Sunday, May 25, 2008

Announcing the News!

I wanted to tell the family in a fun way about the baby. Jeremy of course couldn't hold it in and already told his whole family. So we did our fun announcement for my family the same day after our first baby appt. I made up these cute little packs for everyone to figure it out. Then we began making the rounds to people's houses to give them their goody bag to see if they could figure it out.

Here's a pic of these cute little bags:


*Notice the cute little pins to close the bags and the little feet stickers I put on the front of each one and a little tag for each person that said, "Congratulations!" on the front with an arrow pointing to turn it over. On the back it says, "NEW ____fill in the blank to personalize whomever I gave it to, great grandma, great uncle, cousin, grandma, grandpa, etc.)

In it is:
2 mini bottles of champagne (which were really bubbles)
1 Blue Sucker that said, "It's A Boy!"
1 Pink Chocolate Cigar that said, "It's a Girl!"
3 little butter cream mints that say "Baby" on them
1 little baby wash cloth tied in pink and blue ribbon

Everyone's reaction was funny.

My mom started crying and jumping up and down in the kitchen. She just put her hands on her hips and started looking around and said, "now, where are we going to put a crib?"

My UT dad was having FHE with some other couples in his ward. I had accidentally slipped and told my younger sister Kiley and it was KILLING her that my dad didn't know yet. She kept saying, "When are you going to tell him? I can't hold it in much longer." And I said, "Ok... spill it! How many people have you told here?" And she said, "Um, just all the girls that are here." lol

So, my dad got up and I left this little bag at his seat. My little brother, Kylan, saw and ran in and said, "Dad! You have a present on your chair." He came back outside and dumped out the bag. He just kept looking through the bag with confusion and then said, "Who is this from? Why is there all this baby stuff?" (He obviously didn't look too close at the tag that said, "Congratulations! Dad, Kiley & Kylan) So then one of the other clueless men at the table says, "Is it your birthday?" And my dad just shook his head. Keep in mind that all the people there (about 8) are watching this and all the women at the table know. Then my dad looks up and Kiley has a camera and then one of the women help him out by saying, "Maybe this is an announcement." My dad is then picking up the blue sucker that says, "It's a Boy!" and ia saying, "It's a Boy? What?" Then after she made this comment he turned around and stared at me and Jeremy smiling and said, "Noooooooooo... Serious? It's a boy?" I just started laughing and said, "i dont know what it is yet?" But he was way excited and gave us a hug and then got sad saying, "But, I'm not old enough to be a grandpa yet." ha haaaa Guess again dad. :)

We headed over to my Grandma Jackies and her and my grandpa dumped out the bag. They got it a little faster. lol They jumped up out of their seats with joy and their arms when flying up in the air and ran over to hug and congratulate us. They were so excited to have their first great grandchild. My grandma kept saying, "Don't you forget you have a grandmother to help watch this little baby." :)

We headed over to the Grover's who were having their own family home evening with couples in their ward. My grandma came in the other room and dumped out the little bag and said, "Oh my goodness, this is the cutest wedding invitation I've ever seen. you must give one to aunt diane when she's in town next week. She will be here from AZ and can attend your reception." Hmmm.... I just said, "Uh, keep looking at it grandma." lol Finally she stopped and said, "Oh my word! Is this an announcement? We've been waiting and praying for a great grandchild!" Then she wrapped it back up for my grandpa to reopen it. He was just as excited and even figured it out faster than she did. :)

I mailed the rest of to CA and to the other siblings and waited to see what everyone said. It was a fun way to tell everyone.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Our First Baby Appointment

Monday, May 19th...

Jeremy and I went in early to our first doctor's appointment today. Luckily I have a few other good friends that are also pregnant right now and was able to get some advice on what doctor(s) to go see. I chose to go to a group of doctors that 2 of my other friends are going to right now as well. There is a group of 5 of them and you will end up seeing all 5 of them through out your regular appointments. Then whoever is on call will deliver for you when you go into labor. (PS. We are going to deliver in the American Fork, UT hospital)

Anyway, I was told that we'd get to listen to the baby's heart beat today because this particular set of doctors likes to do it on your first appointment. I was ecstatic about it alllll week and couldn't wait, but to our disappointment, I got to fill out a bunch a paper work, get some blood drawn, take a urine test and get a pelvic exam. :( No fun. Jeremy experienced being in the room with me when I got the pelvic exam. Believe me, not so comfortable for any of us. Jeremy got kind of freaked out looking around the room and the walls and asking the Doc if he should leave. lol The doctor was like, "you're the husband aren't you?" ..."yes" ..."well ok then." Then our doctor said, "you have any questions?" Do I have any questions? I don't know! How would I know? I don't know what to ask. We just stared at him dumbfounded and then Jeremy said, "Uhh, we don't know. This is our first kid." So the doctor handed us a book and said, "Read this." And then he sent us on our way.

What just happened? Are we having a baby or what?

I called my friend Jenya up and told her and she asked me who I saw. Apparently I made an appointment with the wrong set of doctors. So, I called and switched doctors. (sigh) I have to go do a whole new first visit with the new set of doctors in 5 weeks. But THEN we will hear the little heart beat. :)

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Attention Everyone! Ahemm



SURPRISE! We are pregnant! ...AND, so excited! And only a week before my wedding my "women's" doctor told me I was getting old to start having kids and that it might take me awhile. Wow! Was she wrong! We were going to wait 6 months, but in the grand scheme of things, 6 months wait for a baby isn't much difference. So, we couldn't be happier.

My first clues of being pregnant before I even knew was that smells were starting to get to me. It's true what they say, you start smelling with the sense of a dog. My mom made me a roast beef sandwich one day and I kept smelling it and said, "Mom, I think this roast beef is bad." She said, "I just bought it Tara!" But, I just couldn't eat it. The more I tried, the more I wanted to throw up.

Sign #2: I was drinking water like CRAZY! I just couldn't get enough water. I would down an entire 32 oz water bottle on the spot. I instantly had to take potty breaks all day long and through the nights. Almost to the point of frustration.

Sign #3: We flew to Cali the week after we got married and I was sicker than a dog on the 1 1/2 hr plane ride. I never get that sick on planes. Plus, I didn't want to do anything while we were there. I just wanted to sleep, sleep, sleep. Jeremy was a little bummed that we were hanging out in Long Beach and I just wanted to hang out in the hotel and watch t.v.

So, there ya have it ladies. The symptoms pretty much start instantaneously. I found that I was JUST getting on the roller coast ride of "Fun" for the next 9 months. :)

Friday, May 09, 2008

Funeral Director of the Year

This week was a special week for my CA Dad. He was nominated and voted for "Funeral Director of the Year for the state of California! This is a major accomplishment. There are over 4,000 funeral directors in the state, and HE WON! Over 30 of his close friends and family flew out to Long Beach for this huge event. One of my dads co-workers, Christian, had actually called me about a month before this took place to let us know that he had won but didn't know it. It had even gotten back to my Dad that someone else had won. He hee (sneaky-sneaky)

So, we all flew out to the Hyatt Hotel in Long Beach, where the Funeral Director Convention was taking place. The last night of the event is when he was awarded this great award, Wed, May 7th. He must have figured it out when he walked into the dinner banquet room that night to see all of his friends and family sitting there to support him. It was a good night, good food, good 'dead' humor and a lot of fun. Jeremy even had some enlightenment on the career in the mortuary business. lol

Also, just a funny joke. When Jeremy and I arrived at the car rental place, the guy helping us said, "So, what brings you to Long Beach?" I said, "Well, my dad just won Funeral Director of the year and we came out to surprise him on recognition night at his convention." The look on his face was hilarious. He stood there and stared at us for a minute and then said, "Wow. Well... Have fun. I've never heard that one before."

This was in the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper on Sunday, May 11, 2008. This newspaper is distributed in and around the San Gabriel Valley, which is the northern part of Los Angeles.





I love this. lol I think Mary said he slept with his award that night. Thanks for letting us be a part of this event! Congratulations and Good Job! You are one of the hardest workers I know and have been that way since I was a little girl. You deserve it!