Week 26/// My First Real Mother's Day

My Sweet Parents and Nieces dropped these Beautiful Flowers off for me on my first Mothers Day.
I sure am a lucky girl

 

The wind however did not get the memo that I was supposed to have a good day. I was woken up by the sound of things crashing and wind howling. It was our dog shed...rolling around in the wind until it braced itself up against the tractor bucket.
Rotten Rotten Wind

 

I bought myself a little Mothers Day  love of my own. I have always loved plants, and succulents, so I decided to make myself a little arrangement, and I think it turned out adorable.
Besides that Motherly thing inside of me is loving all things "living" lately. It makes me feel all special and nurturing to be able to keep plants alive.
Go. Me.

 

And of course...what Holiday would be complete without a family celebration. We spent lunch with Justin's family at Tyler and Amy's house, and then that night we had dinner at our house with my family.
 

 

Justin had the brilliant idea that we should make Chocolate Covered Strawberries for dessert for both our Mother's Day Parties, and since he was still working nights, I had PLENTY of time to hand dip and drizzle 6 cartons of strawberries. There were even some leftovers so I decided to make home made strawberry sauce.

Look at all these yummy sweets. And I am the one that complains about gaining so much weight. pfft.

 

 

Really and Truly I feel so very blessed to have the amazing Mother that I do. We are so alike in so many of our characteristics and so very different at the same time. I have always known my mother was a brilliant woman and she has never ever proven me wrong. She is soo good at cooking, cleaning, organizing, crafting, sewing, gardening, budgeting-- you name it and she has helped me with it. I feel so fortunate to have been raised in a home by a mother who taught me to clean, cook, sew, do laundry, budget, work hard and enjoy it- as well as so many other things. There are few things that I find more joy in than being able to work hard, accomplish things and create things, and I wouldn't know how to do all of those things if it wasn't for her. She is an astounding example of wisdom and patience to me and I am looking forward to celebrating many more Mother's Day's on her behalf.

 

And then there's my own little piece of heaven... Sittin in awe all day that day, I got to dream of our own little boy being here in a few short months and teaching me about the world and what it's like to be a Mom. It's the most precious gift I could ever receive and I am completely over the moon excited for him to be here.

 

I hope you all had a Wonderful Mother's Day as well.

Week 25

 Prepare for a picture overload. We have been really busy with work, softball and the yard lately, so my posts kindof fell off for a while. I prefer updates by picture anywas though so here.we.go.

Preparations for the Baby shower are in full swing. I'm getting so excited to celebrate with our friends and family and to get some of the gear gathered up so I can feel more prepared for the day that feels like it is so quickly approaching!
Burlap Table Cloths. check.
"BABY" flag banner. check.

///May 2nd///

May 3rd was Justin's and mine Anniversary, so we discussed it with eachother and decided all we wanted this year was for the yard to be done, so I took a Friday off work and we spent all day outside. We have thousands of rocks in our yard, so while Justin worked on leveling out the dirt, I picked up rocks by the wheelbarrow load. There were so many and we didn't know what to do with them, so Justin let me dig a hole (with his direction) in one of those big yellow machines :) And we buried them. It was one of my favorite ways to spend my day with him. We love to work and accomplish things. It's fantastic :)
 

To celebrate, Justin took me out to dinner that night. We talked about our favorite Anniversaries in the past, and how excited we are to meet this little person. It all feels so exciting, overwhelming, scary and surreal at the same time.
I love my little family. I'm so so very blessed!

/////Official 25 Week Photo/////

 

Headed to Stake Conference///May 3rd///

 

Monday the 5th, I had to travel to Denver to attend a week's work of ICS Training for work. I was a little nervous for this trip- I hadn't flown while I was pregnant since about my 8th week and was worried about a whole bunch of silly things... being uncomfortable..having to pee on such a small plane...getting sick...swelling up...missing my flight... Anything.

Luckily, I made it to Denver Safely and had no problems.

However-- Remember how I worked outside all day the Saturday before I left.... Well apparently my pregnant skin is about 350% worse on burning than I am used to. With this in mind, I was incredibly burned and between that and the traveling, my feet and ankles swelled up with water weight for the first time in my life. I felt SO HUGE. It was devastating.

I have realized that I have a serious issue with my weight.From the time I found out I was pregnant until....umm this very moment...I have dreaded gaining weight. I weigh myself daily-- not because it makes me happy--- because it really really doesn't...but because I can't stand not knowing what I weigh.

I have days that are not so bad, and I have days that are so bad.

I need to work on it, and the very realistic and happy part of my brain reminds me that it's all for this precious little boy.. I can work it off...I don't look as bad as I think I do...and stressing over it actually probably makes it worse.

Anyways- with all that being said...I had a really rought week battling with myself over all the water weight I was trying to lose, being away from home, by myself etc. etc.

So... What better way to make myself feel better than shopping...

...and exercising

... and exercising some more.

 

By Thursday, I was really ready to get out of the city and back to my own, and thankfully, my last day of class was cancelled so I came home early and surprised Justin. It was awesome.

 

 

That same morning, our Horse sally foaled this beautiful little blue baby. We had to go and check her out as soon as I got home, and I'm glad we did because she didn't make it through the night. The poor little dear was only meant to be with us for one day, so I'm glad we enjoyed her while we could.
 

 

That same night, Justin had to go to work for his week of night shifts, and I was not quite settled feeling enough to go to bed without him, so I cooked up a storm. Home Made Raspberry sauce, Banana Bread, Buttermilk Pancakes and Fresh Juiced Lemonade (Which I read helps relieve water weight)  Kept us up until about 11 before we finally crashed...

The next night, since I still wasn't too keen on sleeping without Justin around, I went and got the baby shower invitations printed, cut, enveloped and mailed out. So Exciting!!

///May 10///
Then that Saturday I was blessed to be able to hang out with these two little cuties and my parents at the Truck Show at the local college. My parents were babysitting while my sister and brother in law were out of town, so I met them after my grocery shopping and soaked up all the sweetness I could.
These girls are so cute and so funny. Man I sure love my family.
 

 

Week 24

 

 

Last week I got a new Baseball Tee Maternity shirt from Target. I thought it was adorable and it was very comfortable!

Our last weekend was spent back and forth from the ball park. The City Softball league was kicked off with an Ice Breaker tournament that began on Friday night. Our team won the Friday night game so they got to come back Saturday to play again. They won the first game they had to play Saturday, and then we had to sit and wait a few hours until we knew when they played again. It was COLD and Rainy and windy and...did I mention Cold? We sat in the bleachers under umbarellas, blankets and with hand warmers for a few hours before they finally cancelled the rest of the games due to the weather. Justin and I were both frozen and starving so we went to Canton City for some Chinese food and found that our baby boy will be a HORSE on the Chinese calendar.

After the cancelled ball games ended Saturday, they rescheduled games for Monday and once again the weather was COLD and Windy...but no rain or hail this time, so they played 3 games in a row to finish out the Tournament with FIRST PLACE! We were all so excited. They are a great team and have played together for years, and have come so close to that First Place so many times, so it was wonderful to watch them pull through and earn it this time. It was all worth the frozen fingers and toes in the long run.

And...of course... after the softball game, we had to run straight to Smiths to pick up some Pop-Tarts, which I had been craving all day long.
I've been trying to avoid the processed, highly sugary foods, but sometimes lettuce just won't cut it no matter how hard you try. Sometimes Baby just wants a poptart.

As the rest of the week has progressed, we are nearing our 6 Year Anniversary this coming Saturday. It is hard to believe and easy to believe at the same time that it has been six long years since we got to go through the temple together and be sealed to eachother for Time and all Eternity. The love that we have and the beautiful promises we've made to be able to spend the rest of forever with eachother and now with our little boy brings such warmth to my heart, I can't describe it.

However, As our years of marriage have progressed so has the "grandeur" of our Anniversary celebrations digressed. This year we agreed to spend the weekend at home working on our yard. This tells you what exciting old fogies we've turned into. It completely excites both of us, so that's what we're going to do. As well as taking a drive up the Mountain Friday night to have dinner at the Red Canyon Lodge.

It's just amazing to me that no matter what we do, or where we are... I still love and enjoy being with Justin more than I ever thought I could. Our relationship has had it's highs and it's low's- just as every relationship does, but I feel so blessed to have him as my companion...to learn and grow with in love and in life.

 

See...I've even been clipping ideas and sending them to him for our yard project...

Also....This completely excites me...but the Baby shower Planning has been coming along wonderfully and has been SO FUN! I am grateful that Wendy and Tiffany have let me be involved in planning my own shower, as weird as it sounds. I completey love this stuff.. The frills and details and estethics....

Mmmmm.. I just eat it up completely....

So..here are a few sneak previews of what's going to make for a beautiful baby shower in a little over a month...

 

 

Dun Dun Dun....



 

 

And....Baby Boy's nursery is getting more Grand by the day. We are adding rustic elements that will warm up the place and add soem awesome character. I'm so excited to have it all finished!

 

 

Oh... And then there's this... that I have to document for future generations.

Justin has been growing his hair out for months now. He has always had beautiful thick, dark hair that curls just perfectly behind his ears for some soft handsome man wings and such.. Well he let it get quite a bit longer this time than he ever has before and he was totally loving it.... except for his "Bangs"

They would hang down in his face and he would have to part his hair or stand it straight up underneath a hat so he could see. It totally wasn't working for him. But he didn't want to give up the shaggy length, so this was his solution:

 

 

Yes... He totally attempted it.....A Mullet. The Joe Dirt. "Business in the Front and Party in the Back" is what he would tell me.

I love his spunk but I am glad that the hair dresser finished cutting it off before she let him leave.

 

I have always Loved his short clean cut hair and face and when I got home and saw him, he was like a whole new person.

So Handsome :) I'm a pretty lucky girl.

 

 

 

And Now!!! For the Weekly Update:

24 Week Photo

How far along: 24 Weeks

Gender: Boy

Weight gain: I don't want to talk about it.

Maternity clothes: After ordering a few random pieces here and there, getting dressed has become more fun again, than a pain. Although I see some more expansion coming my way, I am trying to cope with my changing shape and body with grace, as I know it's all for the best reason possible.

 

 

 

Stretch marks: No- But I still check all the time

Belly button in or out: In

Sleep: Been sleeping like a rock lately. It has been soooo nice! I still get tired during the day sometimes, but I can actually look forward to going to bed, rather than feeling like I'm just wasting my time.

Best moment this week: Laying in bed 2 nights ago, Justin was on his iPad looking up youtube videos of motors (because he is rebuilding his old black truck) and I had the blankets down watching baby kick, like he likes to do right at bed time. In one of the videos, there was a loud crash and I thought little man was going to jump out of my belly. It was probably the biggest movement either of us have ever seen him make and I Loved that Justin got to see it and laugh at him with me.

Miss anything: I'm surprisingly jovial this week. I definitely have my up's and down's, and can always find something that isn't ideal, but today...I just feel blessed to have all that I do and that this baby boy is growing and healthy is more happiness than I could ever ask for.

Movement: I can definitely tell that baby is getting stronger. His movements are more prominent and more often. It is a constant reassurance to me...However today I had my first "foot in ribs" experience and I'm hoping I don't have too many more of those. It wasn't my favorite feeling.

Cravings: Aside from Poptarts and Dr. Pepper...I've been doing pretty well at eating healthy. You wouldn't know it if it stood on a scale... :( but I'm trying to be happy about it.

Queasy or sick: Feeling great and still so glad!!!