Update...

Wow... its been a while since I've posted anything! I guess I'm not very good at blogging but now that I have internet during the day hopefully that will change.

So we've been in Germany a little over a month now! Its so crazy how fast the time has gone by. We've been able to see a lot of really cool things and are in the process of planning some amazing trips; hopefully to Prague and somewhere else thats out of the country. I'm also more than half way through my pregnancy!! Yay! 22 weeks has gone by much faster than I thought. I still remember like it was yesterday that I got the phone call from the clinic that I really am pregnant and calling Jordan with the news. And then waiting six LONG weeks for my first appointment with my OB. Now I have a little over four months left.

Well.... its been a fun few weeks. We've been going to church every week (big accomplishment for us) and have both been asked to speak in church, separate weeks... oh joy. Last weekend we went to Bamberg with some friends (Maria, Chris, and Mahesh) and it was a pretty cool place. Bamberg is about 30 minutes by train north of Erlangen. There are a lot of old churches and cathedrals to see and I love the outdoor markets that are in all of these cities! They are everywhere! Also every week the bishop and his wife host a game night at their house so that has been really fun to go to and get to have a fun evening with lots of people. They always have tons of German snacks to eat while playing and the games are always something new and fun. We're going to game night tonight actually!

And then theres the World Cup!! Germany has been doing really well and we've been able to watch every game they've played. The most recent one was yesterday and it was very exciting. We went to the Auras's where they served ice cream (or ies as they call it) and pizza while we watched Germany score four amazing goals to Englands one (almost two but the refs didn't see it go in so they didn't count it). Its been really fun to follow and every time they win people get in their cars and take out their German flags and take to the streets. haha Its pretty cool.
Thats pretty much the only news about Germany that I can think of right now.

 

Now on to pregnancy news! I'm getting bigger every week (though a lot of the time I worry that I'm not growing at all, my husband assures me that I am getting pretty big...). I still can't believe I'm more than half way through. The movements are getting stronger everyday it seems. I'm falling more in love with my little guy with each little nudge and kick he gives me. I feel him the most after I eat or drink a ton of water, and especially at around six in the morning. Last week I was able to go see a midwife and it was pretty amazing! Here, midwives are only allowed to charge 15 euro to someone who doesn't have insurance so that was a big bonus. She checked my blood pressure, urine, and weight. Then I got to hear that beautiful heart beat. Its the most perfect sound in the world and hearing it makes everything else in the world not matter. I love it. I could even hear him pushing against the monitor whenever she would move it. It was amazing. We've still been talking about names and I've always been afraid of telling people what we're thinking of naming him because I don't want anyone stealing the names we like!! But since very few people read this I think it might be safe (but don't tell anyone please... haha...)... We're thinking Noah; It means at peace or peaceful. We like it because of that and I really like the way it sounds. Jordan doesn't want to officially name him until he's born (because what if he doesn't look like a Noah?) but we've both been kind of calling him that since we found out what we're having.... Others we like are Isaac, Caleb and Ethan. We're also thinking Michael for a middle name. But we'll have to see what he looks like when he finally gets here. I can't wait to meet him.

Update from Deutschland...

HALLO from Deutschland! I'm starting to feel more at home here and loving it more and more everyday. I've made some great friends and I think I'll be sad to leave once we have to go back to the good ol' U-S-of-A. I wouldn't mind so much of Jordan got a job here. The country is beautiful and the people are wonderful. I've never felt so welcome in my life!! The ward members are so warm and welcoming and quick to befriend us (we've been invited to do things with other families almost everyday that we've been here)... never experienced this much fellowship and friendship in a ward in Utah... ever.

Last week I was invited to do things pretty much every day of the week. Monday a couple that we met a few days after we got here (David and Marylin) invited me to go out of the city with them to explore a little bit (they also have a 6 month old baby boy named Johnathan). Marylin is from Malasia and hasn't seen much herself so we went out. First we went and saw a cave that was pretty cool. It was a bit of a hike and being pregnant made it a bit more difficult than its been in the past but I made it! I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside the cave but it was fun (and COLD) none the less. Then we went and played German mini-golf. It was different... and strange... but still fun. I got second place.

Tuesday I was invited to another sisters house (Jenny; she translated for me last Sunday in RS). Jenny has three adorable kids; Jacob 5, Mia 3, and Finn 1. I just met her at the Arcadan and got gelato, then rode our bikes to her house (took us 45 mins because Mia is still learning and was very slow). There we sat and talked and watched Finn play... he is soooo cute. Jordan came around 5:30 and at six we ate dinner with the Family; Ben is Jenny's husband and got home around then. We rode home around eight and got caught in a downpour... we were absolutely soaked when we got home but it was an adventure.

Wednesday I was supposed to go to a RS craft day but the night before I had a BAD allergy attack and was up half the night with itchy eyes, throat, and stuffy nose so the next day I felt like I had been hit by a train. I didn't go anywhere all day; just listened to German while working on my baby blanket I'm making and ate peaches and chocolate and took naps.

Thursday I met Jordan for lunch and after he went back to work I went shopping for my sisters birthday presents at H&M. I also discovered that they have a maternity section and a baby section (SOO excited to buy my baby boy some clothes).

Friday I went to Jenny's again and spent the day playing with kids who don't speak any english and talking to Jenny, getting mothering advice. We rode our bike to the E Center (a local grocery store) then to the park where we munched on baked goods from the Bakery and German snacks. It was a HOT HOT day so riding back home was a bit of a challenge for me. But I pulled through and made it home without cursing too much and I wasn't as sweaty as I could have been.

Today we spent the day in Nuremberg; Our FIRST experience riding the train and on our own in a different city. It was so much fun. We walked everywhere and saw some really cool things. I posted pictures on my facebook page if you'd like to see some of what we experienced.

Tonight we've been invited to go watch USA take on Australia in the World Cup so that should be fun. Anyway... I've probably missed a few things so maybe my next post will just be pictures of Rothenberg and other things I've failed to talk about on here.

OH... and I'm 20 weeks along now!!!! YAY!! pretty excited about that. I'm getting fatter everyday haha and feeling the little guy move more and more. Walking back home today from the train station, I was telling Jordan that I'm a little jealous of baby because he gets to just sit there and be taken to all these places and he's warm and cozy all the time. I don't think he's big enough to be super squished in there yet so its probably pretty comfy. haha anways... I'll post a baby bump picture in the next few days.
Till next time...

My Buster...

I was just thinking about my little guy and how much I miss him.

I think about him all the time but I'm sure he's having the time of his life at Pixels house (he gets so excited when we mention 'Pixels house' haha). I just can't wait for August 24th when we can go pick him up and watch him freak out with excitement at our homecoming! That will be so happy.

Anyways... We've been having a great time here in Germany. People here have been so friendly! I feel so welcome here and I'm sure I'll be sad when we have to go; its crazy for me to think that we've already been here a week and half! I'll give a full update later but so far we've spent a lot of time with the Bishops family, gone to Nuremberg to see a movie with a group of people, I've spend a lot of time with sisters in the ward (and have plans for 4 out of 5 days this week with people while Jordan is at work), we've gone to the Christmas town Rothenberg, and last saturday we spent the very warm sunny day going to bakeries, eating gelato, and seeing the Botanical Garden at the University. Its been fun. I'll give a full update (hopefully with pictures... if not then you can see my pictures on my facebook page) later when I'm not so tired!