The nursery

Another thing we did while my family was here was started putting the nursery together. Thanks for all the help Mom and Dad!! Here are some highlights.

My parents got this crib from a friend who was getting rid of it and Mark and I had fun putting it together.


They also brought us a portable crib so my dad was showing us how to set it up.

Mark and I bought this hutch a few years ago for our front room but we thought it looked better in the nursery. We still have to finish hanging the chinese lanterns we bought. You can see them just sitting in the crib.

Mark is in love with canopies and has always wanted to get one for our room but we have a ceiling fan so it wouldn't work but I think it's perfect for a nursery.

A perfect place to rock the baby to sleep.

One of my students moved to Arizona and was getting rid of this dresser so she let me have it. Thanks Julie, after a few coats of paint I think it works great in the nursery. We bought a changing pad that attatches to the top so that we can use it as a changing table for the first few months after the baby's born. This is also Mark's Switchfoot wall. He wants to start training the baby early to love Switchfoot as much as he does.

Home repairs

While my parents were here they helped us update a few things around our condo. We put in some new lighting and fixtures and my dad built some storage for our closets and put in a new garbage disposal. I felt bad that they were working the whole time they were on vacation but they're always so generous and like to help anyway they can. We sure do appreciate it.

Mark and my dad installing one of the new lights we got.

My sister put their dog into the box one of the light fixtures came in.

He seemed to enjoy that ... haha, not.

We used to have these paintings hanging up in the art room but now that we've transformed that room into a nursery we moved them into the office. It's a series that Mark painted his last year at BYU. I love having his art displayed throughout the house more now instead of just all in one room.

Mark's hair in pigtails. Doesn't he look so thrilled about it.

We used to have a Van Gough print hanging in our family room but decided to put it in the nursery so we could put up a display of family photos. We really wanted to make that room all about family and I'm really happy about the way it turned out. My dad built us those floating shelves and after a few coats of stain I think they look fabulous!

Easter

My family came and stayed with us this past week and it was so fun spending time with them. When they left Thursday morning I cried the whole way to work because I was so sad to see them go. They've been in Australia the past month so it has been hard not being able to talk to them more frequently so I'm very glad they're back in the states.

The first day my family was here I woke up early and couldn't go back to bed because I was so excited to spend time with them so I made them breakfast in bed ... my favorite protein pancakes! (1 c oatmeal, 1/2 c cottage cheese 1/4 c milk, and 2 eggs combined in a blender)

My sister took this picture and I think it's kind of funny becasue we're sitting in front of a picture mark painted of himself. I like the non-bearded Mark in the painting better.

We loved having both our families together for Easter. This picture was taken at Mark's parent's house after Sunday dinner.

It's a BOY!!

We just had our 20 wk. ultrasound on the 14th and found out we're having a healthy little BOY! We're very excited and now we can finally start decorating the baby's room! Mark has fallen in love with the name Boston and now he doesn't think any other boy name I come up with really compares to it... so it looks like his name might be Boston.

Changes...

My belly is getting so big and I love it!!

Mark's hair is so long right now I can put it in a ponytail and he reminds me of the guy on Princess Bride. He vows not to cut his hair or shave until he starts his masters program in June.

Mark's parents brought this Nacho Libre mask back from Cancun for Mark. Now his ensemble is finally complete because he already has the boots, the robe, and the stretchy pants.

The baby's moving!!

I felt the baby move for the first time on leap day and it hasn't stopped moving around since. I love it! It's so comforting to be able to feel it swimming around in there. I can't wait untill Mark can feel it too. We get to find out what we're having on St. Patricks day so submit your guesses before then. This baby must love holidays!

On a side note, Mark and I have been loving the warm weather we've been having so on Saturday we spent the afternoon up Provo Canyon. There is still a lot of snow but it was so gorgeous outside and the fresh air was great. There is something about being out in nature that just always makes me feel so happy and content.

P.S. It started raining on our drive home so I'm glad we enjoyed it while it lasted.

Congratulations Mark!!

We just found out today that Mark has been accepted into the Masters Program in Religious Education/Chaplain Candidacy at BYU. I have to say I'm a bit jealous because I really miss being a student. This is the first year that BYU will have this program and Mark and I are really excited about what it entails. He'll start school June 23rd and over the next two years he will be taking clases in Religious Education as well as classes from other related departments (Psychology, Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy). I'm so proud of Mark because he works really hard and has a great desire to serve others. He started an internship at St. Mark's hospital back in January and although he finds it very challenging he's really enjoying it. He is very compassionate and loves being able to assist people who are grieving. Being a chaplain is not a career many people aspire to and it really requires a lot of patience and humility but we're excited about the challenges it will bring. I guess we'll be in Provo a few more years!