20 Weeks and Half Way Done!!!

20 weeks.

WOO HOO! I have finally reached the half way mark in this pregnancy. It feels good to finally be in week 20. I think that the first 20 weeks pass by so slowly. It has been a pretty eventful four weeks. First, I have gained an additional 4lbs, so now I am up to 13lbs total. I guess that isn't too bad. As much as it pains me to look at the scale, with Jack I have no idea how the weight came on or even really what I ended up at, so I am trying to be more informed this time around. I am pretty sure that I gained close to 50lbs with Jack and I am really trying to limit the weight gain as well. So, I have been holding steady at 140lbs for about two weeks... I know that the 10lb jump is just around the corner... I am trying to brace myself. I am trying not to eat any junk except for on Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. So far, it is working out okay... I'm nervous about the holidays coming up! Anyway, enough about the weight gain... I know it is going to happen and I really am trying to be okay with it... :)

Second, they thought I had syphilis... that is obviously not right... so, I'll clear up any rumors right now. Apparently, pregnant women can get a false positive on the syphilis test and normally the lab runs the test again to verify, but my lab DID NOT... so they freaked everyone out, except for me and my hubby who knew that there was no way that we could have syphilis. But, nevertheless, I had to go down to the Health Department (trashy!) and the STD clinic and be tested again. Obviously, I DO NOT have syphilis. It was such a joke. The lady at the health clinic was telling me that I could get started on the penicillin... um, no thanks... asking me if I had talked to my hubby about it... um, yeah, is he freaking out? um... NO! Because we don't have syphilis!! So, anyway, the worst part about it was people looking at me like, "Are you sure?? You never know.." But, I really do. And of course I don't have it... SO, any pregnant women out there... know that you can test positive for syphilis in pregnancy!! :)

Working out is still fun... I have gotten in two more long (4-5mi) runs and they are starting to make me sore afterward... I feel great while running, but the rest of the day is spent in pain because my legs, pelvis and back get sore... It doesn't help that I need new shoes... so, I don't know how much more running I will do. I am hoping to run until week 30, but we'll see. For now, I am only going to run once a week.

I am done getting my progesterone shots and couldn't be happier. I have also changed to the doc that will be delivering my girl and I really like her. She is pregnant also, two weeks behind me, so who knows if she will actually deliver me, but I really like her and the office seems great. I liked my fertility doc fine, but I am happy for the change.

We also had my medical ultrasound and that was awesome. She is measuring right on to her due date, the doc told me I was skinny (something I am NOT feeling) and everything looks great. It was really cool to see both halves of her brain, heart, limbs, etc. I also LOVED LDS hospital. It was a really good experience.

Anyway, I am feeling good, feeling her lots and trying to deal with my emotions this time around. It seems like I am a little more emotional than I was with Jack. I can't wait until Feb 11th!

LOVE the Fall!!

Jack with his collection of leaves from the day.

We have never really taken advantage of our beautiful mountains in the fall. We thought about it last year, but by the time we did, it was too late in the season to go. I happened to be watching the news this week and they said that prime leaf-viewing weather would be this weekend since a storm is rolling in next week. We joined my friend Kathie and her family on a drive up American Fork Canyon to Cascade Springs. It was a beautiful drive and the spot was great. It was very crowded and a little too hot, but an overall successful trip. Jack loved hiking around and finding leaves, flowers, rocks etc. We even took Zoe along and she had a blast. It was a bummer that it was so crowded because you were kind of pushed through and didn't have a lot of time to stop and enjoy, but it was really fun to get out and do something different. When we got home, Jack put all of his leaves on the counter and started counting them in Spanish.... um.... I guess Dora the Explorer is good for something!!

We have also gotten our house all decked out for Halloween. Jack loved putting up the decorations and every morning he walks down the stairs and says..."Is it still a Halloween house?? Oh, good it is." I love this time of year!

Preschool Week

Typical first day shots.


His classroom.


How he fell asleep after his first day alone.

Jack started preschool this week. He is going to the lady who taught my brother in preschool and my brother is almost 19! She has been doing it a long time and is really great with the kids. I have to admit, I was really sad about sending him. I just can't believe that he is so grown up already. These last three years have been so fast. On Tuesday, I took him to orientation. He was really excited about it on Monday, but when Tuesday arrived, he started getting nervous and saying that he didn't want to go to school yet. I told him that I would be there the whole time and it helped that he already knew his teacher from swimming lessons. We got there and after his initial shyness, he started playing right away with the kids. There are 16 kids in his class, mostly boys. His teacher does her preschool with her dad, Gramps to the kids, but the class seems big to me! I would never want to teach preschool! :)

During orientation, his teacher (we'll call her Mrs. L) laid out the plans for the month and then tentative plans for field trips etc throughout the rest of the year. After Mrs. L passed out the sheets and everything I started getting really excited for him. She is going to do a lot of fun things and Jack will learn so much. I am really excited to have something to organize for him, even though it is sad to start sending him out into the world. I left the orientation really excited and at peace with the whole thing.

Yesterday was his first day alone. We talked about him going to school and we got his backpack ready with his show and tell (Buzz and Woody). All morning, he was excited to go but kept saying, "You are staying with me? I will be scared if you leave..." I didn't want to lie to him, but also didn't want to give him false hope so I just said, "We'll see. I have to walk you down and we will see Mrs. L etc..." He seemed appeased, but still didn't quite trust how I was saying it. He's too smart for his own good. Anyway, we got there and we walked in, saw Gramps and continued downstairs. It was a good thing that Mrs. L told us at orientation that if the kids cry just leave and she will take care of it. If she hadn't said that, I would have had a harder time leaving. He walked into the room and starting heading to the toys... turned back and saw that I was still on the stairs. He freaked right out. Crying, running over to me... clinging to my neck for dear life. I kissed him a bunch of times and Mrs. L had to pry him away. I left feeling a little shaken and weird about having 2+ hours all to myself with nothing really to do. I went and saw my friends new baby and to the doc and to my moms... I knew Jack was probably having the time of his life, but it was still weird.

Finally, it was 210pm and it was time to head over to pick Jack up. I pulled into the street and all the kids were out front waiting for us. Jack ran up and happy as could be and jumped in the car telling me all about his first day. They made paper ice cream cones, showed their show and tell and got to know eachother. He seemed to have a great day and now we are both really excited for this year! It will be so great for him.

When we got home, I was going to try to keep him awake until bedtime by making cookies, trying to get him out for a walk etc, but he managed to sneak in a 30 min nap. He was beat! I am going to have to tweak his nap schedule a little bit over the next few weeks.

A Boy and His Dog

Jack and Zoe are starting to get along really well lately. Zoe can drive Jason and me crazy, but when we see these two playing, or Jack talking to her, we decide that she is worth all the trouble. I also can't believe how big she is getting. I think they will be great friends in another year or so.