The Sink Nazi

You know you picked a good one when he becomes his own sink Nazi without being prompted.

40 plus weeks, what a high number to count to....

Here at 40 weeks I'm feeling...

-Excitement

-Disappointment. When a day goes by and he hasn't come...again
-Anticipation

-Fighting frustration when, once again! another girl announces her baby that came 3 weeks early...joy.

-Ready! House is ready, finished work, everything baby is ready...just need the baby.
-Prayers usually sound something like, "Help baby to come soon.  And help me  be patient when he doesn't"
-Large.
-Restless sleep.  Since 36 weeks or so because of achy hips.

-Spotty contractions here and there, tight belly.

-Feet are well messaged :)  Austin heard it can help start contractions, so he's been massaging them every night.

-Able to breath! I always take the stairs and noticed the other day that I don't sound like I've just run a 100 m dash once I get to the top.  Little buddy must have dropped!

Temple Buddies

Austin and I have been ordinance workers at the Jordan Temple Saturday evenings for the past few months and last Saturday was my last time to work a shift (hopefully).  It has been so wonderful to be able to serve in the temple.  Austin and I have grown spiritually individually and together more so over these past few months then in any other capacity.  I have come to understand the different promises we make in the temple so much more clearly, and in turn come to understand my purpose as a women who serves the Lord. 


We also made many friends.  Austin and I are a hard couple to miss: Austin is the tallest red head (and pretty sharp....people notice) so you can't really miss him.  And I'm the only pregnant lady on the Saturday shift so most people were able to recognize and remember us easily.  Many of the workers were older, usually retired.  But there were also many return missionaries or sisters not yet married that I worked with as well. My last Saturday was bitter sweet.  I realized how many wonderful friends I had made and how close we had become over the past few weeks.  I am sad that I will not be able to be a worker again for a very long time.  But look forward to being able to be one again!

At first it was a slight burden going Saturday nights.  That meant no random trips to visit family, no fun Saturday dates, and because I work most Saturdays not many big projects could be accomplished either.  I was worried that I wouldn't have the energy to work 6 hours, run home, shower, and then be at the temple for 6 hours. But I found the longer we were there the more energy I was able to have.  I found that my mind was quicker. I was able to memorize the different ordinances within an hour or so, understand their meanings, receive personal insight into them and remember them from week to week. 

I have come to understand that as I have faith and rely on the Spirit, I am able to do more than if I think it all depends on me. 

Working in the temple re-awakened a spiritual side to me that I have been trying to revive, but couldn't on my own.  It made me crave being in the temple, rather then dreading or feeling guilty when another week passed and I didn't make time to go.

Working in the temple made me a better wife.  I was able to see where some potentially bad habits were forming and change them so that I was working on strengthening my marriage instead of focusing on myself and my needs.  I became more patient with Austin and willing to listen.  I came to see spiritual gifts in Austin that I had never recognized before and wow! I am so lucky to have him!

Working in the temple soften my heart and made me want to know my Heavenly Father better.

I am coming to understand better that Heavenly does not need me to be fully developed (or even able) and then come to Him, offering Him my "worthy" gifts.  He needs availability and dependability.  Then will He make me capable.

I know that we were called to work in the temple to prepare Austin and I for the years ahead.  Because of this experience I will be a better mother because I am learning more to rely on the Lord. I am so grateful I was able to serve!

Baby, you've got it!

Oh how I love this man!

St. George Fun

My family decided to take a weekend down at the house in St. George this past weekend.  It was so nice to have all the family together, especially since Austin and I will be moving soon, I've been wanting to get in some good quality time with both sides of our families.

Being as it was 108 degrees outside, I am pregnant, Becky is recovering from her ACL surgery, and Dad just finished running the Aaronic Priesthood and Action camp we were a pretty lazy group.  But, oh was it wonderful :)  We played games, swam quite a bit, watched movies, made good food, and laughed alot.

Really, the biggest goal of the whole trip was to get Daniel, our 13 month old nephew, to giggle and smile as much as possible.  This kid is so expressive it's just so fun to get him going.  The funniest success was in the pool Saturday night.  Austin started squirting water into the air with his hands and this fascinated Daniel.  His little blue eye got big and round, he puckered his mouth into a forever "ooooo" shape, straightened his whole body and sporadically clapped his hands as fast as he could.  Jenn and Josh taught him some signs and clapping means "more" and "please" or Daniel, at least :)  Ya...describing it doesn't do it justice, but we were all laughing straight for a good 15 minutes and not one of us had a camera.  Baby's are so fun :)

Being around a little older babies has got Austin excited to have our baby come.  It melts my heart when we are in the grocery store and we see a little one babbling in their mother's grocery cart and Austin leans down and whispers in my ear, "I can't wait!".  He really is like a little boy waiting for Christmas to come!  End of June, Love.  All most there!

Pregnant, like a boss

Nothing like meeting with your midwives to make you feel awesome.  No joke, they are the best. 

All week at work I hear the regulars, "Wow, you haven't had that baby yet?", "Wow, you look like you're going to pop", "Wow, you're huge".  Usually from never been pregnant individuals. To which I silently curse them with having twins on their first pregnancy.  Who's huge now, sucka? 

Anyway, then I go visit the nurse midwives and they tell me I'm small for how far along I am (yes, this party could be bigger), that I've gained only 20 lbs, that my blood pressure is phenomenal, my body processes glucose like a boss (oh stop, I'm blushing), that my baby is healthy and right on track, and that I'm doing a great job.  Thank you!  That is wonderful to hear.

Other than that, there is nothing to report prego wise.  All indications point to me going all 40 weeks....maybe 41 and I decided that I'm okay with that.

I am glad that my appointments are now once a week.  It is a relief hearing his heartbeat and confirming that he is okay.  This whole pregnancy I've been pretty level headed, but the last week or so I have been very anxious about something going wrong; worrying that I've missed something and my baby is in trouble, but I'm not responding to it...weird stuff like that wakes me up at 4 am and has me walking around the house making sure that baby is still moving.

Un-prego news:  We have an apartment in Iowa!!!  The reviews on it are great, meaning that most people that live there stay all four years.  Even some of the univiersity administration live there.  Which at first I thought was weird, but decided to interpert that as a good thing.  We talked to the landlord Dan and love him!  Kind of quirky, but good hearted and funny.  I'll have a community garden just outside my door, a washer and dryer across the hall, a newly remodeled home, and a great neighborhood to jog around. 

I just got really excited about moving to Iowa :)

Catch Up

Needless to say many things have been put on the back burner while working overtime, figuring out moving to Iowa, preparing for baby and such.  If I have failed to return calls, texts, or emails I am sorry...life is moving very quickly right now.  Here are some pics I took on my phone and have finally transferred to my computer:

Week 29ish.  I decided it was time to retire the belt  till post-pregnancy when people kept asking me if I wore it for back support......no, no I don't but I got the hint.

Week 33.  Way to grow Baby! 

Week 35.  Feeling....big.

According to my pregnancy app Baby is the size of a coconut.  Um, whoever made that random fact up I want to shove a coconut up their butt.  There is no way this baby is just the size of a freakin' coconut.  Maybe all the rockin' and rollin' he likes to do that magnifies his size.  Who knows.  What am I talking about, I know! I KNOW he is bigger than that.  

"Pressure": I've started to feel cramps every few days.  I believe when there's a baby in your uterus you call them contractions, but they feel exactly like cramps right now.  Every few nights or so I feel this piercing pain from my belly button to my pubic bone.  It only lasts 15 seconds or so and I've only felt two in a  row.  I'm not sure what that is.  It kind of feels like Baby is pulling on my belly button cord from the inside (is there a belly button cord?  I've always imagined there is...).  Either way I'm glad my body is prepping, cause I'm ready whenever he is :)

Cray-Cray: I have hormones.  In large supply.  I feel many things very passionately and tear up often.  My husband is an angel for being tender and understanding. 

Advice:  Advice to all you un-pregnant people out there: never ever ever ever say "Aren't you due any day now?" Because you are in the danger zone when you ask that.  No!  I'm not due any day now! I'm due in 33 days, but who's counting?....me.  I'm counting.  Other questions that I get in large supply are "When are you due?", "Is it a boy or girl", "Have you picked a name yet".  I should start taking a tally of how many times I get asked that question in a day, sometimes by the same people.

Non-baby related news: 

-We have rented our moving truck, set the moving date (August 3rd) and are very close to having an apartment finalized! 

-Austin received another small scholarship he had applied for last year.  Every little bit helps!  

-I finally bought a couch cover for our lovely grandma couch.  Mixed feelings about how long that is going to stay. 

Sarcasm aside I am very excited to have this baby.  To have a name for this baby!  And to step into (more like shoved into) a new phase of life for our family!  

Unexpected

Austin came home with an unsolicited surprise today. Ladies, I picked a goooood one!

In a nutshell...

...we are happy, healthy, and having fun!  Here is some catch up from the last few months compliments of our high tech camera phone:

 1.  Austin's "YOU GOT INTO MED SCHOOL!!!" dinner at The Cheesecake Factory

2.  A diagram of Des Monies University...maybe we'll be there soon?

3.  We have fun friday date nights!

      a.  Scavenger hunt

      b.  Temple Square lights

      c.  Aquarium (Look how close we got to a choco. chip star fish, Michelle!)

      d.  Planetarium 

      e.  Movie nigtht/ build an awesome fort 

4.  Austin bought a gun.  What a hunk.

5.  Sold the grandma car 

6.  Bought my first car...I like her a quite bit :)

7.  Jazz game with Jake and Jen.  I think they won...lost...won??? It's a toss up with the Jazz.

8.  Adorable nephew :)

8.  We're pregnant!  Suprise suprise

9.  Baby's first hike (26 weeks): Bell's Canyon

10.  I married a stud!

Life is good, my friends!!  All three of us are healthy, disgustingly content, and having the time of our lives!  We truly are blessed :)  Have a wonderful week everyone!

Hmmm...I like that

Ummm, I'm in love with this...and I just ordered it.

I'm getting back into my looking around/shopping phase and right now it's baby photos and hats.  It doesn't come around often so I thought I'd document ;)  On a side note, I've recently found a few modern names that I really like!  Woohooo! So the name pool is growing.

Life Quotes

"Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends"

~Shirely MacLaine

"Those who say it can't be done shouldn't interrupt the people doing it"

~Muffy Davis

"I'd rather love them to death and see how they react rather than hold back and start out on the wrong foot."

~Elder Bowen

Hello, March!

When I started taking prego pictures I had this lofty goal of taking cute weekly pictures of myself...and here we are at 25 weeks at picture #3 and I'm rockin' my morning exercise clothes.  Ha!  Well, at least I'm honest.  No one is cute 100% of the time through pregnancy!

I am feeling great!  I've been back on my regular workout schedule for a couple weeks now (with a few adjustments), sleeping well, no nausea. I do get backaches, but I have an amazing masseuse of a husband.  I am one lucky girl!

Baby is getting bigger and is kickin' it as usual.  His 'resting days' have shortened to 'resting day'.  I still catch my breath when I notice him not kickin' after a few hours.  To which he'll answer with a few reassuring jabs to lower right side (that's his favorite hang out for some reason) and that's enough to reassure me.  He's taking to exploring my ribs lately...that's an exciting addition.  The first time he did it I was assessing a patient...thankfully the patient graciously overlooked my crazy facial expressions till baby stopped.

 I'm getting all sorts of baby advice from my patients as well as oooo's and awww's, matronly glances, and "wow, you are so small!" (oh stop....no keep going ;) I don't think those comments will last for long, so I'll take 'em as long as they'll come!).

Everything is getting bigger and I'm lovin' it!  I decided a while back not to freak out or feel down about my changing size and I'm really glad to have that mind set.  Pregnancy hormones are irrational enough for three women without me making it harder on myself.  Bigger boobs, butt, and hips....bring it on!

Austin and I have had a lot of fun these past weeks and I really should write them down...tomorrow. Non-pregnancy related news to come!

Day 1: 20 Random Facts

A friend of mine started doing a 30 day blog topic of the day that I though was interesting.  The topics are things that I'd like show my kids and remember who I was in this stage of my life, so here I go!

Day 1: 20 Random Facts

1.  I love seasons.  All of them.  I'm not one to complain when it's too hot, and then complain when it's too cold.  It is what it is and I'm happy to take advantage of the differences.  Spring blossoms are my favorite (and I'm determined to get a family picture in them this year!),  summer sun is divine, crisp fall air is rejuvenating  and winter brings a whole gamut of once-a-year sports (favorites being AIRBOARDING, cross country and downhill skiing, sledding, and hot chocolate making)
2.  I express myself better in art and music than in spoken words.
3.  I like to people watch and analyse.  Kinda goes in hand with being a therapist, eh?
4.  When I'm uncomfortable/nervous I either over talk the situation and am too flamboyant/gregarious, or I'm  quiet and observe everyone.  Either way I try to cover up the fact that I'm feeling uncomfortable.
5.  I love game nights.  Definitely having a family game night tradition in my home!
6.  I love reading.  My mother started that love in me.  My favorite times with her growing up were when we'd have "just me" time together and listening to her read to me.  I love her voice.
7.  I'm a pretty open person, you just have to ask your questions.
8.  I love playing sports.  I prefer to play rather than watching and baseball is one of my favorites.  Can't wait to teach my son how much fun sports can be!
9.  I do not like planning parties.  Love attending them.  Hate planning them.
10.  I love colors and yellow is one of my most favorites.
11.  I have a wide range of taste in music.  I love jazz (Miles Davis, mmm mmm), scat, big band, country, rap, hip hop, AOR, acoustic, beatbox...like I said, a wide range.
12.  I have very specific, yet undefined taste in decorating.  In theory I know exactly what I want.  But when I go shopping for it I have know idea what to buy.  As of now my house is thoroughly mismatched.  I'm a work in progress :)
13.  I love animals!  As a kid I begged and pleaded for a dog and a horse.  It took me 8 years to get my dog and I married a husband who wants a horse, so I'm set!
14.  I laugh and smile easily....sometimes my timing is less than appropriate :)
15.  I am comfortable in my own skin.
16.  I'm pretty chill when it comes to most things, but what I do have an opinion on is strong...to put it lightly.
17.  I think education is important and want to go on to get my masters someday.
18.  I am a popcorn addict.
19.  I married the best man in the world!  Everyday I'm reminded of why he's so good for me.
20.  If I've learned anything about myself is that I'm always changing and improving.  In high school I was a partier (I admit it), in college I took myself and school too seriously, being married has softened my edges and I'm excited to see how motherhood will continue the evolution :)

The Becks at 23 Weeks

 He is resting his right arm across his forehead and his left on his belly.  The life of a baby can be so hard sometimes :)

At 23 weeks you:

-Are most definitely a boy!

-Kick, wiggle, and bump around constantly for about 3 days, then take about a 2 day rest.

-Like to wake me up at 4 am with your little dance moves

-Have been nick named "Wiggle Worm" at the doctors office

-I've felt your head...or bum rub, not just bump, against my hand.  It made my heart swell :)

-You are about 11 inches big

-You can hear us talk to you

-You are perfectly healthy in every way.  I couldn't be more happy!

At 23 weeks I:

-Gained 10 pounds

-Am finally passed the "maybe she's just getting fat" stage

-Get heartburn every once and a while.  But no stretch marks, leg cramps, or ankle swelling yet

-Exercising regularly again
-Lovin' the advantage of these prego hormones and their affect on my hair and nails

-Experiencing "pregnancy brain" more frequently as well :)

-Love feeling baby's wiggles getting stronger

At 23 weeks Austin has:
-Gained no weight.  Shocker.
-Been accepted into Des Moines medical school at half tuition
-Made a pay raise
-Felt baby's wiggles multiple times
-Is taking the "How to Live with Preganacy Hormones 101" course
-Has planned our Babymoon trip in March.  Can't wait!
-Staying as studly as ever

To Keep the Weirdos Out

Seeing as our munchkin is on the way we are making our blog private starting in one week.  If you would like to continue reading about our awesome chaos you'll have to message me your email address before then.  Happy Sunday!