Baby Update

Evelyn's umbilical stump fell off! But we arn't sure where it went... so somewhere in the Robertson's living room is a little piece of my baby :)

Evelyn is on light therapy for her jondus so we call her our little glow worm.

Look at all that hair

Holy Crap!

Her daddy says she looks like an oompa loompa (sp) Because the Jondus makes her look orange her mommy thinks that it is much nicer to say she looks like a pumpkin. This is her first Christmas present from Uncle David and Aunt Jaime

Mommy holding baby Evelyn after first bath

Our favorite Christmas gift

7lb 15.6 oz rounds to 8lb

Look at what her daddy taught her

Long Time no Post

Sorry to anyone still bothering to check my blog. It's been quite a while. Stephen and I both made it through yet another term of school (Stephen even got an "A" in his math class!) alive, at least for the most part. I spent so much time on campus doing homework and projects and school stuff that my poor feet were getting so swollen that I completely gave up keeping my shoes tied! Thankfully, after term ended and I was able to spend some time not at a desk, they have gone back to a nearly normal size. And as far as the baby... she still isn't here yet. Not for lack of contractions, though. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday morning and she said that things were moving forward; the baby is moving down and so hopefully it won't be too much longer. Stephen and I are out today trying to keep me up and on my feet and get gravity to help. Oh, and we finally decided to go ahead and get internet at the apartment, so soon it will be easier to post and we'll have something cute to post pictures of. I hope everyone is having a good holiday season!

Baby Classes

Stephen and I just got all signed up for our how to have a baby class. Hopefully it will ease more worries than it creates! We'll get a tour of the birthing facility, learn pain management and relaxation techniques, learn what drug options there are, and baby care. I'm excited, and strangely nervous. I guess as much as I know I am having a baby (and have the belly to prove it!) sometimes it is easier to forget than others. Well, classes start tomorrow night. Wish us luck!!!

Great News!

Stephen just got his acceptance email! He was accepted into the OSU College of Pharmacy!!! This is really, fantastic news! He will start grad school in September 2009 and should graduate (if I understand right) June 2013. We will be in Corvallis for the first two years, then in Portland for the next one. The final year of Pharmacy school is a bunch of rotations, it's like residency for pharmacists. We don't know where that will be, hopefully in the Portland Metro area. But we'll jump that hurdle when we get there! It's also great news because now Stephen's grades for the rest of the year don't matter as much. He needs C's or better, which is a lot more lee-way than the A's he was looking at needing, especially since there is going to be a little one around soon being all distracting :) I'm so excited and you should all be excited too!!! YEY!!!

Thankful Thursday

STEPHEN GOT AN INTERVIEW FOR PHARMACY SCHOOL!!!!!!!

Pharmacy School Interview!!!

I have very exciting news! Stephen got a letter today informing him that he has been offered an interview for the College of Pharmacy here at OSU! This is such great news! The interveiw is Friday October 10th at 8:30am. They have scheduled 3 hours for the interview. Keep Stephen in your thoughts and prayers, that this interveiw might go well. We should hear within a few weeks the results of the interview.

Back to School!

Ok, so it's been a little while since I last posted anything. Sorry. In that time Stephen and I moved from Wauna (the paper mill), spent time in Oregon City or Sara's wedding, moved back to Corvallis, and then moved across town! We are finally mostly settled down. The kitchen is in functional order, most the furniture is where it belongs, but the baby's room is still full of boxes and stuff. Looks like we still have some work to do! Last Thursday Stephen and I went to the OSU/USC football game. Apparently USC was ranked first in the nation (? don't quote me on that) and OSU is not a team to shout about. USC was projected to bet OSU by 25 points. Well, for any of you who didn't hear, OSU won by 6. It was an exciting game and we had a lot of fun. We are going to try to go to more too.
Today was the first day of school. Stephen is taking Bio-Chemistry, Calculus for business majors, Spanish, and Anatomy. I am taking Mass Transfer Operations, Senior Lab for Chemical Engineering, Chemical Reaction Engineering, and Relaxation. Usually Stephen and I both have an hour free around lunch time so we can eat together. Not this term! You can pretty much bet that if he is in class, I'm not and if I'm in class, he's not. We couldn't even take an institute class together. :( At lest we get to see each other at home.
And a quick baby update: she is about 2 pounds and 14 1/2 inches. Comparable to a head of cauliflower!

Nursery Blues

I know it is really silly, but I very much want to get a crib set for the baby. Yes, I know she wont care what she sleeps in. I just want one little set that I can make her bed up all cute-like. The problem is, well one of the problems is, I am being very picky as to what I want it to look like. Even though we have been told we are having a little girl (and I feel like I'm having a little girl) I don't want a frilly pink set. I want something soft and muted and neutral (which would allow us to use it again if we have a little boy). And I don't like cartoony animal prints and I don't want yellow. So, what do I like? Here's the other problem. I found this amazing, darling crib set at Baby's 'r us. It's called Bunny Meadow by Kidsline. Here are some pictures of it:

It is a soft sage and brown, perfect for a little boy or a little girl, and it has a cute silhouette of a bunny and a dragonfly. But it is $180 (it is a 6 piece set including duvet cover and insert, bumper, dust ruffle, fitted sheet, valance and diaper stacker, but still).

I found a similar set, it is made by the same company. It is almost a cute. It is called Willow:

It is $130 but only 4 pieces (duvet cover and insert, bumper, dust ruffle, and fitted sheet).

Upon further looking, I could mix and match. There is a bunny blanket that is really cute as well as sheets and I could pair it with a plain sage set.

Unfortunately, we would still be looking at $100+

I guess we'll figure something out. Feel free to pass on any ideas! But aren't the bunnies just so darn cute!

Thankful Thursday

1. Stephen's pharmacy application being in. It's one less thing we what to worry about.

2. Only 5 more days at Georgia-Pacific!

3. I bought one of my textbooks online for $35. It is selling for $110 at the bookstore!

4. We are going home to Corvallis this weekend!

Pharmacy School

Three letters of recommendation, two essays, and lists of activities later, Stephen's Pharmacy school application is finally in (thank you tons and tons to Sara)! Now it's time to wait (I hate this part). Everybody keep your fingers crossed. Early decision is a pretty quick process. I think Stephen will know by the end of October if he is in or not. It's out of our hands for now.

September!

I'm so excited that it's finally September. The place Stephen and I have been living in this summer is fine, but it doesn't feel like home (plus, it's so far from the grocery store that Stephen has to stop for groceries on his way home from work. It's been weeks since I've gotten to go too!) But we get to go home in just a few more days (11 to be more precise)! There's so much to do! I have another doctor's appointment this next Monday, so we are going to move some of our stuff back to Corvallis this weekend. I don't know how we did it, but our stuff has multiplied! And then next weekend is Sara's wedding, so we have to have everything out and the place cleaned up Friday night. But then we are free!!! Well, free from the paper mill. When we get to Corvallis (to stay!) we are moving out of our old apartment to a two bedroom a couple miles away. Our new kitchen will be a little bit bigger (I think) and there's lots more storage space (yey for closets!) and there is the extra room to turn into an office/nursery! It's in a new ward, which is exciting. When we moved to the mill, we didn't send our records because we knew we were only going to make it to church in the ward about half the Sundays. But right after we moved, the University wards in Corvallis were dissolved. A YSA ward was created, and all us married students were sent to the family wards. So our records have been with a ward in Corvallis that we have never been to! I think it's kinda funny. The elders quorum presidency called us a few weeks ago to ask if they could come over and visit. We told them they were more than welcome, but that they'd have to drive to Claskine! They didn't come :) All the ward hopping has been fun, but I am looking forward to settling down into a ward again.

By the way, the baby is the size of a large mango... 11 inches long and just over a pound!

Baby Update

I get these great weekly baby updates in my email. They tell me all about how my baby is growing week to week. And, of course, they always compare my baby to a food! This week she is a spaghetti squash! If she is an average baby, which, let's face it, isn't likely, considering who her daddy is, she would be 11 inches long and weigh 1 pound. And she is starting to look like a tinny, weeny newborn! She is covered in wrinkles that will get filled in with cue baby fat! She likes to entertain me with acrobatics. She'll flip and flop and kick and wiggle for a while, and then not move (at least that I can feel) for a few hours. Then we get to start again! I'm just glad that she hasn't gotten so strong that she's hurting me yet!
The email also referred to my growing belly as a "hand magnet." I am very glad to say that only one person has been bold enough to pat my belly (and she was such a tiny, little, old lady that I didn't have the heart to stop her). Lots of people eye-ball it, though! I wonder why it is that some people think that a big, pregnant belly is open to the public? My thought is, "it's my belly, and if I say you can touch it, you can. If not, hands off!" :)

Wiggly Baby

Last night Stephen and I were on the couch watching the Olympics when the baby started moving and kicking a lot. It even felt a lot stronger than ever. I decided to pull my shirt up to I could see my belly (I don't know what I was expecting to see) and when she kicked, you could see my belly jiggle just a little bit. I can't say I really like seeing my belly jiggle like jello, but I did like seeing my baby move. Stephen had been able to feel her move a couple of times, but I think she's just about strong enough that he will be able to feel a lot more. Oh, and she's as long as a banana this week!

Thankful Thursday

Vacations - Tomorrow, Stephen and I are headed to Portland and to Utah on Saturday. I'm so excited to get away from all the sights and smells of the paper mill!

Air Conditioning - It has been so hot and is going to still be so hot that I am so glad for cars with air conditioning.

Thursdays - It gives me an excuse every week to post something, no matter how boring things get.

Cheese - We haven't had any ice cream at home for a few weeks, so I've been enjoying the "next best thing" I could get my hands on... a nice block of Cheddar Cheese :)

Thankful Thursday

1. The baby – We found out on Monday that we are having a little girl. She is growing a little faster than average, and already weighs 13 ounces. During the ultrasound she was wiggling and squirming all over the place. We are thinking of naming her Evelyn Joan (Joan is after my grandmother). But nothing is set in stone until it is on the birth certificate.
2. Ultrasounds – It was truly amazing to get to see my baby girl. We even saw her point at something. It was even better when we could see her move on the screen and I could feel her move in my tummy.
3. A new job, and new home – Stephen and I were offered a management position in Corvallis. They will pay about half of our rent during the school year and all of it over the summer. And it’s a much nicer apartment than we are in now! There’s even an extra bedroom (to be a nursery/office) and storage space.
4. Chiropractic care – The chiropractor Stephen and I see is a really nice guy. He, his wife, and his two little girls are in the ward we are moving into. We went and saw him on Monday. Not only is funny, but he has a much reduced student rate (making it possible for us to afford him) and can make my neck and back feel so much better.

Thankful Thursday

1. The Gann House - sure it is in disrepair, but it is a home for Stephen and I this summer. I have an amazing commute (getting to the grocery store is a little difficult, though), and we pay $0 in rent. Who can ask for a better deal?

2. Owl Pharmacy - this small pharmacy welcomed Stephen with open arms. They have given him a job (yey money!) and experience which will help him get into Pharmacy school this next year. Plus, it seems that they are all nice people and Stephen seems to like it there.

3. The baby - it is the size of a bell pepper but can still cause so many problems! It has started moving around a lot, which makes my tummy feel almost sick, but it is cute in it's own way. I like being able to feel that it is alive and real. I can see my tummy growing, but this is a better reminder that a baby is on the way. I can't wait for the ultrasound on Monday. Hopefully we will find out if it is a boy or a girl!

4. My cross-stitch - this may seem silly and gradmaish, but I really like my cross-stitch. Right now I'm making an angle and a little boy. It is tedious work, but I find it relaxing. And it helps to pass the time while I'm waiting for Stephen to get home from work.

Weekend Fun

This weekend was a lot of fun. Friday night I got to catch up with my high school friends. We reminisced and giggled over milk stirs. It's so great to be able to spend time with them, especially since Laurel and Salena are world travelers and who knows where they're going to end up next! Saturday, Jaime and I went out shopping. I needed to find a bridal shower gift for Sara, but after that was settled, we sort of window shopped. I'd almost forgotten how enjoyable it can be (Stephen's more of a get in get out sort of guy!). Then we met back up with our fellas and played a game. Oh, and how could I forget! I got to play with baby Oakley (if holding a sleeping baby can count as playing). She is so cute and getting so big. She does this funny thing where she opens her eyes just a tiny bit and peeps out at you through the slit. I think she's trying to trick people into thinking she's asleep. On Sunday, I was holding her in my lap, and she started kicking my tummy, and the baby started kicking too. I was getting it from the inside and the outside! My baby isn't even born yet and they are already playing with each other.

Summer Time

So here we are half way through the summer. And where is all the summer weather? Stephen is working at a pharmacy in Astoria. It's a great opportunity for him to gain experience in a pharmacy, and should help him get into pharmacy school (which will be a very good thing). I'm working at the Georgia Pacific mill in Wauna, Oregon. Don't worry, I'd never heard of it either! Here we make toilet paper, paper towels, and facial tissue, and a lot of it. It's a very dusty and dirty place, but hey, it pays. The person who hired me gave Stephen and I a house to live in for the summer. My commute is like four minutes and we don't have to pay rent. Two biggest draw backs: it is in the middle of nowhere, I only see the house and the mill 4-5 days a week and we don't get garbage service, we have to take it to the mill. I don't think I'll ever take the dumpster in the apartment parking lot for granted again!

We had lots of family over for the Fourth of July. We had a barbecue on the deck (yes, I have a deck, isn't that great!) and drove to Astoria to see the fireworks. I had a lot of fun, but I was glad to see everyone go afterwards. It may be a house, but there is only one bathroom and there were eleven people sleeping there! We told my aunt about the baby, and I can't say she was pleased, but I think she'll get better.

How do you start

It is a funny thing to try and start a new blog because you never know what to start with. It may be analogous to starting a diary for the first time, only a blog is meant to be read by others before you die. That being said we will assume that anyone reading this already has a full back history and if not we expect to receive questions asking for clarification or for further details. However, to give a little of the most recent history... Melissa and I are 10 weeks pregnant with our first and everything appears to be going well. We will find out more tomorrow when we go to our first doctor’s appointment. We are also on the verge of our last finals week this school year before Melissa starts her summer internship with Georgia Pacific (a paper mill near Astoria that makes product such as Brawny paper towels and Quilted Northern toilet paper) on the 23rd of June (which happens to be my birthday). I will be working on getting pharmacy experience this summer so that I can get accepted into Pharmacy school at OSU. So I guess I have said enough for now.