While Michael and I were dating, Michael was trying to figure out what his next move was after his degree. We went online and searched around at a lot of jobs and the schooling that would have to be done. We looked at a lot of job descriptions, and he finally found a job he felt would suite him best-Radiation Therapy. I wasn't too sure about it, because at that time, I knew we would end up getting married and Radiation Therapists, in Alberta, only work in cancer treatment centers. The only two centers at that time were in Edmonton and Calgary. I didn't mind the idea of living there during schooling, but I sure didn't want to live in either places permanently.

Michael started the pre-requisites for getting into the program and I came to terms with this decision. I loved him and would go anywhere with him. Then the paper one day, just after we were married, there was an article on Lethbridge being selected for the new cancer treatment center in Alberta. I finally felt it WAS the perfect job for Michael, ha! After that I knew someday we would be back in Lethbridge.

Three and a half years later(a couple weeks ago), a job opportunity came up in Lethbridge. Michael applied, and shortly after he was offered the job. This was last Monday! They tell him they want him to start as soon as possible so we are now packing up our things to move back to Lethbridge. My last day of work is tomorrow(Wednesday), and at this point in my pregnancy, this job is a blessing for me. I might a wimp, but the job is feeling a bit too much physically for me right now and I was having a hard time thinking about working another month and a half. Michael starts his new job in the Jack Ady Cancer Center (in the Lethbridge Hospital) on Monday. We are both so excited for this big change. A new job, a new home, and then a new family member!!

We have been so blessed with how things have worked out so far. We are so happy our little boy will get to be around our families a lot now that we are so close.

I am so proud of Michael for all his hard work. He is such a good Radiation Therapist, despite how hard the job can be, physically and emotionally, and has shown he is going to be a great provider for our little family.... because until now I was our provider, haha.

Third and Final Trimester

I have just begun the third trimester, and already I am feeling many more discomforts than previously. I am finding I am short of breath even when just sitting, and have to focus on taking deeper breaths. Sleeping at night is still pretty good with no heartburn yet (I'm crossing my fingers), but I am constantly being woken up by having to use the washroom and I am finding he is most active in the middle of the night.... Great. I am still working full-time and planning to for the next two months, but I am feeling more and more tired after a full day of work, and finding my back pain is just getting worse. I like being able to work though because it keeps my mind on something else, and the days go by faster. Okay this is all sounding negative, but really the only great thing about being pregnant, for me anyway, is feeling our little guy moving around. It never gets old for me and Michael. That will probably be the only thing I miss about being pregnant.

Last week I went for my gestational diabetes exam. After checking in, the lady at reception handed me a very large class of orange soda and told me to drink it within 5 minutes. So I go sit back down and it seemed like all of the 30 people in the waiting room were staring at me while I tried to chug this nasty tangy orange soda drink, while feeling hot and trying to keep it down. Gross.

No, we don't have a name for our boy yet... We have about 10-15 names we like (ha), we just aren't sure if we want to name our son them... so we probably won't decide on a name for sure until we get to see what he looks like. Anyway, my mind is blank right now on what else to write.. so until next time.

Baby shower for Madison and Becky

Last weekend we threw my sister Becky and adorable niece Madison a baby shower. It was fun to have lots of family and friends come to support the new baby and Mom and spoil them a little. We ate some food, enjoyed company, and played a few games! 

Some of the food we had and the decorations we made!

Mom to be and new mom

Sisters

Some of the people that came (I think this was near the end when lots of people had left)

That Sunday they did a baby blessing for Madison and then we all went out to Cardston for a family potluck since some family from out of town was around AND to celebrate Grandmas 70th birthday!!!!


Pregnancy has been going good lately. I am LOVING feeling this little guy move around a lot. It's definately my favorite part of being pregnant and it never gets old. We are not having much luck with names, so I think we will just have to meet him to decide on a name. Back pain is pretty much the only thing that is not going well lately. It seems to always be getting worse. It hurts a lot to sit anytime after noon, not really sure why, so laying down or standing is the only relief I get, and if I am working, standing is not something I want to do more of when I don't have a client. But I will take this back pain over the sickness I experienced in the first few months. I am now 26 weeks and cannot believe how fast this is all going by. Michael and I are always talking about how excited we are to meet our little boy and how soon it will be. 


Thanks for all your suggestions for your favorite baby essentials... Any more advice is welcomed!! 

Giveaway HERE

03.07.11

I have been terrible with blog posts lately and I haven't posted any pictures in forever it seems. 

Skating in Bowness 

My sweet moves! 

After hoping Madison would be born a Friday evening so Michael and I could be there and see her on the weekend, it finally happend!! 8:45, just 15 minutes after we got into Lethbridge, she arrived!! Here we are waiting to see baby and Becky. We didn't get a lot of pictures because Michael took quite a bit of video with our video camera instead. She is the most adorable little girl who squeeks all the time!! This whole family is just loving her.

Waiting at the hospital to meet Madison Grace

Mom and I waiting

Breanne and Madison

Madison <3

A 3D movie

This weekend we head down to Lethbridge for the baby shower! And I'll be sure to get lots of photos of everyone at that!

Not a lot has been going on for Michael and I. We have started to get a lot of the essentials, and can't believe we get to meet this little boy in only 3 and a half months! I have been surprised lately by how excited Michael is getting too!! It's so fun to see him like that and talk about what our lives might be like when he comes.

Any advice or favorite baby items we should take a look at?

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...