Thanksgiving

Well this week has been fun...and out of the blue :) Randy and I had planned not to come to Idaho for Thanksgiving because we had just been up for a wedding the weekend before and had to go home (Provo) for two days of class before Thanksgiving break. My family was going to come down and spend it in Utah with us. But last minute, Randy and I decided it was just smarter for us to go up to Idaho and spend Thanksgiving with my extended family. So we did! So after our two days of class, we headed up to Idaho. We got there early Wednesday morning and I went to the chiropractor and got my hair cut. It was so nice on my little (BIG) pregnant body to get adjusted and my hair is MUCH better and easier to do. Thursday, we spent Thanksgiving out at the Bitter's house and had LOTS of people there actually. I don't believe that it will ever be the same--like it used to be with ALL of us there. But it's still nice to get together as family and catch up on life. Then that night, we went to the movies and decided of all movies to go see Breaking Dawn: Part 2. :) It's nice to have seen it to have "closure" as it's now over, but to be honest, I wasn't impressed. I was just happy and grateful my dad would even take the whole family to the movies. Just to be together :) Friday, we cleaned house. Keegan get's home on Wednesday so we were cleaning rooms and bathrooms and de-cluttering, just getting ready. And I was loving it. This nesting phenomenon is quite enjoyable. I just wish I had more time to do it at my own house without having school and such because when school is out, I'm afraid I'll be too big to do anything!! I also did some photoshoots with Karissa and her friend which was great. My whole family was all just messing around with the studio lights and taking goofy pictures, including me....I should go delete those :)

The pregnancy is still great! My weight gain is right on track-but the doctor said I was measuring a little big. LET'S HOPE THIS ISN'T A 9 lb BABY!! :) I was 8 lbs. 10 oz. I don't know what Randy was. But I'm really starting to feel the tiredness and exhaustion. It's just harder for me to do the little things. I cannot wait to meet this little guy! It's going to fly by I know it! We have the holidays and I have two weddings left to shoot....ya....He'll be here before we know it!

How far along? 28 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: 20 lbs gained
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch marks? Yes...super downside...It's all good though. Worth it!
Sleep: It's on and off.
Best moment this week: Hearing the baby's heartbeat
Have you told family and friends: Yes. I'm sure the whole world knows now :)
Miss Anything? Energy. I'm always tired.
Movement: Yes! I love it.
Food cravings: Candy...sweets...you know--the healthy stuff ;) Or just food in general...just want to eat all the time!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope. Still can't do mexican food though....authentic mexican.
Have you started to show yet: You betcha! 

We will be coming BACK to Idaho on the weekend of the 9th to hear Keegan report his mission. I'm sad that I wont be able to see him at the airport, but I have school that I have to be to. Finals is the week after that so it's crunch time! It will be good to catch up with him and see him! Come listen to him Dec. 9th at 1 pm!

Well, Thanksgiving has been great. I love the holiday and being able to reflect on what I'm grateful for. But I'm sad that Thanksgiving is also associated with gifts and getting more stuff. I told Randy I really didn't need or want anything for Christmas. I'm just so blessed already and grateful for what I have. I have an amazing, patient, long-suffering ;), handsome, hardworking husband and I'm still so shocked that I got so lucky to marry the man I dreamed of marrying! He's been SO amazing this whole pregnancy and I can only imagine the amazing father he will be. He can't wait to shnuggle with our little dude. I have this little bundle of joy inside of me that kicks and moves and I love him so much already--I can't imagine the love I will feel when I hold him in my arms and get to snuggle him too! I have a beautiful, warm, safe home that we are so lucky to have. I have amazing neighbors, family and classmates. I'm so blessed to have been born into the Gospel of Jesus Christ and know that my Savior lives and loves.

I hope your holidays are great and that you take time to reflect on what's most important.

Baby, Halloween and Voting

Hello!

I just thought I would update. I always have things on my mind that I want to post but don't have access to a computer and then I forget...super frustrating!

Well- I am 25 weeks and almost down to double digit days until we meet our munchkin! 103 days right now. It's crazy how close we are. And how unprepared we are hahaha.

How far along? 25 weeks 2 days
Total weight gain/loss: 10 lbs. I've been so blessed too. My nurses were actually commenting on how tiny I was. I've been pretty good at walking and doing yoga.
Maternity clothes? Yes! Mostly just jeans...so much more comfortable. I tried on I swear like 50 pairs and bought only 5. But only a couple shirts. I love dressing the bump!
Stretch marks? Yes :( Just like one or two light ones though.
Sleep: It's on and off.
Best moment this week: Baby kicking and moving all the time!
Have you told family and friends: Yes. I'm sure the whole world knows now :)
Miss Anything? Energy. I'm always tired.
Movement: Yes! I love it.
Food cravings: Candy...sweets...you know--the healthy stuff ;)
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope. Still can't do mexican food though....authentic mexican.
Have you started to show yet: You betcha! (please excuse the bad picture)

Labor Signs: Some braxton-hicks. But nothing crazy.
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On, but I can tell I am starting to swell a little bit. Especially my feet.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! I'm so blessed.
Looking forward to: Meeting him :)

Baby's size: My little rutabaga! 

For Halloween, Randy and I didn't do anything very festive as far as Halloween goes. I'm such a Halloween scrooge right now and can't justify buying bags of candy just to hand out. Plus-I get super annoyed when kids 12 and older come trick or treating. Or when they aren't even dressed up--seriously?! Maybe it's just because I don't have kids yet to enjoy the season--or maybe I am just mean :(

So we went to a Jazz basketball game with our neighbors Mark and Kim. I'm thinking that we'll always celebrate Halloween together because last year, we just camped out at their house for the night. But the game was great! Row 12 seats, good company and good game. It was so nice to get out and have a date night since Randy and I haven't for a LONG time. Just always so busy and tired :(

I'm loving school right now--and hating it. It's crazy that the semester is almost over. I'm loving what I'm learning but it is super stressful and super fast paced which is nuts. Here are some of my most recent studio sessions.

Check out www.Kayleighsearle.com/blog for my most recent sessions for my photography business.

Well-something that's been on my mind that I must vent--you can tune out if you want. It's political, but not in a crazy sense. It's mostly just my thoughts on voting and the future of our country-Very elementary.

I was reading in my campus' newspaper and they were asking students about voting but also comparing and saying that students care more about celebrities than the future of our country and who to vote for. American Idol get's way more votes than the Presidential vote. People worship celebrities and don't give any attention to what is going on with the country! Quote: "I don't even care, "said an anonymous student." I don't have an opinion about politics and I don't care to hear anyone else's. Obama says nothing I can relate to, but Taylor Swift does." WHAT THE?!? Here's another quote, "I'm not particularly interested in politics...They make everything so complicated. If they made it so that I could understand what they were talking about, I would be much more interested."  UGHHHHHHH.

I believe that it's up to us to become informed. It's up to us to not be lazy and to take the effort to learn and to be informed. WE are the future of this country and if we can't understand politics and government, we are screwed. Ron Paul-past presidential candidate-has so many things that I agree with. He recently came to UVU and spoke: (underlined what I agree with)

"Paul spoke on myriad issues facing the nation, offering his beliefs and suggestions to resolve the problems. Paul said that the American people cannot afford to give the responsibility of their lives to the government, and that many problems could be solved if individuals took responsibility for their actions.

“In a free society, the responsibility is on each and every person,” Paul said. “You can’t give the responsibility to the government, or they’ll screw it up . . . If you’re a true American, you support responsibility.”

Quoting Benjamin Franklin, Paul said, “Freedom doesn’t work if you don’t have a moral society.”

Paul spent a large portion of his speech outlining what he identified as failures of the welfare system and tax system. He said he believes people should help one another, but the government should not be the moderator of welfare.

“Get rid of the Federal Reserve and get rid of the income tax,” Paul said.

While his supporters were comparatively small in number to other presidential candidates, Paul explained that he is optimistic about the future and the attitude of the nation. He praised students and young people for their use of technology to communicate and move ideas forward. He identified self-awareness and educating others as what will be the driving force for change in the future.

“The individuals, as they improve themselves, can improve others,” Paul said." 

I don't believe that one person (as president) is going to change this country. It's up to each of us to do our part: to educate ourselves, to be grateful for what we have and for what privileges we enjoy, to be responsible for ourselves and our actions, to not feel entitled and help those around us. We need to learn  the basics now so we can teach them to our kids! I have a very strong testimony on that and in fact have amazing revelation in my patriarchal blessing that mentions the Constitution and the hand of God in the founding of our nation--how we need to teach our children because the credit due to those that founded this country are being lost and taken out of textbooks. It gives me CHILLS!

Phew. I can relax now. 

Forgive me for being so nuts, but it needed to come out! I plan on voting today--how about you?!

Peace and Blessins'

P.s. Thank you to all those that commented and helped out with the last post! You're awesome.

Calling all Moms!!!

First off, a little update on the little dude. He is kicking lots! Randy and family members have felt strong kicks/punches/etc. from him and I love to see the joy on their face and love being able to share that experience with them too!

Randy is crazy busy with school and Athletic Training at Utah Valley University. He's super annoyed with his Humanities class (who isn't) and how crazy difficult they make a gen. ed. course. But I'm trying to help him as much as I can! I am busy with photography. I have the most fun in my studio lighting class because I believe it's helping me be a better photographer and I want to use strobes and flashes in my future photography. My film photography class is taking way too much of my time. The labs are never open so I'm usually on campus from 7-10pm and it's tiring! I'm really trying to just truck through the semester and will be glad when it's over. 

I have a TON of photography sessions coming up too--along with designing announcements! I can't wait to share with you! It's really hard to balance that with my schooling, but I want to do as much as I can (without wearing myself out) before the baby comes. I will also be looking at changing my pricing as well. But I love it---just a balancing act!

Well--my real motivations for writing this post is to ask for some opinions and I guess help. I'm really wanting to get ready for this baby and get the big things all ready (i.e. crib, stroller, carrier, etc.) but I have NO IDEA where to even begin! There are so many options! Here's where you come in...hopefully you'll help :) Will you tell me what strollers, carriers, car seats, diapers, etc. you use and why you like them?? I don't want you to feel obligated to write paragraphs, but just tell me what works best for you. I know it's different for everyone, but it will be nice to have a starting point!

So comment on the blog, comment on FB, email me if you want to! (Kaysearle7@gmail.com). I just have NO CLUE how to begin!!

You guys are awesome. Social media is a great resource eh??? :)

Peace and Blessins'

P.s. We have 16 50 lb. boxes of potatoes left. They will last til January and be especially nice for the holidays (think Thanksgiving and Christmas people!!). It's a great deal!! $20 dolla holla :)

Drumroll Please......

Today was such a good day! We were able to go to the doctors office and have the ultrasound that told us the gender of our baby! So we got in really quick and went right to the ultrasound. He was curled up in a fetal position with his ankles crossed so we weren't sure we would even see the goods! But we just got the angle right under the bum and sure enough, it's a boy. I was 100% sure it was a girl, pretty much brainwashed myself. So when we saw it was a boy....I was just laughing and in shock!! Still am to be quite honest. I had no boy names chosen or nursery ideas planned. But of course I still have 4.5 months to get ready. The baby is growing exactly on schedule and the due date is still Feb. 13, 2013.

I'm so excited and so glad that he is healthy and everything looks perfect! So blessed.

I'm so worn out though, I've been shopping for maternity pants ALL day. I think I tried on 50 pairs at least...ughhhh!! So there is the update for now!

Summer Nights

So Randy and I haven't been very much fun this summer...I blame me being sick and all. But the other night, we decided to go up to the canyon to watch the meteor shower. Randy neglected to tell me that it was cloudy....all day. But regardless, we decided to go and see if it would clear up. We stopped to get frozen yogurt, something I'm craving daily, then headed up Provo Canyon. We stopped at Bridal Veil Falls and it was so nice to be outside, sucking up the natural air. I loved walking hand in hand with my husband as we talked about the baby and our lives. We sat by the falls for about 30 minutes and just enjoyed it. Then it started to rain and I was thinking, "Great. We aren't going to last long out here or see any showers." I also felt bad because we could have been helping out my sister in law watching our niece that night. But we still decided to go up and wait out the rain. 

So we drove to a park we like out in the boonies and saw lots of deer. It had stopped raining and even started clearing up a bit and I was so excited! When Randy and I were dating, we would always lay out and look at the stars. I remember even when he was on his mission (beware....hokey cheesy alert), that I wished on a shooting star that I would marry Randy Searle...so I love the stars :) Again, it was so nice to snuggle with my honey and just talk and laugh and be care free. I love just sitting and talking, learning more and more about my husband. 

While we were laying there, two girls were walking by and as soon as they saw us snuggling and stuff, they got silent, then started giggling. Just made me laugh thinking that they were maybe assuming we were dating or single students. But we are married and can do what we want-Kapeeesh???? :)

The sky had cleared and we could start to see stars. But Randy and I were both falling asleep because we are like old fogies. :) So we ended up not even staying to watch the stars as guilty as I feel admitting. But I still enjoyed the little date Randy and I had and so grateful for the time we had together. 

Our Summer 2012

Well, I figured I would update and jot it all down to remember what we had done.

From May-June, Randy and I both did the first block of Summer term and boy was that crazy. Even though I was only taking two classes, it was overwhelming with how fast it went! But it was actually awesome, two more classes done. Randy was super busy too with classes and getting ready for athletic training in the fall. 

In May, we also found out that we were pregnant! Luckily my sickness didn't really hit until after school was over, but hit right during our family reunion.

After school and at the end of June, we took off to Idaho and went to Randy's best friends wedding and it was wonderful. The night before, they had a big dutch oven dinner and I just couldn't even enjoy it :( But everything was just so cute and perfect. Right after the sealing, we headed off to Boise to meet the rest of Randy's family who had gone to Utah for a different family reunion. And onward to Oregon! Randy's sister planned the whole thing and it was just wonderful, except for the sickness. Driving didn't help. I eventually got medicine to help with the sickness and that helped with the vomiting-but my appetite was gone and still nauseas. We went to the beach, aquarium, saw seals on the rocks, flew kites, the men went fishing and I napped a ton haha. We went to the temple too in Portland and that was cool.   We saw Shoshone Falls and Multnomah Falls. I will have to post pictures later because they are all the wrong format right now.

After that, we spent the Fourth of July in Island Park. That was cool to be able to be out in such an awesome, beautiful place. And the fireworks were awesome! We eventually went back with Randy's co-workers and went to Yellowstone. 

I've been doing a lot of sessions this summer like weddings, engagements, bridals, families, etc.  We've been very busy and now just trying to get back to life. I'm trying to get feeling better so I can stay caught up with sessions and the house and being a good spouse. Randall has been more than amazing and his patience stuns me. I'm just not worthy of him! :) We are excited to be in the second trimester of pregnancy, glad to hopefully have the sickness go away and can't wait to start feeling this little one move around. 

Not too exciting of a post, but it will help my remember how awesome our life is as we reflect back on the blog.

13 Week

Click on the picture for a larger view :)