Backyard Bird Oasis

Last year I read an article about how to make your backyard a bird oasis. I went crazy with bird houses and feeders and I have loved watching my backyard transform. Now that it is spring, I am identifying more birds than ever. Here is a list of the birds that I have identified so far:
California Quail
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker
Western Scrub Jay (or Mountain Bluebird,I am unsure)
American Robin
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White Crowned Sparrow
House Sparrow
Magpie
Red Tailed Hawk
Starling

My Awesome Husband

I just had to write and share about a recent essay contest that my hubby entered. He wrote an essay on "The Role of Diversity in the Criminal Justice System" for The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). Not only did he win first prize, but he is going to be published in The Champion magazine! This is just such a neat opportunity for him and I couldn't be more proud.

It's hard to believe that Nic is finishing his first year of law school! It seems like only yesterday we were visiting law schools and wondering where our future would take us. I am so proud of Nic's hard work and determination. He is in the top 25% of his law school class and is excelling in so many areas. We are looking forward to this summer where he will be doing an internship with the Guardian Ad Litems Office. He is really excited about this opportunity and I hope he enjoys it and can gain some valuable experience there.

1st Baby Shower

I had my first baby shower on Saturday. Thank you to my sisters and Anna for doing such a wonderful job. It was just perfect! Also, thank you to everyone who came. It was nice to catch up with old friends and be able to get so many fun things for the baby.

Pregnancy Questions

I wanted to do a quick post and get your opinions and advice. Did anyone start feeling a lot worse in their 8th month of pregnancy? All of a sudden I feel like everything is changing. My feet and hands are swollen, I have a lot of stomach pains, and I am in pain when I walk. Changing positions, even from sitting to standing, has become very painful. I have been working hard to not gain any weight during my pregnancy, but I can't exercise (or even really move) when I feel like this. What have you found that helps during this time? Any tips from people who worked through their whole pregnancy and how you coped? Any sleeping tips? I don't mean to complain, its just that the last few months I have been feeling really good. Now, I feel like in 1 week everything has quickly changed. I still have 7 weeks left, do you feel like this the rest of the time?

Thanks! I just wanted to throw that out there to all you knowledgeable moms! I would love your help and advice.

Secret Life of Bees

For our March book club book we read "Secret Life of Bees". I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. We watched the movie this weekend, and in my opinion it doesn't even compare to the book. I really liked this book because it was an easy, quick read and it sucks you in from the very beginning.

Since the beginning of this book club last fall we have read:
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picolt
Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
and this next month will be Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

I have liked every book that we have read. It has been fun for me to discover that I have a love for reading. I love how it expands your mind! I really love the members of the book club as well and its always so much fun to get together with them.

Matt's Mission Call

My little brother got his mission call. He is going to the Mozambique, Maputo Mission and will be speaking Portuguese!! How crazy is that! If you are like me, I had no idea where that was at. It is in Africa...just above South Africa. He seems really excited about the call and the language he will be speaking. I am excited for him, I think he will be a wonderful missionary.

4 Years Ago Today....

I was at St. Marks hospital having a tumor and my left ovary & fallopian tube removed. We had so many fears of what the outcome would be. Is the tumor cancerous? Will we be able to have children? And today...I am almost 30 weeks pregnant. As I have been contemplating this, I feel overwhelmed with the blessings that Nic and I have received from our Heavenly Father. I feel so happy and thankful that all of this has come to be. I just don't have words to express how I feel!

Baby Classes...
Nic and I were able to take a Third Trimester Birthing class the last 2 weeks. Talk about a lot of information!! I am so glad we took it though. It was great to be surrounded by other first time parents and be able to ask all of the questions that we wanted. We were able to learn relaxation, massage, & breathing techniques which were awesome. We also got to take a tour of the Labor & Delivery unit at the hospital and see where we would be delivering. I think Nic definitely learned more then he would ever care to about dilating, breast feeding, & crying babies! We were both grateful to have taken the class. We have one more we will be going to in April for First Time Mom & Dad's to be. What an exciting time this is!!