Christmas Time.

This Christmas has been pretty laid-back for me and Blake.  Being the first holiday not working retail, I've had this feeling that something has been missing...in a good way.  We didn't get around to hanging lights outside, but we did get just a bit festive around the house.

We also managed to get holiday family photos and send out Christmas cards to friends and family near and far, announcing baby boy Harris this spring.

Tomorrow we're spending the evening with Blake's family.  Christmas morning we'll be joining mine.  It will be good to see everyone together, enjoy a few laughs with good food and drink.  I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, free of stress and full of joy.

-Jess.

Twenty-Four.

I have been carrying baby boy for six months now.  It's crazy how time flies!

We had a doctor's appointment earlier this week to check on baby's health.  He is doing so good and is so healthy!  I love hearing his little heart beating, there is nothing else in this world that compares.  I think about him constantly and get so distracted by the thought of him - I think this is what they should call pregnancy brain, constant distraction.  I love sitting up at night and feeling him move, although I know I should be getting as much rest as possible.  Blake just started feeling him this past week.  I love seeing his face when he feels baby move, and I can't wait for his kicks to get stronger.  We haven't quite settled on a name yet, but we're getting there.

I am in such a good place right now, nearing the end of the second trimester and feeling better than ever.

-Jess

Feeling Grateful...

{Denver Botantic Gardens}

I started this post a few weeks ago; however, life seems to have gotten in the way, and I am just now finally finishing it.  It may be a bit late, but it's better late than never.

2012 has brought many changes for Blake and I, and I have been reminded throughout the year that I have so much in my life to be grateful for. 

I am grateful for many things this year, and each one seems to begin with my amazing husband, Blake.  We have been together for nearly eight years now, and how life-changing and incredible each year has been.  Blake has been a rock of support for me, my guide and guardian. He has helped me overcome so many personal challenges, and has led me to the life that I have today.  What a happy and lovely life it is. 

I am grateful for the many things Blake and I have accomplished together.  Blake, graduating with his RN Degree; I am so proud of the career path he has chosen.  I am inspired by the kindness and selflessness he exudes to others each day.  He is truly a loving and caring person, and he reminds me how important it is to do something that matters.  

I am grateful that I was able to graduate earlier this year with my Bachelor's Degree.  I have been working towards this achievement for so many years, and what a great accomplishment it has been for me.  Although it has been difficult, financially and personally, Blake has been there supporting me every step of the way, working and helping me fund my way through school, even before we were married.  There were several times I wanted to give it up.  I had a good job working for a good company with promotional opportunities and growth.  Blake was always there to remind me to do what I loved, to never settle for the money, and to do something that mattered to me and that I enjoyed.  I truly could not have made it work without him.

I am grateful for the home and life Blake and I have built and continue to build together.  We have worked so hard for everything we have, and it is at this time of year, when the weather gets chilly, that I am so grateful and aware of how blessed we are. 

I love my husband so much, I doubt words can ever begin to describe how I feel for him.  I am so grateful that with him I am able to create an extension of him and our love through our baby boy, who will greet us sometime around March 29, 2013.  What an amazing experience it has been for us both to create this life I am carrying. Each day I am reminded of his incredible existence through his numerous pokes, prods, and kicks.  I am so grateful to have been blessed with a body capable of creating this little life inside of me.  It is so unreal to me, and everyday I am reminded how much of a miracle the existence of life is.  I am in awe by it, I doubt I will ever understand it, and I am thankful for it.

I am grateful for my family and my husband's family who, from the beginning, have welcomed me into their home as one of their own.  We have an amazing family who is so accepting and kind towards others, no matter what their personal situation may be.  They are examples for us and the kind of family we hope to build.

This year Blake and I have done so much growing.  We have watched those close to us struggle with losses of jobs and financial security, experiencing the fear and uncertainty ourselves for the first time when I recently learned I was going to be laid off from my job.  What an amazing life we have been blessed with, how fortunate we are, and how we must always remember that it can be taken away from us.  The lessons we have learned this year have focused us to appreciate what we have and to surround ourselves with uplifting and inspiring people; individuals that care and love others, that live selflessly and are more concerned with their personal actions rather than the social status and image they exude.  Blake is such an example of this.  Being the critical and sometimes childish girl that I am, I tend to compare myself to others, and I am susceptible towards envy.  When I start to feel this way Blake is there to remind me how good my life is, how much I have been blessed, and how happy I should feel.  He lifts me when I am feeling down, and he reminds me of all the good I have around me.  I am grateful for him and the many other uplifting people I have in my life.  It is because of their example that I continue to strive to surround myself with only positive people each day, and what a difference it has made for me and will continue to make.

Wow, what a long essay this post has turned into.  Thank you for reading and thank you for being a part of our life.  To sum it all up, I am thankful for:  A husband and family that I love, the roof over my head, and a warm bed and blanket to snuggle in each day.  I am thankful for the simple things I have in my life because they have made all the difference.

"Rest and be thankful"  -William Wadsworth.

-Jess.   

{Thanksgiving 2011}

{Thanksgiving 2010}

All Things Lately.

I turned 27 years old on the 21st of October.  Blake and I kept it low-key for my birthday this year.  He cooked pulled pork burritos for me, and my family joined us for dinner.  We at Pumpkin Pie instead of cake. 

I found out that I was a few months away from losing my job, then I found out I was gaining a great new employment opportunity.  This attractive man took me out to celebrate over Thai.

We participated in Halloween festivities.  I went as a Mummy and Blake went as a Pharoah.  The first Halloween of home-made costumes.

Blake proved to be right in predicting we are having a little baby boy, and I finally began feeling his presence.  I'm pretty sure that I have been in Heaven ever since. 

We welcomed this beautiful little niece of ours, Aivery Jo Spencer.  She is such a doll.

A lot can happen in one month's time.  Happy Month to you.

-Jessica

(Follow my instagram here.)

Twenty.

Blake and I are now twenty weeks along with our little boy and just twenty weeks away from meeting him.

I find myself counting down the days and constantly dreaming about my little man. I'm so excited to hold him. 

Sometimes my heart just pounds with excitement and anxiety over having him in my life. 

And I can truly say that I've never been happier or more in love with my husband than I am right now. 

I love my husband so much, and I am so grateful that we will soon be blessed with such an amazing extension of our love. What better way to show your love for someone than to create life with them? 

It has been an amazing experience this far and I can't wait to see what life holds for us. 

Soon we will truly be a little family. 

Welcome Aivery Jo.

Blake and I would like you to meet the newest member of our family; our little niece, Aivery Jo.

Born today, 11/11/2012 at 11:41 a.m. Weighing 7 lbs, 11 oz. and 18 inches in length.

Miss Aivery is quite an adorable little brunette. Although she is somewhat grouchy, after a 13+ hour journey into this world who can possibly blame her?

She's a cutie and we love her.

Thoughts.

Blake and I are having a baby boy. 

Sometime around March 29, 2013 we will meet him and this day cannot possibly come soon enough. 

Until today, my pregnancy has not felt real.  

I have been in a cloud of nerves and disbelief; often wondering if baby was even still present. 

It was amazing to watch him today; tossing and turning; spinning and waiving his little arms and feet.

He is real. 

I have been overwhelmed all day.  Overwhelmed with a desire to meet him.  Overwhelmed with love. 

I have been filled with a depth of love for my husband and unborn child today that is purely indescribable.

It is mesmerizing to me. 

I almost can't wait. 

-Jess.

Growing Pains.

When I was sixteen years old I had a hernia on my lower right side, near my pelvis.

I subsequently had surgery, and my Doctor treated the hernia by patching the hole in my muscle with a thick, plastic-like mesh to keep it from forming again. 

I often feel this mesh digging into my muscle; mainly when I run or work out for long periods of time.

Its a pain that I have learned to deal with over the years.

Well....baby is hanging out in my pelvic area.

Not only are the stretching of my ligaments purely uncomfortable, but I often feel the mesh digging into my muscle more than ever, sometimes so deeply that it causes me to hunch over like an old lady, hold my pelvis and wince in pain.

At my last appointment I spoke to my Doctor about it.

He did some feeling around and its definitely nothing of concern. 

However, it is something I will just have to deal with.

He said the good news is - at about 32 weeks the pain should pretty much disappear.

(I hope he was joking)

-Jess.

Sixteen.

The past four months have definitely been an adventure;
Filled with extreme highs and extreme lows.
Blake and I have spent many nights wondering how and why we are here.
We have no idea if we're ready for this;
And we have an even lesser an idea as to how to BE ready for this.
However, as the days move forward we find ourselves getting more and more exited to be parents.
Each day I see that this baby is growing;
And each day we grow more anxious to meet you.

-Jess.

Oktoberfest.

We spent a few hours at Oktoberfest today with Blake's sister and family. 

Our time was spent walking around the tent vendors, eating brats, riding the tram, and walking some more.
(No worries. I drank Gatorade)

It was such a nice day. 

It was my first time at Snowbird and I loved how beautiful everything is up there. 

The fall colors were amazing. 

I'm hoping we can go back up soon to take some picture before the final leaves fall.

-Jess.

Peanut.

September 14, 2012.

Five years of marriage.

I can't believe it. These past five years have been the best I have ever experienced, and each and every day simply gets better and better.

Blake and I have had an amazing journey together, and we have began to build a great life with one another.

In the days nearing our anniversary, I looked back to when we were married and how I had imagined spending such a day....at a beach somewhere. 

Soaking in the sun, drinks in hand - a second honeymoon really.

I couldn't possibly imagine our five-year reality. 

Sitting at the doctor's office seeing this little peanut for the first time. Hearing that tiny heart beating like a drum inside of me.

It was a moment spent enveloped in a surreal realization that soon we will be parents. 

There is now suddenly more to this life than the two of us. 

And our lives will never be the same.

How cliche is that?

I am three months pregnant.

Little peanut will be welcomed into this world sometime around March 29, 2013.

I have so many emotions, feelings and concerns. 

From petty, shallow and selfish concerns surrounding my physical body to deep and overwhelming concerns about whether I can really do this.

Whether I can be a mother.

I am also excited. Sometimes so much that I am literally swallowing back tears of anticipation. 

I can't wait to meet this little peanut. To hold baby in my arms and make eye contact for the first time. 

Its absolutely incredible to think about.

All of these feelings that I have are nearly indescribable. I doubt my words can ever do them justice. 

When it comes down to it, Blake and I are consumed by the big three.  

We are excited. We are overwhelmed. And we are completely terrified.

Happy five year anniversary babe!

-Jess.

Lately, in August.

My neice, Cora Lynn, made the Springville High Junior Varsity Soccer Team. 

She's a Freshman this year, starting at Center Forward.

I'm so proud of her.

She's incredibly good at soccer. Its crazy to watch her play. She has real skill.

Blake and I took motorcycle lessons together.

We tested and both passed.

All we need to do now is take our cards into the DMV to get our official licenses, which we'll probably do soon...within the next six months.

In the meantime, Blake has been shopping.

Finally, we've enjoyed summer sports. 

I went the BYU home opening game with my dad.

And Blake and I finally made it out to a Bee's game. 

We've been wanting to go all Summer.

-Jessica.

Uintahs.

This past weekend our little family went on a low-key camping trip in the Uintahs.
We spent the night with Blake's family - eating, chatting, and drinking around the campfire while enjoying the incredible view of the meteor shower.
Amazing.  I am in awe with how ridiculously small my whole world is in comparison to everything...space, the final frontier.
(Speaking of incredible and amazing things; have you watched the Mars Rover landing? One ton of metal machinery? Launched through space in a capsule? Parachuting supersonically through Mars's atmosphere?  Rockets engaging?  Cable-released rover?...I would absolutely watch that movie.)
Back on topic.
We spent the morning at Trial Lake baking in the hot sun before heading home, taking a nice cool shower and a nap.
Good weekend.
Jessica.

Went for a Walk....

Ended up going on a hike.

Its amazing to me that this is right in our back yard.

Beautiful!

-Jess.

Heyyyy, Good-Lookin'.

Happy 29th Birthday to this Attractive Man, right here.

He is pretty incredible.

If you don't know him; you should.

He is the best person I know.

Love Him.

-Jess.

Hiking Lately....

Silver Lake - Big Cottonwood Canyon

Twin Lakes - Big Cottonwood Canyon

Stewart Falls - American Fork Canyon

Donut Falls - Big Cottonwood Canyon

So far this Summer I have been going hiking with my in-laws every Sunday, with Blake joining us on his weekends free from work.  The amount of trails and sights Utah has to offer is incredible - all being practically right in our own backyard.  I can't believe it has taken me this long to take advantage of the amazing place I live in. 

It's so refreshing and calming to be outside and surrounded by nature.  At the end of every hike, I am looking forward to the next week's adventure.

Next week we're going to be hiking Kessler Peak in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Blake will be able to join us on this hike.  I can't wait.  That canyon is absolutely incredible. 

I truly live in a beautiful state. 

Happy Summer.

-Jess.