Coming soon...

Today I had an ultrasound because at my appointment last Thursday my doctor didn't think the baby had moved head down yet. Luckily, today's ultrasound confirmed she is head down! Good job baby! Baby girl still hasn't dropped as much as she should but she still has some time to cooperate with us. I'm 60% effaced but only dilated slightly. From the measurements, they believe she is already about 6 lbs. 11 0z. Which means...doctor is inducing me one week early on the 16th to avoid a bigger baby. That is in two and a half weeks!!! Whoa. I'm very excited but I feel like time is slipping through my fingers and I still have so much to do before she comes.

Here is a picture of her profile and hand from the ultrasound today. I can't believe we are going to be parents two weeks from Thursday. It is seeming quite surreal.

One Last Getaway

All summer long I've wanted to take a trip to the beach. Finally, my demand was satisfied and we went to Newport Beach a couple weeks ago as one last get away while I could still travel. It was wonderful. We spent most of the time at the beach. We walked to the pier, ate hamburgers, laid out, found crabs in the rocks, and played in the ocean.


I definitely missed being close to the beach this summer as it is one of my favorite places. Luckily, Vegas isn't too far. I'm looking forward to next year when we can take our little girl with us and introduce her to the ocean and the sand!

Baby Bump Photoshoot

Well I did the photo shoot I swore I'd never do...the maternity photo shoot. Although it was last minute and unplanned. While in Utah, my sister in law, who is a photographer, offered to take some pictures of me one afternoon. We only had an hour to work with so she threw up her black backdrop in her living room, set up her equipment, and took some shots. I definitely wasn't prepared for taking pictures as I didn't pack much for our quick trip and I hadn't done my hair that day. Regardless, it was fun and I'm glad we got some pictures. I was about 32 weeks in these pictures.

Somehow we dragged Niel into a couple of the photos. Not sure how we managed that because he said he would NEVER take these pictures:) I guess it helps when your sister in law is a photographer and springs a fast one on you. Thanks Michelle!

32 & 33

Week 32 & Week 33

I'm getting better at having Niel take pictures every week. My friend Brittany, who took pictures religiously inspired me. I wish I had been on top of it earlier in my pregnancy because it is fun to look back at the different stages of my growing belly.

It seems I look bigger week 32 than I do week 33 in these pictures. Weird. Maybe it is the shirt?

Preston

Meet my new baby nephew Preston! He is so sweet and I love his chubby little cheeks. This picture was taken on his blessing day (about a month and a half old).

Family after the baby blessing

It also happened to be my grandma's birthday on the blessing day. We had a delicious BBQ and then cake and ice cream for her birthday. My brother Brannen is on the right (proud dad) and Tiffany (proud mom) looking fabulous as always on the left.

I'm so glad we were able to go to Utah for the baby blessing even though it was a quick trip! Congrats Brannen and Tiffany on your sweet little boy.

Utah

Last month Niel and I took a quick weekend trip to Utah. The main event was a baby blessing but we managed to squeeze in some additional fun things. The first night we stayed with our friends Kellie and Devin. Saturday, we went with Niel's mom to BYU campus. Niel and I hadn't walked around campus for several years. It was so fun to be back to our old stomping grounds. We ate at some old favorites: J-Dogs, Zupas, and Kneaders.

Saturday evening we headed up American Fork Canyon and walked around the lake with both of our families. That night we stayed with our friends Jim and Amy.

Baby Shower

My wonderful family threw me a baby shower at the reunion. It was so neat to have most of my cousins, aunts, sisters, and grandma there. Especially since we don't live very close to family. The baby shower was hosted at the cabin we stayed at. My sister-in-law Lindsay made me this adorable diaper cake!

Some of the Smith Girls

My aunt Sharon and her two daughters

I received lots of cute clothes and it made me really excited to get our little girl dolled up! Thank you to all of my family who came and brought me gifts. I loved being able to have all my family there.

Team Yellow

Our family's color at the reunion was yellow. Our numbers are increasing at an incredible rate. Baby girl Schurig will be grandchild #17!

The cabin we stayed in

Cousins. We were all born within a year of one another.

Floating

We floated the river at Island Park. It took us about four hours because we never got very efficient at rowing the boat. In addition, Jericho thought it was fun to take our boat on detours. Luckily, we had lunchables, gummy fish, gummy peach rings (personal favorite), apples, pringles, and a few other miscellaneous junk food items to keep us fueled. We had lots of fun! The weather was beautiful and we were in good company.

We all couldn't fit in the boat so Paul and Ben floated the river in their raft. The raft got a hole in it about an hour into the float. I guess the bright side of the raft getting a hole in it was that they stayed cool the rest of the afternoon.

No pictures of me pregnant in a bathing suit will be necessary, but I'll have you know I was on that boat rowing with all my might.

Fishing

I'd been wanting to go fishing for a long time. Last time I went was about five years ago. We got to go fishing at Island Park during the family reunion! My fish is just a little guy and pretty wussy compared to the fish Niel caught in Alaska but I was still excited. Besides Jericho (basically a fisherman of trade) I was the only one who caught a fish! I'm pretty sure the only reason why I caught it was because Jericho gave me some pointers.

After I caught it, my dad showed me how to clean and gut it. It was pretty disgusting. I don't like that part of fishing.

My dad's hat couldn't be more appropriate for the occasion.

Yellowstone

In July I went to the Davis family reunion on my mom's side of the family at Island Park and Yellowstone. It was my first time visiting Yellowstone and it won't be the last because I still have much more I need to see at the park.

Entering Yellowstone with my sister's family.

A friendly bison we saw while driving.

Old Faithful

Alaska

These wild flowers grow all over the state. This picture of Eagle River Valley, where Niel grew up, was taken from titty-top mountain.

Niel and his dad found this half-frozen lake high up in the mountain near Kenai.

Off in the distance you can see Denali

Niel's house is down there somewhere. The big red-roofed building is where he went to elementary school.

Eagle River, the river Niel's hometown was named after

Symphony Lake

Schurig Men

I want to go to Alaska now. What about you?