Surprises, Travel, and Princesses

I think the month of October was full of fun and adventure for this little family of mine.  Let me tell you about it.

We start out the month splendidly with my birthday! I turned 28, and I was expecting the day to be pretty normal.  I hadn't heard any big plans for the day, so I figured it would be another work day with some extra phone calls from family and going out to eat for dinner since I didn't want to cook anything.  I got that but so much more, too! Brandon planned a small surprise party for me when I got home.  It was just a few close friends with their kids, and I loved it! Brandon knows me so well.  He mentioned that he thought about making a bigger thing but then realized it was for me.  I prefer small, intimate groups to the big and loud parties. We had yummy ice cream cake from Cold Stone then pizza (in that order) for lunch. Then after the party, a friend watched Kayla while Brandon and I went to the movies and saw How to Train Your Dragon 2.  It was a fun movie. Favorite character: Toothless! We had a bit of time so we quickly went shopping for maternity pants. It's true that's not a typical birthday present or anything that exciting, but I want to be comfortable for the next 6 months. That day turned out to be a really good day.  And I love Brandon all the more because he made it that way.

Then so soon after such a fantastic day, Brandon has to go and leave me for two weeks for a film shoot.  He was in New York for a week then went to Los Angeles for the second week. He sent me these from New York:

The view from his hotel room, NY

From a rooftop, NY

The Beach, LA

An LDS chapel, LA

He was there doing interviews for the Church.  I don't know how much I can say about it, but it seems really exciting for potential missionaries.  We were hoping he'd get the job to edit the piece, too, but unfortunately that didn't happen. But while he was there he made some good contacts and hopefully something really awesome will come from it.  This job was an answer to a prayer that I feel like I should explain.

Back at the beginning of the year, we were starting to think about adding a new member to the family.  The biggest concern we had at the time (and still kinda do) was how we were going to afford a new baby and how were we going to work out our jobs so that we could take care of our family. Currently, both of us are working part time (with no benefits) and we switch off watching Kayla.  Brandon gets her in the morning then after lunch, he heads into work. I feel like that arrangement wouldn't work and I should be at home full time with two kids.  The problem was that we weren't seeing any good job opportunities at the time for Brandon to work in film full time.  He still has Cinema Book Trailers, but it's an up and coming business and still working out all the kinks. So for now, that wouldn't work.  The LDS Motion Picture Studio wasn't looking very promising either.  Anyway, we just couldn't see a good way to bring another child to the world and support the family.  We've been trying to go to the temple monthly (should be more, but at least we're going) and those thoughts were on our mind a lot at the time. At one visit, we didn't have time for a full session, so we decided to do some Sealings (a special ordinance in the temple that links families together). I was so happy we went.  It was there that we both got the impression, very strongly, that it was time for another child.  After the initial feelings of joy and love for my family and from our Heavenly Father, my silly mind kicked in and I started freaking out again over the problems I've already stated.  But I knew it was the right thing to do.  And it was still on my mind the next time we went to the temple a couple weeks later. Then we both got the feeling that we needed to put our trust in the Lord.  Everything will work out.  If we stay obedient and do what He asked, everything will work itself out.  Not our favorite answer since we would have liked something more concrete, but it was very clear to both of us to move forward in faith. Needless to say, we were obedient, and here's a pic of me at 15 weeks to prove it:

And now, the blessings are starting to come in.  We believe Brandon being offered the job for NY and LA was one of those blessings.  Because of that trip, we've been able to put into savings the amount we need for the medical expenses next year.  And he's starting to get better rates at his work and more exciting jobs there, too.  Before, he was just doing what no one else wanted to do, a lot of grunt work. So I see the loving hand of the Lord in my life. And though I don't always remember that, it's still there.

For those two weeks, it was just me and Kayla at home.  By the end I was a little stir crazy, so I was super excited to hear that the aquarium in Draper had a free admission day. Perfect plan for us!

They had a lot of fun exhibits and Kayla loved seeing everything there. She called it the "fish zoo." They had a section from South America that was very warm and humid.  Kayla's favorite part from this exhibit was the rope bridge and the ducks, go figure. 

The aquarium had us exit through the gift shop and I felt that since we got in for free, I could splurge a bit and donate by buying their merchandise.  Something for each of us.  Kayla goes to bed every night with her sea horse.  She named it Sea Flower and absolutely loves it.  Best purchase ever! And it was hard to pass up that fluffy penguin pillow for Brandon (though Kayla thinks it's hers). Kayla helped me pick out the necklace. She thinks it's so cute and I think so, too!

Kayla loves Halloween.  Earlier in the month we got out the decorations, and I had to get some candy for Primary, so we've had candy in the house all month long.  She loved the spiders and the black cat decorations we have.  Every day she asked if it was Halloween Day yet. Finally it came! We went for a Cinderella-type theme.  Kayla was the princess (of course), I was the fairy godmother (best dress I could find at home with my tummy), and Brandon was Gus Gus.

Do you see the resemblance?

My dress is from my high school senior prom that my mother made for me in 2004. I was kind surprised it still fit me 10 years later! Yay for empire waist dresses to hide the prego belly!  Comparing pictures, I actually think it fits better now than it did back then.

Best pic I could find.  Not from prom, but it was my senior year.

October was really perfect, aside from the traveling husband.  The weather was perfect, my birthday was perfect, and though I think Kayla would have liked to go trick-or-treating some more, Halloween was great.  We even drove up to Idaho to see family, so that was perfect, too.  I just hope the rest of the year is just as perfect.