Evolution of the belly

First things first... I am NOT a photographer. In fact, I'm not even sure where the charger for my point and shoot digital camera is and I don't think I've seen it within the past 6 months. I hope it's still around the house somewhere!

Luckily, telephones exist. Almost all the pictures that Spencer and I have taken in just over two years of marriage have been on our cell phones. Sad? I know. But I DO have a couple of belly shots that I've taken in front of various mirrors with my cell phone that I'm finally going to post. It's better than nothing, right?

I've been told time and time again how sad it is that I don't have week-by-week pictures of my belly expanding... but I've had a lot of other things on my mind. In reality, I'm just lazy. My attempt to justify my laziness is two-fold: 1) I never get home until AFTER Zumba, Yoga, Cardio, etc. so any attempts that I made earlier in the day to look cute have been dashed to pieces by the time I can take a picture and 2) my photographer, AKA Spencer, doesn't get home from work until 9:30 pm, by which point I'm usually showered and wearing his pajamas. So consider this a disclaimer: almost all these pictures are post-workout and I basically look like a bum.

Either way, I'm THRILLED to show off my bump. I am in love with this little boy. He kicks like crazy and Spencer and I spend time almost every day watching my Buddha belly move around like it has a mind of its own (and I guess it does, right?) So without further ado.... I present the evolution of my ever-expanding midsection:

This was at 11 weeks right after Zumba. The world found out about little man about a week and half later!

This was taken Taylor Building bathroom at 15 weeks. Guess where I was heading? Yup... zumba! My smile was genuine because morning sickness was FINALLY gone.

Same bathroom... same headband... different day later that week.

16 weeks! And I'm not wearing workout clothes! This was the week we found out he was a he.

17 weeks! That's right... we took pictures for 3 consecutive weeks. This was the last week I was able to see my feet while standing.

This was at 19 weeks up in Rexburg for Tuck's AMAZING Senior Recital. My sister is a B-A-B-E.

Yeah... two girls and fetus can fit in James' pants. You can't see anything very well but this was at 22 weeks... and it's also when the outie belly button began!

Whew... 26 weeks. Can you see my outie now?

And this was tonight, post zumba... in the throes of week 27.

I think I'm going to have a big baby :)

Calling all Mommas... and Poppas... and otherwise "knowing" individuals...

It's officially crunch time! Colton Cornett will be here in T-minus 3 months (and hopefully no sooner due to internship requirements) and Spencer and I are so excited! Being pregnant has been a TON of fun, (yes, I DID say fun. My 2nd trimester has helped me completely forget about 1st trimester nasties.) but I can't even begin to imagine how much better life will be once he's finally here.

So here's the deal: Spencer and I are poor. We won't have enough money to do any sort of "theme" for our "nursery" (which as of now consists of a crib in the office) and all I really care about is making sure we have the the essentials. I'll consider it a bonus if any of our furniture matches. I just want a happy baby and I know you don't need a lot of "stuff" for that. I have received advice in the most random places about what baby things are or are not required to get a passing grade in Parenting 101 and I'm asking for yours.

I know every baby is different but I also know there's a lot of crap out there that's purely for convenience or luxury. Yeah... I don't think we'll get any of that unless it's a shower gift. Googling "essential baby stuff" just makes me laugh... and feel more poor. I guarantee our baby will survive without half of those things. Now I ask you: What have you found was a life-saver? What did you get and NEVER use? What do you wish you had? What are some things that people told YOU you would need and you really didn't? What's okay to buy used (because I LOVE me some Craig's List and KSL Classifieds...) and what needs to be new? Hit me with your best practical advice.

We're not planning on buying anything until AFTER any baby showers (the Ward is throwing another girl and me a joint one in a few weeks) because... well... because we truly can't afford to spend money on something we might get for free otherwise. In the meantime, we've been gratefully accepting freebies and hand-me-downs and scouring local garage sales for free or dirt-cheap baby things.

This is what we have so far:
Crib and mattress (thanks, Kent and DeRue!)
Car seat (thanks, tax return!)
Stroller (see above)
A few little outfits (thanks, lots of people!)
Baby monitor (thanks, Jeff & Becca!)
Changing table (it was SUPER cheap. And we needed another dresser anyways. Bonus!)
... and except for a few other little things, that's about it.

We're off to a good start but I'm pretty sure there are some other things we're going to want or need.

So what do you think?

P.S... You're all wonderful and I love you :)

This week in a nutshell...

...was basically fantastic.

The "good":

• NO huge homework assignments were due this week (for me).
• BYU Basketball. Need I say more?
• We still have a little baby boy... and I bought his first outfit :)
• Zumba FOUR days in a row. At 18 weeks pregnant. Yeah, I'm proud.
• Mom and Daddy-o are going to be here in 1 week.
• Three of my regulars told me I was "the best TA".
  
• I still feel good about accepting my IMC externship.
• Peter's homecoming talk
• Seeing lots of my Spencer family (mom's side, that is) and Spencer's family (the husband's siblings, that is). Confusing, right? I had "Spencer" in my blood even before I married one. :)
• Playing with Paul and Lilly. Yeah, they're family but they're getting their own bullet point.
  
• I made corned beef and Spencer said, "Holy crap, this is good."
• People are now brave enough to ask me when I'm due instead of following this sequence: glance at my belly, scrunch eyebrows, open mouths to ask something, and then quickly look away hoping I don't notice. (It's easier when you look obviously pregnant and not just a little... heftier.)
• Stacey's bridal shower
• Free pizza (score!)
• Utah Flash game with Aaron and Megan... and we won by 35 points!
• Spencer surprised me by fixing my car up all purdy.
• Babies are everywhere.
• Robin Hood (the new one) was surprisingly amazing.
• Rob and Steph fed us delightful desserts, as always.

The "could have been better":

• Spencer had three tests. Three days in a row. Woof.
• Heartburn
• Utter inability to sleep through the night without at least four trips to the bathroom
• I forgot to buy a body pillow and a belly band... and I'm feeling it this week.
  
• I DO have a ton of huge homework assignments due next week... so I had to start a bunch of them this week.
  
• Trying to figure out the driving situation to get up to Tuck's senior recital (I WILL be there, dang it...)
• Our fire alarms going off simultaneously for NO reason after going to bed. Three times.
• People are still coming into the clinic and work sick and I've become a HUGE germophobe since a fetus came into the picture. PLEASE STAY HOME (but feel better soon)! :)
• I've had the uncontrollable desire/urge/need to take a nap at about noon EVERY day... and I have had issues waking up when I want to. Naps are GREAT but way too time consuming.
• I learned that you really, truly need to eat something within 15 minute of taking a pre-natal vitamin... apple juice doesn't cut it. Lesson learned!
  

Yeah... I'm pretty excited that my "good" list is longer than my "could have been better" list. Life truly is amazing. Now if I could only get it to slow down a little bit...

Until next time...

Go Cougars!

It's a.....

BOY!

Spencer and I went into the clinic yesterday and the technician told us she was about 100% positive that our baby's "all man!" We are absolutely thrilled :)

To make things better... this came in the mail today:

AND... I got accepted for an externship at IMC! I'll start in June and finish before the little man arrives. All in all, it's been a dang good week. :)

Best Birthday Ever... wanna know why?

Because we got to see this...

Surprise! :)

Our three-inch-long little one showed off all of his or her toes and fingers along with some impressive ninja kicks during yesterday's 12-week ultrasound. Here the baby's waving "hello" to the camera.

You think it's cute now? Just wait till August!

A little bit of this and a little bit of that...

Relax, everyone! We're still alive!

You'll have to forgive me for not posting in more than a month. I lived my Christmas vacation to the fullest... which did NOT entail updating the blog. I did other things instead: sleep, play Dance Central on xbox 360 (which we now own, thanks to Santa Clause), build puzzles, and eat a crapton of food. We got back to our UT apartment at about midnight the night before school started back up, and wouldn't you know it? I have to be on campus at 8:00 am every day this semester (again)!

Just as expected, school was back in swing from day one and I've been spending every spare minute that I have exercising or sleeping. If I keep no other New Year's resolutions, I will keep those two. *Insert boasting here:* I've gone to Zumba, pilates, or yoga at least four days a week since school started back up and I play Dance Central on the others (except Sunday). Not bad, eh? Also... I've been getting to bed no later than 11:00. It's nice to finally get 8 hours of sleep a night!

Spencer and I have also been trying to eat better. Meals have been smaller and more frequent and fruits and vegetables are playing a much more dominant role in the daily menus. Who knew that Spencer loves dried apricots?! Not me. Although the Christmas break was fun, I think it was the first time that Spencer and I realized how much fun eating is NOT when you do it ALL the time EVERY day. I'm glad to report that I already lost the 5 lbs gained over my 3 week break (and a little more, HUZZAH!) and Spencer still hasn't braved the scale (but I trust in his metabolism).

This week, Spencer met with his favorite professor from the Communications Department and officially applied for the major. This professor is on the admissions committee and coached Spencer through the process by editing his letter of intent, giving suggestions for classes and brainstorming some research projects Spencer might want to work on with other professors in the program. I'm really proud of him and we both feel like this is a big step forward.

My program is still very demanding but very rewarding. I have 3 clients in the clinic this semester in stead of 2 and I'm very excited. I had the initial feeling of "impending doom" before my first sessions, but once I was in the therapy room doing my planned activities, I was immediately reminded of why I love my program and the people I work with. It's a great feeling to know you're in the right profession.

I got sick on Friday, and because I'm such a sharing and generous wife, I decided to "spread the love" to Spencer. We were both couch-ridden all day yesterday and today's not looking much different. Although there's not a ton of "new or exciting" news to report, I felt that now, whilst sharing a blanket and playing footsie with my sick (but very cute) husband, is as good a time as any to update the blog. I can't post any of our pictures from Christmas right now because we don't know where the cord to my camera is. Oh, well.

I'll have to be better about finding the "extraordinary" in our "ordinary" lives so that my blog entries don't just say, "Well, not much has changed except we're still busy, we're still in love, and we're enjoying life more and more every day." Sure, it's true... but I'll bet there are some more substantive things to report on every once in awhile. Maybe I should make a late New Year's resolution to make the most out of my blogging... hmmm....

Well, that's it for now but Spencer and I love you all! Till next time...

The breather that's long overdue...

I did it. I actually did it.

Do you know that feeling of impending doom that you feel at the beginning of every semester? You know, the one where you look at your syllabi and your never-ending list of assignments and say to yourself, "Oh geez. I'm dead." Multiply that by 100 and you have my graduate program.

I am here today, breathing, to extend to each of you a feeling of hope. This past week I finished my seemingly endless project for my ComD 610 class: a diagnostic evaluation on a speech and/or language client from start to finish. Holy Moses... that project was a time sucker. This project is the END of my projects/assignments for that class. You heard me right... one class is completely finished! That makes Christmas feel just that much closer. I never thought this day would come, but for the first time (in years, it seems) I can relax. I'm sighing as I type this, just because I can.

This is what I subjected myself (and occasionally my husband) to for the past month:
- NO zumba. Absolutely none.
- NO homemade meals. We were all about cereal, spaghetti and good 'ole mac and cheese.
- NO house cleaning. I think my laundry pile was starting to grow fangs.
- NO socializing besides at school and church.
- NO sleep. This is nearly literal. I went to bed no earlier than 2 (sometimes 3) every night and woke up at 6.
- NO normally working bodily functions... don't ask for details. Just trust me.
- NO weekly television shows (which wasn't a huge sacrifice... since they've all blown lately).
- NO reading assignments for other classes were completed (but I'm all caught up now, don't worry!).
- NO relaxing piano breaks (because heaven knows I'd keep playing for hours).
- NO Halloween costumes (or trick-or-treaters... but because none ever came, not because they weren't welcome... sad face).
- NO blogging (duh)
- NO fun

I almost don't know what to do with myself now that I'm able to breathe again. I went to zumba last night for the first time in several weeks and my legs are ON FIRE. I checked facebook and half my friends had babies. I made dinner and went into shock because I forgot what "leftovers" were. I watched a part of Glee... and all but swore it off for the rest of time. I had time to prep for my session with my 3-year old client this morning and it went amazingly well. I played Christmas songs on the piano till my fingers hurt and didn't look at the clock once. I went to bed at 11:00. I woke up at 8:00. I appreciated the snow for the first time in my ENTIRE LIFE.

This just goes to show that my mom's (and now my) mantra, "This too shall pass" is a true and eternal principle. Before I know it, it'll be Thanksgiving break. And then Christmas. And then I'll be done with classes. And then I'll be working as an intern. And then I'll have my M.S. And then I'll be a certified clinician. And then Spencer will be a successful (fill in occupation here)-er/man. And somewhere in all of that we'll have lots of adorable babies.

And I want to enjoy every minute of it. So whenever you have hard times, just think, "this will be over soon," work harder, and you'll be breathing a sigh of relief in no time.

And of course, never forget to pray. Sometimes it may seem like the only thing you can do but it's always enough.

Till next time...