Roses, for me :)

On Wednesday I was surprised at work with 2 dozen roses. Josh had them delivered for me, just because. It was funny listening to people come up with reasons why I got them. My boss said did you get in a fight, no, but she's also been divorced. Was it my birthday? Anniversary? But the best reason was because I'm carrying his child.

Here's a picture of Mish without the flash, I really wanted to highlight her marking and colors. She's so beautiful and such a smart dog. I have been reading up on German Shepherds and when fully grown they have the same intelligence of a 6 year old. We started our first training class on Thursday. She already knows her name, and sit which were part of the homework assignment. Another thing they're teaching us is an emergency recall. If the dog bolts out the door or gets frightened and runs off you use a whistle to get them back. And the whistle will work with anyone who's watching the dog. Mishka is really smart and she's picking up things fast. There's a bunch of small yappy dogs in the class too, I just wanna punt them.

Hehe, silly Josh towels are for dogs :)

Doggone good times :)

So, they kids are completely digging on the dog. And for being a puppy- she's surprisingly very well behaved. She does have her accidents, but they are less often than you'd think. She just loves everyone and on Thursday we start puppy training classes.


Mishka at the dog park. The big rottie was so slobbery- just getting all the dogs wet.

Kaeley is still a bit timid of the dog. Scared she'll get bit and stuff.

She's my baby- well probably for only 2 more weeks until she gets too big to hold.


Her blankie- that we have to wash almost daily because of her accidents and stuff. But we love you Mishka.

Inauguration Day

I can not say I am ecstatic about the outcome of the election, but I won’t lose respect for the office of the presidency no matter how much I disagree with the party that is in control.

Nevertheless, the campaign is finally over. The American people have spoken. Obama is our new president. All Americans must now give him the respect that an American president deserves. Also, we should give him our support as long as he works to earn our respect and does not govern as an extreme partisan.

I have no bitterness left from the election—there were no controversial vote tallies, no charges of fraud or cheating—and I think that Obama won a fair campaign against John McCain, a great American whose service to and sacrifice for his country deserve respect, regardless of whether you agree with his politics.

Please do not misunderstand me. Giving someone respect does not mean giving them carte blanche to do whatever they wish. We should respect our president. We do not have to support him if he leads this country in a direction we believe is wrong. We have a right, indeed an obligation, to resist and object to policies which offend.

I’m sure that in the next four years, I’ll disagree with much of the new president’s policies. I may even do so publicly, and expect – and hope – others will, too. But there’s a difference between philosophical disagreements and disrespect.

Ideology aside, I am proud to have an African-American family in the White House. This beautiful family has a great opportunity to lift the self-esteem of black Americans and to help all Americans become better members of the human family. Today’s inauguration has become one of the greatest periods of American history. I hope everyone can appreciate today's event, feelings aside.

A baby and a puppy...?

Today we had our second baby appointment, 14 weeks. The doctor used the Doppler so we could hear the heartbeat- 164 bpm... I didn't know what to expect so I was kind of surprised by it. I was getting kind of worried because I haven't gained any weight... and I told the doctor and she said most people don't gain weight or start showing until about 20 weeks. The people who do look 25 weeks pregnant at 14 weeks are the ones who take the "eating for two concept" too literal. Of course, the doctor was much more tactful than I am. But maybe that only applies with first pregnancies. After we get back from our cruise we have an appointment at the hospital we're delivering to try and determine the baby's sex... this is the part I'm really looking forward too!

I wanted to add another picture of Mishka, she's just sooo cute and cuddly. We've been taking her to the dog park on base, it's cute trying to watch her run and keep up with the big dogs.... she has a funny clumsy run.

Meet Mishka

Meet our new "Teddybear," translated from Russian, Mishka means Teddybear... or cute bear. We thought this was a cute name, considering she'll be very protective of the new baby.. and it'll be like the baby's teddybear.

She's almost 13 weeks old on Sunday- I told Josh on the way to get her that this dog has horse feet.. he didn't realize how big she already was. But at soon as we met her we fell in love, she has such a calm temperament. Likes to be around people. We'll be enrolling her in puppy obedient classes soon we think she'll do really well.

Well she just got her first bath tonight, and did really well. Josh is like a little boy in heaven with his new puppy. You'd think he was 10 again.. :) We brought her over to Josh's parents house... they were completely digging on her... which is great, cause we will need a pet sitter from time to time..
And mom, hope you like dogs.... cause we're bringing her up to Washington!

New Wheels

Like I said in a previous post- all the kids got new bikes for Christmas. Dallen and Josh just assembled his today. Dallen said he loves his bike! But he doesn't want to marry it. haha

Kaeley's bike- because she's so tall she can touch the ground on a 20' bike. Most 6 year olds would probably have to use a size smaller. Also no training wheels... so we're going to make it a point to teach her to ride this summer. Also to swim.

Bre fits nicely on her 24' bike.

Josh teaching buddy how to put a bike together

Bre's puppet show

Treehouse Museum

The picture below I just wanted to add in because last night we were playing a few games, including Jenga, and we got it really high. The highest I've ever had, I think. Everyone was so nervous... It eventually fell on Bre.

Anyway so today, Caleb took Dallen to the gun show for most of the day, so Josh and I took the girls to the Treehouse Museum in Ogden. This was my first time but Josh used to take the kids alot a few years back.
I loved the place. I liked how there were many different themed rooms, with dressup clothes, crafts and books everywhere!

Breanna and Kaeley are playing school

This was actually Peter Rabbit's tea party... Kaeley's like where's the frigerator?

This was neat- it was a big map of Utah with differnet pictures all over. Well to make a game out of it- you'd push this button and it would ask a question and you would have to find it on the map and stand on it. The little girl in the picture really wanted to play with us and was always near Josh.
This was the dinosaur room... the girls are making rock paintings... I like the concept .. just rocks and water... no mess!

And like I said earlier, there were books in every room. Categorized by the theme of that room, we really didn't spend much time reading but I insisted on reading at least one book. Josh took the liberty of reading the story.

We also got to see a famous puppeteer. He chose an African American Folklore called "The Hairyman" set in mississippi... he had all the kids laughing.

Memberships for a year are only $40 for one kid and go up from there... I think when our baby gets to be at least 2 we'll have to get a membership and go more often. It's great for kids about 3-10. Especially if you love to read and imagine.

Ramblings

So I thought I would just blog about what's been going on with us lately. Last Friday we had our 2nd baby appointment, which had to be reschedule. Our doctor had to go deliver during her appointments and was 11 patients behind! Phew, they said maybe an hour wait... I'm guessing 2.5 hours. So we rebooked rather than waited. We were pretty disappointed as we wanted to see the baby on the ultrasound again and hear the heartbeat. Oh well, less than 2 weeks we go back.

I'm on the tail end of my 1st trimester. The baby is about 3 inches long.. the size of a nutter butter covered in chocolate..OK, it doesn't have to be covered in chocolate, but isn't everything better that way? Finally the baby looks recognizably human... the first 10 weeks my mom was pretty creeped out by the widget photos on our page.

Yesterday we celebrated our 2 year anniversary and went to dinner at Tempanyaki. I've had that place in mind for weeks so I've been craving it. Plus I've even been able to hold down a bite of food lately... which is always good news. Next month we set sail on our cruise. I'm so excited! I consider it a late anniversary celebration.

We're also looking at getting a puppy. Take a guess which breed? We thought about waiting until we buy our house in the fall.. but we'd like to have it all trained and ready when the baby comes. This way they can grow up together and bond really well.

And also we've had to face the sad reality that our baby will have to go to daycare after 6 weeks of birth. But instead of waiting until last minute... we've been doing our homework on finding the best place for our baby. And we're set on the Child Development Center at Hill AFB. Nationally accredited and also high standards of military rules and regulations. Many of my friends have taken their children there and loved how well they cared for their children and them. Since Josh and I are one of the lowest priorities were registering this week in hopes that they will have an opening at the end of August.

So that about sums it up for now...

Loving you is easy

Dear Josh,

Yes, honey, I could have written this to you in private, or even could have passed it to you at dinner tonight. But then, how would others learn from your example?

I didn't have to think twice when you asked me to be your wife. I knew that you were the perfect match for me. I don't think that there is, or that there ever could be, anyone better than you out there for me.

You point out the good things about me when I am feeling at my lowest. When I can't find a reason to smile, you make me laugh uncontrollably. You always know how to get a smile out of me or bring me into a better mood. You are my heart, my world, my soul, my spirit, my best friend and my every breath. I am honored be your wife.
And now we have a beautiful baby on the way that I can’t wait to bring into this world. I’m so thrilled to share this journey of parenthood with you. Raising our beautiful happy child; who will always know they are loved and wanted. And will grow up having two parents who love each other very much and I think that’s the greatest gift we can give them.

Josh, you complete me. You make my life so amazing and I don't know how else to repay you but to love you just as much as you love me. The world is a better place to be because of you. You make me feel beautiful. Thank you for giving me so much more than I ever could have wanted. I am so thankful for what we have, and for everything we will have. You are the only man I ever want to share my life with. I could never imagine what it would be like if we were to lose each other. I don't even want to think about it. All I want to think of is you.

Our life together is already wonderul, and together it will only get better and better. I will forever be grateful that you came into my life. Together we're perfect, and I will enjoy spending the rest of my life with you. I love you more than words can say.

I love you,
Lacey

P.S. Happy 2 year anniversay. And as it's inscribed on your ring, omnia vincit amor.