Belly Bump Pics

Oh hey! It's only been 3.5 months since I last blogged :/ Dang! I don't know where the time has gone. The last few months have been busy busy at work for me, and at school for Caleb. Luckily, he finished his last final this evening and yesterday was my last day at work until the new year! Now it's time to relax. And by relax I mean get ready to move! That's right, we are moving into a bigger place in order to prepare for our baby girl! Speaking of Baby Hatch, tonight's blog is to showcase her (and my) growth. I wish I had been better documenting the transformation but it's too late now and this is all I've got. Watch my baby grow! 

5 Weeks

8 Weeks

9 Weeks

10 Weeks

12 Weeks

16 Weeks

18 Weeks

19 Weeks

20 Weeks

21 Weeks

22 Weeks 

25 Weeks

27 Weeks

30 Weeks

31 Weeks

32 Weeks

33 Weeks

34 Weeks

Six more weeks to go hopefully! I can't believe my time with the bump is almost over and soon I'll have a wiggly little baby in my arms instead! Yikes! Oh, and let's end with a short video of her in my tummy I took the other day. I love watching and feeling her move! It's surreal! 

Bye now! 

****Sorry for the weird placement of some of the photos. I should really figure out how to blog like a pro. 

Road Trip

Caleb and I moved back to Spokane mid-August. Instead of settling down into our normal routine, we escaped on two last minute vacations. First we went backpacking with our friends Jared and Rachel to Stevens Lake in Idaho. Then we road-tripped from Spokane to the Redwoods and we hit up several bucket list places on the drive.  Here's the photo journey!

Our first stop was Multnomah Falls, Oregon. I've wanted to go here for several years. The pictures always look amazing! Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed with this stop. Maybe it was because in the pictures on the internet there are never tourists present. Maybe it was because the air was so smokey that we couldn't breathe properly. Maybe it was because Caleb and I woke up at 4 AM to go to the REI Garage sale before heading on our road trip. Maybe I was just being a Debbie Downer. Either way, we didn't end up spending too much time here.

We stayed the night in Portland. Our main reason for staying the night in Portland was because we wanted to eat at a diner called Doner Haus. Doner Haus came to Spokane Pig Out in the Park two years ago and we fell in love with their food. Unfortunately, when we got to Portland and looked them up we found out that they recently moved to Wenatchee, WA. :( Guess who should have done some research before their trip? Yep, us! 

The next morning we drove from Portland to Cannon Beach. This place is as beautiful as the pictures! I'm in love with the Ocean on the Northwest coast. I love the sea-stacks and the fog! I could have spent an entire week just exploring this area and hope that someday we can plan a vacation where Cannon Beach is our destination. We didn't see a lot of animal life, but we found tiny baby sand dollars that were adorable. 

The rest of the day was spent driving from Cannon Beach down the entire Oregon Coast until we reached the Redwoods. It was a long, long, long, long drive but at least the views were beautiful and we got to stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory and try free samples! 

We arrived at our camp spot late that night, pitched our tent, and went to bed! The next day and a half we explored the Redwoods.

Part of Jurassic Park: The Lost World was filmed in this area of the park!! I'm in love with Jurassic Park so this was exciting to me! :) You'll also notice my huge belly.

Of course the one picture strangers offer to take of you turns our blurry. Grreat! 

We saw two seals eating fish in the water here! We also saw lots of fish, crabs, and several Elk. 

Before leaving Utah we purchased a new to us vehicle that will be better for baby. To break it in we took it on our trip and drove it through a real Redwood tree! It barely fit!! 

On our way home we stopped at Crater Lake and also Bend, Oregon. Crater lake was amazing! Again, it was smokey but so beautiful. I'd love to spend more time here so I could swim in the crater, take a boat tour around the water, and hike. I've wanted to go to Bend for a few years now because of the amazing biking they have there. We just stopped for dinner and went on, but it had a fun, hip, Moab feel to it which I loved. 

Our trip was fast and furious and jam packed with so many places. I was exhausted when we got home. I'm short on time, so that's all you're getting tonight :) Get outside and go places friends! 

A New Narrator

Hello there! I'm new to these parts. I've only been around for 15 weeks, but I wanted to share my life story so far.

I came into existence around the end of April. Up until then I was just a wish! My Mommy and Daddy wanted me so badly that I came to join them in Spokane Washington. Silly Mommy and Daddy, they didn't even know that I'd joined them yet!

My Mommy took me on my first airplane ride to Salt Lake City on May 1st. Since no one knew I was there, I flew for FREE! See how sneaky I am.  Then I met my Uncle GR and Aunt Christine! We went on a road trip to Zions National Park and I met more family because Uncle Blair was getting ready to marry Aunt Karina! I met Aunt Chantelle, Uncle Ricky, and also my Cousin Lily! I finally got to meet my Grandma Shell and Grandpa Guy! I was so excited that I gave my Mommy car sickness, but she didn't know it was my fault. Mommy and I had so much fun dancing the night away with Blair, Karina, and all the family that surrounded us. I sure wish Daddy was there!

Weeee! Dancing is fun!

A week later Daddy had to move to Utah for an internship. Mommy was sure sad, but two weeks later she and I went on another road trip to Butte Montana to see Daddy! We were so excited to see him. Mommy and Daddy really wanted to go soak up in the Hot Springs but I kept telling them no! They drove an hour away just to get to the Hot Springs but before they got in I said "STOP!!! Please don't cook me!" They couldn't hear me, but because there were so many people around they decided to just go home instead. It was sad saying goodbye to Daddy but we knew we'd see him again in two weeks. 

I wonder if I will look like Mommy, or Daddy?

Mommy and Daddy were training for a Half-Marathon. When Daddy was with her in Spokane they were running together lots, and they were running fast! When Daddy left, Mommy noticed that she was running a lot slower. She thought she was being lazy, but she didn't know that I was going running with her! Mommy started wondering if maybe there was a baby (ME!!) growing inside of her. She decided to take a test. It was negative and so were the next two but she bought some more tests because she didn't really believe them. A week later she decided to take another test. And guess what?!?! I decided to make my presence known! Mommy was sure surprised and she rushed for the phone so she could call Daddy. They were sad that they weren't together to celebrate, but mostly they were happy because I was coming to live with them! Next week Daddy flew to Spokane to see us and all three of us ran our first Half-Marathon together! 

Mommy is giggling because she has a secret. The secret is that I exist! 

That week Mommy got done with work which meant it was time to move to Utah to be with Daddy. Aunt Chantelle flew to Spokane to help Mommy move. Mommy didn't mean to, but she was so excited about me that she told Aunt Chantelle that I was living in Mommy's tummy! Aunt Chantelle was so excited too! All three of us took a road trip from Spokane to Fielding Utah where we met up with Daddy!! Yay!!!! Mommy and Daddy took me to our new home which was really Uncle Gr and Aunt Christine's house. They are so nice to let me live with them! I also met Gozer who is the biggest, nicest, cutest kitty I have ever seen! 

Mommy and I are so glad Aunt Chantelle is here!

I went camping with Mommy, Daddy, and my Ballard family at Tony's Grove. Daddy, Mommy, and I hiked to the top of Naomi Peak! It sure was beautiful! 

Hello Naomi Peak! I am tired from that hike!

For my 10th week birthday I went to Seven Peaks with Mommy, Grandma Ballard, Aunt Chantelle, and Cousin Lily! We had so much fun, but only Mommy and Auntie knew I was there! Grandma kept telling Mommy she should go down the slides, but Mommy wanted to keep me safe so she said she didn't want to...but I think she really did want to. Thanks for keeping me safe Mommy! My 10th week birthday celebrations weren't over yet! I got to meet my other Grandma and Grandpa and a bunch more Uncles! Uncle Tyler was getting married so I met Grandma Hatch, Grandpa Hatch, Uncle Tyler and soon be to Aunt Taylor, Uncle Christian, Uncle Gideon, and Uncle Noah. Whoa, I have a lot of Uncles! Mommy and Daddy got dressed up and took me to the Salt Lake Temple. 

Whoa, pretty castle! And look at my parents! They are cool! I want a hat too!

The next day Mommy, Daddy, and I did another race. This one was only 9 miles instead of 13. Mommy says that it is harder to run with me in her tummy, but I don't know why! I'm trying my best to run with her! 

We all went on a road trip to Las Vegas with Mommy and Daddy's friends Brian and Chelsey. There is a baby growing in Chelseys tummy too but he is a lot bigger than me. He is almost ready to come out! Together we did lots of swimming, eating and checking out different bathrooms in fancy hotels. They even took me to my first concert! I didn't know any of the lyrics though. 

First time to the Bellagio!

One day Mommy and Daddy took me to the Doctor because they wanted to see me! The Doctor used a fancy camera and took pictures of me, and let Mommy and Daddy hear my heart beat. I wanted them to know how excited I was so I made my heart beat 170 beats per minute just for them. It made them so proud that they decided to tell all my Grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles about me! And boy was everyone excited!! 

My first picture! I look just like a gummy bear. 

Mommy and Daddy are very adventurous. They take me all sorts of places. Sometimes I go biking with them. Sometimes we go rock climbing. Sometimes we go see new places that none of us have ever been too. For example, one week they took me hiking to High Creek Lake, and to see the Spiral Jetty. 

Here is Mommy, carrying me to the top of another mountain!

I made my mark at the Spiral Jetty. What a salty place! 

In July when I was 13 weeks old I went backpacking to the Uintahs. I didn't wear a backpack, but Mommy and Daddy did! I bet they were so tired! That's why Mommy had to take lots of rests. 

Can you see me start to pop out of Mommy's belly? I'm getting bigger and bigger! 

I think Mommy and Daddy really like running because they sure do a lot of it. Or at least Mommy likes it. My ears have been developing and now I can hear lots of sounds. I heard Daddy saying that he only runs for Mommy. That's sweet of him to do something Mommy likes so much. He must be a great Daddy! Oh boy, I can't wait to meet him and hug him and kiss him! Mommy and I did another 6 mile race at UBIC and Daddy did a Triathlon. He did some swimming, biking, and running and he won third place! Wahoo, my Daddy is a champion! 

You can't see Daddy very well, but he is about to jump on his bike for 12 miles. Mommy didn't get any other pictures of him because she had to go run her race. Daddy helped Mommy finish her race when he was done with his. Isn't he nice?

For Cousin Lily's birthday we went to Bear Lake and played in the cold, cold water! I was moving all around trying to get Mommy's attention, but she still hasn't noticed me moving. I am gonna keep on moving and moving and moving until she feels me! 

Aren't Daddy and Lily cute? Someday I am gonna build sandcastles with Daddy! 

Tomorrow is my 16th week birthday. Mommy is a little sad because we all are moving back to Spokane in a few days. But she is also excited because once we move back to Spokane we can have more adventures, more Doctors visits, more pictures of me, and eventually I am going to move from Mommy's belly into her arms! I can't wait to come meet the world, but for now I am just having fun seeing it through Mommy and Daddy's eyes.