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Showing posts from February, 2016

A New Museum

It's week 38. It feels really easy to document every week now since it goes by SO freakin slow in the last month. I know I know I know it's hard to remember the pains of the black out newborn month, but change is necessary I tell ya. We've been waiting for him to show and are just wanting to deal with whatever comes (hopefully he comes with 10 fingers & 10 toes). I'm no longer dependable at work or church because "any day now." I hate when every day or moment makes you wonder "If I start contractions here & now, what would the plan be" etc… so annoying. We worry until we know everything is going to be okay, and then we move on to worrying about something else (like is he breathing as he sleeps). Even the second time around, I want to know what my birth story will be. Currently, baby boy still hasn't progressed since week 36 (perhaps only to 70% effaced) and my elective induction date is set for Tuesday, March 8th. So we wait at least 12...

When Daddy Climbs Mountains

With two weeks until d-day, I wasn't worried about laboring alone (yes I was). I was also concerned about his life. It might have been a small risk, smaller than driving down the highway, BUT it doesn't mean I don't worry the entire time, minus the part when I'm still sleeping in my warm, comfy bed. However, I am glad he and Kevin could finally reach their goal to summit Nebo (as close as allowed). He tells me about the cougar prints in their tracks on the way down and the potential cliff made of pure snow (no solid ground) that finally made them stop on the way up. Ya know, those are my favorite stories to hear. At least Kevin brought his phone & took pictures. They left at about 4 PM to drive up there and start hiking. Probably hiked a mile in before they made camp on Friday night. Then hiked for 8 hours to the top and 4 hours back down on Saturday. So we decided to have a girls night, which was kind of nice as our 1-1 right before the baby comes....

Far Exceeds Expectations

I just finalized my performance review for last year.  Apparently I reached something that is very rare. I feel like the only way to go is down, but that's just where my mind goes. Let's stay up for a second and let that sink in; I'm doing something right, at least in one aspect of my life. I'm valued. I might still be caught up in the details to always feel confident, but my effort is noticed and appreciated. And it is nice finally getting to a place where you can be confident in what you do. What I do might sound uninviting to many, but I love having a distraction that allows me to continue to develop general management skills while still being a mother for most of the hours in the day. I have nothing against those that choose to work full-time; I know part of them don't want to, but I completely understand why they do. However, we can be honest in the fact that part of being a mother is taken from you when you make that choice - you hand it off to someone el...

How to be 37 weeks

There have been a couple of days where the house was perfect. No dirty dishes or floors, no laundry and the beds were made. And I thought, the baby can come today, today would be a good day. He hasn't, but the thought now crosses my mind e.v.e.r.y day. Would today be a good day? I didn't think I was out to defy gravity, but it seems this kiddo made his way back on up. My ribs and bra are a little too crowded and that whole breathing thing… it's a miracle most of the time humans don't have to worry about that. Yet I still feel really swollen and sore like a head is ready to fall out of my vagina. How long is he really? I mean this whole human being growing inside you thing - straight up crazy.  Today was my 37 week apt and for the first time I had to wait and for a really long time in a steamy room (it doesn't take much to make me hot), hungry, thirsty & naked. I mean they told me the doctor would be in and I should get undressed, but these fluffy thighs...

Celebrating All Things Love-ly

In a world of little girls, there are spa days, dress up days & baking days. Maybe this will happen with little boys too; I just don't know yet. The week of Valentines was spent enjoying time with this little girl and squeezing in as much love as we could.  We attempted sugar cookies for the first time. She was sooo excited to call out the ingredients, put them in the bowl & cut out hearts. And I thought they turned out alright considering. She made some love notes to go with them and dad helped us drop some off to her favorite people: our neighbors, Uncle Troy, Maren & Grandma/Grandpa Smith/Lisa/Gma Jane We have FAILED at using our gym pass ever since I got obnoxiously pregnant (basically once the outdoor waterpark closed) so I suggested we head to the indoor pool that Saturday since for once we didn't have plans and I knew she would LOVE it. I hated to think of her not remembering what swimming even is! I want her to feel comfortable and unlike ...

36 Week Apt with No Name Baby Boy

Mr Smith feels like he has more control over the name this time around. Just because I chose Alexis or Lexi? It's the first boy and so DAD gets to name him? I'm not sure. I thought it was a guarantee from previous boy discussions, but Mr Smith has a bit of a list. Which doesn't give me any anxiety at all. So for now, he is still unnamed. I went in for my 36 week apt to get the group b swab test. I totally forgot about that test, which felt like nothing (except awkward) but for some reason as soon as they said it I had bad memories. Let's say having the cervix checked was spot on from previous memories. I'm always torn about the cervix checks, because even if you can get progress from week to week, it still creates false assumptions, because really I could go into labor today or two weeks from now; it's up to the baby still. But for what it's worth, I'm 1 cm dilated and 60% effaced. Definitely figured I had thinned. And still +35 lbs. The a...

Hello Friend

Have mercy I LOVE catching up with old (but not old) familiar faces. Ms Rachel & I had some good times back in our young DC living days (not all were great, but it's fun thinking how far we've come nonetheless). These people, especially roommates, see you in the highs and the lows and I just really lucked out getting to know some truly uplifting and humorous people in my time. I needed them back then and I'm so glad we got to reconnect even if a couple hours was only to fill a quick fix.  We decided to meet up at the puppy barn since I have heard such a thing exists where you can go cuddle cute puppies. We didn't get to do so at the humane society so this was a nice treat. Too bad they didn't have side rooms where you can sit, cuddle puppies with hot chocolate and catch up with old friends. Someone create this. Still though, so glad that yet again, UT brings people together. Lexi LOVED having Rachel be her new bff too. And she was tickled pink by the puppi...

Holding On

I love this photo, it almost leaves me speechless. Story time was over. Singing time was over. Yet he kept rocking her as she fell asleep in his arms. It is hard to move a sleeping toddler, but more than just physically not wanting to wake them up, it is so rare to get these sweet moments with them. She is still forever and always our baby Lexi even though we're trying to encourage big girl status.  We are all very excited to have baby boy make his entrance. My previous posts with Lexi revealed that 35 weeks was my tipping point back then and it still holds true. We're ready at this point even though we know 5 weeks still lie ahead. And even with all the discomforts or annoyances that exist with the last month of pregnancy, more than anything, it's the anxiety from the anticipation. At this point, you feel like a ticking time bomb and you're just ready to meet your child. I'm assuming it was a little different with Lexi; this time the anxiety rests more aro...

PCCT - A temple right around the corner

I waited in the driveway telling Lexi we had to get tickets before we could leave. Every day we initially wanted was quickly filling up and I was left in a panic to just get something in January to guarantee that we got to go. Mr Smith committed to making it work, so we went through during Friday morning Jan 29th and it was wonderful!  The general public is able to go through a couple months prior to a temple dedication - you are guided through the baptismal font, the endowment rooms, the sealing rooms & the celestial room. Every room I walked in was just "stunning" and I can't wait to actually attend a session with Mr Smith once dedicated. Some people may still see it and think of the old tabernacle, music hall, or meetinghouse. I met there a few times back in college for Stake Conference or Christmas concerts. And when it burned, I thought it was sad & surprising, but it was always meant to be something so much more. I'm glad we get to see it as ...