Our New House!

About 3 weeks ago Ryan and I were able to move into our new little home. We are just renting this place, but we have quickly made it our own and love it. It is in Milan, MI which is about 10 minutes south of Saline, where we were living with his parents and where Ryan works. It is a small town, but very cozy. We are very grateful for this new place to set up our home for our little girl joining us shortly!

This red car is not ours, we share a driveway with the house in front of ours. I don't even think this car has moved since we moved here.

View of the front door. There is a coat closet to the left and a washer and dryer in the closet thing you can see to the left.

This is the view from the front door. We painted that accent wall where the kitty cove is and where one day my piano (when we get one) will go.

View from that accent wall. Our bedroom is to the left and the bathroom is through the kitchen to the left. We are very grateful for all the wonderful friends and family who have helped us furnish our home. 3 weeks ago we had none of these things you see here!

I have always wanted a "lellow" kitchen, so Ryan and his brother Scott painted making my dream come true! It matches my kitchen aide so well too!

We also painted the bathroom to match the shower curtain.

Our blue accent wall Ryan painted in our room. Ryan was such a good hubby painting and helping me organize for the last couple weeks. It has really helped satisfy my nesting urges!

The upstairs is one big bungalow style room. We will eventually have a sectional with tv up here too. Right now it works well for a study/baby room for us!

Other angle of upstairs with the crib and changing table. She is coming soon! I am getting excited!

Merry Christmas!

We had a very relaxing but wonderful Christmas this year spent at Ryan's parent's house. It was filled with yummy food, gifts, food, movie, food, and another movie, then topped off with a little more yummy food! How could you go wrong with a day like that?!

Ryan and I got a many wonderful things for our new house, a vacuum being one that was badly needed!

Scott and Papa Stoi got each other the same book for Christmas. Think they are related or something?

Baron was the life of the party as he snacked on his new bone and played with his new toys:)

Thanksgiving in Baltimore with Little Brother!

Here is little brother Scott. We all drove out to Baltimore, MD to be with him for Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful couple of days. We ate LOTS of good food, played LOTS of Wii and just had a blast being together.

Me and Mama Jigs. Isn't she so beautiful?! I think I got the best in-laws in the world!

Me and my wonderful hubby. My face is so puffy! Only 2 more months though! We can't wait to be parents to this little lady! Ryan is going to be such a good Daddy!

Here is my belly at 30 weeks. She is getting to be such a big girl!

Our Sealing!

Well everything finally fell into place and Ryan and I were sealed together for eternity in the Chicago IL, Temple on October 17th, 2008. It was truly an amazing experience that we will never forget. The sealer said it was the most "intimate" sealing he had ever done, and considering there were just 4 guest I guess it was pretty small. Like he said though, we know that there were many more people there with us, not just the ones in person. Steve and Kori were wonderful enough to attend with us and let let us come stay with them, and my mom and dad flew in also. It was an incredible weekend full of kids, sports and apple orchards! Here are a few more pics from our Chicago weekend!

Ryan and his little Emma. Emma kept saying that Ryan gives the BEST hugs and kisses...I would have to agree with her!

Me and my Lizzie! Isn't she so adorable!



At the apple orchard. Seeing those 2 girls riding in the wagon was so precious!


There was a very LARGE rocking chair at the orchard. Here you can definitely see the belly popping out :) and the swelling in my face, but I don't like to focus on that:(

Our Little Girl!

We had our 20 wk ultra sound today and it couldn't have been more fun. It is for sure a girl and she was moving all over the place. She definitely already has her own personality and was NOT willing to cooperate with the nurse very well. She was curled up facing my spine at the beginning and did NOT want to roll over so we could see her profile. It took shaking my belly (giving her an earthquake as it looked on the screen), then me rolling on my side to get her to roll over. Once she finally did, she wouldn't stop sucking her thumb so we could get a good profile. I already knew she was an evening baby because I never feel movement until then, so it was obvious she wasn't happy with us waking her up this morning!:) Mike and Laurie were there with us, so that was very fun to share it with them. Mike asked the nurse if she had brown or blond hair, and the nurse looking at Ryan and then I said she had NO clue:) I guess we will find out soon enough. It was truly wonderful an amazing experience to see her and feel closer with her. We can't wait till she joins us! If you look in the picture you can see her two little hands up against the sides of her head. For those of you who haven't heard her name is Lorilyn Morgan Stoianowski. She is named after her Grandma Jigs (Laurie) (we are spelling it Lori though), her Grandma Bird (Marilyn) and her aunt Lynette (Lyn). I combined them together and loved it!

Here is a picture of my growing belly. I really am expanding by the day!

Hair Cuts!

Well both Bubba, our cat, and I got hair cuts. I decided I wanted to donate my hair so here is the before and after pics!

Before

After
Yes I know I am looking pregnant!

Bubba is a long hair cat and was having a hard time keeping hair ball free so we took it to the vet and they gave him a haircut! Now he is our little lion cub. They kept his head and paws fluffy. He's so cute!

Latest Dr Apt!

We got home from CA on Sunday and Tuesday I had my next ultra sound. I am almost 14 weeks so the baby actually looks like a baby! The baby was moving all over doing the coolest dances we have seen! It was so wonderful to see everything is going great and the baby is just getting bigger.

The "Special Place" of the Campground

Yes this is the bathroom right by our campsite. It was a place many people became greatly acquainted with for 13 of the 15 people got a 24 hour stomach flu. Yuck!! Ryan decided to wake up the whole campground at 5:00AM with his sounds echoing in the stall as he unloaded his stomach!

July 31st- Day 3 of Tahoe Camping

Day 3 of camping was very fun and tiring. We first went on a hike up to Angora Lake which was beautiful, but the uphill walk was somethin for this pregnant lady! We had a fun time playing there and drinking their famous lemonade, then we returned and went to the beaches of Lake Tahoe to play!

Ryan helped take care of Lizzy in the morning as Kori helped with breakfast. Seriously, how cute can you be?! Kori said she has never seen a man so baby hungry as Ryan. I keep tellin him I am working on it but he thinks I need to gestate this baby quicker!:)

Part of the hike to Lake Angora. Those are the family spread out along the trail.

A shady spot to rest along the trail. Can you see my bump?!

Guy talk in the water of Lake Tahoe. Ryan, Steve and Jason. I am sure they are talking about something VERY important...like fantasy football or something:)

July 30th- Day 2 of Camping in Tahoe

This was probably the slowest of our days together. We had some people not feeling too well so we mostly hung out and did just a little site seeing. It was still wonderful being together and enjoying the beautiful sights.

"Oh how I hate to get up in the morning..." It was a little chilly in the mornings and Lynette was a little tired from her little one teething and not sleeping much! Doesn't he look like Gumby?:)

I can't remember what these cabins were called but it was a place that was first built as the settlers moved into the Tahoe area. We were all wishing in the well. Don't even ask, I can't tell you my wish or it wont come true!

Ryan and I on the shores of the lake.

That evening we all went swimming in the pool at the campground so we could all get de-stinkafied. I think it worked a little, but not much:) These are the 2 babes, Stephen's daughter Lizzy and Lynette's son Michael.

July 29th- Day 1 of Camping in Tahoe

From Tuesday to Friday the whole Bird clan took off for Tahoe for an adventure-filled few days. This was the first day which was mainly just settling in.

Ryan and my home away from home.

Ryan spent lots of time entertaining the kids. Isn't he the best Uncle?! This is with Andrew, Lizzy and Emma.

Megan and I relaxing. Megan was so happy Uncle Ryan let her wear his hat. We are in the process of trying to convince all the kids parents and Michigan is the place to be!

Megan decided she REALLY wanted to do my hair... There are 2 pigtails and then 2 random strands hanging down the front. I should hire her full time dont you think?:)

We finished each day gathering around the fire, singing songs and laughing. This was Ryan's first experience with the Bird Family Singers so it was a new experience for him!

July 28th- San Francisco!

Ryan had never been to San Francisco so he and I were able to slip away for just a couple hours and quickly get an overview of the highlights of the city. It was a fun but fast trip.

View as you drive in across the Bay Bridge. Just a normal foggy day in the bay.

Ryan standing in front of Pier 39. He was just waiting for an earthquake to happen any minute:) Oh those non-Californians are so paranoid!


Our trolley we got to take through the city. We felt like real tourists hanging off the back!

In front of the Golden Gate. It truly is an awesome site! Can you tell we were cold?! We went from a 100 degree day in Sacramento to 55 deg there!

July 26th- Megan's Baptism

The day after out wonderful experience and the temple my niece Megan Julene Williams was baptized in Turlock, CA. It was a wonderful service where, Ryan gave a great Holy Ghost talk, then afterwards there was a big party at a close friend's house. We had a great day!

Megan getting ready with her Ryan.

Megan and her brothers. Cute, cute cute!

The entire Chris Bird Family, including grandma Bird. Christmas Card Picture perfect!

From Left: Jason, Lynette, Michael, Kori, sleepy Lizzy, Dad, Andrew, Carter, Jeff, Steve, Emma, Ryan, Me, Mom, Grandma, Evan, Megan and Braxton.

Ryan enjoying the big blow up slide at the after party. He thought it was going to be no big deal and he was going on it for the kids...6 times later I got him to come eat something!
No slide for the momma to be though:(

My wonderful sister-in-law Kori and her daughter Emma enjoying the fun.