36 Weeks and Counting!!

Okay, so here is a picture at 36.3 weeks. I guess I haven't been documenting this very well, and I've been looking at other pictures, and this one will actually show how much I'm showing. It was actually kind of worrisome because technically this Friday is 37 weeks, which means if born he won't be considered premature. I was born exactly at 37 weeks, but was only 3lb 13oz. Yep, pretty small. I just had some measurements taken this Monday and our little guy was maybe 5lb, or 4 something. So anyone have any guesses as to when the little one will make an appearance and how big he'll be? Leave guesses in the comments area, and enjoy the picture :)

July 4th!

Happy 4th of July! We went down to St. George for Robert and Kortney's new baby, Ryan's, blessing. On the way down we stopped in Kolob Canyon, Zion's National Park for some great hiking.

Karissa, Kendra, and Jenn on a neat rock formation in Kolob Canyon

Checking out the scenery, so pretty, and RED!

Kendra, Nathan, Jenn, and Karissa at a lookout at Kolob Canyon, after our hike.

We stayed at a great resort in St. George, I think it is my favorite way now to do family vacations with the Manwaring side. The 3rd was Kortney's birthday, so we celebrated that night with her and her family. There was a really yummy cake and fireworks too! Happy Birthday Kortney, we love you!

Manwaring's wishing Kortney a Happy Birthday!

Robert and Kaylee lighting a sparkler

Karissa, Jenn, and I all took turns with my bike, riding with Nathan up some beautiful canyons the nexy morning, on the 4th. So, so pretty. I'm glad that I went early because man did it get hot, and I am not from AZ :)

Nathan in the aerobar position, look at the beautiful scenery behind

Jenn enjoying the heat, and the hills

Kendra biking at 35weeks, staying active!

Go Karissa! Working the hills despite the bad knees

On Sunday was the baby blessing, and it was beautiful, and so neat that so many of the family could be there. Thank you again to the Warburton's for the BBQ afterwards. It was a great weekend trip, and one that we want to do again!

The family's getting bigger! We were just missing Rich, Rachelle, Elisa, and Lydia.

Rock Cliff Tri

We helped to create a monster!! Not really, but we have gotten our cousin and friend Tom McConnon into triathlon's and he did his first one this weekend, June 27, at the Jordanelle Reservoir near Park City. He did awesome!! The bike was pretty intense being uphill, and he finished in 1:17 something, with a fourth place in his age division! Way to go Tom, thanks for letting us come and watch!

Kristie, Nathan, and Tom overlooking the swim portion at Jordanelle Resevoir

Before the swim

Leaving on the bike, looking good!

Middle of the run, great finish, you did awesome!

Nursing and Needles

So, what a week for me! On Wednesday the 24th I took the NCLEX (the state board exam that licenses nurses), and man was that stressful. The test gives you a maximum of five hours, and a minimum of 85 questions to a max of 205. It is an adaptive test, so the more questions that you get right, the harder it gets, and it shows your competency. If you are on the border of competent, it keeps giving you questions. If you show competency at 85 questions, then your test automatically shuts off. However, if you got so many wrong that there would be no showing competency no matter how many questions it gave you, it also shuts off at 85 questions. Well, my test shut off at 85, and I felt pretty good about it, but I was still worried. I shouldn't have been because then two days later I found myself listed online as licensed, and I received my actual license the day after! YEAH!! I passed and now I'm a licensed practical nurse in Utah!!! The place probably fingerprinted me 8 times, patted me down as I went in the room, and wouldn't even allow a hairtie on my wrist during the exam. Pretty strict, but I'm glad that they are very serious about cheating on this. At this same time I took phlebotomy, and had volunteers come the last two days so that I could practice poking them. Tuesday, the 23rd Jenn, Kathy, Karissa, Cory, and Jason all volunteered. They must love me a lot to trust me to do that on them!! Then on Thursday the 25th Nathan and Tom came and volunteered. I only needed two successful arm and hand venipunctures to pass, and I got from them :) Kristie came for support. So now I'm a state certified phlebotomist and an LPN!

Kendra preforming a venipuncture on Nathan, he even watched, and he was actually very afraid of needles. It was all I could do to get him to come, but he did in the end :)

Tom and Nathan showing off where they were poked, and Tom holding his vial of blood

Friday we went to Cheesecake Factory to celebrate my new license!

Thanks to all of my brave volunteers, I felt so loved that you would all come to help and support me in getting these licenses :)

Visitors

Nathan's little sister Jennifer moved in with us for summer term at BYU, and his mom Kathy, brought her up from AZ. It was lots of fun having her visit, we had family dinners and games many nights. Thanks again for coming up and staying with us :) We loved having you, come again any time!

Karissa and Jenn blowing gigantic dandilions while we went on a hike in the mountains

Jason, Nicole, Jenn, Kathy, Karissa, and Nathan having breakfast at our house

Salem and Provo Triathlons

Did the Provo Tri today, bringing the total number under my belt to 4 (2 olympics and 2 sprint). I had a pretty solid race coming in 14th out of the 164 people who entered the race, and 2nd in the Male 25-29 division (I got a medal! thought it would never happen)...

Next step: learn/train to run a 20min 5k. I think if I knew what it felt like to run a 6:00min mile I would know better how to make my body go faster during a race. Anyway, more detail and a recap on the Salem Tri (from May) and pics coming soon.

~Nathan

P.S. below are 2 pictures: 1st from the Salem Tri this year, 2nd from the Kokopelli tri last year (for comparison)

Sprint Run: Feeling good!

Olympic run.... very tired

Summer Denver Trip 09

I've now seen my family before the baby is born. My grams sold her home in Parker, CO, and I wanted to go and see it one last time. It was the best trip that I've had with my parents and sister, probably ever. We went to the zoo (yeah, I know, I'm really into zoo's lately, and now it is fun to compare them), haven't been there in at least 12 years, and it is STILL the best zoo in my opinion, it was perfect weather, and the animals were all out and active!

A few monkeys escaped from the monkey house :)

Kirstin said, "you know you haven't been to the zoo in a while when you know the animals in the statues". This is of Klondike and Snow, twin Polar Bear cubs born at the zoo when we were little.

Kirstin, Kendra (baby at 32 weeks), Mr. Lion, Mom, and Dad

Am I as big as this elephant? 32 week baby bump

Kirstin and I stopped by the Denver Temple. I LOVED the weather while there, nice in the day, and then it would get stormy in the afternoons, and it was nice and warm, but not ridiculously hot!!

Watching a huge storm outside at Grams's house. We did see a tornado, but off in the distance, illuminated by the lightning. We'll miss that window and view for sure!

Bye house on Wagon Wheel Way, I'll sure miss that place. There is a new walking trail by her house, and it was great hiking with my parents and sister on it. Next time I see my family, there will be a new member to welcome :)