My New Nephew!

Isn't he darling??

This is Jonas next to a picture of Nick (his dad) as a baby.

I can't get over how much they look alike!

I thought they should have named him Nickle Pickle Jr,

but they came up with a much better name:

Jonas Alvin August Bangerter

I love love love it!!

 Mama and baby are doing great. 

My parents were in South Africa

picking up Daniel when the baby came, 

so they don't know he's here! 

They're on their way now to meet him, 

but they think they're just going to see Gina at her house. 

Daniel doesn't even know Gina was pregnant! 

It's bound to be an awesome surprise! 

I wish I could be there!! 

(He also doesn't know I'm pregnant!)

20 hours (and counting!)
until we leave Little Rock and head home!
Hallelujah!

Pregnancy Progression

10 weeks

 20 weeks

 23 weeks

 25 weeks

 27 weeks

 29 weeks

 30 weeks

 33 weeks

Playing Catch-Up!

Has it really been over a year since I've blogged?? 

I'm sure there is NO ONE left reading this, 

but I have a new reason to blog. 

But before I get to that, 

I'll give the fast-forward version of the last year.

Living away from Dave was so hard! 

And at the end of the summer
I ended up losing my job anyway. 

Lovely. 

The short version of that story is
that someone I worked with stole my cell phone. 

I was able to track it to their home,
and the police recovered it for me. 

Some new jerk-wad exec from the company
refused to fire the thief, so I left. 

The end.

After Dave came home, things got really exciting. 

We were looking around for a house
-- not urgently-- just looking. 

Well we found an incredible deal on a fantastic house
 and bought it! 

The process was a nightmare. 

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. 

Our realtor said she'd never seen anything like it. 

Therefore, we will never move. Haha!

After about a month in the new house, 

we got the news we had been waiting a long time to get:

WE WERE PREGNANT!!

YAY!!!

(thumb sucker, just liker her mom)

The joy only lasted about 5 minutes.

Then the "morning sickness" set it.

Deathly ill, 24/7 for 4 months.

FOUR MONTHS!!

I truly thought I was dying.

(Dave kept assuring me that I wasn't dying.
If I was, I'd be dead by now)

After losing 10+ lbs
 and 3 separate trips to the hospital for IV fluids,

I did eventually recover.

I was sick on and off for another 2 months 

(26 weeks total), but no longer bedridden.

Thank goodness!

And now (33 weeks)...

I feel much better.

I can't believe my body will be able to accomodate
 another 7 weeks of growing baby,

but I'll happily do it.*

Any 3rd trimester discomfort is still much better than
puking 5x a day!

We're in Little Rock, AR now 

(the first part of the summer we were in Memphis),

and looking forward to heading home soon!

We miss our house
and are anxious to get things ready for the baby.

And that, my friends, is why I returned to the blog:

For the baby.

I know I'll want to have a place to keep track of her life 

and our experiences as new parents.

xoxo

(10 weeks----- 20 weeks----- 30 weeks)

*Dave's cousin and his wife were expecting a baby 2 weeks ahead of us. 

Due to complications, the baby came 6 weeks early. 

She was 4lbs, 2 oz. 

She's going to be fine, but it's been a rough road for them. 

That's why I say I'll happily carry my baby to full term. 

It's better than the alternative!

Mixed Feelings

Visiting Dave made me SO glad I don't live out there!

I would be bored out of my mind!

And I hardly got to see him.

Plus, I missed my friends and family,

and REALLY missed the dogs!

However, now that I'm back, I miss Dave! So much!

I'd love to be bored and stay in bed all day!

I want to see him!

Even if it's only for an hour a day!

Again, I know that's not really what I want.

I'd lose my mind.

I need to keep busy.

Not to mention I don't want to quit my job

just to have to find a new one in the fall.

Yep, mixed feelings about sums it up.

I'm going to try to have a good attitude

about the position I'm in,

because that's the only way to be happy

in such a complicated situation.

Wish me luck!

T minus 26 days and counting

until I see Dave again!!

Counting The Days...

...until I get to see Dave!!

And it's just 3 days now!

On Wednesday night I fly out of SLC

and arrive in IN around noon.

It's going to be a short trip,

but better than no trip!

I fly out on Sunday afternoon

and get back late on Sunday.

I seriously cannot wait!!

Maybe seeing where he's living

and how much he's working

will make me grateful I'm

NOT out there with him

:)

Pouty Face...

I have no patience today, I'm ornery as can be, and I'm bluer than blue.

I know all the reasons I stayed here in Logan while Dave is gone, but it's still hard. I just want to go be with him.

I tried to keep to myself as much as possible at work today to try to avoid losing my job for biting someone's head off. I've been successful so far.

Maybe I just need a nap. And some ibuprofen.

P.S. Later in the afternoon on this day, Dave sent me flowers!! So sweet!

Dilemma

Dave moves to Michigan in 2.5 weeks.

I was planning on staying in Logan because I love my job

(aaaand I went crazy last summer with nothing to do).

But...

Last week I was moved from my fantastic admin job

to be the receptionist.

And I hate it.

HATE. IT.

And if you know me at all,

you know I have a hard time hiding my true feelings.

So I've been openly

mad

ornery

sad

bitter

hurt

and just all-together unpleasant about it.

While complaining to a co-worker, a girl came in for an interview.

She overheard some of my ramblings and, after the co-worker left,

said very quietly and sweetly,

"At least you don't work at Arby's."

She does.

Brick to the forehead.

I may not have my dream job,

but they didn't dock my pay when they made me the receptionist,

they still treat me like a part of the executive staff,

and I get free lunch every Tuesday.

And I don't work at Arby's.

Bright side acknowledged.

It's still hart to be saying goodbye to Dave,

but I really was so lonely and unhappy last summer.

This summer:

I'll be living with a girlfriend whose husband will also be gone,

I'll be able to spend lots of time with my family,

and hopefully take a couple of amazing trips

(Brazil?? Please Dave?? Vanessa, come with me!!)!

So I'm trying to be more pleasant at work.

I'm grateful to have a job when so many don't.

Even if it means being the receptionist

when I am capable of so much more.

I'll just have to be the best damn receptionist around!!

P.S. My apologies for the language.

Since losing my admin job,

I've been throwing a lot of damn's and hell's around... :)