Happy Halloween!!

For some reason this was the first year that Clint and I both dressed up for Halloween, and let me tell you, I had a blast! I can't believe that we haven't been doing it every year :) ... On Friday, we had the school-wide Halloween Party. It was a success as most of the community and students came to enjoy a fun costume contest, scavenger hunt, some games, and afterward, cake and juice!


Since pictures are always better than words, here are a few from the crazy 'n wild party!


















Happy Halloween!

28 Weeks!

Hello 7 months and 3rd Trimester! 


I know that these weekly updates may be a little redundant. "I can't believe..." "Time is flying by..." "Baby's kickin' up a storm..." But the truth is, those are my truths. The last statement is not to be taken lightly as I have been feeling Baby Girl almost constantly. But it's a constant reminder that she is here, growing and healthy. It's a two-fold feeling for me when I'm lying awaking at 3:00am because she is kicking too.hard. Part of me is saying, "Dear one, please STOP so Mama can sleep!" and the other part is embracing every twitch and movement that I feel and wishing, for just that split moment I can stop time. Live in those few minutes. Forever.

Because it's 10:00 pm and I have a handsome husband waiting for me on the couch to snuggle, I'm going to make this pretty snappy.

How far along: 28 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: Not sure how much anymore. I lost track.
Sleep: Absolutely None! Baby Girls favorite time to kick is when I'm trying to go to sleep. It's very difficult to doze off into dreamland, but once I do. It's oh.so.good! It usually takes me about an hour or hour 'n a half.
Best moment this week: One of my students started to hug and kiss the baby aka my belly saying, "hello pretty girl!" ... I bet our little one loves that and is going to live up to that statement :) .
Movement: Everyday all day. 
**Stimulation: Music makes this baby girl move 'n dance! Listening to worship music and yoga/meditation music!

Food Cravings: None.
Gender: GIRL!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out?  In. Stretched. But in.
What I miss? Sleeping soundly on my tummy.

What I am looking forward to: Christmas vacation when Clint and I will be able to relax and have a date night in Ketchikan before baby comes!
Weekly Wisdom: Sleep whenever where ever you can!
Milestones: THIRD TRIMESTER!!


How your baby's growing-according to babycenter


By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

And.... Because I'm just not feelin' it...No picture for this week :( ....Keep checking back for updates though! I'm thinkin' Halloween!

October Inservice

The October in service came and went in a flash... And although a lot happened during that week, nothing seems to come to mind except it was nice getting to collaborate with the other ECE teachers and meeting other teachers around the district. The week was in full swing with classes to help guide instruction, the first annual volleyball tournament (which, ahem, White Mountain won...Of course :) ), the annual Fun Run (which I walked and took 2nd place for the 3.1 mile race!!), Open Mic Night, and sleeping in a tent with the dogs!

Now it may seem as though I am only talking about the after class activity-which I am-but in all reality it is always nice to get together with fellow teachers and bounce ideas off one another! I felt prepared and so much more at ease going back into my classroom and implementing some of the information that I gathered.

All in all it was a fun, productive, cold, and long week!

Here are some pictures because, well, what's a post without them?!


The view on our way to Unalakleet


The sun was rising as we were flying! It was beautiful...


Our humble abode for 3 nights...


The dogs home for 4 days :( ....


walkin' to the beach with our pups!


Beautiful scenery!


Ice forming...


Don't you wish you were here?!


The volleyball championship game...Yeah, we won!


Fun Run Group!! Yes, Clint and I are matching :)..


Clint running


View of Unalakleet from "mountain"


All the wonderful ECE teachers....

** Hopefully now that I am well rested, caught up on homework, and feeling a littel bit more lively I will have the energy to blog on a regular basis...Come back tomorrow for my weekly pregnancy update!**

No longer....

It's no longer about us. At all. Once our little one enters the world it's going to be hello baby, goodbye parents! No longer are our parents going to take a vacation to see us. It's the baby they want to visit, and we are just the innocent bystanders who get the extra attention (if there is any to behold). No longer are we receiving gifts that we would use. It's gifts for the baby during birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions. No longer are they calling to see how we are feeling. A lot of times the first thing I hear is, "how's the baby?" I can only imagine what it's going to be like when she arrives.

And you know what?!

It's sooo good. It's a blessed feeling knowing that your daughter is the center of your world. And ours? Our daughter already is the center of ours. In everything we do and everywhere we go!

Last night, we had our Sunday visit with some good friends. When we arrived, their children immediately handed Clint two wrapped presents with anticipation smiles that couldn't be contained.

The first present he opened it was PINK! And I read Clint's face. He was thinkin' "oh man. you guys too?!"...See, ever since we found out we are having a girl, Clint has been adamant about the fact that our girl is not going to wear pink. Ever. Since he has made that statement our parents, mine especially have been diligently getting pink things and making sure Clint knows. 

However, once he opened the cute little onesie he smiled and said, "this is the only exception!" 

Take a look, and you'll see why: 







Aren't they precious?! You know our girl is going to be black belt punching, high kicking, superwoman kinda girl!!

Mini Photo Shoot!!

I know this is my second post for today...and I was going to wait to post until tomorrow but I'm to darn excited to give a hoot! After my blessed morning with Clint waking up and making pancakes which were slathered with Almond Butter...Mmm... We decided that it's too nice of a day to spend inside. I mean, living up in northern Alaska where winters can be brutally cold, you have to take advantage of the nice weather. So, with dogs in tow, all four of us headed out! It was a beautiful day with the sun shining, crisp air, and snow on the ground along with frozen mud. It was a blast!

We had a mini photo shoot! I have been contemplating on whether or not to have professional photos taken of me, the bump, and Clint...But Clint has a hard time spending money on something that, "he can do himself"...

I think his quote proves that, well, he's right! I am so proud of the pictures that he took of me...I feel like a life-giving goddess in these photos...Seriously. I may be tooting my own horn but this little princess is radiating her beauty through me...

Have a look...Tell me what you think!

26 Weeks and 4 Days...

Dear Baby Girl,

You are and always will be, my most precious creation!

 

Love, 

Your Mamma

3 Things...

 It was just me and my baby girl awake this morning and as I look around our soft-lit room, I see perfection. Clint, snoring next to me in a deep sleep, and our two pups nestled away within the sheets and blankets. And I couldn't help but have a feeling of overwhelming happiness. It was so overwhelming that I started crying right then and there. Each tear, I thought was a representation of everything good and pure and perfect in my life.

In less than 100 days, all of that is going to change. Change my world. Change Clint's world. Forever.

It's going to be an explosion of perfection! It's going to be a wild, roller-coaster of a ride but...I am ready to throw my hands up in the air and scream with vigilant excitement, and let my ever growing, ever blessed life take me for the ride of my life :) ...

It was quiet and calm and perhaps nothing extraordinary to anyone else, so completely extraordinary to us...and there will be many more mornings like these in a couple months.

With that said...Here are 3 things that I am enjoying right now:

*Clint talking on the phone, hours on end with his best friend (who is also expecting his first child) talking about how he's going to raise his daughter. How, "she's going to learn how to camp, build a fire, do karate, kick boys' butts," and hold her own in this world. It's heaven to my ears hearing him talk about the future. Our future. Even if there is a little bit of nervousness in his voice when talking about her teenage years.

*The little clothes that I have washed and folded countless times. Now, nestled in the drawers that are opened a few times a day.

*Skype-technology has made it so much easier to be away from family. Being able to see my Mom's face, and my sister's smile makes my heart ache. But, it's a blessing to be thousands of miles away and still be able to see them in that moment.

Seriously...

I seriously need to get beautified. I can't wait to get my hair done, put on some make-up, and dress up to go out to dinner with my man. This is soon in the works as we are getting excited to head home for Christmas. I know we still have over 2 months, but I can always dream...

My Husband....

Made the papers!!

Before the summer, Clint was asked to write an article about Trail Running perhaps, one of our favorite things to do together. He was in contact with Trail Running Magazine and talked about this subject within their online website! It is an article that talks about his 8 Tips for Mountain Runners!! Go here to read it(it's about halfway down the page..so if you don't see it at first scroll down!)!! It's pretty neat and has tons of information that really works, and really helps you to become a better trail runner...

On another note, the ABKA White Mountain Karate School was featured in their newsletter as well.  The
founder of the ABKA and some of his assossiates and karate students are coming back up to White Mountain in April to work with the instructors, students, and community in promoting this amazing association-a missionary karate association! Here's the article:

First Snow and Then Some...

When we were getting ready for work this morning, I hear Clint yelling, "Tory, come quick! Bring the Camera!" My first instinct that it had to do with one of our dogs because I'm always trying to get pictures of them and their goofy-ness. However, it wasn't at all the dogs. Nope. There was snow on the ground!! The first snow of the season. It's weird that, even though I know we are going to have about 7 or 8 months of it, I can't help but get this warm-fuzzy feeling!



It was a beautiful morning with flakes of snow falling and a high, bright, cloudy sky. I thought it would be a perfect day to go for a walk and capture the ice freezing over the river. However, after school, it was falling slush. Not as glamorous as the soft powder as before. We went on the walk anyway, well, because that's how we roll :)











It's finally official. For me anyway. We have crossed the paths between Fall and Winter. Winter is here. Here to stay for a long while. The boats are beached, the ice is moving in, it's getting a little bit chilly out. It's winter time :) ...

**********

Not only is it the first day that snow has covered our ground, it's the first day of our 26th week of pregnancy! Even though I have nothing that is new and exciting to report, however, this week it's been as exciting as last week. One more week to cross off the calendar. One week closer to meeting our angel! 

Here is the week recap: 

How far along? 26 weeks :) 

Total weight gain/loss: Not that I want to post this kind of information for everyone to see, but I've gained 12 lbs. Which, it's not a number considering baby girl weighs just under 2 lbs!!!

Best moment of the week: I had my monthly check-up and everything is good. Baby's heart rate was 156, I love hearing it! I wish we had bought a doppler to be able to hear her anytime we wanted. There is something so comforting about the galloping-horses sound.

Food Cravings: For some reason, I've been wanting Chocolate. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. 

Gender: Girl.

Labor Signs: None.

Belly button in or out: Still in..Still ginormous!

What I miss: being able to sleep on my stomach!

What I am looking forward to: Our new life in 3 months as Mommy and Daddy!

Weekly wisdom: none this week.

Milestones: none this week.

Picture Time:

Please excuse the messiness of me. This was after a long. loud. day with three and four year olds.




What Baby Center has to say:

How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.


Until next time :)

October...

Everywhere you look, there are signs of fall. One of my four favorite seasons :). There is something to appreciate in each of the seasons but October, October is the start of blessed-madness for the days to come. It starts the apple-cider sipping-pumpkin-bread-making-Halloween-partying-snuggle-on-the-couch loving moments of life.

I love fall.

Here are some pictures of what our life looks like this fall:









This was taken yesterday while on a Fall Walk with my preschoolers. We each had a bag and put signs of Fall (i.e. leaves, pine cones, sticks) to create a collage!!