A Touch Of Tyrell

(Some treasures we got in the mail today.) I went to the optometrist today. I had my very first eye exam. In 2006-2007 I worked for two optometrists in Utah but never actually had an eye exam. I could always read the 20/15 line so I never saw a need to get my eyes checked. Almost 4 years and one baby later I was in need of an exam. It's amazing what pregnancy does to your body. My eyes started to get really blurry during those loooong 9 months and they've never gone back. I was explaining this to the Doc, who politely asked if it was an easy pregnancy... I just said "Hmmmmm, yeah." I didn't want to bore him with the itchy, rashy, stretch-marky details. Jake and Everett helped me pick out some glasses. Jake said they looked good and Everett promised that he wouldn't rip them off of my face or break them. I'm a little bit excited to get glasses. At least I'll be able to see the 20/20 line again. TZVECL... I've had it memorized for all of these...

The very first class of my first semester of college was Psychology. The professor was my favorite and that motivated me to make the 30 minute commute and still get there by 8 a.m. One of the lessons that I still remember went something like this. She passed out little packets of lemonade kool aid and had each person pour a little in the palm of their hand and pass it to the next person. Once everyone had lemonade powder in their hand, she instructed us to taste the kool aid powder every time she rang her bell. It was so sour. Our saliva glands were going crazy. She did it about 7 times before we were begging her not to ring her bell again. But her lesson wasn’t taught yet. She told us that we didn’t have to taste the kool aid anymore. Then she rang her bell. We all had the same reaction. Our saliva glands were reacting as if we had tasted the kool aid when we hadn’t. She rang her bell again and like magic we were salivating. We had all leaned to associate the ring of the bell with sou...

I was 12 when this beauty was born She's a giggle monster and is as sweet as can be She'll make a fantastic mom someday... but until then, happy 11th birthday Bridget!

This is my sister Montana. She's stinkin hilarious, shops at thrift stores, is very generous, hardly ever takes a serious picture, and has a heart as big as Texas. We drove down to Portland Monday afternoon and got to spend the rest of the day with her. We hung out in her backyard for quite some time and then she took us to the nickle arcade. It was awesome. Portland has a lot of unique places to eat and so I got a prickly pear cactus burrito and can't wait for my second. It was delicious! I forgot my camera.... I missed out on tons of good pictures. Then on Tuesday we went to a bunch of waterfalls just outside of the city. It was so awesome to see Montana and how happy she is. Its almost like Portland and Montana were meant to be!

At Everett's one week check up, his pediatrician asked me if I was taking anything other than prenatal vitamins. I proudly announced that I wasn't... thinking that was a good thing. He then proceeded to tell me that I NEED to take Omega 3's because when you are nursing your body requires extra omega 3's. Apparently omega 3's are stored in our brains and so your baby is literally eating my brains away if I don't take extra supplements. So I got some and told Jake all about what the Dr. said. So now, whenever I say something that doesn't make since or forget something, Jake will ask me if I have forgotten to take my brain pills. This morning Jake couldn't find the car keys. I asked him if he checked the front door.... (where he left them to dangle all night next to a busy road with our car in the driveway). The other day Jake and I couldn't remember how old I was. Seems like both of us need extra Omega 3's! So it was no surprise this morning when i...

Our family journey started a little while ago. In August 2008 we found out we were having a baby. We were so excited but scared out of our minds. We didn't tell anyone because it was such a new experience and we didn't know how to handle it. Weeks later our pregnancy ended. At home on a Saturday in early October we cried the loss of our first pregnancy. We were 10 weeks along. It was horrible and painful but we knew God had a plan for our family. Early September 2009 we celebrated the positive signs of this pregnancy. We couldn't get too excited for fear of a repeated heartbreak. As time went on, the news was slowly spread and all was well. We teared up at our first ultrasound and at the second we celebrated the news of a healthy boy. It seemed as though time went by slowly...but my belly grew at a rapid pace. We heard whispers from everyone in public about how big I looked, but luckily we grew to laugh with the comments. The pains of pregnancy were many, but we kn...

Today is my due date. I have been anticipating this day for a long time. I got up and had a HUGE bowl of Marshmallow Mateys and felt a contraction. I was stoked. I told Jake "We're going to have a baby today!" After prayer and scripture I kissed Jake good bye and ran to go finish these blankets I have been working on. I figured that once I was done with everything baby, he would come. As soon as I finished the blankets my phone rings. It was the Dr. office. You see, I had an appointment today at 3. I don't have that appointment anymore because the Dr. is sick. So unless a whole lot more contractions come or my water breaks, I might just have to wallow in self pity on this day of anticipation.

We got to see our squished babe today. It's estimated he weighs 8 lbs 4 oz. She said he could be a pound in either direction.... but at least he's not measuring at 10 lbs! At the 20 week ultrasound we were able to see his entire body... but they grow so fast that we could only see one body part at a time today. I can't wait to see all 2000 parts of him at once!

The first rose bloom in our backyard...it looks like twins! My belly looks like twins too, but its just one big boy. We're friends again. I mean, my Dr. and I. Today she found I was dilated to a 3. I asked her how far I needed to be dilated to be considered in labor.... she said a 4. It was Christmas inside of me. "So if I come in next week and I am at a 4, then what happens?" "I'll send you over to labor and delivery." "Really, that would be AMESOME!" "So have you been having contractions?" "Hmmmm, well I don't know if I would call them contractions, but every time he moves his head farther down it hurts really bad.... like someone hit me in the stomach and I can't breath for a second. I only feel it when he moves. Its like my body is telling him he's too big and won't fit." She looks at the screen. She's looking at my 20 week ultrasound results. "Well, you measured in the 50th percentile and you're...

My due date is next Tuesday the 25th. For the last little while I have been thinking the 18th for some reason. Maybe I was just wishing the 18th was my due date....who knows, something might happen today! About a week ago my rash disappeared. What a wonderful thing that was. But that also means that she won't induce me now until I am at least a week overdue. When she told me that, I expressed my deep deep desire to not have a June baby... to which she replies "Its VERY possible you might have a June baby." I have been walking like there is no tomorrow. Hills even. Lots of them. I walked to my Dr. appointment last week. I've been walking everywhere. Still no baby. But I've been busy. It's not like the little guy needed another blanket or anything!

Its been confirmed. Jake has had more cravings than I have. He really wanted the Cajun wings at Red Robin. So Friday night we take advantage that it is still just the two of us. We put Jake's name on the waiting list (because we know not to put mine!) and waited for a little bit. Once a booth opens up we take it. It was a tight fit! When I sat down I still had a 1/4 of an inch between my gargantuan belly and the table. By the end of dinner my belly was touching the table. They say that you should gain 25-35 pounds during your pregnancy. As of this weekend I have gained my 25.....but it is all in one spot so it just looks HUGE. See.. My Dr. keeps telling me that I am measuring for an average baby but the way everyone looks at me in public tells me something else. Jake and I walked to the mall last night. People were staring at me like I was a pink elephant in a prom dress or something. If we didn't laugh about it I would probably be hurt over it. I honestly can't go anywhere...

Just hangin' out in the back yard....eating some guacamole chips and drinking water....right off my belly. Look mom, No hands!

I got this chair at the goodwill last week....for a whopping $2.40 (not kidding!) I didn't need it but it looked like it had potential. I spray painted it antique white. I didn't plan on the crackle, but it looks awesome. I re-covered the seat with a new cushion and all. I had extra padding from our stools and found a nice fabric.... So what do you do with a nice new chair? Maybe you get a nice new sewing desk for mother's day to go with it! I can't wait to be a mom. Maybe only a couple more day....maybe a couple more weeks, either way I feel like a mom already and it was nice to be treated as one on such a special day. I definitely love my mom, grandma(s), and all of the other mothers in my life!

The Internet is such an amazing thing. I remember when it took 15 minutes just to get the connection! Well, at my Dr. Appointment I was told that there wasn't really anything to help with the rash. I could take some Benadryl or she could prescribe me some steroids. I opted for Benadryl.....funny thing is I asked her what kind! (Apparently there is only one kind. Goes to show how little I self medicate). I came home and did some Internet research and found testimonials of this Pine Tar Soap. I picked some up and it has worked pretty well. It stinks super bad though. Smells like pine tar, go figure!

I still look like this. No baby today. The Dr. said I have Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plagues of Pregnancy (PUPPP) which is exactly what I found during my online research last week. She also said that: 1. It looks bad 2. The stretch marks are bad 3. My previously text book blood pressure is through the roof 4. She'll induce me in 2 weeks if its not any better. The good thing is....it could always be worse.

At my last Dr. appointment I was informed that I needed to have a car seat. That was one item that wasn't checked off my list yet. Now there is a check mark next to it. Doesn't he look so proud to be a Dad! There was no way I was going to crawl in and figure it out. Luckily Jake doesn't mind. Besides having all of the necessary equipment, gadgets, clothes, and diapers, my body is READY to get this baby out. I have broken out into an insanely itchy rash over my entire body. Entire body includes hands, arms, my entire abdomen, my back, legs, and feet. Growing up my family would tease me that I was a hypochondriac... so here is the proof: Its really bad Are you sure you want to see it? Here it is Sorry you had to see that. You can see all of my stretch marks...but you can also see the red every where in between...that's the rash. It looks awful and feels even more awful. Its like I ran naked through poison ivy, then rubbed cactus all over it, itched & scratched it, and...

#1. Heidi. The thrower of my shower. *Begged for this picture! # 2 Dirt by Heidi. Boy Food #3 More boy snacks by Delee #4 Jill & Julie #5 Nilda, Margaret, and Traci (the one that looks like a movie star) #6 Traci playing "pin the sperm on the egg" #7 I was so far off. Good thing Jake had better aim! #8 Possible portraits of our son. LOVED THEM!!! #9 Me and my 6 sons. It seems as though there are 6 babies in my tummy...its big enough and there are plenty of stretch marks to go around. #10 Reading my "farewell friend" card from Jill. She starts out her card like this: "Hey best friend that use to be my friend w/out a baby, but how has a baby...." Now you can see why we are friends...she is hilarious! #11 Good times. Thanks to Heidi & Friends!

I had no idea how badly my skin would stretch. Jake wants to cry every time he has to look at my belly. Some of my new stretch marks are starting to bleed, are super shiny red, and are bumpy. On Sunday Jake was joking that our baby was just going to crawl out of one of the stretch marks. Poor me. The only good thing about them is that they are vertical....and vertical stripes make you appear smaller (smaller than horizontal stripes anyways!). But on the other hand, isn't spring so beautiful?

It feels like this baby is eating my bones today.

I have never enjoyed seeing too much of anyone else's skin....especially stretched out skin. But for some reason I have mustered up enough guts to show off my ever growing belly. Funny thing is...I always wished for an "outie"