First Baby Sewing Project

I made a boppy for the baby. A boppy is a U-shaped pillow good for nursing, tummy-time, helping with sitting, etc. I found a pattern online and found some fabric that I like and will definitely be durable (it's a canvas). However, I chose just to make a pillow instead of a pillow and a cover. And my very generous sister, Annalisa, let me use the sewing machine she got for Christmas. Still, sewing that last bit by hand was absolutely horrible.
Hopefully it will work.

Switching Apartments

For those of you who are not aware, Ken and I are switching apartments this weekend! There was an opening and I won't be able to help for much longer, so we decided to just go for it.
If you are bored out of your mind and want to come help, we're moving big furniture Saturday morning and cleaning Saturday afternoon.

Day of Love

Ken and I just celebrated our fourth Valentine’s Day together. Yes, we were lucky enough to meet (and like) each other very early on in our college years. The semi-short version of our story goes like this: We met freshman year; and I did the chasing. After dating for four months, we were separated for 8 (summer plus study abroad), and I didn’t think he liked me nearly as much as I liked him so I tried to “get over” him during this time, but it didn’t work. We were married four months after study abroad ended.

However, in preparation for Valentine’s, I reread the emails we wrote back and forth for the time we were apart. With a less skewed perspective and a better knowledge of Ken, I can see that he loved me more than I thought! You see, Ken is very particular about his time and how it is used. Back then, I thought he was writing out of obligation. After considering the sheer volume of what he wrote during a very busy and demanding time in his life and can see that he made communicating with me a priority. He always wrote something before he went to bed, no matter how tired he was. He could have (probably should have) slept more or even spent more time with his family.

Still now, Ken really spends the majority of his free time on me. Even on those long, studying days, he always takes time out of his day to make sure I’m happy; I know he’d rather spend time with me.

Life is more lovely knowing that I’m married to someone who loves me so much!

BOY!!!

Kelsey and I went to our 20 week ultrasound. It was an amazing experience and I am so grateful that I am going to be a father. Kelsey and I are excited for our little boy and can't wait to get to know him better in July. We hope you enjoy these videos from the ultrasound.

19 weeks

For those of you who are interested:

It's still at that stage where it could be a baby or a Thanksgiving sized meal.
You decide.

Parenting books

I'm getting to that time where I ought to start thinking about how to raise our baby. I've been looking at some different parenting books, but I wanted the opinion of my friends before I purchase anything.
If you've read any parenting books, which did you like and why?
Thanks everybody!

Stake Conference

Today was stake conference for us, which was great in many ways:

• Better meeting time (we have church from 2-5, so 10-12 was a FABULOUS change- I had a whole day!)
• No extra meetings (just show up for two hours and you're done)
• Exciting changes (A whole new stake presidency)
• General Authorities (Elders Neil A. Anderson and Daniel Jones- cool)
• Uplifting messages

That's about all I can think of now, but it was so wonderful. Our new stake presidency seems very kind and sincere. I sure will miss the former one- I really felt their love when they spoke to us and said their good-byes today.
Last night there was an adult session and the best part of it was a question and answer session with Elder Anderson. It was quite informal, which was refreshing. The part that meant the most to me came from a mother of four, who asked Elder Anderson what is the most important thing she should be doing to come closer to God. He replied, "You're a mother of four? I have no advice for you, only admiration!" He went on to say that as a mother, you shouldn't worry too much about have more perfect scripture study or anything like that. Focus on being a mother and raising your children; just be like Christ as you do what you do.
This was very comforting. Sometimes I (falsely) think that people who have been called to serve as he has are especially, super-righteous. That they have some trick or are genetically predispositioned to be able to come closer to God than the rest of us. But it simply isn't true.
People are people, no matter what comes before their name: Elder, doctor, president or whatever else. To properly serve God, one doesn't need to overly exert spiritually, but rather just do good as one lives. Visit teach, parent with kindness, be there for those who suffer.
I walked out of that meeting with a feeling that I can be what the Lord needs me to me.
Anyway, I like stake conferences.