Mile 23

39 weeks today!

I  am doing pretty good. I am just about ready for this baby to come out. The other day my sister-in-law was chatting with me and we were saying how I was at mile 23. Mile 23 in a marathon is one of the hardest times. You are almost done, and yet still have 3 more miles to go. Your body has had just about enough and usually by then everything is telling you to stop running. But when you make those last 3.2 miles you feel amazing and the pain slowly goes away. =) 

Things are getting a little more uncomfortable. The heat is really killing me especially at work, I am glad that it's cooler outside or I might be more miserable. She is much lower now and putting more and more pressure on my bladder and everything else down there. I have found my appetite. I don't realize I am hungry till I start eating and then I am starved. 

 

9 months has gone by quickly but also slow. I am so grateful that this pregnancy has been so great. No complications, minor aches and pains and overall pretty awesome. There is a lady I work with who is also pregnant and she is always getting sick and feeling awful. But she does have short labors. So maybe I'll get stuck with days of labor. That's ok I'll take it. 

Here's hoping something happens soon! 

Valentine's Day and 38 weeks pregnant

Happy Valentine's Day! 

We had a pretty low key Valentine's day since it's my favorite holiday we kind of celebrate all week long. For the actual day we went to lunch at Olive Garden hoping that it wouldn't be as busy, it was pretty busy but not too crazy. I had fun decorating my house with some other Valentine decorations and making fun packages for my nieces, nephews and family. I remember when I was a little girl I had an Aunt who sent us fun Valentine cards with 5 dollars , candy, or stickers in them. 

Justin was so cute and came home from work with a haircut and all dressed up nice cause he knows that I love a man in a suit. We just hung out at home. I ended up falling asleep at 9:30, I had to get up for a work meeting at 6 and had been busy all day so by then I was pooped. We are party animals. I told Justin it's a good thing that we are already homebodies cause after having a baby I am not sure we'll be going anywhere soon. =)

It was a good day and week. We got lots of love from family and each other. I really love the Batman one my sister sent Justin. It even came with a cool magnet. We got some fun news that my sister is expecting a baby in August! I have to say that I was thinking that she was either thinking of being pregnant or working on it last time I saw her. =) Love you Carrie! So that was fun. 

Justin was too funny and he can never keep a secret so he gave me my Valentine's presents early. He got me Taylor Swift's new cd RED. Which I think is so funny because he just makes fun her all the time and I mostly just sing along to tease him. I actually do like her and the cd is pretty good, he just makes fun of me when I get all into singing along. He must have been in a Taylor Swift mood because he also got me her perfume. Which smells really good. 

I also had a Dr.'s appointment on Valentine's day. Everything still looks good with baby. I got checked to see if anything was going on and I was 50% thinned and 1 cm dilated. For those who don't know it means that my cervix which needs to get all thinned out for the baby to come out is halfway there. Then the dilation is how big I am for the baby to come out. It needs to be at least 10 cm more or less for a baby to come out. So kind of exciting to have something going on. I haven't felt much different lately or feeling any majorly strong contractions so it  was cool to know what was going on. It was not a pleasant experience by any means so I am hoping I can keep those down to a minimum. 

I have to work this weekend and a few more times before my next appointment and then depending on what is going on I may have my Dr. do something to start Labor. Kind of crazy to think it could happen so soon. I am pretty strong in nothing happening for a while. But we'll see.

It has been a great week and filled with so much love and kindness. I love Valentine's to share that love with all you know. Something is just happy about cutting out hearts and sending someone a love note. I felt very loved by my husband and family. 

Called to Serve!

   

   It was finally the day for Sister Stoddard to report to the MTC on February 6th! We all got together and spent a few more hours with her before she headed off on her next Grand Adventure. Here are most of us at my brother's new house, hence the awesome whiteness of it all. =)

We picked up Grandma and went down to Lehi to meet up with the rest of the family. We took as many pictures as Suzanna would allow. 

Yay for sisters! These girls are my best friends and Natalie and I are going to miss Suzanna a lot but at least we still have each other for a while. 

Grandma Lu and Suzanna.

Suzanna with the parents.

We got all together and then went to lunch at Cafe Rio in Lehi. While there I think we saw two or three different sets of Elders, someone headed to the MTC today and also a set of sisters. It was a hopping place for missionaries. We said goodbye at the restaurant since only one car can take her to the drop off spot. She didn't look nervous or sad and I think we all did a good job of not crying. 

We are all going to miss her a lot but we are so proud of her. She has such a strong testimony and desire to serve the Lord that it would be a shame to keep her to ourselves. She will stay at the MTC for two weeks then head off to the California, Roseville Mission. 

Good luck Sister Stoddard! We love you and look forward to seeing you in 18 months!

Baby Shower

So....this past weekend my wonderful in-laws threw a most spectacular Baby shower for me. They put in so much work with all the yummy food, cute decorations and organization of it all.

It was surprise party! Justin told me that we were going to over to his mom's to help his sister with something then going to movie. When we got there everyone was already there and surprised me! It was a surprise and fun to see all my family and friends. It was so springy with bright colorful flowers and girly colors everywhere. I even had a special decorated chair to sit at and a corsage type thing that struggled to stay on. =) It was lots of fun to visit and to open so many presents. My little girl will be very well diapered and styled. =) I felt very loved and special, especially with all the effort Justin's family put into the shower and their gifts. I knew they were excited but not that excited. =) She'll be one loved little girl.

Justin's sisters worked on this decoration and I loved it! They did a great job, even down to the big bow on the baby's head. =)

Home checking out the stash of stuff. Justin's Aunt Maria made all these cute decorations out of things you can use like diapers, bottles, blankets and other baby stuff. She made some really cute ones and it was fun to see what she used in them.

A motorcycle with a super soft lamb on top. My niece liked playing with that.

A little bassinet type thing, the white blanket is so soft and fluffy. I love soft things so I really liked that one.

A cake and tower of diapers! They were so cute and I know they took quite some time to make since it took me a while to take them down. =)

Me at 36 weeks. So excited.

This is more of how I feel lately. =)

Things have been going well actually, the only thing that has changed as of late is some occasional pelvic pressure ( TMI I know sorry). I have been feeling the pregnancy heat more and more, I take my blankets on and off during the night. One lady asked me if I'd been out in the sun and I just told her no I just am always flushed lately. =) My feet have been getting a little more swollen, not crazy just more, I would have a little after working but now it's there no matter what. It makes me a little nervous due to my nursing knowledge but everything else is good so then I try not to worry about it.

I now go to the Dr. once a week which makes the time go by faster. I went this week for my 37 week appointment and we talked about getting induced or not and labor stuff. It got me a little nervous just that it's getting so close! Next time I go he'll check me and see if anything is happening and we'll go from there. I keep telling my baby that she can't come out yet not until I am done working on the 26th. =)

Work is going pretty good. I am still able to do everything and help where I can. They have changed my hours so I do two days a week 1-9 instead of 3-4 days a week from 5-9. It's been good so far and I do like not having to go to work so many days during the week. Almost every lady patient asks me when I am due so that's fun. I just have 7 more days of work till I go on leave so hopefully they go by fast. Things are good and just checking days off the calendar and staying active. It will come before I know it.

January Recap

So I know that I have been slacking on the blog lately. Firstly....nothing has been happening, second I've been a little more preoccupied. =) Anyways, we had a good January. We made it through it! I told myself if I can make it through January then February will be a breeze and baby will be here before I know it.

The funnest part of our January was Justin's Birthday. We celebrated all weekend with a family party on Friday, friends on Saturday and then my family came by on Sunday. It was fun to spoil Justin a little and be able to let him do whatever he wanted to on his birthday( hence getting a big t.v.=) ). He does so much for me so I was happy to do it and let him know just how much he means to me.

My birthday present to him was a get him a sport coat. So we went looking and found one that he liked. He now tries to incorporate it into every outfit. I mostly let him unless it's a little bit silly and he does that just to tease me. He likes to get all fancy dressed for church just like his grandparents, it's a latino thing. Lately he's been tying his tie is cool ways just to see if anyone notices.

Besides that not much went on in January. We just tried to survive all the snow storms and stayed inside away from the bad air. I am glad that it's getting better lately. I am glad that it's done and that February is going by quick. There are a few more things to look forward to like Valentine's Day and mine and Jyana's Birthday.