Our Pumpkin Carving Party

What's more fun than carving pumpkins with your best friends and their adorable children? Nothing. Last night Ryan and I had a pumpkin carving party at our house and we invited some of our closest friends and their children. I think the final number was 27 people and 13, maybe 14 of those were kids! We had pumpkin carving stations set up in the garage and all the food in the kitchen. The little kids painted pumpkins while the older ones got to carve pumpkins. Some adults tried to blame their kids for their shotty pumpkin-carving job. But we knew better. I hope everyone had as much fun as Ryan and I did!

Here are some of the kids from the party. Aren't they the cutest?

All the girls! They are pretty special to me.

Tatum showing me her pumpkin guts!

My husband Ryan with his pumpkin. He was so proud.

Jude really enjoyed eating his pizza upside down.

Jackson and Creeds "funny faces".

This is baby Jack and I don't think they come much cuter.

Cole and Addilyn will get married someday if he can get his act together.

Hadley showing me her mini pumpkin.

Even Dillon, my neighbor, came over for the fun!

Entering the second trimester

I told myself I wouldn't be one of those mothers who can only talk about their child. We'll I'm embarrassed to admit, I think I might be turning into one and our baby is still in my uterus! To admit I can talk about other things, I will update you all on what's been going on in my life.

• Austin - I traveled to Austin, Texas at the end of September to visit my friend CJ who is also pregnant. We spent the weekend shopping for maternity clothes, eating out and we even caught a show at the Zack Theater. My favorite buy: A maternity t-shirt that says, "Does this baby make my butt look big?" Anytime we get together we have a blast. I just wish we got to see each other more often.
  
• Farming - I went back out to Sarah's family farm to spend time with all the animals out there. My favorite part was this little calf who kept nudging me with his head waiting for his bottle. I'm thinking "farming" might be a stretch for my activities, but I was on a farm and I'm pretty sure I was wearing overalls.
• Yukon Czech Festival - After feeding all the animals, Sarah, her mom, Valerie and I went to the Yukon Czech Festival. It's been several years since I've been to the Czech Festival. I really wanted to go so I could eat an Indian Taco since I was unable to go to the State Fair this year. We watched the entire parade, checked out the booths and ate an Indian Taco! Fun times.
  
• Race for the Cure - I promise Sarah isn't my only friend, but we are really good buds and we like to hang out so the weekend after the Czech Fest, we did the Race for the Cure. It was a little chilly, but not too bad. It is such an amazing thing when so many people will come together for such a worthy cause.
• "The incident" - Oh, and there was "that incident" where I passed out at a sub shop, hit my head on the register and they had to call the ambulance all because I was dehydrated. But we don't have to talk about "that incident". I am a firm believer that a blog is only as authentic as it's author, so I'm being authentic. Nuff said.

OK, now on to the good stuff. Baby Laird is doing awesome. Ryan and I went to my 14-week appointment this morning. This was the first time we heard our baby's heartbeat. It was pretty emotional for me. Then I went into funny mode and said, "There is a heartbeat in my uterus!" Then the doctor came in to do her doctor thing. I've only gained 1 lb. which shocked the heck out of me. The doctor said I will probably have to stop wearing high heels because pregnant women tend to get clumsy. I'll have to go to being a shorty for a the next 6 months. This appointment was very special because we got to see our little baby for the second time. I could not believe how much he/she had grown in just four short weeks! He/she went from being a big head and little body into a tiny baby with all the features - 8 cm to be exact. It's becoming more real each day! Here is my favorite pic from today's appointment.

Baby Laird - 14 weeks

15-weeks pregnant