Life These Days

Currently I am 38 weeks and 2 days along in my pregnancy with baby girl #2. We are getting super anxious to meet this little one! My body has been giving me some signs that labor is near...but I sure wish it could start right now! At my appointment on Monday, the doctor gave us great news that labor is imminent! I'm dilated 3+ and fully effaced. She even said "I'll be very surprised if you make it to your appointment next week! If you have contractions consistently for an hour, get yourself to the hospital. Nobody will turn you away with a cervix like that!" Haha! I like that response! So we got super excited, kicked it into high "nesting" gear that day and got things ready. Kevin's mom got here yesterday afternoon, so we are ready! Anytime now baby...anytime! Seriously, let's get this show on the roa.! I am so ready... I keep getting disappointed as the hours tick by and I haven't gone into labor. I know I'm still early and really shouldn't get my hopes up, but it's hard not to when you get news/"permission" like that from your OB. Plus, the nerves in my legs have sure had enough! Baby girl will move her head in my pelvis and it will make the nerves in the front and back of my legs seize up and cause excruciating pain, usually while I'm trying to walk. It's great fun! :) But in all honesty, I'm really going to miss being pregnant. The miracle of growing another human life inside me, feeling her move, get the hiccups, stretch out. It's all so miraculous and wonderful! Plus, we are only planning on having two kids, so this is my last time being prego. Sad... I'm going to miss those tender moments when I'm lying in bed feeling my baby kick, just the two of us. 

As for Maddi, she is starting to feel stressed, I think. She's been a little more defiant and clingy. The past few days she has been playing pretend that she is a baby, needing extra care and attention. I think she will adjust well, it will just take time. She is super excited about babies right now, and pretty much has to maul every baby she encounters. It's quite cute! In primary two Sundays ago, her teacher had her one year old with her and Maddi couldn't leave her alone. Good thing that baby has 4 older siblings and is used to it! 

Currently Kevin is on spring break. It has been GLORIOUS having him home! Maddi has sure loved the attention too. We are truly hoping (and praying) that baby will come during spring break. It would sure be nice to have Kevin around to help us adjust a little after the birth... And that way he won't be extra stressed and feel even more stretched between school and family. 

Speaking of prayers, I received a priesthood blessing last night from Kevin and the missionaries. It was wonderful, and gave me a lot of peace. I was told I would have the courage and strength I need to get through labor. And was told that my Heavenly Father is proud of me and happy that I am bringing another spirit into a good family and home. It was very special and made me cry a little. And the spirit was very strong. Kevin even said that that was the first time while giving a blessing that The Lord truly took over and put the words in his mouth. He never even thought about the second part of the blessing at all. He felt his mouth forming words he didn't even think would come out. That was really neat! I have such a strong testimony of the restored gospel and the power of the priesthood. It has brought so many miracles and such peace into my life! 

And now for pictures: 

Playing with the flag

Having a lazy night out :)

Being goofy, watching a movie together

We got all dressed up and went on a "mommy-daughter" date! 

Getting pedicures on our date! 

I love this girl!!

Date night!! 

First tap class!

Fun day at the park! 

Savannah GA

It's been a little longer than I had hoped since I last blogged... I'm wanting to keep this at least weekly! So, here goes, better late than never! 

My mom was in Savannah GA this past weekend attending a class for her work. I couldn't bear the thought that my mom was so close to me and that I wouldn't see her... So we left after church on Sunday and made the 3 1/2 hour drive to see her! She was super generous and got us a room at her hotel that night. Then, we all went out for a walk along the river and had a wonderful seafood dinner :) She seemed very happy to have us there, and we sure were as well! We went to a candy store after dinner and got some treats (and Maddi got spoiled of course) and then walked along the shops for a bit. Then we just hung out in the hotel until Kevin took Maddi to our room to go to bed. My mom and I hung out in her room and watched 2 hours of Downton Abbey together. It was great! I had no idea she was into that show. It really was so nice to be with her. We only stayed briefly, unfortunately. The whole thing could have been planned and communicated better and we could have spent the whole weekend together, but it was still worth it to me to spend the 24 hours there that we did. She had the next morning off, so we got up, had an overpriced hotel breakfast, and then headed out to explore the town. Unfortunately for us, there was a parade going on and we couldn't get to the historical sites we really wanted to see... So we went shopping on market street where my mom bought the new baby a quilt, and then drove to Tybee Island for a brief beach visit. Maddi was in heaven! It really was a blast! After that we had to hurry and check out of the hotel and send my mom off to her classes. It was a tearful goodbye yet again, but I am SO glad we got to go. It took a little convincing to get Kevin on board Sunday morning, but begging works :) He just wished it had been planned better so we could have spent more time to make that long of a drive worth it. I wish we could have too. I had to teach primary on Sunday and since we had been gone so long prior to this, I didn't feel like I could just call a sub last minute. I should have done it on Friday and left that night... Sigh. At least I had one unexpected day with her :) 

Nap time on the way to GA :)

She loved this statue on market street! 

Giddy, as the saying goes "like a kid in a candy store!" Spoiled little thing :)

Having a total blast at the ocean! Tybee Island

I regret not taking more pictures of our small adventure, but I do like the ones I have! I sure miss my mom already. Can't wait for the baby to come so we can have family out to visit :) oh, and of course because we will finally get to meet our new little girl! 

First Day of Primary!

I can't believe my little girl is so big already! Today was her first day in primary... she has graduated from nursery. I am currently serving in primary, so I was able to observe her during sharing/singing time. She did ok... Had she slept better and woken up happier this morning I think it would have gone a little better. She sometimes is super tender and cries when she hears music that sounds "sad" to her. So, at the beginning of primary she started crying when the piano was playing "I love to see the temple." I mean, full on bawling, with big alligator tears! I finally went and comforted her when she wasn't calming. Then, she learned she could come run to me (on the other side of the room) and ask me for things. I think I will have to leave my bag gum and treat-less from now on. It was too much of a distraction. Hopefully the next few weeks will just get progressively better! 

I'm continuing my 365 project for Maddi. It's really making me think and have to get creative. I mostly just want to make sure I document her little life and personality, even if I miss a few days here and there. I'm also trying to be better about journaling. I hate when people ask "do you remember when..." one of my nieces or nephews did something cute, and I can't remember it. I don't want to have that happen with my own children. 

Tuesday January 7th

Friday January 10th. My obsessively clean eater!

Friday, riding "Marlin" her horse :)

Saturday January 11th. Eating her "fravorite" food: watermelon! 

Saturday: drying her hair with the heating vent :)

Sunday January 12th. She finally let me pull her hair up after it taking several minutes to convince her it wouldn't hurt. She sure looks cute, my little lady! 

As for "squirmy", she is growing and progressing well! I will be 31 weeks tomorrow. She is approximately 3 pounds and 15 1/2 inches long now. She loves to stretch out and push/kick hard! I'm hoping this doesn't mean she's a super busy and active baby... I need a chill baby this time! No colic please! And please, please squirmy, be a good sleeper! Mama sure needs a good sleeper for a change! 

New Year 2014

I've never been one for resolutions. I'm terrible at them. I just take one day at a time and try to always become a better me. But there are a couple of things I want to get better at for myself and my family, and writing things down is definitely how I remember! So here goes: I want to be better at journaling and blogging. I'm usually pretty good at journaling, but definitely need to be better! No less than once a week. And blogging, I've always been terrible at. That one I definitely need to improve. Because it's like journaling but with pictures, and one day I want to print off all my posts and have them put into a book like I've heard other friends do. Next, I want to be better at getting things done promptly. No more procrastination! And I also want to be early to everything. No more tardiness! (Kevin will really appreciate the last two). And the last one I can think of right now is to do a project  365 of Maddi. She is growing so fast and I want it documented. I hate when I forget the cute little things she does. Here is what I have so far for 2014 Maddi 365: 

Technically this was New Years Eve but it's where I want to start :) This was taken at her best friend Ruby's house. 

New Years Eve watching fireworks light up her face at my parents house :)

Dinner at Nana's on January 1st

Finally playing in the snow on Thursday January 2nd :)

Friday January 3rd with Ruby

Happy her daddy is home from work. Friday January 3rd

Sunday January 5th. Fighting sleep on the plane ride home to SC

My sweet little princess so happy to have her bike. Tuesday January 7th. 

Jamming with her daddy :) Tuesday January 7th

Fall Break!!

Last weekend we took a much needed break and went on a little vacation to Myrtle Beach. It was amazing!! We stayed at a hotel on the beach which was so nice, and all we did was eat, rest, and go to the beach! I cannot tell you how amazing it was to be alone, just our little family of 3, and have an adventure. 

This was Maddi's favorite thing to do: run on the beach and chase the birds! 

Awesome family picture!! I love Maddi's face here :)

Cuddling after playing in the ocean

                           So fun!!

                    My little explorer 

Getting washed off after the beach. We still always managed to take gobs of sand to our hotel room! 

                   Happy Autumn!! 

We went on a giant Ferris wheel called The Sky Wheel. Maddi LOVED it! 

Then we walked on the boardwalk and ate fattening food and a blue slushy

Deep fried cheeseburger. Not recommended! We all went to bed with tummy aches!

On our last night, we went to Rioz Brazilian restaurant and stuffed our faces with amazing food. Then we went to the aquarium! 

Maddi's baby sharks had to ride the moving walkway :)

Petting pond. She wouldn't touch the animals...

                          Jellyfish

Rock climbing wall in the adventure room for little kids 

She sat down toward the end and just started watching a titanic documentary by herself :) 

Watching a skink getting a drink with his blue tongue. 

It really was such an amazing adventure! I am so blessed. I have the best little family. Here's to many more adventures! Including the addition of our next little love in march :) Only two more weeks until we find out what we are having! I can't wait to see my baby on that ultrasound screen! 

Motherhood

I hate to admit that in the past I may have slightly judged the stay at home mom role... I'm definitely not proud of this statement, but have to admit it if I am to move forward. Now I am a stay at home mom. It has been an incredibly difficult adjustment for me. I worked up until I was (literally) in labor with Maddi and then went back to work part-time when she was 3 months old. I then worked full time from age 2 until August 31st of this year. It was NOT easy and I complained a lot. I wanted more than anything to be home with my girl. Now that I have it, I don't like it?? That can't be right... I've been trying to wade through all my feelings and thoughts. I'm trying to embrace it. I think some of the problems are: I am still adjusting into our big move, I am a full-time babysitter for another little one year old and don't get the quality time I would like with my Maddi girl, I have no activities to do with Maddi like park and aquarium and zoo visits, and all my friends (who are also home) are in Utah-2000 miles away. I'm homesick. That's for sure! I wanted stay at home mommyhood 3 years ago... Now, it's just lonely. I know it's super important. I know I'll embrace it eventually. 

This little girl is my world!