Just an Ordinary Day

Yesterday was a plain old boring day. I didn't do anything extraordinary. I worked, ate food, visited family, and baked. Yeah, normal day. But for some reason I felt like taking pictures yesterday. Of everything I did. Pretty much. They're not exciting pictures, they're not interesting pictures, they are plain old, normal, ordinary pictures.

So now, I present to you, almost everything I did yesterday in pictures.

 On my way to work I saw a duck. 

 I spent most of my day at work staring at my growing belly.

I tried rinsing my water bottle out with hot water. I underestimated just how hot the water was, and it totally warped one side of my bottle. Oops!

I had a gift card to Zupas so I enjoyed a turkey, bacon, and avocado panini and mangoberry salad for dinner. Complete with a Diet Coke with Lime. Mmmmm!

 I visited my parents and played with Chip for a while. The little buggar wouldn't sit still for a photo, so the best I could do was this. I apologize for him looking like a headless ball of fluff with a tail.

My nieces were at my parent's house, so I played out in the front yard with them for a while.

I also had some nice conversations with my mom and dad, but I didn't photograph that.

I went to Walmart for some groceries. No photo of that either. (Bummer 'cause I know how bad you all want to see a picture of some groceries!!)

I used my grandma's recipe to make some amazing chocolate chip cookies! 

I forgot just how many cookies that recipe makes. I made 80 cookies, (yes I counted, and yes, exactly 80,) and still had cookie dough left over for Shane to eat when he got home. 

Most of the cookies went into the freezer, (frozen cookies rock!!) 

Some went into a bag on the counter.

And some went into my mouth.

I ate five cookies. No judging. 

Shane's been wanting salad, (CRAZY I know!) So I made some salads for him to take to work for lunch.

I also cut up some strawberries. Yum!!

And I washed and froze some grapes to eat later. (Frozen grapes, mmmm!)

Once Shane got home we watched an episode of Phineas and Ferb and then went to bed. Looking back on my day I can see that most of what I did involved food. I'm a little obsessed with food right now, and not afraid to admit it. I'm pregnant, getting thicker and rounder everyday, I can't really stop it, so I'm going to work on embracing it.

That being said, here is a picture of two pictures that were taken this morning. It really shows the difference a jacket can make. Man I'm getting thick! This baby better love me because pregnancy is not easy haha. 

Almost 31 weeks. 

I'm growing and I'm only going to keep getting bigger!

20 Q's About My Man, Cause I Can!

All about my handsome husband, because I'm bored and I love him so much!

1. Full Name: Shane Clark Randall.

2. How long have you been married? Almost a year and a half.

3. How long did you date? We dated for one month and one day before getting engaged, and the engagement was just short of three months.

4. Who said 'I love you' first? Pretty sure he said it first, but I told him I was falling in love with him first.

5. Who is taller? Shane of course!

6. Who sings better? Oh Shane does definitely! I love his voice! He raps pretty well, too!

7. Who is smarter? HA! Shane is.

8. Who does the laundry? I do it when Shane is working late and I really need something washed, but most of the time Shane does it, (it's the one chore I hate more than anything, and he knows that!)

9. Who pays the bills? I do all the finances.

10. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Shane does, my OCD makes me always have to be on his left side, (with a few exceptions, like in the car when I'm forced to be passenger.)

11. Who mows the lawn? What lawn?

12. Who cooks dinner? Cooks? What is this word? Ha, when we do cook once in a blue moon, it's usually me, but Shane helps out with whatever he can. (And he does occasionally cook me a good meal!)

13. Who drives? 9 out of 10 times, Shane.

14. Who is more stubborn? I am for sure. Shane just goes with the flow and is so great about everything. I'm almost the complete opposite. I'm so lucky he still loves me. :)

15. Who kissed who first? He kissed me first, but I don't remember the first kiss. I was too shocked and happy that he FINALLY did it, that it was all kind of a blur. Haha.

16. Who asked who out first? He friended me on facebook first, he commented on a status of mine first, he asked for my number first, he texted me first, and he asked me out first. Wow. He does all the firsts.

17. Who proposed? Oh Shane did of course. I'm all for traditional, I would never propose.

18. Who has more siblings? We both have four siblings, we're both the exact middle child. He just has three brothers and one sister, and I have two brothers and two sisters.

19. Who wears the pants? I feel like I do since becoming pregnant, but before I was pregnant we were pretty equal about everything. I try to be now, but there are some things I just have to control right now haha. I'm sure it will go back to how it was before once the baby is here. Sorry Shane, I love you, thanks for loving me!

20. What is your favorite thing about your spouse? His sense of humor. Seriously. It's ridiculously funny. Yes, sometimes he does too much, but I just take things too seriously. His humor is teaching me not to take life so seriously and to enjoy the little moments. I sure love him!

20 Things Never to Say to a Pregnant Woman

I have heard quite a few of these, it really is starting to surprise me the things people will say to you! Hahaha. (Taken from here.)

1. Are you SURE you're not carrying twins?

2. Wow ... you're taking this whole 'eating for two' thing to a new level, aren't you?

3. Be happy you only have morning sickness. It was much worse for me.

4. So you're due next week, right? Oh ... you're only three months along? Well. I guess pregnancy looks different on everybody.

5. I was in my size 4s after delivery!

6. Oh, be careful. I had a friend whose friend whose cousin had a baby with [insert horrible complication here]. Let's hope YOUR baby doesn't have it.

7. You ARE breastfeeding, aren't you?

8. You AREN'T breastfeeding, are you?

9. Labor was the most intense, grueling pain I've felt in my entire life. I'd rather die than go through labor again.

10. My friend's cousin's friend's mother nearly died in labor. Actually, maybe she did die. Or it was a plot on Melrose Place. I can't remember.

11. You should REALLY look into birth control.

12. Let's hope he doesn't get your husband's nose. Sheesh! What a honker that is!

13. Um, that was the name I was going to use for MY baby even though I'm not pregnant. You can't use it. Ever.

14. You think you're not sleeping now? HA! Just WAIT until the baby gets here.

15. Well *I* was still running 60 miles a week when I was x far along.

16. I only gained 10 pounds during my entire pregnancy.

17. I breastfed those extra 10 pounds right off!

18. How dare you complain about not feeling good. Didn't you WANT to be pregnant?

19. My labor only lasted 15 minutes. I think it was because I was in such great shape after running 60 miles a day.

20. So, how DO you get your shoes on?

Here and There

I am 30 weeks pregnant! Do you know what that means? I can't count how many weeks I have left on both my hands! It's coming so fast, but still feels so far away! I just need this little girl here!

By 30 weeks I should be feeling Valarie around 10 times an hour I'm told. . . well I feel her maybe once an hour, but definitely 10 times an hour at night, (she's active at night, super mellow during the day.) Yesterday I felt her once the entire day. Yes, the ENTIRE DAY! You can imagine how freaked out I was. I went to bed super worried about her, and decided I'd call the doctor Tuesday if I didn't feel her today at all either. I woke up this morning and pressed on my belly. I was greeted with a little kick from her. What a stinker she is!! I sure love her though!

Woke up Saturday with an aching ear, it felt like an ear infection. Woke up Sunday with an aching mouth also, uh oh. Now it's sounding like a tooth infection. Woke up this morning with an insane headache combined with the other pains, yeah it blows. I have a doctor appointment Thursday and if they say it's not an ear infection then it looks like I'll be taking a trip to the dentist. Bummer. (I need to go anyway, I haven't been in forever and it's important to take extra good care of my teeth while pregnant.)

I'm working 60 hours this week. Pretty excited since 20 hours of it is doing what I love and with the job I'll be keeping after baby is here!

So Shane and I were trying to plan a weekend trip to St. George, and we had decided to look for cheaper places to stay from April 4-7th. Well when I went and visited my parents the other day they told me they're going out of town soon. I asked where and when, and they said St. George from April 4-7th! Holy crap! So I told them about our plans, and now we're all going together! It'll be a great getaway before baby comes, and I can't wait to have so much time to spend with the husband!!

Shane's last week at Arctic Circle is this week. Forever. He's done. No more second job for him! My honey is going back to school! He has about a year left of his Bachelors, so he decided to go ahead and do it. I am so proud of him and can't wait for him to get his degree! He's such an amazing guy!

We got to meet our Izzy, Caity and Ben's baby this past Saturday. She is a beautiful little thing! SO sweet! I just wanted to take her home!!!

Summer's Coming!

Today is the first day of Spring! That means Summer is next! I have so many great memories from Summer time, I love Summer! I can't get enough of the warm weather!

Summer 2011 and 2012 were the best two Summers of my entire life!! 

In the Summer of 2011, I was making tons of new friends and doing fun things! I was involved in activities in my single's ward and putting myself out there! I also went to my very first real concert, well, my very first AND second! I was going out several nights during the week with different people, I was spending a lot of time outside, I went on a family trip that is one of the most memorable family vacations, (we all just got along great and had a blast. It was good family time!)  I also started dating Shane towards the end of this summer, so that was pretty great! If I had to choose any summer to be the best summer of my entire life, it would be this one.

Brooklyn and I went to Bruno Mars. He was simply amazing!

I love boating and was able to go a lot Summer 2011!

Brooklyn won tickets to Katy Perry and chose me to go with her! (Marci and Andrew won tickets too!) We were all right up in the front, Brooklyn even touched one of her costumes!

I jumped off that cliff behind me in St. George. It's higher than it looks. There's a video of me jumping it here.

We spent a lot of time on this motorcycle in Summer 2011.

We also spent most nights hanging out around Daybreak Lake.

I started off Summer 2012 being a nanny for an adorable family down in Pleasant Grove. We spent our days playing at parks, going to Thanksgiving point, going for walks, and doing other super fun things. Shane and I went on a cruise with my family in June and we had a blast! Seriously, most awesome vacation ever and I am so glad I got to spend it with not only Shane, but with my family. When we got back I was jobless once again, (the nanny position was temporary,) so I spent a lot of time driving from interview to interview to interview. I loved this because I love driving. I really do. Especially when it's hot and sunny outside. I also spent a lot of my days hanging out at my family's house, going to aerobics with my mom, and just hanging out. It wasn't the best because I didn't have a job, but it was awesome and memorable because I didn't have one! 

I don't really have as many pictures of Summer 2012 because I'm not going to put pictures of the kids I nannied on here, and besides the cruise, I did normal day to day things, (but they were still memorable things. Does that make sense? Oh well if it doesn't.) So, I'll just post a few pictures of our cruise.

I have to say though, as awesome as the past two summers have been, I just know that this summer is going to top them! You know why? Because I am growing a human being in my belly, and she will come out and meet us right at the beginning of the summer! I'm not going to have a day job keeping me stuck inside during the best parts of the day, I'm going to have a little baby to take for walks, time to spend with family, and time to spend with my husband and baby!

This summer is going to be the best summer ever, I can already tell!

Random Thoughts

Mmmm! Lunch time! I love chicken and broccoli lean pockets!

Had a doctor appointment today. Got to take the glucose test to find out if I have gestational diabetes. The drink wasn't so bad, just had a strange after taste. I find out the results this afternoon. . . crossing my fingers I don't have it, but wouldn't be surprised if I did, (I've been a sugar junkie lately.)

I am now far enough along that my doctor appointments are every two weeks instead of every month. Time is going so slow, but flying at the same time! Two and a half months until my due date!

I can tell I'm in my third trimester. All these new pregnancy symptoms are popping up out of nowhere and my belly is really beginning to grow! Headaches, leg cramps, peeing even more often than before, all that fun stuff!

Valarie keeps sitting up in the right side of my ribs. It's not very comfortable, but I love her so I'll let it slide.

I have a hot date tonight and I can't wait! We're going to go to the Temple, (it's been too long since we've last been,) and then going out to dinner after. Thinking of trying the new Texas Roadhouse that just opened by us, we'll see how busy it is.

I really love how much Valarie is starting to move around. I feel so bad Shane never gets to experience this, it's so amazing! I could do nothing but sit and feel her moving around all day long and I'd be happy!

Hello 3rd Trimester!

I am in my third trimester of pregnancy! 28 weeks pregnant! Less than 3 months left! I can't believe it!

I was having a "feeling insanely huge" day today so I wore my non-maternity clothes. Luckily my undershirt hid the top of my pants because I can't do them up AT ALL. 

I wear jackets in all of my belly pictures because this butt of mine is growing faster than my belly! It's quite hilarious, but I just don't like seeing it in pictures. You can see what I mean if you see in person, mmkay?

This morning I was lying in bed, and all of a sudden I felt BAM several times coming from both sides of my belly!! It stopped, and then a little wave went across one side of my baby! Awww I love that Val is growing and that I'm able to feel her more and more everyday!

I have decided my stress level has to be affecting little baby, because anytime I'm stressed I hardly feel her, and then I worry about her and feel her even less!! BUT the second I am reassured she's fine by my doctor or some massive kicking, I feel her nonstop for the next couple days. I'm so glad I figured this out, if I keep my stress down, baby stays happy and active!

So here's to trimester three! To blowing up twice the size I am now, not sleeping on my back, stretch marks, swelling in the face, fingers, legs, and feet, and everything else that comes with the end of pregnancy. Bring it! 

Surprise! Doctor Visit!

My what a mellow baby we have!

I have an anterior placenta, (it's in the front of my belly and the baby is behind it,) so it's not always easy to feel her little movements, even at almost 28 weeks. Usually though, I feel her at least once every few hours.

For the past few days I've felt close to nothing, maybe 5 kicks a day at most. I was doing everything that usually works to get movements from her, pushing the belly, lying on my back, loud music, nothing was working. Nothing.

Being pregnant is scary. You're told how it's supposed to be, and if it's different than that it freaks you out. I was told by my obgyn that by this time I should be feeling her six times every HOUR! Seriously, I was starting to worry, a lot. It's the hardest because you can't just take a peek at your baby to know everything is fine, (that would be awesome if we could though. Have a little window on our belly, eh?)

So yesterday I finally called my doctor and told her my concerns. People, my doctor is the best. She is so understanding, patient, and reassuring. She told me to come in right then, and they hooked me up to a machine that recorded the baby's heartbeat and movements for a period of time.

We learned that everything is fine with baby, (whew!) and that she's just pretty mellow. I love this little girl, but I wish she were a bit more hyper. Maybe she just got Shane's sleeping habits?

Where'd My Husband Go?

I miss my husband. I hardly see him anymore. When we first got married we both got off work around 4pm everyday, and we both had weekends off. It was wonderful and we didn't realize how great we had it. About a year ago I quit my job, (long story, but it needed to happen,) and found a new one, but it doesn't pay nearly as well as my old job. So in order for us to build our savings before little baby Val gets here, we both need to work 2 jobs right now. That means we both work between 50 and 70 hours a week. . .

Sometimes our jobs are awesome and we get scheduled the same nights. Sometimes our jobs suck and we have complete opposite schedules. This week is an opposite schedule week. Shane works Monday night, Friday night, and Saturday day. I work Tuesday night, Thursday night, and Saturday night. We have Wednesday at least? No, the only reason we both have Wednesday off is because we have weddings to go to that night. Busy week. Sad week. Lonely week.

I hate when I only get to see my man for 30 minutes a day. What a bummer. Oh well. . . it could be worse. And we only have to do this until June. . . 3 more months. . . 3 more months. . .

Ready for an overload of lovey couple pics?

Gosh I love him! 

Crazy to Think About

Had my older brother not taken German in middle school, I wouldn't have taken it.

Had I not taken German, I would have never gotten a crush on my classmate.

Had I not gotten a crush on that classmate, I wouldn't have dated him two years later.

Had I not dated him, he would have never introduced me to his friend.

Had he never introduced me to his friend, we would have never become best friends.

Had we never become best friends, we would have never ended up dating.

Had we never dated, I wouldn't have become friends with his friends.

Had I never become friends with his friends, I wouldn't have hung out with them while he served a mission.

Had I never hung out with them, I would have never been taken to a movie night full of people I didn't know.

Had I never been taken to that movie night, I would have never met Shane.

Had I never met Shane, I would still be single and not married to the man of my dreams.

Funny how things work sometimes, huh.

No Photo Friday

I admit it, I like blogs a lot more when the posts have some adorable pictures in it. Sometimes it's just nice to skim the words and look at the pictures instead.

As you may have noticed, I don't post many pictures. I'm growing a human in my body, so you can imagine I am less than thrilled to be in front of a camera at the moment.

Pictures just aren't happening right now people.

The blog will remain boring until June when our little baby is here, then you can expect some overloads, because our baby is going to be photographed all. the. time.