39 wks and trying not to count

i'm still pregnant.

this is the longest it's ever taken to get the baby out.

i've walked and walked and walked.

i've walked curbs, i've eaten spicy foods, pineapple, etc. etc.

all with a little success but not enough.

as of last week i was dilated to a three.

i've been having contractions daily but nothing consistent.

I see the dr tomorrow and i think she may have a few tricks up her sleeve.

this is the longest i've gone, the most weight i've gained, and it's a boy.

jeff and i are expecting a big one.

while the babe has been cookin' i've been trying to stay busy this

last month to keep a positive attitude.

we rang in the new year with some TX sheet cake (first attempt), new friends, and fireworks.

jill started a new pre-school and camille still has withdrawals without her.

we've explored our surroundings and taken advantage of the nice weather.

hit up the movies, a hockey game, and the circus.

we frequent the park and even have seen some romance there.

the girls started gymnastics and are loving it. 

some dear, new, super talented friends even threw me a TX cowboy baby shower.

more pics and deets here:

http://www.kristendukephotography.com/

after all this, i'd say the only thing i need now is a

warm little body to fill this up:

come baby come.

before TX

when the decision was made to move to TX,

i knew there was a few things that needed to happen first.

a girls outing with my Taylor family.

we decided to go to Time Out for Women.

this is what i was greeted with on my way out the door.

it was great to get away and spend some time with the sils and mil.

of everything in AZ, i miss these peeps the most.

a few last visits with my ailing grandparents.

my girls LOVED visiting grandma and grandpa Pete.

he would take his teeth out and make us all laugh.

we got to practice holding a baby when Wyatt came to my sil Caitlin.

the girls were fascinated and in love instantly.

jeff and i were inflated with love for wyatt and excitement for out little boy.

we enjoyed one last AZ rainstorm with one of the girls

favorite accessories: an umbrella

the girls had their soccer banquet and received some awesome trophies.

jeff and i got a few nights out on the town.

pei-wei and barnes and noble:

asu vs. arizona football

we hit up a bunch of fall festivities and fairs including the AZ state fair

we got to visit with mom and dad peterson and brett's family for thanksgiving.

the girls loved the quality time with the cousins.

my family and a few friends had a get together to celebrate the baby and say good-bye.

do you think i like the boots?

i taught my last zumba class and they all stuffed their shirts with balloons for the warm-up.

it was quite comical.

i'm in the front in all black without a balloon. i really miss my class.

the girls were bats for halloween and i was a pot-belly pig.

we trick-or-treated with the cousins.

we even had some crafty times around halloween to help with decorations.

after all the fun times we packed up and left, but not without one

last group hug with the cousins and grandma.

(phew. that was a long mixed-up post.)

Christmas 2011

Apparently, around here the best way to spread Christmas cheer is to

decorate a tree along the busy roads.

We joined the tradition and our cheer is increased every time we drive by.

Now I'm wondering if I go clean it up or if the city will...

(just being lazy and hoping the city will)

Santa came and went.

Jeff got a couple targets and accessories for his new found

hobby, archery.

The girls got an easel, pillow pets, and bed quilts.

Santa really nailed it with me.

Rain boots and a hammock, who could ask for more?

Now it's time to get serious and prep for baby Coco.

Texas up-date

Blogging consistently hasn't been a priority for a very long time.

When I look back at older entries I get sad to see events that I've missed.

Seeing that I use this as my scrapbook and family journal,

I think I have a bit of catching up to do.  

I am 34 weeks pregnant.

Due date is January 31st.

I feel good in the mornings, tired in the afternoon, and grumpy in the evenings.

I'm addicted to eating Almond Kisses and Tums are strategically placed throughout the home.

I wonder if I wouldn't need so many Tums if I didn't consume all the Kisses.

Oh, well.

We moved to Texas on Dec 1st.

The first question I usually get is, "Are you all unpacked?"

This is comical. I have what I need unpacked. If I need something else

I venture to the disaster zone (aka the garage) to find it,

many times to re-enter to the home without the object that I searched for

but with some other thing that is useful.

Top priority was the tree.

Totally useful and important.

Back to the move:

We made the 16 hour drive in two days.

Stan graciously drove me and the girls and Jeff drove the big truck.

It was quite obvious once we entered Texas.

This is what came out of the waffle maker at the hotel our

first night in TX.

I don't recall ever seeing a waffle shaped Arizona or Utah.

This is another common site in Texas.

BBQ spots that look like barns.

The home we are renting is much older and bigger than we are use to.

Here she is on a foggy, drizzly, Austin morning.

The inside can use a lot of work (that will never happen),

but the outside is a dream.

We are on half an acre and have over 20 mature trees in the backyard.

This is just a glimpse. We see a lot of birds and squirrels each morning.

We also spot deer almost daily driving around the neighborhood.

This is the view on the route to church:

This was my view at our first church service:

Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and genuine to our family.

I feel like I have already made friendships that will only continue to grow.

The girls got to see Santa at our new wards party.

We've been to the Blue Bell factory in Brenham, TX.

I really loved the scenic drive to this little town.

Downtown Austin is very pretty with popular bridges and routes along the rivers for bikers and runners.

The town even places coolers along the routes with water daily for all the active people.

The weather has been very rainy since we've arrived and with Jill not going to

preschool for Dec she has been getting a bit of cabin fever.

We had to ventured out and find the local library.

They hold events for children multiple times a week.

We've decorated ginger bread men and attended a puppet show.

I do miss things about Arizona,

specifically family.

But, I do think we'll be just fine out here on our own in the middle of Texas.