My first REAL job!

Well this past Monday I started my first job. I am going to be working contract for three months full-time until the baby arrives. It seems like the perfect plan because I don't have to sign up for a certain amount of time with this company. I can work for three months. Take as much time off for the baby I want and then go back to them or find other employment. So far it has been great. I work in an elementary school and a preschool. I have two offices. One's actually in the picture (the second window from the left). The other is a whole classroom with lots of windows and my own fridge! I like having my own space and not having to report to a supervisor about every decision I make. I am in charge of 36+ kids. So far it has been easy since it is the end of the school year and there is hardly any paperwork so I just give therapy.
In that way it is great. I just give therapy and don't have a lot of extra stuff to do. However, even after a week of being there working on language and artic therapy I have realized that the medical setting/rehabilitation area is more for me. When I have the baby I am going to try and find a job that works with this population. As for now, making money and being with "littles" all day is fine. It is helping the time pass as I wait for "dino." (My father and families nickname for the baby)

Hockeytown

What do octupi, ice, and fights all have in common? They all belong in Detroit Red Wing Playoff hockey. We went to see our first Red Wings game the other day, a 2-1 overtime win against the Nashville Predators. It was also our baby's first Red Wings game as well, as evidenced by the towel and Abby's cute belly. (Abby says he was going crazy with the loud music.) We had a lot of fun and hope that they win the Stanley Cup this year.

General Conference Sunday

Since today was General Conference, Abby and I got to sleep in a little later than we normally do. It felt great, and we even had enough time to make french toast, something we haven't had for breakfast in a while. We traveled to Westland to hear conference, since Abby's not a big fan of watching it online. This conference was particularly memorable because it was the first time President Monson spoke to the church as a whole as the newly called Prophet. It was great to hear his inspiring words and listen to conference together with my wife.

This morning before church, we took some pictures of Abby. She is showing well and continues to get excited about everything that has to do with the baby. From cribs, to clothes, to names, to carseats, Abby's doing her research and wanting to make sure that everything's set for our new boy. I, on the other hand, take it in stride, focusing on things one step at a time. We're different, but I think that's part of why we enjoy being with each other so much.

University of Michigan

It's official! Jonathan was accepted to the Ross school of Business and Health administration program at U of M. He will be starting his dual degree this Fall so we will be in Ann Arbor for the next three years. We are very excited that he has been blessed with such a great opportunity and that we will be close to both sets of grandparents!! Congratulations Jonathan!!

Family expansion

Well, I think it is safe to announce that Jonathan and I will be having a baby at the end of the summer! We are very excited! I will post the first ultra sound picture. It looks like a peanut in the picture; however, when I was there it had little circles for arms and legs. It was really cute. When I saw it it all sunk in that this was real and that I really was pregnant. I wasn't just imagining all the sickness and whatnot. The second set will have to be another post because I think I need Jonathan's help to scan them and upload them into the computer.

The second set will have to be another post because I think I need Jonathan's help to scan them and upload them into the computer. They are much better than this one. The second ultra sound was for a genetic "first screen" where they determine early if the baby has Down Syndrome or another congenital defect. I agreed to go but I wouldn't do further testing if they found something wrong. They are some really cool pictures. We got some 3D pictures and the baby has everything! It opened and closed it's mouth, had shoulders, ears, eyes, fingers, toes and a little something that made the sonographer ask us if we wanted to know the gender. I didn't think she would tell us so I said, " why not" and she turned the screen around and showed us three different angles of the BIG possibility to have a little boy as our first baby. I of course took the news with a grain of salt considering the baby was only 15 weeks old and they can't be sure until 18-20 weeks or so. However, until they prove otherwise we are going to plan on having a baby boy. I think I need to follow Alicia's footsteps and find a blue background for my blog. I am going to try and document all that I can about the pregnancy. I need to take more pictures and talk about it. I haven't been a big talker. I just figure I still have 5-1/2 to 6 months left. (Actually, I don't really know...everytime I go to the doctor they tell me the baby is bigger than what I tell them. my EDD is Sept 4th but I think it will come sometime in August since I obviously miscalculated my LMP.) It makes me crazy not knowing exact details!

The school quest

Well, I may need to be changing the name of my blog because we are in the final stages of hearing back from the graduate schools Jonathan applied to. He has been accepted so far to UNC and U of M's Master's of Health Administration programs. He has even received some scholarship offers which is very exciting! We are still waiting to here back from business schools and will hopefully have made a decision by the end of March. It has been exciting to see all of the opportunities that has led Jonathan down this path. I feel that he will be very successful at this career and will enjoy finally going back to school!

Boring Blog

So, I am officially finished with school. I say official because I don't have to go to class anymore and hopefully don't have to retake any qualifying exams. All i have left is a semester of working with little kids at the Detroit Children's hospital. I am starting tomorrow and am very excited. I have realized for some time now that my blog was boring. I never have anything interesting to write...however, although my posts may be pictureless or boring I am going to try and be better this year. There is no reason not to post...I check Google reader every day to see what everyone else has to say. I can take a minute to say something. Wish me luck!