It'll Be So Cool Babe!

I don't know to what I should attribute my silly face in this picture. But I do want you to take a good look at Danilo's plate. This was a night out at Chuck-A-Rama where Danilo feels a solemn obligation to eat his money's worth. He's reaching the end of his meal here with a smathering of everything at the dessert bar. Inevitably after an evening at such a buffet I will hear, "I ATE SO MUCH! That's it babe, that's it. From now on, Perfect Diet." And the next morning as he gets ready in the bathroom I answer questions like, "Do you think I'm still in as good of shape as when you married me?" Danilo has begun the Perfect Diet approximately 124 times since we were married (that's an average of once a week). However, it's taken on a new twist. Danilo had this great idea when he found out he was going to be a dad that HE AND I COULD WEIGH THE SAME when I reach my heaviest point of pregnancy. For some reason, that's been the motivation he's needed to only have one helping at dinner, get up the first time the alarm rings to go to the gym, and thank me for keeping the treats in the pantry limited. He's averaged losing a pound a week. I'm planning on gaining quite a few once the baby starts to weigh pounds and not ounces in the next few months. He told me, "It'll be so cool, babe! We'll weigh the same!" Hmph. We'll see. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, Happy Perfect Diet Sweetheart!!"

Good Thing I'm Not an Astronaut

Last weekend before real life started back up again, our friends James and Amy invited us to the Woody family's cabin in the Uintahs. I learned to more fully appreciate husbands as the girls put dinner together while the men hauled all the stuff from the car up to the cabin on snowmobile. The next morning we went snowmobiling. We layered up since it was somewhere between 10 and 20 degrees outside. I didn't expect to have a minor anxiety attack when I put my helmet on. Apparently I am slightly claustrophobic. I was okay as I sat, made sure I was breathing and told myself helmets are to protect you, not to suffocate you. I told my mom about the experience and she said it's probably a good thing I'm not an astronaut. Once the wind and snow started flying by, I was glad we had them on. Good grief, we had a good time.













If you were looking at the ultra sound picture from the last post and now are looking at the snowmobile pictures and feeling a little concerned, know that when the expectant mom was on the snowmobile, just as jumps were approaching we slowed WAY down. Unlike everyone else, I never caught any air.

Our Beautiful Baby!

Friday afternoon we had our first ultra sound appointment. There truly is a baby inside me! Morning sickness had been a powerful indicator, but seeing our little person moving around on the screen was a sweet experience like nothing I'd ever felt before! We were grateful to find out that our baby is good sized and has a healthy heart beat.

A Short Story

I began a writing lesson last week by reading this short story I had written to my class.

Mrs. Collado began. “Class, I’m wondering if you have noticed some of my unusual behavior lately.”

Mackenzy raised his hand with the grace of a gentleman. “Yes Mackenzy?” Mrs. Collado motioned for him to speak.

“Yes, kind teacher. But first, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak. Mrs. Collado, we have noticed that you always seem to be eating lately. We are worried. Do you have enough food at your house? Can we do anything to help you?”

Mrs. Collado smiled. “What a thoughtful class I have.” She continued. “And, thank you. Mr. Collado and I do have enough to eat at home. But Mackenzy, you hit the nail right on the head. I have been eating more than usual lately. In fact, I can’t seem to make it through math or reading or even break without munching on something. The truth is, I haven’t felt like myself lately, and the whole truth is, I’m going to be having a baby.”

Needless to say, writing time was not so productive that day. My cute class was so excited. AND SO ARE WE!

Savoring Christmastime!

Santa Claus showed up at our Achter Christmas Party on Sunday. It was a sweet night put on by Jeff and Marie at their home. My dad had his entire family there except Paula and Melodee in California.















My darling Grandma Achter also took a turn on Santa's lap. This picture is priceless to me!

We are excited to spend the rest of the season with each other and with our families. We're going to savor every second! (Especially after Danilo takes his last final Thursday.)

Christmas Trees and Extended Family

Last Saturday we ran up the mountain with my family and cut down our Christmas tree. It's been an Achter tradition that has become a Collado tradition as well! The tree has added a warmth and glow to our little townhome living room.

I wanted to mention a little bit about Thanksgiving a couple days before this, too. We ate at my parents' home with Danilo's parents and sisters and both sets of my grandparents. I felt so very blessed to sit at the dinner table with so many people that are important to me! Other events that made the holiday weekend special were pie night, a temple trip, shopping, and a family home evening all spent with extended family who live both in and out of town. Needless to say, going back to school was rough. I spent all day Sunday talking myself into it so that Monday morning wouldn't be such a dreadful shock. (As I read back over that, "dreadful shock" seems a little harsh. I do enjoy being a teacher. :)

Bring On Those Wonderful Holidays

A Saturday ago my family had tickets to Savior of the World at the Conference Center. The program was really beautifully done and even though it wasn't even quite Thanksgiving yet, I feel like it opened up the Christmas season. It brought the story of Jesus's birth and life on earth to life in a way I had never seen before and I am thankful because I have thought back on it many times since. Here we are with my family just before going to see the show. Our smiles are a little larger than usual because Danilo and I had just made a special announcement a few minutes earlier that I'm sure will be a post all of its own once Brittney has been to a doctor's appointment.