Two weeks old

Jeff and Cheyenne

Kisses from Daddy

Elder Nay holding Cheyenne

Ready to go to the Doctor's office

Stop taking my picture!

Mommy and Cheyenne

Cheyenne taking a nap on Daddy

We both need sleep!!!

I took Cheyenne to the Doctor today for her 2 week appointment.  We see Dr. Jones in Royston, who is new in town and he doesn't have many patients yet, so we were the only appointment for a couple of hours which was so cool!  The Doctor came in and was playing with Cheyenne and spent lots of time talking to me about her and seeing if I had any questions.  I am so used to Doctors being so busy and barely having time to do the appointment, so this was very cool.  He said that Cheyenne is a really "good baby." People always ask me if she is a good baby, and I think to myself, I have no idea she is the only baby I have ever had.  Well whatever that means I guess she is good because she doesn't cry to much and is pretty easy going.  The biggest news is that this week she is already 8 lbs 5.5 oz!  She is growing like crazy which is so great because I was so nervous about if I was feeding her enough because it is hard to tell with breast feeding and she spits up a lot.  We can already tell by the pictures that she is starting to look older.  Here are some more pictures we have taken:

We need your email addresses!!

We have decided that we are going to make our blog private.  I never wanted to, but just having this little baby we want to protect her, and there are so many weirdos out there!  Anyway, please post your email addresses so we can add you to our list, or you can email it to me at stacita@juno.com.

Cheyenne Stacey Bennum

Sorry it has taken me so long to post these pictures... it has been quite an adjustment bringing this little girl home! I felt great when we got home, but it seems Cheyenne is confused between night and day and I have gotten no sleep two nights in a row.  Since I am breast feeding, it is very hard to sleep during the day as well.  I just get a little nap here and there whenever I can.  I feel bad, because I have had so many friends and family calling to talk and I thought I would want to, but I am just so tired I haven't wanted to talk or see anyone but my little Cheyenne.  I am sure I will soon adjust and be back to a normal routine, but for now I am just trying to enjoy every minute.

So Monday night we went in to the hospital to be induced.  I was so so nervous all day and I probably would have backed out of being induced if my mom and sister weren't flying in for the occasion.  Jeff gave me a blessing before we left and it helped to calm me a little.  When I packed for the hospital I had a huge bag of stuff to do to keep me busy, but we never even used any of it.  They inserted the cervadil that night and sometime in the morning I started having small contractions.  Even though they were small, they were very painful and I was pacing around the room in pain.  I called the nurse and told her I was in pain, but she said it was probably because I had never had period cramps before I probably wasn't used to the pain.  So feeling like a big wimp I just continued to pace and breathe and do anything to not think of the pain.  At 7 am I got a new nurse and she came in ask how I was doing.  I started crying and told her that I had been better, haha.  She moved me into the delivery room and said I should have told someone that I was hurting and she gave me some amazing medicine through the IV.  That is also when she started the pitocin.  The night before when I got the cervadil I was dilated to a 1 and 60% effaced. The doctor checked me in the morning and I was dilated to a 3.  The contractions started to get worse after I got the pitocin so I requested the epidural.  It took the nurse anesthesist 45 minutes to get there and those were the worst 45 minutes of the whole labor, which is a good thing.  Jeff did a really good job of helping me through it, holding my hand and I told him to be my little coach, haha.  He thought of some good ideas to distract me from the pain.  My mom and sister got to the hospital about 15 minutes before I got the epidural and I started to cry when they got there because I was so happy that they could come.  They helped me through the final contractions and then I got the epidural and that was amazing.  Then I asked my sister if she could braid my hair, she always used to for me for my track races in high school.  Then it was great because we just waited and I felt so relaxed.  I did have a small hotspot on the left side of my abdomen but the pain was so much less than the contractions before it was no big deal.  It was such a weird feeling not being able to move my legs, but I was so glad I got the epidural.  My sister does her births naturally and I don't know how she does it!  The doctor came in again around noon and I had already dilated to a 7 so they said to check me again at 3 pm.  Tanya (our nurse we had most of the time, who was awesome) came to check the baby's heart rate and stuff around 2:45 and she couldn't find it so she decided to go ahead and check me and she could see Cheyenne's head, she asked if I wanted to feel it and I reached down and could feel the top of her head, it was so crazy! So, she hurried and called Dr. White who was still at his office seeing patients.  They got me all ready to push and she said if he doesn't come we may have a baby sitting here on the table! When he got there he told me to push and it was so weird because since I was numb I couldn't tell if I was pushing or not.  I must have been because he kept telling me to stop.  He was going to cut a little but I am glad he did not.  I only had a small tear to stitch up.  When the baby came out it was the best feeling ever! I got to hold her while Jeff cut the umbilical cord.  After they did all the tests I got to breastfeed her for a minute which was a cool experience.  Then Jeff went with the nurses to weigh her and give her a bath.  She was born at 3:04 pm on Tuesday December 2.  She was 7lbs 5 1/2 oz and 20" long.  She has already been such a blessing to our lives and it makes me love Jeff so much more to have this beautiful little daughter together.  If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change anything about my labor experience.  It feels so good to not be pregnant anymore and breastfeeding is getting better and better and less and less painful by the day.  This has been the most wonderful experience of my life, and I thank God for it every minute!  I am so thankful to all my friends and family for the love, support and prayers:)

Our First Christmas Tree

I decided to take advantage of the fact that Cheyenne is camping out in my tummy for a few extra days and use the time to decorate for Christmas.  I knew I probably wouldn't feel like doing much after I had her, so I was kind of excited to have the extra time to get all the decorations finished.  We have never really decorated our house for Christmas before, since we usually just go home anyway, so we really didn't have any decorations, except for a few Jeff's grandparents had given to us last Christmas.  I didn't want to buy a ton, just because we don't have a house yet so I am trying not to collect unneccessary junk, haha.  Jeff wasn't too thrilled about the idea of putting up decorations, so I enlisted the help of the missionaries.  Jeff did come with me to help pick out a tree and he cut off the end and brought it inside, then sawed off a few branches for me.  I think he liked the end product:)  Since we have a pretty big house I decided just to decorate the living room.  Most of the decorations are just all the pictures wrapped in wrapping paper and I covered the couch in a red sheet and removed everything from the room that wasn't red or green except the giant pink rug.  I am excited that I will have a  Christmas room to bring Cheyenne home to.  I am sure I will post more pics of the room in the future, but here is us decorating the tree:)  As you can see Jeff's Western sweat outfit has been the only thing I have worn the past week, it is my favorite (and pretty much the only thing that fits).  Happy Holiday Season:)

Thanksgiving-40 weeks

I know bare pregnant stomachs are kind of gross looking, but I wanted to capture just how big my tummy is!! Today is my due date November 27, Thanksgiving Day, and still no Cheyenne.  I have been feeling really good (until I stuffed myself today and now I am having a hard time breathing).  Tomorrow will be my last day of work at the bank, and then if I haven't had it, Monday night I will go in to the hospital at 7 pm to be induced.  They will give me cervadil to soften my cervix and Jeff and I will stay the night there.  My mom and sister are flying in that night to Atlanta and Sissy Jenkins in my ward is kind enough to pick them up for us.  Then the next day at some point they will break my water and give me pitocin if I need it.  We will probably end up having her sometime in the late afternoon of Tuesday December 2.  That day is also Jeff's grandpa's birthday, so that will be fun for Cheyenne to share that special day with him.  We will let everyone know what happens when we have her though.

Jeff and I have been a little bummed out that we weren't going to get to be with our families this year for Thanksgiving.  We have had such fun Thanksgivings since we have been married always being with at least one side of our family. Most of my family was in Kansas at my sisters house and Jeff's were in Bellingham and Utah.  We were thinking about just going out to eat, but we decided to cook our own little dinner.  Last night we went to the Super Wal Mart in Hartwell and got all the fixin's... turkey (breast), stuffing, rolls, potatoes, gravy, pumpkin pie, etc.  Today we slept in and then cooked the turkey (with several calls for help to family), and then cooked the rest of the food a little later.  The missionaries also came over and we had our own little Thanksgiving.  Afterward, we went for a walk then watched Home Alone, to get us into the Christmas spirit.  The food was sooooo delicious (although I wish I had my mom's rolls), and the day was an overall success:)  This Thanksgiving I was most grateful for my wonderful husband who I love more than anything in the whole world and our new baby who will be born very soon.  I am also so grateful for the gospel in our lives, it guides us everyday and is something that is so consistent and we can always rely on it.  This is especially important as we are young and moving to new places we know that is one thing in our life that will always be the same no matter where we are!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and we will let everyone know when the baby arrives!! YAY!!!

Meridian football reunion...

Some of Jeff's friends from high school play semi-pro football in Canada and they made the all star game which happened to be in Atlanta!  We were really excited to see them and we also used it as an excuse for a last getaway with no kids:)  Jeff and I left after work Friday night and filled up our car with gas for under $30.  We stayed at Embassy Suites (we got a great deal on expedia) in Atlanta right by the perimeter center mall.  Our original plan was to go to the temple on Saturday (the hotel was right by the temple), but Jeff couldn't find his recommend, so we didn't end up going.  We still got to drive by it though and it is very beautiful:)  Friday night when we got there, we went to McDonalds and got some ice cream cones, then went back to the hotel and explored around.  They had an awesome pool and exercise room, so we decided to go swimming.  We had races in the pool and it felt so good to be breathing hard getting exercise I decided I would get up early and workout.  Saturday morning I went to the treadmill and started to walk.  I had been wondering if I would be able to run if I tried since I haven't run in forever.  I have never walked on a treadmill before so once I started walking, it only felt natural to start running.  I was kind of surprised.  I had been running about two minutes when I started to feel a lot of pain on the inside of my pelvic bones, but my lungs and muscles felt fine so I just concentrated and kept running.  I was able to run for about 7 or 8 minutes which I was really proud of, then I decided that was enough and went to do some lunges and I lifted weights with my arms.  It felt so good and I decided that my next pregnancy I am going to try harder to stay in better shape throughout the whole thing, because I think I wont be so miserable.  Anyway, then I went and woke up Jeff just in time for an amazing breakfast provided by the hotel.  It was SO good!! The best part was that it was included in the price of the room.  When we went back to the room, we decided to go to Ross and TJ MAXX.  We were looking around there and I started to realize it may not have been such a good idea to run on the treadmill.  My muscles felt fine, but I honestly think I may have cracked my bones down there.  I had never felt that kind of pain before and it hurt so bad, I literally could barely walk.  Then I started to get worried that I may have bruised Cheyenne's head... so I called my mom and sister but they said the baby was protected and that she was probably fine.  The plan had been for Jeff to spend the day watching football and I would spend the day walking around the mall, but I knew there was going to be no more walking for me.  We went to Robeks and shared a wrap and got AMAZING smoothies, then back to the room where we took a long nap! Then Jeff and I ended up going to the mall for about an hour (it was all I could take).  It was so fun being in the mall with the christmas decorations up and the music playing.  Oh I forgot to mention that I can tell Jeff and I live in a small town, because when we got off the exit for our hotel, we got so excited to see each store.  I felt like I was driving down the strip in vegas! We were like look there's Target! Old Navy! Ross! Macy's! Best Buy!  We were just so excited to see new stores.  Haha, I felt like Country mouse visiting City mouse.  Anyway, after checking at like four different resturants in the mall that all had over an hour wait we finally settled at our favorite Outback Steakhouse for dinner.  It was so good and we were so full when we left but we still managed to stop by Coldstone for some really good ice cream.  Jeff decided to go with his usual sweet cream and brownie and I got half dark chocolate mint and half gingerbread.... you gotta try the gingerbread ice cream there, soo good...  needless to say I felt a little sick that night from stuffing ourselves, but the taste was worth it!!  The next day we slept in through work out time and got up just in time for the yummy breakfast.  Then we packed up our stuff and got ready for the day.  We went to Chase Cantrell and Joel Pears (Jeff's friends from high school) football game which happened to be at the exact same time as the falcons were playing (unfortunately) so we had to sit through lots of traffic.  Jeff almost hit one of the cops directing traffic and needless to say he was not very happy with him.  I thought he was going to attack us.  When we arrived at the game we had no cash, and of course they didn't take cards or checks, so Jeff had to walk three blocks to an ATM machine.  Then we finally got in just in time for them to announce the players.  We sat by a few of Jeff's other friends from high school Jarrod Karuza, Corey Culp and Chase's cousin.  It was really fun to watch and Chase and Joel were the best ones out there by far!  The only down side was that it was the first FREEZING day of the year in Atlanta and we did not come prepared with our skinny little jackets.  Half time we got some hot chocolate to warm us up, but it did no good!  After the game we all went out to eat at Hard Rock Cafe.  It was really fun to spend time with them and to catch up on all of their lives.  Jeff said that even though he hadn't seen them forever it felt like nothing had changed and he had just seen them the day before.  That's the best part about good friends.  I was bummed Chase couldn't bring his wife Krystal and their brand new baby Peyton, but hopefully we will be able to see them this summer when we go home.  We had such an awesome weekend and it was a nice break between football and basketball.  

Fall in Georgia

Pretty much our entire yard is covered in leaves and it is so beautiful!! You can't even see any of the grass and when you look out the window during the day, it looks like it is snowing leaves!  I don't think I have ever lived somewhere this colorful in the fall, if I have then I don't remember.  Washington stays mostly green all year round, and Utah pretty much skips fall and goes straight to winter with the snow in September!  When you drive down our street all the trees are different shades of yellow, orange and red.  Jeff and I both think it is so beautiful.  We took pictures after church one day.  I put most the pictures up with Jeff in them, because I think he looks so sexy in his church clothes:)

Poker Chip Football

 About two or three weeks ago, the missionaries gave Jeff some poker chips they had at their house since they weren't allowed to have them and Jeff had really been wanting some.  I had no idea he had wanted them so bad or I would have gone to Wal-Mart and bought him some, I am sure they probably cost under 5 bucks (my husband is so easily pleased).  The next night I was cooking dinner and I kept hearing Jeff in the living room blowing air through his nose.  You know like when you think you have a booger or something in your nose and you keep blowing air like to try to get it to come out.  Anyway, it had been going on for a good three minutes and I was starting to get really grossed out (which happens very easily since I have been prego).  I was thinking umm are you serious?  So I called out, "Jeff do you need me to bring you a kleenex?"  He called back, "no."  More air blowing.  Finally I grabbed the box of kleenex and brought it in there saying "that is really gross."  Jeff looked up at me all confused, and I watched him for a second and the sound was him sliding the poker chips across the table.  We both got a good laugh about it, especially since I was so grossed out.  Anyway, this has been Jeff just about every single day since he got them.  He comes home, sits in front of the tv, turns on the football game and practices the plays he sees with the poker chips, or he'll make up new ones.  For family night he tries to teach the missionaries and I all the formations and defenses.  He gets very specific and can hold my attention span for about 5 minutes.  Then Elder Nay and I begin to steal the poker chips and play checkers with them on our checkered tablecloth.  Jeff does not like this.  Jeff pretty much eats, breathes, and lives football.  I am so glad that he loves his job so much and is always trying to learn more and more.  He is so excited to be an offensive coordinator one day and already has his whole play book created.  I was actually really excited for football season to be over last friday, but then the next day he had basketball tryouts and I am kind of thinking I wont really see him any more than I did during football season.  I am excited for Cheyenne to come and entertain me and keep me busy while he is away.  It was more fun to go to the games when Jeff coached at Kearns, since I taught there and knew most of the kids, but oh well.  I am excited for a change of season and to start going to basketball games, by the end of basketball season I will be sick of basketball and excited for football to start again...

A temporary decision...

First of all I want to thank everyone for their stories and opinions about being induced.  I didn't realize how many people felt so strongly either for or against it.  I think with my blog and facebook I got over 30 comments about it, and I promise I read all of them at least twice.  It was really interesting reading about people's experiences and what they would do if they could do it over or if they had more of a choice the first time.  I wanted to write each person back and ask questions and have conversation about each situation, but unfortunately that would have taken forever! So I really did enjoy each of your comments and thank you for taking the time to help me decide what to do!  Jeff and I talked about it, but Jeff really just will support me in whatever I decide to do and obviously has no opinion about being induced since he has never had to think about it before.  I talked to my sister a lot who researches stuff about labor like crazy and is like super mom and super breastfeeder, etc... haha, anyway she has taken the time to learn a lot about things having to do with labor more from a natural point of view.  I also talked to my brother who is an anesthesiologist (I have no idea how to spell that, but he gives epidurals) and he has gone through lots of medical school and is also one of the smartest people I know.  Anyway, along with all the stories from everyone, I decided since I waited this long I can at least wait until my due date.  I was looking at some of the early ultrasounds I got and two of the ultrasounds had my due date as November 25, one as November 27 and then my estimated due date by my last menstrual period was supposed to be December 4.  My mom and sister are coming in for the delivery on either November 30 or December 1, and Jeff has a basketball game on December 1, so if it hasn't come by December 2, we will go ahead and induce labor then.  So the latest she will come is probably December 3rd.  That's the plan so far, I might change my mind to wait longer, but I am really doubting that, because the last couple of nights have been pretty miserable, I don't know why.  Anyway, just thought I would let you all know that we have come to a temporary decision and that I am really thankful for everyone taking the time to share your thoughts with me!  I threw in some 38 week pictures of me, hopefully I am almost there:)

Induced...

I went to the doctor today (I am 37 weeks).  I told him how I was pretty excited to have the baby and he told me that they will schedule me to be induced at any time from a week before the due date.  Meaning if I chose to, I could be induced on November 20th (or anytime after).  I asked if I just wanted to let the baby come when it was ready, how long he would let me wait and he said only one week, then they induce.  I have heard varying things about being induced.  Around here its pretty popular... I would say about 3/4 of the people I talk to who live here were induced and most of them love it.  You get to have the baby early, you know when you are going to have it, etc.  However, I have also heard from others that being induced can increase your chance of having a c-section (I asked the doctor about this and he said slightly but not enough to be worried about).  Also, I have heard there are other negative things about being induced.  I know for a fact that I DO want the epidural (I know when you are trying to go natural, being induced can make that nearly impossible) no matter what.  I am just considering all views.  It is so tempting to induce because I am really uncomfortable, I am really excited to see her, I don't have stretch marks yet, but I have heard they can come during the last weeks, I think pushing out a small baby would be nice... but these are all pretty selfish reasons.  The reasons for not inducing is that its kind of exciting not knowing when its going to happen, supposedly its less risky, and my mom and sister could be there for the birth.  Also, I am working and making and saving money until I have the baby. I just don't know.  So tell me how you feel, make it long or short, I am interested in your opinions.  If you have been induced, what was your experience?  Give me advice if you would like:)  I only have to let them know 4 or 5 days in advance so I have a while to think about it... it caught me off guard, I never thought I would have the option of choosing what day I would like my baby to be born!  But I don't know... is this a good thing or a bad thing...

Baby Shower by Mail

Jeff's Mom and three sisters were so thoughtful to put together this baby shower by mail for us!  It was so fun coming home and almost everyday I would go get the mail and be disappointed that there was no mail.  Then I'd drive up our long driveway and there would be a box on the porch, plus all of our mail sitting on top!  It would make my day every time it happened!  Then I would have to try not to look at the package and put it in the pile in our living room and resist the urge to open them all right then.  We were supposed to open the presents on Saturday November 1st, but we decided to wait until Sunday, because the missionaries come over on Sunday so one of them videotaped and one of them took pictures.  We taped the whole thing, but even I thought it was boring, so I am not going to post it on here.  We tried to put it on You tube so we could put a link to it, but we couldn't figure out how, so its on our computer and if you come visit us you can watch it!! We were so spoiled with so many great presents, we are more than prepared for little Cheyenne to get here:)  It was also fun to have Jeff there to open presents with me, he loves to open presents:)  Anyway, thanks to everyone who sent us a gift, we really really had a fun time opening them and putting them into the nursery! Thanks to Jeff's sisters and mom for throwing the party!!

Beta Baby Shower

I have been so spoiled since I have been here!! I think people feel bad for me because I don't have any family here so they are just so nice and try to make me feel loved!  I joined a sorority a couple months ago and I am barely getting to know everyone.  They knew I was due soon so they threw me a baby shower at one of the meetings. It was so nice of them and everyone was so generous, especially since a lot of them probably didn't even know who I was!  I am just so surprised at how thoughtful people are!  Here are some pictures from the shower, this is everyone that was there til the end.  Then the cup is a present from the whole sorority and it has the logo for Beta Sigma Phi which is the name of our sorority.

36 weeks pregnant!! Almost there...

Sorry, I know I just posted like 50 times, but there were so many pics I had to put some up and write about them.  This blog is sort of taking the place of my journal.  Anyway here are my 36 weeks prego pics (tomorrow I will be 36 weeks, so they are sorta a day early).

Just 4 more weeks left.  To you this may sound like not long at all but to me it feels like eternity!! The worst part is that it could still be even 6 weeks because she could be up to two weeks late!  NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Hahah, I really haven't minded being pregnant up until about 28-30 weeks, then it started to suck.  I am wondering how I am ever going to convince myself to go through this again.  Hopefully next time I will stay in better shape, that will probably help.  Anyway, I will take another picture at some point before I deliver, probably my due date, so here is the second to last one:)  I have a Doctor's appointment tomorrow, then I start going every week.  I just keep thinking, wouldn't that be so awesome if I went to the Doctor tomorrow and he said okay you can have it right now!  Only in my dreams...I will be impressed if she arrives on the due date and not late.  I guess I will just have to be patient and think only of the money I am making while I am working instead of giving birth.  I really really really hope I don't get too much bigger... only time will tell.

Primary Halloween Party

About two or so months ago, I got called to be in the Primary Presidency.  This is our entire primary!! They are all so cute.  We had our Primary Program and the kids did such a good job, they sang several songs and each took a part speaking, they practiced so hard and just did a really good job.  You could definitely feel the spirit as they were singing.  We decided to have a halloween party at my house to celebrate all of their hard work.  We all dressed up in costumes and ate donuts off of strings, had a candy walk (cake walk, but with candy as the prize instead of cake), ate apples dipped in caramel, peanut butter and chocolate, and ate pizza, and all the kids decorated sugar cookies to take to new members and less active members in the ward.  It was so much fun and the kids really had a blast!!  Thank you to Jeff who was very helpful to me the whole time making everything run smoothly!!

Sugar Cookies

So my visiting teachers brought me the ingredients for sugar cookies and frosting and Jeff had been telling me all week I should make them, so I started to make them and as soon as I would get them all decorated and on the towel, they would disappear.  I had to kick Jeff out of the kitchen and said he couldn't come back in until they were finished.  When I was done I knew they wouldn't be around long, so I just had to take a picture of the finished product. Fall sugar cookies, here they are:)

My new jogging stroller

Well, this actually happened a few weeks ago, but after waiting patiently for several weeks for this jogging stroller to get in stock, I ordered it and waited a few more weeks to get it.  I found this stroller on Rachel Meynders blog and she told me which one she got, so I copied her and got one too.  Thanks Rachel! As you can imagine me and my impatientness, I barely pulled it in the door and had to start putting it together right then.  Jeff kept telling me he would do it if I would just wait until the weekend, but I said no!  Haha, I put it together that night and Jeff and I practiced walking around the house pushing it, then I took it on a walk with my friend Holli and pushed her baby in it and it was awesome!  I always meet her halfway between our houses and I got some funny looks jogging with an empty stroller while I was still pregnant, but once I met her and put her baby in (and we started to walk) it was better.  It was so smooth and so light even with an older baby in it.  I am so excited to use my stroller for real hard core runs!

Final Tag

I went to Eli and Brittany's blog to watch a hilarious video of Eli making Grady dance to a song called ice cream and cake.  I had seen it last night and needed another good laugh (go see it if you haven't yet) anyway, while visiting their blog, I discovered I had been tagged again.  I am starting to see a lot of different tags and am sure they could get out of control so I have decided this will be the last one I post on here.  I wasn't going to do anymore after the last one, but this one looked fun and I am waiting for Jeff to get out of the shower to go to bed anyway... so here it is:)

"The Husband Tag"

Where we Met:  At church in December 2003.  I was home from Dixie for Christmas and Jeff had just gotten off his mission.  I went to church with my step-brother Spencer and they went to high school together, first they sat by each other in the institute ward and people got mad at because they were talking so much.  Then we were in Ferndale II ward and my Mom stopped him and introduced us.  She said, "Jeff, this is my daughter Stacey."  He said something like, "I would like to get to know you more, do you want to go to dinner tomorrow night." 

How long we Dated before we got Hitched:  Long distance for 1 and a half years, but I was home during the summers, it didn't get serious until about January before we got married.

How long we have been Married: 3 years and 3 months.

What is my favorite feature about him: Hmmm... tough question.  Love his big blue eyes and long eyelashes, blonde hair, and his smokin body!

What is my favorite quality about him: He is so fun to be with, he loves me and makes me happy, he works hard, always helps around the house without complaining or making me feel guilty I am not doing it, and he has such a strong testimony of the gospel, he is a good example to me!

What is his nickname for me: Boo, Stacers, Wifey

His favorite color: umm... I have no idea.  He looks really good in baby blue... He would probably say purple and gold or black and gold, I'll see if you can figure out why...

His favorite food: He loves everything.  I would say any kind of meat.  He was also recently talking about how his mom used to make the best Manicotti (I need that recipe!)... I can't think of much he doesn't like.

His favorite sports: Football, basketball, baseball, and golf (to him those are all that exist)

Who said the L word first: I honestly have no clue.... I think possibly he could have said it to me in an email or instant message... hahahha, I really don't know.

First kiss... When and Where: Our second date... this is a funny story and he might be mad if I told it, haven't told many people.  Anyway, we were at his house at the end of the second date, I had told a story of how when I was a senior in high school and my mom (Sylvia) and step dad (Steve) were dating, I was coming home from some sort of practice and walked in on them making out on the couch, which Jeff thought was the funniest thing since my step-dad used to be in the stake presidency and no one would ever think of him making out with his girlfriend... anyway, so I had told that story the day before on our first date.  I was about to go home and we were in his living room at his parents house and he said very quickly, "Wanna pull a Steve and Sylvia?"  In my head I was like "What? Gross..."  Then he kissed me and even though I was totally grossed out with the comparison to my mom and step-dad it was okay because I was kissing Jeff and I was pretty excited about that:)

Favorite Couple thing to do: Snuggle on the couch and watch tv (I will watch football for him sometimes and he will watch sitcoms for me), bike rides, playing basketball, lifting weights.

How many kids: 1 on the way, someday anywhere from 3 to 5.

His hidden talent: He is good at cooking and he is really good at making other people feel good about themselves.

His age: 27

His favorite music: He loves r&b and rap, but is also likes country, because he thinks he is too old for the other kind of music, but I always catch him listening to it so I know its still his favorite.

What I admire most about him: Everything... I guess one thing especially that I haven't already talked about is that he is so good at teaching.  He is way better than I was.  He connects so well with the students, has great control, and really knows every sport really well to teach the correct way to do it.  He would come teach my classes a couple times at Kearns for practice and I was jealous at how good he was at it.  All my students liked him way better than me!!  And he loves his job, which makes a happy wife!!

His favorite pastimes: Playing sports, lifting weights, watching football, basketball or baseball, and sleeping.

Will he read this: Yes, he looks at our blog everyday to see if his family wrote a comment... (he LOVES his family so much), he wouldn't admit that he looks at it everyday, but he does:)

I tag: Everyone who reads my blog! I want to hear about you and your husbies!!

 

Jeff's Answers to the tag

Seven TV shows I like to watch:

1. Friday Night Lights

2. Sportscenter

3. College Game Day

4. College Football games

5. College Basketball games

6. Baseball tonight

7. M's baseball

Seven things that happened yesterday:

1. Went to church

2. Took a 4 hour nap

3. Ate chicken almond stir fry that Stacey made

4. Had Family Home Evening with the missionaries

5. Watched my high school football highlight film

6. Read my American Football Coaches Association magazine

7. Went to bed.

Seven Favorite Places to Eat:

1. Red Robin

2. Outback

3. Boss Tweed -now closed:(

4. Olive Garden

5. Q4U BBQ

6. Texas Roadhouse

7. Nuthouse Grill

Seven Things you are looking forward to:

1. Baby Cheyenne to be born

2. Parents coming to visit

3. Christmas Break

4. Saturday College football

5. Friday night's football game vs Jackson

6. Summer vacation to Washington (& Sun Lakes)

7. AFCA convention in Nashville, Tennessee

Seven People I tag:

1.Whoever

2. else 

3. wants 

4. to 

5. fill

6. this 

7. out

"Tagged" by Natasha (& Josh & Heath)

Eight TV Shows I like to watch:

(With the exception of #1 I only ever watch reruns)

1. The Hills

2. Law and Order

3. King of Queens

4. Everybody Loves Raymond

5. Wheel of Fortune

6. Prison Break

7. America's Next Top Model

8. Seinfeld

Eight things that happened yesterday:

1. I cleaned everything

2. I went grocery shopping

3. Watched football with Jeff

4. Jeff took the Young Men to clean the highway

5. We went to a new member baptism in our branch

6. Jeff went to a coaches meeting for 4 hours.

7. I made a giant candy bar card for our Bishop's birthday

8. It was finally cool enough to leave the door open all day, now the house smells fresh

Eight Favorite Places to Eat:

1. Johnny Carinos

2. Outback

3. Red Robin

4. Olive Garden

5. Panda Express

6. Jamba Juice

7. Great Harvest Bread

8. On Rice

Eight things I am looking forward to:

1.  Holding my daughter for the first time

2. Watching Jeff hold her

3. Not being fat anymore

4. Training for a marathon

5. Seeing our parents

6. Christine and Michelle coming to visit me (hopefully!)

7. Jeff starting his Master's Degree

8. Figuring out how to stop the black mold from continually forming in our bathroom.

Eight People I tag:

1. Jeff ...but I am making it 7, your lucky number (instead of 8)

2. Dana B

3. Jenny O.

4. Kristen S.

5. Kecia G.

6. Emily W

7. Andree M

8. Jenny V.

Baby Shower at Pinnacle Bank

This is Melanie, Holly, Samuel (Holly's baby), me and Jennifer.  I met these three girls at Pinnacle Bank only three months ago, and they got together to throw me a baby shower! It was sooo nice of them I literally started to cry when they told me they were doing it for me (which lately actually isn't that big of a deal since I have found myself crying over the stupidest things).  But I was so touched and it was so thoughtful of them to do this for me, I didn't think I would be having a shower here since I didn't know very many people.  The next picture is a picture of everyone that came to the shower.

There were people I worked with and people from church.  I couldn't believe how many people came since I haven't known any of them longer than three months!  Everyone was so generous and thoughtful.  It was so much fun to have a shower and talk about the coming of my little baby Cheyenne:)

This is one of the gifts I got.  It is a diaper bag with Cheyenne's name embroidered on it and it matches my nursery!! I thought it was so creative.  I am so grateful to the girls who threw the shower and to everyone who took the time out of their day to come.  It really meant so much to me!

32 weeks Pregnant

Well, here are the 8 month prego pics.  Its so weird, because I don't really feel as big as I look.  I mean I feel bigger than my normal self and I am often uncomfortable, but when I see myself in a picture I don't feel like I am that big!  Anyway, I still have 8 weeks left so unfortunately I will probably get a lot larger.   I went to the Doctor on Friday and the appointments are pretty quick and not so exciting anymore.  He said everything is looking good and I only gained 3 pounds last month, so that is good.  Down from the 8 pounds I gained each of the two months before.  I am really looking forward to the pregnancy part to be over with, I already have my exercise schedule all planned out.  It is gonna be a relief to get back in shape.  More than my stomach and hips being big, I am frustrated with my lack of muscles.  I can't believe how fast they disintegrated.  My arms and legs are so wimpy and flabby!  Hopefully I will follow through with my exercise plan and not be lazy:)  We are also so excited to meet little Cheyenne, so this last trimester is going by painfully slow.  Usually I take these pics on thursdays (when I actually turned 32 weeks) after work, so my hair is done and make up is on, but I make it a point to not do my hair and makeup on Saturdays, and this weekend was conference so today I didn't do it either.  Sometimes it just feels so good to be lazy!! On a side note, does anyone know the best way or even if you can print these blog pages out?  I think it would be a good journal/scrapbook that I could print out and put in a book or something.  Does anyone else do that? 

Craving????

So one of the questions I am most frequently asked so far in my 8 months of being pregnant is "have you had any cravings?"  I always reply the same that I haven't really craved anything, mostly food just doesn't taste as good and I am more easily disgusted by smells of things.  I used to LOVE hamburgers and now, they gross me out.  I can eat one, but it is really unpleasant and unenjoyable the entire time, and I usually can't finish it.  Before I was pregnant, I would often eat two hamburgers, plus tons of french fries.  Well recently I discovered there is one thing that I can't get enough of... milk!  This comes at a bad time considering the ridiculous cost of a gallon of milk these days, but I love it more than anything.  The past three weeks we have gone through 6 gallons of milk, and I never see Jeff drinking any of it, so I am confident that it is mostly me.  And Jeff thinks it is gross, but I have to have it with lots of ice to make it super cold.  I drink two or three tall glasses every morning and I drink it with every meal no matter what we are eating, I drink one or two tall glasses when I get home, and I drink it at night as a snack.  I don't know if this is good or bad, but it just tastes better than anything else right now and I suppose there are worse things I couldn't get enough of.  Is this a craving??? I don't know, but I do know one thing... we are spending way too much money on milk!!

Dad's visit to Georgia

So after this weekend I realized something.  I have like barely any pictures of my dad and I together.  I mean I take a lot of pictures and he just spent the whole weekend here and I only got one!! I don't know what it is, I just forget about taking pictures for some reason.  Anyway, I thought this was a really cute one so I did some editing on photo shop:)  It is of us at Jeff's football game.  ECCHS actually lost, but they played a REALLY good team and they actually went ahead with 22-21 with 7 minutes to go in the fourth quarter.  There were lots of exciting plays and it was a really fun game to watch.  We had a great time with Dad visiting.  He got to go to school with Jeff for a while and see the school and meet a lot of the teachers.  Then Saturday he and I went to look at some houses for sale here and stopped at a bunch of garage sales (my dad's favorite pastime) along the way.  Then we went to the "Bowman Fall Festival." There was a band playing and lots of little booths set up.  Saturday, Dad treated us to Papa's Pizza Buffet, then we came home and put together the crib.  Sunday he went to church with us and had family night with us and the missionaries.  Then Monday, he took me to work and he folded our laundry, fixed our vacuum, vacuumed the house, replaced all the light bulbs, made us dinner and did our dishes.  Jeff tried to convince him he should move in and be our nanny!! haha.  Tuesday morning, Jeff took the day off school and I went to work late and we drove Dad back to the Atlanta airport, we were sad to see him go, but he will be back with Karen and Grandma in just a couple months for Christmas.  It was such a fun weekend and we can't wait to see you again- love you Dad!!

Nursery almost finished:)

I just wanted to post these pictures of the nursery, because I have had so much fun decorating it.  We ordered the crib online and Jeff and my dad and I all put it together on Saturday in between football games.  I painted the name sign, all the frames, the little chair, the light switch covers and the lady bug canvases.  I bought the lady bug blanket online and it inspired me to paint the lady bugs on the canvases.  I don't know if I will add anything else, but here is what I have so far:)