Eek... 32 Weeks

Okay, it is starting to get scary... I am so happy to only have two months left. Actually, the good news from this month is that my doctor has consented to induce me at 39 weeks if I want. So, that makes me closer to having this baby in six weeks. YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! I know that a week doesn't make that much of a difference, but to me it is everything. I don't know if it is because it took us so long to get pregnant, the fact that I am more sore this time around, or the fact that because I am already mother I just want her here, but regardless, I am DYING to have this pregnancy over with. I don't remember being this anxious with Jack. Anyway, I love that my doctor is so open ( and that she is pregnant 2 weeks behind me) so that I am able to have Savannah here a week early. I know some people don't agree with that, but I have never been afraid of having the baby early... I think as long as it is after 37 weeks bring it on! :)

Anyway, I am thankful that it is the holidays because I think that is making it go by a little faster. I am excited for the new year, taking down the decorations and getting her room ready. Hopefully, all of those preparations will speed January along. That is partly why we have done NOTHING in preparation so far.

I am now onto my doctors appointments every two weeks. After gaining nothing from about 24 weeks until 28 weeks... of course in the last month I have gained about 7... I knew it was coming. That brings my grand total to about 24lbs... I am hoping for only 10 more, but I know that she is growing more than ever so I am trying to be really good. I am still working out. It is getting harder and harder however... The only thing that gets me there some days is the thought that I will lose my fitness if I stop so I plug on ahead. I always feel better after I work out though so I will do it as long as I can. Hopefully, to the very end. She is moving around like crazy all the time, growing well and has a strong heartbeat at every doc appointment. My doc appointments have been going okay, I guess. I passed my glucose test, although they said it was on the higher end of normal. I have to have it retested in a week. They are still a little concerned that I tested positive on the "syphilis" test at the beginning of my pregnancy. I guess this test is called "C-Reactive Protein" and the reason you test positive for it is: 1-- you are pregnant, but I guess this isn't very common, although I see it everywhere online, 2-- you have Lupus... which I and my doc highly DOUBT I have, 3-- you have some acute infection/inflammation in your body, which according to what I have read online can be caused by exercising or being pregnant, 4-- you have a blood clotting disorder... blah, blah, blah. In addition to being fed up with this pregnancy, I am also fed up with doctors! I have spent far too much time in the doctors office over the last 1.5 years! Anyway, I really think I tested positive on this test because I am pregnant and nothing more, but my doctor wants to make sure I don't have this blood clotting thing (or "sticky blood"). I guess it is good she is making sure. I am going to have all that blood work done on my next appointment. The only reason I am even mentioning this is because I want to remember for the next pregnancy... It seems that I had something like this during my pregnancy with Jack, but because I didn't keep good records and my doc didn't make a big deal about it, I can't remember. Oh, and I am anemic. All I have to say is just give me my baby and let me get back to normal!!!!

MANTRA: SIX AND A HALF WEEKS TO GO!!!!!!

Christmas Preparations

This Santa was weird... Jack came away saying, "He was mean..." Ah, good thing he's not the real one!


The family seeing the lights. It was packed!

Christmas is almost here! I can't wait. Jack has really gotten into it this year and is totally counting down the days. We wrapped most of his presents the other day and when he saw them under the tree he was so excited! I can't wait to see his reaction on Christmas Day! In preparing for the big day, we have baked sugar cookies and Christmas M&M cookies, gone to a few holiday parties, decorated Jack's room with lights and his very own 3ft tree, done the Christmas calendar (chocolate, paper chain and my family calendar), gone to see Santa, went and saw the lights at Temple Square and he has had a blast learning all the Christmas songs that he could. My favorite is that he loves Kurt Bestor. Jason and I were able to go see Kurt Bestor with some friends, but I really think we are going to take Jack next year. He loves listening to him and he pretends to play a trumpet anytime he is listening. He closes his eyes and really gets into it. He has Christmas flannel sheets on his bed and it just seems really magical this year. This past Friday, we took Jack on a "date." We had a gift card for Olive Garden so we took Jack to a "fancy" place to eat and he was so good. He sat and colored and we talked about Christmas and about Christ. We are trying to fit that in whenever we can. After dinner, we went and walked around Temple Square. It wasn't too cold and Jack really enjoyed being out on such an adult outing. I think he actually listened a bit to what we had to say about Jesus and he even listened to the narration they had for the nativity. It was a really fun night and made me so thankful for this little family of mine. Christmas is such a great time of year and having Jack enjoy it so much has made this my best year in a long time.

A Weekend Away...

Chester and Tex.

As you all know, my little brother is leaving on his mission on December 30th. He is going to Philadelphia. We are all really sad to watch him go, but know that this is something he needs to do and he will be a better man because of it. I think he is nervous, but really excited to get out there. Because he is leaving so close to Christmas and this is his last Christmas for a few years, we wanted to do something as a family. It needed to be pretty cheap since we (us and the newlyweds) don't have a lot of money. Kris had gone with her in-laws to Lava Hot Springs in the spring and said that it was a lot of fun. We looked into it and found a house to rent. We bought a lot of food, brought a lot of movies and went to the hot springs a few times. Jack loved going on a special vacation and being somewhere new. He loved the hot springs and I wished that I could have gone in. I probably could have, but I really didn't want to be jumping in and out in 15 degree weather since I wouldn't have been able to stay in very long. The house we rented was perfect. It was really cozy and reminded all of us a lot of my grandma's old house. We loved loved playing "Catch Phrase..." especially with my sister. I think we will always remember her trying to act out "quiet as a mouse..." (those little scramblers), "jolly on the spot..." "domestic goddess" "yanking a old man's chain" etc. No one cares about that, but I wanted to remember. We laughed a lot! We walked in and the first thing Jack said was "This is a cowboy house!" So, my dad made a big deal and called himself Chester all weekend and Jack Tex. I love my family! I hope that we can make this a yearly tradition. We did nothing and ate crap all weekend, but it was so fun to be together!

The Christmas Tree Farm

Jack was hiding his face from the wind and was not watching where he was going.


Finding our tree.


Helping Daddy get the tree to the truck.


The family.

There was a Curious George Christmas special on the day before Thanksgiving. We had already been thinking about going to a Christmas tree farm before that, but when George went and Jack watched the episode we knew that we had to do it! I think we have found the way our tree will be bought every year. It was really fun! Jason researched it and found a farm in Ogden that sold trees 10feet and taller for only $25! Anyone who knows me or my family know that a tall tree is a must! I definitely need something taller than my husband. So, we planned to go the day after Thanksgiving and make a day of it. We drove up around lunch time, stopped at Subway and headed on to the farm. Jack was so excited and he loved choosing the tree and "helping" Jason cut it down. There were quite a few good ones and although our trunk is crooked, we think that our tree turned out pretty nice. It was really nice to have it up and to be able to enjoy it for so long this season. Jack has taken to reading his Christmas stories by the tree and then falling asleep by the tree with me or Jason every night. When I want to get bugged by this, I think that he will only be this little once and I really want to make this season as special as I can. So, I think he will be sleeping by this tree for the rest of the month!

My sister and her husband chopped down my dad's tree (about 17feet) in the forest. They got a permit from their landlord and got a beautiful tree! I think next year we will try for a permit and go to the forest! It's the only way to go!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Thanksgiving this year was a lot of fun. My brother leaves on his mission on December 30th and it was my year to be with my family so we headed over to my parents house for the day. Jack was super excited to see what all the fuss was about. He had been talking about Thanksgiving in preschool all month. I hope he wasn't disappointed... it was kind of like any Sunday, but we still had a great time. We sat down to dinner and Jack said, "Is there any pumpkin pie in this place?" I think he had heard a lot about pumpkin pie and was wondering why a key piece of the meal was missing. :) It was pretty funny. We missed my sister and her hubby. It was her first year away with in-laws! Jack put on a show for us singing the songs and poems that he learned in preschool. We watched movies and enjoyed being together. Later that night, we headed over to Jason's parents. We are lucky that we live so close to both families.

I am thankful for quite a bit this year... We have been very blessed and I don't think we should ever really complain about anything. I am blessed that we have a beautiful house in a wonderful neighborhood. I am blessed with our neighbors and the support and love that we are surrounded by. Jason is happy to have a job in this unsteady economic situation. We are so thankful that I am able to stay home with Jack and the medical transcription job that allows me to do that. I'm thankful for our dog and the happiness that she brings to Jack. ( I don't think that Jason is that thankful for her!) I'm thankful for my friends, my health and both of our families.

Most of all... this year (and probably every year to come) I am thankful for my family that I am creating with Jason. Jack brings me more happiness than I can even put into words. It really is something to watch your child blossom into a little person. He is an awesome kid. He has a wonderful personality, a kind heart and just a GOOD spirit. I love everything about him and I am finally feeling like I get what everyone talks about when they talk about a parents love. I would truly do anything for him. I know that Jason would as well. I am super thankful to be pregnant right now. I guess. :) But, seriously, we tried and tried! I am so happy that Jack will have the opportunity to be a big brother and have the blessing of a sibling. I love my siblings and would not want to be without them. I think Jason and I are appreciating it more this time around because we can feel the love and joy that Jack brings into our home. It will just double with Savannah. I was always nervous about loving my next child as much as I love Jack, but over the last couple of months I know that it will not be a problem. A parents love is a great blessing and I am so thankful to be a mommy!!

I am thankful for my wonderful hubby and the wonderful father he is. Whenever I get nervous about raising my kids or making it in this world with as scary as it is, I am reassured to think that I am in this thing with him and because of that we will all be alright! I love him!

Happy Thanksgiving!!