The Results Are In....

With a measly total of 34 votes, girls beat out boys by 2 votes (18 to 16).... wish we'd had more people care to vote, but that's just the way it goes. Also I would say I don't count about 3 of those votes since Steve cheated the system ;) 

We were coy about telling people when we were actually finding out since we wouldn't be sharing it until the next day. But at 7 pm we walked into the Dr's office to see what this sweet baby would be. 

The face was actually the first thing we saw :) Made me cry. Em waved to us the first time we saw her on screen, and this time we got "looked" at

Little legs crossed.... had me worried for just a sec that we wouldn't get a peek at the "goods" ;) But low and behold... 

No mistaking! 

Y'all were wrong.... just saying!

Outside the dr.'s office after the ultrasound..... I even wore my blue shirt!


So as I mentioned before, we waited until the next day to let everyone know what we found out. My cousin Alexis (2 months older than me) is also expecting and is just a week or two behind me. She also found out what she was having the next day.... which is why we waited, so that we could do a fun reveal together. Alexis came up with the idea to fill a black garbage bag with either pink or blue balloons and release them at the same time with the family gathered around. Only problem was that Lexi's appointment was kind of late and we didn't want the reveal to be really late, so I said that I would buy the balloons after my appointment. I knew the color I needed and then just got 5 of each for Alexis. I put all of the balloons in the garbage sacks before we headed over to my grandparents, so that everything would be all ready. I put the 2 for Lexi in the storage room of the basement and told her that I had marked the one with blue balloons with a small marker mark on the knot of the tie so that she wouldn't have to try and open them to know which was which. And the rest is history...

Steve posted this picture on my Facebook wall shortly after with the caption that said, "Emarie was right!" Because just the day before when I was getting her up in the morning I had asked her if she thought she was going to have a baby brother... or, but before I could finish, she very boldly and clearly said, "I do!" So she knew it was a brother all along! 

Someone had also asked in a comment on Facebook on the above picture why we were releasing balloons, and one of my dear friends (an affected young adult of ch18 actually) stated that she thought we were doing it for my sister..... how sweet is that? And I didn't even think of that! Even more special because my cousin too has lost a sibling to a car wreck, her brother Brooks. 

Blue balloons all around! We will have 2 baby boys only a couple weeks apart! So fun, especially since we live so close to each other, and grew up together ourselves! And NO the pregnancies were not planned.... do people really realize what they are actually asking when they ask this??! And neither of us knew what were in the other's bags! So it was really fun!

And here's the video of the whole thing. And I must feel the need to defend myself here because I got so frustrated that mine didn't come out at the same time.... plus the hormones (I suggest turning the sound way down)! Haha!

I have already bought some clothes of course! Actually the first thing I bought was from some generous Kohl's cash that one of my fellow ch18 mom's sent to me (she lives in Canada and just went shopping there when they were visiting the states recently, and knew that she wouldn't use it before it expired without having one near her).... but seriously, how lucky am I?! Unfortunately they expired before we would find out, so I bought myself some maternity jeans and a maternity cami for layering (since all my regular ones are not working out too well anymore!) and then a generic layette set. But the day after we found out, I took the layette back and got one that screamed a little more boy than yellow ducks ;) 

I have since bought this little number online to save on some shipping for a dress I got for me :) It isn't here yet, but here's what it looks like... and boy am I excited for this one!

Now who says shopping for boys is no fun??!

And here's the most recent belly shot of me. Taken between 16 and 17 weeks on Father's Day

And can't go without adding a picture of the the whole reason we stopped to take pictures in the first place! 

Em and her wonderful daddy! 

Spring Dress Photo Shoot

A couple months back Steve's mom was up visiting her oldest daughter in Clinton where they live. Kristal has 2 daughters, her oldest being born just days before Em was. They went out shopping and found these absolutely darling dress-sets in all the girls sizes and without hesitation bought them! We had a hard time coordinating a good day when we were all in the same city to take pictures of the girls in these darling dresses! But we finally did it the Sunday before Memorial Day. Steve did such a great job taking and editing these pictures, and these again were taken in my grandparents (Andrews) backyard :) 

Here's the slideshow of the pictures

Remember, remember- 720p and full screen for optimum viewing ;) 

Remember the offer in this previous post too :) 

So... I guess we are "van people" now!

Other than our Ch18 peeps, the general consensus was, "never took you as van people!".... "Especially with only one kid!"

And well, I'd have to agree! I still remember distinctly, even up into the first few years of marriage I was swearing up and down that I would never own a van! 

But, that was of course before a sweet little girl graced my life! Once those we showed were able to see what we are using the van for, it's easy to see we should have gotten it a long time ago! 

Picking it up in Salt Lake

Our 2011 Town & Country

 Here's the big kicker! It fits her stroller, walker and wheelchair!

 We love this part! It has a 28 G hard drive to store music and pictures! Also a back-up cam!!

Steve decided it would be a good idea since we traded in both cars, to get a bike to ride to and from work. So right after we picked up the van, we headed straight to Sports Authority to get him a bike and helmet. And he has been such a sport and done great the last week! 

 This was him riding home yesterday

Em trying on daddy's helmet :) 

Em's favorite things about the new van-

-Finally having the space that she so craved!

-She loves, loves, loves having her own air vent right above her head! I often catch her in the built-in peek mirror just holding her hands up to it, so funny!

-She also loves the automatic sliding doors (so do we!), she thinks it just amazing that they shut "all by themselves"!

So, there you have it! We're "van people" now..... and proud of it! 

Our Photography Class

*Play song, "Sunday Morning" with this post

Steve and I took a 5 week photography class that just finished up a couple weeks ago. It was just a community course to teach those who buy DSLR cameras how to use them. We of course read our owner's manuals, see things online and we both took our share of photography courses in high school and college... but still, there is always things to learn! Especially with all the new technology coming to light!

We had assignments each week when we learned something new, they weren't required, but we got rewarded if we turned them in (by email) each week. Our instructor showed them in slideshows at the beginning of class each week.... sadly we only made it on time for one of these though... so we never really got to hear what he had to say about our pictures (it was tough getting Em to a babysitter and then to the class on time at 6:30 when Steve wouldn't get home from work until after 5:45 each time! And try to eat dinner before too!). 

All in all, we had a lot of fun, and here's a few examples of the photos we captured for each week's assignment. Oh and it is important to know that most of these photos were also edited with Photoshop, but were not turned in this way!

Week 1- Shutter Speed

Alisha's Pictures

Fast shutter. Set at 1/2000, camera was on full manual, but focus was automatic

 This is the panning shot. Shutter set at 1/25, and tracked the movement as she was pushed by her daddy. We do have an image stabilization lens and I'm not sure how well a shot like this would work without it!

Slow shutter shot. Shutter set at 15 seconds. This was taken using a tripod (not possible without the camera sitting on something stable), 2 second delay as well, so that me pushing the button didn't cause any shake. This is taken on the overpass of Carterville Road crossing over University Parkway (facing South), it was around 6 pm (before DL savings).

Steve's Pictures

Shutter set at 1/2500

Shutter set at 20 seconds

Week 2- Aperture

Alisha's Pictures

 Shallow Focus or Large Aperture. F/1.4 (largest opening that our portrait lens has, largest that most lenses go), automatic focus, automatic shutter.

Small Aperture, camera set at F/22, automatic focus and shutter, custom white balance. Taken up Provo Canyon, past Sundance, right after the checkpoint (at the point where they stop plowing in winter). 

Steve's Pictures

Shallow focus of Steve's, set at f/1.4

f/22

Week 3- Perspective

Only trick here is that I was holding a little miniature Prius in my hand right in front of the camera.


And Steve's picture

And yes that's my leg...


These were our rewards for turning in our assignments :) Between the 2 of us, I'd say it was around $50 worth of stuff for free! Almost made one class free!

That's 4 8x10 high quality prints and 2 photo books!

All in all, we had a lot of fun practicing and can't wait to go to the intermediate class! 

Happy Birthday to the Man of the House!

*Play song, "Undeniable" with this post (because Steve really likes Mat Kearney)

So Steve celebrated his.... **rd birthday this month (on the 11th specifically) *wink, wink...

We couldn't celebrate on the actual day because we were crazy busy with family functions (more on that in a following post).... so we settled on the next weekend (St. Patrick's Day actually), and we decided on Park City :) It was pretty wet and rainy that Saturday, but at least the weather was still warm. We tromped around the outlets first looking for something specific, and all we managed to get was really wet! But we still had fun together! 

Steve's birthday present was a nice external flash to go on our new camera, and a pretty nice one might I add! It can communicate with the camera without even being attached! So that means you can set it somewhere to make for a more natural look in photos, man I love technology! :) 

In case anyone cares, it is a 430 EX II. He also got some lens filters as well. So of course in true fashion, he wanted to try out his new toys.... and what better than our overly used model?? ;) 

 This is one of Utah's "fake beaches" lol

 It was starting to get pretty windy at this point, and I kept imagining that little flash (that was placed on the ground to Em's left) to blow up into the water! Thankfully it stayed put though!

This was Steve's birthday photo taken by yours truly! This was as we were waiting to go to dinner at Ruth Chris Steak House.... you may remember (if you follow me on Instagram or Facebook) me posting that one of our Chromosome 18 families had sent us some gifts... well a very generous gift card to Ruth Chris was one of those gifts! Thanks to this family once again, you guys brought tears to our eyes when we opened it and made for an extremely nice birthday dinner for Steve!

Forgot to take pictures of the food at the restaurant, but did remember to get a couple shots of the leftovers we took home! 

This was my meal, it started out as 2 petite fillets (with a blue cheese crust) and 8 grilled shrimp. Don't have a picture of Steve's, but he got a Ribeye steak and we both shared a wedge salad and some au gratin potatoes.... everything was divine! 

They actually gave us a free dessert to honor Steve's birthday, and they let you choose anything on their menu! We were so full, that we decided it would be best to choose something we could take home.... cheesecake!

And it was huge! Enough to give us four desserts (2 each)!

Here's some more pictures from dinner (this one courtesy of Em's iPhone)

 Giving daddy her card.... that she picked out... and helped sign!

 And then she insisted on giving him my card too! Good thing I love her ;)

 Steve had set them over to the side of the table and Em kept handing them to him over and over..... 

 She thought this was hilarious! 

 Coloring

More from the iPhone and Instagram

Em mid hug (she was giving them out in crazy Em fashion that night!)

And Em all bundled up in her vintage coat! Saved this coat from being thrown away forever my first year working at the preschool (when Steve and I had been married just a few months and kids were a very far off thought!), so it got put away in the basement, surfaced again when we moved to Provo and I was barely pregnant, didn't know if I was having a girl or boy yet and didn't know how long it would be to fit this child.... so it got put away again! Sadly it didn't resurface until we barely moved again and lucky enough it barely fits Em (it is a 2T), at least she got to wear it in our crazy start to spring! Funny enough, when I posted a picture of her in it on FB, one of the teachers recognized it as belonging to one of her girls! So I was right in thinking that it was late 70's- early 80's! Very cool and I hope another cute girl will get to wear it someday! (don't get any ideas though, I'm NOT pregnant!)

Anyway, that's it for this year's birthday! We love you Steve and are glad we get to celebrate you! 

The Day O' Love!

*Play song, "Be Mine" for this post

First off, a little Valentine message from Em ;)

And if you don't know by now.... change the view from 320p to 720 HD and full screen for best viewing!

I never really liked Valentine's Day growing up. When I was younger, it was a day of embarrassment.... you know? Wanting to give a Valentine to somebody you had a crush on without risking rejection or humiliation! In high school it was even worse, because even if you had a boyfriend... well, let's just say that high school boys are not always smart at remembering or doing things right! 

Thanks to my husband though, he changed my feelings on the day. He has always been good to spoil and surprise me each year :) And it isn't always elaborate, but it is always special (like last year)! 

But this year he did not fail to impress, and I have to say, it was a bit elaborate :)

He had asked a few weeks ago if he thought I could get a babysitter for Em on V-day, which was a bit surprising since we don't usually like to go out on Valentine's because it's always crazy! But he assured me that it was already taken care of and we wouldn't have to worry about a long wait..... hmmm. The next day he told me that he'd made arrangements for Em and that I would have to wait for the day to find out what we were doing..... A few days before though, I at least asked him what I should wear, since a girl's got to be prepared! He told me that I should probably dress nice like I was going to a wedding reception.... I guess I should have seen this as a hint, but I didn't! 

So, finally the day came, and I had worked tirelessly ;) to put this together the night before

Trail of hearts outside the bedroom door (first thing he saw when he got up that morning)

 Leading all the way to the table where his present sat... it was a new iPod dock/clock radio since our old one is now "slow" (at least 9 mins slow!) and won't charge the newer iPods

I cut out 8 hearts to represent the amount of Valentine's Steve and I have shared as a married couple. I also wrote on each eight reasons that I love him.... of course I love him for a million and one, but this was fun! And no, this isn't something I found on Pinterest, but something I thought up all by myself that night when I looked at all the wrapping paper I would be throwing away ;) 

I also made breakfast that morning, cinnamon roll pancakes, source here (though my modification would be to add 1-2 tablespoons of milk to the cinnamon mixture if you don't want to explode your poor honey bear trying to squeeze it out!) and bacon! It was pretty good! Oh yeah, and I also finally defrosted the ice maker that night (hadn't done it since the power had been cut on our fridge while we were in Sedona), and trust me this was a good gift!

And then we went about our regular weekly schedule, school, work, etc. And after we returned home, I commenced getting ready, and while that was happening Steve informed me that I was getting some FB notifications and brought the phone into me.... and I saw this:

With the caption, "How do you feel about prime rib and shrimp cocktail?"

This dinner was held at a reception center in Payson.... so that's why there was need for dressing like going to a wedding ;) The grounds were gorgeous, just wish it had been light enough to get some pictures.... next time though! ;) The food was to die for! And we met some nice people! That was actually the funny part- when we got there and sat at our table (we were a little early), Steve was realizing we'd have to share a table with people we didn't know (they were set for 8, so 4 couples).... those of you that don't know him real well... well, he's a little shy, quite the opposite of me! But hey, you know what they say? Opposites attract! But we did have fun getting to know the other couples we sat with and it was an all around pleasant evening! The 12 year old boy playing the piano was a wonder! He normally plays for the Chef's Table in Orem and will be touring in Europe in the summer..... WOW!

Picture of us at dinner.... not the best, but that's what happens when you take a self picture!

It was a five course dinner- first a really good salad and rolls, then shrimp cocktail, then the 2 course entree, raspberry chicken and prime rib with glazed baby carrots and garlic mashed potatoes. And of course an amazing dessert plate! 4 different desserts to share with your love.... most of which I don't know the name of! Too much to finish, so we were able to bring it home and we're still working on the tuxedo cake with chocolate gnash! 

This cake started out huge!

When we came home, we finished off the night watching the latest in the Twilight saga, Breaking Dawn.... part 1 (Steve was thrilled ;) It was a wonderfully perfect evening! Thanks to Steve's brother Cory for watching Em for us!

Ah and Em, I should also mention that she as well makes Valentine's a lot more fun for me! We had a lot of fun making her Valentine's for school this year thanks to Pinterest!

Though I did opt to do them a little differently since the ones shown on Pinterest were 4x6 prints and I thought that might look a bit tacky for her to take Valentines that would about 3x's the size of her classmates! So I used the photo site from Walmart and chose their kid's valentine cut aparts and ended up paying $0.28 for 3.... not much more than your run of the mill box of Valentine's you'd get from the store, and SOo much cuter! What do you think? 

I sure know one little guy really loved them! 

Yup, that would be Em's alleged boyfriend, "J". He almost gave her her first kiss that day too! And his mom assured me that she's all he talks about and even says he loves her.... ah, puppy love ;) Gotta admit, didn't expect this for my girl.... at least not yet! But he is a cutie, just might have to talk with him about kissing! 

Here's a few more pictures from Em's Valentine party at school

 Giving her Valentine gift to one of her teachers, Miss Kirsten. Em picked out these darling boxes of chocolate truffles herself!

 My cute love bug all ready for her portfolio picture!

 Em with a few of the girlies she's really good friends with (all of them entered preschool around the same time last year and stayed in the same class.... it's been good for all of them!). 

Em getting ready to receive some Valentines!

At home, before Steve and I left to go out, we gave Em her Valentine gift.... which was some furniture for her dollhouse she got from my dad for Christmas! And boy, the look on her face when I brought them out of their hiding place was just priceless! Wish I'd gotten a picture... but we got pictures later that night before we put her to bed :)

Full dollhouse now! I was able to score the kitchen with Em's birthday money from my grandpa and grandma Wilde.... then she got the bathroom, parent's room and nursery for Valentine's (we're still on the hunt for the Family Room, so if you see one let me know please!), but you gotta have furniture for a dollhouse, right?! Especially for teaching some very important skills! We play with it together everyday, embedding vocabulary, play skills, and life skills while we do! I bet Em is so glad to have a developmental specialist as her mom ;) 

I should also mention that she kinda, maybe got this for Valentine's day as well.... wasn't really meant to be a Valentine present, but it came in the mail on V-Day, and isn't it SOo cute?? For those of you who don't know, it is a cuter version of the infinity backpack for her g-tube gear- so it holds the bag of formula, the pump and all the tubing, and is so much more stylish than the ones you can get through the insurance! If you want one, go here to their facebook page :) 

And Thursday night her grandma (Steve's mom) embroidered her name on it while she watched her for us so we could go to our photography class (more on that later)!

Isn't she awesome?? She watches our kid for us AND embroiders the backpack, and she even modified a cuter pillowcase for her wedge! Thanks grandma Peters!

And just for fun, here's a little timeline of Em on all the Valentine's that she's been around for :)

2008

A little less than 2 months old

2009

Just shy of 14 months

2010

2 years

2011

3 years

And 2012

4 years (yes that is the same shirt and shoes from last year, new skirt though! Gotta take advantage when your child doesn't grow like others!)

Hope everyone else had a lovely Valentine's day!