Because who doesn't want to grab handfuls of pumpkin guts?

Last night (yeah go ahead, read that twice...LAST NIGHT. Look who's all caught up!!?!) we carved pumpkins with some new friends in the new ward (the Smiths, Waldrips, and Wheatleys), and we had loads of fun putting tiny pumpkin knives and gut scoopers to good use as we tried our hand at a little halloween creativity. Okay, I can't take any credit for mine. I got it out of the pattern book. But I didn't trace the pattern at least! I was a sucker for the simplicity of an emoticon on a pumpkin. Whoever came up with it was super clever, although that someone was not me.

Jon's is a baby head (you can totally tell by the curl of hair at the top and the awesome binky at the mouth) that clearly took much more ingenuity than mine. His will be put to good use with his halloween costume at work tomorrow, which we'll be sure to post photos of later. Jon and I had the weirdest pumpkins that had guts that came out looking like spaghetti or silly string....have you ever even seen that before? It was totally foreign to me, and made carving a lot more difficult, but we mastered it by the end of the night.

Thanks to Abby and Matt for inviting us over! It was so much fun and we'll have to do something again soon!

(Below is our pumpkin family, pre-carving party, including pumpkins at appropriate sizes for yet-to-be-named baby Smith, Jon, Lincoln and Melissa. If you know Lincoln, our turtle, his pumpkin looks just like him!)

Making use of the time and space I have

I was pretty excited to see that my stomach has now reached the ideal shape for the shelf that I was told it could become. As long as he doesn't go kicking while I'm making use of his body in mine, it's a guaranteed success!

39 weeks.

a.k.a.

8 months + 3 weeks.

a.k.a.

any day now.


Status: I'm feeling great! A little uncomfortable every now and then, especially if I'm not careful with my back and bending the way I'm supposed to, or if he goes and gets all up in my ribs, but overall, the baby and I are both still kicking. My doctor said progress has been made, but since I think that's weird to go sharing that "progress" on a blog, suffice it to say he's not here yet. She thinks when things start going they'll go quickly. Baby Smith and I are both feeling a little crowded at this point I reckon, but in the meantime, it's been great to get things done I never could have had he come earlier. Like...I don't know, catching up on a 3 month blog deficit?? And about three hundred other things I want to accomplish every day. But stay tuned...he's bound to show up sometime in the near future! Names are still in the air with the running 5 finalists...

The newest addition to our family

1 federal economic stimulus +
1 hefty tax return +
6 mos. of research, price checking, & building up the guts to spend that kind of $ +
2.5 wks. until the due date of our first child +
encouragement of friends and family =

our new baby.

No, not that baby. He's still on hold and happy waiting right where he is, tucked all tight in his water home for now. But nonetheless a large investment, something we have to be super careful with, something we're tempted to get distracted by daily and want to play with nonstop, and something really new and exciting. We present our long awaited splurge:


















Good things to come. (If not we're gonna feel really dumb for spending all that money). :) Stay tuned for upcoming photoshoots that we're dying to take this thing on!

Racking up the date nights while we can!

As I've mentioned in other posts, Jon promised me when we were engaged that he would always date his wife. That being said, we are well aware that while our 'dating' won't necessarily be ending any day now (when our baby makes his wonderful entry into our lives), it will be going through a big change. We're guessing that it's going to call for a lot of creativity, flexibility, and improvision in the near future, and we're totally okay with that.

But in the meantime, we're taking full advantage of our Friday nights without that added need for said creativity, flexibility, and improvision. Since Jon's been off his schedule that stole our Fridays from us, we've been to dinner, gone on bike rides, gone to a local high school football game, and most recently, gone miniature golfing out in the middle of nowhere (past Chantilly, if that means anything). I have LOVED having these evenings out and away with Jon to talk, have fun, and just be together alone. The football game and miniature golfing were probably my favorite.


















The football game we went to was at a high school in our neighborhood just 10 block away or so, and it just happened to be their homecoming game. It was the most entertaining thing and totally worth the small admission. For starters, the home team was absolutely terrible--couldn't pass, catch, run, or score. But they sure got lucky that night and fate was on their side, because they pulled off a slim 21-20 win in the end, and a girl from our ward that goes there said that it was a miracle because they haven't won "in like 10 years". We were totally excited for them when they pulled off small lucky plays and managed to win when the opposing team missed a field goal at the end.

Worse than the team though, I have to say, was the concession food. We didn't have time to eat before we came, so we were left victims of the microwaved pizza, hot dogs, and nachos they were selling. Man, I do not miss high school food and their lukewarm rubbery-ness. It was all part of our entertaining evening, that's for sure.

Also noteworthy was the fact that I had just taken off my wedding ring that day because I noticed the tiniest bit of swelling, and someone months ago had made me promise to take it off at any sign of swelling so I wouldn't have to get it cut off. It didn't take much convincing after that! So there we were, at a high school football game, pregnant, and looking unwed. I kind of felt like I fit in. Just kidding!! But their clothes and their interactions were so hilarious to watch. We got to see verything from the half time parade and the flag girls in the band, to the crowning of homecoming royalty and teenagers walking around in tiny little sundresses in 40 degree weather. The whole scene was both funny and fascinating to us--Jon and I couldn't get enough of how hard they were all trying, and how relieved we are to be long done with the melodrama of high school. Mostly I just loved watching the game with Jon, which brought up all sorts of funny stories from our high school years and gave us the chance to learn more about each other "back then". I had so much fun, even though we froze!


































Miniature golfing was a 'surprise date' from Jon that he had been recommended by one of his coworkers. This was hands down the best miniature golf course we'd ever seen! It was called Perils of the Lost Jungle, but it was more like Indiana Jones. I think they even played Indiana Jones music frequently on the course. Neither of us got a hole in one, but we both had some serious close calls. It was pretty tricky in the dark because the holes weren't lit really well (on purpose, to scare you from the headhunters, killer bees, volcanic mist, etc.), but our natural mini golf skills came out and we clearly kicked the course's trash (except for that one time I kept missing the hole by 1/100" and it took me 6 tries...).

We were seriously the only people on the golf course since the temperatures are dropping, but we bundled up and had so much fun. And for the record, I was totally not scared. Except for when the poison frogs started shooting water at us out of nowhere and got us all wet. That was not cool. Anyway, we'd highly recommend it if any of you want an awesome miniature golf place to go!

Thanks, Jon for the dates! Here's to many more to come, even if they do require all the flexibility, creativity and improvising that comes with throwing kids in the mix...bring it on!

How cute is this?

Thank you Julie for the amazing elephant for baby Smith that you MADE by hand that we absolutely love....

and Thank you Jorge & Laila (from Jon's work) for the perfect "firsts" box that matches the elephant flawlessly, without even knowing it.

It was meant to be. :)

Baby party from Rachel (Oct. 18, 2008)

My cute friend Rachel Allen threw a combined baby party for me and Meredith Carlton (another girl from my old ward that is due 3 days after me with a little girl), and it was so fun! We all kind of wanted something unconventional and a little more laid back, so we decided to make it more of an outdoor party and less of a shower, and leave it open for spouses to come too. It was nice because it was super low key. Everyone just showed up when they could, had some 'kid themed' food (fruit roll-ups, mac 'n cheese, pb&j, oreos, juice boxes, rice crispie treats, gogurts, you name it, Rachel had it there), drew on the sidewalk with sidewalk chalk, and drew notes to us with crayons. It was perfect, and the weather held out just long enough for us to not get too cold. :) Thanks sooo much Rach for all the time and work that went into the party, you're so great! I loved it!! We had a blast!

My last days as a working woman!--the lengthy synopsis (Oct. 17, 2008)

My last week at work was so weird, just because I've never left a job to just, you know, stop working. It didn't feel real at all. Originally I had planned on working clear up until the week before our baby's due date, but a couple months ago I was talking to my mom, and she recommended strongly that I leave a couple weeks before that to relax, get things done at home, and avoid having the baby at the office. :) Jon also really thought I should be done sooner so I could feel more prepared for the baby and supported my choice to leave as soon as I thought necessary.

After realizing my to-do list at home was growing miles by the day and I was never getting any of it done after work, I was feeling completely not ready for the baby to come unless I could catch up at least a little at home. On top of that, the commute was getting harder on my body, and as much as I loved the chance to walk every day to and from the metro and my office, I wasn't loving the sharp pangs that shot down my leg if the baby decided to roll his head over one of my nerves (I only know that's what's happening because I asked the doctor, and she told me that's common after the baby "drops"). I'm pretty sure if anyone ever sees my reaction to one of said pangs, they're going to think I'm in labor. Don't worry, I'm not. :) Sitting in an office all day long was also causing the swelling of my ankles to raise to some pretty ridiculous levels (which Jon and I would lovingly refer to as my elephant feet) and I just wasn't getting enough movement throughout the day to avoid getting really uncomfortable by lunch time every day.

I finally decided leaving 2 weeks before his due date would be best. It was crazy trying to get everything done at work that I needed to before I left, especially the document that I'm in charge of getting out quarterly for DC, VA, and MD areas (we finished this quarter during my last week), but I got it all packed in and felt good about the work I accomplished before I left.

The company threw me a farewell lunch at a really nice restaurant near our office called Grillfish, and I couldn't believe how many people came. Almost all the leasing brokers were there, all the research team that I worked with for the quarterly report documents (luckily they did all the research, I just got to do all the layout/design), and all my wonderful marketing team that I absolutely loved working with. Everyone was so kind at the lunch and said such nice things. The only photo I got was after quite a few people had left, so this is the 50% version, but at least I got half of them!



































After all the brokers and most of the researchers left, my immediate coworkers had a little baby gift-giving for me, and it was so nice of them. I loved all their darling gifts and the kind notes in their cards, and I couldn't be more grateful for their excitement for Jon and I and our little one on his way.



















It has truly been such a blessing to have this job for the last almost-year. It was exactly the change I needed at exactly the time I needed it. I have no doubt it was a direct answer to prayers Jon and I had been having for months, and I'm so happy I got to end my work experience in the "corporate world" on a positive note because of it. I loved that I got to use what I went to school for, that I got to expand my skills, and that I was given opportunities to grow and step up to the challenge so many times. There were definitely people that had their quirks, but that's half of what made it so fun. :) I will especially miss my closest coworkers, my "team"-- Melissa, Christi, and Georgia (and Joyce!). These girls were the best to work with! They're flexible, positive, hard-working, funny, dedicated, great at giving praise and good feedback, and naturals at watching out for a pregnant lady in the office. :) And they almost like ice cream as much as I do. That's big. I'll miss them all and I hope we'll keep in touch!

Most of all, I'm grateful that several miracles have occurred in the last couple months to make it possible for me to stay home with our baby without putting ourselves in an unimaginable economic situation that was too scary to even consider. Everything from finding the new place with did the the rent price it has to Jon getting a promotion just weeks ago and so many miracles in between have all been answers to prayers and direct blessings to make this possible for our new little family that's just about to begin. That's so exciting to me to know I'll be able to stay home with our new baby and that we'll be taken care of if we're wise with what we've been given and blessed with. So as strange as it seems to me...here's to leaving the working phase of my life and switching gears to the staying home phase of my life as a mom! ( I can't believe I'm going to be a mom!)


Here are some pics of the office on my way out...

















...and the gift they surprised me with on the way out!! Jon and I LOVE this thing and it couldn't have come at a better time! (It's a tiny little video camera that is seriously smaller than our point-and-shoot digital camera, it's the easiest thing to use ever.)

Baby shower from Kami and Ashlee (Oct. 2, 2008)

My cute roommates from 2 summers ago (back when I first met Jon) asked within minutes of finding out I was pregnant 5 months ago if they could host a baby shower, and I was so grateful to them for helping me out like that. It was so fun and they made it so cute. Kami made a cute diaper cake that must have taken hours, and Ashlee made little favors and hosted the shower at her apartment. Thanks a MILLION cute girls for all the time and planning that went into it! You're wonderful! Thank you also to all those that were so sweet and came to the shower for me! I loved seeing you there and I can't tell you how much all the gifts have helped us to prepare for Baby Smith!




























The ladies that made it happen (they'll probably hate me for posting these pictures, but they were the only ones I had of them from the shower!)

Ren & Jayci--the cute kids that entertained us for a week straight (Oct. 2008)

You can guess how easy it might be to get used to having these cute faces around and how you might quickly find yourself wishing you lived closer to them! We miss these cute kids already!!

Julie & Jeni--kickin it at our place (Oct. 2008)

We loved just being home at our place with Julie and Jeni and the babies. Jon and I got to witness everything from feeding time and nap time to crying time and cranky time, and it was a good mental prep for us and our so-very-soon upcoming adventure in parenthood. Jon's sisters are such good moms, and I loved watching them and learning from them. We also both loved seeing babies in our new baby stuff...one in our crib the night we set it up, one in our car seat strapped into our car, both of them taking turns swinging in a sweet old swing we got from one of my coworkers...it was the funnest thing. We loved having the chance to try out our stuff and break it in for a couple days. It was also fun with all of us just making dinner together every night, chatting, taking the 5 Love Languages quiz to find out what we are, and going through all our photos of their trip. We had a blast!













On their last night here, when I got home from work they had made a cake to celebrate my birthday (since it was the next day) and Jeni's birthday (since it was the day before they got here), so Jeni and I got to blow the candles out together. I must have been thinking too hard about what to wish for or something, because Jeni totally beat me to the punch! :) It was pretty funny, as demonstrated by Jon's face in the photo below.























Here are the babies being totally entertained by the turtle (Lincoln):










We loved loved loved having these 4 here to stay with us for a week, thanks so much for coming you guys!!! We've missed you and wish we could live closer to see you more often!

Julie & Jeni--DC sites (Oct. 2008)

This obviously in no way can represent everything they did while they were here (they seriously did EVERYTHING, with the babies, with the strollers, on the metro, they were awesome) but it shows them at the Lincoln overlooking the Washington, and then with Jon in front of the Capitol when he went in the district to pick them up one day after work. And the next picture is hilarious...this is a bunch of Asian people taking photos of Ren and Jayci, apparently they just came up to their strollers and started snapping tons of pics without asking or anything, it was so funny. They're young stars! Or they're just really cute kids. :)


















Below is a photo I got of Iwo Jima (rockin' the point and shoot) at night when I ventured out in the car with Julie and Jeni and their babies sans Jon since he was at Priesthood. Let's just say it was my first time driving to Iwo Jima alone (or anywhere alone really, besides the grocery store, the church, or a friend's house), and I was pretty excited we made it there without driving away on some bridge taking us to Anacostia or something. Believe me, that's a lot easier to do than you might think! I also managed to get us all safely to the Air Force Memorial and safe and sound back home...where Jon was patiently waiting since he'd been home 15-20 minutes and we had his keys since we had the car...oops!

Julie & Jeni--Washington DC temple (Oct. 2008)

A friend lent us their car so we could take two cars and finally all go somewhere together without the metro, and we took advantage of our time with a 2nd car to drive up to the temple. It was beautiful weather, and we had a little picnic on the temple lawn.
































The babies playing in the water (Jon looks like he's about to drop Ren right in, and we thought he was going to. :) Click on the picture for a better view)

Julie & Jeni--National Zoo (October 2008)

Jon and I love the zoo (it's free!), and we've been dying to go back since last summer, so we were happy that Jeni and Julie wanted to go during their time here. We got to see the pandas, reptile house, and the hippo during feeding time. I couldn't believe that the hippo was trained to open his mouth like that, it was so funny to watch.











We were there until closing time at the zoo, so to avoid going all the way back to the front (which is quite a walk), we decided to guess from the zoo map of how we could get back to the road the metro is on from the back of the zoo instead. Adventurous, maybe; smartest way out...probably not. We ended up walking on a tiny narrow sidewalk all the way through a tunnel, along a freeway, got directions from a biker on the trail, pushed up a killer hill, and finally stumbled across the metro coming from the opposite direction we had left it hours earlier. But we found it!! We got a kick out of the detour, and of course took advantage of the moment to take photos showing our less-than-ideal route back through the tunnel.

































Below is the bridge WAY over our heads that actually ended up being Connecticut Avenue...the street the metro was on and the same we were supposed to be on.

Julie & Jeni--kayaking on the Potomac (Oct. 2008)

As has become one of our favorite traditions to take our visitors to, we made sure that Jeni and Julie had the chance to do some kayaking in Georgetown up the Potomac. The weather couldn't have been more perfect, and Jon and I had fun with Ren and Jayci while Jeni and Julie were off kayaking.

Jon and I went on a walk with the kids in their strollers around a nearby park for the whole hour, and I have to admit, we must have been quite a sight. Me with my 8 month-prego belly, pushing one stroller while my husband pushes another, each stroller with a baby that looks around 6 months old (even though Ren's 6 mos. and Jayci's 11 mos, Jayci's cute and small, and everyone mistook them repeatedly for twins during their entire trip here). Twins and one on the way, baby! We explained to anyone curious enough to ask that the two in the strollers were actually our niece and nephew and the one on me is ours, but the looks we got from others were definitely worth it.

Visitors--Round IV: Julie, Jeni, Ren & jayci (Oct. 2008)

At the beginning of October, we were so happy to have another round of visitors, this time Jon's sisters Julie and Jeni, and their cute little babies Ren and Jayci (hands down our cutest visitors yet). Since we haven't been back to Utah for over a year, we hadn't even met these two cute kids until Jon picked them up from the airport. We had sooo much fun with them, and I loved the chance to spend more time with my cute sisters in law, they're so fun.

Cutting out pictures to post is hard enough for me, but throw two cute kids into the mix, and I pretty much can't exclude anything. (I can tell already this is going to be a problem in a week or so when Baby Smith decides to show up...) So in attempts to make all the photos easier to swallow, I've divided them into separate posts of the things we did while they were here.

Here's #1!
Capitol Tour, Friday Oct. 3
(Thanks a million Kami for hooking us up last minute and for being such a cute tour guide as always! I loved having the excuse to see you!)

SEPTEMBER RE-CAP

Another month down, just one more to go until we're finally caught up! Below are all the posts that should have been made in September. Get ready for the last round of updates in a few days...

Getting ready for Baby Smith--the crib (Sep. 30, 2008)

Not a moment too soon, we got baby Smith's crib and pack 'n play set up just hours before Jon's sisters landed in DC with their two cute little ones that would need a place for their little bodies to sleep. We were working down to the wire to get everything done in time for them, and we're SO glad they gave us an excuse to get everything all ready in advance, because now we're done! Mostly anyway. :) I was so happy to have everything set up for them so they could feel at home. Thanks Jon for working so hard with me so we could pull it off and for letting me monopolize your time for weeks to get things done!! Here are a couple previews of his little bed in his room...

Getting ready for Baby Smith--recarpeting (Sep. 29, 2008)

So ever since we got into our new place, the carpet in future-baby-Smith's room had a terrible smell of wet, dirty dog, due to the previous tenant and her live-in dog living in that room. Not only are Jon and I allergic to animal hair and it makes our eyes itch like crazy, it's also a little disheartening to think of anyone having to stay in a room like that--especially a brand new little person. So after wrestling with our landlord on it for some time, we finally gave up on hearing back from him, tore the old carpet and padding out ourselves, cleaned the floor, and went and put the skills my dad taught us (by carpeting the living room) to good use.

One trip to Home Depot and a couple hours later, the smell was completely gone and replaced by a new carpet smell, complete with extra padding. Finally. And just in time...we laid it the night before Jon's sisters and their babies got here to visit us for a week, and that's the room they would be sleeping in. Check out our mad newfound home improvement skills.

Recent shots of the Washington DC temple (Sep. 2008)

These are still with our point and shoot camera, but considering half of them were taken through our car windshield while driving on I-495, we were pretty excited to get anything of considerable value. It's such a beautiful temple that it's really hard to take a bad picture of it. We love this place. To see more on the temple, click here, or for info on the its Visitor's Center and its exhibits/events (they're all free and open to everyone), click here.