While my family was here...

They helped out SO much!! I'm so proud to say that my family is so giving and has such an amazing work ethic and love of service! I had a wonderful time with my family while they were here for the birth of Jovie as well as the blessing in church for my brother Eli's son Isaiah.

While I was at the hospital my sister Katy and my mom scrubbed every floor, toilet and shower in the house- an amazing feat and SO appreciated!! Mom and Katy scrubbed out our grill and Dad got some of the lava rocks to put inside!! Looks like new! Dad helped us replace the broken glass in one of our kitchen cabinets- one less thing for me to do! Katy helped call around to get quotes on getting a double sink cabinet put in one of our bathrooms- always going the extra mile! Mom and Katy helped out making sure there was always food for everyone and always had the fridge stocked- quite the undertaking with 10 people in the house!

While I was in labor my mom was great to keep my dad informed of the happenings on the phone the whole hour and a half I pushed! He got to hear the whole birth from start to finish!

Thanks to Katy for holding my hand through the contractions and playing cards with me once the epidural kicked in!!
A big thanks to my cheer squad (Blake, Sis-In-Law Chelsea, Mom-In-Law Shauna, sister Katy, Mom, and Dad-In-Law Scott) through the labor and delivery!! Push, push, push!!
Sis-in-law Jaime came down with her boys to see the new arrival. They are always an entertaining crew! Love the Grant fam!
Thanks to my bro-in-law Dan for helping us document our hospital breakout! My brother Eli wanted to be the first to hold and kiss Jovie right when she got home from the hospital!
My dad painted the stripe in my laundry room (that I've been meaning to do for about a year) and hung up the letters for me! THANKS DAD!! Such a handyman! A TRUE Carpenter (get it?) For those who don't know...Carpenter is my maiden name!

Callia was always keeping us entertained- especially with the pirate teeth!
My brother Nate was quick to hold Jovie when she was asleep! And his lovely girlfriend Amy helped make some amazing food!! Callia was always quick to help plug Jovie up with her bink-a-bink.
A big thank you to Blake's parents for watching Jovie so that we could go out to BJ's Pizza with my whole family!

I never tired from hearing Camille say "Jobee is so chute...I love her little fingers and toes and her chute little nose". If I would have started a counter for that- it would have at least topped 300 times within the week they stayed with us! So funny!

Callia loved snuggling with me and baby Jovie...she was so gentle with her!

Dad is so good with the kids- so gentle! Jovie is gonna love her Papa!

Callia never ceased to amaze us with her uncanny ability to navigate through our iphones! Quite the wiz kid!

Overall- I just LOVED having my family here! I miss them all dearly and love every minute (even the crazy ones) I get to spend with them! Thanks again to everyone for making Jovie's birth so special!

Introducing...(drum roll please...) Jovie Shay Kimball

Wow...you know why I've been absent for the last week and then some...this past week my husband Blake and I had our first baby- we had a girl- Jovie Shay Kimball (pronounced JOE-VEE) ...and if you're wondering if I'm a huge Bon Jovi fan...no, I am not THAT butt rock. We liked the name of the girl in the movie "Elf"- that is where we got it from. Plus it is a shortened version of Jovial (meaning happy- which suited our situation). Her middle name is a tribute to our mothers by combining their names- Shauna and Kay= Shay! Just FYI.

Jovie was born 8/28/08 (last Thursday) at 9:57 pm, weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz and 21 inches long. Her birth story to follow...


There have been some pretty awesome times in my lifetime...especially ones while livin in Provo (For memories sake)- I didn't think my summer of 2001 could be topped (being unemployed- going camping at Squaw Peak- making crepes for "the boys", going to the Lama Festival at the Hari Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, sleepovers at Kent's house, Musikfest being changed from Sunday to Thursday in observance of the Sabbath, rendezvous with Sarah to every Taco Bell in the valley to see which ones still carry Cheesy Gordita Crunches and Mountain Dew Code Red, getting practically drowned by Micah "The Alpha Male" while playing "ball" at the pool, driving Larry and 63s scooters around the roundabout on Center Street while not letting cars enter, prank calls at Ab-dogg Crom-dogg by Larry listening to Cher's "Do You Believe in Life After Love", going to Park City and riding the alpine slide, endless nights playing Phase 10, weekends at JT's warehouse playing murder in the dark, Provo dance parties, road trips to Vegas with Sarah on a whim and SO...MUCH...MORE...)

Then when I met my husband while on a road trip to Arizona (to where I'd never been before and sworn I'd never go back since I hate the heat!) and then got married to 7 months later....I thought that was pretty amazing too...

And then trying to have kids for 3 years with no avail and miraculously getting pregnant before starting fertility treatments....that just about topped the amazing list for me...




But now that Jovie is here with us she has truly been the rainbow after the storm for us. She was actually born when it was storming outside- and the day we left the hospital was saw a beautiful rainbow! She is a beautiful little spirit brought to us and we just love her to pieces. I never thought I could love someone SO much...I'm sure you parents (or aunts and uncles- if you don't have kids of your own) can understand what I mean. It's a different kind of love you have for your spouse...it truly is just amazing! She is the most calm baby ever- she very rarely cries and is just the sweetest. From the tiny fingers, toes, smiles, stretches, yawns, sneezes, burps, twitches, cries, wimpers, stares, grunts, and holding of fingers- she is THE MOST AMAZING THING I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED!



So with all that being said, here is a lovely song, by a lovely band- a tribute to my "beautiful rainbow" Jovie (our little Jo Jo). (login=musikfest, password=yonkers)

The Elected
Beautiful Rainbow

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NZHD3WEK


PS-For extra listening pleasure- in case you don't already have this... which you should...


The Flaming Lips
Do You Realize?

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HJJ5JL39

With love,

Blake, Mandy, and Jovie Kimball

August...where have you gone???

Wow...over halfway through August and not one post...shame on me...however, I can make excuses...want my list?



---finished one class- Methods of Instruction: Science (which, suprisingly, wasn't too bad)

---started another class- Methods of Instruction: Health/PE (this one will go on through mid-September--meaning sometime when the baby comes...hmmm, we'll see how that goes

---helped my best friend move to Kansas...this hasn't been easy (physically, mentally, emotionally, etc.- you get the picture)

---got a new calling in church- Compassionate Service Leader

---been finishing up the baby nursery - getting last minute items to prepare for her arrival

---been reading the last book in the Twilight series "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer

---been having bbqs with friends and playing our favorite board game "Cities & Knights of Catan"

---been watching the Summer Olympics and watching the US of A work the rest of the world in metals- I've loved watching the swimming, volleyball, basketball and gymnastics!

---getting my last several baby check-ups at the OBGYN- last week I was 1.5 cm dialated and 60% effaced...this week I am 2 cm and 70%...who knows- she may come early.

***Just a side note- I have to note that Blake said the funniest thing this week- in reference to the Olympics, being effaced (pregnancy term), and one of his usual Blake-ism terms.... he said that "watching the Olympics was making him 100% e-phased"... now that I write that down, I don't know if it was just funny, or if I should be embarrassed for him...that was so tard. :) Nevermind, it was funny***

---been thrown baby showers at school, work, and with other work friends (a HUGE shout out to everyone who has contributed and to whom I'm still writing thank you notes to!)

---been having family get-togethers with both Blake's & my family

---been having pre-labor contractions for the last week = awesome. no, really...awesome.

---been nesting around the house....well, that part I've been really excited to start once I went on maternity leave from work- so starting today- I really want to get my office/craft disaster room organized and the rest of my To Do list

---Warning....GET YOUR GAG REFLEX READY... got my "membrane stripped" yesterday....I warned you didn't I? I could have done without that....really, is that necessary? There are just some things about the birthing process that I will never understand...including why women "choose" to go "natural" instead of get an epidural. Let's be honest...having a baby is hard enough, but if I wasn't put on this earth at this specific time in history when Heavenly Father has graciously given us modern technology- heck yeah, I'm gonna use it! Props (really) to anyone who goes natural...that's just NOT how I role.

---got my induction set up for 08-28-08 at 7:30 am. That is phasing me. Let's hang with this baby already!! I am so excited & freaked out all at the same time! Can't wait! Now all we have to do is figure out what to name her... YIKES! Any suggestions!

baby shower time...

A special shower shout out goes to Chelsea and mom for planning this shower... another special shout out to my girls for assembling the hardest looking baby shower invitation...

What a grand event it was...any of you that didn't make it...well, you missed some killer food and the most lovely of decorations...

Time spent with my sis-in-law Cori and a good friend Kristan....
Enjoying the food, folks and fun...am I thinking about an old McDonald's slogan or something?? That's disturbing...At least I don't know the whole 1980s McDonalds menu song by heart...or do I? My girls...my favorites...(Diana, Sarah, Kayleen, me, Cori, Kristan)

What would I do without them!
Oh, you know this was my first round at the food table- but it definitely was not my last...thanks to Sarah and the killer artichoke dip and thanks to Sweet Cakes for the most moist ***I HATE using this word, but it really is the best description for it*** sugar cookies in the BIZ!!!The lovely peeps that graced the shower! Thank you all for being so supportive! My family...the in-laws whom I adore... (mom, Chelsea, me, Jaime, Mimi)
Sweet Cakes confections... the devilish 7 layer brownie... and angelic frosted sugar cookie...these are dangerous....there should have been a disclaimer that you can't just eat one.
Miley loves being Superman...even on the counter ledge. You have the hardest kid, Sar...

Man I will miss this little guy...especially since now he actually likes me.

Later that night we got to have a girls night out....and of course it was a blast! We went for the most delicious pizza at Grimaldi's (love those little pepperoni's) then went to play Catan at Sarah's. I'm actually really surprised that Jaime actually liked the game- the Kimball's aren't generally ones for board games...maybe I'm rubbing off on them (at least one of them)! I had a great time laughing with the girls...a much needed medicine! Overall, what a great day!

Isaiah Elias Carpenter...

I am realizing what a bad Aunt I have become...my older brother Eli and his wife Cori had a baby boy on May 29th- Isaiah Elias Carpenter...and I have just been so into myself as of late, that I completely forget to post the pictures I had taken and even the ones while my own family was in town. I guess you could say I've been a little preoccupied.

Isaiah's birth story can be read here... and just a little disclaimer- you might be drawn to tears- what a scary lead up to birth (maybe I should have waited to read this until after I have my first baby!)

So- at the end of May Blake and I had gotten back from our cruise and from Georgia- and both of us were sicker than dogs- but Blake had been diagnosed with pneumonia- his cough was much deeper than mine- and I was healing quicker than he was. So when my brother called and said they were on the way to the hospital and that they'd probably have the baby that night (they still didn't know the gender of it- they wanted their 2nd baby to be a surprise) I was so excited but kinda sad cause I knew as sick as Blake was he wouldn't be able to see the baby when he was in the hospital.

I generally consider myself the kind of person that wants to be there for friends and family- and I knew that I should have very limited time around the newborn especially since I was still coughing a bit, and since Blake and I were around each other so much- you just NEVER want a newborn to catch these nasty sicknesses- they are so innocent and clean- it's just the crappy realization of an imperfect world.

Either way though- after Eli called the first time he called me 45 minutes later and said he was born! Now that is a quick delivery! He is just an adorable baby, and his older sister Indianna just loves him so much. She is so gentle with him- she is already making a great big sister! She was so curious at the hospital and was probably a little confused about the whole thing- but as long as she had her little Nemo fish- she was as happy as a clam! Hopefully we'll get to see their family grow more on a regular basis once I have the baby and am not working! We are just SO excited about Isaiah's arrival and can't wait for his cousin to be born so we can share in the joy of another baby!

About a week or so after Eli and Cori left the hospital my parents came out for a week from Colorado to spend with them adapt to kid #2. They stayed very busy (which they love) working on the landscaping in the backyard and getting together with us for dinner and games.

We enjoyed their visit- and even celebrated fathers day with both my side of the family and Blake's side of the family. My neice Indianna found out that if she batted her eyelashes that she could make it all around the room, getting a little bit of brownie and ice cream from each family member- she is SUCH a perfect mixture of my brother and Cori- it's too funny.

My brother Nate and his girlfriend Amy came out from L.A. to visit and see the baby and it is always a great time hanging with my bro. Plus, we love Amy and the sassy spunk she brings to the table. She seems to be a good fit for him! Meanwhile, Indianna loved playing with Grandma and Grandpa and having Grandma help her hold Isaiah. She was so sweet with him.

Indianna also was so cute to watch as she holds the dolly Grandma gave her when she was a baby. She carries it around everywhere and loves to nuzzle her nose into the front of the dolly's hair and play with the dolly's braids. It is her little piece of heaven, it seems. She also loved playing with Blake- he is so good with her! She just seems to open up to him every time we spend time with them.

A scary realization...

Isn't it true that when you spend $ to upgrade your house, you are never truly satisfied with the way things are? Blake can be so prophetic sometimes. We've been feeling a bit of buyers remorse after we spent a shload (yes, a made up word...two words combined... you figure it out) on decorating a bathroom and then a few other nick-nacks to fill in empty space around the house. See it's nice, right?

So why do we feel the need to constantly spend money? It NEVER makes me feel better after I do it- so why do I do it? Maybe it's my constant need for change...even though I thrive on the constant...the known...the comfort of things just being familiar. I guess with this baby on the way it's good that I embrace change...cause I'm in for a real rollercoaster of a ride. We also got our dining room tiled over 4th of July weekend- and it just looks like I'd always imagined it looked if we would have bought our house in its dream state.

Either way- it's hard to imagine our house with a baby just crawling all over and all of the joys that come with having kids...it is still so surreal to me. I only have 6 more weeks until she is due and that is so crazy to me!! The time has just flown by and at the same time I feel like I've been pregnant forever! I feel totally unprepared...but I guess that is pretty much normal for me- I've done ok with everything else in my life- hopefully this will be something else to add to my list! A lot has happened this month- I will try to write more to fill in the gaps I've left out.

Georgia on my mind...part 2

In continuation of Savannah, GA part 1- here is the continuation.

The next day we were in Savannah it was Sunday so we thought it would be a righteous decision to hit up (at least) sacrament meeting in the ward Blake served in. I know you know what I mean when I say "vacation rules apply"- so I don't need to explain that we only stayed for sacrament meeting, and not all 3 hours of church.... oh don't look at me that way... you may call it something else- but it's basically the same thing. So since Blake hadn't been back to visit his mission since going home in 2002, much had changed and he really only recognized about 4 or 5 families in the ward. We stayed after the meeting and chatted with a few people, but overall I'm sure he was a bit sad at the lack of people he recognized.

So after church we did what all tourists do and had some real southern BBQ for lunch at a lovely place called Sticky Fingers. Hit 'em up if you ever head down south. Granted they originated in Memphis- but I guess that's still considered "the south" to Southerners. Whatever, regardless it was phasing. Then we drove to downtown Savannah and admired all the spanish moss hanging from the trees...

Walked through several of the many "squares" (aka parks) that separate one way roads- all of which have some historical tie and were named after famous people or events of the late 1700's. And being that it was Sunday we thought that it would also be appropriate to give a shout out to the Catholics at the famous Cathedral of St. John the Baptist- built in 1876...What a beautifully ornate structure. My eyes were just transfixed on all of the stained glass and paintings everywhere. Imagine a person with ADD in that place- I doubt they could ever focus on an entire sermon (that being said in the most respectable church-like way, of course)After walking through the church and listening to the lovely pipe organ play hymns, we also thought it would be most appropriate to visit a truly humbling place- the Colonial Park cemetary. I don't know if anyone else feels the way I do about cemetaries- but I honestly feel so at peace when I'm there- especially this one. Whenever I go to places that have so much history I try to put myself in the shoes of people who walked there when the place first existed (ok, don't be a smart alek- I know you could do that just about anywhere, but the east coast is the oldest part in our nation- so naturally I felt really neat being in one of the oldest places) and this way just an amazing place. The headstones were so old that much of the writing was so weathered you couldn't make out much of what it said- but many of Savannah's "greats" rested in this cemetary. It was dated back in use from 1750-1853 .

After our afternoon spent around the more "spiritual" side of Savannah we had a "supper" appointment to get ready for. As Blake is a planner, a few weeks prior to our going on vacation he contacted a family that he and his companion spent many hours each week hanging out with- the DiNatalie's...and for good reason. Judy (the mom) invited us to have "supper" (see, already the southern hospitality kicking in) at their house that night- which we happily abliged. This lady is SERIOUSLY an amazing cook and there was so much food it could have fed an army. I got kinda scared when she came out with all of the food (as Blake had explained many times that Southerners thought it was rude if you didn't eat all the food they served for you on a plate) and already the baby was making my stomach shrink so I couldn't eat a lot at one time (just in small increments). Luckily the first thing Judy said was not to feel obligated to eat everything- which was a huge relief. Honestly though- my mom and my mom-in-law make the best food in the world- but this could have given then both a run for their money (love you guys!)... I think it was the twice baked potatoes that really did me in- they were AMAZING! So we spent about 6 hours just talking and doing a ton of laughing about old pranks Blake would pull on his companions- I don't think I'd laughed that hard for a long time...Thank you DiNatalie's for such a fun night! Shout outs to Judy, Joe, Leah, Victoria, and Joseph!

Georgia on my mind...part 1

So I promised I would write about the 2nd leg of our cruise- which was a lovely trip up the coast of Florida to Savannah, Georgia...where Blake spent a good 6 months of his mission. When I met Blake and we talked about his mission (see, he had only been home for about 2 months when we met) he showed me on a map (bestill my heart, I love a man that loves maps as much as I) where he had served and told me all about the moss, the lush green overhang of trees, the swamps, and the southern hospitality...I knew that was a place I'd love to see in my lifetime.

Once Blake and I were married we spent many summers longing to take a nice vacation out there so he could show me all that he had grown to love about that place. As a missionary you don't do a whole lot of touristy things, but little did I know that my own parents had been to Savannah many times and had tons of suggestions on what to see while we were there! Thanks M&D!

The drive up the Florida coast was really beautiful- it reminded me a lot of the Upper Pennisula of Michigan- where my family drove many times to visit our family cottage in Bay View, Michigan. The tree-lined roads totally brought me back. By the time we had gotten to Savannah, both Blake and I were full blown sick and coughing up a lung. Plus, it had rained and was so hot and humid that I thought I would pass out after being without A/C for 5 minutes! We spent the first afternoon there driving around town and Blake tripping out on his old apartment complex, and having dinner at his favorite fried chicken place (Zaxby's- with an AMAZING dipping sauce).

Afterwords we drove down to River Street and soaked up the sights of beautiful early American architecture. Unfortunately after about an hour the cobblestone started making me sick to my stomach so we started heading back to the hotel. (This next part may be graphic for some- so please use your discression- hey, at least I'm warning you!) About a block away from the hotel I got a really dry throat and coughed so hard that it made me throw up (for the 1st...yes 1st time in my entire life!) Not even through pregnancy have I gotten sick like that- luckily. The good thing was that I just heaved into an empty cup so it didn't go everywhere. Poor Blake...he was driving and as we're stopped at a red light I could just tell he was worried about me...a little reenactment...

Me: (insert gagging and coughing noises)

Blake: Honey, honey (as I'm gagging) are you ok?

Me: (another gag and a heave- then a quick grab of the cup)

Blake: (with wide eyes and mouth gaping open)

Me: (puking in the cup)

Blake: Honey are you ok?

Me: (turning to Blake with wide eyes of my own and a frown) Considering I just threw up for the first time in my life, NO, I'm not ok!

Blake: Do you feel better after that?

Me: I don't feel better or worse- I just threw up because I was coughing so hard.

Blake: Well, then it wasn't REALLY a true throw up, since you only did it once.

Me: What do you mean, not a REAL throw up? Are there qualifications for a REAL throw up? I REALLY just threw up.

Blake: Well, I'm sorry you did honey.

Me: Me too, especially since there was Zaxby's chicken in that.

Blake: So, (with sad eyes) does that mean you'll never want to eat there again?

Me: No way, that chicken with dipping sauce is the hardest!

Blake: That's good, Zaxby's is the hardest.

I feel really grateful for a non traumatic first throw up experience. I honestly think the Lord is blessing me with experiences to prepare me for motherhood- I have always been a real baby with blood draws, needles, throwing up, etc. and not to say I'm invincible....I just think I am able to handle those things a little more now than before. This last picture is me calling my parents and giving the gross details- none the less, they are so proud that their little girl is growing up!

The game...

Thank you Sarah for getting me off my butt (well...I'm still sitting with my computer), but at least I'm making a post...

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name? (duhh)

2. What is your favorite food? (popcorn)

3. What high school did you go to? (Rocky Mountain High)

4. What is your favorite color? (green)

5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Christian Bale)

6. Favorite drink? (Mt. Dew)

7. Dream vacation? (European cruise)

8. Favorite dessert? (ice cream)

9. What you want to be when you grow up? (mom)

10. What do you love most in life? (hubby)

11. One Word to describe you. (stressed)

12. Your flickr name. (kid version: favorite animal?) (elephant)

Credits: 1. In Memory of Mandy 2. Boogying Popcorn Man 3. Rocky Mountain High 4. Green Womble House 5. Christian Bale 6. Mt Dew Green Label Art- Hill Billy 7. European Vacation 8. 7th Course: Tasting of Ice Cream 9. Mom 10. hubby working 11. Definition: Stress 12. Elephant in temple

That was fun.