Christmas

This year we spent all Christmas Eve night at the Erickson's. Me, Bryce, Lucy, my pillows, and my huge belly all got to sleep on a double bed... it was awesome!!! I swear just as I got comfy enough to go to sleep the kids were in our room waking us up to see what santa had brought them. Although it is fun seeing kids on Christmas day. I am not going to lie I missed my bed plus these kids didn't seem real excited even though they got really cool bikes and everything! In fact the most excited thing I saw was Lucy!! Santa brought her a couple of toys and she went crazy!! We even had a cute little stocking for Ryann which santa filled with head band and hair bows. Later that day we went to my moms new house for Christmas dinner. As always we got spoiled! It was a fun Christmas but I can't wait for next year when we have our little one opening up presents. I hope she likes Christmas as much as Lucy does!!

Baby all I want for Christmas is YOU!!

I love this time of year being around family with all the fun traditions, but it sure makes me wish that you were here. I know you still have some cooking to do, but I can't wait to celebrate the holidays with you. It is crazy to think that by this time next year you will probably be crawling and getting into all sorts of crazy mischievous things.

birthday week

It may be the PB, but I totally thought I was turning 26 this year, luckly my friend informed me that I am only turning 25! It is crazy that I can't even remember how old I am! I decided to start off the week celebrating with my friends at the bowling ally since that seemed to be something a prego could do not to mention that I love to bowl (hello I was on the bowling team in highschool!)
Later that week my mom took me shopping for some maternity clothes, which was fun to spend some time with my mom and get some clothes since most of them are starting to to fit so great anymore.

I also went out to dinner with the Erickson clan at chili's. Always a good time

On Saturday Bryce took me up to see the lights at temple square and to watch the Joseph Smith movie. It was super crowded which made Bryce a little irritated and me a little emotional, but it was beautiful!!

and on Sunday my actual Birthday I went to my grandma's house for a special Birthday dinner! It was a fabulous week with my friends and family!!

A new perspective

In primary the today one of the teachers asked me how I would like to give birth in a stable, and I thought as terrible as that would be I think I would be more concerned about other things. Like raising the son of God and all that entails. I think my biggest worry is being a good mom for Ryann. I can't even imagine raising the son of God. This Christmas has made me think a lot about Mary and the things that she went through mentally and physically to prepare for the birth of our Savior. I have a few found respect for Mary and her part in the plan of salvation.

What is in a Name?

In my opinion I think a name should mean something...yes I am one of those people. So Bryce and I have been battling it out for the last several months to come up with the right name for our baby girl, and we have finally come to an agreement... We just can't agree with the spelling. Bryce has always like the name Ryan for a girl. I was a little skeptical at first thinking that my family(mostly my mom and grandparents) would hate that I am giving a girl a boy name, which they do, and I wasn't sure how my brother in law would feel about sharing his name with his neice, but when I first saw her in the ultrasound nothing but Ryan seemed to fit. We have both prayed about it and it feels right, so I guess I shouldn't care if my family hates it, sorry guys. But like I said we can't come to an agreement on the spelling. Bryce would be fine spelling just like a boy (I am rolling my eyes and shaking my head right now) I want to spell it Ryanne, which I think makes it more girly plus Margo's middle name is Anne and I think it would be so cute to correlate the two, but Bryce thinks that people will pronounce her name wrong. I was winning the battle until my doctor asked me what we were going to name her, and when I told him he said, "oh that is unusual for a girl. How are you going to spell it?" I told him, and he nodded his head in agreement and then after a while he said you know people will probably pronounce her name Ry-Anne. Bryce looked at me and said, "see I told you!" Now Bryce is standing pretty firmly on spelling it Ryann. He said that is girly enough, but the reason why I liked that name so much in the first place was so that I could spell it like her grandma. UGH HUSBANDS AND DOCTOR'S RUIN EVERYTHING. THEY SHOULD NOT GET AN OPINION!!!! (I am only being a little sarcastic). I was thinking that for her middle name I would give her the last part of my mother's name Lyn, and that way she could be named after both of her grandma's, but my mom did not appreciate that. She told me that my baby didn't have a gender. I was a little frustrated. I don't want to name her after my mom if she doesn't like it. I was talking to Bryce about it and he didn't like the name Lyn either. It reminded him of his family's childhood stalker. He suggested naming her after my dad instead. I loved it, but instead of spelling it like he did. I am going to spell it like my Aunt Terri and that way she can be named after two of my most favoritest people! Okay so maybe Bryce has some good ideas... sometimes. But I am still holding strong with spelling her first name Ryanne. What do you guys think?? We had 35 votes

13 agreed with me and said Ryanne Terri Erickson

and

25 agreed with Bryce and said Ryann Terri Erickson

Bryce is the winner!!!

Halloween...Hollywood style

This year I decided to switch things up a little bit and d do A theme and since I am pregnant I thought juno would be fun. But mostly I wanted to dress Bryce up as bleaker and put him in some short shorts . Bryce however had other plans and so we ended up dressing as Darth Vader an Queen amadala which was alright I guess. His costume did scare the crap out of a few kids at classic skating so I guess that made it worth it. At our party we played scene it and gestures 2 go along with the theme . All and all I would say it was a pretty fabulous Halloween although I think it will be even funner to dress up kids I guess we will have to wait for next year though.

D-Land Va-k

 Knotts Berry Farm

I am not sure if it was the breakfast that we ate before we got there, but for me Knotts Berry Farm was Knott Verry Fun. Since I had gone on most of the rides at six flags and all the rides at Disneyland I thought that I should fine at Knotts. The first ride that we went on was the ghost rider and when I got off I thought I was going to puke. It was the only ride that made me sick to my stomach. There was absolutely no one there that day and we did not even have to wait in line for the ride. I tried to be brave when I got off, but Bryce asked me if I wanted to go again and all I could do is shake my head no, and then I ran to find a bathroom.. Once I got to a bathroom all I could do was cry. I was so scared that I had done something wrong. Bryce rushed in after me and helped calm me down, but I told him that was it for me I didn't want to go on anymore rides!!!!

Because Bryce wore his Venezuela shirt and our waitress was from Venezuela she gave Bryce a plate of fried chicken

Disneyland:

There are a couple of things that you are never too old for Disneyland and trick or treating. We did both!!! It just so happened that we were going to be at D-land the exact same time as my BCF, and even if it was only for a day that we got to see each other it was magical!!

My Aunt made us shirts and sweaters and little cute little ears. We were mousekateers

We got tons of free candy....

a fun little parade and firework show...

rides with no wait...

and pictures with the villans...captain hook was a little too friendly for a pregnant lady! Good thing bryce wasn't there ;)

Talk about a small world after all! Not only was cousins there ironically at the same time so was my brother! I had no idea he would be there and talk about ironic we saw him on the small world ride!!

Bryce and I had so much fun!!! We even got into the kid spirit of Disneyland with Minnie ears and a raccoon hat

I

I rode on every ride in D-land except the teacups!

Cute little paypay had so much fun even with a broken foot. In this picture she kept liking Bryce's head I am not sure why I guess she liked the sandpaper texture! Watching her made me excited for my baby to get here!!

I had Bryce smoked the whole way until the end and he beat me, so typical!!

Beach
We only spent one day on the beach, but it was one of my favorite days. The water felt so good and it was nice just to sit back and relax although I don't think that Ryan loved the beach so much he got stung by a string ray!

Six Flags:
I rode on most of the rides here too although at each ride I told myself this is not okay. Bryce was really good not to make me do anything I was uncomfortable with although how comfortable can you be in an amusement park in your second trimester!

It was a way fun vacation, but when I got home I thought I was going to need a day to rest from my vacation!!!

I loved the festivities. They decorated the haunted mansion as the nightmare before Christmas. I never saw the movie, but I thought it was cute!

5 years

It's been 5 years ago today that my dad passed away. It is always kind of a rough day, but today was especially rough. I was hoping to start the day off right, but as soon as I got to work my boss said that he needed to talk to me. I was a little scared because I know that I have been slacking a little since getting pregnant. BINGO. At first I felt a little stupid about the whole thing. I have never gotten in trouble at work before. It's just not me, and then I got a little mad. I would like to see him coming to work everyday feeling like he was going to puke at any moment. As hard as it was to hear he was right I do need to step it up a little, but it did kind of put me in a funk for the rest of the week.

I finally womaned up and decided to talk to Bryce about it. He is pretty much the greatest thing ever. He didn't make me feel embarrassed about it or give me a disapproving look. He was very optimistic about it and told me that there were some things that he would like to change about himself as well. So we decided that each week we were going to set a goal and at the end of the week we were going to report to each other about our acomplishments. He told me that if it would help he would get up early with me even if he didn't have to work just so that we could start the day off right together. I fell in love with him even more when he said that. I am excited to set goals and better ourselves together.

We had a long talk about goals that we wanted to set and the kind of person we would like to be. We both want to be more for this little angel waiting to be apart of our family. As tired as I was I love talking to Bryce. He is just so amazing to me. He told me that recently he has felt very close to my dad, and that he has been helping him wanting to make better choices in his life. I guess we both got a little of a talking to.

With my dad gone it seems like the years have been going by faster, and getting a little harder with each passing year. I miss him more and more as the time goes by, especially now with a baby on the way. It makes me sad to think that she won't ever get to know her grandpa Cox, but after talking with Bryce I know that isn't completely true. Something tells me that they have already met, and that he knows how special she is. Maybe he's even helped her prepare a little to meet Bryce and I.

I am so thankful for Bryce's guiding influences, and for both of my Fathers in Heaven who are watching over us. I am also thankful for my Savior, I know that if I put my faith in him, he will help me conquer my weaknesses.

Maternal Instincts

We are leaving for Disneyland tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited, but I am going to miss my puppy so much. I don't know what has come over me. I have always loved and spoiled her, but lately I am so attached to her, it's crazy! We hungout all Sunday together. She followed me everywhere I went and everytime I sat down she would jump on my lap. I was scrapbooking most of the day, and so normally I would have been a little annoyed, but I could not get enough of her.

Baby Bunny

I just got the ultrasound a few weeks ago, and I didn't see long rabbit ears, but all this little girl likes me to eat are veggies, fruit, and dairy. It makes me wonder if there is a bunny growing inside of me rather than a baby. I can't complain because it is pretty healthly eating fruits and salads all day long, although she does have a sweet tooth. Right now chocolate milk and ice cream are my vice. It is just so unlike me I am such a carnivore at heart, and I use to hate chocolate milk...or anything artifically chocolate flavored. I even caught myself wondering if I should get some chocolate icecream the other day. (Being prego will make you want crazy things). I wish I could be more like this when I am not prego!! Thanks baby for helping me eat healthier, but could we lay off the sweets and if I do eat an occasional sandwhich could you not make me want to throw up? Thanks!!

The votes are in & so are the results...

Out of my Blogging Buddies:

• 16 said Boy
• 9 said Girl

Out of my Facebook Friends:

• 7 said Boy
• 2 said Girl

The majority of the votes are wrong. It's a GIRL!!!

It's a what???

GIRL!!!

I always get a little nervous at my Dr. appointments. I don't know why I am typically not a worrier. I am too naive for worrying, but there is something about a Dr.'s office that puts butterflies in my stomach. Although when they put the warm ultrasound gel on my stomach it helped me relax a little bit, and as soon as I could see her little feet it put me at ease. I was amazed at how fast she had grow. She went from being a jelly bean to a kit kat bar (yes I refer my baby to candy) in just a few weeks. I wasn't prepared to be so emotional about it either, but seeing her little fingers and toes made everything seem so real. She became more of a human rather than a little alien looking thing, and with such a little personality. She a little busy body in there. She was moving around like crazy, no wonder I have been so sick lately! She was a lady though and kept her legs crossed the whole time, just as I expected. She looked like she was sitting on a lazy boy she had her arms propped in the back of her head and her legs crossed almost like she was taunting us. I am glad that she is at least enjoying herself throughout this whole thing. She is a fisty one, and definately has a mind of her own. Definately her father's child. I really didn't think she was going to let us see her little girl junk, but I thought oh that's okay I already know that she is going to be a boy, and as soon as I thought that she spread her legs just a little bit, so the tech could tell us the gender. She said alright there's a leg and there's a leg, her bum, and it's a girl!!! I was like wait what?...a girl?...seriously? How could I have been so wrong. Bryce smiled, looked at me, and said see I told you it was going to be a girl. I was totally surprised I guess we are going to have to think of some girl names now. I made Bryce take me shopping so I could get a tiny little onsie that said daddy's girl on it. I couldn't wait to tell everyone either since I had convinced everyone that she was a boy, but everyone was so excited about her being a girl because lets me honest girls are so much fun. I am excited that she is going to have little cousins her age. BCF's are the best!!! not to mention all the adorable little hand me downs that we will get!! I can't wait to do more shopping!!!

What do you get when you mix a Cox with an Erickson?

... A cocky Erickson

So we don't know the gender, but what we do know for sure is this kid is going to be a MONSTER!!!

Cox Genes:

• Very Temperamental
• Irrational
• Lazy
• Competitive!!!
• Exaggerator
• Shy

Erickson Genes:

• Stubborn
• Opinionated
• Competitive!!!
• Loud
• Not helpful (This one only really pertains to Bryce. I asked him to help me think of some Erickson genes, and he was so not helpful!!!)

However we were pretty cute kids...

It looks like we can count on our kid having chubby cheeks!!!