Tuesday marks Baby Young's 26th week! We are still nowhere near to finalizing names but hey, there's still another 2 1/2 to 3 months left!

Wednesday the 15th, is the day Josh is done school. As in, can graduate and receive his piece of paper while wearing a robe and funny hat! I am so proud of him! He has worked so hard this semester and his grades are definitely showing off his hard work.


We headed back to Wyoming for Thanksgiving with the Young family and had such a good time we didn't want to leave! The snow was beautiful, a little dangerous, but beautiful! We had our first ultrasound and Baby Young is growing quite nicely and right on target! Sadly for us, the baby was sleeping with his/her little face shoved into my ribs so we weren't able to get any pictures. But on the positive side, we were able to see two little feet, the top of the head and a little fist! Can I just say that our baby has the cutest feet ever? Haha. Yeah, mine and every other baby's right?

My sister Krystal had her THIRD baby Nov.20th, a beautiful baby boy named Kenneth Cotton. We were able to make a quick trip up to BC to see the little guy and also see my other sister Christina and her two kids who were over from Winnipeg! A very short but sweet trip.

Month 5

Well it seems that I may have turned a corner in my pregnancy journey. I no longer have days of feeling nauseous and I don't feel as sick after eating anymore. Yay! I do still get headaches, but the migraine days seem to be behind us.

Has the time been flying by for anyone else? It feels like it was just yesterday that I had a mini heart attack after peeing on the stick! HAHA! It's crazy to think that in just under 4 months we'll be welcoming Baby Young into our lives and trying to figure out parenthood.

I don't think I give enough credit to Josh these days. He has been so stable, sane, comforting and willing to give me a kick in the pants when needed! He's also figured out what kind of tear filled outbursts need his sympathy and which ones to simply ignore. Plus he's going to school full time, working on the weekends, helping out at youth and still working with the basketball team. He's a busy guy but he always takes the time to make sure I'm feeling well and if he's anywhere near me when the baby starts to kick he usually drops whatever he's doing and rushes over, hoping to feel some kicks. So far he hasn't so he's started yelling at my belly "kick Mommy harder!" and "Daddy loves you!". He also tries to get me to eat spicier foods because the baby seems to kick more after I eat thai or indian food. Hahaha

We're getting ready to leave for Montana for a week, and we are SO ready for this break! It'll be nice to just relax with the Young side and have our first ultrasound. I can't wait to finally get a glimpse of our baby! Also, it's going to be American Thanksgiving that week so we have some GOOD food to look forward to :D

Has anyone else gone a little Christmas crazy? I figured that since we have to pack up our apartment after Josh is done with his finals, it was ok for me to decorate in the beginning of Nov. So our tree is up, a few decorations are sprawled in random spots and I baked sugar cookies yesterday. Today I'm supposed to finish decorating them, but I'm having a hard time getting motivated. Ehhh, they'll get done soon enough! Actually I should probably stop procrastinating and go ice the rest of them. Till next time!

are you sure God?

Well, as most people already know, Josh and I are expecting our first child in March 2011. As we've been trying to find out way through first shock, then denial and now acceptance we've learned to depend even more on God. I know it sounds so cliche, but honestly, this new addition has turned our world upsidedown and he/she hasn't even been born yet!

We were not planning on having a baby at all. Maybe in another year or so we'd CONSIDER it, but the idea of starting a family was not in our plan. SO we've had to learn to accept and follow God's plan for us, and it hasn't been easy, not do we expect it to become any easier.

Our biggest problem at first was that I was not on health insurance. Now that I am pregnant, I have what insurances call a "pre-existing condition" and no one wants to take me on. The only company that might is Medicaid but we have to be careful because there are certain low income benefits that I am not allowed to partake in. (Its all part of an agreement with the Government when I received my Green Card.) Thankfully, the hospital has been extremely kind and understanding of our situation, and has explained EVERYTHING to us, money wise. In the long run, giving birth is not that expensive, but it is an expensive one time fee! LOL We have a few options at the moment, and we are just trying to find God's voice as to were He wants us to go.

Our next biggest problem is that we are not quite ready to give up our youthly freedom. I know, I know, it sounds incredibly selfish to say it, but its the truth. We now have to think about the future and plan for this child, and its needs. I know Josh struggles with this, but he's been very supportive and positive about it all which is helping me grow up and take responsibility. I've been having lots of little tantrums about how I feel so sick and I didn't want to get pregnant, and how I can't have my beloved coffee or chocolate, and blah blah blah. I honestly do not know how my husband put up with it. But recently it struck me that Josh and I have been given a gift from God, and who am I to complain? I have always wanted children, so why should I have tantrums when God has given me the ultimate gift: a family of my own?

So I'm trying really hard to be positive and appreciative. Some days I'm good, and some days I deserve a good spanking! Our good friend Debby Young gave me a devotional book called "Praying Through Your Pregnancy" and it has helped me connect to this child and pray for him/her. One silly little thing that has helped is that my stomach is definitely getting bigger and instead of being "pudgy-soft" its getting hard...almost as if my abs are getting fat. LOL. Its a constant reminder of the gift God has given Josh and I.

So far this summer...

It's been a while since I last updated this blog. So, let me bring you up to speed!
1. We moved to Gardiner, Montana.
2. I now work at the local grocery store, The Food Farm.
3. Josh is working 911 dispatch in Yellowstone.
4. We love it here.
5. I received my social security number in the mail. :D
6. We went to my first rodeo, and I bought my first pair of cowboy boots!
7. Had our first Fourth of July as a Permanent Resident of the US.
8. Made my first potato salad ever, and Josh bit into an egg shell. hahaha
9. Josh and I had our first year anniversary and it was lovely!
10. We went white water rafting down Snake River in Jackson Hole.

So that brings you up to speed! We are having a blast and the time of our lives! Also,we want you all to come visit us!

We'll write more again, and sooner than this last time!

Josh made it home safely and even with the minor misfortune of emptying his stomach, he had a great time! But he'll be updating you all himself, so I won't spoil any of his stories!

I drove the 2 hour trip to Canada quite successfully by myself and returned very proud that I had conquered my fear of driving on the interstate! Easter was a blast, in a very crowed home filled with adults and crazy loud children. It was kinda soothing after my very quiet months in Kirkland! I was able to see all but one sister during my stay, and of course my Portland sister, who wasn't there either!

Being back "home" made me realize how much I am a part of my family and but also how much I've changed in the past 9 months. I am so lucky that I get to spend my first few years of marriage away from both of our families, yet close enough that we can still see them. I didn't use to think it was a good thing, but its turned out to be great. We are turning into our own family and learning to lean on God and each other when things are rough. We're learning to fight our own battles, without bringing in other family members, and learning to stand together as a unit. We're learning when to ask for help and when to just do things ourselves. I know that personally, I always felt like I had to please everyone, especially with my very unique and crazy family. But Josh has been helping me to see that usually, my family doesn't care as much as I think they're going to, and they'll be happy with the majority of my decisions if I decide things for me and not just because I'm afraid of offending someone. I guess you can say I'm starting to grow up! So even though I was happy to see my family again, I was even more happy to come back home to my husband!

We are leaving in just a few short weeks, and man, the time is flying! There is so much to do!

I've been able to enjoy the sun these past few weeks with the kids I babysit. They do love the park, and I love the sun, so its good for all of us! Aviva is 6 and I got her hooked on Little House in the Prairie books! lol Elias is into animals and pretending on going on trips. My favourite trip so far was when we went to Russia and bought peanuts at a peanut store. Almost everytime I'm with them they do something hilarious! They've helped with my niece/nephew withdrawl since moving here!

We finally found out when our next interview is after I called in and was switched to different people for an hour. If I could fill out a customer satisfaction form, they would not have had a good review. Just sayin'. Our appointment is for April 20, in the morning. There's a buttload of info we have to get for it, but its one more step closer to getting my 2 year green card. The point of this interview is to prove that we did get married, are living together, and plan to stay together. So we need to bring our tax forms (yay for joint tax returns!), our rental agreement, car insurance, pictures, etc.

Josh is heading to Mexico on April 1st, and is pretty excited. I told him that since he is going without me, he should bring me back a present. I think its fair! hahaha! While he's in Mexico I'll be in Canada! So maybe I should bring him a present back too...hmmmm. I'm very excited to be with family for Easter and see old friends again!

Today I'm getting ready to have my friends from home Julia and Jessica over! Also, Savana, my niece will be coming tomorrow and staying with us until the 4th! It's good to be an Auntie! Josh is SO excited for Savana to come! Well, I better stop stalling and actually clean something! Love to you all!

Documents!

I've noticed that once I can't have something, I want it even more than I did to start with. That's kind of how its been with my whole immigration process. Josh and I have been working on it since he proposed, and it feels like my green card will NEVER come. Like instead the government has found some sort of shady past I never knew I had and I'm going to be deported. Ha! Never thought I'D be worried about deportation! So you can imagine our joy when... my travel documents arrived in the mail this past week! I literally jumped around and did my "happy dance" for way too long! Which means I can go home and visit Tim Hortons...errr...my family. Haha! We're not sure when we'll be heading up, and it might be just me as Josh has a crazy schedule, but as soon as it works, I'm coming to visit! Can't wait to see you all!

Cookie? What is that?

Has February gone by super fast for anyone else? It doesn't feel like it should be March yet, but it is and boy does it smell nice! There's two more months of school left and the basketball season for the University is over. Josh and I have found some students to rent our apartment starting this May, and we're making plans for heading to Yellowstone! Josh will be interning with Bill Young (the pastor who married us) and will most likely be working in the Communications Centre in the park. I think that's what its called. Basically we're waiting to see if he passes the background check...lol. We're hoping his drug bust from last year doesn't show up...KIDDING!! It looks like I'll be working at the local grocery store which is going to be pretty interesting and I'll get to know everyone pretty fast! We'll be back here in Kirkland for the beginning of September so that Josh can finish his final semester of school! Woot woot!

The immmigration process keeps going but looks like it'll end fairly soon. I got my fingerprints done recently and an interview, and we're supposed to get a letter in the mail in 2 weeks with instructions for our next interview. This one will be for both Josh and I, proving that we really are married and know about each other, once again! Then if we pass its only supposed to take a few weeks to get my green card! While I was at the Homeland Security place I asked them to check on my document's status as we paid for it over 3 months ago! So I'm supposed to have my travel document and temporary work visa mailed to me in 2ish weeks. My sister Melissa gave me some awesome advice and showed me the sites with certain rules about social security numbers and the like. Thanks to her we have a bit clearer idea of what's going on! This whole process has taken so long and is so confusing! At least the immigration officers have all been super nice!

Now Josh and I have been discussing what makes a cookie a cookie. In his opinion, its not a real cookie unless it has chocolate chips in it and is slightly chewy. And I think as long as the word "cookie" is in the title...its a cookie. So my favourite kind of cookie "oatmeal raisin" is a health bar and my other favourite, a plain chocolate cookie is too "cakey" for him! Now I realize that this sounds super childish and you're probably thinking that we just need to deal with our likes and dislikes, but we have nothing else to do! hahaha

Well, I have nothing else to do! hahaha Josh on the other hand is still super busy. He's going to Mexico with the youth group next month, so there's lots of meetings and his internship class is every Sunday before Church. He's now picking up some of his old shifts at the mini golf course working in the pro shop, which he likes WAY better than clearing the driving range of golf balls!

This is also our first Easter being married and I must confess, I forgot about Lent, but I'm excited to make Paska for the first time! That is, if Mom can find her recipe for me! haha!

I'm off for now! Josh is playing in the basketball intramural and I should probably go support him, right? Love to you all!

Our First Post!

Well, we've been married for 7 months and 19 days. Some days it feels like a lot longer and sometimes it feels like it was yesterday. We're thoroughly enjoying married life, and getting to know our roles. We've discovered that neither of us like doing the dishes- resulting in a few pileups, Josh likes making the bed most days, and I like to make sure the living room is tidy. We've had the pleasure of celebrating a few holidays and our birthdays as a married couple and figuring out how those work for us. We've (I've) made some new friends and are growing fonder of Kirkland than we ever thought we would. We've also made some new connections in our "Kirkland" church (Eastside Foursquare) through Josh's internship. Josh's internship is going very well and he seems to have a good time. He recently went on the winter retreat with the youth group and came back very tired but encouraged with the work he's doing.

Our bathroom has been our main focus these past few weeks. First, our toilet never flushed properly and kept getting plugged...which I blamed Josh for, of course. Then everytime we flushed it, the water leaked out the bottom, so we let Northwest Maintenance know and we were treated to "Emergency Services", which was actually really great. It's nice to know that Northwest has their priorities right! haha! The guys fixing it let us know that there was a tree root growing in our pipe towards the tolet bowl, lifting the toilet completely up. So after pulling over 12 inches of tree root out, and the toilet still not working properly, they brought the big guns out-an outside plumbing company. It worked perfectly until two nights ago when it suddenly started leaking water again. Josh woke up that morning to our hallway and bathroom flooded. Unfortunately for us it was President's Day so our favourite Northwest Plumbing crew had the day off. So Josh turned the water off and we used the common bathrooms across the street for the day. Today the guys came in and gave us a brand new toilet and set up two huge fans to dry out the carpet. Also they turned up our heat to 78 F so it is SUPER humid and feels like vacation now! They said the carpets should dry out by tomorrow, but I'm not so sure since its still pretty spongy!

Well, its getting late and I'm running out of steam! Love to all!
Leslie and Josh