Officially Adults.

You'd think being married, out of college, and pregnant would make us feel like adults. But, nope, we didn't feel like official adults until yesterday afternoon when we became homeowners! Ah! Scary/exciting/great/weird. It's in Daybreak, a lovely community in South Jordan that we've just fallen in love with. We are so excited about our new little place and the home it will be for us in the upcoming years. We move this weekend, which I'm glad for since I'm not hugely pregnant yet. More pictures will come once we're settled in--if I survive the next few days!

I love Christmas.

Have I mentioned this before?

Magical + 24 Weeks.

Just watched this Coldplay "Christmas Lights" video (thanks to my friend, Camille!) and found it to be quite magical. Love Coldplay, love Christmas. Perfect. Baby liked it as well, she danced through the whole song!



And on a side note--I've gotten some requests for the token "belly pic" from my progressing pregnancy. I've just started to pop out in the last week (as opposed to just looking slightly wider), and that's why I haven't really posted anything yet. Here's a small snapshot (24 weeks!):

Unwashed hair = only the belly in this one :)

Happy Spanksgiving.

Title: quote from Jimmy Fallons's Real Housewives of Late Night. Hilarious.

Anyway, Andrew and I just returned from our annual trip to Prescott, AZ for Thanksgiving to visit with his grandparents. The rest of the family drove up (is it up?) from California, and it was such a fun time. It's always nice to get out of your usual environment and see family that you don't see very often!

Andrew and I are so blessed, and I just wanted to make a short list, more for myself, to sum up what we're grateful for this year.

1. Each other, being happily married. Cheesy, but true.
2. College degrees & employment that we like (and health insurance).
3. The Gospel, our membership in the LDS Church.
4. Amazing family on both sides, great relationships.
5. A warm home (winter, ugh).
6. Christmas!!!!
7. Our little baby girl on the way.
8. Good health all around.
9. Baths.
10. Diet Coke (except not much on my part any more...)
11. Nice people in the world who are just kind and honest.
12. Faith, especially because I'm a worrier, and the Lord always makes things work out for us.

That's a short list, and doesn't even begin to touch everything. But, we have been truly blessed this year and would be so ungrateful if we didn't recognize it. So, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

And now...bring in CHRISTMAS!

Hospital & Harry Potter

Just an update for anyone who reads our blog anymore...

I had to spend a night in the hospital last week for "hydronephrosis"--apparently, some kidney problems associated with my pregnancy. Basically, I was in excruciating pain for a few hours until they gave me lots of morphine. I was also contracting every 2 minutes (scary!!!), and the morphine helped that settle down as well.

As if I hadn't already decided this, I am definitely getting an epidural when I have this little girl, because if natural childbirth is anything like what I felt, I will literally die! On a happier note, they pumped me full of fluids, antibiotics, etc., ran lots of tests that were really great (not), and I am much improved :) I did swell up nicely from all the fluids, so sorry folks, no pictures!

Our little girl did great through the whole ordeal and has been kicking away ever since. I just pray for an uneventful remainder of my pregnancy!

On an even better note, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 comes out tomorrow night! Andrew, being the wonderful husband that he is, is taking a half day off on Friday morning to accompany me to the midnight showing tomorrow. I work tonight, so I won't be able to sleep anyway :) Perfect.

Happy 2 Years!

Andrew's AWESOME costume for work--just had to throw that in there!

This weekend we celebrated our 2 year anniversary--yay!--and had such a great time! I told Andrew that I wanted him to plan it all, and that I wanted to be surprised. And, boy did he deliver!

In our nice hotel room!

We went up to Salt Lake, and stayed Friday night in the Marriott up there. I love staying in hotels and sleeping in king sized beds. So nice. That night we walked around downtown and the Gateway and ate at one of our favorite restaurants, Biaggi's. If you haven't been there--GO! You won't be disappointed. Delish!

The next day we hit up Einstein's for some Pumpkin bagels (mmm...) and Andrew took me for a mani/pedi appt. Love the pampering! We walked around downtown and bit more, then went to a spa in Draper for MASSAGES! Oh boy, it was nice. Seriously, the best massages we've ever had!

After that, we headed to my sisters house for dinner and some (very cold) trick-or-treating with her kids. Andrew dressed up as a cowboy and made me be an indian. I don't love dressing up, but it was fun.

Our niece, Ashlyn, on Halloween. She was a ladybug, and insisted on carrying two candy buckets.

Then, Andrew took Monday off work and we went up to Park City to walk around and enjoy the area before it gets too cold. We ate at a really quaint diner that had the best tomato soup ever, and headed back towards home later that night for dinner and movie.

At the cute diner in Park City!

Basically, it was a GREAT weekend and I loved it all! I told Andrew he's in charge of planning all our anniversaries from now on :)

And, in other good news--I'm almost halfway done being pregnant! 19.5 weeks down!

It's a SHE!

Baby wasn't shy and let us know that she's a GIRL yesterday at our ultrasound! We couldn't be happier, and can't wait to have one of these for our own :)

Jace turns 7!

Jace's gift from Grandma and Grandpa (which I helped pick out--can you tell? ha)

Our nephew, Jace, turned seven last week, and the family all got together to celebrate. It's getting harder to get everyone together, so when we do, it's a really great time! Jace was thrilled about the party and the gifts (mostly Lego and Wii games), and like a younger me, could hardly contain his excitement! Here are some pics from the night--enjoy!

Ashlyn, trying to figure out if she likes the new cousin...

Baby Eliza, such a happy girl!

And her happy Momma.

The youngest sibs--Brennan dressed up in Jace's Superman outfit at some point...hence the shirt.

Attempt at a cute couple picture #1...missed.

Try #2, better.

Ashlyn enjoying Uncle Brennan's entertainment.

Braxton joined in on the costume fun as well--I think we're all a little excited for Halloween...

My new skinny Dad--he's lost 40+ lbs. recently! Don't know why he seems to be pulling away from me...ha

Cheeseball.

Ashlyn debuting her Ladybug Halloween costume!

Welcome, Fall.

I don't know if it's even fall yet, but I'm ready for it! Fall decor, check. Real Simple fall ideas, check. Pumpkin Kisses, check.

4th Meal.

What happens when I'm feeling like a Slurpee at 9pm?

1. We realize there are NO 7-Eleven's in Pleasant Grove (what the heck?), or in any neighboring city.
2. We make our way down towards Provo to find a 7-Eleven, and on the way, Andrew decides he wants a Whopper Jr. from Burger King.
3. It only makes sense that I get some fries to go along with his burger.
4. We finally find a 7-Eleven and fill our bellies with that sugary goodness.

All in all, a lot of calories consumed way too late at night and without a real need. But it was great while it lasted! We definitely won't be making this a habit, though...

And baby makes three.

Yep, the cat--or the baby, rather--is out of the bag. We're expecting! I'm officially due March 26th (I know, don't tell me how far away that seems), and out of my 1st trimester. I haven't been feeling too horribly, just extremely tired (another reason for my lack of blogging). I'm hoping I'll get the 2nd trimester energy boost I keep hearing about soon...but if not, I have a great excuse for being tired all the time!

We'll find out what it is in about a month, so until then your guess is as good as mine. One nice perk of working as a nurse in a Women's Center is that I have an ultrasound machine at my disposal pretty much all of the time. Granted, it's not the best machine, but I'm able to check in on the little peanut every week and see how he/she is doing!

I'm not really showing yet, but if you see me in the next couple of weeks and I'm just looking weirdly chubby, now you know--I'm actually pregnant :)

One word...

DVR! We got it--finally--and I'm sure we'll be watching way more TV and I'll be blogging way less (if that's even possible).

On another note, we are still alive and thriving. I guess we've been too busy working, enjoying the summertime, being lazy, etc, etc, etc. to really blog much. But, if I ever recover from the coma that is working three nights a week, I'll try to update you more often.

On a second, and very random, note, anyone who was like me and indulged themselves in a little Hanson love around 6th grade, you should check out their new album "Shout It Out". It's so upbeat and fun, I can't stop listening to it--a lot like my 12-year-old self. Thankfully, there is one difference: I am married now and no longer swooning them.

Third note, HAPPY LABOR DAY! Not really that exciting, but Andrew did get a day off of work, which was nice. I unfortunately had to work the night before and the night of the big day, so I was in my usual stupor for the family festivities. But, I was able to enjoy the absolutely gorgeous weather and company of my family (including my new niece, Eliza).

And on that segway, congrats to Tyler & Carissa on Eliza, the tiny new addition to their family! She weighed a whopping 5 lb 9 oz and is about as heavy as a thick piece of paper. She's got tons of dark hair and is the spitting image of her Momma. We love her to death already and are glad for another niece to coddle.

The itty bitty one. Such a darling.

BBQ Master.

Exciting news in the Garlock home--we got a barbecue! Well, we were actually gifted a used BBQ from family, but either way, it gets the job done! We tried it out this weekend with some grilled chicken and pineapple, and I have to say I'm in love. Not only is the food great, but the prep work on my part is minimal! There will be many BBQ dinners to come!

The King of Cups.

Have you ever had the dilemma of wanting to take a drink on-the-go, only to have it either spill or completely melt once in transit? Well, maybe I'm the only one, but I always feel awkward taking one of my nice glasses in my car. I'm just cheap sometimes, I guess, because I hate to spend money buying a drink out (even though fountain drinks are the best) when I have a 2 L at home (of Diet Coke I mean, of course!).

Well, some girls at work told me about these cups they got at Costco--they are plastic, have a lid and straw, do NOT sweat, and fit into any car cupholder. I went to Costco the next day and had no luck in locating the magic cups. But, while perusing Target the other night, I found one! It was such an exciting find. And, I'm so very happy with the purchase! It really doesn't sweat--once you put a drink with ice in it, it doesn't melt! And it has a lid so things don't spill. So great. It's made by Aladdin, if you're interested in trying it out for yourself!

Ben Folds & the Utah Symphony.

Thanks to some connections Andrew has through working with Deer Valley Resort, we got free tickets to the Ben Folds & Utah Symphony Concert at Deer Valley this weekend. It was a really great concert--very neat to hear him accompanied by the symphony, and to participate in the interactive parts of his show. He's a very fun performer to watch.

In addition to the concert, we got two bonuses:
1. A gourmet picnic basket compliments of Deer Valley (think grapes, cheese, and steak. Yes.)
2. Lots of great people watching opportunities.

Here are some pics of the night:

Ben Folds rockin out on the piano. He's amazing!

The Symphony

Our incredible picnic basket!

The basket with some damage done!

What happens when...

...it's the end of the week, groceries are low, and I don't want to spend money eating out? Breakfast for dinner happens! More specifically, scrambled eggs (with avocado, of course) and fruit smoothies. Random: check. Delicious: check.

The blend master!

Finished product. Mmmm.

Old Spice & HBLL Unite.

Anyone seen the funny Old Spice commercials lately? The ones with the "man your man could smell like"? They're quite clever (and I only know this because my husband is in advertising), and they have also inspired some equally clever parodies.

Here's one created for a place that is oh-so-dear to my heart: the Harold B. Lee Library at BYU. I spent many hours there studying, among other things...I once dominated the 5th floor. But, that's neither here nor there. So go ahead and watch, and prepare to be amused!

Tricky hills.

The oh-so-wonderful reality show, The Hills, came to an end last night--not that I've watched it in a few years, but my musings of Us Weekly keep me updated. Anyway, for such a cheesy show, the ending was quite clever. Enjoy :)

Yay for freedom!

The lot of us enjoying Three Arch fireworks. Amazing!

We recently took a trip to California for the 4th of July and soaked up the time with fam, yummy food, fireworks, and the peeks of sunshine here and there. It's been hot in Utah, so the milder weather was actually a nice break! It was altogether a lovely (even if a bit too short) trip. I am SO bad when it comes to taking pictures and documenting fun times--so, I stole some pictures from my sis-in-law's blog. Woops. They're still good and capture the great time we had, nonetheless, so feast your eyes.

Our cute nieces, all doing their own thing. Ha, love them.

Uncle Drew

Elyse & Summer birthday dinner

Could you ever say no to that face? nope.

A pole and a birthday.

The deadly pole....dum dum dum.

My life lately has been a lot of ups and downs. Needless to say, my emotions have also been all over the place (which Andrew will attest to) as well.

For example, I got some good news last week--I was moved to a full time position at my new job. I'm loving working with the moms & babies, and will love the increased cash flow that will inevitably come from full-time work. So, blessing there!

About an hour after that phone call, however, I crashed my car into a pole in my own parking lot. I hit the steel bar that holds the covered parking up (pictured above). The results of the fight: pole: 1, car: 0. Let's just say, a pole can do a lot of damage (over $3000 worth, in fact). And, not only was my poor car wounded, but my ego as well. I still feel like an idiot about the whole thing. And, to put the icing on the cake, the insurance company asked once if I was okay, but has called me at least three times to check if the pole was hurt. Nice.

So, I went from joyful to tearful in a matter of 60 minutes. Plus, I was on my way to a much needed hair appt, and ended up missing my haircut. Most girls can relate to how devastating this can be in and of itself. Thankfully, my car is at the car doctor as we speak and will be returned as good as new by Friday, and my hair will survive another couple of weeks until I can make a new appointment. Now, I'm just living in fear of the repercussions of it all from my car insurance...

From there, things went downhill--I lost a bunch of things that I still can't find and they're driving me crazy. But, I started working nights this past week--another blessing!--which I love and handle much better than 5 am day shifts. So, I'm still on an up and down sort of ride.

My dad, mom, & niece Ashlyn in Cancun this summer.

On a much lighter note--HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Dad! He is the best guy in the world and I love him so much. He's the most faithful, good-hearted, giving person in the world. He hates attention, but I don't think he's ever even seen this blog, so I'm sure he won't mind this little shout out :) Love you, Ed.

Latest HP Trailer. Be prepared to be amazed!

Here's the latest trailer for the upcoming Harry Potter movie, and it is AMAZING!!!!!!!!! I am so so so so so so excited for the movie to come out. In November, unfortunately. Anyway, enjoy!

I love good finds.

I love a good find. And, with moving and looking for things to go in our new place and all, I've found quite a few of them! We spent the last week or so giving make-overs to our good finds, and I'm quite happy with the results.

Corner table: donated by Grandma Jeanne, found at a thrift store. Used to be a "blah" light wood color, fixed up with a bit of paint. Total cost: $1.

Antique mirror: bought off Craigslist for 99 cents. Used to be a strange gold, now a lacquered white. Total cost: $1.50.

Letters to spell "EAT": bought from Urban Outfitters in sale for $4 each. Came in black, dark green, and red--not really our colors! Repainted to match. Total cost: $13.

We didn't do anything to this sucker but find it! Brand new from IKEA, last one (floor model), bought for $15! Now we just need a grill to complete the back porch...

Anyway, I love good deals! Andrew does a lot of the work finding them as well, so many thanks to him! Best husband ever.

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful person in the world! Today Elyse turns 24, and I wish her the happiest birthday!

Hola.

We're back! We went to Cancun for a week with the Rasmussen gang and it was such a blast. It was especially relaxing to have no school, work, or NCLEX to worry about! It was super humid, which took some getting used to (how I ever lived in Florida, I don't know...), but my dry skin and lips enjoyed it. It's boring to read text about it, so I'll give you a description via pics!

I love this picture on Braxton. Anxiously awaiting our departure, but a little sleepy due to the early hour!

Part of the crew waiting to leave SLC. Jace is also showing some signs of fatigue!

Andrew and I in our hotel room. I'm looking rather short--which I am, but I swear my legs are longer than that. Thanks to the humidity, this was the only day I wore my hair down!

Jenna with my oh-so-cute niece, Ashlyn. She was the diva of the trip.

Waiting for our sushi at the yummy Japanese restaurant! Don't worry, Carissa didn't have any (she's pregnant!).

One of the perks of an all-inclusive resort: unlimited drinks (seine alcohol in espanol). We got at least two at every meal. Delish!

I love me a pina colada. Notice the frizzy hair--arg, humidity!

First day damage: I obviously did a patchy job of applying my sunscreen. I looked diseased.

Heading to Wet'N'Wild, unaware of the crazy faces behind us!

Jenna and Brennan reading and enjoying one of the "pool beds".

Also enjoying our pool bed--maybe a bit too much. I look out.

A building at Chichen-Itza, which we visited (after a 3 hour bus ride with an over-talkative, slightly drunk tour guide).

Andrew, looking ready to conquer the city.

The Chichen-Itza crew, minus Dad. Not everyone came (Carissa for obvious reasons, and the kids). It was bloooody hot, so it's a good thing they didn't! We look happy in the pic (which we are), but you can't tell that we are about to die of heat stroke! Okay, slight exaggeration.

As I said, diva. She had to have the Dora sunglasses to match her light-up Dora sandals!

Andrew, enjoying his idea of a good book (we differ in this area!). It's all about digital marketing. Thrilling! Ha. I, on the other hand, read the second Hunger Games book (Catching Fire)--AMAZING!!!!--and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Long name, but a darling book.

Anyway, that's all the pictures I have! It's my goal to start taking more pictures, so I can document fun happenings a little better. We'll see how it goes...