Childbirth Classes!

I think the baby dropped lower today! The picture above was taken just a couple days after the picture below and I feel like my shape is totally different. Its very slight in the pictures but I definitely notice a change in how things feel! I think the shift actually made me look smaller!

This week we started our 6 week childbirth classes! Dave and I headed over to Ballard Swedish Hospital for our first class and we were extremely impressed with the hospital. The first class was pretty basic, learning about anatomy, nutrition, etc. So, we snuck out midway through the class for a quick peak at the birthing center. These birthing rooms were not like any hospital room I have EVER seen. They were huge, clean suites with rocking chairs, couches, a bed for the spouse as well as the mother, and even refridgerators. It really got me excited for the big day!

Amusing side note: We met all the nurses in the birthing unit and they were all very friendly. One of them immediately approached us and asked us "Excuse me, but are you LDS?" When we told her we were, she said that she attends a ward in Puyallup and she just knew that we were LDS by the "spirit about us."
It really made me laugh because Dave and I will do that to people sometimes too. Its like people in the LDS church have radar to detect each other or something haha.

Bear Lake Vacation

The Boys With Their Toys

This summer my family traveled to the Utah/Idaho Bear Lake for some great vacation time! We stayed at Brad and Betty's (family friends) gorgeous cabin for some relaxin. We all had a great time with the boat, jet skiis, ATV's, and tubing. I took it easy and watched most of the craziness- it was quite fun to watch others being whipped off of a tube trailing behind a speed boat.
Grandma rocked those ATVs!

After we had our fill at the lake we drove down to Provo to drop Tyler and Trevor off at BYU! Its a very nostalgic place for Dave and I so we had fun wandering around. Its always amusing to see all the excited freshmen in their new crisp clothes and overly friendly dispositions. We even got a picture of our favorite study spot- the map area of the library where a sign reads "May not be conducive to quiet study". This is where we used to flirt and have fun while pretending to be "studying" together.

Another great spot- the CANNON CENTER! Unlimited icecream, chocolate milk, and mint brownies?? Trevor treated us on his golden Dining Plus Plan woo hoo!

4 Year Anniversary!

This weekend we had the most amazing 4 yr. anniversary! Dave is such a great husband and is going to be an awesome father! The past 4 yrs have gone by so fast and have been great fun. Since this was our last anniversary before kids we decided to live it up and celebrate the whole weekend. Due to fate, we decided to have a vacation in our very own city of Seattle.

You see, I have a lucky streak of winning all dental related raffles. I've won the grand prize in every dental/dental hygiene raffle each year. We've won an assortment of prizes over the years but this time we won a 2 night stay in a King Suite Hotel in downtown along with a 2 person certificate to Mccormick and Schmicks. So there ya go- we had our anniversary plans!

The hotel was amazing, and we gorged ourselves on seafood, Benihanas, pizza, you name it. We entertained ourselves by strolling around Pike Place, the waterfront, and had a blast at Shrek the Musical. The best part was when Dave surprised me with an appointment for a one hour professional pregnancy massage- it was heaven!

Needless to say, it was a great anniversary to celebrate our spectacular 4 yrs together. I can't wait to experience the even greater times this next year holds for us. I love you Dave!

This room is where chemistry brought us together. Dave was my chem tutor. (side note- this is us re-enacting the moment 2 yrs later and yes we're nerds)

Camping in Olympics

Once again, we had a great camping experience with our friends from dental school. This was my first time visiting the Oympic National Rainforest and it was beautiful!! We planned on staying one night but had such a good time we stayed one more...not to mention the ferry traffic was so bad, it was a looong car trip so we had to make our stay worth it! Pic above is us hanging out in the stand still traffic. I didnt realize until I looked at this pic that I am a really BIG pregnant woman now; maybe because I'm standing next to tiny Katherine? I swear the camera adds 10 pounds. haha.

We had a great time going on mini hikes, seeing all the natural sites, visiting the beach, and of course sitting around the fire! At 6.5 months pregnant, I found that 2 days of camping will WEAR YOU OUT. It was great fun but when I got home on Sun. I laid down on the couch and didnt get up except to go to bed. Dave was great waiting on me hand and foot- what a good hubby!

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue..

Roses are red violets are blue, none of which would survive a day in my care. I am all about hardy flowers that dont fizzle and die after missing one day of watering them. I have been so busy this summer I have had no time to baby my garden but I still love my backyard! I am amazed everytime I look out my window and realize I actually have a backyard now after yrs of apartment living! Here is a sampling of the simple beauties outside that make me so happy!

This picture is for you mom- evidence that those white fuzzy plants can survive through the winter and continue to grow and grow and grow!

Girl Time!

For the past week, I have been in CHICAGO spending time with my family! Unfortunately, Dave had to stay in Seattle to go to school- dental school is unforgiving of week long vacations apparently. He didnt miss much though because the theme of this visit seemed to be GIRL TIME (and baby time too). Below is my nephew Jared- what a cutie! It was so fun to see my brother Adam, Lisa, and their little Jared who just turned one. We had a delayed B-day party and he loved the presents. He even threw a ball for the first time! I take partial credit since I gave him the beach ball :)

I got to spend time with a couple of my best friends from high school; going shopping and to the Taste of Chicago. But, most of my time was spent with best friend of all, my mom!

My mom volunteered to customize and make Elizabeth's whole nursery- how lucky am I. So we went to work picking out the theme, fabrics, and designs. As you can see from the picture above, the theme is kitties!! Its very appropriate considering my obsession with cats as a little girl. We based most of the designs loosely off of the picture below. I was so excited when we finished the nursery blanket and toy bag, but that is only the beginning. Soon there will custom pillows, bumper pad, diaper bag, curtains, and a mobile. Thanks Mom!

Grandpa Winterholler

This weekend was Grandpa's funeral. He was Dave's grandpa, on his mother's side. This beloved man will be greatly missed by the whole family. Dave and I had a special relationship with him because we lived just blocks from his home for two years while living in Federal Way. We had the opportunity to spend one weekend a month with him- he would come stay at our house for a couple days in our extra bedroom. Although his eyesight, hearing, and health was deteriorating, we had some fun times. One of his favorite activities (and ours too) was to go out for lunch for a good hamburger! Dave takes after the man in his love of meat! He always had a great sense of humor too, and was kind enough to laugh at every one of Dave's jokes- that's saying something, let me tell ya! :) We are all sad to see him go but we are happy to know that we are tied together as a family for all of time and eternity. And he is now reunited with his beloved wife whom he loved very much.