2 YEARS

April 30, 2014
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We had a great little celebration of two years this past weekend. It actually started a few weekends ago. When we were trying to decide what to do we thought it would be fun to go to D.C. and see the Cherry Blossoms. We headed down to D.C. Friday night, got some good Cafe Rio (YUM) and went to Buy Buy Baby where we purchased our stroller, car seat, and I got a cute diaper bag. It was really fun. We stayed at a Springfield Suites. I don't know what it is about hotels but they are fun. We woke up and had a good breakfast then headed to the D.C. temple to do a session. After we were finished we drove down to D.C. without a plan. Unfortunately there were a million other people and we got caught in crazy traffic and had not a clue what to do. Fortunately the traffic took us all the way around the National Mall and we got to see all the Cherry Blossoms. We were driving the path everyone else was walking so we got to see the whole thing from the air conditioned car without making our way through hoards of people. It was pretty but there were lots of people. We decided it was best to just head to Smashburger when we got out of the traffic, get some dinner and head home. It was such a fun and relaxing weekend, just the break the doctor ordered.

Our real anniversary weekend started with a surprise flower delivery for me. They were oh so gorgeous spring flowers and still look beautiful on our bookshelf.


On Saturday night we went out to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. It was delicious and since we had a gift card we kind of went all out with appetizers and dessert. After we got home we watched Monsters University. It was actually really cute and clever, much better than I anticipated.


On our anniversary we sent our balloons to heaven which has become a yearly tradition for us. Daniel and I write our wishes on balloons and go to a special location to send them off. This year we went to Schenley Park to a cool place that overlooks the city. It was really beautiful. We both wrote our wishes for the year. My wish was that we would have a healthy baby and become good parents.

Daniels wish was that he would be able to find fulfilling work that could support our family. We got out of the car and started to walk out to let them off. When we had almost reached our location all the sudden Daniels balloon was off. I guess it wasn't tied to the ribbon very well. It was pretty funny. I let mine off moments later and we watched our wishes float into the distance until you couldn't see them anymore. It is a wonderful tradition that I hope we can do forever.


I love Daniel and have loved the last two years. I look forward to this next year and all the adventures we will have. 
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Mallory Hazel
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Our Second Anniversary

April 28, 2014
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It is hard to believe two years ago today I was up early getting my hair and makeup done, all dolled up to head to the temple where my groom was waiting for me. It is kind of a weird experience. I had my parents drive me to the temple and after the sealing I left with Daniel. A strange transition to be not married and then married all within the course of a beautiful spring morning.
Our wedding was perfect and I loved every minute of it. The first year of marriage was fun and exciting but also a big adjustment phase. The second year of marriage has been wonderful. I feel like we have grown so much and really allowed the individual lives we led be swallowed up by our life that we live together now. I feel like our second year has brought a lot of joy and excitement for us. We traveled together, we transitioned from Provo to Pittsburgh together, we felt the excitement of a positive pregnancy test together, and just enjoyed the day to day life in between. We have had to make lots of big decisions together and have had more adult responsibilities to take on. Some things are just not fun but I think by doing those things together we become more unified and a better team. I love that we can rely on each other as we make choices.
I hope the years continue to get better and that as our family grows and as Daniel and I become parents that we will continue to learn and grow together. I hope that as we continue to face the challenges and joys life offers us that we will draw nearer to each other with lots of love.
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19 Weeks

April 27, 2014
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How far along: 19 Weeks!

Baby size: 6 inches long, .5 lbs (about the size of an mango)
Weight gain: I have maybe gained another pound. It is hard to tell because the scale seems to stay the same but my belly sure feels bigger.
Maternity clothes: I might have to get some pants this week, my skinny jeans are just not comfortable anymore.
Stretch marks: No
Sleep: Sleep has been pretty good. I feel lucky to be really tired at night so if I do wake up to turn over or anything I usually fall right back asleep. I also feel like I can wake up early, although this week I didn't feel too good some days so I slept an extra lot.
Gender: Sometimes I just have no preference. I love watching the little boys and girls in our ward on Sunday and they are all so cute and quirky in their own way and I just think it would be fun to have either boy or girl!
Best moment this week: I went to a baby shower for a girl in our ward and one of the few girls that knows I am pregnant spilled the beans in front of everyone. Everyone was super sweet and so excited for me and I just felt an outpouring of love from the people around me. It was so nice :)
Looking forward to: Lots of kicks, I love feeling them even though sometimes they are few and far between. I also look forward to feeling like my belly is poking out with pregnancy and not just with chub.
What I miss: I am really worried about sleeping on my back now but sometimes it is the most comfortable position, which is funny because I have always slept on my side. I miss sleeping through the night and not waking up to try to get into a comfortable side position.
Movement: I felt little kicks throughout the week, although not every day. Daniel felt some again which was cool. I think I will be able to start feeling them more and more from here on out and not just when I am sitting quietly and concentrating.
Food cravings: Strawberries, yum.
Aversions: Not really.
Nursery: Both of my crocheted blankets (boy and girl) are coming along. I think nursery efforts are going to be a last minute deal now that we are moving to Baltimore over the summer.
Miscellaneous: We are moving to Baltimore for the summer so Daniel can complete and internship with the NSA. I think it will be really good but I don't know what baby and I will do besides just keep growing. 
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18 Weeks

April 21, 2014
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How far along: 18 Weeks!

Baby size: 5.5 inches long, 5 oz (about the size of an sweet potato)
Maternity clothes: Not yet but I do lounge around in pajamas a lot. 
Sleep: I have had great sleep. Lots of weird dreams though. I feel like I am in a pretty good sleep routine.
Gender: Hoping for a boy but would be happy either way. We get to find out May 9th!
Best moment this week: Feeling the baby kick and move!
Looking forward to: More kicks and activity in weeks to come!
What I miss: Not too much right now. I am feeling pretty good.
Movement: When I am sitting down and concentrating I can tell when the baby is active. This last week I even felt the tiniest of kicks. Daniel felt one good one too. It was pretty awesome.
Food cravings: Frozen things like frozen go-gurt and frozen fruit snacks.
Aversions: Not really but I need to get some veggies back in my diet.
Nursery: Well we signed for an apartment, a two bedroom apartment! So we will have a little nursery for our little one.
Miscellaneous: I am finally showing a little bit. People at church are starting to notice, but not saying anything yet I think. Soon enough it will be more prominent so people will surely know.
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17 Weeks

April 13, 2014
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How far along: 17 Weeks!
Baby size: 5 inches long, 5 oz (about the size of an turnip)
Weight gain: I am pretty much at my starting weight again, maybe gained a pound or two. 
Maternity clothes: It might be time to invest soon. My skinny jeans are becoming a little too tight.
Sleep: Sleeping has been so much better. I feel like I actually wake up in the morning refreshed and ready to go.
Gender: I think we are both hoping it will be a boy. We think we need a trial run first before we attempt to raise a precious girl :)
Best moment this week: Going to the doctor and hearing the heart beat. She said she could also hear the little one moving around a lot, we could hear it too!
Looking forward to: Setting up the appointment when we can possibly find out the gender!
What I miss: My jeans buttoning up without any problems. Also my garments feel tight around my waist and some of my pj's too. It is kind of annoying because I have to find the perfect spot for them to rest and if they get out of place it can be the worst.
Movement: I'll pretend like I feel some movement. I haven't had any sure jabs or anything but I definitely feel things sometimes and I guess it could be baby "flutters."
Food cravings: S'mores. I actually have just had some sweet cravings and s'mores sounded extra delicious.
Aversions: I tried some sweet potato fries this week and they were pretty good. Hopefully I can like sweet potatoes again.
Nursery: No new nursery updates but we did buy a stroller/car seat and a diaper bag this week which was fun :)
Miscellaneous: 17 weeks has been fun. We took a little weekend trip after our doctors appointment to D.C. and it was just the vacation we needed. It was really nice to get away for 36 hours and see the cherry blossoms, go to the temple, and eat some delicious food.
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In Other News

April 10, 2014
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Sometimes blogging is hard because all I want to talk about right now is the little guy or gal that is growing every day and will soon make us proud parents. Other than that our lives are pretty routine around these parts. So maybe I will just do some random updates about what we do most of the time and well as odds and ends that are currently part of our lives.

-Daniel's top priority (besides family, meaning me and the babe) right now is going to school. He can be found on campus for classes throughout the week. When he is not in class or working on a group project he comes home to do his homework. Although since spring break he has been working part time at CERT. He is preparing for full time work this summer. So far it has been good and keeps him to a stricter schedule. Since he started he is not at home quite as much but he still makes it back to me when he can.

-I am watching Nash for 6 hours a week now. I go on Tuesday and Thursday. He is pretty cute and the shorter time slots have been nice. Most days are filled with a nap and playing with his toys. He is growing up a lot and I can't believe how little he was when I first started watching him. 

-Daniel is serving in the Elders Quorum Presidency in our ward at church. I work in the nursery. I think we are both ready and willing to get new callings whenever the Bishop is prompted, but we enjoy the work we are doing and are not anxious for more difficult or demanding callings :)

-We are constantly looking for a new home for next year. We would love to have a two bedroom apartment since our little one will join us at the start of next year so we have been looking high and low for something that might work a little better for our situation. We better move fast because we have to be out of here by the middle of June. 

-General conference weekend was wonderful. I love the words of the prophet and apostles. They are certainly inspired and inspiring. 

-One way I was inspired during conference was to use some of my time (which I have a lot of) to complete a value for personal progress. I haven't done some of them for 10 years so maybe it is time to give it another go?

-We get to go to the doctor tomorrow to see how the baby is doing. I am excited, it feels like it has been a long time. Also we get to find out the gender (hopefully) sometime between this appointment and next (I think). I am really nervous. And excited.

Love, 
Mallory
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16 Weeks

April 07, 2014
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How far along: 16 Weeks!
Baby size: 4-5 inches long, 3-5 oz (about the size of an avocado)
Weight gain: Back to the beginning. 
Maternity clothes: No but I like my bigger pants more now and sometimes end up unbuttoning when I am lounging around.
Sleep: I have been sleeping pretty well. I usually wake up early in the morning and just lie in bed for a while. But I can always get back to sleep. I am trying to to better about waking up at the same time every morning and getting up earlier.
Gender: I finished crocheting my baby boy blanket and started on my baby girl one so we are getting ready either way!
Best moment this week: Watching general conference with my husband and spring making an appearance. Both of these things have helped my attitude out a little and make me want to be a better person all around.
Looking forward to: Our doctors appointment on Friday. Hopefully everything will be okay. It seems like it has been a long time since we last went in for a check-up. 
What I miss: Sometimes when I am sleeping or just sitting I get really uncomfortable. I miss being able to get comfortable. 
Movement: Sometimes I like to think I can feel something but probably not. 
Food cravings: I don't really feel like I have crazy cravings like before. This week grape nuts sounded really good, and they were delicious!
Aversions: Popcorn, veggies, sweet potatoes same old same old.
Nursery: I haven't thought too much about it this week. Soon enough we will know the gender and maybe someday we will know where we are moving to, then we can get down to business!
Miscellaneous: 16 weeks has kind of been weird since I am not popping out a lot and have overcome a lot of the early pregnancy symptoms. I don't really feel that pregnant at all since I have most of my energy back and can eat food like a normal person. It is good but it is really weird. 
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[name=Mallory] [description=Hi! I'm Mallory. Wife to Daniel & Mother to Kennedy (plus one on the way). Welcome to our family blog. I love writing the story of us and sharing things that I am passionate about. Which currently includes meditation, healthy plant based eating, and pregnancy and always includes lots of family adventures, mothering cute toddlers and babies, and Disneyland. Thanks for joining us along the way.] (instagram=https://www.instagram.com/malloryhazelbarrick/) (pinterest=https://www.pinterest.com/malloryhazel/)