Life, as we know it, is going to change.... FOREVER!

Its been over a year since my last post.  Life is about to get real crazy, so I figured I should probably get on here and update a bit.  I will let some pictures do the talking for me.

24 wks

..

28 wks

32 wks

36 wks - got a new camera...can you tell???

The awesome new crib from my mother in law.  Blake set up this beauty for me. :)

Profile of baby boy and his fabulous lips (thank you daddy). This was just from today - almost 37 wks.

3-d image of his sweet face.

So there you go.  We are having a baby boy.  He's due May 11th - Mother's Day.  He's measuring big, already about 7 lbs 11 oz, so we'll see if he actually waits another 3 weeks or so.  I've felt great for most of the 3rd trimester. Only recently have I started to feel huge, and a little miserable from all my insides being smashed.  Being pregnant is such a trip!  The word "miracle" takes on a whole new meaning, as does the word "sacrifice".  Some things you can't explain, but it is a pretty awesome experience.  I am amazed I can even type that because for the first two trimesters, I swore there would only be one baby coming out of this body; I felt so sick all the time.  Now I'm just excited to meet the little guy.  He doesn't have a name yet.  We're waiting to meet him first.  Blake has been a huge support to me.  He's always concerned with my well being, and willing to help me with whatever I need.  I'm so glad he convinced me to quit my retail job before the babe gets here.  Last Saturday was my last day as a Deseret Book employee.  I'm grateful for that job that helped us through the last year and half, but I am so glad to be done with retail.  Also, we finally found a place to live and moved out of my parents house about 2 weeks ago.  My parents are the best, and I am so grateful for their support and willingness to put up with us mooching off them for the last 8 months or so.  Its been awesome to be able to focus on getting our new place ready for the babe, and also have alone time with Blake.  Blake is studying hard in school and it will be interesting to see if the babe decides to come in the middle of his finals that start in a week and half, or waits til finals are over. :)

We still have our furry child - Honey. :)  She's excited for the baby too!

Spring Break!

Before I get to spring break stuff, I have to share some pictures of my new adventures in makeup.  Last month, I became an independent sales rep for a lovely little makeup company called Younique.  The quality of this all natural mineral makeup is unbeatable.  The company is just brand new and growing like crazy.  Though I'm not much of a salesman, I figured its worth a shot.  I'm having too much fun with this makeup!  If you care to check it out, my website is www.youniqueproducts.com/chelseaechols.
I am crazy about the Younique 3-d Fiber lashes!  The first collage is me, 2nd is my mom, and 3rd is my sister Becky.

Back to spring break.  Blake and I got to spend a few days in Boise during spring break.  I was stoked that he was willing to sacrifice some homework time, for some much needed vacation time.  Boise was beautiful and sunny!  
We enjoyed lots of delicious food!

We spent time with the dogs...

And the best part?  Spending time with the people we care about.  But, I didn't get pictures of all of them, so these next ones will have to do :):):)  

We picnicked at Municipal park...well sort of.  We had issues with the BBQ so we ate the hamburgers at home.  No picnic is complete without a bucket of Mom's potato salad. :)

 And no trip to Municipal park is complete without a little frisbee!  Rex has sweet frisbee skills.

Becky and Dan got to come to town too!  

We ventured out to jump creek to check out the scenery.  It was a beautiful 70 degrees outside. 

Rex also has sweet climbing skills.  

Ahhh, one of the things I miss most about Boise - the sunsets!  

And this last one doesn't have to do with Spring break, but I took Honey on a walk by the temple today.  Just wanted to share that. :)

Just me

There seem to be lots of random things bumbling around in my brain, so here I am to get a few of them out.

My favorite color is blue.  Not just any blue, but the aquamarine blue of the caribbean.  Blake and I have been on two Caribbean cruises, and its true, the water is absolutely stunning!  Whenever I see that color, I am reminded of the intense beauty that God used to paint our world with.

 

This pic was from our first cruise looking out from the ship at Costa Maya, Mexico.

Its such a peaceful blue.  I can't help but almost feel the stress slip away with this kind of beauty before me.  No wonder I'm addicted to these cruises. :)

Next random thought;  Blake is going to China this summer!  He is spending 3 weeks doing a study abroad and then 8 additional weeks in an internship over there.  We have been married for just over 4 years and spent our first night apart ever last weekend.  It was two nights actually, and it was no fun at all.  How am I going to make it and entire summer without him???  When we first started dating almost 5 years ago, we had about 4 weeks together before he left for California to do summer sales.  I was a total mess trying to say goodbye to him then, and I even got to see him every month during the summer, and we texted many times and day, talked on the phone every day, and sent emails every day!  Apparently, the Chinese screen all emails, so I will have to be selective with the emails I send.  Also, there will be no texting when Blake is in China this summer.  That will leave the once daily skype calls that I will probably have to get up in the middle of the night for.  I think I'm going to have to go into therapy this summer.  It is such a good thing I didn't marry a military man.  I really love spending time with Blake every day.  At least I will be back in Boise with my family so I can be miserable around them, haha.

Next thought: I miss my horse.  I sold my beloved Onyx a year and half ago because I knew we would be leaving Idaho for graduate school and would not have the funds to bring Onyx with us.  I grew up absolutely hooked on horses and had a deep rooted belief that no man EVER would come between me and my horses, and if I ever had to make that decision, it would always be the horses.  And, here I am.....horse-less. (I must really love Blake.)  Onyx was pretty much my dream horse; a solid black beauty with the personality of a puppy dog.  She craved attention!  I bought her as a little spindly-legged one year old and instantly fell in love with her sweet face and bubbly personality.  I knew she would be mine for her entire life, and I would teach my children how to ride her.  I trained her on my own.  It was my dream to be a professional horse trainer, and she was an excellent student.  She was not the first horse I owned, but she was the last, and she was my baby.  She was almost 13 when I had to let her go.  I am such a blubber bum whenever I think about her and the fact that I had to say goodbye.  She is now in an excellent home with a great lady who takes her riding in the mountains.  I know she is happy.  One day, I will be able to move on.  I know I will get to own horses again in the future, but there will never be another Onyx.

 

And with that, I think I'm done for today.

In other news..................I still have Honey bear. :)

Happenings

We both had MLK day off from work and school so we made a day of it.  I slept in while Blake went grocery shopping (I love him).  When he came home he surprised me with these beauties.  

He went to work making dinner to put in the crockpot.  (Seriously, he's the best.)  We ate breakfast together then drove out to Multnomah Falls.  I've been there several times, but that was my first time hiking to the top.  It was great to be out even though it was bitterly cold outside.  It was beautiful with all the ice crystals surrounding the falls, but the ice made for a fairly dangerous hike.  About 100 feet of trail was covered in a sheet of ice nearly two inches thick. There was a short chain fence that we had to use to make it safely up and down the slippery stretch of trail, but it was still lots of fun.

Our first time at the top of the falls!  So beautiful!

My first NBA game experience was fantastic!  Blake's parents gave him tickets to a Trailblazers vs Pacers game.  We had club seats that included access to unlimited food!  We invited some good friends to join us and had a great evening, even though Blake's team lost.  :)

We were blessed with some sunshine last week and had to get out to take advantage of it.  Honey is stylin in her pink plaid jacket. :)

Still so green even in January.

Til next time ....