I used to think belly buttons were cute...

...But then, mine never used to stare at me. :) As my belly grows, my belly button points more up at my face, so that every time I look at my belly--there it is. Having taken the opportunity to become reaquainted with my belly button I can definitively say: belly buttons are not as cute as I once thought.

In other news, my Thesis Defense is now officially on the books for Friday, March 5th from 12-2 pm. I'm feeling a little nervous, but I think Trav will be there for moral support. :) And not that we planned it this way, but it's hard to be too tough on a pregnant woman, right? Wish me luck!

Travis is gritting his teeth and pulling through the last 6 weeks of his educational career. He told me yesterday that he was feeling trunky. Can't blame him. Hang in there, honey!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sweet Travis emailed me on Tuesday, 5 days ago, and formally requested that I go on a formal date with him for Valentines. He wouldn't tell me where, but he said there would be dinner and dressing up. I felt all giddy and girlish all week as I was waiting for my big date with my honey!

So, on Saturday while I'm getting ready to go, Travis ducks out of the apartment a few moments later, I hear a ring of the doorbell...I go to open it, and there is Travis with chocolates and flowers! Purple lilies no less--some of my favorite! Awwww. He was here to 'pick me up' for our date. (I'm grinning wider now just remembering it than here in this picture). :)

Dressed and ready to go out

We had a lovely dinner out and went to a piano recital on campus at BYU. We haven't gone to a concert together in a long time. I tell you--it was perfect!

For Trav, I decided to do what Shannon had posted earlier about fortune cookies. So I did some homemade fortune cookies with little love notes inside, then dipped in chocolate and decorated with Valentine sprinkles. :) It was a good learning experience making them! I was hoping that he would like them, and I got my Valentine's wish!

Thanks for a wonderful Valentines, honey!

Happy Birthday, Trav!

I have made a new goal to update this blog every Sunday. We'll see how long I can keep it up for!

Travis's birthday was on Friday (5 Feb). For weeks before hand, I had so much fun teasing him--Every time I bought a present or one would arrive in the mail, I would tell him, "I shopped for you birthday today," or "A package came in the mail for you, but you can't open it 'till your birthday!" He retorted then when my birthday comes, he would start shopping months in advance for me and tease me back about it. :) Sounds delightful to me!

Here's a picture of Travis blowing out his 28 candles on the the ice cream cake I made for him.


Thank you to everyone for the cards and presents, well wishes and phone calls. It was wonderful to see Trav's phone ringing all day long with loving people wishing him birthday cheer. Thanks, everyone! I think we made it a special day for Travis.

Halloween and Hogwarts fun!

For Halloween this year, Travis and I decided to go as Hagrid and Hermione from the Harry Potter books. Trav has worn this costume on several occasions before and he says that every time he does, people who he's never talked to before are immediately friendly to him. Hagrid and Travis both are such lovable characters!

As it turns out, the members of our ward loved it so much, that they awarded us first prize in the constume contest. I was totally suprised! And honestly, we all know it was Trav's costume that did it. :) And here's the perk: it came with a gift certificate to Cold Stone. Yum!

As a side note (though this is my favorite part), this is the way Travis was dressed when I very first met him. So, that night I was also celebrating 2 years of knowing my dear Trav. I love you, honey!

Mommy, wow! I'm a big kid now!

Do you remember that old jingle? Well, that is how I felt on Wednesday after we sent off our taxes. See, my dad had always sailed those perilous waters for me in years past. He just brought me a piece of paper and said, "Sign here, please."

Dad, you are SO great! I never understood what a TASK it is to do taxes. I now understand how other people can make a living doing other people's taxes.

But I tell you what--sending them in, I felt like a little kid who just tied her shoes for the first time!

"Look what I can do, lookie lookie!"

Here's to growing up!

A Beautiful Reminder About Temples

As always, when something about the church is in danger of being misunderstood, they bring something beautiful to light about it. Here is this week's message on the church's YouTube channel, MormonMessages:

Why Mormons Build Temples

:)

Hollow Words: HBO's 'Apology'

I'll be glad to lay this topic to rest, but I didn't think it would be complete without also including HBO's statement. (Thanks for sending it to me, Bryce!) It's an apology that basically says, 'To those who may be offended, we offer our sincere apology,' though their plans to run the episode are unchanged.

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11881370

Anyway, the best part of this article was the church's decline to comment, as though they were saying, 'This isn't really worth our time, but thanks anyway.' Their words actually were "Such things say much more about the insensitivities of writers, producers and TV executives than they say about Latter-day Saints."

Here, here!