Thank-You To My Wife

Thank you to my wife, for making my Birthday so wonderful and full of surprises-2 to be exact. And thank you to all the people that were a part of a really fun night.

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY, TODD!!

My husband is pictured here with Hailey, Aaron and Gabby...and the "house" they built at the Children's Museum. :)

Happy Birthday, Babe!! Here are 30 things I love about you...

1. You're so driven...even if your goal is to buy yet another set of new speakers for your boat, you NEVER let up until you get what you want! :)

2. You can always make me laugh...even when I'm exasperated with you because you're entertaining the idea of buying yet another new set of speakers for your boat. :)

3. Those baby blues...anyone who's seen my husband in person knows what I'm talkin' about!!!

4. You're handy! Just look at our house that you've completely re-done!

5. Your call to love YL kids in the name of Jesus.

6. You're an amazing father! Our girl loves you to pieces... :)

7. You're loyal...your "BFF" is the same guy from high school! (Hailey says HI Uncle Mikey!)

8. Your eternal perspective...even though we'll have a month-old baby, you still want to go to Wakeboard Camp this summer to minister to high school kids!! (and no, I'm not coming with you and bringing Owen...you MUST think I'm crazy!! :)

9. You're such a kid at heart! (please see above picture of Aaron and Todd taking 20+ minutes to build a house in the "Dunn Lumber" exhibit at the Children's Museum.)

10. You're such a great daddy. I know, I know...already said this one, but it's true...it's really true!

11. Your uncanny ability to clean our disastrous house in just 30 minutes on a Sunday morning! Don't understand this one, but I'm sure thankful for it! :)

12. Your growth as the spiritual leader in our home. I'm thankful for God's provision for several guys to speak into your life in this area and encourage you to do what's right in the eyes of the Lord!

13. Your beautiful blue eyes! This one also deserves two spots on the list...I mean, have you seen 'em???

14. How you are so determined to teach our girl to be tough, but in the same breath can scoop her up and tend to her hurts.

15. The way you've trusted God, especially with our finances and business in this tough time. I am tremendously blessed and comforted by this, babe.

16. How relationships have become so important to you. I can remember a guy long ago who seemed to need no one, and yet you've become so involved in relationships that it's not often that you're not texting or chatting with one of your friends. I love this!

17. The way that even though you don't understand my love of handbags, when my birthday rolls around you'll set aside your feelings and get me a new one to use for a diaper bag anyways! ;)

18. You've become a man that isn't afraid to admit that he's wrong...this is NOT a slam...it's a sign of maturity.

19. I LOVE how you make it a point (most Fridays) to get up EARLY (4:30am) to go meet with Mike to pray and play basketball with the teachers at FWHS. It's such a sacrifice, but I know it's good for your soul.

20. Your heart for giving. Even when it's hard to get there, you've spent COUNTLESS hours at the Young Life house helping make it a nice place for doing ministry...even after a long day at work!

21. How right now you're chasing Hailey and Gabby through the house making them squeal and laugh!! :)

22. The less than 15 minutes it takes you to get ready in the morning...including a shower!! I'm jealous of this mostly...and thankful because it gives me more time to get myself ready for church this morning. :)

23. Your excitement for the arrival of our son! How you love calling him by his name, participated in the choice of his baby bedding, and have strong opinions about what clothes are "manly" enough for a little Yost man.

24. The way you've chosen to give me "props" when I actually think ahead and make dinner! I know that to some degree it's my job as a stay-at-home mom/wife, but it makes me want to do it for you all the more when you appreciate me.

25. How you'll only eat brownies out of the middle...even when it means the people at Coldstone have to go into the back and get a fresh one for you out of the new pan. :)

26. How you'll only eat Lucerne cream cheese...even though I made you a bagel with Philadelphia brand the other day and you didn't notice.

27. The way you almost never mind sleeping on your right side so you won't keep me up with your snoring. :)

28. You will not watch commercials...which sometimes drives me nuts, but other times I learn very interesting things during momentary flips to the Discovery Channel.

29. You went wakeboarding in November...hardcore.

30. The way you're embracing this milestone of a birthday and keep saying you won't feel old until you turn 40...sorry, Todd...YOU'RE OLD!! ;)

Four Things...

The rules to play the Fantastic Four Meme are simple:
Copy/paste the questions into your blog
Type in your answers
Tag four people on your list
Don’t forget to change the answers to your own!

FOUR PLACES I GO OVER AND OVER AND OVER: Target, my mom's, Fred Meyer and the Young Life house.

FOUR PEOPLE WHO EMAIL/IM ME REGULARLY: Facebook peeps, my YL girls (more texting than email or IM), Stephanie Heritage, and Todd (again, more texting).

FOUR PLACES I LIKE TO EAT: Wendy's, Spaghetti Factory, anything pizza, and Taco Time (I wish there were more healthy options on this list, but there's just not! :).

FOUR PLACES I’D RATHER BE RIGHT NOW: my massage therapist's office, getting my toes did (going this afternoon, actually), shopping without my kid, and June (understandably, this isn't a place but I'm really excited for June to come :).

FOUR TV SHOWS I COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER: Jon and Kate Plus 8, One Tree Hill, So You Think You Can Dance, and Grey's/Private Practice (i know, i know...).

FOUR PEOPLE THAT I THINK WILL RESPOND: Lisa ('cuz I'm gonna pass her the computer in a sec :), Alicia (I'm hoping), Shawna (I'm hoping), and Jen Davis (because she is in DESPERATE need of an update :).

And his name is...

Owen Garrett

After tossing around several great names, we've decided. The process of naming our son was even more difficult than that of naming our daughter! There's pressure...I mean, you need a good strong name for when he's an adult, but a name that fits sweetly for a baby. Easier said than done, my friends!

Now all that's left to do is patiently await Owen's arrival. I'm so anxious and excited to meet and snuggle him, but also trying really hard not to wish away these last few months as a family of 3. We have lots we'd like to do before we're parents of two just to show Hailey how special she is to Todd and I.

FYI: We reserve the right to make any last minute changes we deem necessary up until the day of our son's birth should we come up with a name that seems to suit him better... :)

Cute Buns...

Shake Your Bootie...

The joys of potty-training...

So, we've started the process of potty training, and I must say that other than naptime, Hailey stayed dry all day!! So exciting...but I also must say that she spent a majority of her day at my mom's house. :) We watch her like a hawk and just ask her to sit on the potty about every half an hour. She wore big girl undies for a really long time today with no accidents!!

She loves to sit on the potty because she gets two chocolate chips...or m&m's as she calls them. A successful "pee-pee" gets her 5 "m&m's" and a poopie would get her 10 but we've yet to have one of those at home...just at Grandma Yost's house. :)

Let's hope tomorrow goes this well...

(she's so gonna love me for posting this on the internet when she's 12 :)

Now that the shock's worn off...

In an effort to get myself thinking "boy", I've found his bedding. On the way home the day of the ultrasound Todd announced that he would be having a large role in the decisions regarding the decor of our son's room and that he had decided on a Camo theme. I had visions of multiple shades of dark green and our son sleeping in a cave!! Let me tell you, I was skeptical...until I found this oh, so cute/manly bedding ON CLEARANCE at Babies R Us. I got a crib bumper, 2 sheets, crib skirt, bucket for storing baby stuff AND this fluffy matching blanket for a killer deal. In fact the blanket was out of stock everywhere, but my determination was great so I called every store in Washington and ended up convincing a very nice lady that worked at the Tukwila store to help me search. She found me one in RENO and it's being shipped right to me. No search is too extensive for my BOY!! :)

This is a a picture of the whole set...I love it!! Hailey keeps picking up the sheet and saying "baby bruder sheet". It's cute. :)

Now I just can't wait for my sweet boy to have a name...we named Hailey right away after we found out she was a girl and by the time I was holding her in my arms I felt like I knew her! Now I want that same thing with my son...but alas, the search continues. Suggestions welcome. :)

It's a...

boy!!

We are so excited! :)

The nurse started looking down between the legs and very assuredly announced that our child had not two, but three legs! :) She then checked at least 5 different times...every time she rolled the wand in the direction of his "boy parts", there he was...SPREAD EAGLE, proudly showing his goods. Todd couldn't have been more proud! :)

You Know You're Pregnant When...

your closet no longer consists of piles of pants, t-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, etc. but contains small piles of "fits" and large piles of "doesn't fit".

Sure does make laundry sorting easier, though! :)

so sweet...

While tucking Hailey into bed tonight, it came time to say prayers. She grabbed her Abby Cadabby doll that she got for Christmas, put her hands together and said, "Dabby Abby say payers".

So sweet... :)

Ummmm...Excuse Me?? I'm sure I didn't hear you right...

Today I had my 19-week appointment at my OB's office and was, well, shocked at what he told me...

Dr: (While looking over my chart) Everything looks great! Hmmm...you've only gained 2 pounds so far...that's okay for now, but I'd really like to see a bit more weight gain at your next visit.

Me: (after he picked me up off the floor after I FAINTED...jk) What?!? Are you sure? By this time in my last pregnancy I had gained at least 15 or more!

Dr: I'm quite sure...gain more weight.

Me: Okay, doc...I'll eat more cheeseburgers and go to two bowls of ice cream a day instead of my usual one. ;)

After listening to the baby's heartbeat (155 beats a minute) he comes to the end of the appointment and asks if I have any questions.

Me: I do, actually...last time I was induced at 39 weeks because of my blood pressure. Would you consider inducing again a little early?

Dr: Sure! You did great last time, so I'd have no problem inducing at 39 weeks.

Me: Really?!? So my due date can change in my mind to May 28th??? :)

Dr: (looks at his due date wheel) Ummm...yeah! That's 39 weeks exactly. And my father's birthday. Good day to be born.

Then while I was walking out toward the lobby he says...

Dr: See you in 4 weeks and gain some weight!

I've never had a better appointment in my life! Well, except for when I found out Hailey was a girl and this Friday when I'll find out what this kid is!!! :)

And it starts...

We've begun getting Hailey's big girl room ready! Here's the bedding she helped pick. She's really loving polka dots these days, hence the polka dot bedding. The next step is for us (and by us, I mean Todd) to build a closet in what will be her bedroom downstairs. Hopefully we'll have it all ready by her 2nd birthday so she'll have several months to feel comfortable in it before baby #2 comes along.

I still can't believe my baby is getting so big!!! :)

Happy New Year!!

What a fun time we had on New Year's Eve...we hosted a "pizza-rager" at our house for our Young Life kids. We ended up with about 20 showing up. Good times! We played Wii, Apples to Apples, Catchphrase, and had an all-around great time.

By midnight we (and by "we", I mean the adults) were BARELY awake and ready for bed.

The young-ones thought they'd have no problem staying up all night...some of them didn't make it to the end. :)

After sending the boys to the Young Life house (where they stayed up until 4 playing basketball in the gym) and the girls to Stephanie's house (where they stayed up until 3 chatting and laughing) everyone came back to our house for an amazing brunch! They devoured two pans of baked french toast, two pans of hash brown & ham cassarole, 4 packages of bacon and lots of Costco muffins...oddly enough there is a ton of cut up fruit still on the platter...hmmm... (to the parents of these kids...we tried!! :)

We're currently watching football, movies, some are dozing off and spending time relaxing. What could be better??

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!