pregnancy update: week 32-33

Week 32

Spent this week still sick, despite being on antibiotics. I started getting a terrible cough and it made my stomach contract so much each time and let me tell you, it hurt!

My acid reflux/heartburn started making a reappearance, along with minor backaches.

Baby boy is one active little dude! I love it though because it reassures me he's still in there doing good! Sometimes he jolts so much that my whole body sort of compulses. It kind of makes me laugh.

The heat is killing me, I feel like I'm living in a sauna!

My rib cage feels like it's been turned into a punching bag. It is so sore!

No contractions, braxton hicks or anything of the like (at least that I know of). Occasionally I'll get a short bout of pain/cramping but then it'll go right away. I think this is just round ligament pain?

I've been having a hard time sleeping, but I think that's due to being sick more than pregnant right now.

Week 33

I have elephant feet. Nice, big, swollen elephant feet :)

No stretch marks. But my belly has gotten BIG. I had another "growth spurt" this week. My belly button is slowly flattening out. My sister finds it hilarious for some reason haha

Someone had a dance party on my bladder one night this week. I'm not exaggerating when I say I had to get up and go to the bathroom every 15 minutes for an hour and a half. 

I sleep fine. I toss and turn but nothing like earlier in my pregnancy. I'm noticing with each day I get more and more tired as the day goes on. The evening hits and I'm ready to sit now and never get up.

No cravings. I'm just hungry. all. the. time.

I'm noticing there aren't quite as many kicks coming from him lately. He just "wiggles" around. We like to play hide and seek :) I love feeling around my belly and finding where he is. It's never hard. I'm pretty sure he is one big boy.

I'm finally feeling so much better. I still have a cough but I can handle that.

I'm a girl. And I'm pregnant.... which means there's definitely some emotions flying around and a need for some extra loving! Luckily Mike is on top of that :)

I have definitely had pregnancy symptoms/pains, but overall, I can't feel grateful enough for how well things have gone.

pregnancy update: weeks 23-31

Oops. Time to play catchup after my month-long vacation in California and being sick! I wasn't keeping track or writing down anything during the weeks so here's just a condensed, mashed-up version of some symptoms the past couple of weeks (two months!).

Weeks 23-31

 My back pains aren't as bad as they were! But I've traded it off for bad leg cramps at night.

My little boy hiccups like crazy! And moves, and dances, and does cartwheels, and kicks :) I wouldn't have it any other way. I love feeling (and watching) him move. It makes everything so much more real to know he is there right with me. It's a crazy (and amazing) feeling. He is one STRONG boy.

My four-year-old cousin came up with a nickname for my baby. "Me gunna call him dragon! He gunna be sooooo cute!" haha I love that little kid!

I started getting heart burn/acid reflux around 27 weeks. It's gotten better now thankfully and it's pretty much gone away!

I was on my feet for three days straight helping at Youth Conference while I was at home. My feet and ankles got SO swollen! Now I know why they suggest taking it easy when you're pregnant! My feet and hands are getting more and more swollen. I retain water to begin with so I knew this was going to be a little bit of a problem. My wedding ring is starting to get tight in the mornings and when I workout :(

I'm starting to feel the tiredness kicking back in.

My bump doubled in size over the last month! I'm starting to grow a basketball. Around 25-26 weeks it went crazy. I gained a few pounds and it grew a ton. I felt humungous. But I haven't gained any weight since then and I feel like I'm staying around the same size, so I'm starting to get more comfortable with my basketball belly.

I don't think I ever mentioned this before... one thing that has stood out during my pregnancy is how carsick I get. When I was younger I use to get it bad, but then it kind of just went away. It's BACK!

Baby boy is starting to smash my ribs and lungs... and they hurt! I'm really starting to feel the stresses and strains of my stomach, with everything moving around in there and getting a little cramped.

I finally got REAL morning sickness at 30 weeks, more than just a brief stint of it (or at least I think that's what it was ha). At least that's what I think it was. It started one night and I could NOT sleep at all and kept getting up because I felt so extremely nauseous. It continued the next day and all I wanted to do was sleep (which is what I did!). My whole body ached, I had a headache, I couldn't eat or drink anything, I was getting the chills... I just felt miserable. Thankfully it only lasted a day and a half. I'm so happy I didn't have that during the first trimester!

Week 31 was spent with no pregnancy symptoms! They were all washed out by being extremely sick. It's funny to me how I've had the best pregnancy except I keep getting sick-sick. Dang it low immune system. 

Some days this whole thing doesn't seem real to me. Other days I start to panic and can't believe that our baby boy will be here before we know it. But one thing is for sure, I'm so excited (and Mike is too!) that I could burst with happiness. Here's to a great big new adventure!

 

I think he was sticking his bum out for the camera or something :)

Yes - my bum and thighs are the recipients of a lot of the weight I'm gaining!

At the beginning of 32 weeks, I still look somewhat like the last picture. Like I said above, I doubled in size from 24 to 26 weeks and now have stayed around the same. I'm curious to see what the next "little" growth spurt is going to have me looking like!

trip home

I've been falling behind on life outside of pregnancy (although that is pretty much it lately). We hosted the MPSF conference volleyball championships and won [way back in April]! We earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and I went with the team to UCLA for the national championships [in May]. It was a neat experience being down there with them. I love those guys! Don't get me wrong, I love working with the football team but the guys on the volleyball team are incredible. They are always brightening my day! They are the friendliest and so accommodating to all my requests (even though I'm sure I drive them all crazy). Anyway, we won our Final Four match and made it to the National Championship, but unfortunately lost a hard-fought, and heart-breaking, battle. I've never seen a sadder sight that than guys. They worked so hard and deserved it, but still accomplished so much and had an incredible season. I couldn't have been more proud to work with them this season!

I got to spend a lot of time with these two superstars and they have such bright and promising futures ahead. You'll see Taylor again in the 2016 Olympics, and there's a good chance Ben will be teaming up with his former teammate once again! These two are the reason I'll be a lifelong volleyball fan. I can't say thanks enough to them for making my job so easy all year long.

Because I was already down in LA, I got to go home for a couple days (which turned into a lot longer luckily!). There is no place like home. Mike came out too. Whenever we go home we never want to leave. And always stay a few extra days :)

This perfectly describes us. Chad goofing off. Me drinking water. Steele being perfect. [actually, he's usually the one goofing off :)]

pregnancy update: week 19 - 22

Week 19

I'm starting to notice strangers staring at my bump! Like I mentioned in a previous post, I'm not the best at trying to "conceal" it so my bump is showing through my tighter shirts pretty bad.

I was talking with the people I work with and they were commenting on how small my bump is and I think they are crazy! I feel HUGE! Either they are just being nice, slightly crazy, or I just feel the changes more because it's my body.

After days of waiting.... I finally felt baby boy move! People described it as "flutters" and it's kind of true. As the week went on, the feelings got stronger and stronger. I absolutely LOVE it. It's always different times of the day that I feel him. Sometimes in the morning, sometimes during the day, and my personal favorite, during the middle of the night. {pretty please baby boy be a night sleeper}

The week was off to a great start in terms of being better about my exercising, and then I got a sinus infection! Terrible timing, especially with just getting back from being gone for 12 days. Of course I haven't gotten sick because of my pregnancy, I just get a "normal" sickness :) I was absolutely miserable and finally got an antibiotic. I hadn't taken any medicine since I got pregnant and I hated to take any, but I was desperate and got the ok from my doctor. I'm happy to report I'm much better now!

No cravings. The same foods sound good to me as before. I just crave food in general haha it's a rare moment when I'm not hungry. I'm just grateful soda has stopped sounding good to me! That was freaking me out for awhile. I'm back to my water-only and couldn't be happier.

My bump has been a little itchy this week {random}... and my back is still bothering me. I know it's a little early for that to be happening, and am definitely in trouble if this keeps up!

Week 20

HALFWAY THERE!

People say this is the easy part of pregnancy and that all the yucky symptoms should be gone by now. I definitely agree. Life is great! Besides the bummer of feeling big just in time for summer, I'm doing great.

I finally had someone ask me if I was pregnant - a friend I haven't seen in a long time. The baby is bumping and here to stay. It is crazy though how much it was changing from day to day (as seen in the pictures below).

I had my 20 week ultrasound and he was curled up in a ball with his feet over his head ha the technician was saying how flexible he was and my only thought was "he definitely doesn't get it from me!" He finally sprawled out and laid face down in my stomach. It was so neat to see all the organs and just how developed he is. He's a little person! I could stare at him all day. He weighed 1 pound, which the technician said was a big accomplishment (you go baby boy!), and while they aren't changing his due date because things fluctuate so much during pregnancy, they said there's a good chance he'll be early! I would love that! And so would Mike, especially since he always tells people I'm due the end of September anyway haha

All I want to do is buy baby stuff! I'm proud to say I haven't bought one thing yet though. I'm trying to hold out until we move, which will hopefully be within a month. It's killing me though. It's my nightly activity, looking online and deciding what I need and things I want to get. There is so much! I don't even know where to begin. I love getting advice from others because that's the best way to know where to start!

 I feel like Oct. 7 (or the end of September) is soooooooooo far away. But at the same time, I know it will be here before we know it (or at least I'm hoping!) I seriously cannot wait. I'm definitely nervous/anxious/scared and a whole lot of other emotions, but I couldn't be more excited. It's crazy how everything really does work out how it's suppose to. Mike and I didn't plan this, and were a little shocked at first, but now we couldn't imagine our lives without our little boy. It is perfect and we are beyond blessed.

See what I mean! My belly changes every day.

Week 21

I think my thighs might be getting bigger than my stomach. AHH! I'm gaining weight everywhere unfortunately, not just my stomach. Some days my belly is huge and others I actually don't think its too bad. I know I sound ridiculous when I say I'm big now, because I know I'm only going to get bigger and bigger! I don't have anything to complain about yet. If I think this is bad, I'm in for a rude awakening!

I've been much better about working out than I had been. Don't get me wrong, I feel terrible during because it's slightly depressing how out of shape I am compared to pre-pregnancy. But I constantly remind myself it's worth it to work out, even if walking makes me just as tired as running use to. Something is better than nothing!

I've always guzzled down the water, but for some reason, this week it's been more than every before. I can't drink enough. I'm talking by the gallons. There have been days that food sounds nasty and I just want water. Never thought I'd crave water more than I usually do!

All last week (20 weeks) I wasn't feeling the baby move as much as I was the week before, but he's back at it this week. I'm starting to feel more prominent kicks and not just movements. It's my favorite thing! They usually come really late at night or first thing in the morning so I'm laying in bed. Not the ideal timing buddy but I'll take it! Mike finally gave in and put his hand on my stomach to feel them. I think it kind of weirds him out :)

I have no idea what it was, but one morning I had the WORST pain on the lower left side of my stomach. I'm talking cramps X 100. I'm not sure if it was just some random thing or maybe Braxton Hicks? I don't know what I'm going to do when I have ACTUAL contractions!

I was sleeping SO much better throughout the night for awhile there but I've started to wake up again during the night. It's not as bad as it was in the first trimester luckily.

Another pregnancy "side effect" I'm having - congestion. I can barely breathe at night.

I've always had a high pulse, but being pregnant has sent it through the roof. I can feel my heart beat just about anywhere on my body.

Week 22

Michael has been cracking me up lately. He is SO ready to be a dad (even though he's going through a little bit of a "mid-life" crisis and wants to be a young college student again haha) He told me the other day all he wants is a friend. I kindly reminded him that I was his friend. He said "Nooo... I want a little friend. You're my big friend!" haha He wants our baby here :) Luckily our nieces moved back so he has them to play with. His cousin also has a little boy that has quickly become Mike's best friend. He pretty much stalks this little boy and begs to hang out with him! He also has a new little girlfriend.. our neighbor's daughter. I love seeing him with kids and am so happy to see how excited he is to be a dad! He's going to be the BEST.

Sleeping is starting to get a little hard. I just toss and turn a lot and struggle to not sleep on my back. My hips and back hurt because of how I lay.

The heat is on in Utah! I love the sun, but I will say I start to melt rather quickly with an extra person in me. I try to stay hydrated and cooled off because I start to feel a little sick when I get too hot.

I've had a great pregnancy, but really felt my hormones in overdrive this week. I was a tad bit on the emotional side and needed lots of extra love.

I get tired during the day, but have been able to stay up later (to my husband's complete and absolute joy!)

My stomach still itches me! I use stretch cream/lotion morning and night so it's staying moisturized.

No cravings still. Besides food. The smell of certain things is too much for me though and makes me sick. Mike bought these top ramen noodle things (it's some random kind with lots of spicy stuff in it) and I could not handle it.

Gone are the days when I look in the mirror and think, "Well, maybe I'm not THAT big." When I sit down it's the worst... hello belly!

My belly feels SO full and tight. I don't know how it's going to stretch more. It feels so full all the time.

He moves around AAAAALLLL the time!

Mike took me to Taylor Swift. It was amazing!

Mike's new girlfriend... I've been replaced!

He said he was "practicing" having a baby haha 

[I'm posting a little late - I'm only a couple days away from being 6 months pregnant! I can't believe it!]

pregnacy update: week 17 & 18

Week 17

My hair is a growing machine... add that my hair has always grown somewhat well, and that I haven't cut my hair since October (oops)... and it leaves me with hair that's almost down to the top of my butt. It currently comes all the way down to the bottom of the arch of my back. For someone that is 5'9, that's pretty long! It's time to get it cut trimmed :)

I'm not very good at "hiding" my bump. I just wear all my normal clothes and naturally they are tighter on me now. I wasn't a fan of baggy clothes before so I don't have any to cover up now! So... people are catching on that I'm pregnant. Granite they all knew I was pregnant already, but I've had a few people say they love my little bump.

I thought the above was true... until I went to lunch with my sister and she informed me that I don't look pregnant... I just look fat haha thank you Shelby!

I'm hooked on the animals they have at restoration hardware baby & child. It's bad. I think the elephants are to die for. Tell me you don't think these are amazing... they look so soft! [If you aren't a fan of elephants, they have plenty of other animals ;)] I'm having a little taste of the nesting phase already... I just want to go get a bunch of baby stuff! My mother in law got us a baby sweat outfit and a jacket and I almost started crying. It made it seem so real to picture a little baby in them!

Mike has been making me smile so much! He randomly text me this week and said, "I want to have our child already!!!"

My brother in law is on his mission and this week he wrote this in his email home to everyone... "I'm super excited for little ___. I think about him everyday. We will be close. I already love the little guy! (won't be little for long)" I got tears in my eyes. He is going to have some amazing uncles to look up to! [I took baby's name out for now :)]

The week started off not so great. Without getting into it because it's a long story, I tend to pass out a lot. Luckily, most of the time I know when I'm about to and I can lay down and it sometimes helps me to not and the feeling goes away. I haven't had that feeling for awhile until Sunday but it wouldn't go away like it usually does. I started to feel a little nauseous too and the room was spinning. After awhile I was able to pull it together and make it to church. I think it was a little warning for what was to come...

... Things only got more interesting as the week went on. I went to LA with the BYU men's volleyball team for its run at the National Championship. Our flight was really early in the morning so I was tired and hadn't eaten much. I can get a little motion sickness at times, so when I started to feel sick as the plane was landing, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary (although it's the worst feeling!) After I walk around for awhile I always start to feel better. This time I still felt a little off. We had to take a shuttle to the rental car and there weren't any seats so I had to stand (big mistake). I started to get the "I'm going to pass out feeling" as noted above and I quickly rested my head on the luggage holder I was standing in front of. Instead of the usual couple minutes it takes to actually pass out if I'm going to, the next thing I knew I was waking up on the ground. For those of you haven't passed out, when you first wake up you are so confused as to what is going on. It's never fun to wake up and have a ton of people standing over you freaking out either. After a second or two, you realize you passed you, are incredibly embarrassed, and if you're me, try to explain that you're fine and that it's not the first time this has happened ha I sat down for awhile, gained my composure, and got in the car to drive straight to UCLA for a press conference and practice. My day just kept getting better, and I got incredibly sick in the car. Thankfully, once we got to UCLA, I got some food in me and started to feel better. Mike was so concerned and called my doctor for me while I was running around, just to be safe and make sure the baby was ok, and we got the clear. The whole day was a little blaah feeling for me, but after a good nights sleep I was back to normal the next day. What an adventure!

Week 18

After my work was done in LA, I went home for the week. There is nothing better! I was able to relax but boy did I eat whatever I wanted! I don't eat big meals, but I feel like I'm constantly eating. I'm hungry a lot!

I've been able to sleep a lot better at night lately. I still wake up most nights, but I'm able to quickly fall back asleep. My trips to the bathroom have significantly decreased too!

I'm showing more and more by the day. There's not much hiding this bump. Every now and then I'll have a little double-take in the mirror and freak out. I saw a picture of me before and it definitely made me excited to get back in shape. But I'm happy to be growing because I'm getting a pretty big present out of it!

Note to self: Be in really good shape BEFORE you get pregnant. I just about die every time I go to the gym. Between not being able to breathe and my heart feeling like it's going to explode out of my chest, it's a little depressing.

I'm tall to begin with, and add a rapidly growing belly, and I'm started to realize just how important extra long shirts are! All my "normal" shirts are starting to get shorter and shorter on me.

When I was younger I use to get car sick a lot.... being pregnant, it's starting to come back a little.

I got another bad headache this week. But overall, they've gotten so much better than early on.

No food cravings really and there's nothing that sounds gross to me. I've noticed I've been liking cereal a lot, but I always have :)

I'm just hanging in there and getting more and more excited! I've had dreams about holding my baby boy and get so excited! I'm just a couple days shy of 20 weeks as I write this and can't believe that I'm almost halfway! Oct. 7 seems so far away but I know it will be here before we know it.
 

pregnancy update: week 15 & 16

We lucked out and got to find out what we are having when I was 15 1/2 weeks. The day before I finally let myself think about it all and I got so excited! I think Mike was ready for me to stop reminding him that we got to find out the next day :) That day we both I started to feel like maybe we were wrong and we were having a girl. EVERYONE thought we were having a boy, myself and Mike included. 

Mike was set on us going early (45 mins early to be exact). It gave us a lot of time to talk about it all! There were three couples in front of us. The first two found out they were having boys and Mike started to "panic." He had told me he would be happy to have a girl and that it would be fun. I knew he was a little biased about having a boy, but he did a good job of acting happy about either. While we were sitting there you could tell he was getting a little stressed though as the big moment got closer. He said "we're having a girl, we're having a girl." He reassured himself, "a girl will be great." He was convinced the first two families "took" the boys. Him and the other husband waiting joked that they were left with the two girls. The couple in front of us went in, and guess what they found out they're having... a girl :) 

People have been asking me non-stop if I preferred a boy or girl and I HONESTLY mean it when I say I had no preference at all. The more kids I have, the more I'll have a preference I'm sure, as I want a boy and girl at some point. But for now, I'm just happy with a happy, healthy baby. We walked in to the room and I loved seeing Mike so into it. He plays Mr. Cool with stuff but he's going to be the best dang dad in the world and is so excited. 

The technician showed us the baby first and I couldn't believe how big it was!! I'm such a nut and was worried on the way to the office that there wouldn't be a baby in there haha  I was worried that something had happened! But to my joy, the baby was DEFINITELY in there and growing very nicely. I had an ultrasound at 7 weeks because they weren't sure how far along I was, so to say the least, it was quite a difference! There is an actual human being in my stomach! Not some alien looking thing, but a real person. You start to realize more and more what a miracle pregnancy and birth are when you go through it.

Both of us knew it was a boy when she showed us the screen. She didn't even have to say it :) The next part is NOT an exaggeration... Mike GOT UP, jumped up and down, and screamed YESSS!!! I couldn't stop laughing! The poor technician was trying to take pictures of baby boy (who I can now stop calling IT and blueberry, and get to say boy!) but I was laughing and so my stomach was moving and it kept moving the picture on the screen. Oops. Mike immediately called his family on speaker phone and was freaking out. So much for being just as happy if we had a girl haha 

So I guess when people ask what I preferred, I should say boy... just for Mike's sake :) He wanted a little baby boy so bad and I'm so happy that he gets a boy to play with. Although... anyone that knows Mike, or knew him as a baby, will agree with me... I'm not sure if the world is ready for another baby Mike! When I was a toddler I LOVED puzzles and watching princess movies and Man from Snowy River (don't even get me started, so random but hey, I guess I really liked horses). I was so peaceful and quiet and just kept to myself. Well... let's just say Mike and I couldn't have been more opposite. I read books... he blew things up (literally, he blew up a man hole in the street).

We got to see baby boy's little fingers, toes and every detail of his face! We even got to see him "eating/sucking!!" He was opening and closing his mouth and it was the coolest thing. I still can't believe I have him inside of me. Mike and I agree, he's going to be a big boy! 

When we walked out of the room into the front of the office, they were having a prenatal class and it was really quiet. Well of course Mike was still high on life and calling everyone he knew to tell the news (and doing so quite loudly). Everyone in the class turned around, looked at him (while he was totally oblivious) and the instructor walked straight to me and asked me to tell him to take his phone call outside ha my sweet husband just couldn't have been more excited! I loved seeing him like that. I'm glad he shares my enthusiasm. 

Finding out what we were having just made everyone even more real. I can't wait to meet our little boy!!!

Week 15

I've turned into a paranoid mom already! I keep getting so worried about my baby and just want everything to be going ok and good!

It's crazy... My bump is a disappearing act. One day its humungous. The next day it's back to just being a pooch.

Slight headaches still. At least they aren't as bad as they were!

Slight stomach cramps and my back hurts a little... but honestly, I'm doing great. My body is changing and it's definitely different and weird, but compared to horror stories I've heard, I consider myself really lucky with how well my pregnancy has been going so far.

Baby boy, I can't wait to hold you in my arms!

Week 16

I've been waiting up around 5:30 am every day this week and have been having the hardest time going back to sleep. It makes for one very tired person!

Of course my first pregnancy "craving" is ice cream. So typical. I think I mentioned this before, but soda sounds so good to me too. Yikes! It just sounds so refreshing. I NEVER drink soda! I've been sneaking sips of Mike's drinks and it takes so good to me. What's happening?!

The bump is here to stay. I feel like it gets bigger every week day. I'm 17 weeks as I write this and it's a lot bigger than when I started week 16. I feel huge but others assure me I'm not at all. Maybe it's just me? Pretty please let it just be me! I was a little stressed about gaining weight too fast but I'm starting to embrace it. Grow baby grow!

I broke down and finally got a pair of pants with stretchy sides on them (J brand maternity jeans/pants... BUY THEM NOW! They are the best! They sit pretty low so I have to pull them up sometimes but I love them. They don't have a band all the way around, just on the sides, and they are the most comfortable things in the world. I have a feeling I will be living in these, well... forever.)  I still fit my pants but they hurt my stomach after sitting in them all day. I also have been rocking black leggings/stretchy pants (no they aren't the sheer leggings that look like tights). I'm such a baby when it comes to comfort. I love being comfortable!

I've been having a hard time not sleeping on my back! I always wake up on my back. Mike's body pillow isn't working too well!

I've been having a really bad stuffy nose at night. I read in a week-by-week book my sister-in-law let me borrow that it's pretty normal. Dang it.

No headaches this week!!!

On my way to work, hence the BYU polo shirt :)

pregnancy update: week 14

Week 14

I'm starting to have "cravings" more or less. Luckily, after awhile they go awhile so I'm trying to not give in! 

I've gained four pounds now... but definitely looking like a lot more. When I wear some of my clothes you still can't tell, but if it's even the slightest bit tight, you can see my pooch. My pants still fit, but I know one of these days I'm going to wake up and they aren't going to anymore. I'm starting to get more of a "belly" look rather than just looking like I'm getting fat. Wohoo!

I still haven't been the best at working out, unfortunately. I made it to the gym three times this week but need to push myself more [at least I can admit it]. Here's to another week of trying!

I had a couple bad headaches again this week. Pleeeeeease go away.

My lower back is already starting to bother me a bit. Dang it. 

I wake up a time or two during the middle of the night, but it's getting better. It's just hard to not sleep on my back. My hips start to hurt after awhile. Mike occasionally jokes about why I move around so much, little does he know how complicated it is not being able to sleep however you want!

I can tell I'm still sluggish. But at least it's better than it was.

I mentioned it before, but yes, I already have stretch marks on my chest. YIKES. Mike was so nice and ordered me a couple of cremes/oils/lotions. I started using them this week and really like them. Let's hope they work some magic!

Overall, I'm doing great. I feel very blessed!

reflections of christ

"One of the greatest consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company to us for our little version of that path - the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders and friends." - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

I am grateful for my Savior. He lives! He is the light, life and hope of the world.

life lately

This is Mike and I to a T! I could not stop laughing when I saw this.

Came home to shiny new boots that Mike cleaned for me!

I was a little bit on a glitter kick :)

The Valentines I made for our work party

Gwen's valentine's mask :)

Sky's adorable baby shower!

BYU's Pro Day. I couldn't be more excited for the big guy up front!

Senior night for BYU

Dutch babies with Steele

I love these silly brothers of mine

Birthday crepes with the birthday boy

My once little brother is 14 and as tall as me!!

February and March FLEW by this year. I found out I was pregnant and had a [23rd] birthday in February. My family came to visit this past week for Easter and General Conference and I loved having them here [although we out-number them in Provo now! My mom and Steele came to join me, Mike, Shelby, Trygve and Chad]. We had a beautiful Easter brunch in Sundance, my first time, and I loved it. My cousin had a baby blessing that day so we got to spend more time with family. Her little baby girl is so dang cute, and has a full head of hair! We had a great week and capped it off with Steele's 14th birthday! He is the joy and light of our lives! If you know him, you can't help but smile - which is something he is always making us do!

pregnancy update: week 13

Week 13

 Having a baby gets more and more real every day. I'm so excited. Some days I forget that I'm pregnant though. I look at pictures of what my baby looks like in my stomach and it reminds me that I'm growing a human being in me! I pray every day for its health and just want for everything to be ok!

We find out what we're having April 17!! AHHHH! I can't wait to know! It'll seem even more real when we know. Mike and I both feel like it's a boy, but more and more lately I think maybe a girl?? I don't know. I'm honestly not hoping for one over the other, I would be so excited for either. Both of them have perks for being first :)

Mike has been a trooper with being so nice to me. He goes out of his way to do little things and it means the world.

I'm back!! My energy that is. I still get tired during the day, but it's nothing compared to the past few weeks.

My bump grew a lot this week. I'm still in that awkward phase though where my bump is definitely there but you can't tell if I'm pregnant or just gaining weight. I struggled with it a little at first, but am embracing my growing self :)

I'm still wearing all my normal clothes, but I'm slowly eliminating pants that are just too uncomfortable when sitting at my desk at work all day. I struggle with buying bigger sizes because I won't wear them forever. I know I'm going to have to get over that one!!

I'm starting to sleep more consistently through the night! I have to FORCE myself to not guzzle down a water bottle or two late at night to keep the bathroom trips to a minimum, but it's helping!

I get really hungry, but there were a couple of days where food just didn't sound appetizing at all. Mike wanted me to go get us dinner the either night and it took me over an hour to think of somewhere that sounded somewhat good. And by the end of it all, I only ate a couple bites of mine because I didn't want it. My appetite is so hit and miss. I've more than made up for it the days that food does sound good. I've eaten out so much this week and waaayy too much with my mom here. I'm excited to get back to eating healthy!

I've been having back pains on occasion and am so itchy!

I've started using some oil on my stomach and chest and hope it will help me not get any stretch marks!

Another thing I started a couple weeks ago was re-reading the Book of Mormon and want to finish before baby blueberry comes. I used a reading chart calculator and my goal is to finish by Oct. 1. As everyone says, it's already made such a difference in my daily life.

(This was 13 weeks and 5 days)