Watch Me Grow: 32 Weeks

I took these pictures of Rory on Saturday right after I bathed her.  I use the blowdryer on her hair and it makes it so fluffy it just sticks out everywhere.  I think it's so funny.  Her face kills me in these!

Rory is 32 weeks old.  She has been such a sweetheart lately.  She's been extra cuddly and always has to climb up by me whenever I'm on the couch.  I love how happy she is to see me whenever I get home.  She makes me feel like the most important person in the world!  

Bryce and I are really focusing on her training these next few months.  We have set a few goals of things we'd like to teach her before the baby comes.  Aside from the usual training we do with her on a daily basis we are also going to hold 2 scheduled training sessions a week.  We've made it a goal to be diligent with these and to work really hard on teaching her to be  a good, calm, obedient dog.  The main thing we really want to teach her is to stay calm when visitors come over.  We have a plan to teach her to go to a "down-stay" position when someone knocks on the door and not move until we give her the okay.  It will take some work but she is super smart.  I'm sure with some diligent effort from her and us it will be achievable.  I'll be sure to note our progress over the next few weeks! 

Weekend Recap: General Conference

               General conference weekend is the best, isn't it?  I look forward to it so much.  There are always messages that are exactly what I need to hear and I always get the boost I am needing.  Saturday, Bryce and I stayed home and watched the morning session together.  I made cinnamon rolls for the first time ever and they turned out pretty good for a first-timer.  

Bryce had to go to work during the afternoon session but he was still able to listen to conference at work.  We texted back and forth about parts of the talks we liked.  It was a fun way for us to still "listen together."  I was also able to get a lot done around my house during the talks.  I did all of my usual Saturday chores, caught up on all my laundry, and scrubbed all the walls and cabinets in my kitchen.  Later while Bryce was gone to the priesthood session with his dad and brother I took Rory for an extra long walk.  I don't know where all of my energy came from since I've been feeling so tired lately, but it was appreciated!


   

Sunday we went to my parents for lunch and listened to the afternoon session with them.  I think Rory had more fun than we did.  She really loves my mom and loves playing at their house.   Rory also made a new friend with my little brother and cuddled with him during the last few talks.   After conference was over Bryce and I took Rory out to the cottonwoods near my parents home.  I took lots of pictures, of course, and we worked on some training with Rory.

 

After we worked with Rory for a good while practicing coming and fetching we went to Bryce's parent's house.  We visited for a few hours, ate yummy dessert, and even got to pick some pumpkins from their pumpkin patch.  We arrived home feeling blessed, uplifted, and spiritually enlightened.  President Uchtdorf shared this thought in his talk that I loved:

"Our destiny is not determined by the number of times we stumble but by the number of times we stand up, dust ourselves off, and strive forward."

I loved this message.  I was so touched by his whole talk, you can watch the whole thing here.  I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and to be able to listen to general conference twice a year!  This was the best weekend I've had in a while.  I obviously look forward to General Conference so much for a reason :). 

Did you know it's my favorite month??

   I'm so happy it's finally October!  October is my very favorite month of the entire year.  It's the month of my favorite holiday, my birthday, and my favorite kind of weather!  I love the October smells of cinnamon, apple, and pumpkin.  I love all of the colors of the changing leaves.  I love the crisp air and wearing boots, scarves, and sweaters.  I love scary movies and the spooky atmosphere from the drizzly, rainy days.  Basically there isn't anything about October I don't love. 

I tried to get Rory to take a picture with me to show our enthusiasm about it, but she wasn't feeling very cooperative.  

Bryce was gone at another football game for athletic training tonight and while he was gone I finally had time decorate our house for Halloween.

I didn't do too much and kept things pretty simple.  I printed a Halloween poster, bought a few small pumpkins, printed a Halloween garland, and cut out some paper bats.  I'm really liking the October version of our house, maybe I'll leave everything up year round ;)

While I was taking pictures I noticed even my coat rack is looking festive thanks to the little orange flowers I added to my black and white tote.  Happy October Everyone!

P.S. I changed the name of our blog to the "Leishman Chronicles".  I've been thinking since half the posts are about Rory and the baby it really isn't just "Bryce & Kami" anymore, it's a little journal for our whole family.  I also got around to redesigning the blog and gave it a whole new look!

Watch Me Grow: 31 Weeks

Rory is 31 weeks old and she officially turned 7 months old a few days ago on September 28th.  Her growth has slowed down a bit the last couple months so she's been the same size for a few weeks now.  She is still losing her blonde puppy fur and is very shaggy and unkempt looking.  She has been the sweetest dog the past few days while we've been sick.  She has been extra cuddly.  The whole time I was sick she curled up right next to me on the couch and hardly left my side.  This is not her normal self.  She will usually only cuddle us for maybe a half an hour before she gets up and finds a more comfortable spot.  Normally she gets bored every couple hours and needs a break outside.  She bugs us by whining or barking at us until we'll take her out.  While we were sick she didn't even whine to go outside once.  We had to remind ourselves to get up and take her out every so often.  Seeing how sweet she was this past weekend has made me really curious of how she will be with our baby girl.  I hope she will have the same protective and caring tendencies towards her!  We still have a few more months until then so hopefully she take on more of those traits and lose a bit of her hyper activeness.  

A Weekend for Chicken Noodle Soup

Every Saturday I plan out our weekly meals before I go grocery shopping.  Last Saturday I thought chicken noodle soup sounded good so I planned to make it in the crockpot the next Friday since I'd be working from home that day.  I think my subconscious must have known what was coming.  Bryce started getting sick with a cold on Thursday and he was kind enough to share it with me.  I woke up feeling fine on Friday but by the end of the day I was sneezing, coughing, and feverish.  While eating our soup for dinner Friday night, we had to laugh at the perfect timing of the meal.    

 

Our weekend has looked about like this.  We've been ingesting Vitamin C and napping like its our job.  It was a weekend for chicken noodle soup, wool socks, netflix marathons, and cuddling on the couch.  But really, send healthy vibes our way, we're running out of tissues. 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

It probably has nothing to do with being pregnant that I've been craving pumpkin chocolate chip cookies for the past couple weeks, and more with the fall weather.  Every year around this time I always want to make all kinds of pumpkin desserts.  These cookies are the easiest recipe ever.  I don't even know if it should be considered an actual recipe since it is just mixing three ingredients together :)  Regardless, these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies turn out the best of any recipe I've ever used.  I think they even turn out better than when I've made them from scratch!  Anyway, onto the recipe.
  Ingredients:
1 Box of Spice Cake Mix
1 15 0z Can of Pumpkin
1 bag of chocolate chips (I like semi-sweet best!)

Mix spice cake with pumpkin until well blended.  Add chocolate chips.  Spoon onto greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. And that's it! Easiest cookies ever that still taste like you put in lots of effort.

Dear Baby

September 6, 2013

Dear Baby Claire,

I am now 20 weeks along and officially halfway!  I had a doctor’s appointment today and got to see you on the ultrasound.  You still look perfect and are growing so well.  Your heartbeat is still at a perfect 140 beats per minute.  Hearing it beat is one of my favorite parts of the appointment every time.  You are measuring about a week ahead in height so you will be tall like your mom & dad (which we already figured as much).  You move and wiggle around all the time now.  I love feeling your little kicks and nudges all day.  Your dad has even been able to feel you kick.  You should have seen him, he was so excited and had the biggest smile!  It may have made me a little teary eyed.  Pregnancy is pretty incredible.  It is amazing to think I have a sweet little baby growing inside that will join our family in just a short four months!

You are such a blessing already, and you are not even here yet!  I want to be the best mom for you.  I want to be a good example and someone that you look up to.  I hope you will be patient with me as I learn all the ins and outs of motherhood.  I will have no idea what I'm doing, but I don't think anyone really does when they first become a parent.

I daydream a lot about what it will be like when you are finally here.  I can't wait to hold you, rock you to sleep, and sing you lullabies.  I can't wait to kiss your little cheeks, see your first smile, and hear your first laugh. 

I am so looking forward to reading you bedtime stories and telling you all about fairy tales filled with princesses, pirate ships, castles, and magical kingdoms.  I can't wait to introduce you to all my favorite characters and books and find out which will be your favorites.

I can't wait to show you the little farm where I grew up when you are older.  I will show you the fields I used to run through.  I will take you to the pond where I used to go canoeing and build rafts out of old logs.  I will show you the tree in the cottonwoods that I named "Grandmother Willow" where I played Pocahontas for hours.  I will take you to visit all the baby animals in the spring.  The baby lambs were always my favorite when I was little, I think you will like them too.  I hope to do all of these things with you and give you a beautiful childhood you will look back on with fondness. 
 
In about a month I will have my target ultrasound.  I will get to see every detail of you on a 3d ultrasound.  The doctor will check and make sure you are developing and growing the way you should.  I'm excited to see you on the ultrasound again but I'm also anxious to have that appointment over with just so I will know that everything is okay.

See you soon little one!  Your dad and I can't wait to meet you.  We already love you tons!
 
Love,

Mom