Trick or Treat? How about BABY?

On this evening before Halloween, all I have on my mind is: (you guessed it) BABY! 

I am 25 days shy of my due date now, and the time seems to be crawling by when it comes to baby related things. I just want to meet her already! The time is not going slowly when it comes to deadlines and due dates for school. Whew, I shouldn't even be posting on the blog right now, I have social welfare policy homework and discussion questions to come up with along with carving lino for my newest print ideas... BUT  I just couldn't let another month go by with only one post.  

I also just watched some very sad, but important videos related to rape and to women's rights. I will post the links on here because I think they are important for people to see. We can't just sweep problems under the rug or not talk about them because it makes us uncomfortable. I almost wish I had another year left of school so I could add a Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies minor to my degree. 

I am currently intrigued with my soc class I am taking this term, going into it, it sounded interesting, but I didn't know how much I would like it and want to start becoming involved. It is called Social Welfare Policy and our country clearly needs help and reforms. That is all that I will say on that for now. 

Well this is a short post, but I really should get my homework done. 

Here are the links! Please take the time and watch them. 

http://www.upworthy.com/watch-these-4-girls-destroy-the-female-stereotype-like-the-monsters-they-are-rw1-9b?c=ufb1

http://www.upworthy.com/7-cowardly-words-from-a-totally-sexist-stranger-sparked-this-courageous?c=ufb1

And one last one, with a different approach, but equally important! 

http://www.upworthy.com/so-youre-telling-me-you-dont-like-the-way-you-think-i-have-sex-cause-thats-all-im-hearing-2?c=ufb1

Have a good night and happy trick or treating tomorrow :) 

The Month of October

Well today I am 34 weeks, only a couple more and then she could be here at any time really. School, work, homework, and getting ready for baby are the things that dominate my life right now. I try to see Clark too, but we have such opposite schedules it's hard sometimes. We live for those magical days when we might get to spend at least half of the day together.

It needs to be said, He is the greatest husband and friend. I am very lucky to have him, even if I get frustrated sometimes. I love him dearly, and I am so very excited to be having a little girl with him. It's pretty darn amazing!

I cannot believe Halloween is just around the corner! I haven't figured out if I'm dressing up, but I want to go to the haunted houses and corn mazes that's for sure!

Not much to say right now... my brain is feeling a bit mushy haha :)

So I will leave off with some photos! They're the best part of blogs anyways.

       

Baby Showers, Rain Showers, and the Month of September

I am 30 weeks and 6 days pregnant on this 20th day of September, 2013. The time is flying and I simply cannot believe it. Only two more months till our little girl is here!

Last Saturday we had our baby shower and it was so wonderful. My friends and Grandmother put a lot of effort and hard work into making a special day for us and they did that and more. I had so much fun and it was incredible to have all of these friends and family members come together to celebrate the life of little Em and they haven't even met her yet! She is one lucky little girl and I will make sure that my daughter knows how much she is loved and how important it is to love back.

Em got TONS, TONS and I mean TONS of clothes. Baby girl clothes are just so easy to buy! They are cute, relatively inexpensive and did I mention cute?! She also got some other necessities, which we are very, very thankful for.

Now, we are looking at cribs and that is the last piece of necessary furniture that she needs! I also want a tall and narrow bookcase, but that can be bought after she is born, even if I would rather have the nursery complete before she is born. I want to hurry and get a crib so I can measure it and get started on making her bedding! Susan, Clark's Father's wonderful significant other, is helping me sew it all. Talk about a great lady, she is so supportive and helpful! We Snyders are all truly blessed to have her in our lives.

Today Clark and I finally started sanding Em's dresser so we can paint it! Just in time for the rain to start pouring.. Oops, well now we know we have to hurry! I can't wait to get it all done, so that I can put her clothes away and start actually setting up her room! It's a challenge to do that when you don't have all the furniture.

In other news, we all have been great! Elle is getting spoiled and extra attention because we know she won't get quite as much when Em starts hogging it all. We are also working on making sure her puppy manners are at their highest so it will be easier once baby arrives. Elle is such a good girl though, it's not really much to change or add on. She loves to please and is the most caring dog. We are lucky to have her cute little wiggly self!

Clark rescued a kitten at work the other night! I hear she might be joining our family. We will see.....

Oh and this next week is the last of summer before I start school on the 30th. Ten more days and I will be in my LAST year of undergrad! FINALLY!

Well back to cleaning and decorating, it seems it never ends! (Especially if you like changing things like me)

Till Later!

I'll leave you with a photo of us and our good friends Jen and Aaron. This was at a Britt concert at the end of August! It was reggae which normally isn't my thing, but this was fun! We were right on the railing in front of the stage!

This is turning into a monthly thing.

I want to start by saying I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE having our own place! It's like we're actually newlyweds and married and adults! Who would'a thunk! 

We've been having fun figuring out where everything goes and seeing what we do differently now that we are on our own. Clark did most of the unpacking while I was at work and then I would come home and rearrange some (most) of his work. He really is good at making things feel comfortable and home-like though. I am enjoying living with him and we have our dog, Elle, back again! She is one happy dog and so much fun. I love her so much! I tell her about baby Em all the time and about how she will be her best friend. (Mushy mom stuff I guess)

Speaking of Em; that little girl sure can kick! Her favorite time to wiggle around is 11 pm. She is a night owl just like her Dad. It was pretty funny, one night Clark was talking to her with his face on my giant belly and she smacked him right in the face! He loved it though. 

Life has been pretty good in the Snyder household I must say. We, of course, are staying busy and having fun with family and friends. We went to a friend's beautiful wedding, and some family dinners, but mostly we have been enjoying the little park across the street from our house. Clark will go out and play basketball, I'll lay out a blanket on the grass and we both spend huge amounts of time throwing a rope or a Kong for Elle. She is helping us prepare for Em, and our future of very little sleep. Elle has endless stores of energy and it's a blast trying to keep up with her at the park. 

Last night was actually the highlight of our last couple weeks. We got to skype Clark's oldest brother, Drew, who is stationed in Afghanistan. It was so much fun, to see the brother's getting to talk, me laughing about how they are like clones of each other. Drew is in the Army and I have yet to meet him in person, I've emailed him and spoken with him on the phone and saw him via skype briefly at Tory's wedding, but last night was the first time I got to see him for more than 5 five minutes. We were able to skype with him for about an hour and it was great. Seriously, all of the Snyder brothers make the exact same jokes and expressions I feel like I have known Drew this whole time. It's a bit surreal. 

The only thing that has been a let down around here is the wild fires around our valley. The air quality has been so bad it was making me feel sick when I was outside, and of course I don't remember what the sky actually looks like, it's now just a haze of gray smoke. They say it will stick around till October. I'm hoping not! Also I hope there are no more fires!! 

I won't make any promises about when I'll write again, but I know I will..... eventually ;)

Me trying to avoid the smoke while stylishly looking like a crazy bandit

Clark's nephew, niece, and dad. :) These guys are the best!

Cutest baby outfit at Target. I didn't buy it....yet. Just look at that little cardigan

Peanut butter and chocolate goodness... I'm not craving anything ;)

Busy Bees

Life as usual is hectic, but we're trying to be positive and go with the flow. We spent the holiday weekend driving to and from Friday Harbor to be there for Clark's mom as she got married. It was a long road trip, but ultimately worth it. On the way up we stopped and had dinner with Grandma Snyder and Clark's dad and wonderful "Friend" Susan. It was delicious! Boy, can they cook! We had steak, corn on the cob, and a pie! Very Fourth of July :) On the way back we got to stop in Portland and stay with Uncle Dave and then we took Blake and Trent (younger Snyder brothers) to the Oregon Zoo. Trent had never been and I think they had a good time even though it was a little rushed. One thing I know for sure is that we all were glad to be home! 17 hours round trip in a car is never fun. Now it's back to house hunting and all of the other soon to be mama stuff. :)

Homemade pizza! Yumm, Susan and Rick are the greatest when it comes to feeding the family!  

My Handsome husband enjoying that Washington beach sunshine! 

Just look at that face :) 

Blake and Preston... throwing things at each other.

We stopped at the Oregon Zoo on the way home from Friday Harbor

First photo of baby Emmalyn Grae Snyder

The newly wedded couple. Congrats to  my mother -in-law Gail! 

Mr and Mrs Snyder enjoying each other's company  

Mr and Mrs Snyder: Awe Wedded Bliss

WE'RE MARRIED! 
It was short, sweet, and intimate. On June 14th, 2013 at 5:30 pm we started the hike up Lower Table Rock with a couple close friends and our immediate family members. The ceremony itself was less than ten minutes and after the hike down we went to my parents house for a family BBQ. By far the best way to get married. Out in beautiful nature with those you love dearly. It was so pretty standing up there by the edge with the valley and distant mountains as our back drop. The wedding was rather spur of the minute, but I loved it.
We wrote our own vows and a good friend and coworker, Mario, married us.

We even got some fun photos of the hike up and the wedding :)
I am such a lucky woman to have joined this amazing Snyder clan! I have gained some really special family members.

Now we are on to house hunting, working, and trying to enjoy our summer. I start school tonight and I am kind of excited. I am enjoying all of the changes in my body also. WELL mostly, I mean I can't fit in a pair of shorts I wore LAST weekend, but that just means our baby is healthy and growing. Speaking of baby we have an ultrasound scheduled July 1st to find out gender! BUT we won't be revealing it till around July 7th so that Clark's sister Madalyn can make a surprise gender reveal cake for the family.

Exciting stuff! Well I will leave you with some photos!

Top: With my parents Bottom: Clark and his older brother Tory
Right: That perfect moment  

Top: The Snyder siblings and parents, minus Madalyn and Drew. They were there in our hearts. And we are so amazed at the strength and courage Drew has to serve our country.
Bottom left: I wasn't crying I swear haha
Bottom right: Can't get enough of that man! 

The Hike up :) 

Left: My dad giving me away :)
Right: I adore this one

Two of my dearest friends and I on the hike up. Jordan and Kylie you helped me get ready, you calmed me down when I did cry and I will always remember how much fun we had! Love you ladies! 

& Then There Were Three

Big changes have been underway at the Snyder/Williams residence! Clark moved back to Medford, we're looking for our own place. I'm about to finish out spring term. He has decided to enlist in the army, we had to find Colbie and Olive new homes and.... WE'RE EXPECTING A LITTLE ONE!

Goodness, it feels so great to type that. As of Sunday I am 15 weeks along and little Snyder is the size of a navel orange. It's pretty crazy really. I am through the morning sickness and the fun stages of the first trimester and now into the second. In a few short weeks we will find out whether we are having a boy or girl. I am not sure which it will be! Most vote boy because of Clark and his 5 brothers and 1 sister. I am not going to be picky.  I just want to have a happy healthy baby! I cannot wait to find out. Having the first great grand-baby on my side is pretty exciting!

I have been neglecting this blog for too long again and I am excited to keep it updated as the baby center so I don't totally annoy all of my facebook friends by posting on there constantly.

lost in toy land already! Too many options, these things really are more for the parents. 

I think he loves me, look at that face :) 

I love the little blocks and elephant 

I love this photo, except I almost look as if I were picking my nose.... 

Looking and Seeing

Today is a bit of a down day. I am mostly spending it at home doing homework. I did get to pick out new glasses though this morning which means I'll be looking snazzy and seeing better soon! I can't wait, I ordered some Rx sunglasses since I delivery drive so much! I cannot wait to get them. I have a ridiculous amount of homework for it being the beginning of week 2 so I don't have much to say for now other than how busy I am/will be. Despite this busy, homework-filled schedule I sure think I will enjoy this term. It's looking like it will be full of learning, growing and changing. I'll leave you with one of my favorite little quotes that reminds me of my love. 

 

“I read once that the ancient Egyptians had fifty words for sand & the Eskimos had a hundred words for snow. I wish I had a thousand words for love, but all that comes to mind is the way you move against me while you sleep & there are no words for that.”

― Brian Andreas, Story People: Selected Stories & Drawings of Brian Andreas

What a Break!

So I kind of failed in the first month of having this blog by not posting for like three weeks. BUT I am back and determined to keep up on it :)

Let me fill you in on the rest of March and get you all caught up to today in April. I was in an art making frenzy during the middle of March completing my class portfolios. Drawing, printing, carving, etc. Then I was writing a couple papers and trying to get everything done early so that during finals week I would actually be starting my break. So I turned in everything the Friday before and then went to Corvallis to pick up Mr. Clarkin, who finished his finals Monday. We then spent two entire glorious weeks in each other's company and I was obviously too busy enjoying time with him to write on here. Oops...

Spring break was amazing! We played with our pets, made delicious food, visited friends, and even took a three day beach trip to Brookings. The weather gods favored us and it was warm and sunny for one whole day. We spent it hiking the Oregon Coast Trail and playing on the beaches with the pups. It was perfect. I have TONS of photos! Most fun I have had in a long time and it was great being away on our own with nature.

Well my first day of class is tomorrow, oh boy! So I'll leave you with some photos from the break while I enjoy my last night of freedom with two of the most lovely ladies on the planet.