25 Weeks and All Is Well

Today I had my third and final appointment for the NuMom2be study.  Can you believe it was my final one for this!?  When I started this study, it seemed like the last appointment was forever away!  Now, it's here, and it's a little bitter-sweet.

I'm so excited that I'm only a little more than three months away from seeing baby girl in the flesh.  I'm a little sad that I don't have any more appointments there.  They do such a good job of explaining the ultrasounds to me.  I'm also VERY nervous about being a mom.  I thought I was ready a while ago, but now that it's almost here, I'm terrified.  Very excited and happy, but still terrified.  I'm sure most new mothers feel this way, but it's still nerve-wracking. 

So, how is baby doing now?  She's doing great!  She measured in the 55th percentile.  She's right in the middle of where she's supposed to be.  This is a little odd to me, because my family is usually a quite a bit bigger, but I'm not sure about Lance's family.  Her heart rate is right where it needs to be at 141 BPM.  The ultrasound also showed that her organs are all doing what they're supposed to.  Yeah baby!  Way to go!  She was a little shy today, and didn't want to show her face.  We finally got a slightly good look at the end, and after some pokes and prods from the ultrasound thingy.  I was a little sore afterward, but it was worth it for a better look at my daughter.

 Here are a couple of ultrasound pictures from today and an ultrasound picture from last month so you can see the difference in how she loved the camera last time, but had a little stage fright this time.

25 week ultrasound . . . an acceptable profile view.

25 week ultrasound.  She's looking straight at the camera, so you see the way her skull looks.  Creepy, but maybe she's getting practice for when she comes out?

 

18 week ultrasound.  Perfect profile! So much better!

How am I doing at this point in my pregnancy?  Well, no complaints here.  This pregnancy has been a dream compared so some women's stories.  The second trimester has been good.  I've felt a few stretching pains, and my bending is limited, but other than that, I feel great!

As I begin the next trimester (I'm not exactly sure when that is.  Every web site tells me different things.) I've noticed some swelling in my feet and ankles, (the heat doesn't help much, and oh boy, it's going to be a long summer!) my stomach is getting pretty big, (I'm a fatty . . . people can definitely tell that I'm pregnant now) bending down is not a good idea so I use my dancer skills and plie with my knees pointing outward so they don't crash into the belly, and my stomach does seem quite sensitive - lately, it feels like it's constantly bruised, which is understandable since it's stretching more than it has ever stretched before, and it's being beat up from the inside, which is fine with me, because I want my baby to be active.  I can definitely tell that I'm entering into the uncomfortable stage, probably more uncomfortable due to the hot weather than anything else.  But I'm still enjoying every minute of it!

How's Daddy?  He's excited as ever!  I think he's really happy to be getting a little princess.  He will definitely be a good dad.  He still hasn't been able to feel the baby move yet.  The little punk will be all active, and then the minute he puts his hand on my belly, she stops.  Then, when he takes it off again, she continues her water ballet in there.  Silly girl...

Well, I hope you enjoyed the update.  Wish me luck that the next three months won't be too unbearably hot!

Welling Reunion 2012

We had another fun-filled weekend up by Bear Lake with Lance's family for a reunion.

We woke up bright and early Saturday morning to be at the Minnetonka Caves by 9:30.  Lance went through with the crew, but I just stayed in the car and napped (which was much needed.)  I'm quite a bit claustrophobic, so caves and I don't mix very well.

After the caves, we ventured to his cousin, Charlotte's house for the rest of the festivities.  We had a delicious lunch, the kids got to ride horses for a bit, the men folk played volleyball, most adults participated in making fleece blankets and sanding wooden cars for a service project, and we all caught up with some family members we haven't seen in a while.

Hiking to the cave

Inside the cave.  A trick I learned a long time ago to remember the difference between stalactites and stalagmites is that stalactites are holding on tight to the ceiling so that they don't fall, and stalagmites are reaching up to touch the ceiling with all their might.

Inside the cave

Lance showing Jake one of the horses

I got super burned!  Our spray sunscreen ran out, and the sputter made an interesting design on my arm.  I guess that'll teach me not to get too low on sunscreen.  Ha ha!

Thank you to Charlotte and Emma for planning and hosting this year's reunion!  It was a fun get together!

Denver

Lance went on another trip last week.  He went to Denver for some training.  This was his first time there.  He had lots of fun, and this time some of his co-workers went as well, so that increased his fun-factor!

He was able to tour the United States Mint.  This is where the money is made . . . literally!!

He also visited the capitol building for Colorado.  Capitol buildings are always so ornate.

On the steps of the Capitol, sitting on the mile high elevation step.  (The step's elevation is 1 mile above sea level.)

Inside the Capitol.

He visited the Coors Field, where the Rockies play.  He would have gone to a game if the Rockies were in town, but they were out of town for that week.

Coors Field

The Pepsi center, where the Nuggets play.

Broncos stadium.

Lance pretending to sleep under a bridge.  Goofy guy.

Bronco statue just outside the stadium.

Broncos stadium

Still the Broncos stadium/Sports Authority Field.  Lance is a crack-up!

Lance posing on some random modern art sculpture in the city.

Bear statue that looks like it's looking in the windows of a building.  As you can see, it's pretty big compared to Lance.

Lance said that there were colorful pianos all throughout the city, and people would come up and play them randomly.  Kinda fun!

Hope you enjoyed this look at Denver!

Utah Valley Parade of Homes Weekend Excursion

Get ready for lots of pictures.  We had such a fun weekend!  We went to the Utah Valley Parade of Homes to celebrate our anniversary . . . a month and a half early.  We stayed overnight at the Marriott Springhill Suites in Lehi.  It was right next door to Thanksgiving Point!  Here are some highlights from our excursion.

These two pictures show the awesome pantry in this kitchen.  I like how the doors look like cabinets.  I don't have a pantry right now, so in my next home, I will definitely have one.

Yep, the door to that little play area is a book shelf/secret passage.  Awesome!

That yellow hole you see is a real slide that goes to the lower floor by the mudroom.  How fun!

Lance made me be mischievous and try to push the blend button.  Pay attention to the backsplash, though.  The elongated glass tiles are back in style.  They were everywhere!  I didn't care for this particular color, but some of the other colors looked really nice.

Want the brick look without actual bricks?  Well, this was some type of panelling, and it looked really nice. 

New design fad: a glass tile stripe that goes from the floor all the way up the wall.  Also, the bigger tiles were textured differently.  Lance didn't like it.  I was impartial.

Yes, this elevator was inside one of the houses.  Very handicapped friendly.

What house would be complete without a sauna in the middle of the hall?  He he he.

I love the mini shower in the mudroom!  Perfect for cleaning off feet/shoes, pets, and dirty children.  Also, note the drinking fountain.  Quite a few houses had them.

Our hotel and Thanksgiving Point shared a parking lot.

 

Lance is looking studly showing off the mini kitchen in our hotel room. 

Saturday morning, before the houses were open for visitors, we took a walk around Thanksgiving Point.  There are some beautiful gardens there!

Aah!  Scary dinosaur!

We liked this sign.  It was right by the petting zoo.  Cute, huh?

I LOVE this chandelier!  This entire house had chandeliers in it!  Even in the bathrooms!

Who wouldn't want to watch their favorite show while taking a bath?  However, this house was a little excessive, because there was also a TV in the water closet (enclosed toilet area) that was in the same bathroom.

Lap pool/spa and massage table = HEAVEN!!!

Don't have a big enough room for a projector?  No problem!  Just put up five HUGE TVs.  Wow, some people have way too much money on their hands.  I'll take some of it!

Fun playroom with slides!  Careful, though.  The slides are steep so kids can get hurt easily.

This house had awesome decks.  This deck had a putting green.  There was a rooftop terrace as well, that just had lounge chairs, but an amazing view!

This was probably my favorite thing ever!  A small door that leads from the garage straight into the pantry.  No more taking thousands of trips in and out to unload groceries.  Just open the door, put the groceries in, and go inside to put them away.  Genius!

 This bathroom floor is made of pennies.  Wow!

We can't wait for the Weber/Davis Parade of Homes starting up this weekend!  Yay for looking at beautiful houses and spending time with my favorite person!

We're Selling!

It was a difficult decision to make, but yes, we are looking to sell our house.  It is bitter sweet because we have absolutely LOVED this house!  It has so much vintage charm, we're right across from the church (we walk every week,) and our ward is amazing, full of wonderful people. 

We have found a house that pretty much qualifies as our (attainable) dream home.  (There's always something bigger and better our there.)  Seriously, it's perfect for us, and if we are able to get it, we will stay there for a very long time.  It has the big yard Lance wants, the layout I want, and it's in the area we have dreamed about for years.  Oh, and it has a field in back of it, so I will finally get the cat I've always wanted!  It will be the perfect place to raise our children.

So, as sad as I am to say goodbye to my charming, house and our wonderful ward members (I do plan on staying in touch,) I'm also really excited to start anew.  I am hoping that everything falls into place and we do get to move.  If we don't get this certain house, we will take our house off the market until we find another house that meets our qualifications.  Like I said, we have enjoyed living here.  We won't move until at least September, because of the home buyer credit we got when we bought our current house.  I know, I'll be eight months pregnant.  You probably think we're insane, but things don't always happen at the perfect time.  And I'm already working on my management skills so I can just tell people where to put things on moving day.

Wish us luck!  And if you know of anyone interested in a charming, vintage house, here is the link.



http://www.utahrealestate.com/report/public.single.report/report/detailed/listno/1097022/scroll_to/1097022

Memorial Day

I know this is a little late, but oh well.

For Memorial Day, my family went up to Logan to the Pepperidge Farm factory and the Fat Boy factory.  The Creamie factory and the cheese factory were closed.  After the factories, we went to KFC for lunch, and then to Willow Park Zoo to play.  This is one of our traditions.  It was a fun day!

All the kids for a picture.  Ashlyn was having a hard time, so she refused to be in it, and Declan wouldn't stay still, as you can see.

I love this picture of Paxton!  Even if he isn't smiling.

The older kids had fun giving each other piggy back rides.  This is Audrey holding Kohl.

Kohl holding Connor

Merrin holding Ashlyn

 

Brielle and Katie did their own thing.  They play so cute together!

 

 I love this one of Declan!  He sure loves to swing.

 

 Lance caught me.  Take a good look, folks.  I'm not happy about pregnant photographs of myself.  I think my belly has grown a lot since then, too.

Fun stuff!