Sorry so many posts in one day!! Just had to post a video of Elli's funny noises she makes while playing!!

An update........here it goes!!

We are finally moved in to our new apartment. We still have a few boxes that haven't been unpacked but for the most part, we are good to go! And let me just tell you guys......it's WONDERFUL!!! There is so much room and storage and Elli now has her own space. YAY!!!!! Naps actually work out now and she sleeps so well in her big crib. The bassinet we were in was getting too small and it had a little canopy over half of it so I think it was too cave-like. Poor thing, she probably felt claustrophobic. And now our room is just our room. We just have a bed and a dresser. No more big chair or bassinet or crib mattress or big shelf or extra dresser, etc, etc. Wow, I love having space to walk around in our bedroom. Anyway, we already like our neighbors and our ward is actually pretty great. We were in a family ward at our last place but we decided to try out the married student ward over here and we actually really like it. And to top it all off......the weather has been perfect. Well, I guess it was pretty cold and snowy for a couple of days but the last week has been just wonderful. Makes me happy to see the sun. And lately while going on walks, Elli actually stays awake and just looks around at everything. She used to sleep the moment the stroller wheels started rolling.......but not anymore. The sun's out and she loves everything that's going on around her. Too cute to watch her!

Oh, so Katie........glad to see you're not gone forever. Our internet was down for more than a week and it was so stinky!! Now it's up and I can do my checking/posting on the blog. No worries, we're all still here!!

So advice for Robin. You asked for it sucker. Well, let's see. If I remember right, when I had about 7 weeks left, it was about Halloween time and Steve was painting my belly. Go on, get some non-toxic paint and have a go at it!! Just kidding........ At this point I was getting uncomfortable but not too bad yet. I would recommend walking a ton. I would walk daily and that kept the blood flowing and the baby bouncing downward. I would get tons of contractions while doing this. I think it also helped tire me out even more for the day and so I slept well most nights. However, sometimes I just couldn't sleep no matter what. They also say that exercise will help with delivery and pushing. So keep walking! Anyway, I also blimped out a ton right at the end. Careful with the ice cream cups and fruitsnacks.....my two weaknesses all throughout my pregnancy. Woah, did I ever go crazy on them, especially at the end. So advice for delivery...........if you're planning on getting an epidural, prepare yourself mentally for having to go through labor naturally and with all the pain. I was so set on having an epidural and figured it would all be a breeze. I thought everything would be pretty simple and Elli would come out with no problem. Well, I was in labor for so long and right when I was dialated to a 9 1/2, my epidural was pretty much gone and I told the nurse I needed more drugs. She told me that she couldn't give me more because then I would be too numb to even feel the pressure to push. She was telling me hopefully there was still enough to carry me through another hour. Well, the problem was that I had another half hour to get to a ten and then I pushed for 2 hours. So by the time she actually came, the dang epidural was completely gone. I could feel my belly, my legs, and everything down south. I felt her head squeezing through and I felt the doctor do a little snip-snip to give Elli more room to come out. Can I tell you, ouch!!! It was more than I could handle at some points and I would actually push away from him in the stirrups. THey would shout at me, "No, don't do that!! She's coming!" I didn't care, the pain was too much. So I guess my whole point is, really prepare mentally for pain. I think that would have helped a ton. But no matter what, the baby HAS to come out, so you can do it. Well, you HAVE to do it and that gets you through it. I just wanted her out so bad and I knew it wouldn't last forever, even though 2 hours felt that way!! Oh, and something I didn't realize..........your head kills afterwards. You are pushing so long (at least for me) and so hard that there is so much pressure in your head. My eyes were always bugging out. Literally, you push so hard you feel like those dang eyeballs are going to pop right onto your chest. It's a weird feeling. So afterwards, I had a killer headache and it hurt to keep my eyes open. After I was all sewn up, they handed me the baby again and I held her for a minute and then handed her off to Steve. I just couldn't look at her. My head and eyes were just too worn out. After about an hour, the swelling went down and it felt much better. And anyway, it's fun for the daddy to have all the attention. Because for the first hour or two the baby is awake and looking around. THey just went through so much trauma so their adrenaline is pumping though their little body. And then they have you feed the baby like an hour or two after labor......and then they crash. They are exhausted little things. It's too cute!! And then good luck trying to wake them up for the next 4 weeks!! :o) Okay, so advice for when you first go home......it's so normal to check on the baby every 30 minutes to make sure she's breathing. I was always so worried and Steve was always even more worried. All of a sudden, Steve turned into Elli's little protector. It was my favorite thing to watch. Steve never really liked holding babies and it made him nervous that he might drop them. The moment Elli came out, he couldn't get enough of her. And he wanted to make sure she was safe and comfortable at all times. Too, too cute!! Oh and also, remember that you have millions of different hormones running through your body. Your body just went through a huge ordeal and is trying to catch up with all that just happened. If you feel weird, anxious, sad, extremely happy, scared, shocked, etc........it is just fine. It'll pass really soon. The first week was really weird for me. During the day, I was just fine and felt a little anxious but for the most part was just happy and content to have her home. But at night (I think because I was so tired) I would just cry. Sometimes Steve would ask what was wrong and I didn't know why. Your body is just wacked a bit at first. And if I didn't know that these feelings were normal, I would have been scared that I wasn't cut out to be a mom. I guess quite a few women get post partum depression and it doesn't mean you're weird if you get it. I'm guessing that's what I had at the beginning.......not sure. But people can get that and it will last for months and months. And that's okay, there's medicine. I guess I feel lucky I didn't have it very long and only at night. Oh, another weird thing is that for like 2 months, any time I breastfed, I would get emotional. Nothing like the feelings that I was just explaining. But while nursing, I would just get teary and feel so happy that she was there. Nothing else mattered. My hunger would leave, being tired would leave, everything. Can't explain very well, but all that mattered was that little baby. Maybe it was my body's way of devoting everything to the baby. But I would cry with elation. Kind of weird but kinda cool!! Oh, and always have a water bottle around while nursing (I don't even know if you're planning on nursing but in case you are.....) You need so much water while nursing and you'll probably feel dehydrated all the time. Oh my goodness, I just realized how much I was rambling. I could go on and on. I can't believe Elli's already 4 months old. SOmeone asked me the other day when we were planning on having another baby and I was like, "When I forget what labor felt like!!" I'm not kidding, that will take some time to get over. But you know what? Everyone is so different. Labor is different, pain tolerance is different (which I thought I had a lot of), bodies are different (the doctor told me I had a small birth canal - which is weird considering my size. But he told me that a teeny tiny woman could come in here and have a bigger birth canal than I have. Weird.) our bodies respond to meds differently, etc. So who knows, your baby might just pop right out!! And hopefully that is the case!! Anyway, sorry for taking up so much room. And sorry to the rest of you for posting all about this on here. I guess I could have emailed it to Robin but when I started, I didn't think I would take up so much space. Ooops! But if you are curious about anything else, just let me know and maybe I'll email it to you next time. I know I was always curious and asked about everyone's experiences. Even personal stuff......like hemorroids. Ewwwww, sorry to the rest of you. But it just happens. You'll get your turn with that!!! :p

Oh, so the slide show is of easter stuff, random pics of Elli and pics of our new apartment. Enjoy!!

Love you all!!
Ashley

Finally........here are a bunch of pictures!!!!

B-E-A-Utiful day!

Well we went to the Manti Temple yesterday with my mom and aunt. It was such a gorgeous day out we wanted to take a drive and so went up the canyon and went to the Temple. It has been so gorgeous here you just can't stay in doors!I love it! I love spring but have a feeling it will be the HOT summer soon! We are going to NM next weekend for Donalds brothers surgery and so we are excited to see his family and some of my friends! Not much else is happening. I hope all is well with everybody. Ashley I hope your internet starts working so we can see some cute pictures soon! Love you all! Melissa

Sorry Robin

Okay I am finally posting. I haven't been posting much because I don't have much to post about. I am sorry robin for moving you down! You look so cute with your little belly. Yes-it is tiny!! I can't believe you are that far along and still that little! But You are so cute! I can't wait to see your little one! Are you getting anxious? Do you have a nursery all set up? Pictures! Come one you are killing us here! We need to see the things for the baby! I am glad you posted though.

Not much has been happening with us. Donald has had some interviews for higher up management positions which we are excited about but no offers yet. So we are hoping something comes soon. I am still just working. We are getting ready for girls camp in YW's and so I am getting so excited! I can't wait for it! I love camping and girls camp is just awesome.

Ashley never posted these cute pics of Elli and her little family so since I don't have any of me lately here they are! They are too cute I couldn't resist!

Well here are a few pics. This is my husband and his dog. Well it is my moms dog but he just loves Donald. He sits on his shoulder and licks his face and just loves to be right there with him! I love it!

Love you girls. Sorry I haven't posted any. I will try to be better Katie! Ashley and Bobbie are you still alive?????

Love ya, Melissa

Katie don't leave!

OK I'm finally plugging my camera in and sending some pictures. I LOVE seeing everyone's pictures and hearing about everyone so Katie don't stop posting stuff. Your slide show is so cute and the Easter pictures from Ashley and Melissa are so cute too. Things are still going good for us. My mom came down this weekend just to hang out so that was fun to see her. Here are some pictures of my ever growing belly. I can't believe it's only like 71/2 weeks to go. The closer it gets the more nervous I get so any words of encouragement would be appreciated Ashley. Haha. We are super excited though. Hope everyone is doing good. These pictures are actually of I think two weeks ago so my belly is even bigger cuz it grows every day.
Robin

I give up....

It's official...I give up on the Idaho friends blog. Robin and Bobbie have disappeared completely. Melissa blogs everything on her own blog now (very cute by the way) and well...I check this thing daily only to see my dang slideshow everytime. So....I'm officially giving up on the Idaho friends blog for at least a week. :) I'm quitting it like a bad habit. But don't worry....I don't usually quit my bad habits for too long, so I'll probably be back..........but will somebody PLEASE blog! :( Well, incase anyone even looks at this anymore....love you all and hope all is well with everyone!!

Fun Times for the Fish Family!

Last weekend we took a trip to Rexburg for my brother's graduation and were able to spend the weekend with my WHOLE family. It was a lot of fun. We all broke in Tobey's new house that they just finished building like days before we got there. They weren't even all the way moved in. We were all crowded in blow up beds and futon mattresses around the house. It was a crazy but fun weekend. Friday, Bryson and I got there early afternoon so we could scope out some apartment complexes, but they were ALL closed. (Good Friday maybe?) So we went over to Guy Given's and visited with him and his wife. That evening we went to Tobey's graduation. Saturday morning Bryson and I went back to the complex Guy Givens lives in and signed a contract to move in August 20th. So that aspect is all taken care of. Then Saturday afternoon we went to the park with my family and played baseball and launched mini foam rockets and had an egg hunt for the kids. We hung around there for a couple hours just playing and having fun. That evening we went out to Garcia's as a familiy....mmm, mmm!! Sunday was church and lunch and Happy Feet with the family before we headed back. Monday we were able to see Ashley, Steve and little Elli for a second or two! :) Maybe next time we'll have more time...oh wait...we will....all the time two years can handle! :) Today we went to the park with my cousin Marissa and her husband and her little 1 year old boy and 1 week old baby boy. We went to feed ducks, but there were no ducks there. So we just had a nice little picnic and played around. It was a lot of fun. Today is my Grandma and Grandpa's 60th Anniversary so they decided to treat all us Utahards to dinner at Brick Oven. Yeah, I know....we should be treating them, but they insisted! :) So that was fun to hang out with all the other cousins and what not. Anyway...good times...here are some pics from these fun little events! Sorry, there are a lot of pics, this was slideshow was mostly for my fam so there are probably a lot of pics you guys could care less about! Sorry! :)

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter to you all!

We have had a great weekend shopping, playing with Elli, the boys playing XBox, eating at PF Changs, and just hanging out! Here is Elli in her cute little Easter outfit with her basket. Her and her daddy found the basket this morning but she was too tired to dye easter eggs with us last night so we had to dye them for her! Here is the adorable Elli again! Look at those dimples! CUTE CUTE CUTE!!!
Here is us last night dying easter eggs!
And one more of Elli this morning!
We hope you all have a wonderful Easter sunday! Robin and Bobbie are you still there? And Katie have a great time in Idaho!

We love you, Ashley and Melissa

OH MY GOODNESS!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is just so great for you two!! I can't wait until you get on up here. Let us know if you need any help. Oh, and by the way, when does he start?? YAAAAAAAAAAAY!!

IDAHO...HERE WE COME!!

HE'S IN!!! Tonight we decided to check his status online for like the 50th time today just to see if it had changed any AND........this is what we saw!
That is like the best thing we've seen!! We are SOOOOOO excited. We FINALLY have a plan! We're going somewhere! Life is progressing! No more limbo! We can not even express how excited we are! It's just so nice to finally know what we'll be doing for the next couple years, where we'll be and to know that we are going somewhere that we really really want to go. We're really excited to finally start making plans for our future because we CAN because we FINALLY KNOW where we're going! WOO HOO!!! Okay, I could go on and on about how excited we are. This is just an answer to MANY MANY prayers and we feel so blessed and so so happy right now!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Conference

Bryson and I were FINALLY able to go to conference. We've been wanting to do this forever and finally got some tickets from our bishop and were able to go to the Saturday morning session. What an amazing experience! First of all the conference center is just huge and it's so neat to be sitting in the same room with 20,000 some odd other people who share the same beliefs as us. I don't know, I thought that was so cool. In fact, it brought me to tears when we all sustained the prophet and all of the apostles, it was just an overwhelming feeling for me to be among so many other people who sustain such wonderful men as well. Anyway, and then it's also amazing in just the whole being so near to the prophet. I personally have never been in the same room as the prophet and that in itself was something else. I'm sure everyone knows how when he walks into the room the whole room stands and goes absolutely silent and to be in a room with 20,000 people and for it to be absolutely silent...how can you NOT feel the spirit. It's like the only thing moving at that moment. It was amazing. Plus we had some pretty good seats, so that was neat to be so close. We weren't on the floor level, but we were like the sixth row back on the next section back, pretty much on the floor. And conference itself was wonderful...i hope each of you had a chance to watch it. Anyway, Bryson and I just had a wonderfully spiritual time. One we won't forget. Here are some pics:

Outside the conference center....
The packed conference center....
The Prophet, et al....
The view from our seats...not too bad....
The Mormon lover, among the protestors...we thought this was pretty awesome....