After a year away, I finally got to visit my family in Utah! It was so nice to spend a week hanging out with my parents and siblings and getting to see a bunch of extended family and a few friends (not to mention the joy of escaping from DC traffic for a few days). Here are some of the highlights:
Meeting my one and only nephew!
The videos I took on our other camera show off his sweet little personality, but isn't he cute?! And to think he was less than 3 lbs when he was born... what a little miracle! I sure love him and wish the visit wasn't so short!
Seeing extended family from both sides at a lovely baby shower for Baby Haskin!
Brighton cousins who participated in a round of "what to name baby." I think the consensus among the kids was "Spencer" but there were lots of other good suggestions too. We definitely need to get going on a serious list of names, not to mention a stroller, a car seat, and a bunch of other things!
Who will Baby resemble, Mommy or Daddy?
Here are some of the balloons we made for the shower (I had a blast making them)
Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Purser for driving down to see me
Later that week at the my uncle and aunt's home (last get-together in their small but wonderful! home before they moved to their big new house)
Hanging out with two of my best high school buds, Mandy and Michelle (for those I didn't see...Christmas, please!)
Seeing Ramona and Beezus with Mom and Krista in the only theater still playing it. If you read any of the Ramona books growing up, and even if you didn't, I highly recommend this hilarious family-friendly movie.
Seeing the Pirates of Penzance at Hale Centre Theatre
Visiting BYU and driving past prior residences
Campus Plaza where Stephen and I met! Does anyone else think it's weird that there's a new business in that space below the apartments every time you drive past? They must think the closer proximity to J Dawgs means they will be granted the same success.
our first ugly but wonderful blue/gray basement apartment
Brick oven root beer
Hike to Donut Falls
Lauren and cousin Alicia on our pregnancy friendly walk/hike
VChocolates- their chocolate covered caramels are to DIE for! And if you go on a tour of the factory in SLC they give you lots of free samples. mmmmmmmmmmmmm
Going with my Mom to get haircuts
So I didn't take a picture at the hair cutting place but this shows that I cut my hair and it's the belly picture I had my dad take of me. I was 26/27 weeks.
THE BEST PART: Knowing that I'll be going back in a few short months :)
Stephen here. This is my first post in a while. Hello everybody.
So we've got three quick items today: A couple cute baby-belly updates, a video of our new apartment, and a question about grad school.
The Baby Belly
Here are some updates of the cutest mom around:
Taken on Friday, at 24 weeks.
She's definitely showing now, although some people do still think it's just barely. I beg to differ--my son is definitely in there, and he's even made it so she can't fit into some of her non-elastic clothes, as shown below.
There is not supposed to be a wedge-shaped gap in the skirt.
It's pretty fun.
Our New Apartment
As we might have mentioned, we just recently moved (to get a bigger place for the baby). Here's a 2-minute video tour, if you happen to be interested.
Stephen's Grad School
So I really don't like grad school. I mean, in a sense, I'm glad I chose to do grad school--it's already helped me get a job (which I really enjoy), and it's and rounded out my education in some interesting ways.
But now, it's just making my life miserable. Seriously--it makes me unhappy, and it just seems utterly ridiculous to pay thousands to inflict unhappiness on myself. Since I work full time, my evenings are spent either going to class or doing homework for it. I seriously have no free time other than the metro, unless I slack off. Thus it's very hard for me to make time for the things that are important to me, such as dating my wife, being involved in church, working out regularly, and pursuing my writing (and, eventually, playing with my son). I know all students are busy, but this really surpasses any experience I had as an undergraduate. Plus, I'm not really that interested in school-learning anymore.
However, I'm committed to finishing--as a matter of principle, I'm going to finish this, and I do know (at some level) that completing the degree is good for me professionally. Lots of things that produce lasting good come at a heavy initial cost--this is one of them.
So there are two options:
Keep chugging along, and just plow through just to get it over with as soon as possible. This is nice because even though it stinks now, it means that soon, it will all just be done--no dragging it out.
Slow down, taking half the class-load but extending the amount of time I'm in school. I feel like this would be nice since I wouldn't be as stressed, and I might be able to live life a bit more, but it does kind of drag things out.
What do you think? Please let us know in the comments.
In case you haven't heard we are having a baby boy! Here are some shots of him at 21 weeks.
And finally, the belly pictures you have all been waiting for...
7 weeks and feeling sick, sick, sick.
12 weeks and not looking any bigger in the slightest.
14 weeks and still not showing.
Skip ahead 6 weeks (end of the school year/girls' camp/feeling lame at not gaining weight or showing)...
20 weeks and finally starting to show a little bit.
23 weeks YAY! people actually think I am pregnant now (sorry I forgot which way I faced for the previous pictures)
We are SOOOOOOOOO excited to have a little boy (no names yet)! He has been kicking hard enough for both mom and dad to feel since 16 weeks and yesterday was the first time we could actually SEE some of his movements. I rarely get sick and the 2nd trimester has been leaps and bounds better than the 1st. Some clothes are getting tight, but I still can wear almost everything in my wardrobe. I am very SLOWLY gaining weight, but expect to see that change at the next few visits. However, the doctors are not concerned in the slightest and say that everything is going very well. This week I signed up for a childbirth class (ahhh!) and bought airline tickets for Christmas (hopefully flying with a newborn is not too bad).
In other good news:
-We moved into a fantastic 2 bedroom apartment for only $30 more per month than our 1 bedroom apartment.
-We just passed our 3 year wedding anniversary! Best 3 years ever and we are celebrating late this year (last minute moves are tiring) by going to a National Symphony Orchestra concert.
-Steve's contracting job at DC public schools turned into a full-time regular job with benefits and he has less than a year to graduation.
