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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

My Own Parking Space

The lead custodian at the building I work at dropped by my office today. She said that her and some of the others working in the building saw me walking to my car “looking very pregnant” the other day. She said they are going to be putting out a cone in one of the parking spots close to the building. That way I don’t have to walk as far.

Early Christmas present to me! I was so thankful for this. Especially once it starts to get cold.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Winter of the Orange

This Summer all I wanted to eat was fresh tomatoes. Not from the store, mind you, they had to come from people’s gardens. One night for dinner I ate 8 tomatoes with salt. It was awesome. The Summer of the Tomato has passed.

Now on to the winter of the orange. I have eaten 2 oranges today, and I will probably eat a few more before the end of the night. I like orange juice, but not as much as I like just a plain old orange.

Want to know what to get me for Christmas, or maybe even a baby shower? A box of oranges or clementines.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

About Being a Mother

My perspective on what kind of mother I’d be has changed a lot since I was a little girl. I never was the type of girl that instantly replied “mother” when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. I always said things like, teacher, or writer, or for most of my life, lawyer.

When I was in high school, I determined that I didn’t want to be a wife and mother, and I’d much rather be a politician. Part of me felt that way, but mostly I was making up for some insecurities I felt about just not being good enough for that lifestyle.

When I got to college and starting dating seriously, I realized that the mother dream was something I really did want. More than a career, or even heaps of degrees and education. When I got married I had dreams of staying home to raise a family.

Now that I’m getting close to actually having a family, things have changed a little. I don’t know when I’ll get to stay home with my family, or if I ever will. Daniel’s medical condition combined with his choice of career makes it difficult to forsee when I won’t need to work in order to keep current health insurance.

At first, I really struggled with this. I had grown up thinking that it just wasn’t possible to raise a family properly if the mom wasn’t home. Now I’m going to be one of those moms that just isn’t there all the time. Daniel and I seem to have worked out an arrangement where he will be home most of the time, while taking a few mornings a week for school. I am grateful that at least one of us will be able to be home with the baby all the time, but at the same time, I feel guilty because it’s not me.

I have a lot of fears about being a working mom. I want to breastfeed, but I know it’s difficult to keep a good supply when you are working full-time and having to pump most of the time. But, my biggest concerns are about the attachment I’ll have to my daughter. Will she know that I’m her mom? How many milestones will I miss out on? Will she think that I don’t love her as much as other moms who get to stay home all the time?

I am sure that most of these fears I have will be resolved once the baby is here and we’ve worked out a routine. And, I know that everything will work itself out, even if the situation isn’t ideal.

Friday, October 30, 2009

23 Weeks

I’ve only got two more weeks until the magical 25 weeks. That’s when the baby will have a good chance of survival outside the womb.

I’m feeling pretty good. My pelvis pain has subsided significantly, and the morning sickness is gone. I still throw up every once in awhile for no apparent reason, but I don’t have the nausea anymore.

Last week I got some fantastic deals at a consignment sale in Spanish Fork. Since I’m returning to work, I won’t be able to breastfeed like I’d really like to. But, I got a fantastic electric breastpump for $100. I really want to try pumping for as long as I can.

I also got a baby tub for $1, a Baby Bjorn carrier for $10, and a little play floor gym thingy for $7. It was definitely worth my while to go.

Daniel still hasn’t felt Abigail kick. There is this strange phenomenon where she’ll be kicking up a storm and then as soon as he puts his hand on to feel, she stops.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

22 Week Ultrasound

I had my 22 week ultrasound this morning. I’ve got some cool pictures, and It’s really fun to see how much she’s grown over the last 6 weeks. I’ll scan them and put them up later. But, basically, she’s measuring totally normal, and she’s definitely still a girl.

Also... this weekend my sisters and I finished a valance for baby’s room, and some pillows. I haven’t decided if I’m going to put up pictures yet or if I should wait until the room is totally done. I will leave it to your discretion. If you’re dying to see pictures, let me know. If not, then I’ll just wait until the whole nursery is done.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren, and Firsts

Abigail is pretty lucky, she gets to be the first at a lot of things.

She is going to be our first baby and our first girl. (As a first myself, I have to say that having girls first is the best).

She is going to be my parents’ first grandchild and granddaughter. Still not so sure how they feel about it. (I think my mom thinks she’s too young to be a grandma, whatever). Daniel’s parents have 10 grandchildren. (I think... I can’t really remember off the top of my head, and it’s too late to actually count). However, there hasn’t been a girl in a few years.

She will be my grandmother’s first great-granddaughter. There are already two great-grandsons.

And, I read that the baby can probably hear my voice now. I’ve started reading “Great Expectations” to her at nights when she’s most active. I thought about reading small books like Dr. Seuss or something. But, then I realized that she wasn’t going to understand anything I read, so I may as well attempt to infuse some culture. And, maybe she’ll understand young just how good her life is.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Exciting Projects

Because I’m lucky enough to work for the Federal Government, I get Monday off for Columbus Day.

I’m working on a couple projects for Abigail’s room. I spent all last week being nervous about having nothing done for her room. (Not that she cares at all). Yesterday, I spent the afternoon painting furniture. It looks terrible. I was only able to get the first coat on yesterday, so I’ve got to do more on Monday.

I also ordered the cute polka dot fabric online yesterday. I just took the plunge and did it. I spent all day yesterday at fabric stores looking for something like it, and I couldn’t find anything. So, hopefully I get it in the next week or two so I can start buying other things to match it.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Experiment in Domesticity

So, I found this crib bedding online and fell in love with it. But... it’s over $300 for the set, which is more than we can afford. In a stroke of luck, I was able to find the exact same fabric used in that set for $8.50 a yard. So, I’ve decided to try to sew it myself. And by myself I mean that someone has to help me. I can’t even thread my machine.

Also, I think I’m going to go with a different fabric than the paisley... we’ll see.

This weekend I’m going to paint my crib white. And try to get it into the nursery.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Pardon my absence

Sorry I haven’t updated in awhile. It’s been a crazy few weeks and I haven’t had a chance to really sit down and write something. Daniel was diagnosed with brain cancer and was in the hospital for a week. Then we came back and I was tired, and anyway, that’s what happened.

So, we’ve decided on a name for baby girl. Her name is going to be Abigail Claire. I think I explained my reasoning for these names in a previous post, but in case you don’t remember, here is where her name come from.

Abigail is for Abigail Adams. Because she was an amazing woman. I read David McCullough’s book “John Adams” and was totally enthralled. The HBO miniseries was fantastic as well. What an amazing family. And it all worked because Abigail was smart, strong, and caring. People have asked me if we will call her Abby. I said no, because I never heard Abigail Adams referred to as Abby. But, if others want to call her Abby or if she decides when she’s 3 that she is Abby, that is fine. I won’t lose sleep over it.

Claire is for my late great uncle Clarence. He passed away earlier this year. He was a wonderful man. He always cared so much about me and my family. He was really like a grandfather, even though he was more distantly related than that. I thought it would be a nice way to honor his memory. And, his birthday is February 14. Which is only 11 days before my due date, so totally something that could happen. But, either way, it’s the same month.

Also, I’m wearing maternity clothes now. Well, kind of. I’ve got two pairs of pants. I like them, but I don’t think most people can tell I’m pregnant still. And I’m 19 weeks. I’m hoping that this means I’ll get back to pre-pregnancy size easy.

And, perhaps most exciting, Abigail is definitely an active little girl. I can feel her moving pretty much all the time now. It’s really really cool to feel. Daniel hasn’t been able to feel her yet, but that will probably happen in the next 3-4 weeks.

We get another ultrasound on October 21. This will be the ultrasound to take measurements and make sure everything is normal. I’m really excited.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Woohoo!

I had a great day today. I woke up feeling pretty good. After I had breakfast, I felt like I could take on the world.

Daniel’s dad came over to congratulate us on the ultrasound. We hung out with him for awhile, and ate some lunch.

Then, I did some shopping! I’ve been really excited to start decorating for Fall. So, I went to Joann’s Fabric and Craft in Spanish Fork and bought a bunch of supplies for a beautiful Fall wreath. I also went to Macey’s and did some major grocery shopping. By that time I started to get a little tired, so I came home.

Puppy and I listened to the BYU game. (I think really soon we may be getting cable so I can start watching the game). I also assembled my new wreath. It looks really cute. I just poked all the elements in so I can change it out for Christmas.

I sent Daniel out to Smith’s to get a few more things. (They were part of the caselot sale, and I just couldn’t lift all the cases). I’ve bought some things for smoothies that I can make at home. I just wish I had a bigger freezer for all my things...

One thing I’d like to start doing is have big cooking days once a week. Then, I can freeze the meals or parts of them to use throughout the week when I’m too tired and lazy to cook dinner. If you’d like to join me for a cooking party some week, let me know!

Anyway, that was my day today. No throwing up. I had a little nausea before dinner, but it had been awhile since I’d eaten. So, overall a good, productive day.

Friday, September 11, 2009

It's a Girl!!

So, most of you have already read Facebook, Twitter, or received a phone call or text. Because it’s just too darn exciting for me to keep it in. I’ve been keeping the baby thing a kind of secret from the general public for 16 weeks now! And I’m not a secret keeper!

Here are some photos from our ultrasound. The one at the top is baby’s face. One day it will be cute. Right now, it’s a little skeleton like and scary.

Anyway, that ultrasound was totally worth it. As I was driving back to work afterwards, I was looking at the pictures. (Okay, chill out. I was at a stoplight. Totally safe.) I was looking at all the cute little body parts and remembering watching her swim around. And I thought for the first time in awhile, “You know what? I can do this.” Yeah, the sickness sucks, and it’s still hanging around. But, I’ve got a cute little girl growing inside and she’s worth it. I can’t wait to meet her.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Back to Square One

I spoke too soon about having some relief. The progesterone poisoning was back in full force today. I took a sick day yesterday. I am so grateful to have a job that is flexible enough for me to take some rest time when it is really needed. I really do feel taken care of by my employer. Everyone in the office is concerned about my health.

One of Sen. Bennett’s staff came into the office today to see how I was feeling. She knew I had taken the day off yesterday. Unfortunately, she came in right after I’d had an “episode” so I was really pale and teary-eyed. She was very kind and said she hoped I felt better. I told her that lately I just felt really burdensome to those around me. (My husband, family, friends, church, work, etc). She said, “Don’t you have visiting teachers or someone that can come by and help you with things when you need them?” I said that sadly I wasn’t assigned any visiting teachers, and I didn’t feel really comfortable calling on people to do things for me.

But, I think the biggest down thing for me is just that I really do feel like such a burden. I can’t go to church and teach the sunbeams, so I leave my team-teacher high and dry every week. Daniel has been doing all the cooking and cleaning pretty much since week 6. My job has been flexible, but I’m just not putting in the effort that I’m used to. I flake out on visits and get-togethers with friends and family because I’m just too sick to travel 20-30 minutes in a car.

I know this can’t last forever, and I keep praying that I can have a more positive attitude about this whole experience. I’m hoping our gender ultrasound goes well and that I have a little more to look forward to in this pregnancy.

Thanks to my little handful of readers for all your support. You guys mean the world to me, really.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Foot in my stomach

So, I’m pretty sure I’m feeling some kicks and such. But yesterday I had a really wild experience.

I was feeling some pretty intense pressure about an inch below my belly button. It was almost like someone was pushing at my belly button from the inside. So, I put my hand on the source of the pressure and to my great surprise I felt a totally hard lump.

Since I’m still losing weight, 90% of the world can’t tell that I’m pregnant. My belly isn’t hard to touch normally. So, I have to wonder, was this a head or foot that I felt in my abdomen? After I poked it for about 30 seconds, it disappeared.

5 more days until we get our gender ultrasound!!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

New Clothes

It’s been a pretty good while since I’ve been shopping. I didn’t buy any new summer clothes, and I’ve been doing well about saving money.

Well, the time has come to invest in some new clothes. Mostly because I can hardly fit into my old stuff anymore.

So I bought the above pictured pants at Forever21.com. They are fantastic! They have an elastic waist and are totally comfortable. And they were $13.50. I got them in the mail today and I was so happy. I don’t think I’ll ever wear anything else again. I just wish they had more colors. (Mine are tan, btw, not black)

Monday, August 31, 2009

The Pregnancy Glow

I think this one may actually be a myth. I had three people make the comment today at work that I looked pale. This was of course true.

I spent most of the night getting kicked in the abdomen by a superhuman fetus. Although, I didn’t actually feel it, if that makes sense.

I’m still looking to that 15 week mark as my light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t know what I’ll do if I’m still sick then.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Trimester 2

And... 14 weeks is here!

I still feel lousy. But, I think I’ve discovered that I have to eat every 2-3 hours. And can’t ever skip. It’s really frustrating, but it seems to be curbing the worst of the nausea.

Pretty much everyone at my job knows about the pregnancy now. We had a staff meeting with everyone, and almost all of them asked or commented about it. They were nice and accommodating of my inability to do things like repeatedly bend over, standing for long periods of time, and lack of appetite.

Tomorrow I’ve got another appointment to hear the heart beat. I’m always glad to have confirmation of the baby inside.

I *think* I felt the baby move once this week. I am constantly feeling weird stuff in that region, but I did feel something different on Tuesday. It was deep in my pelvis and almost felt like a muscle twitch. There were about 4 of them and then they went away. I haven’t felt it since. Who knows.

My belly is getting bigger. My pants don’t fit very well at all anymore. And, I do look chunky. Although, when I was at Camp Williams this week one of the women asked how far along I was. I said 13 weeks and she said, “Wow, you’re tiny!”

One more week until the gender ultrasound and the inevitable Facebook announcement. I’m pretty sure that most of my friends that are making Facebook announcements now are due after me, which gives me a strange sense of satisfaction.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

The OMH Moment

I always say “Oh my heck,” when something is surprising. I’m very Utah in that way.

So, I had a OMH moment when I went to put on a pair of pants and they were seriously hard to button up. Now, I have this totally skewed view of my body and I never know if what my perception is is actually correct. Lately I’ve felt HUGE! But, I’ve gained like a total of an inch around my waist and lost 12 pounds. (Go try and figure that one out). Plus, everyone who knows about the pregnancy has been saying, “You haven’t changed at all!” And, the people who don’t know, haven’t asked.

I suppose that should be confirmation enough. However, I give you a picture. You tell me, do I look fat? :) btw, I know it’s pretty grainy, but that’s all I had energy for today.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Mountain View or Utah Valley?

I’m trying to decide which hospital to give birth at.

Yes, I am having a hospital birth, with an epidural. And no, I won’t watch “The Business of Being Born,” or any other material you may have on the dangers of hospital births. If you feel comfortable having a baby in the same bed, tub, couch, whatever that you use every single day, then go right on ahead. (rant over) (and “you” is directed at no specific person)
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Anyway, I have two options that are close. Mountain View Hospital is about 5 minutes away, and still in Payson. It’s run by Mountain Star, and I know that my brother Samuel was delivered there. Basically the pro’s to Mountain View is that it’s close. Con’s are that I don’t know much about the hospital and whether it’s any good for delivery.

Utah Valley is in Provo and is about 25 minutes away. It’s run by IHC, and I was born there. I know lots of people that have delivered there and I think their experiences have been good. Pro’s are: I like IHC, I was born there, and I just like it. Con’s are: It’s far away and I don’t have any real concrete reasons why I like it.

Looks like I’m back to where I started... Dang it.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Sneezing?

So, I’ve been sneezing like you wouldn’t believe the last few days. I thought maybe it was allergies (despite the fact that I’ve never been affected by them before). Well, a quick Google search led me to discover a wonderful condition called Pregnancy rhinitis. Basically 20-30% of pregnant women get it in their first trimester. You get sneezing, nasal itching, congestion, the works. It lasts for about 6 weeks.

It’s a wonder anyone gets pregnant.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

TP Tuesday and Midweek Checkup

Well, yesterday I was 8 squares again... I feel like I’m getting fatter. But, apparently I’m not. Ha ha ha!

Okay, two ups:

Well, it’s really just one big up. I told my boss today that I am pregnant. Well, bosses. And, they were both very excited and nice about it. My apprehension really was for nothing. And, I’m pretty sure that the whole work thing will figure itself out.

On that note, I just found out that I get 4 weeks paid maternity leave! I thought I was getting 12 weeks unpaid. But, apparently, 4 of those will be paid. This is great news.

Two downs:

I think I need to have a spittoon with me at all times. I am producing so much extra saliva. It’s nuts. And I hate it. I hate having it my mouth, and I hate swallowing it.

Still no appetite, and no digestion to speak of. Today for lunch I decided I really wanted a sandwich. I got about two bites into it and realized that I definitely didn’t want it. Daniel got to eat it for dinner.

That’s it for me. Tomorrow is week 12! Except, I can’t figure out something. Is it the end of my 12th week? Or is it the beginning? I can’t remember!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Midweek Ups and Downs

I find it’s easier for me to blog on a regular basis if I have some kind of set routine. So, Wednesday will be my “ups and downs” days. I got the idea from the Pregtastic podcast. Every week the preggos talk about two things that are going well in their pregnancy and two things that aren’t going so well.

Ups:

I got a killer deal on a bassinet at a yardsale on Saturday. $5! I couldn’t believe it when I saw it, and I knew I had to have it. I took it apart and washed everything, and it looks so darn cute.



Also, I’m finally able to make it all the way through work now. Usually. The nausea medication seems to be working for the most part. And, I heard word that my boss is going to be in town next Wednesday. So, I’ll definitely tell him then. And then we can do a nice little Facebook announcement. But, I won’t be announcing the blog for awhile due to the privacy of some individuals. (wink)

Downs

I’m not super down with the fact that nothing tastes like it’s supposed to. Chicken is totally blah right now. Water is gross unless it’s got something like Crystal Light in it. Makes the whole drinking tons of water thing really hard.

Still don’t have a lot of energy. And, just a general feeling of not being myself. I get home from work and turn into a total slug. Poor Daniel picks up all my slack. But, I hear that in the second trimester things improve a lot. Definitely looking forward to that. And Christmas.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Happy Graduation

Today our little Poppyseed has graduated from an embryo to a fetus. Yay!

Daniel and I were able to hear Poppy’s heart beat at the doctor’s office today. He said, “Now, don’t worry if I can’t find it, that’s pretty normal at this stage.” But, almost immediately when he put the doppler on, we could hear it. It was so cool! I’ve heard some people say that they’ve cried when they first heard it. I didn’t cry, I laughed. Yeah, mostly because it was just really surreal. It definitely made the whole being pregnant thing more real.

And, in other good news, I got a prescription for my nausea. The doctor was sooooo unbelievably nice, I didn’t have to beg at all. I’m really hoping it makes working a little easier.

At this point, I’m just about ready to publicly announce my pregnancy. I’m just waiting for a good chance to let my boss know the news. (I figure it’s only fair to inform him in person.)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Having My Baby

I think everyone thinks babies are cute. I am certainly one of those people. However, I like to observe babies from a distance.

As the oldest of five kids, I helped care for my brothers and sisters. I liked holding them, and playing with them. (Not so much changing them). When I got to be a teenager, something changed. I didn’t like to hold babies. I always felt nervous that I’d make them cry and be unable to comfort them.

Even now, I’m fine holding and taking care of babies, but it’s not comfortable for me. I always feel uneasy like I am doing something wrong. Or, that the baby is going to know I’m an impostor and not its mother.

One of the things I am looking forward to is having a baby of my own. One that knows that I’m its mother, and wants me to hold it. Babies in the womb can start hearing at 18 weeks, which means there is about 22 weeks of hearing lots and lots of me. How exciting!

Toilet Paper Tuesday

Here’s something fun to lighten my morning sickness mood. Every week on Tuesday, I’ll grab a roll of toilet paper and use it to measure my tummy.

Today at 9 weeks I’m 8.5 sheets around. Yay!

Later this afternoon I’ll be going to see the doctor for some bloodwork and medical history. I am pretty sure I’m going to ask him for some nausea meds. Then I should be close to my normal self again.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Trip to Denver

This past week I had the opportunity to go to Denver to learn about the wonders of CMS, which is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It’s a big part of what I do at work, and I am guessing that isn’t going to change anytime soon.

Monday before we left, I felt awful. I couldn’t hold anything down for more than 15 minutes or so. I knew it was going to be a great trip. Southwest Airlines was extremely gracious, and recognizing my plight, allowed me to pre-board, guaranteeing me an aisle seat near a bathroom. Luckily, that flight was incident-free.

I made it to every event at the conference that pertained to my work. Afterwards though, I just slept. A lot. Most times Daniel had to bring back take-out. He’s so good like that.

Thursday, we flew back. That was a nightmare of a trip. The woman at the security counter was seriously taking 5 minutes to analyze each driver’s license picture. Then, when Daniel and I got to the counter I put my ticket and ID on her stand, she went on to the next customer. I said, “Have you already checked my ticket?” She said, “Were you with him?” I said, “Yes.” She said, “Oh, I didn’t know.” And then went on to the next person. It’s not like we were in a hurry, we were 3 hours early. But, I wasn’t feeling well and needed to sit down. Stupid lady.

Southwest let me pre-board again, and the stewardess was extremely friendly and kind. She kept bringing me extra bags, and cleaning up without any complaint. She even brought me cold wet towels to put on the back of my neck. I was so appreciative.

Now I’m home, and I’m contemplating my next step. Do I bring up the nausea to my doctor next week? I’ve been taking Unisom and Vitamin B6 every night, plus eating small meals all day long. It only seems to be working about 50% of the time. Is it time to try something a little stronger? If I have another week like last week, I’ll be very sad. I feel like a failure at work, and a no-good slug at home. I can’t seem to find the energy or strength to get anything done. I just hope this goes away soon.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

8 Weeks!

Oh man, each Thursday is better than the last. After staying home from work yesterday, I was able to make it through most of the day today.

So, here’s what’s happening at 8 weeks!

Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

That baby may be small, but it’s certainly doing a lot. I’ve got two more weeks until my next appointment where we’ll get to hear the heartbeat. I’m really excited. And, I’ve heard a lot of these terrible symptoms go away at 13 weeks. So, I’ve got about 5 more to go!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Everything Smells

Man, do I feel crazy! There are a few things that I thought were “myths” or “overreactions” about pregnancy. Morning sickness was one. The other is sensitivity to smell. My mom used to complain about this and I thought she was nuts. But, everything smells. I can’t go into the kitchen most days. They are re-roofing the courthouse where I work, and it reeks of tar all the time. The other strange thing is that water smells really fishy. Which is sad, because I love water.

I was eating a frozen juice bar, and about halfway through, the bar tasted like metal. I asked Daniel to taste it, and he said it tasted fine to him.

I know this is probably really inappropriate for me to say this, but I can’t wait until the second trimester.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

XX or XY?

When I went in for my first appointment, one of the nurses asked if I wanted a boy or a girl. I said, “I don’t much care, as long as it’s healthy.”

And, I still feel that way. Basically, I waited a long time for this to happen. I know it makes me sound like a whiner, and a year isn’t that long for some people, but it really was a trying time for me. I had pretty much made up my mind that having children of my own just wasn’t going to happen for me.

So, I guess I feel a little bit surprised when I just don’t feel attached to this baby. When all I’m feeling is sick all the time, and nothing else, it’s really hard to get excited. I haven’t heard a heartbeat, so I really don’t have proof that anything is happening in there. It’s been a real struggle to not go out and buy more pregnancy tests just to make sure.

I’m hoping that once I hear the heartbeat, and then find out the gender later, I will feel more attached.

And, to answer the first question, I change my mind over what I prefer every single day. Somedays I really want a girl, because I know I’ve pretty much got the name down. Other days I want a boy so that Daniel can take him camping, hiking, and on other boy adventures. Either way though, I’ll be happy with whatever I get.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Week 7

Besides the morning sickness being in full swing, I’m doing pretty well. I may be one of the few pregnant women that doesn’t want sweets and chocolates. I’ve never wanted fresh fruits and veggies more in my entire life. Thank goodness it’s summertime.

We’ve started telling more people, and everyone has been really excited, of course.

I can’t think of much more to write right now, but I guess if there is anything you want to know, leave it in the comments section. The computer screen is starting to make me sick, so I’m about done now. 33 more weeks to go!

Friday, July 3, 2009

6 Weeks

Just in case the picture on the front page creeps you out as much as it creeps me out, take a look at this cutie!!

Baby peanut is the size of a jellybean this week. I feel thick. I’m not showing, but my jeans don’t fit super well, and I can’t wear tight-ish shirts anymore.

I feel sick pretty much all the time except for about 30 minutes after I eat an actual meal. For some reason snacks don’t do as well. I hate driving, since it makes me feel really carsick. I get really sick by the time evening rolls around, and in the morning I’m usually very tired.

I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining, because I don’t mind the constant sickness. It is kind of reassuring.

Daniel is in Colorado for a family reunion this weekend. I couldn’t do eight hours in a car, so I stayed behind. I never like it when he’s gone, and I can’t wait until Sunday when he gets back.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Names

I’ve had a pretty good idea for awhile of the kinds of names I like. Luckily, Daniel and I agree on most of them. (Either that, or I just always win. I really can never tell). The one name I’m really set on is Atticus for a boy. I get mixed reviews on this one. My family hates it. My mom especially. She thinks it’s “trendy,” and no matter how much I tell her that in order for a name to be trendy it has to be used frequently, she doesn’t believe me. Oh well. I like the name because of the namesake, Atticus Finch from “To Kill a Mockingbird,” one of my favorite books of all time. We’ve gone back and forth on middle names trying to come up with something that not only fits, but that can be a back-up name if he really hates Atticus.

Also, I have a dear great uncle that I love very much. He’s not going to be with us for much longer, and I’d like to be able to pass on his name. Unfortunately, it’s Clarence. That’s a little too heavy in my opinion. But, as I was reading “The Baby Name Wizard,” I came upon this passage that inspired me. “If you don’t want two Margarets to create confusion at family gatherings, or just can’t bear to name your son after your husband’s grandpa Selig, try echoing the namesake with a slightly different choice.” And that’s when it hit me. Claire. It’s a perfect cute name with an old-fashioned feel. Obviously it would be for a girl, and may end up being a middle name, but I thought it was a stroke of genius.

There were some other real gems in this book that I’d like to share.

“Use whatever criteria you like to narrow down your name choices, but before you fill in the birth certificate, stop and give the name this final test: If you were starting life today, knowing everything you know about the world, is this the name you would want to represent you?” (Does your name fall into this criteria? Mine does.)

Also, there was a way funny chart that I don’t think was meant to be funny. It’s a do-it-yourself name generator. There were several options to create a custom name, kind of like you hear all the time now-a-days. Brylin, Kadlin, Jaysah, Baidee, Shayson. I got a kick out of making up outrageous names.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Stuff, stuff, stuff

My original plan was not to buy anything early on. I guess that somewhere in the back of my mind I’m supposed to be worried about miscarriage. At this point, I haven’t worried much about it since I’ve definitely been feeling symptoms, and nothing out of the ordinary. And, I can’t imagine what the first trimester would be like if I was expecting a miscarriage all the time.

So, I’ve started making my registry on Amazon.com. Keep in mind though, if you visit, that most of the stuff on there right now is pretty basic and pretty expensive. It’s mostly a way for me to remember what things I like. One thing I am kind of excited about and am trying to get Daniel on board with is the Orbit travel system. It’s pretty pricey at about $900 for the infant set, but it’s oh-so-safe and cool.

As far as diapering, I’d really like to try out some cloth after the first month or two. I’ve been researching cloth diaper options for...pretty much years now, and I think the system I like best is the bumGenius. To start up with 24 diapers or so, it’s about $300. The nice thing about that though, it that will be pretty much the entire diaper expense for the whole two years of diapering.

Anyway, I like looking at stuff, and I figure it’s good to do it now while I’m still excited about it.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

First Appointment

Today I had my first appointment. I think I’m really going to like my new doctor. I felt very welcome in his office. I got a little bloodwork done, but most of the paperwork will be done in four weeks. They also confirmed that my due date is February 25. In fact, the nurse said, “You got a positive pregnancy test already?” I said, “I might be a compulsive tester.” She said, “Ohhh... okay....” But, she said that she had fertility treatments and so she understood.

I’ve had a friend ask me if it felt like the days were dragging on. I have to be honest, I’m used to waiting 4 weeks or so for every cycle. So, it will be about the same for seeing the doctor. The time really does start flying.

Today I’m feeling exhausted. I woke up with a massive headache and nausea as well. This prompted me to tell my work a little earlier than I had expected. They were fine about it, and tried to make me take a nap halfway through the day. I just hope the fatigue doesn’t last too long. But, overall, I’m really glad to be having symptoms. That’s a sign to me that everything is going well.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

What to Eat...

I’m hungry all the time. Which is unusual for me since I can usually skip breakfast and lunch. But, I suppose that will now become a thing of the past. I wake up at about 6:30 in the morning ready for something to eat. Daniel insists that I don’t just eat half a bag of Reese’s for breakfast, but instead have a granola bar or some oatmeal or something. Good thing he’s around to keep me in line.

In fact, yesterday we went to Smith’s to buy some groceries and snacks for me to eat at work. I picked out crackers and the like. Daniel then reached for the Oreo Cakesters. What a great example he is. :)

I think I’m going to have to become more creative in my meal planning to make sure I don’t just resort to eating out.

Other than that, I’m just counting down the hours until I go to the OB tomorrow!!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Switching Ob/GYN

I had a blood test taken on Friday because I had a pretty faint positive that morning. Daniel and I went in, and I had a simple blood draw. I was really hoping that they would get me the results that afternoon. Well, the day came and went and they didn’t call. When I got a positive test on Saturday and Sunday, I knew I wasn’t imagining it anymore. Well, I figured they’d call me on Monday morning. Monday morning came and went. I finally decided that if they didn’t call me by noon that I’d probably just have to see another doctor. (I’ve had problems with this doctor before).

So, I’ve decided to see Dr. Juchau at the Spanish Fork Clinic, and I made an appointment for Thursday. At about 2 pm I decided to give my other Ob/GYN a call and see if I couldn’t at least get the numbers from Friday. I had to leave a message. They called at 4:15 (they close at 4:30) and said that they couldn’t find my file. After they found my file, they couldn’t find the test they ordered. She said she’d call the hospital and then call me back. At 5:10 she finally called back and gave me my number. It was 98 on Friday. Which is pretty good considering I was only about 13 days past ovulation and hadn’t missed my period yet.

I’m probably going to get another blood test on Thursday just to make sure everything is doubling like it should.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Things I'm Excited About

I’ve had a lot of time to prepare for being pregnant. In fact, I have been listening to “Pregtastic” a Pregnancy podcast for over a year now. I felt pretty dumb listening to it when I wasn’t even pregnant. Now, I can listen to it guilt free.

If you’d like, check it out on iTunes, it’s pretty cool.

After One Year and 2 Months

I can finally say with some certainty that I am pregnant.

I have to say that everything seems a little surreal right now. I had an appointment scheduled for Wednesday to start talking about fertility options. On Friday I just had a hunch that maybe I should test. I was due for my cycle at that time, and I had a test lying around.

That test had a very faint second line, but I knew I wasn’t imagining it. I went in for a blood test at the hospital Friday afternoon, but never got a call from the doctor. So, I took another one this morning, and there were definitely two lines.

My approximate due date is March 1, 2010. I am reserving my true excitement for when I actually get confirmation from the doctor, hopefully on Monday.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Projects Update

I’ve been working some more on the table and chairs, and if the weather would cooperate I’d have more of it done. But, as of this evening, they are completely sanded. I am almost done putting them back together. They should be put together tomorrow, then I’ll stain them Friday, and the polyurethane will happen on Saturday. I am going to have to seek expert advice on the seats and backs, but hopefully that will happen in the next week. Mostly, I’ll just be really happy to have the project over. Which brings me to the next problem... where will it fit?

For Mother’s Day I’ve asked for a mat cutter. I’m going to actually get around to matting and framing my wedding, engagement and bridal pictures.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Meeting the Prophet

First off, let me say that I didn’t get any pictures. I didn’t bring my camera, and I would have felt weird getting a picture anyway.

I was able to attend an event last night where President Monson  was getting an award for his time as the General Manager of the Deseret Press. It was a really wonderful experience.

I sat next to the mayor of Santaquin, Brad Daw (the representative for Orem), and Howard Nielsen (former 3rd district representative). It was really neat to talk to everyone and get to know them a little better. It was the first time I had met Howard Nielsen, and he had a lot to say about the time he spent in Washington.

President Monson spoke about his love of the spoken, written, and musical word. A group of sisters from Springville sung songs from “Music Man” and “Phantom of the Opera.” It was really beautiful. President Monson told some stories of his time in the printing business. I got a little taste of his personality. He is definitely a perfectionist. He said that he expected perfection from himself and his colleagues. He quoted from several of his favorite musicals, and said that he loved watching Perry Mason. It was really a neat talk.

After the event I went outside and saw him as he was coming out. I was able to briefly shake his hand before he left. He certainly is a wonderful man.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Coupon Crazy

My mom is the queen of coupons. I’ve never been able to figure out how to shop like she does. I swear she never pays for groceries. Well, I’ve decided there’s no time like the present to learn. So, I printed a bunch of coupons, and visited GrocerySmarts.com. I don’t get the Sunday paper, so I rely on what’s left at the County Courthouse by the time I get into work on Monday mornings. So, if any of you in the area get the paper and don’t want the coupons in your Sunday paper, let me know!

I’m preparing for my first coupon shopping trip on Monday. I’ll definitely let you know how it goes.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Welcome Spring!

Today we had hamburgers from the grill, and boy were they tasty. I am so ready for Spring to be here for real!

That is why I did some changing up on our blog, so we’re officially Spring friendly.

Sometime this week we’re going to do an updated photo shoot with Tonks.  She is getting so big!

We’re slowly moving boxes into our new place and we’re so excited! It’s very recently remodeled and looks great.

I’m also undertaking a new project. I’m going to write my great-uncle Clarence’s biography. So, I’m going to take a couple hours each week and sit with him and have him tell me stories. I think it will be a great opportunity to get to know him better and to make sure that those stories aren’t lost. If any of you have done this kind of project before, let me know, because I need all the help I can get.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Finally!

Okay, so I’m going to start posting again. I have my very own MacBook that I can use, so no more excuses.

For those who are interested, here’s what’s been happening.

I am really enjoying my job, and it’s been keeping my extremely busy. If you want particulars, you should definitely call sometime. I’ve got LOTS of great work stories. I think the thing I like best about my job right now is that people as my opinion on political things. Most of my friends asked me how I felt, but now many of my relatives are now taking my opinions seriously. I’ve been able to meet a lot of really neat people. I also had an opportunity to go to DC for training and that was AWESOME!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Today...

Today I reached the pinnacle of discomfort. After 8 hours of following my boss around taking pictures and video, as well as crawling on the floor trying to fix computers, I came home.

I immediately had a return of nausea. This was followed by heartburn, but before I could get some tums for relief, I threw up, causing me to pee my pants. I threw up so hard I got a bloody nose.

Today was not a good day in pregnancy land. Tomorrow had better improve....

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year!

So, this post is a looong time coming. I can only post on Daniel’s computer and he’s on it all the time. :) Anyway, so here’s what has been happening this month

We are LOVING our puppy Tonks. Thanks SO much to everyone who helped take care of her until we got into our new house. Your help is much appreciated. The cats don’t like her much, mostly because they don’t think it’s as much fun to be chased as it is for her to chase.

I got a new job. I’m pretty sure all of you know by now anyway, but I thought I’d explain what I’m going to be doing. I’ll be working for Jason Chaffetz as his Utah County office manager. What does that mean? It means answering phones, talking to constituents, working on cases, and meeting lots of fabulous people! I’m very excited about this opportunity and I hope to learn a lot. I am especially excited to get an office in the capitol building in Provo. That is such a gorgeous building. I am also going to Washington, DC for about a week for training. Apparently as an insider I get some pretty awesome tours. I’m VERY excited about that. I’ve always wanted to go to DC.

Daniel and I celebrated our first Christmas together, and it was wonderful. After being engaged for the past two Christmases, it’s about time I got to spend one married. Just kidding! Anyway, we got 2 tons of coal from my parents. (Nope, that’s not a joke. We’ll be using it to heat the house this winter.) We also got a bunch of movies, a new VCR/DVD player, clothes, books, and lots of candy.

In addition, Daniel and I also celebrated our first anniversary. I can’t believe we’ve been married a whole year. It’s been great though. And I’m excited for this next year. It’s going to be even better.

We’ve moved! We’re living in my parent’s house while they are in Washington, DC. This also means we’ve inherited 7.5 acres of land and two cats. It’s wonderful to have so much space. And guess what. No spiders.

Well, I think that will about do it for news! And, here are my resolutions.

 I’m going to work on magnifying my callings.
I’m going to spend more time catching up with old friends, and making new ones.
 We’re going to get out of debt and get ready to buy a house.
 I’m going to try to read one book a month. A week, if I can manage it.
I’m going to get to level 80 on WoW. (Come on, I had to have one fun one.)