Its A Boy!

I had a 19 week ultrasound today and the baby looks healthy and has all the right parts in all the right places. I really loved seeing the heart beat, you could see all 4 chambers and the valves working! I love the ear shot on the one picture of him facing away from us. Plus our little man gave us an open flexed high 5. (the tech was super excited to see that one!)

Still on target for a May 15th due date.

17 weeks

I saw Dr. Dean today. I love her, she is full of life. Baby is doing good. I am doing well. I am starting to look pregnant to the rest of the world (pictures to follow). The anatomy ultra sound is schld for December 21st (boy or girl?) Merry Christmas to us! It has been fun to feel the small and infrequent movements of this new resident of my body. I can't believe that I will be half way during the Christmas weekend. It still seems surreal to me at times. I thank God every day for this experience.

13 week check up

I saw the Nurse Practitioner today. It was a short visit. Just to hear the heart beat....it is there. 150 beats/mintue. Ben was with me too. I read somewhere today that in the 14th week or so the baby develops fingerprints! How amazing is that! Only 3 inches long and it has fingerprints!

Birthday Party!!

Though it is Ben's birthday on the 22nd I am speaking of another birthday. Like 2010. Pull out your calendar's people and mark May 15, 2010. Hopefully the newest Schonewald family member will make their debut around that time. 10 weeks down and counting.

Such happiness in the Schonewald household.

Decompression

Ever have so much going on that you just have to get it all out.

The activies for the month of September include:

finish my online medical coding class
study for national exam
primary program and practices
learn how to sub in for the secretary at work while she is gone for 3 weeks.
adjust to 4 more people in the house
sew a lava lava for a friend and her daughter
visiting teaching appt.
replant the garden for the fall
bountiful baskets twice a month
FHE
presidency mtg
visit with old friends and new couples in the ward
spend time with the husbandman (always a welcome activity)

if I have time....

go to the temple (which should be on the top of my list)
continue working on my Joseph Smith memorial quilt
start my husband's quilt
finish crocheting a baby blanket

Well I know that Lord is on my side and believe you me I will be taking advantage of that.

Sewing Update

This is another table runner I made. Will most likely be a Chirstmas present.

These blocks are called "House of Order" (made up just for this quilt) . This references the orderliness with which the Church was organized. I am not too fond of the orange I picked out, I may redo this block but I will wait.

This block is called "Broken Dishes". It represents the women of the church who broke up their china to use on the outside walls of the Kirtland temple.

There are 5 blocks in this picture (from left to right) "The Tree of Life" (one block) was used to represent the Book of Mormon, the prophet Lehi had a vision about the tree of life and how it represented many things including Jesus Christ. The next 2 blocks are "Broken Windows". The mobs broke into Joseph and Emma's house dragging Joesph away. The red stands for the blood he split. The last 2 blocks "Ocean Waves" symbolizes the many immigrants from Great Britain and the missionaries that traveled.

Good Friends Warm My Heart

Last night I received a call from a good friend. I love this friend, she understands me and we laugh. We always have something to talk about. Maybe its b/c we don't get to talk that often. But I believe that even if we did talk often we would still have plenty to converse about. Our roots take us way back....like to junior high. That's when we became friends. I still believe that one day we will be neighbors and we will get to make jam, our kids will be friends and our husbands will do manly things together. Here's to the future and many more fabulous late night conversations.

Pictures

Ben and I had a high school friend of mine take our picture. Its been 2 years since the last time we had pictures taken. She did an outstanding job and I am really please. Check out her website for a few of her favorites.

www.erinwilkesphotography.blogspot.com

The Veggie Garden

The Watermelon is the most entertaining to grow, it is still smaller than a tennis ball...but not for long. It is literally bigger everyday you look at it. I am excited for my baking pumpkin to turn orange. We have had gobs and gobs of tomatoes. I like to collect up the green beans, harvest a few at a time and keep them in the fridge, and then eat them all up at one time. We also have had a good crop of zuchinni and yellow squash. It is so much fun to come home and go hang out in the garden.

Primary

I experienced my first day as 2nd Councilor in the primary yesterday. It was a weird feeling to be consulted about things, I usually just do what ever people need me to do, not make the choice. But I enjoy primary. Plus it was an easy day since it was Father's Day and there were not very many children.

Patagonia Hummingbirds

These pictures were taken at Mrs. Patons house in Patagonia, Az. You just walk into the backyard and there are all kinds of birds there. Ben heard that a violet crowned hummingbird frequents there and it is a rare bird for Arizona. Sure enough we saw him.

Violet crowned Hummingbird

Broadbilled Hummingbird

Black chinned Hummingbrid

Costas Hummingbird

Anniversary Outing - Patagonia, AZ

In celebration of our 4th Anniversary on April 30th, Ben and I went on a day trip to Patagonia, AZ. Our recent hobby is finding birds and the State Park had a bunch to see. We saw about 35 new species of birds in just 2 hours. Check out Ben's blog for our other outdoor adventures.

Flycatcher

Vermillion Flycatcher


Western Tanager

Roadrunner

Patagonia Lake

Catalina State Park

Ben and I went hiking early one morning and saw a lot of different birds. The Park was beautiful and the trail we hiked was perfect for birds. We plan to go back and hike some of the other trails.

Here's what I have been up to

I made this baby blanket for a friend. I can't name names because the shower is yet to come!

I saw this cute bag in a magazine and I started this awhile ago. I have gotten discouraged a couple of times becuase it was all very new to me and some things were a little difficult. But I am love with the giant ric-rack. I am giving this bag to my sister and I am making a red one for myself.

This is a table runner I made for my mom's birthday. I designed it myself and bought this lovely fabric with silver shimmery designs at a quilt shop in Washington with my mother in-law.

These are the next two squares I finished for the "Joseph Smith the Prophet Quilt" Brightness and Glory and True Lover's knot. The star was the most difficult by far. Just time consuming and a little frustrating getting everything to line up. The True Lover's Knot was a quick sew.

Improving my talents

I have been thinking a lot about my talents and how I should improve upon them. So when I am not blogging or working or doing church things, this is what I do....

This is my "Log Cabin" quilt square. It will be part of a Joseph Smith tribute quilt. There are several quilt blocks with different names that make up a story about the prophet. "Brightness and Glory, True Lovers Knot, Broken Dishes, Tree of Life", etc. I will post each of my squares until the quilt is done and show you the quilt at the end.

This is also another recent hobby. I learned to crochet while on my mission and I have made several baby quilts and large afghans. But I wanted to do more. So I found this adorable bunny pattern and adjusted it to my taste and I call him "Harvey". I now sell him to anyone who is interested for $15.

(He's about 14 inches tall, machine washable

and any color you desire)

Ben Can Cook

Hearty Apple Pecan Pancakes

Dress up your favorite pancake mix with a dash of vanilla, a pinch of cinnamon and chopped pecans. Then top with applesauce, a sprinkle of brown sugar and some whipped cream.

*These pecans actually came from Sister Bell at church whose Father in-law has a large pecan orchard in St. David. So we shelled a few. And let me tell you it is much harder to open pecans than you might think.

Rattle Snake Eggs

(aka: jalapeno poppers)

NOT SPICY! if you take out all the seeds and the white fiber stuff in the middle they will not be hot. Fill insides with mozzarella, wrap bacon around pepper, secure with toothpick and deep fry until bacon cooked. Very Delicious.

Garden Patch

We are busy caring for seedlings. As starters we have, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers (see above), bell peppers, and an assortment of herbs. In the planter boxes we have lettuce, spinach, peas and carrots growing already. Soon we will have more boxes made and I will get to start my sugar pumpkins. They are the small ones you cook with, I can't wait! (dinner rolls, bread, pie etc.) Ben is very into growing all kinds of hot peppers right now and desires to win the chili cook-off this year with the hottest. The chicken wire is to keep the cats out. Dad planted some sprouted potatoes to see if they will do anything. In the fall we will have a whole different crop.

Come out Come Out Whever You are

Has anyone seen "Global Warming"? This is a picture of TUCSON, ARIZONA! It snowed last night. It's February! Well I was just wondering if anyone has seen these...hotter days some people like to talk about.

A little about me:

I am going to start an online class soon. It is to become a certified medical coder/biller. I figured it was time to add to my credentials. This is also a job that will be easy for me to do part-time or from home should the need arise. I am still getting my health in order. It seems as if I am sensitive to changes that happen to me.

The temple

We are going to the temple tomorrow. Even though it is only 2 hours away in Mesa it is still an 8 hour day for us if we don't even stop to do anything else. 4 years ago in April we were married here. It was only the beginning to such a great relationship. I would still do it all over again.

A Taste of Gratitude

My grandfather enjoys giving and has favored me with gifts of the jewelery kind. These are just a few pieces I have acquired.