Da Runkel Kids

Hanging out at my parents the other day, I got some cute pictures of Christian and Nayeli and just wanted to share them. I went for the natural-lighting rather than a flash, but I always forget how yellow flourescents make everything look. Either way, cute kids!!

Comparing Melons

We had a little taste test the other day to see who picks out the better watermelons. I tend to pride myself on picking good produce, but I'm willing to admit that when it comes to melons... I'm not the best. SO just to make sure we always get the best, Ammon and I each picked out a watermelon from the local ranch market and had the family taste them. Ammon won by a landslide. Mine was very good, but his was sweeter (although some people did say there wasn't any difference between the two). And of course, with so much roundness going around, I had to get a picture with both of my melons. My baby looks bigger than the 19 pound watermelon!!!

Remedies

Another complaint I've had during this pregnancy has been my crazy hands. They are always going numb, especially when I'm on by back... or eating... anytime I use my right hand really... in fact I can't feel the Spacebar since my thumb is numb right now. BUT now both of my wrists, specifically my thumb joints have started to mutiny on me. I have a hard time gripping anything. SO I've decided to try wrapping them at night to see if that helps. Last night was my first attempt and they already feel a little better... not great or even normal... but better. PLUS, for whatever reason my arm didn't get AS numb last night. Coincidence? Possibly, but let the experiment continue!!!

Da 'Mallos

We have been joking about how swollen my feet are lately and Ammon has decided to affectionately call them 'Mallos (marshmallows) since they are puffy and white. He even gave me a quick little pedicure the other day so my Mallos would be as pretty as can be!

My First Mother's Day

Since I am about as close to being a mom as possible without actually having a child in the house yet, I made sure Ammon knew that I wanted something special for Mother's Day. Since money is virtually non-existent in our house, I also made it clear it needed to be something cheap (or no cost at all). Well Ammon definitely outdid himself. Saturday night he took me out to the desert for a sunset picnic complete with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Then he fed me some homemade chocolate-covered strawberries. BUT not just any homemade chocolate covered strawberries. These were dipped in melted Andes Mint. Now that sounds really odd, but they turned out SOOOOO GOOD, and if you know how I feel about Andes mints, you would know that it was even more special for me since they are my all-time favorite candy!! Anywho, afterward, Ammon (with some help from my mom) bought me a Mother's Day ring (which is also my pregnancy wedding ring since I'm too puffy to wear my normal wedding ring) and brought me home to a bouquet of sparkly blue daisies and a red rose. It was a great-memory building experience and felt like a kind of farewell to Newlywed-ism since it might very well be our last real date before the baby comes. My sweety is always so good about doing the little romantic things, so this little excursion just made my weekend a true first Mother's Day!!!

DA PREDICTIONS

I now have five weeks until I am due (June 10th), and I will be the first to admit this is getting less and less fun. My feet and ankles are CONSTANTLY swollen. My arms go numb quite frequently, especially the right one. It's gotten to the point that I actually sleep with my head at the foot of our bed so I can sleep on my left side with my right arm hanging over so it won't KILL me in the morning. The baby has started to touch my ribcage, which I thought just wasn't going to happen. I even thought that the baby had dropped on Sunday, but a few days later, it became very obvious he hadn't. Anyway, enough on my update, now I want to know predictions. I won't have any information until next week from my Doctor as far as her physiological predictions go, so this is the perfect time. I want to know what DATE you think I will pop; In the morning or afternoon; How much the baby will weigh and how long he will be from head to toe.

Nursery Madness

This is the mess that has become the baby's room after the baby showers! It is the beginning of a whole new life for us, and I have the opportunity to organize it. YEESH!!! So many people have volunteered to help out any way they can, but lets be honest, I would either be totally lost or have to change everything around after they helped anyway. Why? Because I am that kind of a person!!! Kind of annoying really.

Da Ward Shower

Last weekend I was thrown another shower by the ladies in my ward (church), and it was great fun. The food was FANTASTIC, especially the chocolate bear lollipops!!!

Announcement Photos

I had the AWESOME chance to take the announcement photos of my Brother Chris and Fiance Kelli a few weeks ago. We had a ton of fun, and I'm so grateful that they already knew EXACTLY what they wanted since the last thing I wanted to do was take 5 hours scampering around the Valley with my GINORMOUS belly in 90 degree weather. I was glad to do it though since I've taken all of my other Brothers and Sisters announcement photos... kind of a tradition... and since they are getting married three days after my due date, who knows if I will be able to attend. Here are some of my personal favorites.

Da Completed Coop

It is finally complete!! Ammon's shop has so graciously given him the week off (not by request but out of necessity cuz there's no work), so Ammon was finally able to complete our little chick coop (they'll get a bigger one when they're older). It's sitting ever-so-beautifully in our shed and makes me happy that I won't have to worry about the smell of chicken in the house anymore. All of our chicks are doing well, though we did have a scare a few days ago when they all started to pick on the largest in the group Big Mama. She had a little gash in her neck, but it has healed just fine on it's own (cuz it's not like you can put a band-aid on a chicken). They're feathers are starting to come in, so they're just not that cute right now. However, Bowser seems to be very excited about their new outdoor home and every time we go out to visit them, he comes with us all excited as if to say, "Look, they're doing real good. I haven't ett a single one!!"