Way to go, Chad!

Just a quick little update on our life: Baby is doing great. We had an appointment with the midwife last week. At our previous visit she found a cyst in his brain. She said that it often happens and then disappears throughout the pregnancy. She said we really shouldn't worry about it but she wanted to keep an eye on it. We had another ultrasound at this visit and the cyst was almost completely gone! And he's still right on track growth wise. We can't wait to meet our little guy!

In other news...Chad got a promotion at work! He's been working at Lincoln Court Retirement Community for almost 2 years now as a wait staff in the dining room. He has loved his job but recently has kept his eye out for other jobs because his doesn't pay the best. And now he doesn't have to do that anymore! He is now the dining room supervisor. He's getting a decent pay raise, especially with the economy the way it is, and he gets to stay at a job he loves. And it will be a great experience that will open doors for him. The past week has been rough. He's been working a lot more than usual and he will continue to for the next couple weeks because they are short a couple workers. But I'm trying to keep a positive attitude that the extra money will be a great blessing.

I am so proud of him! He is such a hard worker and he really deserves this position. I am so glad that he works at a place where the managers see that and do something about it. He will do great and I am here to support him every step of the way. Way to go, Chad!

Our Little Man

No mistaking that we're having a boy. He has already become Dad's "little man" and Mom's "little goober". I am so very excited to meet him! It is so fun feeling him move and kick! How amazing it is to feel life within you! Especially when you know that you helped create that life and are helping it grow into another one of Heavenly Father's precious children here on earth. Such an amazing process to be a part of!

He is quite the active little one. Especially on my bladder. He's sitting pretty low. He's right below my stomach pouch so he's right on top of my bladder. It'll be fun to see how that goes as he gets bigger. I don't think I'll ever be able to be too far from a bathroom. :)

I love feeling his little kicks. And when he's flipping around in there. It's the highlight of every day. So I loved when I was able to share a little of that feeling with Chad. It was so fun to have Chad feel the baby kick! We were laying in bed, talking when the baby started to kick rather hard. I kept my hand where the baby was to see if I could feel the kick and sure enough, I did! I was so excited, I totally interrupted the story Chad was telling. We spent 30 min to an hour sitting there with Chad trying to feel the baby kick. Our little man gave Dad a few good kicks and even moved around so he could feel it. Chad couldn't get enough of it. He kept saying, "Just one more!" I can't wait til the baby is bigger and Chad can feel him move all the time.

We are so in love with our little guy! I can't wait until we can actually hold and cuddle him! What a wonderful addition he will be to our family!

Baby Names

Who knew that coming up with baby names could be so hard? Chad and I are fairly set on Derek James after my two brothers. They mean so much to me that I would love to name my child after two men who have been an important part of my life. But Chad is somewhat hesitant about it, as am I but not as much. We always thought that we would have kids with uncommon names. I have always loved my name because I have never met anyone in person with my name. I want my kids to have the same kind of uniqueness. So Chad and I set out to come up with some uncommon names. We didn't get too far before we were laughing about all the ridiculous names we could name our baby. If any of you come up with any good boy names, post your suggestions! We would love the help.

Home Is Where Mom Is

I just wanted to write a post to tell the world how much I love my mom. She has been through so much and stayed strong through it all. She is one of few Mormon moms I know who had two full time jobs; she always worked full time as a nurse and took care of her family. She has been an amazing friend, provider, protector, teacher...in one word, MOTHER. And even as, one-by-one, her children have grown up and started lives of their own, she has still made a point to be very much involved in their lives.

In more recent events, my mom has had a big hand in making things possible for my little family. Chad and I were recently in a little fender bender where the front end of my Subaru was smashed in just a little bit (not enough to do any mechanical damage to anything except possibly the radiator but enough to make it unsafe to drive for the time being). The car is in my mom's name and she has been paying insurance on it. We have been meaning to get everything switched over so my mom doesn't have to pay insurance anymore but it just hasn't happened. And now, because my mom was willing to keep paying insurance, we can get my car fixed without paying a ton of money. What an amazing blessing that is!!!

And even right after all of that, my mom is making it possible for me to visit this beautiful place! And my family and friends that I miss so much! And HER! I love my mom soooo much and I am so very grateful for all that she has done throughout my life. I think the saying "Home is where Mom is" will stay true throughout my life. For those of you reading this, tell your mom how much you love her! Heavenly Father truly blessed the lives of all His children by sending them Moms!

Be His. Be One. Be Strong.

2010 Mutual Theme:

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

~Joshua 1:9

I have the great honor of serving as the 2nd counselor in the Young Women Presidency of the Idaho Falls 7th Ward. What an experience it has been. I was called just shortly after we moved into the ward in December. It was something that I didn't see coming. And I felt a little intimidated at my mere 20 years of age compared to the other leaders' 30. And at the fact that I am just a few years older than the girls. Nevertheless, I was very excited because of the strong testimony I have of the youth program.

It has been a challenge. We don't have very many girls and even fewer active ones. But it has been a learning experience. I have greater appreciation for my young women leaders and all their hard work and love for us girls. And I have loved getting to know the girls and their interests and personalities. They are wonderful girls and they have so much potential.

I am so grateful for the mutual theme this year. It sums up exactly what I want the girls to learn and come to know as they go through life. As I look back on that time in my life, when I came to gain a testimony that the Lord was with me always, life became so much easier to handle. It kept me moving forward on the straight and narrow when the pressure to stray from it was at its strongest. Knowing what I know now, my hearts goes out to them and I sincerely hope they reach the full potential that the Lord has in store for them. They are such wonderful girls and I am blessed to have them in my life. Along with my fellow leaders. I am so grateful for their hard work and always look up to their examples.

I love my calling!

One Year

Today, I went out to lunch with Heather, Clark and Kristy and came home to find this waiting on the kitchen table for me:

A single orange gerber daisy. My favorite! Underneath it was a sweet little note from Chad. He spent his lunch break doing that for me. I was so surprised! Chad has never really done anything like this for me before. Of course, I don't mind that he doesn't. He already has this crazy ability to make me feel special in some way everyday.

He did it for our "first anniversary." We went on our first date a year ago today. I haven't even thought much of it except for looking back on all that has happened during that time. I never thought Chad would do anything for it but I guess I was wrong :). It has been a crazy year. We went through a lot together leading up to the wedding and, of course, we've been through a lot since the wedding. It's definitely been a roller coaster ride, but I wouldn't want anyone else sitting beside me. Can't wait for all the crazy years ahead of us!

The Start of Baby Phelps' Wardrobe

Chad and I went shopping earlier this week. I need new church clothes so we went on the hunt for clothes that I could wear now and keep wearing as I grow. We went to Ross and quickly ended up in the baby section. I've been really anxious to find out the sex of the baby so I could start buying clothes here and there. There are so many great deals out there! Anyways, as we were looking at clothes for boys we found a couple good finds. This is the first one:

This would be great if we have a boy but we also thought it would be great for our little girl as well! Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not really a girly girl. Never have been. Although I am so excited to buy all the cute girly clothes if we have a girl, this would be great to even it out. And if this girl is anything like her mom, she will eventually make someone cry. When I was little I was so possessive of my toys that I would throw a fit whenever I had a friend over and they played with them. I even scratched someone so bad that she started bleeding. And my dad caught me on film pushing someone off a toy tractor and then jumping on it. I was one tough cookie and I hope any girls we have get a little ounce of that...although, maybe not that bad! ;)

This was the other onesie that we found:

They had a few Dr. Seuss ones. We didn't see this one at first. We were looking at couple and then I noticed there were more and found this one. And of course this would be our pick! Considering Chad proposed to me with this book. I can't wait to read that book to our kids along with all the other storybooks. Chad and I would love to build our own house someday and I told him we had to wait and have at least one kid after that happens so I can decorate the nursery with a Dr. Seuss theme. What can I say?? I love Dr. Seuss!

So those are our first baby buys! We're way excited! :)