A New Post, But Quick-like!

I am sad that I haven't posted in a while, so I am updating. It has been nuts around here, but in a good way! My whole family came up for Christmas, which was fun, and will get some more attention later. My Mom and brother Preston are still here. Preston is moving to Provo, and we are so happy about it! My mom is just staying until Jan 9th, to help out me and Preston get settled in our new roles.
I also got to see my aunt Emily for an afternoon, which was so much fun! She is pregnant with twins, and is getting so big! She also took some pictures of Finn, which I cannot wait to see! (And Emily, if you are reading this, I also want all the bad photos. And you don't have to edit them.)
And to end, some new pictures of Finn. He is getting much more chunky, which is weird, but also fun. It's strange to think that he is still smaller than most people's babies when they are born. I can't imagine having to give birth to a baby that big! But I guess I will get a chance to later. Hopefully not.
Grandpa and Finn taking a snooze together!
Grandma and Finn. She is loving this!
Daddy and Finn. Finn loves to sprawl out. How he can sleep like that, I have no idea.
Mommy and Finn. This has to be one of my favorites. He was sleeping with his hand up like that.
Finn is getting a little chunkier, huh? And he looks so much like his dad!
I love this picture of Finn! He is such a sweetheart! He has a huge mouth, huh? I think he might get it from his mom. Poor guy! :)

Amanda is... !!

Yes, it is really true!! I am pregnant, and we are really really excited about it! Here is what we know so far:

Due Date: Christmas Eve (I am not too thrilled about having a Christmas baby, and am really hoping I deliver early. Like somewhere between the 11th and the 18th would be great!)

Weeks along: Eleven, currently. I just had my first appointment on Monday, which was super cool! I loved hearing the heartbeat!! 150 BPM, if anyone wants to know!

Sex: We are not planning on finding out. That is the plan, but it is easy to stick to when you don't have a choice. It will be harder when we could know RIGHT THEN!

Other information- Jason is really shooting for multiples, but we won't find that out until the 20 week ultrasound. We were hoping that we would find out yesterday, but they said when they are that small it's impossible to know from the heartbeat if there is more than one baby.

I have been feeling really good. I don't have any morning sickness at all, which is really surprising. I guess you just always expect to get all the bad symptoms! Other than that, I am super tired, and I can't sleep at all. Not on my stomach, not on my back, and I have to wake up about every hour to flip sides. Not so fun. I am also extremely weepy and emotional. We went to see UP last night, and I cried at least six times. It was WAY too sad for me! Although, I haven't cried at a commercial yet, so that is good!

My Mom, Dad, and brothers are all way excited. I got some funny reactions out of them- especially out of Logan. I told him I was pregnant, and he was like: That's cool! I need a girlfriend! And then he said the same thing to my mom when she talked to him about it. I laughed. My mom has become a baby quilting machine. She even has a broken wrist, and she has already embroidered 6 and the partial squares (from the last time she gave me a count which was more than a week ago) and every time I talk to her she tells me about some new cute blanket pattern or fabric she bought. It is really quite funny! And my dad is way excited. He told my mom that he thinks about the baby ALL the time, if he isn't thinking about anything else. He has always talked about being a grandpa, even when I was little. Needless to say, it will be a very spoiled baby, no doubt!
Me at 9.5 weeks. I think I am already showing. I wish I had a good comparison photo, but I lost all that weight, so I didn't have a current one.

What a glorious day!

I had the most amazing experience this evening, and I just wanted to share it, as I am practically bursting with happiness. As most of you know, Logan (my brother) and I have been on the outs for years. I mean YEARS. We absolutely hated each other when we were both living at home. After I moved out, we barely tolerated each other. There was no more fighting, but we just ignored each other. No eye contact or anything. Then, as I mature a little bit, I began to direct basic questions at him or join into conversations that he was a part of. He would ignore me completely and act like I hadn't said anything. Then we got to the point that he would answer me, but not look at me while he did it. At that point I actually called him on his birthday even though I was terrified to do it. I felt on top of the world. Before tonight, we were on casual greeting terms. It was really difficult, because I wanted to have a relationship with him, but it's really hard to overcome all those years. Especially since he was was not interested.

But this evening, he sent me a text message. Out of the blue. It read:
Hey sister. I know we have had our issues, but I really miss you. I miss the whole family. I can't wait till the next time we have Thanksgiving.

Honestly, I cried. And as I am writing this, I am tearing up again. I of course responded, and we had a few passed texts. But honestly, I think this is the first time he has instigated a conversation since I was probably 8. Unless you count yelling and name-calling, which I don't. I know how hard it must have been for him to send me that text, and I am so glad he did! I just feel like life is all of a sudden brighter and more hopeful. Honestly, I don't think I knew how much it was hurting me until all of a sudden I feel like it's being resolved.
I just feel so full of love, and it makes me think that this must be how Heavenly Father and Christ feel when we are renewing our relationships with them. I know that I have not been very good at my own relationship with my Heavenly Father, but I am now going to try harder and harder.
There is nothing like the feeling of regaining a loved one, you guys. I have never felt anything so amazing in my life. So, even though I am sure Logan would be mortified if he ever read this, I just had to share and document such a powerful feeling. Don't give up hope. If you keep working at it, even though it seems hopeless, it will come around eventually.
I love you all so much, and I am so grateful for your part in my life. I am sure you don't realize what an impact you have on me, but thanks for being there for me anyway!