Give the Thanks

I think these pictures best showcase what I am grateful for this year. My photography skills. Wait, that would be a haaayy-no. I'm still learning this whole SLR camera thing. But the photographs do capture what I hold most dear, my family.  Being the oldest of 5, I have quite an attachment to the youngin's. It's hard to believe we are all growing up. My oldest younger brother is serving a mission in Colombia, hence his table setting being occupied by his framed picture.

My family does the tradition of saying 3 things you are thankful for before we feast, which pretty much turns into a testimony meeting. So I'm not going to re-preach my three things here, but rather highlight the little things that seemed too secular to be emphasized at the family fireside/dinner table:

1. A good pen. I have like 5 favorite pens that I whip out depending on what kind of paper I'm writing on.

2. The fact that when I inch forward in my car 3 inches, the other car behind me does the same.

It's a fun game I play with myself when I'm bored on the drive.

3. Dawn dish soap. It gets out EVERY stain. Just soak it on there for 10 min and wash it out.

4. My new found love for yams. Plain yams, not candied. They are like dessert.

5. Forever 21 cheap EVERYTHING. I can achieve a JCrew look in $30 rather than $330.

6. The color Gold. It makes my hair look blonde rather than brassy

7. Movie quotes. I think about 90% of what comes out of my mouth isn't an original thought of mine at all, but rather a movie quote that is most relatable to the situation at hand.

8. The show Modern Family. My brother had never seen an episode, so dedicated many hours over the break to its cleverness.

Although those are trivial things, they do make life a little better. 

I had much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving season.  I am in awe at how blessed Jared and I have been, and we know it is not by our own fortune. 

Gratitude is a wonderful blessing.

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."

Thomas Monson

I like your buns.

Cinnabon's, that is. 

{Although Jared's are very nice as well.}

Saturday I went to the mall all by myself, which is only cool for the fact that I walked by a Cinnabon and I didn't even buy one. Yes, I looked at them, stared at the beautifully glazed dough topped with crisp pecans, but I walked away, folks. Just walked away. 

I bragged to Jared about my triumph, but that only lasted so long. We found ourselves at another mall that evening, where the aroma of sweet Cinnabon penetrated both our nostrils and forced us to purchase a heavenly swirl to share.

I think that Cinnabon really welcomed in the holiday cheer for the Oakdens.

Bring on the 2 months of chocolate covered pretzels, fudge, toffee and Danish cookies.

{actually, I have to admit something. I am terrified of the holidays, or more so of my obstetrician. He told me to only gain X-amount of lbs, which hasn't been hard except hello, my last two months are being spent amidst the 2 most gluttonous holidays! And I am not one to say no to a good thing when she sees it. So don't judge me if I look like a balloon come January. Wish me luck!}

Sometimes I have to stop myself from lifting up my dress at work.

All this tummy movement has me mesmerized and it's hard for me to sit there and watch all the action going on under my shirt when I want to see the flips in plain sight! If I had it my way, my hand would be glued to my bare belly 24/7. Jared is hardly as intrigued as I am. However, I do have him trained to roll over in the morning and station his hand on my ever increasing rotunda. At the request of some important individuals, behold and embrace the 31 week tummy.

Nesting much?

10 weeks and counting....

Yes, her drawers are full to the brim with cutesie tootsie things!
We only have a 1 bedroom apt, so she gets a corner dedicated all to herself.

I had a  meltdown a couple of nights ago. That's only been my second one this whole pregnancy.

I'm stellar, right?

And the timing was so odd. We just watched Phantom of the Opera, and the ending scene where the old man goes to his wife's grave just let the flood gates open. Bahahha. I thought about how I didn't want to get old, but then I thought about getting old with JO and I got happy. But then sad because we're growing up, and I don't want to grow up, Peter! I like my time with just JO. so I got scared. and I cried.

He probably thought I was a loony. But he held me anyways while I just cried.

So I decided that it's time to take more pictures of just he and I in our every day moments, hence the slamming of pictures on here. I want us to remember 20 years from now that we had a life before our

loving children came along. And that life was spectacular. 

[but i'm still super excited for little girl to arrive] 

Wax Shavings make Autumn Savings

Simple and sweet. Shave crayons onto wax paper. Melt with iron. Cut out leaves. Hang on tree. We had fun making our own cheap autumn decor.

I guess its the latest thing in LA