33 Weeks

I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy has flown by!  As of TODAY I can say we are having a baby next month.  :)  I figured I better write a few things down before I forget it all in the bliss of what everyone promises will follow when I forget all miserable aspects of this and decide to do it again!

Ryan:
- from the very beginning Ryan was infatuated with the idea of us having twins.  I had 2 dreams of him sitting in the back of the car with a bottle in each hand and car seats on both sides of him.  I was very relieved to see only one little person on the ultrasound!  He asked us how twins happen, and after we explained it as best we could he said "SO... someone cracks an egg in the mom's belly and 2 babies fall out?"  We explained it a little better, and a few weeks later he and I were driving and he was quiet in the backseat, and all the sudden said "You know, if you had really wanted twins, you could have just shooken yourself up and made 2 eggs fall out!"
- He asked me last week if I were getting "a little freaked out about the baby being born."  I told him I wasn't, and asked if he was, and he said yes and that he was glad he didn't have to be there.
- Every night when he says his prayers he asks that our baby and Chelsea and Marcus's baby can both grow and be healthy
- Ryan came up with our top name by suggesting early on the name "Thor."  When we told him that was a great dog name but not a baby name, he said "Then Theodore, and we can call him Thor."  As Theodore has grown on us Ryan has changed his preference and calls the baby Theo.

Nate:
- from the very beginning Nate told us all it was a girl.  He came home from the store one night with little girl booties and said he just knew it was a girl.  I didn't have any inclinations, but as Nate insisted it was a girl I started believing it.  When we had our 15 week ultrasound and they said it was a boy I almost asked her to check again!  Afterwards when I talked to Nate about being wrong, he said "Well I figured I could be right or I could be pleasantly surprised!"
- he has been the most supportive husband I could ask for--cooking, cleaning, and last Saturday he got up at 7 am to cut up fruit for my baby shower.  As long as I provide lotion and a towel he will rub my feet at night and doesn't complain about my tossing and turning all night.
- he fans me with his clipboard all through Sacrament meeting since the chapel is roasting.

Me and Baby:
- I felt him move for the first time at 16 weeks 1 day.  We were on our way to the beach in Southern California on our family vacation.  I wasn't sure what it was, so didn't say anything, and felt him again the next day in line for Indiana Jones at Disneyland.  It felt like a muscle twitch to me, but for the rest of the trip I felt him almost every day.
- My worst pregnancy symptom has been carpal tunnel.  I started having numb arms and hands around 20 weeks so started sleeping with braces which helped a lot.  It's getting quite a bit worse now and I can't wear the braces because my hands swell up during the night.  I'll be glad to have this issue go away!
- 33 weeks was a huge turning point in how much I feel him, how obviously I know where each of his body parts are, and how clear it is he doesn't have much more room in there.  This past Sunday he was kicking during Sacrament meeting and Nate pushed his hand against his little feet.  It only took about 5 seconds for Nate to get a swift kick--don't squish me dad!
- The only cravings I ever had were for Mexican food and Orange Fanta
- The worst first trimester side effect was how moody and crazy I felt all the time.  It was far worse than the morning sickness and something I was totally unprepared for.

The nursery is coming along, my ward spoiled me with a fun shower, and I'm not sure how many more baby items we can fit in our house!  We are so excited to meet this little guy!

IT'S A BOY!!!

Last night we had our ultrasound at Fetal Fotos and got to determine the gender of our little peanut!!!  It was so amazing to watch him wiggle, kick, spin, wave, and touch his face.  He is a busy little thing and it was hard to get him to hold still long enough to get a good look.  Nate had us all convinced it was going to be a girl, so I was shocked when she said "HE!!"  He has perfect little fingers and toes, a hummingbird speed heart beat, and such a cute little curved spine.

It is so amazing to me the miracle that this is.  Just a short 4 months ago he was only a spirit, and now his body is being built, and that somehow, I get to be a part of it.  I cannot imagine how I am so blessed to be housing this precious soul for the next 5 months.  And I cannot believe how intensely I love him.

I have never seen Nate so proud as when she said it was a boy.  After several references from the ultrasound tech to his "little parts," Nate had to speak up with "Can we please go easy with the word little?!" He has been so incredible to me the past several months--letting me sleep, sending me for pedicures, making our dinners, and cleaning our house.  He has been a lifesaver and I've never heard a complaint.

I loved watching Ryan see his brother for the first time.  He was shocked and I think a tad disappointed that it wasn't a girl.  Then he got nervous this new one would want all his toys.  But then, as the night wore on, he just got excited.  He was so cute asking questions, pointing things out, and laughing at the ultrasound tech poking my belly to get little man to move.  I accidentally referred to the new baby as a little Troll, and Ry looked up at me like I had slapped him.  I felt so bad!  Ryan will forever and always be my Troll.  I know this new addition will be a big change for him, but he is so sweet and caring and kind that I know he will be just fine.

We haven't been able to come up with any boy names we love, but Ryan has been telling everyone we are naming him Theodore so his nickname will be Thor.  He definitely does not have mom's sign-off on that one!
Ryan has been really curious about twins, and why we aren't having twins.  We have a neighbor expecting twins next month, and he has been fascinated with it.  We explained to him that women have an egg that becomes a baby, and sometimes 2 eggs come out at once, which makes twins. Then Nate said "Sometimes only 1 egg comes out, but it splits in half and forms 2 babies."  Ryan thought for a minute, and then said "So someone cracks open an egg and 2 babies fall into the mom's stomach?!"  I love how his mind works--I could see him imagining making brownies, and cracking open eggs...

He let it go for a week or so, and then last weekend, out of the blue, he said to me "You know T, if you had really wanted 2 babies, you could have just shaken yourself up and made 2 eggs come out!"  I had to explain to him that women aren't like salt shakers...  :)

I have definitely started showing and my jeans are officially not fitting.  I have still been feeling good, just an occasional bout of nausea here and there.  I went skiing last weekend and for the first time felt like there was something there--like I couldn't crouch as much as I wanted to.  They tell me I could feel him as early as next week, and I can't wait!   I'm starting to feel more energy and like I can finally tackle some projects, which is nice.

9 weeks, 15 weeks

We can't wait to see our little man continue to grow and see him again at our 20 week ultrasound!

A New Baby!!!

We are thrilled to announce our clan is growing!  Our little baby is due August 17, 2014 and we could not be more excited.  This week we had our first doctor appointment where we got to see the little thing.  I wasn't expecting an ultrasound at this appointment, so when that little baby appeared on the screen with its fluttering, beating heart... words cannot express the joy I felt.  I'm so amazed at the miracle it is and am so excited to meet our little bug!

At 10 weeks I am feeling incredibly blessed.  Besides the expected tiredness, being able to smell ev.er.y.thing, and a little nausea here and there, I have been lucky enough to not have been terribly sick.  I can feel my body changing and am afraid I am going to start showing sooner than I would have expected. 

Ryan is excited to be a big brother and even more excited that he doesn't have to keep it a secret anymore! 

 

Christmas 2013 (picture overload)

We had such a fun Christmas season!  I finally finished my advent calendar, and we filled it up with fun Christmas traditions.  Our month of December was full of Christmas baking, outdoor ice skating, Christmas Tree hunting, seeing lights, decorating Gingerbread houses, and just spending time together as a family. 

 

The day finally arrived!!!  The whole family slept over at mom and dad's where Old Saint Nick found his way down the chimney to deliver Christmas Magic.

Happy Holidays All!!

Sealing: Bountiful, Utah LDS Temple

October 26, 2013 will go down in history as one of the happiest days of my life.  It was a beautiful fall day, perfect temperature, and the Bountiful Temple grounds were stunning with their fall leaves against the bright blue sky.

We got to the temple and I will never forget watching Ryan walk up to the recommend desk with his recommend, so proud and happy to be there.  I worried he would be shy and nervous, but he felt right at home as we walked him to the youth center to wait for his turn to participate.  He settled in right away and Nate and I went to take care of the paperwork and get ready to be sealed.

Words cannot express the feeling of love as we walked into the sealing room with just my parents, grandparents, siblings, and best friends.  The Spirit of the Lord is so strong and I was filled with complete happiness.  To be with my family, sealed together for time and all eternity, in the holy temple was an amazing experience.  I will never forget the warmth of Ryan's hand, on top of mine and Nate's over that holy altar as we were sealed as husband and wife, mother and father and child, as a family throughout the eternities.  I am so grateful for this blessing in my life.

As we got in the car, Ryan  said "So, how was crying in the sealing?"

Tough to keep emotions in check on a day like today.

Baptism Day!

On August 31 Ryan was Baptized and Confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!  We had such a great day with family and friends.

I'm so proud of Ryan and Nate and have loved the journey we have been on over the past year.   Elder Endicott and Elder Ahwering were able to be there on Saturday and it was so fun to catch up with them and have them be part of our celebration.  I will always be thankful for their missionary service!

Ry chose taco salads for lunch and we had a feast--thank you to Sue, Chelsea, Katie, Elise and LaVerna for your yummy contributions!!  We are so blessed to have so many people who take good care of us.

Ryan got to share his favorite scripture in Sacrament meeting the next day and he did so great!  I'm so proud of him--Love you Ry guy!!

A Day At The Lake