28 Weeks Along!

How Far Along: 28 weeks. 

Size of Baby: 14.8 inches tall and 2.25 pounds (about the size of a cabbage)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 15 pounds and counting! 

Maternity Clothes: Yep! I've been wearing my excellent belly-band from Target (which I totally recommend!) so that still allows me to wear my same jeans, but I don't have to button them. I can't really wear any of my skirts anymore, so I'm limited to dresses, but at least it's only 12 more weeks :)

Gender: It's a boy! We're so excited! This past week we organized our apartment to make more room for this little boy and all of his cute clothes, his pack and play, our glider chair :) It's been excellent!

Movement: Of course! A few days ago when I was teaching he kicked me pretty good, and my students sitting in the front could see his little foot pop out. They all said "WO! He's moving!" So it's pretty cool that they could see him moving from the outside.

Sleep: Not as much as I would like, but I still squeeze a nap in every now and again.

What I miss: Being able to move around with as much flexibility. 

Cravings: Nothing that I can really think of.

Aversions: Nothing really. It feels great to be able to have the same taste that I had before I got pregnant.

Symptoms: Whew, I won't lie, these past few weeks have definitely had some rough patches. A couple weeks ago I had a bit of a scare. I woke up and hadn't felt him moving around all morning, and I started to bleed a little bit. I immediately called the nurse and she said to come in and I had to be monitored for about an hour. Everything ended up being fine, but it definitely scared me. The day after that, the morning sickness kicked in again, but this time with a vengeance. I guess it made up for the ridiculously easy first trimester that I had. I had my first emotional breakdown the day after our big scare. I was crying to Grant, and I think I said something along the lines of "Growing a baby is really hard! I'm tired, I'm hungry, but nothing sounds good to eat, but I have to eat!" It was really hard to battle between the mentalities of "If I don't eat, then my baby doesn't eat" and "What's the point of eating if I know I'm just going to throw up a couple hours later?" Grant was so great to listen to me, and looking back now I can laugh about it, but man those few days were super hard. I was able to sleep a little more and I got some medicine to help with the morning sickness, so things are much better now! Going through a couple of rough days though is definitely worth it!

Best Moment: I think organizing our apartment and hanging up his little clothes! I'm starting to feel more confident about him coming now that we've got our apartment organized and we'll be taking our birthing class in about a month, so that will make me more confident about him coming so soon! 

 Not the most flattering pictures, but still a belly-shot nonetheless. The belly is getting big!

Sabbath Day Thoughts

Today I had a ton of thoughts running through my mind during church, so I thought I'd share them with you all. I would like to be better about sharing my testimony more frequently, so I figure a good way to do that is through my blog. I've had the chance to work in Young Women's for the past few months and with the new curriculum for the youth they are completely changing the way they teach both Sunday School and Young Women's. The Bishop in our ward has asked us (the YW leaders) to sit in on the Sunday School lessons and  add any thoughts or insights we might have. Today, the lesson (for both Sunday School and Young Women's) focused on the Godhead, and the role of the Holy Ghost. 

During Sunday School we went around and shared experiences of when the Holy Ghost influenced my life. As I had a chance to reflect on this, I realized that the Holy Ghost can bring anything to our remembrance, and many times in my life those things that he has brought to my remembrance are things I learned as a youth--mainly in seminary. I memorized the scripture mastery selections, and tried to take good notes in the margins of my scriptures. As I grew older and had to make those important decisions of where to attend college, what to major in, who to date, who to marry, etc. I realized that at each of those pivotal moments in my life, the Holy Ghost brought back scriptures that I had memorized or told me what chapters to read in the scriptures, where I then found notes I took as a teenager. Those scriptures were then able to guide me in making those major life-changing decisions. It really strengthened my testimony that as we try to put another drop of oil in our lamps each day, that it pays off. The Holy Ghost can't help us remember something unless we first work to commit it to memory. I'm so grateful for my parents, seminary teachers, and young women leaders who took the time to help me put drops of oil in my lamp, because that lamp has been able to burn for me as I've gone on in my life.

Another thing I wanted to share was about Individual Worth. My mom asked me this morning when it was that I gained a testimony or knowledge of my individual worth. I had to think about it for a moment, but then I said that it came as I came to realize 3 very important relationships.

1) My relationship with my Heavenly Father

2) My relationship with the Savior

3) The Savior's relationship with Heavenly Father.

As I realize how much God and the Savior love me, and how the Savior has performed the atonement so that if I repent, I can live with God again, and how the Savior and the Father work in unison to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, I come to realize my own individual worth (or divine potential). Individual worth and divine potential are very much intertwined, and I think once a person understands these 3 relationships, they understand who they really are. You cannot gain your individual worth from what others think of you (even if they are good things!) Do not look to other people to fill a gap that only the Savior and Heavenly Father can fill. 

I know that God loves me, the Savior loves me, and that as I work each day to draw closer to them, that the Holy Ghost will also be close to me to lead and guide me, and one day I can return to live with them. 

I love this gospel and I'm grateful for the peace and joy that it brings into my life.

Pregnancy Brain at its Finest

Oh my gosh, either my blonde roots are penetrating my brain a bit too much or the whole "pregnancy brain" is true. Ya, I'll go with the latter. Here's an example:

So this morning was my first day back at school. Why Alpine School District has us come back from Christmas break on a Thursday is beyond me.

Anywho, I've had a tendency of forgetting my lunch and my water bottle quite a few times ever since I've become pregnant. So much so that I actually have a stash of snacks in my desk, along with a hug cup that I brought from home one day to keep at school.

This morning I was so organized and on top of it. I got up early, I had my lunch, my papers I graded over break, my water bottle, my coat, my cell-phone, my keys. I was ready to roll! I even put my bagel in the toaster before I put on my makeup, so by the time I was done I could go put peanut butter on my fresh-out-of-the-toaster bagel. So I go put on my makeup, get dressed, grab everything I had packed up and head out to the car. About 3/4 of the way to school I was feeling so proud of myself. I was going to get to school early, I had everything I needed...and then my stomach growled. I left my bagel in the toaster. It was toasted. It was ready to be peanut buttered up and eaten. But it was at home. "Oh well," I thought to myself, "Since I'm a frickin Eagle Scout and totally prepared for anything, I'll just grab a granola bar out of my purse." And I go to reach for my purse and find...whoops! I forgot my purse!

I know a bagel and purse aren't a huge deal, but man I feel so blonde sometimes! Pregnancy brain, you are my comic relief :)

The Baby Shower

My wonderful sister-in-law, April, was kind enough to throw me a baby shower a couple days after Christmas! She was 38 weeks pregnant and the morning of the shower was having contractions...and she still decorated and cooked and stayed for the shower! 9 hours later she held a baby of her own in her arms--amazing, I know! A big thanks to Emily for planning the fun games, and to mom for putting together all the invites and sending them out. Thank you to everyone who came (and those who were there in spirit)! It meant so much to me to have the support of many who I have looked up to all my life and also of good life-long friends. Below are some pictures. Thank you everyone!

The decorations and party favors :)

 The delicious food and decor

 All the girls (except Carlissa--we wish you were here!)

 The Larsen sisters

 Nicole, me, and Emily competing in the drinking apple juice from a bottle game. I have gained a new-found respect for babies--it's hard to eat!

Christmas Festivities

Our Christmas festivities started a couple weeks ago when we decided to go to the Live Nativity in Alpine with Stephen and Emily. It was really cool to walk through the "Town of Bethlehem" and at the end see the nativity scene. Here are some pictures:

 These Camels were huge! It was cool to see all the live animals there!

 The Nativity Scene

A couple weeks later after Grant finished his finals and Lone Peak went on break we were able to head to Colorado for Christmas. The festivities included, but were not limited to: Ice-skating, swimming, playing Wally-ball, lots of cooking, eating tons of food, playing tons of games, the kiddos playing in the snow, getting together with our extended family for Christmas Eve, getting a visit from Santa, doing the Nativity Story, opening gifts, giving gifts, etc. It was glorious and it felt so good to be home! Here are some pictures:

Reed doing his fatherly/uncle duties :)

 Abby and Rachel (cute cousins!)

 Eric and Meg: SO HAPPY they surprised us all by coming up for Christmas!

 Reed and April: 2 days before April delivered Charlotte :)

 The Nativity Cast before putting on their wonderful performance

 Joseph (Adam), Mary (Alyssa), and Baby Jesus (Daniel)

 Haha! This picture kills me! This is the whole cast :)

 The kids were so excited when Santa came to visit!

 Reed and April and Family

 Brent, Carlissa, and Abby

 Mom and Dad

 Uncle Brad with Santa

 Stephen, Emily, and Daniel

 Eric, Meg and the Fam!

 Mom and Dad with Grandpa

 Reed with Grandpa

 Brent and Carlissa with Grandpa

 Eric, Meg, Family, and Grandpa

 Grant and I with Grandpa. Love that man!

 Traditional Christmas morning line-up. These next few pictures epitomize our family pretty well :)

 Abby as a cute sheep :)

 Meg and Rachel (She's as pretty as her mama!)

 Grant and me with Santa

 Alyssa loves her Uncle Grant! No wonder she smiled while he took her picture

 Stephen and Emily with Grandpa

Christmas Morning was a blast! I love seeing everyone open up their gifts and seeing the joy that goes into giving those gifts. 

All the siblings in our family got our parents a picture of the Salt Lake City temple with their names on it and their anniversary date. Props go to Meg for the design and to Carlissa for ordering it and finding a frame to match it. I'm so glad my parents loved it!

Grant and I got the game Dominion from Eric and Meg (We love that game! Thank you thank you!) and also a puzzle of Washington DC, and a calendar for this next year, and a few other generous gifts from our parents. We are so blessed to have such supportive families!

I gave Grant the movie "The Dark Knight Rises", the LOTR and Hobbit box set of books, another book about Abraham Lincoln, and a tool-box with some tools. 

Grant gave me some pearl earrings, black heels, the movie "Little Women", the game Guillotine, a book about giving natural childbirth in a hospital, and a coupon for a spa day! This boy knows me very well! I've already gotten through about half of the book about natural childbirth and it has gotten me even more excited about doing it. I'm grateful to have a supportive husband like him. 

Needless to say, this Christmas was wonderful and perfect! This is probably the last Christmas for a while that we will all be together, so it was a nice last hoorah for a while. I love my family and am so grateful we were all together :)

24 Weeks :)

How Far Along: 24 weeks and 3 days. 

Size of Baby: Just over a pound and about a foot long (about the size of an ear of corn)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 10 pounds and counting! 

Maternity Clothes: Yep! I've been wearing my excellent belly-band from Target (which I totally recommend!) so that still allows me to wear my same jeans, but I don't have to button them, and I've had to wear a few bigger shirts.

Gender: It's a boy! We're so excited :) And we've nailed down the first name to Andrew, now we just need to decide on a middle name.

Movement: Totally! And the cool thing is other people can feel him move as well. Over Christmas break I think anyone who wanted to feel him move was able to.

Sleep: Yep! Lots and lots of sleep. Thank goodness for Christmas break--I've been able to sleep in quite a bit and catch up on some much needed energy.

What I miss: Being able to wear some of my old clothes, but it's not that bad :)

Cravings: Nothing that I can really think of.

Aversions: Honestly, chocolate. I mean I can eat a candy bar or something, but chocolate and some other sweets have been kind of a turn-off. Thank goodness that hit right around the holidays!

Symptoms: My hips have been a little achy, but that's just them stretching out and preparing for labor and delivery, so it's all good! I will say though, Grant has made this pregnancy so much easier. He's always willing to give me a foot massage or back massage, and can always tell whenever I'm uncomfortable. An example was the other morning--I woke up with my hips throbbing but I knew it would go away in a few minutes (they are always pretty stiff in the mornings). Grant could tell that I didn't sleep very well and was in a bit of pain, so without even asking just came over and starting rubbing my lower-back which was a HUGE help. I'm glad he knows me well enough to know what I need without me saying anything. I'm so grateful for him!

Best Moment: Probably having other people feel him move around. It's been cool to see their reaction and see them get excited too. Also, a couple days ago I was taking a bath and looked down at my belly as Andrew was moving around and could see him moving from the outside! It was crazy to see my stomach make little twitches and randomly stick out in places then go away. It was so cool!

Here is the 24 week belly shot!

Watch for more blog posts on Christmas break and on the baby shower that my beautiful sister-in-law threw for me!