"Prenatal CLasses"

Well it is time in the next 3 weeks Chris and I start our prenatal classes at the hospital! I feel like a movie, you know how they have to go to lamaz together and birthing classes haha! I feel like the movie 9 months if any of you remember that :) Anyhow it will be every Thursday for 6 Thursdays starting Feb. 26th-Apr.2nd! Wooo basically once classes are done I have only 30 days until little man is here aaahhh. I feel so unprepared at this point, I am just diving into the baby room. In reality what others don't see Chris and I have done tons. We had to transition our upstairs office to the basement office, now the organizing and moving was alot of work! Chris did most of it(let's just say I'm not much of the organizer :). So that is where we are at now and these classes will cover 6 different sections:

1. Labor
2. Delivery
3. Lamaz and breathing
4. breast feeding
5. newborn care
6. postpartum

So many things that you really have to do to be prepared for this delivery thing... It is overwhelming when I think about it so I try not to (not to hard anyways). We will be doing these classes at St.Mark's hospital, which is where I was delivered. I thought that was kind of neat, and I'm just so excited to get him here already! I'm not a very patient person jsut ask chris :). Well we will give you a weekly update once classes start on Feb 26th so look for them starting that date. Yay!! One step closer to get our baby boy here!!!

Going Private

So really quickly if you are regular readers here and have not received my email to invite you to my private blog please leave it in the comments box for me and I will get one to you :) thanks all!!

"My Heart Is Humbled"

I am writing a post on this because this blog I have come across has humbled me.. It is about a couple that have 4 children and can't be any older than their upper twenties or early thirties. They were in a plane crash in August of 2008, the wife was burned almost 80% percent of her body, and the husband was burned 30% percent of his. They both survived and are now trying to be spouses, parents, examples, and still keep a positive attitude. I had to ask myself could I do that? I truly would have to answer no I don't think so! I read the posts that she writes about their experiences and trying to adjust to their new lives, and it brings tears to my eyes. Please all I invite you if you think you are having a bad day or you think your life is rough, I encourage you to read this blog! It is on the left under my family and friends it's called Nie Dialogues. I was humbled because there are so many things in life that I think are a level of difficulty, but then daily I go read her new post that she types with fingers that can barely type. I then realize that my life is peaches and cream compared to her and her husband's situation. I challenge all of you to look at your own lives and read something that will humble your heart! It will definately make you think and ponder what really is important in life!

Cari

"Opinions Needed"

Okay so I need some opinions from you all! I'm going to post 3 different fabrics that I am wanting to do for the baby crib, some throw pillows, and a regular blanky :) So shown below are the ones I liked at Jo'anns Fabric. Please some comments for me on which one you all like, because i'm nto the greatest interior decorator and sometimes others can see what I definately can't :) Thanks all I appreciate it!! Now do keep in mind when voting that these pictures do not show the correct coloring! These are more of olive greens!

"Draper Temple Open House"

So this is such a pretty temple and such a neat location I can't wait to walk through it! The countdown is for February 10th with my family and Chris's! LDS or not I think it is something for all to see. My family is not LDS but are so excited to see what a temple looks like inside. I have been in the Jordan and Salt Lake temple, but never to the rooms that we will get to see on this tour it is very neat, and a great experience for all. If any of you are interested yourselves in seeing this beautiful place go to www.lds.org/reservations there you can choose your date and how many tickets it is free!! Don't miss out if you have any interest at all, it is something I feel is a privelege to be able to see before dedication! For any of you that have already been or are going before the 10th let me know how it was!!!

"25 week Belly Pic"

Wow oh wow I swear this belly just keeps growing and growing....Yeah I know it's supposed to, but I can't believe how much it changes!! I'm just so amazed by it I told Chris to take a picture of me this time looking at my belly. It is so amazing to know that my very own baby boy (son) is in there just growing, and getting ready to get out to meet his family :) What a miracle and I'm so grateful to be given this privilege to be able to be pregnant and experience these feelings. There truly is nothing like it, and I didn't realize what a wonderful thing it is to know I'm going to be a mommy!! Well Until 27 weeks and a bigger belly... Baby Dunc and I say goodnight were tired :)

"My Appreciation"

I wanted to write this post because I felt it was important. The picture you see above is a baby outfit (obviously). The reason I titled this "My Appreciation" is because my friend Stephanie from Portland sent me this outfit. She didn't just send it though, there was no reason behind it, she certainly didn't have to, but she did because she was thinking of me :) Steph I have so much appreciation for your involvement and always checking up on me, from afar you are a great friend. The outfit is so adorable and Duke loves his new treats too, You even remembered him :) You and Hunt have been so sweet and Chris and I can't thank you enough. Baby Dunc is going to love his new outfit, and can't wait for you to get to see him in it. Steph you always seem to send an email, or call me, or even send a gift at the right time. It's always when I need a little up lift, thank you so much again I hope you really know how much Chris, Baby, and I appreciate your kindness and gift( Hunt too) :) ofcourse. Can't wait to see you here for my shower only about a month to go now yay!!

LOVE,

The Duncan's :)

"Debbie's Teddy Bear"

So this cute little teddy bear I promised my Aunt Debbie I would post for her, because he is sooo cute!! She lives in California so I'm lucky to see her but every couple of years. Recently when my parents went out to visit in California I was given this gift :) Baby Dunc will love it so much! I can't wait because Debbie and Carrie are going to be coming to my shower, I love them both and can't wait to see them! Also Carrie I'm excited to meet your new little baby boy, thank you again so much for the cute teddy bear, and see you both soon!!

Love,

Cari

"My Saturday At Babie's R Us"

Today I hung with my Mama, I always love that :). We went to Babie's R Us which I always love too right now. It is so fun to go in there and just look. I could look for hours just knowing all of the things that I need. So my intention of going there this time though was to actually buy something. I have been trying to find bedding for the baby crib. Now I know this will shock you all that know Chris and I so well, but we are going to go with a fishing theme bedroom it's soooo cute! I will post some pics below of the few things we have already started gathering, and now that the baby room is actually a baby room it's feeling more real. So I decided I need to go with nuetral bedding instead of a print or pattern, because a fishing print that Chris and I are wanting you can't find anywhere! So my thought is to go with beiges, tans, and greens. I just want the room done so I can show it off, but for now I can give you a preview. So back to Babies R us I got a bumper padding for the crib in creme, very nuetral so I can work other colors around it. I'm so excited to show it though I took a picture of it LOL it's pretty boring actually, but not to me :). So go ahead and check it out!

Okay it looks white in this picture, but its creme. Thanks Mama for spending the day with me, and letting me stay with you and dad while Chris was out of town. I know Duke enjoyed the visit, he definately is more work to cart around then a baby will be :). So down below enjoy some of the decor we have so far for our little fisherman's room.

I just have to say one more thing again each time I post pictures of all this furniture I have to just say thank you again!! Chris and I are so thankful to you all that pitched in and gave us all of these nice things, you have no idea how much that helps us! Thank You again all I'll post again soon!!

"25 week checkup"

Well here we are wow I can't believe I am 25 weeks now it is insane! I am getting a little nervous for labor. It is my first round I hope by 2nd or 3rd baby I will feel like a pro, you heard me 2nd or 3rd :) truly if you want to really know I would make it four and so would Chris if we don't broke first! Anyways I'm wandering again, I was checked today by the Dr. and she said the heart sounds perfect and everything looks great! I always love hearing that, because you know you always hear horror stories about other people. I need to quit reading on the internet (Jess it is true research on the net is no good haha) So besides that she said he weighs in at a whopping pound and a 1/2 and is almost a foot long. Crazy how big he has gotten from the size of a nail head when I found out I was prego at 6 weeks. She also let us know this is the last visit in February that will be monthly. For all you other mommy friends of mine that read this you all know that appts. start to go to every 2 weeks. Which I'm glad about 4 weeks is to long in between to hear everythng is good and developing fine soooo, that means I'm down hill towards that beautiful thing we call labor after February 16th. I just know that I can do it some how some way :). Any help or encouragement from the mommy friends that read this it would be nice :) thanks all talk to you soon!!

"Prego Excercises With My Sis"

Okay well I did it I finally decided to start excercising now that I'm almost out of my 2nd trimester! My sister had bought me a yoga/pilates pregnancy DVD. I told my sister the week prior that I didn't want to gain more weight than needed, don't get me wrong I know I'm going to gain weight. So far I have only gained 10 pounds being half way through my sixth month, let's just say I'm not complaining :) I just thought I would give some photos of the work out! I have to add this in in though, we were doing so good right feeling all good about ourselves. we didn't want to ruin it when the workout was done, so I made us some sliced cucumbers (good right)! Well then it turned into some ranch to dip with it, then it was a little slice of pizza left over with the ranch dip LOL. It didn't get better it got worse, but I'm sure you got the point hey atleast I worked out :) Anyhow I was proud of myself and I have been using the DVD everyday since Saturday. This Friday or sooner if I'm to ansy I will have 25 week belly pic.

It started out good with the cucumbers :)

"Marley And Me Night"

So Chris and I went to see Marley and Me with my brother Danny and His wife Becca! We first went to Rockcreek for dinner, I highly suggest their dinner buffet. I love the salad bar so much, I always seem to go off on food in my posts :) sorry about that. Anyhow the movie was fantastic, if any of you haven't seen it yet you must! I don't care if your a dog lover or not it is still a movie for you :) Chris and I looked at eachother during the movie and said, "This is so our life, even the dog is a golden lab like ours". Why I was okay that this movie portrayed our lives? Well I can tell you mostly because they were normal people with a family dog, and kids that could drive them to insanity sometimes. Now if any of you say that doesn't sound like a normal everyday family well then you hit the jackpot I guess, if you want to call it that I feel pretty lucky though. Point of this movie is so good their is laughter, seriousness, and sadness too. Which brought me to why I love my life so much, because without any of those things we wouldn't ever feel anything. For that matter never realize we are just normal and trying our hardest everyday, to be a good mom, be good wives, and be good friends. I truly feel that this movie was an inspiration for me and taught me a lesson or two, I recommend you go see it if you haven't already!! This is Chris and I's very own Marley :) he's so cute!

"PREGNANT POOL"

I just thought I would make a large post for everyone to see! This is a pregnant pool chris and I started that is $10.00 to make a guess and win money :)! I mean who doesn't want to make a little money, so far the pool is up to $60.00 dollars and doesn't close until April I believe. The point behind it is for you to win money, but also it's for Chris and I to make a little as well. The link is to the left, it's titled pregnant pool. Just click on the the link and it will take you where you need to go to make your guess! Please feel no pressure we just wanted to throw it out there, it is something that is fun for everyone! Thanks all for your love and support Chris and I appreciate it :)

Beginning of baby's room

Okay so I don't know how we are so lucky, but Chris and I haven't had to buy one ounce of what you see so far!! by friends of mine and Chris's family have just given these things to us!! It is so unbelieveable how taken care of we are. I am so grateful to have such nice friends (Angie) Thank you so much and Chris's cousins Phil and Heather (thank you both soo soo much). We truly do not have to buy large furniture items now! So far we have recieved a swing, basanet, crib, dresser shelves, rocking chair, and some brand spaking new if not excellent condition clothes 0-18 months. I mean wow I really feel blessed right now baby is going to have great people in his life! Thank you all again, and for the rest of you enjoy the photos!!! Don't mind the crib Chris needs to put it together still :)

"Suzanne's Baby Shower"

So this is Suzanne and I she is only 4 weeks away from meeting her new baby boy!! Yes I said baby boy, which I must say I am very excited about too. We have already talked how we will get together when we can and let the little guys play :) They should only be a few months a part. Needless to say I think she looks great for being 8 month + along. I am so glad that she is going first on this whole giving birth thing LOL. I figured that way she can give me the down low when it's my time, because I can't lie I am scared out of my mind for it! Just a little summary so we all can know Suzanne. I went to hair school with her almost 6 years ago now, wow Suzanne we have known eachother a while now. She has actually been a really great friend to me for so many reasons. I just love her and am very happy for her and her new bundle of joy! I am just so excited I have this whole baby thing to share with someone. Being that none of my other friends except for one are having babies, and none of my brother's or sister have kids either. I feel all nervous, thank goodness for Chris's family that has a gazillion kids which I love very much! We have got competition that is all I can say. Well Suzanne now that I rambled I loved your shower it was a good time! I hope to see you at mine in March sometime, hopefully the beginning :) take care all!

"Some of my latest cravings"

"Daddy's first kick"

I titled this post this way because as you saw two days prior the little man has been moving ALOT!So last night when I was laying in bed he became very active, and I noticed I could feel it with my hand. So I hurried and told Chris to put his hand in a certain spot so he could feel the baby moving, well I was really hoping that he could anyways. Just then a big one and Chris's hand was right on it perfectly! It was amazing I wish I truly would of had the camera right there, because Chris's face was priceless. He was so excited that he had got to feel that finally! He looked at me with a grin ear to ear. I definately thought this was worth posting for everyone to read about! We are just so excited about every little thing that happens, I mean this is our first pregnancy so what do you expect :) Now I just can't wait until I get around family and friends and they can feel it when it happens too. I know that it has become strong enough for people besides me to feel now! Thank goodness because I was hating the waiting between doctor appointments. I was always worried if he was still in there okay, with not feeling movement yet I wondered. Now daily I am getting movement and know that he is more alive than ever and strong at that :) Well I hope that you all enjoyed this little bit of info. that was special to Chris and I.

"My belly at 23 weeks"

Okay so I cannot believe that it has already been two weeks since the last pic I posted! Well I'm technically 23 weeks on Friday so I'm a little early... I get excited to post it though sorry :) Anyhow this is me and this time I have my little friend with me Dukey!! He is so cute he just has to be everywhere Chris and I are!! I hope you are enjoying the belly pice every two weeks, I figured it would be nice for those of you I don't see all of the time!

"Chris cooking YIKES"

Well okay so he can cook some mean easy mac oh and some macaroni and tomato juice, but dinner LOL!! So tonight he had the itch to cook, because one of our new years deals was to not eat out at all this month. Well so far so good, there was only one problem (WE HAD NO FOOD). So he is the worst to take grocery shopping and I didn't want to go alone, he said to me the rule is you don't go to the store hungry! So he was determined to scrounge up something in our kitchen and well this is what he came up with! It was stir fry and brown rice....

The best part is when he ran upsatairs for a breif moment and said I need help. I knew that would happen :) So when I went downstairs this is what I see bless his heart!!

Pans all over pans on top of eachother! This I had to blog because if any of you know Chris well enough you know that he doesn't do the cooking! So after this yummy meal in fact, we headed to the store. Ofcourse before we went I had to reward him with something for rounding up and cooking a good dinner for me! Don't worry though even when we have no groceries we always have junk lying around to eat ( like chocolate cake) :) Thanks for dinner babe I enjoyed and was quite impressed what you whipped up!

"Little man moved"

I just wanted to take a moment and let everyone know that my little man is kicking and swirling in my belly!!! Okay so I was just sitting at work and bam this jolt. I can't believe it, it was very strong today I haven't felt anything like it yet. The best way I can describe it to you all is just like something that is moving through your intestines. Like little bubbles popping, that is how I described it to Chris anyways :) I just thought I would share that with you all! My little man is growing and kicking up a storm in there I will keep you all updated!!

"Carlyes rockin 80's birthday party"

Okay well Carlye turned 27 on Saturday!!! Hope you don't mind I announced that Car :) Anyhow she decided quite some time ago that she wanted to do an 80's theme party for her birthday. She also to top it off wanted to take it to the bowling alley for some cosmic bowling, what better place to be dressed in 80's! Well you should have seen the look on peoples faces when we all walked in LOL it was priceless. I didn't take the camera in with me to the bowling alley because it was so dark in there it wouldn't have taken good pictures anyhow. For so many reasons I wish I would have though :) Some totally awesome dance moves were going on in there! So the pictures I have to present to you are hilarious. The way that Dave and Car had decorated the house was just so fun, they had a set up like as if we were at 80's prom! We had to all get pictures as couples first in front of it, then girls, then guys in groups. Oh my gosh it was pretty funny to see some of these outfits and hairdo's. All I can say is that we all definately brought the 80's back for sure :) Car I hope you had a great birthday!!! As for everyone else take a look at these TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS pictures!!

"Chris weighing Dukey"

So this was a spur of the moment picture Chris decided to weigh himself, he thinks that he has gained weight right along with me LOL! When doing so he decided to lift Duke up and get his weight as well. I wont tell you Chris's weight because I might get in trouble, but as for Duke he added on an extra 79lbs I believe. He has thinned down and lost weight since we have had him. He was pretty heavy though over a hundred pounds which is not healthy for a lab at all. I just thought this was a cute picture to share with everyone enjoy :)!!!!

"Mom and I cooking"

So this was just something simple and short I wanted to post on the blog! Last week my mom and dad came over to visit. My dad every week since 6 weeks now reads Chris and I what is going on with baby, mommy, and daddy that week! He isn't excited or anything to be a Grandpa do you think :) So when they were there my mommy helped me make some yummy pork chops with mashed potatoes and gravy mmmm all homemade! I can cook alright by myself, but there is nothing like when my mom does it :) Oh also I wanted to show off my new cute apron that I got for christmas. I got an excuse finally to wear it and get some pictures. Nothing fancy on this post just something I wanted to share!

"Our New Years Eve Togehter"

So for New Years Chris and I decided to switch it up a little bit. We usually are at a big event or a party with friends, or family. Lots of people needless to say, and this year we decided to do a date alone to bring in the new year. With us going to be new parents this year we thought if there were any year to hang by oursleves it was this one. We know that our lives are going to change in a big way, I didn't say bad way I said big way :) We also know that it isn't going to be as easy to get to just be alone together like we have been used to for 8 years and counting. So we decided to start the night out first with some Chili's for dinner. We went to the downtown location so we could go to this hot chocolate place close by that Chris's co-worker had told him to get get delicious hot chocolate. When we got done eating dinner, which by the way was soooo good I mean who doesn't like Chili's chips and salsa. I also had there chicken crispers and the breading on them are amazing, okay sorry I got off track. Anyhow when we arrived at the hot chocolate place called Cocoa Cafe' they were closed :( I was looking forward to trying something different. That could only mean one thing though, we got to go get 7 eleven hot chocolate. Now I must say there is nothing like it. I mean the hazel nut and vanilla mixtures, Chris loves the mini marshmallows that is his favorite part. So I decided since I missed pictures at Chili's I had to get some at the sev enjoy!

We decided to do downtown away from the party scene. Usually every year with Chris's family we go look at the temple christmas lights. We din't go this year and New Years was the last night they were on. Hey we said we wanted to do New Years different this year and we definately did :) so we headed over to temple square to look at lights. The lights they put up down there are pretty amazing to see it brings people in from all over. So we went in a few of the places on the grounds and I'm not sure what it was called but here is a picture of the inside, it is really pretty in there.
So we decided to head home after our long walk through temple square we were tired, LOL imagine that! I believe the time was only 10:00 maybe, but we thought it would be nice to ring in the new year together alone and cozy at home with Duke! It was his first new year with us and I felt bad leaving him out alone all night. So on our way home Chris looked at me and said are we boring or what, and I said yep I guess so. I also said I thought it was one of the funnest nicest new years I have had in a long time just the two of us. Then he looked at me and we both smiled, I think we are both starting to really let it sink in that we aren't as young and crazy and selfish as we used to be. We realize we are going to have a baby hear in just a little over 4 months. We have so much on our minds to prepare and plan for that it really is what is important even if it has started to make us boring and old :) we have grown very close together and enjoy eachothers alone time, so if nothing else I will take that out of it! So the best part of the whole story to finish is that we didn't even get to ring in the new year we fell asleep on the couch and totally missed it LOL, I mean then I really thought okay we are boring :) We woke ourselves up to go to bed at around 1:00 gave a nice new years kiss and went to sleep! Perfect end to a perfect night if you ask me! I hope you all had a great New Years, Chris and I wish you a great new year. We certainly can't wait to meet our son this year!!