Tootin' my own horn

I just thought I'd toot my own horn a little because as of this last week I have officially finished my graduate degree. (I've been done with stuff for a couple of months, but it wasn't "official" until the term ended.) Yep, I've joined the ranks of those who add extra letters at the back of my name (mine will be Ed.S. - it stands for Educational Specialist since that's what my degree is called). It's kind of anti-climactic since we've already moved and I didn't do the whole cap and gown thing, but it's still nice to think that I made it through and got it all done!

Jon in Japan

Jon has been in Japan now for about a month, and having all sorts of adventures. He spends most of his days in class studying, but he's also been able to get out and about visiting some of the sites in Tokyo and Kyoto. Here are some pictures of all he's been up to.

He loved spending a weekend with a Japanese host family last week, and they took him to visit a few things near their home.

He also got ambitious and climbed Mt. Fuji a few weeks back. He said there's a Japanese saying that goes something like "You're a fool if you've never climbed Mt. Fuji, and you're a bigger fool if you've climbed it twice." Given how cold, rainy, and not very scenic the hike was, in the end he totally agreed with that.

He's also been getting to know some of the local church members, and went to a beach activity with them. He was clearly the star beach volleyball player!

When he first arrived, he spent a beautiful couple of days in Kyoto, where apparently all the good historical sites are. Here he is meditating (about his lovely wife, of course) at a Zen garden.

And as for me...

As for what I've been up to this summer in Jon's absence, well of course the highlight has been enjoying the progress of this baby growing in my belly. We've made it now to 21 weeks, and he is really starting to let me know he's in there by moving around and making me fatter by the week! Here are some of the ultrasound pictures:

Other than that, I've been spending quality time with my family, and keeping myself busy (if that's possible) in Ephraim. We went up and saw the balloons for the 4th of July (my mom's absolute favorite thing in the world!)

We spent a week up in a condo in the mountains. It was very quiet and peaceful, so we filled our time with nature walks, lots of treats, and games of Monopoly.



And then the girls went to San Francisco. We loved spending a couple of days taking care of baby business and other sorts of fun!

Coming Soon...

www.zazzle.com

We're so happy to announce that we are having a baby boy! The ultrasound was yesterday, and the little guy was not being modest!
My mom and sister came out to California with me and we've enjoyed a wonderful couple of female bonding days. They helped out to have Jon be connected (by phone - you've gotta love Skype! and by taking video), and it was so great to have them there with me. Last night we celebrated the event even more by going to see Wicked in SF - it was awesome!!
I'll post more pictures and details soon of all the fun!

17 weeks - What else would you like to know?

Thanks for the well wishes one and all! Jon and I are very excited to be looking forward to becoming parents (finally, I'm sure some are thinking!) It's obviously an overwhelming and daunting thing to consider, but one that we are definitely looking forward to undertaking together.

I am about 17 weeks along, so the excitement is planned for mid-December. For now, I'm just enjoying being past the ickiness of the first trimester, finally having some of my energy back, and trying to decide everyday if I finally "look" pregnant. We've been enjoying making announcements to all our family since coming to Utah. They are all obviously very excited - basically the reactions ranged from my sister crying (because she was happy, of course), Jon's sister screaming, and everything in between.

I'll keep everyone posted as things progress - we're having the ultrasound this month, and my mom and sister are coming with me since I'll still be without a husband ... any cute ideas on how to tell a husband in another country if it's a boy or a girl?

Sad day :(

I've been way slack on my blogging updates lately. Sorry.
It's a sad day. Today Jon left for Asia for two whole months. I had to say goodbye, and it made me very very sad.
But, I know he will have a good time and that he will learn a lot. And my family will take good care of me in his absence. So I keep reminding myself that the time will pass quickly (right?).
That's all for now - I'll post more soon ... I promise.

p.s. That was really really depressing, I'm sorry. Why don't we end on a happy note? . . . Have I mentioned yet that I'm pregnant? ;)

Happy Long Weekend!

A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.

-Robert Orben

I love when long weekends come right when you need them most! I'm so excited for this weekend. We still have 3 more weeks of school around here, and knowing that people (a.k.a. Christian) are already out for the summer plus all of the craziness that isn't slowing down at work makes 3 more weeks sound like a very long time. So, having a Monday off tempers the pain at least a little.
But, just as I complain a little about work, I'm also excited to be able to say that I have a job for next year, which I am very happy about (though there have been days recently where I really wonder why!)
We're also getting things ready here for our summer - we have to pack up some of our apartment to make room for sub-letters. Then we'll pack up the car and head out to Utah, me for a couple of months and Jon for a couple of weeks before he flies out to Asia.
Speaking of packing - I should probably be doing some on these days off this weekend, but I'm oh so enjoying just taking it easy ... maybe I'll muster up some ambition and pack 2 or 3 boxes -- or maybe just one :)
Happy Memorial Day!