July 4, 2013

Yesterday we had a great 4th of July. We slept in, met Sam's side for lunch at Pizza Pie Cafe, rested for about an hour and then spent the afternoon/evening at my parents for swimming and a BBQ. Later that night we were going to go see fireworks, but Abby was much too tired. So we came home, put her in bed and watched fireworks outside our house, ending the day with watching Independence Day.

Being silly at breakfast

33 weeks!

 Hope everyone had a great 4th and have a great weekend!

Daft it was my birthday!

Yesterday was a good day. I turned 27. I don't know how I am all the sudden that old, but it happened. The morning started out a lazy one.  Abby let me sleep in til 8:30. Oh it was wonderful. We mostly lazed around the house all morning. I did get to open my first present-a fantastic card from my BFF8 with a gift card in it. So sweet of her. And check out that card. That is why she is my BFF8. She gets me.

 I met my mom later for lunch at Johnny Rockets, a delicious new burger joint in City Creek. It was so yummy. After lunch, I had a doctors appointment and got to hear Madalyn's heart. Always a joy. It would have been even more cool to have seen her. Oh well. After the doctors, we picked Sam up and came home and got ready for our first date-and i'm not kidding when I say this-since our anniversary date almost 2 months ago. Way too long if you ask me.

He took me to Olive Garden, even though he doesn't like it that much. (we did have a bday gift card to use after all from my BFF8) and gave me a voucher to pick out a pearl necklace. A real pearl necklace! Thank you KSL deals. I have wanted a real pearl necklace for so long. Pics to come when I get it. After dinner we went for a lovely summer drive, and ended the night at Fro-gurt. It was a perfect simple night. That man of mine. I sure do love him.

Don't mind my washed out tired look. I was washed out and tired.

Oh yeah, and earlier in the day, I caught Abby singing and rocking her baby. This girl is going to make a the best big sister ever! (ps, don't mind the unmade messy bed. It was my birthday. I didn't want to do anything)

(I don't know what is up with the sound half way through, or if it is just my computer, but you get the idea right?)

I have a feeling 27 is going to be a good year. Especially with two sweet baby girls to be with and a handsome, handsome husband.

Summer: It's official!

One year, Sam surprised me with the best. birthday. celebration. ever. It wasn't on my birthday, it was the weekend before. That morning he took me to breakfast, then we went horseback riding. Later that afternoon  we watched a movie, and then he fixed me a delicious dinner, and after we went to Taylorsville Dayzz for the fireworks. Ever since that birthday (pre mission) we have gone to Taylorsville Dayzz every single year. It has become our tradition.  I feel like once we have Taylorsville Dayzz, summer has officially started. I know, summer really did start a while ago, but my favorite time of year is now. We went to Taylorsville Dayzz Saturday night after Sam got home from Youth Conference (him being gone for youth stuff is done for the summer. Woot woot!) and it was a blast. We went much later than we normally do. This pregnant lady isn't handing the heat very well. (plus, Sam was pretty tired from yc) We mostly just sat, hanging out with friends listening to the Abba cover band while Abby ran around playing with her cousins. I even caught her kissing a strangers baby at one point. However, she wore out quickly seeing as she didn't get a decent nap that day (due to helping throw my sister in law Ali a baby shower) but then it just met we didn't have to keep our eye out for her.

Once the fireworks started, Abby went from scared, to dazzled, to asleep.

This was her trying to hide from them.

 Next year, perhaps she will like them more. I swear these are the best fireworks of the summer. This year proved me right. They had 2 finales. TWO! So much fun! Afterwards, we parked far enough away that once we got to our car, traffic was nothing. Thank goodness.

Now for my favorite month to begin: July! More fireworks, birthday celebrations (mine, Abby's AND Harry's) holidays, 2 new nieces coming, and seeing my BFF8 and other college friends this coming Saturday. Can't wait!

Oh July. How I love you!

Friday Favorites: Abby Edition

Abby smooshed ice cream on her own face tonight. It made her really mad.

The way she wakes up and says "bye" to everything in her room.

How she gets excited to say all the characters on Sesame Street.

How she loves to sit on my lap first thing in the morning.

The way she lays on my bed and pretends to sleep.

How she helps me fold my laundry by throwing it all over my bed.

When she asks me for a random hug. Melts my heart every time. 

How she loves to get her face blown by my hair dryer.

The sound of her giggles.
The sound of her high-pitched squeals.
The way she says certain worlds like "helicopter", "Ernie", and "Yo Gabba Gabba" to name a few.
How she now repeats what I say, which makes me be really careful. (Like when I was complaining to Sam and I said "well that's dumb." And Abby repeated "Well, dats bumb"
The way she sings "Twinkle Twinkle" "Popcorn Popping" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider"
How she says "Hi" to strangers walking by her.
The way she has to give everyone five and rocks
And the way she'll ask a question and tilt her head to the side.
She is my favorite.
I love being her mommy.

Last Night.

The way I see it every night.

Tonight is my last night of working at the Jordan River Temple until after the baby comes. And really, it couldn't come a moment too soon. Trying to clean around my belly is getting hard, not to mention I am double tired all the time. So, I am going to enjoy these last 10 weeks of not being a zombie mom and soak in every last minute I have with just Abby and Sam. Not to mention get some sleep for a few months until I am up all night with a baby. (sleep between potty breaks and trying to roll over and get comfortable that is.)

When Sam and I first talked about me quitting, it seemed silly. We are going to be poor. I mean really poor. But we are going to be ok. We've budgeted over and over and over again to make sure it's ok, and it will be. We will have to cut back some fun things, but it will be ok. We have prayed like crazy for months, and I never felt like we got a definite "yes, do this." But I knew work was getting harder and harder, so I went ahead and gave my notice, and just prayed that I did the right thing. Then one day in sacrament meeting our Stake President was speaking about revelation. He said something to the effect of you won't always get a definite answer. Sometimes you just have to do it and pray to Heavenly Father that he will stop you if it is wrong. Heavenly Father didn't stop our decision, and I feel so at peace. Sometimes I get nervous, especially when the hospital bills start coming, but I know we will be ok if we are smart with our money.

I worked at the temple doing the night shift (10-2) for about a year and a half. I started when Abby was 3 months old, on October 31st. This shift was hard for me. I REALLY like my sleep. And I REALLY don't like staying up too late. But it worked, because it had to. And it turns out I had a really great time most of the time.

This picture is about a year old. I stole it from Courtney, who quit last June. But you get the idea. 

There are a few things I will really miss about work.

• The ladies I work with. I was so incredibly shy when I started, and it took me a while to warm up, but they are so wonderful and so fun. Nothing beat late night chatting/therapy sessions. Not to mention things are funnier that late at night, so there was a lot of laughing.
• Some nights I really loved being in the peace and quiet of the temple and cleaning. I got a lot of answers to my prayers while scrubbing a toilet. Sometimes my mind is clearer when I am doing something with my hands rather than just sitting there waiting for inspiration. 
• I loved that I could take time out and read my scriptures and pray. It was nice to be able to do those things before I got home from work and got tired and forgot. What a place to do those things right?
• As much as I missed climbing in bed next to Sam while he was awake, I found some nights I really enjoyed coming home to a quiet house and having a little me quiet time. 
• I will really miss being in the temple at night. It was really cool being in an empty temple. 
• And, this sounds dorky, but I will miss going to the temple for a session or whatever and knowing that the night before, I helped make it ready to patrons to come. Although, sometimes it would distract me from the work I was doing, because I would look at a ledge and wonder if it was dusty...

And of course, there are things I really won't miss all that much.

• Cleaning. I know. I said I would miss it, but I think I will be ok not cleaning a toilet hundreds of people have sat on that day.
• Going to bed without Sam. I know I sound like I'm contradicting myself, because I did say I enjoyed the alone time, but really, I love going to bed with my husband.
• Having more free nights. So many times, especially Fridays, we declined doing something because I had to go to work. Now, unless it costs money of course, we are free!! (to a point. I mean, we still have a 2 year old)
• I won't miss my naps. I hated having to plan my day around my naps. Now if I want to take one, I can. If not, no biggie. 
• Not being able to put Abby to bed. The nights I have been home, I love that she comes up to me and cuddles til she falls asleep. Now I can do it every night if I want. Although, I think Sam will miss doing that part. 

All in all, its been a great job. And it's not like I'll never see it again. I'll have my Monday nights there after Madalyn is a few months old. But after tonight, it will be a nice long much-needed break.

Pregnancy Update: Hot Hot Heat

How Far Along: I am now 30 weeks along! Only 10 more until we meet our sweet little Madalyn. The time has gone so slow sometimes, but other times it has sped by. And It's gone WAY faster than when I was pregnant with Abby. Probably because with Abby, I didn't have a cute kid to chase around all day long.

Gender: Obviously still a girl, no matter how much my father-in-law says she will be a boy. Last night Abby wanted to talk to Grandpa on the phone and Sam heard him trying to convince Abby she was having a little brother. Oh Dan. Madalyn will be so wrapped around your finger you wouldn't have it any other way.

Weight Gain: I believe I am only up 17 now. I am feeling really great. And now that work has slowed down, I have more time to exercise seeing as I am not quite as exhausted all the time, so that has helped.

How I am feeling: Nausea wise, I am feeling pretty good. A few weeks ago I was sick a couple of mornings and thought for sure morning sickness was coming back, but so far so good. I often get horrible heartburn, but of course that is normal now. One particular Sunday during sacrament meeting it hit so hard I thought I was going to vomit. Of course its the one time I didn't have tums with me so I had to run home. A glass of milk and 4 tums later and I was doing pretty good. I am however starting to get very uncomfortable. It got up to almost 100 yesterday and I about died. I sat in Abby's pool like a beached whale while she ran around outside of it, but it felt great. I spent most my afternoon while Abby napped in our basement watching Pretty Little Liars and sipping on a slurpee. I don't know how I am going to manage the rest of this hot summer, except it will consist of wearing very little clothing inside my house and a bunch of time at Seven Peaks. Also, sleeping is starting to get difficult. Not only do I have to get up at least 4 times a night to pee, but I just feel achy when I sleep on one side too long. Oh the joys of an ever-growing baby.

Exercise I can do: Gone are the days of Wii Active or Just Dance. I am just awkward, big, and tired. I now go on walks and do my prenatal yoga. If I had easier access to a pool, I would be doing that too. I'll have to take Kari up on her offer and go night swimming sometimes with her.

Cravings: Still slurpees, Cookies and Cream Ice Cream and on Saturday I went to a baby shower where they were serving cucumbers on baguettes with cream cheese. Lets just stay I've had a ton of those since.

How Abby is doing: What can I say, I have one adorable child. She now points to my belly when I ask where the baby is, but she still doesn't quite get that mommy is having a baby. I think she is going to love Madi for the most part though. At the shower I went to Saturday she almost kidnapped a baby. I am so excited to see how she is going to react to her little sister.

What I am dreading: Next week Sam goes off to scout camp. The real bummer is my mom is going on tour so I won't even have her to entertain me. The week after scout camp, Sam has youth conference. Yuck.

What I am looking forward to: It is my last week of work! 3 more nights (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) and then I am done!! No more late nights, no more freaking out if I miss a nap, and no more going into bed with an already asleep husband. Pillow talk here we come!

Life Lately According to my Cell Phone Device.

It's been a while since I've done a life lately post, so this might be a long one. 

Life lately has been a very dirty, but very happy girl playing outside. It's been Abby loving her bouncer and this mama nervous for when she has to share it with little sister. It's been Abby being too independent and insisting on getting in her carseat all by herself, and life has been helping us with the yard work. 

 Life lately has been Abby wearing daddy's hat and looking quite cute. So cute in fact, I had to post it even with the bra in the background. It has been Abby playing on her bed taking pictures. Life has been playing Uncle Eriks drums, and digging into an apple. 

Life has been a mothers day card Abby made me in nursery, and treasuring. It's been resting after a walk to the park. Life has been Ammon and Abby fake sleeping, and it's been Abby's life being over because she didn't get something she wanted. 

 Life has been posing for pictures together, and catching her choking me on camera. It's been visiting new baby Remington and not wanting to let him go, and it's been rare but welcomed cuddle time. 

 Life has been Abby using me as a sticker book and being as happy as can be. It's been wanting to sit in the front seat like a big girl. Life has been Abby wanting to sit on an exercise ball like mommy, and it's been weeding with daddy. 

Life has been enjoying the last few months with just one baby girl. It's been Abby pouting, yet again, on her bed and finding it ridiculously funny. Life has been awkwardly following a fellow mom on our walk, and it's been Abby insisting she is a big girl and doesn't need her tray anymore. 

 Life has been Sam having a shadow while he mows. It's been Abby looking cool in her shades and new necklace. Life has been Abby's first Real game, and our first of the season, and Abby being so good during it. (also, we won 3-0. Not bad) And it's been a tea party at Grammy's house. 

 And, life has been a sister and brother in law who are excited to not be having more kids while the rest of us are. It's been Abby enjoying her Creamy, and it's been Abby putting on her new necklace first thing in the morning while watching Sesame Street. She is attached to it. 

I love my life.