I'm pretty lucky that my little sister Cassandra also works with me but as a receptionist. SO here we are doing what we do best, taking pictures working.

 Notice the beautiful chandelier?? Its hard to see it all but there are two, and that staircase leads down to the huge salon.

If you are wondering about the blog post title, we work at Curious Salon, and our website is www.rucurious.ca

September whattttt?

Is it really already September. Oh my goodness. Time is just flying. Michael only had 4 months left of schooling and then his National exams in January and then he can find a JOB! It's pretty crazy!! Here are some recent photos of our busy last half of August!!

Michael and I in front of the temple at Lisa's wedding!

 Mr and Mrs Shideler!! The whole day was beautiful

 

Mikes and I at Whoop Up Days! Did we eat TONS of bad food? Of coarse!!  

Us on ourway to Echo Lake to the Malmbergs cabin to spend some cold summer days.

 

Here we are on the boat. Did I mention how I never put my swimsuit on for the entire 3 days we were there? AND that it rained the last day? Ya we do not have summer anymore. Despite the really cool weather we had a ton of fun playing cards and visiting and just relaxing! Thank you Malmbergs for inviting us!!

 

I know a few of you commented on my last post saying you couldn't tell the difference between Cassandra and I! Im the one in the shorts. We work together at the salon I work at, Cassandra is the receptionist, and people always ask us if we are twins!! I never thought we looked THAT much alike. She even did a shift at the other Curious salon and someones client said to their stylist "Oh Amies back!!!!!!" when they saw Cassandra! So funny!

ALSO I'm gonna be an AUNT! WOHOO! Still hasn't sunk in I think but Becky is due March 8th. It's strange to know our family is going to be starting a new generation!!! 

08.17.2010

This is Cassandra's bed. She is living with us for a short amount of time while she looks for a new place here in Calgary. Cassandra had her first day of work today. She is a receptionist at the salon I work at, Curious. We get home and start reading our books, and read for a good half hour and fell asleep. Michael tells me he was in his den reading, thinking we were doing the same, but realizing we were awful quiet, and found this!

08.15.2010

I have a REALLY handsome husband!!

We were able to see more of our photos from our shoot with Meghan Maxwell at www.meghanmaxwell.com.

I don't think we could be more happy with how they all turned out and we haven't even seen them all! I will post some more of my favorites when we get them but I wanted you to see how good looking my husband is!! heh.

1989 Plymouth Acclaim

Recently I was left a note on my car at work saying:  
Danger!! Your coolant is leaking. You may want to get your car towed. Just thought I would let you know.  -Bill
Bill, did you happen to notice the outside of my car? Do you think something like leaking coolant  even phases us?

You're right? It doesn't. We have to top up our coolant about every 2-3 days. Aside from these outer blemishes, this recently happend. Note: Don't leave bleach in your car. (Please excuse the mess, we hauled firewood recently)

Were you thinking it might be time for an upgrade? We agree.

08.10.2010

There you have it! Dill Pickle is the leader. Now when I need to buy a bag of chips for a party or potluck, Dill Pickle will be my first choice(which I am totally ok with because it's my fav)!! Check out Michael's new poll, hah!

FAVORITE CHIP FLAVOR

The move went really well. It was the most stressful of all our moves yet. That is because we had to clean the carpets and everything else of the house we moved out of, as well as the house we moved into. I don't think I had ever been more stressed and exhausted. The ONE THING I didn't want wrecked in the move (my bookshelf) got turned onto it's side and moved along the cement in our laundry rooms and scraped all along the side! UGH... But then Michael told me we were moving and things were going to be wrecked-which I agreed with and felt much better after.

We had sooo much help!! Thanks to the Malmbergs who came to help us move as well as the 5 other members of our ward, and to my Dad, step-mom, and step-sister... and my in-laws. I lovee you all! 

 

I also had a good friend from hairschool Camilla Pratt donate some of her old furniture to us! A 52" TV (not a new one, so it's pretty chunky-but we still love it) and a red leather couch. SO I have decided I won't be bringing our sectional couch to this new home. After the stress of everything else, and knowing we might be moving again in Jan-Feb, I'd rather not have one more thing to move.





So here's to hoping this is our LAST basement suite...... ever!!!

08.05.2010

Today we spent about 5 hours packing... and doing some cleaning. Most of the cleaning coming very soon after all these boxes are out. I'm so thankful we have friends and family helping us with this move. Here are some pictures of the past few days packing and cleaning...

08.04.2010

Do we look like sisters? You tell me... hah 

All of us kids at the Waterfall... I love these people so much!!

Magrath Days

I'd say about the past 7 years I have been going to Magrath Days. No, I am not from Magrath, but my dad lives there so I love going to the festivities with family. The parade is always good(we didn't end up going this year). Then there's a potluck BBQ for family and friends after the parade at my Dads house, and this year TONS of people showed up and I didn't know 75% of them. In past years after the BBQ we go walk around the gathering area at the park or visit but this year, we went to Wallys Beach and went seadooing!! My dad just got two seadoos at the beginning of the summer and Michael and I just got our boating licenses so we got to drive quite a bit. We were saving for a new vehicle, but now I think we'll just save for a seadoo! Seriously the most fun I've had in a long time. Michael and I also got a chance to go kneeboarding, which is nice because its so easy.... We aren't very good at wakeboarding or waterskiing because we never grew up boating. It was fun to do all this and suntan a bit too!!

After boating we cleaned up a bit and went over to get beef on a bun and watch the talent show. There was some sad entertainment this year, but it ended off by a Canadian Idol contestant (sooo good) and some fire dancers which I thought were the highlight of the talent show. Afterwards, the fireworks.

I loveee Magrath Days because of the festivities and getting together with family, but I also get to see and catch up with friends I don't see throughout the year. And there's always cotton candy to pig out on. heh

So to whoever reads this, next year this time, make your way down to Magrath, you won't regret it.

I posted pictures from this weekend on facebook... so go check them out.

Also, I've had a ton of people doing the poll, and no I can't see who votes, but I don't get nearly that amount of comments on my posts... so comment, or I'll go private and only invite people who are cool and comment. :)

Jarvis Bay

We went camping this past weekend! It was so much fun to see some really great friends. We did a lot. Hung out in the rain, ate really good food, played cranium, the guys played with sling shots, went to the beach, hung around the firepit, and went to the park. I was so happy we were able to all find a time that worked for us to go camping. Michael and I love camping, and it doesn't get any better when you are doing it with friends and family. We want to be able to take a few trips camping with friends every summer! So if you need some awesome people to camp with....... 

Next weekend we are headed on a 5 day camp trip to BC. Michael and I will camp our first night in Golden and then head to the Shuswap Lake to camp the remaining 4 days at our family reunion! I'm SOO excited. I haven't seen my sister Cassandra in a about 3 months(which is loooongg) so it will be good to spend some time with her there!

Enjoy the photos!   

Trying to stay dry

 

 Corn on the cob after we dried up

 

 Blueberry Muffins... delicious!!

Oh and don't forget about the poll. I know, your favorite flavor is probably not on there but I think Michael wants to know what your favorite flavor of HIS is.. haha

To Do

Here are two things I'd like to do within the next five years. I've been kind of hesitating to write about them and let everyone know because I am so afraid I won't do them. But maybe this will motivate me even more.

run a half marathon


I had a client recently who does a running group once a week. After she had her first baby, she had a hard time losing weight, but found running was the only way for her. So she paired up with a friend and they trained for a half marathon and their marathon was in Seattle so it was more motivation to actually do the marathon. I have always wanted to be a runner, but I find it really hard. I can run a few times for a week, and I feel great, but then it dies off and then next time I run is months later. I feel if I had a buddy to run with, and then had some place to look forward to going, I would do better.

start a book club


I have been reading books continually since grade nine. I love to read. I started off reading church fiction history (with some non-fiction in them as well), and then just church novels. I love all these types of books because I have been able to learn tons of church history and also history about the past wars (WW2 and Vietnam War) while enjoying a good story. Then I moved onto best-sellers, classics, and love stories. Ah, anything. What I really desire is to read an amazing book and be able to discuss it with someone. I get so connected to some characters and almost feel like they are real. So I would really love to start a book club, to be able to get recommendations on great books, and to be able to talk about what I am reading with someone.

That's all for now. Maybe I will add to this post and re-post it sometime when I can think of more things I want to do.