Ward Halloween Party

This year I thought it only appropriate that I dress up as an oven. The idea is definitely not original and I'm pretty sure my friend Casey Gifford did it a lot better last year, but nevertheless I thought I'd give it a shot! After a trial run at a youth Halloween party earlier that week, I made some adjustments, added more tape for strength and, hate to brag, but I am pretty dang proud of how it turned out.
    This party demonstrated a stark contrast between me and Jason. I had been planning and scheming about my costume for at least a couple of weeks and I spent more than an hour making it. Jason, on the other hand, about 20 minutes before we had to leave for the party, decided  what he would be and quickly threw it together. A Google employee. Wearing all of his Google attire, including a backpack, he'd aquired during his internship, he hoped to ruffle a few feathers at this ward function that was dominated by "microsoftees." I don't think he did, but he intends to wear this outfit to work tomorrow. :0)
I also wore the shirt that Justin sent to me. It was quite a hit and I must say I really enjoy wearing it. The impatience I feel waiting for this sweet little girl to come is reflected  in this shirt.

Oh! and how could I forget to mention another tiny detail? The highlight of my evening was when they announced that I had won first prize with the chili cook off! Me? Win something related to cooking? Non ci credo! It was a very proud moment for me and my certificate hangs proudly and loudly on our refrigerator now!

Little Baby Claire

Here she is at 28 1/2 weeks, weighing in almost at 3 pounds! ( 2 lbs. 15 oz) She has a little fist over one eye and I think that other thing is her other arm. She is very camera shy :) She is so cute! I love her!!!!

The Baby Shower!

October 12, 2011: exactly 3 months before my due date, my very good friend, Allison, threw me a wonderful baby shower. The theme was a flower garden, which I intend to continue with the baby's nook. She made all the decorations and little favors and succeeded in creating a very happy, exciting mood for the evening. It was well attended by the ladies in my ward, as well as our young women. But the guest of honor was definitely my mom, who flew all the way from Florida to be a part of the occasion ( hence the nice, professional pictures!).

The reasons why I loved my shower:

 The Cake!

 The food!

 The decorations!

The presents!

 The hilarious game!

( We had to smell melted chocolate bars in diapers and figure out what they were)

The beautiful hostess!

 The cute little girl inside my tummy!

And all the friends that joined in the celebration with me!

I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

                       I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes known as the Mormon church. The core and strength of my beliefs lies in the name of this church: The Church of Jesus Christ. I know that He is my Savior, my Redeemer, the Son of God. I know that because of Him, I can repent of the things I have done wrong and I can take every new day God gives me to improve myself and become a better person--the person that God wants me to be.
                       Jason and I were discussing some of his coworkers' ideas about what they want to accomplish in life and what drives them. Their need for success in the workforce and desire for material wealth and social prestige made me think about what drives me.
                       I know that I have a purpose in this life. I know that before I was born, I lived with my Father in Heaven as his spirit child and one day I can live with Him again. I know that this life was given to every human being to be tried and tested--to learn and to grow and to prepare themselves to live in the presence of the Father again ( Alma 34:32, Book of Mormon). Our loving Heavenly Father knew that we would make mistakes and fall very short of the high requirement to live in the presence of a perfect Being. That's why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for, or take upon Himself our imperfections, sins, and afflictions (Alma 34:9-10,16). He paid the price for our shortcomings, enabling us to repent and to have hope that we can live, as families, with our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ after this life!

Less Than 100 Days to Go!!!!!

Oh. My. Gosh. I AM SOOOO BABY HUNGRY!!!! I want her to be here already! I want to hold her and feed her and change her poopy diapers and sing her to sleep! I want to wake up to her in the morning ( and multiple times during the night!). I want to dress her in cute little sleepers and onesies and dresses and girly bows! I want to kiss her toes and read her books. I want to dance around the house with her and cuddle her. I want to take lots of pictures and take her to visit all the people that are eagerly awaiting her arrival. This little girl has no idea how much she is already loved! I am so dang impatient! I want her here now!

And I still have 3 months to go! AHHHH!!! I need something to distract me....

I guess I always have the couch. That is still a work in progress and now I feel like we are racing against the clock. I would really like to get that done in the next few weeks because then that means that I get to set up the baby's room. I guess a better word for it is baby's corner since she won't actually have her own room. She will be sleeping in the dining room after she graduates to her crib. :)

I've never looked forward to bleak, cold, rainy January so much in my life!