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... :)

I Think I Need To Have Kids

I never have anything to blog about, or to scrapbook about... so I either need kids or more money. Because if I traveled a lot I'd have stuff to blog and scrapbook about.

xoxo

Life is So Fragile.

A friend from work was killed in a car accident on Saturday morning.

He passed out at the wheel

(not sure what happened, but I guess he had some sort of medical history...)

and was thrown from his car.

Please wear your seat belts!!

He was 20 years old, with a wife and 2 kids-- the younger is 5 months old.

He and his wife were married in the temple.

article here

Having this happen on the heels of almost losing my husband

has made it very clear to me just how fragile life is.

I'm so grateful for my family and friends (that means YOU!).

Sorry to be a downer.

On a lighter note...

Happy Valentine's day!

And happy 2nd anniversary to my honey.

xoxo

Adding Insult to Injury...

Or vice versa I guess...

When Dave had finally made it back to Logan, he went to return the snowmobiles to his friend. They are kept in an enclosed trailer, so Dave just had to ride them in. There was a lip at the entrance to the trailer, so he had to get some speed to get over it. Well, he was paying attention to the floor and not the ceiling... so he hit his head HARD on the opening to the trailer.

So now he has a lovely gash on the top of his head that was gushing blood. Thank goodness it doesn't need stitches because it wasn't a cut coming straight down-- more like a scalping :) I know, lovely right?

My poor Dave needs a vacation. And so do I. :)

FEAR.

Early yesterday morning, while I was getting ready for work, Dave was preparing to go on a snowmobiling day trip. He was so excited, he almost left without kissing me good bye. After a sweet kiss, I told him to be sure those lips came home safe and sound. He promised.

On my way to work, I was thinking about our relationship: our 2.5 years of dating and (almost) 2 years of marriage. I thought about all the issues we had to get thru before we could get married -- i.e. Dave had to stop being afraid of me :) I called him just to tell him I was so glad we were married and happy and I'm sorry I take him for granted. He agreed and said he loved me too. i didn't want to hang up, but I knew he was anxious to get going, so I said bye and told him to be safe.

Skip to 8 pm. No word from Dave. I didn't expect him to be home by 8, but I did expect him to be back in the range of cell service by 8. I was worried, but at the same time figured they were just having too much fun or had stopped to eat or whatever. I finally got a call from him at 8:30, and learned that my worries were justified.

Skip back to approx 4pm. Dave and his friend Dallas are having a great time playing on the snowmobiles. It was time to head back, so they were looking for a place to turn around. Dallas was following Dave-- or so he thought. Dallas found a place to turn around, and got stuck. Dave had no idea. he just kept going thinking Dallas was behind him. Dave then found a place to turn around, and also got stuck. They were each all alone, and it was getting dark. They each started heading toward a little shack they had passed earlier. It got dark and cold. They got scared.

Dave's dad and the people he was with got worried. They went to the shack and found Dallas there. He had made it there after hours of hiking thru the snow, in the dark. He had feared for his life, wondering if he'd be found, and even left a note to his wife on his cell phone, thinking it would be found along with his frozen body. They asked where Dave was. Dallas didn't know. He didn't know Dave hadn't made it back.

They called the Search and Rescue team , who was eventually able to find Dave only because he had the flash on his cell phone shining. Otherwise, he doesn't think he would have been found. He was preparing for the possibility of spending the night in the snow sub-zero temperatures. his fingers and toes were purple, hardly kept warm by his snow gear. Thank goodness nothing had to be amputated!!

I'm still very emotional about the whole thing, mostly because I haven't talked to Dave since 10pm, since there is no service where they are. He had to drive almost an hour just to call to let me know he was okay. And I'm obviously dying to see him!

I'm not going to lie-- as it approaches sundown, I'm getting nervous all over again. But I'm sure he's fine. Right?

I'm so glad tragedy was averted, but I'm also grateful I was able to tell Dave that morning just how much I loved him. I joked with Dallas's wife that Dallas loved her more than Dave loved me because she got a love letter! Then I said, or maybe Dave loves me more because he never lost the will to live ;)

CARLOS SANTANA SHOES FOR $26.70!! TODAY ONLY!

Roulette shoes from Carlos by Carlos Santana

Retail price: $89

Discount price: $26.70

Percent discount: 70% off!

Promo code: Today2011

Possible Multiple Personalities

I think I have multiple personalties. Just two really. Maybe.

• My two favorite icons: Audrey Hepburn and Beyonce
• My favorite brands: Chanel, Coach, Tory Burch, and Volcom
• My favorite shoes: Platform heels (Jessica Simpson and Steve Madden) and flip flops or tennies (DC, Volcom, Vans...)
• My favorite foods: Creme Brulee, Tirimisu, and pizza
• My favorite shows: Fashion Police, Law and Order SVU and football
• My favorite movies: Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Holiday and The Rock
• My favorite books: The Scarlet Pimpernel, Pride and Prejudice, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (series)
• Favorite songs: Heartbreak Warfare (John Mayer) and Diva (Beyonce)
• Favorite outfits: heels with a pencil skirt or jeans with a t-shirt and hoodie
• Favorite vacation places: Maui, Bahamas, and Disneyland

Obsessed

I'm so obsessed with Audrey Hepburn!

Roman Holiday

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Charade

Wait Until Dark...

I've always loved her, but this book is what made me obsessed:

She was glamorous, fabulous, kind, and humble.

She was truly shocked by her success and fame.

Read it. Love it. Become obsessed.

You can find the book on sale here.

BaaaaaaaHumbug!

Not in regards to Christmas, just winter in general!

Currently it is -2 degrees,

but the weather channel says it feels like -12!!

I think they meant to say

it feels like HELL!!

Hell is none of that fire and brimstone garbage.

Hell is cold.

And I am in it.

Meanwhile, my hubby is in Vegas.

He's there working, but still!

I would eat my left ear for a tropical vacation!

Or sell a kidney,

or whatever would get me on a beach in the sun.

This time last year,

we were on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera:

What I would give to be there now...

Christmas is Coming!

I can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged! Such a slacker.

Christmas is right around the corner, and I'm totally ready for it! I spent the weekend finishing up Dave's Christmas shopping (as in: buying stuff for Dave to give to people. I finished my shopping for him and everyone else a long time ago). I also did quite a bit of shopping for my boss. His wife was RUN OVER by a car after the BYU/UofU football game. She broke both of her legs, and is in a wheelchair for another 3 weeks (it's been 3 weeks since the accident). So they needed some help. I had a bLaSt spending someone else's money!!

Dave and I will be heading to Washington for Christmas. We'll be spending it with his family. His sister and her family moved there last month. We're not excited for the 13 hr drive, but we are excited to spend time with everyone there!

I had 2 crowns done at the dentist last week. It's been almost a week, and I still can't eat! If I try, then I wake up in the night with my teeth and jaw throbbing. So I've quit trying. I'm having strictly protein shakes and pudding. I can't take it anymore...! Hopefully this won't last too much longer. I get the permanent crowns on the 29th. I hope that doesn't start the pain all over again! And I can't believe how much I'm paying for this pain!! After insurance, it'll be almost a THOUSAND DOLLARS for the 2 crowns. Gag.

Dave is selling his Audi for a BMW X5-- supposedly today! Merry Christmas to him! I'll post pics when all is said and done.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Let's all try to remember what Christmas is all about-- and enjoy the feeling of giving as much as receiving. xoxo

What to Post About? Car Accident.

I'm sick of my Halloween post. Such a downer. I just want to forget about it. Not that a car accident is any less of a bummer...

On Saturday, Dave's company had a formal awards banquet. I was so excited! I NEVER got asked to a single dance in high school, so I was really looking forward to getting prettied up. I got my hair done at the beauty college in Provo. BAD IDEA. The bad lady from Goonies did my hair. okay, it wasn;t her, but she sure looked like her... plus 200 lbs. This chick weighed at least 300+ pounds and had purple hair. I should have run.

Next I went to Nordstrom and had my make up done at the Chanel counter (**highlight of the day!). The cute make up lady asked me what dance i was getting ready for. Bless her heart! that made my day.

I left Nordstrom and headed to my parent's house to change and then to meet Dave at the banquet. Traffic was horrendous. Stop and go. Bumper to bumper. An SUV in front of me stopped suddenly. I had to slam on my breaks, but was able to stop in time. Just then I hear screeching of breaks, and look in the rear view mirror just in time to see a little old civic crash into me. And that pushed me into the car in front of me.

Long story short, it was the fault of the guy behind me, he's been great to deal with, his insurance is paying for everything, I'm very sore but starting to feel better, I go to the chiropractor and a massage therapist every-other-day, aaand my car will be good as new tomorrow. Yay! I am not loving the bright blue Chevy Aveo rental.

So, I'm okay. The banquet was fun-- even though I threw up right before and I was shaky all evening. Tuesday was the most painful post-accident day, but it's been uphill from there.

Halloween Bummer

Like I mentioned in my last post, I just switched offices for my job. Same company, different location.

Well, today was our Halloween party and it sucked. I don't know anyone, no one knows me, and everyone looked at me like I was nuts for dressing up! Only like 5 people dressed up.

I thought my costume was fun and creative: I wore pajamas, slippers, had my hair done (Thanks Isabel!) in a cute up-do and a tiara, and wore a fuzzy sleep mask (on my forehead). I was "Sleeping Beauty." I thought it was cute but I guess not.

At LANDesk, the company I worked for a few years ago, Halloween was awesome! Everyone dressed up and had a good time. They had everyone bring in their kids for trick or treating and a costume contest.

So, today I feel like an idiot because no one clapped for me in the costume contest.

Work Things

So, I still really like my job. It's been awesome so far. Today they are rolling out some changes, one of which involves me:

There are two buildings of Call Assistant employees. The buildings are about a mile apart, and we will all be moving to a bigger space in March. In the meantime, I have been moved to the other building. This isn't necessarily a bad thing-- or a good thing really. It's just a thing. I still support Nathan (by original boss), but now I help his boss (Mike) and everyone else that works for Mike (Ashley and Sapi- who are in building 2). So that adds 3 more people to the list of people I support.

Not only that, but my desk is the front desk of the 2nd building. I thought my front desk days were over!! Sigh...

Things I've learned about the new building:

• It's cleaner
• It's quieter
• It's colder
• It's closer to my apt (by about 12 seconds :))
• It's next door to Little Ceasars (this will be the death of me... or at least the death of my waist line...)
• It's lonelier

And so it is. I will make the most of building 2, and hopefully I'll make some friends soon. Then maybe it won't be so lonely.

Funny story: As I was setting up my desk, some guy, about 22 yrs old, walks up and asks who I am. I explained I'm Nathan's assistant, but there were people at this building that needed an admin too. He sits down next to my desk with his lunch and says, "Well this is where I always eat my lunch, so I guess I'll be bugging you a lot." It's quite obvious that he's hitting on me. Then, even after I explained my job, he said, "So you're the receptionist?" "No, I am an admin. I just happen to sit by the front door. I'm too old to be a receptionist." He laughed and asked how old I was. "27." "Oh, you are too old." Then he picked up his lunch and went to the break room. Awesome. Crisis averted!

On a better note, these are the shoes I'm wearing today:

"Carrie" by Guess

xoxo

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!

If you know me AT ALL,

you know I looooove shoes.

Especially heels.

But I pretty much love them all.

My cute friend Heidi has an awesome new blog

documenting her shoes!

I would absolutely recommended checking it out.

I love to see her shoe of the day!

She has like TWICE as many pairs of shoes as I do!!

So it's going to be quite a while

before she gets each one posted.

Her project has inspired me,

and I think I'm going to do the same thing.

I'll be documenting my shoe collection on FB

(as soon as we move into our apt

and I get to pull my babies out of storage!!).

Heidi, "The Shoeologist," is having a contest,

so be sure to check out her blog

for a chance to win some fabulous Nine West heels!

The Shoeologist

Happy drooling!!

xoxo