Happy 3rd Trimester To Me!

I am now officially 28 weeks along! Can you believe it!?! I feel like this pregnancy is just flying by. You'll have to excuse these, not so great photos, for a number of reasons. First, they were taken with my iPhone, second, I had to take them myself (as you can see), and third, I am in our bathroom! Oh the joys of living by yourself! I'll have to have Jory take some better photos while he is here this weekend. These next 3 photos were taken on Sunday. It was super hot that day so you'll have to excuse the no make-up and undone hair look! I just didn't have the energy to do anything other than shower :-)

Our little bambina is now about two and a quarter pounds and measures about 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes (which now have eye lashes) and she may be able to see the light that filters in through the womb. I can feel her moving around all the time now. Her favorite times to move are in the morning and also at night once I lay down for bed. She is quite the active little bug! We have a doctor appointment this Friday and will hopefully have an ultrasound picture to share!

Our First Born...

Our Little Maggie is our first born :-) She has been with us for 8 of the 9 years that we have been married. We got her in Italy when she was 8 weeks old and she quickly established herself as the sassy, boss of the house. She has maintained that title for all of the 8 years of her life! She has been all over the world with us. She has even endured 3 moves! Italy to Boise, Boise to San Diego and San Diego to Mount Vernon. She has adjusted to us bringing home 2 sisters for her (Bailey and Zoe) to play with and now, in 3 short months, we are preparing to bring home sister number 3!

Lately Maggie has been very attached to my belly. Anytime I sit down she snuggles right up with either her head or her paw resting nicely on my belly. I think she is establishing her title as oldest and the boss of the house with Kennedy but regardless of her actual intentions, Jory and I think its the most precious thing that we've ever seen!

25 Weeks!

Well...here I am at 25 weeks preggo! Sorry if this picture is TMI but to get the full effect of how big the belly is really getting you kind of have to look at it bare :-) I have nothing major to report and am still feeling really good, which has been so nice. I've said it before and I will say it again...I really hope it stays this way until the end! Hey, that rhymed!

At this point our little Kennedy weighs about 1 1/2 pounds and is about 13 1/2 inches long. She is just getting bigger by the week...literally! I have been able to feel her moving around for a while now but this weekend Jory was able to feel her kicks as well. It is such a surreal feeling to know that there is a little baby in there. Jory and I are so excited to meet her and to see what she looks like. We have so much to do to prepare but we have been enjoying this new experience every step of the way.

Photography 101

I am a wanna be photographer! But now that I am close to family, I have a lot of Guinea pigs at my disposal that I can practice on. These are photos that I took of Tessa a week after her graduation, in the field behind my parents house. It does make my job a lot easier when the one you are photographing is so gorgeous and you are surrounded by beautiful scenery!

Tessa Graduates High School

Congratulations Tessa!!

I can't even believe that the last Carter kid has graduated from Mount Vernon High School! Our little baby sister is now 18 (will be 19 in September), and will be off to BYU Hawaii in the fall. Does this mean that I'm getting older too? Here are a few photos of her big night.

Tessa, we could not be more proud of you! You are such a polished young girl with so much potential. Never change!!! You are perfect the way you are!

The proud parents

The proud Sisters

Tessa with Grandpa Loynd

Caitlin, Mom, Tessa, Lindsay and me

Almost the whole family. We are just missing Jordan, Jory and Aaron

Our cousin Hailey, Me, The Graduate, and Lindsay

So gorgeous!

Grandpa Carter with our cousin Dylan

Hmmmm...There were a lot more people at this BBQ! I need to be better with getting more photos!

We Moved...AGAIN!

Well, I am behind on blogging yet again! But, due to the encouragement of a dear friend of mine (Bethie), I am going to get caught up AND try my hardest to stay current :-) Some of our biggest news, other than the fact that we are having a baby girl, is that we have moved...AGAIN! After 9 short months in sunny San Diego, we have moved to Mount Vernon, Washington. And by we I mean I. I have moved to Washington and started a new job with Waste Management while Jory remains in San Diego while he finishes school. We've been surviving on weekend visits but will be glad when he is permanently here. We hate being apart.

Luckily I have my family here to keep me busy while Jory and I are living in different states. They have helped me unpack the entire house, got me all organized, and even helped me paint the nursery (pictures to come). My Mom also insists that I come over for dinner every night! Which I love! I've been getting completely spoiled since I arrived!

After 12 years away, I do have to say that I am glad to be back in the Valley. The Pacific Northwest is so beautiful and it has truly been a blessing being closer to family.