some christmas miracles

Today is a BIG day. First,I took my last final.  It was no small miracle.  Pre-term labor, bed rest, and hospital stays weren't conducive to being a full time student but I am happy to say that I DID IT.  4 finals are all that stand between me and a college diploma.  


Second, I am officially 8 months today.  Meaning in a little over a week I will officially be full term.  I am so proud of my little boy for hanging on as hard as he could even when my body wanted him out.  He is so tough and I already love him so much.  I've also officially reached elephant status.  


Exhibit A:

And last but certainly not least, my sweet husband took his second to last final today and he only has one more tomorrow.  This has probably been a harder semester for Blake than for me and he has fought through it.  He works SO hard and always pushes himself to do his very best even if that means waking up at 5 a.m. every day so he can have as much time at the library as possible.  He really is the greatest husband and I am so lucky to be his wife.  Now, all he has to do is complete one more semester, take a few finals, and pass a super easy test they call the "bar exam" and he'll be a real life lawyer.  I've always wanted one of those. 


As you can see, it really is the season for miracles.  

showered with love

My ridiculously talented sister-in-law threw me the most beautiful baby shower that has ever been. Jamie doesn't do anything half way and this was no exception.

This was the beautiful spread. Jamie made it look stunning. She made literally dozens of DELICIOUS cake pops. (I ate at least a dozen...for the baby.) She made THIS big beautiful cake. 

And look at the inside of it.  This girl does everything!

She sent the bottom layer home with me and Blake and we snacked on it for a good week. That cake was also for the baby. He LOVES cake. It honestly tasted as good as it looks. 

Jamie cut out literally hundreds of clouds to string across tables and to set perfectly on the straws. It all went along perfectly with the theme of a shower.  


And of course I was spoiled rotten and showered with gifts.  We got our stroller and car seat, diaper bag, dozens of darling and perfectly hand crafted quilts, and a lot of SHOES.  This kid has a better shoe collection than me.  Here is a little peak at one of my favorite pairs courtesy of my mother-in-law. 

  It was a perfectly lovely day and I felt incredibly blessed to be surrounded by all the people I love the very most.  Knox is going to be one loved and spoiled little boy and I am one spoiled mama.

32 weeks

Whew! We have successfully made it to 32 weeks.  There have been several moments in the past two weeks when I questioned whether or not we would.  I have spent several days and nights in the hospital hooked up to monitors and getting all kinds of shots and medicine in an attempt to stop pre-term labor and to keep our baby from getting here too soon. Everything is looking OK right now and baby boy looks just as healthy as can be.  He is even measuring a little big and boy oh boy is he a mover.  I'm just trying to be so careful and take it easy so we can at least make it 34 weeks. I have contractions all day every day but it's so worth it because I know at the end of this I get a beautiful little boy.  After 34 weeks they won't stop labor so I suppose we could potentially have our baby here much sooner than we thought.  We are starting to wrap our brains around that and we are getting so excited to meet this little person that I've been cooking for so long.  We feel so blessed to be this little boys parents.

The past two weeks have been some of the longest and probably the most stressful of my life.  I simply would not have made it through without the help and support of so many. I feel so grateful right now for all the love that Blake and I received through this all.  

I am so thankful for my husband who almost never left my side for a good six days.  He stayed home with me and made all our meals. He rubbed my back when it would ache and I would have contractions.  He would hold heat pads on my back and then ice if that felt better.  He watched hours of TV with me and would tell me everything would be OK when I started stressing that I wasn't doing enough.  He worked tirelessly on school even though he couldn't go.  He comforted me every time I got to stressed or sad and he made me laugh so much.  His birthday was November 9th and I couldn't do one thing for it and he didn't care.  We just sat together and hung out and he lied and told me it was a great birthday and I believed him because I was so tired but now I know it was the worst birthday ever.  He was so strong when I wasn't.  When I had to go back in the hospital for a few nights he spent every night right next to my bed holding my hand.  He didn't sleep much but he never complained and would get up early every day to go back to school.  He has been my greatest support through this whole ordeal.  

I am so grateful for my sister Nina who, even though she has four kids, dropped everything several times to do stuff for us.  She sat in the hospital with us for hours on end even though I know she was exhausted.  She brought Blake funfetti cupcakes on his birthday cause I couldn't make a cake.  She brought us movies and TV shows to watch to help pass the time.  She was there every time I had a concern or a panic and she would talk to me about it and tell me it was normal and OK.  

I am grateful for my brother Dan who drove down on Tuesday to sit in the hospital with me and made me feel secure that should that baby come that day he would still be OK.  He made me laugh and feel calm.  I know Dan was tired because he had been out of town and had flown in late the night before but still he came and it meant so much to me.

I am grateful for my parents.  They were in Europe but they still called every couple of hours to make sure things were OK.  I am sure they spent hundreds of dollars making those phone calls but they didn't care.  Then, the minute my mom got home she came down and stocked our kitchen full of food, cleaned our house, washed all our towels and sheets, and just sat with me so that Blake could go to school.  It meant so much to me because she knew what I needed without me asking.  When I went back in to the hospital Wednesday she was down here in a matter of hours and she sat with me all day long and got me everything I needed because I couldn't move.  Blake and I really would not have been able to get through it without her.  

I am so grateful for my sweet in-laws who were willing to drop everything to fly out and be here with Blake and I if we needed it.  They were always calling and were so concerned.  Blake and I were supposed to fly to San Diego to spend Thanksgiving with them but now we can't and they have been so sweet and understanding about it.  My mother in law even bought tickets to come stay with us for a few days after Thanksgiving to help us out.  They are so supportive and we felt their love every day all the way from California.

I am so grateful for our wonderful friends who called frequently to make sure we were OK and to see if we needed anything.  Our sweet friends Marshall and Lisa even brought us stuff for Blake's birthday and brought me beautiful flowers. They also came and visited us every night in the hospital and helped raise my spirits and brought some new life to our boring hospital room.  All of our friends are busy and they didn't have to do one thing for us but they were so kind and made such an effort and it meant the world to both Blake and I.  We would sit and talk about how blessed we are to be surrounded by such good people.

I am so grateful for my doctor.  The day I went in was the first time I had ever met him because they do a rotating system at my office.  He delivered my sisters last two babies and he is the greatest guy.  He was so on the ball and checked on me at the hospital several times then called me later in the night.  When I went back he dealt with me again and he has seen me every time I've gone to the office since.  He is so funny and makes me feel like everything is going to be OK.  He even got me a handicap parking pass so that I didn't have to walk so much at school and suggested I get a jazzy and a padded helmet to go with it. HA! On that same note we had the best nurses who were so sweet and helpful and helped us feel relaxed in the midst of a stressful situation. 

This list could go on and on.  I'm grateful for my brother Brandt who called and texted every few hours from California to see if I was OK.  For Blake's siblings who called and came and visited and would sit with us and make us laugh.  For all the people who brought us treats and sent us nice texts and messages.  For all my teachers for being understanding and allowing me to make up tests and missed points.  Really we have been blessed in every way imaginable the past few days. 

So while the past week hasn't been easy and it has been scary I wouldn't undo it because it has shown me just how blessed I am.  When it comes time to go around the dinner table this Thanksgiving and say what we're thankful for I will have a long, long list.  I have so much to be grateful for.  

And now just for the sake of recording it here are the belly pictures for the past while! I'm getting enormous.  

27 weeks.  I loathe this picture.  I'm actually carrying the baby in my cheeks here. 

28 Weeks

29 weeks                                                                             30 weeks

31 weeks

And finally 32 weeks

We're getting so close!!

Also, we're going private so please post your e-mail address if you'd like an invite!

Going Private!

We're going private! Leave your email if you want an invite!

Happy Birthday!!

Today is my wonderful husbands birthday.  I just want to brag about him a little bit because not enough good things can ever be said about this man.  

I just really love this picture.

Blake is honestly one of the kindest people I've ever met.  When we started dating I couldn't tell if he really liked me or if he was just really nice. (It turns out he did like me...or he really is just way too nice and let this relationship progress way too far cause he didn't want to hurt me. :)  Blake treats me with the exact same kindness now as he did as the day we met.  I know I get under his skin sometimes and he is always so kind and patient.  He also has the ability to make everyone feel so comfortable and loved.  There is not a mean bone in his body.

Blake is so funny.  I laugh more with Blake then any other person I know.  We have had way too many hospital trips together and he somehow manages to make every experience (reasonably) enjoyable because of his humor and wit.  There's not a day that goes by that we don't laugh together and I love that.

Blake has the sweetest heart of anyone I've ever met.  My nephews love Blake more than anyone on earth and I think it's because they can tell how much he loves them.  My nephew Cole is a mute and even he has mastered how to yell "Blake" at the top of his lungs as soon as he sees him.  Blake already has a special bond with my youngest nephew Graham and it melts my heart to watch him hold him.  I can't wait for our own little baby to be here because Blake is going to be the best dad.  

Blake and Graham have been best buds since day 1. 

Blake works harder than any person I know.  He puts in longer hours at the law school than anyone ever should.  On top of that he always makes time for me and makes sure that I never get neglected.  He will always be successful because he is such a hard worker.

I could go on and on but this is getting sappy.  If you couldn't tell I adore this man.  And for his birthday I gave him the gift of bed rest.  Meaning he has to do EVERYTHING and he hasn't complained once but still treats me like a queen.  I love this man. 

Happy birthday Blake!  Here's to a million more!!!

Things we do

This semester has been killer for both Blake and I.  We spend a good portion of our days every day in the library, in the exact same seat, looking at a computer screen for hours on end prepping for all the tests, quizzes, and assignments that we have to do.  On top of that Blake, is a champion and spends hours a day working on jobs and going to interviews.  He really is my hero. When we aren't being the most boring people alive, we do do fun things.  Here are some of the things we do.  

We go on bike rides and go to the gym together where I am starting to look more and more ridiculous.

We have sleepovers with my nephews.  We're going to be great parents.  Bed at 11:00, awake at 5:30, sugar filled pancakes, a hike up the Y, McDonalds for lunch and then we send them home.  

Notice the energy with which Griffin is flexing.  That is the same energy with which he hiked.

We work on decorating our sweet little guys room and finishing up projects that need to be done before he arrives. 

We cook dinner together while we watch Jeopardy and hone our knowledge of random facts.

We spend conference weekend with Blake's parents who fly in and spoil us rotten while they're here.  They took us out to the best meals, bought us new clothes, and spent their time with us while we laughed and chatted together and soaked it all in.  We have the best families.

We go to Costco and get samples.  If you go during lunch time you can get super great food.

We make holiday cookies and watch football games with friends and family.

I really love this face.

Carter was a master froster
The picture below are all the awesome cookies he made.

We take awkward pregnancy pictures

We spend Sunday evenings with my family and oooh and aaah at the beautiful new babies and dream about ours.

We go to fancy gala dinners with our best friends and hang out with people who are much more rich and powerful than us.  We felt like celebrities for the night. 





Oh, and most importantly we grow our little baby.  Well I grow our little baby and Blake keeps me sane and gives me moral support.  Here's to being 6 months down with only 3 more to go! The end is in sight!!!

22 weeks--5 months!

23 weeks (notice Knox's crib behind me...we're getting ready!!)

24 weeks!

25 weeks!

  And finally 26 weeks! We hit 6 months this week and I am SO excited.

Oh and I'm throwing this picture in just for the heck of it because it's so darn cute.  I want to kiss his face all day long.

how old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?

Blake and I saw a sign that said something to that effect and we both quickly agreed that I would be somewhere in the 70-90 year old range.  I worry too much, I can sleep all the time, I am content to be home, and I am sure if the opportunity arose I would find that I loved knitting.  My life is a battle against my actual age and my mental age.  I try to push myself so I don't wake up one day and find that I am actually 90 and I haven't done anything.  I think I do a decent job of staying young but a few weeks ago Blake and I had an incident that made both Blake and me feel so old that we had no option but to laugh about it for a long time.

Blake's little brother Brady comes and watches movies at our house and one night he came a little earlier than usual.  Blake and I were getting ready for bed when he came in and didn't hear him. Blake opened the door to our bedroom to go out and get a light bulb to find that he was standing 3 feet from Brady's little lady friend in his G's.  I heard the door slam and Blake came in and told me what happened.  I laughed so hard.  The kind of laugh where you bend over cause you can't stand straight. Blake and I have never met this girl so this is her first impression of us.  Blake told me he had never felt older. I suddenly felt like my parents.  We put on some pajamas and went out to PROPERLY meet her.  When we got out there she told us that it was no big deal because she had seen all her friends parents walking around in their garments.  wah wah wah.  I am 21 and I am already being grouped with the parents of Freshman girls.  Turns out when you get married, get pregnant, and move into an apartment that doesn't involve dozens of other girls you suddenly become old.  I was the tiniest bit offended for a while but then I realized that I shouldn't be.  I have never been happier in my life.  I have the best husband and I am certain we are about to have the world's cutest baby, I am almost done with school, Blake is almost done with school, and we have the most perfect little apartment so my life really couldn't be better.  I am definitely ok with seeming old if it means this much happiness.  So here is to years of being 40.  Like from now until I'm 50.

it's raining babies

Labor day was taken very seriously this year as both my sisters announced they were pregnant and both were due within a week of labor day.  Our first little family addition came on Sept. 2 around 10:00 p.m.  We were graced with the presence of a beautiful baby girl named June Charlotte.  My mom, Blake and I got to drive up and see her less than an hour after she was born.  It was so magical and made me simultaneously scared to death to birth a child and ecstatic that in 4 months I would have a sweet, perfect little baby just like her that I could hold in my arms and then take home with me.  (I tried but Jamie wouldn't let me take June home.)  This was an especially exciting birth as it is the first girl born on my side of the family.  When I married Blake I became aunt to these two little beauties:

I LOVE these little girls and I am a lucky, lucky lady to be their aunt but I'm proud of my brother Dan for stepping up and blessing the Hill family with a little girl and a little less testosterone to boot.  June is STUNNING and whenever I hold her I am sad that I'm not having a little girl.  Jamie already looks like her beautiful non-pregnant self again. I somehow don't think i'll be so lucky.

Meet June.  She's so darn cute.


The second addition to our family joined us yesterday, September 6 around 4:00 p.m.  I was studying in the library and my sister texted me around 1:15 and asked if I could come down and watch her kids cause she thought she was in labor.  I hurried down and she was already gone by the time I got to her house.  She made it to the hospital just in time because little Graham Lewis was ready to be here and he arrived just 2 hours later. Blake and I got to see him last night and we LOVE him.  Graham is definitely made from the Brostrom mold.  He looks just like the rest of her boys just of the blonde variety.  Graham made us so excited to have a boy.  We can't wait for Graham, June, and our own little Knox to be best buds through their whole lives.

We bonded with the little man last night

With all these babies, I am getting a little jealous and I wish that I didn't have quite so long to go before I get to hold and kiss our little boy.  But, not wanting to wish our precious time away before sleep becomes minimal, poop becomes an hourly occurance, and I become a cow of sorts, Blake and I decided to embrace our three day weekend and we headed out for a weekend at the cabin.  We invited our friends Marshall and Lisa up and we had the best time watching the BYU game (go cougs), hiking, playing hours of nertz, watching movies, and eating way too much food.  They had to leave us before the weekend was up unfortunately, but Blake and I enjoyed our alone time and slept, watched movies, and went on a nice 30 mile bike ride on Monday with my dad.  It was a stunning ride around Pineview reservoir and some nice back roads (courtesy of my father).  It was so wonderful and I made a point of telling Blake what an awesome wife I am for going on a long bike ride with him while almost 5 months pregnant.  He agreed that yes I was the only 5 month pregnant woman he knew that would do this...but we also don't know any others. bummer. I'm sure I look absolutely ridiculous on a bike and my legs are starting to hit my belly while I bend over to reach my handlebars. I'm sure that the onlookers get quite a kick out of it.  

In OUR baby news I am finally starting to develop quite the bump on the front of me.  Little man is getting so big and I feel him kicking all the time.  He is definitely a mover but refuses to move whenever Blake puts his hand on my belly.  Blake is certain Knox is already defying him. I think he probably just doesn't like us poking him all the time.  We are terrible at pictures but have really tried to get a picture of the belly every week so we can see the progress he is making.

18 Weeks!

19 weeks!!!

HALF WAY!!!!

21--this week.

This is not an attractive picture but it's what we've got. 

We are officially past the half way point and I couldn't be happier about it.  I simply can't wait to give as many kisses and snuggles as I possibly can to our little guy.  He is going to be one loved baby. I should technically be going in this week for my long ultrasound but I got a little off because we were out of town so I am going in next week.  I can't wait to make sure that everything is OK and see his sweet little face again.  We are so excited to be parents!!!

baby BOY

We are for sure having a boy! It has been confirmed several times now.  When we went in at 10 weeks for our first appointment the doctor did an ultrasound and told us it was the earliest he'd ever been able to tell but it sure looked like a boy.  At 14 weeks he peeked again for us and told us that it still looked like a boy.  At 16 weeks we wanted the seal the deal so we paid to get an ultrasound done and it is for SURE a boy.  As soon as we found out I was pregnant we both felt like it was a boy and it was...at least it was from 10 weeks.  We love our little guy and he is already so stinking cute. At least we think so.

This is what he looked like a week and a half ago.  I love his little drumstick leg and that you can see his little brain.  I hope it's his dad's brain, he'll do much better in life. I can't wait to kiss that little face of his.

This is what I looked like at 17 weeks:

This is what I looked like at 16 weeks:

I know I don't really look pregnant in these pictures.  Most days it just looks like I've had a little too much to eat, but there is in fact a little bug in there growing and kicking me every day when I try to sleep.  

And being the picture people that we are we didn't take anymore pictures before that except for these little beauties right at the get go.

When you're worried that one pregnancy test might not be accurate.....

Just take three more.

I have had a really easy pregnancy and I feel so lucky that I haven't been sick and that the baby is healthy and growing.  Blake and I are SO excited to be parents and we can't wait for our little man to enter our lives.  

We're expecting!

We're having a BABY!  We couldn't be more excited! It definitely came as a bit of a shock but we are really so excited to meet our sweet little one.  We are 10 weeks along and baby Tengberg should be arriving around January 14th.  We can't wait!!!!

Sandy Ego

Blake and I have had a busy few weeks.  We took all our finals, moved, and then took off two days later for San Diego to visit Blake's family for Easter.  We had the best time.  I am the WORST at taking pictures. Luckily, Blake's sister Shardae is the queen of pictures so she took a bunch to document that we WERE actually there, unfortunately I don't have any.

The drive to San Diego is just horrific.  We woke up at 5:00 and were on the road by 5:30.  We made it to Blake's house in time for a delicious dinner and a chance to hang out with his wonderful family for a few hours.  Easter was wonderful.  Blake's parents spoiled us rotten and we walked away with gift cards, new running shoes and clothes, and a Sea World season pass.  We are the luckiest kids and we LOVE Blake's parents.  My brother drove down from LA and had dinner and spent the night with us.  It was a wonderful day.

Monday we put our Sea World passes to use and spent the day admiring Shamou and his friends.  We watched every show we could and all burned our little noses sufficiently to look like Rudolph for the rest of the week. We went to Blake's little brothers Lacrosse game that night.  Brady's team is undefeated and they looked so good.  They were so fun to watch.

Tuesday morning we got up early and went to the temple with Blake's parents.  I haven't ever been to the San Diego temple and it was BEAUTIFUL.  It was a wonderful morning.  Blake and I came home, put on our new running gear and took off for a beautiful run.  It was perfect weather and we ran around a lake.  I was in heaven.  We came home and laid around the pool and read.  We had another delicious dinner and great night.

Wednesday we got up early and went on a bike ride.  I got a road bike for Christmas but I had never ridden it because of the crummy Utah winters.  Blakes mom, dad, Blake, and I all loaded into the car and drive down to the coast.  We did a beautiful 22 mile ride and I am converted.  I absolutely loved biking and I can't wait to do it again SOON.  Although, I can't think of any ride in Utah that will compete with biking along the amazing San Diego coast.  We came home for a quick turn around and headed off to the Padres game.  The Padres lost badly but we had so much fun.  We had great seats right behind home base in the shade.  I had so much fun although I don't think that baseball will ever be a sport I love.  It just moves way too slowly for me.  We went home and went to another one of Brady's lacrosse games.  It was another easy win.

Thursday Blake got up early and headed golfing with his dad and brother.  I stayed home and slept in and read and laid by the pool.  Blake came home and we all headed to Disneyland for the afternoon to meet my mom and neighbors.  My mom was so sweet and bought us season passes so we can go whenever we visit.  Anyone that knows me AT ALL knows that I was over the moon about those passes.  We had a great night running around Disneyland and California Adventure and got home so late.

Friday was our last day and we were so sad.  We walked down to the winery by Blake's house to check out the farmers market.  We came back and taught Blake's dog Harley to swim.  It was the most satisfying feeling.  We got so excited when Harley swam you would have thought it was our own child. Our poor child is going to feel suffocated by our love.  We went shopping that afternoon and I finally got my very own pair of Rainbow flip flops thanks to Blake's encouragement.  I am turning into a true Californina what with all my season passes and my Rainbows.  Too bad we live in Utah.

We got up early Saturday and headed back.  We were SO sad to leave but we know that we will be back so soon to head to Hawaii.  We had the most perfect week and we are so grateful for our wonderful families who make our lives so happy and fun.  We could not be more blessed.

a weekend away

On Wednesday afternoon I went and met Blake for lunch and I could tell that Blake's fast approaching finals were weighing heavily on his mind.  I decided that we needed to do something a little different to push finals out of our thoughts for at least a little bit.  I finally came to the conclusion that we needed to get out of the "Happy Valley" (not an appropriate name) for the weekend.  Neither Blake or I have classes on Friday's so we decided we would head out on Thursday after class and spend the weekend up at my cabin.

I picked Blake up after his last class on Thursday and we were off.  We listened to the BYU game on the way up and stopped at my house to watch the end of it. We wished we hadn't. We do still love BYU though.  We picked up some groceries and we were on our way.

Although I wish we could've just left school behind us for a weekend, Blake doesn't have that option, so much of his weekend was spent writing a 30 page paper.  That gave me lots of free time to read, take at least 3 baths a day, and watch hours of food network.  Due to my obsession, poor Blake has learned to watch Food Network without complaint.  We have both learned so much and one night Blake even decided to try his hand at caramelizing some peaches.  They were delicious and he was so pleased.

Here he is proudly displaying his cooking skills. 

One night we went down the canyon and got yummy desserts at The Oaks, the location of one of our first dates.  It was so fun to take a walk down memory lane. 

Admittedly, not the best picture of me. 

It snowed so much while we were there so we really tried to soak in the last of the winter months.  I am not a fan of snow in November and especially not in MARCH, but for some reason when I'm at the cabin it seems OK.  

It was a beautiful winter wonderland. 

Blake was such a champ during our little get away and he plowed our LONG driveway several times, shoveled the deck, checked the hot tub, swept out the garage, made good food with me, stood outside in shorts, boots, and his garment top throwing snow balls at the dish trying to knock the snow off of it so I could watch the show I had been DYING to watch, and on top of this he wrote 20 pages of his 30 page paper.  I love that man.

It was a perfect weekend and a perfect retreat before the dreaded finals start.