Lost and Found!

Aren't these photos beautiful!
Greg shot them on May 2005 at a family campout at Zion's National Park. Somehow he had lost them, but he still had the memory card they were originally shot on (long since deleted).

So Greg found a data recovery service and they were able to recover almost all the photos he had lost! (about 30 photos)

Don't you just love modern technology?

33 Weeks Down, 7 to Go!

Here we are at 33 weeks and I wanted to let anyone who cared know what I've been going through lately.

Recently I have ballooned out - from the stomach and down! I'll post another belly photo in September so everyone can check out my girth. I'm a bit swollen and even my feet jiggle. Not a fun feeling.

I am still walking an hour six days a week, but it's getting harder to do. I get tired and my stomach pretty much stays contracted the whole time. At least I'm not getting side aches anymore, since I started drinking a big glass of water with each meal. Probably was dehydrated.

I have to go to the bathroom 10 times a day, which is about every two hours. Other discomforts I have are; occasional heartburn, occasional insomnia, and Toby kicking my delicate organs. Really, I don't have very many complaints. Although Greg might say otherwise! I like to keep him informed on every little twinge. :)

Doctor Anderson thinks that everything seems to be going well, and is still scheduling appointments a month apart. But I'm sure after the next appointment he'll start seeing me more often. I'm really not fond of doctors, but this one seems okay.

Greg and I are so anxious to meet our Toby! It's almost as if we are waiting for Christmas to come.

Time is dragging by!

No Such Luck

Two weeks after getting my hopes up, my contact at Rio Tinto dashed them again, telling me that Kennecott will be promoting from within. That's a bit of a disappointment both on the pay and location fronts.

However, there are some good bits of news along with it.

First, we aren't in desperate need of a job, so this isn't a big hit to us and we're not panicking. So, yeah, we have to stay in Vernal for a while longer, but it's not like we're not making a good living--well, decent, anyway.

Secondly, I now have a contact at Rio Tinto, and therefore Kennecott, that I can check in with from time to time and submit my resume to from time to time. So there's potential to the future.

In the meantime, I'm going to be going to a couple of conferences over the next few months where I'll be making (hopefully) several professional contacts. That networking should help me to be able to get a different position back in SLC area at some point. Who knows, I've even heard that Herriman has expanded its staff from 1 to 6 over the past 3 years, and with continued growth in the area, it wouldn't surprise me if they end up needing more in the near future. So, I'm keeping my hopes up, my options open, my resume out there, and my eyes and ears pealed for new opportunities.

Our Baby Checklist

For those of you going to my baby shower that would like a hint of what Greg and I need/desire that we haven't bought ourselves, I'm posting this list of things we don't have:

For the Nursery-

Mobile, Digital Clock, Diaper Pail, Hamper, Toy Box, Crib Blankets, Receiving Blankets, Toys,

Baby Boy Clothes, all Sizes (and shoes, socks, etc)

Health and Safety-

Medicine Dispenser, Outlet Covers, Safety Gate, Thermometer, Cabinet Latches, Baby Medicines (like Tylenol), And whatever else we need; we don't have anything at all from this category

Toiletries-

Diapers (cloth or disposable), Diaper Pins, Diaper Rash Ointment, Diaper Bag, Shampoo, Lotion,

Baby Wipes, Wash Cloths, Nail Clippers, Brush/Comb, Bath Tub, And whatever else we need; we don't have anything at all from this category either

Feeding-

Baby Bottles, Bottle Brush, Bottle Nipples, Bibs, Bottle Sterilizer (?), Pacifier (?), Breast Pump (?), Nursing Coverup (?), Formula (?), High Chair, We don't have anything from this category either! And I'm not really sure what is needed.

Miscellaneous-

Quiet/Church Books and Toys, Portable Playpen/Crib

So that's what we don't have. In certain categories (Feeding, Toiletries, and Health and Safety) I'm sure there are useful and essential items I don't know about and have not put on this list.

Oh, and in case anyone wants to know, we have decorated the nursery in Purple, Green, Yellow, White, and Black. Only about 60 days left to go! Wish me luck with the delivery! :)

Going Home Outfit (Tentative)

I was checking out the "October 2007 Babies" message board on Baby Center online, and there was a post of the "going home outfits" that the pregnant women had picked out for when their baby will be born.

So I decided to post mine on the Ilene Report. I picked out a newborn size (left) and a bigger, warmer size (right). Bottom left corner is a baby blanket.

However, I haven't had a baby shower yet, so most likely this outfit will change. If it does, I'll post that one too!

The Baby Swing!

Okay, Greg and I are trying to spend our money wisely and not buy extravagant baby stuff. But this was the only swing that was electric!

Plus we loved the bright colors and neat features. The seat swivels so Toby can rock from side-to-side or from front-to-back. It plays music or jungle noises, and the mobile moves around.

It cost $100. At least we won't be buying batteries for it all the time!

A Better Belly Shot

Here is a better shot of my 7 month pregnancy. 31 weeks have passed!

Another Move?

I got a very interesting and unexpected email the other day. It was from a recruiter at a company called Rio Tinto, trying to fill a position with one of their companies, Kennecott Lands. Working for Kennecott Lands in their development projects is basically a dream job for me. I even tried to send them a resume earlier this year. So I was really excited to get the email, which I almost deleted without reading.

What are the chances of this actually materializing into a full on job? I don't really know. But, this could really be good for us. It would mean more money. It would mean living closer to family. It would mean living closer to some resources which we miss since moving out here. It would mean having a lower cost of living, particularly in rent, than we have in Vernal during this boom. It would mean being closer to BYU campus, which could really help in terms of finishing my thesis and MS degree.

Are there downsides? Sure. We would have to move again. It would mean leaving a job that I really like for one which I'm not so sure I would like. And I would feel a little bad about leaving Naples so soon after starting here.

But, I think the risks are well worth it. And, with regard to any loyalty to Naples, it's a greater responsibility to do what's right for my family.

So, if when I interview for the position it seems like this will be a job I would like to do, and if the job is offered to me, I'm going to take it.

Without trying to get my hopes up, this does seem like an answer to prayers. Money things are tight, especially as I start to look at repaying student loans. So we've been praying for help in these financial matters. Also, living in Vernal has been hard, particularly on Ilene, who would like to live closer to family, closer to good stores, and closer to a good library system. So this seems like an answer to prayers in that it would provide us with an opportunity to move back to the Salt Lake area. Especially considering the way in which I opened the email by mistake when I meant to delete it, and reading it instead of hitting back and deleting it, it seems to me that I see the hand of Providence moving and acting in our behalf.

Pregnancy, Aug 2007

Well, only 2 months left to go! This picture doesn't do my big belly justice. I swear I'm way bigger than that - at least it feels like it!

I have already gained 30 pounds! If I get pregnant again, I'll know what to do differently so I don't gain so much. In order to try to slow down the weight gain, I walk for an hour 6 days a week. It's been working, thank goodness! I'm hoping to gain only 5 more pounds before the baby comes - wishful thinking, I know!

Pioneer Day

For pioneer day, Ilene and I decided we would head up to Flaming Gorge, which is only 40 miles from where we're living in Vernal. It was a really nice day. I'm posting some photos from our trip.

DAM!!!

The most amazing thing that happened was when we were just about to eat lunch, out of nowhere we were attacked by this Sith. Ilene and I fought him off, but he got away.