Monday, June 21, 2010

I'm not the only one nesting around here...

I came home after being out of town for only 2 days and found this on my front door wreath. A bird nesting her eggs. It took some convincing Alan to let me keep them up. He wanted to take them down and was pretty dead set on it but in the end I talked him into letting us keep them. How could I throw away these eggs? I just didn't have it in me. Plus, it's been fun seeing nature in action! It is so interesting to me to see this bird know exactly what to do. She built her nest in just 2 days and I've been watching her take care of her little ones. I'll watch her search for worms on my lawn and pick at them, then deliver them to her babies. She is very protective of them. Before they hatched she would fly away as you approached the front door. Ever since they have hatched she flies away but stays close by. She will sit on my roof, my neighbor's roof or the side walk and chirps away as if yelling for help. It really panics her. I try to stay away to keep the peace but have to take a picture just about daily to document this. I too have been protective of these birds. Every time my door bell rings I get nervous. Who is there? Have they touched the birds? Hopefully they haven't disturbed them. This is what goes through my mind every time someone comes over. Kind of silly, I know! I guess it's just my state of mind these days. Maybe I wouldn't be this way if I too wasn't having a little one.

Here is a document of these little ones. I can't believe how fast they grow! They hatched on June 5th and in just 2 1/2 weeks they have grown to be the size of their mama.








This is mama and papa bird. He comes around often. This is usually where they hang out when you are at the front door as if watching and waiting for you to leave.









It seems as though one of them has decided leave the nest. There are only 3 left and since they are so big now they usually stand the whole time. I haven't gotten a picture of them standing yet.

I've loved having them around and it's been such a fun experience HOWEVER, I am ready for them fly away. Now that they are so big they are very aware when you are close and they panic. They can't fly so they just sit in their nest flapping their wings, shaking and chirping away. Because of this, I can't use my front door at all in fear that they will jump out when I open my door, right into my house. They also have been leaving quite the messes all over my door and porch.

I've read that Robin's learn to fly from the ground. It's a matter of getting them on the ground and some of them don't survive the fall from the nest. I am thinking about waiting another week and then having Alan put the nest on the ground. Help push the process along. I'm hoping it won't come to that and they will do it on their own. Here's hoping!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Happy 40th Anniversary!

My parent's had their 40th wedding anniversary on June 2nd so we decided it would be fun to surprise them and take them out (a week late.) My sister had the great idea of taking them down to Provo and stopping at some very memorable moments they had while they were dating. We decided it would be more fun to get a stretch limo and be able to all ride together (since we have a big family.) My sister and I surprised them at their house with the limo and told them we were taking them to dinner. Just the two of us. They had no idea what was in store!

On the way down we had some good conversation and sipped on sparkling cider. Our first stop was where my parents first met at my mom's friend's apartment. My little brother stood outside holding a sign from the day they met. Then we met up with my other little brother and his fiance in front of an ice cream parlor (now an insurance business) holding a sign with that date. Next we showed up on BYU campus at the Wilkinson Center where my older brother was and where my parents went to a dance and my mom fell in love with my dad. We did a few more stops after that and ended at the Provo temple where my sister and her family was. My dad proposed to my mom at the SLC temple but since that was way out of the way, we went to the Provo temple. We then went to Pizza Factory, had dinner and a slide show of my parents, kids and grand kids. It was fun seeing so many old pictures and brought back a lot of memories. We had the best time and I was thrilled my parents were so surprised and excited about the whole night. The night turned out to be a hit! Only thing missing? My husband. Last minute he got stuck having to work. :( It just wasn't the same without him. Here are some pictures from the big night: (they are all out of order but I couldn't organize them for some reason.)



Our driver put on a little Celion Dion for us. Hanna took a picture of Laralee serenading us.

These next 2 are my favorite! A 3yr old, in a limo, in his car seat, drinking sparkling cider. Hilarious!


Little Miss Hanna loves to take pictures of herself. Then she'll look at them, giggle and say "Oh! Cute!"

All of us (minus Alan) after dinner outside the restaurant



The kids had the best time!



This is my little brother Dayne and his fiance Rebecca. They get married in 2 months and we are SO happy she'll be a part of our family. She fits right in. I can't say enough about this girl. She is quality! Don't they look so cute together? They just match!

My dad. Being silly.


This was on the ride down....my parents not suspecting a thing.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

What I'm loving right now

My body is changing so fast and I'm gaining weight like crazy. (I hate to admit this but 30lbs thus far.) I keep growing out of my clothes.

I can't stand longer than a few minutes because the way the baby sits, he's been pinching a nerve in my leg. I can no longer feel my right leg...ever...and standing sends shooting pains through my leg.

I can't sleep on my stomach :(

I cry over everything and nothing. (bless my wonderful husband for his patience during this time.) Things I've cried over: Watching Oprah or almost anything on TV, when Alan tells me about a stressful day he's having it makes me feel bad for him and I cry, a song. Really, what don't I cry over? EVERYTHING!

I'm tired. I'm always tired. I run out of gas so fast!.......

All that being said, I am LOVING being pregnant!
I love having a belly.

I love laying in bed, rubbing my belly and feeling the baby kick! Alan felt him for the first time over the weekend. Melted my heart to see him so excited to feel his son for the first time!

I am loving my workouts right now. I am working out the same as I was before I got pregnant with a few changes. It makes me laugh when my belly gets in the way when I'm trying to lift weights. Working out is the best part of my day. Makes me feel human and gives me energy.

I love how sweet my husband is to me. The way he looks at me as if I'm the most beautiful girl. He treats me like a queen. He also likes to tease me about my weight. He's really funny with his jokes and it gives us both a good laugh but at the end of the day he is always telling me how beautiful I look.

I love buying baby clothes.

I am loving putting together his little nursery.

I love the anticipation of it all.

Being pregnant has really been such a great experience!


This is me at 20 weeks (I'm currently 23 weeks)



I crave a grill chicken sandwich from Subway Daily! I am loving Subway at the moment.

Unfortunately, I am also loving Cheesecake Factory. I crave it almost every day. I am loving the avocado egg rolls, lettuce wraps but what I am craving most is the Adam's peanut butter cheesecake. It's going to be the death of me! I have been going there more than I care to admit. We'll just leave it at that. ;)


I am loving my bowling team. I've been on a bowling league and am sad the season is over. Here is my team. Me, Stacey, Amanda and one of my very dearest friends Angie. I'm sad I'll miss the first part of the season next year but will be back by November.


I am loving hanging out with good friends. This is one of Alan's very bestest friends, Ryan and his girlfriend Wendy. This is at brunch for Ryan's birthday. We also went to St. George last weekend with our dear friends Ron and Angie (Angie from above). I didn't get pictures but we love hanging out with them. We soaked up the sun, did some shopping and plenty of eating! We always have the best time with them on vacations.

I am loving my life right now. I am loving my husband SO much! He calls me at least twice a day to tell me how much he loves me and how happy he is. He called me this morning just tell me how happy he is with his life and how lucky we are. So it's been something I've been thinking about all day and it makes me smile. Life is good! And that is what I'm loving right now.