ITS A GIRL!!!!!!!

We found out today that we are having a GIRL, and we are sooo excited! Dave and I were both hoping it would be a girl. The ultrasound was very clear so we are pretty certain. Everything looked healthy except the baby's head was in the way of one measurement of the placenta so we will have to get another ultrasound in 6 weeks to see the location. She really put on a show for us though. She was kicking and moving her arms (you can see her two little hands by her face there), twisting and curling her body up....she looked pretty uncomfortable to me haha. Dave and I have already both agreed on the name......ELIZABETH ROSE STEVENS. We love all the permutations too: Libby, Liz, etc.
I am so happy to be able to plan and buy for little Elizabeth! I was up ALL night feeling anxious and excited to find out the sex of the baby so I ought to be able to sleep well tonight. This will be a bonus since we are camping tonight with the ward!

Baby or Weapon Arsenal?

This blog is to celebrate that I am finally noticably showing! I am still not too big but sometimes I catch people looking at my belly. I'm not sure if they are thinking I'm pregnant or just have a beer belly. Or, if I'm at the airport...a weapon arsenal stuffed into my hoodie pocket?
The first comment I have gotten from a stranger who noticed my tum was at the airport. I was going through security and a gaurd pulled me aside. (At the time I was wearing the same green hoodie as in the pic below. Notice the pocket right over my belly.) He looked down and pointed at my stomach and asked what I was carrying in "that pocket." I just laughed out loud and told him "A baby! I'm pregnant." Then the security gaurd turned BRIGHT red and apologized. He then muttered a congratulations as I walked away still laughing. I am so excited to find out the sex of the baby! I am 19 weeks now and one week from today is the big ultrasound. The baby is very excited too and displays these emotions by kicking and punching me at least a couple times a day. I first felt the baby move very early, at 16 weeks. Now, these kicks are very vigorous and Dave has been able to feel them already!

Squish It!

Dave and I have had a lot of family fun lately! We just got back from Chicago, where we were nearly eaten alive by giant insects. It was worth it though, especially since we got to see little Jared who is almost 1 yr old and so cute!

Just recently, Michelle and Aaron got married! (sorry no pics) It was great fun to have so much family in town. We visited the Fremont Troll, the Ballard Locks, and walked around beautiful Seattle.

Sunshine, Snow, Sunshine...Snow?

Seattle weather can sure be a teaser. This is me enjoying our wonderful 70+ degree Saturday a couple weeks ago. (I'm sure you all remember that blessed day.) I went out and bought tons of flowers, tomatoes, etc and Dave and I went to work planting.

This is Dave in our backyard, same place, exactly one week later. We solemly watched as the snowflakes fell from heaven, only to kill our freshly planted garden.

So, this weekend was great weather again but I knew better than to run out and plant more flowers because it will probably snow next week! Someone told me that you should wait until after Mothers Day to plant...? So instead Dave and I took off to enjoy the gorgeous Tulips Festival.

AAahhh..how nice it was to enjoy the stress free fruits of someone else's garden.

I'm Pregnant!

I'm pregnant! I am now 3 months (just starting week 13) I went in this weekend for my first ultrasound and was so surprised to see such a clear image of our little baby! I was surprised that our little one looks so fully formed already too! It was fun watching his/her movements, seeing hands and feet wave around, even jumping motions. Dave and I are super excited and its nice to finally be able to let out our secret! I have been feeling so good throughout the first trimester that I was afraid to tell people before 3 months and first doctor appointment, fearing it might not be true. But now I have visual proof- We ARE having a baby!

Valentines Day Cruise!

I love cruising! This was my first cruise and now I can vouch for all of Dave's amazing tales of cruise life. Its really a whole different world, and its a rather shocking reality check when you get back. When we got home I sat on the couch and no one brought me food. I threw my towel on the floor and when I checked it again it wasn't clean and folded into a swan. I walked outside and it rained on me. We flew to LA and sailed to Ensanada, Mexico where it was hot and sunny. We then went on an excursion to La Bufadora- the largest geological blow hole in the world.
We then, toured the cities and shopped at all the fun markets and vendor sites. The rest of the time was spent on ship eating; sleeping; swimming; sleeping; hot tubbing, ; karaoke; eating; rock climbing; salsa dance classes; dancing; watching comedy, variety shows; eating; sleeping; etc.

Holiday Fun

This Christmas was so much fun! I got a whoppin 2 whole weeks off of work and enjoyed every second of it. Christmas day was spent with the Stevens Family and then we left the day after to spend time with the Washburn Family in IL. I did so many fun things I cannot begin to list them all. I especially enjoyed the time with family members who I don't usually see from all over the US from NY to UT.

It was all fun and games until Jan. 1 when we tried to fly out of Chicago. We spent 7 hours delayed in the airport. We were finally able to take off late that night, but when we arrived in Seattle, my luggage was missing. Apparently our luggage had arrived 3 hours earlier than our flight, but we could only find one suitcase. The next day a creepy sounding guy calls and informs me that he has my suitcase and he dropped it back off at the airport but he still has some items from my suitcase at his house and that I would have to drive to his house if I wanted them back. He was holding one shoe, a board game, and my long lost journal (It had been lost and I actually had just found it inside this particular suitcase where it had been sitting in storage.) hostage. So, I am very confused and quite frankly creeped out by this stranger who somehow picked up the wrong bag, sifted through it, and failed to keep all of my belongings inside it. So, I call Dave and he insists on driving to this house to pick up my belongings despite my pleas and warnings that he could be a psycho killer. However, when he shows up at the given address it turns out my suitcase thief was some poor, super old man who's a bit nutty. He and his seemingly 100 yr old wife were very confused but, thankfully, harmless. As Dave is leaving the old man exclaims "I will never fly again- they gave me the wrong bag, there were too many people, and the seats were too close together!" lol AMEN to that!