Baby, baby, baby

So, I started to feel the baby kick this week. It's been pretty awesome. It's small, but it's a great reassurance to me that everything is okay. I'm startin' to really poke out too. I can no longer hunch over in my seat during class, and I have to make sure I'm a safe distance away from the desk at work. It's so weird to be growing so fast. My body is definitely having some complications with the fast growth. Like last night, I couldn't sleep at all. I just kept waking up and moaning because I couldn't find a comfortable position. I finally just got up to sleep on the couch so I wouldn't keep waking up Daniel. I'm DYING to sleep on my back because every time I sleep on my sides my arms fall asleep and it just wakes me up...so it's definitely weird not to be able to sleep for the first time in my life.

Daniel and I are swamped with homework. It's the end of the semester and we've got presentations, papers, and finals to prepare for. Last night I finally just had to buckle down and get stuff done so I wouldn't be so stressed. Thanks to Pandora's techno music station, Daniel and I got quite a bit done. It felt good just to sit on our bed and do homework together for hours on end...weird, I know. But it's one of the last times we will ever be studying together. In a few months I'll just be taking care of our little one while he studies.

We're still counting our many blessings and we're getting even more excited for the major blessing we'll be receiving at the end of August.

Okay, I need to get started on some more homework...I'm out.

Four Months

Alright, so I'm behind on my picture taking. I'm actually almost 18 weeks, which is a little over four months. But I don't think I've changed that much in the last two weeks. So, here it is!

Daniel and I were babysitting my little niece yesterday and she sneaked into the next picture. I figure this will be me in like...five years, so why not have a future shot too?

I'm finally starting to feel like I'm in that "golden" second trimester. Still haven't gotten back all my energy, and I don't think I will during pregnancy, but I can eat things I couldn't in my first trimester and smells don't make me want to throw up all the time. It's great. Sometimes I forget that I am pregnant and the only thing that reminds me is my bathroom scale. I still haven't felt any kicks. Well, not any that I can say are for sure the baby. I've felt flutterings here and there, and I'm sure Daniel is sick of me saying "I think I felt the baby!" and then putting his hand where I felt it. Of course, he's never felt anything. I'm grateful that I haven't been swelling, and I can still wear my normal jeans. Although, most of my shirts are completely out of the question.

I'm having a hard time sleeping - of course. I figure it's my body preparing me for when the baby comes. I wake up a lot because my arms fall asleep, or my knees hurt. My midwife said I shouldn't be sleeping on my back, so it gets a little frustrating, but nothing I can't handle. Oh, and my dreams are crazy! I've had about every crazy dream there is, and I can usually remember all the details. I think last night I dreamed of aliens coming to our house (our house meaning the whole Purles clan - don't ask me why as siblings we all decided to live together) and they were taking pictures through our windows. I don't know why, but it had a horror feeling to it. I think at times like this it would be fun to have a dream interpreter.

I have a slight aversion to meat lately. But, only meat that I cook at home. I'm fine with eating meat at restaurants and at fast food joints. It's kinda strange, I know. So when I made a huge skillet of chicken fajitas -


I was a little peeved that I couldn't even touch them.

Daniel and I have been talking baby names, but I don't think I'm going to be telling people what we decide until the baby is out and named. Sorry, everyone. I don't like seeing people's reactions to some of the names we like. I figure once the baby is named, everyone can just grin and bear it. (Our names haven't even been that crazy...) Plus, I think I'm going to pick out two names that we absolutely love (which is a difficult task for us) and decide which one to use when the baby is here.

Over all, I'm getting really excited about the baby coming. I started looking up baby supplies and planning what we're going to do with our new apartment. I just can't get over the fact that in less than five months I'm going to be a mother. Crazy thought. :)

Mushy...

If any of you have problems with mushy stuff, just ignore this post.

I think I've said this before, but I consider myself the luckiest girl ever. I seriously don't believe anyone has a more understanding, patient, or loving husband than I do. Last night when I started to break down with how much I have to do in the next couple of weeks, I started to do what I always do - whine and cry. I know, I'm pretty pathetic. But instead of telling me to buck up and take it like a normal human being, my husband wrapped his arms around me and just held me as I (fake) cried. Okay, so maybe it wasn't so much fake. After my little tantrum, he sat me down and talked me through what needed to get done, and get this - he even helped me brainstorm ideas for my paper I have to write this weekend. I mean, really, who does that? Oh, my husband does. Yes, ladies, I have the most amazing husband. I think part of his vast understanding of women is that he grew up so close to his mom. She taught him well, and for that, I'm eternally grateful.

So this is the start of my better blogging streak. I think it's time I started writing more.

Today, is just one of those good days. Ya know what I mean? You wake up, and for absolutely no reason at all, life is just good. (Well, I have lots of reasons why, but not one main one.) Okay, maybe the two donuts I got from my creative writing class helped, but seriously. It's a good day people. I'm stressed out of my mind, but I don't care. I'm going to take the advice of my husband and take it one step at a time.

So to all of you who are stressed at this time in the semester, I wish you luck. Keep going, and don't give up! Just keep checking off those endless tasks.

And for you Lindsey, if you are reading this post, I will take more baby bump pictures. Since no one likes just reading words, I'll try and take more pictures of life in general, so I don't have to bore those who follow me.

Ah...that's just downright adorable.

Look to the right. See that baby floating around? Cutest. Thing. Ever. That's all.

Ups and Downs

Way good news: Daniel and I found a wonderful apartment! We're stoked to move, and I'm even more stoked to finally have a dishwasher! I've never been so excited to do dishes.

More good news: My baby is doing great. (We're already 17 weeks along.) I went to the doctor last week and everything is perfect. It was harder to find the heart beat this time, but I'm assuming that's because my midwife said I have "strong abdominal muscles" and a "thick uterus." She also said because of the before listed reasons, I won't be feeling the baby kick for a few more weeks. I'm way too impatient to feel this baby.

Good good news: Daniel and I are doing great in school...which is kinda weird considering I feel like I'm slacking more than ever. Daniel just aced his accounting test, and I aced my adolescent literature test! (98%, baby!). The Lord continues to bless us, everyday.

Semi-good news: Daniel and I started budgeting. As much as we hate talking about money, we decided it was time to have a budget, especially since we have a little baby expense on the way. We started to use mint.com. It's a fantastic website I learned about in our stake's Moneywise workshop. It's not perfect, but it's a heck of a lot better than nothing. We're excited to save and prepare for the future...kind of. Already we're over budget on food this month. I blame that on myself. I am the pickiest eater ever since I've been pregnant.

Good and bad news: We got back from St. George this weekend. Good news is we enjoyed every minute. Bad news is that we want to go back - now. We love that place.

Bad news: I haven't found an internship yet. I've applied, been interviewed. The two I interviewed for needed an intern for a year...I can't do that with this baby...so...yea. I'm still on the hunt. It bugs.

Really bad news: I'm stressed out. A lot. It's getting to be crunch time in school, and with finding an internship, it's kind of an overload. Plus, I have to make sure I'm taking care of myself for the baby...it's a tough balance.

We have more good news than bad news, so I consider that a very great blessing. :) Of course life comes with it's ups and downs, and I consider that a good thing. Without the downs, I wouldn't know how good it felt to be on an up.

I'll try and be better at posting...and taking pictures. I'm already behind on my monthly pictures of my belly. Go figure. I'm just not that excited to see my body get bigger and bigger, even if it is for a good reason.

14 Weeks

Today is the first day of my second trimester. If I wasn't sick (as in normal human sick, not pregnancy sick) I think I would feel the best I've felt in a long time. On a side note, my headaches are finally starting to go away, which I hope is a permanent thing. I don't know which is worse, throwing up, or having a headache everyday. Anyways, I'm grateful that I'm feeling better and that my baby has made it into the next stage!

So here is how big our little one is so far...

Yep, a lemon. What a cute comparison, right? I love getting my weekly emails from babycenter.com telling me what my baby is doing and what it looks like.

The only other things that are happening is that Daniel and I are trying to find a new apartment (blah) and we're both searching for internships-which is just as bad as trying to find a job. I have this dreadful fear that no one will want a pregnant lady, and so it's making me even more terrified of applying...but, it will be done. Nothing is going to get in the way of me and my graduation. So if any of you know of any kind of advertising/marketing internship, let me know! Connections are appreciated. I'd even work for free as long as it's in the Provo/Orem area.

Life continues on...

Oh, and P.S. I just ate two bowls of this stuff:

Normally, I don't buy this kind of cereal...but being pregnant has made me a cereal craver, and I needed more variety. This just happens to be my favorite cereal of all time. (Mom, if you are reading this, I promise I eat more than just cereal...and I don't usually eat two bowls of sugar cereal either...but it's the only thing that felt good to eat while I'm sick. Forgive me).

I should be in bed right now, but for some reason, my body won't let me go to sleep. I blame it on the pregnancy. Nothing is how it used to be.

Daniel and I decided to take a break from our homework today and walk around the mall for a bit, just to get out. After only going to 3 stores, I was already tired and my head started to ache. What's up with that? Good thing today was a holiday, otherwise school and work would have been impossible. On a lighter note, I thought I would share a little story about this baby of ours.

It was a cold and dark December Sunday morning. Actually, it probably wasn't that dark, cause Daniel and I usually sleep in on Sundays, but the details are vague at this point in my mind. Anyways, I was late starting my period. I am never late with my cycle. Never. I have never skipped one either. My cycle was as constant and consistent as the rising sun. I was fortunate that way. That morning I had planned on taking a test. I admit, I was a little excited to take it. I crept to the bathroom, without waking Daniel, took the test, and waited impatiently for the five minutes to be up. Sure enough after only 3 or 4 minutes, two pink lines showed up on the little test strip. A smile crossed my face. Silent joy. After staring at the test for a moment, I decided to wake Daniel.

I crept back in bed to find him coming out of sleep. He rolled over to face me and looked a little groggy. I told him I left a surprise for him in the bathroom. I'll always remember what Daniel said next - "What, did you not flush the toilet?" I laughed. I made him go take a look despite the protests. He couldn't believe the results either. No really, he didn't understand. After explaining the whole testing for HCG, and how only pregnant women have the hormone naturally, he started to believe me (He was a little confused with the difference between ovulation tests and pregnancy tests). We laid in bed for awhile trying to soak in the news. I mean really, having a baby is a big deal. I know women plan how they will break the news to their husbands for days or weeks before they tell them, but I'm not like that. This was not something I could keep from my other half. Plus, I'm not that creative.

Sometimes I still don't think that it has registered in our minds that we're actually going to be PARENTS. Other times, I have anxiety attacks about it. Daniel is always there to pick me up and tell me what a great mom I'll be. I see the way he is with my nieces and nephews and couldn't be more confident about how great he'll be as a dad. I think another reason I struggle with becoming a parent is because I still feel so young. I'm actually not. I believe 23 is a ripe age to be multiplying and replenishing the earth (well, in a Utah sense, not so much the rest of the world). I just still feel like I'm 16 sometimes...maybe it's because people say I look that young. Whatever the reason, parenthood is coming no matter how prepared I am. I say, BRING IT ON. :) I've babysat since I was 11. It's about time I start watching my own kids.

Daniel and I don't really know how the future will pan out (I'm graduating, planning on being a stay-at-home mom, he's planning on going to grad school, and money is scarce), but I have complete confidence that everything will work out. It's not going to be a walk in the park, but I couldn't be more excited and thrilled to be starting our little family. Like Elder Wirthlin said, "Come what may, and love it." Rain or shine, I'll take it. I realize how blessed Daniel and I are and my wish is not to take it for granted.