I think I felt something...

A little kick?

I'm finally starting to feel like I'm pregnant for REAL... and it's very strange, and fun, and exciting. After dinner last night, Brian chuckled at me because I leaned back in my chair and put my hands on top of my stomach without even noticing it. I have a new place to rest my hands, I guess. After complaining for several weeks that I didn't look pregnant at all... I suddenly and completely DO! And now I'm not so sure that not looking pregnant is such a bad thing! No, I think it's going to be okay. I'll just order some of those stretchy, unattractive pants in extra tall, (a big belly and high waters should never go together) and I'll be just fine.

Our First Baby Photos

The masses have been clamoring for more 'baby' info. We have to balance how much information we provide to the press because as you know both the NBA and WNBA have their scouts watching and waiting.

Caroline went to the doctor this past week while I was traveling with the military in snowy Wyoming. Dr Amersi did an ultrasound and found everything good and healthy. Our baby weighs about 12 ounces which isn't so alarming except that the doctor thinks that we are further along than previously calculated. The new due date is June 18th.

For your enjoyment, here are a few photos of Baby Merrell:

This last one is Caroline's favorite. I think that we need to teach our baby a little bit about modesty but as they say, "boys will be boys!"

The Getty Museum

Caroline and I got a wild hair and decided to get our new year started with a little culture. Maybe stimulate the baby through second hand art observation. I don't know. Anyways, Caroline had never visited the Getty Museum and so we decided to make it a date night. We got there just as the sun had set and watched from the Santa Monica mountains as the colors of crimson filled the ocean sky. (I know I am not a poet) It was really cool!

The Getty is a really huge free museum on a hill just a few miles from our apartment. Here is a sky view of the museum with the sprawling city in the background.

We actually caught our view a little closer up and mostly at night time so it looked a little more like the photo below. Anyways we saw some original paintings of van Gogh and Monet as well as a whole exhibit of scupture and another of photography.
It is a great FREE treasure here in LA. For those of you out of town we'll have to take you next time you are passing through. Fun times!

Below are a few of the originals that we saw. And us striking some of our favorite poses.
van Gogh

Monet

Monet

Blue Porcelain Pot with Gilded Edges (Brian's Pick) Table Base that is CRAZY out of this world Caroline Thining Deeply Brian Waking from His Slumber

Brian's Basketball Game

I don't know if it's worth writing about but I'd better get it out there just in case it never happens again. Our Stake basketball league started up this past weekend and I am playing on my new team (Westdale 1st Ward). After a slow start from both teams, I scored the first two baskets of the game. - Fast-forward - We ended up winning the game and I scored 16 points. Yeah, I know you're thinking, "Wow he played better than Lee Cummard (BYU) who played UNM earlier in the day and lost by like 20 points." Not even close. This may be my one shining basketball moment of 2009.

No More Morning Sickness (for the most part)!

It's crazy! Caroline was barfing her guts out for two whole days this past weekend. Then there was like a two day recovery period and now there is no more hint of morning sickness. (fingers crossed)

Yay to being pregnant and feeling normal.

Hello Westdale 1st Ward!

(Brian) So our transition to the Westdale 1st Ward has been quick and good so far. After a pretty benign interview with Bishop Sloan, the Stake Presidency called me in for an interview and called me to be the 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric. Our dreams of long Sunday walks on the beach turned out to be just that, dreams. Caroline received her new Visiting Teaching assignment before we had been in the ward a week. It is kinda hard to lay low when you are 6'1" and 6'7". I am sure that I will bring up the average height of the ward basketball team. We are happy to be in our new ward.