Cargal's

Our Little Drama Queen

2011-11-20T17:13:00.001-07:00

This is the story of how our sweet little Claire Bear came into the world. It all started the night of Saturday, June 25. We had taken Brandt to the Idaho Falls Zoo, had lunch at Five Guys, and came home for a relaxing afternoon and evening.

Around 7 pm I started having some inconsistent Braxton Hicks, but we didn’t think too much about them. We went for our evening walk and then came back and had s’mores with our wonderful friends, the Hardys and Whitlocks. As the evening progressed so did the Braxton Hicks. At around 10 pm I stared having an uncomfortable pain on the left side of my abdomen. We decided it was time to go home, get Brandt to bed, and consider going to the hospital.

Before we were firm in our decision, we wanted to make sure that we were truly in labor. Who wants to go to the hospital at 11 o’clock at night just to be told that you’re not in labor and be sent home? Not me! So we timed our contractions and they were 3 minutes apart, but I still had this pain in my abdomen that wouldn’t go away and that made me nervous. Plus, I couldn’t feel Claire move. I called my mom and she encouraged us to go in. “There’s no shame in going in and checking to see if everything is ok.” Very true mom. Thank you!

So, we called the Hardy’s and they slept over at our house to listen for Brandt, and Andy and I headed up to the hospital for the start of our adventure.

When we got to the hospital I was dilated to a 3. The nurse called Dr. Evans and he requested that we stay and walk around the hospital for two hours. So that’s what we did. Let me tell you, that was the longest two hours of our lives! We walked the same three hallways, occasionally throwing up, and exhausted. At around 1:45 am I couldn’t go any longer. We returned to Labor and Delivery where I was checked again and still no progress. What a disappointment! Our nurse, Nancy, asked if we wanted to walk for another hour. I was too exhausted that I didn’t think I could. So she said to stay and sleep another hour and see where I was then.

I was then hooked up to monitors to check my heart rate and the baby’s. After about 20 minutes of resting I noticed that Claire’s heart rate went from 156 bpm to 60 bpm in a matter of a few seconds. I looked at Andy and said, “Something is wrong.” And then another nurse, Chelsea, came into the room and checked me. She also had me try turning onto either side to see if we could get Claire to turn and her heart rate to go back up. That didn’t work. Chelsea went to the door and asked another nurse to come quickly with some oxygen. I was on oxygen for a minute of two. And then our original nurse Nancy came into the room and said, “Is someone being naughty (referring to the baby)?” Claire’s heart rate was still dangerously low. Nancy checked me again and then said, “Ashlee, she’s being really naughty so we’re going to take her.” “You mean and emergency C-section?” I asked. “Yes.”

Then next thing I knew about five people came into the room (The Team) and started prepping me for surgery. I had people on either arm — one taking blood, the other putting in an IV, and another nurse prepping my stomach for surgery. Claire’s heart rate dropped again, and Nancy decided they needed to try and turn her. I had one nurse on my bed trying to turn Claire externally at the same time Nancy was trying to turn her internally. Scarriest and most uncomfortable experience EVER! I was in tears and shaking for fear that we were going to loose the baby, and poor Andy was so overwhelmed with the scene that he needed to go into the bathroom to get his composure.

After the nurses were successful in turning Claire, her heart rate shot right back up into normal range. A few seconds later, Dr. Evans came running into the room. You could tell he had sprinted straight from the parking lot. He told us he got the call that the baby was in distress and had never driven down Main Street so fast in his life! Nancy gave him the run down of what happened. Because the heart rate was normal again, Dr. Evans decided to wait on the C section unless it was absolutely needed. He requested that I get my epidural ASAP, and he slept over at the hospital just in case Claire was naughty again.

I got my epidural around 3:30 am (thanks Paulie! Great job!). Claire’s heart rate dipped a few more times that night, but then bounced right back up. Chelsea came to check on my progress at 6 am before she got off her shift and I was between a 6 and 7. She wished me luck and said she would come see me and meet the baby the next day. About ten minutes later I started to feel a lot of pressure. I called for the nurse. Our new nurse came in to check me, I was at a ten and complete! The nurse said, “Let’s try pushing. One, two, three push. STOP PUSHING! I need to get the doctor!” Dr. Evans came in, I pushed one more time and Claire was born at 6:24 am, weighing in at 6 pounds 12 ounces (the same as Brandt!) and 19.5 inches long.

After the delivery we found out why we had so much drama. The cord was wrapped around Claire’s neck twice and cutting down her air supply, which accounted for her dropping heart rate and lack of fetal movement. I also had a placenta abruption which was causing the horrible pain on the left side of my abdomen during labor.

The news of our exciting labor spread around the floor at Labor and Delivery. We had several nurses tell us how lucky we were to have Nancy, Chelsea, Paul, and Dr. Evans all working at the same time, because they are the best of the best! We are so grateful for our doctors and nurses that helped us get our little angel here safe and sound!

Since her birth we’ve had a few challenges. In her first month and a half we experienced quite a bit of colic, but with the help of some acid reflux medicine, and three trips to the chiropractor, we’ve been able to help her and enjoy welcoming our sweet baby girl into our family! We love you Claire Bear!

An Ode to Brandt

2011-11-13T22:22:00.003-07:00

Two years ago today an angel came into our lives — and we named him Brandt. Happy birthday to our loving, funny, cuddly, basketball-loving, social, happy little boy. Our life would definitely be incomplete without you.

For Brandt's birthday we chose a dinosaur and sports theme, and if you've seen the video we posted to Facebook you'll know why. (We've posted it below also in case you missed it.) He got a Dinosaur Train train set, a dinosaur book, a "dinosaur expert shirt," sporty basketball cupcakes, and about 2.4 million balloons (thanks to Daddy's overindulgence). His best friend Jaxon came along with his best little sister Claire and other buddies Grant, Jordon, Tanner, Luke and all of their fabulous parents.

As part of our Ode to Brandt, we want to continue our tradition of noting his likes and dislikes. This is mainly so we don't forget them.:)

Most Redeeming Quality: Brandt is a little teddy bear. He loves everyone and makes people smile wherever we go. One of the greatest blessings has been how he has treated his little sister since she has come into our home. We have heard of other parents who have had issues when a second child comes into the family -- but not us. Brandt loves his little sister -- sometimes a little too much -- but he definitely adores her. He loves to give her hugs and kisses throughout the day, and also helps mommy burp her after feeding. When she's crying in another room, sometimes he stops what he's doing and says, "Sissy," with a sweet concern and points in the direction of her cry because he wants to go help her.

Little Missionary: We keep a copy of the Book of Mormon and the Friend magazine in a sofa table in our living room. Without us even asking, Brandt will go to the cabinet and pull out both of them, sit down, and start "reading" them. He also loves to pray and say "amen" louder than everyone else at church, as well as point out pictures of Jesus.

Favorite Toy: If you know Brandt, the number one thing you might notice about him is his fascination with bouncy balls. His new favorite past time is to say "ceiling," point upward, and then expect us to bounce the balls off of the ceiling. He then proceeds to double over with hysterical laughter. Why do we buy $40 toys from Toys R Us?

Favorite Food: Hmmmm. Brandt's daily menu: Milk, bread, milk, bread, goldfish ("fissies"), cheddar cheese, toast, and milk. Yes it's true -- no veggies; no fruits. Not because we don't try -- he just won't eat them. But his plan is about to be foiled. We just bought a blender and are going to become expert at the art of smoothie making where we hide all manner of nutritious substances.

Favorite Color: Orange. Even if he's looking at green, blue, or yellow -- it's still orange (or in Brandt-speak -- "orenth").

Favorite Movie: Tangled and Charlotte's Web. He loves Max the horse in Tangled, and Templeton in Charlotte's Web.

Favorite Daytime Activity: Reading books. His favorite is Pirates Don't Change Diapers. (Aaarrrrgh!)

Favorite Word: Outside. If you're from Rexburg or another cold climate, you'll understand our dilemma with fulfilling this request right now and through the next six months. But when the weather's nice, Brandt loves to play in the park on the jungle gyms, run through the tennis courts, and play in the splash pad (as long as the water is turned off). He does love outside a little too much for our liking though. Even if we let him play for hours, he still screams like he's being kidnapped when it's time to go home. That's super fun, especially when people stare like you are kidnapping him.

Favorite Animal: Dinosaur. For the Brandt-approved pronunciation, please see the posted video. Make sure you have plenty of spare time, because you'll want to watch it over and over again. This love is thanks to PBS's Dinosaur Train, which has become Brandt's first love. It is a must-see every day (thankfully episodes are only 12 minutes long online). He dances along with the opening music, which is our favorite part.

Notable moments from the past year:

Batman pajamas courtesy of Aunt Britty.

Hanging out with mommy.

Mommy's Birthday 2011 (although you might think it's
Christmas based on the wrapping paper Daddy used)

New hairdo!

Breathing Treatments. What a champ!

Father's Day ties.

Loving daddy.

Meeting "Sissy".

Making sure Claire is safe.

Popping Claire's bubbles.

Reading with Papa.

Practicing Trick-or-Treating.

Brandt's favorite hat.

Our little Gap babies.

Brandt with his favorite animal.

Birthday gift.

Yummy birthday cupcakes!

Balloons!

Birthday kisses.

Happy 2nd birthday, Brandt!

Florida

Family pictures July 2011

Brandt 20 months

Best buddies!

Run! Run! Run!

Florida Vacation

2011-04-23T08:57:00.000-06:00

Earlier this month, we took a much-needed trip to a land far, far way full of sunshine and warmth — Florida. It was a dual trip of sorts. One was to escape the frigid (but wonderful) place we live; the other was to visit my mom. We had been planning to take a trip to Detroit to see her, because she had never met Brandt. But when she said she was going to Florida at the beginning of April, we decided that was a MUCH better place to visit.

We had a blast — and we never even missed the cold, not even once. We also discovered that a warm climate is very conducive to a happy baby. Brandt's new favorite word was "go." Every time we got back to our hotel, he went to the door and

said "go."

So, go we did: to the beach, to the pool, to dinner by the ocean, to the park and splash pad, to Dunkin Donuts (because who doesn't love fried chocolate), to a bunch of other places you can't find in the tundra or a small town, and, importantly, to visit Grandma Cargal.

Grandma and Brandt became fast friends. We're glad we have such a happy and friendly baby who is not afraid to meet new people, because that made my mom feel really good. It was good to visit, because we hadn't seen my mom since our wedding over three years ago. And, as an added bonus, my mom made us the most amazing food on earth during our trip. My favorite — marinated and slow-cooked BBQ ribs. Yum. I've never tasted better in my life.

We also got to visit with my aunt Diana and Uncle Dick, whom I hadn't seen in 19 years.

The only disappointing part about the trip, besides that we had to rejoin winter at some point, was that the ocean water was actually cold. The water doesn't get warm in Florida until about June, so we just spent our time in the sand, and at the pool, instead. Which, of course, was great. We were just looking forward to basking in the blue Atlantic waters.

Our biggest concern about going all the way to Florida was the travel. Brandt has never traveled so far, and we didn't know how he was going to be on the airplane. But, in his usual fashion, he made friends with everyone around as he played peek-a-boo with the people behind us and waved to everyone as they walked by on the plane and at the airport. We were relieved.

At our hotel, we had a great time, and I think the best service we've ever had anywhere. We stayed at a Marriott TownPlace, and they even upgraded us to a two-bedroom suite for no extra charge. It was heavenly. We even had an unexpected disco party at 5 a.m. one morning when the fire alarm began blaring and flashing fun lights all around our room. We evacuated, along with everyone else in the hotel, and Brandt thought it was a party. Getting up in the middle of the night to go outside — who wouldn't enjoy that? We went to our rental car and put him in the driver's seat where he lad lots of laughs and learned how to turn on the wipers with the spray.

Speaking of Marriott, I have to put in a plug here for the Marriott Rewards Visa card. When we signed up, we got four free nights, so we only ended up paying for two nights of our week-long vacation. Not a bad deal, in my opinion. We also just got a postcard in the mail informing us that, just for fun, they are giving all members another free night this year.

So, it was a great vacation — and very needed. There are so many things we loved about Florida, but being away from home also made us realize the wonderful things we missed about it, such as the friendly people. Just when we feel like we can't take the cold anymore and need to move somewhere warm, we are reminded that just because a place is warm, that alone doesn't make it a place you want to live. So, while we're back in the winter wonderland (yes, it snowed yesterday), we are happy, and grateful we can escape the winter at times for somewhere warm and fun.

We Are Happy to Announce...

2011-01-09T21:14:00.000-07:00

The debut of baby Cargal #2! Our sweet little angel is scheduled to arrive around July 5. We're 14 weeks along and feeling great (knock on wood). We don't exactly know Brandt's true feeling on the topic, but he is extremely social, especially around other children, and we're confident he'll be an amazing big brother.

One of our good friends told us about a gender test that can be purchased at the local drug store and can be taken as early as 10 weeks to give you an 80% accurate estimation as to the sex of the baby. I told my mom and sister-in-law, Shelly, about the test when they came up for a visit, and they literally ran to the drug store before they closed to purchase the test. The results: Girl! Reactions: Ashlee, Shelly, and mom squealing with excitement! Andy: "This is such a hoax." Andy is one of those people who doesn't believe what the gender is until the baby is actually here :)

Boy or girl, we are just excited to have a new little addition to our family.

Merry Christmas! (A Little Late)

2010-12-31T08:16:00.001-07:00

We want to wish all of our friends and family a Merry Christmas. You all would have received a Christmas card from us in the mail, but the printer we ordered them through didn't get them to us until Dec. 24, about a week later than they promised--so we sent them back for a refund. But, we've included our Christmas card here for everyone to see. Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season.

Love,
Ashlee, Andy & Brandt

One year older and wiser too!

2010-12-06T19:52:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that on November 13, 2010, at 12:43 p.m., Brandt turned 1! And what a year it’s been. We have loved every minute getting to know the personality of our sweet “sugar bear.” He is very playful, relaxed, and easy-going. Andy and I have felt so spoiled and pray that our future children will have the same demeanor.

Brandt is a social butterfly; he adores being around people, especially children. Some of his favorite things are: baths (he loves to splash), Baby Signing Time (he thinks the characters are his friends—really), chase, greeting daddy when he comes home from work (he squeals when he hears daddy start to unlock the door, and then does his signature fist-in-mouth with giggles), reading books (or tasting them), playing with our home décor (because apparently it is so much more fun than any of his toysJ), balloons, paper (ripping it to shreds, that is), smoke detectors (he’s identified every one in our house), ceiling fans (he points to them whenever they’re on), climbing up the stairs (and touching the LED lights along the way), bed time (because he thinks it’s play time when we put him in his crib), and tickles with cuddles and kisses.

We feel so blessed to have this sweet angel in our home and look forward to many more happy birthdays to come!

Free Christmas Cards

2010-12-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

We've been procrastinating our Christmas cards this year--mainly because our computer crashed and we haven't installed InDesign on the new one yet. We like to create our own rather than using an online company. But, today, when reading Jamie and Nate's blog, we found out about a promotion from Shutterfly offering 50 free Christmas cards. We checked out their Web site, and they clearly have great designers, because their cards look amazing!

It looks like Shuttefly chooses who they give the promotion to, but you just have to fill out a form and wait to hear back from them. So, if you still need to do your Christmas cards, check out Shutterfly's promotion.

Trick-or-Treat

2010-11-04T20:48:00.000-06:00

We had the cutest trick-or-treater on the block, and we're not "lion"! Brandt wanted to sport his ferocious side and thought this costume would help show that. Here's a few shots of our fierce feline.

Family Pictures

2010-09-26T20:54:00.018-06:00

August was the month for family pictures. First, we got photos taken of the three of us by Michelle Ray of MJ Ray Photography in Rexburg. Then a week later we got extended family photos by Scott Patterson in Provo. We are excited at how they turned out!

Cargal Happenings

2010-09-05T18:29:00.021-06:00

Here's an update from the Cargal household:

1. Trip to Texas: At the beginning of August, we took a much needed vacation and went to Houston. We visited my dad and stepmom, and it was the first time my dad met Brandt. We haven't been back to Houston in almost two years, so it was nice to go home. Dad loved Brandt, and Brandt loved dad. And Brandt also

loved their five dogs, who loved to lick his feet. We also saw our good friends Steve and Jen and their three children, which was really nice. We wished we lived closer so we could see them more often.

During our trip, we went to Stewart Beach in Galveston and took Brandt for his first dip in the Gulf. He didn't know what to do with his feet

in the sand. Driving

along the seawall, looking for a place to eat, we came upon a tantalizing restaurant called --- are you ready? --- "The Poop Deck." Wow. Not sure how that one is even still in business. We went to Landry's instead.

During the trip we ate some awesome food: fresh seafood, Mo's BBQ, Zio's Italian, and Dunkin Donuts (the munchkins are super yummy), Ben & Jerry's, and Blue Bell. Our favorite place to eat is Mo's BBQ in Humble. Y-u-u-u-u-m-m-m-my!

Their brisket is to die for, and they have the most succulent carrot cake you've ever tasted. It is our tradition to go there as soon as we leave the airport every time. And, sorry fellow Texas, but Blue Bell ice cream doesn't compare to Reed Dairy ice cream in Idaho Falls and Rexburg.

We visited HEB Foods several times, and if you're not from Texas, it's the most amazing

grocery store on the planet. We do love us some Albertson's, but it ain't got nothin' on HEB. Overall, it was really fun and a great break. And even the 100-degree heat didn't bother us too much (surprisingly).

2. Sugar Detox: If you know us, you understand that our favorite food group is sugar. We love chocolate, peanut butter and chocolate together, cake, pie, ice cream, brownies. I'm pretty sure we could add to that list forever. Earlier this year, our insurance company had an incentive to go off sugar for two months (except for once per week). We did pretty well and did it for six weeks. Now, the insurance company's incentive is for us to pick our own goal and achieve it, so we have decided to go off sugar again. Only this time, we're going off for five-six months. Are we crazy? Maybe. But, we know it's good for us. So, we've given ourselves a reward if we achieve our goal. Our favorite things to do our eat and travel, our our reward will be a trip to Hawaii (to be taken during the frigid winter). Let's be honest, our reward has to be a good one if we even have a prayer of going off sugar for that long. It's not too bad, though, because we still get a treat once or twice a week.

3. Underutilized Gems of Rexburg: A) Albertson's: We're not sure where the stereotype came from that Albertson's is more expensive than Broulim's, because it's not true. We've found them to have great prices and super deals -- and it's way less busy than Broulim's.

B) Kerrie Anne's: This is a new dessert place in Rexburg. It's just a trailer parked near Teton Lanes. They have custard and Italian ice for a great price. And they have an awesome frequent visitor card, which gives you a free small after buying only four! And if you go Friday between 8-10 p.m., you buy one and get one half off.

C) G's Dairy: Simply the best ice cream around. They get their ice cream from Reed's Dairy in Idaho Falls, and it's delicious. Yes, even better than Coldstone, and about a paycheck cheaper.

D) Flapjack Shack: Sounds high-class right? Well it's not, but it's delectable. They have buttermilk pancakes, specialty pancakes, and their own AMAZING syrup. Everything is made from scratch. We only love eating at places where they can make the food better than we can, and this place definitely passes the test.

E) Edited Movies: We used to love going to Great American Video before they closed. They rented edited movies, and we went several times a week. They are out of business, but have placed a "Bluebox" inside of Coldstone. It works just like a Redbox, but rents edited movies instead. We love it because, though still only watch PG and PG13 movies, we can watch without having to worry about any bad language or dodgy scenes. Usually when we watch movies, it's always a little apprehensive, because you never know what's coming next. But with these movies--no worries. And, they're only $1 to rent, so just as good as Redbox.

Are You Serious?

2010-05-22T15:35:00.003-06:00

Now, I know a lot of people complain about the weather in Rexburg. Usually, it doesn't bother me all that much. Yes, the winters are longer than most places, and it's a bit colder than the average city. But you take the good with the bad. It's a great place to live--very safe and affordable with a lot of nice people.

However, there are those days when I think, "Are you serious? Is it really May 22--and SNOWING outside? Is the high really 48 degrees?" Unfortunately, the answer to all of those is yes. If you want to see for yourself, feel free to take a peek at the video I took today. I hope everyone in Houston is enjoying their 88 degree, sunny day.

Brandt's First Six Months

2010-05-18T18:51:00.007-06:00

Brandt celebrated his 1/2 birthday last week, so we thought we'd put together a little montage of his first few glorious months of life. We love him so much.

We Won!

2010-05-16T12:34:00.005-06:00

For those of you (like us) who thought that taking customer satisfaction surveys would never get you anywhere--you better think again.

Last October, we were hunting for a crib to get ready for the baby's birth in November. We found one we loved at Babies R Us, but it was in Orem, Utah, and we had no way of getting it to Rexburg. So, we decided to go to the Toys R Us in Idaho Falls and ask if they could order the crib into their store. We worked with a super nice sales associate, who told us they could absolutely help with our request. So, we ordered it. After we paid, the associate asked us to take a survey online detailing our shopping experience. She said that a winner is chosen every month and receives $500. She also said that a winner is chosen from every store, which made our chances a bit better.

So, we went home and took the survey. We probably would have taken it (despite the chance to win money) because our sales associate was so great--way better than anyone had been at the Orem store. After the survey was complete, a screen popped us telling us we had been entered into a $500 giveaway.

Well, we thought that was that. We have filled out surveys like this many times, and to no avail. BUT, in February, I got an e-mail from a company, which indicated that we had won the $500 prize. I was skeptical, of course, so I started to do a little research. I looked the company up online, and they were a marketing research firm--so that seemed legit. Then I called their phone number, which also checked out. They didn't require any personal information, so that was another thing that made me feel as though we weren't being swindled. They only asked that we send a response indicating that we would like to accept the prize, and to send our address. So we did.

The e-mail indicated that our prize would be shipped to us about eight weeks after March 2. And we got the package this week! Sure enough, it was a $500 check. We take every survey that comes our way now.

So, Toys R Us and Babies R Us have won our business for good. And the money comes at a great time. Brandt will be outgrowing his car seat within the year, and we also need to buy quite a few new clothes and other baby necessities--all which deplete the bank account.

Moral of the story--fill out your surveys. We are sure grateful we spent the five minutes to do so.

These are the Little Things Boys are Made of

2010-03-14T19:30:00.012-06:00

Yesterday was Brandt's four-month birthday. Hard to believe he is already 1/3-year old. While we've never had a child before, we're pretty sure he is the best baby on the planet. You can't help but enjoy a little piece of heaven as he smiles, giggles, coos, wraps his tiny little fingers around your pinky, and gives tender kisses and cuddles. He is an extremely happy baby, and especially loves wake-up time. Every morning when we loosen his swaddle, it's fun to watch him stretch and smile. In addition to those wonderful endearing characteristics, he also enjoys exploring with his hands. He shoves his fist (or fists) in his mouth--he's not sure what a thumb is, sticks his hands in his own excretions, pokes his eyes, and has started to hold his bottle. And our personal favorite trait--he toots louder than a fog horn, taking after his uncle Jarred:) (especially during church).

We never could have imagined how wonderful having this little guy would be. We're excited for this spring/summer when we get to take him to the park, splash pad, and Texas (including the beach).

Here are a few brand-new pictures to show Brandt's cuteness. On a side note, tell us who you think he looks most like.

This is Brandt showing how excited he is that you are looking at him.

This shows where Brandt got his amazing good looks. (Andy wrote this caption)

We love you all!

Smiles and Laughs

2010-01-31T15:14:00.006-07:00

We promise that we are not going to be those new parents that only blog about their new baby. But for now, he is just so darn cute, we want everyone to see just how much fun we have every day. We've been trying to capture his smiling and giggling on video, but every time we break out the camera, it's as though he knows what we're trying to do and he stops. But today he just threw out his inhibitions and gave us a little show. We hope you enjoy!

Bathtime with Brandt

2010-01-15T22:11:00.011-07:00

Arrival of Baby Cargal

2009-11-13T18:03:00.015-07:00

Today we experienced one of the sweetest moments anyone could ever imagine when our baby boy was born. Words literally cannot describe the supreme joy at seeing a human spirit brought into this world--especially one that is entrusted by Heavenly Father to come into our home. It is a blessing beyond imagination to know that a righteous spirit was living with God and Jesus Christ earlier today, and now he is part of our lives. I don't think there is anything more that can strengthen a testimony than witnessing the birth of your own child.

Baby Cargal was born at 12:43 p.m. today at 6 pounds 12 ounces, 19.5 inches long. Although Ashlee was measuring small and doctors were concerned that he wasn't getting the nutrients he needed, he was born healthy with no apparent problems. Thank you to everyone who prayed for our little guy. We appreciate your love.

Ashlee had a remarkably easy labor--must less stressful than we anticipated. She told the little one later that thanks to his labor, he will be able to have brothers and sisters:)

Our doctor and nurses have been wonderful. We appreciate the dedication they have for their jobs and the good work they have done for us.

Expecting the Unexpected

2009-11-11T21:51:00.008-07:00

This week has been one full of emotion. We've experienced excitement, anticipation, confusion, concern, comfort and reassurance. About two weeks ago I went for my regular check up. Dr. Allred found that I was measuring just a little bit smaller than I should and told me not to worry. If I was measuring small the following week we'd do an ultasound to check for any problems. Well, of course when he said don't worry, I began to worry! Andy and I went in the next week for our appointment and saw Dr. Barton. He too found that I was measuring small, did an ultrasound and found that my fluid was fine, but wanted more information. So, I went back this last Wednesday for a body profile ultra sound. We found that our baby's head and femur are measuring 38 weeks, which is right on target, but his abdomen is measuring 35 weeks. The doctors don't know if this is something that's genetic or if there is a problem with the placenta. But, they're more concerned about the baby not getting enough nutrients. Prognosis: To be induced tomorrow evening, which is just a week and a few days earlier than the actual due date. The doctors feel that the baby will thrive better on the outside than in. Until then I was told that I should treat my body like “an old woman with heart disease” :) I pretty much have to stay laying down as much as possible during the day so the baby can absorb as many of the nutrients and my own body doesn't use it for energy. Being on semi bedrest has been a little difficult since I'm used to working full time and being busy the majority of the day. But Andy has been AMAZING!!!! He's not only been the bread winner, but then comes home and cleans, makes dinner, does the laundry, and has put together most of the nursery so I don't get tuckered out. Thank you my love! Even though this week has been a little overwhelming we feel that our Heavenly Father is mindful of us and our situation. We have felt comfort and peace, and come what may it is all part of the plan.

Heaven in a Chair

2009-11-01T22:12:00.012-07:00

For the last several months, we have been searching for a rocker/recliner for Ashlee to use when the baby comes--and we wanted to spend less than $200, if possible. Well, the only stuff we could find for that price was a super-awesome glider (sarcasm included) from Wal-Mart for $140. While it was nice looking and functional, it was pretty cheap quality. But, we had been unable to find anything else in our price range.

That is until two weeks ago. Ashlee heard a radio ad about recliners on sale at a local furniture store starting at $150. Having been to this furniture store previously, however, we expected to find nothing worthwhile. But we went anyway. They had a huge recliner selection--probably about 150 to choose from, but all were over $300, and most were over $500. And we didn't even like the expensive ones. So, we decided to leave.

We decided to just do a quick walk through the rest of the store to see if there was anything else we liked, and as soon as we turned the corner, I saw the most beautiful thing (next to Ashlee, of course) that I had ever set my eyes on. It was like a beacon of love, friendship, and all that is good in life. We saw a cushy, lush leather-like recliner in the near distance, with a bright yellow sale tag reading "$187." Ashlee made a beeline to the chair. We were in awe. It was beautiful, comfortable--and WAY too good to be true.

I summoned a sales associate, Moses, so he could go ahead and bring our dreams to a crashing halt by telling us that this chair was conveniently mislabeled. He came, looked at the tag, and said, "Nope, this is the right price." I asked what was wrong with it. Lucky for us, nothing was wrong, it was just the last one of that model they had, and it was on clearance because it was the floor model. And, it was coming with a one-year warranty, so if something happened to be wrong, we were covered for a while. We bought it right then.

It has now found a nice home in our living room, and will soon be moving to our nursery. We are happy to welcome our new addition in preparation for our new addition!

Homemade Mac and Cheese!

2009-10-10T15:45:00.003-06:00

My beautiful wife LOVES mac and cheese, so she decided to try making it homemade. And can I just say--she makes it SO much better than Kraft. I am not one to like mac and cheese, but this was so good I was craving it for every meal. This dish was amazing! And just look at her; she looks like a little chef that could go right onto the Food Network.

Week 31...and only 9 more to go!

2009-09-19T22:29:00.002-06:00

Ashlee: Today marks our 31st week! We met with Dr. Barton today for a routine check up and everything seems to be going well. I now meet with the doctors every two weeks and you know what that means...the due date is getting closer.

Andy: Please note the hotness of my wife in this picture. Yes, she is the most beautiful pregnant woman who has ever existed. If Motherhood Maternity has any sense, they'd hire her to be their top model.

Ashlee: I started teaching school about 3 weeks ago and the students have been really sweet. They open my doors, pull out my chairs, and ask so many questions. "Are you having a baby?" "Why, yes I am." "I thought your stomach was getting fatter!" Oh, how I LOVE the honesty of children.

Bear World!

2009-08-09T16:40:00.012-06:00

Both of us managed to live in Rexburg for four years as students, and we missed out on the BEST attraction in Southeast Idaho until now, when we're residents--Bear World. Bear World is so awesome! Brandon and Shelly came to visit us this weekend, and since Brandon's favorite animal ever is the bear, we thought it would be fitting to take a trip to Bear World, and we're so glad we did.

First, on the day we went, they were offering a special price on a tour that allowed you to feed the big bears in the park. IT WAS AWESOME! If one could adopt a bear, we would totally do it. Swarms of bears would crowd around this truck we were in, and we got to toss bread and donuts to them. They would sit up on their hind legs waiting for you to throw the food over. You can view the video at the bottom of this post.

Then, for Brandon and Shelly's anniversary, Shelly bought

Brandon an opportunity to feed bear cubs. Let's just say it

was like watching a kid at Christmas. Brandon got to feed several bear cubs with milk bottles, and he got to pet them too. He would have liked to pet them more, but the workers were very protective of the bears and wouldn't let anyone touch them too much. That was a little disappointing given the cost. But even so, we want to do it now.

Then we went to the petting zoo, where we got to mingle with deer, billy goats, potbelly pigs, and a large moose named Stilts (who let us pet his antlers). After the zoo, we got to drive through the park and look at the bears again. It wasn't

nearly as cool as when we went on the tour, because the bears were not nearly as interested in us when we didn't have food. But, all in all it was a great trip, and we would highly recommend Bear World to anyone.

It's a Boy!

2009-07-21T21:11:00.004-06:00

So far, our little bundle of happiness is proving to be quite the modest individual. Two weeks ago we went in for our 20-week ultrasound, and little junior did not want to play show and tell. The nurse poked and prodded Ashlee's tummy until it was bruised and sore, trying to get the baby to change positions, but he was quite content where he was--knees up, cord in between legs. He was moving a little, at least, but not enough for us to see anything.

The nurse asked us to come back because she couldn't check for everything she needed to, so we went back yesterday. Our little one was still modest, but the nurse was able to catch a glimpse of the male anatomy this time. Ashlee and I, of course, couldn't see anything on the ultrasound, so we asked how she knew. She then showed us a little bump and said, "Girls don't have this." We didn't ask again.

So...it's a boy! And we're super excited. Ashlee is just completing her fifth month, so we're more than half way there. So now it's time for baby shopping and name choosing. Luckily for us, we agree on most everything. Here is a sample of our top names: Brandt Andrew, Jackson Curtis, Benson Jay. We're not solidified on which middle names go with which first names, but those are some of our options. We'll see what name the baby likes when he comes to visit (we think he should get a say too).

If anyone has any supreme knowledge about what brand/style of car seat, stroller, crib, etc. would be good to buy, feel free to let us know.

Guess Who's Coming to Visit in November?

2009-05-07T22:22:00.004-06:00

Baby Cargal, 9 1/2 weeks and growing in this photo. Now 11 weeks and growing. He or she is a very nice, cute child, but makes mommy very ill in the tummy. But, we are excited!

One-Year Anniversary

2009-04-12T10:04:00.004-06:00

Since we got married, people always ask us, "So how long ago did you get married?" Typically, our response has been, "Oh, just last April." But now, the time has arrived that we can't say "last April" anymore. It's amazing how quickly one year has gone by, and it has been wonderful.

For many people, the first year of marriage is said to be the hardest. And if our first year was the hardest, then every year hereafter is going to be a breeze. Our first year didn't feel very difficult. Sure, we had disagreements, misunderstandings, minor communication issues--but all in all, we made it through our first year free of scars:) We're positive that our healthy, positive, relationship this past year can largely be attributed to the fact that we dated for over a year prior to getting married. We knew tons about each other beforehand--how each other thinks, feels, eats, breathes, reacts. We knew the types of things that drove one another crazy, as well as what made us so happy. We knew that we could never own pets, because Andy won't let them live outside, and Ashlee won't let them live inside. And most importantly, we knew we both had strong convictions and a dedication to Jesus Christ, and a devotion to each other that would bind us together eternally. We knew, and still know, that no matter what our differences, attitudes or idiosyncrasies, we will always love each other and sacrifice our own will for that of our spouse.

Happy Anniversary to us!

New Home

2009-03-29T20:45:00.004-06:00

Yes, we moved into our new home at the end of January, and we're just now posting pictures. It's because we just got internet access yesterday. We were going primitive until now. We love our home and have really enjoyed making it ours. We have two spare bedrooms, so please remember to come visit us:) We even leave mints our our guests pillows--you don't even get that at most hotels, you know.

Here are some pics of the new house:

Adventures of the Pipe Snake

2009-01-19T21:43:00.004-07:00

Some say that true love is found through words, giving of yourself, or whispering sweet nothings into each others ears. In Ashlee and my 9 months of marriage thus far, we have had our fair share of those wonderful things. But today, we experienced something that bonded us together more than any of the conventional ideas most people adhere to.

Somehow, yesterday, our toilet got clogged. I know what you're thinking. There are few ways toilets get clogged. However, we REALLY couldn't figure out how this happened, and it was the cause of severe dismay given that we have but one toilet in our apartment. Luckily for us, the BYU-Idaho campus is open on Sundays.

We bought a plunger today, thinking that would do the trick instantly. But no luck. So I looked online to see what other options we had, and they mentioned a pipe snake. So we went to the local Ace Hardware and became the proud owners of our very own, personal 3-foot long Cobra. (Really--the brand name is Cobra).

When we got back home this evening, we proceeded to push the Cobra through the toilet drain--and presto--the clog was freed from bondage! And we now have a working toilet in our home again. We will sleep better tonight. It makes us appreciate the modern convenience of indoor plumbing. How do people live in Arkansas?

Our First Blog Post

2009-01-10T13:15:00.007-07:00

We have now been brought into the Blogosphere world. It's a nice place to live so far.

We are enjoying this new adventure, thanks to the encouragement and persuasion of our family, who PROMISED to come visit us if we began a blog. (We're holding all of you to this; you know who you are).

Today is a great day--because it's a weekend--and we're not traveling for the first time in many, many weeks. We've just completed our second week as Rexburg residents, and the temperature is going to be in the 30s all next week!

We're both loving our jobs as well as the people we work with. We recently bought a home, and we are due to close in less than two weeks. We love our new townhome and can't wait to move in to our first new home together. In the meantime, we have a lovely little apartment that is being rented to us by one of the nicest couples in Rexburg. The place is fully furnished and quite large, which is wonderful, because we feel at home being here.

We've included some photos of our home in its current status. And tonight we went to Comedy Improv on campus, featuring Kirby Heyborne, which was pretty good.