Baby girl!!!

We are dying with excitement. So much that we are ready to go to bed and it is only 9:43.

Today we were told "it's a girl."

She for sure is a SHE, you can totally see her lil girl parts and all. I have to say it was amazing. Aar and I both cried with joy and thankfulness to see our lil one today who looks like she is growing well so far. We did our full anatomy scan so won't know all results until next week but she was measuring on track and even gave us a big yawn. She is either already bored inside there and impatient like her mom or was really tired from all the working out she has been doing lately inside me.

I just can't stop thinking about what she is doing right now and what she thinks about the family she is coming to. Does she think we are crazy and thinking "ahhhh man" or is she jumping for joy? I know we are as thrilled as can be and are so ready for this bundle to get down here safely and in our arms. We daydream about her non stop and love thinking about all the things we are excited to do with her.

What about though one day she will go on a date with a BOY and we will have to take a deep breathe. That is freaky. Makes my heart skip a beat just thinking about it!!!

We both keep saying how ready we are for this. We are so ready for this next step and yes even though there will be long nights, worries and all that stuff we have never felt more ready. I am so happy we waited until the right time for us and did what we knew would be best for our family. We are as a result ready and up for it 100%. Can't wait to be parents.

I hope she is listening to the advice of our loved ones in heaven getting ready to come here.

Sick day=Sew day

Today I took a "sick" day. And am I sick? Nope! But I am sewing and loving it. My mom surprised me with a sewing machine for my birthday and I finally had a moment to while it out. I was so proud of myself because I threaded the needle and got it all set up without help. I did have my mom, aka best sewing teacher ever, teach me all the tricks but I for sure thought I wouldn't rememeber it all on my own. I already made one table cloth this morning and am gonna get a baby blanket completed after I wake up from a nap. Not much is better than taking a sick day when you are not sick!

16 week bump

Really can I have a bump already? This is nutso to me. I am 16 weeks today and finally figured that I should start taking pics of this lil one growing inside of me. I am feeling AWESOME finally which is a great relief. I still throw up a few times a week which is usually a pretty violent episode that I feel from the deepest part of my gut. Feeding the dogs is usually the biggest trigger however public bathrooms still are extremely daunting and usually end in not so great way. I am still doing crossfit and I shoot for at least 3x a week with lots of walking around the park with bear along with Bikram pregnancy dvd at home. So far everything is looking good. When we went this week for our appt the baby was staring straight at me, head on. It was so amazing. Early February we are hoping to find out if we are having a baby Aaron or baby Kristen. I am pretty sure I have started feeling some movement down there every now and then, almost like lil fish are swimming inside or a potato bug is rolling around. The stretching pains were not so fabulous this week but a few days after them popped out a lil bump so it is all worth it. I am just dying to meet this lil one and I know I still have a ways to go. Here's to getting bigger and cooking a new Murray.

Baby on the way and Xmas=Perfection

We had a great holiday and I honestly enjoyed every minute of it. It was magical in every way. Maybe it's cause this was the last holiday season without a little one around. Many of you already know but if not WE ARE HAVING A KIDDO!!! We couldn't be more thrilled. We have been so hesitant to get the word out but finally started to spread the good news. Fingers crossed that all goes well from here on out. We are 13 weeks preggers. Week 6-9 was brutal, lost 8 lbs from throwing up so much. Back to my normal weight now, maybe even plus 2. Eating more than just mashed potatoes and I may just be feeling a bit more like my self...knock on wood. It has kinda been a roller coaster of emotions as the time line went a bit like this 1. Get called as YW president, 2. Head to hawaii, 3. 3 days after we get back from Hawaii Gpa Steenblik has massive stroke, 4. The next day we find out we are preggers, 5. The following week gpa Steenblik dies. It really was just a bit nuts and hard to take it all in. We really are just dying knowing we are going to have a kiddo. We have already started preparing Bear and Bella about the addition on its way. Thankfully we got some awesome family pics done in December to celebrate our family as we are now before things change. For some reason I can't upload them which is annoying the heck out of me because they are so dang good!!! Brooke Palmer did them and we love them.

I know right, you are thinking seriously this is the picture she took of her getting a positive pregnancy test. We were running out the door to our ward halloween party and well it is what it is. I honestly laugh that this is the picture I have and think our kid is really gonna think we are crazy hippies now. Oh well. It does the trick right.


Xmas was fabulous. We headed to Arizona to be with my family. We had a blast and just went non stop. Not much relaxing goes down when I am with my family because I want to do it all and spend time with everyone. Napping seems wrong when I have all these people around that I love. Enjoy some pics of the week.


George and Bear just being buddies. George is fearless, I guess having a 200 lb doggie at home makes him prepared for Bear.

Liam went for a drive in Punka's truck. I love the pics I can get of this kiddo in Punka's truck.

My parents. Man I love them. They really are the greatest. They are so in love still and sweet to each other, I love the example they have set for me.


Me and my Aar Bear the day after xmas. I love taking pictures in my backyard. My dad does such a great job with the landscaping and it makes for a perfect background. Oh and I love Aar Bear too!!!

The BOYS of the family!!!

Me and my mommy!!!

The whole family.

Xmas eve wrapping central. We all keep our backs turned away so we don't see the gifts. We spend hours wrapping and wrapping all of our goodies for each other. So magical and fun.

Most favorite time of the year

It is here...and I am already mourning next week when it will be over and I will have to wait a whole other year for my most favorite time. Where has the time gone? How is it already the end of 2010? I can't stand it.

I am so excited for this coming week where Aaron and I will pack up the dogs and head to AZ for xmas with the Steenbliks. It brings me pure JOY. My days will be filled with playing with my nepwhews, UNO, Punka's crepes, peppermint ice cream, dinners that will stuff my face and belly, hikes up camelback mountain and just the joy that you feel when you are HOME. I am dying with anticipation.

Of course I can't forget the REASON FOR THE SEASON. More than ever I feel so grateful for He that was born for us and has forever shaped and altered my life for the better. As I reflect on the blessings of my life that are directly related to Jesus Christ I am humbled and overwhelmed.

Alright so here it goes....the week of the year....BRING IT. Only 3 days of work this week then we are out of here and on to celebrate. Couldn't happen fast enough...except I will be so sad when it is over.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and of course a bright New Year. Enjoy your loved ones and soak it all up!!!

Thanksgiving goodness

Thanksgiving was a great week. Started out with Disneyland with Aaron's mom, sister and her kiddos along with Nate, Rach, and Luke. It was PACKED...honestly as packed as I think I will ever see it. We went the day before thanksgiving. Thankfully I was able to go on a ride...Haunted Mansion which was all Nightmare Before Christmas decked out and I loved it. New favorite ride at Disneyland for sure.

Thanksgiving day Aar went down to the OC to run the 10K Turkey Trot with his siblings while I enjoyed a nice relaxing sleep. We then met up with his family for dinner. The night ended with some Harry Potter which I loved as always. We continued to have a great weekend with the family and we were super thankful for them coming out to California so we could stay put.

So many things to be thankful for this time of year and as we start my most favorite month of the year I find myself to be extra grateful and appreciative.

• Our families are THE best and I am so thankful for the families we come from.
• My parents are some of the greatest examples in my life and I love to notice the things I do that are like them. I am thankful for the examples they have been to me in my life of love and service.
  
• My Aar Bear what can I say...I love him. I love that 7 years ago I made the decision to marry him for eternity. One of the best decisions I have ever made and has made my life exactly how it needs to be.
• Bella and Bear our kiddos are the loves of our life. We just adore them and love when we walk in the door and they run up to us so excited and happy to see us. Best cuddle partners ever.
• Gatorade and sparkling water have been saving my behind lately. I have been sick with a nasty infection we all got over thanksgiving and I have been downing so much of this stuff lately I am sure I will turn into yellow bubbles.
• LuLuLemon, what would my wardrobe be without it?

While these are just a few there are a ton more, however I will just leave it at that.

Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season!!!

GPA STEENBLIK

The most awesome threesome ever enjoying some pumpkin picking with our Gpa. I have to say this is one my most favorite pictures from my childhood.

Of course showing his UTE pride with his Utah hat on.

X mas last year with Gpa.

I love this picture, Gpa kept tickling Liam's feet during the photo. It was so cute to see him so interactive and playing around with Liam. For sure something I will miss when I have kiddos.

I will be forever grateful to the man he is and was as he helped to shape my father into the man he is today. I am so thankful for his example of service and kindness. He was known for going to grocery stores to get their day old food, which was often not even expired and would drive around and deliver to those in need. This delivering of food and goods has been something he has done ever since I can remember and still was going on even in the last few months leading up to his stroke. Gpa Steenblik was the only grandpa I had ever known as Gpa Howe died just a few months before I was born. I am sad to not have him in my life here on earth and while I know it was the right thing for him to join my gma and others in heaven it doesn't take away the fact that it sucks to not have him HERE. My gpa died today, Veteran's day.