She's Here!!

We just wanted to announce that our baby girl, Lauren Beth, was born on Sunday, July 13th at 3:53 a.m. She's a whopping 6lbs 2oz and 20 inches long. She was born 7 days early and surprised us all in the middle of the night with only 2 1/2 hours of labor. Mom and baby are both doing well and are anxious to go home from the hospital Tuesday morning. Here's just a couple pictures, we'll post more in a couple days....

Our Summer Vacation

Danny and I (especially me) have been so glad that this baby is due in the middle of the summer so Danny would be home with us for a few weeks before he starts teaching again. Because of the due date though, we had to get in all our vacations early this year.

We just got back from Lincoln City, OR with all of my family. We got this beautiful house that was only a block away from the beach that fit all of us very well. A lot of people thought I was crazy to go out of town so close to my due date. It was just perfect though. Other than swollen feet (which didn't even get very bad) we had a wonderful time and I was so grateful for something to focus my attention on instead of sitting at home waiting for this baby to come (like I'm doing now)!

Becca took this picture, and I love it! McKay loved the beach, but it took a few days to get there. I guess I should say that he loved the water, but complained of the cold when he wasn't in the water. Shouldn't it be the other way around?

Our first day in Lincoln City was a kite festival. It was really cool to see all the different kites. There were performers than had choregraphed their kite flying to music. I guess everyone has a hobbie, huh.

McKay made his own kite. It lasted for an hour and then ripped, but he had fun for that hour!

Everyone got boogie boards, and had so much fun in the water. Crazy to me, but Danny couldn't get enough.

Danny and McKay dancing near the water. So sweet.

Everytime we are with my family, McKay attaches himself to Aidan. He can't get enough of him. It's hard to leave them, especially because McKay asks for Aidan all the time. You can tell how cold McKay is from this picture. That was how he looked most of the time.

It's strange to think that this is one of our last pictures with just the three of us!

And on to a baby update... I went to the doctor yesturday, and she said that I am dialated to a three. So we are praying that our baby girl can hold on until Wednesday, when they will induce me. I wouldn't be too surprised if she came before that though.

One last thing, Happy 1st Birthday to my sweet, beautiful nephew, Ethan today and Happy 54 Birthday to my beautiful Mama (yesturday)! We love you so much!

Our Furture Reporter

When McKay is done coloring he insists to wear the crayon behind his ear, and he gets so upset when it doesn't stay there. Other things that are going on for McKay... L-O-V-E-S loves whistles, and asks to go to a basketball game or practice everyday ( good thing Danny is doing summer league). He is learning how to dress himself, but most shorts end up looking like skirts and shirts get suck with arms still in and the neck all crazy, but he insists on doing it himself. Thank goodness for flip-flops and sandals, because he's a pro at those and knows it. And he loves to say "Bless you Mama" or "Bless you Daddy" whenever we cough or sneeze. So sweet. I just love my little boy so much. This week we are going to see "Kung Fu Panda" because McKay goes crazy saying 'panda bear!" over and over and over. This will be his first movie theater experience, so we'll see how it goes (I'm not counting 'Da Vinci Code' when he was four months and the couple of dollar movies that we've only see half of).
As for other news updates, we are now officially less than a month away with the arrival of our baby girl. My doctor said she would induce me on July 16th if I was ready, so I'm praying that will happen, but I'm also praying she doesn't some too early. I am so over being pregnant. I hate the instant swelling of my feet, not being able to wear my wedding ring anymore, and all the awful aches and pains that come in the last month. To top it all off, I got the worst cold ever. I haven't been this sick in years!! I finally feel ready to have the baby come home though, minus a few decorating things for her and McKay's room. It's a good thing that everything is in place, because we are trying to get all our summer traveling in now. Last week Danny did a basketball camp with his team at Utah Valley University, so McKay and I stayed with my family. And at the end of this week, my whole family and us are headed over to the Oregon coast (Lincoln City) for about a week. Everyone thinks I'm crazy for traveling right now, but I would go crazy sitting at home. And I love being with my family as much as possible. McKay finally has no stranger anxiety when we see them, and we have such a good time.

Arena Football and New Hair

So, Danny has a friend from high school (B.J. Rhode) who is the quarterback for Boise's arena football team, the Burn. I had never heard of them before, but I guess they are kind of a big deal in the area. Anyway, we were able to get some discount tickets, which were decent seats, and went with some friends a couple of weeks ago. It was a lot of fun, and even more fun watching McKay cheer on the team. He gets so into it; he's so cute! I was surprised he loved the game so much because he had a cold and started to sound like an 80 year old smoker by the end of the night. He got a autographed football after and loved it so much he slept with it that night and talked about the "foot-ball game" for the whole next week. It was so nice to go do something with friends that was out of the norm.

Everyone got these pink balloons, which McKay loved, of course. We had to help him hold them pretty close though because he kept hitting the people around him. I love how you can tell how hard he's cheering though.

A rare family picture.
Our friends, Jessica and Calvin, and McKay's giant football.

I am in the point of my pregnancy that I can't change too much more, so I had my hair cut and colored this week. I think I've finally found someone local that I like. (All my bad haircuts have been done away from home.) I haven't had my hair this short since I was a freshman in college, so I'm really liking the change. I've never been this blond before, but I'm starting to like it more and more, and is a fun change for summer.

We are alive!

I am ashamed that I haven't blogged for almost two months now! We haven't been especially busy, but I haven't felt the itch to be on the computer at all. I've had lots of things to blog about, but then I waited too long and then I was overwhelmed and then always tired (I so wish I got that burst of energy that you are suppose to get in you second trimester). So I am now trying to redeem our blog with a little update, and I hope you all won't give up on me. My goal is not to have my next blog of the baby coming!

McKay in now almost 28 months. He talks up a storm and repeats everything, and I mean everything, he hears. He then repeats the word at least 15 times before moving on. I love seeing him soak up all this new knowledge. He's been in a twin sized bed now for a couple of months, and is so proud announcing that he slept the whole night there to me every morning. He loves it. He is a basketball junkie, and begs at our back door to play 'hoops' all day. Danny's heart melts for this.

McKay also loves 'American Idol.' Danny and I are starting not to because Jason is still on the show. But every time we turn it on, McKay looks through his toy basket, finds this cone, and sings and dances around. This melts my heart! Sometimes he goes for the ultra high notes, and end up screaming at the top of his lungs to match the pitch.

McKay in his Easter/Spring outfit. He just needs argyle socks, oxfords, a 'Newsies' hat, and a country club membership and I think he's ready.

We've been down to see my family in Utah a couple of times the last few months. The first time, for Easter and Spring Break and then for Brett's, my brother-in-law, graduation. McKay loves the car now, for the most part, and loves his cousins. He follows Aidan around wanting to be just like him, and he loves baby Ethan. McKay will be a such a sweet big brother I think.

Danny is staying ultra busy with teaching and umpiring baseball games. He thought umpiring would be a fun way to earn some extra cash, but didn't like it at all. Too much pressure, he says. He's also busy planning summer basketball. Sometimes I wonder if we will ever have a break, but I am proud of his dedication. He loves to play and read with McKay under their 'fort'. McKay can't wait for Dad to come home, especially for this, because I get too hot under the blanket.

I am now 7 months pregnant. I've been busy spring cleaning, reading (I just finished The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, and it is one of my all time favorites now) and getting ready for this baby. Sometimes I feel ready for her, but then I think I have 3 months and hyperventilate a little. I just had an check-up. I passes my glucose test, and celebrated by making brownies, and got a 3-D ultrasound. I love her cheek and nose. I also love that I'm already falling in love with her. I think I was too much of a worry-wart with McKay to do that. I'm trying to calm down. I do love shopping for her and am looking forward to a shower that a couple of my good friends here are throwing for me next week. We are having a hard time deciding on a name still, so if any of you have any names that you love, and that you wouldn't mind us stealing, send them our way!

IT'S A GIRL!!!!

Yes, that's right we are having a girl! Of course we are very excited, but a little in shock. Danny and I had both convinced ourselves this baby was a boy. Watching her through the ultrasound was so much fun. She looked really good (all the right parts in the right places) and is right on track for our original due date, July 20. I was so excited to get shopping, but as we went out yesterday, I was so overwhelmed! There are so many girl clothes!! But I am excited I can buy more than three styles of shirts, like I can only do with McKay. I've already bought the cutest little romper and jacket. As for names, we are at a total loss. Danny and I had no problems picking out boys' names, but girls' names are really hard for us. Here's a few ultrasound pictures, hope you enjoy them!

Here's the best profile we were able to get. She was moving around like crazy. Her hand is right by her mouth, and the woman doing the ultrasound said that she has my nose. I have no idea how she can tell.

She's saying hi! I love that!

Have you heard?

For all you "Twilight" fans, the fourth and final book comes out August 2. By saying that I can't wait, is to put it mildly! I just love these books. And this time around I won't have to feel guilty for staying up so late (my record is 3:00 AM for the third book), because I will already be up for late night feedings. I think I will have to be careful not to read between the feedings though. I will definitely be pre-ordering this book. And Stephenie Meyer's website says that the movie will come out this December. That's sooner than I expected, but I think the movie will be fun.

Now that February is over, some order has finally been restored in our house. Basketball have been over for a little while, but it was hard to celebrate right after because the season didn't end as well as Danny had hoped. He's already planning summer basketball (luckily this is just the month of June), and enjoying some free time. McKay had a two week break from being sick. He finally got over rotavirus, has gained some weight back, and made up for all the missed tantrums. We definitely have a two-year-old in the house. He's finally calmed down and gotten back to his regular sleeping schedule. I think he didn't sleep through the night or he refused to go to bed for all of February. This was especially hard, because he is normally a great sleeper. Oh well. But now he's just came down with a cold. The poor guy can't get a break! I can deal with colds though. Spring Break is in a few weeks, and I pray that all will be well by then so we can enjoy some warmer weather. Last week my friend, Breanna, starting teaching me how to sew. My mom is so amazing at this, but I didn't have any interest in sewing until after I moved away from home. My parents got me a great sewing machine about a year ago, and I have finally gotten over being scared of it. I am so picky with myself, sewing was too intimating for a while. I've already made a cute bag, and a super cute shirt and apron are in the making. I'm starting to get excited to make this baby a few things. I'll post pictures of my projects when I'm all finished. This last weekend I had a couple of symphony concerts. McKay lasted through the whole concert on Friday night and I was so proud. He normally only lasts about 20-30 minutes, but he made it though all two hours this time. At one point things got a little rough, so Danny pulled him into the corner and said that he need to stay in his seat and listen to Mama. McKay said okay and was great for the rest of the concert. I love the sweet boy that he is!

Sorry there's no pictures this post. On Thursday we get to find out what this baby is, so I'm hoping to post some good ultrasound pictures. Oh, and one more "proud mama" moment. Today McKay figured out that there can be two of an object all by himself. We've been working on numbers and counting, but today he saw two cars from the movie "Cars" in Walmart. So all day he's been saying, "two cars, two grapes, two feet, two Elmo..." I love watching him learn!