A week to be Thankful for!

Having mom and dad here, was like having an extra pair of hands! I was able to "NEST" almost the whole week. I got lots of house work done, decorating, preparations, shopping, date night, plus some other fun things. For Thanksgiving Dinner, we decided that we would rather go out to eat, and save the trouble of all the preparations, and clean up. Of course that also meant, no left overs, but I think it was worth it. My parents found this amazing Thanksgiving Buffet at a Marriott on the water. It was beautiful! The selection was amazing! The dessert didn't have pumpkin pie, (its a southern thing, only sweet potato), but it did have a chocolate fountain, with all the fixings, plus lots of other yummieness. Lulu and Papa got Nora a new video, and she watched it after she ate her dinner, and the rest of us just kept eating. Plate after plate... we dirtied our share of dishes, so I was glad that we weren't at home. After dinner, I found the amazing lobby, with these amazing loungers! AHHHH... full tummy, and even a place to rest. The rest of the family went exploring, ships, and other cool attractions.



In other news, only 4 more weeks before the due date of this baby. Ironically, I have been feeling better as of last week, then I have my entire pregnancy. I am finally taking some medication that has a handle on my heartburn, and food has never tasted sooo good. My mom was appalled when on black Friday I downed 2 whole Panera Bread bagels. I will not feel guilty for eating more than my share of food for the rest of my pregnancy. I have only gained 9lbs, so how bad can it get? I had Joel take a few pictures, which he hates doing, and I hate posting, but I should really do it anyway! My doctor appointments are now every week, so I will know more and more each passing week. We have everything set up, and ready, so I THINK I am ready for his arrival. Emotionally, I am not sure that I will ever be ready, but physically, we are just waiting.

I'll post some more of my crafty pictures this week. I am having so much fun with modge podge, and hot glue! I can't wait to show you!

Holy CRAFT!

My poor pathetic blog. SOOOOO sad!

With 30 shopping days left, and only 33 pregnant days left... I am so blessed to have my parents in town! They are here for the Thanksgiving holiday, but more importantly, they are here to get me ready for all the upcoming happiness! I finally realized, that I can craft! With help from all the crafty bloggers, and being too tired to do anything but sit or lay, I have been able to get a few things done. I am really proud of my accomplishments, and therefore, I must blog about it! There is not much I am getting done in my world right now, so these things make me feel completely useful!

First, my Christmas wreath! I am having a very untraditional, color theme going on here. But, I love it. It was so easy, and fun to make, and I love pulling up to my house to this. I used leftover scrap book paper, glue, hot glue, and a styrafoam wreath. I think is goes great against the dark colored from door. I haven't noticed the neighbors stopping in the tracks yet... but I have a feeling, this baby could stop traffic. (HAH!!!)

This next craft is more traditionally colored, but untraditionally assembled. Papa, and Nora, made this craft possible. Some hot glue, craft wire, an old frame from the thrift store, and cute little Christmas balls were all I needed to make this work of art. I am thinking I can leave the frame up, and Change out the center based on the seasons? We'll see how motivated I am in January??? But, just be looking for updates on the frame.



There are a few more that are in the works, and maybe will be posted at a later time. I will make sure to take a belly picture when I inhale a half of turkey. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Getting closer!

We are almost there!!!

Pumpkin Spice YUMMEENESS!!!

It seems like every moms group I go to, I hear all about, "Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes". One of my "besties" almost put her family in financial ruins because of the "Fall Favorite". Since, I am not a coffee drinker, I decided to make my own, "Pumpkin Spice" concoction. I shared this with my bestie, and she is now on her way to financial freedom! Hahaha... Really, she told me it tastes "Exactly Like Starbucks". So for all the moms that love this drink, try it today. I love it even without the coffee. But, if you must, and I understand that people must have a, "MUST", (mine is my cold Diet Coke from a can at 4pm.) then go for it. But, if you aren't a coffee drinker, like probably 75% of my readers, then, "Cheers" for a non-coffee yummy treat. I will be making this for all my "Holiday Visitors".

2 Tablespoons of Pumpkin puree
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla
2 Tablespoon of white sugar, OR I hear Splenda is good too
1 cup of milk, I used 2%, but skim, or whole, whatever your hips can afford
1/4 Teaspoon of Pumpkin Pie Spice

Mix this all together in a small saucepan. Whisk constantly for 5 minutes, then it will be nice a frothy, and ready to drink. Or, poor over your liking of coffee.

30 going on 50

I really didn't think I would need to make this purchase until I was at least 50! Well, a recent doctor visit indicated otherwise. It is ironic, that someone in my condition (33 weeks pregnant) would need to be on so many pills! It is hard to keep track of. Is that because there are so many, or because I am getting so old, I can't remember which ones to take when?

Prenatal Vitamin 1/day
Iron Supplement 1/day
Stool Softener 2/day
Acid reducer 2/day
Pepcid 2/day
TUMS use in moderation, no more than 10/day!



This better be one healthy baby.

Did I mention that...

I have heartburn radiating out of my ears?

I feel like I ate a 20lb. turkey, and now I can't pass it!

it feels like I am wearing a fat suit that I can't take off?

I am never ever hungry, but would love to eat everything I see?

I want nothing more than to crawl in a hole, and come out in 9 weeks?

I love Halloween?

I have the best daughter in the whole wide world!!!?

I have a miracle taking over my body?

I can't find my rib cage?

I am less then 9 weeks from having our baby?

I have neglected my blog a lot? I don't feel bad about that, but I feel bad for the poor grandparents, that only want to see their grand daughter.

those poor grandparents nag me to update my blog every time we talk on the phone?

I have turned into a BIG, FAT, pregnant couch potato, ever since the new seasons started?

I get up to pee 4-7 times per night?

Nora makes me laugh at least a dozen times per day?

my husband is learning the hard way how to put up with me being pregnant?

he is the greatest thing that ever happened to me?

everyday, I thank my Heavenly Father for the blessings that he continues to pour upon me? I am not sure why he does, and I am constantly feeling inadequate, but I am truly blessed.

And, because I do love the grandparents of my daughter... here are a few get them through the week...

OH... she never seems to disappoint!

Just when I thought today was not going to be a funny cute day, I found this...



When I asked her, "Where is the candy?"



How she managed to find my stash of kisses, and eat... 18 Hershey Kisses without me knowing, is beyond me. It's not even like I left her alone while I tried to nap today. WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO?

Whats even more funny, is she keeps asking me for more, and I keep saying NO. And she says, "You say, NO, and I say YES!" Then she says, "You happy mommy?" YIPES!

Almost 3!

Nora will be three this week. Since every day she does something pretty funny, this week, I will attempt to blog about it!

After a long weekend, I decided I REALLY needed a nap! I put Nora down for her nap, and today, she wanted NOTHING to do with it! So, I locked the front door, locked the back door, and told her that she needed to play quietly in her room. So, while she was "playing quietly" I got to take a little snooze. That was until...

Nora: "Mommy, wake up! You need to put Mulans dress on her!"
Me: NORA, you need to play in your room, while mommy takes a nap. Please don't come out of your room.
Nora: UUUGH!

So, after less then ten minutes, I was feeling too guilty to sleep! So, I just laid there, and listened to her play with her toys. She never ended up taking her nap. When daddy came home, we talked about her day. I asked her,
Me: Did we have a good day?
Nora: Daddy, mommy was very ANGRY at me.
Daddy: Really, why was mommy angry?
Nora: She made me sad.
Daddy: What happened?
Nora: She wanted to sleep.
Daddy: Did you let her sleep?
Nora: Nope, and she was angry!
Daddy: Why wouldn't you let her sleep?
Nora: UUUGH!
Daddy: Nora, Mommy is trying to grow a baby in her tummy. She needs lots of rest, and if she doesn't get rest, then she may become angry.
Nora: But mommy didn't put Mulans dress on her!

Anyways, the conversation went on and on. And all I could hear was my mom saying, "Oh yeah, I'll show you angry!"

I also got to thinking about how tired I have been. I realize that when I have a newborn, I will be tired too, but I really hope it is a different kind of tired.

Speaking of the newborn... he is due to arrive in eleven weeks! I have been feeling great, and only gained 10lbs so far! My new doctor is ecstatic every time she measures me! The baby makes a great mouse pad, and plate rest. I retract any statements that I have ever made about him being so gentle. As of the last few weeks, he doesn't want me to forget how snug he is in there. I'm thinking in the next few weeks, we will start making a few purchases for this guy. But for now, I think I will try to take a nap.

Disney... YIKES!

Halloween at Disney World is a crazy, fun experience! We are so lucky to have been able to go to their Halloween Party again this year. Joel's company comes with a few perks, and one of those perks, is an apartment to stay at right by Disney World in Orlando. We thought it would be a good time for us to go, before the baby comes. I was highly impressed with myself... which isn't really saying much, because I was worried weather of not I would be able to walk around so much. I guess when you apply a little bit of magic you never know what could happen.

Before we went to the parks, we were able to take Joel's dad, and brother to see Joel's Grandpa. He has been really sick, they are moving back to Michigan this week. So we stopped by to see them, and we are so glad we did. Nora was in true fashion, entertaining and sweet. I think Grandma Patsy, and Grandpa were glad we stopped by. I was glad to get some family pictures for posterity's sake.



Our first day at Disney we went to the Magic Kingdom. The weather was amazing. The rides were a BLAST! And those darn characters... NEVER disappoint! Nora didn't really care who she met... she just loved them all. She did talk about meeting Ariel for a while, so we made sure to take care of that one first. And it worked out, because she was wearing her Ariel dress. Ariel wondered why she hasn't seen her is so long, and told her, that she really missed her, and LOVED her dress. Nora told Ariel that she loved her BRA. Ariel doesn't wear the most modest clothing, but she lives, "Under the Sea", so she wears more clothing then some of the fish do.

Here are a few shots of some other meet and greets! All were very special, and worth any time we had to wait for them. Her happiness was priceless.









There were a lot of pictures with my belly sticking in the picture. Because I didn't know if Joel was actually trying to get my belly in there, or if it was just sticking out, I thought I would post a tribute to the "Baby BUMP".





The second day we went to Epcot... which I LOVE IT THERE! That is where we were able to email our video of our Future World. We met some other characters, and saw an amazing laser light, firework show! Disney doesn't spare any expense! They are amazing. I received a button for a lil' baby on the way.


And Nora met some more friends, and got a kiss from Snow White, that I think is a permanent fixture now. We have scrubbed and scrubbed at that thing, and there are still traces of that BRIGHT RED lipstick right on her forehead. Her first tattoo!








The third day we went back to the MK, because we were celebrating Halloween with them. Lulu and Papa, made the MOST AMAZING Tinkerbell Costume for Nora, and it was mainly for the purpose of this party. Of course we had to meet Tinkerbell, and when we did, she said that Nora had the best looking wings she had ever seen! We were also there to take care of some personal business with Tink. When Nora got rid of her Binky's she left them for Tink to take to the other babies. Lately, she was wondering if Tink would give her back her Binky's so that she can give them to her baby brother. That will have to continue onto post Part II.

Noras Future!

I thought this was too funny not to share.

6 MONTHS!!!

I wonder how far I can get this hair tie to stretch!

WHAT! A blog post? NO... Yes...

It really is true. I seem to have an excuse for NOT blogging, every time I blog. So for this blog post, the excuse is LACK of pictures! I just haven't really been photographing lately. There is three months left in the life of the 3 Evans', and we are soaking it in. At this point, I am not rushing this pregnancy, at all, unlike the first time! But this time seems to be going by so much faster. Here is the most recent belly picture... taken at 5 months. Today I am at 6 months. So I have gotten a lot bigger. YAY!!!

We had my parents over 2 weekends ago. They have come to the realization, that they can't go more then 6 weeks without seeing us! And by us, I mean NORA! The constructed Noras Halloween costume, so that was their excuse for coming. To make a special delivery! I have to save the pictures for the BIG Disney reveal, but I will say, BEAUTIFUL! I am worried that the "Imagineers" are going to want to steal the design of the costume! It is amazing, and we can't thank Lulu and Papa enough for their hours upon hours of crafting.

While they were here, they took good care of me too. They took me for my Reuben that I have been craving, and then they prepared Thanksgiving Dinner for me. Two of the things I have been craving!!! It was so nice to family over. Life does get sad here, being so far from everybody I know. So, mom and dad, thank you for the sacrifices you make, to see us. We appreciate it far more then we could tell you.

The other nice things about having them here, is Joel and I get to get out! We took a day trip to the Washington DC temple. It was Joels first time there. Ahhh... it is amazing! And very special to have that day with my husband.

The only other thing that I have pictures of, is Nora and I at the zoo last week. It was our first time to the Norfolk Zoo, and it was super great! We have so much fun together! It feels like I am missing the catch! WHATS THE CATCH? Why do I get to have so much fun?






I don't imagine that I will have a blog post again this week. We realized this weekend, that we are leaving next Monday to go to Disney, and we haven't really planned our trip. It's not like us! We aren't "Fly off the seat of our pants" type of people, but this might be that sort of trip. Either way, it will be fun, and exciting. Mickey is waiting for us, and more importantly, Tink and Nora have some very important business to take care of! Stay tuned!!!