A list seems so much easier than stories for this past week.
So here it goes!

Awkward. Spider crawling up my arm.
Awesome. Cody waking up to me freaking out on the couch not willing to get off until he
                 finds the little bugger.
Awesome. Baby Girl and me have been having a ball playing. She likes to dance. Smart girl
                 already!
Awesome. MATERNITY PANTS! They are so much better.
                 And also actually having a belly to show off now.
Awesome. Cheez-its. They are heaven sent.
Awesome. Spending ALL day yesterday with Cody. Baby shopping (well window shopping).
                 Temple trip. Long car rides that we love so much. AND no work! :)
Awesome. Seeing MARIE yesterday. She leaves on her mission in a month and it was
                 amazing.
Awesome. Buying a crib for dirt cheap.
Awesome. Making a pie that actually turns out from fresh cherries.
Awesome. Strawberry milkshakes from hole-in-the-wall burger places.
Awesome. Family. Grandparents were busy with a TON of family and still remembered to
                  send me a birthday card. They are the best.
Awesome. Our niece breaking her arm and telling her dad is isn't broken, just a little bent.
Awesome. Having air conditioning.
Awesome. Cody.
                   Times that awesomeness by infinity.
Awesome. Mom might come visit next week! Fingers crossed.
Even more awesome, another ultrasound next week.
Awesome. Jen being due within the next two weeks!
Awesome. Cody's loves for steak. He is so willing to grill them.

Awesome. Unlimited Potatoes. Mashed potatoes whenever I am willing to make them!
Awesome. Tomatoes in the garden starting to turn colors.
Awesome. Buying ALL the Harry Potter movies :)
Awesome. Buying a season of NCIS in the same day.

MOST Awesome. Summer time!

Some days are harder than others.

These past few weeks have been more difficult than most since we moved to Burley.

It is hard to not have any one around our age.

It is hard to just have a little bit of family around and not a lot.

Being able to be with all of my siblings and parents in Alaska was such an amazing experience!

I have such an amazing family.

I have been so blessed.

We played a lot.

We read a lot.

We laughed a lot.

We ate, A LOT.

And we just had fun. A lot of fun.

On the last night I was there, I was missing Cody.

Every one was gone doing things with friends.

None of my good friends live in Alaska anymore.

It was a hard night.

I felt like I was alone.
Josh was at home and was just playing on his computer.
Right when he saw me he said let's go do something.
Lets go play.
And we did.
It wasn't anything special.
Big or grand.
But it was just right.
It was perfect.

Cody has been so amazing with this pregnancy.
For us it is a lot different because it is our first.
Last night I was having a hard time.
Both my sister's are having babies, Jess is due in November.
And my sister in law is due right around the same time that I am.
We were talking last night and I told Cody that I didn't feel like our baby would be special at all to anyone because of how many babies there were.

He hasn't really expressed excitement for her too much,
I just don't think that its hit him that it is real yet.
But he is amazing.
After our conversation last night I know that he is excited.
And that it doesn't matter if no one else to share our excitement because I now know that he is really looking forward to having her as part of our family.
He makes things better.
Always does.
It doesn't matter if no one else notices us.
Because he will notice. And he will always be there.
I couldn't ask for more.

Half way there in 3 days!

Its a.... GIRL!

This was in no way what we were expecting at this point in our lives.
We had just moved to Burley when we found out that she was already part of our family.
We don't have any savings because we paid off my student loan, we make enough to get by month to month but not enough to be able to afford insurance.
We don't even know if Burley is where we are going to be long term.
I haven't done any more than one year of school.
But here she is. 

She already has become part of our family.
I was crying on the way home from the ultrasound because I found out that she is really going to be here two weeks later than we had planned.
I was so upset!
I am not a patient person and I just want her here sooner, but of course healthy.
For a while in our lives it seemed like nothing we wanted happened.
That anything that we thought would be good for our family never seemed to work out.
And then she happened.
Unexpectedly.
We just keep telling ourselves that this is going to be the one thing that will be perfect.
That this is what we are really meant to be doing at this point in our lives.
We make choices but we are being watched over.
We are just following a path that is there, we just can't quite see it with our eyes.
And we know that is exactly what is happening.
And we have trust in the Lord that he knows what he is doing.
A full year of no birth control and no baby.
One month after I started taking it because we had a plan, I got bronchitis.
And that's when I got pregnant.
She must have just been jumping up and down saying she was ready to come be part of our family!

We couldn't be any more excited for her.
We can handle whatever comes our way.
We have so far.
Even still, December seems like forever!
Eventually I will post about my Alaska trip. I promise.

I. LOVE. to. Read.

I just finished a book called "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.
It was amazing. To say the least!

It isn't your fairy tale story but it is one that I had a really hard time putting down to get things done.
The perspective is amazing!
You don't just get one side, you get both and I absolutely love it.
Throughout the entire book I went from clenched fists, to excited fist pumps.
And a lot of laughter.

Before I started I kept asking my mother and sisters what is was about.
All they said was, "Just read it."
Don't go into expecting it to be anything.
It just simply is.
And that is what makes it such a good book.

Next book on the summer-to-read list is "The Secret Life of Bees."

Our permanent house guest
Or should I just call it a new resident?
Well either way the second bedroom is going to be in very good use come November.
Around the 28th to be more exact.

We are very excited to be able to be blessed with the opportunity to have a child.
Even though it may not have been in our plans quite yet, we know that it is the right time and couldn't be more happy.
We know that no matter what, everything will work out the way it needs to.

The hardest thing to hear at the Dr's office was the question of wanting certain testing or not.
If we wanted to know if the child has any kind of diseases or anything.
They asked for the testing to determine if we wanted to keep the baby or not.
Do people honestly get rid of their baby early on just because it will have a disability?
We said no of course.
No matter what, we are going to keep this child.
We will love it because it is ours.
And it is meant to be in our family.

BUT other than a baby...
I AM IN ALASKA!!!It has been such a blast so far.
ALL 3 CARTER GIRLS ARE HAVING BABIES!!!!
And my mom likes to let everyone know!
I am not quite showing yet even though I am 17 weeks along.
So we get fun looks.

Jenn & were able to get in on the same flight,
AND sat in 1st class!

Jess got in yesterday (Monday)

So far we have not stopped laughing.It seems like such a bittersweet experience because I know in a week I will be back home and we don't know when we will all be together again.
But for the time being we are just having a blast.

We have already eaten reindeer dogs (like hot dogs) downtown and eaten at our favorite mexican place.
Did I mention that we have been laughing, constantly?
Because we have.

And it is amazing!

We also have dinner at grandma and grandpa's tonight!
(we are taking Moose's tooth pizza),
 camping (at a cabin of course) planned,
hikning (nothing too serious),
THAI ORCHID,And just a lot more laughing and playing.

I love my family so much.
It is just amazing that no matter how much time passes that everything is still the same.
The same dynamics that is.

Jess and Jenn always quoting movies.
As much as my house is my home in Idaho,
This house just feels like home.
Especially with everyone here.
It would just be better if all the boys were here with the kids.

Especially Cody.
He keeps joking with me that he is just going to take a trip and leave me at home.
He would never actually do it though.
I think he misses me too much to want to be away from me longer.

Or maybe thats just me thinking that I don't want to be away from him.
He is such an amazing man.
Two years ago we were just getting engaged.
I still can't believe that I was lucky enough to have someone as great as him chose me.

Jess finds out next week if she is having a boy or a girl!
And we find out the week after!!!
TWO WEEKS from today we will know if we will be buying pink or blue!

We couldn't be happier.

Cody's. foot. is. dead.
At least I think so.  He hurt it a few weeks ago.
For a while he was limping pretty bad.
And then it got better. For a while.

Tonight, I really wanted to watch the Bachelorette.
He didn't.
Surprised?
So with my headphones he was watching a movie and laughing SO hard.
Then his face squints up.
And he makes this face that says, "Oh my heck! THAT HURTS!"
He looks at me and I just know that its right back to where it was.

Good thing he grew up not going to the doctor.
And thinking that everything will fix itself.

This will be fun to see how long he can pull this tough guy act for.
Any bets?!
He thinks he is so brave.
:)

OH! And ALASKA on SUNDAY!
Jenn & I are both trying to get on the same flight.
Standby.
She left me a message the other day.
It said, "If you get on and I don't I am going to kick your butt! I am so pregnant ... and deserve it!"
What in the world is she smoking?!
Of course I am more important!

I could listen to this 100 times in a row and still tear up.
And then would listen to it again.



Happy Sunday.
Hope its as nice and sunny as it is here for you.