Happiest Year on Earth

11.15.12 - 11.15.13

Happiest year on earth!!

So we decided to celebrate at the happiest place on earth!

First stop: LA Temple

We've seen photos many times, and it is magnificent in person. After driving through the night, sleeping in the car for about an hour in a parking lot, and navigating LA morning rush-hour traffic, it was heaven!

(A very special shout out to our GPS, or "Foxy Roxy" as she is now known.)

 Steve, pretending to look at photos on the camera, took a picture of my growing belly. After catching him I promptly asked for the camera back. So he snapped another photo!...haha. Love this kid. And I am soooo glad I married him! I can't wait for him to be "daddy!"

Second stop: Hollywood Blvd

I should've listened to everyone's "rave" reviews about Hollywood. But I had to experience it myself...hawkers, grime, and all. Certainly nothing magical about it anymore. Although we got to meet all these folks:

(Sidenote: While we were in Disneyland the next day on our way to the Teacups, Steve swings me around and whispers, "That's really Jack Black!" We promptly stalked this poor fellow for a few minutes until we realized we were very wrong. So close.)

My personal favorite of the day.

Second favorite of the day. I can't imagine what Jackie would actually do to Steve...

Just so ya'll are jealous, Steve is the best husband e v e r and drove out of our way (which actually turned out to be not very out of the way at all) to eat lunch at Jollibee, a Filipino classic I've missed so much! We stuffed ourselves with Filipino spaghetti, pineapple juice, their version of burgers, and that thing in my hand: halu-halo. For an entire year I've tried and tried to explain halu-halo to Steve: ice, condensed milk, ube ice cream, flan, beans, corn, gelatin, mango, coconut, langka, etc. He didn't take my word for it and I think he was a little excited to prove me wrong. But who loved it?? He did! And me, siyempre.

I will drive to California anyday for halu-halo.

Aaaand, nag-picture-picture kami. The classic Filipino picture with strangers just because you can! These gals were awesome! I almost chickened out of the picture because there were a bunch of people that had just come in, but Steve said, "No way!" I love that he totally gets me.

DISNEY!!

At Christmas.

Is the b e s t. 

Steve's first time on the teacups was a success. Also, my first time with a man on the teacups was a success...that kid is strong! You can see the difference between background blurriness as he twirled us and when I took over. Check out that blur.

(Another side note, no-shave November is coming along nicely.)

This trip was so nice because we actually got to experience Disney. When I was younger, we were always running to and from rollercoasters and across parks and never really took the chance to be at Disneyland.

For both of us, it was the first time we went on Peter Pan, Snow White, Mr. Toad, etc. We watched a comedy show in the Golden Horseshoe, rode Mark Twain's ferry, and listened to the great music.

To end a perfect Disney day (with the sorest feet ever, thanks pregnancy,) it snowed! We got word from our family that it snowed at home as well over the weekend. Lucky for us, though, it was still warm in California and our snow was made of foam. Thank you, Disney, for a beautiful warm winter stroll down Main Street and fireworks to top off the night!

I am a firm believer that dreams really can come true.

Mine came true the day I married my eternal sweetheart.

That day was a day we had both dreamed of for years. Years, guys.

We have lived big and loved long, and now we look back and know the Lord placed us together.

Steve and I sometimes reflect on our past and think of the what-ifs...but we realize there really are no what-ifs because Heavenly Father had us planned all along.

He has been in every detail of our lives and I am so grateful that he aligned our meeting way back when.

When we met, it felt like coming home.

 And life together makes perfect sense.

Here's to one year under our belts, a lot of laughs, a baby girl on the way (as well as many to come,) and an eternity ahead of us!

kind-ness (kahynd-nis)

Something that has been on my mind very frequently recently (and something that I have learned over the years and held very close to my heart) is the Power of Kindness.

I've learned that impatience, selfishness, and indifference towards others gets one nowhere.

I've learned that sympathy, goodness, and grace can work miracles.

In a special General Conference talk given by Joseph B. Wirthlin, he testifies:

"Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known. Kindness is a passport that 

opens doors

and

fashions friends.

It

softens hearts

and

molds relationships

that can

last lifetimes."

"Kindness is the 

essence of a celestial life. 

Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. 

Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions..."

"The 

things you say,

the

tone of your voice,

the

anger or calm of your words -

these things are noticed..."

And I know these things are noticed, even if we may not feel noticed. Others know when you truly care and when you don't. We have a divine ability to feel this. There's something so miraculous and Christlike about a stranger who cares. One of the greatest compliments I received recently was from a complete stranger who quickly became a friend for a few short minutes. 

She said, 'You really care, don't you? I can just tell. I don't know what it is, but I can tell you are genuinely happy because of it.'

 A stranger who notices why Heavenly Father created

you.

 "Nothing exposes our true selves more than how we treat one another..."

"One way you can measure your value in the kingdom of God is to ask, 

'How well am I doing in helping others reach their potential?"

Not necessarily, How well am I doing at reaching my own potential?

As we focus our love outward, it is inevitable that we will reach the potential that God has designed us for. Our potential is divine, but one we cannot reach if we are lacking gentleness and meekness - a character of being humbly patient. 

Being humbly patient is certainly not something that is always easy, especially when we are approached by another's unkindness. But we are to frankly forgive. By this, I mean noticeably, sincerely, generously offer kindness when unkindness may be shown towards you.

"Why? 

In the scriptures Jude taught, 

'And of some have compassion,

making a difference.'

Who can tell what far-reaching impact we can have if we are only kind?"

"Our work here is but a 

shadow of greater and unimaginable things to come."

We're getting there!

To read Elder Wirthlin's entire talk (or watch) click here. Completely worth it.

20 weeks

What a wonderful couple of weeks it's been! So much happening!

As for Baby Girl:

 

1. The baby bump has come! 

2. She is a wiggle muffin! I've been feeling her move for about a week now (first time was in church last Sunday, Oct. 27) and it is the most remarkable feeling in the world. Steve can't wait until he can feel her too. Whenever I tell him I can feel her, he'll come running and sit patiently waiting and watching...and then she stops!

3. Maternity pants are the most recent addition to my wardrobe and feel like a dream.

Most recently, we got to celebrate Steve's birthday! It's always a nice month and a half when he and I are the same age :) I love this man more than anything in the world and feel so absolutely blessed to have him forever. He is the very best. Good inside and out. He's had baby fever way longer than I have and is so excited to become a daddy this year! I couldn't ask for a better man!

The rest of the month has been very busy and exciting.

One of my dearest friends, Naomi, just had a very special baby girl (Mary)! We've already confirmed Mary and Baby B will be roommates when they head to college!

We got a special visit from Steve's dad and step-mom a couple weeks ago.

Steve and I got to spend our first Halloween together (we've either been working or on missions since we began dating 5+ years ago)! We are still lame and didn't get a chance to dress up, but have big plans for our costumes with Baby B next year! We had a special birthday dinner for him with my family, and then movie night with his awesome brothers and sisters-in-law. Hocus Pocus never gets old (Max was way cuter when I was younger, though! Ok, he's still cute.)

And yesterday we got our first snow! Today there are tiny flakes falling and it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas (not like I haven't been playing Christmas music since September or anything... it's the Filipina in me.) I love Christmas!! I love the feeling, the light, the warmth...it is so much more than what we often make it.

So to start an early Christmas season off right, please feel free to watch this beautiful video from the Church.

We have so much to look forward to and our little family feels so very blessed.
Life is so wonderful!

18 weeks

Happy 18 weeks baby....

girl!!

  

We were so excited to meet you the other day and see you for the very first time!

Thank you for making it easy on the doctor right off the bat so he could tell who you were! When he told us you were a little girl, the happiest tears streamed down my cheeks. You are ours. Your dad and I always step back and look at each other in awe that we made you. 

We stand in awe at the beautiful miracle that you are. 

I was speechless and your daddy was all smiles as we watched you wiggle around for the first time. It was remarkable watching you squirm around, knowing you are there, but not yet being able to feel you yet. We loved counting your little fingers and your little piggies...(all there!) and imagining how tiny they are right now. Your whole you is only a tiny 7 ounces! You are just as perfect as could be and I am so humbled and so EXCITED to be your mama!

And you know what? We love you like crazy, baby girl!! I am so excited to see your daddy wrap around your tiny fingers when you come (and sing Taylor Swift with you at the top of your lungs in the car...ask him about that one!) I hope you can hear him whisper good morning and good night to you each day.

Each time I look at your pictures or watch your sonogram, I can't help but cry. I have dreamed of you my entire life! I have felt your beautiful spirit. To know that you are coming straight from your loving Heavenly Father and your Grandpa Breck's loving arms makes me feel so close to them. You are an angel, little lady. 

My angel.

Love forever,

Your Mother

Our big little NEWS!

So, good news....

Steve isn't pregnant!

But............

I AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We first found out mid-July that Baby B will be making out little family a little bigger! I had had something in the back of my brain nudging me to take a pregnancy test the week leading up to this big day. I went through a couple days of crazy vertigo and went to see the doctor, who said everything looked fine and to let him know if it persisted. The vertigo stopped, but the nudging continued. We just happened to have some pregnancy tests hanging out in our medicine cabinet...thanks to Steve's mom who gave them to us shortly after our wedding :) So, I got up before Steve early one morning. I didn't look at the instructions or result of the test (because I was more than expecting a negative), and placed the little stick on the back of the toilet so Steve would be sure to see it first thing when he came in (I really just wanted to see his face when he noticed it!)

His face was priceless, as a big grin shot from ear to ear and he looked at me and said, "Really?" I snickered, feeling just a little guilty for getting him so excited, and said, "No, not really." And then he pointed out to me that there were in fact two little lines, and "didn't that mean something?" TWO. We quickly pulled out the instructions that I should have read and he made a point as to what TWO lines meant. I couldn't believe my own eyes, so I pulled out a blank test to compare the before and after- to prove my eyes weren't playing tricks on me. Within the next couple of weeks I took a few more just to make sure...and to make sure again (I use the word few liberally...it was more like 5 or 6.)

So, we are absolutely thrilled to announce that 

Baby B 

will be joining us around 

23 March 2014! 

It's been hard to keep it a little secret for the past month, but we just had our first pre-natal and wanted to begin telling you all the good news! We're new to this (clearly) so any tips and parenting advice you would like to share will be most lovingly appreciated!

We can't wait to meet our new little one...well, I guess we can for another 7 months!

Happy Birthday, America!

Happy Independence Day, y'all!

We had a blast celebrating our beautiful country yesterday and we both feel so blessed to be here.

The Fourth of July has always had a special place in my heart, and I especially feel blessed this year since it's my first year home from my mission. 

In the words of our beloved Bono, "I'm in love with this country called America. I'm a huge fan of America, I'm one of those annoying fans, you know the ones that read the CD notes and follow you into bathrooms and ask you all kinds of annoying questions about why you didn't live up to that....I'm that kind of fan. I read the Declaration of Independence and I've read the Constitution of the United States, and they are some liner notes, dude."

The ideals and dreams of our forefathers continue to inspire me to make America what it is meant to be. I continue to be very hopeful for our nation's future!

 

After camping out on University Avenue (and getting just a wink of sleep), we enjoyed the Provo Freedom Festival Parade!

We celebrated the occasion with all American hamburgers from JCW's (best in town!)

Stadium of Fire in our Red, White, and Blues (It was a phenomenal year... Cirque du Soleil & Kelly Clarkson were brilliant!)

Haha...I just love Oli Faye's photo bomb in this one.

and Julie trying to restrain her! 

Steve & I are smiling so big because we know

 what's going on behind us! :) 

We 

America!!!

Traditions

We love traditions and our list of annual traditions is growing little by little!

June is such a special time of traditions for us. It brings me back to that summer when Steve and I first fell in love.

To give you some history on this tradition (and some of you may know this,) just before I met and fell in love with Steve, my girl friends and I had made a little agreement at the end of our Senior year. The deal was that whoever was the next to kiss a boy would have to buy everyone else dinner. Well, guess who lost the bet when Steve walked through the door? Now, I'm not a betting girl, but I put my money down that it wouldn't have been me. I lost the bet fair and square, but I couldn't have been happier that I did!

Shortly after that, on one of our first dates, Steve and I went up to Squaw Peak to watch the sun set over the mountains. Since then, whenever we have not been in Argentina or the Philippines, we have kept the tradition each June. The tradition has expanded to include Cafe Rio as we sit in the back of our truck as the sun goes down. This was my first June back in Utah, and so this past weekend we headed up!

We contemplated starting a new tradition this year with our Squaw Peak dinner. I would give Steve my ring so he could "propose" again at the lookout...we wanted to see what everyone around us would do! We chickened out though and just ate our Cafe Rio. Maybe next year we'll work up the courage!

Finals and Beginnings

Today I finished my FINAL undergrad final!

I, well, procrastinated just a little bit...haha.
After studying until 1am last night and getting up at 4am to finish studying, my brain turned off at about 4:30am and I went back to bed. I woke up to the clinking of dishes at 5:45am and found the hubby making me a delicious, surprise breakfast...crepes!

Like I said...he's the best.
He's such a good sport because I normally spoil his surprises by guessing and guessing until I actually guess them :) He keeps me on my toes though!

It was his crepes that got me through my final at 7:00...they were extra good luck!

I thought this morning as I walked to campus (exhausted) that I would be glad to be done with school...right?? But surprisingly, after I finished the exam and walked across campus I began to tear up. I've spent the last 17 years of my life LEARNING and I still want more. Although I have semi-potential plans to further my education in the future, I am excited to continue learning but in a very different way now.

I'm going to help change the world and I'm excited to get started little by little!

5 years...

June marks 5 years of our....

bliss.
growth.
happiness.
peace.
confidence.
butterflies.
kisses.
little secrets.
head-over-heels pure love.

I love this guy and I always will!
He's pretty perfect, and I can't wait for our next 5...10...20....40...80...160 years together.
Good thing I've got him for eternity!