Changing over to Wordpress.com for blogging.

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick note to let everyone know we will changing our blogging client. We are making the switch over to Wordpress.com to host it. Please bear with us at the new site while we modify it the way we want it!

READING:

Nothing changes. Continue going to www.rachandjosh.com.

There may be a 24-48 hour period while the DNS server redirects the URL to the new blog. If you run into this issue you can temporarily go to: rachandjosh.wordpress.com

FOLLOWING:

There are now two ways to "follow". You can receive email notices when there is a new post, or you can follow the traditional way via RSS feed. (You can do both if you wish)

• Existing Followers and new RSS feeds: add the following URL to receive updates: rachandjosh.wordpress.com/feed/

• Receiving email notices: Go to our new blog and in the right had corner select "sign me up" (exisiting wordpress.com users) or type in your email address and click "sign me up" (if you don't have a wordpress.com)

You can always click the RSS feed button on our blog to follow as well.....(you know, that little orange funny looking thing!)

Have a great rest of the week!

Sleep well, Sweet dreams...

Our litte K is having a hard time going to sleep these days. We have the same routine. Bath (most nights), snack, stories and back rubbing. The story/back rub process has recently been taking over an hour. For awhile it worked to say, "I am going to go do...., but I will be back to check on you." She did really well for a couple of weeks.

Now Kiera knows she can get out of bed and wants to leave her room. Tonight I tried to leave her room 5 times. The last time I got down to her level explaining to her that I will simply be in another room and I will come back. She sat down in my lap and proceeded to cuddle. I began to rock her on the floor in the entry way to her room. Her eyes instantly began to flutter, struggling to keep them open, but she wasn't tired that's what she kept telling me. I simply watched her and it was so heart warming, I love cuddle time. Then I began to giggle because she was so not tired, but was, and I was sitting on the floor in the entry to her room rocking our little, big girl. We moved to the bed. I tucked her in with Ally-dolphin, Dolly, her blanket and Dolly's bottle in her hand. She began to play with her hair, snuggle in and fall asleep.

I love being a mom to our beautiful little girl.

The Magic City

My hometown is under water. Thankfully my childhood home is dry, thanks to a sump pump that was installed after 30 years without the need for one. My parents didn't have to leave their home. My sister didn't have to leave her home. Thankful. However, Minot will never be the same. The flood is nothing Minot has ever seen, they have to boil water for 24 hours because of possible water contamination and this evening possible tornadoes. My parents lost power and access to their phone lines temporarily. How much can a community take, ugh!

I am thankful that we have the internet and the coverage provided by KXMC. It's nice to feel somewhat close, when we're so far away.

My junior high is completely submerged the church I grew up in and Josh and I were married in is water logged. The pictures and stories are unbelievable. I can only imagine and my heart aches for the people who have lost their homes and for the entire community. It makes me sad. I know these things can be replaced and Minot will rebuild and continue to be a wonderful community. I am praying for strengh, perserverence, peace and hope for Minot and the surrounding communities.

One of Kiera's new favorite Hobbies.....

A very rare opportunity, Kiera standing on the couch saying "Take Pictures...Me!!"

One of the first jumps off the couch ever!!!

(Sat am)

I'm a pro....one day and roughly 40 jumps later (Sunday PM)

30 weeks!?!?

We can't believe we have only 10 weeks (give or take a few days) until we meet our baby! As you may know Josh and I love the TV show Chuck. Kiera's nickname in utero was baby Bartowski after the main character - Charles Bartowski played by Zachary Levi. This little baby is baby Ryder after Flynn Ryder, played by Zachary Levi in Tangled :-)

In the past 30 weeks we have seen our little one 2 times and heard baby R's heartbeat numerous times :-) The 12 week ultrasound little baby's heartbeat was 157 bpm. During the 20 week ultrasound the heartbeat was 144 bpm. The little one didn't want to have a profile picture taken and wasn't very active, it might have been nap time!

At our 26 week appointment we saw that our baby was a little feisty! When Dr. Beard placed the heartbeat monitor wand (technical term) on my belly there was an instant punch or kick at the wand, my entire belly moved! Baby R really enjoys the ride as mommy moves throughout the day. The most movement I feel is in the evening when I have a few moments to kick up my feet.

The first trimester brought some naseousness and tiredness, 2nd trimester was fabulous and the 3rd trimester has brought the return of tiredness, heart burn, a healthy appetite and if you are cold in a room probably not a good idea to ask me if it feels cold :-) I am also getting very used to having my blood drawn as an Endocrinologist is trying to get my T4 Free and TSH levels, just right. We might get there by the last month ;-) I am really thankful that I still feel great walking, doing yoga and running around with Kiera, just at a little slower pace.

We are eagerly anticipating becoming a family of four and seeing if we will have a little girl or boy. Big sister, Kiera, really thinks the baby is a little sister.

20 weeks

30 weeks

Doc Hudson and Kalispell Jewel

Sunday night we spotted Doc Hudson from Cars and took Kiera out to find him. Doc was "sleeping" when we first walked by his "house" but as we walked down the hill he went racing by. We walked back up the hill so we could say hello. Kiera was very excited.

Kiera and Doc, can you see her excitement?!?



A little update on our Kalispell Jewel. She is losing her winter coat by the handfuls! Our little pup is 77 pounds and needs to brush her teeth just a bit more every week. We so love having her in our family.

I think someone is telling me it's time to wash her bed!

Memorial Day Weekend

We kicked off summer with some great friends in Fargo - the Kaspricks. It was wonderful to leave home for a bit and enjoy the company of friends.

The Kasprick's have 2 girls, one almost 3 and the other almost 18 months. Here is a snipit and a few snap shots of what we did:

Visited Dinoland at West Acres

Played at the park in the good ol' ND wind!

Rode toy cars, trikes and pushed strollers on the driveway

Piled into the minivan - 3 kiddos, 4 adults!

Learned that we have similar trials and triumphs as parents

Acquired clothes for Kiera and baby gadgets (swing, bouncer, exersaucer) for baby Ring

Ate at Applebee's (of course!)

Ate ice cream, freezie pops, Peanut Butter Captain Crunch and s'mores

Sang Johnny Apple Seed at meals (and Kiera sang it most of the way home, adorable)

Became very familiar with the words "mine" and "my"

Turned a crib mattress into a "swimming pool" jumping on it and "in" it

Learned all about water colors and paint and how it can turn into finger paint which turns into bathtime!

Read part of a book

Scott and Josh made the required trip to Best Buy and added Toys R' Us (funny how life changes)

Played with worms

Figured out it is very possible to sleep two adults and one child in a queen size bed

Enjoyed a bonfire and glow sticks

Kiera is a great little road tripper

Kali had a BLAST with Shiloh and Beth - she got run and play with Shiloh, ride in the car, chew a new nyla bone, run around the lake and swim 3 times!! Here's a story from Kali's weekend. As you may know Kali loves her grey IKEA blanket. One night before bed, Beth heard Kali whinning, she went to check it out to see Kali staring at a basket with toys and a grey blanket. Beth gave her the blanket and Kali was off to sleep with it nestled in her mouth. I guess 3 year old dogs need a snugglie too! We love our pooch, she is one tired girl maybe even a few pounds lighter:-) Thanks for taking great care of her Beth.

It is so great to have friends you can just "be" with. It was a much needed weekend for us. Thanks for a fabulous time, Kaspricks...wish we lived closer!