Belly Button

     Bridger has a funny belly.  Since he was born he's had a herniated belly button so it sticks way way out.  It comes in as a very handy play toy.

      Well a little while ago, Bridger found my belly button.  It's a little embarrassing, although I am only 14.5 weeks along, my belly button is already sticking out!  (I thought it is supposed be like my pregnancy timer, and poke out when the baby's ready.)  Mine pokes out early it seems and then it flattens out later on.  Bridger poked my belly and then he poked his, and got a big grin on his face.  He just thought it was the greatest thing ever. :)

Trip Home- Part 1

Grandma and Grandpa's House:

      They have such a fun yard, Bridger loves running around outside.  He loves the bridges and poking the water with a stick, and looking for fish.

He is Grandma's big helper with watering her flowers.

Jason and Katie's Wedding Day:

      I loved being able to attend their sealing ceremony.  It was a special day and Katie was a beautiful bride!

      The kids and bubbles :)

      Bridger was jamming out on this chair to the music.  He spent most of the night doing his own thing, scooting down a little grass hill (I was worried he would end up with all kinds of grass stains), and picking handfulls of grass.

      My fun fun roomies!  I love these girls!

The Bride and Groom!

Grandpa Sorensen's Cabin:

      Bridger likes to be the center of attention. When we were paying more attention to grandpa's building plans than him, he sat right on them.

      An intense game of Croquet.

Yummy Corn!

exercises

      Doing abs and stretches with Dad and Rob.  Bridger has also started doing push-ups.  He assumes the push-up position and moves forward and back.  He loves to try to do what we do.  :)

18 Months!

... has to be one of the biggest milestones for a Mormon toddler to hit.  Nursery!!.. Whahoo, yeah!  Maybe I should be feeling more worried (hesitant, sad, ... longing for my baby back).  Nope, not me.  I'm celebrating!
      Bridger loves playing with all the toys and kids.  For months, every time we passed the nursery door we had to stop as he peeked through the crack or had me hold him up to the window so he could watch the kids play.  He loves being part of it.  And I love being able to sit through a lesson without interruptions and actually walk away feeling like I learned something.
      He has also graduated from two naps to one.  I'm not quite so excited about this for two reasons 1) Afternoon church is right during his nap time, 2) Ever since I've been pregnant I counted on his morning nap so I could nap too!
      He has this need to conquer.  I'm a little worried that in his teens he'll be a dare-devil and pick up cliff jumping for a hobby.   When he finds something hard to do, he wants to do it over and over again until he has it conquered.   i.e. jumping off my bed, jumping off benches, walking down stairs (he can't reach the railing).  He does have a measure of caution and reserve in him which I hope will win over in later years.  For now we deal with bumps and bruises.  But he is a tough boy. When he 's hurt he only cries for a minute and then he's up and going again.
      Some of Bridger's words:

• Uht-oh
• What's That? (uhts at?)
• Who's That? (who's at?)
• Thank you (dank doo)
• Ready, Set, Go! (seddy, seddy, go)
• 1, 2, 3 (mostly matches our voice intonation, it's close)
• Hi
• Grandpa (bapa)

Big Brother

 Bridger is so excited... He is going to be a Big Brother!  For his birthday present this year we decided to get him a baby sister.  Her due date is February 10.

So yes... for those of you who didn't know, I am pregnant.  Some of you noticed my pooch already, Devin used to call it my muffin top.  Now it has become too round, I think it is more of a pot belly.  I am only 13 weeks along, but I can't hide it.  When I went to girls camp my girls guessed my secret the first day!  I had just met them (was only about 9 weeks) and they knew.  I show so stinking early!
     I'm about 90% positive it's a girl.  Mainly because I was sick.  With Bridger I never was sick at all, but this time I've been given more appreciation for all you other women that have pregnancy sickness.  I was nauseated for about two weeks is all.  That's how the word first got out.  I was talking to my friend on the phone about running in the morning, and had a wave of nausea and had to charge for the toilet.  So I had to tell her.  Midwife tales say women get more sick when they are having a girl because hormones clash.  Now I am starving all the time.  I eat about every two hours.  That is also supposed to be sign of a girl.  Last of all, I already can tell I am carrying lower.  So I'm pretty positive.  I'm already looking for girl clothes on Craigslist.
      So this baby is coming February 10th.  Bridger's due date was February 11th, but he came on the 7th.  I am just hoping, hoping, hoping that they won't have to share a birthday!  I did not want this to happen.  I told Devin, but he, being Mr. Practical, said it will be much easier this way because we can do it all in the same trip, only have to get the family together once and celebrate it all together.  So I guess Devin won.  I'm going to start running the week before I'm due, see if I can't get her her own birthday week, at least her own day.  Cross your fingers with me!
      We are very excited!  I'm so glad to be starting my second trimester, and hopefully be feeling back at my normal energy level again.  I've been kind of a bum lately.  Second trimester is party time!

Philly!

      My cousin Heather lives in Philadelphia this summer while her husband is doing an internship.  She was nice enough to invite us, so last Thursday, Bridger and I decided to take the hour flight (only 23 minutes actual flying time) to see her and some of the Philadelphia sites.

      Bridger LOVES airplanes!  Since we live so close to the Dulles airport, there are airplanes flying overhead all the time.  One of Bridger's favorite thing to do is to point out all the airplanes while we are outside.  So this short flight on the little plane was perfect because we had to walk outside so Bridger could see and point to all the airplanes that were up close and looked so big.  He loved it.

      The Liberty Bell.  In real life it was smaller than I thought it would be.

      The Senate and House of Representatives Meeting rooms (before DC was built).

 High-five!

The National Constitution Center:

      I am always impressed by the men who founded our nation.  They were the "real men" who feared God and had integrity.  Our nation's leadership seems to be lacking those kind of men now days.
        It was a short trip; we only stayed one day.  Bridger was mostly good.  I hope we didn't wear Heather and Evan out too much.  Thanks for having us!

Outdoor Explorer

      I love going on walks with Bridger.  Our walks aren't for exercise.  On these walks Bridger takes the lead.  When he is outside he transforms into an explorer and an adventurer.  He has a sense of discovery and wonder as he hovers over and pokes at tiny ants on the sidewalk.  He notices, points at and says "What's that?" to all the things most of us would normally overlook. 

       He has a favorite spot that is by a flower garden. We spend at least five minutes there as he points to each of the flowers, one by one. He listens for the birds chirping, the humming of the cicadas in the trees, and airplanes rumbling through the skies.  He likes to pick up and feel the smooth edges of rocks and the funny feel of the grass in his hand as his picks it by handfuls before he throws it in the air to see how it falls. He chases after squirrels, birds and dogs. 

      A few days ago a bird was hopping along on the ground; he ran to catch the little bird and it began circling around the tree.  Bridger followed as quickly behind as he could.  I smiled as they circled seven or eight times before the bird hopped behind a bush, where Bridger quickly followed, crouching down, moving limbs, looking through the bush to find the bird. 

      To Bridger, the sidewalks, grass patches and trees surrounding our Dulles Greene apartments are full of wonder and excitement!

"This is the precious present, regardless of what yesterday was like, regardless of what tomorrow may bring.  When your inner eyes open, you can find immense beauty hidden within the inconsequential details of daily life.  When your inner ears are open, you can hear the subtle, lovely music of the universe everywhere you go.  When the heart of your heart opens, you can take deep pleasure in the company of the people around you--family, friends, acquaintances, or strangers--including those whose characters are less than perfect, just as your character is less than perfect.  When you are open to the beauty, mystery, and grandeur of ordinary existence, you "get it" that it always has been beautiful, mysterious, and grand and always will be."

-Timonthy Ray Miller