Calf Pulling With Dad

While home over spring break I was able to help my dad do surgery on a baby foal who had broken its maxillary sinus. It had pieces of the bone stuck inside and it was quite the challenge! Well, for my dad anyway. All I did was hold the foal and try to keep it from running away!

Then we spent one evening delivering a baby calf. I also did not do much here besides hand my dad the chains, gloves, etc. It was fun though, and a really good experience! But for some reason I could not talk Nicole into coming with me...

We Are Thieves

I totally stole this picture from one of our friend's blogs! It was a nice little picture of some of our first-year medical student friends, Trevor & Teresa, and Sarah & Scott (taking the picture).

Roosevelt Baby Shower

Nicole and I went to Utah for spring break and we had a great time. While we were there, my sisters, Katie & Brynlie, organized a great baby shower for Nicole. There were a lot of family and friends there and it was awesome! Everyone was so generous and amazing!

Spring Break!

Finally! After a couple of busy blocks of school and busy season, we have a spring break to help us regain our sanity! We arrived in Salt Lake and went to dinner with Nicole's family at Red Iguana, which was very tasty! The next day we got up early for Brian and Heather's wedding. It was a great day, the ceremony was amazing, pictures were fun, and the dinner afterwards was fantastic! We even saw Donny Osmond at the temple as he was attending another sealing ceremony.

On Wednesday we received another treat. Nicole's little brother, Mitch, received his mission call to the Donets'k, Ukraine mission. We are very excited for him!

On Friday we finished off the week with the reception which was awesome. Here are a few pics since they will do it a lot more justice than I could describe!

Valentine's Day

We had a great Valentine's Day! Actually, we celebrated it on Saturday instead because it was easier for us on the weekend. Nicole and I split up the Valentine's Day responsibilities, she was in charge of the activity and I was in charge of dinner. Nicole debuted "Nicole's Spa" and she gave me a great spa treatment and massage! I didn't do quite that well but I did make a raspberry/oreo cheesecake for dessert and it actually wasn't that bad! Check it out!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Pictures and Packers

Disclaimer: Colby started this post (complete with a slew of pregnancy pictures), but is heading into test week and hasn't had time to finish it. I decided to finish and post and have strongly considered deleting all pictures of myself below. However, due to popular demand and since we really are far away from you, I consented and the photos remain. Enjoy!

January has brought a lot of changes--the most obvious probably being my belly. While the Energizer bunny keeps going, and going, and going, I just keep growing,

22 Weeks

and growing,

23 Weeks

and growing,

24 Weeks

and growing!

25 Weeks

When Halli saw the last picture of me, I think her exact words were "Holy Cow!" We still have a few more months to go, but Colby and I can't wait for our baby girl to be here! Colby is getting to be the pro researching baby furniture, discussing baby names, and even giving an occasional opinion on baby girl clothes. I love it! In the meantime, we are staying very very busy with school and work and enjoying our time in Milwaukee.

In other news... Colby and I are becoming true Wisconsians as we cheer for the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl next week. Go Packers!

The Holidaze!

December really went by in a blur, but it was such a good, full month and there is lots to catch up on! The first couple weeks flew by as Colb was studying like crazy for the last block of tests to finish up his first semester of medical school. I stayed busy working lots of hours to get all of my audits wrapped up before the holidays. As soon as we got to the night of December 16 the party began. Colb took his last final and I put in my last day at work (for the year). That night we celebrated with our med school friends making gingerbread houses, eating treats, and watching The Grinch. And yes, mine and Colb's house is not technically a gingerbread house. It's a gingerbread U-Haul. They are a gingerbread family in between homes.

Me and Colb

Trevor and Teresa

Sarah and Scott

Ashlyn and BK

The next day was one I had been looking forward to for months. It was our 20 week ultrasound and I couldn't wait to see our baby again and find out the gender. The baby was growing well and right on track. For the first little bit the baby decided to keep its legs crossed, but then SHE let us get a glance and we found out we are having a baby GIRL! We are so excited to be parents and welcome this little girl into our family!

I think she is so cute with her little legs crossed!

Another snapshot of our baby girl

Another fun and crazy thing is that one of the other medical school couples (Trevor and Teresa) that we are good friends with is having a baby and due the same day as us. They also had their 20 week ultrasound, and so we all celebrated our news together!

The next day had also been long awaited as we flew home to Utah. After a few delays, changes in itinerary, and missing luggage, we eventually made it to Salt Lake and even retrieved all of our three suitcases, two backpacks, and one duffle bag! Yay for holiday travel! We spent two weeks in Utah and it went by SO fast! That fact that our families live down the street from each other definitely has its benefits and we truly enjoyed spending time with all of them! We had fabulous food, company, and entertainment the whole time! We thoroughly enjoyed the holidays and the time we had to reflect on the ultimate giver of gifts--our Savior.

At the end of the two weeks we loaded up our FOUR suitcases, two duffle bags, and one backpack and flew back to Milwaukee. Now we are back to real life as Colb started into another semester of school and I am headed into busy season.

In all of that luggage Colb and I still managed to forget a camera to go to Utah. Here are a few holiday photos that we've been able to gather from other people. Sadly we don't have any pictures with the Duncan Family!

The growing Hales Family

The Lovebirds - We are so excited to welcome
Heather into our family and have a wedding in March!

The Swain Grandkids
The Swain Family Christmas Party is always December 26. We have a tradition that all the grandchildren line up along the wall to get their pictures taken. We take two pictures - one is oldest to youngest and the other is tallest to shortest. I am the OLDEST, but continue to move down the line as everyone passes me in height.

The Girls

Me, Mom, and Halli

19 Weeks
20 Weeks

21 Weeks
Us at the Hales Family Christmas Party