Kaitlyn's crib!

I'm finally finished with teaching! I am so excited to be able to take my time and energy to get ready for Kaity rather than chasing kids at OJHS. Anyway, after we finished school the other day, we headed out to run some errands. We decided to stop at the Burlington Coat Factory so Jared could see the cribs that I liked. While we were there, we discussed the options and decided on this crib. We asked what the options were for purchasing the crib. We didn't want to buy it on Friday, but if it took some time to ship in (if they didn't already have them in stock) we wanted to know how long it took so that we could plan accordingly. Imagine our shock when they told us that it takes 12 weeks to ship anything that wasn't in stock! We don't have that much time until Kaitlyn arrives! So, we decided to buy it that day, since they had one in the back. Thus the drama of purchasing a large item when we don't have a car big enough to hold it began. We were finally able to get ahold of our friends, the Harmons, who let us borrow their truck (thank you so much!). Anyway, we bought the crib and it's now sitting in the back room, still in the box. We won't be putting it up for a while yet, in case we need to move in a month or so, it'll be easier to do so with the crib still in the box. Yesterday, we were up in West Jordan, dog sitting, and we decided to go wander IKEA. Jared found those plastic crib side teething guards, so we bought some ($4.00 a piece). Yay! Now the only thing left needed for the crib is the mattress, but we have plenty of time to get that and it doesn't take 12 weeks to get one :)

My first baby shower!

Last Friday after work I headed up to American Fork to go to my first baby shower at the Olive Garden there. I was so excited! All of the wonderful women that I worked with at Riverton were so excited that I am finally pregnant that they wanted to throw me a shower. It had to be done early before school got out and we all went different places for the summer, which is why I had a shower at 28 weeks. Anyway, I got some really cute outfits, an adorable swimsuit, some baby books, and this Snoopy quilt. Jared likes the Snoopy quilt. Deanne, the lady who made it, apologized that it was blue, not pink, but I think it's perfect! I was also way excited because Jamie's daughter made me a diaper cake. There are ninety four diapers in this cake! It's not only a great centerpiece, but very practical and useful, too. I took a picture of the center layer so you crafty folks could see how to put it together. All the diapers are just rolled in a big circle then wrapped with ribbon; nothing else holding it together!
Also, everyone from the Special Ed department at Riverton pitched in and got me this Baby Einstein exercise saucer. I'm so excited for Kaitlyn to play with it, although I know she won't be able to until she's around six months. Jared is making me keep it in the box until then, so you just get the picture off the website. Thank you to everyone who made the shower so special, I had a blast: Jamie, Georgia, Susan, Deanne, and Jeanie.
When I got home from the shower, I found that the carseat Jared's mom had got for us had arrived. I immediately opened it, read the manual, and then went and installed it in the car (where is still resides). Jared laughs at me but indulges me in the trucking of the empty carseat around Provo. I had to show my mom and sister!

3rd Trimester!

I am so excited to be in the home stretch. I know I still have a ways to go and it's the hottest part of the summer, but I'm still pretty excited. I am grateful that I get to be big and awkward and grouchy at home in front of my air conditioner instead of at work chasing kids. Maybe it's because of my mom and how she was so excited to be pregnant, she always told us how wonderful everything was - even the morning sickness. Maybe it's because we tried for quite a while to get Kaity, but I have loved every minute of being pregnant. Even when I didn't feel well, or was nauseous, dizzy, tired, sore, itchy, grouchy, swollen, etc. I have been so happy because Kaitlyn is just growing and healthy. The doctor says everything is going well and I'm right on schedule. Oh, and for all the family who keep saying there must be twins, I'm so big...the Dr. confirms that Kaity is the only one and I'm measuring just fine. I'm just short and carrying her all out in front. Here's a picture from 26 weeks - she's grown a lot!

Goodbye Grandma Webb

Yesterday at about 2:30 in the afternoon I received a phone call from my dad that my grandmother had passed away. This wasn't a surprise, we've all been expecting it and preparing for it since she first moved in with my parents about 18 months ago. Grandma was amazing and had been struggling since last Thursday; but she refused to ruin Jennie's wedding or mother's day, so she hung around the few extra days. She always was stubborn.
My grandmother was a beautiful woman who taught me many things about life. Grandma had a huge backyard full of flowers, but my favorite was the blackberry bush. I remember dragging her stool outside to pick all of the blackberries I could reach. I would come in with my mouth stained black and my arms all scratched up from the thorns. Every afternoon we'd watch Sesame Street, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, and then Perry Mason together. Whatever craft Mr. Roger made on his show, Grandma would gather the supplies and we'd do it that afternoon. We'd go on field trips to the horse swings at the park, or walk through the international flower gardens. Grandma loved to pack picnics, and her favorite sandwich was a BLT. Jennie loved peanut butter, but I never did so Grandma would pack her picky granddaughter a B sandwich - just the bacon since I didn't like the L or the T either. On hot summer days we'd run through the sprinklers until our lips were blue and we were shivering with cold. Then Grandma would call us in and wrap us in a quilt and give us hot chocolate. I remember one sunny afternoon when I'd learned to jump rope I expressed some doubts as to whether she could do it too. Grandma jump roped just fine - in her kitchen to prove she could. Grandma taught me to sew and made beautiful sweaters, quilts, and afghans. When the doctor told her she couldn't crochet anymore because of her arthritis, she went home and made three tableclothes for me, my sister, and my cousin Becca for our weddings. I am so excited that I am having a little girl who can wear all of the sweaters that Grandma made for me over the years. When I was little I even asked her to make a sweater for my Ernie doll, and she did - without a pattern. I loved nothing more than cuddling in the queen sized pink quilt she made for me when I was 8. When I was sick, I'd ask my grandma if I could sleep with her Wendy doll. This was a porcelain doll with beautiful blonde ringlets, and yes she let a sick 5 year old sleep with her. Wendy is currently in my front room on a top shelf where she can watch over us all.
I am so grateful for the beautiful influence this woman has had in my life, and I am even more grateful for the gospel and the knowledge that I will get to see her again. I am glad that she was sealed in the temple for time and all eternity to my grandpa and my mom, making us an eternal family. I am a little jealous that she gets to hug our Savior, kiss my grandfather, and play with my brother and my Kaity. I know now that Kaitlyn will be a stubborn little girl, cause my grandmother will definitely teach her how. I am so happy that my little girl will be named after a strong woman, and have a wonderful role model to look up to.
I will miss my grandma, Vera Lenore Pearson Webb, but I know that she is not far away, and she is out of pain and finally happy and reunited with her husband. She raised nine kids, and has numerous grandkids and great-grandkids to continue living on the lessons and love that she taught us. I hope that I can always remember her generous attitude, fun spirit, and beautiful example.

Graduation!!!

It's taken me a while to get these pictures posted, sorry about that. Here are some photos of Jared's graduation from BYU. I am so proud of him that he stuck with it and learned so much. There is a picture of him showing his dad around the U/O lab and explaining things there to him. You can tell that Jared really likes what he does.