My 28 Week Ultrasound

I had my 28 week appointment. I can't believe I am in my third trimester...I'm still having a hard enough time believing I'm pregnant. We are getting excited though. We got the second crib from our friends and have it ready to put up in Eddie's room. The newborn clothes are ready in their plastic bin. About the only thing left is to find a dresser and pick up a few "seconds" of things like bumpers and sheets that we will need.

 The baby has been moving like crazy lately. He seems to be just as active as Eddie was. Now that he is bigger, Dan can feel the movements as well. I think it still creeps him out a little. He keeps telling me I need to watch Alien...I'm thinking probably not since I already have crazy dreams.

I've been feeling really well. For the most part I have been able to continue exercising 2-3 days a week through most of the pregnancy. Then add the extra running around chasing Eddie, and I am 15 pounds lighter this pregnancy. I had been doing really good not having many cravings until the last couple weeks. I am in the stage where I could eat all day, every day. So I crave Chick Fil A, cookies, ice cream, ya know all that healthy stuff. So I try really hard to balance it out by eating extra healthy. Now that Eddie is eating our food it really helps because I want him to eat healthy. So we eat lots of strawberries, cottage cheese, yogurt etc.

But the doctor said all looks well. He figures the baby is about 2.5-3 pounds. I'm kind of worried he might be a big boy. But as long as he's healthy I'll take it. I had my glucose test. Other than about throwing up the nasty drink, the blood results came back fine. Then I got a shot in the ass for my blood type being rH-. All these shots could have been avoided had Dan only been A- instead of +. If only I would have asked his blood type when we were dating:)

We're still unsure of a name, but we have time to figure it out. We have a few that we have been tossing around, but none feels quite right. I keep thinking it will be like Eddie and we will just know. Eddie was always going to be Eddie as long as he stayed a boy. I feel bad always referring to the baby as "the baby". But I guess as long as he doesn't leave the hospital as baby boy we should be good.

I Think I'll Master the Slide Today

Today Dan and I were in the nursery at church. The kids always have a lot of fun playing on a little plastic slide. Well, Eddie decided that he wanted to be a big boy today. I left him alone and watched for about 5 minutes as he figured out how to climb up, and go down the slide. It started out pretty rough. At first, he would sit sideways and let one leg go down, while the other was still at the top where his hands were tightly holding on. It was a serious case of the splits. Thank goodness babies are bendy. But after a few times like that, he figured out how to go down on his belly, then it was just a matter of time before he could swing his leg around on top and go down on his butt. I know my opinion is a little bias, but I think he's a pretty smart kid.

He loved going down that slide like a big boy. I bet he climbed up and slid down at least 20 times. It made for a great nap after church!

Eddie's 1 Year Pediatrician Appointment

Eddie went to the doctor today for his 1 year visit and shots. He weighs 20 pounds 3 ounces which puts him in the 12th percentile. He is 31 inches long which is the 85th percentile for height. So my baby is tall and skinny. It's amazing to think he was such a chunker as a baby. Becoming mobile has definitely leaned him out. He has 10 teeth, 4 on top and 6 on the bottom. He has 2 more on top about ready to come through and according to the doctor has a few molars that are swollen as well. Oh how I love teething!

Eddie is healthy and happy and right on track. The doctor was even kind enough to suggest that instead of scheduling Eddie's 15 month visit now, perhaps I should wait until I have the baby and schedule the 2 week and 15 month at the same time to save me a trip. Hadn't thought of that!!! Holy crap is all I can say!

Cancun Mexico

Dan and I had the opportunity to go to Cancun, Mexico June 2-8. After going on a Caribbean cruise last January, we had said that if we ever got the chance to come back to Cancun we needed to make it happen. We figured that would be in 15-20 years from now. But thanks to Dan's parents and his Aunt and Uncle Summers, we were able to make it happen now.

The trip consisted of a group of 12. Dan and I, Dave and Julie Summers (Dan's aunt and uncle), their son Zac who is my age, and then Dan's brother Joe, his wife Tiffany and their 5 children. It was kind of an odd group of people, but we had an absolute blast.

Dan and I, after much deliberation, decided not to take Eddie. The hardest part of the trip was being without him for a week. However, I know that we left him in good hands. I had my motherly worries, but the evidence shows what a great time he had. We left him with our dear friends Ryan and Jeni and their 3 boys who Eddie adores. He was so busy trying to keep up with those boys that he only had time to eat and sleep.  Connor, Levi and Parker were telling everyone that their friend Eddie was coming to stay. They said his name is Eddie Cardall, but he's Eddie Walton this week. Their middle boy, Levi, the week prior to us leaving kept asking Jeni when we would be leaving so they could have Eddie. What a cute group of boys!!!

Our goal during the trip was not relaxation or shopping, it was to see as many ruins as possible. We hired a personal LDS tour guide who took us to 4 different sets of ruins on 2 separate days. We piled into a van at 7:45 am and made it back to the resort about 7pm both nights. Although it was very physically taxing, especially with being 6 months pregnant, it was also one of the most spiritual experiences I have had. It was amazing to see possible locations of Book of Mormon events. It really made it all come to life. The signs left on these civilizations prove that Jesus Christ did come to the American continents and that he did teach his people. Knowledge did get lost, and the people did become corrupt, but all things still testified of God.

He are Dan and I in Tulum. It was a city built on the coast with the second largest reef in the world to protect it from enemies approaching by ship. There was only one break in the reef, and that was for a ship to be directly aligned with the temple. On the sea side of the Temple were 2 windows that lights would burn in. If a ship only had one window it sight, it would wreck on the reef. It needed to have both, (representing husband and wife), in order to be guided safely in to the Temple, or the Celestial Kingdom.

In Coba we biked around the city to the different locations because it was so big. 

 In Coba there is the largest temple in the world reaching 122 steps high. And yes, I climbed to the top!

View from the top...

On one of the days, in order to get a break for the sweltering heat and humidity, we visited a Cenote. Is is an underground water source that people only discovered once they began sinking in. The water level was about 25 feet under the surface, and the water was probably another 25-30 feet deep. It was one of the neatest things I have ever seen, and the kids loved it.

On our day off from ruins, Zac, Dave, Dan and I decided to go snorkeling. After all, when will I ever get this chance again. We snorkeled off the coast at the world's second largest barrier reef. I have to say the experience was a little scarier than I had imagined.

We loaded onto a boat. Put on life jackets, flippers, goggles and a snorkel... then they took us out to what felt like the middle of the ocean and told us to jump out of the boat. I am not a very good swimmer, so water is not my favorite thing. Not to mention every scary movie involving oceans suddenly was flooding my mind as I tread water with the other 40 scared souls at the first snorkel site. Had the water been cold, it may have felt like the set of Titanic.

But after the initial fear, it ended up being a wonderful experience. We were able to relax and just float/swim around seeing the amazing fish. The reef was not a vibrant as what I thought it would be. But after all, coral does die after it is touched and I'm sure people swim these sites at least twice a day, most days of the year. So while the reef was not amazing, the fish definitely were. Too bad my sad little underwater, disposable camera did not do a better job. Can you even get disposable cameras developed anymore? It may be hard to believe but the answer is yes...at least at walmart anyway.

Here are some Mayan people dressed in their sacred robes consisting of a hat, a sash over their shoulder, and an apron covered in flowers and leaves. Hmmmm...

Most people have heard of ChichenItza, where all the planets are supposed to align for the end of the world on December 21, 2012.

On this temple, on March 21, the sun casts a shadow down one side of the Temple that creates a snakes body which then matches the remaining sides that have it carved into stone. Archeologists say this is due to the solstice. However, what they can't explain and choose to ignore is that 16 days later, on April 6, a final segment appears on the snakes body that points to the alter on a nearby temple.

As our guide, Heleman, said time and time again... it is because of the Book of Mormon that we are blessed to have some additional understanding when the world can't make sense of it.

This was in Ek Balam. On this temple, there are 4 statues and each one is making a different sign with it's hands. Can you tell the signs that these 2 are making?

Another temple I just had to climb to the top!

There were so many amazing things that we saw and learned. I only wish I could share them all. I think that everyone should get the experience to travel to the Cancun area and get to see these amazing sites of Book of Mormon history. Now if I can only get the chance to visit the church sites back East one of these days. That will be my next goal on the vacation list.

What an amazing trip that Dan and I had the chance to go on. I learned about enough to write my own book. Well, maybe not write a book, but enough to leave me thinking about the things I saw and learned for quite some time. Thanks again to everyone who made this dream vacation a reality!

Eddie's 1st Birthday

My baby boy turned one year old today. I can't believe he is one, much less that Dan and I survived the first year! We had a big party at Grandma and Grandpa Cardall's pool house with lots of friends and family to celebrate with us. The weather was on the cool side, but most of the kids still went swimming.

Below is Eddie's Birthday Invite that we sent out...

I had a ton of cupcakes, cookies, and a teddy bear smash cake made by one of Dan's sister's friends since I was out of town until late last night. I wanted to do a teddy bear cake since I call Eddie my Eddie-bear. Then I learned from Dan, that his mom made a bear cake for all of their first birthday's. So I guess we just continued the tradition!

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Eddie, happy birthday to you!

Here is Eddie eating his birthday cake. He started out pretty timid until he realized how yummy it was. The mess was kept to a minimum though because he ate 90% of each handful. No way was he going to waste it!

The after birthday cake clean up...

Time for presents!!!!!

Eddie had an amazing first birthday. I have no doubt that Eddie knows how much he is loved. Dan and I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has helped us through the past year, and thanks to all of our many family and friends for all of your love and support. I truly believe the old saying that "It takes a village to raise a child", and we have one heck of a village!