Kauai, Hawaii

For those of you who have never been to Kauai before... I really hope you get to go there at least once in your lifetime. I feel SO blessed that we were able to vacation there this year. It was ABSOLUTE paradise. Seriously. The weather was to-die-for perfect, hardly any bugs, warm ocean water, white sandy beaches, good food, and good company.

We rented a house right off the coast in Waemea, Kauai. It was very "old Hawaii" where we stayed, but I loved it! I loved the feeling there. We went to church on Sunday and the members were SO pure and sweet. There's just something about the islanders that make them extra special people. I felt like I was in the movie " The Other Side of Heaven" when we went to church on Sunday. The people on the island of Kauai are extremely down to earth and are VERY happy people! It was a complete breath of fresh air. No one is in a hurry to get anywhere and everyone is so thoughtful and kind! It was so good for my soul to be around strangers like that. Truly delightful. Even the guy working at McDonalds was extremely happy!

Speaking of amazing human beings... my Uncle Ralph is one of those people. He took us all to Hawaii on his dime! He is the most selfless human being I've ever met. He truly loves his family and will bend over backwards for them if he had to. We had a lot of fun spending time together. He really spoiled us!

We all got to Kayak this beautiful river and then hike the most amazing hike to a breath taking waterfall called " Secret Falls." The only way you could get there was by kayaking and hiking. I was nervous about all of that since I've been so sick... but it was SUCH a blessing because I felt good and it was so rejuvenating. The waterfall was so beautiful and we even got to swim around next to it. That was such a fun day.

My dad and I had the opportunity to fly on a helicopter to tour the island. It was my first helicopter ride. I've always wanted to go on one! It was definitely an unforgettable experience. My dad and I got to sit right in front with the pilot. The island was absolutely breath taking and there's no way any of my pictures form my silly iphone do ANY justice to the beauty of it all... but I will keep those beautiful images I saw in my head forever. The island of Kauai truly is SO beautiful. We also got to fly over the Na Pali coast. Those cliffs were miraculous and the crystal blue water was absolutely stunning. We got to see where Pirates 4 was filmed and also the opening scene on Jurassic Park was filmed. I've never seen so many amazing waterfalls so close together in my life. All I kept thinking about was Heavenly Father and how much He loves us by creating such a beautiful world!

Since I am pregnant and nauseated and my dad gets sea sick on large boats.... we rode the helicopter. The rest of the gang took a catamaran tour of the Na Pali coast. From their pictures and stories... they had an amazing time. They got to see lots of caves, dolphins racing the boat, and they got to snorkel. Nick said he snorkeled next to a seal. He said it was 5 feet away from him and such a neat experience. I'm so glad they got to experience that! They all got a bit sea sick on the ride back... but they said it was worth it!!!

It was so thereputic just getting away ( from my bed and all the nausea ) and to just spend time with Nick and my family. I couldn't have asked for a better place to be! I miss it! I am so grateful I wasn't sick the entire time we were there! What a complete blessing and tender mercy!

Since we took a million pictures, I made a little slide show of our trip. Enjoy!

Time Out

Well folks, I'm almost 19 weeks and still barfing. 

It got REALLY bad Sunday morning and lasted until about 8 pm last night. 

I.am.exhausted. 

We think I might of had food poisoning.... yuck! 

I just really hope it wasn't the pregnancy causing me to be that way. 

Thankfully, I woke up this morning feeling 50% back to myself.... I have been praying that I feel better so Nick and I can catch our flight that leaves at 6 am tomorrow to KAUAI, HAWAII. 

Maybe Hawaii is just the cure I've been needing. 

Aloha! 

The Sound of Music

Last night, Nick and I had the opportunity to go see The Sound of Music at the Summer Theater at Sundance. I was in heaven! If you know me... you know that The Sound of Music is one of my all time favorites. We really enjoyed ourselves! I thought the cast did a lovely job and I loved how they involved the audience to sing along during certain parts of the play. I've had another tough "pregnancy" week and watching The Sound of Music... up in the mountains was so therapeutical for me. I can never get enough of the mountains... and I can never get enough of The Sound of Music! 

ps ~ one of our favorite parts of the play was when this poor old man's cell phone started ringing when the actors were SILENT on the stage. He was sitting in front of us ( we were in the second row) which meant he was in the first row... which meant everyone heard it. He scrambled to turn it off... and it took him which seemed eternity to turn off. But that's not the funny part.... his phone was playing a hard core RAP song.... he was easily in his late 70's. Nick was dying laughing. I was too... but I cringed for the old guy... he was probably so embarrassed. haha... I figured one of his grandchildren played a rotten trick on him and changed his ring tone to some black guy rapping about "sipping on some sizzer". 

Poor old  man. 

... it was pretty funny though.  

SEW Unique and Adorable!

Holy cow. 

I stumbled across this blog on Pintrest with an awesome tutorial on how to make these delicious baby blankets and/or burp rags... which then led me to THIS site with TONS of unique, ADORABLE fabric.

{ Not only are there thousands of already awesome prints to choose from, but apparently you can design & print your own fabric. Whatever! I love it.} 

www.spoonflower.com

 I immediately wanted to learn how to sew after seeing this adorable site. I am kicking myself for not ever being interested in sewing and having my mom make a majority of the quilt "I made" in Young Womens. 

Not only does this ADORABLE fabric site make me want to sew some awesome burp cloths and thin baby blankets... but I also want to sew unique dolls... and CLOTHES. 

That's it... YouTube... here I come. 

Pray for me, people. 

{ Here's some seriously cute fabric samples off that site. Seriously, I love them.} 

{ I just realized how expensive these fabrics are. BOOO. I still want to learn how to sew though. If anyone finds unique fabric like this for a lot cheaper.... let me know! } 

I'm Losing My Mind

I am losing it. I am pregnant and losing it. I have lost my brain completely....

Here are some things that happened to me last week:

1. Nick and I had to take separate cars to the hospital for our ultra sound appointment. I parked and then he parked next to me. I got out of my car and got all the way to the front doors of the hospital. Nick called out to me confused, " Heather.... did you leave your car running??" { He was in utter amazement.} I said, " I don't think so?" and I quickly walked back to my car.... and sure enough.... I left the keys in the ignition... still running.

WOW. Nick just stared at me in unbelief.

2. That same day, I went to Walgreens to print off pictures of the baby from the ultrasound to send to family members. I sat at the little photo booth, picking out pictures to print, etc. I set my purse down at my feet. I finished my order and then walked out the front doors. I was already sitting in my car when the nice worker ran out and handed me my PURSE that I left on the floor of the store. NICE.

3. Lately when I drive... I am literally scared for my life { and not because I'm surrounded by crappy drivers all the time.} I have now put myself in that category of "crappy drivers." Lately, I really feel like my mind isn't completely there. It's like I'm on drugs or something. My mind is completely cloudy.

For example, the other day I was coming back to Provo from Highland. I was driving on the freeway and I pulled a few really stupid maneuvers { something that I would get ticked off about if someone else did that on the road } and I almost got myself killed at least 4 different times. It's like I self-consciously knew what I was doing... but It was like I couldn't control it. I literally said out loud "WOW" all 4 times to myself thinking how awful that was of me and that I was literally going to get myself killed.

I feel like my mind is floating in the air right next to my body.... letting me do STUPID things and then KNOWING it was stupid but somehow I can't control it.

I told Nick yesterday that I shouldn't be allowed to drive.... at least until I have this baby.

.... and I'm not just using pregnancy as an excuse as to why I'm so brain dead.... It's FOR REAL.

{ I'm already slightly brain dead when I'm not pregnant... but this is magnified x 50 } and I don't like it. I'm supposed to start student teaching at the end of the month. I hope I don't lead these kids astray or teach them that 4x4 is 8 or forget about them and leave them outside on the playground after lunch....

Heaven help me.

Please tell me some of YOU have similar stories when you were/are pregnant!