It's a...

The day we checked out of our place in Monterey we had our ultrasound scheduled with Dr. Wada to find out the gender of this baby. We were supposed to have had the appointment before Christmas but the office had to reschedule it. I was so bummed so this appointment was even more anticipated! We had made everyone submit their guesses and the majority was voting for a boy. Jeremy and I too both voted for a boy since the Evans seem to produce more boys than girls. I've always wanted to start with a boy for some reason too.

 

I was really nervous on the drive over to the doctor's office...I think just really anxious. But I was also worried that they wouldn't be able to see anything! Once we got into the office Dr. Wada was so great to talk with us about all our concerns answering all our questions and giving us a lot of information. Then we moved to the ultrasound and we told him we wanted to know the gender. As Dr. Wada rolled the thing around on my belly he pointed out that the legs were crossed and that would make it more difficult to see for sure. He decided to move the face to see if he could get a picture of that but the baby's hand was covering it.  I couldn't believe it! My fears were becoming realities  Then I realized that my legs were crossed too! So I quickly uncrossed them and told him to try again. Unfortunately that didn't change the baby's position. But he was able to give a 90% of what he would say the baby's gender is based on what he could see. He pointed out different organs on the way back to try and get a look as the face and just as he got there the baby moved its arm just enough for him to snap a quick picture. A tender mercy! At least we were able to see something! We've got a shy one coming!

After the appointment we headed home to quickly prepare for the gender reveal party. 

PURPLE??? What the heck does purple mean?

It's a GIRL!!!

Well at least the doctor is 90% sure it's a girl. 

Here's the story. Both our pink balloons popped...of course. And then we thought of the purple. Since there is 10% doubt, we thought it would be sort of funny. People were mostly just confused. We just laughed and told them it was a girl. Then of course had to explain. Roxy was so certain it was a girl, she can prepared with a super cute Roxy swimsuit for her. So fun! Even with the doubt I feel pretty comfortable confirming that it's a girl!

I can't believe I didn't get a picture of our cake! Completely covered in white frosting and sprinkles, you couldn't see the strawberry pink cake inside!

And here's her blog debut...our sweet, shy Leila Dawn. Can't wait to meet her!

Monterey with the Rudds

Right after Christmas, we headed to Monterey for a little family getaway. We met up with Bobby and Amy and later the Jenkins came up to join us. 

The boys did a little surfing...Jeremy got to break in his new board!

Us girls watching

 

The boys checking out the waves

Jeremy cheering as Bobby paddles for a wave 

Bobby up and riding!

Jeremy on his new board 

Coming in exhausted!

We saw Les Miserables 

And of course we did a lot of relaxing!

It was a little chilly while we were there but absolutely beautiful. We really enjoyed the beaches and even went to the tide pools. 

Asilomar Tide Pools: Day One

Mom and Me

Studying the shells we found. Dad told us to try and look natural for the picture.

Jer and me

Some of the cool things we found 

Asilomar Tide Pools: Day 2 

It was so nice because the timeshare we stayed at was right on the beach. We enjoyed watching the sunsets and walking on the beach right outside our place.

Once the Jenkins got there we did a trip to the aquarium. I love the aquarium but it is even more fun with kids. I love to see their awe. I know I was just as excited as they were if not more so. 

This time they had a couple new things to see and do. One thing was they had two sea turtles in the big tank. They were amazing! They came right over to where we were sitting by the glass and swam upside down, back to back. It was so cool!

This is actually two turtles, not a reflection.

Cal and Madi were mesmerized!

I always love the Jellyfish exhibit but this time they had this new interactive activity for you to do. You can design your own jellyfish on this touchscreen and then let it free into the open water.

I was obviously very excited about it!

Mom and I sitting on a jellyfish!

Madi, Elle, Amy and I also made this sweet gingerbread house together! 

Another exciting thing happened on this trip. Since I have never been pregnant before I wasn't sure what it felt like to feel the baby move. I kept thinking the maybe I felt something but I just wasn't sure. Until January 1st! We has stayed up playing BANG! and eating lots of treats until midnight when we celebrated the New Year. After Bobby, Amy, Jeremy and I headed back to our hotel and after getting ready for bed and laying down I felt a very distinguishable kick in the stomach. I quickly called Jeremy over and had him feel and we got another one! Bobby was in the bathroom but Amy was right there so I called her over to feel and we got another one! I was so excited I asked Amy to take a picture to document. Bobby finally got out of the bathroom and I had him come over but I think by that point we had scared her off. I felt bad that Bobby didn't get to feel a kick but was happy that both he and Amy were there to celebrate with us. Such a fun moment to feel our baby for the first time!

This made me even more excited for what this new year has to bring!

Christmas!!!

We arrived in Brentwood just before Grandma and Grandpa had to leave to go back home. (They had been visiting my parents for a couple weeks.) This is the only picture we snagged with them before they had to leave...another early morning picture on our way out the door to drive to the airport. Wish I would have gotten more!

Soon after our arrival to Brentwood, the Christmas festivities began! During the week prior to Christmas we frosted a million sugar cookies as is tradition in the Rudd household and we made gingerbread houses with the Evans as is tradition in their family. I love traditions and am excited to keep up some from each of our families.

This year we did Christmas Eve at the Rudd home. This included our simple dinner of crackers, cheese, and sausage, fruit salad, veggie tray, pumpkin pie, and lots of treats!

One of my favorite treats are the doughnuts from the Olsons that they bring us on Christmas Eve...such a fun treat!

We also do our Christmas program...I attempted to play the piano but Dad got out his I-pad to help things along. Some of the primary songs Mom and I just sang together...in our Christmas socks! Such a fun program and I love doing it every year!

Growing up we were never allowed to open presents on Christmas Eve. However, in Jeremy's family they always open one present. (Christmas jammies) Mom and Dad were sweet and let us keep that tradition even though they didn't open one. (What will power they have!) 

Kody was being very photogenic and getting in all the pictures!

Last year we went old school with matching top and bottoms. This year we went a little more new school with the work out pants sort of thing. 

I love me some stretchy pants that fit great on my ever growing belly!

CHRISTMAS MORNING

I had been planning Jeremy's Christmas since about June. I figured since we are going to be poor students for a long time and we are starting to have kids and will probably end up focusing a lot more on them as far as presents go, why not get one last big present? Jeremy has been saving his pennies (literally) for a new surfboard for a long time. Well I worked with the guy who Jeremy got his last board from, had everybody who wanted to pitch into the fund, (hence all the money he received for his birthday instead of presents) and put it out from Santa and the Elves. Of course Jeremy had an inkling (like always), but he was still pretty surprised! It was such a stressful gift, because I wanted to get it exactly right, but it turned out to be such a fun surprise!

The Reveal

After stockings and Santa presents we headed to the tree to open presents. I think I will always feel like a kid on Christmas morning. There is nothing like it. I like to take our time and make it last. 

Beautiful picture of the Oakland temple just like Mom and Dad Rudd's. Can't wait to hang it in our new home! 

A few things for Baby Evans!

Kody really got into it too this year!

Jer's really excited about his signed Duke shirt and new board shorts to match his board!

Mom and Dad with presents from us!

Exhausted!

CHRISTMAS at the EVANS

I'm kicking myself that I don't have any pictures from Christmas at the Evans house! We headed over to their house in the late afternoon and enjoyed the evening with Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa Passey. We opened presents, had a yummy dinner, and just hung out and enjoyed Christmas!

Christmas Photo Shoot

I had every intention of sending out Christmas cards this year but it didn't happen. However my sweet dad did take some pictures of our growing family that I thought I'd add them for the memories. Some of our ideas were a bust but they all make me smile! :)

Idea 1: Hey Jer, let's wrap ourselves in Christmas lights and take pictures with the lights off!

Jeremy must really love me!

Idea 2: There's a present in my belly!

Idea 3: Kiss the baby under the mistletoe! I just couldn't stop laughing!

Merry Christmas! 

Love, The Evans