9 months!

Just think I could be having another child by now...um, no thanks!

How can you not love that handsome kid!

He's 9 months today...boy does time fly!

A 23 lb, 31 inch busy body!

He's into everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. The new house will be baby proofed! He keeps us on our toes and always makes us laugh, we wouldn't have it any other way!

Love you buddy!

All signed!

Well the papers are officially signed...now we just have to wait for the funding and recording! We'll soon be in our new residence in Saratoga Springs! Yeehaw!

Goodbye OREM!

So... never in a million years would I have dreamed I'd someday live in Happy Valley, and not just Happy Valley but the heart of it. Although we aren't quite leaving the Valley we are leaving Orem and I must say, it's been a nice place to live. We will miss being so central to everything (freeway, shopping, eating, entertainment). All of our 5 1/2 years of marriage have been spent very close to all the happenings and we're now moving a little ways out, it will take some getting used to but we're excited about the change.

Goodbye WARD!

This is a week of goodbye's, it's very bittersweet as I am so ready for the adventure ahead but hate to leave so many great things behind.

My first goodbye of the week, Aspen 3rd Ward.

Immediately after we moved in nearly 3 years ago we were called to serve in the nursery, what an experience...we swore after that we would never have kids. (It didn't quite work!). We were lucky as we only had to serve there for 3 months before I was called as the second counsler in the Young Women and LeGrand as the Venture Scout Leader over the 16-18 yr old boys. I loved the crap out of the beehives and he had a blast on scout camp after scout camp. Soon the Young Women organization was re-done luckily for me my time wasn't done and I got to serve as the 1st counsler and love the crap out of the Mia-Maids, the same girls who were my Beehives! LeGrand and I loved spending Wednesday nights with the youth, we had some wonderful experiences and made many memories. Just before I had Laexin, LeGrand was called as the Young Men's President so they released me from the Young Women :( and I was called as the Relief Society publicity specialist (I was in charge of the ward newsletter) up until now we have served in these callings and loved every minute of the opportunities that have come our way.
We seriously LOVE you guys! We've been married 5 1/2 years and lived in 4 wards. This has been our longest haul so far. We have made so many wonderful friends. You have truly become our extended family! Thanks for your examples and encouragement. You have strengthened our testimonies and filled our hearts! We'll never forget you...we'll be back to visit!

Alumni

I'm officially an Alumn of something more than Uintah High School!

I've actually been finished with school since December but I finally got to walk and it was a great feeling, I'm pretty proud to be a BYU grad!

Lighter Note...

After that migraine post I figured it was time to lighten things up, and I haven't bragged about Laex for awhile, so here it is!

The boy is too smart for his britches! I've learned to keep the bathroom doors closed because he LOVES the toilet paper. Well, I guess I had more to think about than closing the bathroom door the other day and this is what I walked in on...

Can I just add that the toilet lid was DOWN...he's learned how to put up the lid so he can get to the water, what a kid! Don't worry, I already know I've got my hands full. He's such a piece of work!

Cruise pic's

Finally, here's a glimps into the great time we had on our trip.

migraine :(

I'm not looking for sympathy, this ones for me.

In about high school I experienced my first migraine, then when I started taking birth control before I got married I would get a migraine a week, I had to try several types of birth control before I found one that allowed me to only have a migraine about every 2 months, this was heaven compared to once a week. Then I got pregnant with Laex and the most wonderful thing happened, no migraine the whole 9 months, wahoo! Unfortunately they have re-surfaced and yesterday was one of those days. When I've told people I have migraines I've many many say, "oh yeah, I get those too...". Well, I'm not so sure that EVERYONE gets them the way I do, so I will explain a day in my life of migraines.

Yesterday it hit at about noon, blind spots, dizziness, blurred vision. This is my "sign" that the worst is yet to come. (Although I have to deal with this ailment I think that Heavenly Father has blessed my with the "sign" portion so that I can be stronger for the rest...it also makes me consider all of the different "sign's" he blesses us with, if we would all heed them as much as I heed this "sign" life would be much easier.)
I quickly ate a yogurt, to get something in my stomach before I take my powerful pills. From past experience I know that an empty stomach on these pills makes things much more miserable.
I took the pills. Thank Heavens it's Laexins nap time and that he didn't nap at his regular time today, what a blessing in disguise. He went down really well.
I hurry to the bedroom to try and fall asleep before the headache comes on. The blind spots last about 30-45 min. before the headache hits.
I'm able to fall asleep, relief...but not for long.
I'm awakened by the pain, today it's through my left side of my neck and behind my eye - it's rarely the same.
I secretly pray Laex will sleep extra long, but he soon wakes. The pain is nearly unbearable, the light, the noise, everything makes it worse, I feel like the pill didn't touch it and here comes the nausea.
I get Laex up, he plays while I lay...for hours, I'm in and out of the bathroom trying to puke whatever I can, this usually helps the pain a bit. I just want to die.
Laex is such a good boy, I can barely function to get him food and change his diaper but as long as I'm by him he isn't whining, he is really being such a good boy.
Only two more hours until LeGrand gets home...though it seems like forever.
Lay, puke, pain, pain, lay, pain...
Finally time for Laex's second nap, thanks for being so good and going down without a fight.
30 min., he's up.
LeGrand will be late tonight, I can take it, I just want someone to put me out of my misery, I want to go to the hospital.
The neighbors knock to bring some boxes, they offer to take Laex...you guys are my lifesavers!
I rest, but not really, I can't get comfortable the pain isn't subsiding.
LeGrand finally gets home, 3 hours later than normal, the neighbor helps him give me a blessing.
I ask for coke - I've never tried this before but I hear it can help.
I take a long bath while my wonderful husband takes Laexin out of the house.
The coke, blessing they're helping, I'm finally feeling hungry. I haven't held anything down all day...LeGrand brings me dinner.
I rest, he takes care of Laex. Thanks Honey, I LOVE YOU!
Today, I have a hang over. I've never actually experienced a real one but I'm sure it is much like this, it'll take at least today to recover.
The good thing...it's over for a few more months.

I gave birth to Laexin naturally, by choice. I didn't have an epidural, it was the hardest thing I've ever done. I would do that a million times over if i never had to deal with these migraines.

We're BACK!

WOW! Vacation was WONDERFUL! Here's the scoop and some highlights of the things we did - sorry, no pictures yet....long story -- they're coming.

LeGrand and I just got back from our first vacation away since we had Laex who is almost 9 months old. Just he and I went on a 7 day cruise to the Mexican Rivera while Grammie and Papa Hoopes watched Laex. We had a FANTASTIC time! This is our second cruise together and we really enjoyed ourselves though I have to say if you ever decide to go and have a choice between Western Caribbean and Mexican Rivera - take the Caribbean! Don't get me wrong, we loved it but not as much as our first cruise! And, Laex had a GREAT time with Grammie and Papa - good thing he isn't old enough to tell me all the things they did :) :)

Here are some highlights!

We did a zip-line canopy tour through the jungle and over a river in Puerto Vallarta
We Parasailed in Mazatlan
We did a boat tour visiting lovers beach and El Archo in Cabo San Lucas
We snorkeled in Cabo San Lucas
We ate WAY TOO MUCH on the cruise ship (24 hr food...Crab, Lobster, Steak, Prime Rib, Escargot, Frog Legs etc)
We saw Broadway caliber shows on the cruise ship
We met some really fun people
We had a good time getting deals in Mexico, although we only came home with a few things for Laex!
We laughed until we almost peed our pants - wonderful comedians!
We enjoyed 80+ degree weather
We saw dolphins off the deck of the ship
We relaxed and relaxed some more

**Can I just add, after visiting Mexico I am 500 million times more grateful for the things I have...what a poor place.

Now...back to where we left off, packing, packing, packing. I've got a washer, dryer and fridge to buy and so many other things to get in order before we close next Wednesday!

the VERDICT is IN!

The hunt is finally over! yeah!!! Did I mention, we close in three weeks from tomorrow and 9 of those days we will be on vacation...smart planning Lib. Needless to say I'm busy packing, packing to send Laex to Grammie and Papa's (yes, we are taking a vacation without him), packing for the trip and packing to move!

Sorry if you don't see much of me :)