Typing One-Handed

So, it's been two weeks and I wanted to post some pictures... I thought we had a lot more than we do, it seems like we're always reaching for the camera, but I'll give you what we've got.

Right after his first bath

Sleeping kinda peacefully- he always has a worried look.

Gideon loves his baby and loves to cause trouble while I'm nursing, because he knows I can't do much about it (although I proved him wrong the other day and just stood up and put him in time out and kept him there while I was nursing- maybe he'll know it's possible now).

Joseph has Levi's coloring and although his newborn-ness looked exactly like my newborn picture from the hospital, he looks more like Levi every day... there is no doubt that he is his father's son. And he has awesome white-blond eyebrows and eyelashes and his hair looks a little more strawberry every day. He weighs a little over 9 pounds now and I'm now positive he will not fit into his blessing outfit when the time comes. He has a brachial nerve injury because his shoulder got a little stuck on the way out, but the pediatrician didn't seem too worried and he moves his arm more every day (especially when he's screaming at us- like right now). We're starting him on Tagamet today bc it looks like we have another reflux baby. He's a good baby and really only cries when he's trying to burp or poop :), and we love the spirit we feel when we take the time to really talk to him and appreciate him- there is no doubt he was meant to be a part of our family and that he is excited to be here with us.

Joseph Asher Berry, born May 20th 2008

We are delighted to announce the birth of Joseph Asher Berry.

Born May 20th at 5:48 pm.

Weighing in at 8lbs and 14 ozs.

20 inches in height.

Quite possibly the most awesome baby ever!

Just us boys, I can't wait till they're old enough to get into trouble with me!

The best Mom EVER!

Posted by Levi

Stuck to the Ground

So, I've been feeling so heavy lately and I found these pictures... All hope is not lost- someday I will feel like this again! I just know it.

Yep, that's a 10 on the dial... 10,000 feet baby, and floating like a bird (actually, to be honest, it's more like being driven 115 miles an hour through a wind tunnel- but awesome, nonetheless)!

Someday, someday.

37 1/2 weeks

Ok, so it's been a week (have I no pride?- nope) and Levi really wants me to post the progress.

I think it looks lower, do you think it looks lower? I really think it looks lower. Please tell me it looks lower. Thanks.

No wonder people stare at me and nudge each other when I go out. After going to the grocery store last night I seriously swore I wasn't going anywhere ever again. Maybe I'm just sensitive?

Well, gotta go finish watching The Office.

Oh, by the way, Levi is the best husband in the world! And, he wanted me to tell you that he sold lots of pest control today... doing his part to provide a pest-free world, one door at a time!

10:45 pm

Yes, it's 10:45 pm.
Gideon took a late nap, so he was in bed by about 9:20. He talked for awhile, but it's been really quiet for a long time.
We were downstairs watching the season finale of The Office (it's a really good one!) and we heard Gideon yelling from upstairs. I paused it and heard, "I need you to put my diaper back on!" What?!?
So I followed Levi upstairs and got there just in time to see him carrying my naked little child over to the diaper stack. ?!?
I guess it's about time he learned how to dress/undress himself... he is 2, you know. Oh boy, this could get really ugly really fast. We'll keep you updated.
p.s. In case you were wondering (as I was), he didn't pee or poop in his bed. Wooosh!

Ok, Ok, Here it is...

Pregnancy update-
I am still measuring bigger than average- this kid is gonna be big, but at my 36 (1/2) week check-up I was not dilated at all. Grrrr.
I really want him to be healthy and fully developed, but I'm just tired of being pregnant! My first due date was the 25th, but they changed it to the 31st after the ultrasound. In my little head, I've just kept with the 25th, but I've changed my ways and I've decided that he's not coming until the 31st. Does that really make me feel better? I don't know.
I just know that awhile ago I felt like he would come early and now I feel like he is content where he is. Well, a content/chill baby is what I want anyway, right?

35 1/2 weeks

36 1/2 weeks (note the lack of make-up, hair in a pony and increased swelling)

New Layout

I think one of the reasons I wasn't posting is because my background made me depressed... I always wanted to leave as soon as I got there. It's weird because I loved that background on others' blogs, I guess I just needed something a little more peppy. Well, here's to Peppy!

Does it make anyone else a little nervous to have an eyeball watching you the whole time you're on the blog!?! ... I love it!

p.s. I just opened the blog after my last post and I think it's hilarious (albeit unplanned) that the cow's face is right next to my pregnancy belly pic/face (scroll back up to the top... we're even color coordinated). That's hilarious! Yes, I definitely like my blog much better now!

Gideon's Great-Great-Great Grandfather's Monument... The Greatest post ever!

We often go walking in the Provo Cemetery because I love the spirit I feel there-it's such a peaceful place. One day I showed Gideon my Great-Great Grandfather's (mother's side) monument and read him the inscription. His name was William Joseph Taylor, and he was a prominent citizen of young Provo and helped settle this area... I LOVE the inscription on his monument and hope to have a matching one on mine someday. Now every time we go, we have to see the "Great, Great Grandpa stone." (I wonder how many times I can say great in the title and body of this post... we'll see)

Because it was such great weather on Sunday, we took a walk over to the cemetery. We finally remembered our great new camera, and I was greatful that I did bc we got some great pictures and an awesome video. I think it's just great that Gideon remembers and wants to see the monument and knows that it is important. I think it's the 'hearts of the children turning to the fathers' in action. He really feels a difference there, I can tell.

Oh, and I had to include this picture because he was so obsessed with this 'ouchy' he had, and he wasn't satisfied until we had taken a picture of it.

(I can't get the video to work... I'll keep trying)

Beautiful Midway

After graduation, Levi's parents invited us to stay with them at a condo in Midway. I LOVE this part of Utah and I've always fantasized about living there. It is growing so fast, though, who knows what it will be like by the time we settle down!

We had so much fun and we are so grateful for such wonderful parents/grandparents. Gideon wanted to spend every minute with Grandpa and Grandma, and still asks where they are!We had beautiful weather and Gideon spent tons of time just chillin on the patio...
Gideon, Levi and Grandma went swimming in the freezing cold pool- G LOVED it! We bought him that little ring in the lobby and by the end of the day he could kick himself all the way across the pool. He never quite got that if he steps into the water by himself he will sink and not come back up... something I really want him to learn- any suggestions from water experts out there?

Catch Up

Why is it that when it comes to posting on the blog, time flies, but when you are counting the weeks/days until a new baby comes time drags unbelievably slow?! I am repenting for my lack of posting and turning over a new leaf (again!).

This is April, in between Farm Country and Graduation...

Here's Gideon with his morning paper and a hot cup of "Jo."

CHEESE!

It was really just blueberries, and no, as wonderful and bright as our child is, he doesn't read yet! He saw the comics sitting there on the table and pulled them over and spent quite a while just leisurely perusing them.

One cold, snowy April morning after we dropped Levi off at school, we stopped at the tiny Provo Bakery for a fresh loaf of bread and some donuts. Gideon picked out his very first donut all by himself... he picked the "Choclak" one with sprinkles. He loved it!

BYU Graduation

Yipppppeeeee! Levi did it- he graduated from BYU with a Bachelor's in Biology! We are so proud of him! It was a special occasion for a number of reasons- first being that he is amazing and deserves to be celebrated- second, my mom graduated with her Bachelor's degree after much hard work and sacrifice- third, my sister, Cara, graduated from the Nursing Program (cum laude), even with a baby and a husband working on a Master's degree- and, Levi's parents made the trek from Washington to celebrate and visit. Wow, we are blessed.

Levi and my mom walked with the nursing program so we could all be there for all three to receive their diplomas, from my Dad! It was awesome... there they were, going along all dignified, handing out diplomas to a smattering of applause and an occasional whistle. Then came our three. I think there were at least 24 of us in their cheering section- there were, "Go Grandma's," and "Way to go Mom/Cara/Levi's!" We believe this is an event to be celebrated with cheering, not golf applause. It was so fun! Not so much for Gideon, but he was a champ through the two days of graduation (and surprisingly enough, it didn't put me into labor chasing and entertaining him).

Gideon kept pulling on the tassle and saying, "It says 8," and the second picture is his pained, "cheese," face.

I Got Tagged!

I'm finally going to post because I got tagged (thanks Natalie)...
10 Years ago:
I was just about to graduate from Prairie High. I worked for Paul Ceczesky making hot tub covers.

5 Things on my to-do list today (Monday):
1-Feed Gideon and watch Curious George while Christine is at the doctor
2-Go to school and spend all day studying for a Biochemistry final
3-Talk to my new boss (Bob) about the two guys we’re going to hire to sell pest control with me this summer
4-Mail my Kaplan DAT prep stuff to a guy in Texas who bought it from me via craigslist
5-Get to bed before 1:00 am

Favorite Snacks:
-ROOT BEER POPSICLES!!!!! Root beer popsicles must be the best food ever. I think manna (like the Hebrews ate in the wilderness) must taste like root beer popsicles.
-Peanut M&M’s
-Pizza
-Cheese and crackers before bed

What I would do if I were suddenly a billionaire:
-Brand Spanking new Cars- for me a Toyota FJ cruiser with every possible option and a -McLaren F1 LCD, for Christine a Land Rover, for Gideon Pow Pow Power wheels, Pow Power wheels, Power Wheels, now we’re driving for reals!
-New toys, Four Yamaha Raptor’s, a WR450, and a Malibu Wakesetter!
-I would move somewhere warm, buy a home with a yard and start a small business so I don’t get too lazy.

5 Places I have lived:
-Winston Salem Nort Carolina
-Vancouver WA
-Provo UT
-Ouray CO (pronounced your A)
-Corona CA

5 Jobs I have had:
-Little Caesars Pizza, it was my first job
-Pacific Coast Spa Covers
-Provo Canyon School where I was used and abused by my coworkers, but met Christine so it was totally worth it!
-Moxie Pest Control, summer sales in orange county CA, this was the best job I have ever had!
-Harker Microbiology Lab research assistant, studying the enzyme kinetics of extreme halophiles from the Great Salt Lake.

5 Random things people don’t know about me:
-I crashed a high school kegger in a stolen cop car.
-I have jumped of the Moulten Falls bridge, I think it’s about 85 feet over the water.
-My favorite book is Enders Game, by Orson Scott Card.
-I graduated high school with a 1.8 GPA.-I’m weirdly possessive of my cell phone and keys and hate to let Christine borrow them.

I'm going to tag... Ethan, Jeff Davis, Mikael, Jeff England, Dustin Norris

Farm Country Videos

This is Gideon's "Horny" Cow

If you listen closely, you can hear Gideon's giggle through the wind... then he does his cute "gut" laugh.

Farm Country- Thanksgiving Point

So, Saturday was not a warm day here in Utah...

Since we had to go towards SLC to pick something up, and I suggested we go to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. In passing, I mentioned something about Farm Country (big mistake). Gideon heard me (he's never been there, but he heard something about cows), and insisted that we go to see the cows. We tried everything to get him to the Dino Museum, but cows it was- so, we froze for the hour+ it took to see all the animals. It was really fun, just cold. Gideon LOVED the animals and hasn't stopped talking about seeing the cows. Especially the "horny" cow that he saw... I'll attach the video!

This pregnant goat was the highlight of Levi's day at the farm... he followed the poor girl around for at least 10 minutes trying to get just the right shot of her that would show how huge she looked.

Hmmm, wonder why he thought it was so funny?!?

Baby Stats

We still have quite a bit of time left, but we decided to start taking predictions on the new baby's stats...
Date of Birth
Time of Birth
Height
Weight
Good Luck! Levi and I submitted our predictions to each other in a closed meeting tonight... we'll let you know what our predictions are in a few weeks.

Temple University

Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine has accepted Levi and offered him a scholarship... it was his first choice and we are so excited and SO proud of Levi. This has been such a journey of answered prayers and evidence of the Lord's hand in our lives- He is aware of all of us and quietly guides us every day.

So... Philadephia, here we come!

Levi can't wait to run up the Rocky (Museum) steps, and I am excited because there is so much history in Philadelphia and the surrounding area! It will be so cool to go to Manhattan to attend the temple- wow. New York is a little more than 1 1/2 hours away and Washington, D.C. is about 3 hours away. I'm sure many adventures await us!

So, we will be moving in August and EVERYONE is welcome to visit!

Hottie

Levi really needed a new suit for interviews, so for his birthday, his family pitched in and got him a suit, and my parents got him a new tie- so HOT! Thank you family!

Gideon and Daddy

Aren't they adorable?!?

The other day Gideon found Levi's sandals and put them on, went to the door and said he needed to go to "class." Then he remembered he needed his backpack to go to school and grabbed his McQueen 'backpack', and went back to the door, saying he needed to go- then, he said, "Oh, I need some food for class!" He went to the fridge and got some food then returned to the door and said now he was ready to go to school. It was so funny to watch the whole process- this is how it turned out...

(These are both the special "cheese" faces!)

Photo Shoot

This is the typical process we go through to get a picture of Gideon... he has started doing a "CHEEEESE" face where he scrunches up his eyes and nose and smiles a really fake smile- SO cute!

This is the "Cheese!" face.

Baby Belly

Gideon loves the little baby in my belly already. He always wants to "cuddle" up to my belly if I'm sitting down which is painful at times, but really cute! After I read stories and rock him at night, I have to lie down for a few minutes just to recover from the pummeling. At least the baby will be somewhat used to it by the time he's born (hopefully- or he'll get used to it quickly)!

New Baby Ticker

Do you like the new baby ticker? I picked that one because that's exactly what I look like- just a long skinny twig with a basketball belly. Oh, wait, that's just what I wish I looked like when I'm pregnant (shoot, that's what I wish I looked like when I'm not pregnant)! Ahh, the joys of being 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide... in high school my best friend commented once that when I was pregnant I would probably look like a bowling ball- how right she was! I'll post some pictures one of these days... as soon as the swelling in my face goes down... way down. Hee Hee. I guess you'll just have to come visit to see the old belly!

Easter Fun

Gideon got to do 3 Easter egg hunts this year... he had a blast! He really "got" it this year (especially after the first one when he learned there was candy inside the eggs), and he loved it.

I tried so hard to get a cute picture of him eating his candy... these are all I could come up with- I couldn't resist posting them while he's still to young to stop me!