Picking up where we left off...

Midwife Weeklys

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Warning: Long post ahead. Proceed with caution and at your own risk of sleepiness. :)

Week 1

     This was another short visit because I had just seen her only 5 days before. I can't believe that I'm already this far into my pregnancy that I'm doing weekly visits!!! We talked mostly about how I'm doing. She thinks that baby girl has got a bit bigger since last time, and considering I gained 2 pounds since then I would hope so. I'm not sure where else it's going. Well, I could guess, but that's an unpleasant thought I choose not to believe in. :) Honestly, I'm having a hard time seeing my belly get bigger. My guess is that this is due to her consistently moving up instead of out. I'm getting stomach aches in the mornings now that will dissipate when she moves down a bit.

      Before going to this appointment, I actually had a bit of a break down and shared with Ty what I was feeling. The last couple of days, I was feeling very overwhelmed with being uncomfortable, stressed of her being okay, and the pressure to get everything done and prepared before her arrival. I tend to expect perfection out of myself and it's difficult when I realize that I haven't been living up to that self-inflicted expectation. Now that my hormones are greatly affecting my emotions (I call it hormotional thanks to Willamina from the TV show Ugly Betty :) ), I've been even more so distraught over small, what I feel, are "failures". They aren't of course and everything will get done in time, I just have to be more patient with myself.

      I digress, I told Ginger that I had officially hit "Panic Mode" and she thought that maybe I was worried about labor. Fortunately, that hasn't fully registered yet. We talked about my uncomfortableness. She suggested ways to help me sleep better. My hips are killin' me and my tummy is more awkward to move from side to side. Even sitting down for long periods of time is rough. I ended up having to leave church early the day before because (1) I was wicked tired and couldn't keep my eyes open, (2) she was kicking me all over the place and I couldn't focus, and (3) my bum was getting numb from sitting too long. Ginger also, suggested putting up positive statements where I can see them now so that I can calm myself before going into labor.

       Again, she's on the right side. She moves to the left a little sometimes, but she just likes to cuddle with mommy on the right side. Ginger told me that she's in the front and as long as she's there she's good. Baby girl was measuring right on time, once again, though she hasn't dropped just yet. I'm anxious for her to get out of my upper innards. We also did my Group B test this visit. All I can say is (with much sarcasm), "lovely". :( The things we women endure. Before sitting up, I looked down at my stomach and actually saw muscles! Hooray! They're still there, just a little more difficult to see at the present. I'm glad to know I still have them. Big highlight of the visit.

Week 2

      Group B test results came back and I tested negative. Yay! However, I do have an infection which she said can be taken care of with a salt water bath every other day until the baby is born. She also said to "enjoy" my probiotics. The infection itself is nothing serious, but it's always good to get things like that taken care of.

      This week I came in with a list of things to talk with her about that have been going on. Firstly, I've had some green mucus a couple of times when wiping in the bathroom (sorry, TMI). I've read some things that could have explained it and the most likely explanation is that it's that is the mucus plug that's slowly coming out. The next thing was some swelling in my hands and feet the day before, which was explained by having had pizza the night before. I, also, had some concerns about her movement. Ginger confirmed what I had thought, but wanted to make sure of, was that she's kind of running out of room. I'm not very tall so there's not much room for her to move around in. Later on in the appointment, and the remainder of the day, Baby Girl proved that she is in fact alive by moving quite a bit. I'll never doubt her again. :) The last thing is that the adapter piece she gave us to connect the faucet and the hose doesn't fit our faucet. So we'll see if it will connect with the shower head or find an adapter that will fit the sink. Oh dear.

      She quickly went over the Emergency Childbirth page she has for Ty in our folder. It basically outlines what needs to happen if things happen quickly or if something goes wrong. Next we talked about breast infections and what to do about. She emphasized that I can call her no matter how long it's been since I've seen her and she can take care of the situation. We also talked about ways to prevent. The great news this week is that I only gained 1 pound! Yes. Other than that one day of swelling, I've been doing pretty good. My blood pressure is still good. Baby, or as we called her this visit, "Juniorette", made it to the left side during the week after a chiropractor adjustment. Though, she seemed on the right and center for the most part during the visit. She sitting lower, but not quite "in position" yet. When Ginger measured her she said, "Cooked." I wondered what that meant and asked what she was measuring at. Ummm, yeah, so 40! NO WAY! Holy Big Baby Batman! At this point I'm 38 weeks. While hearing her heartbeat, we played a little game with her. I poked at her feet and she poked back. Her heartbeat went from 135 to 160. She was definitely awake. :)

Week 3

       I feel like I'm in a daze, but at the same time I feel good about everything. At this visit we were able to meet Marcille (sp?), the woman who will be assisting Ginger during the birth. It kind of made everything more real as we are drawing very near my due date. I really like Marcille and I'm looking forward to her being there during the birth. They asked if I had any questions for her and I confess I didn't. I trust Ginger and that she wouldn't bring someone around us that we wouldn't get along with. And really for the most part I get along with everybody. :) We did spend some time getting to know her and her getting to know us.

      At this point in my pregnancy, we're so close and we see her so often that we don't have much updating to do. We did ask her about going to Ty's grandpa's funeral on Friday and she said that it would be fine for us to go, but to take the birth kit just in case, though we should be able to be back in time. During the belly/baby exam we discovered she's down into position, ready for action. Of course, it's always possible for her to rise a little bit if she's feeling rebellious. Overall, all is well in the world of baby. :)

You know you're nesting when....

2012-02-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

You start labeling your cupboards and cabinets so people who come to help out will know where everything is.

My husband has mandated that I relax and rest a little bit since I've been going at everything on the crazy setting. It just seems like there is so much to do and I'm running out of time to get it all finished before she gets here. For the most part, I think, things are pretty much done. Her closet is sitting outside to help get rid of the awful smell that the metal was expelling. I'm hoping that it's finally gone and we can put all of her clothes away. They are such cute clothes and they need a good place to be. :) As well as labeling and putting away clothes, I've also written up laundry and cleaning instructions and trying to keep the house clean so that when I do go into labor I don't have a disastrous house stressing me out. It's silly, but I also really don't want people coming to my house when it's in a disarray. I don't want to think about what they possibly think of me and my ability to keep a clean house, whether they are or not. Am I crazy? Why yes. Yes I am. It's nice to meet you. :)

Birth Plans

2012-02-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Yup. You read that right. I have birth planS. Three in fact. I'm still surprised at how many women don't know about putting together a birth plan. I think most people just assume that the doctors and nurses know what they're doing and there's no reason to assume that you would do things differently. While I understand that mindset, I also believe that doctors and nurses are doing things for their benefit and time. I also think that they can get so used to doing things a certain way that they don't give much thought to other ways of thinking. Please don't think I'm trying to put any of these professionals down, I just like being able to do things the way I believe is necessary. At any rate, I have three birth plans to accommodate the different scenarios in which I may end up delivering my baby girl. You can read each of them by clicking on the link attached to each.

Home Birth Plan

Non-Emergency Hospital Plan

Cesarean Section Plan

Something that's important to remember is that I'm not expecting things to exactly according to plan. That should be obvious considering how many plans I have. Haha. Mostly, I want to atmosphere to comfortable and relaxing. Considering how uncomfortable I will be, shouldn't I try to make the environment one that puts me at ease?

I'm curious, has anyone else made a birth plan for any of their deliveries? I was talking to a friend of mine who hadn't heard of them before her pregnancy and she said something about it made sense that doctors and nurses not liking them because they get in the way of their job. I don't think I can say that that's a good reason to keep from making one. Again, I know that things don't always go according to plan, but should I have to give up my opinions and beliefs because it's inconvenient? I don't think so Tim. You probably have, indeed, made a birth plan, but just didn't put it in writing. As long as you are getting the birth experience you are striving for, I'd say you're doing pretty dang good.

Guess our Baby's Stats

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

With our little girl due soon and really able to come any time between now and the end of the month, I thought now would be a good time for everyone to guess just how big and tall she'll be. I'm hoping not too big, but I keep thinking about Ty being a 10lbs. and 5oz. baby and it doesn't give me much hope. I was 7lbs. and 11oz. so I'm rooting for something closer to my end. I really don't remember how long either of us were or our head circumferences, so I won't be able to help you there, but know that the Robbins boys have large skulls and it's been known to be inherited by their children. Yeah, yikes.

Baby Shower

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

The weekend after New Year's I had my baby shower in Moses Lake and had so much fun seeing everyone and drinking Hot Cocoa! Ty and I came early to help my mom set up and I wish I would have gotten pictures of the Hot Chocolate Bar. I couldn't wait to delve into that. After it was all done, Ty hid away with his book. This was a girl party after all. :)

The first game we played was actually for everyone as they walked in, "Guessing Baby's Due Date". For the record, she has a name and I've told people, but I just hate giving it away for some reason. After she is born, I'll post it with her announcement, but until then I'm not posting it on here just yet.

Before

After almost everyone made their guesses.

This might have been the most fun for me, I think, because we aren't sharing the actual due date with anyone other than my mom (and even then I didn't tell her until after the shower was over). People keep asking me and I'm not budging. I will say that someone did guess on her due date so it will be interesting to see if they are right. I think I'll share the date after I have her, as well. When she is born, I'll send a prize to the person who was able to guess the date right, if anyone has. If I go into labor and have her the next day, I'll see about doing a second place prize.

The next game was to make a baby out of play-doh. Mine was an epic failure and I immediately disqualified myself from the competition, especially after seeing everyone else's masterpieces. They certainly put mine to utter shame.

I was seriously in the presence of some amazing creative workers here. It only solidified my lack of ability to be crafty. They were all presented to me to be judged and I had a hard time choosing, but in the end I couldn't deny that the best one was made by my friend Clare. Not only did she make the baby, but she gave her a diaper, a bumbo, a bow, a rattle, AND a little ducky!!! Amazing!

Our last game was a trivia of Old Wives Tales about pregnancy. For instance, if you are carrying the baby high you're having a ______?. We all set to work trying to figure out if the answers were boy or girl.

Grandma Robbins was the winner with 12 our 15 right, but the gift was all chocolate and since she's not a fan, she kindly gave it to me. Yes please!! After the games, we headed over to the kitchen to put together our hot chocolate with any of the mix-ins to drink with cookies and treats. Yum! We all had fun chatting and reconnecting, but after awhile it was time for presents. I was really blessed with some wonderful things and I'm so grateful to everyone who came and gave us much needed items. My favorite gift, though, was definitely the one from my grandma because it was a handmade quilt that I know she put a lot of effort into and was told later that it was one of the last she would make, as it's become difficult for her to do. I love my grandma and her quilts. (The pictures are kind of blurry. I think they were taken a little too fast. :) )

When it was all said and done, it was time to clean up and go home. I was so glad to see everyone and make this last excursion before baby girl is born. Once everyone had left and it was time to put gifts in the car, I wasn't sure how we were going to do it. Our car isn't meant for transporting a lot of things. However, if you know Ty, then you know he's is a master packer and a Tetris King. He somehow managed to compact everything into a box one of the gifts came in and several of the gifts bags. To top it off, it all managed to fit in our back seat. Incredible!

Again, I'm so grateful for everyone who has contributed something to us and our daughter. We are truly loved and blessed. I can't wait for our little lovebug to be born and dress her up in the cute outfits she has acquired. Certainly, our baby will be once of the best dressed around.

Babymoon in Long Beach, WA

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

      Before we bring this little darling of ours into the world, we (okay mostly me) wanted to take one last getaway trip while it was still just the two of us. So, we planned a trip for Long Beach, WA back in October. It's taken me a little while since I had a few good pictures on my phone and wasn't sure how to get them to the computer. Now that I've discovered how to do so I can share with you what we did.

     We left on a Saturday and headed for Astoria, OR, where we would stay the night since our check-in day with the place in Long Beach wasn't available until Sunday. I have to admit that I was a little giddy about being in Astoria because part of the movie "Goonies" was filmed there. Huzzah! Yes, I'm one of the biggest movie nerds you'll ever meet. :) When we got in, it was pretty late and very dark so you really couldn't see much at that point. Trying to make this a very affordable vacation, I chose a rather cheap motel for the night. I didn't take pictures of it, but you can look it up here. The room was VERY small, but it was only for one night so there wasn't too much to complain about. Though, after a night's sleep on the hardest mattress ever, I was even more ready to get to our final destination.

      The next day was Sunday and we got ready to go to church. I couldn't believe how steep the hills were!

I thought, "There's no way we would make it up these hills alive if it were covered in snow." How do people live like this?! Finding the church wasn't too bad, but finding parking was ridiculous. The parking lot was EXTREMELY small and many people were forced to park in the street or neighboring parking lots, which were few. I hope they are somehow able to get more parking someday.

Ty in front of the Astoria church building.

The members were so friendly and really tried hard to convince us to move. Apparently, there are 700 homes for sale there! Geesh! Talk about a buyers market. It's a beautiful area, but those hills would kill me. Haha. We still had a ton of time to waste before our check-in time so we changed and drove around seeing a bit of Astoria. We decided to make our way over to Long Beach and do some driving around, maybe stop and make lunch somewhere, and then see if we could check-in early. Driving on the Astoria - Magler Bridge, to reach the Washington side, was sort of crazy the first time. I'm assuming they have a lot of ship coming through there and need the height. It feels like you are ascending forever and then reaching the peak, to look down was quite the sight, then back down where it eventually leveled out. Needless to say, driving in Astoria, was like being on a continuous roller coaster. So glad I was over the morning sickness at this point. Haha.

Since we had copious of amounts of time, we wanted to take whatever detours we could. This led us to Cape Disappointment. Do not let the name fool you as it was quite the gorgeous location. The trees, the river, the forest, the ocean. It's only downside was the fee parking. There was only one spot we found that didn't require this. Though it didn't last long because of the winds, being so high and also closer to the ocean. But my, was it beautiful!

All this driving and sightseeing, however, STILL provided us with a great deal of time before we could check-in. We decided to keep driving to Long Beach, which was a short distance, see if we could find a place to sit down to make sandwiches and eat. Being that we, again, were so close to the ocean, it was still very windy. So, we ate in the car and were exhausted so we took a brief nap. Luckily, we were able to check-in a bit early and we were grateful. We stayed at the WorldMark resort in Long Beach thanks to my parents generosity and extra points. Compared to where we had stayed the night before this was a castle! Haha.

The bathroom (though not pictured) was huge. Not the tub/shower really, but there was sooo much space in there. I'm not exactly sure why, but you could definitely fit a party in there. At this point, we get pretty boring. Ty and I are very leisurely when it comes to vacationing. That combined with the outside of tourist season and the area being quite small, we didn't end up doing a whole lot. Part of this was really my fault. I should have planned to go before I got to the stage of pregnancy where it was all just uncomfortable. Walking, standing, sleeping, sitting even. I felt so guilty for wanting and planning this trip and then not allowing us to experience much. We did, however, get to go out for some short excursions about the town and see the extremely close neighboring towns. You seriously would drive 3-5 minutes and be in another small town that lasted about 2 minutes.

When we got to the WorldMark they asked us if we were members or friends/family of members. They then asked us if we wanted to hear their spiel about WorldMark and get a free $75 gift card and my parents would get a complimentary 1000 points. Ummm, YES! We got a free lunch along with the presentation and though I felt bad for not signing up after all the work the girl put into it, I was glad we did it. Hooray for free money! We decided to use at least part of the card on a dinner at a restaurant just across the street called the Lightship Restaurant.

While the view of the ocean was lovely, the actual dining experience lacked as a whole. I was surprised considering all the great reviews I had seen on Urbanspoon. This may have been due to them just having a bad night, but considering the service we had, I wouldn't recommend it. The true highlight of the trip for us was a bakery called Cottage Bakery & Delicatessen. Who is really surprised by this? Anyone? I didn't think so. ;) Not only were their pastries delicious, but they had them in giant form! I also loved the doll cupcakes. So cute!

We ended up going there twice because it was so yummy! I really wish we had more bakeries in our area. The rest of the trip was mainly spent lounging and trying to be comfortable (at least on my part). It was fun to go off on a trip, but I was glad to get home and be in my own environment. If we ever do a trip like this again (meaning a "before the baby is here" trip) I'll make sure to do it earlier in the second trimester so I can be a little more comfortable.

Midwife Appointment at 34 Weeks and 36 Weeks

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

I decided to combined these two visits into one post because they were only two weeks apart and the first one was shorter.

34 Weeks

      Um, really? The time is getting very far away from me.

      This appointment was a little bit shorter than normal because she was with another patient and I think she wasn't informed we were there. :) We talked about getting all of the things we need for baby and birth. I'm still not ready and trying to get everything together. Gah! I'm running out of time! Ginger brought up a few things that will be helpful such as olive oil for the baby's bottom to assist with keeping her newborn poopies from sticking to her sensitive skin. She reminded us of the different stages of pushing. THE RING OF FIRE! I've heard about this from so many and I'm trying my best to mentally prepare for this. We talked about about her Prep Tea that she offers to her expecting moms. It's exactly what it sounds like, a tea that will help prep my body and hopefully make me more efficient during labor.

      Stretch marks have finally appeared. I can handle it. I've had stretch marks forever from being "bigger boned" and "fluffy". These are different from what I already have though. Regardless, I've succumb to the fact that it happens, I'm not the only one who gets them, and that's life. Oh wells. Also, feeling the shortness of breath. She sits high and her feet push up when she moves and stretches.

      During the exam, per her usual, baby girl was on the right side. She's down low, but not "in position" low. I'm now far enough along that when we do the exams, it's uncomfortable and I always end up with what Ginger calls a "tight tight" (aka Braxton Hicks contraction). By the time I get it though we've finished. Yay!

36 Weeks

      What an interesting an crazy day! That morning we received a blanket of snow and the roads were barely used. Ginger called me that morning because everyone else had cancelled and wanted to know if I was still planning on coming. She said she didn't mind coming in and we would still have a chiropractic appointment for Ty afterwards so we just decided to make the drive and keep our appointment. The roads were not lovely and I repeatedly told Ty I was glad he was driving and I didn't have to. If it were just me, I would have rescheduled. I'm not a great winter driver. I'm the person people get mad at. :)

      She asked if baby was moving well. Um, yeah, she's fine. There's not much room for her in there and it gets rather uncomfortable...for me. This girl is strong. Someone asked me if she's a soccer player. Oh yes, soccer player, boxer, gymnast. We also talked about vaccinations, which ones are usual and she let us know pros and cons of each so that we can make up our minds as to which ones we will want to give to her. Another reminder was given that if I go into labor at night to call her house. During the day, call either her cell or pager and leave a voicemail on either.

     My feet and hands haven't really swollen yet, which is great. Only if I'm REALLY warm or am not able to put my feet up at some point. Either way, it's easily remedied. Ginger also suggested lying on my side with the outer leg elevated above my heart until the swelling goes down and then switch sides. We talked about the tub, which she will be providing us for free, luckily (on loan of course), and she gave us an adapter to the sink for the hose that will fill the tub. She also gave us instructions on how to clean both the tub and the hose and how to prepare the bed for labor and birth. We also talked briefly about how I will be staying upstairs for the first three days. I had said something about this on Facebook and a few people were confused by it because they were fine and were concerned I'd go stir crazy. My answer to this is I want to make sure I am healing properly and I still plan on having the same social online interaction I've always had by keeping my laptop and books next to me. If I'm doing well enough to walk downstairs then sure, but for now the plan is to stick to my room, baby's room, and the bathroom, unless there is some serious need for me to do otherwise, for which I can't foresee.

       During the exam, baby girl was extremely active! Which was a little uncomfortable for momma. Once again, she was the right side. While feeling for her, baby elbowed Ginger. ;) She does NOT like the little amount of space she has to be invaded. Haha. I was measured, but didn't catch what I was measuring at. Before we left we purchased the birth kit and the prep tea. I still can't believe that it's getting so close! Gah!!! We'll start seeing her every week now.

Christmas 2011

2012-01-03T15:29:00.000-08:00

     I had hoped and planned to do a post based on my friend Jenna's idea of DITL (Day In The Life), however, my camera was running low on batteries and that didn't end up working out as well as I'd hoped. Instead, Christmas Day is picture-less. Nonetheless, I will attempt to write all we did so that you will be able to envision it.

     Christmas Eve, I woke up and checked my Tweetdeck and Facebook on my iPhone to find Santa had begun his journey on the other side of the world.

     Being hungry, I had breakfast of eggs, toast with jam, and a frothy cup of white hot chocolate to make it a little bit festive.

Afterwards, I checked my email and my friends blog posts.

My brothers and Dad had all left earlier that morning to put in flooring in my younger brother's home. While they were gone, we hung out with each other and prepared what we could for dinner.

Me and my niece Ella. She's a doll! We had the best time getting her to smile because she would do so very easily. It just make you happy. :)

Around noon, we Skyped with my German grandparents. They loved seeing the newest additions to the family, as well as my ever growing belly.

About then, the menfolk returned triumphant from their hard work, and I finally decided to stop being lazy and grungy and got ready to look nice for dinner.

Look at that belly! Also, my camera is old and I need a new one. Suggestions!!!

We continued to socialize and prepare dinner. It was all fun and games until my niece accidentally dropped my iPhone on my parents very hard tile floor and it cracked. Fortunately, the screen worked, but I was extremely nervous that it would crack more or go deeper and put it away. (Because my husband is wonderful he okay'd me getting the new iPhone 4S. Remember how I love him?!)

The Culprit. So innocent.

You can't see the damage very well because my camera is NOT awesome, but it's up in the left corner of the phone.

Dinner was just about complete. All there was left to make was the Spaetzle. Somehow, though I'm not sure how this was managed, ALL of my sister-in-laws have made this and yet I never had! This was definitely a moment to be documented.

My mom, so happy her only daughter is finally learning to make this side dish. My dad, unsure how this is going to work out.

Wait. Has my dad made this before too?!

If I want to continue this tradition, I'm gonna one of these devices. It looks like an extremely over-sized garlic press.

While we continued to finish dinner and set the table, the younger kids decorated the gingerbread house.

Finally, the time had arrived for the most anticipated dinner of the entire year, which included Sauerbraten, Rotkohl, Spaetzle, green beans, corn, rolls and gravy. We actually ended up with three different gravies. A "normal" gravy for the kids and spouses, gravy with vinegar, and my oldest brother's mix of gravy and A LOT of vinegar. We kind of like vinegar. :) I think the only thing missing is the Knödel (German dumplings, pronounced like Kuh-noodle). It's amazing that, a long time ago, we only needed that first table. However, our family continues to grow and we've had to utilize more tables and chairs.

No German Christmas dinner (at least in our household) is complete without the display of desserts set out for "after" dinner. Though, I'm pretty sure more than one of us snacked on something from here before hand.

When dinner was finished we took out the second table with the chairs and moved into the piano room to first sing Christmas songs and hymns and then listen to the story "What God Wants For Christmas", while sitting in front of the presents that tempted us so.

The kids were excited for the story to be finished because after that was time to get the gifts from Nana and Papa. They all made out with some great loot. Then, it was the White Elephant with the siblings, spouses, and our parents. This is our third year doing it and we love it. I, apparently have a really good eye because I chose two gifts that got stolen (though Ty ended up snatching the first one, a fleece blanket and a really nice picnic basket, back for me, good husband), but the last gift was from my mom and I'm so happy that's what I ended up with. I didn't get a picture of it, but it was white lace snowflakes, Ritter Sport chocolate, and a hanging ornament she painted herself. In fact, she had only just done it two days before. It's beautiful and I love it!

My parents also gave each of us married folks a gift. Ty and I received a wooden windmill nativity tree, nutcracker ornaments, and all manner of lebkucken (or as Ty calls it Le-puke-en because he can't ever pronounce it and he's not a big fan) and German yummies.

      After we sat around for a bit, enjoying our gifts, laughing and chatting with each other, I went to pack up and got ready to leave for Othello since we were staying with Ty's parents. I was sad to leave my family since I hadn't seen some of them since the Summer, but we definitely had a good time. We got to Othello a bit late, but for some reason we still stayed up later. This may or may not have been a good idea since we still had church in the morning. Sacrament meeting was at 10AM and it was the only meeting we would have for the day. We quickly got ready and drove the street down to the church. We listened to and sang beautiful hymns of Christmas and heard talks prepared to remind us of what and why we celebrate this special occasion.

     It was pre-decided that we would open gifts after church and before lunch. I was mostly excited for Ty to open his gifts. So I waited for us both to have our gifts in front of us and we each opened gifts in turn. I got him a Kindle (Not the Fire, but the one with the keypad.) Since I made him pick out which one he would want, he knew he was getting that. I also gave him a cover for it that has a light attached and the last book in the Eragon series. He gave me a griddle, which is kind of funny because, this will be the third one we are on. The first one, I dropped and eventually needed to be replaced. The one we have still works, but the edging is broken and since Ty is the one that uses it the most, he definitely saw a need. I was excited to see that it is longer than the one we have and said excitedly, "Do you know how many pancakes we can make?!". He also gave me a portable speaker for my iPhone, which I have been longing for, and a new charger for my phone that comes with two USB chords that retract. Love it!

     My favorite gift from him was actually a "regift" that he had already given me, but was a continuation if you will. To preface, the theme for the first anniversary is paper and so he gave me a beautiful leather bound journal for us to write in and share what we did on our anniversaries. Well, time passed and the idea was somewhat forgotten. So, on Christmas Day, he took some time by himself and wrote his perspective of our wedding day. I was so overwhelmed. It really was the most thoughtful gift. So now, it's my turn to write in it and give my version of what happened and then we will continue with the plan and share our anniversary stories. We really love this idea and hope to do something similar with our children, starting with this baby.

   Ty's parents gave me things we needed for the baby, a Moby wrap and a storage closet since we have zero closet space for the baby. Ty received Starcraft 2, which he thoroughly enjoyed playing, an Amazon.com gift card to buy Kindle books, and a Wardrobe Wallet swatch that shows all the colors that work for his skin tone season. Every time we go shopping, he mentions that he needs to get one so he can figure out which colors to get. Cheryl gave me one a long time ago and I always carry it with me. It really helps!

     Once all the gifts were unwrapped and exposed, we cleared away the wrapping paper and gift bags and put aside the gifts to make room for lunch. Cheryl made turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and a green bean casserole, so it was like Thanksgiving again. Yay! Though, I did have to abstain from the turkey (okay so I had a tiny little bit) as I have found it gives me heartburn. Seriously?! The rest of the day was spent lounging and enjoying one another's company and maybe a little delving into testing out gifts. At some point I insisted we watch "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" because not everyone had seen it and it's a classic for me.

      I'm so grateful for the wonderful gifts and memories made. We enjoyed spending time with both families. It's such a blessing to have our families close and we've been lucky to be able to make it work . I hope this is always the case.

Belly Pics 3

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

We've reached the third trimester ya'll!! I have about 2 months left! (Depending on when she decides she really is ready.) Every day it seems like my belly is expanding further and further outward. It's all so incredible. Though, lately, I've been kind of missing my flat tummy. There really wasn't a whole lot of time to enjoy or appreciate it before little miss grew big enough to take over my belly. While I know that it's all for a miraculous cause and I am so happy for why my belly is growing, I also know that my belly will never been the same. That thought makes me a little sad for myself. But this post is NOT about feeling sad or having a pity party. This is all about a growing baby belly.

(Here are the first and second posts to see the overall progression.)

26 Weeks

28 Weeks

30 Weeks

32 Weeks

When I was 30 weeks, my Relief Society (an organization for the woman 18 and older in the church) President said that I was finally starting to look pregnant. Insert eye roll here. I'm sure she was just trying to be nice, because seriously honey. How big does a girl's belly have to be around here to be acknowledged as pregnant? Sheesh. ;) I'm really not one of those ladies who gets offended when you say my belly looks big. It IS for goodness sakes. It is large and in charge. Doesn't mean I look fat. My extremities could use some toning, but I don't think I look fat. Oh well, I just smile and say, "That's nice of you, but really my belly is HUGE!" Haha.

Midwife Appointment at 31 Weeks

2011-12-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

For the record, these little stockings are empty not because I already ate all the chocolates, but because I never got around to buying them.

      The week before this appointment, Ginger came to our house and we began our first of two birth classes with her at our home. I loved this. The general idea was for her to give us an idea of a range of normal during labor and birth. This will help us to know when things are going as they should and if we experience something outside of this, then we know to talk to her and take the appropriate actions. Leading up to these appointments, I wondered how it would feel to have our caregiver in our home. The idea of it seems strange and awkward. However, when Ginger showed up and we got started, I was happy that I was really comfortable with her there. This is definitely a good thing to know in advance of me going into labor. :)

   In the first birth class we talked and learned about what takes place during the first three stages of labor. I won't go into all the details of everything as only having taken the classes once does not qualify me to teach them. Basically, I'm so glad that we were able to have her come to our home and get a feel for our environment. It was also great and interesting to learn more about birth and labor. I've tried to learn as much as I can, but you can never have too much information in this area. It makes me really glad that I record our appointments so that I can go back and remember what we learned. During this appointment she also went over my glucose test results. I already knew the results were good, but it was good to go into more detail.

     One thing I have to mention about Ginger is that she has worked with other LDS patients before and even suggested that we may at some point want me to have a priesthood blessing. I really appreciate that consideration. Our second appointment was the next week and we talked about what happens after birth, such as the APGAR, birthing the placenta, and breastfeeding. Again, this was at home and I'm so glad because this was at the beginning of the cold that I'm currently experiencing and so I stayed in my PJs. No guilty feelings for me. :) After we finished with the class we started my prenatal appointment. We talked about my weight gain, which is on track to gaining more than 30. The holidays have not been good for super healthy eating. Not awesome, but since I don't have Gestational Diabetes it's fine, just means I'll have more to lose after our little girl is born. And honestly, while I need to work out much more, I DON'T FEEL FAT. I feel pregnant, but not fat. Oh and by the way, I've totally done it before so I KNOW that I can do it again. Though it will be interesting how things will work when I have a little one to take care.

   She went over what happens during the Group B Strep test so we know what happens when we do that. Then, she did the exam with me on the couch leaning back onto Ty's lap. Baby was measuring at 30 weeks and heartbeat was lovely. All in all, everything's good. Hooray! Next thing on my list to do is to call her office and make ALL the rest of my appointments. Gah! Am I really that far along already? This is crazy, but amazing.

My Baby Momma Wishlist

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

You might have already taken notice to the rotating wishlists on the right side of the blog. I started the Baby Wishlist ages ago, before I was ever pregnant, and have updated it quite a few times since then. All of my wishlists are stored on a site called Wishpot.com. I can't remember where I first heard about it, but I really love it. I have nine wishlists that are available for the public eye. Having different categories makes it easier to look through to me.

The reason I love Wishpot.com? I don't have to create a list from any one specific store or site. I can shop around online without having to leave the comfort of my home and find the best price for whatever thing I want to add (because I like to find good deals and then no one has to pay more than necessary). And let's be honest, sometimes what you want isn't always at the same place where you find other items for a specific list. Say I go to Target or Babies 'R Us and create a registry. It's quite possible that they aren't going to have all of the items I want on my list or they have the item, but for more expensive than other stores. This provides a way to bring it all together in one place.

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If you want to go to my list, click underneath the slideshow where it says "View my list on Wishpot". I will also be providing a link here and on Facebook. Or if you would like you can simply go to Wishpot.com and do a search for me, by going to the top right-hand corner of the site and make sure you select "People".

Enter Jennifer Robbins and there I'll be, pregnant belly and all. Hopefully the first person at the top of the list. If not, this is the image you should see. (If you need to, click on any of these images to make them bigger and easier to see.)

Click on my image or name and that will take you to all of my lists. Go to the "Baby Shower Registry". At that point it should look like this :

Let's say you decided that you want to buy something. Click the "Buy it" button. When you do this a small pop up will appear prompting you to give your name and email so you can mark the item as purchased. This helps to avoid getting double of things. There is also a little box that can be checked if you would like it to be kept a secret from me that you bought it. This means that other people can see the item was purchased, but I cannot. You can choose to "Skip this step", however, the item will not be marked as purchased.

If you do decide to follow through with this step, it will take you to the item's page (don't worry, you can easily get back to the registry from here by clicking "Back: Baby Shower Registry on the top left) and it will likewise have a small pop up prompting you to buy the item or simply return to the page, if you choose to not buy it at this time or maybe you want to buy it at a store.

Once it's marked as purchased it will look like this:

Should you choose to buy the item it will take you to another window where you can do so. You can also click on the title of the item, which will take you to the item's page if you want to see a larger picture, the description, leave a comment, see where you can buy it and for how much.

The only problem with Wishpot that I've had is that sometimes when I add things from Amazon it doesn't assign the correct price and I'm not able to edit it. Since, I try to keep up with the price changes, I've added under the description what the actual price is for the items that don't match up. Hopefully, this causes less confusion for when you are deciding what to buy and when you go to buy it.

The last two items on my registry, which are for our water birth at home, are expensive and I don't expect people to purchase them in full. So instead, you are able to contribute to the cost of these items.

If you would like to do this, click "Contribute" and it will take you to a PayPal page. These items are linked to my account so that it's not going to just anyone. You have the option of using your PayPal account, or if you don't have an account you can pay as a PayPal guest.

As you look through the registry, you'll notice at the very top of the list, that you sort it in different ways. I have it set to sort by Price (low to high) because that's the way I shop and figured people generally do too. However, you can also adjust it to Date Added, Last Updated, Priority, Title, and Price (high to low). As far as priority, you'll notice quite a few are "I neeed it" since this is my first baby and we need quite a few things. Priority level varies between I neeeed it, I really really want it, I want it, I wouldn't mind having it, and Thinking about it. Other than a few fun onesies, baby clothes are the only thing I didn't add to the list because I didn't want to add anything specific. Besides, we can always use clothes....and diapers.

I hope this post helps explain how this all works and doesn't make it too confusing. It really is easy, it just takes a lot to explain. I'm visual, as I think quite a few people are, and so I think the pictures really help to figure things out.

The link to my Baby Shower Registry is:

http://www.wishpot.com/list.aspx?list=63724&uid=16209&rc=surl&sp=fHoodTI4PhwzNjgyODYwOnYyMCxsMTYyMDksNjM3MjQ7cmwxNjIwOSw2MzcyNDs*

Christmas Movie List 2011

2011-12-01T09:47:00.001-08:00

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In case you hadn't noticed I sort of love watching movies. I, likewise, love to watch them to inspire the spirit of a holiday. This year I finally sat down ahead of time and wrote out the list of movies I like to watch during this Christmas season. As with the Halloween list, I'm also showing which ones are available on Netflix and Netflix Instant.

Miracle on 34th Street (1994 version) - own, Netflix
Miracle on 34th Street (1947 colorized version) - own, Netflix (B&W is on Netflix Instant)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - own
Mickey's Christmas Carol - own
The Muppet Christmas Carol - own
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - own, Netflix
While You Were Sleeping - own, Netflix
Mr. Krueger's Christmas - own
Home Alone - own, Netflix
Home Alone 2 - own, Netflix
Elf - own, Netflix
A Christmas Story - own, Netflix
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - own, Netflix
Frosty the Snowman - own, Netflix (w/ Frosty Returns)
Frosty Returns - own, Netflix (w/ Frosty the Snowman)
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - own, Netflix
The Little Drummer Boy - own
It's a Wonderful Life - own, Netflix
The Santa Clause - Netflix
The Santa Clause 2 - Netflix Instant
The Polar Express - Netflix
Babes in Toyland (1986 version) - Netflix Instant
White Christmas - Netflix
The Nativity Story - Netflix
Hogfather - Netflix Instant
Fred Claus - Netflix
Nutcracker: The Motion Picture - Netflix Instnat
Santa Claus: The Movie - Netflix Instant
A Christmas Carol (2009 version) - Netflix Instant
Christmas Classics - Netflix Instant

Who knew there would be so many?! Is that really how you spell Netflix? I definitely need more sleep. A few comments on the movies I've chosen: How is it possible that few people have every seen "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"?!, "While You Were Sleeping" isn't all about Christmas, but it's during Christmas and Winter and that's good enough for me to call it Christmas, "Mr. Krueger's Christmas" is simply a classic and you can't ever have enough Jimmy Stewart, "Hogfather" is sort of a out there one, but it is Christmasy themed and if you've ever read or heard of Terry Pratchett you'll like it. I'm excited about how many of these movies are on Netflix Instant, though because of Starz checking out next year I hope that doesn't mean a seriously lack of what's left. I'll definitely be taking advantage this year.

What's your favorite Christmas movie?

Being Pregnant

2011-11-30T07:00:00.000-08:00

I wanted to end my days of Thankful posts this month with the one I'm probably most excited about. Although, I must say, I'm pretty ready to meet our daughter instead of housing her. :) I'm continuously amazed at how much bigger my belly is getting, which of course, is a reflection of how much bigger she is getting. Oh dear. In only a few short months we'll be holding her in our arms and seeing just how big she is.

I'm already bigger than I am in that picture. Sometimes I think that it's all happening so fast, but then when I reflect on how long it took us to get here, I remember how those months passed so slowly. My Heavenly Father has been so good to us and hindsight has helped me to appreciate the blessing we had to enjoy our marriage with just the two of us. Even more now than before. It's also allowed us to appreciate what a gift it is that we are being given on an even deeper level. I believe that had we had children when I wanted we never would be able to have experiences that needed to grow and become better. It's a little easier for me to empathize with those struggle with infertility (though I don't pretend to be an expert of any one person's situation and experience). The time I struggled with it helped to test my faith and show me how weak I really am and that through my Heavenly Father, true miracles take place. Now that I am pregnant, though it challenges me in different ways, I'm so grateful to be able to know I can have children and that we are chosen to have this child come to us first. I hope we live up to the job. I'm looking forward to getting to know this little spirit and understand who she is as a person.

I'm thankful to Be Pregnant because it's just one more way the Lord has shown his love for me.

As a side note, my sister-in-law, Cecilia gave birth to their twin boys on Monday, November 28th, and she is amazing and wonderful, having done it completely natural. Her birth story is written on her blog found here.

Garage Sales

2011-11-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

Until I started experiencing morning sickness, this summer I had one mission. Garage Sales. Go and save on awesome things. I know Extreme Couponing has been getting a lot of press lately and it's pretty impressive what people can get for next to nothing. However, sometimes I find people are overindulgent in their purchases and buy things they don't really need simply because they can. Getting a good find at a Garage Sale is like hitting the jackpot or finding buried treasure.

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I love that I was able to buy a toaster oven, fully functional and working, just needed to be cleaned, for $5. Yes!!! Those bad boys can be expensive and I saved a bunch. One of my favorite events of this year was the huge Mill Creek Garage Sales we were able to go to in October. We were lucky to go up with my in-laws with their truck and trailer and find the majority of things we need for our little girl and some other fun items. We were able to get a travel system, pack n' play, bouncer, carseat cover, co-sleeper, baby bathtub, high chair, breast pump, glider & ottoman, baby clothes, bed frame (for us), leather chair, and a George Foreman Grill (new) for under $250. Yeah, we scored. I've been able to find more baby clothes in our own area of Garage Sales as well. Thanks to Craigslist, which is like an online Garage Sale, we also found a crib w/ mattress and bedding and a papasan swing. With the exception of a few onesies I was gifted and a nursing cover I found for really cheap, nothing I have for our daughter so far is brand new. The old saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure" is absolutely true in the case of Garage Sales.

I'm thankful for Garage Sales because they've allowed me to buy things I need (and don't need ;) ) without braking our bank account.

Time Out for Women

2011-11-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

For the past few years I've been really lucky to have been able to attend a women's conference put together by Deseret Book, called Time Out for Women. It's a Friday night and all day Saturday event (though you can choose to do only one day) where us ladies congregate and listen to uplifting music and talks shared by selected talent and speakers. You don't have to be LDS to attend, but generally speaking most who go are, though I'm confident everyone would enjoy it.

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To make each event more meaningful for myself, I would take notes and post my interpretations and inspirations on the blog. You can find all of my posts so far here. Unfortunately because I'll be so newly introduced to motherhood only a couple of months before, I won't be able to attend in 2012 as far as I can tell. Also, I'm not sure where I'd stay. This is regretful as the schedule for speakers and musical guests are going to be people high up on my list of those I'd like to hear, as well as the topics for the messages they've prepared. Each year is uplifting in its own way and I always look forward to the next year. If you are going this year please, please, pretty please write about it so I can live vicariously through you!!! :)

I'm thankful for Time Out for Women because it helps me feel better about where I'm going and what I'm doing in my life.

Emotion Code/Muscle Testing

2011-11-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned it before, but in Ty's family we use something called the Emotion Code and Muscle Testing. It truly amazing work. Delving into what it is and how it works would be awfully complicated and take a ridiculously great amount of time to explain. I would recommend reading the book, which you can find on Amazon here. To briefly explain, we all have profound experiences (which are defined differently by each person) in our lives that can cause negative reactions. It's a common thing to not deal with those negative emotions properly and this causes energy to be blocked and proclaiming itself in a physical manner. The Emotion Code provides a way to release and deal with those blocked energies and "trapped emotions", helping to heal ourselves.

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I can't even begin to tell you the amount of help it has given our family and I've also seen personal benefit. There will be a lot of people who call this cockamamie, but to you I say, "Don't knock it 'til you try it." It helps me to understand why I might get upset or anxious or feel sad about things and work to changing that. The Muscle Testing work that we use in correlation to the Emotion Code helps to figure out what the body is yelling at us, trying to say. Our bodies can give us the answers if we just take a minute or two to listen.

I'm thankful for the Emotion Code and Muscle Testing because they have helped me in physical and emotional ways so that I can be a happier person.

TV Episodes Online

2011-11-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever missed your favorite show the night it was on? We have plenty of times. In fact, this holiday weekend, we are staying with family that does have cable, and we'll probably be hanging out and chatting most of the time anyway. That doesn't mean I want to miss what happened this week on The Office though.

Last night I missed Biggest Loser and we'll be at my parents' house tonight so I'll miss it again tonight. I'm not worried though, because luckily I can go online and watch it for completely free! Yay! There are some shows that the company doesn't post online, like The Mentalist.......However, if you do enough digging you can find them online for free. We always miss Bones and sometimes Mentalist on Thursdays, but there's a site that provides those episodes so we never have to miss them for long.

I'm thankful for TV Episodes Online because it allows me to watch the entertainment I might have normally missed. Technology is awesome.

Amazon.com

2011-11-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

It's Black Friday and I'm staying home and avoiding the chaos that is the sales. Instead, I'm calmly awaiting Cyber Monday and all of its lovely deals. I love being able to shop from home and rest my feet instead of walking around the store, frantically trying to find the item I MUST have. My favorite online store: Amazon.com.

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Where else can you find a TV and German chocolate at the same place for relatively cheap? I usually find the best deals there and I love that they have such a wide variety of stuff. Typically, if I want something they have it. Hooray!! I don't know about you, but I do a lot of Christmas shopping here and that makes life so much easier.

I'm thankful for Amazon.com because it makes shopping better and easier.

Facebook

2011-11-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

Even through all the changes and updates, I still have to be thankful and glad for Facebook. Where else can I ~~spy~~ ~~stalk~~ keep up with all of my friends and family?

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I'm a social creature and love to interact with many people. I love staying updated on everyone and not have to hear about it through the grapevine. It's funny because my Mom will tell me some news about someone we know and I'll say, "Oh yeah, I already know that." "How?", she asks. "Uh, Facebook." She then tells me how much she hates it and I continue to have my own opinion and use it. To me, email is great, but if I really want people to know about something, my wedding reception for example, I put it on Facebook. If I have a question that one or more of my friends might be able to help me out with, it goes on Facebook and more likely than not, I'll get a good response. I refuse to use Facebook as my diary. That's what this blog is for. :) Well, maybe not a full diary. There are social limits and boundaries that get crossed on occasion by friends and it drives me mad. I don't need or care to know what time you went to the store or ate a sandwich. And I really don't need to know the personal details of your marriage or other relationships. Tell your therapist, mom, or best friend. For the most part though, I enjoy reading people's updates and seeing pictures of their families and how cute and adorable everyone's kids have gotten. Unless you delete them, you don't have to loose track of friends and keep up with family you don't see often. How wonderful is that?

I'm thankful for Facebook because of the connection it gives me to my friends and family.

“[Consumers] don't have to worry about what's for dinner at the end of the day when they are using their Crock-Pot,” John Hanson

2011-11-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

We received our Crock Pot at our wedding and boy have I loved it! I hate to keep saying this, but especially now. By the end of the day I'm beat and don't really have the desire to make dinner. However, with this beauty I can get started early and do little work.

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Our favorite concoction is a Chicken Fiesta Soup. The soup is really good and you can vary the heat depending on your tastebuds. The best part is actually an idea that Ty came up with. We drain it and use the meaty part for burritos. YUM!!! That's been such a lifesaver since it makes so much. In fact, I always try to make some when I run out. We've done a few other experiments with different recipes and again, I love that it doesn't take much work. I have a cookbook full of recipes and I'm always looking on Pinterest for more. If you have any that you'd like to share, please do! I also love that it's low energy and doesn't heat up the kitchen like the oven does. It really is a wonderful invention.

I'm thankful for my Crock Pot because of the time it saves me and the yummy meals it helps me make.

Energy....When I Have It

2011-11-21T23:28:00.001-08:00

If there is anything good about being sick or down for the count, it's that it helps us appreciate when we are healthy and everything is good. So far, I've been fortunate to have only gotten sick once for a week in the very beginning of pregnancy. However, who knew growing humans took so much out of you? Especially, if I'm not careful and getting enough protein and water, I tend to feel quite exhausted. Though sometimes regardless of that, sleep does elude me and I will still have a tough time not taking a nap during the day.

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When Energy does come my way, I like to take full advantage of it and get stuff done. Sometimes it happens so out of the blue that Ty is confused and says, "I could have done that for you." Probably, but if I can I'm gonna. Today, I'm hoping that I'll have enough energy since I have some shopping and errands that need to get done. My feet don't always last so long, but I'm going to do my best to finish everything on my list. I think even when not pregnant, it's nice to have that boost of Energy to get you through the day. To get things accomplished and checked off your list is wonderful and if I have the Energy to do it in one day, then we are in serious business. :)

I'm thankful for When I Have Energy because it allows me to get things done and makes me feel better.

"This feature will no longer be available."

2011-11-21T12:56:00.001-08:00

That is what Facebook is telling me about my blog posts being imported to Notes starting tomorrow, November 22nd. Seriously?! I'm not excited about this. There are a lot of you who only read my blog posts when they are put on Facebook. However, I'm hoping that just because I will have to switch gears and do things differently, you'll all still love me and still come to my blog. :) My plan is to still post a link on Facebook when a new blog post is up. My desire and hope is that you'll all still come visit and leave comments. Leaving a comment is easily done, even if you don't have an account with Blogger, as they have a few options to choose from. I hope you will leave comments because I love them. :)

“I'd rather have a search engine or a compiler on a deserted island than a game.” John Carmack

2011-11-21T09:49:00.001-08:00

Looking stuff up on the internet is amazing! How did we live before online searching? The Encyclopedia? Man, that was a lot of work. This being the information age, brilliant people have developed ways for us to have such a plethora of knowledge at our fingertips.

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These are just the most popular and the ones I use, but I'm sure there are many, many more. I use Swagbucks most often because I can earn points and use them to purchase things. The most common thing people redeem points for is Amazon.com e-Gift Cards. Ty and I have been saving ours up in hopes of earning something big. If I can't find what I'm looking for there, or if I'm using my phone, I use Google second most often. Typically, I use these Search Engines to solve a debate or a looming question the group has. Don't know the answer, "I'm lookin' it up". Wanna prove you're right (or wrong depending on the answer), "I'm lookin' it up". It's amazing that we have this technology today.

I'm thankful for Search Engines because they bring information to me with me having to do so much much work and research.

My Faith

2011-11-20T09:46:00.001-08:00

Faith is a funny thing. It requires trust and obedience. Two things I've never been very good at. ;) However, in order to have Faith, these things are key. It's difficult to put all of our trust in something greater than ourselves and do our part to see our hopes come to fruition. When we do, though, beautiful things happen. It also requires, at times, patience. Yet another thing I often fail in practicing. If you can't tell, I've had to continually work on My Faith.

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From Pinterest.

Having Faith has taught me that I'm not always able to do things on my own, and I'm not required to. It's taught me that even though I want something bad enough, no matter how righteous or good it is, that doesn't be mean I'll receive it promptly. It might take time.

Again from Pinterest. I told you I love that site. :)

Through Faith I've learned there are sometimes better things waiting for me than I could have imagined. My husband for example. Had I married the first guy, or even the second, I ever fell for, I know I wouldn't be nearly as happy and living the life that I know I truly should be. I'm glad I kept Faith that someday I would find my real Prince Charming. (Goodness this month is turning into a worship service for Ty. I suppose he deserves it. ;) ) It took a lot of Faith for me that we would be able to have a child naturally. It took three years, but it happened. I really think that it was that release of control and finally letting my Faith take the reins that it happened. I showed my Heavenly Father I was ready to trust Him fully, that I would do what He wanted me to do, no matter how long. I'm so happy I did. Throughout this pregnancy (and I'm sure until its end), I've had to continue with Faith that everything will be all right and that Baby Girl and I will both be safe and healthy.

I'm thankful for My Faith because of the truths it testifies to me and because it continually guides me in the right direction.

Ty Working From Home

2011-11-19T08:56:00.001-08:00

Ty's job has always been flexible enough to let him work from home occasionally. However, beginning a month and a half ago he's been working from home full time. I must say, I'm a fan. I really love being around my husband since he really is my favorite person. When he is working, and especially in meetings I try not to be in the office or just keep quite so I don't disturb him and take too much advantage of his presence.

Ty's workspace

Since he's been home it's proven to be a great situation for both of us. He can work in his pajamas all day and if I need his help with something quick, he's available. Laundry for instance yesterday. Lifting heavy loads isn't exactly on the list of things pregnant ladies should do. Lucky for me, Ty is always to my rescue. This arrangement has also saved us on gas. Not that we lived far from where his office was before, but every little bit helps. It also allows for me to take the car when needed and not have to worry that he'll need it, or that I'll have to pick him up or drop him off. (***I should note that I almost never go anywhere with the car on my own, as I hate driving. Also, the lifting heavy loads at Costco applies here.***) When the baby comes, I'm looking forward to him being here. Even if I don't always need him, it's comforting to know that he's not far. My favorite part of Working From Home is the random kisses I get. :) Yup, it's great.

I'm thankful for Ty Working From Home because he's my rock and it's good to have him near me.

2011-11-18T11:42:00.001-08:00

It's my newest fun distraction and time waster. Almost two months of using it and I'm already a pinning fiend. Haha. And I love it!!!

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If you don't know what Pinterest is, I suggest you get on that band wagon. Here's probably the best definition:

     My friend Jenna of That Wife wrote a post on her blog explaining Pinterest and how it works with pictures. I like pictures to explain things. It makes it so much easier for me, as a visual learner.

     Here's Pinterest in 5 Steps:

I love using Pinterest to find ideas for so many things. I have multiple boards (several of which are categories for recipes) and it makes it so much more organized. Though, I do need to go through a couple of my boards and divvy them up so it's even more organized. I use StumbleUpon, but I like Pinterest's way of organizing better. Though I will still keep using Stumble to find things and to bookmark the sites that don't have pictures rendering them unpinable.

I'm thankful for Pinterest because it helps me come up with great recipes and other ideas, as well as helping pass time semi-productively. :)

If you don't have a Pinterest account and would like one, leave me a comment with your email address and I will send you an invite.

Living Close to Family

2011-11-17T08:42:00.001-08:00

I love our family. Both his and mine. When we were first married we lived in Moses Lake, so we were even closer to each family. However, job opportunities took us to the Tri-cities and we love it here, as previously mentioned in another post. Even still, we are pretty lucky to be close to family.

Project: Get updated pictures of both parents. These are the only ones on my computer of them as couples and they are from at least a year or more ago.

I love that both of our parents come visit us here when they come to the Tri-cities. We love to see them and it's nice of them to take time out of their trip to see us. Whenever we go to a family gathering, I'm always so glad that the longest we have to drive is an hour and a half. Ty and I both have siblings that live much farther away and I wish that they lived nearer to us (or that we lived nearer to them) so we could see them more often. One of his brothers, and his family, we see once a year and we all wish it was more. I'm also glad that we have grandparents so close. I have to admit that getting married and having two different families to spend time with was really different for me. Since my maternal grandparents are in Germany, we only see them every so many years. Oh how I wish that we could see them more than that! It's hard to not see them as much and I miss them dearly. However, I think it does make me appreciate them that much more. (I LOVE YOU OMI AND OPA!) Oh dear, the pregnancy hormones are kicking in and my eyes are getting teary. Time to end. :)

I'm thankful for our Families and that we Live Close to them because I love the bonds we share with them and I treasure the time we have.

My iPhone

2011-11-16T09:18:00.001-08:00

A year ago, I was pleading with my husband, trying to convince him I really did NEED an iPhone. Or at least, I tried to get him to understand it's usefulness. By January, he caved and I purchased my first smartphone on ebay. (Ironically, about a month later, while updating it broke, but because it was only one day outside of the warranty they sent me a brand spankin' new one for free.)

Source

I love my iPhone. I love having apps that I use on a daily basis. For instance, the C25K App played a huge roll in my weight loss and I'm so glad that I had it. When, Ty and I are wanting to eat out either in our area or on vacation, we use Urbanspoon and it's fun, casino-esque, search tool. Though, I didn't think it would be all that great at first, the new Reminder app that came with the iOS5 update has really helped be more productive. Especially considering the state of my "pregnancy brain" as of late. The list could really run on for days as I'm always finding new apps that can be useful. The point being, I'm so happy with my phone. In spite of the release of the newest iPhone, I'm content with what I have for now and will look into upgrading next year. Who knows, maybe there will even be an iPhone 5 and I'll snatch one of those.

I'm grateful for my iPhone because it makes life a little easier and helps me to accomplish things.

“Clothes and manners do not make the man; but, when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance.” Henry Ward Beecher

2011-11-15T11:26:00.001-08:00

I love clothes. Right now, I'm incredibly limited in the amount of clothes I can wear. If I'm not planning on seeing anyone or going out of my house, it tends to just be my pajamas. However, I still love to put together cute outfits of from the limited selection of maternity clothes I've been able to procure so far.

I don't have any pictures of my pregnant that aren't belly shots. I'll work on that. :)

Isn't is wonderful that we have clothes and don't have to run around nakey in the freezing cold weather? During the warmer months I know we all like to shed a few layers, but I'm glad that we have coverings to shield the world from seeing everything. Some might be alright with showing a little extra skin, but I'm all for keeping what I got a secret. My beliefs and standards have always given me the boundaries to stay within to keep myself modest and I greatly appreciate that. Last month, during Activity Days (it's where the group of girls in the church between the ages of 8-11 get together once to twice a month and have lessons and activities suited to them), we had a lesson on Modesty. I was so pleased with these girls and how they really felt the need to keep themselves covered and understood what it meant to be modest. In the activity I brought some magazines for girls their age and we also had some church magazines at our disposal, to cut out pictures of modest clothing. Looking for magazines at the store I was a little frustrated. More of them were covered with women dressing too provocatively. You can agree or disagree with me on this, but my personal opinion is that if a garment you are wearing is showing any part of your body, then the message you are giving people is, "I want you to be able to see this part of me." If you are wearing something low cut or that comes up high, you are decidedly giving people permission to look, stare, and/or gawk. My philosophy is don't give them the opportunity to make you feel like an object and wear clothes that fit and cover. Rant over. :)

I'm thankful for Clothes because they keep me covered and warm and secure and modest.

"And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also." Gen. 35:17

2011-11-14T08:40:00.001-08:00

It wasn't easy finding a Midwife in this area. There used to be a birth center in Kennewick, but it closed. There's a group who are based half an hour from here, but they are booked up until after my due month. I was lucky to find Ginger and that she is available. She's been wonderful, as you can probably tell from my Midwife visit posts.

Her website doesn't have her photo so I had to google it. :)

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My Midwife is very reassuring and confident in my abilities as a women to have this baby at home, naturally. I kept wondering how to describe her personality to others. On the way home from our last visit, I realized she has a very similar personality to my aunts on my dad's side. So really she's like family. :) I'm very comfortable with her and I'm so glad that I feel so at ease in her presence. That was something very important to me to find in a Midwife as she's going to be a big part of my labor and birth experience.

I'm thankful for my Midwife, Ginger, because I'm so comfortable with her and she helps me stay confident in myself to be able to birth at home.

Massages

2011-11-13T09:21:00.001-08:00

I bet you're all thinking I'm going to say I'm thankful I can give massages. No such luck. :) While, I'm glad for my training and education in the field, I'm still happy with my decision to discontinue working in it. I much rather prefer to be on the receiving end. There's nothing in the world like resting on a table and having someone work through the knots and tightness in your body.

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Earlier in pregnancy I was able to get a couple of massages. I'm dying for another. It's so wonderful that such a thing exists. If I had the means I would get one monthly, as it is very good for your overall health. Oh, how I miss massage school when I would get a massage almost every day. It was lovely. Getting a massage puts you out of this world and into your happy place. My favorite (other than the necessary neck, shoulders, and upper back for me) is to have my legs and feet worked on. Everybody always forgets about the legs! When they are being "molded" and relaxed, you remember just how much you use your legs and how all of the unknown stress inside those muscles is being drained away. Magical. Can you tell I've thought about this a lot? :)

I'm thankful for Massages and the relief and relaxation they provide.

Late Church

2011-11-12T08:38:00.001-08:00

I LOVE my church. Right now I'm loving that our ward doesn't start until 1PM. It certainly makes it easier for us to get to church on time. (Not that we aren't sometimes late even though we have extra time to get ready. Whoops!) Our area, like some others, is different in the way they change meeting times. We change times when school starts (so basically September). Since we moved into the ward after the change had already been made last year, we were quite a bit early the first Sunday it changed. :) With our little one on the way, I think I'm even more appreciative that church will start later for us when she's born. Though it's going to make changing to 9AM difficult.

I'm thankful we have Late Church because it allows for a little extra sleep-in time and more time to be on time.

“Hair style is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself.” Hubert de Givenchy

2011-11-11T07:50:00.000-08:00

I have really long hair. I love it long. Years ago, it used to be short. I did not love it then. You can't do much with short hair. At least, I was never able to. It's always been my opinion that longer hair is better because I get so bored of the same hairstyle over and over again. (Except for now, as I wear it in a bun pretty much every day unless we go somewhere....like church.) When I do my hair, I usually just dry, curl, and go. Occasionally, I'll flat iron, it all depends on my mood. I love that I have the options.

I really would like to get more creative with my tools and see what fun things I can do. However, I'm glad that at least can do what I can. Can you imagine rolling your hair every night like they used to? FOR-EV-ER!!! Or putting the iron on the fire to heat it up? That always makes me think of this scene in Little Women.

I'm thankful for my Hair Styling Tools because they help make me feel complete with my hair and it also makes it so much easier to do my hair.

“The best thing is to look natural, but it takes makeup to look natural” Calvin Klein

2011-11-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

While my husband says that I look beautiful without make up and prefers me that way (Is it hard to see why I love him so? I think not.), I still like to don myself with a little extra coverage to feel like I've erased any minor or large blemishes. I know my Heavenly Father didn't make any mistakes, but I believe that he also blessed us with challenges. Makeup helps my facial challenges seem less dominant.

This might look like a lot of Makeup, but I don't use half of it most of the time. I still like the natural flare that foundation, mascara, and blush give me and most days I don't add much to that except maybe some eyeliner. For days and nights I'm feeling the need to be a little extra fun and fancy, I try to experiment a little with eye shadow. I don't have amazing cosmetic skills so the experimenting is quite minimal. My first experience with Makeup was when I was in dance, but then people were applying it for me and I had no idea what was really getting done. I still wish I knew some of the cool tricks I see girls do with their eyelids. As I got older, my mom finally let me start wearing lipstick. I would say this was a mistake and that I should have gone for the mascara first, as I'm quite pale looking and this did nothing to help. Honestly, I feel like I'm still figuring out what colors are best for me and I think most women and girls are that way. Here's to a lifetime of figuring out the best way to make ourselves look pretty! :)

I'm thankful for Makeup because it gives me that added boost of confidence when I put it on.

"Actually, I wear the nail polish to hide how grubby my nails are." Caroline Corr

2011-11-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

I don't really consider myself a girly girl. I really don't care for the color Pink. I grew up playing with four brothers, legos, G.I. Joes, and nerf guns more than I did with my dolls. However, that's not to say that I am or ever was a tomboy. I still had my Mom and plenty of girl friends who had a large influence on me. One of the ways that us ladies can feel pretty and girly/womanly is painting our nails.

I love having an array of colors in my arsenal to choose from. There's a long way to go before I have all the colors I want. My sister-in-law thinks I'm weird for having a bunch of different colors other than the span of pinks to reds she has. My mom is really into neutral colors. I, however, am a rebel. :) My personality is to big for one color range. The big can behind all of my colors is a spray that helps the polish to quick dry. LOVE IT!!! When I first bought some I got the smaller can.......it ran out and I bought the bigger one. I love to paint my nails according to holidays, seasons, and special occasions. Like the time I endured the color Pink to celebrate finding out we are having a girl. It's just so much fun and it makes me feel pretty. Especially right now, being pregnant, and not having a whole lot energy to always take a shower and get ready every day. This makes me feel a little bit more like I've tried, without having to do much. Soon, I'm going to have to invest in getting regular pedicures as it's increasingly more difficult to reach my toes.

I'm thankful for Nail Polish because it makes me feel more female and pretty and it's fun!

The Area We Live In

2011-11-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

It's been two years since we moved the Tri-cities and we still love it. We now live in Richland and we hope to stay here for a long time. This area has been wonderful. Richland especially. If you want to get technical, we live in North Richland and it's much quieter than most anywhere else in the Tri-cities. I love that we are sort of set apart from the rest of the busyness, but it takes about 15 minutes to get anywhere we need to go.

Our little side of the duplex quickly became home and it's hard to believe we've lived here a year. It went by so fast! Needless to say, we don't plan on moving anytime soon. From our home or the Tri-cities. I love that there are three Wal-marts here. All of you who are from Moses Lake or even Othello will understand my initial skepticism about going to this store since I had so many other options (Fred Meyer, Target, the Mall). However, due to the fact that there is so much more competition here the stores are much cleaner, organized, and all around more pleasant. We also have enjoyed the larger span of restaurants (though I do hope we get a little more variety, like some good European places would be lovely). Here in Richland, there's only two major chain restaurants (other than fast food) and the others are all privately owned, which is great. I really think those are better because they really want to impress you. Another great thing about living here is the three different movie theaters. If we want to go to a movie, but missed the showing at one, chances are we can make it to the other. My favorite thing has to be being so close to the trails and those being so close to the river. It's really lovely to see and to look out across and see the beautiful scenery.

I'm thankful for the Area We Live In because of all the different things it offers for entertainment, shopping, and that it's just a beautiful place.

Livestrong's My Daily Plate

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I wrote about the physical activity that got me down 40 pounds. Today, I'm writing my gratitude for the site that helped me keep track of what I was consuming and how much activity I needed in order for me to reach that goal. Livestrong.com offered so much to me in the way of helping me see where I might be going wrong. Last year, I wrote about all the different aspects of the site that I used here.

Because of its many features (and of course my dedication to using the site), I lost a good amount of weight. Of course, I'm gaining quite a bit back due to the pregnant, but I'll worry about getting it back off after our little lady love is born. :) When I do, you can guarantee I'll be using this site. Since, I've already written a post about the site, I won't go crazy telling you why I love it so much, but I will reiterate that it is amazing. I know many people have used other sites and/or apps, but this worked well for me for a long time and I'm going to stick with it.

I'm thankful for My Daily Plate because it helped give me the tools and motivation I needed to lose weight and be healthy.

Midwife Appointment at 25 Weeks

2011-11-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

    We started talking about me getting my glucose test done. She gave me the paperwork, instructions for how much grape juice to take, instructions for where to go, how much blood they draw. All that jazz. Then, we talked really quick about the next appointment which will be at our house. She will be giving us two birthing classes a week apart in our home. I'm really excited for that because it will give her a chance to see our home and where we will be having the baby. Additionally, it will be lovely because we don't have to go anywhere. :) Yay for that!

     She asked about how the baby is moving and I was happy to report that she was increasing in movement, though during our few days away from home on vacation she was pretty still. Since coming home she's gone back to normal. Ginger said that it was interesting how babies in the womb can tell when they are in different environments. That's exactly how I felt. Like our little girl knew we weren't at home and it was throwing her off. All is normal though. I discussed how I've been getting pregnancy nasal congestion every morning and how uncomfortable it is. Back when I first met with her she prescribed me a herbal remedy for that and it has helped quite a bit. Also, I told her that, though my ankles are doing fine and not bloating up, they do get awfully soar and can't stand for too long of a time. She suggested that I wear tennis shoes during the day to help with that.

    We then covered my diet and I gave her a general list of what I eat at every meal and for snacks. I'm struggling with making dinner and I really need to make things in bulk. Crock pot, crock pot, crock pot. I think we will be putting it to a lot more use soon. Then, she asked what I do for physical activity. Ummmm, so lately not so much of anything. She reminded me that birth is a physical activity. It should have been a "Duh" thing, but it was a good reminder for my lazy bum that I need to work on conditioning my muscles for the most physically straining thing I've ever done. I'm glad that Ginger reiterated it because I definitely needed to hear it.

      She asked about my headaches, which have gotten better. I switched to bottled water and I think that helped. We found that our Brita filter wasn't getting all the chlorine out of the tap. So to be safe we've been getting bottled for drinking. Ty researched it a little bit and we are considering getting Culligan delivered. As far as the headaches that I do get, they seem to be caused from sinus pressure from the congestion that happens in the morning. However, once that's relieved they are gone. Ginger also suggested using a salt water solution with a homemade make-shift Nettie Pot.

     My measurements put me at 27. I thought I would get away with it, but last minute she asked me what my weight is. Ashamed I told her, I gained another 10 pounds. It's all thanks to my new healthy appetite and my lack of physical activity. She didn't seemed to worried, but said that I need to increase my activity or eat less. Yeah, I'm definitely not going to be eating less. We also discussed support for my belly when lying on my side. Just in case your wondering pregnancy is not always comfortable. :)

   So goals for this next month are to increase physical activity, start preparing dinners earlier, and get the glucose test done. I've already started figuring out a schedule and a way to get some good activity in each day so hopefully it will be easy to stick to. I've come up with some great dinner ideas that are all about the crock pot. The glucose test will be taken in a couple of weeks and I'm hoping that all goes well.

Treadmill & Weights

2011-11-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

I have a little bit of a love/hate relationship with these items. I love that because I used them so often I was able to loose 40 pounds. However, I hated that I had to use them. In spite of that, I did use them and I'm grateful that I had a Treadmill and Weights in my home so I didn't have to go to the gym and feel self-conscience about what I looked like or what other people thought of me. Also that I was able to do things at my own pace and not feel pressured by a trainer do it on their terms. I had the motivation, I simply had to put my tools to use.

And boy, did I put them to good use! It was a great convenience to be able to run and watch TV and keep my mind occupied. Having my own weights created the same benefit as well. I'm really pleased with how well I did, but I'm positive that I did so well because I was able to use my Treadmill and Weights at my leisure. Now that it's getting colder outside, the Treadmill will definitely be getting more use out of it. Because of my own laziness the Weights haven't been doing much other than sitting in their spot. However, that will be changing very soon as I plan on getting them out more often.

I'm thankful for my Treadmill and Weights because of what they allowed me to do (lose weight) in the comfort of my home.

Central Heating & Air

2011-11-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

In the first two places we lived we had baseboard heating and a wall A/C unit. During the Fall/Winter the heating was fine, but I was always worried it would burn something. When it was warm enough to turn on the A/C, the only room it affected was the Living Room. All other rooms were reduced to having fans to cool them down, and they had little to contribute. However, in this home we are extremely blessed to have Central Heating & Air.

It's like living in a completely different world. A world where there is only one unit to control. I think this feature is mostly appreciated during the Summer when it gets so warm and this provides a nice cool down. It reaches all the rooms and provides a nice comfort. It's good that we endured through baseboard heating and an A/C unit because it helped us to appreciate what we have now. I have to admit that when we were looking at this place, when I saw that it had the Central Heating & Air, I looked at Ty and said, "Oh my gosh hunny. I'm pretty sure we have to get this place." :) There were other factors that motivated us to move here, but this helped quite a bit. We are forever ruined and will hopefully never have to go back.

I'm thankful for our Central Heating & Air because it's a luxury we've gone without and now can enjoy.

Cocomotion Hot Chocolate Maker

2011-11-04T11:26:00.000-07:00

If you know know me well (or really even at all) you know that I love chocolate....in pretty much all forms. Liquid being one of them. During the chillier seasons I enjoy a nice mug of Hot Cocoa to warm up me up. A few years ago my Mommy gifted me my Cocomotion Hot Chocolate Maker. I love it. Not just a little, but mostly a lot.

Every once in awhile someone tells me they think it's silly to not just mix it in a cup and heat it the microwave. I honestly think it takes longer to mix it that way than it does to actually drink it. However, that's the beauty of this invention. It does both.....AT THE SAME TIME. I was in a situation the other day where I wasn't at home and was making hot chocolate. I hate those clumps of powder that go untouched no matter how much you mix it and sadly the cup just wasn't the same. With the Hot Chocolate Maker, it dissolves everything. You can even try homemade recipes. I did a White Peppermint Hot Chocolate a few years ago and it was divine. I tried finding one for my parents last year at Wal-mart to no avail. However, I did find a little bit fancier one at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. I would definitely suggest this as a great Christmas gift. You won't regret it. If this ever breaks down on me, I WILL get another to replace it. That's how much I love it.

I'm thankful for my Cocomotion Hot Chocolate Maker because I love that it does all the work for me to get me a nice cup of hot cocoa.

New Office Furniture

2011-11-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

A month ago, Ty began working from home when the company he works for decided to not renew the lease of their office space. Because of that, all of those working there were able to take home any office furniture they wanted so the company didn't have to ship it back. This has been quite a blessing for us because we now have not only nicer furniture, but bigger as well.

Ty wanted the extra space so he uses the gray desk with the three monitors. He was able to get three monitors from work so he now has three and I have an extra secondary monitor with my laptop when hooked up. My desk is actually the desk he used at the office. I love it! More space and I have a nicer chair. We are really enjoying the bigger space and that we were blessed with nicer things....it makes it even better that it was for FREE. Yay! It's so much better when you compare it to what we had before.

Now, what we had before was good and worked just fine, but we felt cramped and as you can see my desk (the smaller one on the right) would get cluttered very easily. We've been able to sell both of our old desks on Craigslist and that has been awesome!

I'm thankful for our New Office Furniture because it's so nice and big and one more reason to show us how blessed we have been.

"When a wife has a good husband it is easily seen in her face." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

2011-11-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

I think it's extraordinarily safe to say that I LOVE my husband. I honestly can't imagine a better fit for me. Who else in this world can understand my crazies, humor, mood swings, and secondary language?

My HOTT husband in his HOTT new suit.

Ty is one of the reasons I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and truly knows me. My husband is the most kind, patient, understanding, smart, and super cute person I know. Because of him I've been able to go through rough times and he makes the good times that much more enjoyable. Since becoming pregnant, I've felt even more appreciation for him and all that he does for me. There have been MANY nights where I'm exhausted from growing a baby inside my body and dinner has gone unplanned and unmade. Not once has he made me feel like I'm a horrible wife or that I've done something wrong. Instead, he offers to help, even if it's PB&J for the third night in a row. (I've been getting better I swear. I really try not to let my husband or I starve.) I'm lucky enough that Ty also understands my insane need to feel loved in multiple ways. According to the Five Love Languages test, I'm trilingual and require Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, & Quality time in equal parts. Ty understands my neurosis and loves me despite that and gives me each of these things when I need them. I feel quite privileged to be his wife and that he loves me as much as he does. Our relationship never seems to fail us and I think we have the stuff to make people jealous. :)

I'm thankful for my wonderful husband and that he is so good to me and good for me. He really does make me better.

The Leaves of Autumn

2011-11-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's the time of year again for being particularly Thankful. I almost forgot. I've had so much to think about lately. Depending on how overwhelmed I feel with idea next year, this might be the last time for awhile that I do Thankful posts for the whole month. I hope you enjoy each post. It's always good for me to be able to remember how I'm so blessed.

As we have been driving around, and watching the season change from Summer to Autumn, I realized that Autumn is my favorite season for scenery. The different colors of the leaves and plants are so miraculous! I really wish that they could stay those colors the rest of the year. There's something magical about Fall and how the cold weather can do such work to foliage. There are times when I feel like we didn't get enough of Autumn and it just slipped past us so quickly. By December 1st we almost demand that we have snow and freezing weather. (Some of you are experiencing that now already!) I'm glad that we have this season to get us ready for the cold and sometimes harsh Winter. I do love the hues that fall to the ground. However, I could do without the clean up. ;)

I'm thankful our Heavenly Father gave us the blessing of changing colors in Autumn so that we could enjoy the change in seasons more.

Why I'm Choosing a Natural Home Birth

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

I want this shirt!

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      Since announcing my pregnancy and my decision to have a midwife assisted at-home water birth , I've gotten a lot of "You're braver than me" type comments. The truth is that is so not even a little bit the case. What's true is that I've figured out what I want from my laboring and birthing experience and it's not something I'm guaranteed to get by going to a hospital where they try to control the situation. Truth be told I never grew up thinking I would have my babies at home. The idea seemed archaic and out of practice. I remember once in Elementary School a friend of mine, Courtney, mentioned that she wanted to have her babies underwater and I was shocked and thought she was crazy. (I think her mom is a Labor and Delivery Nurse so that's probably what prompted the thought. Or maybe it was TV.) In High School, my best friend, Megan, said that she was going to go without drugs and again I thought she was nuts. Didn't she watch TV?! Hadn't she heard the horror birth stories of the women who had gone before us? Her own mother gave birth to a plethora of children so she must have known that it was a horrific and extremely painful process. Hadn't anyone explained that you start saying "No Drugs" and then the pain kicks in full-force and you're begging for an epidural? That's what I knew, so it made sense that someday when I was pregnant I would go to a hospital and they would drug me up and I'd pop out a baby. Done deal. (I realize it takes a great deal more than that, I'm just generalizing and summing it up.)

      Now, however, my opinions and outlook have changed almost completely. While I still believe in the power of modern technology, medicine, doctors, and hospitals doing some amazing things to save lives, I also believe that a woman's body was made with the specific ability to bear children. It wasn't an idea that I came up with all of a sudden though. I feel like certain things in my life helped me get to a point where I could accept Natural Home Birth as an alternative to a multiple-intervention hospital birth. Despite how I had felt about birth before, I never liked going to the doctor. In fact, I haven't been to a doctor for something since High School. My Mom being from Europe, a continent that embraces natural and holistic healing, was always there telling us that there were natural remedies we could use that would be much safer than your typical off-the-shelves drugs. (That's not to say there isn't a time and place for certain medications and that I don't use some of them.) My Dad was a RN and so I always had taken on his stance and thought she was silly and all this natural stuff was for the birds.

      When I was going to school for massage it further enforced my burgeoning belief that the body had ways of healing itself. A whole world of healing and holistic thinking was opened to me and I really started seeing things from a different perspective. One of my brother-in-law's introduced us to The Body Code and muscle testing and it didn't take long for our family to jump right in. Now, what really turned me around and got me thinking more about Natural Home Birth was when my friend Jenna of That Wife became pregnant and would post about her journey and experience with a midwife and her choice for a home birth. I was impressed with the research she showed and information she shared comparing the risks and benefits. But what really got to me was the type of experience she said she would be having at home compared to what it would be like in a hospital. I knew right away that that was how I wanted it to be for me. Also, I watched The Business of Being Born and that really got me going. Great documentary!

      Since taking more of an interest in this view, I've found out a few things about the ladies I'm related to. Both my Mom and Ty's Mom gave birth to ALL of their children naturally, though in hospitals. I think I was even more impressed by Ty's Mom because those are some big headed boys. :) Then, come to find out my Mom was born at home, as well as two of her siblings! (One was not able to be due to complications.) How I never knew any of this before blows my mind. I'm hoping I'll be able to get some of these birth stories from my Omi because I would love to hear what her experiences were like. To get even crazier, my Aunt is a midwife!!! It's like the universe is shouting at me to have this baby naturally.

I found a blog that listed 10 reasons why she chose an unmedicated birth. To read it go to this link. Seriously, go to the link. I'll wait here....................................................You're back! Hooray! Though, I haven't yet experienced it, I agree with everything she wrote*.

Here are some of my own reasons and benefits of giving birth at home:

I want to avoid interventions. I always believed they were necessary, but have come to find that's not always true. I would rather not be induced, particularly, because these drugs are not the same as my own body's hormones doing their job and working at a natural and normal rate. I also want to be able to do this without nurses and doctors giving me weird looks and feeling like the place where I'm having my child doesn't support my decision.
My home is the most comfortable place I can be. All my stuff is here and I know where it is. I can roam around in my own area and not feel awkward that I can't go somewhere. There won't be nurses coming in and out of the room. The atmosphere and mood will be what I set it as. Also, I won't have to wait for a room to be available. The room where I will have my baby will be available until the baby starts living in there.
Immediate contact with my baby. No rushing her off for tests. This baby and I are already forming a very special bond and I'm so anxious and ready to pull her up onto my chest and hold her and start that physical touch bond as soon as she is on the outside of my body.
Breastfeeding as soon as possible. I'm still not sure if I'll do this immediately after birth or when they have been checked out and I'm "comfortably" sitting up in my bed once again holding my newborn, but hooray for having the choice! Again, I want to begin that special bond with my baby very soon. (Can you tell I'm a super big Feeler personality?!)
During labor, I can eat and drink. I would like to stick to healthy choices of course and things that help keep my energy up. Hospitals, generally speaking, don't allow that. I have read that you can do it as long as they aren't in the room, but I don't want to have to be sneaky and stressed. I want to be able to go into my kitchen, grab an apple or a sandwich from my fridge and munch on it if I feel the desire.
It might sound silly, but I really want to have that "I am WOMAN and I did this. BOOYAH!" moment. It may not be said aloud, but the thought will be there. Believe it or not, I'm really insecure and I know that I will have moments of doubt. However, one of the things my midwife said to me in the initial consult that made me feel like she was right for us was, "The body can do it, it's just convincing the mind that you can." SO TRUE!
Laboring and birthing in water is believed, and proven for many women, to relieve to some degree the pain you experience during this time. Make no mistake, I'm expecting pain and discomfort, but when I learned about this method, I knew this was something I wanted to at least try. Who wouldn't want to utilize a way of easing their pain? There are some hospitals that let you labor in water, but when it comes time to push, you have to get out. Sad day.
Like birthing in water, why wouldn't I want to give birthing at home a try, if I have no complications? Low-risk mothers giving birth at home have the same risks that low-risk mothers do who go to the hospital. If any complications arise, we are literally a 3 minute drive from the hospital. However, I'm fully confident in my abilities as well as the skills and knowledge of my midwife.

* Keep in mind when she says there are no risks with an unmedicated birth, she's not talking about the risks and ranging possibilities that can come along with most births. When you receive meds during labor there are risks to each of them. It's that way with any medication you take.

Belly Pics Part 2

2011-10-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

Are y'all excited for some more pictures?! I'm excited. I feel crazy huge and I know I'm only going to get bigger. Gah! Despite that, I really don't feel fat. People at church are finally starting to acknowledge my pregnancy (my Visiting Teaching partner is also pregnant and is high risk and has needed some help so more people know about her). Yesterday, at church, I received a lot of very nice compliments on how cute I look :). Though people also kept saying I look small. Haha. All I can think is, "How is that possible?!!". Though, I think, from the front it's harder to tell that I'm even pregnant at all. I haven't done a front picture since 6 weeks, so maybe I should do another to compare.

Enough chat! Let's look at some pictures. If you forgot, go here to look at my pictures from the last post.

The growth of my belly almost seems minimal, but every week feels like an accomplishment. I can't believe I'm 6 months pregnant. There were definitely times when I wasn't sure I'd even get to be pregnant and now I'm halfway through. All is well, all is well. :)

2011 Halloween Movie List

2011-10-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

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I'm late getting this up, but what they hay. As of late, my post on my Halloween Movie List, from last year, has been getting a lot of hits with people searching for Netflix Instant Halloween movies. Unfortunately, Netflix Instant doesn't have some of the goodies it used to. In this list, I've included the ones I will watch (or have already watched) by getting them from Netflix, Netflix Instant, or I own them. If I own them and they are also on Netflix Instant, I've listed it so for your convenience.

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My updated Halloween Movie List:

Hocus Pocus (own)

Edward Scissorhands (Netflix)

Spaced Invaders (own)

The Burbs (Netflix)

Ghostbusters (own)

Ghostbusters 2 (own)

Nightmare Before Christmas (own)

Casper (Netflix)

The Witches (own)

Beetlejuice (Netflix)

The Sixth Sense (Netflix)

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (own)

The Others (Netflix Instant)

What Lies Beneath (Netflix)

The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (Netflix Instant)

Addams Family (Netflix)

Addams Family Values (Netflix)

Clue (own)

Ernest Scared Stupid (own)

Labyrinth (own, also on Netflix Instant)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (own)

The Mummy (own)

The Mummy Returns (own)

Goonies (own)

The Covenant (own)

Ghost Rider (own)

Private Eyes (own)

The Skeleton Key (own, also on Netflix Instant)

So I Married an Axe Murderer (own)

Batman Begins (own)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Netflix)

You might have noticed that I took out both "The Ring" and "The Ring2". After watching them last year, I couldn't shake this uneasy feeling that I was watching something truly evil. I like being a little spooked, but I'm not for feeling like I'm watching something that isn't good for me. So, I added "So I Married an Axe Murderer", "Batman Begins", and "E.T the Extra-Terrestrial". These really should have been on my list last year! In fact, I think I did watch E.T. last year even though it was no where on my list. That's just crazy.

What movies do you just have to watch for Halloween?

Pregnancy Sleep

2011-10-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

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      Since the very beginning of my pregnancy, I've had issues with getting a comfortable and good night's rest. Now that I'm well into my second trimester (how crazy is that?!), it really hasn't improved. In fact, it has progressed in the negative direction. Laying in a comfortable position is more difficult to come by. I'm used to lying on my back to begin with and then naturally move around during sleep. Starting out on my side isn't so much of an issue, however staying that way is. My tummy isn't the only thing getting bigger and my front is being pulled forward. This causes a lot of stress and tension in my upper back, shoulders, and neck. Headaches are a frequent morning visitor that can sometimes last well into the day. My hips, though they have be much better as if late, can only be comfortable with my body pillow between my legs. Ty is not a fan of this practice as it tends to invades our cuddle space. :) I just love him. Another thing that has helped my hips is putting an egg shell mattress pad under the sheets. A much cheaper solution to getting a new mattress.

      Nightly bathroom breaks will often interrupt my sleep cycle. I try to get my daily amount of water in before it gets too late to avoid too many of those. This seems to help, but I think my mind believes I still needs to go because I'll wake up for no reason. And I'll stay that way for at least an hour, even though I still feel tired. Isn't it annoying when you are so tired and even though you try to relax and fall asleep, and nothing happens?

      The last thing that has had a negative effect on my sleep is the crazy pregnancy dreams. It didn't really come into play until the last couple of weeks. The most horrific, and probably the most memorable unfortunately, would make a great horror flick as it involved a serial killer who cut off his victim's faces*. Luckily, he was apprehended in the end, but the feelings of fear were still so strong when I woke up that I seriously couldn't move. Others have been just as crazy, if not as gory. I expect it will only continue. Um, hooray?

      I hope this didn't come across as complaining. Rather as documentary. Mostly, it's all very interesting to me what our bodies go through during pregnancy. Physically as well as mentally. To balance out my lack of sleep during the night, naps are a nice little comfort. It's my favorite and can happen at any time of the day. Regardless, of my sleeping patterns, the best part about lying down is that is when I feel our little girl the most. So all in all it's good.

*Later that day on the radio they were talking about scary movies and they mentioned one called "Strangers", where a guy cuts peoples' faces off. Creeeeeeeeeepy!

Midwife Appointment at 21 Weeks

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

     First thing she asked was about my weight, which is in the good range since I was able to loose weight at the beginning of the pregnancy. However, I really need to take control of my "cravings" and not surrender to the lovely, yummy quick food that tempts me so. She asked if I was able to feel the baby move and I happily answer yes. I've sort of nicknamed this girl a "Vampire Baby" because I feel her most at night and almost never during the day. So, I've come to the conclusion that she will be nocturnal and suck the living energy from me, thus "Vampire Baby". It's cool, I still love her. :) Feeling her move is definitely a highlight for me. She has yet to grow large enough to be able to find my ribs and other areas that will cause discomfort so this is the time to truly get the most enjoyment out of her wiggles. Though, I have to confess, I hope to still find just as much joy when she's using my insides as her personal gym because it means she's alive and using her growing muscles.

     Next, we discussed my prenatal vitamins, which have been a source of tummy trouble for me. Through the power of Facebook I was given lots of suggestions and tips and gummies were the popular choice. I had bought some and taken them for two days and for some reason, I didn't think to check for it, but my midwife pointed out they don't have iron in them. Since I'm somewhat predisposed to anemia I'd rather not risk getting a more serious case. I tried taking the regular ones today in between soup and crackers, however, that didn't work out and I quickly ran for the bathroom. If I can't find another alternative, I might just go with either Flintstones or some vitamins my midwife can prescribe to me.

     She briefly discussed the Anemia and Glucose test and what's involved with those as well as the birthing classes which will take place at our home. Most likely, I'll be taking the test a week or two before Thanksgiving. Oh how I hope the holidays don't turn on me (or rather I don't use the holidays to turn on myself). The birth classes will happen about 29-30 weeks. I'm excited for those, because it means I don't have to go anywhere. :)

     Once again, blood pressure was taken and all is well. She felt for baby and found her pretty quickly. When we tried to get her to move and wiggle, she did what she did during the ultrasound, stayed put. She moves for no one. She's as stubborn as her mother. I was measured and was measuring at 21 weeks, so right on. This time finding her heartbeat, took milliseconds and it was loud and strong. That's my girl!

     My personal goals until the next visit are to eat better (that's always true) and to find a good sustainable solution for prenatal vitamins. And feel Baby Girl more. Which isn't so much a goal as it is a desire.

Gender Revealed!!!

2011-09-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

This is actually a picture I took of the ultrasound picture. I wanted to scan it, but we've moved our office to a different room and are currently experiencing technical difficulties with our scanner.

     Today's the day! I'm still wrapping my head around it all. Sleeping last night was, shall we say, less than joyful. There were no nerves involved, but I kept waking up and felt uncomfortable most of the time. I woke up about 6:45AM with a pretty bad headache and grabbed a ice pack to help ease the pain. So the beginning of the day was not one to be envied. My mind was consumed with thoughts of getting ready on time and making sure I drank enough water in order to have a full bladder for the ultrasound. All of which was timed quite well. I read that you are supposed to drink a full liter of water beforehand so I started about an hour before the appointment, guzzling as much at a time as I could. My mom was able to come with us to the appointment, which was really special. I'm so glad she was able to be there. Thanks MOM! :)

    I'm really glad I didn't start drinking water too early because I was just getting to the point of feeling like I needed to use the restroom by the time we got to the ultrasound room. The warm jelly was kind of comforting, since it's starting to cool down outside. I'm a fan. Thank you inventor of the ultrasound jelly warmer guy! The ultrasound tech began her poking and prodding, which I think is putting it lightly. I was usually fine as long as she stayed in one place, but as soon as she would move and press into an area closer to my bladder the feeling that needed to get to the potty would return. Seeing our sweet baby and the heart was magical for me. It's so amazing that we are able to see the brain, skull, bones, developing organs and features. Every time we were shown a new thing, I said, "That is so cool/amazing/awesome." At some point I told the tech and her assistant that, "I'm sorry. Right now, I just think everything's amazing!".

     And then came the moment I really had shown up for. The reason I downed a liter of water in an hour. The reason I had to fight of the urge to go to the bathroom. Okay, so it wasn't the only reason, but it was a big one. The Gender revealed. She checked and double checked and I think she even triple checked just to be sure.

WE'RE HAVING A GIRL!!!

Let the squealing commence. :) This means that 61% of you that voted were right on! I really can't say that we would have been surprised either way. We didn't want to expect or get our hopes up about either boy or girl and I'm glad. I'm happy that this little girl (so weird to finally be able to say that) is joining our family. From what we could tell, she's very healthy. We'll see our midwife next week and she'll give us the results, which I'm expecting will be good. At one point the tech used the 3D tool to get a good look at her face, but little miss was sucking on the back of her hand. Or she was shielding her face because she didn't want to be seen without her makeup. ;) When we looked at her feet, I was pretty sure I could tell I was looking at a girl since I didn't see any "boy stuff", but I'm not the expert and waited for her to tell us. When she did, she confirmed my thoughts and I looked over at Ty and said, "Are you ready for that?" My mom's reaction was, "PMS, times two!" Haha.

Names are on the discussion board for now, though we have told family what we are thinking. When we decide more concretely, I'll share it with everyone. And you will all like it. Even if you don't, you will. :)

Guess Our Baby's Gender!

2011-09-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

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     Alright ladies and gents, the time is fast and soon approaching. Our ultrasound appointment is in two weeks and we are both very anxious to find out the gender of our first born. We really had to consider if we wanted to get an ultrasound at all because they are expensive and I feel like everything is fine. However, it's really important to us to find out the gender. Translate: I don't want to wait my entire pregnancy to find out or I'll go insane with curiosity. I'm not very good with patience. So ultrasound it is!

     We let our midwife know that we wanted the ultrasound and she put in the request to Tri City Radiology. Once her receptionist called to tell me the request was in, I called to make an appointment. I want to make sure that we give it enough time so "everything" is visible, so I made the appointment for after I'm 20 weeks. I'll be almost 21 by the appointment so I think that will, hopefully, work out well.

     Now is the time for you to make your guess. You'll see on the right sidebar of the blog (those of you who are reading this from Facebook or email will have to come to the actual blog to see it: http://tyandjennyrobbins.blogspot.com), I've posted a poll for you to make your guess. Do you think we'll be like my family and have a Boy first? Will we join the majority of Ty's brothers and have a Girl first? Or will the little one be too shy and leave it's gender undisclosed? What's your guess? I have a feeling, but I ain't sayin'. When I asked my sweet little niece, Sammy, what she thinks I'm having her reply was, "Ummm, I think it's a boy, because boys come out first." Hahahahahaha! When I reminded her that her oldest cousin is a girl, she still stick to her guns and said, "Yeah, but I think boys come out first." Which is pretty much the truth in the Justesen family for my brothers. So we shall see. :) And to be honest, whether boy or girl, we will love this baby so much and will be so happy. We feel so blessed and I'm constantly amazed each day that I'm still going. It's amazing and truly a miracle in our hearts.

Belly Shots 6, 13, 14, 17, & 18 Weeks

2011-09-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

They are long awaited I know! There was a bit of a gap because we were out of town or I was sick and didn't feel like taking pictures. Sorry. :( However, I think the ones I have will show you just when I popped anyway. It's still really weird to me. Looking down at my tummy I think, "I don't look pregnant." Then I turn sideways and look in the mirror and BAM!, there's a belly there. I do have to say, I'm probably the only pregnant woman in the world who doesn't want to be told I don't look pregnant. There is a belly there people and it must be acknowledged. I think my biggest issue with this is that I worked hard for six months to lose weight and look skinny. When someone tells me that I don't look pregnant and they don't notice my belly, I feel a twinge of pain at the thought that instead of looking pregnant, I look fat. Because this not what my body looked like when I lost all my weight. My WHOLE front side was A LOT smaller. The idea that all my hard work really meant nothing to my outward appearance is upsetting. To me I look pregnant, though it can be more difficult to tell through the baggy pj shirts I wear most often. Also, in case you hadn't noticed, I'm REALLY insecure and to hear I don't look pregnant, my subconscious mind translates into "You aren't really pregnant." One of my three top love languages is Words of Affirmation. I think that applies here. I need positive feedback, like basically all the time. :)

Anyway, that was just me venting. Thank you for listening. :) Onto PICTURES!! Huzzah!

I don't think I've changed much anywhere else besides my tummy. There's a pretty obvious growth there. Haha. You'll have to forgive the angles. We don't have a great camera and I always insist on "No Flash" so it makes it difficult for poor Ty. I'm going to have to start buying some maternity T's because you can tell there's some stretching going on. I do love how you can kinda see how my leggings are still kinda big for me right now. :) That makes me happy.

Dieting During Pregnancy

2011-09-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

Remember how I lost 40 pounds? It...was...AWESOME! However, loosing weight isn't exactly on the menu for now. My priorities have shifted to making sure I'm gaining the proper amount of weight for me and my baby. As of late, I feel like I'm faltering. While I realize that I won't be able to be perfect with this, I'm still concerned with eating the best things to keep us both healthy. After making such a huge effort and commitment to lose all that weight, I don't want to throw it to the wayside and end up gaining too much weight. That would mean it was all a waste and I'd be setting myself up to repeat what I already have done. Perhaps even starting from a heavier weight. So, I decided to go at it again with my food/diet blog. You can view my plans here. There will be no trying to lose weight, though I will be counting calories to keep myself in check. As I posted on my other blog. Recipes, encouragement, and words of wisdom and all welcome.

Midwife Appointment at 17 Weeks

2011-09-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

      I can't believe how fast the time keeps going. Before you know it, it will be February and our little one will be making their public debut. Gaaaaahhh! There's still so much to do before then.

      First thing to discuss at the appointment, as with all of them, is how I'm feeling. I proclaimed that I'm tired and she asked if it was normal pregnancy tired or if it was something. For the most part I think it's normal pregnancy tired as I have to get up at least once a night for a bathroom interruption. However, I also explained that I wake up with a headache pretty much every morning. She asked if I'm drinking enough water, to which I had to confess that I'm trying, but do sometimes forget. It was decided though, that even though lack of water could be a contributing factor, my pre-existing neck and migraine condition was the primary cause. We talked about how my appetite has increased and the nausea has diminished. Yay!!! Big Man Breakfasts for me. :)

     I finally remembered to fill out the form she gave us which gave her primary information about mine and Ty's health background as it pertains to my pregnancy. We went over a few things and all looked good, so there wasn't much to discuss. Then, it was discussed if we wanted to have the blood test for Down Syndrome and Neural tube defects. I'm personally not worried about our child having these issues. However, if it does come about that our little one suffers from something in this category, I would rather not know about it and have the anxiety throughout the rest of my pregnancy. I will still love this child no matter what and give them the help and care they need when it's necessary. Ginger made a wonderful point that I completely agree with. The doctor she trained with said, "You do a test if it relieves anxiety, not to increase it." So we will forgo that test. We then discussed what we will need to do for the ultrasound!! :) Since she doesn't do ultrasounds, she refers you to a place that does. In this case I'll be calling Tri City Radiology in Kennewick. So in a few weeks we will hopefully be finding out what is swimming around inside my belly.

     Then, it was time to get up on the table and she took my blood pressure. Honestly, I don't know if it's just later on in the pregnancy or if you are already worried about something, but I don't really understand the anxiety with getting your blood pressure taken. Can someone explain this to me? Maybe it's just that I feel calm at that point already after talking with Ginger that I just don't really feel the need to be anxious. At any rate, I was normal. Huzzah. She then examined my belly and poked around for baby. She found him or her pretty quickly and I loved that she asked how they were doing in a sweet voice. Everything is growing just right. Then we got to hear the heartbeat and some moving around. The repetitive sound of the heart is the only repetitive sound that will never get old or annoy. The heart sounds to me like a bouncing basketball. I'm so glad that we get to listen to it every visit.

     Leading up to this appointment, I had been feeling very anxious about things. It's still hard for me to believe that I'm pregnant and even harder to believe that everything is okay. I was actually struggling with the idea that my pregnancy had ended and my body just hadn't taken care of things naturally. Morbid, I know, but the reality is, my past bad experiences have tainted me and I'm a very insecure momma. However, right from the start of the appointment, everything I felt previously was put to ease as I felt taken care of, my concerns were listened to and understood. Ginger has a very positive attitude and demeanor so it's hard not to feel comforted being around her. Hearing the heartbeat definitely put me in a better place as well. All in all, it was a good visit and I'm anxious to find out what our little one is. I keep looking to my belly and asking, "Are you a boy or a girl?" We'll soon, hopefully, find out!

Things Pregnancy Taught Me

2011-08-30T13:05:00.000-07:00

1. That worry that parents do that annoyed you so much growing up BEGINS at Conception. It's possible that the more insecure type of person you are the greater this worry is. For me, I've noticed that I'm always worried that something might happen and all will be lost. I'm trying to be, and I think I'm getting, better about not analyzing too much out of everything. Not an easy task.

2. Don't base how your pregnancies will be on your mom's pregnancies. Even though they say things can be genetic, just as every child and human being are different, so are pregnancies different. My mom had very difficult pregnancies. I was old enough to remember my mom being pregnant with my youngest brother and remember thinking that was my fate. So far, even though I did have about a month and a half of "morning sickness", it didn't start from the beginning and last forever (okay so I'm still only in the beginning of my second trimester, but I'm not hugging the toilet now am I). The point is you'll see when you get there and don't expect the same thing with every child.

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3. Drinking the designated amount of water everyday will require you to go to the bathroom approximately every 20 minutes. I really didn't think this would start until a lot further along in the pregnancy, but HOLY COW! Even without drinking that much water, I'm going to the bathroom a lot more than usual.

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4. Your emotions will always get the better of you. It happens mostly when I'm watching TV or a movie, but during sad scenes, I turn into a fountain of tears and can't stop. Being one that doesn't normally cry easily, I knew this had to be a hormonal change that I wouldn't be able to control. And you can't, so good luck trying.

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5. Morning sickness sucks and really should be called by it's true name and acronym: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy (NVP). Seriously, to say "morning sickness" is so frustrating when in reality it can last up to all day. I will confess for the most part the nausea would begin when I woke up in the morning (I believe as a result of an empty stomach) and when I would throw up I, again for the most part, felt better. Not tackle-the-world-and-all-of-the-things-on-my-list better, but better.

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6. Headaches are not my friend. Never have been, never will be. Pregnancy did nothing to help this. I've had to deal with chronic migraines for the greater part of my life so having frequent headaches (basically, I wake up with one every morning) I wasn't all that surprised. The fact that all I can take is Tylenol doesn't help since I really don't want to take anything. (See 1.) So, I use Biofreeze (it's like Icy Hot, but better because it doesn't get hot) or just ice. My husband commissioned me to get a massage and I have one scheduled now for tomorrow. I love that he knows that I need this and knows that because he's not able to do as much for me as I need he understands I have to see someone who can. (Luckily, I have a coupon from a daily deal site. Hooray!)

7. Ligament pains are not cool. For some reason they are never talked about and force first time mommas to freak out thinking they are having early contractions and that all is definitely not well. Luckily, I've been able to discuss this with other ladies who are or were in my situation and have felt more at ease about the whole thing. Not that it doesn't still freak me out a bit, because it does, but I've come to realize and accept what they are. First time Moms and soon-to-be or someday Moms, let me tell you they are normal and, for me, feel mostly like twinges or light cramps. I think the fact that they can happen often is why they are so scary. However, it's your body growing and stretching to make room your for your new baby (or babies). If they are stronger than that, you might have cause to worry, but you might not. Always talk to your caregiver to be on the safe side if you are really concerned. Are there any mommas who didn't feel these?

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8. Due dates are just a number. And they are usually wrong. I've reluctantly given out my approximated date to a few family and friends, but for the most part I'm saying February. The date is situated in the month nicely enough that I will most likely be giving birth in February. Also, to go past the date and have people all over me wondering why I haven't had the kid yet when I'm already frustrated enough with the situation isn't something I want to experience. People seem to be comfortable enough, for now, when I give them the month and not the date, though I'm sure the closer I get the more prodding I'll have to endure. However, I don't plan on giving in. :)

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9. If you don't have women you feel comfortable with in your life who have gone or are going through what you are right now, join a support group. Though, I can't imagine with so many women being pregnant recently that you wouldn't be able to find someone, but it can happen. The main thing is to find someone to talk to about concerns. A girl Ty works with is just behind me in her pregnancy and we fall easily into conversation about what we are experiencing, even though we've only met on a few occasions. You're going to want to talk to somebody and have someone to relate to how you are feeling and validate you. We all want that regularly anyway, but when you are pregnant I think it's magnified. Don't be afraid to open up and find that in someone as well. You might make a new friend and learn something.

10. EDUCATE YOURSELF. There are so many parts of pregnancy that are unknown to most first timers and even some ladies who this ain't their first rodeo. The internet is a marvelous place where so much information is stored. Find out the technical terms for things and read up on procedures so that you can have an intelligent dialogue with your caregiver about your options. I would also caution you to not just read something in one place and take it for face value. Do your research. Read a couple different opinions and/or resources so you can make up your own mind and not have a caregiver do it all for you. This is YOUR baby and YOUR body so it is YOUR responsibility. Your caregiver may know a lot, but he/she doesn't know what you think is best or what your opinion is about any given procedure. It's my belief that we should have an opinion about the stuff being done to our bodies and our babies bodies. Don't y'all agree?

Midwife Appointment at 13 Weeks

2011-08-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

I went on a VERY short walk today and tried to take more pictures. I've been very bad about that this year. This is from someone's front yard. Appropriate since I'm receiving care from Blue Heron Naturopathic Care.

    This was actually not my first meeting with my midwife. I did a free consult with her where she explained what she does and how the process would be with her and we get to sort of know each other. I had prepared a list of questions for her, but she did such a wonderful job going through everything she does and all of her info, she basically answered everything on my list. That gave me a lot of confidence that we would be on the same page. Then Ty and I both met with her at about 9 weeks so we could get the ball rolling and so Ty could meet her as well. Also, I had such a bad cold and needed to find some kind of relief. Being that she is a naturopath she was able to give me a herbal remedy for my clogged sinuses. Hooray! She gave me a packet full of information on pregnancy and the different things that come with it with a holistic view. We went on a little tour (I haven't asked yet, but next time I'll see if I can get pictures) of the office and the room where she will do the exams and the bathroom and what I need to do for the dipping the stick for the urine samples each visits. If something doesn't look right I tell her.

    Dr. Virginia "Ginger" Frazer, of Blue Heron Naturopathic Care, actually encourages the spouse to be present at as many appointments as possible so she can get to know them as well and understand our dynamic as a couple so when the time comes for the birth she knows her boundaries. Luckily, Ty has a job that will provide us with the opportunity for him to accompany me and his presence is really reassuring and plus I just really like having around. :) This appointment started with her asking a couple of follow-up questions about my cold and future maternity and parenting choices. I forgot to fill out the form she had given to me the last time we were there so that cut down on the questions. I got up on the exam table and she did an exam of my upper body and then she moved on to checking my uterus.

    Then for the moment that I really had been waiting for. The doppler reading of my baby's heartbeat. A doppler is a small handheld device that detects the fetal heartbeat. We won't be getting an ultrasound until about Week 20 when we find out what we are having. I had been sort of freaking out because after my miscarriage I have a lot of trust issues with my own body and had been concerned that maybe we wouldn't be hearing anything and I would be leaving extremely disappointed. However, that was not the case. I was extremely relieved when I first heard the swift pitter-pattering of the major organ of the little person who is living inside of me. Ty got up from his seat and stood next to me holding my hand. What a wonderful experience to have together! It took her a little while to find it, but she said that that was normal this early since they are still so small. I had hoped to get a video or something, but I wasn't prepared. Even still, remembering it makes me happy.

    After I got down from the table she told me that I did have mild anemia and that was probably causing a slight murmur, but it wasn't a concern and can happen during pregnancy. I just have to make sure I'm getting my nutrients and not overdoing it too much. Since neither party had any more questions or concerns that concluded the visit and I'm scheduled to go back in another month. Nothing weird or strange or crazy. :) We'll see if it's any different at the next appointment when I'll have the questionnaire that I should have done this time. My self-appointed homework is to drink more water, get more protein, and fill out that form.

    This week I've been able to keep from throwing up, still moments of nausea, especially in the morning when there's nothing in my stomach, but improvement is improvement and I need to take advantage of it. I've been really bad about my choices of what to eat and have totally fallen off the wagon. I'd really like to get back to making a meal plan and counting calories to make sure I'm getting enough of the good stuff not just junk. Plus, I think it's good to set limitations and not just eat things with the excuse that I'm pregnant and have "cravings". (I believe that cravings are really your body telling you that you are needing certain nutrients, but isn't getting them.) I don't want to have the baby and be super overweight from overindulging. Weight gain is inevitable and there's no reason to think that it won't, but I also want to be healthy. So there you have it.

What Have We Been Up To?

2011-07-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

So, I bet you’re all wondering what has kept me busy the last month and a half. Well, nothing much. We went to Moses Lake for the Justesen Reunion, I caught a cold, we went to Othello for the Robbins Reunion, and then Ty caught a cold. So, yup not much going on.

Oh yeah, one more thing, I’m PREGNANT!!! I’m currently 12 weeks along. Um, can you say crazy? But yes it’s true. Mostly, this whole time my thoughts have swayed between either, “Holy crap, HOLY crap, HOLY CRAP!!!” and “I can’t believe this is really happening.” It’s been overwhelming and just all around nuts. I’ve been so anxious to tell everyone I thought I would burst.

Okay, story time. I was reading my scriptures (the Book of Mormon to be exact) and read in Ether chapter 12 about how the Lord doesn't give us miracles until after we show faith.

Vs. 16 & 18:

"Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith even those who were before Christ and also those who were after."

"And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; where fore they first believed in the Son of God."

Maybe it’s because I have been hoping to get pregnant for such a long time, but this really stood out at that time to me. It made me think, “How much faith have I been showing to my Heavenly Father?” Then I kept reading on, and read in verse 27:

“for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”

           Once again, I felt impressed that these words were for me right at this time since I certainly felt weak in this area. From that point, I decided to do my part, but leaving the rest up to the Lord completely. I think I tried doing this before, but realistically I have a really hard time letting go of control and expecting miracles. Somehow the words I read gave me the help I needed to feel ready to let go.

                I didn’t want to expect immediate results. Three years of hoping and wishing, only then to turn around and receive negative news taught me not to. One Monday morning (my weigh in day) I woke up and decided that I should wait at least a week to test since I was only late by a day. However, my subconscious had already made other plans and without thinking about it I pulled out a test (because I’m that neurotic about getting pregnant that I had pregnancy tests on hand). I thought, “Well, I guess I am taking a test today.” I laid the test off to the side and got ready to weigh myself. It was mostly in passing, but I glanced over at the test just before getting on the scale and already there were TWO lines!! “Um, that was fast!!” What the what? Instantly, I could have cared less what my weight was. Regardless, after reveling for a bit, I did weigh in and it showed that I hadn’t lost anything (I weighed in later and I did in fact lose 1.5 pounds), but it didn’t matter. There was something else to be celebrating. Though, I now realized I would probably have to wait even longer before buying new clothes since I would probably be fitting back into my old ones pretty soon....well the pants anyway.

                It was pretty early that morning when I woke up and Ty was still sleeping. I waited, somehow mustering the patience and will power to not pounce on him and wake him up immediately. An hour and half later, he was awake. I gently laid next to him. He asked me how I was doing and I made a face and did the sign for “so-so”. “Why’s that?” he asked me. “Well, I weighed myself this morning and I didn’t lose anything,” I answered. He said he was sorry and I said, “That’s okay. I’m going to be gaining quite bit soon anyway.” “How do you know that?” he teased, with a knowing tone. I told him a little birdie told me. I then explained what happened earlier and we were both excited, albeit sleepy.

                In the beginning, I was really just tired and exhausted. However, even though my workouts suffered I still managed to lose the rest of the weight and made my goal. For those of you who will chastise me for continue doing so, I will tell you that I was safe about it and since I was in the very early stage it was all right. At any rate, I ended up losing 5 lbs. and gained 1.5 of it back from splurging a little too much too quickly afterward so it wasn't like crazy dieting.   I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize this little life. Since making my goal, I’ve been able to maintain that weight through being sick and having barely enough energy. About week seven, I started getting really nauseous and let’s just say I’m glad the bathroom is so close to our bedroom. Hopefully, that will end soon. I will be seeing a Midwife, who is also a Naturopath, and my goal is to have a natural water birth at home. I definitely plan on documenting my visits and what I’ll be going through so those of you who are interested and/or don’t know much about it will be able to see what it’s all about.

                Being able to tell all of our immediate family and a couple of my good girl friends, has been overwhelmingly joyous considering we’ve been hoping to do our part to expand each side for such a long time. Sadly, only a few days after we told my parents, they left for Germany for 5 weeks and I’ve been really missing my mommy, particularly during the times when I feel really sick. However, they’ll be home in a week and a half and I’m hoping I’ll have a nice little pooch for them to see.

                There have been so many times that this has seemed all so surreal. Do you remember that time I wrote that post about how I couldn’t wait for my turn? You may or may not know this, but I suffered a miscarriage about two years ago and wrote about what I went through in a post on a blog I started to vent about such things. How different I will be ending the year compared to how I started it. Even though I’ve been sick and tired and tired of being sick, I’m so happy and feel so blessed. My Heavenly Father really knows me and when I need things.

                  Both of our families will be blessed with a plethora of babies this next year. Four on Ty’s side (two of which are twins) and two on my side, including our little Robbins Egg, within four months. So you can rest assured the Justesens and Robbins are doing our part to contribute to the recent baby boom. On a little more serious note, I’m so glad that my baby will have cousins so close them in age. It’s been one of the things that has always bothered me about not having kids earlier. However, no need to worry about that with this one.

                I’m not sure I’ll be posting all that much more regularly now that the news has hit the presses, but I’ll do my best to have more of a life to document. ;) Once the little egg has hatched, I’m sure I’ll be giving you an overload of how cute and adorable they are and how I have THE best baby in all the lands. Don’t lie, you are all looking forward to it. With any luck, all my children will have the disposition of their father and really will be good babies. If they are anything like me……well, we are in trouble and I’ll die of stress.

                Now I'll leave you with my first belly shot. Just so we are clear, if you see a pooch, that is not pregnant belly. It's normal Jenny belly. These was taken when I was barely 6 weeks along. Hopefully, I'll develop one soon, but for now, I pretty much look the same as I haven't gained or lost anything since then (thanks to the nausea). Enjoy!

Reaching My Goal Weight

2011-06-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

Today is momentous! This morning I weighed myself and for the first time in.....well probably ever, the scale showed a 2 in the 10s spot! To put it in Biggest Loser terms: My current weight is...........128.5!!! My goal is reached and passed! I'm so happy. I've written a fuller post on my diet blog which you can read here. However, I will go ahead and post a couple pictures here.

My Weight Loss Transition

Feeling GOOD!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and made me feel like I could do it! This is truly a great day!

Time Out For Women - Seattle, WA 2011 - Emily Freeman

2011-05-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

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   Emily Freeman has become a sort of guaranteed feature at Time Out for Women in Washington. She's spoken here the last three times. My post on here talk from last year can be found here.

    Again, I'm afraid, my notes are a little short for Emily. It was the end of the conference and we had had a long night the night prior. So, once again, I hope what I have will suffice.

    "What does it mean to have the name of Christ written on our hearts?" "We must become all together committed to the Lord." I have a lot of work to do before I can fully say I'm "all together committed to the Lord." Not for lack of desire, but my own human flaws keep me from becoming all His. I could sit here and say, "I wish I was," or, "If only I could be", but that doesn't get me anywhere. It takes sacrifice. We must work hard to join our wants with His and then we can realize that they really are one in the same.

    "When people look at you, what would they say your sermon is? And what would they know about the Lord because of you?" Whoa. That was heavy. Sometimes I forget that I'm an example and the responsibility that comes with that. People look to me to see what the LDS church is like. Am I showing them what it truly is that we are taught? Am I taking that time to share with them what I believe? Definitely not as often as I could be.

    "Our testimony of the Lord is one we would never walk away from." I tried once.....it never really worked. :) I love my Heavenly Father and I know that He loves me. No matter what path in life I take, He is watching out for me, has been watching out for me. Looking back, I can't count the ways I was spared me from harm or made it possible for me to be in the place I am now.

Time Out For Women - Seattle, WA 2011 - Merrilee Boyack

2011-05-10T05:00:00.001-07:00

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Merrilee was a new-to-us presenter this year and I must say I just love her. She was funny and clever. She's another one of those people that I just want to be friends with.

The title of Merrilee's talk was "Blaze Your Own Trail." She shared the statement BECOME U! and assigned a term for each letter. With each term there was also a story from a woman in her life or in history that blazed their own trail and personified their specific topic. Unfortunately, I was silly enough to not note the women and their stories so all I have are simple notes of each letter. If I ever see Merrilee again I'll ask her for them and relay them back to you.

B: Be Bold

Each of us are great leaders. Satan will tell us that we are not. "Tell Satan to pound sand." :)

E: Eternally Minded

Focus on the things of eternity.

C: Creative -

We were meant to create and we are each creative in our own way.

O: Outward focus -

We have nurturing hearts. We are "Keepers of the Heart". We are the ones who make a difference.

M: Meek -

We are humble women and we have our ears turned to the Lord to hear His will. Love the Lord & love others.

E: Enlightened -

We are women of spirit, who look for light and guidance.

U: Unique -

This one is pretty self explanatory.

By doing all these things we become someone better. Become someone our Heavenly Father would be proud of. We can blaze our own trail and become amazing women (and men :) ).

Time Out For Women - Seattle, WA 2011 - S. Michael Wilcox

2011-05-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

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Last year, due to his wife's urgent illness situation, Michael was unable to speak to us. However, because each presentation in recorded, we were able to see his previous talk that he had given in Pittsburgh. You can see my post on his talk here. Since that time, Michael's wife left this world and our hearts have all gone out to him during this time.

He began his talk sharing an old Hindu legend. I wish I could remember it all, but the basic story goes something like a man was out in the jungle and then was being chased by a tiger. He found refuge in a tree, while the tiger was thrashing at him below and above him were mice gnawing at him. Sounds like life a little bit right? The old saying "Stuck between a rock and a hard place" came to my mind.

"In our cumbersome lives with gnawing mice and thrashing tigers it is needful that sometimes we learn."

Continuing on he also recounted the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10: 38-42). I was glad because this is a story that has been on my mind lately. Which one do I represent?

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38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Michael pointed out that Martha said that her sister "left me to serve alone" and he took that to mean that Mary had been helping Martha, but stopped at some point to listen to Christ. He thought that it would be more appropriate if Mary had a bowl in her hands while she was listening to represent that. Then, he reflected on how Jesus answered and spoke to Martha. He would have spoken gently to her, understanding the burden she felt and the worry she carried with her to make sure all these people would be fed. Then saying that, "Mary hath chosen that good part". The good part, not the better part. Mary actively involved in a good work, but Martha simply chose the good part for her. Maybe it's what she needed to hear right then in her life. The Lord would not take that from her. He couldn't and certainly wouldn't. There will be times where it's more important to learn and grow than to focus on getting things done.

We never stop learning. Righteousness leads to Knowledge. The more righteous steps we take the more knowledge we obtain.

Righteousness-------------------------->Knowledge

Greater Righteousness----------->Greater Knowledge

Lastly, he shared an analogy of a compass. The kind they use for naval guiding (like the one for drawing and has two feet. We plant one foot in the center of the of gospel, the other is the searching foot. People will place it anywhere because they think nothing is there. Draw a circle and it encompasses all the truth and good of other religions. "Never compare your best to their worst."

Time Out For Women - Seattle, WA 2011 - DeAnne Flynne

2011-05-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

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DeAnne was a great speaker who had some great stories. Once again, you'll have to forgive me if my notes don't make a whole lot of sense because I don't remember a lot of the stories. She spoke a lot about how we can try to do these grand, large things and hope that they are the things people remember the most. She countered that with the idea that it's the small things that make the greatest impact. Remember the old widow who cast in 2 mites into the treasury? (See Mark 12: 42-44)

"And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing."

There were many rich men who had brought a large chunk of change, but this woman, who cast in only 2 mites, had put in more than anyone else who cast into the treasury.

43 "....this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

44 "For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

Here she was with nothing left, except 2 little mites, and she gave that up. "The Lord will provide if we give our all." I wonder what happened to the woman. Did she find solace in her sacrifice? Did she continue giving service to the Lord, as well as all those around her, giving all that she could through her actions and deeds? Did she suffer the rest of her earthly days only to receive a greater reward in the next life? I'm confident that a woman of her faith must have done all these things and was greatly blessed because of it.

Mother's Mites: Small acts by Mother's that are treasured.

It's fitting that this post should be on Mother's Day. I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful examples of what a mother is and should be from so many accomplished women. My own mother has never given up on me becoming the person I am, even when there were times I could have proven her wrong. She's loved me, buoyed me up, strengthened me through her own sacrifices. I'm still in awe of the woman who married a man and moved so far away from her family and home country to live in the middle of Nowheresville, Washington, the land flowing with dirt and tumbleweeds (okay we at least have a algae infested lake), not knowing the language very well. My momma "overlooked" that, though I believe she still misses the luscious color of green from the overwhelming amount of trees she was so used to. Though many will tell me they love her accent, all I hear is a women speaking English, with the occasional German conversation with family or friends. She is one of the kindest, friendliest, compassionate women you'll ever give yourself the pleasure of knowing. Her 2 mites are given every day when she wakes up and takes care that one more person is feeling their greatest. LOVE YOU MOM!

(Okay, back to my notes) How can we make a difference in others' lives?

Be More Aware:

     Paying attention costs nothing, but the dividends are priceless.
     Try to notice something different about them. Listen, pay attention to the spirit.

   2. Eliminate plates. Declutter your life.

   Make yourself at home every single day. Like remodeling yourself.
     It's much trickier to be your best self at home around those you are most familiar.

    She shared the scripture Titus 2:5. Here Paul is telling the men and women of Titus what they should do to live righteously. To the women in this verse he says, "To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Now I know there are going to be in an upheaval saying, "I can go to work if I want," and so on and so forth. This isn't saying that you can't. However, as the matriarchs of our home, we, whether we like it or not, set the tone for our homes. It's because of this we have such a great duty to our families.

"By small and simple acts we can accomplish great things."

Time Out For Women - Seattle, WA 2011 - Dean Hughes

2011-05-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

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I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was to hear this guy speak. He is the author of some of my favorite book series. "Children of the Promise" and "Hearts of the Children". Such amazing stories and I highly recommend them. Ironically, I don't remember too many stories from his talk, but I gathered a good many quotes from him.

- "Be better than you are right now."

Members of the LDS faith are probably always concerned with our eternal progression. We are always striving for perfection. When we fail to achieve perfection, we also fail to recognize our triumphs. We are a work in progress. Let's face it, get EVERY THING just the way it's supposed to be is going to be rough. I think we need to strive for just a little better than we are. Each little improvement is another notch.

- "Everybody cuts somebody off sometime." "This is one of those times."

Have you ever been driving along, trying to be courteous to the other drivers (or at least avoiding them all together so as to not get in trouble), and some yahoo cuts you off, or takes the parking spot you clearly had rights to? Dean pointed out that this is bound to happen. He has to remind himself, "Dean, this is just one of those times." Confession: I had to do it a few times as we were driving out of Seattle. This sort of goes back to what John Bytheway spoke about with his mother choosing to become bitter or better. Life will sometimes through you a bunch of lemons. "This is just one of those times."

- "You're not in a contest....The Lord doesn't run out of love."

- "When we start comparing there is a sense of ungratefulness."

- "That twinge of envy can destroy us emotionally and spiritually."

I love these. It's a human dysfunction to be dissatisfied with what we already have. Always wanting what we don't have. There's always something bigger, better, more. We could always be more. Do you ever think to yourself: "I'll never be able to be as good as she/he is," or the other side of the coin, "Why did they give that person that calling? That doesn't make any sense. I should have it." Guess what? The Lord has a plan for all of us and no matter what we think of ourselves or anyone else, he has a never ending amount of love and support for us all.

- "You're not in that big of a hurry."

Ummmmm, WHAT?! ;) I know, I know. Like we haven't heard that before. It's always a good reminder though. I frequently get so caught up in what I'm doing at the time that I forget I'm not on a time limit. Even if I am though, the world will not come to an end if I'm not finished right when I planned to be.

- "It's only with the spirit that we can really be changed!"

While trying to become whatever it is that we are striving to achieve, it's important to remember that it cannot be done alone. If we truly are striving to be better than we are now, we NEED to have the spirit with us. It's our Heavenly Father's gift to us. It's like our telegraph with Him. When we know the code to decipher His messages we can use His help and become stronger and better than we were.

- "When we are meek we are like Christ, and there is nothing better in this world to achieve."

I agree 100% with that statement. If there is anything in this world that we are trying to become it is like Christ. It is Him who saved us and gave the ultimate of sacrifices for us. I don't know about you, but I would have a hard time right now saying I would do that for EVERY person who has ever lived. Something I clearly need to work on. Without judgement, He gave to all those who would let Him. I looked "meek" up in the dictionary (I know, typical LDS talk thing to do) and there are three definitions of the word. The only one that didn't fit was "deficient in spirit and courage". Our Savior was the embodiment of spirit and courage. In my opinion, one would need to have spirit and courage to fit the other definitions of meekness, especially during the times that our Savior lived and really the times we live in today. There is so much hatred around us and the best way to combat it is with the meekness of Christ.

Time Out For Women - Seattle, WA 2011 - Mariama Kallon

2011-05-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

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If you have been reading my blog for at least a year, then you might remember Miss Kallon. She was a presenter last year at Time Out for Women and was the inspiration for the theme of Hope. My post about her talk can be found here.

This is one amazing women. I love her laughter and the joy she finds in little things. She shared bits of the story she told last year of her experience growing up in Sierra Leone. She had always had a strong desire and urge to learn specifically English. She left home to learn and go to school at age 7. She would do neighbors chores to be able get a plate of food. Because of the war and the terror they experienced they were take turns sleeping and keeping watch for the soldiers to come. They learned to wear 3 or 4 layers of clothes because running through the bush it gets ripped off. It was great to see her find the humor of running and getting one layer torn off and then running some more and then there goes another layer. She said that she learned to carry things in her bosom. This is a habit that apparently has stayed with her she admitted. : ) Through all of this she now believes that Heavenly Father did all this to prepare her to become who she is today. Clearly, she has overcome much.

Her story doesn't stop when she joined the church or even when she left on her mission. A story that was shared in a video by her former Mission President. One day, as he was walking, Mariama was running towards the South Gate of the SLC Temple (where she served her mission). He asked where she was going. She told him that she was going to meet a black person at the South Gate. He said, "Good for you," and went on his way. Later, he found her talking to a black man and giving him information about the church. After he had gone, the Mission President asked who had made the appointment for her. She replied, "No one," and proceeded to tell him how this all came about.

There weren't a lot of people like her there and she really wanted to teach and help someone like herself. So that morning she knelt and prayed and asked Heavenly Father to send a black person who was from Africa to come for her to teach. When she finished her prayer, she got up and ran to the South Gate. She waited about five minutes and a black man from Ghana (I think?) came and you know the rest. "If we do what He asks us to do He will give us the promised blessings."

One of the trials she faced while on her mission was not receiving mail, especially in comparison to the others who were there. She had lost all her family and there wasn't anyone for her to write or get letters from. While others would receive their packages, she would wish she would have one of her own. The other sisters felt sorry for and wrote home to their mothers to make a package for her. Soon enough she was receiving more packages than anyone else. "Mine angles will be round about you to lift you up."

Two thoughts last thoughts that I wanted to share:

- Listen to the promptings of the spirit so that you might serve others.

- Don't take the small things for granted. Mariama gave a small list of things she is grateful for among them were shoes, carpet, and a bed. Her list gave me some good ideas for my thankful posts for November.

Time Out For Women - Seattle, WA 2011 - John Bytheway

2011-05-05T12:41:00.000-07:00

Another Time Out for Women has come and gone. This time was better for me, but there were some points where I wasn't sure how what the speaker was saying fit into the theme of "Choose to Become". At the end of the day that didn't matter so much because I was uplifted and enjoyed my time there. We made it in time for Friday night and so I was able to take notes. Hopefully, I'll be able to decipher them enough to create posts that will in some way make sense and do justice to the speakers. :)

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    First up is John Bytheway. A classic among LDS culture and I was so excited that this was my second time to hear him speak in person (the first time was at BYU-Idaho 7 1/2 years ago!). I was also full of giddiness when he did his Don Knotts "Barney from Mayberry" impression. Luckily, I caught it on video on my phone, but I won't be posting it because I found out the next day that that is a no-no. Whoops!

    He shared the story of his parents and how they got married. His mother's sister, Gerry, was quite sick and on the day they received their endowments, after leaving the temple, she collapsed and fell into a coma. She would come in and out of a coma during the week and all she would talk about was the reception. John's parents were married on Friday and had a gathering of sorts that evening. Saturday, Gerry passed away and instead of attending a wedding reception, his parents attended a funeral. I love the sentiment he shared that she could have chosen to become bitter or better from the experience and she chose to become better.

    Among the many quotes he shared I think I liked this one the best from President Boyd K. Packer from "That All May Be Edified", 39.

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"No good thought is ever lost. No turn of the mind, however brief or transitory or illusive, if it is good, is ever wasted. No thought of sympathy, nor of forgiveness, no reflection on generosity or of courage or of purity, no meditation on humility or gratitude or reverence, is ever lost. The frequency with which they are experienced is the measure of you. The more constant they become, the more you are worth, or, in scriptural terms, the more you are worthy. Every clean thought becomes you. Every clean thought becomes you."

How many times have you heard you are what you eat? While I'm trying to loose weight, I've thought it a lot. Our thoughts are where our actions begin. I love that he took the positive perspective of our thoughts. Sometimes, I think (haha get it?) I easily forget my more positive thoughts and punish myself for all my negative ones. I want to start focusing on my positive thoughts because it's those that I want to determine the woman I become.

Can I Get an Update?

2011-03-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been two months since I posted about my weight loss plan. Don't think I've been spending that time idly either. In fact, this whole weight loss journey has kind of taken over my life. Once everything was decided upon and I mentally prepared myself for what I was signing myself up for, "the plan" was set in motion and hasn't taken a breather since. Here's a run down of all the things on my plan:

- Counting calories again using TheDailyPlate.com every day.
Done and Done. Haven't missed a single day. I'm so proud of myself. I've definitely had days where I'd love to NOT know how many calories I've put in my belly, but plugged 'em in anyway. Go Me!

-Post everything I eat on my food blog with the calories.
Again, haven't missed a day. There were a couple of times I forgot to take a picture of something and/or recycled a picture I already had. However, everything is still posted with calories for all the world to see here, on my food blog. It seems more appropriate to call it my weight loss blog now since it's more than just about what I eat.

-Begin w/ doing the 30-day diet again and then continue with a scheduled meal plan.
This was a hard one to finish, but I done did it. And didn't cheat once. :) Though, I was certainly happy to be done with it, I've decided I'm going to do it a couple more times this year. It's just good to get a fresh start. Until then, I'm taking pleasure in other things while trying not to overindulge.

-Visual of progress close to bed with encouraging statements. surrounding it.
This has turned out to be my favorite thing. I LOVE looking over at my bedside wall and seeing the continued progress I've made. My goals don't seem so far away when I look at how well I've done so far.
Here's what it looked like when I first started:

Here's what it looks like now:

Here's what my progress looks like on My Daily Plate (Starting on Jan. 1st to today):

-Have a reward system.
This has really been motivating. I've earned 3 rewards so far and at the rate I'm going, the fourth is just a few weeks away. I'll have to do another post later about the rewards I've earned for myself so far.

-Follow the C25K program.
It's been so good for me to do this, mostly because I HATE running. However, I'm still stuck on Week 3 and haven't been able to get further. I realized, after talking with a friend whose been doing it, that I started at the goal running level instead of where I probably should have started and built up from there. The problem is I know I can run at that level and I don't want to stop, but it makes it difficult to get past where I'm at. Running for 3 minutes is rough if you're not used to it. So, I'm going to keep at it until I feel I'm doing well enough to move on. As far as I'm concerned as long as I'm doing something, then it's fine to go at my own pace.

-Calisthenics and weight lifting with Ty.
Well, I got a little bit of a late start doing this, but I've finally gotten into it and I'm doing it three days a week. However, I don't have my buddy with me. :) It just worked out better for me to do it during the day instead of waiting until night to do it with him. I don't think he's crying over it either. ;)

As of today, I've lost 17 pounds since starting all that time ago (it doesn't seem like it's been two months). Can you believe that? Each Monday morning as I weigh myself, I'm excited to find out what all my hard work has earned me. As shown on the above chart, I'm at 153 and anxious to get back into the 140's. I haven't been there since the first 8 months of our marriage. My Heavenly Father has truly blessed me with motivation and mental strength to keep going, even when I'm not excited to work out. I constantly feel grateful for his help and try to make sure I tell him that as often as I can.

If you want to see what I've REALLY been eating and doing for workouts go to my Weight Loss blog here: whatyouputinyourbelly.blogpot.com. I'd love to get more comments because who doesn't need more encouragement? Tips, recipes, and any other suggestions are fully welcome.

How are you doing on your New Year's Resolutions?

Mission Get Skinnier

2011-01-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

Now that the holiday madness is over is time to start dieting and working off those pounds that I inevitably gained. I've decided to go back to food blogging and getting back on track with counting calories. I wrote all about my plan on my food blog, but I'll post here for you.

"    Holy Shenanigans! Can you spell S-L-A-C-K-E-R!? Cuz that's exactly what I am right now. Honestly, I can't remember what caused the lack of motivation, but it was definitely gone. Then, the holiday hit. UGH! My weaknesses and lovely vices came into play. My thought was that I would get back to it right after New Year's. That, I decided, was setting myself up for failure, because I didn't have a plan or any focus. I, also, hadn't gone shopping yet and was in serious need of some food after being gone for about a week. So, I came to the conclusion that I would give myself a week to get into gear and get a plan put together and prepare for it by buying groceries and whatever other materials I would need to be fully dedicated to it.

    You may ask, "What's the plan, Stan?" Well, it's pretty simple.

-Counting calories again using TheDailyPlate.com every day.
Recently, I purchased an iPhone and added their app, which will help when I can't get to a computer.

-Post everything I eat on my food blog with the calories.
This is pretty self explanatory. Though, I will also try and post workouts, weekly weigh-ins, and maybe even measurements.

-Begin w/ doing the 30-day diet again and then continue with a scheduled meal plan.
This 30-day diet may haunt my life forever, but you can't fight with success. The scheduled meal plan is basically the 30-day diet, but I'm leaving the weekends for meals that deviate from it so I have a little more wiggle room. Exceptions will also be made for when we are out of town or having dinner at someone else's home and can't control what's placed in front of me.

-Visual of progress close to bed with encouraging statements. surrounding it.
Here's what it looks like now:
I wanted this to be close to my bed so I would be able to see it every day. This will help to let me see how well I'm doing and to appreciate the work I've done. As I continue along, I'd like to add more encouraging statements. It's important that the statements have zero negative words such as no, can't, don't, never. This way I'm not eliminating possibilities, I'm adding to them. I'll also have positive association with dieting, working out, and overall weight loss.

-Have a reward system.
This will not only give me fun prizes with each goal I meet, but it will give me something to work towards. You may have noticed that I also put that on my chart, under each 5lbs. increment.

5 lbs. - Red Lipstick
Always wanted it, but haven't been brave enough.

10lbs. - Inexpensive Jewelry (probably from Burlington Coat Factory)
I've bought several pieces there and love them. I'd love to get more and this will give me a good opportunity to earn it.

15lbs. - Pair of Shoes
Been craving to get more flats.

20lbs. - Pouch for iPhone from Etsy
Haven't decided on one yet, but I'm loving this store, but this Golden Ticket one is tempting too!

25lbs. - Music on iTunes
I'm extremely behind on the times and still don't have ANY music on my iTunes yet. I may have to cheat a little bit on this and buy this Running Trax album and use this reward for fun music. What do you think?

30lbs. - Mani/Pedi
Did this for my birthday last year and I'm dying for another!

35lbs. - DDR for the Wii
I might have to do a little more research for this and compare the different dance games that are available, but this one has been around for awhile and seems like a lot of fun.

40lbs. - GO CLOTHES SHOPPING!!!
By this time, I'm betting that quite a few of my clothes won't be fitting and I'll be needing some new ones. Well, okay, if I have to. :)

-Follow the C25K program.
I stumbled upon this program online a few weeks ago and was going to try it, but it was the holidays. Lately, its seems, a lot of people have been talking and raving about it and the iPhone app. Now would be the time to give it a try.

- Calisthenics and weight lifting with Ty.
Back in the day, I was using ediets.com and they had a great list of work outs so I compiled the ones I liked best and that worked for me, then made a little routine. Ty and I have done this together a couple of times and I want to continue doing this three times a week or more.

   Eventually, I'd like to start taking dance classes again. There is a studio across the street and they offer Adult Jazz, Hip-Hip and Zumba. It would be great to finally get back to doing something I love. I really miss dance so much my heart aches for it. I may have to add 30 minutes a week of silly dancing just for good measure. The basic idea is that only set small goals so that I don't loose hope if I haven't gone down to my ideal weight by a certain time. That's also a big part of this. Zero time goals. I can loose weight, when and how my body is able. I want to be happy with what I have and not have those disappointing Biggest Loser scale moments.

   All positive encouragement is welcomed. If you have a great positive statement or quote you'd like to share with me, post it and maybe I'll put on my wall.

   Okay people, Mission Get Skinnier initiates today."

What do you think of my plan? What weight loss plans have you made?

Christmas 2010 Recap

2011-01-08T18:31:00.000-08:00

    Hello my lovely friends! I kinda fell off the wagon after November. Christmas was AWESOME and crazy all at the same time. There really isn't too many great pictures to show you since I didn't do great at taking too many and all the ones I'm in I hate.

    Summary Version: We went to my parents house and spent Christmas Eve through Sunday with them. My mommy made the yummy German Christmas dinner that I long for every year and we devoured it. We went around and talked about our favorite Christmases so far. My brother Steven and his family stayed in Seattle, so we skyped with them as they were taunting us with delicious Black Forest cake my sister-in-law made. Next was the White Elephant gift exchange. After I we made sure the no conspiring rule would be followed (Mom), there was a surprising lack of stealing gifts. Not that it stopped anyone. (Shannon, I'm still jealous!!!)

    Christmas morning was quiet with just my parents, Ty and I, and my youngest brother Michael. I got Ty (us) a Wii system with Mario Kart. It's been very fun. We got my parents a hot cocoa maker and it was put to good use. That night we had Christmas dinner with Ty's family and played Pit. **WARNING: This game will induce shouting and loud laughter. Avoid playing with small, sleeping children nearby.** Sunday, we went to church with my parents and afterward enjoyed more family time with the Justesen White Elephant where gifts of food were exchanged. I opted out, not that it did much good with all the goodies that were still looming about.

    Monday, we went to Ma & Pa Robbins house and stayed the night and spent time with them before they left to go to Oregon. Last minute, literally, on Tuesday we decided to go with them. So we spent a few days in West Linn and Portland visiting with Ty's brother, Dustin, and his family. Thanks for letting us tag along! We came back New Year's Eve and celebrated with Papa Murphy's pizza, Men in Black, and playing the Wii. A pretty great way to end the year if you ask me.

Time to Enjoy My Husband

2010-11-30T11:03:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful to for Time to Enjoy My Husband.

Everyone knows that I've always wanted to have children and start our family. This seems to mean that because I want it so much, it won't come to pass for a long time. Remember this post where I opened up about the subject. It's been a struggle to be patient. Through everything, months of disappointment, a miscarriage, and the time following, my husband has been a true constant light of love for me.

I truly am grateful to have my cute husband all to myself. In fact, I almost made this month "Reasons Why I'm Thankful to Have Time With Husband." There are so many things that we are able to do because we don't have little ones on our heels. Traveling is certainly easier. There's less to clean up. I have sleep. No interruptions. My husband and I know each other and what we are like without crazy hormone levels or without kids stressing us out.

Even though I probably don't fully appreciate it now, I know someday when I have no time with my husband I'll be looking back on the days when all we had was time. We're still thoroughly in love with each other and the newlywed phase has continued to linger. How can I not love a man like Ty? He's the most amazing, loving, and kind person I've ever known.

I'm thankful to have Time to Enjoy My Husband because when we have kids we won't have this time.

I'm thankful to have Time to Enjoy My Husband because he's the best person to spend time with.

What do you enjoy or miss about having extra time with your spouse?

Diet and Exercise

2010-11-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful for Diet and Exercise.

Source

WHAT?! Did I just say that?

Yes, it's true. I do tend to put both of them off for as long as I can, but it's inevitable that I come back to it. After the holidays, I will definitely need to be back on a diet. TOO MUCH GOOD FOOD!! Diet starts tomorrow. I plan on getting back to my food blog and logging everything on Daily Plate. I'm probably crazy for trying to do this before Christmas, but I feel the need to look better for the camera.

Source

Even though Diet and Exercise aren't as pleasurable as eating junk food and being lazy, it still makes me feel good when I really try to be healthy. I like feeling like my body is clean and healthy.

Let's all make a commitment to eat better and work out before the New Year. I bet it would increase our chances of actually achieving the resolution to loose weight.

Gospel Lessons That Uplift

2010-11-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful for Gospel Lessons That Uplift.

I love when I go to church and there is a lesson being given that's exactly what I need. The Lord knows how to bless us in ways that we don't even realize. How many times in our life do we go through trying and difficult times and then when we aren't expecting it, we hear the perspective of others and something clicks in our head? Or we read the scriptures or a talk and the words of the prophets give us the hope to continue.

General Conference is one of those times that I pretty much always feel enveloped by the love of my Father in heaven. Everything I ever need to hear is right there. How they ever manage to receive the inspiration just for me I'll never know. ; )

The best is when I'm preparing a lesson to teach others, or I'm writing a talk, and the message seems like it's really for me. Most often it's about patience. I don't think I'll ever stop learning that.

I'm thankful for these Gospel Lessons because of how they build me up when I am down.

I'm thankful for these Gospel Lessons because they always seem to come right when I need them.

I'm thankful for these Gospel Lessons because I know they directly from my Heavenly Father.

Do you have a favorite moment like this?

The Holy Ghost

2010-11-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful for the Holy Ghost.

What an amazing gift it is to have. It is also referred to as the Holy Spirit. Others may call it your conscience or intuition. Personally, I think that's giving ourselves to much credit. ;)

Through the power of the priesthood, I received the gift of the Holy Ghost after I was baptized at 8 years old. Since then, I've striven to have a strong connection with it. This involves keeping the commandments and following the promptings the Holy Ghost offers. The less often you do these things, the less often you be able to be guided by the Spirit. It's not always easy, and I'm the first to admit that I haven't always done my part. Good thing we have repentance and forgiveness.

It's sometimes hard to define if the feelings I'm receiving are my own or from the Holy Ghost. Thankfully, we can also have the give of discernment to know the difference.

I've been blessed many times because I've followed the promptings I've been given. Marrying Ty is one of them. Whenever we've found a home, it was a repercussion following the Holy Ghost.

I'm thankful for the Holy Ghost because of the great guidance it gives me and that knowing that as long as I continue to do what it is right I'll always have that blessing.