The Bump

I figured it's time to do a pregnancy update, though I'm not sure that many people, other than my family and in-laws actually care. Taylor and I went to the Doctor yesterday, after waiting what seemed like forever since our last appointment!

The doctor weighed me and I have only gained a pound since my last appointment, a small miracle after surviving Christmas and New Years (plus, I feel like I'm constantly eating!) The doctor also said I'm measuring small, and once we can actually get a decent belly picture I'll post one. I've felt silly posting one, because it kind of just looks like I ate a really big meal, not a baby bump.

The first nurse (the same one as last time) couldn't find the baby's heartbeat at first. She had the doplar clear up by my chest, I swear! Then she brought in another nurse an she found the heartbeat within a few seconds. I had been having some wierd pains in my chest so I was estactic to actually hear the baby's heartbeat. It was beating at 158 beats per minute, and according to an old wives tale, anything above 140 promises a girl....we will see.

We go back February 15 to see what "flavor" our little "dino" is. I'm so excited. So place your bets now!

Small Miracle

It's a small miracle, but I am actually sitting at my desk while my first graders are working. This is the first time all year I have actually been able to sit for 5+ minutes at a time. First graders maybe growing on me...but I won't hold my breath!

Christmas Catch Up

Spending Christmas with my family was wonderful! Despite having to wait five days after I got done with work to fly out, and having the flu on Christmas day, it was great to be home and just be with family. It was also the first Christmas that the boys in the family out-numbered the girls!

We got there Wednesday late morning (after a VERY early morning in Wichita!) and announced to our family that we were having a baby. My dad loves his crocs and has even been known to wear them to church, so we bought a baby pair and wrapped them up. Of course there were many tears (the women in my family are all criers!) and lots of hugs. We were excited that they were excited for us. We were also relieved because we had waited more than a month and a half to tell them!

Christmas Eve consisted of the traditional Bateman/Peterson get together, complete with a few new husbands this year. We ate soup in breadbowls, and chatted and Taylor had the honor of reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas". Although he was nervous (who wouldn't be in a crowd that size) he did a great job!

The rest of vacation consisted of skiing (not for me!), making chocolate covered pretezels, taking two naps a day (that was me!), going to hockey and basketball games, playing board games and Apples to Apples, and just relaxing. It was very hard to come back to the real world.

It has been hard because a) I was dreading coming back to work, having to deal with some "problems", but they suprised me and Monday and Tuesday were awesome days! Today is already in a downhill slide, but we will see if we can fix that before lunch! It doesn't help that they haven't gone out for recess in a few weeks because of this ridiculous cold weather! And b) I had to take Taylor to the airport very early on Tuesday morning. He is in Utah visiting his brothers and family. He doesn't start school until the 19th, so he gets to have a little extra vacation. I must say, it has been very hard on me. Sometimes I wonder how I lived alone for all those years! I can't wait till he comes home!

Other than that I am just trying to survive the freezing cold here in KS, and not get frostbite! Oh, and I already decided that since Tay is gone, I'm going to treat myself (and my silly cravings) to a few of my favorite things this week!

Big Announcement

It's official! We will welcome Baby McFarland into the family sometime in early July! The doctor's first due date is July 4th, my dad's birthday, but we will see if it changes. I am now about 13 weeks along, and am just getting over all the first trimester fun! I never got morning sick, but was nauseous at night and extremely exhausted. We can't wait to find out what we are having in February, and we can't wait to welcome the first grandchild in both the Peterson and McFarland
families!

McFarland Christmas Letter

This year has been such a whirlwind for the both of us. We met in January, spent countless hours driving back and forth between Ogden and Lehi, vistited both our families, got engaged, and then got married in Salt Lake on June 27th. Our honeymoon consisted of a 2,000 mile drive from Utah, down to Costa Mesa, and back up the coast, stopping in Laguna Beach, Newport, Huntington, Santa Barbara and L.A, to Taylor's parents for our open house. We then drove another five hundred miles to Boise, for our reception there. After that it was back to Utah to pack up our stuff for the move to Kansas.

We have been in Kansas for five months now, though it seems longer. Taylor is enjoying his masters program in Sports Administration and even got straight A's this semester. He works so hard, and balances an Internship as well. As for me, I have adjusted to teaching first grade here in Wichita. Some days I come home and wonder what I was thinking, but most days I love it. We have also enjoyed our callings, Taylor in the Elder's Quorum Presidency and me in the Primary Presidency. We have made some good friends, and even been invited to watch some BYU games with them!

We have enjoyed a visit from my mom, and visited Taylor's family in California for Christmas. Though Taylor really wants a dog, I convinced him that a flat screen would suffice for now (there wasn't much convinving I had to do). We have loved being married and are approaching our 6th month anniversary. This year has brought such wonderful blessings, and we know there are many more to come in 2010.

What's Goin' On?

It's been awhile since we updated, so I figured I've give you all lucky readers the low down of our lives in good ole' Kansas.

We had so much fun going home to California for Thanksgiving. It was so nice to be with family, and to be with Taylor for five whole days. It was just the vacation we needed. The morning after we got there we had family pictures. Taylor is not a fan of pictures and thinks that our wedding pictures should fill up the picture quota for the next 10 years, but he made it through and there were some really cute ones. The next day, we had a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner, complete with fancy table settings, chocolate turkeys, tons of food, and delicious mashed potatos (my favorite). By far the highlight of the weekend was getting to see Wicked in San Fran! My in-laws knew how much I wanted to go see it, so they got tickets for the girls to go. The guys drove us down and then decided to go too! It was great that Taylor got to go cause he has heard me talk about it non-stop, and he liked it more than he thought he would. I think his exact words were "That was better than that modern dance show!". We loved being with the McFarlands for Thanksgiving and can't wait to see them again!

This past weekend Taylor and I roadtripped down to Norman, Oaklahoma for the UofA vs. Oaklahoma basketball game. We stopped in Oaklahoma City for lunch and to check it out. After leaving we were thankful that we are in Wichita. Sometimes I get homesick, but Wichita isn't that bad! We feel fortunate we ended up here, out of all the other choices. Overall it was a fun day, but all the driving reminded me of our endless roadtrip this summer (and coming again next summer!) We watched a blowout game, but to Taylor it was the "game of a lifetime!" Can you tell he loves sports?

We are gearing up for Christmas, and 13 whole days with my family! I am so excited. Only a week and a half of school to go! Today we got our first taste of a "Midwest Winter". It was freezing rain today when I left, and the roads were so icy. To me a winter storm isn't a storm without snow, but today was pretty scary driving into work. They are even talking about cancelling school if the weather gets worse! The best part is, we wouldn't have to make up the day later!

It's hard getting in the Christmas spirit without a tree, without my mom's decorations, but knowing that I get to go home and see family and friends, makes it feel a little bit more like Christmas!

The most emotional people I have ever met... and not in a good way.

First graders may be some of the most emotional people I have ever met, and not in a good way. Daily, I have at least a handful in tears. "She touched me" "He laughed at me" "He stepped on my fingers!". It never ends. It doesn't help that I have one that doesn't care about anything I say and will frequently tell me, "I don't care what you say". I have a handful that stomp around, pull their hair over their eyes when they are mad at me and glare at me. I have a few that if I ask them to sit in thier chair the right way, will fall over into a sobbing melting mess on the floor. It's daily walking on eggshells. I'm tired, sick, and need a break. Thankgoodness we only have 4 more days of school before Thanksgiving.