17 weeks

Nothing too big yet, just looks like I ate a big lunch, but I can feel a difference.  It's growing slowly!

Gender Reveal Party!

After the ultrasound Tuesday morning we invited over close friends for the gender reveal.  We invited: Sam, Casie, Jeff and Angie and Elsie, and Merri and Rich and family.   I haven’t ever really thrown a party so I was a bit nervous about making it fun, and it is extra difficult when you work late.  But I feel like pulled it off with A LOT of help from my amazing hubby. 

We made stove-top chicken and a delicious oven cooked broccoli for dinner.  With “skinny” pink and blue frosted cupcakes, chocolate dipped strawberries and pretzels with pink and blue sprinkles, pink lemonade, pink strawberry whoppers, and blue and white York peppermint candies.  We also provided pink or blue necklaces for guests to wear and asked the guests to dress in pink or blue depending on if they were “team he” or “team she”.  It was LOTS of fun.  It was also very exciting to show off the great pictures of our baby we had taken that morning at the ultrasound!  (I loved saying, “would you like to see pictures of our baby?”)

 Our Sammy

 Miss Casie and Elsie

 Jeff and Angie (Jeff says he didn't put on the blue shirt on purpose - but we know subconsciously he was routing team BOY)

 Let's do this already!!

The Yummy cupcakes I forgot to put out :(  

We proudly displayed the envelope that would reveal boy or girl.  I thought everyone would eat first but we couldn’t wait.  So I called up my mom on one phone and she was at the store, so I had to call up my dad on the hubby’s phone. 

My honey stood by me as we opened the envelope and pulled out a picture and paper that read, “CONGRATULATIONS, it’s a BOY.”  We were THRILLED and in awe.  Tears came to my eyes and it immediately felt so real and wonderful.  We are SO blessed. 

Thanks to all of my amazing friends and family for your love and excitement.  We LOVE YOU!!    We also got the cutest gift from my talented friend Angie.  She MADE these adorable little blocks for Baby D to play with.  They are amazing!

I enjoyed taking special cupcakes into work too on Thursday.

I filled the center with blue cake so they would have to bite into the cupcake to find out BOY OR GIRL.  It was a lot of fun!

 Jenny and Leah - SURPRISE!  haha their faces are awesome!

 Louise and Brit!  Ready...

 The CUPCAKE (I haven't been too much of a baker so I am proud ;)

Aint he ADORABLE!  Hope our lil baby D looks just like his Daddy!

What will it be? A He or a She?

Tuesday May 1, 2012

Today I went for my 2^nd visit with the Amazing Dr. Richard Wilson.  He is the best man and Dr. anyone could ask for.  And I never thought I’d say that about any OB/GYN - but it's the truth. 

First we had an ultrasound today and it was PHENOMENAL.  First thing we did was hear the beautiful heartbeat and it was normal and strong at 140 bpm.  We immediately saw the beautiful spine and then we looked at the brain.  We saw the cerebellum  and both hemispheres.  We saw Baby D wave its hand and bat at the umbilical cord, kick its feet, open its mouth wide and do all sorts of wiggles. 

Baby D kept his feet together and stayed all balled up most of the time.  It was amazing to see the entire baby on the screen.  The ultrasound tech said that next time we won’t be able to see the entire baby.  She asked if we wanted to know the gender and we said yes but if she would please put it in an envelope for us.  She was happy to oblige.  She told us to look away if we didn’t want to see, but we told her that if we saw - we saw, sadly I didn’t see ANYTHING I could interpret.  Which makes me a little nervous since at the nuchal translucency ultrasound they said 80% it is a boy, but I didn’t see any boy parts J Now I am really wondering what you are baby D!  Later she tried to get a better picture of the boy or girl parts and we didn’t peek then, just to be safe.  Now I’m thinking maybe I should’ve.

The tech said that the placenta is in the back and the baby’s heart looks AMAZING.  She also said the baby was a “Show off”.  J  We looked at the baby’s lips and nose (no cleft pallet) and even saw the baby open up his/her mouth wide (from a profile view) It was amazing.  Justin loved seeing the baby kick and move it’s legs.  It really was amazing to see because we were watching it’s entire body move.  Baby D is absolutely perfect and we feel SO SO BLESSED.  What a miracle.

After I had cleaned up she called me back to get another picture she had forgotten and the baby had moved into a much more difficult to see position.  Seems Baby D was ready for a morning nap.  Good thing he/she cooperated for the first photo shoot!  WE LOVE YOU BABY D! 

Then I talked with Dr. Wilson who told me he didn't know the gender either.  He is so excited with us! He said everything is looking great!  Dr. Wilson ordered the ultrasound early (typically they do them at 20 weeks) but he wanted to check my cervix sooner than that because I actually have 2 cervixes.  We don't know right now if this will cause any complications so we are just keeping an eye on it.  But as of now Dr. W informs me that EVERYTHING looks boring and normal just how we want it too.  Oh except for those 2 cervixes but we already knew about that.   Other than telling me to stay hydrated he said thing are GOOD!  Another miracle to us!  

Just look at that precious little hand waving to us, and that perfectly shaped head.  Oh my goodness we can't wait to meet you baby!

I just wanted to keep some stats for future reference:  

How far along?  17 weeks 6 days (according to my calculations) Dr. Wilson says 18 w 3 d

Total weight gain/loss: 2 lbs gained since last Dr. appointment a month ago (and overall).  But my weight changes so much on a daily basis it's hard to tell. I should be measuring my waist cause that is what is changing the most.    

Maternity clothes? I wear T-shirts to work and my jeans are low-rise so I haven’t had to switch to anything yet.  But it is getting HOT outside and I need some shorts and/or capris asap!  Things are starting to get tighter though and I definitely have a little pooch sticking out. 

Stretch marks? Not yet.  I’m using oil and lotion frequently but who knows if that is preventing.

Sleep: Eh…sleep isn’t what it used to be for me.  I use more pillows and as soon as Justin gets up in the morning I steal both of his.  I wake up more frequently and still try to slip on my stomach/side but it isn’t comfortable.  And boy early in the AM I sure have to go to the bathroom, but I try to hold it until I have to get up. 

Best moment this week: Seeing the baby on the ultrasound and preparing for the gender party with my amazing friends. 

Miss Anything? Not yet, there have been a few times I’ve wanted tuna and a sip of Justins Mtn Dew but I’m hanging in there J

Movement: Nothing yet L  I lay still in bed every night waiting to feel ANYTHING.  We sure saw baby moving today on the ultrasound though!

Food cravings: PIZZA, carbs, anything unhealthy it seems like.  Broccoli too. 

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nope, not since I got the awful stomach flu last Sunday when I was supposed to speak in church.  Being really sick when the AC is broken and it’s 103 outside is NO BUENO!  It is funny though how the things I loved BEFORE I was pregnant I haven't wanted or eaten at all, i.e. Chipotle, chicken, pretzels, and cereal (that's right I said CEREAL!!  Crazy right??)

Have you started to show yet: Yep, don’t look pregnant though, just chubby. It is neat to see how the view has changed from when I lay down at night.  There is definitely a bump now.

Gender: We find out TONIGHT!

Labor Signs: Nope

Belly Button in or out? In, very very in.  Justin and I are making bets on this.  He thinks it’ll pop out eventually but my belly button is deep so I don’t think it’ll ever happen.

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Feeling baby D MOVE!!! :)

Bread and self worth

WARNING: the following was documented so that I can refer back to this and remember things from today. It may not make a lot of sense to others. My thoughts seem to jump around and they don't flow like a nice written piece of work should. Read at your own risk. :)

I must admit that I can be a tad sensitive at times. I have very strong emotions that can easily get out of hand if I let them. Today I have worked hard to control my thoughts and emotions so I don't get too hard on myself. Like that saying, I am trying to turn my lemons to lemonade.

Many of my friends are so very talented. I look at other girls and see their amazing abilities and compare myself. I am so very blessed to have such amazing family and friends surrounding me. But why do I always compare myself to them?

Today started off perfectly. I slept in, and woke up to my sweet hubby. Well for Christmas/birthday my mother in law gave me a Nutri-mill wheat grinder and a Bosch mixer. I KNOW! I'm so spoiled/blessed. For a long while now I have been aching to make homemade bread, but have not known how to grind the wheat. Well a few weekends back my awesome friend (who is also pregnant and expecting a girl, I am SO BEYOND THRILLED FOR HER!) Angie accompanied me to a class at Shar's on how to make homemade bread with a Nurti-mill and Bosch. Sweet Ang has even been to this class multiple times but still happily went with me - told you I'm blessed with the best! So I went, learned how, and got excited to try.

After finally getting the needed ingredients I was ready to bake today. I read the user manual and brushed up on my notes from the bread class and I thought I was ready. I dove in and started my quest for healthy homemade wheat bread, from scratch.

Well as things got going, and time ticked by, I started to run out of time. Today was my nephew Luke's birthday party. (Happy birthday monkey! He really is just the cutest lil guy, I can't believe he is one. Sure love you!) We needed to get him a gift and I still needed to get ready. Along my cooking quest, however, I had made some massive messes. (to say I'm clumsy is an understatement) Wheat had been spilled on the floor, gotten fresh ground flour everywhere, etc. I tried to tidy up while mixing and baking but this batch of bread needed my full attention :) The party started at 3 and it was already 2! How had it taken me so much longer than it had taken the pro's at Shars...I mean seriously it took me triple or more what it took them. Either way...I wasn't done. To make a long story shorter, the bread was finally mixed and I covered it to rise while I hurriedly got ready. I had to be ready for the party and then dinner/fireside right after.

When the bread was done rising I realized there just wasn't time to bake it unless I was going to be late. Well, I didn't want to be late so I decided to cover it and put it in the fridge. Don't try this at home folks! I started rushing and rushing always makes me stress and more clumsy which = disaster. Poor poor Justin putting up with me.

We made it to the party, then off to dinner and a fireside. Dinner was great and the company better. I am so grateful Justin went with me. We went to Brio, a Tuscan grill in the San Tan Mall. We were joined by my dear adorable friend, Casie Upstill, my principal Brother Cort Monroe, a retired professor of education from BYU - Sister Marie Tuttle, and a few others that are also members of the BYU alumni. After dinner we went to a fireside by sister Tuttle. It was so inspiring to me. I feel very grateful for the opportunity I had to attend and be uplifted with my cutie by me.

(side note) Many may not understand, but being LDS and being single until I was 26 was hard for me. I had dreamed of being married and starting a family and to see all of your friends and family married while I couldn't even get a date was a challenge. When I finally met Justin my dreams honestly came true. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank Heavenly Father profusely for leading me to him. I still can't believe I am married and that this is all real, someone pinch me! Well, one of the first things that impressed me about Sister Marie Tuttle was that she was single but accomplished and so knowledgeable and HAPPY. To be LDS and single is HARD but she was happy and having fun. I admired this about her. (if you are reading this you may wonder why I am writing about this, but this blogging is meant to be a journal to me and I want to write what I feel impressed to write and what is important to me, you don't have to read this if you don't find it interesting :)

I want to talk a bit about some of the things Sister Tuttle spoke on that really inspired me and made me think. First, a strong quote told to her by Robert Patterson, "Just remember partnership doesn't always mean getting it your way."

She used this quote to talk about democracy and teaching, but my first thought turned to my marriage. How true this is and will always be. Justin and I are in a partnership and things won't always go my way. I need to be respectful and a good listener and value his opinion. This will make me a better person to learn to respectfully disagree and come to a resolution despite our differences. I could go on and on about the thoughts this small quote gave me. I need to post this somewhere so I can refer to it often. I think it will really help me be a better person.

She also told us that we are living the American dream. I am educated, I can read and write, and because of this I need to help serve those that aren't as fortunate. How blessed am I?? Like I mentioned before I have a very bad habit of comparing myself to others and getting down on myself. I often look at those with great minds and educations and think, if only I were that brilliant. STOP THAT NAT! I am blessed, I have a good mind, I know how to read and write! THAT IS A BLESSING! I am so very grateful! I may not be a great mathematician, I may not know all there is to know about current events, or have read all of the great books, but I am educated and I am blessed. I am so grateful for this.

Marie also mentioned that when the enemy comes, teachers seem to be the ones that circle the wagons and then shoot inwards. We attack each other. Why is this? What good does it do? I know that this isn't just teachers either. I think that families do this at times, friends, etc. Why do we shoot at those on the same team? Think about it? We should defend and support our comrades.
Sister Tuttle also said that talk radio and others that are always criticizing and bashing public education are 99% of the time those that have NO first hand knowledge of the public education system. Public education is doing wonderful things. It is great and if we are involved we can make it even better. We need to have first hand knowledge of our schools and we need to learn and be as educated as possible. Remembering to invite all to the table to discuss - so that we can learn from the opposing sides.

"Good programs need good critics." This hit me hard as well. I could substitute other words for programs too...good people need good critics. To be a better teacher, better wife, better sister, better anything I need to look at my weaknesses and try to continually improve and work to be better. I also need to be able to take it from others. Family and loved ones should be able to let me know when I am making a mistake so that I can become better.

This week my amazing friend Casie and I went to the District office and ran into a fellow teacher. She told us some of the things going on at the DO and we became very discouraged. It was all negative and very sad. Casie and I talked about it and said that ignorance can be bliss and even said how hearing these things made consider leaving the district. Well, things may not be going perfectly, but we don't have the whole truth on the matter. We are blessed however to work for a good good man, our principal Mr. Cort Monroe and we have a great team of preschool teachers on our site. We are doing our best and maybe we can help make our district a better place by being positive and educating others about our special education preschool program. (Not many understand what we do and the importance of early intervention) When someone wants to bash the district, I can simply point out the good that I know of going on where I am. Not in a rude or superior way, but just to help them see the light.

She quoted Walt Whitman, "Have you learned the lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you? Have you not learned great lessons from those who braced themselves against you, and disputed passage with you?" WOW - powerful! I have learned so much from those who have disputed passage with me, how would I ever grow if I was always right? I wouldn't - I have to learn from my mistakes and learn from others who may disagree with me.

She emphasized discussing disagreements in a civil way. Have good debates, but invite everyone to the table and discuss it in a civil way and learn to listen respectfully to all sides. I can still disagree, but REMEMBER - partnership doesn't always mean getting it your way. I need to search out truth and stand for righteousness.

John Goodlad was someone Marie quoted. She told us that she teaches her students at the Y this acronym: S.A.N.E. Stewardship, access to knowledge, nurturing pedagogy, and en-culturing kids in democracy. Each week the Y dept of ed students report on how they are applying these areas in their teaching experience. I want to start asking myself this same question in hopes of becoming a better teacher. It is somewhat different since I teach prek but I can still evaluate myself each week in hopes of becoming a better person/teacher.

We discussed that there is a lot less adult supervision of the youth today. This is the 1st generation that has unlimited access to unfiltered media. AH SCARY. This is the best of times, this is the worst of times. How true that is.

Marie told about Miami's 10 most wanted. That is - the 10 most at risk high school students in the Miami school district. The district decided to do an experiment that involved every single adult in the district - they were going to work TOGETHER. As a team, every adult would ONLY say positive or neutral comments to these 10 most wanted students (unless they were injuring themselves or others). NO matter what. After some time had passed 7 out of 10 of these students were off the list - and replaced with new students and their grades were better etc. There is SO MUCH POWER in being positive and in caring and in nurturing others.

I was inspired and uplifted. I left this fireside wanting to be a better teacher, wife, friend, and member of the Church of Jesus Christ. I wanted to be POSITIVE. I want to be a happy person that others want to be around. I want to look for the good and always look on the bright side...

Now back to the bread…well after this wonderful evening, I think Satan wanted to have some fun with me. (Haha…we’ll just see who has the last laugh. )

We returned home to find the bread in the fridge and it had risen to double it’s original size or more! OOO, I thought it would be so yummy. I figured it just had to be fine, right? So I preheated the oven and stuck it in. After the time had passed the 4 lovely loaves I made looked beautiful and they smelled amazing. I had tried to add cinnamon chips and chopped apple slices to 2 of the 5 loaves to make cinnamon apple bread, I was so excited. I took out the loaves and stuck in the thermometer…the inside was supposed to be 200, but wait, my thermometer must be broken cause it wasn't movin.

Haha, nope, it wasn’t the thermometers problem. The loaves were still dough inside. After 25 minutes of baking the top was hard and the inside nice and gooey. Just what I didn’t want. I just DON’T get it. Why do I have so many issues in the kitchen! I just can’t get it right! (Replace that negative thought - I have made some things…either way...) I try so hard to be a domestic goddess but it just isn’t workin out like I’d planned. Ok, so the bread I’d spent hours working on, taking classes on, slaving over, being late to my nephews bday party, was ruined. I GIVE UP. decided to take a shower! That way I could hide the tears:)

While in the shower thinking negatively I decided: This IS my chance! My chance to practice being positive! My chance to be the kind of person I was just telling myself I wanted to be. I am a child of God. I have DIVINE and INFINITE WORTH. Does my worth come from making homemade bread? I would like to make yummy things for my hard working hubby and my VT sisters and on and on but it didn’t work this time. Now I will just have another funny story about my humble beginnings in the kitchen…let me tell you about my first time trying to make sloppy joes … oh my! Or that time I tried to make Justin biscuits and gravy… my goodness! Well now I can also tell you about the 1st time I ground my own flour to make bread… it’s a funny story!
Ok so my self worth doesn’t come from if I can decorate, cook, have intellectual conversations about this or that, scrapbook, or make homemade bread. (Repeat this as needed) I don’t have to be good at what everyone else is good at. I know that many people love me in spite of my many flaws, including my Father in Heaven. That is all that matters and next time I will learn from my goof ups and try again. If you want some homemade bread in the meantime, call my mother in law :)

Lemonade anyone?? Tee hee hee!

Roomie RoAd TrIp 2010!

Let me begin by saying that I haven't been to Disney Land since I was 7 years old. So much has changed there since then. Well 2 of my roommates hold annual passes and we all wanted to do something fun for our 3 day weekend (MLK day or civil rights day) so we decided to take a roommie road trip. Yee haw! The gals decided to coordinate and wear my wedding colors: pink, brown, and green. Awww, aint they sweet!!

Here's the Diamond house girlies... This is the beginning of day # 2 at our fancy hotel. I love these hot mamas!

We packed up Casie's car and headed to Anahiem at 4AM saturday. We got there at a great time and I couldn't have been more excited! We approached the ticket booths and I gave them my ID and told them I wanted a 2day park hopper pass, and the sweet lady asked me if I had recently had a birthday. I told her it was in December (like she had seen on my ID) but I said, I did just get engaged though!! :P Get this, then she gave me a HUGE discount...I offered her some chocolate covered pretzels my roommate had packed for us, as a THANK YOU...but she politely refused. I just couldn't believe my luck...this place really is the happiest place on earth!!! Then my roommate got me a "JUST ENGAGED" pin and then everyone at the park told me congratulations...I loved it!! Then all of my roomies got a "Celebrating" pin ... it was just too fun!

Ok so we took lots of pictures and I wanted to post some of them...

This was my FIRST ride at DL! INDIANA JONES! Warning...Whitney makes lots of "classic" faces! I loved this ride! There is one part where a boulder is coming at your jeep and you think it is going to hit you, I totally ducked and smacked my head on the bar in front. I'm such a dork!

This is the "Tower of Terror" Whit is in the back with her hand up, then me, then Angie. You can't see very well but my hair was all over my face but I wouldn't let go for my life to move it! My feet were up on the seat in front of me and I linked arms with my roomies...lots of screaming! This ride just drops you straight down, then shoots you up and you do it again, but your inside and it's pitch black. Good times!

Here is my Whitney. I love her to death! She is a Disney Land-a-holic. She comes here ALL the TIME and she knows all of it's secrets! She was the perfect one to take me back!

Well I didn't want to miss ONE disney land experience so when I saw some disney characters I MADE my roommates meet them with me! Here is STITCH! He didn't like my pin...unlike all the other DL employees he made that spitting sound and game me a thumbs down, then continued to maul me... Justin's got some competition!

Here's my roommates and I on SPACE MOUNTAIN. I had never been on this one. It was FABULOUS! I LOVED IT! MORE PLEASE!!!!!

Me and the gals.

I have NEVER been on an upside down rollercoaster, or any rollercoaster for that matter. I have always been too chicken. I didn't think I would ever do it but I wanted to be brave for - my roommates. So, I saw California Screamin and thought that I could handle it. It looked safe with the bars that come down over your head. Angie told me that her parents do it and they don't do roller coasters...so of course if they could do it, I could do it!

Well I had NO IDEA that this rollercoaster went upside down until I was racing 60MPH and it was too late. I went to grab the handle bars for dear life and I scrached my face. Haha, after my roommates told me I was actually bleeding. I swear I really am accident prone.

Man I totally posed for that picture! Don't let it fool you, I was freaked out! I loved it!

Now here is a safer pltace. I don't even remember what it's called but you can act and sing and it puts your voice to the disney movie. it was very cool!

The uncool part was this thing at the beginning where you answer some questions and it tells you what Disney character you are most like. I was so excited. If you know me you know that my family has called me "little princess" since I was...well, little. I couldn't wait to see if I was Belle or Aurora or cinderella...anyway I took the stupid quiz and lets just say I was none of the previously mentioned princesses. DUMB game! :P

Here we are in front of my CASTLE! Isn't it pretty at sunset! Whit was getting her hot chocolate.

Angie and I on Thunder Mtn RR. THis was another one of my favorites. On our 2nd day there it was raining all day, because of this, there were NO LINES for this ride so we just rode it over and over! Heck yeah!

This was the start of day # 2, we are taking the tram to the entrance of Disney land. My roommates and I die laughing when we see this picture, because there is some creep-o smiling in the back...ewww!

Toy Story ride in 3-d. A long line but worth the wait! So fun!

I know, we are total divas!

I already found my prince! YAY!

Heading for Disney land from the parking lot, we are READY to get this party started!!!

Here's our before picture: (below)

and after: (below)This was the end of day 2. We were wet and a little tired from a FULL Disney day in the rain...but come on, it's disney land!
After ESPN zone in downtown disney, we took the monorail back to DL. We were wet and cold, but it wasn't over yet!

We had so much fun! We also saw Pierce Brosnan and Frank Mir. THat was seriously very cool!! I hadn't really had many celebrity sighting before!

Thanks for an unforgettable trip gals! I SURE LOVE YA!

Wedding thoughts - opinions welcomed

Well I really have no clue how to plan a wedding. But I have been dreaming of this time FOREVER! So
I have been thinking about a Trillion things some of which include:
Colors. I was debating between muted pastels to go along with the VINTAGE feel...I love vintage. These colors are hard to explain but would include ivory or cream, a dingy purple and pink, golds and silvers too. BUT I also LOVE pink, brown, and green. Justin voted for pink, brown and green so pink brown and green it is! YAY!

This is kinda the colors scheme I was thinking. What do YOU think??



As for the cake I LOVE this:
minus the bows. But with my colored flowers and details. SO?? Thoughts??

Ok these are just a few of my thoughts. I will try to post more as soon as I get a free second!
I don't know what I was thinking starting a blog. I'm so busy trying to plan a wedding, work, write in my journal, work out, etc...whew! So fun! Ok off to bed. I have to go back to work in the morning. (Sad face!)

Engaged...Yep I'm EnGaGeD!!

I always thought I would have at least a small idea that I was going to be proposed to on the day that it would happen. However, I was COMPLETELY SURPRISED! So, let me start from the beginning.

Well I had tried hinting to Justin for a long time that he needed to ask my dad to marry me. But, being a boy, I realized I would have to spell it out for him. One night I just straight up said, "Justin, you know you have to ask my dad to marry me right?" To which he responded that he didn't know that and I could tell he was a little surprised and worried by the thought. Well at the beginning of December my dad came up to the valley to buy himself a brand new fancy TV :) Justin knew he was coming up and the night before he asked me if we could meet with my dad so that he could ask him. I was so SHOCKED and EXCITED that Justin wanted to talk to him and that I got to be in on it!!! Personally I think Justin was terrified by the idea and needed my moral support, but either way he wanted to do it!! I called my dad and asked him what he was doing when he came up here. He told me, "Well I'm buying my TV.." YEah dad, thanks I knew that :) So I told him that Justin wanted to talk to him. I could hear my dad start smiling over the phone. (He is the cutest man alive by the way...and don't worry Justin is the sexiest ;o) ) My dad sounded excited and told me he would be happy to and that he'd give us a call after he picked up the tv.

Justin and I decided we would all go out to dinner. We met my parents at Charlestons. When we arrived my dad was the only one at the table. My mother didn't re-appear until 10 minutes (or more) later to which she told me she was hiding out in the bathroom so that we could give our boys some alone time. (Haha, I had to laugh!! Next time maybe you should TELL me about your plans, if you actually want it to work out a certain -way silly mom! )

Well we ate our entire meal and Justin didn't say one word! As we finished eating my Dad stopped trying to make conversation so that Justin would have a chance to ask. I was starting to worry that Justin would be to nervous and wouldn't do it. I even nugged him once I think. Then right before they brought the check Justin said, "I think you know why Natalie and I wanted to talk to you. Natalie and I have been dating for about a year now and we have really gotten to know each other well. We have taken our time and become best friends and I would like to ask for your blessing to marry her."

There was a pause. I panicked. What was my dad doing? Didn't he know that poor Justin was petrified! DAD...SPEAK! :) As I look at my dad I see his hands folded on his tummy and a HUGE proud smile across his face. You'd think that he was almost engaged...jk. It was precious! After a pause that seemed to take forever...right before I almost jumped in...my dad responded, "Well have you decided what you are doing with school yet?"

What is this?? I didn't know my dad was going to question the poor boy. :) Justin and my dad talked a bit about what he wants to do with his life and he asked Justin if he liked me and Justin said, "I more than like her, I love her." Awwww! So SWEET! Melt my heart why dontchya! My dad then said, "Well Justin, we'd love to keep getting to know you and hope you'll come down and visit us over Christmas, and we'd love to give you our blessing." YAY! Then it was a celebration! I couldn't believe it. It seemed a garuntee now that he had to propose :)

Then we all went to Bahama bucks and met up with 2 sisters Merri and her family and Katie and Kade. Good times.

Well now I knew that a proposal had to be coming soon right?! But when? Well like I said before I always thought I'd have at least a small idea that it was coming.

Well December 20, Justin's brother Matthew and his family came to Gilbert. We went over to visit and it was my first time metting them. Justin had promised to take me to see the Christmas lights at the temple (MY favorite thing that I'd been bugging him about since the beginning of Dec) and after visiting with his family he told me we could go see the lights. Well I didn't want to take him away from his family and brother he hadn't seen in a year, and I was enjoying visiting too, so I told him we could just go for FHE the next night. His parents said that they were planning on going too so we could just go together.

The next night he picked me up after work and took me to the temple where we met up with his parents, his younger sister Janae, and his brother Matthew, his wife Carrie, and their 6 children We tried to get there early before the performances started but I guess this night there was 2 performances so one started early. It was very crowded. We walked around and I was completely surprised when we ran into Justin's other brother Gavin and his wife Debbie and their daughter Leah. It was such a coincidence! :o) We walked over to the NW corner by the wise men and camels when Justin pulled out his camera and asked his mom to take a picture of us. Once again I was completely in AWE! Justin THOUGHT to bring his camera? How thoughtful and unlike him...but I liked it!! I went to put my purse down in the grass and I remember thinking that I felt a little cheesy posing in front of the marjority of his family, but as I turned around from putting my purse down, Justin got down on one knee and said, "Natalie Thornburg, will you marry me?" I covered my mouth and looked at his large family and started saying, "Oh my gosh!" like a broken record! I was to shocked to cry like I always thought I would and so surprised I started shaking. I wanted to think of something cute to say like "Of course" or "HECK YEAH" or "You betchya" or something but the only word that came was, "Yes!!" He reached for my hand and started to put the ring on. I thought he would notice that my CTR ring was already there, meaning that it was my right hand...but he didn't notice (he was shaking too) so I told him it was the wrong hand. hee hee. He switched hands and put the gorgeous thing on me and after that it is all a blur!!

I couldn't stop smiling! I didn't notice if ANYONE else was watching! I was in the clouds! It was an amazing amazing AMAZING experience that I thought was really fun to share with his family.

Later that night Katie came to the temple and saw us and we called my entire family to share that good news.

One fun side note was that after his family left Justin leaned against the split rail fence that guarded the nativity and I leaned against him giving him a hug when Justin fell, just like someone in the movies falling backwards off a boat. It was hysterical! He landed right on his tush and I landed on top of him. I died laughing and I know he will kill me if he ever reads this! But I just had to share. It was hilarious! I love that cute boy!

Somehow that adorable boy managed to keep that huge ring box hidden up his left sleeve for over 20 minutes. This picture was taken moments after it happened!

Later that night Justin was a bit hungry so we went to Paradise Bakery, one of our favorite places. We got in line and of course I was still beaming, and loved a chance to stare at my ring in the light. The server kept staring at me like I was crazy when I finally just blurted out that we had JUST gotten engaged! She was so fun and she got all excited with me! She asked to see the ring and she oooooed and awwwwwed with me. She asked how it happened and it was just too fun. After we sat at our table she came over again and brought us a giant cookie that said congratulations. She told me she was just so excited for us and she gave me a big hug. It was SO much fun and another fun addition to the day! I told Justin we should keep going around so I could show off the ring...and my new fiance...to see what other free stuff we could get. :) JK...kinda ;)

Then we went back to my place where Merri stopped by and celebrated with us for a few and then I waited to see how long it would take my roommate Whitney to notice. She has been living with me since our first date and we are great friends! After about 20 minutes of her not noticing I started to be very obvious about it. She finally noticed and we screamed and jumped and down just like dorky 10 yr olds. It was AWESOME! Justin's poor ears. Anyway it was an amazing night!

I love you Justin!