Noah and his Deedle Di

I went to wake Noah up for school today and this is what I found. Diamond was in heaven - she loves to cuddle and sleep with people and she is not allowed in mine and Dave's bed. Noah does not usually want her with him because he says she keeps him awake (he would sleep thru an earthquake). Maybe with the threat of a new baby, he's decided that he better have whatever family members he can get on his side. I hope this continues because it makes me smile and I think it's good for both of them. Noah said he slept all night, by the way.

Still just pretendig

I still feel like I am just pretending to be pregnant. We aren't really going to have a tiny newborn in our house again. I have not felt any movement yet, so I just feel like I am getting fat and pretending it's a baby. I remember so little about when I was pregnant with Noah so I have been doing a lot of reading. Some friends put together a surprise luncheon for me which was wonderful. But, again, it felt sort of surreal. Like it was not for me but someone else and I was there to celebrate with them.

Back row: Lisa, Denise, Blanca, Traden, Barb
Front row: Josie, Monica, Erica, Kimber




I just can't believe that I will be in a delivery room again. It's so strange to have diapers, a stroller and baby clothes lying around the house. I guess the sonogram picture should be proof that it's for real, but again, it could be someone elses. I hope it begins to feel real soon or I'm in for a huge shock in about 5 months!

Big News

We are going to have a baby! Noah took this picture of me - I am about 4 months along. It is due February 28th, 2009. I am getting more and more excited as the time goes, but am feeling this pregnancy much more than Noah's. I'm sure my age has alot to do with that. I feel too old to be doing this again.
Reality has not totally sunk in yet. I kind of feel like we are just pretending to try it out. We had been debating whether to have more children or not for a very long time and I am very glad that the decision has been finally made for us and we can get the question off our brains.
Noah says he wants to remain an only child, but at the same time, is always quite concerned that I am doing the right things for the baby.
It has been such a long time that we are learning it all over again. Many of the rules have changed in 8 years also. I would appreciate any tips anyone might know.

The cutest!

My wonderful, crazy mother did it again. Every year she takes the three cousins in to get a professional picture made. I think this years turned out the cutest! Here is just one. Thank you mom - I love them.

more Maui

This is the veiw from the backyard of the house - it's no wonder we spent a lot of time there.
Dave and Noah wading into the river in an area of rainforest.
Looking out over the black sand beach at a state park near Hana.

We spent one day on the big island, Hawaii, touring the volcanoes. The volcanic gas coming up from behind grandma, grandpa and Noah is from the vent hole created from an explosion of lava this past March.

Noah body surfing at the beach in Ka'anapoli

This is where the actual lava is flowing out of Mount Maouna Loa and landing in the sea. The hot lava hitting the cool water creates a geyser of rock, gas, steam and ash.

We did several other wonderful things in Hawaii, but have no record of them. As you know, I claim to be a scrapbooker but am not good at taking pictures - go figure. Well, my camera battery ran out of power about mid-way through our vacation and I had not had the forsight to pack it's charger. What a great scrapbook this vacation is going to make!

Anyway, we went snorkeling with fish and giant sea turtles, ate lots of wonderful tropical fruit - even picked our own pineapple on the plantation, went to a amazing aquarium, of course did some shopping, rode a speed boat that went 60 mph and lots of other activities. I did not want to leave paradise but was a little tired of eating fish and had to get home for the start of school. Although I do not have pictures, I will never forget the absolutely incredible place that Hawaii is.

12 days of paradise

We were all recently treated to a wonderful vacation on Maui, Hawaii for almost two weeks. My parents, Dave's parents, Dave, Noah and I all stayed in a gorgeous house in Lanai. Here are pictures of some the activities we enjoyed while there.

On our way












Pop made us pina coladas almost daily.



















We swam, played badmitton, hung out in the hot tub, louged in the hammock, soaked in the sun, and made smores in the fire pit all overlooking the ocean in the back yard of the house.

Dave, Noah and Grandma went parasailing. They rose 800 feet into the air!

Time for Two

In July, my mother was wonderful enough to take Noah for a few days so that Dave and I could go somewhere alone together. No dogs, children or church. Unbelieveable! We decided to go to Sedona, AZ because we had heard so much about what a gorgeous place it is and its not too far - about 4 hours from Tucson. It was fabulous. We spent the time wandering around the rocks and taking in the scenery, lounging in bed in front of the tv (a real treat because we don't have a tv in the bedroom), and getting pampered with a massage. We even got to have a great Indian meal, something we do not get to do here in Tucson, especially with Noah. He is very sour on Indian food because we dragged him to Inda Oven in Logan at least twice a week. Even two years later, he still cringes at the mention of it. Dave and I savored every bite and gorged ourselves on it in Sedona. The time together was much needed, we should definitely do it again in another few years! We always say we need to do it more often, but life takes over and we don't make it to happen. Many, many thanks to my mom for forcing the issue. Parents do know best. I would highly recommend this as a destination for anyone in the area. We will be back for sure, maybe with Noah this time.

Here is some local wildlife