THE WALKERS
Robbie. Kara. Ivy. Adelynn.
To all those who "predicted" GIRL...you're right! We're so excited! Here's the revealing picture, although we saw a much clearer picture at the doctor's office - it's definately a girl! Right after we left the appoinment, we went to the store and picked out her first little onesie. We thought it was so fitting! :) Love you guys!
Robbie calls this one "unleashing the beast" :)
This is me at 19 weeks. Due date is still set to May 8th. We went to the doctor today to find out what sex we were having...and it was so much fun!!!! And as soon as we got home, I felt the baby move like CRAZY for 2 minutes straight! And it just confirmed that it was the baby that I felt Friday night! It was amazing! I'm sure it will start to get irritating when it's happening at night when I'm trying to go to bed...but right now I just can't get enough. SO CUTE! Here's a couple pics from the ultrasound too...we will unveil it's identity for real in just a bit!
I think I felt the baby move for the first time!! I was sitting there, at yet another one of Rick's basketball games, enjoying the atmosphere when the pep band started playing really loud. And - you know when they start playing a really loud upbeat tune - you kind of feel the rhythm of the drums inside your body? Well, that's what I was feeling when all of a sudden...I felt a very distinct *different* kind of beat. I felt a tiny punch right below my belly button. It was just once, and it didn't happen again the rest of the night, but I KNOW that was not the pep band. :) So, at first, I was naturally confused. And I must have made Robbie confused because after I told him, he just looked at me like, "are you sure?" I thought that my first time feeling the baby was supposed to be like a flutter or a tickle in my stomach. But there was no flutter, or tickle...just a punch. But I'm 19 weeks, so that sounds right, right? Am I crazy? I have been trying to pay extra close attention since to see if it will happen again. If it doesn't for a few days, does that mean it wasn't the baby? **sigh** Maybe I should just learn to tap into my motherly instincts that obviously haven't come in yet. :) Or maybe I should just realize they already have and just learn to trust them. :) Either way - it was an amazing feeling, and I can't wait to feel some more!!
Game is on the line... 4 seconds left...tie game...in overtime...Rick goes up for the shot and... oh no! Rick is fouled and goes to the line... What happens?!?! Watch the video. WARNING: not for the faint-hearted or those prone to panic attacks. Don't worry those who are members of "Rick-Nation" get the happy ending.
This sweet little one is the newest edition to our family. (No..not mine...I'm only 4.5 months) :) Sweet Aliya Ann was born yesterday at 4:23pm in North Carolina to Jacob and Geri Chandler. (Robbie's sister) She was 8lbs. 7oz and 21 inches long. Geri decided to give birth to her "natural" this time with no pain meds. She did it! She ended up walking to the recovery room, and she told Robbie it wasn't "that bad". Go Geri!!! We can't wait to meet her! We love you Aliya!
This is just the fam hanging out at Rick's basketball game, enjoying my hotdog dipped in cheese that I was craving. :) We had a lot of fun...especially with the way the game ended. (Check out the video)
Robbie's birthday fell on "Black Friday" this year. But because our family has the tradition of doing the shopping all day thing, we celebrated his birthday the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Happy Bithday, sweetheart!! I love you so much!
I guess Robbie has only one birthday face. :)
Wow!
I have not meant to let this much time pass by without blogging. Looks like I kind of fell of the blog train for a minute. But I have lots to post. So, keep checking in. One of these days I'll have a little more time!
Happy Birthday Denise-y Gease-y!!
"There is still no cure for the common birthday." :) We Love you!!
Happy Birthday Mom Walker!!! We love you!!!
I obviously made this cake for your birthday and then Robbie ate it all before I had a chance to give it to you. :) (We all know I can't do that...) But Happy Birthday anyway!! You know what they say...
"Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people
who have the most live the longest."
- Larry Lorenzoni -
So, it was Robbie's turn to plan our date this week - and he took me on the sweetest date! He knew how excitd I was about Chirstmas (because I started playing Christmas music Nov 1st) so he titled our date "Everything Christmas". First, we went to dinner and made our Christmas lists. Then he took me to Target where we bought a Christmas decoration. (my choice) Next, we went and looked at Christmas lights - which consisted of a strand of lights on a random tree by a random gas station. Then, we listened to Chirstmas music in the car while we drank some yummy hot cocoa and finished it off with snuggling and watching a Christmas movie. How cute is that?!?!?!?! Just wanted to share my cute husband with you for a second. :)
So, apparently, if someone tags you, it doesn't work to just ignore it and not do it. :) Now although I would argue that this will be a quick and uninteresting read, inquiring minds want to know. So here it goes. (This is really hard...)
1. Any time someone starts singing a song out loud, I have to jump in and finish the song with them or without them. Although most of the time it's without them because they think I'm stealing their thunder - but I'm totally NOT! There's just something in my brain when I hear a song that says, "sing, Sing, SING!" My best friend from High School would always yell, "my song!" when I started singing with her. (Mistie -you used to get mad at me for the same thing, remember?) I'm sorry world! I just can't help it!
2. I could possibly be one of the only LDS women who does not scrapbook in any way. All my pictures are sitting in boxes. I CAN scrapbook, I just don't. Because I absolutely do not like doing it. It can become a super expensive hobby, you always feel like your pages aren't cute enough, and you always feel like you're behind because it takes so much time! What's fun about that? I've never had any interest in it at all. And although this doesn't break my heart now - I'm sure it will break my heart later down the road when I have kids.
3. So, I don't really like surprises. And this frustrates my husband very much because the "kind" of surprises I don't like are very specific. For example: If Robbie is taking me on a date and he doesn't tell me what we are doing on the date as a surprise - that's okay. As long as he tells me what I need to wear, like a heavy coat, or boots, or a dress. But, if he tells me we are going to a movie and he throws me a surprise party instead or something...NOT okay. On my sixteenth birthday, I was supposed to go hang out with my best friend Lauryl, but instead, Clint Jarvis showed up to take me on my first date. I cried and cried and didn't want to go. Mom finally convinced me to go - and I did have fun - but I was mad about it. See, I think it's all about preparing myself. I need to do better about being spontaneous. But if you were to tell me that tomorrow I need to be spontaneous, no problem. Because I knew a day in advance. :)
4. Every morning when I wake up, no matter what time it is, even if I'm just getting up to go to the bathroom, I have to look out the window. I peek through the blinds and note if it's sunny or windy or rainy, and how many clouds are in the sky. I have no idea what the motivation is behind this, it's just something that I HAVE to do. Robbie always asks, "Has the second coming come yet?" ***ha ha very funy***
5. I keep a "Happy list". This is a list of things that make me laugh or make me happy or are otherwise amusing. I keep it in a notebook, and not only does it make me happy to write in it, it makes me happy to go back through it and read what I've already written. Here is an excerpt..."secret doors and passageways, overstuffed sandwiches leaving it impossible for you to take a bite, foods that look juicy, an iron tortilla press, selling lemonade from a card table on the sidewalk, the impossible encounters that live in the imagination and somehow become a reality, holding candy up to the cinema screen in order to see it's color, conversations on paper, being the first person to look at pictures just developed, belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, an empty parking space right up front, paranormal phenomenon, new shoes, recipe card libraries, inside jokes..."
6. I am fascinated with all of the secrets in the world. Like ghosts, the Lochness Monster, Bigfoot, Area 51, the Abominable Snowman, Aliens, Dinosaurs, what causes Deja Vu! Why must there be so many mysteries! I could watch "World Mysteries" on the History Channel all day long. Man, do I have a lot of questions for Heavenly Father. (Maybe that's why I keep looking out the window. I'm thinking maybe TODAY a mystery will reveal itself to me.) :)
P.S. I tag Denise six times! Everyone else has been tagged...
So, there have been many who have asked for a pregnancy update...so I decided to deliver!! Things have been great! I love being pregnant. Besides the backaches and the heartburn and the nausea and the weight gain...it's great! :) I have been battling an ear infection for about 2 weeks now, which makes my back hurt because I con only sleep on on side. But that's my only ailment. We had a doctors appointment last week that went great. Our due date got moved up to May 8th - which makes me, in this picture, about 14 weeks. Our little one had the hiccups during the ultrasound which was probably the cutest thing I've ever seen. It looked like it was on a trampoline. I couldn't stop laughing, which kept messing up the picture. Anyway - it was fun. We find out if it's a boy or a girl on December 10th -- so we'll give another update then. :)
These are our pumpkin creations! I know, I know...we get really extreme when it comes to pumpkins and you've never seen anything so beautiful and you wonder where all our talent comes from. Well, no worries. You're not the only one who feels that way. :) Happy Halloween!
So, where in the world was Robbie and Kara this week? We went to Anaheim to visit Robbie's aunt and uncle and it was a blast. Here's a few highlights of our trip...
Doing good...
Oh no....Here it comes...
No, it's not real. :) But Robbie was generously acting out what I wanted to do. But it never quite happened. :) I hate flying.
I don't know if you can see it, but we flew over a few California fires. Scary.
Beautiful! Wish you were here!
So much shopping, so little time. (And so little things that fit my belly!) :)
I got a massive ear infection right before we left, and it would flare up so bad at night. But oh, the wonderful feeling of hot washclothes on my aching ears. :)
In one particular parking garage, we realized that the building right next to us was a genuine sweat factory!!!! I thought the U.S. got rid of all of that around the 1950's!! Does anybody's kids need a job? I know where they can get one...
Robbie and I decided how we were going to do our baby's hair if it was a boy...
This picture is significant because this is my don't take my picture face. So, after Robbie ignored it and took my picture, I took the camera away from him. And I forgot I had the camera...so we don't have any more pictures. :) oops.
And then to top it all off, we got to go see the Tonight Show with Jay Leno!!! Yeah, Reese Witherspoon was totally there!!! It pretty much rocked. Word of advice when visiting an NBC studio...wear a sweater! They keep it sooooooo cold in there!!! :)
All in all it was a really good trip. :) It was a much needed break. Thank you to all who looked after our life while we were gone!!!
I guess I just needed to laugh today because this video also cracks me up. You know you want to watch it...who doesn't like to laugh? Don't you just love it when your kid has discovered a new word and you have no idea where they learned it? If you do then watch this...good times...
I saw this on my nephew Connor's blog, and it really made me laugh, so I thought I would pass on the laughter. And I know that my baby is still growing in my tummy...but this song makes me not be able to wait until I have a billion kids running around the house, and I can sing this song at the top of my lungs too. :) Enjoy! The Mom Song...
Robbie and I have taken turns being sick the last few days. My kitchen is a mess, our bed hasn't been made in days and I'm pretty sure Robbie looks like a mountain man. :) However, I added more songs on my Ipod, did some online Christmas shopping, and watched the sun come up and go down from my bed. Of course that was all in between naps and groans like we were going to die. Poor Robbie had a temperature of 102. And because I know you're all concerned -- I think the worst is behind us. Just wanted to thank mom-in-law for the calming orange juice and food, and Marina for helping Robbie teach our classes, and mom for all the medical advice, and dad-in-law and Tyson for the blessing. HUGE HUGS AND KISSES TO YOU! Thank you Thank you Thank you. I've decided that family is the best cure for the flu.
Happy day! We're pregnant! After a year of trying, we studied a lot and finally passed the test that so many people have passed! :) It was a complete surprise because the day after we found out, I was supposed to go get some blood work done to start a new fertility drug. We were so surprised that we wouldn't let ourselves believe it until an actual doctor told us it was true. We've had so much fun telling everyone, and now we are sending it out there into cyberspace to tell the world! We were going to wait until we got into the second trimester, but we are so excited we just can't wait! We're about 8 weeks along so far. Hooray! Thank you to everyone who has supported us so much, and given us many words of comfort. But don't stop praying for us just yet! We still need your prayers that this baby will be a keeper! :)
I had asked mom and Mistie to go out to lunch with me "just because". Of course it was to tell them the big news. :) As soon as I told them, all three of us burst into tears. We made such a spectacle, I can't imagine what people around us were thinking. Even our waitress came over and said, "some customers asked me if I had said anything to upset you!" Mom told her that they were happy tears because I was pregnant. 5 minutes later she brought out a big sundae with three spoons. :) How sweet was that?
I'm sure only a few people will have full appreciation for this, but yesterday I had a Norman Rockwell moment. A huge incredible storm hit our house the other day, (you know how much I love storms) and so I sat down in front of the screen door so that I wouldn't get hit by tree branches, but could still feel the wind and smell the rain. Then, Robbie comes out with a bowl of popcorn and hot tamales!!! How sweet is that?!?!?! We watched the storm eating popcorn. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I got a letter from my best friend Lauryl in the mail!!! It couldn't have been more perfect if I had planned it. I'm sure even Norman Rockwell himself was there in spirit definatley approving of such a classic moment. :)
Isn't my husband amazing? The other day he just sits down at the piano with our ipod in his ears to "learn some new songs". How many people do you know that can learn new piano songs by just listening to how they sound? **I KNOW!!!** 20 minutes after he sat down, he had another song to add to his repertoire. You rock Robbie!
During scripture study today, as I was looking up a certain C.S. Lewis quote to add as a scripture insert, I came across a different C.S. Lewis quote which I thouroughly enjoyed and wanted to share.
"It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." -C.S. Lewis
I often feel as though I am still in my shell. And if I stay there, I will definately go bad. I suppose there is no living the gospel half-way. It's all or nothing. We must either break free of our shell and fly, or stay as we are and go bad. (Another appropraite C.S. Lewis quote: "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.")
Lord, give me the courage to spread my wings and fly, that I might live thy gospel to it's fullest and not waste that beautiful gift!
So -- there is this great spot up past Garden Valley to go camping. It's called Pine Flats, and it's right by a natural hot spring. We went camping there with our friends Greg and Stephanie, and we had a blast. At one point Robbie decided to swim across the Payette River. This is him on the other side trying to get up the courage to swim back. He was probably over there, looking sad and discouraged, for about 45 min. But finally, we were reunited. :)
We also decided to go fishing while we were there. It was Robbie's FIRST TIME EVER, so he obviously needed a little instruction. :) But we finally caught one, and Robbie was able to gut it all by himself.
