Grandma George's cute outfit!

I just got a baby outfit and blanket that she crocheted for my son. She has a great talent and they're truly beautiful! Thank you so much, Grandma!!!!!

Lastest up-date

I'm sad to say but I made it to my 40 weeks (actually 39 weeks and 6 days) appointment yesterday. But even more sad to say is that nothing's really changed. I'm still 1 cm and he's stationed at a -2 (which is nice because I didn't find out his station last time). But they did tell me to come in on Tuesday (Feb 3rd) to get a stress test on the baby and have my menbranes striped so they can induce me, if I don't have him by then (which they would be surprised if I make it through the weekend -like right, at the rate I'm going, I'll see them on Tuesday) So at least I have a date to look forward to. I'll at least have him then, or shortly after that.

But yup, I'm due today and I'm very tired of being pregnant. Oh, and just to explain the date on the floating baby to the right, I put the link up there after I calculated my due date according to my last period. But my due date changed to January 30th after my ultra-sound, I just never changed it on my blog. But who knows, I just might have him on February 1st, why not? Hum! I'm kind of passed the anger and frustration of still being pregnant, I think. I feel like I'm on auto-pilot, not happy, sad, mad, or excited. I just want him out!!!!!! It's ironic how you fear labor pains/signs 8 months of your pregnancy to suddenly start praying so deperately for them. The one things you feared is now the one thing you pray to have. What a twisted world! I guess it has to be this way so women are actually motivated to go though the pain of labor/birth. I just have a fear that he's going to be too big for a vaginal delivery. I really don't want to have a c-section especailly since Patxi and I want a big family. I guess, whatever happens is what's supposed to happen. I have faith that my Heavenly Father is looking out for me and will let happen what is truly best for me and those I love. That thought does bring me some peace.

So anyway, hope to give post the arrival of my son soon! Love ya!

False Labor is the root of all Evil!

So, I've been anxious for get this show on the road ever since Thursday when I found out how far along I was. I was starting to believe that I could "go at any time." But it wasn't until Sunday after church that I started to think that having this baby was a very close possiblity. Sunday, I passed my mucus plug (sorry if this is too much information). Yeah, so I thought, "flip! it's happening." But nothing! I probably got about 10 contractions within the last 4 hours before I went to bed that night.

When I woke up Monday morning, everything was as it was before, no pain, nothing. So I went for my regular walk, and also decided to walk Merle's dog (which didn't even last 10 minutes). Since it was such a good day, Patxi and I then went to the park to venture around and see how good it was. About half way through our adventure through Bush Park, I started feeling contractions and continued to until we got home. I didn't get my hopes up yet because I new that walking would just bring them on, but if it was real labor, once I sat down, they wouldn't go away. So when we got back, the contractions really slacken. And then it wasn't until about 7:00 until I started to get them regularly about 20 minutes apart. I was excited to go to bed, knowing that if this was real labor, I would continue to feel it through the night as it got stronger and longer. To my disapiontment, I had a wonder night's sleep, and woke up with a totally pain-free uterus. Ah!

So (now we're on to Tuesday morning) since it was rainning, I went later for my usual walk, but had some contraction before, while I was cleaning. They didn't seem regular, but I was having them before my walk. So I get back from my walk, which of course I felt contractions and practiced timing them. I plopped down with a book, seeing if and hoping that the contractions will continue, and they did, but slowed down. Then around 6:00 I started feeling them pretty regularly and at 8:00 I decided to write down the times they came to see just how regular they are. And for the next 2 and 1/2 half hours they were a steady 15 minutes apart. I would literally be able to set my clock to how regular they were. Then, by the time I got ready for bed, and the lights went out, they slowed to a stop. Ahhhhh! So frustrating! I woke up maybe three times, feeling contractions, but that's it! Ah!!! I Hate False Labor!!! Why does my uterus have to play games with me?! I'm afraid to go to bed now, because it seems that every time I even think about going to bed, my contractions stop. Ahhh, what a frustrating world!

It wouldn't be as bad, if I was the only one who would get their hopes up and have them come crashing down again. I feel so bad for Patxi. This morning in bed he turned to me and said, "Can you please have you baby so I could get some sleep?" (Which is kind of funny because once our son does come, sleep is one of the things we won't be getting.) This just shows how anxious he is, and I hate to see him suffering disappointment too.

I guess this is just what comes with the "having the first" territory because neither of us know what to expect. I'm sure we'll live through it, though. Hey, I still have Thursday and Friday, right? Wish us luck and keep us in your prayer.

The picture diary of my ballooning prego belly

19 weeks


25 weeks


28 weeks


32 weeks


36 weeks


39 weeks


I can tell the difference between the first and the last, but is there much between each picture? It's so hard for me to tell, it's all been so gradual for me. Well, enjoy and have a great day!

39 weeks and 3 days

I didn't want to wait to take a 40 week picture, just in case I don't make it (hopefully). However, I wanted to fully establish my final growth to blimpe size. So, here I am. Ready to pop, and hoping that it'll come soon!

A circuit breaker, un-cooked pudding, and disappointment

So today was an interesting day. It started with a little disappiontment. Even after walking two miles, I'm still only having contractions once every hour(ish). I was totally hoping that the only way was to progress towards labor, but I was disappointed.

Then, this morning Wanda (who Patxi and I look after along with her husband, Merle)asked me to make a dessert because she wasn't feeling well and they had company coming over for lunch. She pulled a recipe out of an old book and the title was "Mystery Pudding." I've never made a pudding before, I don't even think I know what it was susposed to look like. Needless to say, I was determined to stay strickly close to the recipe. I read it a few times and saw that it required eggs but there weren't any instructions to cook it, nothing. I double checked, tripled-checked and even turn the page, hoping it would be there. So I asked Wanda, but now I don't think she really knew what I was talking about. Anyway, she told me to just follow that recipe. And about the eggs, there was a part in recipe that called for something boiling being poured over the batter and I thought that it might cook it. So I made it, following the recipe strictly. So I served it, apologizing before hand because I still had a bad feeling. Wanda eat it and I tried it, and yes it tasted like cake batter. Wanda then said that it was susposed to be a cake and through gusts of laughter (thankfully) I brought the recipe and showed her that there weren't any instructions to cook. She apologized because she was the one who typed up recipe. So I took the bowls back and put the pudding in the oven (I still had to guess what tempture and time). Luckily Wanda and Merle's company were wonderful about it and we all had a great laugh about it. I still felt like an incompatant imbecil, but everyone was really good natured about it and they forgave me.

Then, after that, I was vacuuming my apartment while they were talking in their living room. I was running the vacuum on the same plug as the small heater, so after some time, I blew the circuit. Then when I switched the circuit, I wasn't tall enough so I use the broom handle. But unknown to me I also switched the their living room circuit so all of a sudden, their TV turned on- blaring. I'm just glad that Merle didn't have a heart attack. It took a little to settle things down and explain what happened, but we figured everything out. It was kind of funny, but I just had to add it to my imcompetent actions for today.

The latest Up-date

So I had my 39 week appointment today. It started out very frustrating because I waited for about 40 minutes. Luckily, I've totally cleared my schedule :) Anyway, so here is what she said: I'm dilalated to 1 cm, my cervic is 98% thinned, he's about 7-7 1/2 pounds, and his head in lowering but he's facing up, well sideways (his back is on my left). She stripped my membranes, so I guess I can go at anytime! Crazy huh, I'm going to have a baby! So I just have to wait and do some exercises to hopefully get him facing my spine. Needless to say, I'm very excited! I pretty much want him out now, especially if he's 7 pounds already, but I guess I'll have to wait. Well, I think that's all. I'll keep you posted.

My tummy's Alive! and an Up-date

I hope this works. I've been having trouble with it here and on google. If it doesn't work, I'll just post it anyway, and put the video on later. Anyway, so I decided that I need to get a shot of the greatest part about being pregnant: their movment. Since he's bigger now, he's movement has been more pronounced, more like him scrapping his arm across my stomach verse a couple kicks here and there. The problem is that somehow he must have known what I was up to, and like he's father, would tease me by doing nothing. I sat for what seemed like hours trying to get him to move on camera. So, this video is the best of what I got and only a mere glimpe of how realy active my jumping-bean son is inside me. I also wanted to share this with my friends and family who I don't see very often but love deeply. I hope you feel some way apart of this joyous and special time for me.

I guess I should take the time to up-date you on how things are going, since I'm due next Friday. I'm feeling fine, I guess. I've actually been having some contractions, which is good because, besides his almost constant movements, I haven't felt much by way of Barken-kicks. I've learned lately that a true contraction is a tightening of all the utrus wall/muscles (my whole stomach) and I should be able to feel the tension with my hand if I would poke it. Before, I just thought that it was like bad cramps, so when I would have gas problems, I thought I was having a contraction. Now I know a little bit more of what I'm looking for, so that's good. Anyway, like I said, I've had a few (about three yesterday and five already today) but nothing regular, so I must be getting "close" but I'm not laboring yet. Other than that, that's all I know right now. I'll be 38 weeks and 6 days at my appointment on Thurdays so they'll check my dialation and whether or not he's dropped. So I'm post when I get that infomation in two days.

Around mid-December I started to have a real problem with my feet and hands swelling. It started happening only after I would stand or sit for a long time. Then, after Christmas, I would wake up so uncomfortably swollen and would remain for many hours after that. A few times it got so bad that it woke me up. For those who haven't felt it, it's like when they take your blood pressure. It's the feeling in your lower arm and hand when the strap is fully contracted. I hate that feeling and would get it after sleeping, and if I sat or stood for too long. But lately, I found someways to combat it. Drinking tons of water helps. I walk a mile a day, so getting the blood to cirulate helps. I've needed to takes rests every now and then. And also putting my feet up when I sit down helps alot. Oh, when we drove home for drill on the 11th I had the worst swelling in my feet and legs. It almost made my cry. And I pretty much wear my wedding rings on a necklace everyone day now, just incase I swell up sometime during the day. It's been hard in the temple and at church with all that sitting, but like my Relief Society President said, this is the time that I'm earning my baby.

And yes, I'm also nesting too. Well, according to it being defined as a strong feeling to prepare the house for the new baby -which usually means alot of cleaning. As you could probably guess from my last post about the vacuum, I have been feeling the need to have my house clean. And today I totally felt the need to do landry, almost a want to do landry. Weired, huh! First I thought that I must be crazy and then remembered that yesterday I had done three loads of my son's landry (becuase I was told to wash them before he wears them). I loved folding his little sleepers and oneises knowing that soon, I'll have a baby that will fit in them. So today, that want was totally nesting. Plus, now that I'm not working, I feel like I have more time to keep up on my house and have it as clean as I want it. I love that feeling when I look around and everything is in its place. It was hard back in December before and after we moved because our apartments were messes. But now I can indulge in this need to have things clean and be ready for my new baby to arrive.

Now all I have to do is wait. Argh! I've come to the realization that since he is my first that he's going to come either late or, if I'm lucky, on time. I've accepted that he won't come early, no matter how much I want and will him to do so (which is probably why I haven't asked for my dialation to be checked before this week). Maybe if I accept this, then I won't go crazy with the waiting and even be pleasantly surprise if I'm wrong. That's the theory anyway, but I am getting pretty impatient now, but not close to crazy annoyed yet, so it must be working :)

Anyway, this is pregnancy up-date in a nutshell (though a pretty large one). I hope you've enjoy it! And don't worry, I'll post when I've got more news.

New carpets clog vacuums

I have been the most frustrated person because I just couldn't get my carpet clean. This means alot when my whole apartment is 97% carpeted. It was amazingly awesome for the Nelson's to put in new carpet. However, the person who put it in did it for free, as a favor, and didn't think to clean up after his mess. So when I vacuumed, I sucked up everything and it clogged my vacuum. I was so frustrated! So today, it took us a leatherman, wire hanger, flash light, and a broom handle to get the vacuum unclogged. This is a picture of what was clogged. It looked like some giant cat coughed up a huge dirty, sick hair ball.

It feels great having a working vacuum again!

My Ode to Jillian

I just had to post this picture. I dedicate it to my little sister Jillian. It's a picture of my feet. They are the short stubby things poking out from underneath my prego belly. The reason why this is my "Jillian" picture is because in our family, when she has a camera, whether video or still-picture, she will eventually take a picture of her feet. No lie. There are hours and hours of our trip to New York "foot"age to prove it (yes, pun intended). Plus I also thought that it would be fun to share with you what the world looks like from my point of view.

Our new apartment!

The Nelsons have been great. I've been taking care of them, or really their house, for about a week now. All it has consisted of is deep cleaning, cooking, and giving Wanda her night pills. They are truly a delight and it's going to be easy to love them. There will be more as we both become more use to one another.

This week I also got to organize and make the apartment our home. I really like that part of it, even though it's very time and energy consuming. Patxi and I also took great pride in making the small space functional and in getting all of our stuff in there in an organized manner. So we've sectioned it off by using our furniture and other things, and we think we are quite brillant. Well, I'll let the pictures speak :)

This is our kicthen, with tons of cupboard space.


Our dinning room and side enterance (enterance guests use).


These are the French doors that led to the rest of the studio apartment.


This is our living room.


Our office:


This is our son's nursery. We still are planning on getting a dresser to put across from the crib. After that his "room" will be complete.


This is our library. (It stand in front of a non-working fireplace.)


And, of course, our bedroom. Note how an naturally high the bed is. Well the box spring and matress is on the murphy bed frame so it's a little bit higher than my waist. Yup, Patxi laughs a bit as he watches this 8 month pregnant lady try to get into bed.


And this is our tiny bathroom. But really, who need much floor in a bathroom. This one has all the storage to make up for it.

Along with it's beautiful decore:


These pictures really don't do our awesome apartment justice. I think I'll give you a video tour when we get back from drill this weekend. I was also thinking about painting the walls because I don't know how long I can handle the pink-sponged affect. Any suggestions?

The crib from the Kembles

Wednesday the Kembles brought over the crib and I had to do everything I could not to open it before Patxi got home. I guess I was under the impression that he would love to do the honnors of putting it together, hah. Anyway, once he got home, I got the okay ;) to open it and start assembling, while Patxi looked on from his pile of homework. I got everyting unwrapped and started to assemble when Patxi noticed a huge gouge in one of the railings. I looked at it, and it seemed like something no mere stepping or slight dropping would do, so I didn't think that it was something the Kembles or I did. I was so dissapointed and I still had the overwhelming urge to put it together anyway just so I could see it. But Patxi and I decided that we'd better get it replaced. Sadly, it was too late to call anyone, so I had to wait until the morning. But I did get to assemble the drawer that goes underneath. That at least made me happy.

So bright and early thursday morning I tried to call the manufacturers in New York to get our part replaced, but couldn't get a hold of them (surprise!). So then I call Burlington Coat Factory's Baby Depot department, which is where Jana bought it, and asked them what they could do. They were so awesome. All we had to do was bring the part in and they would open another box to replace it or order a new one. So Thursday night Patxi and I got a replacment and I spent the rest of the night putting it together. And here are pictures of my handy-work! I'm so excited to actually place our son (and other future children)in here. Thanks again, Kembles!




We didn't get a crib bed set from the baby showers. Do you really need one? He really shouldn't sleep with tons of blankets and things and he'll probably end up pooping on it anyway, right? But, I don't know, should I get a set, and does he need it?

36 weeks

I'm 36 weeks (on January 2)! I'm almost there! And it's offical, I waddle when I walk. I don't know yet if it's because my center of gravity has changed or if my aching back and swollen feet make the difference. I pretty much feel huge and am totally ready to carry him in my arms instead of between my hips. This pregnancy has been going great, I really don't have much to complain about, but I'm ready. I want to be able to run again, to bend at the waist, lift more than 20 pounds, and sleep on my back. Plus I am so ready to care for him, to feed him, and put him to sleep. I guess every women gets to this point so they would go through the pains labor in order to get them out; they don't want the alternitive -still being pregnant. Anyway, I'm excited and very anxious to get this show on the the road. It just up to him now.

Baby shower in Salem!

Yup, my old ward (Jan Ree) gave me a baby shower yesterday. I had so much fun. But mostly I was just so surprised at fact that so many people cared about me. Jana Kemble (co-hosted the shower, along with Sunshine Hewelle and Jessica Holt) said that she mailed out about 25 invitations and that that's about how many people showed up. The food was beautiful ( I wish that I hadn't forgotten my camera or you could see how awesome it was!) and it was more like an open house, like my last one.

One the thing that really made the difference is the fact that Jana asked me to do a baby registery at Target and the Baby Depot of Burlington Coat Factory. After my last baby shower I got more of a glimpse into what I might need, so I mostly registered for that. And I got most of what I wanted! It was amazing! I know that I would need a bathing tub, because our sink here is barely big enough to wash a cookie sheet, let alone my baby. And yesterday I got it, along with other practical things I need like pacifiers, diappers, and nursing pads. I was so amazed and grateful. But the craziest gift I got last night was a crib. Yea, that's right, the Kemble family bought us one of the cribs I registered for. It is totally perfect, and wonderful, shocking, and un-believable! I almost cried (which, even if I'm pregnant, takes a lot for me to do while people are watching). Words really can't express how gratful we are! Thanks Kembles!

I am overwhelmingly grateful for the generosity of those who came last night! I am so so so so grateful! The Lord has blessed us so much through you guys and I and just amazed at your love for us and Him. Thanks agian everyone.