Week 23 more than half-way

week 23, the baby is as big as an ear of corn: 8.5" and 1.5lbs

So today I bought my first ever Maternity Pants! I got them for $5 at Kohls -
thank you Sally and Ashley!

The pants are super cute, I was so excited that when I saw Sarah at work I just had to show her, she asked me to turn around, she said, "oh and they make your butt look cute!" good! I'm such a nerd, but I just had to blog about it because I was so happy to finally wear jeans that do not hurt my tummy or press down on my bladder or fall down because I had to wear them so low to where they would fit my enormously growing tummy! but I am so happy, they are so comfortable, and so freakin stylish! YEAH!

And even though I don't have a photo of it, my butt apparently is very cute! :)

Ultrasound

I went to the Dr. yesterday to get an ultrasound, but the appointment lady didn't set it up- I was pissed off, but luckily she had an opening the next morning at 8am. YEAH!

Let me tell you, it was the neatest experience that I've had yet with the pregnancy!- more so than the kicks or somersaults because those just feel like gas.... this we both could see living proof that there is a little person inside of me growing.

As of today the little person is 1pound and I am 21 weeks and 2 days due Jan 29 based on the measurements of the leg, head, and stomach.



The technician asks us if we are hoping on one sex more than the other, we say, "we're hoping for a boy, but obviously if it is a girl we're still thrilled!" then the technician asks, "can you see it?" I had no clue what I was looking at! "the right leg is here, the left leg here, and the... third leg here..." under my breath I say, "oh it's a penis!" and Jeff says, "That's my boy! what a boy he is!" Proud already! ahhhh

We were able to see all of the features of the baby, we know he is healthy and growing just right! Technology is just incredible, and our little boy was very camera shy, every time the technician tried to get a picture of his face he'd put his hands out in front to block his view! so the tech would shake my belly to make him move... it was kind of funny kind of cruel, but it worked... same sort of thing happened when the tech tried to get a proof of his manhood, our babe would cross his legs of move his hands, he's very modest! and deep in thought, hopefully he is excited to be born into our family, not worried! :)


After the visit, we left rejoiced and grateful to have 3d pictures and blurry unknown ultrasound pictures! I'm glad we got to experience that together. I called all my family and believe it or not, they all said, "I knew it!"... blah blah blah... then why did I have to tell you! thanks for ruining our surprise, even "I" didn't know! they didn't KNOW, they just had wishful thinking and we just confirmed it for them. :)

The family is excited for us, and we couldn't be happier! My parents first Grandson! Our first baby! and He's a BOY! (in case you couldn't figure it out)

19 weeks!

As of today I am 19 weeks, 21 weeks to go! I can't believe it! nobody has commented on my belly as of yet, however I had to go to Hill AFB to order maternity uniforms, that was fun... not! I've never worn my pants that high before, of course wearing the waist band any lower than my belly button cuts off circulation... not good. :) eek, I feel like Steve Erkel.

So, Jeff and I are no longer homeless! we found a 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment in Richmond, UT about 20 min North of Logan. It is huge compared to where we were living last semester, but really anything is better than Old Main Village studio apt. And the best part about it, we're only paying $25 more a month for this place, not bad at all!

Pictures are soon to come, we just need some furniture to fill up the space in the living room, so I can figure out how to decorate our home. :)

Other exciting news... I got a job! I work at USU in their Dining Services Dept. I work PT for USU Catering and FT in the Skyroom (their fancy restaurant on the 4th floor) looking after the buffet line and salad bar. EASY!

Also, I decided to specialize in 'Organization and Interior Space Layout' within the Interior Design field. Not only do I love to organize and create more space, I'm good at it. I got together with a good friend of mine who also is great at organizing and designing, and together we are going into business as Professional Organizers and Space Layout Designers! So if you are in the need arranging furniture, figuring out storage options, clearing up some space in your home, feel like you have too much stuff that you're just not sure if you should throw away or hold on to, or you don't know where to put things anymore, leave me a message or leave a comment with your phone number and I'll get back to ASAP :) Thank you!

Homeless

Jeff and I drove back to Utah Sunday Aug 22, we got kind of a late start, we wanted a good nite's rest before driving 24+ hrs! Plus, it isn't like we had much to come back to... no job, no apt, no school, no money...

The closer we got to Ogden, which is where we'd be staying for the next couple of days, the more Jeff was excited to call up his family and let them know. We had dinner with Jenni at Cafe Rio - YUMMY! all the wives kept talking about Cafe Rio and how much they missed it, I hadn't really ever been a "die hard fan" of it, but do enjoy their food, I guess after not having it for so long and it getting hyped up by the wives, it was so not disappointing! :)

Today, Thursday Aug 26 (Happy Birthday Karissa! :) we are still staying at Jeff's mom's house in Ogden, today was laundry and relax day. Since we've been "home" we have been on-the-go every minute of every day looking for an apartment, looking for work, going to interviews, making calls, driving up to Logan, driving to Bountiful and North Ogden to visit family, and today we just couldn't do it anymore. Tomorrow we've got an open house to go to for an apt in town, but most likely we'll be living in Richmond - a 25min drive north of downtown Logan.

We're so grateful to be back because:
1. family is close (Jeff's family, and my brothers)
2. the temperature is refreshing, non existent in Arkansas
3. it smells so much nicer here - love the pine trees
4. living where it is all familiar - even though a lot has changed since spring
5. no more sales! (hopefully never again!)
6. no more long road trips!

The Baby!
As soon as we get an address we'll be going to the Dr. and finding out the sex of the baby, so I'll keep you all updated as soon as we know!

carnival

Saturday a group of us from the office went to a Carnival nearby and since it was our real last activity together before some of us started leaving to different parts of the state, it was a real good time. A few of them have left for good, and others have left down to Texarkana; which is where we are heading to this Sunday for very last week in Arkansas before heading back to UT!

This is a video of one of the rides that Mylee and Josie went on, of the bees. It is kind of hard to tell where exactly they are on the ride, but the two girls both have blonde hair and every time Mylee passes us, she turns around in her chair to wave.

Plus, I don't know how to work Jeff's camera, but I really like the setting that the video was on.

journal entry

I had a dream last night about the 2nd coming, not that the second coming was here, but Jeff had told me in my dream, "every day is only one day closer to the second coming, are you ready??" I woke up from my dream thinking, "what if I were to die today, what kingdom would I be judged to go to? would it be the celestial kingdom? what have I done in my life, or right now to allow my entrance?"

so I've been thinking about it since this morning... when I get bored I turn to t.v. which is unfortunate because it really makes me more bored because it really is just a bunch of crap and I feel like I am wasting away... so then I turn to the internet, facebook, and blogging, however today has been really inspiring... Thank you Lisa, Melanie, and Allison your stories, quotes, and videos have inspired me.

I can't believe I'm saying this but, I am so excited to go back to Utah because there we will not be visitors, there we will have our own ward, have callings, have family, have our own apt/house, etc... In the past, moving to different parts of the US have been fun, exciting, and different. This year, after little rock, we have been long-term visitors, and I don't like it. I feel without purpose, and we can't pay our tithing! I hate it!

I know that I must not give up, that I must keep moving forward, and trust in God, trust that he has a plan for us, especially when I cannot see it. In just a few months it isn't going to be just me and Jeff anymore, it will be the three of us (which all in itself is kind of a scary awesome feeling)
I'll be staying in the military which is also a love hate relationship, good because of the health insurance - pay for the baby, but bad because I'll have to leave soon after she/he is born for a week.

I'm grateful for my knowledge in the gospel and for the ability to always learn and grown in the gospel and in my testimony. I am grateful for a wonderful husband who works so hard in sometimes unbearable conditions for our growing family, for a supporting and loving family (both sides), and I am especially grateful for my Savior, for His love and atonement that makes everything better and perfect.

Final Gladiator Game

Today started out like any other day here in Fayetteville, except this morning the boys had the watermelon challenge for the gladiator games, I know you're thinking eating watermelon, but not so... this challenge is more for strength and endurance. The idea is water rugby but with a watermelon, in the past Strong has smothered the watermelon in crisco, to make it really slippery, but I guess because the pool wasn't very deep, he decided it would be more fun just to see the boys dive and wrestle with it instead. I got all the teams on video... but unfortunately they are too long to be viewed on the blog, so I will have to post them on my facebook page once my camera battery is done charging. soon...

Team 3 won... yeah Go Travis! better yet, the victory, even though a team effort, goes to Marty Fox, his touchdown was glorious!

here are just a few pictures of Ryan Tadje's battle wound... the brutality of the game!

For some reason I am unable to upload pictures, so if you'd like to see the video and pictures from the gladiator games click here

Gladiator Games

Each year in the office Jeff Strong puts together the Gladiator Games, which is a remarkable act or achievement involving courage, skill, or strength. The games usually last for a week, the office is divided into teams, and each team is set out to do a certain "challenge" per day.

The teams are divided out as such:
Team 1: Lee, Mark, Brandon, Colby, Chase
Team 2: Brooks, Webb, Justin, Kade, Josh W
Team 3: Ryan, Jason L, Kody, Travis, Marty
Team 4: Rhett, Jeff, Ben, Jason N, John, Tyrel

Last Thursday - challenge of the intellect. Asked random questions and whichever team can answer the most amount of questions correct, wins. I believe Team 4 won

Last Friday - challenge of golfing skill. Whichever team can successfully get the ball in the hole first in the least amount of tries. I think Team 3 won

Today, Monday - relay race feat, run/scoot medley. Start out with the scooter race, one end of the parking lot to the other, next player in the relay runs back to the beginning marker, and the last player races his scooter to the finish line. It was fun to watch except when Travis tripped and fell while he was running his heart out! He scrapped up his arm a little, but nothing serious, he said it didn't even hurt. Team 4 won

Tuesday - hamburger and coke consumption feat. Last year it was by far the grossest thing I have ever witnessed... 2 people from one team competes in this event. the first player eats two jr. bacon cheeseburgers, and the second player downs the coke. So whoever consumes all three first, wins. Team 4 won by seconds!

Wednesday - challenge of slip and slide wiffle ball Team 3 won

Thursday - feat of conquering the stick pull Team 4 won

Friday - watermelon pool challenge Team 3 won

Prizes:
If the office does over 220 accounts: the first place team gets $215 each and dives for $. the second place team gets $50 each and dives for $. The first place team gets a 25 sec head start and the total will be $600 in coins.
If the office does under 220 accounts: the first place team gets $75 each and dives for $. The second place team gets $30 each and dives for $. The first place team gets a 25 sec head start and the total will be $400 in coins.

Scoring:
Same Day (sale and install) = 15pts
Same Day before 5:15pm = 30pts
Same Day after 8:30pm = 30pts
Activation (doesn't waive) = 5pts
Next Day (schedule out) = 5pts
Daily Challenge = 50pts
Approved Challenge (??) = 15pts
Everyone Sells Bonus = 30pts

We really need the money so of course I am rooting that Jeff's team does super well for the remainder of the week. As well as he individually does well to support his team; which he is so far... go team go! And Travis' team too!

Wilderness Safari

Since Jeff and I have lived here in Fayetteville we have not really done anything, gone to any attractions or historical sites, we've gone out to eat one time at a Greek restaurant on Dickson Street; which is the "where it all happens" scene near the college. So yesterday, Sunday, after church we went with the Strongs to the Wilderness Safari to enjoy God's creations. It was the coolest adventure that I have been on in a very long time!
First thing we did after we arrived was go to the petting zoo, where we got to play with and hold the baby lions, play with and get scratched by the baby tigers, and watch the out-of-control but adorably cute baby monkeys. And here are some pictures :)

Aww isn't it the cutest?

Baby Lemur in diaper... awe

The giraffe is thinking "My Life Sucks in this 20'x20' cage...."

If you can't tell, it is a hippopotamus in the water...

An obese razorback... yeah, go Arkansas!