Temple Work

Most of you know that I have been working at the Oakland Temple as an Ordinance Worker. I have been working there since April. It has been one of the most challenging and uplifting experiences in my life. Learning the rules and layout of the Temple, along with memorizing the ordinances, has challanged me in so many ways. Many days I would come home from the Temple so drained emotionally and physically that I would cry. (those of you that know me well know that I dont admit to crying, but its true). I felt many times the Lord pushing me to try harder and do better. The reason I'm telling you this is because tomorrow is my last day. I have such mixed feelings. I cant physically go and work anymore, being hugely pregant and all. I knew once I found out I was pregnant that I would have to quit sooner or later, but it has snuck up on me before I new it. So I am happy to be leaving for such an important reason of becoming a mommy, but I will surely miss the work and the workers that I have met there. I will sure miss carpooling with the ladies. The are 96, 90, 74, and 73 years young. I have learned so many things just being around them. They crack me up. Temple work has such a new meaning to me and I hope I can always remember what I have learned.

Thanksgiving in Trona

For Thanksgiving this year we decided to go visit my grandparents in Trona, CA. Now if you dont know where Trona is you take a turn in Bakersfield, CA and drive into the desert for an hour or two. Yep, out in the middle of nowhere. Just outside of Trona are the Trona Pinnacles. Where we took these pictures.

Darren is hiding in the hole in the rock. And Us posing for a picture.

Just some of the rocks! And truthfully it's the most entertaining thing around.

Baby Update

Well, it's official, we finally found out we are having a GIRL! We really thought that we were having a boy, but the baby is definately a girl.
(doule-click to enlarge)

These are shots taken with a 3-D ultrasound machine. She looks pretty cute! (at least to us)

This first picture is of the babies bottom showing us that it has little girl parts. A few of the shots you can see her fingers, she kept trying to hide her face.

Trip to Yosemite

We went on a few trips to Yosemite in the last few weeks. We thought that it would be fun to show you some of our pictures.

The first trip I made with my sisters, Jenny and Heather, and Jenny's girls Tessa and Elise. The second trip Darren and I took with his parents Faye and Marden.

Half Dome

This is a climber on El Capitan. If you look at the blue pack on the wall, that is actually what they sleep in overnight on their way up the wall.

Scenery

more scenery

Darren climbing one of the many rock walls in Yosemite.

Scenic View

El Capitan

This is the bear we saw. He was just hanging out in the tree. We almost walked right under the tree on accident (Scary). We saw quite a few bears. Three while with my sisters, and with Darrens parents we saw a mommy and baby cubs.

Bridalveil Falls without any water falling

Trees in the meadow

Its a baby!

Well as promised, here is an update to my blog. I didnt have any news or anything to add for a whole month. But this month was special because I quit thowing up. I have made it a month with out being sick. I have been more tired than I have ever felt before, but its better than throwing up all the time.

We had our first ultrasound today and here are some pictures of it. We still dont know if it is a girl or a boy though. I guess the baby is modest and didnt want to show off its parts. The technician said that there might be something there but she couldnt tell. So for now we are thinking it is most likely it is a boy but there is still a 50-50 chance that the baby is a girl. So for now we are just happy that its a healthy baby! We could tell that it had long legs like Darren. It is very active too, it kept punching and kicking the monitoring device. It also moves its feet alot, just like its Grandma Peterson does.

My new blog

I think this will be my new thing for a while. I figure with a baby coming and not living close to family and friends, this would keep everyone up to date and entertained. One of my friends does this and hers is really exciting to read and get updates of how things are going for them.