Other Weekend Happenings

So on Friday we went to Bridal Veil Falls as part of the bridal theme of the weekend. We packed a lunch and walked to the falls (from the parking lot). It was maybe a mile in. Grant loves waterfalls and couldn't wait to see another one. He enjoys throwing rocks in the water.

The bride and her water fall veil.

She's so gorgeous.

Then the boys went to a Father-Son campout in Mount Pleasant. Grant apparently had a blast and loves to camp. Perry and my dad didn't get a lot of sleep but I think Grant did. He kept basically sleep crawling and talking to snuggle up to them. He also woke really early. I'm happy they had a great time.

Jumping on the bed!

Then there was Father's Day. We went to the duck pond after church and had lunch again.  And Grant liked the ducks but he was more into the river and again throwing rocks in. For Father's Day Grant got Perry a jar full of peanut M&Ms and the tag said "To my slightly nutty but sweet dad!" I got him a tiller because he enjoys gardening and ruffing up the soil, and I made him an ice cream snicker pie! My dad got a carton of his favorite ice cream and a Family picture frame. Mom made some rhubarb pie with our rhubarb in the yard too.

I'm 7 and a half months along.

Me and the wonderful father of my children!

Running around our yard in big boy underwear. We haven't started potty training yet but will be soon.

Baby Shower

So back when I found out I was pregnant, I really wanted a baby shower but some people think its tacky. Then when I found out we were having a girl I thought, well if I have a shower it is a little more practical because I don't have any girlie things. So I planned a shower and my visiting teacher came over and asked what she could do for me and I said maybe she could bring some food item to the shower I was throwing the following month. She said that she had an even better idea, that she would throw it for me! Perfect! I was so grateful and happy for this! It  costs a bit of money to throw parties you know! So she took over and I sent her my "plans" for it and she just ran with the Lil' Lady Bug theme. And she did an absolutely tremendous job. The food was so much fancier than I would have done. Also so many of my great friends and family attended and others still got me something even though they weren't able to come. I am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life! I enjoyed chit chatting and I felt bad because you can never talk long enough or get around to everyone in such a short amount of time. But I'm so thankful for all who came to celebrate Carly's forthcoming birth! She is one spoiled daughter before she even arrives. She has the cutest newest wardrobe and lots of blankets, and other essentials! My cousin was especially generous and gave me a ton of new looking hand me downs from her own baby's wardrobe. It amazes me that they are all brilliantly colored and stainless. She was so kind! I now also  have enough money from the shower to probably buy the other things I need that I didn't get from the shower. Anyway, so we ate and talked and they guessed how big my belly was with a string and then I opened gifts.

Lady Bug Watermelon

Belly Measuring

So many gifts!

Clothes from my cousin.

Cute food.

Bridal Shower

So Megan decided to come visit me for my baby shower this weekend. Then I got the idea, since I am one of two maids of honor for her wedding, that I should throw her a bridal shower! I love to plan parties and this was obviously the perfect occasion to do so. I went with a picnic theme. It was meant to be low key and laid back. Twelve guests attended including me, Megan, and my mom. Oh yeah! Since my mom heard we were going to wedding dress shop that weekend and have a bridal shower too she thought it would only be fair if the mother of the bride come along as well. What a weekend! We were sooo busy.  The first two days we were non stop at dress appointments and of couse we hit up the American fork DI. Then prepared for the shower on Friday. My poor dad was the official babysitter during nap times and was left home for the first two days because he was exhausted from driving over. Anyway, back to the shower.
 Picnic themed. We served dinner: Costco Rotisserie chicken, corn, watermelon, baked beans, pasta salad, pink lemonade, and water. Then we played two games, one was to answer as many questions correctly about the bride as you can, and the second was to guess how many answers Megan would get right on questions that Chris answered about himself before hand. All in all the games were fun and I think everyone had a great time. For dessert we served cup cakes and root beer floats. We meant to play Volleyball after that but it seemed like everyone needed to get going by then. I gave some bright orangish-red geraniums as a bridal favor.

See the Geraniums on the table?

32 Week Dr. Appointment

So my family is in town and I will have a grand post about that later. But we all had a little party at the Dr. office yesterday when my mom and sister and Grant accompanied me there. I weigh 179.4 lbs. I kept worrying that my weight gain was too fast. The Dr. office thinks I started my pregnancy weight at 155 but it was 150. Still I have at least 6 lbs of allowed weight to go and from here on out it will be just Carly gaining the body weight. Hopefully not me lol. My other stats were: Blood pressure 110/68, my tummy measures 31 cm, and we heard Carly's heartbeat (Grant's favorite part) 140 bpm. Oh and she is head down but may still move. As far as what it is like at this stage, I feel big and pressure always on my belly. She kicks and nudges her bum one way and her head on the other side. She gets the hiccups sometimes and she moves a lot a in the morning and evening. But all day I feel her move too.  I'm am becoming more and more uncomfortable sleeping and sitting, and I still get out of breath doing simple things. That about sums it up!

31 Weeks and National Parks Day!

     Today I am 31 weeks. The baby probably weighs around 3.5 lbs. and her eyes can dilate, and her digestive and respiratory systems are almost fully developed! I feel good but do get lots of Braxton Hick's contractions. I am reading a book that was written by the founder of the Bradley Birthing method. It is all about giving birth naturally and doing it the way we would if we were completely instinctual like a cat or a dog giving birth. It all makes a lot of sense. So I'm studying up on giving it a go when I'm in labor and if in labor I decide I'm not up for it I will get the epidural.  I'm excited to practice belly breathing during the fake contractions and I practice relaxing from head to toe before going to bed.
     Today is also National Parks day so we went on a hike up to Stewart Falls in Provo Canyon for free. It was 2 miles in and 2 miles out. It took forever to hike in because part of the way Grant wanted to really hike for himself. Also the other part of the way he didn't want to be in the pack but would rather be held by me or Perry. But it was great eating lunch next to the waterfall once there with the nice spray to cool us down too. We decided to book it to the car after seeing the waterfall and unfortunately for Grant, that meant he was not getting out of his pack no matter what. He was whining and thinking of all kinds of excuses like "it's scary," and "I want to hold you, Mommy." We had a very enjoyable time with the beautiful scenery and great exercise! It was also fun because I motivated people to keep trekking due to my "condition." They would say, "Oh if she can do it, I can!" or "You went all the way there? I can make it too!"
    Overall its been a lot of fun being with Daddy this weekend!

My handsome boys! 

Living large! Literally.

6-7 Months Preggers

So I'm 7 months along! When put that way it feels like the baby is just around the corner even though the whole summer needs to go by first. As I said before we are in no hurry for the baby to come but are very excited for her to arrive. We have been given generous amounts of baby clothes and gear and feel very grateful for all the help and support from friends and family. Really it is wonderful especially when we didn't ask for the help but are still you know.. poor students. Every little bit doesn't hurt. I have been keeping busy with projects, slowly working on the quilt little by little, I made a pillow sham for a square pillow that had no purpose until my sister-in-law gave me a glider that needed a little more back support to it. Perfect! I had some material that I bought forever ago that didn't work out for the project I intended it for so using it made me feel like it wasn't such a waste.  I am also still brain storming about my car seat cover. I'm really excited to work on that one because it is so diverse, having a zipper and a button and a couple different fabrics too.

I'm 30 weeks and 2 days in this picture.

So being pregnant.  I guess thats the point of this post. Carly (the name we have officially decided on as well as the spelling of her name) has been kicking really strongly lately. She will kick most when I eat sugar or I notice a lot when I wake up around 7 in the morning and I try to fall back asleep that she is kicking and rolling and doing all sorts of wiggles and I can't help but just lay there and feel the way it is having a baby move inside me. You know cherishing the moment and making it a memory. I feel like Grant never kicked as hard as she does but it probably has just been too long to remember accurately. I feel and look big. Sometimes I think maybe its just me thinking I'm big but I was skyping with Megan and she out of the blue commented on how big I looked! So good I'm glad its not my imagination. I don't feel sick, I only get heartburn less than once a week.  I do occasionally take afternoon naps while Grant naps. I also will get winded easier and sometimes worn out but I think my energy is on the upside. Overall I'm great! I  had my 28 week check up about a month ago. I'm 175 lbs, blood pressure 104/66. I did the glucose test and passed with flying colors! I was supposed to get a number under 140 and I got 84! So thrilled because with Grant I was barely under the 140 number. I guess I'm treating my body better after all. I do like being pregnant. I try not to think about the inevitable pain that will come as well as weariness and recovery and sleep deprivation. I need to think of the now and how nice it is now. Then worry about adjusting my attitude when all the negative aspects of having a baby come, because I'm overwhelmingly happy about having a girl. That should brighten my mood instantly. Anyway, yay for Carly.

Grant loves the water this summer by the way!

To close, Grant said to a friend of his one day, "I'm going to have a baby sister!" So sweet. He has never even really mentioned Carly except for when he remembers the "microphone" of the baby's heartbeat going "whoa, whoa whoa".  I think he will be a great older brother!