36 Weeks down, 26 days to go!

This picture really doesn't do my belly justice, I will try to have Rowdy take one with a real camera.

How Far Along: 36 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 15lbs

Maternity Clothes: yep

Stretch Marks: nope!

Best Moment This week? The fact that I can practically grab onto his little foot because he drives it into my stomach and side so hard!

Miss Anything? Being able to bend over, tie my shoes, my back not hurting, sleeping well through the night.

Movement: Constant

Food cravings? Starting to want salads... which I loved pre-pregnancy, then hated all while prego but now im starting to want them

Anything making you queasy or sick? Not really

Have you started to show yet? Undeniably preggers

Gender? Boy

Labor Signs? 24/7 Braxton Hicks and they are starting to get more intense. And starting to have some "lightning" moments

Belly button in or out? mm flush, but protudes slightly when I sit

Wedding rings on or off? On and loose

Happy or moody most of the time? Stressed, anxious, exhausted but happy

Looking forward to? My prego photoshoot and getting him out!

Funny Moment this week? My dad noticing my son kicking me while we were sitting at church

Well I'm a little past 36 weeks, leaving only 26 more days until his due date! I am looking forward to this day more and more with every second that passes. I have loved being pregnant, but I have reached the point that every pregnant woman seems to reach, where she is ready for her baby to come OUT! I have had a wonderful pregnancy, avoiding many things women are plagued with such as morning sickness, heartburn, stretch marks and swelling, but I have not escaped all symptoms. My back is constantly in pain, and with a bowling ball attached to my stomach, bending over is nearly impossible as are the tasks that accompany bending over such as tying my shoes, picking something up, getting up from a chair or out of bed etc. And I've had this excruciating spot on my stomach ever since I've started to show, doctors just say that our son is so active that he beats me up in that spot often and so the muscle tissue is very sore. Lucky me.

Complaining aside, I only have three weeks left of school, two of those weeks I have a couple days off because of holidays, woo hoo! After my last final on the 28th, I am jumping on that stair master and treadmill and coaxing this baby out. I've had two weekly appointments, my first weekly appointment I tested negative for Step B (which is a good thing) and was already 1cm dilated and cervix was already softening (sorry if that is TMI for some). Today they didn't check me but all is well, his heartbeat is strong and healthy and he is still head down. We meet with my doula, Jordanna again this weekend to go over some things before the birth and I have my birth plan all written out. My dad said it looks like a legal document lol. It doesn't really, but I clearly state what I want and don't want.

We are getting so close! Still no name, we aren't even close to that decision. We should probably get working on the narrowing down of the 11 we have left on our lists. I have half of his clothes washed, his white clothes alone filled the entire hamper, and it was heavy. My life will forever be filled with laundry. The holidays are coming up, I am so excited, the last months of the year are my favorite. This Christmas will be so special for us with our new addition. I can't wait to take a million pictures of him =)

34 weeks, 8 months

How Far Along: 34 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 14lbs

Maternity Clothes: yep

Stretch Marks: nope!

Best Moment This week? My baby shower

Miss Anything? breathing with ease, sleeping without having to pee, not feeling like I have to pee 5 seconds after I just went.

Movement: Constant

Food cravings? Nothing really CRAVING, I really like blueberry eggo waffles and peaches

Anything making you queasy or sick? Not really

Have you started to show yet? Whale status

Gender? Boy

Labor Signs? 24/7 Braxton Hicks. And starting to have some "lightning" moments

Belly button in or out? mm flush, but protudes slightly when I sit

Wedding rings on or off? On and loose

Happy or moody most of the time? Stressed and anxious but happy

Looking forward to? My prego photoshoot!!!

Funny Moment this week? Rowdy had his arm across my belly and little man was moving all over the place, Rowdy was shocked at how much he could feel up his entire arm.

Well, 6 more weeks and he will be here, if all goes to plan. Pregnancy is starting to set in, like the "real" parts of it, such as exhaustion, pressure as he drops, no sleep and constant peeing. There is no glossing over that. I am increasingly getting to be more uncomfortable but I don't have long until there is no longer a little renter in my belly and he will forever be ours in person. His kicking and rolling around are becoming much stronger as he continues to grow and thus has less room to move around in. I am all belly and it's noticeable. Next Thursday I go to the doctor for my 35 week check up, he will do the Step B tests as well as check my cervix and such. Haven't had that done before so I am a little nervous about that whole process... Hopefully Rowdy can come with me for this one. People often ask if I'm nervous and I'm not really sure. It's more anxious because all of it is fairly unknown. I've prepared myself this entire time of my plan, how I want all of this to go and what I want to do, but until I am in the situation, I have nothing to compare this to. I just hope when his time comes, I can get a hold of everyone I need to and they can be the support I am going to need and in the end, have a beautiful baby boy in my arms to adore for the rest of my life.

School is stressful, I don't think I have ever had so many projects in one term, it's very overwhelming on top of going to school 4 days a week and working 5 days, all while being pregnant. My finals are all on the 28th of November, and I can't wait to be done this term. But then I only have a few short weeks until school starts again January 7th.

I am nesting, big time. I am constantly wanting to cook and clean and organize everything. I just haven't tackled his room yet, which looks like a hand grenade went off full of baby stuff. This last weekend we had my 2nd shower, courtesy of some of my best friends, Molly and Kylee and they did a great job! It was so cute and we had a great time. I also received many things that we desperately needed for the baby so that was a huge relief.

It is getting so close and it's hard to believe that this is really happening so soon. When we first found out, I was only 5 weeks along, it felt like forever until he would be here, but now, it seems like it flew by. I am so excited to finally meet him, and to have some breathing room =)

32 Weeks & Baby Shower #1

How Far Along: 32 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 12lbs

Maternity Clothes: Full throttle at this point, reg. jeans just are not comfortable

Stretch Marks: nope!

Best Moment This week? The day Danielle had Tripp, little man was absolutely INSANE with movement! I have never felt anything like it before. He obviously was excited for his cousin to be coming into the world that day. Even Rowdy was blown away with all the craziness that was evident from my belly.

Miss Anything? Having room to breathe, not having to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes.

Movement: Like you wouldn't believe.

Food cravings? Nothing really CRAVING, but im digging ice cream a lot these days lol

Anything making you queasy or sick? Mainly beef, raw beef smells like wet dog to me, gross.

Have you started to show yet? Getting to whale status

Gender? Boy

Labor Signs? 24/7 Braxton Hicks. Doctor says that even though I have them more than "normal", it is a good thing because my body is preparing hardcore for baby to come.

Belly button in or out? This has been quite the phenomenon, it's starting to make its way out. Sometimes when I sit, one edge of it will start to protrude....

Wedding rings on or off? On and loose

Happy or moody most of the time? A little stressed with always working and having school and feeling to unprepared for him to come. His room looks like baby clothes exploded all over it. I'm nesting and wanting everything clean and tidy, but don't have the time to do it and it is driving me nuts.

Looking forward to? These 8 weeks to fly by, my last shower and my prego photoshoot

Funny Moment this week? I would say it was the day Tripp was born, he was just crazy that day. Also, I was out doing my routine 3 mile walk that Friday and people were waving and honking at me, as if to say "You go preggers!"

Everyone asks me how I am feeling and to be honest I feel great usually. I get uncomfortable at night, but I really don't have much to complain about. I have been going to the doctor routinely every two weeks and my weekly visits start Nov. 1st. I L.O.V.E. my doctor. Love him. He has been so supportive of everything I want to do, answers any and all questions I have and always puts me at ease. He takes his time with me, makes sure I know what is coming and what is going on now with my body. He always has a huge smile on his face and is so warm as a person. I have been blessed with such a wonderful doctor!

Little man is already head down and has been for a couple weeks at least, which makes me feel good, no breech baby is great news! He likes to play in my ribs and move around a lot, I don't know if it's because he's full of energy or because he doesn't have a lot of room so he's constantly trying to find more. But I honestly love it, sometimes though in the middle of the night it can be a bit much and I kindly ask him to sleep so that I can get back to sleep. It's a little difficult when someone is constantly kickly, punching and rolling around when you are trying to enter dreamland.

Rowdy's oldest sister, Danielle had her baby last friday! Tripp Bradley Bowers born Oct. 5, 2012 at 2:30pm  8lbs 10oz and 21 inches long. He is cute as a button and his older brothers are thrilled he's here! Danielle had been having false labor earlier that week and Lacey was concerned she was going to miss the birth. Apparently little Tripp just wanted to mess with his aunt Lacey because Lacey and Poppy's plane landed around 11:45pm and they were off to the hospital at 3am. Just in time! We are thrilled nephew #7 is here!

I've been having dreams about little man being born early, and I'm starting to wonder when he will actually decide to arrive. Everyone I have seen the last couple of weeks have said "WOW, you have dropped!", this is true, but sometimes he floats right back up, doesn't mean much at this point. I have my finals the last week of November, giving me 6 days before his due date of no school. I am fine with him coming early, just as long as it is after my last final on the 28th of November. I am constantly running through my head what it could all possibly be like. Where I will be when it all starts (most likely at work), how long I will labor at home for, how Rowdy's going to react when everything starts, etc. I'm not scared of the pain, simply because I have nothing to reference it to at this point. I know there will be pain, but I also know what that pain is for and how it is working for my body and my son.

I've been really disappointed lately with school, the timing kinda stinks. I want to be a mom, I don't want to be going back and forth to class, home and work. I have to take Sign Language right after he is born and I am not able to take a term off like planned because they only offer ASL once each consecutive term, so I have to leave my little boy while I go to a class I no longer enjoy anymore. Luckily, my mom said she could watch him for us, I just don't want to miss out on anything. Id rather pick school back up once my own are all in school. I know getting a degree is important, especially when you are as far along as I am, but my priorities have shifted to my family, where as school is more on the back burner for me. But I have to finish. Everyone keeps telling me I have to finish. I commend all those who are able to do it, I'm sure those who are single parents think that everything I'm whining about is a piece of cake, but in my own little world it still stinks.

I can't wait for these 8 weeks to just fly by. Our lives are going to change drastically, forever and it is a welcomed change for us =)

Here are some pictures from my first baby shower:

10 more weeks!

How Far Along: 30 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 11lbs

Maternity Clothes: I wear maternity shirts all the time because I don't fit in my normal clothes, I love stretch pants and a couple maternity bottoms and sometimes I will wear my jeans, but they are starting to be very uncomfortable when I sit, so I unbutton them.

Stretch Marks: nada

Best Moment This week? Just feeling him moving all the time, 24/7

Miss Anything? A good night's sleep without frequent bathroom breaks, not getting winded while running and being able to run at a much fast pace!

Movement: All. The. Time. He never stops.

Food cravings? soups, anything I don't have to cook. I have hated cooking since I got prego.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Just the heat and sometimes meat, and Cafe Yumm

Have you started to show yet? Oh yeah baby

Gender? Boy

Labor Signs? Yes, Braxton Hicks, everyday, all day.

Belly button in or out? In but flattening

Wedding rings on or off? On and loose

Happy or moody most of the time? Depends, im pretty happy until something goes wrong, then I can get emotional. I cry a lot more lately.

Looking forward to? Meeting him and my last shower as well as my pregnancy photo shoot!

Funny Moment this week? In class today he kicked me so hard, I jumped and nearly peed my pants. It has been a struggle the last couple weeks to not pee my pants!  

Well I'm 7 months along and continuing to grow. School started this week for Rowdy and I and we are already exhausted. I am so over school. And this term is going to be a lot of work that I already don't feel like doing. We got his crib put together and are starting on our list of "to-do" list before he gets here. I had my first baby shower this last week and it was so fun! Little man got a TON of clothes, so we are set in that department, now we need to get all the stuff we really need. I am getting so anxious to meet our son, it is such an odd thought to me that once he is here there won't be anyone moving around inside of my anymore. It also blows my mind that our lives are changing forever, that it isn't just for a short time that my life will be different, like when going to school or renting a house, he will forever change our lives and be a part of our family. 

According to babycenter and other pregnancy sites, baby boy is weighing in at around 3lbs now (no wonder I made that weight gain jump) and is almost 16 inches long. 16 inches seems so big to fit inside of me! He likes to kick me anytime, anywhere. Rowdy always rolls over in bed and puts his hand on my belly and I often hear him giggle to himself as he feels our little boy kick while I am sleeping or attempting to sleep. I look forward to being comfortable again when I sit down on the couch or when I sleep and not feel like everything is being squished or that I am running out of air. We still don't have a name yet, we each have a list that started out with 10 names each and is currently down to 6 each, but I'm pretty sure this will be a battle until the day he comes. Hopefully by then Rowdy will be okay with the final names we have and let me pick after all that hard work ill be doing. We shall see!

6 Months

26 weeks

27 weeks

Well folks, 2nd trimester is rapidly coming to a close, hard to believe I'll  be holding my little man in 13 weeks! I can hardly stand to wait three more months, can you tell?

How Far Along: 27 weeks (6 months)

Total weight gain/loss: 8lbs

Maternity Clothes: just shirts, I can still fit in my jeans but I am loving my new maternity leggings

Stretch Marks: nope!

Best Moment This week? Movement is increasing, felt him in my ribs this morning

Miss Anything? A good night's sleep without frequent bathroom breaks

Movement: tons! He's a kicker and a roller!

Food cravings? blueberry waffles, clementines

Anything making you queasy or sick? Just the heat and sometimes meat, starting to not eat a lot of it anymore.

Have you started to show yet? Crossed that bridge a long time ago, definitely showing!

Gender? Boy

Labor Signs? Yes, Braxton Hicks have kicked in the past few weeks and I have them almost daily, throughout the day and night. They can be quite uncomfortable at times

Belly button in or out? In but flattening

Wedding rings on or off? On and loose

Happy or moody most of the time? Depends, im pretty happy until something goes wrong, then I can get emotional. my emotions have kicked up a notch the last few weeks, I cry a lot more.

Looking forward to? Meeting him, and my baby showers

Funny Moment this week? While I was reading a book, he kicked it and it fell over. Also, he was featured in my brother, Levi's wedding this past weekend and it will be aired in TLC in November, little man already made his first camera debut!

As previously stated, sleeping is becoming quite a challenge. There are a million pillows on our bed, and I toss and turn all night long. I'm up several times to go to the bathroom and I am noticing that even when I feel like my bladder is going to explode, there's really only a tablespoon in there, how is that possible? I went to the gym today and ran for the first time in a few months and it went really well! I wasn't able to run super fast, my running speed dropped from 7.0 to 5.6-5.8 ha but I ran a mile without heaving for air or anything, I was quite happy about that. I was reading in one of my books how labor takes a lot of energy (duh) and that it's important for women to be healthy and in shape because it is constant "exercise" that your body has to endure and has no choice but to endure. So I decided that my little workout hiatus was over, aside from my occasional walk and that I needed to get back into my normal workout routine. It also helps make the labor process easier for the baby because they are used to the stress that the mother goes through from her working out, as she is in labor.

I want to try to do a natural birth at the hospital, laboring in water. My in-laws think I'm nuts, and Rowdy's not fond of it at all, but it's what I want. I want to at least try it, and if it's not for me, then I can hop out and crawl into the bed. The last month or so I've realized just how important it is to educate yourself, because everyone has their opinions and assumptions, but that doesn't mean they are right or that they have a clue what they are talking about. I need to do what is safe and best for me and my son, and I feel comfortable with my decisions thus far. People have started to give us baby stuff and that has been such a blessing! People I don't even hardly know have been offering me things, makes me feel so good =)

I can honestly say, I'm like my mother in that I love being pregnant. I've had a fairly easy pregnancy thus far with little to complain about. If all my pregnancies go this smoothly, then I could be prego all the time, and that too has been such a blessing. I'm still in awe that I am going to be a mother; That my family is starting now. It makes me worry and wondering about all the things my kids will do and might do and how I can create the best home I can for them. What I can and should teach them, how I can protect and love them. It has been quite a reflection period for me, the past couple weeks especially. 

This last weekend we had Levi and Kristen's wedding. It was one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever seen. It was gorgeous, as were the bride and groom. I felt honored to be a bridesmaid in the wedding and see their special day so up close and personal. For those who were not able to attend and those who did, it will air on TLC in November sometime. Little People, Big World is doing a mini wedding series of 4 weddings. It was hectic at times, not going to lie. We were Mic-ed the entire wedding, which was a little nerve racking because you had to pay attention to everything you said and did, but it was a beautiful wedding. I got to meet some of the Roloff family and Matt was so nice and he loved Levi, which is pretty cool because anyone who knows Levi, knows he can be a little feisty for some lol. It will be a day they will forever remember and get to watch time and time again, as will we!

24 Weeks

So I got this nifty little pregnancy survey from a friend of mine (Amanda Gates) who is on baby number two, also having a boy and thought I'd start it because it's so darn cute!

How far along? 24 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: about 7-8lbs
Maternity clothes? Sometimes! Shirts, usually because I'm so long waisted that everything is too short for the ever-growing belly. I still fit in my jeans, but i often unbutton them when I sit down. I do wear maternity shorts and sometimes maternity pants

Stretch marks? NOPE!
Best moment this week: Rowdy finally felt him kick!

Miss anything: Sushi, big time cravings for it

Movement: Yep! My stomach moves all over the place, all the time!

Food cravings: Clementines, hamburgers

Anything making you queasy or sick: the heat is killing me. 

Have you started to show yet: For sure, this week I feel like I've definitely popped out

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: Nada

Belly Button in or out? well, it's a little odd, but half of it is almost flat and the other half is still in, very strange.

Wedding rings on or off? On and loose

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy most of the time, until I get really hot and hungry, then no bueno

Looking forward to: baby showers and maternity photos

Funny moment this week: I saw my stomach move for the first time and it just made me giggle. And he's been kicking me SO hard that it literally makes me jump in surprise! One time he actually kicked the computer that was on my belly and it moved!

We are off to Mossyrock trip #2 this weekend and I'm fairly certain I'm not going to fit in the bathing suit I bought just over a month ago for trip #1... what's a girl to do? I feel like my belly just magically popped out this week, and I've been told i'm ALL belly. If you were looking at me from behind, you wouldn't even know I'm preggers. My jeans look baggy in the legs and I haven't really put on the "pounds" persay but I sure feel huge! Little man has been quite the Olympian himself the past week or so, kicking and turning like crazy! The doctor and ultrasound techs comment every time I go in that he is such a mover, he doesn't ever hold still. I think he's going to make me one busy mama. We will DEFINITELY need to baby proof the house, possibly a little earlier than the average parent, especially if he's anything like me and climbs on top of everything just to jump off and pull things off the wall. My parents had to bolt everything to the wall so it wouldn't come crashing down on me. 

I've been reading up on baby things, like a stereotypical first time mom. I have about 3-4 books i'm currently reading as well as looking at baby/mommy blogs. Even though I've taken care of children my whole life practically, being an actual mom starting from day 1 is getting to be a little daunting. We have less than 4 months before he arrives and it sinks in a little more every day for Rowdy and I that life is about to drastically change forever. He commented the other day that he wished women were like elephants and pregnant for 2 years so that the dads had more time to prepare. I DON'T THINK SO. a) 9 months is more than long enough to feel fat and uncomfortable. b) he would just procrastinate until the end anyway and c) there is no way to be fully prepare, it's a hands-on learning experience that every parent has to have.

We have everything moved into our new house, now it's just unpacking EVERYTHING..ugh. I hate moving and refuse to do so until we move to S.C. in a few years. Rowdy's almost completely done with summer classes, which will be nice for him to relax and have time to do other things besides tests and homework. Levi's wedding is also coming up, very exciting. I'm one of the bridesmaids and really hoping I fit in my dress lol. We got me a larger size so that if necessary, we can just pin it in the back. Kristen flew down to Cali this last Thursday and they are looking for a place to live and spending some time together before the big day!!!

5 months Pregnant

Well, I'm five months pregnant now and feeling pretty good for the most part. I'm getting rounder and little man's kicks are getting harder and harder.Rowdy hasn't felt him kicking yet because my placenta is anterior, meaning baby is more in my back and the placenta sac is in front, giving more cushion between the baby and the wall of my stomach. Thus making it difficult for Rowdy to feel him kick yet, but I feel it all the time internally and I've even felt it externally a few times. They say that there is no harm or complications that incur simply from carrying anterior.

 I love Root Beer floats, Mac and Cheese and pickles, along with hummus and pita and clementines. I will say, lower back pain and leg craps when I stretch out in bed have been the latest qualms, and being kicked in the bladder when I have to pee. I painted our bedroom and the nursery last weekend and we move into the house this weekend, it will be nice to have more space and a place we will be in until we make our big move across country in a few years.

I've finally busted out the Bella Band because skirts for church no longer zip up- at all, so in order for my wardrobe to not be limited to three things, it was time to start making use of those amazing belly bands. The past couple of days, our son's kicking has gotten to be a bit more frequent but less on a schedule, it's more periodic from sun up until I fall asleep. Rowdy has also started to contemplate other names (thank goodness!) so I can at least say we have made some progress, although we have no official options to speak of yet.

Little man is now about 11 inches long and weighs about 12oz, as for my weight gain, I haven't stepped on the scale in a couple weeks, but last I checked I had gained 3lbs so far in this pregnancy, and I'm hoping for that number to continue to grow very slowly, just like it has been, but I'm not so sure with the Root Beer floats and Mac and Cheese cravings that that will last very long.

We have gotten a couple things for the baby, some clothes, his crib and a bouncer, but I look forward to my  baby showers in September and late October/early November to help fill his room and get some much needed baby things!

Our Little Man

Well we went in for the gender reveal and doctor appointment and we are happy to announce that Jelly Bean is indeed a BOY! Just as I thought. So that means that Rowdy's parents will have 5 grandsons and my parents will have 4, we are definitely a boy family. It was so fun seeing the pictures and watching him move around. He likes to put his hands in his mouth and suck on his fingers. The ultrasound tech said he's a wiggler! We got some regular photos but we were also lucky enough to get a couple 3D ones.

I'm 20 weeks along and definitely past the "Is she fat or is she pregers" stage, I just look pregnant. My jeans, though I still fit into them, are massively uncomfortable when I sit down or bend over, so I often leave them unbuttoned =) Sweats and stretch pants are my favorite. Our little bug likes to move around a lot when mommy wants to sleep, probably in preparation for when he comes and that's him telling me he will be awake at night and sleep all day. Just the other night Rowdy and I  had JUST turned the lights off and crawled into bed and no more than 3 minutes later, there he is kung fu-ing it up inside his little bubble.

As far as names, it's no secret that we are going to have a hard time deciding what to name him. We have nothing at this point, nada. I have a few names I really like, but convincing the hubby of anything is darn near impossible. I've already made it clear that Chuck isn't even on the list, he just needs to let it go and move on from it. According to BabyCenter and his measurements from the appointment, he's about 10 inches long and weights about 10.5oz. He's growing steadily and so am I. I have finally gained a couple pounds but according to how far along I am and how much the average woman weighs at this stage and pregnancy, I'm behind in the weight gain, but the doctor says as long as I am eating right, it shouldn't matter too much right now. Luckily no stretch marks or anything funky appearing yet, I'm hoping to stay clear of all of that since neither my mom nor grandma got anything either *crossing fingers*.We still love pickles and Trader Joe's Mac and Cheese is always good for a menu option. I also eat a ton of clementines it seems. We have already gotten a couple baby things like bibs, a couple onesies and a hat for our Mossyrock trip next year. I'm excited to move into our new house and get his nursery all ready.

I'm halfway through this pregnancy and I am already looking forward to being done so I can meet him and hold him. I think he will  most likely have blonde hair and blue or green eyes, I just hope he gets my skin tone so he's not a glow stick like Rowdy. I honestly hope he's not too big either because I don't think I can handle a ten pounder falling out, Rowdy and I were both 7lbs 4oz and he was the heaviest of all his siblings, so I'm hoping for a weight similar to that. I cannot WAIT to register and also for my baby showers!!! I have been doing a lot of "pinning" and research on baby products and decoration/nursery ideas. It's a good thing I took summer off from school because everything baby consumes my time.

19 Weeks and Counting

So in almost 48 hours we will be finding out if we are having a boy or a girl, and needless to say I am ECSTATIC! If Rowdy could have it his way, we would be waiting but we are doing it my way and finding out because I do not have the patience to wait 21 more weeks until baby is actually here.

I am 19 weeks today and feeling great, finally. Not that I have much to complain about, it was just the exhaustion, which is finally gone. The heat is getting to be a little difficult, I find myself getting very woosie and overheat quickly. The bump is getting larger and larger, clothes are getting tighter and tighter and it is getting increasingly more difficult to roll over, but I'm okay with all of that. I finally felt the little bugger move at 5:30am Sunday morning for the first time! I had just woken up from a dream, that Rowdy had to deliver our baby because the doctors didn't make it to my room in time. As I was thinking about this dream I felt the baby move around, it was so exciting.

Everyone asks what I think we are having, if I have any special feelings. Honestly, I don't really know. I had a dream before I knew I was pregnant that we had a son, but every dream since I found out I was prego, I've only had girl dreams. So who knows. I think it will be a boy simply because between Rowdy and I, we have 6.5 nephews (one on the way in October) so either we are a boy family or girls don't come until later in the game. If we do have a girl, Rowdy will want to start preparing now ha!

Right now, baby likes pickles, maybe that's mommy I can't tell, but a pickle always sounds really good, and Sushi, but I can't have that so I'm hoping that will be my first meal after baby is born. Rowdy likes to rub my belly a lot, which I really like because to me it's him bonding with our little one. He's great at rubbing my feet (I don't even have to ask, he just does it) and rubbing out my sciatic nerve when it acts up. He helps propel me off the couch when I have to rock myself to get a little momentum going and if I am craving something he usually will go get it or take me to get it. He's still being a stinker about names, but I guess that isn't something to fret about until we actually know the gender, then he's really going to have to crack down and think of more names than the forbidden "Chuck".

I can't wait to set up the nursery and get all our baby things. We move into our new house on Aug. 4th, its a little bitter sweet for me. We are moving out of our ward (for church) and I have never been to any other ward before, Rowdy and I grew up in that ward. But, I am excited that we are still in the Stake (let me explain: our church is divided up into different parts so that everyone is watched over and taken care of. There are several areas in each state called a "stake" led by a Stake President, in each stake there are several wards each led by a Bishop. A ward is a congregation that meets at a certain time, simply so that we don't have too many people coming at the same time and no one feels left out). We are moving into my grandmas old house because she and her boyfriend have bought a condo in downtown L.O. so we will be renting her house. I feel a little like I have come full circle because when I was born, my parents lived there and my old baby room is going to be my baby's baby room.

Rowdy and I had our 1st wedding anniversary yesterday. We celebrated early, on Saturday by going to Almalfi's because we got the twins last night. It's so crazy that it's been a year already adn we are working on year number two while cookin up a baby!

I also start my new job next Monday and I am looking forward to it. The family is extremely nice and it will work better for my family and I as I become a mom. I will miss the twins, I have had them for over two years and watched and taken part in their growth and maturation and it amazing to me how far they have come in those two years. They will always have a place in my heart. Another exciting thing is Rowdy and I leave right after our ultrasound for our annual Mossy Rock boating trip!!! Although I can't really do anything with "da bump", I still love boating, being in the sun, camping and having fun with friends. We had to get me a new life jacket as well as a swimsuit because my old one didn't fit around the ever growing ladies and i wanted a swim suit that I didn't feel like my stomach was bulging out of it.

I'm looking forward to the coming months, I'm pretty much half way there, then there are baby showers, nursery making and nesting to do =)

Random Updates

School is finally near its end for the term, hallelujah!!!! That and work has been consuming the majority of our time, along with trying to figure out where we are going to be living since we are moving out of the house as well as a new job for me-oh and pregnancy. I'm just over 14 weeks, 6 more weeks until the gender ultrasound. Rowdy's sister who is almost exactly 2 months ahead of us just found out she is having baby boy #4, so now I'm really curious what we will be having.

Last weekend Rowdy and I went up to Bremerton to see Molly, Brian, Naomi and new baby Lucas. OMGoodness, he is such a cutie! One of the cutest babies I have EVER seen. Perfect little lips, adorable soft brown hair, tan skin, everything about him is absolutely adorable. As I was holding him, I just looked at Molly and said "I cannot believe I have one of these growing inside of me and that I will be holding my own baby soon." It's truly a miracle. Naomi is such a good older sister, always wanting to help and kiss him, she says "I'm a good big sister". Like always, she was overjoyed to play with Rowdy, crawl all over him like a jungle gym and flirt away. She and I sat down and read some books and she helped me with Lucas while Mommy was getting stuff ready for him or doing the laundry. It was so good to spend some time with my best friend.

I am also currently job hunting. Rowdy and I have been thinking a lot about if I would be able to do overnight with the twins once the baby came and I honestly wasn't sure I could do it. But my mind was made up for me a few days ago, Kaye's sister wants a change in career paths and is going to start nannying the twins starting September if I do not find something before hand. It was a bit of a shock but all things happen for a reason, I just hope someone wants to hire a pregnant person to nanny their children...Any Takers?

Levi also gets home in a couple days and it will be nice to have him state side from now on. Everything is getting exciting with the wedding plans bustling and such, it's so crazy to think he is getting married when I just got married last year! But I think they are good for each other and look forward to spending more time with a new sister in-law.

Now that I'm in my 2nd trimester, the exhaustion is supposed to let up soon, I praise the day I have the energy to stay up past 9pm. I'm excited to feel the baby kick and move around and I'm even more excited to know what we are having. I've had 1 boy dream and 2 girl dreams, I'm not one of those people who just "knows" what she is having. My family thinks it's a girl and Rowdy is hoping and praying for a boy because he doesn't think he can handle any girls, but I know no matter how big he tries to talk, the moment he sees her (if it is a her) he will melt and be glad she wasn't anything else. I will be happy with either gender, I just want a healthy baby, but it would be cool to have the first girl, she would be spoiled rotten. As far as names go, Rowdy's still hell bent on Chuck. He says, Charlie but i'm no dummy, I know he and Lacey will call it Chuck and I-Hate-Chuck. On a more positive note, I'm starting to feel like I'm getting a mini bump. It could be wishful thinking, I don't know. But I'm sure as summer continues on, I will be growing at a more continuous rate.

That's all I got for now, keep your eyes peeled in mid-July for the gender revealing!