And the verdict is....BOISE!

The past few months, we have been hoping and praying that Bryant's last two internships would be back to back...meaning we just wanted to stay in the same area. Going 10 weeks somewhere and then having to pack up and go somewhere else for the next 10 weeks was not our idea of "fun" especially with two kids!
So, after looking at our options and talking to the lady in charge of setting up the internships, we finally heard that we officially got the last two internships back to back......in BOISE!
We would have loved to come back to Spokane, but they just didn't have the internships Bry needed here. So, our next choice was Boise. It's only for 6 months, and we have family and friends there so we won't be all alone. That was my main concern. With a brand new baby and a toddler, I really wanted to be somewhere that I would have some help if I needed it, or at least where I won't be lonely! Having a new baby makes it hard to get out, or have any adult interaction sometimes! Everyone seems to be really excited that we are coming! So, in Bryant's words"Hello Treasure Valley, the Howard's are coming home!" And who knows, maybe Bryant will love one of his internships and get offered a job....anything is possible right?!

How I told Bryant....

that we are having another Baby! Yep, that's right, baby Howard #2 is on it's way, and currently my main excuse for neglecting to blog for the last two months. This pregnancy so far has been difficult for me. I have been extremely tired and sick. I thought the sickness would let up by now like it did with Gracie, but the nausea and vomiting are still present. I just hope sooner than later it does get better:)

So, how did I tell Bryant? Well, I actually found out while he was in San Diego back in February. Those were the most grueling 3 1/2 days ever because I didn't want to tell him over the phone so I had to keep the news all to myself until he came home. I'm not sure why I took the test (well actually 5 tests) while he was gone, but honestly I didn't really believe I could be pregnant. I didn't have to go on Clomid or anything this time!
So, he got home a bit late on a Saturday night. It was actually our anniversary (well the day after, but he was gone for our actually anniversary day) so I decided to make this a 5 year anniversary surprise! I went and bought a digital pregnancy test, which I had never taken before....and it's a bit different. Anyway, I then got a shoe box and wrapped it all pretty and then wrapped the test in tissue paper with a card.
When we finally got home and he FINALLY got Gracie to let him open the gift, he just starred at the test for what seemed like an hour, though it was probably more like 20 or 30 seconds! He was surprised alright, but very excited. I got a big hug out of it!

The baby is due sometime between October 10 and October 24. My original due date was 10-10-10 but at the ultrasound the baby was a bit smaller (could have been because I've been so sick though), so we will see when this little one decides to come I guess. We are a little nervous as Bryant's first internship in Eugene, OR is scheduled to start around September 20th which is too close to my due date to move. Plus I don't think our insurance works out of Washington. Plus, my entire family is leaving! Kristin (my sister) is leaving on a mission May 26 and my mom and dad are currently awaiting their mission call. They will most likely leave before October. So, we have some major hurdles to jump though in figuring this out. But, I know it will work out, and I am very excited to meet this new member of our family!

I Love Primary

My mom has always inspired me. Her love of the gospel has influenced me throughout my life. Not only her love of the gospel, but her constant willingness to accept whatever calling she is given as well as support my dad in all the callings he has been given. And always, without complaint (though nobody would have blamed her if she had!)

However, there is one calling my mom just LOVES...and that is being the Primary Music Leader. In her words "it's the best calling in the entire church." Now, my mom is very musical, but even if she wasn't, her love of the children and her ability to teach them the gospel through these beautiful songs is truly a gift. About a year and a half or so ago, she was the Primary Music Leader again and just loving every minute of it, when the stake called her into the Stake Relief Society Presidency. Like I said, she is always willing to accept and serve in whatever capacity she is asked, but I will say, she was heartbroken (I think she even cried). She asked if she could at least keep her primary calling until the end of the year and she would just balance both callings until then. Of course they were fine with that, but it was hard for her to leave her favorite calling!

My mom is right. The simple, basic principles of the gospel can all be found in these inspired primary songs.

I have also learned the past few months to love my primary calling. I'm just the Sunbeam teacher, but I love being able to participate in sharing time and singing the songs with my sweet little 3 and 4 year olds. There is a a new primary song that was written just for this year's primary program. It's called "I Know that My Savior Loves Me" and it is just beautiful. We have only sung it twice now, but I am amazed at how well the primary children are remembering it. I have a hard time listening to it without getting a little emotional. I thought I would share it with everyone...especially those of you who aren't in primary so you can hear what a beautiful message this new inspired primary song has for all of us! Enjoy!

5 YEARS!!

Can you believe Bryant and I have been married for Five Years?? It's gone so quickly.

I think back on the February 19, 2005, and how much I loved Bryant then,

and realize how much more I love him now.

We've gone through many months of infertility, 9 months of pregnancy, (just 4 short hours of labor), have one very sweet little girl,

lived in 2 states,

visited 7 new baseball fields,

gone through 2 graduations,

(This is Bryant's best friend Ryan...it's the only graduation picture I have on the computer. I don't have one easily accessible of my graduation, so this post have will go without!)

had 3 job changes, started graduated school,

Doctorate of Physical Therapy

we've known comfortable times, and more frugal times,

we've laughed and cried together, we've definitely grown together. It has been a wonderful journey! Thank you Bryant for choosing me!!

Valentine's Day

Let me just start out by saying I AM THE LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD!!! I never could have dreamed of a life as good as this with a husband that loves me so much and shows it every chance he can.

This year for Valentine's Day/Valentine's Weekend we kind of celebrated our anniversary too. Our anniversary is February 19 and this year Bryant will be out of town. He is going to San Diego to a Physical Therapy Conference with the rest of his class. I am sure we will go out again for a little anniversary date, but this weekend Bryant went above and beyond!

On Saturday, it was so nice outside. We decided to go downtown to Riverfront Park and let Gracie feed the ducks. She loves going outside, and she really loves animals. We then went to Olive Garden for lunch (thanks to my Mom and Dad who sent a giftcard for Bry's birthday !) Gracie was so cute! She made sure and tell everyone that walked by our table "Hi"!

Later that evening, our good friend Jen (who's husband and baby were out of town) came over to watch Gracie so Bry and I could go to a hockey game. It was a kind of spur of the moment kind of thing. We had no idea how popular a hockey game would be and unfortunately, it was sold out:( To be honest, I really didn't care as long as I got to spend a few hours with my sweet husband.)

Sunday, we got home from church, and after a nice nap (for all three of us) Bry kicked me out of the kitchen and said he was going to make something special for dinner. This was the result:

Homemade Chicken Parmesan (with fresh mozzarella!), homemade--as in made from scratch marinara sauce to go on the chicken parmesan and on some fancy pasta as well as a homemade alfredo sauce! IT WAS DELICIOUS!!

He also brought out a dozen beautiful red roses! I don't think I have gotten roses since we got engaged over 5 years ago.

Gracie looked SO cute for church on Sunday (if I don't say so myself!) I just figured out how to get 2 little pigtails in her very thick hair. Isn't she just a doll?!

This was just a random after church mommy/daughter picture! I think Gracie is so cute in it, and I can kind of see my 7 pound weight loss in my face! (Yep, after LOTS of hard work at the gym and lots of counting calories, I am down 7 pounds in 2 weeks!)

I love my little family. Life just can't get much better than this!

INSPIRING!

I have kept up on the disaster in Haiti a bit, just on the news. How incredibly sad. To see people who had died that are buried in a pile of rubble, and children left orphans, it just breaks my heart. My mom emailed me this article about the Members of the Church there in Haiti. I cried the whole time I read it. It is so INSPIRING. I truly hope when disaster/trials of any kind come into my life I can have the kind of UNSHAKEN FAITH and SPIRIT of HOPE these Saints have in Haiti.

So, if you want a little inspiration yourself, check out this article!

http://www.meridianmagazine.com/churchupdate/100202church.html

(sorry, you have to cut and paste the link into your browser)

Busy, Busy, Busy...

For being a stay at home mom, I sure am on the go ALLLLL THE TIME! Last Wednesday, I came home after taking Gracie to HeadStart and realized that I was absolutely exhausted. At first, I thought maybe I was getting really anemic again, but then I went through about the last week and a half and realized I am busier now than I ever was when I worked full time. Between watching my friends kids (all my friends here are pregnant and since we live right by the hospital it's easy for them to drop their kiddos off for a quick appointment....please don't get me wrong, I LOVE having other kids here, and so does Gracie!), all of the dentist appointments I've had to go to, making it to the required HeadStart stay and plays with Gracie as well as the weekly home visits, and then just the everyday chores, cooking dinner, grocery shopping, cleaning (yeah right!), paying bills, Gracie's baths, naps, meals, etc. etc AND making it to the gym for AT LEAST an hour every day, I feel like a chicken running around with my head cut off! On top of this, I have an editing job I am trying to finish that is on a deadline! After tomorrow, I think life will calm down, at least for a few days!

I was getting a little overwhelmed with all the stuff I am responsible for and all the stuff I have going on right now, but then I realized how lucky I am to be busy. I mean, would I rather be bored out of my mind sitting at home with absolutely nothing to do? I love that when my friends have an appointment or something, I can (for the most part) be available to help with their kids. I love that I am able to have Gracie is such great programs and that I get to participate in them with her. I also love that I can help out Bryant by taking care of all the everyday things so he can focus on school. Though I am looking forward to a few low-key days, life is good! And the time is going by SO fast. Before we know it Bryant will be done with school and we will have a whole new set of adventures to look forward to!