Its a....

We went for our ultrasound today, and the baby was being a stinker and was snuggling up to the placenta so it was pretty tough to get a good shot. (I was also informed that because of the location of the placenta it will be tough to get a good 3D ultrasound next time, so that's sad...) But the verdict is.... with probably about 75% certainty...

Yes, my friends, Rachael is going to have a little sister, and we're pretty stoked about it! We truly didn't care either way, just as long as we get a boy eventually, but really, we've got everything we need (obviously though, I'll be purchasing matching outfits, and we need to do a serious overhaul and addition to our bow collection!!). We have names in mind, one I THOUGHT was going to be the name, but now Nate isn't discussing it. Grrr... Now we're back to watching all of the credits after movies and countless hours searching through our baby name book and family history.

New York or California?

(Long post ahead... beware)
I know, can't get much further apart than those two states. But that, my friends, has been our family's dilemma since about three weeks ago. Long story short, one of Nate's professors recommended him to a job in PwC (for those who don't know, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the company Nate did his NYC internship for and received a job offer for in that office) Las Vegas, but they didn't have any tax openings, and Nate HATES audit (which I'm 100% ok with, because that means no monthly business trips to audit companies), but the recruiter he was talking with did mention an opening in their Orange County office. So we did some research and found out that Irvine, CA is one of the Top 5/10 (I can't remember) cities with over 100,000 people to live in. Pretty sweet, eh? And my friend, Marissa, has a bro-in-law who used to live there and here is what he said, "We really liked Irvine, minus the Asian drivers all over the place, but it is super clean, a little too safe, and very manicured, both the people and the landscape.. when we first moved there we felt like we lived on a movie set. " Um, I think I can handle that... although I may need to work on my personal up keep... and buy some new clothes :)
But the entire time Nate and I were discussing the pros and cons, he kept asking me, "So how do you really feel?" Basically every time, my response (and his), was if we go to California, we won't be going to New York. Profound, no? Thing is we were SO excited to go to New York! Central Park, Times Square, amazing thrift shops, cute little bakeries, any type of food you could ever imagine, all right there. I think since we had no other option, I just wrapped my mind around the fun, amazing side of New York. Even after I found out I was pregnant (which was always the plan and another baby was ALWAYS a factor in our NYC adventure) I was still excited, planning which stroller to get, searching to see what kind of two bedroom apartment we could afford and where (not much, I'll tell you...), thinking about trips to the Museum of Natural History, the Children's Museum, all the fun stuff to do with kids. And the reality of it is, New York City is NOT a child friendly place. I know people do it, and some people I know love it, but it is stinking hard. I only had one kid last time we were there, and she just sat in her cool NY stroller like a champ. Now I've got a crazy toddler/almost preschooler and a baby on the way. H. A. R. D. I also talked to my good friend, Rachael, who has lived there 2.5 years, and she was being honest with me, which I VERY much appreciated, when she said that the blazing hot summers and the bitter cold winters were enough to make her want to leave New York. Basically, she loves NY in bits and pieces. For me, taking a step back and looking at it from a realistic view, my guess is that the majority of my time in New York would be spent in my tiny apartment because it is just so much work hauling two kids around on foot everywhere. Some people can do it, and I respect and admire them, but I truly do not think I would be happy. If that was our only option, of course I would go in to it with a good attitude and make the best of things, but this other option came along, so... we're going to take it.
Yes people, we're moving to Irvine, California in July 2011!! Nate starts his what I call "Big Boy" job on July 7. We're still trying to figure out how everything will work, I may be hanging around in UT for the month of July, but who knows. We no longer have to sell everything we own, although I was kind of excited for that... California, in the end, is just plain better for our family. With new additions that will be coming in the next few years, it just feels better. Not to mention Irvine is 15 miles south of Disneyland, 15 miles east of the beach, and surrounded by the most amazing shopping you could ever dream of!! And I'm being 100% serious when I say COME AND STAY WITH US!! Seriously, plan a trip to Disneyland, and come crash on our floor!! We'll have an air mattress, I swear!
So there you have it, that is the decision, and we are SO excited about it!! Keep posted to hear updates and hopefully see some pictures of the area we would like to live in, because hopefully next month we'll be able to go for a quick visit.

P.S. I didn't mention that even though Nate is taking a pay cut going to California instead of NYC, after rent, taxes, and everything, we will have more take home pay than we would have in New York, which is a GREAT perk!!

Nuff sed...

Ok, ok, ok, I'll give just a few more details, but my hubby is hounding me to unpack. Boo.
I'M PREGNANT!! Some of you know, and I appreciate the secret keeping. I'm almost 17 weeks, due June 8, my sister-in-law Elise's birthday, and the day after my beloved cousin, Britni's, birthday. As per last pregnancy, I haven't been sick (i.e. haven't thrown up, I know some of you want to beat me up right now) but I did feel crummy a few times, and REALLY tired, but that may because I have a crazy child to chase after. And, also per last pregnancy, Nate has been amazing, taking the kid so I could nap. We find out the gender next Tuesday, hope hope hoping the ultrasound appointment doesn't conflict with Nate's new class schedule (I'm going to check on that right now actually...). And no, I don't have any inklings of what it is. I'm LOVING feeling movement in my belly again, my favorite part of pregnancy, and I'm excited for when Nate can feel it too. Rachael has no idea what is coming, we'll work on that, but she has been ultra clingy which really starts to get on my nerves, sorry if that makes me sound like a bad mother. We're working on weaning her off of me and onto daddy, because lets face it, once I have a huge belly I won't be able to pick up my 33 pound two year old, I already can't. My pants don't fit and I'm only barely starting to look pregnant, but I do have my first pair of REAL maternity pants, because last time I was in beauty school and just had a smock over my open jeans/black pants.
Well I'm glad I've released this news, because I haven't been able to think about anything else for the last three months, let alone have a conversation without throwing it in. Its hard. I don't know if I can do it again.

Merry Christmas!!

I just thought I'd tell everyone Merry Christmas with this adorable picture I snagged of Rachael this morning in her adorable Christmas jammies my mom made for her. How cute is she in her "wee little bonnet?" (Thanks for the phrase, Britni!) Hope everyone had a great Christmas and you continue to enjoy the rest of the season!!

Bowling

Nate and I had another free two nights stay in Mesquite, NV, but this time no babysitter was available so Rachael got to (had to?) tag along. As stated in the previous Mesquite post, there is not much to do in the city. We went to McDonald's a few times so Rachael could frolic in the playplace while we ate $1 sundaes, but we also took her bowling for the first time. She was really excited to hold one of the huge balls and she lasted a good five frames, taking turns very nicely. In the end, she even got more points than me! (I will say though, that with the last few frames of me and Nate bowling for her, her score was significantly increased) and Nate spanked us both, surprise surprise. I don't know when we'll take her again, but it was a fun new experience!

I don't know where my camera is (huge problem considering we leave for Rexburg for Christmas tomorrow!!) but I managed to snag this adorable picture with my phone. She would "assist" daddy in throwing the ball, then pop a squat right there and watch it roll. Pretty cute!

I was more or less obsessed with our matching shoes. I guess this was a good time for Rachael to have huge feet because they happened to have her size. Well... they were slightly larger, but not too bad.

Post

This is just a short post because I'm assuming my gramsicle is chomping at the bit waiting for a picture of her beautiful great-granddaughter. Well Grams, here you go. My mom snagged this picture with her phone a few weeks ago and I personally love it. It should be in a magazine or something. I don't know when I'll be posting for the next week at least, then the holidays come and life gets crazy. I'm heading to Vegas with my sister to visit our cousins for a few days, and since Nate is done with his semester I'm leaving the babe with him. :) Love you, Nate! Then Nate and I are going to do another two free nights in Mesquite, but Rachael will probably be coming with us because she's had some sleep issues lately, and we don't want to thrust that upon anyone else. Then, next Thursday we are saying bye-bye to So. Utah and hello No. Utah for Nate's cousin, Makenna's, wedding. Then, next Saturday, Nate's little brother, Jordan gets home from his mission in Leon, Mexico. Weird! I can't believe its been two years!! I'm excited for the next couple of weeks, it is a much needed break from the boredom. I'll see you when I see you!!

Mary

Today in Relief Society our lesson was on Mary. It was a really good lesson, and I learned a lot of things I didn't know before. I felt the Spirit really strong and just wanted to share some of the feelings I had, and have been having all season long.
Ever since I was a little girl, the song "Breath of Heaven" by Amy Grant (and only Amy Grant, in my book) has been a favorite all time Christmas song, and since I've become a mother, even more so. I love thinking about how Mary was feeling, how scared she was, all the responsibility placed on her shoulders to raise the Son of God. "Breath of Heaven, hold me together... lighten my darkness... pour over me Your Holiness."
Another song that I LOVE is "Mary Did You Know?" (my choice? Clay Aiken, weird, I know). My favorite line of that song is, "When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God." When I kiss my little baby, I'm still kissing a child of God, my daughter of God that I have the responsibility to raise. Just as Jesus Christ had His mission on Earth (saving every person to ever live and giving them Eternal Life), my own little daughter has her own mission in life, and it is my calling and responsibility to help her find that.
I like to think of Mary as a person, not as a Saint as some Religions have made her (not that I think that she was under qualified to become a Saint, I just don't personally worship or pray to her). I like (is that weird?) to think of her going out of her mind with her crazy children in their crazy toddler years, because I don't believe that the toddler Jesus just sat around, I think he had a personality and liked to play and be (innocently) mischievous, just like my toddler. I like to think of Mary going out of her mind with worry when she couldn't find Jesus on their way out of the city because He was teaching in the temple. You may recall my own panic mode when I lost Rachael in Wal-Mart and my desire to punish her, I bet Mary, as a mother, wanted to punish Him, but obviously He told her that He had been teaching His Father's words.
I hope you take the time to listen to this song, especially if you haven't ever heard it before. I could take every single line in this song and apply it to my life, but I won't, you'd probably get bored. It makes you think of Mary as a person, which is what she was. Just an imperfect mother with a high calling, but she knew the importance of that.


(I just watched the video, its kinda weird, so just listen to the words.)