1. This time last year we were preparing to bring in the new year all the way from Managua, Nicaragua. I technically celebrated the New Year-US time because I was so sleepy--but we enjoyed treats and tons of sketchy home-made fireworks. The trip was amazing and our first mission trip as a husband and wife. We're totally praying right this second for the group there right now! Who will probably be in this very room shown below tonight for new years treats and shenanigans:

So this was my first Christmas away from my parent's home. I really didn't think it was going to be a big deal for me...not because I don't love my family but because things like this usually don't get me all sentimental feeling.  But I definitely woke up and thought a lot about my whole family being together without me--especially because I don't get to see my older brother and his wife very much because they are a bit further away.
I so look forward to the day when we have kids that understand Christmas and we can begin to create our own traditions in our home, but for now we've been splitting the holidays between our families. Before this turns depressing, let me say that we had a great Christmas at the Tate house. They are my family too--and our Christmas day traditions are VERY similar to those I grew up with...which is kind of awesome. Not to mention, it's kind of ridiculous that we have two loving families to spend the holidays with at all. So many have to be alone during this time of year.

Brief update and a small disclaimer.

The holidays were awesome and I did manage to take some photos, which is where my disclaimer comes in--I totally had my iso set on 6400 the ENTIRE break because the last time I used my camera I was shooting in the dark. I didn't notice when I was shooting because there was so much going on and I was sleepy (christmas morning) so I just would snap a few and put my camera away without even looking. Stupid.

Therefore--all the photos are grainy. BUM. I'm considering running them through a vintage filter so it will look like I did it on purpose. Bahaha.

Also--Les Mis was AMAZING. I saw it live and was hoping that the movie wouldn't ruin it for me..because I had been hearing that from people who have seen it live....but seriously it was awesome. The two aren't even comparable. Go see it.

That's all because I don't have time to type. Grainy pictures and holiday stories coming soon!

Mmmmm, heard baby's heart beat for the second time this week and cried yet again. Will this happen every time!? I sure hope so. It's so magical. I could listen to it for hours. The world totally stops when I hear those little thumps. I can only imagine what it's going to be like to actually SEE this baby. Gracious. And it was super exciting to have the doctor feel my belly and telling me that it feels like everything is growing well. :)

AND--we've officially got a boy's name and a girl's name picked out...I don't think they'll be changing because they feel so right. Can't wait to find out the gender. Growing up, I always thought of cute names I liked and wanted to name my future kids...it wasn't until very recently that the power of naming our children really hit me. We literally crossed out multiple names we love after looking up the meanings and finding things that were either neutral or not so great. I keep being reminded of the significance of the naming and renaming of people in scriptures--it's so powerful!

Andddd, we're still planning on waiting until the birthday to announce it. :)

Happy almost Christmas!

I totally went to type a post about funny things that have been happening to me, and then I opened the page and now I can't remember any of them. Perfect time to talk about how I've been pleasantly reminiscing about the good old days of hormonal teenage weird body changes and stuff. No seriously. Wanna know what the first trimester of pregnancy is like? Your emotions are psycho, your body is doing weird things, you start feeling like a huge balloon whale, you want to eat everything and nothing at the same time, and you could vom at the smell of any of the following objects: peanut butter, cabbage, toothpaste, and cauliflower.

See. Just like puberty. Maybe only really like the first 2. or maybe 3. Except it is definitely similar regarding the fact that everybody keeps saying, "Don't worry, this is all normal." I didn't find much comfort in those words when I was 13...and don't really now, but I do appreciate hugs and my sweet friends who let me cry about absolutely nothing. Also, I'm like the queen of "don't-act-like-your-life-experiences-are-the-exact-same-as-mine" so I'm going to be the first to say that I have plenty of friends who have breezed through the first trimester and others who have had it way worse than me. To each his own. Except not really your own at all because your body is no longer just for you..there's another human in there sucking your energy away like a high-powered industrial vacuum.

But honestly--I'm pretty disappointed about the peanut butter thing 'cause its like the easiest snack/meal ever. PB&J's? Puke. My body is also in that awkward stage where Chris and I can tell I'm showing (although my chest is growing at three times the rate of my belly) but nobody else can tell because I can cover these things with clothes...and then I'm really uncomfortable because my clothes don't fit all that well. I dream all day about coming home and putting on sweatpants. It's okay though because when I look down and see my stomach protruding like a firmer version of a beer belly, Chris tells me my stomach is cute and then I tell him he's blinded by love.

All this to say--yes, its totally worth it. Psychosis and all. I'm already daydreaming about holding that little baby for the first time. It's also funny that we have to wait the same amount of time for the baby as we did to get married. I know it's going to fly and then we're going to be on honeymoon baby version where we get to fall in love all over again. Yes please.

We love you so much Baby Tate! Grow grow grow!!