A few pregnancy tidbits...

I hate meat. I used to love a really great medium rare steak and now I can't even think of choking down thinly sliced deli meat let alone chicken, beef, or anything that remotely reminds me of meat.


I hate anything sweet. I can't believe this has really happened to me. I LOVED sweets: brownies, chocolate, peanut butter M&M's, cookies, lemon bars... I can't even think of eating anything that sweet! Not only can I not choke it down, if I do manage, the pain in my stomache just wasn't worth it.


I love love love the taste of pickles!! I always loved pickles but now I LOVE them! The downside is the inevitable heartburn. But sometimes I'm willing to sacrifice my esophageal comfort.







Ultimately, I'm happy that at least I'm out of the throwing up 8-10 times a day phase and excited to be that much closer to holding our little baby.

Grateful...

Some times life is crazy, unpredictable, and hard. At times like these I am grateful for my Savior and the gospel. I'm grateful that I have direction even when everything else seems upside down and uncertain. I loved conference this last weekend!! I love our prophet and the wonderful leaders of the church. I am so grateful to be a member of this church.

General Conference filled me with so much hope and light. I felt the spirit so strongly and I know that my Heavenly Father knows me, understands me and loves me. I love my Heavenly Father and I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church and I am grateful that I belong to it.

I am also grateful for my husband, Marc. I am so glad that through everything, no matter what, he is by my side. With him, I can truly make it through any trial. I love him so much, he is everything to me.

AUTUMN!!

I am so glad that Fall is finally here. This is my favorite weather.

Sweatshirt and jeans... BYU football!

I love the cool breeze and the smell of fall in the air.

I love the color of the leaves.

I love the rainy days.

I am so happy it is fall!!

One of the Million Reasons Why I Love Marc...

I love that Marc and I are laughing our heads off at 11:30 pm while eating gogurt and reading the lame jokes on the tubes.

Top Ten Greatest Blessings in last 2 1/2 years

#10-Living in this neighborhood. We have absolutely loved this duplex we've been living in for the last 5 months. Our ward is wonderful and our neighbors are fantastic. We have found great friendships and have met some of the most genuine people ever.






#9-Marc joining the Army National Guard. As much as I hate to admit it Marc joining the Army has been a great blessing in our life. Marc's tuition being paid for is obviously one of the major blessings but many other benefits come because of it and we are very grateful.





#8-Marc getting his job with Ivy Hill Corporation. This job offer came at the perfect time. Our prayers were answered and we were blessed to find this job that was more than we could have hoped for.






#7-Finding our hormone specialist. I have struggled with some health problems for about the last 2 1/2 years. In Feb. of 2007 Marc and I decided it was time to see a specialist. We were very lucky to find a very great lady who helped put me on the road to treatment.





#6-Living close to our families. We live very close to each of our parents and most of each of our siblings. Having our families close to us has been a great strength and blessing. We think families are the most important thing and are so glad to have the influence and strength we get from associating often with them.



#5-Marie being able to stay at home. I haven't been working for about a year now and it has been a great blessing to be able to have less stress and be able to focus on my health. Marc has been amazingly supportive and works so hard to provide for me especially with all of the medical bills we've encountered. I love you, Babe!










#4-Marc starting his Aviation degree. Marc is so happy to be studying Aviation and learning to be a Helicopter Pilot in school. It is his dream and we're so happy that he has been able to start and be happy in his career.







#3-Finding our fertility specialist. I was with the hormone specialist for over a year and we were so grateful for all the help she gave us, but I was more grateful when she admitted there wasn't any more she could do for us and she recommended we see a Reproductive Endocrinologist. We looked around and decided on a doctor at the University of Utah Clinic for Reproductive Medicine. This was the best decision we could have made. Our doctor is so wonderful. She is knowledgeable, understanding and compassionate; she quickly became my friend. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It has been a long road of treatment with many many ups and downs. If you are interested in learning more about PCOS visit this link (http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pcos.htm). Our treatment has led us to many many prescription medications, ultrasounds, doctor appointments, LH kits, follicle stimulating medication, ovulation induction shots, IUI even a trip to the E.R. which all lead to extensive medical bills. But we feel so happy with how far I've come in the last year that we'd do it all over.








#2-Marrying my best friend. Marrying Marc is the best decision I ever made. I love him so much. June 29th, 2006 was the best day of my life. We have an amazing relationship, if I say so myself. Marc is my best friend. I could not have asked for a better husband. He makes me laugh every day. I have so much fun with him. I am grateful for everything he does for me. He loves me so much and he makes it so apparent every single day.

#1-Finding out that we're having a baby!

2 Week Annual Training

Apache Sunset

This is Marc, I'm pretty excited about my debut blog post! Hopefully I'll make Marie proud! I have had a lot of people ask me what I do in the Utah National Guard. I am not one of the grunt shoot 'em up soldiers running through the bush (though I did my fair share in Basic Training!). Don't get me wrong. We do have training like that to get us ready for when we deploy, but my job in the Guard is much different. The Battalion I'm in is the Apache Attack Helicopter Unit here in Utah. I am an Aviation Operations Specialist, which means I am the guy on the ground tracking and talking to the pilots flying the Helicopters. Here are some pictures of the fun and games!

This is an antenna that we have to set up inorder to have communication with the Helicopters. There are 2 Apaches in the background that are getting refueled and loaded with ammunition.

This is the "Van" that we set up our base in. You can see the cable going into the van, that is coming off of that big antenna to hook up to the radios.

Here is an Apache coming in for fuel. I love being around these Helicopters.

Take off over two other birds.

Hope you have liked seeing these Helicopters as much as I do!!!

Lonely night...

I realized I haven't posted in a long time so, I decided the best thing to do on this sleepless night is update. This won't be the cheerful update of what is new in our life, more my lonely ramblings going out to space. Marc is gone for his two week annual training for the Army National Guard, so alas, here I am home alone. During the day is not so bad because I'm used to him being at work, but when 5:30 comes around and I realize that he's not coming home, the ache in my heart suddenly shows it's unpleasant face again. I don't sleep too well without him beside me. I know I should be used to it for the 21 years I slept without him before marriage and even the almost 175 nights without him after marriage while he was at basic training and AIT, and yet, I cannot get accustomed to him being gone. I'm actually very lucky that this particular training will only take him away for 3 nights and then the rest of the 2 1/2 weeks training he should just be at his unit and will most likely be able to come home at night. But alone at 11:30 pm and I just can't stop missing him. I rely on my husband so much. He is my foundation. So, here I'll face another sleepless night where I stay up and watch 3 sesame street episodes (the same one three times in a row) on KBYU since there is nothing else on at 2:00am and I can't bear the darkness and silence. But fortunately, Marc will soon be back with me and I can regain most of my normal sleeping habits, especially after being exhausted from these last three nights. I know I sound babyish, like I can't sleep in my own bed because I'm afraid of the dark or that a monster will come out of the closet, but I am fully willing to admit that my husband gives me a total sense of security that I love and need. I sleep much better with his arms around me than in a bed, that seems two miles wide, alone.