Spring Break

This week has been Mark's spring break and it has been so much fun just spending time with each other.  That boy is truly my best friend and I don't know what I would do without him.

It dawned on me last night that we are CRAZY that we didn't plan our 2012 Berning Family Vacation for this week.  It would have been PERFECT!  According to our tradition - that granted we just started last year - this year's trip was supposed to be to South Carolina.  We had actually already planned what we kind of wanted to do, but seeing as our little guy is coming smack-dab in the middle of summer, it makes things a little trickier.  So we've been thinking of other vacations we could do that are closer-ish.  We decided instead of South Carolina we would do South Dakota.  Little fact that I was completely unaware of - we are only five hours from Mount Rushmore.  Who knew?!  Anyway, I am now just realizing that I have no idea why I am rambling on about this - but now we are planning on attempting to make this trip the middle-end of August, right before Mark goes to school.  It should be pretty low-key but we will see what happens.

ANYWAY - on to spring break!  So honestly, I don't know where the week went!  We had kind of made a mental list of things we could do this week but now looking back on it we didn't do too much.  But we still had fun.  I think we were just enjoying being able to sleep in, me continuing to feel better, and just relaxing at home.  Most of the time it just felt like the day slipped away from us.

But we did go and do some shopping which was fun.  Mark is such a good sport about shopping.  I had started to get a little worried that we honestly had bought NOTHING for our little guy yet.  The main reason is that we have literally NO PLACE to put anything - especially anything big.  But then I started thinking - first of all I don't want to financially kill us (or at least have it feel that way) and have to go buy everything all at once.  Plus, there is always the off chance that he will come early and then we will really find ourselves in a pickle.  Anyway, so we went and bought some clothes for our little man.  Of course I have been eying these every time I go to the store, but it was fun to actually buy some.  It was a little funny because Mark and I kept having to have the same conversation over and over in the baby section.  Mostly on why he needs so many clothes - specifically onesies.  Haha, I just kept trying to explain that babies spit up, poop, ALL of that fun stuff and they could go through more than one outfit a day very easily.  Oh boys.  But as long as we got a lot of sports themed onesies he seemed to go along with it just fine.  :)

It is CRAZY to me how small the newborn stuff is compared to the three month!  This is all I could convince Mark to get - maybe next time I will have to go by myself :)

Mark and I both couldn't resist these outfits - he was ALL over the overalls and I will have to demonstrate A LOT of self control not to dress our little guy in a little plaid shirt every day - baby clothes are way too cute!

We had fun just looking around at different stores and browsing.  Mark is such a trooper that way and was even leading the shopping effort at times.  We also went and saw two different movies this week.  We kind of spur of the moment went and saw John Carter.  It actually was a lot better then I was anticipating - way different then I think the trailer portrayed it.  Also, we went and saw The Hunger Games on Friday morning.  One thing that is nice about Denver is it doesn't seem like there is as much hype about stuff like that like there is in Utah.  We just showed up at the theater twenty minutes before it started and got our tickets and were second row middle.  Doesn't get much better then that!  We both really liked the movie and can't wait to read the other books.

The biggest thing by far we did this week was go to the Denver Zoo.  It was a lot of fun and I think I can safely say was the longest I have ever been at a zoo before.  We didn't think it would be that busy going on a Thursday but boy were we wrong.  It is mommy and stroller central there!  But we still had a ton of fun.  Mark and I are made to go to museums and things like this together because we are exactly the same.  We like to read all of the signs and watch the animals probably longer then most.  But it is great because neither one of us feels rushed or anything.  We just kept thinking how excited we were to come back with our little guy someday.  It will just make it that much more fun.

Mark and I both decided that the best part of the zoo was at the very end.  We swung back up because we thought we had missed one of the houses and we got a little surprise.  Inside is where they kept one of the hippos named Berty.  He is absolutely massive!  He is 55 years old (10 years older then the average hippo apparently) and has fathered 30 hippos in his lifetime.  They keep him inside in this heated pool because he is old and his son (who is outside in the main exhibit) kind of beats up on him.  Though Mark and I cannot imagine that at all because Berty is WAY bigger then his son.

The reason we know all of this is because we got there right when a zookeeper was feeding him.  There was only us and two other girls so we were pretty up close and personal.  Once he was done feeding him we waited for a while while the zookeeper got ready and then he came out to do some training and to clean and saw off some of his molars.  This probably isn't all that interesting - but it was to us.  It was fun just to see him do some more things then sleep.  Who would have thought a hippo could be so cute?

Our new friend Berty - P.S. there was NO zoom on this, this is how close we were, it was pretty awesome

Berty doing his "training"

Getting his cleaning done :)

Mark and I also had a good time this week experimenting with a new app we got on his phone.  It basically is just a GPS and tracks your path and how long you have walked/run.  We first used this at the zoo.  I will tell you what - our path looks pretty crazy.  We had fun making different guesses as to how far we had gone and so forth.  Our "time" at the zoo was definitely not impressive (we were walking less then a mile an hour!) but I guess that shows how long we were taking to read all of the signs :) 
-I tried to upload a picture of our route but I can't figure it out - oh technology-

The weather this week has been SO nice - well actually the last couple of weeks have been AMAZING.  We have enjoyed going on LOTS of walks around our little "apartment community."  There is this man-made lake that is all around it which is really pretty and it is the perfect little walk.

Anyway, it has been a great week.  I am sorry that I have probably rambled on and on way more then I should have in this post - thanks for being patient.  But I am a quite sad that Mark has to go back to school but I guess it has to happen.  We are so grateful for every day we get to spend with each other.  Love that man.

--P.S. I promise this was not intentionally done but I realize we did not get any pictures of us - oops - one of these days we will get better at that again --

We are Moving!

This week has been Mark's spring break and it has been SO much fun just to spend every day together.  I truly never get sick of being around that boy.  But I will add another post talking about what we did.  

Mostly we are excited because we went and talked to the leasing office at our apartment "community" and figured out what we are going to be doing in the next couple of months.  Right now, we are in a one bedroom apartment - which we love - but is going to be WAY too tight for us once our little guy comes.  

We looked around at some other apartments but truly, nothing else quite measured up.  We LOVE living here.  And even though there are definitely cheaper apartments out there, we didn't want to sacrifice the area, security, and all of the other things we love about living here.  We know we love living here - so why mess with a good thing?  

Anyway, the only problem was that right now we are in a twelve-month lease in our apartment, that doesn't end until July 23.  Our little guy is anticipated to make his grand entrance at the end of June and we were just thinking that if there was any way of getting around moving with a newborn - we would take it!  

Everything worked out perfectly!  I don't think we could have asked for anything more.  Since we are still staying in the apartment "community" they are letting us move apartments before our lease is up.  AND there just happens to be a two-bedroom in the floor plan that we were looking at in the same building we are already in (there are 22 buildings in the community)!  AND it is available the week after Mark gets down with school so we can move right in with a month to spare!  WOOT WOOT!

Seriously, it couldn't have worked out better.  We are so excited.  It is on the second floor - which may kill Mark since I doubt I will be much help in the actual moving of things seeing as I will be eight months pregnant - but we are excited to move up to the second floor.  Plus our balcony overlooks the lake/grass area around us rather then the parking lot, so yet another plus!

We are so excited!  So if anyone wants to come help us move May 19th - We (Mark especially) would love you forever! :)

Little Peanut's Checkup

So today Mark and I had a checkup for our little guy.  We have been anxiously awaiting this checkup this last month because we were hoping to have some things resolved.  When we had gone in for our "anatomy ultrasound" the radiologist did find a potential problem with his heart.  He was so nice and helpful in explaining things to me (as anything medical is definitely not my forte) and tried to reassure me that even worse-case scenario could be fixed with surgery once the baby comes.  For the most part I have been really calm about this this last month - but you still never want to think that there is something that could hurt your little one down the road.  

ANYWAY, the radiologist wanted us to come back in a month to take another look at his heart to see if there were any changes and have it looked at by a cardiac pediatrician - that was today's appointment.  Mark was able to come to this appointment which I was so grateful for, just to have him there plus he just understands all of that stuff more then I do.  This one wasn't quite as "fun" because we were just looking at the heart and I had no idea pretty much what we were looking or listening to most of the time (lots of swishing noises) but they checked all things with the heart.  

GOOD NEWS!  Everything with our little bundle is looking good.  The pediatrician said that they can't say 100% that there isn't going to be a problem (just because of how the heart works, once he is born there are different strains on different sections and that kind of thing) but that as far as she can tell everything is looking fine.  She is having me come in again in six weeks just to take another look but even then she won't be able to say "for sure" one way or the other.  She just said that they would check his little heart once he is born to make sure and really until then, there is nothing else much we can do.  

I am taking this as a huge PLUS!  His chances of having a problem are just as much as anyone else right now (she said that with any baby - you never know for sure until they are born), so no more worrying for me.  

Just because we were there, I did ask if we could get another picture of our little guy - I just couldn't resist :)  As always, he was be-bopping all over the place during our whole visit, but we got a slightly more detailed picture of his face.  He kept putting his hands over his heart while they were trying to get pictures and then he has his little feet up by his head in this picture.  Oh brother...

 

We can't wait for him to get here!!!  

Please time move faster...even just a little bit...

One Year Anniversary

Yesterday was Mark and I's one year anniversary and it is absolutely CRAZY to me!  I have pretty much decided that I do not understand time at all.  In so many ways it seems like it has flown by - but actually mostly it seems crazy to me that it has only been a year.  And WOW...has it been a crazy year!!!

A year ago we were married in the beautiful Salt Lake Temple...pretty sure it was the best and easiest decision I have ever made - I just hope eternity is long enough with this fellow of mine.  

We moved into our first place - also known as Kabin #300 at the Bear Lake KOA.  Haha, how many people can say that there first home together was on a campground in an itty-bitty cabin?  It was a great month though - definitely good memories.  

Yet another move - this time to our castle on the lake.  Well, maybe calling it a castle is a little much, but to us, it felt like a castle.  We had TONS of room, a stunning view of the lake right from our backyard, and also - a lot of great memories.  We miss Garden City.  

 I graduated from Utah State University in Elementary Eduction.  LOVED going to Utah State!

Berning Family Vacation 2011 to Arizona.  So much fun - loved every moment of this trip.  We fell in love with the Grand Canyon State.  Can't wait for more vacations in the future!

Our THIRD move of the year - this one to Denver.  Crazy where life takes you - but it has been a wonderful experience for Mark and I as a couple, really makes you learn to depend and rely on one another.  

Mark began his first year of pharmacy school at the University of Colorado.  He loves it - loves the program, teachers, other students, the whole shebang.  What more could you ask for?

We found out we were going to add a little kiddo to our family!  Couldn't be more excited about this!  Now if time could just move a little faster so that they can get here sooner!

I got a job at Montclair Elementary School for a whopping SIX DAYS!  It was a good experience and really opened my eyes to some things that I feel better for knowing now.  Only wish that maybe I could have stayed a little longer and help more financially - but what can you do?

And that is our year in a nutshell.  Seems like SO much has happened - what a first year?!  I hope things slow down a little bit this next year, but I am guessing with this little one, life is only going to get crazier - but a good kind of crazier :)

Our anniversary this year landed on Sunday and so we did the bulk of our celebrating on Saturday evening.  We were able to go out to Outback Steakhouse for dinner - and we stuffed ourselves silly.  It was SO good.  We came home and rearranged our front room and set up our air mattress.  We decided to have a little sleepover in the front room.  

Some of us are already a little tuckered out...

 We watched some of our wedding videos and had a good time reminiscing and laughing at some of the pictures.  We had fun looking at our "Growing Up" video especially imagining what our little guy is going to look like.  We are fairly positive that he is going to have the chubbiest cheeks you will ever see because we both had some pretty big chunks on our face.  Haha, we had a good time.  

My mom was also WAY on top of things and saved the top of our wedding cake and froze it for us.  When my Dad came last week he left it with us and we were able to eat a slice of our wedding cake.  I'll tell you what - I remember it tasting better :)  But we did each have a couple bites and it was a fun little memory. 

 We ended the night cuddled up watching "African Cats."  I had bought this earlier that day as a surprise - probably more for me than Mark, but as Mark insisted later that night "he loves animals!" so I guess it was good for both of us.  It is a Disney documentary type movie about lions and cheetahs.  We loved it, and decided that we would be very happy to have a baby lion or cheetah in heaven. :)  They were adorable.

  

 The next morning, Mark woke up early and made a feast for breakfast.  It was so yummy and I LOVED it.  

Again, I am so grateful for the amazing first year that Mark and I have shared together.  I feel incredibly blessed every day to be with him.  I love that our Heavenly Father is in charge - His timing and His knowledge of us is incredible.  I truly know that He knows us better than we do and I am grateful that He brought Mark and I together.  He is definitely the perfect man for me.  

One year down...eternity to go...

Daddy Daughter Time

Yesterday was a GOOD day!  My Dad never has business trips/meetings here in Denver, but I am selfishly very glad that this changed yesterday for him.  This was pretty much a fluke that he got sent here, so I am not anticipating it happening again anytime soon, but I was so grateful to be able to spend some time with him. 

My Dad was only here for the day and was only able to stay at our apartment for about an hour and chat, but boy oh boy, did I love it.  It seems so silly, but it is just so nice to see family.  Plus, this was the first time that anyone from my family was able to come here and so I was a pretty happy camper. 

There really isn't much to say about the visit - like I said, it only lasted about an hour, but I was so grateful for that even short amount of time.  I have always had a great relationship with my Dad and I know that that is a huge blessing in and of itself.  I look up to my Dad so much and I have always been a bit of a daddy's girl.  I love that man and I am grateful to be his daughter. 

I have just been thinking a lot about our little chat we had this morning and that led me into reminiscing about different memories I have with my Dad.  So...forgive me, but here are just some pictures that I love of my Dad and I growing up.  So here's to you Dad, thanks for making time for me yesterday, it meant more then I can say. 

I promise - I really do love my Dad :)

I actually think the real winning part in this picture is how Melina is sitting...

Always Daddy's little helper

Daddy-Daughter backpacking trips - some of the best memories I have growing up

I love you Dad - thanks for always being there for me

Happy Love Day

This year was about the most relaxed Valentine's Day one could imagine.  Most would say it was pretty hard to distinguish it from any other day in the Berning home.  Mark had two quizzes for the next day to study for and so there wasn't a lot of time for "fun and love."  But we did have a yummy dinner and I splurged and bought some cookies n' cream ice cream (this does not happen a lot because we go through it WAY too fast!).  We were able to just sit down and cuddle for awhile and talk about life when we were dating and just how even in the short (almost) year we have been married our relationship has changed.  So glad we get to grow closer to one another every day.  Mark also surprised me with a new book!  This was definitely unexpected and thoughtful - I don't remember ever even mentioning that I wanted this book, but he got it perfect! We spent the rest of the evening after dinner reading on the couch (my good book - his boring "Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs") and it was just nice in all of its simplicity. 

Mostly I am just grateful for every day I get to be in love with Mark.  I know...am I getting too gushy?  But honestly, I feel so blessed with how my life has been with him apart of it every day.  He really is my best friend and I couldn't imagine my life without him.  Love that boy.  Hope everyone had a great love day!

It's a BOY!!!

IT'S A BOY!!!  It is SO crazy to me still!  I keep looking at our pictures of our little one and can hardly believe it.  We are ecstatic about everything!  It is all just an incredible feeling.

Yesterday morning I was able to go to the doctor and have my "anatomy ultrasound."  We were kind of bummed because Mark has been able to come to every visit but we could never seem to work out a time for this visit that would work with his school schedule.  I was dying to tell him!

One of the first thing the nurse that was doing my ultrasound asked was whether or not we wanted to know the gender.  I don't know how people wait!  I can definitely see the fun in waiting, but I guess I am just not that patient!  :)

Hopefully this is "blog appropriate" :)

And I was so glad that that was practically the first thing she showed me.  It was funny because we had been kind of asking our families what their predictions were and it seemed like "logically" we were in for a little girl.  My family has only done girls and out of the eighteen grandkids on Mark's side, only four are boys.  Mark and I both had been pretty quiet on how we were feeling.  We didn't want to be wrong!  But it actually did help me learn to trust in myself a little more.  I had been feeling boy for awhile now, but again, "logically" it just didn't seem like it would probably happen.  And to be honest, I was happy with WHOEVER!

Point being, we were very pleasantly surprised to find out we were having a boy.  It was incredible to be able to see all of the little parts of our little one.  But he is actually not that little.  He is actually quite a chunky monkey!  Both the nurse and the radiologist that came in later kept asking me if we were sure about dates.  We are positive.  The reasons they were asking is because our little boy is HUGE!  Just as a point of reference, right now he is supposed to be measuring about five ounces - he is eleven!  That is a HUGE difference in baby land.

It was pretty funny the conversation that continued with the radiologist.  He was asking me how tall I was, how tall Mark was, etc.  Neither of us are tall people.  However, it seems the Berning clan has had bigger babies, so this baby is 100% Berning.  Since we were positive about the dates though, the radiologist said he wouldn't officially change my due date yet but is fairly positive that this baby will have to come early.  He says at the current rate he is at least ten days ahead of schedule.  WHOA!  I told him I am completely fine with coming early as long as he is ready.  He said that they would probably end up inducing me if I didn't come early because otherwise he would be too big for me to handle.  Oh geez...

He kept talking about it so much that I started to worry that we were going to make the news or something for our chunky baby.  I finally jokingly asked him, "Am I going to make the news with some 14-pound baby or something?"  He just laughed and said, "we'll get you going before that happens."  FINE BY ME!  Haha, anyway, it's good to know that my poor health the last couple of months hasn't seemed to effect this little guy at all - he is just feasting in there!

Anyway, it was a great experience.  The nurse kept laughing because he was bouncing all over the place.  It took her forever to get the pictures and measurements of all his different parts because he was so "active."  It was fun to watch.  He was a little turkey though, because we were never able to get a good picture of his face!  They had me rolling over and trying all sorts of things to get him to settle down but once we finally got the image on where his face should be, he kept his hands up covering his face the whole time.  What a kid!  Anyway, we have a LOT of really great images of his hands and arms.  Maybe later we can get one of his face!  :)

His cute little hand

His little feet that were just wiggling around

Our "attempt" at a picture of his face with his hands blocking everything

We are obviously thrilled to know that he is growing healthy and it appears that he is quite "happy" bouncing around in there.  We can't wait for our little guy to get here!

The "best" picture we could get of his face - what a turkey!