This is my 3rd post ever.

My two other historic posts have been to announce George's arrival and tactics, and the other to poke fun of Kate. This one is a tad bit different.

I suppose it all started off on Tuesday Evening as Katie and I decided that we would go on our last "single" date together anticipating the due date creeping up on Christmas. We got home to Kate's parents place in Park City around 8 and by 9 we were on the way to the hospital after Kate's water broke. After 20 hours of labor, it became apparent that the baby was having a hard time dropping. We became increasingly worried about infection and complication. After much thought and prayer, we made our first gut feeling and decided that we needed to get the baby out with surgery. This went against what we wanted, but it felt right.

At 6:22pm, Kellen Chad Iroz was born at 7lbs 15oz. His cord was wrapped around him several times. This was keeping him from dropping down, and would have caused a dangerous situation had we forced the issue. We are thrilled to have an extremely healthy young lad, and a recovering mother that is making really good progress. We are scheduled to leave this place on Christmas at 6pm!! Merry Christmas to us.

On to the pictures..

Poor guy has monkey toes like Grandpa Clark used to tell me!! Kate has learned to love them though. She calls them "ganglies"... Sorry for passing those Ganglies on son.

Cute Hat provided by Aurelie.

My first diaper change. Nothing like baby tar!!

Poor guy has monkey toes like Grandpa Clark used to tell me!! Kate has learned to love them though. She calls them "ganglies"... Sorry for passing those Ganglies on son.

The Hardest Decision of My Life...

was not choosing an eternal companion. That one came pretty easy once Hank bounced into my life with a huge cheesy smile and told me he was the one. At which point, I took a few months to assess the truthfulness of his "selling points" and conceded once convinced.*

The hardest decision of my life came in the form of choosing.......a STROLLER!

Such a decision really forces one to look deep within to consider their true self. The baby market definitely takes advantage of worried mothers by convincing them they need only the best for the baby...and of course, I agree! :) After 8 months of searching for the perfect stroller, I've found myself asking the following questions:

• Is my real goal to have others to envy my stroller? Must I have the top-of-the-line? Or do I just have "expensive taste?"
• Do I care if others look down upon me? Won't the cheapest suffice? Or is it just responsible to assume anything bulky and made of 100% plastic is doomed break, thus endangering my child.
• Is it wrong to get the best, most expensive stroller if I get a phenomenal deal, even if it costs 50% of our monthly income?
• Does it make it any better to consider this purchase as an investment, or must I look at it as fulfilling a simple need, as in transporting my child from point A to point B?
• Do I even need a stroller? Or could I carry my child everywhere...?

I have certainly been forced to ponder my position on each of these questions and it hasn't been pleasant. I've gone back and forth between the top-of-the line to the absolute cheapest option out there. The stroller market got the best of me, my indecision at its worst!

After a disappointing doctor's appointment, Hank cheerfully agreed to go to USA Baby with me to pick out the stupid stroller. Apparently he had had enough of my research and indecision on the stroller issue because 'helpful Hank' came out of the wood works. Never before have I seen him in action like this. I sat down as he asked tons of questions, learned how to open, close, lock, etc each option, assessed the size and price, the durability and then BAM! The decision was made.

He wanted the Peg Perego Si. Not the top-of-the-line. In fact, the bottom of a mid-line of strollers & carseats.

I couldn't be more thrilled. The lesson? This is why we get married...hard decisions like this are not required or meant to be made alone. Needless to say, I would have chosen something else :)

Now all I need is someone to cart around besides George...

*(In all fairness, turns out I was mislead in a few areas ...but thats not the point of this post.)

I'm Ready!

{A special thanks to Best Buy for the incredible countdown. In case I didn't know my due date was just around the corner, I would certainly know after looking at this picture based on the "doneness" of my belly button. So gross. Apparently there is a need to at least glance in the mirror before leaving home...}

Yesterday as I was driving, the song "All I want for Christmas is You" came on the radio. Typically annoyed by obnoxious bell-ringing and chimes, I managed to give this song a chance long enough to listen to the words, resulting in a blubbering mess.

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true...
All I want for Christmas is you

Each verse just added to the emotions. I know the song is about someone's lover, but the combination of my hormones, inability to reach the steering wheel due to the gigantic baby bump, sweat outfit + running shoes, and anxiety to meet the little guy dominated any logical thinking and my emotions took over.

So much that I missed my freeway exit...

37 Weeks

Have you ever seen those shows on tv about obese people where they must use a whale machine to remove them from their own house? I need one of those.

I have reached the epitome of uncomfortable. Bless the souls of those who work full-time until their water breaks and still manage to get everything in order for the new arrival. I'm not one of those people. I may have the working thing going for me, but the second I get home from work, I become overwhelmed with everything to do and have a daily meltdown.

A few things that are especially bothersome:

-I grunt every time I need to move & can recently can only breathe through my mouth--I'm just waiting for the moment this attractive combo leads to a snort...

-Putting on and taking off shoes & socks requires Hank's assistance. My swollen feet remain in shoe until he gets home at night. Too bad George doesn't have thumbs...

-My car door extends so far that I can't close it without help. Often I have to get back out and shimmy my way in so the door doesn't click into place.

-The bumps on the road from the snow make my belly jiggle and contractions start. Despite this, Hank continues to drive like a madman and yell "we're comin in hot!"

On a positive note, however, I have reached the optimal weight for easily opening the attic door. Once an impossible task, all I have to do is pull on the cord and dangle my feet for a moment and the ladder appears!

I am convinced this level of comfort is the Lord's way of preparing me for the delivery. I am so ready to be done, I'll do just about anything to bring this baby into the world! Only a few weeks to go!

Belated Thanksgiving

I know I'm a little late on this one...but I figured it would be a good idea to still jot down the things I'm especially thankful for this year, since they will certainly vary significantly next year.

In no particular order, I am grateful for....

1. The alien baby inside me. I just love watching him maneuver his way around my tummy. With limited room, he has begun extending inches making it look and feel as though he will burst free like a hatched egg. I wouldn't mind this...

2. The angel that is George. We still love this stupid dog more than anything. He brings so much joy, we still spend most of our conversations revisiting his cute little mannerisms. Whether snuggling up by our necks, acting so tired he can hardly hold his head up, or frolicking through the snow like a rabbit, there are so many things to love about this little cuddle bug.

3. My turdy husband. While he still spends most of his waking hours torturing (aka "getting a rise out of") me, I still love him to death. I'm so excited for him to become a dad. He is sure the baby will become his best friend and can't wait to take him fishing, hunting, camping and teach him to play sports he doesn't even play himself. :) I've warned him that babies typically love the source of their food, but even I know that won't be the case with our baby based on his interactions with other babies and kids--they always love him and don't care too much for me!

4. My sweet little family. They have been so good to me this year! They have endured countless hours of consoling my pregnancy worries and symptoms, traveled long distances to visit and help me get ready for the baby, and advised and supported me during my other trials. I'm extremely grateful for a family that cares about me and does all they can to ensure my well-being.

5. Maternity Clothing. I don't know what I would do without the occasional "success" of a small or medium piece of clothing fitting. I recognize I am anything BUT small or medium at this point, but I appreciate the mood boost that comes from the tag's size description. I never thought I would say this, but I am grateful for the freedom to diet and cannot wait to eat next to nothing because I can.

6. A rear wheel drive car. When I graduated from undergrad, I got the car of my dreams that just so happens to have rear wheel drive. I was sufficiently warned that it wouldn't "do well" in the snow, but I certainly couldn't have cared less knowing I would never live in Utah again. Years later, we are back in Utah and Hank, George and I are snowed in and have no way to make it to church this morning. Despite the situation, I stand by my decision to get a car in protest of living in Utah...maybe someday my voice will be heard.

7. Fabulous friends. I don't deserve to have such great friends--I'm a terrible communicator and show absolutely no initiative in this area....but somehow, I've been extremely blessed with some of the best friends ever. I couldn't help but feel so much gratitude at my baby showers for all the wonderful people in my life.

8. Sleep. My ability to sleep the last 8 months has been an absolute joke, but I am so thankful for the times when my body forgets its typical cycle and allows for sufficient rest. Theres nothing better than the combination of high hormone levels mixed with stress and only a few hours of sleep. Speaking of which, as long as its snowing outside, I'm going to give round 2 of sleep a try and hopefully wake up to plowed roads!

Why I Love BYU (and Costco)

Today after work, I set out to buy some thank you cards. Theres something so motivating about purchasing super cute cards, not to mention the room full of generous gifts, to get one writing! Unfortunately, nearly every stationary store in the world has gone out of business, forcing me to think long and hard of where to buy these treasures. And then I remembered the sweet BYU Bookstore....

I hesitated to go there because of my huge baby bump, uncomfortable shoes, and awkward outfit. I was certain I would leave with stationary in hand but feeling like a complete idiot.

And this is why I love BYU......

- I found not only 1, but 3 really cute sets of expensive thank you notes

- At the checkout, I was presented with the options to 'impulse buy' at least 10 different kinds of chocolates. Naturally, I gave in.

- As I was walking through the food court feeling quite vulnerable (yes--my self-esteem at 30+ lbs is temporarily low) I hear "Congratulations!" and look to see a sweet girl taking out her earbuds to acknowledge my upcoming arrival. With a huge smile on her face and a look of confusion on mine, she inquired of my due date and expressed sincere excitement for me.

- As I exited the WILK and struggled to open the insanely heavy doors, a girl stocking the vending machines came from quite some distance to tell me she loved my shoes. I'm not sure if she noticed my swollen foot bulging out the sides like dough, but my shoes were pretty cute...and uncomfortable.

I forgot just how nice people are, especially at BYU. Since I graduated, I have basically sat in an office interacting with 1, maybe 2 people per day. I miss being surrounded by such kind people...I definitely took it for granted the last few years!

But its not just BYU---Costco employees can be appropriately categorized as angels as well. I ran inside (for the 2nd time in 2 days) to pick up a few things for work. While there, I was determined to pick up the pomegranates Hank has been requesting for weeks. I gave up after realizing they were low stocked on just about everything and came to terms with the fact I would have to come back tomorrow, and then the angel appeared in a red vest. I asked him when they would be getting more in. He thought for a minute, then revealed the truck had arrived earlier and that he would be happy to get in and grab me a package. Made my day.

Who are these people?! I Love BYU and Costco.

2 Down...

Last night we went to our second birthing class. It was a total bust. In fact, saying "we" went isn't entirely accurate.

On our way there, we stopped by campus to turn in Hank's math assignment only to find out that 1/2 the assignment was left on his desk at home. In an attempt to be mature, I dropped myself off at the hospital and acted supportive as he drove back home and back to campus. I assumed that couldn't take much longer than 30 minutes...

I walked in and chose a seat in the last row, figuring it would be a vast improvement from last week's front row decision. A few minutes later, I felt awkward like sitting back there was bringing even more attention to my missing birthing partner and unladylike sitting position. So I moved up a few rows, directly behind a girl with a big head. Then I moved over one seat, perhaps too close to the young girl and her mother sitting in my row. Everything felt awkward.

Looking around, I noticed 1/3 the birthing partners were missing. What creative excuse did they came up to avoid attendance, clearly none of them could have been as sneaky as Hank's! I also noticed the TMI couple husband was wearing a cough mask, perhaps he could have considered the weakened immune systems of the pregnant audience and stayed home with the other men?

We began the class by going over the epidural...the ONE thing I really needed Hank there for. I stumbled upon a video a few months ago of one being given and dry heaved for weeks. Theres just something about a huge needle going into the spongy tissue of my back that doesn't rest well with me. I get very queasy and could have used a little "coaching." Of course my 30 minute estimate proved a little too conservative, as Hank showed up about 45 minutes later at the conclusion of the epidural.

Shortly after his arrival, the mature attitude I set out with went into hiding, only to be replaced by a flood of emotions. Hank and I started fighting, a fight that didn't have a quick 'pretend that never happened 'solution. A few factors are to thank: hormones, a terrible day, a sensitive subject and a late husband.

We were forced to leave and take our outburst elsewhere, missing what was supposed to be the "best" class (according to our teacher). Perhaps I should have taken a hint from my original awkward feeling and left then and there.

Instead, we left another great impression with our classmates, proving our readiness to be parents.

After two humiliating experiences, the real question is whether we will show our faces in class 3 and 4. I can't help but think back to my doctor's words "you don't have to attend a birthing class to have a successful pregnancy." I knew I liked him...

My Curly Headed Boys

The lack of posts lately is a result of my frantic nesting stage. I've spent the last week in crazy lady mode as I reorganize the house, steam clean the carpets, reorganize the house again, etc. As a result, I've neglected to update on the well-being of my boys.

George~

The hay fever is back. The effects of the shot lasted about 3 weeks but he is back to scratching his face to a bloody mess. This is bad news for our bank account, as the cold weather should have put a temporary halt to the itching. Georgie will have to endure shots every month for the rest of his life...fabulous. Good thing we love him so much.

A few weeks ago, George's cousin Penne came to visit. They had a blast together.

Hank~

He recently suffered a serious injury: a broken toe. While chasing George, one of his gangly toes got stuck on the edge of the door. While its difficult to imagine, this seems to be Hank's most painful injury of all-time, or at least I've gathered that based on the amount of discussion on the pain. Exhibit A:

Fortunately, I can somewhat relate to the pain, as my feet are swollen to the size of bricks.

Baby Iroz~

He gave us a nice little scare last week. During an visit to the ER, the FNN (or whatever its called) test came back positive, indicating I could deliver within the next 2 weeks. Based on my pain level, this seemed realistic. We get to monitor the pain and if it comes back, we'll have to give him steroids to make sure his little lungs develop faster in case I do deliver. (Hence the accelerated nesting stage!)

His crib is all set and ready to go---I love it! Its the only portion of the nursery thats ready to go, but I imagine its also the most important, right? This picture is for Ruth :) Finished nursery pictures to come later.... (Bedding contains little blue and grey cars)

We are so excited to meet our little boy, but hopefully he can hang in there a little longer!

Ok...back to cleaning :)

1 Down...

3 more 2.5 hr sessions to go.

We survived our first prenatal prep course. Hank complained the entire way there and I threatened everything I could think of if he didn't behave by the time we arrived. He couldn't imagine why we needed to "spend hours learning about breathing techniques", so I assured him we wouldn't even go over them (assuming that would be taught in a later class).




A special thank you to the instructor for putting the outline of the course on the board upon arrival. Luckily, mature Hank arrived by the time the class started and didn't leave (as previously promised) as we went over breathing techniques.


As it turned out, I was on my worst behavior. Everything about the situation was making me giggle-- the placenta and umbilical cord that snapped onto the baby doll, the overly anxious couples freely sharing way too much information, and practicing he-he-he-hoeing with Hank--this is where I really lost control. As we were practicing breathing techniques, Hank became super serious and I couldn't look at him as he coached me through the ridiculous noises. Giggling in the front row quickly proved completely unacceptable as no one else seemed to find humor in the situation at all.


The book we received tonight had a section for us to list "friends made at birthing class."


Needless to say, ours is blank.

How I Really Feel...

I always feel like when people don't update their blogs for a while, something must be wrong. Let me assure you, nothing is wrong. Well, besides everything normal that comes along with being pregnant, but I vowed (if you can believe it) not to only post about that type of stuff.....sooooo, every time I consider updating, the only things that come to mind are "I feel fat....tired....helpless...etc" so I sign out of my blog and focus on reading other peoples! :)

Just a warning, this time I'm not going to sign out, I'm actually going to update and it is going to be boring.

Pregnancy is such a sacrifice that I wasn't prepared for. I'm not sure if I needed to wait until my 30's to reach optimal maturity or if now is just as good of time as any for me. Either way, it seems like people don't exactly tell you how bad it can be until you're there. Its like the entire world has made a pact not to tell "potential mothers" about the hells of pregnancy until its too late. Once they realize you're "one of them," ie. pregnancy test positive, then they release the secret.

Then you hear the truth: "oh yeah, it really is that bad" or "I had that, it lasted the entire 9 months,"etc....

A few things I wasn't prepared for, in no order of severity since they all are lame.

- Never sleeping again. Couldn't someone have politely encouraged me to sleep a little extra because it may be the last time for the rest of my life? I anticipated the no sleep once the baby came, but not 9 months before then.

- Severe back pain caused by what feels like my ribs breaking off my spine. I like to refer to this pain as the ogre that is sitting on my back. He comes a few times a day, especially at night, to make sure I appreciate the ability to walk, lay down, breathe, laugh and cough without crying out in agony. Lesson learned: I appreciate/d it. The ogre can go away now....

- Puffing up like a cooked marshmallow. By the end of the day, my entire body is completely swollen, making any clothing besides a Muumuu completely uncomfortable. Where is that beauty from our trip to Hawaii in elementary school, mom?!? I need it or better yet, its winter equivalent asap.

- The fiery dragon that is heartburn. I've never had heartburn (until now) for which I am grateful since I know many constantly suffer from it. Its absolutely miserable. Feeling ravenously hungry while vomiting acid is disgusting, inconvenient, and downright annoying.

- Becoming my own furnace. This will certainly come in handy in the next few months as it won't be necessary to turn on the heater in our apartment, but for the time being, I will just continue to carry around a personal fan--its not embarrassing at all.

To those "potential mothers" out there, I just want you to know that pregnancy is not just 9 months of looking big, there's much more to it and its not pleasant. I like to think though that the reason no one tells you how bad it can be is because the ultimate result far outweighs the inconvenient symptoms. In a strange way, I am grateful for the months of preparation I've been given to learn to become selfless, as I'm pretty certain it will come in handy very soon. :)

Anxiety

I want my little boy to come soon and if he looks like this I won't be mad at all.

I Survived.

I'm back from Paris.

It was a lot of work but definitely worth it. I can certainly get used to 5 star hotels, international travel, and fabulous food. But thats not why I went....

Those of you that know me (hopefully all of you), know that I hate public speaking. In fact, I become paralyzed even amongst small crowds. I had the opportunity to overcome that fear this last week by pitching our foundation and asking a very large crowd of people for money. This could have gone terribly wrong....but it didnt. Why? There is only one explanation--help from Above, for which I am extremely grateful.

Here are a few pictures from the trip:

Yours truly hard at work...

The reason I suspect my blood glucose test will come back 'dangerously high' in a few days...

Competing to be as large as Notre Dame and winning...

The Opera House, by far the most incredible place I've ever seen...



Continued...

Napoleon's tomb....which holds a special place in my heart, due to Napoleon's primary role in bringing Bichon's back into the royal circle...



That's pretty much it. Now back to work in good old Utah, with my cute little family to come home to every night. I much prefer them.

Let me strongly advise against international travel after 6 months of pregnancy.... I felt like Martin Short in Pure Luck sitting through church yesterday :)

Just Like Their Owners...

So, its fairly evident that George and Hank look similar: curly hair, cheesy smiles, and happy dispositions. But today, I learned that we have something in common as well--we are both health "sensitive."

George has been silently suffering for the last 6 months. After scratching his face into a bloody oblivion, we have taken him to the vet twice already, racking up some $400 worth of expenses. The first diagnosis: dogs just scratch themselves. (I wanted to punch the Vet, naturally...) The second diagnosis: he may have mites that are "invisible even under a microscope". I knew George was far too classy to ever contract mites, but I gave the vet the benefit of the doubt and tried the 3 month treatment anyway. 3 months later and my sweet little dog is still mutilating his own face daily, something the cone of shame can no longer help. So.....

On my day off, I unselfishly (kidding!) took him to a different vet. The verdict: hay fever. Apparently, Bichon's are particularly sensitive animals and often suffer from allergies. Seeing as how they don't talk, they manifest their discomfort by scratching their face. The vet explained that they probably wouldn't have the proper medications in stock, since the last few months their practice has been flooded with dogs in similar agony. Leave it to me to be the LAST one to come take care of my loved-one. I'm a little concerned about my nurturing instincts, especially after the vet confirmed that George is clearly experiencing excruciating pain. Great.

Turns out, we do fit the theory that owners pick dogs just like themselves.

I am praying I will be a better mother to a child....

Dear Friends and Family...

I leave to go to Paris tomorrow for work. I'll be gone a while. If you see Hank during that time, please remind him to eat, pay the bills, feed the dog and check the mail.

Thank you.

Its Official: I'm a Master

I got my MPA diploma in the mail today. Now I have something impressive to hang in my office besides the 2 ultrasound pictures pinned to the wall. In other news, there are only 100 days left!!! I'm almost 26 weeks in the above picture. I feel like a whale and can't fathom I will continue to grow at this rate for another few months.

Hanks 25.5 Birthday Celebration!

As we headed to Wal-Mart on Friday night, Hank inquired about the contents of our grocery list. Hesitantly, I listed them off hoping he wouldn't catch on that I was making the cake of my choice for his celebration. Sure enough, he did. This led to a serious conversation about "what he wants" out of a 1/2 birthday. But I didn't really care, I just wanted to bake something. I asked what treat would REALLY excited him, to which he replied "German Chocolate Pie from Marie Calendars." I had never heard of such a pie. I asked at least 3 times, "do you mean Chocolate Satin?" as I recalled having it a few times at his family's house. He assured me it was called German Chocolate and after googling it and confirming its existence, I made it. Sort of. The only homemade ingredient in it was whipped cream--I really outdid myself. The masterpiece: A special thanks to the guests who came to show support on his special day and confirm that Hank has never eaten Marie Calendar's German Chocolate Pie, but rather Chocolate Satin. I should have stuck with my original, selfish plan.

Gotta love Hank. (My apologies for the spacing on the last few posts--SOMEONE sat on my keyboard and the Enter button no longer works!!! Does anyone know how to fix it???)

Alison & Stuart's Birthday Party

This weekend we were honored to be guests at Alison & Stuart's birthday party at Bouncing off the Walls. We had a lot of fun....possibly even more so than the children. Hank found a present of Stuart's he coveted... he tried to shove it in his shirt but the children caught onto him.



I may have found Hank's 26th Birthday party venue.... Happy 5th Birthday Alison & Stuey!

Attention Deficit...

The things you have to do around here to get some attention....




In my defense, Master Chef was quite intense tonight.

The Moment You've All Been Waiting For...

Ok, well maybe only my mom, but the baby ticker is up! There is a very high probability it will drive me crazy so theres no telling how long it will be on here....but for now, enjoy the creepy looking baby bouncing around on its way toward the barn.

Predicament

What do you do for a boy that loves to celebrate half-birthdays, considering the following facts:

- he hates cake, the main purpose of celebrating birthdays

- he only likes angel food cake (if you can call it that) aka AIR, which I hate

- the only thing on his wish list is a gadget that is worth 1/2 of our monthly income

- i really out did myself on his surprise birthday party in March

- his niece & nephew will celebrate their real birthday approx 1 day before, possibly downplaying his momentous day

- i am stressed beyond belief

BUT...............

He won't stop talking about it, ie. daily reminders that his half-birthday is just around the corner!

AND

I happen to love him, even though he is ridiculous.

So the predicament is.....how to I express my love for my sweet husband on this very important day despite having no time or money to plan something special when all I really want to do is bake and scarf down the cake on tastespotting.com I've been dying to try, which he will hate?

Recipe link here (to help you give informed advice)

We're Baaacck!

Hank and I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to California for Michelle and CJ's wedding. The bride was stunning, the temple gorgeous, and the reception site breathtaking. We're so grateful we were able to be there on their special day.

The happy couple! Yes, I'm purposely hiding behind them...

The Sacramento Temple. Turkey and deer covered the grounds, pretty neat.

Us at the reception. This picture counts for my 23 week picture :)

After the wedding, we traveled to San Francisco to satisfy Hank's shopping craving. I snagged a Hotwire gem, the W at Union Square, placing us in the heart of the shopping district. Lucky for our bank account, my decision to "break in" new shoes on this momentous day, combined with a waddle effect from the baby significantly limited the number of stores we visited.

Above: the W sponsors the Audi rally (is that what it's called???) so the surrounding areas were covered in Hank's dream cars. This set us back a few minutes each time we entered and exited the hotel.

Below: I listed off about 50 'fun things to do in San Francisco.' Hank chose the aquarium. Sometimes I think he married the wrong Stewart girl....

We visited the Oakland temple before catching our flight and we're so glad we did. The temple is beautiful and the views are spectacular!

We're so happy for Michelle and CJ! Congratulations!! Now we're back in Utah....school started for Hank on Monday so that will do it for our summer adventures!

Summer Happenings

We really haven't done too much this summer, mostly because I entered the professional world where taking long summer vacations is no longer acceptable and Hank has been in school. As a result, my updates have been rather infrequent due to insufficient information justifying a post.

In no particular order, here are some updates from the last few months:

1. We went to Lake Powell for a few days which, as always, was heaven. I particularly enjoyed it being pregnant since I felt no obligation to participate in any form of activity besides lounging. Perfect.

2. Hank finished his summer term and claims to only have 3 semesters left. We (George, Baby and I) are holding him to this date and have threatened to relocate without him should he not graduate on time. We will gladly extend an invitation to join our new home upon his completion of school. I have been here 7 (yuck!) years too long.

3. I have spent thousands of hours researching baby paraphernalia online after work each day. The disgusting part of this time commitment is that the interest in anything baby didn't really happen until about 2 weeks ago. I don't want to think of all the productive things I could have done with that wasted time. Although, not completely wasted.

4. I purchased my first Ebay item...baby bedding!!! A special thank you to the predators who wipe out discontinued Pottery Barn products and sell them online for a reasonable price. The seller gave me phenomenal reviews which sparked a possible addiction for future transactions.

5. George has been suffering from some unfortunate condition, causing him to scratch his face until its bloody. The vet took him back into a room (without informing me of the procedure) and took a chunk of skin above his eye. He came back and said it "could be mites" but he didn't think so. "Just because we can't see them doesn't mean they don't exist," he insisted. Ummm... $200 and 3 months of mite treatments later, I going to need a more solid diagnosis than that. Do they have Medicaid for dogs??



6. We have spent the majority of our weekends this summer at the Lindon Aquatic Center. Hank has wanted to try the FlowRider since before we got engaged...I remember this because I tried booking him a session in FL only to find out it was hundreds! After learning a machine existed only a few miles away, I decided to surprise him. It was a good idea for 1, maybe 2 weekends, but its gotten a little out of control. Needless to say, he has improved significantly and may be eligible for the championships next year in Ogden.



7. I'm very large. One day the bump didn't exist, the next BAM! I'm over half-way finished with this enjoyable phase of my life and can't wait to meet the little guy...so much that I'm already having serious anxiety about it. Also, I'm happy to report that he is resting perfectly on my sciatic nerve, making me walk like a 90 year old woman.

Me at 22 weeks. Probably the first and last picture I will take to document this pregnancy.

That's basically it. Stay tuned for possibly even less exciting updates to come!

A Miracle!

Hank took a final exam today and received a "fantastic"....I am so proud, but not as proud as the events that followed this accomplishment.

{Story originally told by Hank, summarized by the only person that will write blog posts}

"As I was walking down the ramp to my car, I caught a snake! I was so excited so I grabbed it to bring home to my family. After a few steps I thought to myself 'who will this make happy?' and put it back into the brush."

This little story may not seem like a big deal to you. But to me? It represents 2 years of trying to teach Hank that what makes him happy is often torture to me, that we speak different "love" languages. Also, I am not and never will be a boy, no matter how hard he tries to convince me to love fast cars, slimy creatures, loud noise, and filthy things. So, I assure you the thought process that occurred today is a big deal.

Let the record show... my nagging has paid off.

George Update

With my failure to blog lately, I'm sure many of you have been dying to know what George has been up to so here's a quick update. He....

Visited Lake Powell for the first time. He thoroughly enjoyed lounging around and cuddling all those who fell asleep, life jacket and all. He also loved fishing with Hank and following the fish back out to the water once they were let go.

Performed his first hand-stand on the ledge of our kitchen sink while receiving his post-Lake Powell bath.

Fell asleep in the world's most uncomfortable position. (Note: my beautiful baby bump!)

Cried for over 24 hours that his newest cousin, Reese, popped the football he never really liked. The crying continues... It melts my heart. Unfortunately, we got this toy from the owner of Nickelcity for having Hank's 25th Birthday party there :) We probably don't have enough tickets to replace it soon...

We sure love this little dog.

Rant

Dear Friends and Family: Count your blessings that I forgot to bring my phone with me to Target today.

Do you remember a time when you just felt awkward in life? I think of when I was in middle school. The school I attended required uniforms, resulting in at least a 2 year lag in my fashion sense. The uniform consisted of a Burgundy polo shirt and green plaid culottes (skirt-shorts). Due to my developing body, a youth shirt didn't fit quite right, so I was forced to wear much too large adult size polo. I never really knew what type of shoes this beautiful combo deserved: dressy or casual? or whether or not to wear socks folded down or straight up. I think I leaned toward wearing them straight up, as to cover as much of my furry legs as possible. (Barbie was a little protective of letting her little, yet big girl shave her legs...) Additionally, I had bangs. Do I fluff them, create a simple curl, or grow those suckers out--this was the question. I chose minimal fluff. All-in-all, I was a vision in popular 80's Christmas colors.

I revisited this awkward stage of life today in the dressing room of Target. I set out to find a bathing suit for Lake Powell next week. While my one bathing suit still somewhat fits, its certainly nice to have more than one option throughout the week, especially one that my little baby will be comfortable in. I started out in the maternity section, glancing at the selection of 5 elderly looking suits. The normal area consisted of primarily bikinis so I quickly gave up on my quest for a bathing suit. The one will do just fine for now.

In an effort to sport something reasonable at Powell, I went to the dressing room to try on 8 items. The dressing room attendant told me in a bratty voice that I could only bring in 6, setting a negative tone for my experience immediately. It didn't take long for the awkward middle school feelings to come flooding back into memory. Nothing fit. Regular clothes make me look like I'm suffering from the most unfortunate muffin-top of all time. Pregnancy clothes are baggy so I look like a frump. I want out of this stage. NOW.

I went to call my mom to have her console me during this difficult time. Even if she didn't understand, I knew she would certainly pretend to. If she wasn't home, I had a list of those I would call in mind....until I realized I left my phone at home. I never leave home without it!

I ended up purchasing the most random articles of clothing to soothe my emotions. I bought shorts, the short kind. I haven't worn these since pre-middle school, but the comfortable maternity band could not be ignored. Also, 2 t-shirts, 2 tank tops, and a bottle of spray on sunscreen to aid in the bronzing of my currently beautiful bod. The part that really set me over the edge was the grand total at the register. $80. As I walked out the red sliding doors, the smell of popcorn and reflection on spending almost $100 on things I don't want forced uncontrolable tears from my eyes.

The bag of shame is currently thrown on the kitchen counter. I can't determine if its worth the amount of money to feel marginally better about myself for a week or if I just need to suck it up, return the items and embrace this awkward stage of looking "maybe pregnant/maybe eating my feelings" for the next month or so.

Advice please.

The Law of Probability or a Miracle

A little background info:

Hank has 4 sisters, 0 brothers

I have 2 sisters, 0 brothers

We secretly really wanted a boy. We also both had a good feeling that just wasn't going to happen.

The facts:

We had an ultrasound on Friday.
Taylor recommended drinking sugar approximately 5 minutes before the actual ultrasound to get the baby moving. A few questioned why she almost completely withheld this information.

My whole family piled in a tiny little theatre room where my uterus took center stage.
The doctor informed me the baby was in a terrible position to determine the gender.

I asked the doctor if that sugar helps; he said no.
The heartbeat sounded good.

The head looked huge like Hanks.

The baby started kicking and moving about (clearly because of the Orange Julius) and revealed.....

(I feel somewhat guilty exposing my little boy's private parts on a public forum but feel proof is in order based on the both side's tendency to produce only girls.)

The Summary:

Many questioned the accuracy of the gender determination.

Doctor from Lithuania replied in thick accent, "I'm 200% sure this is a boy."

Tears were shed.

A Woman's Intuition

The smell of my clothes has been slowly driving me crazy for months. I couldn't figure out exactly what the problem was...all I knew was that nothing smelled fresh. That fabulous Gain detergent smell was overpowered by a musty smell.

It took a special critical house guest to point out the problem. After bringing it to my attention that my clothes are all mildewed, I set out to resolve the issue. I'm well aware the clothes weren't truly mildewed, since I throw them in the dryer immediately but I certainly couldn't argue with the unusual smell! I tried running the wash with bleach, Afresh, vinegar, etc. to no avail. Then I turned to my good friend Google, who lead me to my answer.

I read countless threads of people discussing their washer and dryer problems--exhilarating stuff. A few people mentioned that if all else fails, check the hose. Hank called me crazy throughout this entire process, arguing there is nothing wrong with the washer and our clothes smell great. He even pointed out that someone complemented us on the smell of our clothing recently. By recently, he really meant about a year ago!!

There is a reason we haven't been complemented in about a year. The hose was covered in mold. We found the smell! Besides the part where mold is a huge health hazard, it was/is absolutely disgusting. I am appalled something so vile grew in my house without my knowledge.

To all those who have held back politely mentioning our stench, I am not happy with you. To our critical house guest, thank you. You probably saved us from a similarly detrimental scenario as Kirk on the Bachelorette.

No Support

For some reason, I developed a strong craving for key lime pie tonight. I have no idea where it came from and why but it was intense and unstoppable.

I quickly Googled "key lime pie in Provo" to provide a reasonable solution to Hank's upcoming predicament of where to purchase my request. California Pizza Kitchen. Perfect. I visit the website to approve the picture on the menu and learn that you can order curbside. Even more perfect. I asked Hank which car he will be driving to pick up my request. Ready to type in his car make and model, he takes one look at the screen and begins yelling that he will "not go get a $10 slice of pie." To be fair, it was only $5.99 plus tip. Apparently he is still holding a grudge about his trip yesterday to Coney's for chocolate custard that I hardly touched.

Meanwhile, I was g-chatting with my dad and explaining my strong craving. He listened and threw out a few reasonable options, but when he realized this was going no where, said "just go bite a lime."

A special thank you to the men in my life for being so understanding and helpful. Much love to both of you.

No Longer my Little Boy :(

In approximately 2 hours, George will officially graduate from puppy status to a plain old dog. In order to celebrate this momentous event, we will be holding a ridiculous first birthday celebration.

Let me know if you're interested in coming. The details are still in the works, but I would be happy to get back to you when they are solidified!

You wont want to miss this. Or maybe you will :)

San Francisco

Hank and I had a wonderful vacation in San Francisco. It started off a bit rough, but ended perfectly.

I learned the hard way not to travel in the first trimester, spending much of my first few days hovering over a bag, toilet, or out the car door. My sincere apologies to Michelle and CJ for having to put up with my nasty self! It was so good to see Michelle again, it had been way too long! Next visit? The wedding! Im so excited for the happy couple! Unfortunately pictures were not taken of the rare reunion due to my disgusting appearance.

We had so much fun being tourists in San Francisco. Below are some pictures documenting the vacation. I don't feel well and would rather go lay down then finish this post. Pictures shall suffice.

We can't wait to go back!