35 weeks!

I can't believe in 2 weeks I'll be considered full term! Where the heck is time going??

I swear this girl had a big growth spurt in the past week! I feel her moving 10 times more than before, AND I feel like my belly looks so much bigger! Dr said she's measuring right on track and is already head down, what a good girl!

I am so anxious for Valarie to be here, it's not even funny! All the pregnant girls I know are one by one starting to have their babies, and I can't wait until it's my turn! We are 100% ready for her, all we get to do now is sit and wait. Hopefully she comes on her due date, if not earlier!

I am enjoying being pregnant a little, but I'm beginning to just feel over it. I love feeling her move all day, I love watching my belly grow bigger every week, and, I do admit, the special treatment from the husband is awesome! BUT I'm tired of being tired, only being able to sleep on my sides, waddling, and feeling feet in my ribs. Not to mention it's getting harder to work. It's really difficult to sit for 9 hours a day and then be constantly on my feet for 5 hours after. Thank goodness I only have two more weeks at my day job, and then I get to go to my night job only! (And I'm crossing my fingers that serving will naturally induce me.)

I can't wait until I'm working less, sleeping more, and am a mom!! 

34 Weeks!

Good morning!

 I hate Mondays, but at the same time, Mondays mean another week has gone by and the time until our little one comes has shrunk even more. I am 34 weeks pregnant as of yesterday! That is so crazy! I was looking at pictures last night and came across the one of my pee stick. I remember when I took the pregnancy tests; it seemed so unreal, it seemed like I would never ever be to the point I am today, and it seemed like June would never get here. June still feels too far away, but my due date is really only one month and ten days away. . .

I apologize for the "deer in headlights" look I'm giving. 

Why I chose to do that face, I have no idea.

I'm beginning to feel baby move on an hourly basis and it is awesome! If I could sit and just focus on feeling her movements all day long, I would. It's so incredible to feel her rolling around, kicking my ribs, and getting the hiccups!

Shane and I are so ready for this girl to be here! The nursery is done, the clothes are washed and organized, the hospital bags are packed, and the car seat is in the car. We have our birth class May 11th, and May 12th, my 37 week mark, we will begin trying to naturally induce labor. . . I don't want to hear about how that doesn't work and baby will come when she's ready, I already know all that. We really just want to do what we can to help pass the time. We're so insanely anxious for her arrival, I've never been so impatient for anything in my life!

I am so thankful that I have had a good pregnancy without any problems so far. With all the complications my sister had with her 3 pregnancies, I was convinced that something would go wrong by now, that I haven't been able to really enjoy being pregnant. I'm now at the point where I'm working on relaxing and enjoying the experience of growing a human in my belly. It really is an amazing thing, and I thank God every day for the opportunity to be able to do so.

Exhaustion

I just read the word "asteroid," as "a steroid." I'm officially exhausted. I've done this before, read easy words wrong, (I once read "nicotine" as "nye-so-tine," and it took me a good ten minutes to figure out what the heck it was talking about.)

You see, I don't sleep anymore. Once pregnant, you're advised not to sleep on your stomach at all, and to sleep on your back in the first and second trimester only. So once the third tri rolls around, you're down to sleeping on either side. Sounds simple and kinda easy, but it's really not. When you're restricted on how you can sleep, it makes you crave the way you can't sleep even more, (like when you try to restrict yourself of certain foods.) Not to mention rolling over is very difficult at this point in the pregnancy, so that really doesn't help any.

So here is how a typical night goes for this pregnant woman:

• I go to sleep on my left side, feeling fine because the husband rubs my back until I'm out.

• An hour or two later I need to roll to the right side, so I have to slowly sit myself up, (aching muscles and a big belly makes this difficult,) and then I'm able to shift to the right.

• Soon after shifting, I realize I really gotta go to the bathroom! I spend a minute or two getting myself out of bed, and then waddle across the bedroom, through the kitchen, and down the hall to the bathroom. I do what I gotta do, and then make my way back to bed.

• Once back in bed, it takes a few minutes figuring out which side will feel best to sleep on. I decide on a side and start to drift off.

• Soon after drifting, I wake up once again. This time it's because my upper back and chest are both aching and make it very painful to move, and I can feel a charlie horse starting. Most of the time I'm able to stop the charlie horse, but once in a while it attacks me, causing me to squeal in pain, waking Shane up, who then has to massage to calves until the pain stops. Once it's gone, I go back down to my left side and decide to just deal with the pain until morning, (which at this point isn't very far away.)

• I wake up one more time, but this time not from the pain, it's to check on the baby. I usually sit up and feel for movement, it usually takes about 10 minutes to get her to move for me, but once she does, I'm able to relax and I doze off one final time.

• Before I know it, my alarm is going off at 6am and I'm in tears because I feel like I haven't slept at all.

I really have a hard time believing I'll sleep even less once the baby is here. At least when she's here, it'll take 10 seconds to check on her, not 10 minutes. I'll be waking up just as much as I do now to feed/comfort her, so that won't change. I also won't have to wake up at 6am anymore and work during the day, so I'll be able to take little naps when baby does.

I'm ready for her to be here. Seriously. This girl is tired.

Heartbreaking

My insides are a little emotional today. All I've been able to do is think about a friend who's going through a real loss right now, my heart is truly aching for her. I was never close to her personally and have only met her once or twice, but I read her blog religiously and love following her on facebook. She's always been one I like to look up to. She's an amazing, spiritually strong lady who I feel so lucky of even knowing. Her blog has helped me to learn new things about myself and grow spiritually. She's done more for me than she knows.

My thoughts and prayers are with her on this incredibly difficult day, and will be for many days to come.

Thirty-Two and A HALF weeks!

I will be 33 weeks pregnant on Sunday, what?!!!! Where the heck is all the time going? My due date is creeping up fast, and I feel like there is still so much to do!

My baby shower is on Saturday, I'm pretty excited to see my family and friends and spend time with them. I haven't been the most social person lately, so it'll be nice to catch up with those I haven't seen in forever! I'm also excited for after the shower because Shane and I are going to do an intense amount of shopping. Our goal is to buy everything we feel we still need Saturday, so that we can be completely done with the shopping by the time the weekend is over! Can it be done in one day? I sure hope so! I've made a list, compared prices, and revised the list several times! I've talked with friends who have recently had babies to find out what they do/don't use, and do/don't like. I'm ready for a day of shopping!

The nursery is almost finished! We weren't able to paint, so we've been doing what we can to make it adorable. We just have a few more things to do and it will be complete!

My biggest craving lately are frozen green grapes. I've gone through four bags of grapes in the past two weeks. They're so delicious, I pretty much eat them until I feel sick.

Pregnancy is starting to hit me hard. My feet are getting tired easier, I have to pee a lot more, (and the urges come out of nowhere!!) my back aches like crazy if I'm sitting for longer than twenty minutes, and I'm starting to swell a little. I was hoping I'd be one of the lucky ones who don't swell, but nope, the wedding ring has come off. It's sad, I feel totally naked without it.

I'm still working the two jobs, but I'm closer to 50-55 hours a week instead of up in the 60's, which has been nice. And Shane doesn't work nights anymore so we actually have more than one night together now!

Speaking of Shane, he just got admitted into the U! He's registering for his classes this week, and is hoping to have his Bachelors by Summer 2014. I'm so proud of him and happy that he made the decision to go back to school! Especially because it means once he gets his Bachelors, then it'll be my turn to work on mine!

Cadbury eggs, yummmm! I may or may not have a pocket full of them at the moment. . .

I guess yesterday was national siblings day, or something like that? I didn't really get the memo in time, but I just wanted to say how much I love ALL of my siblings!

My oldest brother Eric is pretty much the smartest guy ever and I'm so lucky to have him. He gives great advice and has always been willing to help me with homework, (when I was in school, anyway.) He is also extremely patient! The only time I ever remember him getting mad at me growing up was when I wouldn't give my Nintendo 64 controller to our guest because I didn't want to stop playing, haha.

Marci has always been a great big sister, doing my hair for me and teaching me how to do makeup. She's always been one I look up to and can go to with anything. She listens to me and shares a lot of the same opinions, we're more like friends than sisters. We've had our arguments, but they've never lasted long and usually always ended with us laughing about how ridiculous the situation was.

Jeffrey and I didn't get along very well when we were little, but now that we're older we share a lot of the same interests and we get along great! He's also pretty much the coolest guy I know. Seriously. He can play the drums, he's an amazing dancer, he does these awesome light shows, oh and his hair rocks. He's fun to hang out with, I wish we'd hang out more!

Brooklyn is my best friend. She's just the best little sister ever! We got really close a few years ago and have stayed close since. We've gone to concerts, movies, shopping, had sleepovers, done makeovers, made videos, and we talk about absolutely everything. She's a lot younger than I am, but you'd never know it. She not only looks older, she acts it too. She's also hilarious and super fun to be around! Since getting married it's been a little more difficult to find time to do things together, but I'm hoping that once she gets her driver's license we'll be able to hang out more because we'll be able to drive to each other, not just me to her.

I love all my siblings so much, I would do anything for them! My family would never be the same without all of them, each one brings something different and awesome to the family. We're all so different, but it makes our family work. They're all the coolest, most amazing people ever, and I'm so lucky they're my siblings!!

St. George!

This past weekend Shane and I were able to take a little vacation down to St. George. Originally, we had tried planning a trip just the two of us, but with the hotel it seemed to be just a bit too expensive. Shortly after we decided we couldn't afford it, my parents told us they were going down to St. George for a weekend and were going to stay at a friend's condo. They invited us to come with, so we had to accept!

We left Thursday after work, arriving at the condo around 11pm. Shane crashed very quickly, I stayed up and visited with my parents for a little while.

Friday we went to Gunlock lake to see the beautiful waterfalls. . . unfortunately, there wasn't enough rain this year and all of the waterfalls were dried up. Bummer. We then went to Swig, where Shane got a tiger's blood shaved ice, and I got a mango bubble tea and a cherry limeade diet coke. It all was so amazing!

That night we went to The Pizza Factory for dinner. Mmmm, it was delicious! After dinner Shane and I went swimming with Brooklyn, (my little sister,) and her friend Bella. It was a lot of fun, and really relaxing!

Saturday we got some frozen custard from Nielsen's Frozen Custard, and then we shopped at the outlets. Later Shane and I went to dinner, just the two of us, to Outback Steakhouse. We got a bloomin' onion, (and may or may not have eaten the whole thing,) and then Shane got a salad and I got grilled salmon. It was expensive, but super worth it.

Around 11pm that night, we all decided to play some games. We played Mad Gab, (mom was way too good at it,) and a game called Headbandz. It was a great way to end our vacation!

Sunday came way too fast, we were so sad to leave the warm weather and beautiful views. We're so in love with St. George, it was so depressing to say goodbye.

It was a perfect weekend and a great last vacation baby-free! We really appreciate my parents and them letting us crash their vacation and stay with them, we wouldn't have been able to go any other way. We really love my family and enjoy spending time with them!

And now for pictures. . .

 On the drive down, (we were so excited!!)

 At Gunlock where the waterfalls were supposed to be.

 The huge bed we stayed in.

 The family room, with Shane napping on the couch.

The kitchen!

 On our way to Pizza Factory.

 One for Shane, one for me, one for baby! ;)

 Mom photo bombed us.

 And then BOTH my parents photo bombed us.

(I have the coolest parents!)

 Saturday morning.

Nielsen's Frozen Custard!

Shane tried cookie dough and I had to have maraschino cherry!

 Our bloomin' onion from Outback Steakhouse.

It was amazing!

Brooklyn and Bella.

 Mom and dad.

 Us of course!
(Shane looks kinda crazy in this picture. . . hahaha!)

Sunday morning.

Our not so cute sad faces!

This Man I Call My Husband

Ok people, I just have to tell you something. 

I am so in love.

My husband is amazing and does so much for me and Valarie. I am so grateful for him, for everything he's done for our relationship, and for everything he continues to do. He is one of a kind, he really is! How I was able to snatch him up and steal him from every other woman forever first I have no idea, but I am so happy I did and I'm so lucky he's mine!

Shane is hilarious. He has the best sense of humor and he knows how to make others laugh. His jokes are about as random as they come, so random in fact, that sometimes I have a hard time understanding them. That just makes them even funnier though. He's also huge on prank calls, he's my jokester. 

Shane is such a creative guy! He's able to take something simple and turn it into something awesome. See that duct tape band? Yeah, he makes those and has been for years, (before duct tape was considered "cool.") He's can make pretty much anything on a wrist band, I am always so impressed with how amazing they look when he shows me the finished product!

Shane truly is a kid at heart. He plays with action figures and nerf guns, he watches cartoons, he listens to kid music, and he plays with kids willingly, (my nieces adore him!) While your man is watching The Walking Dead, mine is watching Phineas and Ferb. He has yet to grow up, and honestly, I hope he never does. He's so much fun to be married to, and he's going to be the most amazing dad to our children!

Shane's love for the gospel is stronger than anyone else I know. (I know he doesn't look happy in the above picture, but I promise you, he loved his mission. It really was the best two years of his life.) He keeps me going when I feel like I can't anymore, he motivates me to be a better person, and he has the strongest, most amazing testimony! I am so happy I married a man with such a love for Christ and the church. He has helped me become closer to God than I have ever been in my life. He is an amazing man. 

Shane definitely keeps my life interesting. Not only is he a sleep walker and talker, but he comes up with the goofiest ideas everywhere we go. Sometimes I'm hesitant to follow through with his ideas because they're a little too crazy for me, but he almost always does them and I love that about him! He's not afraid to be himself anywhere he is. He's a funny, funny man!

Shane loves me. I can tell by the way he talks to me, looks at me, and acts with me. He's never once said a bad thing about me and refuses to let anyone else if he's within ear shot of them. I've never once doubted his love for me, and I love that. I've always been insecure, but with him I just don't have to be. I trust him, I love him, and I know he would never do anything to hurt me, just like I'd never do anything to hurt him. 

I love my husband. I really love him so much. I love spending time with him, and I love getting texts, emails, notes, and calls from him. I love being around him, I love the way he makes me feel, and I love who I am with him. I am so happy I get to spend eternity with him, I wouldn't choose to spend it with anybody else. He's an incredible man, he's MY incredible man. 

Frustration of the Day

I am so happy I'm pregnant, I really feel so blessed that I'm able to do such an amazing thing, and I do feel for those who struggle with conceiving, (I'm not trying to make anyone feel bad or think I don't appreciate being able to get pregnant.)

I am not complaining about being pregnant, I know I'm lucky and blessed that I can do such a thing.

I just feel a little bummed at the moment is all.

I hardly feel my baby. I can feel a little movement a couple times a day, but for the most part I don't feel much.

Knowing so many pregnant women right now I can't help but compare how my pregnancy is going to theirs. (I know, comparing is never a good thing, but I just can't help it!!) I feel like they've all been feeling their babies since 18 weeks and they wake up to their babies going crazy and can't sleep and can't sit comfortably because of them, etc. I just started feeling mine a little while ago, but it's only little pops, and has never been uncomfortable, (besides occasionally sitting in my ribs,) been so hard they hurt, or kept me up at night.

Baby is just too mellow and sitting too far back. I want her to be hyper, I want to feel the little stinker more! And everything I try to get her to move doesn't work.

Not caffeine or sugar.
Not loud music.
Not flashlights.
Not pressing on and poking my belly.
Not cold water.

I guess I just have to wait until she's born to really start enjoying all her little movements. . . .