Can't Help Myself

I spent some of the weekend putting up some fall decor around my mom's house.  I don't have my own and it's almost unhealthy how excited I get and how much time I spend just thinking about having a house to decorate for holidays someday.  I made that Halloween banner and advent calendar last year (total PB knockoffs), and I claim it's for my kids to enjoy but really...I couldn't wait to get them out of storage :)  I may have already been stressing about the thought of not ordering Baby Girl #2's stocking early enough to have by Christmas...yes I've thought about this multiple times and I have the actual stocking already picked out and ready to go, we just need to decide on a name.  Which, currently our front runners are Abby, Emily and Olivia.

I'm officially in my third trimester now (I'll post a bump update soon), and I'm starting to feel it. The kicks aren't magical, soft little movements anymore but painful, sharp jabs and stretches--I'd forgotten how bad they can hurt. But I must say this pregnancy has been a lot less painful overall and not just because we aren't dealing with the stress of a flooded apartment, graduation, and a cross-country move.  There has been no tailbone pain to speak of, barely any sciatic nerve pain, and only a couple instances of round ligament pain so far (knock on wood). It's gone by so fast and I feel like once October hits the rest of the year will fly by. It's crazy to think that Baby Girl #2 will be here in 10 weeks, and that Halloween and Thanksgiving will both happen during that 10 weeks. Yikes!

Goodbye Summer

Even though it's still in the 80's outside, we are ready to welcome fall around here

Finally

"And all at once, summer collapsed into fall."

Movie Buffs

Brody and I share a love of movies, or at least a desire to love movies, (I especially am becoming more and more hard to please..) and there are a lot of promising movies to look forward to this fall so I'm trying to keep my expectations in check while still allowing a good amount of excitement. But look how long that list is! Yay!  Plus all our TV shows will be back on in the fall...

• Star Wars: The Force Awakens - I think everyone wants to see this one. And will.
• Spectre - I really liked Skyfall and can't wait to see Christophe Waltz as a Bond villain. Absolutely!
• The Martian - The cast. The concept. Based on a good book. I'm there. (I also want to read the book so if you have a copy...)
• Steve Jobs - I loved The Social Network and am really curious to see what Aaron Sorkin has done with Steve Jobs' story. Plus Danny Boyle intrigues me so it should be good, right?
• Bridge of Spies - Spielberg and Hanks in a Cold War drama about an attorney? Yes please.
• The Intern - I just kind of love Nancy Meyers movies (Father of the Bride, Somethings Gotta Give, It's Complicated) even though it's usually more for the homes and interiors than anything else ;)
• Hateful 8 - Tarantino is a violent nut job, but that nut job knows how to make a good movie.
• Spotlight - Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams and Stanley Tucci uncovering the massive Catholic Church scandal? Yeah. I'd watch that. Plus I feel like Michael Keaton only comes out of the woodwork to do a really good movie so....we'll see.
• The Revenant - I liked Birdman a lot so I'm really curious to see this one, plus it has Leo and he doesn't really make a bad movie....Leo*whispered*
• Sisters - Tina Fey and Amy Pohler, you betcha.
• Black Mass - This just looks creepy as all get out, I'll have to read the parental guidance before committing to this one but I do love me some Cumberbatch, Bacon and Depp
• Snowden - I just find him and his story fascinating so I'd be curious to see this one if it gets good reviews.
• The Walk - Man on Wire was a surprisingly great documentary so I'm definitely intrigued by this one. Plus it will be weirdly nice but also sad to see the twin towers again, if only through computer graphics.
• Suffragette - In honor of all those amazing women that have gone before, movies like this need to be made. Plus is has Meryl Streep and Helena Bonham Carter so...yeah.

Baby Girl #2

She was a little shy but we finally got to see her face

We had my 20-week ultrasound this week and found out that Cadence is going to have a little sister!

We are so thrilled and excited to meet this little goose, volume two.  My sisters are my best and closest friends and I'm so excited for Cadie and Baby Girl #2 to have that as well.  Sibling relationships are the longest of our lives--more than parents, more than spouses--and we don't take this amazing little being for granted. Everything looked healthy on the scans and I can't believe this pregnancy is already halfway over, I feel like it has flown by!  We hadn't really even started to pick names so if you have some suggestions, let us know :)

20 weeks and finally hitting that second trimester sweet spot

4th of July

It was such a nice, long holiday weekend. The 4th of July is easily creeping up the ranks of my favorite holidays.  It's fireworks, family barbecues, and fun in the sun. It was so great to just relax and watch the Sugar House fireworks from our front yard like I did as a child.  Cadie had so much fun playing with her cute cousins who just can't seem to get enough of her (I can't blame them).

The kids had a hard time staying in their seats for the whole show....Grammy was the only one left :)

It was also so fun to meet Cadie's newest cousin, Kinsley McCall Shoff. She finally got to come home after a week in the NICU, but she's doing great and we were so happy to get to hold her :)

Summer Fun 2015

...and Cadence couldn't be more thrilled!

Oh my goodness June is almost over.  It's 100 degrees outside and I think it's safe to say that summer is in full swing. I wanted to get at least one more post in before the month was over and I've been meaning to at least post some pictures from Cadie's 1st birthday party.

It was so fun to have everyone over for Cadie's birthday, she seemed to have a pretty good time if I do say so myself :)  We had both families over for a bbq complete with home-made ice cream (the best), and Cadie got her obligatory smash cake which was fun until we had to wash her off. She was not a fan of that part.

She is full-on walking now, she started walking basically on her first birthday and she is getting faster everyday. She's talking lots of gibberish but she's pretty sure she's saying real words. She is finally getting her teeth! (13 months later) and we are hoping that her recent proclivity for throwing tantrums is part of the teething process. And her hair is finally starting to come along (kinda) and looks like it will be a light honey brownish blonde.

I took Brody to Market street for a delicious Father's day dinner.  He recently got a position for a firm downtown, Pia Anderson, and is actually working in the same building as me, exactly one floor up. Such a small world but we are beyond thrilled by this great opportunity.  We made another small little announcement on Father's day, we are expecting baby #2 this December and are so excited to meet this little one.  We find out the sex in July so stay tuned!

Also, Salt Lake is getting Google Fiber and crews were in front of my parent's house all week working on the installation. Wahoo!