Where is that baby hiding?

This is our lovely city of Roanoke! Brad and I drove up the mountain (to most in the West it resembles a very big hill) to an outlook where you can see the city. Its called Mill Mountain and the drive up is gorgeous. There is a little park and walkway to enjoy. On top of this mountain is.......

this star. I can't remember when it was put up there but it has been up there a while. There is actually a webcam on it and people can see those on top of the mountain. We wanted to get out of the house and thought it would be nice to see what Roanoke looked like at night. While it was chilly and windy when we got there, it was a nice little break.

Yes we are in our BSU sweatshirts! We love wearing them around when they play. I had a guy (we think he was drunk) stop me at a high school football game with "Are you joking me!" I thought he was going to start ranting how he hates them, but he said he loved BSU and was not a hokie fan! I was relieved since Brad started to slowly stand back from me....Brad made a good point though, I am pregnant who is going to hurt me!

One thing new that we are experiencing this year is fall. We have been up in Rexburg for the last couple of falls and really haven't experienced a nice string of cool weather and sun. And man is fall great here! The leaves are starting to turn and the colors look amazing. The weather is gorgeous and its October! I do feel bad for those in Rexburg who got snow but man am I happy to be here! We try to get out when it is nice. Here is a couple of pictures of our walk by our house.

And last...we went in for our last ultrasound on Thursday. I was getting nervous because I have had multiple people tell me that I look so small for being so far along. I was worried that he might be too small or he wasn't growing the way he should. But we found out everything is going great. While it isn't a complete accurate measurement the ultrasound had him weighing 5 lbs 6oz. Even if he still weighs a little less I have no idea where this baby is hiding. But everything looks great and things are moving along. The ultrasound tech thinks he could come as early as November 7 but the doctor still thinks November 20th.....I am going with the doctor for now!

At first he didn't want to show his face but after the ultrasound tech pushed him around a little bit he moved!

I think he is a little squished! 

Gettin' All Settled

Well it has been about a two months since we moved to Virginia and things are starting to get in routine! Our apartment is coming along and I am almost finished with decorating and the babies room. I will put up those pictures when I finish. I thought I would show you some before ones (really so you think the after is quite more amazing than it really is) Brad has been working days at the hospital and soon will be switching to nights, he tells some crazy stories but I can tell he is learning a lot!

Brad's birthday was on the 3rd and since he didn't have to work I made him breakfast in bed. I am not a big breakfast maker so it was a miracle I didn't burn anything. It was nice to spend the day with him and I am glad to have such a hard working husband! 

One thing we are learning about the east is that they love their football! Anything from young kids, high school, to Virginia Tech is great to them. The regulars who I see at the YMCA, while I work, love to talk about the local high school team and talk stats. Brad and I decided to go out one Friday and experience all this hoopla about football. Here below is a picture that I took while sitting in the Salem High Schools football field. It is HUGE! The turf is artificial and the stands you see are the guest side, the home is a lot bigger. I can't tell you exactly how many people were there but I can imagine 2,500 people were there. It is a whole town thing!  

This Saturday Brad and I got the chance to help out at a Triathlon that the YMCA put on. It was up at Smith Mountain Lake which is about an hour from where we lived. It was a gorgeous drive and a very pretty state park. We told the participants where to go when they were biking and running, so a lot of pointing and giving directions. Brad and I only got yelled at once for not giving precise directions so I saw we did pretty good! 

And lastly I will give you a little preview of my growing bump! I am 32 weeks and doing well! He has the hiccups a ton and I can feel his movements more strong. I don't feel ready for him to come but get excited when I think about it! Brad has been awesome and has been going with me to a birthing class. He is a great support person! 

Baby Pictures!

I know I said last week I would put up baby pictures and we finally got them scanned in!

Here is his little profile! He did pretty good for the ultrasound.

Here are the 3D pictures the nurse gave us. To me his little nose just looks so cute...but it is my child so I guess I would feel that way. The nurse said that thing that looks like a shiner, in the top picture, is kind of like what it looks like when you press you face up to a mirror. He is a little squished!

And he would not want us to forget that yes he is a boy! Last the nurse said he is measuring in about the 97th percentile in the length of his legs...so we are thinking he might be tall just like his dad!

Some of you have requested to see a profile picture of my growing bump. I wouldn't have one but Brad made me the other night as we were at a park. I am kind of slumped there but you wouldn't see too much if I hadn't. So thank Brad! 

So far things have been going great in Virginia. Brad started his first day at work and I am working at the YMCA in the Wellness Center. I was at a childcare facility but it just wasn't fitting in with my style and stress level. I feel bad for not being able to stay and be a positive influence in the kids lives. But I decided that in this point of my life I need to be the superhero at home, not in the workplace,  as I prepare for this little guy to come. It sure makes me appreciate those moms who stay at home, work, or do both. Moms are amazing!

Virginia is for lovers...and the Closes

Well for a lot of you I have been saying I will create a blog for a long time. It took us moving to Virginia to finally get it going, especially because we are living so far away from everyone we know! But we are here in Roanoke, have an apartment, Brad started work, and I think we are almost settled in. I'll quickly catch everyone up...hopefully with more pictures than words. The past four months we have been living with my parents and done some fun things around Boise.

My parents got a dog...which is crazy because we have never had a pet, ever. My brothers love to play with her and in the 4 months we were there Ella (the dog) and Brad became pretty close. Here is her first bath.

Brad and I did a short hike one weekend, Jump Creek Canyon, and while it was hot outside the water was cold! Brad wanted to swim out there and touch the waterfall, needless to say it was a cold endeavor!

For the Fourth of July we went to Idaho Falls, good thing we did as we moved not long after. We spent time with Brad's mom and his sisters family. We attended a Chukars game...went to one last year too. We ate lots of good food (thanks to the Jensens), watched pretty sweet fireworks, and attended a parade! All in all a great weekend with the fam!

How many adults does it take to get one good picture of a grandchild? :)

Right before we left we went up to the mountains for one last time. We took an afternoon off and since we were leaving soon; took the dog Ella. I am so glad we got to be in the mountains and just relax before the big move. Ella was a pain in the butt to take up and at one point Brad thought it would be smart to try and put her in the raft we brought. In the end we threw her out! We sure are going to miss Idaho but Virginia will bring good stuff too!

We took a week to get out here and I am glad we didn't do it in 3 days. We stopped by Utah to stay with a couple who Brad served with in the mission. They were right by a creek and in the gorgeous mountains. 

From Brad: So being the HOH, I felt a need to add a picture in this here blog thingy.  Ashley had a wonderful trip across the United States and besides trying to play games with her boring husband, took a minor nap here and there.  It had to be captured.  That's the rule:  You fall asleep, you enter the realm of the internet.  She loves me.

We also stopped in Independence to see my grandparents who are serving a mission there. It was great to see what they do, go to Liberty Jail, and the visitors center. Man it was hot the day we were there but we are glad we could see them!

We also stopped and visited my aunt, uncle and their kids in Joplin. Like most of you know a tornado hit there in May. My aunt took us around the town to see the destruction. They have started to rebuild a lot but still some obvious damage. One of the hospitals was destroyed and they are in tents right now like the ones off of Mash. We are glad we could see them and glad they showed us their city. The people of Joplin are truly  faithful and hopeful people!

We stayed in a hotel the first couple days we were in Salem (town outside Roanoke). We got a little stir crazy one night and went to a Salem Red Soxs game. Brad went when he came out to interview and loves baseball. It is a great stadium and we will for sure go again! 

So yep that is us in a nutshell from the last four months. Pictures of the apartment will come soon, as it is still developing. Most of you know that I am pregnant (sorry for those who didn't know) but we had an ultrasound and I will put up some of those pictures! Thanks y'all (get into the southern attitude)