Updates...

Sorry it's been a while since my last post. We have been pretty busy. We were able to fly out to California last weekend to spend time with Chad's family. We had such a great time, and had a pretty full schedule while we were there, which began with In n' Out burgers on our way home from the airport. On Saturday we had a great baby shower thrown for us and got some really good stuff. What a blast! Chad's brother Josh goes on a mission on October 24th and we were so glad that we could spend some time with him and attend his farewell talk at church on Sunday. Sunday was filled with seeing lots of friends and family all day. One of the highlights of the trip was being able to meet our newest little niece Kenna, who was just a couple of weeks old. She is so dang cute. It was a great trip, and like always, not long enough. Thanks Burnhams for making last weekend one to remember! Here are some family photos that we had taken while we were there.

The pregnancy is going great. I am now 25 weeks along YAY! So, that's about 6 months and I feel great. Our little boy moves and kicks non stop like a little crazy man... I don't know what I'm in for! According to the doctors, he is growing beautifully and the lady that did my ultrasound this week said he has just about the chubbiest cheeks she has ever seen on a 24 weeker. You could literally see his HUGE cheeks on the screen. I just love this little guy already and can't wait to actually meet him!

A night at Camden Yards

Chad and I went out last week to Camden Yards in downtown B'more to watch his Angels destroy the poor Orioles. It was the perfect night and we had great seats... third row off the field, just past 3rd base. We had so much fun together and we can't wait until our little boy is born so he can join us in these fun outings. Here are some pics from the night, along with a 21 week belly picture. oh, and GO ANGELS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHAD!!!

September 7th was Chad's birthday! We had a really fun time shopping all day together on Friday. We ended up making a few large purchases for the big day. We got a new imac, which I think I love, but I am still trying to figure it out, and ordered our baby furniture. Check out munirefurniture.com (essex collection) to see what we picked for our little guy. It takes about 14 weeks for the furniture to arrive, so we had to order early.
Saturday night we had a big dinner party at our house with some of our closest friends to celebrate Chad's oldness. I had my first attempt making my own cheese fondue and it was great!!! Candels lit the tables and it ended up being a really nice dinner. We also had some really great salads, meatballs and cheesecake with a chocolate drizzle. All of Chad's favorite songs were the playlist for our dinner music, and then we got to see who knew the most random facts about Chad in a triva game. It was a really fun night. A few people stayed after the dinner to watch the BYU game. Wish they would have won!

Fogo de Chao

These pictures are a couple weeks old now, but I had to post them to show my appreciation for Stacey Starley's Fogo de Chao recommendation. The night we found out we were having a boy, we decided to celebrate by going to this SWEET new place in the inner harbor. The food was absolutely amazing, and it was so much fun to have Chad's brother Josh in town to celebrate with us. Here are some pictures from our great night, and a few shots of Chad showing off my 18 week belly.

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right, its a BOY, and we are so excited!!! We had our ultrasound today and it was so much fun. I just want to go back and do it all over again. Our boy performed beautifully for us. He is so dang cute and has a tiny little nose with a big belly. He kept putting his hands up by his face. At first he was being a little modest, and had his legs together. But we caught him in a full leg stretch, before he crossed them again at the ankles to relax a bit. I can't wait for this little guy to get here.

After the ultrasound we went out to breakfast and then went to the mall to pick out our favorite little boy outfit. What a great way to start off the day!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 YEARS!

Yesterday was our 5 year wedding anniversary! I can't believe that it has been five years already, WOW! But they have really been the best five years of my life.

Last night I came home from work to 2 dozen beautiful roses, and Chad and I had dinner at the Bonefish Grille. It was great. But we are continuing the celebration next week, since I have a few days off. On Wednesday morning, (the 22nd) we are going to our ultrasound to find out if we are having a boy or a girl, then we are driving to the Eastern Shore to stay on the beach for a few days. I can't wait!

I am so greatful for Chad and for the wonderful husband, and best friend he is to me. I love him with all my heart, and I constantly wonder how I got so lucky! Happy anniversary Chaddy!

HAIRSPRAY!!!

If you have not seen the new movie "Hairspray" in the theaters, you are missing out! It is great, and in my opinion, even better than the actual Broadway musical. We've seen it twice already, and I can't wait to see it again. Love it!

Home away from Home

Well, I spend so much time at work that I guess I better devote a post to it. I work in the Pediatric ICU at Johns Hopkins Hospital. It is definitely an intense and stressful place, so when I am there it almost consumes me for those 12 hours. It is not uncommon for me to hear monitors alarming in my sleep or have dreams of giving chest compressions. I take care of sick kids... really, really sick kids, and sometimes it is hard for me because I come home so emotionally and physically drained, but I can't really share the experiences I have there with anyone outside of work.



The other day, coming home from a night shift I had my first real cry when thinking about a patient. It is days like that when I come home thinking, did I really even make a difference for that kid last night? But I was brought back to my happy place when I went in the next night and walked over to my patient's bedside. Sedated and attached to her ventilator, there isn't much she can do, but she opened her eyes, saw me there, and gave me a little smile around her endotracheal tube. That made it all worth it.





It is hard for me sometimes to know that I can't fix, or save every patient that I have, but it is little moments like that, that help me to remember that just being there for these children at this time for them makes all the difference. I love being a nurse.



On that note, I better get to sleep to prepare for my night shift tonight!


ps-- that picture is not of me, but you get the idea.

WE LOVE VISITORS!!!

A few weeks ago my mom, my sister Ashley, and my 2 brothers Jeff and Matt came out to Baltimore to visit. It was so much fun having them here. Chad and I got to show them around Baltimore, we drove up to New York for a couple of days and saw "Hairspray" on Broadway, and spent a day in D.C. We sure saw a lot! We loved having a house full of people we love, and we loved being able to show them what our life is like out here. Thanks for coming guys! We miss you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Hopkins

So, for the 17th year in a row, Johns Hopkins Hospital has claimed the title for the #1 hospital in the United States (don't ask me how, I only work there). I love my crazy job almost as much as the "Best of the Best" paraphernalia that I have acquired over the past 3 years of working there. I must say that this year's tote bag is far superior to the key chain and license plate frame from years past. So, here's to you Hopkins... you keep giving me a pay check and I'll keep sporting my new tote bag, as we keep our fingers crossed for next year.