It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Since it has been a while since the last post, here's the latest updates on our life. Sorry it's so long!

Baby News
We are now 25 weeks along (officially). We had an appointment last week and the doctor said everything looked great. Our little boy is getting not so little anymore, and he may be a few days to a week more developed then our official due date says, but it's close enough that we're keeping the same due date and monitoring my progression. So March 28th is still the big day!
Funny story, last appointment I had just finished eating a really large lunch and hadn't gone to the bathroom in a while (they always ask you to pee in a cup at these visits so I was saving it up). I step on the scale- completely shocked that I could possibly weigh that much- then head over to go talk with the doctor. It turns out I gained about 1-1.5 pounds more than I should have and I got a lecture about eating healthy, cutting out starches (potatoes, bread, rice...all the good stuff that's cheap). I wanted to have him weigh me again once I was able to digest and go to the bathroom...but no...the "official" weight was already taken...bummer. I really think that after I went to the bathroom I lost all that "extra weight" and was perfectly on track, but I guess I can just keep telling myself that. Next time I'm going to make sure I do my business before the weigh-in and I'll show them that I'm not one big fat tub of lard...
In other baby news, our son has figured at how to kick...and punch...and stretch...and hiccup...all sorts of ridiculous things. When I was first able to feel it, it was wonderful- how, almost 9 weeks later, it's getting a little tiring, particularly because he loves kicking my bladder! I don't know what it is about this son of ours, but he thinks my bladder is a toy. All of a sudden, a swift kick happens and I almost lose control of my body functions...not good, especially in the middle of class...Chris thinks it's hilarious.

School Stuff
Chris is almost done with his classes- WAHOO! Finals start next week and then it's relaxation time! This whole semester has seemed like a series of crazy happenings. Chris had a big English Project due on Thursday by 5- it could not be submitted any later than 5...so we thought it would be no problem. I left work a little earlier than I should have (around 3:45) to come home and help him. All of a sudden we realize there is more work to be done than we thought...so a frantic hour of panic culminated with Chris driving like a mad man (totally in control of the car though) to get to campus as I am putting all the papers into sheet protectors, getting everything in order and ready. We pull up to campus and realize we don't know where the office is that the stupid thing is supposed to be turned in to (it's now 4:55). Chris starts running to one building while calling BYU info, once he reaches the top floor, he is informed it's on the 4th floor of another building. So after a good bit of exercises, I am pleased to say his project was turned in with about 90 seconds left to spare.

School for me is one bit of craziness after another. I don't know how I feel about all the kids saying, "Mrs. Hawks- you're getting really fat!" I know they're referring to the fact that there is a small child in my abdomen, but hey...after the doctors visit it's getting to be a sensitive issue with me. There is also one teacher at school who keeps questioning whether I only have 1 baby in there because, "dear, you're just getting so large!" (that comment was made before I really even started showing...). Other than the fact that sometimes my kids can act like devils, every once in a while I'm struck by how smart they are. We are learning about the Constitution in my US History class and they were actually participating in the discussion- even the kids who are "too cool" for that stuff. I felt like I should win a prize or something. I can't wait for Christmas break, just 5 (practically 4) days left because Friday is a half day with 2 hours worth of assemblies which means 10 minutes of classes! The kids are getting excited, but you should just see the faculty room- if you think kids get really excited for breaks , you've never seen teachers at lunch the week before!

Grad School Stuff
Chris has been accepted to one school so far, he's interviewed at one other, and has interviews with two more schools. We're still waiting for news about the other schools we've applied to, so we'll see what happens. The two schools he's been to so far couldn't be more different. Hot, mormony Arizona and cold, ghettoy Philadelphia...I can't wait to see where we end up!

Anniversary
On November 24 we celebrated our 1 year anniversary. Since it was a Monday, there wasn't too much we could do, but we celebrated in style anyways. Chris did the cutest, most amazing thing ever! During my 5th period class (7th grade Utah Studies) he walked into my classroom with a vase of flowers! I was so shocked! My kids thought it was amazing. One of the boys told me if it were our anniversary he would have brought me a teddy bear, but then one of the girls said, "Tyler (name has been changed), REAL men bring flowers." Good to know I have a real man. After school and work, Chris came home and saw the poster I made for him...

Kind of cheesy, I know, but we're poor...so creativity is key! We celebrated by going out to dinner at a place called Market Street Grill. Chris wanted to take me there because they apparently have really good salmon (I love salmon but never get it because it's expensive), and let me tell you...they do...it's good. We capped off the night by opening presents, and getting to bed early (kind of lame, but Chris had a 7:00 class in the morning). Later we went and bought Chris a new wedding ring (he lost his...boo Chris). We got a really good deal because we bought a surplus ring (someone had inscribed a message on the inside and ended up not needing the ring...whoops!) It looks good and no one else knows that there's a cheesy message on it.

Christmas Time is here!
I LOVE Christmas. I started listening to Christmas music on the first of November when the radios start their Christmasy music marathons. We got a tree last Saturday and it looks wonderful! We love having a real tree in our home- since it was a really cheap tree, we don't feel bad about it!
We both just love the Christmas season- homes are decorated, people are happy, we think about others...it's just such a good time to remember what is really important.


Sorry for the length- we should be better at more frequent posts...but alas we're not. Merry Christmas Everyone!