Merry Christmas!

Couldn't Help Myself... very funny!

Can't....Sleep....

AND I'M JUST PLAIN UNCOMFORTABLE!

For the past few mornings, I have had the hardest time falling back asleep after Kollin gets up and leaves for work. I lay in bed tossing and turning for about an hour and a half to two hours with no luck. So I finally get out of bed around 7 or 7:30am.

I have a bowl of cereal and plop in front of the TV. For some reason, I can fall asleep easier on the couch with the TV on, then all alone in bed. But not lately! As soon as that food hits my belly, the Gummy Bear starts to go nuts, and won't give me a break for up to 20 minutes sometimes. At least I still haven't felt him in my ribs yet *knock on wood*.

I am still so tired, I have no motivation to get up and do anything around the house. But at least I have all day to be productive, and can work on that later once I have more rest.

I know it is only going to get worse over the next few weeks, so I don't know why I'm complaining. Also, I guess this is just getting me prepared for my sleep schedule to be FUBAR'd for who knows how long after this little guy is here though, right?

Perfect Evening for a Baby Blessing

Last night all of the family got together at Russell's parents' house for baby Wayne's blessing. It was so beautiful and touching to listen to Russell bless his child. Well done!

Cannon and Dibb grandparents with the happy trio

Cannon Family

Aunt Carler singing to Andrew. He loved it!

Christmas Party a la Aunt Carler

This last Saturday was the annual Clark Family Christmas Party at Aunt Carler's house. It was so much fun to see everyone! Aunt Mares, Uncle Warren and all of their kids and grandkids even came! (well, the ones that aren't on missions) Yay for family!

For some reason, I didn't get pictures of everyone. Oops.

Growing baby!

Thought I would make a little mosaic on how much he has been growing in each ultrasound.

32 weeks - belly update

So I am on the final stretch! 32 weeks along, and he could be here within 8 weeks... give or take. It still doesn't seem like I am going to be a mother. It is the strangest feeling in the world to think about that! I can't wait to see him! We are so curious as to what he will look like, and of course that he is ok and healthy. I had another ultrasound yesterday, and Kollin was able to go to this one with me. He is weighing about 4.5 lbs! (the baby, not Kollin. hee hee) The ultrasound tech confirmed yet again that he is STILL a boy, contrary to Kollin's belief. HA! She also said that his head is measuring about 2 or 3 weeks ahead of how far along I am, but the rest of his body is right on track. That worried me a bit, but I had an appointment with my Dr. today, and he said that everything looks fine inside his head, and there is not anything to worry about. He had me make another appointment in 4 weeks for another ultrasound just to follow up on that for good measure though. Anyway, here is a new belly shot that I took today... I feel huge! But anyone that sees me, and finds out how far along I am always tell me I look tiny. So I'm guessing I'm looking pretty good for 32 weeks! Yay!

7 years.

I can't believe it has been 7 years.

Then again, I can.

I miss your smile.

I miss your laugh.

I miss your voice.

I miss your arms around me.

I miss snuggling with you.

I miss your beautiful hands.

I miss the freckle on your front tooth.

I miss your crazy hair.

I miss your matching birthmark to mine.

I miss your hot legs (I wish I had your legs and not the ones I got!).

I miss your cookies and candies.

I miss you always crunching on ice.

I miss startling you when I would walk into a room without warning (not usually on purpose!).

I miss your nervous twitch when you would "write" with your index finger.

I watch home videos, but they could never do you justice.

I cherish the clothing you made me as a child, and hope to be able to dress my future daughter in them someday.

I use your recipes to make your cookies and carmels, and cannot wait to teach my children the skills you taught me.

I look at your pictures often and remember how beautiful you are.

I see so much of you in my two beautiful sisters that share your genes.

I wish I could see some of you when I look in the mirror.

I know you are watching over me.

I know you are helping to hand pick my son and other future children to be sent to me someday.

I know you have work to do, and were not taken from us so early for no reason.

I know I will see you again someday.

I love you.

Love,

Ali

Temple Square During Christmas Time.

Libby invited us to go to Temple Square with them, and we jumped at the chance! We were already talking about going this year, and it was just that much better to be there with a group of people. We also watched the Nativity movie in the Visitor's Center. Grandpa Cannon was so cute with baby Wayne. Actually made that kid look like a normal sized baby.... He's only 8 or 9 weeks old! (I think) We also all went on a carriage ride. (Grandpa is holding baby Wayne) Bob the horse, and his driver Mary Beth. They were both great. It was really warm today, and not that cold tonight. It was the perfect night to go! i always remember in the past just being freezing cold when we've gone to Temple Square to see the lights. Tonight, I didn't even really need a coat or gloves!

Final Touches

Alright, I'm done now. I also decided to make a tree skirt to match the stockings. It turned out pretty cute!

Five Hours of Cloud Nine!

Yesterday we were lucky enough to be able to spend 5 hours with Kollin's Little Man. Needless to say, Kollin was on cloud nine. The Little Man had a ball as well. We went to the house and spent time with Grandma Stark. Played with Mr. Potato Head. And some power tools. He also got introduced to Chloe for the first time. Kollin also chased him around the house for a little bit... They both had so much fun!

THEN we went to the aquarium. We met up with my dad, Megan, Andrew, Britta, Ben and Cole. It was so much fun to see all the kids together, and see the Little Man meet his future cousins! the Little Man and Andrew checked out the Nemo fish. We watched penguins... And measured up to the penguins as well. Did some hanging around on Dad's leg. And then the sting rays... Ohhhh... the sting rays! Actually, the Little Man just liked splashing in the water, and could care less for the sting rays. lol Throughout the day, he loved to steal Dad's camera and take pictures of his own. He was pretty good! At the end of the day, needless to say... totally zonked out! It was a great day!

On a Roll

I just couldn't stop myself! I had so much fun making the other stockings, and I was also bored... I figured I would make a stocking for the furriest member of the family. Now my favorite girl in the world can enjoy Christmas with us!

Crafty Ali Homemaker!

One thing (out of many) I can always look forward to during Christmas time at my parents' house, are the stockings that my Mother had made for each of us. They still hang on the mantle every year along with my step siblings' stockings. I asked my dad if I could steal mine this year to use as a base pattern for our stockings... I figured I would finally get crafty for Christmas and make ours! The shape, area for the names, rick rack and bells on the toes are directly copied from my Mom. The alternating colors (Mom's were all red), figures in the middle and heel and toe patches were Kollin's ideas. I also stitched around the edges and patches by hand since my sewing machine isn't working too well these days. Mom's were done by machine in those pretty artsy stitch settings. I think they turned out pretty darn good!

Kollin's and mine

the Little Man's and Gummy Bear's

Finished product on the fireplace!