Ultrasound, waistline, blankets, cloth diapers and burp cloths!

Thanks to Taylor's older Sister Natalie, WE WERE ARE ABLE TO GET AN EARLY ULTRA SOUND!!!!! We're having a...

BABY BOY!!!



Taylor and I are VERY excited!! He is developing perfectly from his brain right down to his little hands and feet. It was very fun to see him, because until he recently started moving, I haven't even known he's there. It was so surreal to sit and think that a HUMAN LIFE is growing in my belly--what a magical thing. For my Parents, our little guy will be their 10th Grandson, but for the Barlows, he is their FIRST GRANDSON! His name will either be Anson Call Barlow or Ezra (still working on a middle name. Special thanks to Natalie for giving us the best Christmas gift EVER!!

Waistline:
Well, up until two weeks ago, if you looked at me, you'd have no clue that I'm pregnant, but slowly as our little guy grows my belly is starting to stick out quite a bit more. I can't say that this has been easy for me, it makes our little boy coming seem so much more real, but it's hard to watch my body change. I feel so selfish saying that, but I know it will be worth it in the end when I hold my Son for the first time. Our little one has started swallowing amniotic fluid to prepare his digestive system for eating when he's born, but he is also starting to taste everything I'm eating. It's interesting and a little trying, because this gal craves some good 'ol caffeine now and again, but there will be no more of that, because I don't want to cause any complications or addict my son to a substance or cause problems for him in the future.

Cloth Diapers:



Taylor and I have decided a put our little guy in cloth diapers!! We are very excited, because not only have cloth diapers come a long way, but we will save thousands of dollars! The average person if they go to walmart and buy a package of huggies spend around $800 to $1000 per year for one child, so that averages out to be around $2500 per child depending on when they start potty training. With Cloth diapering, it's expensive to start, because you'll want to try out several brands to decide which ones you like best and you need to buy about 20 diapers total. Those 20 diapers will last through 2 to 3 kids and the start up cost is about $400 to $500 depending on the brands you choose!! Again, thanks to Natalie, we were able to buy 5 cloth diapers for $46!! At regular price, this brand (thirsties) would have cost over $86 with tax at regular price! In other words, Natalie hooked us up with a great deal through her friend!!!

Receiving blankets & burp cloths:





I have been very domestic while I've been here in Arizona with the help of Taylor's Mom and Sister of course! I picked out three different fabrics and made receiving blankets and matching burp cloths! I think they turned out very cute and I'm very proud that I made something for our little boy! I think having handmade things is important. I hope to learn to crochet before I leave so that I can make a blessing blanket.

That's all for now! Stay tuned for more updates!!

Early Ultrasound...

Okay, so we're sitting at the dinner table yesterday here in Arizona and Natalie pipes up and tells me that her friend has a ultrasound machine and can read if it's a boy or girl. My appointment at home isn't until January 4th, so I've given it some thought and if Nat's friend is willing, I think we're gonna find out earlier. What do you think? Should we wait for the Doctor appointment or just find out now??

Making progress!

The foundation has been poured for the addition on our house and now we just have to play the waiting game for the loan to go through so we can start framing!! We are very excited to bring our ideas to life. Spring time will bring a lot of work, but it will be well worth it to have our own home and also to have a place to bring the baby home to!

Thanksgiving '09

We are so grateful for the opportunity we had to spend Thanksgiving with my family this year, it's wonderful to celebrate with the ones you love. We missed Taylor's family dearly, but we'll be at their house for Christmas this year. We are so grateful for all our family and good friends and all that we have been blessed with in our lives, especially this new little one. Here are some photos from the day!



My adorable nieces and nephews







If you know my Dad at all, you know that he drinks diet coke like water quite literally and so we had to document him drinking a mountain dew.





We had a great week and half in Portland and already miss my family like crazy!

Cooking: I kinda LIKE it

Celeste pre pregnancy LOVED eating out and I still kinda like it, but it mostly makes my tummy really upset now. I CRAVE home cooked food now and Taylor can tell you that I have been going ALL out lately, because I ALWAYS want something different (I know he LOVES it).

Here is a little sampling: It was so pretty, I HAD to take a picture!



The lighting is a little red, but it's a Salmon fillet with mango salsa and cilantro lime rice. IT WAS AMAZING!!

As I said, this is just a sampling. I've been making egg salad, bacon egg and cheese sandwiches, loaded breakfast burritos, TONS of homemade salsa, waffles, cookies from scratch, peach cobbler and tonight I made the MOST DELISH enchiladas EVER!!! YUMMMM LIFE IS BUENO!!

Halloweeny 2009

This year we were invited to a Halloween party at the Zebes! We had a lot of fun and Mike and Bre were great hosts!




This is just a taste of the AWESOME food we had! Bre made the most amazing things like the sushi pictured above made of rice crispy treats, vanilla frosting, fruit roll ups and swedish fish, with green vanilla frosting to imitate wasabi! Also pictured is my pumpkin shaped cheese ball-- SO YUMMY! We also had fruit complete with chocolate and caramel dipping sauce, 7 layer dip and chips!!! Needless to say that both Tay and my tummy hurt SOOOOOOO BAD when we left...




I didn't get a chance to get a picture of the Woodard family and realized at the end of the night that I am nowhere to be seen... WHOOPS! The Woodards were strawberry farmers and Paisley was a strawberry; she looked SOOOO CUTE!!! She is pictured here with her Mama's wig on. The Zebes were each other (Mike as Bre, Bre as Mike) and little Ande was a Who, The Flakes were Osama Bin Ladin and a U.S. soilder who caught him and Taylor was Obama and I was a flapper.



Look!!! It's Osama and Obama forming an ALLIANCE! OH THE IRONY!!!!

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Little Barlow

It's official! I'm 11 weeks pregnant with Baby Barlow, due May 14th.

Little one,

Mommy took 3 pregnancy tests just to make sure you were really there and to prove it to Daddy. I would never know that you're even there if you didn't like making me really sick all day long, but the doctor gave me some nausea pills and they have SAVED Mommy's life! You are letting me eat whatever now with a few cravings(sandwiches, stouffer's mac n cheese, fruit and really spicy food). You've given Mommy REALLY bad acne, but you're totally worth it and I know it'll go away once you're here with us.
When Mommy saw you on an ultrasound, I teared up a little when I saw your heartbeat and Daddy took your picture around to show all of his friends. We can't wait to meet you. I'll write again soon.

My 24th Birhday

Taylor could NOT wait for me to open my gift until Friday, so I opened my gift Thursday night and I got...



I am SOOOO excited, it was exactly what I wanted!!

FRIDAY I had to work, but I ended the night in an AWESOME way with a FREE entree at Warbirds cafe in Driggs with Taylor and the Woodards. Thanks for coming guys! We had a GREAT time!



SATURDAY was even MORE FABULOUS!! Taylor and the Flakes took me to Salmon to Gold bug Hot Springs!! It was so much fun and we ended the night with an AMAZING dinner at the local pub. I had a Philly Cheese steak sandwich that was HUGE AND SOOOOO DELICIOUS!!!









What's a Birthday without SHOES??? My Mom and Dad sent me two adorable pairs of shoes! Thanks Mama and daddy! Thanks everyone for the best Birthday EVER!!! Thanks for all the phone calls, cards and texts! LOVE YOU ALL!! Especially my HUB, who is the BEST EVER!!!!

Conference Weekend

Mike and Bre's little girl Ande!! We LOVE HER!!





The Zebes invited us all over to hang for conference weekend. The EXTRAVAGANZA begun Saturday night with a fabulous potato bar (potatoes courtesy of the truck that gave them away for FREE) and then we played rockband well into the night. We had SUPER SLUMBER PARTY and watched conference on Sunday and Bre made us some yummy HOMEMADE ROLLS and CREAMY WHITE CHILLI!!! All in all, it was a SUPER weekend! Thanks ZEBERS!!!!

Bless this home...

As promised, here are some photos of our new home that we are remodeling, we've torn it to bits of course, but when it's done it will be BEAUTIFUL and it will be OURS.

The Exterior: it's to be completely re-done, so excited about the materials we like, it's going to turn out AWESOME!!



The bathroom



Here is another photo of the bathroom, but you can kind of see our bedroom to the left with the remnants of the AWESOME FUCHSIA SHAG CARPET!



The kitchen





The living room



Here is the GORGEOUS oak floor that was covered by this truly UGLY carpet and is throughout the living room, bedrooms and hallway! We are so excited to refinish it, it's going to look so RUSTIC when we're done!



Rooms missing: there is a second bedroom, and a HUGE utility room with which we are going to make the kitchen larger and there is an unfinished basement that we will renovate in the next two or three years.

I will keep you all posted on how things are going and take photos as the addition goes up and the new exterior. We are adding to the back of the house to make our room larger, so it'll be AWESOME!!!! I even get a walk-in closet!! YAY SHOES!! We are also adding a garage and connecting it to the house.

“A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.”

Family is the BEST EVER continued...

Alrighty then, sorry I got a little impatient after sitting at the computer for two hours waiting for photos to upload. Now we can continue with the FUNNESS!!!

Funny faces with my BESTEST COUSIN and FRIEND Covina AKA Beaners







Park + fun bouncy toy = DANCE PARTY



Tire swing = SUPER ULTRA FUN and a little Nausea... I hate being a grown up.



Here's Beaners being brought back to her childhood, swinging so fast that she could possibly VOMIT!



Family Randomness, we're all over the place. I LOVE it!!!



Little chubs passed out on Grandma's lap. Little did he know that his Mama, his Sister and his Aunty were TEARIN IT UP ON THE WATER SLIDE!!!



Tourism: It's what we do!





Wouldn't be a trip to Jackson without going to YIPI-I-O CANDY CO.!!



Luca V Boutique in Jackson + two dresses purchased = FABULOUS!!



We also HIKE MOUNTAINS







This is "Earthchild," ain't she GORGEOUS!?



Pretty Tree



WE MADE IT TO THE TOP!!! IT'S JUST A LITTLE PRETTY... Jason and Addy are little specks to the right.





Wienie Roastin





Who knew this could be SO ENTERTAINING!!? Leave it to RY.



Fishin







Jellystone

Cute Mom and Dad







That's MY NAME ON A PAINT POT IN JELLYSTONE... Sort of.







"I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich." ~Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford, "Identity Crisis," M*A*S*H