2012 in Review

Easily my favorite post of the year. I remember thinking back in January "Well in the review post January is going to be really boring again" and I still can't think of anything cool to write about January. Sad.

January

It’s kind of a boring month, with all the recovery from the holidays. Jim did take me snowboarding in Arizona, it is such a different experience than when you snowboard in Utah!

February

My parent's came to visit, and we learned the difference in being burglarized and robbed. You have to be home to be robbed. That was lots of fun, I haven't really slept well since. (especially last night when I was positive someone was breaking into the neighbors house at 2:30, and 3:30, and 4:30.)

March

We spent yet another amazing spring break in Mexico. We LOVE Mexico

April

We both grew another year older, and wiser too. We also babysat these two crazy kids with Tay while their parents enjoyed two days at Disney!

May

Jim got a promotion at work, and Taylor and I made the most amazing head boards ever. Maybe George helped a little too.

June

We enjoyed our super fun vacation in San Francisco and returned home 100% determined to find a new job, accepted a new job, SURPRISE a positive pregnancy test, and told Nordstrom it was time to peace out. (in that exact order)

July

We spent the 4th in Utah, Jim came back to Arizona to work and go to school and I suffered a case of pink eye in Yellowstone. We also celebrated our 2nd anniversary in Vegas, although I spent most of the time sleeping and being sick. So sorry Hub, you planned a good trip despite my 10 week pregnant body. and last but not least we let everyone know that baby Ross would be joining us in February.

August

Apparently not much happened this month. I thought I looked really pregnant, and now I know I was just a crazy person. We suffered some bad luck with my car, and the a/c in our house, but thanks to that handy man husband of mine he fixed it, all at the same time as buying a crib!

September

Also a fairly boring month, but our luck turned around and I won a brand new iPad at a work party! Woo Hoo!

October

Jim became the proudest man alive as we found out baby Ross would be baby boy Ross. We dressed up as a baker and an oven for Halloween, and spent some money on cute baby clothes!

November

I started to really really really feel pregnant. My family came to Arizona for Thanksgiving,

December

We packed everything in. We went to temple lights, decorated for Christmas inside and out, attended Christmas parties, Jim won the grand prize for the best Christmas Treat in all of finance at insight, took our last flights as a family of two (how on earth do people fly with babies?!) and Celebrated Christmas with snow on the ground.

It is so cliché to say, but 2012 you were a great year. Full of surprises both good and bad, lots of growth mentally and physically, and lots of change. As good as you were, I'm happy to see you go. 2013 is going to be even more crazy, stressful, and fun. I can't wait to get things underway!!

A White Christmas

Christmas this year was so fun! (when is it not?) We were lucky enough to spend 5 days in Utah with my family. There was lot's of time spent laying on the couch, many trips to Target for everything last minute, terrible heart burn and the fattest swollen feet you've ever seen. What could make for a more eventful Christmas?

All I wanted to do this year was go to the Nutcracker, and let me tell you, it was down right AMAZING! I've only seen it once before, but I've been in it many times. As soon as the music started my eyes started to well up with tears. I couldn't stop myself! It was the worst taste of reality ever: I will never dance again, and I will never be able to dance on toe in the Nutcracker. After things got underway I was fine, and it was seriously amazing! I might resent my mother a little for not making me tryout for Ballet West, at least once. She claims it was because she didn't know how to get me to Salt Lake every day, but after watching even the young girls I didn't care! That was not a good enough reason!

After the most amazing two hours of my life at the Nutcracker we met Jim, my dad, Casey and Winter at City Creek for dinner and Christmas Lights. Probably the worst idea ever. We waited 2.5 hours for the Cheesecake Factory (WHO WAITS THAT LONG AT A CHAIN?!), and saw hardly any lights because everyone in Northern Utah decided they were going to Temple Square at that exact moment. It didn't help that I was cold and SO HUNGRY! But it all worked out, we saw the basics (Nativity scene? Forget about it), and I eventually got fed. I was so happy that night that this baby wasn't actually here yet. I couldn't imagine dealing with a stroller in that madness!!

On Sunday I had the fun opportunity to see some of the girls I grew up with! I was so excited because I hadn't seen Kenzie since she got home from her mission, and Linsey got home just days before, and Jenna I hadn't seen since my wedding 2.5 years ago! We had so much fun catching up and laughing like we were children again. I can't lie though, I mostly enjoyed talking to Jenna about the aches and pains of pregnancy, finally someone who understands!!

Christmas Eve was just like any other, lots of delicious food, eating 2 hours after we planned, and family! I think Jim played a lot with Paisley on Christmas Eve and it was one of my favorite things to watch! She just loved him and he would go along with her silly games. I on the other hand, am not exactly the baby whisperer that I thought I was. Jack just screams when I hold him and is totally content with Jim. There is something wrong here! After dinner my dad always read from Luke 2 and we have to play with the nativity scene as he does it. This year was the most fun to date! Paisley LOVES my parents really old Nativity set and she gave everyone their people and then she would take them from us and set them up how she believed they should be. Everyone was crammed in the stable, and if the cow could have been any closer to the baby Jesus he would have been sitting on top of him. Kids really do make Christmas that much more magical.

Christmas morning was so much fun too. It was so exciting to watch Paisley get so excited about the presents she got, and help Jack open (and play) with his presents. I felt so bad for my poor husband because he really didn't have any surprises waiting under the tree. All the clothes he knew he was getting and even tried to wear them before Christmas! (not completely his fault, our suitcases were getting heavy, and he is the best man alive and always sacrifices his suitcase space for my things) I did manage to surprise him a little by putting picture of what was waiting for him at home in his stocking. It just not as fun because you can't play with a picture of a drill, or a blower, you just get to think about how they are sitting at your house waiting for you, AND that dang joint credit card, there really are no surprises. All in all we were spoiled this Christmas and I wouldn't have it any other way. With this baby coming I know our priorities are going to shift and we wont be able to spoil each other like this until we are old so I was more than happy to buy everything on his wish list, despite what he thought. This year my sister in law made my dad a slide show of pictures that all of us kids had taken in the last year and it was so fun to watch! It was 22 minutes long, and both my parents cried through the whole thing, that's how you know it was a good gift! My mom made sure to let everyone there know that we were not the reason why she was crying, she was crying over the Hong Kong Rowlands. I can't figure out why, because we all know I am the favorite child and not Cody! ;)

I love this picture because Paisley’s outfit is sooooooo cute, and because you can see how messy my moms house got, and Jim is reading Jack a book. So cute!

Wednesday was such a fun day too. I got up early and headed over to Annie's house for breakfast with the girls in the ward. It is so crazy to see where we all are at this point in our lives, but when we are together it really feels like nothing has changed. We stayed and chatted for nearly 3 hours! I seriously love those girls, but nothing could ever convince me to move back to Utah. The rest of the day was spent packing, taking pictures and yet another trip to City Creek. I can't thank my parents enough for putting up with all of us for 5 days. It's hard enough to keep a clean house, and then have your kids come stay and make themselves at home? I was having a panic attack for my mom just thinking about it, but she sure was a trooper, even when Paisley peed on the couch! I can't believe that Christmas has come and gone, that means the next thing to focus on is getting this baby here! YIKES!

The Day after Christmas it snowed and snowed and snowed. It was amazing!

Thankful for Visitors

This Thanksgiving was definitely one that I will remember for the rest of my life! As a child, every other year we would come to Phoenix and spend Thanksgiving with my dad's sisters and all my cousins. It was always so fun! There are memories of eating dinner poolside in bathing suits, blow up bounce houses, and then having a 24 flu bug go around on more than one occasion. This year my sister-in-law Winter called me and told me they wanted to come to Arizona for Thanksgiving and I got SO excited! One of my favorite traditions as a child was being carried on, and it would all be because I am now the one living in Phoenix! After much convincing (my mom) the parents decided to join us! That means my little yellow house, 6 adults, a toddler, a baby, and two dogs for Thanksgiving! And you know what, I wouldn't change a thing (sorry mom). Casey and Winter drove down on Sunday, and my parents flew in early Wednesday morning. The whole week was one of those go-non-stop-sleep-when-you're-dead kind of weeks. We were able to get dinner with Casey and Winter, and even got to go to the temple with them and Shay and Gunner. It was so fun, but I think the Mesa temple would be happy if Winter, Shay and I didn't come together again :).
Once the parents were in town it was get ready for Thanksgiving full force at our house! Jim and my dad prepped the shrimp dip and got the stuffing ready Wednesday night and I just stood there watching. I'm pretty sure I repeated "are you learning all the tricks, hub"? no less than a million times. Thursday I woke up to Winter making her amazing Orange rolls, made some pumpkin pies with my mom, made sweet potato pie, fruit cocktail, and sent the boys to the grocery store 3 different times (one time was even to get ANOTHER Turkey because my mom was so convinced that 12.5lbs wouldn't leave enough left overs for us. I'm here to tell you that a 12.5lb turkey and a 15lb turkey two days later does leave PLENTY of leftovers). We deep fried the Turkey in about 45 minutes and it was perfect. Once you've eaten a deep fried turkey you wonder how you ever enjoyed one that was oven baked. We then feasted like kings!! There was so much left over, and I wasn't even mad about it. The boys all took a nap while Winter and I played with the babies in my room. Then the Black Friday debate came up, do we go? Do we even need anything? What can I justify NOT buying? I did send Jim and my brother to Walmart at 10 to get the Shark Steamer I've been wanting, and it was well worth it let me tell you!! The next morning Jim and I and the parents woke up at 7 to head to the mall. My dad always buy's his Levi 501 button fly on black Friday, my mom always buys socks, and I heard gap was having 60% off! We did some damage at Gap for sure. I think I spent 2 hours in there alone? We hit up bath and body (gotta get your candles, and my mom really needed the gift with purchase tote), Macy's had a microwave my mom wanted and when we went back to get it, it was gone. She was so not happy. I think we were at the mall for 5 hours and did some major damage! Thanks mom!! I actually had alot of fun shopping on Black Friday, but I think that's because I shopped for clothes, and I wasn't fighting the crowds at Walmart like that man of mine. After we came home and took some much needed naps we headed over to the temple to see the temple lights! Its such a nice change from Temple Square, even if it is much smaller. My dad just thought it was so funny that he was at temple lights in shorts and a short sleeve shirt. I on the other hand was wearing Uggs and a sweater, thin blood? The rest of the weekend was just fun and relaxing. Jim finished all of his Christmas shopping, the girls got Christmas pedicures. I'd say it was a very successful Thanksgiving. Hopefully next year we will be in a bigger house, and the dogs can have more room to run outside and not drive my mom crazy! Next up, Christmas! I can't wait!!

27 weeks

Things You Never Ever Say to a Pregnant Person

Common sense?

Apparently not.

-"When are you due"? 

"February 22" 

"OH MAN! I thought you were having a Christmas baby"!!
Accompanied by a look of complete surprise. Jokes on you buddy, I've still got 2.5 months.

-When your friend show's your most recent bump picture to someone and the reaction is "How many babies is she having"? One. There's just one in there. And -10 friend points for you TAYLOR for telling me this story. (see above picture)

-"You look 9 months pregnant already"!

"Thanks".

"I didn't want to say anything"
Well, maybe you shouldn't have?

30 weeks

-"You look as good as ever"

So this 30 lb. belly is no different then when I didn't have it?

-"I think I am getting to the uncomfortable all the time stage"

Women laughs ridiculously loud and responds "Oh no, no you aren't"

Really? Because last time I checked I had no feeling under my ribs, my feet ache, my hips hurt, my upper and lower back never stop screaming at me, and I can't walk and talk at the same time for fear that I might pass out. You are right, I feel like I'm floating on air.

Half asleep, 31 weeks

-"Do you want a cookie"?

"No thank you"

"But you are pregnant, don't you always want a cookie"

"No, it literally wont fit in my body"
"Really"? (said with extremely large eyes)

I know my stomach is big, but trust me, if I could fit a cookie, I would. But I choose being able to breath as normal as possible.

-"Am I the only one super annoyed with the car alarm that's been going off forever"?
"Yes. It's a pregnancy thing" (coming from the guy wearing head phones)
No, it's not.

After the Nutcracker, still 31 weeks

-"You are only X weeks along? Your baby is going to be HUGE".
Is that a fat joke?

-While facetiming with my brother in Hong Kong, "Her feet are so swollen, see"? "OH GROSS"!!
OH GROSS, CODY?! Do you know what you eat?! That's what is gross my friend. I'll have you know that the reason for the swelling is, 31 weeks pregnant, air planes, high heals, walking around the mall for a few hours, venturing into temple square, and Utah's high altitude. What did you expect, Cody??

Probably the most embarrassing picture I've taken thus far. Jenna is 4 weeks ahead of me people, She doesn't even look pregnant in this picture.

I can assure you she is. And there is a bump there, she just carries hers with grace, and not two left feet like me.

-"When are you due"
"February 22"
"Oh you are so close"!!
No no no no, so close is waddling into the hospital in tears just hours before giving birth. THAT is close. 31 weeks is just "coasting" according to the doctor.

-When someone's reaction to how you are feeling, weather it be physical or emotional, is "Hormones". Well you listen here, I don't care if it's hormones, those are real feelings and there is nothing I can do to stop feeling them! It's not like I'm crying over a broken nail, I'm pissed because someone just yelled at me on the phone and I had nothing to do with their problem. You are going to sit there and tell me my reaction is due to HORMONES?! I'll cut you.

And this is the real problem I'm facing these days. I can't see half my iPad screen, or anything for that matter, because there is 

just nowhere to comfortably hold anything. 

As a side note: Things to never say to the expecting father: "Are you getting so excited"? I think that everyone involved in the conversation can agree that yes, he is getting so excited for more reasons than one. I can name a few just off the top of my head, a wife who is not miserably swollen, a baby to cuddle, life adjusting to the new "normal" and no longer being in the weird limbo phase that we've been in since June, and mostly no more conversations about my aches and pains. I don't blame him!

Thoughts on Being Almost 30 Weeks Pregnant

I thought I would be better about documenting my pregnancy. I've taken a picture nearly every week to show how much this belly is growing, but other than that I haven't done much else. So as of right now, just a few days shy of 30 weeks:
-I'm tired of being pregnant. Big Shock ;)
-I can't wait to be a stay at home mom!!
-On Sunday at church I had a girl came up to me and said "I had no idea you were pregnant! When are you due, what are you having"? "I'm due February 22, and it's a boy"! "Oh so you are in the uncomfortable part now, no sleeping and stuff". Then my sweet husband chimed in, "More like I'm not sleeping because she is snoring so loud". I believe this will be our first and last conversation ever.
-On top of having next to no problem sleeping through the night, I've only gotten up to go to the bathroom maybe 3 times during my whole pregnancy! I've always been slightly proud of the fact my husband doesn't have to wait for me to go to the bathroom everywhere we go, but now I wish I could give my bladder a big pat on the back!! Such an accomplishment for a huge pregnant person!
-I haven't had one constant craving throughout my pregnancy. Sometimes I get on kicks where some things sound really good like an over sized slice of pizza or hot fudge sundaes. For a few weeks I wanted BJ's tomato soup in a bread bowl.
-I threw up a few days ago from bending over. I don't know what it was, maybe I squished my stomach or something because as soon as I got down, everything was coming up.
-In order to even bend over I've officially resorted to more of a squat.
-Pregnancy brain hasn't so much been an issue for me. That is until Jim and I were at the grocery store and he would talk to me and I would just stare blankly at him. I had no answers for him.
-I often find I'm out of breath. Like can't walk and talk. I also attribute some of the pregnancy brain to the lack of oxygen.
-My back still hurts. I can not wait for that epidural.
-If you could win a gold medal in sleeping, I know I would win. I could sleep a million hours straight and still be exhausted when I woke up.
-I'm kind of getting annoyed that when I come home from work and want to put my pajama's on I have no big t shirts to be comfy in, or no hoodie to be comfy in. All my shirts are too small, and I don't think my husband enjoys sharing his wardrobe with me.
-Leggings are not pants. #sorryimnotsorry
-By the end of the week I can't even recognize my swollen feet. Sometime I think my toe nails are going to pop off!
-This belly gets in the way. There's no other way to put it.
-I have a new appreciation for my "pre baby" body.
-Baby only likes to show off his tricks for mom. If he's ever moving like crazy and someone wants to feel he will surly stop. I think Jim has only felt him moving a couple of times, but he puts on shows for me all day!
-That husband of mine, he takes good care of us. He always has, but it's the extra things like "go put your feet up" that make my heart melt. (and that's not even when they are huge yet!)
-I'm still so excited to be a mom.
-I'm still slightly stressed because I haven't nested like I've wanted to. So much left to do! Maybe after the holidays? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight?

                                            11 weeks                                                                                     12 weeks

                                                        14 weeks                                                                               15 weeks

                                                      18 weeks                                                                                  19 weeks

                                                      20 weeks                                                                                    21 weeks

                                                           22 weeks                                                                             24 weeks

                                                          25 weeks                                                                              26 weeks

                                                        27 weeks                                                                               29 weeks

That pretty much sums up everything until this point. We can't wait to meet you Baby Ross!!!
What I love about these pictures: When Chief decides he needs to make an appearance.
What I hate about these pictures: It also documents how much my hair has grown out. YIKES!
And yes. I did loose the white t shirt, so now we will be taking pictures in whatever shirt actually will fit on my body.

A Little Story From This Momma To Be

I will probably remember November 8, 2012 for the rest of my life.

No, it's not because I wanted to block all my facebook friends and all their annoying political posts

(Although, that would be a good reason to remember it)

On Wednesday, me and Fetus had a Moment.

I was on my way home from work and I just got off the phone with the doctors

answering machine.

I've been having really really really bad back pain.

Right under my left ribs.

I asked my doctor about this at my last visit and she said it was one of two things:

Muscle, easily treated and to start by putting a heating pad on it. If that helps, then we know it's the muscle and I'll need to go to the chiropractor, and/or get massages (yay!)

Or, it's my kidney, not as good because her solution to a kidney problem was to "watch it very closely". Not comforting.

So I started with the heating pad, pretty much 24/7. Sitting at my desk at work, laying in bed at night, watching tv, all the time.

After 4 days of this, nothing felt better and the pain would eventually spread to the front of my ribs by about 3:30, just in time for me to get in my car and try to drive home.

So I called and made an appointment for a kidney ultrasound to figure out what is going on.

That was last Friday.

So on Wednesday, my impatient achey self called the doctor to get the ultrasound results, leading me to this point in my life.

I was stopped in construction at a traffic light in a bit of a daze thinking about how bad my back hurt and how I needed to be laying down and not sitting in the car.

Right then, on my right side I felt a kick, a pretty dang good kick.

Then about 5 seconds later I felt it again.

and then it stopped, 

so I pushed and he kicked again.

So I pushed again, and as I pushed that time, he kicked my thumb, hard.

I just sat and smiled, I wasn't thinking about my pain anymore.

I was thinking about this little baby, and he was thinking about me.

And for good measure, he kicked me again.

In that moment, I realized this back pain is worth it. 

It doesn't matter if it's my kidney, or if it's muscle.

Whatever it is, it's going to get this little babe here.

Later that night Jim and I were sitting waiting for a movie. 

Fetus was moving all over the place, and I could feel him everywhere.

So I grabbed Jims hand so he could feel, but of course he stopped preforming all of this tricks.

Jim has yet to feel the baby move because he does this every. single. time.

Later in the movie he was kicking in the same spot a few times so I grabbed Jims hand again and pushed and waited, and just like that POW!

He decided to say hi to his daddy. 

November 8, you were a good day.

(After I finally heard back from the doctor it turns out there is nothing wrong with my left kidney, but my right has fluid in it. They said that was "normal" and they weren't worried. So now that nothing helps my back pain I'm here to suffer through the next 14.5 weeks. Oh Joy!)