Merry Christmas!

All the fun started with Christmas Eve this year. Lisa and McCord stayed at our house so they got a pair of pajamas to open. (don't mind my white glowing belly, sorry) Then all four of us and Joe loaded Mom and Dads entertainment center and spent til midnight setting it up so they wouldn't see it til Christmas morning.

Christmas Day started off in our new house together!!!! Adam put a bow on the door and had me unwrap the house. So cute of him! The house was/is our biggest gift to eachother this year. We started with stockings! The two pictures below are of us with our stocking gifts. Adam's slippers came in his stocking even though they are on his feet. He was also a little excited about getting a new toothbrush. :) Next we opened presents that we got eachother. I got Adam a cordless drill, which he has been wanting for a long time now and a Kung Fu Panda toy that moves and talks. He loved both! You can tell by his face in this picture he was so happy to get that drill!
Adam got me a nice marble rolling pin and tupperware containers which I need more of. I can't wait to use both things. He also got Dayton a present that I got to open, Lincoln Logs! Adam said he saw people running around with them the day after Thanksgiving and could not resist getting them for Dayton. Such a cute Dad!

After all our gifts I made a nice breakfast for Lisa, Cord, and us and then we headed to Moms. We got....

Connect Four from Mom and Dad to both of us.

A brown shelf to go in Daytons room that Joe painted by himself, a Did you think to pray sign to decorate, and a bridal picture for my empty picture frame from Joe.

A ladder to Adam from Mom and Dad. Now we won't have to keep borrowing theirs.

A shovel (not pictured) to Adam from Nate.

A cute bead watch and face from Mom and Dad to Angie.

Hand soap from Nate to Angie and a Whoopie cushion to Adam from Nate. (not pictured)

And a lion from Mom and Dad to Dayton. There is a story with this stuffed animal read it below.

Mom and Dad went to Reno for their anniversary last week. While they were there they went to Circus circus and played games to win this lion for Dayton. They said they sat at that table and played forever to try to win this lion for the baby. They were totally loving playing Grandparents! So I hope Dayton appreciates this little guy, it was hard earned, plus he is way cute!

Other highlights of this years gifts....

Nate got Jazz tickets and a Williams jersy from Lisa and Cord.
Lisa loved both her tupperware and necklace from me!

Cord loved his red dress shirt and tie from Adam.
Dad got a new dinner tray stand from Nate. He really needed it!

Joe got a signed Fablehaven book by Brandon Mullins the author. I think I said his name right. I don't really know since I am not a reader. Lisa gave him that.

Nate gave Mom a framed picture of Jared. She was surprised and loved it!

Of course there were many more gifts but there is no need to list them all. We had a nice Christmas day hanging out with family, playing games, eating, watching Monk and being together. It was wierd not to have Jared there but we know he is serving the Lord and doing what is right.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas with the Chandlers!

We started off celebrating with a yummy dinner! We had everything homemade rolls, potatoes, ham, veggies, christmas jello, and we even decorated sugar cookies. Then we opened presents. Last year Sue said she was going to give us gifts "as seen on TV". So First we all sat in a circle and Sue read a story to us. Whenever we hear left we passed our present left when we heard right we passed it right. I must say it was so fun! The next three pictures are all of us with our as seen on TV presents from Sue.

Mat got some apoxy stuff and Bug got a hanburger cooking thing.
Josh got an iron pancake cooker and Janae got ShamWow rags!
I got a steamer and Adam got a shoe organizer and hangers to organize the closet with. Sue also gave us some Christmas money to spend. Adam and I have yet to decide what to spend it on but we have spent some on a new power cord for the laptop. Thanks Sue!

We draw names so this year Janae drew my name and got me a braclet with my birthstone in it. So cute! I drew Mat and got him a Cabelas gift card. Sorry Mat I know it's lame but no one, not even Breezy had any other ideas.

Adam got the book Kerplunk, which Bug says is way funny and a flashlight that you shake to keep charged. Adam drew Josh and got him a HUGE tool set. I hope he uses it!

Oh and Ainslie got a lot of princess stuff from Grandma! She loved it all as you can tell by her face in this picture!

This year we all pitched in and got Sue 3 sets of 2 tickets to go see some plays with her friend Patty. She really liked them. Adam and I also wrote her a Christmas card with a note about getting family pictures in the spring when the babies are both here. So it'll be a late Christmas gift but it is definately time for a new family picture since the last one was taken before Adam's mission. So we will do that hopefully in April.

It was so nice to get together with family and celebrate our Saviors birth together. May we all remember the true spirit of Christmas and giving! We love you all, Happy Holidays!

25 years of bliss!

Yesterday was Mom and Dad's 25th anniversary! Go Mom and Dad! Dad surprised Mom by taking her to Reno to some Silver Hotel that was fancy. They flew there and it was a total surprise to Mom. Needless to say they had a great time together!The boys cleaned and decorated the house while they were gone for two days. I put together a scrapbook for Mom with love letters from all the kids in it. She loved both things!
Thank you Mom and Dad for being such wonderful examples to all of us! We love you!

What a special weekend!

Our weekend started by driving to St. George to spend it with Davee and Raven. They chose to get sealed on the 12th of December. Adam and Josh were witnesses and it was a beautiful sealing. Of course Adam cried tons when he hugged his Dad afterward. All of Davee's kids were there after the sealing to celebrate with them. They ordered Olive Garden, yum!

I just have to add that the sealer was this cute old guy. Janae and I were sitting by eachother and he said to Dad and Raven, "Oh and it looks like one of your daughters is going to be having a baby," he was looking right at me. They said, "Yes, both of them." Janae was right next to me and he didn't notice she was expecting but he sure noticed me. Mind you she is due in a month and I am due in a little under 3 months. Ya, let's be honest my belly sticks out!

I also had a birthday, 22 years old! My Mom and Dad got me this darling coat, I love it!My Aunt Annetee and Johna came all the way up to Logan in the snow, that was so nice of them. They got me the shirt and vest below.

My sister got me mascara and two lip glosses. I was in desperate need of both! Jared, although he is on his mission had Lisa burn a Journey CD for Dayton because the day before he left Jared was listening to Journey and Dayton was just kicking like crazy and Jared felt it. So Jared decided Dayton had good taste in music and got him a CD to listen to now and later.

Jo got me nice dress socks to wear to school which I badly needed. Nate got me nail polish and nail polish remover. He is a thinker you definately need both as a girl. I have to say too, he picked cute colors. I painted my finger nails yesterday for the first time in over a year. So good job boys!

Grandma and Grandpa Barker sent a card because they couldn't drive up with the weather and Grandma's health. The other pictures are of Dad and Annette and Johna.

Also it is our 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY! Yeah! We celebrated with a yummy ham dinner and a spoiled night just the two of us and our jetted tub. Oh, and an early bed time! I got Adam a new wedding ring since he lost his and he got me way cute red flat shoes. Happy anniversary hunny! I love you!

I hope they call me on a mission!

My brother Jared left yesterday to the MTC. Mom and Dad said he was really happy and in good spirits. He will be there for two months and then he will go to Chile. He will be a great missionary and we are so excited for him!

On the 8th he was set apart. Dad, McCord, Adam, Bishop Stephenson, and the Stake President were in the circle. It was a cool setting apart. It really made me realize what special blessings a missionary of God has placed on their head.

I will be keep a blog for Jared at elderday.blogspot.com so you can keep in touch with him if you are interested!

This picture was taken on his "farewell day" with the Carpenters. Our families have always been really close friends and we used to be neighbors in Salt Lake. It was neat to see them!

Dr. Noorda said...

1. I am having preterm contraction but not preterm labor since I am not dialating.
2. The fetal fibronectin test, for preterm labor, came back negative so that is a 95% chance I will not have the baby in two weeks. That is good!
3. Because the fibronectin was negative we are safe for two weeks but he wants me to take it easy. He said, take some days off within the next two weeks just to rest.
4. We go in again in about a week for another fetal fibronectin test to reassure us for another two weeks.
5. He plans on me still having preterm contractions so when I don't feel well I need to stay resting to minimize the chance of dialating.
6. At 28 weeks babies have over a 90% chance of surviving, I'm 27 weeks now. He really wants me to make it at least 32 weeks if not full term.
7. So I am being obedient and although it is really hard for me I am trying to spend a lot of time doing nothing. Today I took the day off school, although I do have a little cold too, just to rest and not cause my body stress. Adam helped me with the overflowing dishes last night and then did the laundry himself. So we are getting along just fine!

Good News! I have one more week and two days of school til Christmas break and then I can rest all I want. I think we can hit that 32 week mark easy, not that I want Dayton born that early but it is nice to know his odds are really good if he is.

What a day...

It all started at 6am when I woke up to get ready for school. I was not feeling well but as it goes I needed to go to school and not use my sick days. So I went to school and while I was teaching I had 3 contractions in about 4 hours. Keep in mind these all happened while I was sitting, I sat down all morning long. I have been having contractions for about two weeks now and they have been really painful. These are not just uncomfortable, they hurt so bad I cry. Anyway all the ladies at school noticed I did not look well in the lunch room and they all convinced me that 3 contractions was worth going to the doctor for. So although I did not want to use a half day and get a sub I decided that the pain was too much and I would REALLY regret it if something really was wrong with Dayton so I left. Since I carpool to school the speech teacher, Jamie, drove me over the pass to meet Adam in the middle of the school day, so so nice of her!

We called Dr. Noorda and of course he was out of the office today so they sent us to Labor and Delivery in the Womens Center. We spent about two and a half hours there. They put monitors on my belly to keep an eye on Dayton and make sure he was not getting too stressed out. They tested me for a urinary tract infection, dialation, and this other test that checks for preterm labor. Anyway long story short all the tests came back negative and they sent me home and said to talk to my doctor tomorrow when I have my normal appointment and see what he recommends bed rest, meds etc. The nurse did say that Braxtin Hicks the false contractions are not supposed to be painful so these are honest to goodness real contractions!

I told Adam that I can't have these painful, make me cry, contractions multiple times a day, each day for the next three months. If I was a month away I would push through it but three months of this is just too much! Plus these contractions make me so exhausted I can't do my job. So I guess we will see what Dr. Noorda says tomorrow, I'm really hoping he has a solution other than sitting down at work because that does not work for me.

So now I am in bed and have been since 4:00 this afternoon. Adam ordered pizza and I'm resting. I will be going to bed early too I'm sure because I am just WORN OUT! Wish me luck tomorrow! Thank you Adam for being so supportive and kind.

It's birthday time...

Happy Birthday Dad! Thanks for being the best guy ever and loving me so much! I wouldn't be who I am today without you! Hip hip hooray!

Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday Mom!

The day started with all of the kids helping get dinner ready. Nate is missing in this picture he was setting the table. Grandma and Grandpa came and ate with us since it was Mom's birthday. We sure love them! This is the table, sorry my camera could not get everyone and Dad wasn't sitting yet. Mom blew out her 45 candles in a pie! She opened presents too! Happy Birthday Mom we sure love you!After the yummy meal it is tradition that we play basketball as a family. I opted out of playing this year but watching was just as fun. Especially because Adam and Jo surprised us with matching spandex outfits!
They told Mom it was her birthday present! Ha ha!

I did play lightening and war and made 4 shots that were all net! Ya I am an awesome pregnant lady! This year they tried something new, crab soccer. It was funny to watch! Lisa is really quick in awkward positions.

Overall it was a memorable Thanksgiving! We are so grateful for eachother and our little boy this year! We couldn't be happier, we are so blessed!

House Updates and the day after Thanksgiving!

We have worked hard and painted Dayton's room and we painted an accent wall in the bathroom. I must say I love it! I find myself using that bathroom now just to admire how nice the wall looks. We still need to get the chair rail up in the baby's room and then the wall decor. I think it will all come together nice!

The day after Thanksgiving Adam and I went shopping early early! I went with my Mom, Lisa, and Joseph and Adam made some stops I couldn't know about and then caught up to us. I must say it is just fun to wake up when it is dark to get great deals. One of the deals we got was our prelit tree at Lowes for $38! Yeah! When we got home we set up the Christmas decorations and the tree. I think they look pretty! Then later that night we went to see the lights at Temple Square with the Chandler Family! It was sure fun!