A Lot to Be Grateful For!

I'll be home for Christmas...

Just waiting for Paul to get home from work so we can head home for Christmas! I'm pretty excited b/c its my family's year for Christmas which means 2 parents, 20 kids and 20 1/2 grandkids :) all together for the holiday! Hopefully MANY pictures to come but here is one of my growing baby boy...I am definitely running out of room in there.

BUDDAH BELLY...BUDDAH BELLY!

34 Weeks 

Counting Down

And so it begins...I have officially started buying diapers since I know I will be going through dozens more than anyone ever anticipates. I was actually pretty excited about this, the newborn diapers are just so cute and tiny I couldn't resist. I also have purchased my diaper bag which actually isn't a "diaper bag" per-say but just a really cute oversized purse. :) I thought that if I'm going to be carrying this thing around with me everywhere why not be fashionable at the same time, right? Anyway it was a steal at Paul's new favorite store Steinmart and looks a lot like another one I've seen by Petunia Picklebottom that I thought was super cute so I got it. Also included here is my 33 week belly shot. You'll notice I am in my pj's which is my outfit of choice lately b/c I work from home and don't ever have to get ready if I don't want to!

Too funny not to post

The following is an excerpt from a blog I frequent occasionally...middle aged Mormon dad living in Utah with 3 daughters, funny enough I relate to much of what he posts! haha

"Cling to my back, Bella and I will climb with you to a spot where it is safe to oogle."

That's right. It's finally time to take another shot at Twilight! I know that as soon as my wife reads this post, she's going to put her fingers to work, punch a few keys on the keyboard and send this post to the land of never-to-be-seen-again copy (the non-verbal-written-word bone yard.) But until then, I'm going to take a second and do something really, really fun: Poke fun at Twilight.

To be fair, I haven't even seen the movie yet. And, there's a seriously good chance I never will. But if photos, like the one posted above, keep popping up on the internet, I won't need to see it.

You know, more than anything, the best fun a guy can have is to stand close enough to hear the chatter from Twilight lovers. Check out a few lines I've heard from the local womenfolk and see what I mean. "Bella is so undeserving of Edward." Or, "Edward's hair is so beautiful." Try out this one, "When Edwards looks at the camera, it nearly stops my heart." Okay. Okay. I can't help myself. Try out one more. "They are so romantic. And so magical," followed by a long, long sigh.

See what I mean?

Here's to hoping that sequels are coming down the turnpike. And for all the right reasons!

Not a whole lot to report

I will warn you...this post is not very exciting but you can't expect much from me when I work from home and nothing much has been going on with us lately besides an ever growing belly. 

In the next week we're hoping to move all of our stuff from Carlsbad into our newer 2 bedroom apt in Palm Desert so we can be ready for Cohen. So excited about the moving company (rather than me) packing, loading, moving and unloading all our stuff. Horray!! Also, since my doctor is in Encinitas and we live in Palm Desert he agreed to induce me a week early so I'm not driving 2 hours while in labor to make it to the hospital. Come January 27th we will be parents!! So crazy to think that in 7 weeks the little guy that has been kicking and hiccuping in me for the last 7 months will be here. Life is crazy 

I was able to make this nativity set at a RS activity. So easy, just painted them brown and then sanded the highlights to the pieces. Not fancy but definitely will be kid proof! Big plus :)

The rest of these are just pictures of our lazy dogs, Crash and Scout. They are good company to me while I work from home; and they just sit around all day and sleep. As you can see they're a little attached to us, they've been the "babies" for a few years so I hope they'll be ok when the actual human baby comes! haha

Just can't wait

I am an aunt...again! Lynsey had her little Blake Woolf Evans on November 15, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. He decided to come a week and a half early and is such a little cutie! Looks very much like his big brother Carson. I CANNOT wait for my turn to come. Is it too early to start counting down when I have 9 weeks left?! Its gonna be a long haul.

Grandpa Woolf

We were able to go home this last weekend to attend my grandpa Woolf's funeral. Grandpa was one of the most remarkable and wonderful men I've had the privilege to know and we will miss him so much. The funeral was really wonderful and such a great opportunity to share the gospel and plan of salvation. Grandpa led a pretty amazing life, we loved him so much.

Wilbur Coombs Woolf passed away in the 91st year of his life on November 1, 2008. He was surrounded by his children Mac, Bill, James, Bruce and Paul Woolf and his daughter Arleen Wilson who cared for him with devotion and tenderness through his last illness.
Wilbur Woolf served in many positions of responsibility with humility and dedication. He practiced as a dentist and then as an orthodontist in Mesa for over thirty five years. His trademark Woolf smile graces the faces of many local residents. He was a Rotarian, a scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America, a bishop for the 9th ward, stake president in the Mesa South Stake, mission president for the Suva Fiji Mission (1984-1987), and a stake patriarch for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, his most important calling and accomplishment was that of husband, father, grandfather and great grand father. His little ones did not know him as Dr. Woolf, or Bishop Woolf or President Woolf but as Dad or Grandpa.
When his beloved wife Wanda died in 2001, his last and most difficult challenge was to go on without her and to follow her advice to “circulate not hibernate”. Wanda knew that Dad was more naturally reticent than he was outgoing. She had exemplified that charming and warm personality trait in abundance. Wilbur, true to her advice, soldiered on. He attended the far away weddings of grandchildren, visited with his children and shared stories of his life, traveled to Canada to visit family there, enjoyed and shared the cabin the in the Arizona pines that he and Wanda built, traveled to Fiji with a son to visit those he loved and had served on his mission and worked in the Mesa, Arizona temple. His children loved the stories of his Canadian youth, of his years in France when he and his brother and sister accompanied their parents on a mission for their church. Grandpa Woolf served in World War II as a naturalized citizen of the United States and loved his country. He is a beloved man who is well described by a former Fijian District president in a letter of condolence who wrote, “President Woolf always had a verse of scripture to share; ‘Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.” Wilbur Woolf, Dad, Grandpa, did not weary in well doing,
At the very end of his life, he expressed his love to the sister, friends, children, grandchildren and great grand children anxious to speak with him for the last time. He blessed them and affirmed his love for them. He endured his last illness patiently. His last ten days gave his children the opportunity to attend to his physical needs as his life ebbed and to stand at his bedside at the moment of his death knowing that they had loved and served a father who was and is a supreme example of a humble and willing servant of God and family. We celebrate the life of Wilbur Coombs Woolf and his legacy of faith, love and gentle determination to finish his course well.

baby room, belly and blooms

I finally was able to convince Paul that I "needed" :) to buy Cohen's baby furniture 3 months in advance... So 3 weeks ago I got all of my coupons together and purchased the crib and dresser/changer for his room. I'm loving them! My handy husband put both together this last weekend when we were in Carlsbad, and it only took about 45 minutes. I especially love the color as I decided something darker would show all the bite marks I'm told Cohen will inevitably inflict upon the expensive furniture! If' you're thinking things look a little monochromatic, well they are. :) Sadly I'm not allowed to paint the room because we're in an apartment but hopefully we will be able to buy a place of our own soon and then I'll get to paint as much as I want. I'm sure the bedding and window treatments we'll get will help spruce things up a bit too. 




I've also been getting lots of requests for preggo belly pics so here you go. Me in all my ever fattening glory. I'm not like the celebrities, who by the way I think totally lie, when they say "oh I just feel so womanly and beautiful when I'm pregnant." WHAT?! You've got to be joking, right? Seeing my not so hard earned skinnier self get bigger and bigger, and not just in the belly folks, isn't all that "beautiful" to me. I do however really love all of the babies movements and kicking that I'm able to feel. I feel like I'm already connecting with him and know his routines for sleeping and apparently soccer practice. :) Can't wait to meet our Cohen!


I threw this in here so you could be jealous that my husband is such a sweet heart! He had to be out of town for 2 days to attend classes in Irvine so when he come home he brought me this beautiful orchid and a software program for me to organize all of my pictures on our computer. I am so prepared for the new camera I will get for Christmas and the pictures of my adorable child to ensue.

IT'S A BOY!!

Here's our little guy! We just had our first ultrasound today and the doctor said that everything is looking great. Still on track for February 3rd, despite my request to have the baby now :) Having an ultrasound and seeing him move around was the most amazing experience, seeing his heartbeat and little hands and feet was so cool. I've been able to feel him kicking for a few weeks now, which is also so much fun. I can't believe that there is a real person in there! I'll post baby bump pics soon too, I am getting bigger by the day.
In other news...Paul and I are moving to Palm Springs for a few months so Paul can work on a job. You were probably worried for a second there that Hotel Brown was goign to close, not to worry. His company has an apartment there that's fully furnished so we get to keep our "beach home" in Carlsbad, haha.  We're moving in 2 days so its going to be quite an adventure to move for the second time in 6 weeks while being 5 months pregnant but we're excited to be closer to my brother and sister-in-law there and 2 hours closer to Mesa :) Everything else is going really great, Paul is still loving his job and me working from home has been great, I actually have time and energy to clean the house and make dinner now :) Life is wonderful and we feel so blessed. 

Babies Galore

The Woolf/Terry Family has been expanding...again!

Nate and Allison's second, Kate Woolf

Mark and Jenn's second, Kate  Terry. 

(we have two David's so why not two Kate's? :) )

Lynsey and baby Blake, due November

this little guy is Cole Perkinson, Danny and Kasey's second boy. Not part of the Woolf/Terry Family, but to us, family nonetheless :)

California sun and fun

I'm trying to get better at the posting thing so I thought I would update you all on what Paul and I have been doing since we moved to Carlsbad. Within our week we went to Disneyland, of course:), the beach, AZ and have already had 4 sets of visitors with many more planning to come. Paul loves his job and usually takes the "Coaster" which is a train, to downtown San Diego for work everyday while I stay at home with the puppers working. We really love the area here in Carlsbad and feel lucky to get to live in such a beautiful and fun place. I am getting bigger every day and am starting to think there are two little ones in my belly instead of just one! I'm sure there's not, but the doctor put that into my head at my 16 week appointment when he said I was measuring 19 weeks, which could mean twins but "he didn't really think so" Oh thank you Dr.! So either you just told me that you're not really sure but I might be having twins or you called me fat. (Either one can make you think twice about the Dr you're seeing.) haha 

We're just hanging out and getting used to our new lives sans school and Provo. We're excited to live closer to home now and hope to visit a lot! 

Disneyland 

my sister in law Jenn says Disneyland and BYU have the best landscaping around

Paul being Capt Jack Sparrow. Isn't he hot?!

nighttime beach adventure

This is Paul's buddy Steve. He came out to visit when he interviewed for a job at Paul's company. They were really, really excited to be at the beach :)

Baby bump at 18 weeks. 

I CANNOT for the life of me keep my hair straight for more than an hour here. 

19 weeks

Brian Miner and his new wife Emily, who are on their honeymoon in this picture, had dinner with us while they were in town at Fuddruckers.

More Fuddruckers. It seems I was a little surprised when Paul took this haha

We're alive, well and tired....

I know that it has been a really long time since my last post and most of you have abandoned all hope of ever seeing something besides the dang announcement of the pea in my pod but...we did have A LOT going on and now I have time to post again. So updates on us; Paul graduated from BYU in construction management and got a really great job with CW Driver in Southern California, I am now 17 weeks along and getting fatter by the day, we finally left Provo after 6 years for me, 3 1/2 for Paul and moved to Carlsbad, CA where we are currently renting in a really great area but looking for a home to buy, and we get to come home to AZ for a visit this weekend. YAY! So below you will find a mixture of pictures for all these events and hopefully I can post more soon of our trip to Disneyland, already :), and our visit to Mesa.

Paul receiving his dipoloma

Paul's parents and grandparents came up as well as my mom and dad. 

This is our empty apartment the morning we drove out of Provo forever. 

Scout and Crash taking naps in the Uhaul on the way to Vegas. 

This was our the hotel in Vegas we stayed at 1/2 way to Carlsbad. It was really nice and we laid back and ordered room service and slept! 

We have an announcement...

Baby Brown due February 2009!!

Aunt Annie for the 16th time!

Natalie and Brian welcomed their very first baby Friday night. Gavin Brian Robinson was born at 7:46pm. He weighed in at 8 pounds 4 ounces and is 19 1/2 inches long. So dang cute! How awesome is it that he came out with a mohawk?!

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

Paul and I went to L.A. this weekend to find a place to live when we move there in 3 months, YAY!, and to visit Mark, Jenn and Davis at UCLA. We had a really fun time hanging out with them but I have decided that L.A. isn't for me...it is super dirty and there are so many bums I couldn't keep count! Venice beach was an experience all its own with the random fortune teller who was about 55 and still sportin the sparkly hot shorts, not cute, and the men in speedos at Muscle Beach. We're glad we get to be in San Diego where there may still be weirdos but it was a little more toned down :) I'm pretty sure anything is going to be a big change from Happy Valley. Thanks to Mark and Jenn for letting us crash with you! We're excited to be so close to more family and only 6 hours from Mesa.

Mark, Davis and Jenn

How cute is that?! Davis was running and fell on his red balloon so Marky made him a new one from his dental glove :) I can't believe that Davis could get that big!

All of L.A. behind us.

Can you see the tiny HOLLYWOOD sign? Its there!

The Great Outdoors

One of my old friends from CUC and her husband invited us to go camping this weekend up Spanish Fork Canyon. It was SOOO pretty and really fun. We only went for one night but we got to go ATV riding, have a campfire with s'mores and all the good camping stuff. Paul was such a good little boyscout, he had our tent up in 5 minutes flat and started our fire for us too. Apparently I don't go camping a lot b/c Paul was making fun of me for bringing hot dogs for dinner. I'm not a fancy outdoors person! I had aforementioned weiners, smore stuff, oreos, soda and yogurt. Now sans the yogurt I think I did a pretty good job packing. We love hanging out with Chad and Elise because we always get to do something out of the ordinary and fun. Thanks guys!!

This was our camp ground. So pretty!

We went 4-wheeling up to a really pretty lake. Gotta love my Mitt Romney t-shirt. :)

This is Chad w/ his dirt-y Mexi-stache. We were all pretty brown at the top

This was our main group. Some people are missing b/c they didn't come until later that night

This is us with Chad and Elise. So you see that river behind us? Yeah, we crossed that with our ATV. It was up to my hip!!

And that would be Jesse in the back. Such a fun guy.

You know you haven't done your hair in a LOOONG time when...

more than 3 people ask "Have you done something with your hair?"

"Nope, I just actually did it today."
Amazing

Some of you asked where we would be living in California; the answer is... SAN DIEGO!!! Oh man, the excitement