Auntie Chelsey

My little sister came to visit  us in Boise for the very first time this month and it was the BEST Christmas gift ever. I had so much fun having her here! I woke her up every morning before I had to go to work (which I know she LOVED) and got to spoil her a little. While I worked 5 hours a day she got to check out the BSU campus along with the rest of the little-big city of Boise 

(and who knows maybe she'll decide to spend some of her college life here after she finishes up in Alaska!). 

While she was only here for a few days I had the best time with her. Growing up you never guess that one day all the sibling rivalry and cat fights over missing clothes would grow into this unbreakable bond (and silly shenanigans that no one else could possibly understand!)

She made the board for 24 weeks.. 

and got to feel her little niece wiggling around for the first time!

And here are the pretty stellar cookies we made! 

(note to the wise, watch the spacing when laying cookies on the cookie sheet, we ended up with a mass of odd shapes)

My little sister is a PRO at decorating cookies, 

the girl watches way too much Cake Boss.

Bringing her to the airport was so hard, I just wanted to keep changing her ticket and have her here forever! But I know my dad needed one of his girls in Alaska for Christmas, so I had to send her off. 

CJBW,

You better be coming down as soon as spring semester is finished Chelly Belly! Little Vivian can't wait to meet her Aunt Chelsey for realsies!!! 

WE LOVE YOU!!

annnd for your viewing pleasure.. 

me, my baby, and my baby's daddy at 

25 weeks complete!

Board by Kevin

(after he saw how frustrated I was becoming with the chalk breaking 

and decided it was in the best interest of the board that he take over haha)

What's in a Name?

I always thought I had my future children's names all picked out and settled on.. then I got pregnant and suddenly I had no idea where to even start on picking out a name. Kevin and I would randomly toss out a name here and there, never really stressing out because we figured we had 9 months to decide haha!

I carry a note book in my purse with random notes, thoughts, and lists. One of those lists was a baby name list. We had a running list of both boy and girl names. From the beginning, boy names were easier for Kevin and I to come up with, but we never found "the one". When we found out baby Sommer was a girl I thought back to our small girl name list and knew we had quite the task on out hands.

I looked at online name databases and books. Read blogs on baby naming, read lots of unique baby names, old fashion baby names, classic baby names, and "never name your baby this" lists. Nothing really jumped out at us so we decided to put away the naming game and just see if something came to us. 

It wasn't until this past week when Kevin said one of my favorite names (that I had been fond of since Kevin was on R&R last summer) with my own middle name that something clicked for us.. and we thought that we had found the perfect name for our baby girl. 

 Vivian Alexandra Sommer

We love you so much already and know that you will be more beautiful than anything we could ever imagine.

*Also we get to see little Vivian again this week when we finish our anatomy scan, hopefully she isn't balled up this time!

 (and is still a girl haha)

A Little Girl

We had our anatomy scan ultrasound early this past week and while baby was all balled up and not moving for anything the ultrasound technician saw what she believed to be proof that our baby was a little girl!! 

Because she was so balled up the tech wasn't able to get all of the measurements she needed so we get a "bonus" scan! I think baby girl knew how much we love seeing her and took that position on purpose so we can get an extra peak :]

We go in three weeks from now and by then she'll be too big to curl up and we can get the rest of the measurements we need.

So what else has been going on? Me trying to fit into my non-maternity clothes comfortably! I'm fitting into my jeans with the help of hair ties (seriously, best advice EVER) and I'm starting to get creative with belting and layering longer shirts under sweaters. It's funny to pull on a shirt that was "bigger" on me before (and I never wore because of that but couldn't let it go) and have it fit me nearly perfectly! It's those moments that make me feel like I'm a "smart hoarder"... haha!

And dresses, of course, still work.

  (even though it gets chilly and we have to rush the pictures.) 

(and yayy for even being able to take pictures outside in November.. and in a dress no less!)

Oh and now I'm half way though my pregnancy! I have an application on my iPod that told me I deserved to go out and celebrate it, so I plan on going with my sister-in-laws to get my hair done and possibly a pedicure.

 (Just think, years from now I'll be going to get pedicures with my daughter!)

Baby Gear

 Lately (between my exhausting tasks of making tea, working out, and cooking..) I have been peaking around on the internet reading reviews, browsing websites, and making "wish lists" of baby items. Since we won't know what we're having until early next week I have to force myself not to be getting to taken away by any sex-specific clothing, nursery items, and any other gear. So I focus mostly on gender neutral classic pieces. Here are a few picks:

HERE

A soft set in a beautiful light grey 

(by one of my favorite brands too!)

HERE

I've read nothing but great reviews about this brand.

These blankets will make great swaddles, light blankets, and light car seat cover.

HERE

Another pick from this great brand.

It's an electronic feeding diary, room temp. indicator, sound machine, nightlight and clock.

-All in ONE!

(oh and the star theme going.. totally not intentional!)

HERE

I have been swooning over this crib for quite some time!

The natural and white combo is so effortlessly cool and timeless.

HERE

I will be wearing the baby as often as possible.

(enter the baby kicking me!!! I think that's a "yes please" from the little one)

It's a no brainer for having to get stuff done around the house.

HERE

For the Nursery to keep baby healthy and happy. 

Might have to get one for myself soon to help with prego nose.

HERE

Great brand- comes with changing pad, wipe case, and lots of pockets. 

In a fun rugged material that's also dad friendly!

Baby Girl or Baby Boy?

Dear Baby Sommer,

 We will soon find out if you're a girl or a boy. It's something we've been wondering about since we first knew you were coming. I had a dream a few years ago where I was sitting on the edge of a bed in a room full of light holding you in my lap and you were a boy. Up until the other night I had thought you were a boy for sure, right after having another dream you were a boy.. I had one you were a little girl (in the same night!) You had dark blonde hair and big brown eyes, just like your mama. It was the first time I've seen your face in a dream, so I wonder what meaning, if any our dreams have in our reality.

 Lately I've been thinking about your chubby legs in pajamas, the way you might smell right after a bath, putting your little hands into tiny mittens, and your precious head (which may or may not have big ears that stick out.. thanks to daddy :]..) inside a tiny hat. It's been fun to think of what you're personality is going to be like and how you'll react to all these crazy people you will call family

18 Week Belly

 Whether we dress you in little sundresses or tiny ties I can't wait to have you in my arms.

Love,
YourMommy

Boise, Idaho- Update!

   We have lived in Idaho for almost 4 weeks now and I think we're settling in pretty well. We are staying with family while we look for a house (which has been exhausting, already!). We spend our days looking at houses online sent to our real estate agent, and occasionally going out to visit the ones we are interested in. I have been passing the time by working out, playing around with recipes in the kitchen, and reading daily updates from my baby apps. We have had lots of friends coming over and we've all hung out a few times including one volleyball day that left me with such sore forearms!
   Because I'm pregnant I will dedicate this paragraph to food; so far we have eaten at PF Chang's (my first time, and I loved it), Cafe' Ole (which is always on my mind now! I love burritos!), and a couple of local restaurants which were all great. I have also been ALL about pineapple for the entire time we've been here, Kevin even took a special trip to the store one night so I could have some.

   I'm in my 16th week of pregnancy and feeling great (although a little "fluffy"at times!) and I have my first doctors appointment since I've been here next week. I'm looking forwards to hearing that babies heartbeat again and setting a date for our next ultrasound when we'll hopefully get to find out if baby is a boy or girl! I'm really looking forward to being able to start gathering things for the baby and shopping will just be so much more fun when I know if I'm shopping for a he or a she.

 Overall we don't do too much yet as Kevin isn't officially out of the Army until November, but it is so nice to go through out the day looking at Kevin knowing that he will never again have to leave to go back overseas. Not one day goes by that I don't realize what a gift it is to have Kevin home and safe, and that we have gotten the chance to start a family. I can't begin to imagine what a great father Kevin is going to be.

I am a very lucky lady.

Fairbanks Fitness Derby!

  Early in August Kevin and I competed in a fitness derby put on by our local Crossfit gym, Crossfit Fairbanks. We had signed up for it just for the challenge, not taking it too seriously. I was not expecting to place 12th out of 20 amazing female athletes and was so proud of Kevin getting 11th place out of about 30+ men. It was definitely a great experience and was so fun for Kevin and I to do as a couple.
  During one event I was on the rowing machine trying to keep a steady pace when I started to get very light headed. I nearly rolled off! Other than that little spell, I did not feel too bad. Little did we know I was pregnant! About 4 weeks pregnant to be exact.
  I was worried because I was lifting weights like usual.. probably over doing it as usual. So I was anxious to have an ultrasound done to make sure Baby Sommer was alive and kicking. After having the ultra sound done at 9 weeks and 5 days, I felt better about carrying on my Crossfit ways. The only things I'm currently doing differently in my workout routine are the amount of breaks I let myself take for water, and not increasing my weight while lifting but trying to maintain what I was doing before my ego got prego. My power clean has already gone down from 125 to 115! It's kinda of hard to see my numbers go down, but watching my belly go up is definitely worth it.

Cleaning 125- my Personal Record

I had already done the event Kevin was doing, 

I earned the right to be a little silly.

Pretty sweet "during" picture right?! 

Thanks to my StepMom for taking awesome 

action shots!