Just the three of us.

Well today is my due date! And baby most definitely is not here yet!! I can laugh about this because my midwife is breaking my water for me tomorrow morning so I know that there is an end in sight. Otherwise I think I would be a wreck...kind of like I've been all week. It's my own fault for trying so hard to have this baby early with all the accupuncture, dates, evening primrose oil, squats, jumping jacks etc. He is just not coming out!! Even though I'm dilated to 3 and 1/2 and 80% percent effaced. I seriously think he would stay inside me for two more weeks which we just can't do since we're moving. If we weren't moving I don't think that I would care so much but oh well, that is just life.

So tomorrow is the day! I am soooooo excited to meet my baby!! And I'm nervous too!! I'm sure I won't be able to sleep at all tonight even though I really should. I keep wondering what he's going to look like and just what he's going to be like and how Cole is going to react to all of these changes! Last night as we put Cole to bed we got a little emotional since the days of just the three of us are coming to an end. Steve's mom is coming in this evening and so last night really was the last time where it was just us putting him to bed. It's been a wonderful three years of just us. We're nervous and excited about the new baby but I know once he finally gets here we're going to wonder how we ever lived without him. Gahhhhh!! I just can't wait to meet him :)

Coppell 3rd Young Women

Look at these lovely girls. Aren't they just beautiful? And if you could know them in person you would know that they are not only beautiful on the outside but on the inside too :)

My life is on the verge of so many changes! Not only are we about to have a baby, Steve is about to graduate and we are moving in a month from yesterday! And because we are moving, I will no longer have my calling as the Young Women's President to these lovely girls above. And it just makes me sad to say goodbye! When I first got called I was literally in shock. I felt so completely inadequate and overwhelmed. How could I teach these girls anything?! But as time went on I came to understand that I was called to be in charge of this group of girls for a very specific reason. I believe that that reason was for me to learn how to lead in a close knit group of girls who truly love each other for who they are. These girls aren't afraid of being themselves around each other. I love how they so easily share their testimonies with each other without feeling uncomfortable. Because of the comfortable environment that they create among themselves, their testimonies are more easily developed which is so important for them as they go throughout their lives. All I know is that I've been able to learn so much from them and that I want to create the same kind of comfortable- testimony-bearing environment in my own home for my children. I'm so thankful for this time I've had to be with them and serve them and I most definitely will never forget it.

This past weekend I was able to finish my Personal Progress, something I've been working on throughout this year alongside the girls. It brought back a lot of memories of when I finished my Personal Progress when I was a young woman myself and at times, I felt like a teenager again ;) For my projects I finished reading the Book of Mormon again, I finished putting together Cole's baby book (just in time!) and I drew a series of pictures that I'd like to hang in the boys' room one day. It feels good to have it all finished. Just in time before the baby comes. And just in time before I get released from this calling.

Like I said, my life is on the verge of lots of changes. Hopefully me finishing this goal has made me prepared for what's about to come :)

Twenty-seven!

A few weeks ago I turned 27! I used to say that I never felt old until my 24th birthday but I take that back now. Somehow the jump from 26 to 27 has really left me feeling old! The fact that I found my first white hairs growing out of my head just this past week hasn't helped. Seriously though. How crazy is that?! I guess it's time to get my hair done......

My birthday itself, however, was lovely. My visiting teacher and YW's presidency took me to lunch and I was overwhelmed with the kindness others showed me throughout the day! People got me birthday cakes and dropped off goodies and sent texts and wished me a Happy Birthday! I've been so amazed lately at how willing the people around me are to serve others and go out of their way to brighten someone's day. To all of my friends out there who were so kind enough to think of me I just want to say thank you! You are all so sweet to me and I don't deserve it :)

Not to mention Steve stayed home from the clinic on the morning of my birthday to make me breakfast in bed and spend time with me :) And my sisters both sent me the best birthday gifts in the mail! New makeup and a new curling iron! And gift cards from my parents!! They really spoiled me :) Thank you so much!

The pictures above are just from my phone from the past few weeks. It might be 80+ degrees today, but the past few weeks it has gotten kind of cold. Cole loves it because he seriously loves wearing hats. I mean, he's wearing a hat in like every single picture above! People always comment on his hats; I think they're surprised that he'll actually keep his hat on. But he really does love them and he makes sure to put one on every time we leave the house. I don't mind; I think it's adorable and consequently he has wayyyy too many hats ;)

Pretty soon here he won't just be the only child anymore and I know he doesn't have any idea how much his life is going to change. I'm so excited to meet my new little one but I will also always treasure the time that I've had with Cole, just me and him. He is such a sweet boy and loves to give me kisses, loves to tell me he loves me and loves to tell me I'm pretty :) I know he's going to be a great big brother I just hope the transition goes well once baby brother actually arrives.

Two more weeks to go!!!! I'm feeling very ready :)

What does the fox say?!

So long long ago when Steve and I were first married, I was little red riding hood for Halloween. I went to the DI in Provo, and found this perfectly bright red, huge button down shirt and bought it for a couple dollars and then went home, cut it up and hand sewed it into this little hood. I didn't own a sewing machine so it was very primitive but I was proud of myself for putting it together so I held on to it.

This is what I'm talking about: Halloween 2009!!

Well this year I was browsing on pinterest and came across this pin and thought, HEY, I can totally turn my little red riding hood into a fox hood. And so I did and it was super easy! Magically I had white felt on hand and I just hot glued it right on ;) The only thing I had to sew were the ears because I couldn't figure out how to glue them on otherwise I would have ;) And isn't Cole the cutest Mr. Fox there ever was?! He probably would have preferred to be a super hero because he pointed out all of the Buzz Lightyears, Spidermen and Supermen at our ward trunk of treat. But I figured that as long as I have a say in what he is for Halloween, I might as well take advantage of it. I'm putting off that spiderman costume for as long as I can!


^^the cutest Mr. Fox. He was SO hard to take pictures of this year! Little boy does not want to ever stand still!^^

^^His first time trunk or treating! He was a little overwhelmed with all of it. But by the end he got a hang of it :)^^

^^Right before we had to go to the ward party, I suddenly felt guilty for not dressing up at all! So literally 5 minutes before we left, I cute out those paper ears and taped them onto a black headband I had. Voila! I was a pregnant cat for Halloween. SO cute :/ ^^

^^Sorting through his loot!^^

While we were there people kept saying to Cole "What does the fox say?!" I thought they were just trying to confuse him, since you know, what does the fox say?!?! Turns out this ridiculous song went viral on youtube a couple months ago which I had no idea about. You can watch it HERE. Seriously though. It's ridiculous and oh so European. Ha.

And I have to admit that Steve and I literally did eat all of his Halloween candy. Haha. Luckily Cole forgot all about his candy by the next day and so he never asked about it and I wasn't about to remind him of it :)

Next year when I'm not pregnant I will have to think up cute coordinating family costumes for a family of FOUR!! For this year though, Steve totally got off the hook ;)

And for fun you can see our past Halloweens together:

2010 as the Birds and the Bees
2011 as Taylor Swift, Joe Jonas and Nick Jonas
2012 as hipsters

31 weeks.

These were taken at 31 weeks which was 4 weeks ago because I am now 35 weeks! It was a good time to take "maternity pictures" because I am much much bigger now ;) Only 5 more weeks to go and I am getting incredibly excited to meet my little boy! Especially since Marie had her baby boy last night; it's starting to seem more real that he's coming. I feel like I am so ready but I'm sure as it gets closer I'll probably start to panic or something ;)

Steve took these pictures of me and I was happily surprised with how they turned out. Sometimes it's hard to have your picture taken when you know you're just going to look bigger than you feel like you should but Steve somehow has a way or bringing out the best in me. Throughout all of this pregnancy and my complaining he has always told me that I'm beautiful. And I know he means it. I love him so much and how he always makes me feel like a million bucks :) My hands, feet, face are all still swelling up with each week that goes by but I'm just going to be ok with it for now. We're both so excited to be parents again.

We will meet you soon little one!

GIANT tractor! What boys' dreams are made of.

If it's not obvious, he had a blast on this giant tractor at the pumpkin patch last week. He wanted nothing to do with the pumpkins there; he just wanted to hang out on this tractor. (And that old-timer truck too) He is all boy and I love him so much. Sometimes he is just too cute :)

See pictures from this same pumpkin farm from last year HERE. Little boy has grown so much in a year. *tear*

The Dallas Arboretum

It's October! I'm so happy! It's my birthday month and it's finally Fall! And most importantly, I can now say that I'm due next month. (Let's hope the baby actually comes in November ;)

Last week my visiting teacher invited me to come along to the Dallas Arboretum because she could get me in for free!! It was awesome. It had the craziest biggest pumpkin patch I have ever seen! I've never seen so many pumpkins all in one place before and I had never seen all those different kinds of pumpkins either! Cole thought it was pretty neat too; he kept picking up the ones that weren't too big to carry and throwing them down like they were balls or something. It drove me a little nuts but he had fun :)

He also got his face painted and would only agree to do a football. I tried to get him to do something "cuter" like a panda bear or a tiger but he wouldn't do it. When he saw another little boy getting a football painted on his face, he decided it was worth it to have a stranger hold his face and paint on him if it meant he could have a football on his face. He looked at himself in the mirror they provided for a long time. He loved it!

He also got to pet the animals in the petting zoo and splash his hands in the prettiest lily pond. By the time we got home he was completely exhausted and so was I. Sometimes I feel that Cole has no sense of danger because he would constantly just wander away from me and I would have to chase after him. And he's fast! I'm glad we got to go though because I don't think we ever would have gone if it hadn't been for free. That place is probably one of the prettiest places in Dallas but it is also really expensive!

August and September

I'm always sad that nothing really happens with the pictures on my phone so here are some from August and September!

+Cole painting for the first time.
+Cole wishing he could drive ;)
+Sunday evening outings to Founders' Plaza (where you can watch planes take off and land at DFW airport) and Mustangs of Las Colinas (huge horse statues in a cool fountain with a boardwalk nearby). We have church in the morning, so after we get home and have our Sunday afternoon naps, Cole is always dying to get out of the house by the time the evening rolls around. He loved both of these places we've been to recently.
+Getting tickled by dad ;)
+Cole's first time playing mini golf while we were in Fort Smith, Arkansas at the beginning of the month!
+Cole squirting himself with his water gun ;)
+Waffles with maple syrup and blueberries!!!! Of course. It takes like 10 times more delicious when you're pregnant :)
+Me at 31 weeks!
+Cole's cute face. Lucky boy has some seriously long eye lashes.
+A good hair and makeup day for myself. It's worth documenting ;)
+Loving the forward facing camera on my new IPHONE!!! I've wanted an iphone for years it seems and I finally have one :)
+Baby #2's 30 week ultrasound. His profile looks so much like Cole to me! So excited to meet my baby.
+And lastly, Cole looking so grown up throwing rocks into the canal the other day. Love that little boy.