Friday, May 31, 2013

Friday Funnies














Which is your favorite? Mine is the vegetarian one and the Kit Kat...

Thankful Thursday (Friday)

-Thankful for 6 more weeks!

- Thankful for doctors. So glad I have regular appointments, they have helped get me through this pregnancy. Instead of waiting for the end, I just live for the next appointment. And now they are getting closer together, eek!

- Thankful for Sean helping keep my emotions under control. I've become one crazy, emotional pregnant lady and I'm not really liking that part of it. 6 more weeks...

- Thankful for Sean for letting me give into my ice cream cravings. Last night I got one of those huge non-fat yogurt things from Costco. And we go to Macey's like once a week for cones. I have a problem.

- Thankful for paid days off; it was really nice not coming in on Memorial day, but still getting paid. Love it!

- Thankful for my supervisor for getting me Zupas today when he ordered pizza for everyone else. Pregnancy definitely has it's benefits!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Pregnancy Update: 32ish weeks


How many weeks?: 32 weeks, 4 days
Size of Baby: About the size of a Jicama, whatever that is. Around 16-17 inches and the ultrasound tech said he is weighing in at about 4 lbs. 8 oz. right now. I've got one big kid inside of me...
Countdown: 7.5 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 
+36 lbs. 
Maternity Clothes?: 
Maternity shirts are more comfy. I've given up on pants most of the time and just wear skirts. Sean let my buy a few new maxi skirts with some Banana Republic cash we had. He's a keeper!
Energy Levels: Pretty good still, slowly waining though. I can definitely tell that I'm not as energetic as I used to be.
Exercise Habits: A few days a week. I'm trying to go at least 12 times a month now so that I get reimbursed for my gym membership from work. That's really hard to do. I still have to go 7 more times this month...
Sleeping?Waking up a few times a night to use the bathroom. Every few hours. I guess I'm getting ready for those late night feedings? 
Worst Moment in the past 2 weeks: 
Played volleyball with some ward members a few nights ago (so fun) but was SO SORE for a couple days after. Not fun. Also, today at our ultrasound she couldn't get a face shot or a gender confirmation. So we are still pretty sure it's a boy based on the 19 week ultrasound haha.
Best Moment in the past 2 weeks During our ultrasound today, she confirmed that baby in fact is head down already. And that sharp thing that has been poking me and making me look like I have a tumor on top of the baby, is his knee. Thanks kid. His foot was up to his nose today too. That was pretty cute!
Miss anything?: Hardcore exercise still. Jeans. Being able to get in and out of bathroom stalls without the door hitting my stomach. Sleeping through the night (and I know that one is long gone for a long while). Opening new jars of whatever (seriously I can't do it).
Movement: All the time. They started me on the fetal movement tracking chart and he usually gets to 10 movements within like 3 minutes. The longest it has taken is 9. I mentioned the knee, sometimes it feels like he is planking and sticking his back and bottom to my stomach. Also, his head is down deep in my pelvis, so that feels funny every once in a while. The cord is wrapped around his neck, which I'm slightly worried about, but the doctor said we start non-stress tests next week and my fluid looks good so he thinks everything is just fine. Not to mention my gigantor kid measuring bigger than he is supposed to. I think I need to start mentally preparing myself that this kid could very likely be 9+ pounds when he comes. Heaven help me.
Morning Sickness?: Nope. Finally. Although I've had a few acid reflux "episodes" (I use the quotes because I've had like 3 over the last 3 weeks and they aren't bad at all).
Food Cravings: Waffles, I eat them for breakfast almost every day. With candy, I haven't had nearly as much self control as I used to have. I'm gonna have to work on that. I've also been eating a lot of salad with chicken strips cut up on top. With ranch. So yummy.
Food Aversions: Brothy soups, fish (except for canned tuna), barbeque sauce, same.
Showing yet?: I look very pregnant now. Although, I'm measuring small but baby is measuring big. That was good to find out today.
Gender: Boy. I still think it's a boy.
Moods: Exhaustion. Which leads to easily hurt feelings. That's been fun. Also, I've started having the emotional breakdowns brought on by absolutely nothing. Anyone else??
Not Looking Forward to: Another disappointing ultrasound haha. Meaning, I really wanted to see my kid's face today. And all I saw was I think an ear that looked really big...
Looking Forward To: A day off next Monday, and my baby showers coming up. Thanks to all who are planning :)

In other news, Sean is taking two classes this spring. One is a writing class that covers his advanced english credit. The other is a soccer class that he has two days a week, and each class is 2 hours long. He loves it! He is also looking for different doctors/specialists to shadow, so if anyone has any leads we would really appreciate it!

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Robert Frost "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" - thoughts

I have been so tired lately. Waking up 2-3 times a night to use the bathroom doesn't help, but neither does growing a baby. I posted a status update on Facebook the other day about how tired I was, and my dad quoted a line from this poem:

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of the easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

Beautifully written, and I can totally relate to Robert Frost. (And this is big, because I hate poetry and the interpretation thereof.) To me it seems like he is just stopping for a bit to take in what is going on around him. He's gone so far and done so much before, and has so far to go and so much to do after, but he has to take a minute to himself just to absorb the "here and now". That's totally how I feel. About everything. I get so caught up in everything that I have done so far, and everything I have left to do (mostly related to the baby at this point) but I really need to take a few minutes every day and watch the snow fall, figuratively. (I'd cry if I had to watch the snow fall again at this point in the year.) In a couple months, Sean's and my life are going to change forever for the good, bringing this little boy into the world. And then it really will feel like there is miles to go before either of us sleeps, and our baby is like, come on guys I can sleep, why can't you? But for now, I need to remember to enjoy the fun things that are happening. We have a great ward, great friends, wonderful family, and now that the weather is warmer so many fun things to do now. I can still look forward with great anticipation to sleeping without getting kicked in the side multiple times, but how sweet it is that I can feel my baby and know he is growing? Here and now. I have to remember that.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Friday funnies

It's been a while, enjoy!
















Thursday, May 16, 2013

Thankful Thursday 5/16/2013

- Thankful for everyone who helped make Sean's birthday a success! It was so fun. Especially when Cameron almost got punched in the face by Sean at the surprise party :)

- Thankful for letters from missionaries! Tim is doing well so far and loving it in Southeastern Maine! Totally jealous of his apartment overlooking the ocean though.

- Thankful for everyone helping through baby showers. I feel really blessed to have so many people willing to participate!

- Thankful for warm weather. Although it's making it fun for Sean, I'm dying of heat all the time and he is still cold. Time to put more meat on his bones I guess...

- Thankful to my coworker for giving me her infant stroller/car seat set. Such a relief!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Thankful Thursday 5/9/2013

-Thankful for my artistic in-laws that helped Sean on his paper due tomorrow. There is no way I'm artistic enough to have helped him with that project haha. If anyone wants to read a really cool report on Jackie Robinson, let me know! (It is targeted to a 9-14 year old audience so keep that in mind.)

- Thankful for warmer weather.

- Thankful that Blaze is handling being an "outside dog" rather well. Meaning he still sleeps inside at night but is in the backyard most of the day.

- Thankful for my little baby inside me. His movements keep me awake at work... we are going to have one active little boy once he is here.

- Thankful that I passed my glucose test. Did I mention that already? Oh well if I did. I'm glad. On that note, we get to do another ultrasound in a week and a half! Can't wait to see my little guy!

- Thankful for dentists! We both went yesterday and my teeth felt fabulously clean. Also thankful that both Sean and I have great dental hygiene.


Monday, May 6, 2013

Standing up for what we believe

Sean is in an advanced writing class this semester. Tonight, we brainstormed ideas for a children's magazine article on Jackie Robinson and the impact he had not only on sports, but on civil rights as well. I learned a lot as we read different articles trying to come up with different angles to approach the subject. Yes, he was a kick-ace baseball player (how many MLB players have a career .311 batting average?); yes, by the end of his career he was the second most popular man in America (second to Bing Crosby - man can he croon); yes, he set the stage for other colored athletes to play major league sports (how boring would the NBA be today without any of the colored players?). But, he also used his position and prominence to promote what he believed - that colored people only want the rights they should have, equality in all aspects. He was one of the leading pioneers in the civil rights movement, and that was 20+ years before Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr.

But what got me thinking about all this was how important it is for me to do the same with what I believe. I am in no way in a position of prominence in anything. But that doesn't mean I can't stand up for what I believe, what I know. Jackie fought on and off the field for his beliefs. I can do the same. I can promote on Facebook, on my blog, on Twitter, etc. those things which I know to be true. I can be unafraid of whatever consequences may come by standing up for my church and what we teach. There are many issues where in the past I have shied away for fear of an old friend hating or ridiculing, or people challenging me and I can't accurately respond. But that isn't what this life is about. It is about facing that fear, knowing that there are people behind you, supporting you and sustaining you. We have to tune out the negative and only listen to the postive. That is what makes it possible to get through life. Jackie had coaches and managers (along with family) supporting him his rookie year. We may feel that we do not have anyone on earth that is supporting us, but Heavenly Father is, especially when it is His work we are supporting. My goal is to be better at promoting His work and the things I know to be true. I'm no Jackie, but I can follow his example, and the example of so many others, and stand up for my beliefs.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Emma's baby blessing

I wrote this last week but for some reason it only saved as a draft. Weird.

We had a family packed day on Sunday (April 21st), and it was wonderful! We drove up to Salt Lake that morning for Liz and Joe's baby blessing for Emma. Joe did a wonderful job :) After, we headed over to Christianne and Eric's house for some grub! It was so fun hanging out with cousins!

 Cousin Sammy demanded a baby bump picture. That was 28 weeks, 3 days.
And I really, really love that new dress I got with a Target gift card, thanks Mom!
 What is it with kids and balloons? James loved playing with this one.
 Hmm, should we keep playing with this balloon or go see what the other cousins are up to?

 Let's face it. Any time I get to hang out with the Carl and Sandi Jones clan, life is sweet :) We used to do stuff with this particular group ALL the time, and I miss those days!
 Starting to get the chubby preggo face. Ugh...

 Joe, Liz, and baby Emma!

 Little Ryan looking fly in those glasses

 Heather wanted to eat that orange SO bad, she couldn't resist during picture time...
We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of sun, good food, cousins, and more sun. After we left there, we went to Aunt Linda and Uncle Larry's for dinner. I love having so many family members so close, it is a huge blessing! Sean and Saylor had a lot of fun together, it was adorable!

 Say was fascinated with this cat next door.
 I love this picture! Say was riding away as fast as she could laughing while Sean chased her. 
He is going to be a wonderful father! Only a couple more months to go!


Thankful Thursday 5/2

- Thankful that today marks 30 weeks! That is  3/4 of the way folks, 75% done with this pregnancy! Luckily I am still excited and not fearful at all of what we still have to do...

- Thankful for the wonderful time I had with family and friends last weekend. Jenny's graduation brought our family together (minus Bryce, we missed you!), and her graduation party allowed us to spend time with friends as well. I love getting together with people, it passes the time so quickly. (This is a HUGE hint to Sean and anyone else reading... as my due date gets closer I will probably be happier if we have people to hang out with to help pass the time! Or someone please suggest a really good book...)

- Thankful for Sean, he is such a trooper and is doing one class Spring term and one Summer. Gotta get those stupid generals out of the way... Plus, both terms he is enrolled in a soccer class. He will tell you about his scars he's received so far but he secretly loves it <3 p="">
- Thankful that it is getting warmer! I probably won't be saying that much longer, but hey, my rings still fit for now. And, Seven Peaks opens soon and I will probably spend every afternoon in the Lazy River from the day it opens til the day baby Parker makes his appearance.

- Thankful for dearelder.com! It's so easy (and no postage) to send my brother a letter, while he's in the MTC anyway. So for all you that want to send him a letter, I can give you his MTC mailbox number and you can send him a quick message! He would really love to hear from you! Side note: he is leaving the MTC Monday so now is your chance!