Happy 4th of July!

It has been a family tradition of ours to go to the 4th of July Parade in Provo as part of the Freedom Festival. We have done this ever since I was a little girl. We may not have made it every year, but we went when we could. Ever since my siblings have been members of the American Fork Marching Band we haven't missed a year. This year my younger brother Robert is on the drum line. It's always fun to see him in action. My brother Patrick and his wife Tawna stake out a place for us every year in front of their apartment right on the parade route. Thanks guys! We always have a great time being together and enjoying the parade!

Baby Claire enjoying the parade (and Grandma's water bottle) :)

Me and Mom - Eliza - Shannon

Christian and Channing chillin during the parade

Anxiously anticipating the arrival of the AF Marching Band

The American Fork Marching Band



Robert is the first drummer in the first row of drummers.

Later that day we gathered at my grandparents in Orem for dinner. We had yummy food and a good time relaxing in the shade! Thanks G&G Hyde for letting us come and spend the evening!

The little cousins wanted to feed some carrots to the horses that live on the other side of my grandparents fence. Grandma Hyde got the carrots and was able to coax the horse over. The horse turned out to be a little skiddish, so the little ones only watched as my sister Shannon fed the horse the carrots. He would only take them from her.

Austin enjoyed the afternoon sitting in the shade and reading his book.

I am truly grateful to live in a country that has so many wonderful freedoms. We are extremely blessed to be able to live and worship as we please. It is a comfort to know that God set this land aside for the purpose of having these freedoms so the Gospel could come forth. I feel greatly indebted to those men who were foreordained to come and set up this great nation.

Lovin' Summer

I can't believe it is July already! The summer is flying by so quickly. I hate to think about having to start school again in a month and a half. There is so much to be done between now and then, at school and at home. We are still trying to get our little girl's room set up and figured out. I feel so much better about it and can see an end in sight. I think everything will work out the way I want it. And Austin has agreed, not without a lot of persuasion, to let me do it my way. I hate to think that I have 3 more months to be pregnant, but I am definitely not ready for her to come now. I am excited and look forward with much anticipation to her arrival!

We went to St. George this last weekend for our one and only vacation for the summer. We don't have the funds to be doing anything grandiose and I'm not fun because I'm pregnant, so Austin says. It was fun to be able to see Austin's parents and spend some time with them. We saw Sheri, Terry, and the girls and I enjoyed a cool outing to the Washington County Rec Center to go swimming. Of course we would pick the one weekend that the temperature was to be the highest of the summer to go. One of the days it got up to 108! Needless to say I did my best not to complain. My hands and feet did swell and we had to sleep with the fan in our room at full speed, but it was nice to have sunshine. We were able to see our friends Bob and Shayla Wells and their two adorable kids as well as, Nick and Summer Lang and their three kids. Nothing better than a BBQ with good food and good friends. I don't think we'll get down there again before the baby's born. That's ok though, I don't mind staying out of that heat!

This is actually a picture from our vacation last year to St. George, but I didn't take any pics this time around. I do love the red rock against all the green!

My 6th Month Watermelon

We brought this watermelon to a family function last week and I thought it was a comparable size to my belly. What do you think?

What about now?

The close up!

I am still amazed at how much my body can and will stretch. I still have 3 1/2 months and I already feel huge. I know I'm only going to get bigger. Yikes! Another aspect that I have mixed feelings about is how this baby is a heater. Thankfully it has been a cool summer so far and I have not had to endure terrible heat. But I, the one who is usually cold most of the time, have been unusually warm, thus the chopping of the hair. I lost about 9-10 inches. I was not that sad to see it go. My hair dresser kept commenting on how calm I was as she cut it all off. I've been prepping myself for it for months, so I was fine. I was also able to donate my hair so that was an added bonus. Haven't had much swelling yet, but I'm sure the worst is yet to come. Living in a basement has never been better!

1 Week Down, The Rest of The Summer To Go!

School is finally out and we are loving the time off already! The school year did go by quickly and we are grateful for the break. We don't have big plans for the summer. Just getting ready for the little one. We have lots of cleaning out to do and re-arranging so she will fit into our already small and cramped space. I have been making some purchases for her room. It has been a lot of fun. Her room will be pink, green, red and black. Her bedroom set will be decorated in lady bugs. It is so cute! We still have to find a car seat, pack and play, stroller and all the other things a baby needs. Austin hates to think about the cost of it all. But I'm excited for it all to come together!

The bedroom set we picked out!

It's A Girl!

On Monday May 18th we were able to have the ultrasound that revealed that we are going to be having a little baby girl. We are so excited and can't wait for her to arrive. We have a lot to do before she arrives, but we are anxious none the less. Well...I should say I am anxious. Austin is fine with having more time. The baby is healthy and everything looked good in the ultrasound. She is quite the mover. I love feeling her move and kick. My stomach is continually stretching and growing. The increasing heat in the outside temperature is becoming quite uncomfortable, but I am so glad for the warm weather. I had to break down and finally buy maternity clothes. I was too afraid to go alone, so I made my mom go shopping with me. I was able to find some pretty cute stuff. The thing I'm dreading the most is purchasing a swim suit. I want to be able to swim and stay cool, but I don't want to look or feel like a whale.

Anyway, here are some photos from the ultrasound.

Here is her nose and lip.

Here is her hand.

Here is her heart and abdomen.

Here is her spine.

Here are her feet.

Here is her bumb showing that she is a girl!

Buying for Baby

Austin and I were at Kohl's a couple weeks ago and they were having one of their fantastic sales. I convinced Austin to go look at the baby clothes because of the super low prices. I was wishing we knew the sex so I could buy gender specific because of all the cute clothes. We did our best to buy generic things that a boy or a girl would be ok wearing. Austin believe it or not actually picked out the pj's and the colored onesies. I was very impressed and touched that he got into it...well a least a little bit.
We are anxiously awaiting our ultrasound that is scheduled for next Monday, May 18th. Stay tuned for the big announcement!

Mother's Day

I have had the unique opportunity throughout my life to share Mother's Day with my mom. I was born on Mother's Day 28 years ago. I have always loved sharing this day with her and can't think of anyone else I would want to share it with. I love her so much and look up to the example she has set for me. This is the first Mother's Day I have been able to officially celebrate as a mother. With my little one on the way, it was a day full of emotion and moments to cherish. I have been able to feel this little life moving within me and it is the most incredible feeling. I feel so blessed to have this miracle in my life. The only thing in life I've ever wanted to be is a mother. I am excited and humbled to be able to have this dream of mine come true. I know there is not a more rewarding job in the whole world. Thank you mom for raising me right and giving me the best possible example to follow. I hope I can be as great a mom as you! I love you!