Hardware Ranch and a Belly Pic!

Ok so I haven't posted in a few weeks but to make up for that I've got some pictures so it's all good! At the beginning of the month some friends of ours from Boise, Toby and Sandra, came to visit for a weekend! We had a blast! We went sledding, ate tons of food, watched movies, and played games! One of the high lights was going to the Hardware Ranch to see the elk! Here are some pics from that adventure. Sadly we didn't get any pics of Toby and Sandra...I know it doesn't make any sense!Here is some of the beautiful scenery we encountered. This is the valley where the ranch is!
Here is Kenyon and I! He was very cold but lucky for me I have a baby in the front keeping me nice and warm!Here are some of the elk! I always wonder what they're thinking when a big horse drawn sled full of people comes by them every few minutes...I'm going to go out on a limb and say they don't think we're nearly as cool as they are!Here's another one of my dear husband and I! I was getting mad at him because both of his smiles looked like he was less than thrilled to be there! I kept saying "Look happy to be my husband!"
Look at this guy! I don't have any insightful things to say about him but he looks regal to me...majestic!
Once in the car Kenyon proved to me that he wasn't a cyborg and gave me a big excited smile! I knew he loves me!
Here are 2 pics of me rocking my baby bump! I took them today which is why I'm in sweats and looking a bit lack luster but hey at leasts its a pic! According to the doctor's office I'm 24 weeks, 3 days pregnant but according to the ticker at the top of the blog I'm 24 weeks, 5 days. Either way I'm inching my way to the 3rd trimester and will only get bigger from here!
Baby Petersen is doing well! At his 20 week ultrasound they found a little bit of fluid in his kidney which at first really got me worried but the doctor thinks its not anything to worry about and we get to have another ultrasound sometime in March to check on him! It'll be so nice to see him again before he's born! Thanks for reading all the way down to here! Perhaps I'll start being more dilligent about posting pics but for the record it's been in the last like 2 weeks that I've really started looking preggo! Kenyon commented the other night that I had "exploded". If I didn't know the person he really was I would have punched him for calling my fat but I know he merely meant Baby Petersen was making his little 1 pound presence known! That's all for now!

2011

Well its a new year and I find myself to be pretty excited yet nervous for the events to come. I wanted to start this post with listing major things that happened in 2010:

January: got pregnant
February: took out my endowments in the Jordan River Temple and had a great experience
March: devastated by loss of baby. Although this was one of the toughest things myself and Kenyon had ever been through, we learned a lot and grew closer as a couple. At first I couldn't see it but blessings did come from the loss.
May: began working in Ketchikan, AK. (an experience and blogpost all in itself); also celebrated our 1 year anniversary with Kenyon!
June: finally hit my 20's!
September: got pregnant!
October: returned to Utah and visited AZ; Baby Petersen got its due date! May 10th 2011
November: traveled the country to visit my family. Kenyon and I became even closer during this time because we talked about anything and everything on the long drive!
December: found out Baby Petersen is a boy and has a 100% clean bill of health, moved into our new apartment, and celebrated Christmas with Kenyon's family for the 1st time since we've been together

We've had a pretty busy year filled with ups and downs but overall it was an amazing learning experience. Kenyon and I grew as a couple and I think are making steps towards being ready for our little man to come in May. There were times throughout the year when I couldn't see the blessings in my life but looking back there were many. God does things on his time and in his way which may not be the most convinient for us at the time but He knows that in the long run it is the best.

I'm looking forward to 2011. This year I'll have Baby Petersen, celebrate 2 years of marriage to my best friend and turn 21. I'm ready to take on motherhood and hopefully succeed! I know there will be challenges with what comes this year but with the Lord's help and that of Kenyon and my family, I'll get through them. Thanks for all those who have read my blog and stayed interested! Happy New Year to all!

Stay tuned for my next post that will hopefully include a bumpy bump and ultrasound pic!

It's a...

Well Wednesday we had our 20 week ultrasound and discovered we're having a BOY! I'm so excited! I totally knew from the beginning that he was a boy! All of the old wives tales and gender calender predictors were correct! He wasn't shy at all about showing his man parts! We feel very blessed that we've come this far in the pregnancy and that he's healthy! He's got a brain (thank goodness) and his heart is great and I couldn't be happier! We celebrated Christmas morning by opening presents with my mom and stepdad Lee via webcam which was great and then we'll have dinner tonight with the fam. here in Riverton and celebrate my brother-in-laws b-day!

I love Christmas and the sense of family that we get. I'm grateful for all of mine and the friends I have as well. I'm grateful that Christ was born (not actually in December but whatevs) and gave the greatest sacrifice for us. I hope Kenyon and I can teach our little boy the true meaning of Christmas throughout the years and the amazing gift Christ was and gave us. Merry Christmas to all!

Travels and The Bump!

Ok I'm sorry its taken so long but I didn't want to do a post per day so here is a picture post of our travels and a picture of my emerging belly!

As a little outline: we started in Denver, CO, then to Newton, IL to stay with my Nana for 3 weeks until right after Thanksgiving. We then traveled to Jackson, MS to see my Grandma on my mom's side, then to New Orleans, LA to see my dad and that side of the family, then to Phoenix for our niece's baby blessing. This is the documentation!

This is a baby white squirrel...why is it cool you ask: because you can only find them naturally thriving in the wild in a few areas of the world and Olney, IL is one of them!
Here is my handsome husband hanging out in the woods in IL.

Kenyon and I at that same park!

Our Thanksgiving feast! I made sure to take a nausea pill early in the day so I can enjoy it all...I made the green bean casserole!
This is my Nana and Pepaw and their dog Bubbles! We had the pleasure of staying with them for 3 weeks!

This is my Grandma Jean who we stayed with in Mississippi for a few nights. (My mom's mother)

Here is my dad and me! He made us dinner while we were there and it was quite delicious!

Its me and my childhood pet Roxie! I think she's the cutest thing!...Kenyon thinks she's annoying.

These next 4 are from when we were in New Orleans. The delicious fried treat seen below are called beignets...they're divine! The other 2 are from this clown sir that accosted us and made us get pictures with him!

These next 2 are from a park my parents used to take me to when we lived in Abita Springs, LA. It was fun to see it again!

If my teeth look green its because I had a delicious green spearmint snowball whilst in New Orleans a few hours before!

A nice sunset.

We also went through Texas and saw some family there and to Phoenix but I'll post those pictures at a later date! Thanks for reading this far! Last here is a picture of my "bump". I would have been 16 weeks 6 days! I'll be 18 weeks tomorrow and can feel the little one everyday. Kenyon and I have been so blessed and I'm thankful we've had this experience to spend time with family!

Its not much but its getting bigger by the week!

Hopefully our next post will be the big baby gender post!

Things to Come...

I realize that there's been a big lack of posting and pictures from me but have no fear! Once we get to Arizona I plan to make a very big picture post that shows the travels and my emerging baby bump! Thanks for still checking in from time to time, for those of you who do!

The Past Few Weeks (W/Pictures!)

Ok so I finally have some pictures and some exciting things to blog about! First off I'll start with our Halloween festivities! The weekend before Halloween we went with my sister-in-law and her husband and 2 boys to the Pumpkin Walk in Logan...we had a blast and here are some pics!

Here is our nephew Isaac! He and his brother Alex couldn't get enough of putting their faces through the little picture holes!

Here is little Alex! He's a character! It was fun hanging out with these guys!

Next for Halloween we went to Layton for Trunk or Treats at Kenyon's brother's and sister's wards with their families and a few others came up! Here is Kenyon's brother and his wife and their 2 cute little girls!

We carved pumpkins that night with some friends and for my first carving job I think I did pretty well! This top one was mine and the one below is Kenyon's!

We were Salt and Pepper Shakers but we don't have a picture of that yet! I also made these little hot dog mummies for fun and they turned out great! This is what they looked like:

The cheese on the bottom went a little crazy but I felt quite proud of my little project, especially 'cause I'm not what some people like to call crafty!

Lastly, as most know Kenyon and I have embarked on quite the trip! We're currently in Newton, IL enjoying my Nana's hospitality. We left Logan on Thursday the 4th of this month and hit up Denver for a few nights then drove the next day and spent the night in Kansas City, MO and we arrived here in Newton on Sunday! It's been a long trip and it'll be nice to relax for a while! These next few are pics of the trip!

A beautiful sunset at one of the over looks in Denver. This is a gorgeous state!

A shot of the mountains...awesome!
Lastly we went to Independence, MO and were hoping to go to the visitors center but it didn't open for another hour and we needed to jet so instead we listen to the Nashville Tribute to Joseph Smith and took a picture of the crazy looking RLDS temple...I think I like our better ;) .

I realize there are no pictures of Kenyon or I but have no fear we will take some whilst in Newton and on our adventures! On a final note we had our 2nd ultrasound and the baby is doing great! We didn't get an ultrasound but we did hear the heart beat and its at 152 which is awesome! We find out, as my dad puts it "if this apple has a stem" (gender) on December 22nd so we're pretty pumped! Should be an awesome Christmas gift! If you've read this far on my post, thanks for listening and being interested and I promise more pictures in the coming weeks!

Things Happening in Our Life!

Well there won't be any pictures in this one either 'cause I keep forgetting to bust out the camera but I've got some fun things to post about!

This past week we spent time in Arizona with Kenyon's brother's family! It was a blast! We took our nephew Brandon with us and had lots of fun adventures! Brian and Beth (Brian is Kenyon's older brother) have a 3 week old baby named Jessie who is adorable and I got to help out a lot with her! This was great because I don't have a lot of experience with little babies but Beth was awesome and let me hold her and bath her and what not! We also went to the AZ state fair which would have been fun except it was BOILING HOT! Kenyon wants to move down there but I just can't live there with that heat! I'm a cool weather kind of girl! It was nice to relax and at one point we went to a pool and went to dinner a few times. All in all it was an awesome trip and we wish we could have stayed longer!

The pregnancy is going really well as far as I know! This week the baby is the size of a fig! It's not that big but I'm still excited about it! The morning/all day sickness has gotten a little worse but only a few more weeks and I'll be through the first trimester and perhaps it'll go away?...wishful thinking! Our next appointment will be at 14 weeks and is November 4th so it'll be nice to see our litte creature again!

We're leaving for IL shortly after the appointment to visit my Nana for the month of November. It should be a ton of fun! I promise I will start making an effort to bring my camera and take pictures! Thanks for listening!

P.S I totally love October and am in need of someone to watch scary movies with!