Broken

Riding home from our friends house on Friday, I had a random back pain. By the time we got home, my back was all tweaked, almost like it was after I got rear-ended last year. LAME!

Monday I went to the Chiropractor and got everything all back in alignment. On the drive home, I felt a twinge. I was FURIOUS, I almost started swearing. By that night, my back was completely crooked again.

The Midwife referred me to physical therapy, and of course they couldn't fit me in until after my due date. But, they put me on the wait list so if there's a cancellation, then I get to go in.

Dang everything being strained and loose during pregnancy! I feel so cheated, when I've tried so hard to stay healthy and strong! Oh well. Some things you can't change.

34 weeks 9.5.12

35 weeks 9.12.12 One month until due date!

It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To

(Did you all know that there is a song that is a sequel to that song? Something about Judy's turn to cry...)
Anyway, I had my first and hopefully only breakdown this pregnancy. I think it was a combination of feeling overwhelmed with everything we have to do still, being poor and things costing so much, living so far from family and friends, and finally going to buy the crib and it having gone up in price by $10. I'm still mad about that last one.

Life can feel tough, you know! Throw into the mix hormones and changing weather and it can be just too much to handle. So when Devin came home from school one day this week and I started crying, he decided I should probably get out of the house.

He sent me on my way, and I bought myself some ice cream and went shopping. I bought a few things for the baby and tried-on some maternity clothes. Retail therapy, I believe this is called, haha. I also enjoyed a fairly tasty chicken teriyaki sandwich for dinner.

While I do not feel 100% better (all of the aforementioned issues are still issues), it was nice to have some time to treat myself and to know that Devin was worried about me.

All this being said, all in all the pregnancy is still going very well and I still have a great deal to be grateful for. And so, to help myself, I shall list some of these things that are pregnancy specific.

• We were able to get pregnant
• I am healthy. You truly cannot put a price on that.
• The baby is healthy. Perhaps even better than my own health
• I still have a few more weeks, and little one is staying safe inside
• I am getting maternity pictures on Monday. Not a big fan of the money this will cost, but I am happy to be getting them done.
• I haven't gained too much weight and I'm not nauseous anymore. Hooray!
• I can still wear my wedding rings
• Overall, I still get plenty of sleep
• I may be getting heartburn, but it is rare and at least I have an appetite now
• We finished our childbirth class
• I don't really have many stretch marks (knock on wood) and my belly button, while not being an innie any longer, has not popped -- it's kinda flat, I would say
• Some sweet ladies threw me a baby shower :)
• My sister is making Baby Girl some things, and I am so proud of her for her blossoming skills
• I got my haircut so it's not a total mess
• I interviewed a pediatrician
• My to-do-before-baby-comes list is slowly getting smaller
• I can still feel the baby move a lot, even if she is in my ribs, haha
• Devin has been able to come to all of my appointments with me
• We will get to see family when Little One comes
• Apart from the ribs and some plantar fasciitis (tight muscles) on the bottom of my right foot, I am not in much pain or discomfort.
• I have been able to keep walking/exercising

 So, despite some bleh weather, I am trying to stay positive. So try not to worry about me too much :)

33 Weeks 8.30.12 (Note Kairi's tail :) )

Baby Shower

On Saturday some lovely ladies threw me a baby shower!

We didn't take any pictures, but you can imagine cute baby girl clothes :)

A handful of ladies from our church showed up and we had a good time. We chatted and ate some yummy food. The ladies wrote down some advise for me and we played the diaper game (different candy bars melted in diapers and you have to guess which ones they are). And of course I opened presents!

Some of my friends who couldn't make it were thoughtful enough to send/give things ahead of time. My friend Emma gave me her gift when we went bowling with them the week before. Devin's old roommates' wives were sweet enough to pass around a note (which meant mailing it between 3 states before it was mailed to me) and send us a giftcard. Devin's mom and grandma even sent some gifts all the way from WA. 

Thanks to everyone who came/gave/sent me something! I definitely feel loved!

32 Weeks 8.23.12

Quarter of a Century: AKA It's My Birthday!

Hooray for birthdays! I've always loved having a birthday in August, because there are no other holidays; it's like my birthday is the holiday for the month :)

This year we had some scheduling challenges to deal with, but we still managed to find time to celebrate.

I woke up to a phone call/message from a friend in Oregon and later one from Devin's grandma :)

After Devin got back from school, I opened gifts. Devin gave me a Google Nexus 7 (small Android tablet) that he had been alluding to for months. We Skyped with Devin's mom and sister and opened their gifts of some movies, a Wii game, and a new alarm clock. I then enjoyed playing around with my new tablet for an hour or so :)

We went out to eat and got steak -- actually at the same place we went last year. We both enjoyed some mashed potatoes and salads on the side, and shared my complimentary ice cream sundae.

Later that evening we had our childbirth class. Not my favorite place to spend my birthday, but oh well. We finished our evening off by going to Oberweiss for some more ice cream :) I got a chocolate peanut butter sundae that had probably the most peanut butter in one dish that I have ever consumed in one sitting. Devin got brownie sundae that was equally yummy and large.

I enjoyed listening to my parents sing me "Happy Birthday" and they are sending me money to get a Swiffer (I hate sweeping/mopping). Karly also called and wished me a "Happy Birthday" again.

Thanks to everyone who wished me "Happy Birthday" and for all the love and support! Can't believe I'm a quarter of a century old now...

31 Weeks 8.15.12

Same day, in "the shirt"

From Scratch

Growing up, my family made things from scratch. I'm not sure that I knew that pancake mix existed until middle school or later. I still rarely use mixes, and firmly believe that things taste better from scratch. Fortunately for me, Devin also likes to cook and bake (maybe more than I do, truthfully), so we make some tasty stuff.

For about 3 months of my pregnancy, no one was doing any cooking. I couldn't because the kitchen and I were mortal enemies. Any more than a few seconds in there, and I was gagging. The fridge and I especially did not get along. Devin wasn't cooking much because he was busy with school; and most of the time if he cooked, the smell made me more nauseous. There was lots of microwaved food, salad, and going out to eat so that we both didn't die.

Many months later, we're both able to cook again! This week Devin made chili from scratch (that seriously has about 30 ingredients in it), I made banana bread from scratch, and Devin made Cafe Rio chicken salads from scratch! This latter included homemade flour tortillas, guacamole, pico de gallo, and dressing. And it was his first time attempting any of those things. I am so proud of him :)

In other news, we've started our childbirth classes and are working to prepare for the arrival of our little one. We also went mini golfing (hardest course ever) and enjoyed some Jamba Juice while window shopping. Just trying to enjoy some couple time before we need a baby-sitter :)

30 Weeks 8.7.12

Passed!

Today we found out that Devin passed his 1st part of Boards! I knew he would, but he wasn't so sure. As my friend says, we're always our own worst critics :)

And I also passed my glucose test! This means no gestational diabetes. Yay! Little one is doing well, measuring right on track. I'm not anemic (apparently a miracle for pregnant women), I have perfect blood pressure, and I haven't gained too much or too little weight. Pray that all of this stays this way!

For now, we're celebrating our blessings!

29 Weeks 8.1.12

Oh, and we made homemade French baguettes! We ate them with our homemade Italian beef sandwiches :)

Right out of the oven

Close up

Little wonky, but still tasty

200!

Happy 200th Post! This probably would have come a lot sooner if I had stayed up on my blogging last year... Oh well. Speaking of not staying up on blogging, I have just updated the blog for the last few weeks so feel free to check it out! If you don't, you'll miss out on reading about run things like our trip to Nauvoo so you should probably do it :) Here's hoping for 200 more!

In other news...GO USA! Love me some Olympics!

The Dark Knight Rises and a Pioneer Day Party

I'll be honest, "The Dark Knight" freaked me out. I won't let Devin own it. I'm just not sure that I want it in my house, especially once we have kids. So I was a little wary about seeing "The Dark Knight Rises" But I did think it had the potential to be more hopeful than it's predecessor. Plus Devin really wanted to see it. Throw in the chance to see our good friends Emma and Pete, who we haven't seen since St. Patrick's Day, and we went to the theatre. Well we stopped and ate at Portillo's first and then did a little window-shopping -- ladies at Babies R Us and gentlemen at Sports Authority and Best Buy.

I am happy to report that the movie was not as freaky as "The Dark Knight" and that we were safe. Honestly, there was a part of me that was nervous in the back of my mind after what happened to those poor people in Colorado just days before.

After the movie we came back home, picked up our homemade lemon cream pie, bought some whipped cream to top it, and headed to a Church party.

July 24th is Pioneer Day in our Church (and the State of Utah) and we celebrate our pioneer ancestors and their hardwork and sacrifice to build up our country and our religion. Since the 24th was on a Tuesday, our congregation celebrated by having a party the Saturday before. Everyone either brought a pie or a side, and we ate and talked and played pioneer games. Sometimes it's nice to socialize :)

28 Weeks 7.24.12

Friends!

One of my old college roommates came for a visit! MacKenzie graced with her presence from Tuesday to Thursday of this week and it was so great to see her! We didn't do a whole lot besides talk and hang out, but it was great anyway. We did watch "Bride and Prejudice" for old times sake, and I actually cooked some food (a rarity since being pregnant). And our last morning, she took me out for breakfast! What a good friend :) I had chocolate chip pancakes with fudge sauce, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries on top. Aw yeah!

We're not sure where the road will take MacKenzie in the next little while (or us, in the long run), but I'm glad to say that we are still good friends.

27 Weeks 7.17.12

Seeing Family in the Midwest

Devin and I do not have any family in the area. In fact, our closest family is a 19 hr drive away. So when we get the chance to see family, it's a happy thing.

Because they were in Wisconsin for her family's reunion, we were able to see my brother Clark and his wife Tricia. We did have to drive a little ways to get there, but it was nice to see them for the first time in almost 2 years. We only saw them for a couple of hours (Devin's crazy school schedule and the drive being factors), long enough to eat dinner and chat, but family is family!

Nauvoo: The City Beautiful

After Boards, we decided to take a mini-vacation down to Nauvoo, IL. For those who don't know, Nauvoo was a city founded by early members of the LDS Church. It's located on the banks of the Mississippi River, on the border with Iowa, down toward Missouri. Originally it was swamp land, but we drained it and built a beautiful city there. At one point it was bigger than Chicago! However, persecution has always followed our Church, and after Joseph Smith was murdered in 1844, the "Mormons" were driven out of yet another state by mobs and violence.

Today, Nauvoo has only about 1100 residents. Despite this, there are many historical sites that have remained intact or have been rebuilt in the last century and it is a popular place to visit for those of our faith. This has become especially true since the Nauvoo Temple was rebuilt and dedicated in 2002.

Well we figure this is probably the closest we will ever live to Nauvoo (about 5 hours), so we should take advantage of it.

Thursday morning, we left home and headed southwest. Our long drive included strange back-roads and alleys, and following probably the slowest vehicle in existence for about 1 mile. But finally, at about 3pm, we pulled into our hotel in Keokuk, IA.

We spent the next 8 hours seeing the visitor's center, listening to a bagpipe band, touring old Church buildings, getting overheated (100 degree weather, gross humidity, and pregnancy do not mix), eating some good food at the Nauvoo Hotel, and seeing the Nauvoo Pageant. I also saw a couple of memorials mentioning one of my ancestors! All of which were awesome!

The next day, we drove out to Carthage, IL, to see where Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were martyred. Despite having to wait for some huge groups to go ahead of us (ironically, the group was from the area of Michigan I was born in), and this really pompous guy with a camera, it was a very special experience. We then drove back into Nauvoo to spend the rest of our day.

We visited the Joseph Smith family sites, which are owned by the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and bought a few souvenirs, namely: root-beer, licorice, and a little red brick that has Nauvoo stamped into it.

Following this we hit up some of the sites we missed the day before including the Seventies Hall where we looked up some of our ancestors; and the trail of hope, where the saints lined up their wagons to take them across the frozen Mississippi River (this ended in a Pioneer Memorial where we found more of our ancestors names).

As it started to rain, we headed to town for some lunch, before going to the Temple. (Just so you know, there are seriously like 5 places to eat in all of Nauvoo and they are not open for all meals.)

Last but certainly not least, we were able to go to the Nauvoo Temple. It was a very special experience, as it is a very special building. They tried to rebuild it as close to the original (which was destroyed by arson), while updating it for modern safety requirements. Inside are many things that are very special historical antiques for those of our Faith. It's very beautiful and very sacred inside.

Our last stop on our way out of town was a bakery. We picked up a couple of turnovers (cherry for me, blueberry for Devin), and a vanilla soft-serve cone for me. One long drive later, and we were home and being greeted by our lonely kitty.

It was a nice little trip and we're glad we went! Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Make your own digital slideshow

Boards

Devin has survived Boards!

In Podiatry School, you take first part of the Board exams between your 2nd and 3rd year. It's a huge standardized test to make sure you've learned things and that you'll be a good doctor. It's pass/fail, and it also costs about $900. Eep! If you don't pass, you can take it again; but you must eventually pass it to graduate, get a residency, and of course become a podiatrist.

Starting months earlier, Devin spent much time reviewing. They give them the week and a half before off for more studying, and that's pretty much all Devin's been doing. Seriously, things I've talked to him about during that time period he doesn't even remember, or only remembers that it was talked about, not what was said.

To celebrate, we ate dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and got cheesecake (of course). I got a tasty chicken sandwich and Devin got gumbo. He got the Hersey's cheesecake and I got the anniversary cheesecake. So good!

We won't know for a month or so whether or not he passed,  but it's over! (We're assuming he passed and won't have to re-take it in October. This would be bad since it would be another $900 and happen around the due date of our little one.) We'll let you know when we know!

26 weeks 7.10.12

Same day, wearing "the shirt"

Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue!

Happy Independence Day! Well, belated anyway. I hope you all had a great time celebrating our Nation's birthday and our freedom. I am very patriotic person and always love this time if year (except the shafty heat).

Devin and I didn't do anything too exciting, but I thought I would update everyone anyway, as it was a holiday.

We grilled up some hamburgers, and had them with chips, corn-on-the-cob, grapes, and grape Fanta (carbonation burns when you rarely drink pop!). It was shafty hot, so we hung around the house the rest of the day. I did actually get dressed in red, white, and blue instead of just staying in my pjs; so I consider that a success.

That night we finally watched "The Return of the King" (we've been working on watching the whole extended trilogy for months) and watched most of Six Flags' fireworks show from the comfort of our back porch. That was pretty much it! It was a very laid-back kind of day, but it was nice. Devin got a break from studying (mostly) and we didn't have to go anywhere or do anything. Really, that's what freedom is in some ways.

Hope your 4th was as enjoyable as our lazy day was!

Devin being impertinent and taking a picture of the wall I pose against

25 weeks 7.3.12

Kairi showing you that it's too hot to do anything 7.4.12

Oh They Say When You Marry in June

You will always be a bride! (I love "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers")

Devin and I have now been married for 4 years. Weird! It's one of those "it doesn't feel that long and yet it feels like forever" things.

To celebrate our anniversary, our last one without any chitlins, we decided to do something we love to do -- go out to eat. But we wanted to do something special, as it was our anniversary. Well we watch the Food Network and Travel Channel (and all of those Discovery-owned channels) regularly, and heard about this cool spy-themed restaurant in Milwaukee, The Safehouse. The address is secret, you have to give a password to get in, there's a secret exit, etc. Sounds awesome! Milwaukee is only about an hour away, so at 4:30ish we left for an adventure.

Road construction, minor traffic, a kerfuffle with parking garages (one only accepting cash and one being the drive thru part of a bank), and Devin forgetting our change in case we needed to use the secret exit telephone booth later, we made it! I will also mention that it was INSANELY hot, literally 100 degrees at least plus humidity.

We walk in the door to a small room with no visible way to move forward, and find another party of people also trying to get into the restaurant. After some pulling of levers and books, pushing buttons, and talking to pictures with red eyes; we found our way in. Up another suspicious hallway, and through a hidden automatic door, we find the Safehouse. There was a small bar to the left and tables everywhere else, and everything was spy-themed. We found a hostess and asked about the wait for 2. It should be noted that it was about 5:45 at this point, still early in the evening, and there were many empty tables visible in the dining area. They ask if we have reservations (which are not required) and we're told they can't seat us until 8:00. WHAT!? We can either come back then, leave, or wait and have drinks and maybe appetizers at the bar (appetizers are served at the bartenders discretion, depending on how busy the bar is). LAME. Well we came all the way to Milwaukee, but there is no way we're waiting until 8:00 to eat anything. We decide to get an appetizer at the bar and find somewhere else for dinner.

In hindsight, we should have just left like all of the other people who came in around the same time we did. We ordered overpriced, lame nachos and still had no idea what we were going to do for dinner. Luckily Devin has a smart phone, so we figured we could find something eventually. We ate, paid, and left. With no plan, Devin suggested we wander the River Walk, which was about a block away, and see if we found anything. I actually saw a place right at the beginning of the Walk that looked promising but we kept going a little bit just to be sure.

In the end, we went back to said place and ate at the Rock Bottom Brewery & Restaurant. We sat outside, next to the river, and had a wonderful time. The service was great, the food was wonderful (all made from scratch in-house, including house-made root beer and FRESH lemonade), and the prices were reasonable. SO much better than our brief experience with the Safehouse. Only downside, with all the heat, nachos, and walking; I threw up in their bathroom. I felt so bad! But, overall it was such a positive experience that I even emailed them when I got home to thank them for saving our anniversary. I just wish we could have stayed for dessert :)

Sorry no pictures from our anniversary! But here are some pregnancy pictures :)

23/24 weeks, wearing some maternity clothes 6.22.12

24 weeks 6.27.12

Same day

Happy Father's Day!

This was Devin's first Father's Day as a father of sorts, and as such he got presents :) (If I haven't mentioned it before, gifts are definitely one of Devin's love languages. He LOVES presents)

At Church, they gave the fathers milk and cookies (apparently this is tradition here; but I for one definitely foresaw the spilled milk that happened). I got Devin a cover for his tablet, and that's exactly what he wanted. His mom sent him a new shirt, some candy, and she sent some clothes for the baby :) I made Devin steak, baked potatoes, and salad for dinner. It's the first time I've cooked in months!

After dinner, I called my dad and my brother. All in all, I think it was a good day and that Devin felt loved.

Happy Father's Day to all you current and future dads out there!

Week 23 (after Girls Camp) 6.18.12

Same day

Pregnancy, Part 2

Lest I scare any of you, or lead you to believe that there is nothing good about pregnancy, I will now give a list of things that are positive. It consists of things that have helped with my previous list, or just some of the joys of pregnancy.

• Pregnancy pillows. I have a Snoogle, and it has helped tremendously with leg pain while laying/sleeping. It's like a giant C-shaped body pillow that takes up half the bed (we really need a king-sized bed)
• Water bottles. Since about 12 weeks, I have carried around a water bottle. It helps with hydration and nausea.
• Hearing the heartbeat. This has been our favorite part of each appointment. So neat to hear the little swishy heartbeat sound and know that it's your baby :)
• Having a reason to look at and buy baby stuff. It's so cute! Expensive, but cute!
• Excuse to eat whatever you want. Now this is only when you're nauseous and it's more of whatever you can keep down, but still. 
• New clothes. It's always nice to get something that will be newer than high school jeans.
• Sleeping more. Now I don't have a job or school or other kids, so I'm a little different than most. I can sleep as much as I want right now.
• Maternity/nursing bras. Every girl knows that it truly makes a difference to have a quality bra that fits you correctly, giving you the support you need.
• Panty liners. Without going into details, they just help keep you feeling a little cleaner.
• Feeling the baby move. This is a weird experience, in the sense that it feels like a muscle spasm. However, it is so great to feel your baby moving. And it was great when Devin was able to feel her too.
• No periods. That's self explanatory.
• Not fat. Only time in your adult life it's okay to be outgrowing your clothes, and it's a happy thing.
• Growing tummy. Helps you know the baby is growing too and prove that you're pregnant and not just putting on weight.
• Ultrasounds. See my previous post for a full description of what this was amazing and special. Knowing baby is real and is a little person.
• Snacks. Help you make it through the day, and help keep your stomach settled
• Talking to the baby. I especially love when Devin says "Hello in there!"
• Finding out the gender. Makes it seem more real somehow, and you can begin the planning of names, nursery decor, and clothing.
• Telling family and close friends you're pregnant. At least in our situation, it was great to share our news and feel the love, excitement, and joy that was genuinely felt for us.
• Being pregnant. Realizing that you and your spouse are really expecting a baby, a new little life, a piece of both of you. So magical! 

20, almost 21 weeks 5.31.12

Same day, different angle

21, almost 22 weeks 6.8.12

Same day

It's a Girl!

Today we had our one and only ultrasound, and found out we're having a little girl! I have to say I was a little shocked. For whatever reason, I thought it was boy; but, we are so happy!

The ultrasound was a very special experience. Maybe it's because it's our only ultrasound, but it was so special and neat to see the baby move and to see that a little person is in there!

When we first got there, our technician asked us if we knew what we were having and we said it was our first ultrasound so then she asked if we wanted to find out. I'm way too much of a planner to not find out! About halfway through the ultrasound, she mentioned us wanting to see to know the gender again and announced that we were having a baby girl. Devin has been accidentally saying things like "your niece" to his sister, or "your sister" to our cat, so I guess subconsciously he knew. I however was surprised. I actually asked the technician how they tell if it's a girl, if it's just a lack of male genitalia or if they can actually see that it's a girl. She said "No, we can see the labia." and showed me again later. So we really are having a girl!

I didn't realize how in-depth they go, but it makes sense when you think that it's called an anatomy scan. Our technician showed us the heart, kidneys, bladder, stomach, diaphragm, hands, feet, legs, arms, brain, umbilical cord, face, profile, bum, genitalia, arteries, as well as my ovaries and cervix (weird!). They measured all of the limbs, the head (I wouldn't have been surprised if it had been big, because I have a huge head), the lip to check for cleft pallet, the spine, etc. Everything looks good, healthy, and normal! :) We did measure 2 days behind my due date, but that's within the normal range; and, both of our moms had small babies, so I wouldn't be surprised if we have small babies too. I would be completely okay with that. :)

Apart from seeing that everything was healthy and good, it was an emotional experience. Right after it started, I started praying that everything would please be okay. Before the ultrasound, I tried not to think about it too much; but this is the time when you typically find out if something is wrong. Thankfully, so far nothing is wrong and our little girl looks perfectly healthy. I teared up a little to see images of the little life that is growing inside me. Devin says I'm soft ;) Devin says he felt happy though too. Definitely makes things feel more real.

Funniest moment, we saw her little bum and I told Devin the baby must have his bum because his bum is smaller than mine. Haha!

Profile. Look at the little nose :)

Baby Foot!

A Hike and Some Swag

As mentioned, I'm going to Girls' Camp this year. Part of camp is always a hike. We always did our hike AT camp, but here they do it before Camp. Now you might think I'm crazy, but yes, I did a 5 mile hike while pregnant. Don't worry, it's pretty flat here and I drank PLENTY of water. (Devin let me borrow his Camelbak, a Christmas present he hasn't even used yet. He loves me.) We had some adventures with girls not bringing water or their sack lunch, but fortunately other people had surplus. We also didn't know exactly where we were going and went the wrong way first. But, in the end, we all survived and got a good workout. Plus it made me happy to hear that some of the Camp songs I knew when I went, are also sung here :) Admittedly I was sore afterward, and laid on the couch for an extended period but that was probably more from laying on my couch for a good 3 months and less from being pregnant.

Speaking of pregnancy, I went and got myself some pregnancy clothes. I still don't fit in them really, but I know I will need them eventually. I went to our local mall, Gurnee Mills. It's HUGE. It's a hybrid of a regular mall and an outlet mall and is literally like a mile from one end to the other. I started at one end, and worked my way to the other. I was there for like 4 hours, and had to stop for a bathroom break and some snacks about halfway though! I also had my water bottle with me and bought a lemonade to drink. By the end, when I had to walk back to the other end of the mall with my bags, I felt like I was waddling. I wish I had one of those carts the give people rides on in airports. I was worn out! The good news, I got some swag! I got about 7 tops, 2 bras, 2 capris/shorts, 1 pair of jeans, 2 dresses, a skirt, and a camisole. All for about $200. I still feel like it's not a lot when compared to an entire wardrobe, but I got some great deals. Now we'll see when I need to start wearing it!

5.22.12  About 19.5 weeks

Mother's Day

I have to say, it's a little weird to have people wishing you a Happy Mother's Day for the first time. Not bad weird, just surreal! It's my first Mother's Day as an almost mom and my last Mother's Day without a real, here child. Ahh!

Devin wished me a Happy Mother's Day before anyone else did, and that was sweet (though admittedly strange). At church, they gave us a tulip and some chocolate. Almost all women love flowers and chocolate, so it's hard to go wrong there! After Church, I got to open my presents. Devin got me a kitchen scale haha! It's even more funny because he has almost bought it for me for various other occasions several times, and finally decided to get it. My sweet, and super generous mother-in-law sent me a card and money to get some maternity clothes. For dinner, Devin made pizza.

Post-diner, we called all the moms in our lives. I called my mom, my sister, my paternal grandmother (mom's mom passed before I was born), and my sister-in-law Cristina. Devin called his mom and his maternal grandmother (dad's mom passed away in 2008). We are very blessed to have so many strong, wonderful women in our lives who love and support us. I only hope I can learn and grow from their experience and example and be a good mom when the time comes. And it's coming soon!

5.3.12    16, almost 17 weeks

Pregnancy, Part 1

First and foremost, I am VERY grateful to be pregnant. I wanted to be pregnant and do not regret being pregnant at all. I'm sure that it will be 100 million trillion times worth it in the end, no matter what happens in the meantime.

That being said, pregnancy sucks. Women who tell you being pregnant is wonderful are either a) lying, b) have forgotten what it was like, or c) had a different experience from most of us.

Here are a list of early pregnancy joys that you may or may not be aware of. It is not for faint of heart, but is an honest list.

• Nausea. This can vary from light queasiness to feeling like you're going to vomit any second. It can last (and typically does) all day, come in waves, come and go, or strike you at random. Most of the natural remedies do not work. And if they do work, it's short lived. Can not be planned or planned around. You just never know when you'll have it or how bad it will be. And this makes gaining weight hard when food is just gross to you.
• Gagging. Random retching can be triggered by smells, tastes, sights, thoughts, bending, or seemingly nothing. It's also loud and scary sounding. Oh, and combination of this and nausea means you can't brush your teeth without great difficulty.
• Vomiting. Often caused by a combination of the previous 2 things. Does anyone enjoy vomiting? It's awful. Period. This can happen only occasionally or multiple times a day. Can strike at random, like when you get up from the couch to go to bed. The worst is when there's nothing in your stomach and you still vomit anyway. Stomach bile is awful. OH. And the WORST, peeing while you throw up.
• Sensitivity to smells. The kitchen and I are not friends. And the fridge and I are mortal enemies. I have also forbidden Devin from making anymore frozen pizzas. Or cooking meat. Going out to eat can either help with this, or make it worse. Then there are things like my own deodorant being almost too strong for me now. This is a hard one for Devin, because things smell fine to him.
• Mucus. More nose blowing, nose crusties, and thick spit. The latter can lead to vomiting.
• Dryness. My skin has never been this dry. Not in Utah, not in Nevada, not in the Winter. And this dryness also leads to blood in your nose.
• Acne. Already had this, and still have this. 
• Sensitive gums. Your gums are more sensitive and prone to things like gingivitis and bleeding. Also, if you don't take care of them, this can lead to preterm labor. Only made worse by my aforementioned inability to brush my teeth.
• Peeing. You have to pee all the time, no matter how much you drink. And you leak. Ick.
• Constipation. Everything slows down from the relaxin. And some women get hemorrhoids. These 2 things do not mix.
• Gas. More gassing and burping. The burping lends itself to nausea/gagging/vomiting. The gassing smells so awful, no matter what you have or haven't eaten; and your sensitive nose only makes it worse to cope with. And it's embarrassing.
• Exhaustion. You're tired all the time, no matter how much you sleep and rest. And you have no energy to do anything for more than about 30 minutes.
• Pregnant Brain. All of the sudden, your brain is mush. I have an EXCELLENT memory, always have. Now I can't remember what someone told me, what I was thinking, where I put things, what I was doing, what I need to do, etc. I have forgotten things at home that I have even set out so that I remember to bring them (e.g. Temple bag, purse, insurance card).
• Hormones. Mostly I'm just less patient, less tolerant, and more easily upset. This means I'm more prone to crying and more prone to wanting to kill you. Trying to be mindful and in control of this is an adventure. Again, poor Devin.
• Exercise. This is only bad because you're supposed to be doing it; but when you feel like trash, you can't and then you worry about it. When you do try, you get so worn out you feel like you need to rest for 3 days to recover.
• Leg pain. My most recent complaint. I have to wake up and rotate from side to side when sleeping because my bottom leg starts to hurt/feel numb.

So Lame.

I have a cold. Lame. Colds suck anyway, but they are worse when you're pregnant. My head is swimming, I'm achy, and my nose is either running or stuffed up. Plus, I wake up with insane dry mouth. Ugh.

Good news, I'm already drinking lots of fluid and getting lots of rest. And a friend from church brought me some Minestrone and saltines :)

Things you wouldn't know: Part 2

Unless we told you :) In a beautiful, ironic twist of fate, just about a year after my post about pregnancy frustrations, Devin and I are delighted to announce that we are at last expecting! We are due October 12, 2012 and we are so excited to have this news to share!

We found out on February 10, the morning I had actually scheduled an appointment with an OB-GYN to find out if there was anything wrong.

I am nauseous and tired, but I am happy for the reason of my not-so-fun symptoms. Thank you all for your love and support, thoughts and prayers, during this journey. We pray for a happy and healthy pregnancy, delivery, baby, and mom. We love you all and will try and keep you updated as we go!

1st  test on 2.10.12. It started changing right away, but I ran into the other room to wait the time just to be sure

2nd test same day, just to be sure.

About 8.5 weeks on 3.7.12

Same day, making sure I'm not sucking-in (natural female tendency)

Taking it Easy for Easter

This year for Easter we didn't do much (not that we ever do ;) ), and that was okay. Earlier in the week we went and bought ourselves some Cadbury Eggs and Starburst Jelly Beans, and Devin surprised me with a M&M chocolate "bunny". Nothing too fancy, but enough to fill our sugary needs.

We are very religious and we attend church every Sunday, and Easter is no exception. I think the best part of Church is that it reminds us the real meaning behind Easter; that Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins, and in the most amazing miracle in all of existence, He rose from the tomb as the Resurrected Lord. The events of Easter are why we celebrate Christmas. The beauty of Easter is the hope that comes from the Resurrection. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Cor. 15:22)

I taught the Mia Maids (young women ages 14-15) our lesson that day and despite my dress accidentally blowing up while we sat outside, it went well. I gave each girl a Cadbury egg and wished them all a Happy Easter.

And that was pretty much our day. Haha! We didn't cook anything cool or awesome. We didn't go on an egg hunt or decorate eggs. We didn't even have Easter baskets. Haha! I did take my typical post-Church nap and we did talk to family; but all in all it was a nice, peaceful Sunday and a good reminder of the true meaning of Easter. Hope you all had a great Easter!

He is Risen!

April 2012 General Conference

I love General Conference! It's an opportunity to listen to Prophets, Seers, and Revelators and other church leaders every 6 months; and feel energized and spiritually refilled. I'm also a nerd for the statistics of the growth of our church that are given annually.

This Conference I enjoyed all of the sessions (there are 2 2-hr sessions on both Saturday and Sunday, and an additional 2-hr session on Saturday night for men ages 12+) and felt like there was a message of hope. Devin missed the first Saturday session for a required school workshop; but he enjoyed the rest of them as well. I also watched the General Young Women's Broadcast the week before Conference (first time since 2005) and felt there was a connection between the messages given at both.

Conference is the best because it helps you feel uplifted, encourages you to be better, provides answers to questions you have, and is an opportunity to learn through the Spirit. If you would like to check out what was said, please check out lds.org for all the talks given. You can either listen, watch, or read any of them.

Pres. Thomas S. Monson - Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

March

For the most part, the month of March passed without excitement. However, we did manage have some fun for St. Patrick's Day!

We drove over to our friends, the Andrews' to celebrate the holiday. Emma cooked up some corned beef and potatoes and cabbage and we brought some Irish soda bread (I made it from scratch! And it tastes kind of like a buttermilk biscuit) and some Mathews secret family recipe mint brownies. Don't ask for the recipe, I'd have to kill you if I told you :) It was a bit of an adventure getting out the door, with lots of trips to the grocery store for last minute ingredients, but in the end we managed it. All the food was tasty and it's always good to see friends. After dinner, we watched "Red" and enjoyed playing with their dog, Happy. Now we just need to get together again :)

As far as the rest of March goes, I don't really think there's much to talk about. Devin was busy with tests and school and I kept myself busy taking care of things for Girls' Camp and Young Women's. We're still plugging away here in Illinois!

Californ-i-a

We made it to San Diego!
Not only was it great visiting my sister and her family (yay family!), but it was a nice little vacation. The weather was great, sunny and in the 60's, and we decided we need to live there someday.

We got there on Sunday the 19th.  Robert got us from the airport and before church we stopped by their place to change, drop off our stuff, and meet Daniel. :) We got there with enough time to go to church with Robert & Elise. So fun to be with my sister!

Monday, Presidents' Day, Robert didn't have work so we hung out. We went to the nearby outdoor mall and tried fish tacos for the first time (tasty by the way), and were surprised to see an ice rink in the mall. Elise and I spent some time together buying makeup (her) and being silly (me, dancing around in the makeup shop) while the boys did their own thing.

Tuesday we went to the beach! Yay beach! Got to love being able to visit the ocean and play in the sand when it's February! We dug a big hole with Bjorn and enjoyed a picnic lunch. After food, we investigated some tidal pools and some sea lions. Love sea lions! And we're lame and didn't take the camera... Quick climb back up the stairs and we sat and enjoyed the scenery from a bench. (Funny story, you want to see men run away in about 5 seconds flat? Start changing a baby's diaper. Hilarious!)

Wednesday and Thursday we just hung out...I think. Haha!

Friday, sadly our last day there, we went to the Temple! So beautiful and peaceful. Only downside, we didn't know about the 2nd floor atrium so we missed out on that. We'll just have to go back. Oh darn!

Sweet little nephew Daniel! Love his face!

Of course we made pizza :) Veggie version of our combo.

Bjorn, Doggie, and Robert. Quality time with the iPad :)

San Diego Temple

As soon as we came back it was freezing and snowing with about 8 inches on the ground. I promptly got a nasty cold and felt like death. Devin and I have decided that San Diego would be a good place to live ;)

Cold

Not only has it decided to be freezing, but now I also have a cold. Lame. But in other news...

We're going to San Diego in a week! So goodbye to snowy, cold Chicago!

Devin has a week off from school and we are going to visit my favorite sister (she may also be my only sister, but that is entirely beside the point) and her lovely family; and enjoy some much needed sunshine and warmth!

Stay tuned for stories and pictures.

Anouncements, Anouncements, Anou-nce-ments!

I get to go to Young Women's Camp (aka Girl's Camp)! For those of you who don't know (which is probably most of you, due to my lack of blogging...), I am a Mia Maid (young women ages 14-15) Advisor (Teacher) at our Church. I LOVE having this opportunity to serve these young women, to help them grow, and to grow myself.

Anyway, each year in the summer, our Church throws a 5-ish Day camp for all the young women ages 12 - 18. I myself went to Girl's Camp, as we call it, and have some great memories of this experience. I LOVE GIRL'S CAMP. When I heard that the Stake (Church leadership for a part of our geographical area) was beginning to plan camp for this year, I made sure to mention that I love camp and would love to go. A week or 2 later, I was asked to be the Camp Coordinator for our Ward (congregation); and I also volunteered to be a Level/Unit Leader. So I'm going to camp!

Camp will be in June at a local Cub Scout Camp. The girls will have a wonderful opportunity to enjoy nature, learn first aid, make friends, and feel the Spirit. I'm super excited and will be very busy making preparations.

Over the next few months, I'll be tracking down camping supplies, handling registration, fundraising, planning certification, and many other things. It will be lots of work, but I am happy to do it. And Devin supports me 100% and will make sure I take good care of our camping equipment :)

BAM!

Bet you thought I wouldn't keep it up! Well take that, I'm writing another blog entry! :)

The thought has occurred to me over the last little while, that I really do have a pretty good life. Do I have problems? Sure. Do I have difficulties? Definitely. Is everything perfect? Most decidedly NOT. But, I really can't complain about too much. (Well I could, but that would defeat my current efforts to feel grateful.)

Now this isn't my way of begging for trials, or to make anyone feel like I'm super awesome or like their life sucks and mine doesn't. Rather, I think I'm just taking note of the good things I do have in my life and the fact that things can always be much worse. Sometimes life sucks, and sometimes it doesn't. This is one of those times.

I'm not really sure what brought this on -- nothing new is really happening in our lives and we haven't done anything differently. But, whatever the reason, I'm going to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the blessings we have been given and the opportunities to share them. So Thank You.

So...

I have completely dropped the ball when it comes to blogging. Lame. I have aspirations to go back and blog about the last several months, but that will be for more journal/personal history purposes. For now, I am going to focus on making a fresh start. But to briefly bring you up to speed on our lives, I will give you the highlights:

• I went to my best friend's wedding in Oregon at the end of August.
• Devin's in his 2nd year of Podiatry School. More classes, but also hands-on things like clinicals, workshop, and community service (this just started) that he enjoys.
• I started a new job in October, doing administrative support type stuff at an engineering company
• Karly came for Thanksgiving and experienced the glory that is Chicago food
• We went to Washington for Christmas

That more or less brings us up to speed! Moral of the story, we're back! We're still happy and healthy and working our way through Podiatry School. Our families are still good and we're still enjoying life (most of the time).

It is now officially 2012 and we all have less than a year to live before the end of the world ;)  Guess we should probably make the most of it! We're hoping this new year brings a healthier lifestyle and maybe a little less stress for Devin. We shall see if either of those things happen (we have a bad track record), but we're still optimistic. :)