California Baby Shower

My baby shower in California was such a blast! It was so much fun to see so many friends that I haven't seen in a long time! Thank you Kimbur for giving of your beautiful home for my shower! There were so many people that came. It was so sweet of them to take time out of their busy Saturday to be there. Especially my BFF Ashley, who is all the way in Texas, skyped in so she could be part of it as well! I am overwhelmed by the love and support I get from such wonderful friends. I feel so blessed. I am feeling a lot more prepared for my little boy to come now too. Thanks to great advice and amazing gifts that I received that day. I can't wait for him to get here so I can play dress up with him and all his cute new clothes! Thank you everyone for all your help, love and support!

Family Baby Shower Brunch

While I was in California for my baby shower we decided to do a family brunch instead of all my family driving an hour to my baby shower. I am so glad we did it this way because I felt like I was able to get better one on one time with my family. We had such a great time. They all went in on a family gift for me...my car seat! I am so excited! My grandma Chadsey made a beautiful blanket for my little boy. It is a family tradition blanket. When I was little Grandma Chadsey had this blanket (that she made) that all the grandkids LOVED. We named it "the softy blanket." When I graduated high school my grandma asked me what I wanted and I said that I wanted my own softy blanket. So now it is tradition that each grandkid that graduates high school gets to pick out the colors they want and she makes them their own "softy blanket". Well, she has now started to do a "softy blanket" for each great-grand kid that is born. I love this tradition! I am so excited to give my little boy his very own "softy blanket". I know that he is going to love it, just like we did when we were little!

Maternity Pictures

My mom's cousin Missy was so kind and took Maternity pictures for Mike and I. She did such a great job! They turned out really well and we had such a fun time doing them! Thanks Missy! You are the BEST!!!

Tribute to the Heroes of September 11th

I can't believe that it has been eight years since the devastation of September 11th. I still remember getting ready to go to early morning seminary when my mom came in and told me to come quick and watch the news because a plane had just crashed into one of the twin towers. At that moment we had no clue what was really going on. I just want to thank the many men and women that did all they could and gave of their lives to help that day and also the many men and women that are continuing to fight for our freedom and have kept our country safe these past eight years. They are true heroes. And I am so grateful to be a part of a country that has so many freedoms and great people that will do all they can to keep our freedom.
Thank you!

The little things that make me Happy!

Today I am at 33 weeks in my pregnancy and I was thinking about the little things that have made me happy throughout this pregnancy. Besides the fact that at the end of this I will have one of the greatest gifts ever...my sweet little boy. Here are some things that come to mind:
(in no particular order)

* All the many foot massages I have received from my sweet husband. (Especially when my feet swell up)

* My body pillow. Which Mike named my "pillow husband" and the name has stuck. He said that the first night I had my body pillow that I was all cuddled up to it and I looked so comfortable and peaceful. However, he was left out of the cuddling.

* Shower Mat. After nearly slipping and falling multiple times (due to being a little more off balance these days) trying to get in and out of the shower we decided it was a good idea. And it was!

* Books: "My Pregnancy Week by Week", "Childbirth without Fear", "What to Expect When Expecting", My cousin & sister in laws nursing books about labor & delivery and a few more. I have decided that I am addicted to learning about pregnancy, labor & delivery. I have also found that throughout all my reading I have become less nervous about the whole process and more excited!

* Lamaze Class. We have only been to 1 of the 4 classes so far but I love it! I am learning a ton. It is a lot more than just breathing techniques and really fun. It is also fun to meet other couples that are due at the same time and are having their first baby too. I highly suggest Lamaze to everyone. I thought the class would be all about being all natural and super anti-epidural but it isn't. They teach you everything they can about doing it natural but remind you that everyone is different and every labor & delivery is different and that you are not less of a woman or mother if you need medication of any type.

* Fruit! I have never loved fruit so much! It is what I crave all the time and it just makes me so happy. I do crave Aussie Cheese Fries from Outback Steakhouse and donuts too but my desire for fruit is so much more that when I do crave those I can cut up a peach or apple and still have my craving satisfied.

* Feeling my baby boy move. I thought I would get used to it by now and that the excitement would ware off but it hasn't. He moves a ton and I just love it! Sometimes he will hit a nerve or kick my ribs that will cause quite a bit of discomfort but I still love it!

* Doctor Appointments. I love that they are every two weeks now and I can't wait for them to be every week. I look forward to every single one!

*Prenatal Vitamins/Pregnancy Hormones. My hair, nails and skin have never been better!

*Sleep. When I don't have insomnia, the sleep I get feels better than it ever has! I have never experienced such a deep sleep.

* Feeling closer to Mike than ever. I love the way he looks at me, the way he thinks my growing belly is so cute and our many conversations about the future.

* The get out of jail free card...No one asks you to do anything like carry heavy things, help with yard work etc. You can pretty much get out of anything when you are pregnant. I know I sound lazy but I am not. I do more than I should most days. But if I don't want to do anything one day, no one says a word. Okay, so maybe I am a little lazy but in about 7 weeks I will be the busiest one in the house. So I am going to enjoy my time now.

* Air Conditioning or fans. I would not survive this pregnancy with out them. I am soooooo grateful for the technology we have. I don't know how women who don't have the luxuries we have get through pregnancy. Let alone labor & delivery.

Well, I know there are a ton of things that I am forgetting but I am loving this pregnancy, thanks to all the great things I have been blessed with. I am so excited and can't wait to hold my little boy in my arms and just love him forever!

Welcome Home Patrick

Everyone excited to see Patrick

Mike and PatMike, Joe, Pat, Ben & Stephanie

Leaving the airport

Our present we got Pat all wrapped up.(It is The Living Christ in Lithuanian)

I am such a blog slacker. Patrick has been home for a couple of weeks now but I still wanted to post about his fun little homecoming. Pat has been in Lithuania for the past 8 months doing construction on the US Embassy. Needless to say Mike and Joe were counting down the days until he came home. So we made an event out of it. I felt like we were picking up a missionary from the airport. Anyways, we go to the airport and realized that nobody knew anything about Pat's flight except that is came in around 11pm. So we went to one terminal and there was hardly anyone in there. So I being the pregnant one who can't go more than 10 min. without using the bathroom made everyone stop for a potty break before we headed over to the other terminal. So after that we all headed over and there were tons of people coming and going from this terminal so we thought for sure this was the right one. As we were waiting for Pat I realized that I had left my cell phone in the bathroom. (I attribute my forgetfulness to my pregnancy too). Anyways, Stephanie Cavender was so sweet and offered to run over and get my phone for me. While she was over there we called her to see if she found it and she said that she did and that she also thought she could see Patrick. So we all ran over there and there he was at the first terminal. So it was good that I had to stop for a potty break and that I am so forgetful! It was a fun reunion. I wish I wasn't the camera person so we could have gotten a picture of Pat's face when he saw me and my big pregnant belly!

30 Week Check Up

So today I am officially 30 weeks pregnant. I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy has been going! I will be meeting my little boy in 10 to 11 weeks...maybe earlier if he decides to come early. I had my doctor appointment this morning and everything is going great. I am healthy and the baby has a strong heartbeat and is very active! Here are some of the fun things that have come with my 3rd trimester and other random stuff:

*I have gained a total of 15 pounds in my pregnancy so far...many more pounds to add on.

*Insomnia- don't know if that is what it is but I cannot fall asleep at night & if I do, it is never a deep sleep.

*Baby boy is getting so active. I can feel him moving everywhere. He thinks it is fun to hang out under my ribs and occasionally kick them. It is so exciting to feel him move. Mike loves it too. Especially when you can see my belly move...like he is trying to get out or something.

*Braxton Hicks Contractions-all I can say is weird.

*Feeling my stomach stretch and get tighter.

*Swelling of feet, hands, ankles, legs...you name it

*Feeling starving all the time!

*Major heartburn

*Not being able to go out in public without some random stranger giving me advice or telling me how hard motherhood is. Why is it that when you are engaged or pregnant people feel the need to warn you about all the negative things that happen. I just want to say "Why the heck did you get married or have children if you feel it is so horrible?" I love my marriage and I am pretty sure I am going to love motherhood.

*Been doing a ton of reading about labor, delivery, vaccinations & parenting.

*The need to nest but nowhere and nothing to do it with...getting there though.

*Feeling closer to Mike than I could have ever imagined.

So far even with the not so fun stuff, I have really enjoyed being pregnant and feeling this huge amount of love for my growing baby that I haven't even met yet. It is weird to feel so huge and uncomfortable but at the same time feeling the most beautiful I have ever felt and the most confident I have ever felt in my own skin. I love the way Mike looks at me and the way he talks about how excited he is to be a dad and to have a son. Mike was asking me about my feelings on being pregnant and if it was what I thought it would be and for me it is so much better. I told him that I feel like I might be a little sad after he is born to not have him connected to me. I love feeling him in my tummy and feeling so connected to another human being and never feeling alone. Don't get me wrong, I am excited to hold him and mother him but there is just this special connection that I don't feel like I will get back. It is very mixed emotions. I think about the day that I will hold him in my arms. I think about watching him play sports or watching him play and learn/build things with Mike. I think of him as a teenager, going on dates, having his first heartbreak, the joys and pains that come with growing up. I picture him preparing for a mission and giving his farewell talk at church then serving faithfully and taking a righteous woman to the temple to be married for eternity. I don't know if he will actually do these things or what challenges he might face or the path he might choose but I can't wait to be there for him and to love him no matter what. I don't feel like I can really put my emotions into words so that will have to do.

I will add a picture of my huge belly soon!

Puma's little friend

My Sweet Little Girl

On Sunday Puma would not leave the vent in the kitchen alone. She kept trying to get in it and kept meowing at it. Then she was trying to get in a drawer in the kitchen too. I couldn't figure out what was going on, but then the next morning I was getting Mike's breakfast ready and opened the drawer that Puma had tried to get in the night before and there was mouse poop but no mouse. I quickly realized that this must be why Puma was freaking out Sunday night. We cleaned up the mouse poop and looked for the mouse but still found nothing. That night (this is monday) when Gilbert was taking out the trash from under the sink, the mouse ran out! It ran down the stairs and strait into our room. What are the chances, the mouse goes to our room. The only room that a cat lives in. Well, once again we could not find that darn mouse anywhere! We pulled all our furniture from the walls and found nothing (well, I watched as Mike pulled out all the furniture. After all I am 30 weeks pregnant). So we gave up, Mike moved the furniture back and we went to bed, assuming the mouse was going to come out sometime and that Puma would get it. But there was nothing...until last night (Wednesday night). So at about 3:30am I hear Puma running around the room like a crazy kitty. I shined my cell phone light on her and woke Mike up and told him that it looked like Puma had something in her mouth. He turned on the light and Puma looked up at him and there was nothing in her mouth. I thought, I know what I saw, I am not crazy...or am I? Just then the mouse shoots across the room and Puma goes after it. She caught it and was holding it by the tail in her mouth and I thought great! I told Mike to get the mouse from Puma so she didn't eat it. Just then Puma put it on the ground and started chasing it again. This happened probably 3 or 4 times before Mike and I realized that Puma did not want to mouse to die, she was having the best time ever with her new toy/friend. So I told Mike to get the mouse out of our room, so he waited till Puma had it in her mouth again and then grabbed it from her. Puma seemed pretty sad but luckily the mouse seemed a little shaken up but not hurt. So Mike let it go outside. At least that is what I think he did with it. I went back to bed and Puma came back to bed too. What a crazy night!

Our Anniversary

3 years

For our Anniversary we went to dinner at The Garden (a restaurant at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building) with Mike's parents and an Army General. We had so much fun and it was really exciting to meet a General of the US Army. She is one of the most successful women in the Army. I always love meeting women that are so successful. She was so nice and not as intimidating as I thought. We had a great time and dinner was of course delicious! Then Mike and I went off on our own. We went to Fuddruckers and shared a chocolate shake. It was so nice to just visit and relax together. We called it an early night due to the fact that Mike had to work early the next morning but it was a wonderful night. I love just being with Mike. We always have such amazing conversations that are so uplifting. I am grateful for his kind nature and the fact that we can do anything with anyone or just by ourselves and have a good time. I am such a lucky girl!