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.

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!