One Way or Another, He Finds A Way

You know when you get a prompting to do something, and you put it off, or are a little nervous about doing it, and then when you finally do it you feel pretty awesome? Well, I felt awesome yesterday.

Starting back in January, I was getting major promptings to ask a friend of mine to meet with the missionaries. I never really judged members when I was serving a mission for not asking their friends to meet with us. I know it's not an easy thing to do. Some members were just naturally awesome at it. Others didn't have anyone to ask. And some were not that kind of person. But now I can truly attest to the fact that it's not easy asking someone you're good friends with to meet with the missionaries.

Now that it's 2 months later, I finally found an opportunity to sit down and talk to her about it. It was kind of an interesting experience. The conversation started off with some creepy stuff (because we had just watched a really creepy video... seriously scary) and somehow it led into talking about spiritual things and meeting with the missionaries. It was really great because she gave me the run-down of her experience with the Church and missionaries. I'm glad she felt comfortable telling me about it, but then again, she has an open personality.

The best part is that recently she has become friends with someone else (back in February) who has been a big part in her starting to read the Book of Mormon. Yeah... maybe I should have actually gotten on this back in January. I guess when you slack off, the Lord finds another way to make things happen. But still I think the other times that I sat down with her with the intent to ask her to meet with the missionaries, but didn't, only solidified our relationship even more. Which, led up to this conversation and me actually doing it.

Well, I told her that if she didn't want to, I was completely fine with it. Or if she didn't want to meet with them in her apartment, ours was completely open to her (it always is anyway...). I also explained to her that I had been having these promptings for a while. Anyway, she told me she just might take me up on the offer. It might not be for a little while, but she would definitely consider it. I'm feeling pretty good about this. It's not often you find a real missionary opportunity outside inactive or less active members of the Church in Provo. But I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my testimony with her. I hope she takes me up on it, and I hope and pray she will find an answer in regards to the Book of Mormon.

Stuck Like Glue

I can't begin to explain how much I love my husband. Unlike myself, he is very good at this romance thing. I just don't know how to do it... and I don't think I fully appreciate it either. Which is sad, because Cory is SO sweet.

For example, yesterday was Valentine's day. I knew he had something planned for the evening, and we didn't get to see each other at all until that night since we were working and in classes ALL DAY. So I took it upon myself to make a nice lunch on Sunday (Monday wasn't a great night either). I also made and wrote him a little card. I know... so sweet. Then, when we both get home and get all ready for the night (seriously at 9pm), we take off. We drive around and he has me close my eyes. He drives in circles which makes me nervous and nauseated. I don't like being in a car without being able to see what's going on around me. Too many car accidents I guess. It only takes one, really. Anyway, we arrive, and where are we? The Chef's Table. It's a beautiful restaurant... probably one of the classiest in the Provo area. And we eat this fantastic 5 course meal. The risotto was to die for, and the salmon was amazing (especially considering I don't like fish... but I gave it a try), and the creme brulee was heaven. The salad they served was SO good I wish I knew how to throw it together myself. A server brings me a red rose to take home. And Cory pulls out a little red box from his coat. Yep, my husband even bought me jewelry on Valentine's day. I wasn't expecting it because I never really want or request it. But there he goes exceeding my expectations and wildest dreams. He's so good. And yes, I will brag about him. Any decent girl deserves a man like him, but there aren't enough out there to go around. (There aren't really enough decent girls to deserve them either... so maybe it works out.)

Can I tell you how much our little June Bug was bouncing around during that meal? I think she really enjoyed it. :) I sure did.

The only down side to such a wonderful and delicious meal is that my appetite seems to have disappeared. I don't know where it went. I still can and do eat, but I never seem to want to anymore. Blah. At least food still tastes delicious! Yum!

Again, my husband is wonderful. It's not necessarily the things he actually does, but it's the fact that he thinks about and wants to do these things. He's awesome.

New Love

I was reading an article about how a lot of pregnant women fall in love with their babies well before they even see their cute little faces in person. I've come to accept this idea as fact. I love our little June Bug so much already. And I feel so blessed to have found two great loves in my life... so far.

So happy Valentine's day everyone. If you have a current love, or are looking forward to future love, there is love to be found all around us. Especially in the arms of our Savior.

Baby Face

I was reading another friend's blog this morning and she mentioned how she likes to morph her face with hot celebrity men to see what their babies would look like. That gave me an idea. What would June Bug look like?

I just so happen to have some baby pictures of Cory from our wedding. And I just so happen to have baby pictures of myself on my computer too. So I took about 15 minutes of my day and did THIS:



This may or may not be what our little June Bug ends up looking like. I guess we'll see...

Won't it be fun to find out in a few more months?

Dear June Bug,

I think that's what we'll call you for now.

Your daddy and I are so excited to see you.

I've always wanted a family and it took a lot of prayer and hope to finally have faith that you would someday be in my life. I couldn't be happier about this wonderful gift our Heavenly Father has given us. You, your daddy, and I are inseparably connected from now until eternity. You are our baby girl and always will be. And no matter what you have to endure in this life, or coming into this world, we are always here and will ALWAYS love you. No matter what!

Heavenly Father sent you to us for a reason. Not just because you needed a home, but because we need you in our home and you need us. I can't promise it will be easy. And I can't promise that you will always think I'm the best mom in the world. But I will always give you what you need, and together, with the help of Father in Heaven, we will get through anything and everything that comes at us.

I look forward to sharing tender little moments with you. I can hardly wait to hold you in my arms and kiss your little cheeks. I can hardly wait to see the pride in your daddy's eyes when he sees you and holds you for the first time. I can hardly wait to play dolls with you, and bake cookies with you, and teach you how to tie your shoes. I can hardly wait to kiss boo-boos away, and hold you close when you're scared, and laugh with you when you're happy. I can hardly wait to see you sitting by your daddy's side on the piano bench as you try to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". I can hardly wait to see you look up at him with such pure love and happiness. I want to cherish each and every one of these little moments. But right now, I can wait until you're ready for us. I can wait until you grow big and strong enough. And you will be strong because you are a little piece of your mommy and daddy and everyone that came before us. (We have some very strong people in our family.)

Little June Bug, we love you more than we have words to express. I've worried a lot about you lately, but Heavenly Father has assured me that everything will be okay. He's the best at doing that. Even though the next few years will be tough, and I'm not sure how we're going to do it all (your daddy and I still have to finish school...), or where we are going to go, He has told me in my heart that everything will work out.

Someday you will have lots of little brothers and sisters. They will look up to you. And it won't be easy for them either. But you are given the responsibility of Big Sister for a reason. They need you too. And you need them. I hope you are kind and loving. Your daddy and I are going to try really hard to teach you how. I hope you can show them all of the neat things you can do and maybe even teach them how to do some of those things. They will love you SO much, just like we do. You might not always get along the best, but remember, with Heavenly Father's help, everything is going to be okay.

Pretty soon we'll get to see each other. That day will be wonderful. Your aunts are VERY excited for you to come into this world. They have helped me out a lot. And I hope that we will get to visit with them and all your many, many cousins frequently. They're part of our family too and we love them a lot. We are all so excited for your birthday. I hope you are too.

With more love in my heart than I knew existed,

Mom

Motivation & Disease

I have none right now. It's probably going to hurt me this semester. My problem: I'm just lazy. I say that because I have no excuses for my lack of motivation. But really, I'm just tired... all... the... time. Tired to the point that, if I didn't think I'd stay up all night, I could sleep all day. I could stay home all day, stare at the dishes and laundry, and not touch them at all. (What a good wife I am...)

In other news: I can actually feel Baby Girl moving around. I think it's been a couple weeks since I started being able to feel her sloshing around in there, but since I am very inexperienced with this pregnancy thing, I didn't realize that's what it was until I realized that's what it had to be. It was too low to be belly grumblings, and it definitely didn't feel like gas. Too much information... I know. Anyway, I couldn't be more thrilled. I was waiting for it excitedly.

I also have a bunch of friends that are pregnant too and due about the same time I am. Most of them are about to find out the gender of their babies. I guess I'm pretty lucky I got to find out so soon. I'm counting my blessings.

On ANOTHER note: my sister called me almost frantically yesterday. I got a call, then a text telling me to call her ASAP. She doesn't do that unless it really is urgent. I called when she was in the car on her way back from taking her almost 5 year old to the doctor. Apparently she had just been diagnosed with Fifths disease. It's about as bad as Chickenpox for a kid from what I had read. Sometimes they'll get a fever, but mostly it involves some mild symptoms followed by a rash that looks like they've been slapped. Not so bad for a kid, but it can be really bad news for a pregnant woman in the first half of her pregnancy. If you've had parvovirus before, you're probably immune. But most people can't remember if they've had it before. Thus the precaution of getting blood work done. So that's where I am. If I did catch it and I'm not immune, it can cause anemia in Baby Girl. And as most of you know, blood is pretty essential to a developing baby. My doctor didn't seem too worried when I was talking to him. I guess they have things they can do if I am infected so Baby Girl doesn't die. That gives me comfort. I'm not too worried anyway. Mostly because I'm just not. (That's the benefit of having the Spirit with you I guess. Even when things could normally cause you to worry yourself sick, the Comforter is there to calm you down.) I've been getting mild headaches today, which is unusual for me. Supposedly it's a symptom. But then again, knowing myself, it could easily be psychosomatic. I told Cory I had headaches today and he rolled his eyes. That was annoying. I told him he wasn't allowed to roll his eyes, even if it was all in my head. A headache is a headache. Obviously HE'S not worried either. Still, a little compassion, just in case, would be nice. Besides, this is HIS kid too.

I went and had blood drawn this morning. Missed work. Didn't go to classes I didn't feel were essential. I have one teacher with an autoimmune issue and gets sick pretty easily. She told us not to come to class if we were ever sick. I didn't want to risk it. Maybe that's me justifying not going to class. Really, I feel like my true intent was keeping her safe. Either way, I have to make up the work. That wasn't supposed to be the point of this paragraph... the point was that they couldn't find the lab request when I went in. They drew blood anyway and said they'd find it. Ha! I called a few hours later. They had the request, were running the labs, and they'd know something in a day or two. I'm hoping sooner rather than later. Again, I'm not super worried, but I would feel better knowing. And I can stop giving my hypochondriac self headaches.

I've just been taking things one day at a time these days. It's all I can do to keep from sleeping my days away. I can't seem to think ahead more than another day or two... if that. Hopefully my motivation will spring back into me. I think I just need to get an awesome grade on an exam or something to show me I'm decent at anything. Maybe that will motivate me. Maybe I just need to pray a lot more to help me get through this little slump I seem to be going through. I think I'll try that first. Add some walking into my routine again. Go out and see people again. I need something more immediate to look toward. Something I actually have time for. (I work every single day this entire week... including Sunday. Suck.)

P.S. I did wash dishes (both at home and at work) yesterday, and washed a load of laundry today. It is yet to be folded... but I did it.

Hey Baby!

I have been so anxious all day today.

Yesterday I had an appointment with my doctor. We got to hear baby's heart beat again, which he didn't tell me what it was. But everything sounded good.

Today I had an appointment at the hospital where I am participating in a new mom (pregnant lady) study. They're trying to find indicators for birth defects, low birth weight, and pre-term labor. Things of that nature. Anyway, today at my appointment, since they do ultrasounds at each appointment and I'm 17 weeks, we could find out gender. I know a lot of people like the surprise, but Cory and I wanted to know. Badly. Once we have one of each, we might let it be a surprise.

I also found out that Cory has been really excited about finding out what the baby is. It took hearing how excited his co-workers were (directly from them) and having them tell me that they've been hearing about it for a LONG time. He's pretty good at keeping cool. I think part of it is that if we're both too excited at home, we'd never get anything done. I really did love hearing from his co-workers that they were excited for us. It made some of those long days seem less stressful. (My husband works with some pretty neat people.)

Well, without delaying any longer, here are the results of our ultrasound:



Hello June Bug! We look forward to meeting you this summer!