QUICK!

While we have internet and before the laptop dies, I wanted to throw up a few new pictures of the family. Yes, my face is missing. When I'm a little less of a pukey-face, I'll be back in em.

Enjoy! The beginning of fall and Dot at 6 months:




1. knowing morning sickness ends
2. plastic baggies
3. my ever-growing family

I was going to wait to tell you all...

But who likes waiting?

So, here you go, folks. The big secret: We're pregnant with #2!

No joke. It is a little sooner than we were expecting, but hey, we're excited and know that everything will work out!

So now you know why I have so little drive to blog lately. The morning sickness is taking over again, but at least I was a little more prepared for it this time. It also really helps to have Dorothy around to keep me focused on something else.

Speaking of Dorothy, she turned 6 months yesterday! Half of a stinkin' year! Crazy. It sounds so big to me right now, but then I think about this little sibling showing up and realize how small they will both be. If my calculations are correct, baby #2 will be here around the end of April--roughly 13-14 months apart from Dorothy. One of the challenges I am thinking of right off the bat is Sundays. Two little ones too young for nursery. Hmm. I am so happy that there are plenty of ladies with free hands who will be willing to help.

But, I shouldn't get ahead of myself. Right now we are just trying to stay focused on having a healthy second pregnancy and getting another healhty little one into our family.

in process

Well, our blueprints are being ordered for the house. We're looking at a February move-in time. We are finally settled in our new place, so things are coming together!

Dorothy continues to be more wonderful every day. She has mastered rolling and uses it as her main way to get around these days. She has moved on to sweet potatoes as a new solid food and loves them (who wouldn't?). I'm always amazed at what a trooper she is while I cart her around for errands and meetings and appointments. How blessed we are to have such an incredible daughter.

Marty started back to school this week. We feel so blessed that he still has his teaching position, and it will be exciting to see how his new group of students are. Last fall was hard for me, just being home and not going back to school. This fall has been much easier. I love being home with Dot, and I made a trip to my college campus with her and my mom to fulfill my craving for school in the fall. Now I'm ready to hunker down with my sweaters, books, warm beverages, and family as the fall begins.

1. library books
2. weekends with the hubby home
3. dinner out every now and then

more squash pleeeeeeease.

The Dot has been very interested in food
for about a month now.
She watches intently as forks and spoons
pass from our plates to our mouths
filled with good looking food.

Well,
we decided to let her have a go at it.
She ate, but didn't really seem to enjoy, the rice cereal.
So, I moved on to bigger and better things:
pureed zucchini to be exact.

Love. At. First. Bite.

This little one takes down a whole jar once a day.

She still loves nursing,
but I'm excited that she also seems to love some veggies!


In other news....

We are finally done with our move.
We moved everything left last Thursday,
and I did a marathon cleaning day on Friday.
We have been trying to clean and organize
at the house since then.
We can't wait for finalizing the plans on our house
and for the building to begin,
but we are so grateful to have somewhere to stay
while the process takes place.

1. Sundays
2. afternoon naps
3. leftovers

Melts my heart.

Do you see this face?

Every day is a good day
when you get smiles like these!

1. gummy baby smiles

2. being DONE with our move
3. cooling weather--almost fall!

As promised...

Pictures from our trip. Finally.

Well, actually this first one
is from right after we got home.
But Dorothy's hair is in such amazing form,
I just had to share.

A little trip up to Salt Lake
and the Temple visitor's center.

Cousins dinner
and BIG smiles from the little lady.

The baby girls with granpappy Heaps.

A nice afternoon at the park.

Playing with Papa.

Meeting the Diamonds--
Dad's First Mission President and his wonderful wife.

It is so exhausting to be so cute and so little.

A little natural beauty always starts the day off right!

It was such a wonderful trip.
I am so grateful that we had the chance to go!

Oh, August.

Did we plan too much for this month? I'm beginning to think so.

Late Thursday night, after a day full of near plane misses, almost tears, a litle bit of puke (yuck, I know), and a lot of patience, we made it safely back from Utah to the east coast. I can't really complain about the day full of travel, though. I LOVED being able to visit with my sister, Kristi (and fam), and my parents! It can be tough and even a little tearful sometimes not living close to either, so I am always grateful for any time I can get.

The trip was wonderful! Marty got to see my memories from growing up and I got to see his from going to college; we played at the park with our baby girls; we took hikes up the canyon; we went to temple square; we visited with many friends--old neighbors, mission presidents, extended family; and so many other sweet and simple things. I promise pictures as soon as we have moving under control...

Speaking of moving, we have just about everything but our couch, bed, table, and cooking supplies all moved. Our apartment is anything but comfy, but we're not quite ready to leave our own space just yet. One more week and we'll have to get ready for cleaning and saying goodbye to our first home together as a family. We've had a lot of good memories--especially bringing Dorothy home--in that apartment, but life is heading in new and exciting (perhaps even slightly scary) directions. Hopefully we will be ready for all that comes our way in the next few months.

Until then, we're trying to savor the last few weeks of summer together. It just seems like you can never fit in quite enough walks, ice cream cones, laughs, picnics, or trips into one summer. What a smart and loving Heavenly Father that makes sure we get the chance to do it all over again every year.

And now it's back to packing and unpacking at our two locations...