I have been such a slacker at taking pics of this pregnancy. I should have been more on the ball, but I guess some are better than none, right? Here is me at 24 weeks...I can't believe there are only 16 weeks left til this little man makes his arrival!
December 19th is kind of a solemn day around our house. It's the anniversary of Justin's dad's death. He was killed in the Wilberg Mine fire. This year marked 25 years since it happened. They held a memorial for the 21 people that were killed down in Emery County, and we were able to go at the last minute. We drove up to the memorial that they have down there. It is a beautiful stone listing all the names of those lost that day. It sits at the bottom of the canyon where the mine is. You could just feel how sacred of a place it is. (I wasn't sure about taking pics there, so we didn't). Then they held a memorial service at the Emery County High School. They were going to have some of the national MSHA officers there to speak, but due to the bad snow storm back east they were unable to make it. They had a few other speakers there, one of the guys from back there made it in and spoke. He actually flew out and was in charge of watching the chemical levels inside the mine while the rescuers were in there trying to find them. It was neat to hear him recount those days and what everyone went through. Then they had a lighting ceremony. They had 21 mining hard hats lined up across the stage with everyone's name on it. They turned out all the lights and as they read the names of those lost they turned on their mine light. Afterward they gave the hats to the family members that were there. It was such a neat experience and I am so glad we were able to make it down for it. I really wish that I could have met Justin's dad, Vic. From what I hear from stories he was such an awesome guy and everyone seemed to really love him. In a way he is still around and defintiely not forgotten. We have decided to name this baby after Justin's dad, and I know that means a lot to Justin. Below are the pics of the hat that had Vic's name on it.
As you can see we had a great Christmas! Jaxon was spoiled for sure! The funny thing is he had asked Santa for a monster truck this year. Well, Santa brought the monster truck, but he hid it towards the back of the Christmas tree so when Jaxon came into the living room to see what Santa brought he was sure that Santa hadn't brought the monster truck. Then when he saw it, all was well.
It was also funny when he would open a gift, say how cool it was, yet when you asked him what it was he would tell you "I don't know." Too funny!
Justin and I decided that this year has definitely been the most fun with Jaxon. He seemed to really get the whole Santa thing and was really looking forward to Christmas Day. It's hard to believe that this was our last Christmas with just the 3 of us.
Merry Late Christmas Everyone!! We had such a great Christmas this year. It was a busy few days but we enjoyed every minute of it. It was full of eating, visiting family, eating some more and waiting for Santa to come! I will post pics and more details in a later post. Until then, I need some feedback. I am thinking of starting a chore chart for Jaxon and am curious as to your thoughts on it. Is he too young (he is 3) what kinds of things would you put on there (brush teeth, pick up toys), and so forth. Leave me a comment with any thoughts on this, if you have done it, know someone who has done it, anything. Thanks...can't wait to hear your awesome feedback!!
Can I just say that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this time of year?! It has to be my favorite, despite the cold weather. I love the snow, the excitement, the decorations, the food, I love it all. I copied my friend Ashley's idea about posting favorite holiday traditions. Here are mine, in no particular order.
1. Driving through the Festival of Lights and around Salem Pond.
2. Opening pj's on Christmas Eve.
3. Eating all the yummy food and treats!
4. Watching Jaxon get just as excited about Santa coming as I do.
5. Watching the Christmas Story over and over and over with Justin.
6. Shopping for and wrapping gifts.
7. Putting up all the Christmas decor on Thanksgiving weekend.
8. Making sugar cookies with Jaxon.
9. Laying around in my pj's, eating and watching movies on Christmas Day.
10. Spending time with family.
I seriously feel like a little kid every year, and I love that Jaxon inherited that trait from me! On a side note, I have to tell you all something funny about that...so the other night when I was in the tub having contractions, I hear the sound of wrapping paper ripping. Yep, Jaxon had gotten under the tree, picked out a present and opened it. It was a 'Ants In The Pants' game and he had the game tore open ready to play. I couldn't be mad, it was too funny!!
Sorry, it's another prego comic. I think they are so funny cause they totally apply to pregnancy!! I can't believe that we are 22 weeks along today! It is finally starting to go by quickly, I am sure due to the holidays. We had a little scare the other night. I was out running errands and started having contractions. I called the OB floor and she told me to drink some water and take a warm bath then lay down. I did that and called her back cause they weren't stopping. They weren't regular or really painful, just enough to make me worry. When I called her back I also told her that he hadn't been moving much that day either. She had me continue laying down (which about killed me, I have the hardest time just sitting) and drink some juice and count his movements. Luckily he moved the 10 times like he was supposed to, making his last 3-4 movements in the last 5 minutes. Justin and I both agreed that he is definitely our kid, being a procrastinator already!!
I think I just need to remember that I am not super woman, at least not every day, and that I need to take things easy. It's a hard thing for me to do, but I know it is important. I think we have also settled on a name. We are leaning toward Anthony Jay. Anthony was Justin's dad's middle name (he has since passed away) and Jay is Justin's middle name. It is a very Italian name, but I love that it has meaning to it. It's so funny Justin and I picking names, we really have a hard time agreeing on one. Then when it comes down to it, we don't have 2 or 3 to choose from, it's 1 only and so it sticks. That's how it was with Jaxon, we really couldn't agree on anything else, so Jaxon it was.
Really fast I just want to mention how cute Jaxon is being lately about this baby. He loves looking at the ultrasound pics hanging on the fridge, touching my belly and talking about Baby Anthony. He is going to be such a great big brother!!
Nancy Marie Stone Lawrence James
1942 ~ 2009
Nancy Marie Stone Lawrence James, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and sister passed away on Sunday, December 6, 2009 in Goshen, Utah. She was born on October 2, 1942 in Denver, Colorado to Dean Alma and Dona Marie Warner Stone.
She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, Goshen Sr. Citizen Center, Book Club, cooking, and canning. She loved to spend time with her children and grandchildren and found great joy in serving them. She's back with the love of her life, dancing the night away!
Nancy is survived by her five children, Morgan (Terri), Brenda (Mark), Joe (Rachel), Jennifer (Steven), Jacob (Trinity), 23 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Susan, Ann, and Dean. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents Dean and Dona Stone, and her husband, Star James.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 11, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Walker Family Mortuary, 187 South Main Street, Spanish Fork, Utah. Family and friends may call on Thursday evening, December 10, 2009 at the mortuary from 6:00-8:00 p.m. or on Friday morning from 9:45-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.
This was my Granny, my mom's mom. It was such a shock to receive this phone call Sunday night. In fact it still doesn't seem real that she is gone. I have so many great memories of spending time with her, and I am grateful for that time.
Another thing I am grateful for is I was the last one to see and talk to her. She stopped by my house after grocery shopping Friday afternoon and we chatted for a while and made plans to have lunch on Tuesday (yesterday).
The only thing I find comfort in right now is knowing that she is with her sweet hubby, Star, who passed away just over 2 years ago.
Apparently when eating E.L. Fudge cookies eating the whole cookie is optional, and eating only the frosting is acceptable!
Yep, totally decided we couldn't wait the three more weeks til Christmas and found out we are having a boy!! We are super excited!! Jaxon keeps carrying around the ultrasound pictures letting everyone know that it is his little brother. I am not as disappointed as I thought I would be. Not that it matters either way, as long as it is healthy, but I wouldn't have minded a little girl. I am excited though for Jaxon to have a little brother. Everything looks great on the ultrasound and all the right parts are there. He weighs just about 12 ozs. and I think is super adorable!! Finding out it is a boy makes me even more excited to meet him in late April!!
