Update: 36 weeks and counting!

So, like usual I've been pretty terrible at updating this blog.  At least right now I have an excuse!  :)  I feel like I've been so busy the past few weeks trying to get everything squared away and ready for Baby Liam to come join our family.

35 weeks 5 days

Tuesday, Ben and I had our last birthing class.  It was kind of bitter-sweet.  We've really enjoyed the class and getting to know the other couples in it, but it will definitely be nice to have our Tuesday nights back!  (more on that in a minute)  Yesterday was my last day of work, and boy does it feel good!  Knowing that, at least for the next few weeks, I can sleep in if I want is such a great feeling!  This past Sunday we had the Primary Program at church (I'm the Primary Pianist) and it was fantastic!  We've worked so hard all year and I'm so glad I was able to be part of it.  I was kind of worried when they originally planned to do it in October!  Also, a couple weeks ago, Ambyr threw me an awesome baby shower.  It was so much fun and everything turned out so beautifully!  (pictures coming soon!!)

35 weeks 5 days

Back to the birthing class.  I've had the Bradley Method recommended to me pretty much my whole life and when the time came to think about birthing options, I did a little bit of research and Ben and I decided that we did want to try out the Bradley Method.  The class is a little bit more invloved than most birthing classes - it's a 12 week course!  We lucked out and found one that was being taught in 9 weeks - 2 hrs every Tuesday night for 9 weeks - and went for it.  The class was awesome!  The main idea behind the Bradley Method is for both the husband and wife to be fully educated in the whole birthing process and have the husband or "coach/advocate" do just that: coach and advocate for the wife who is in labor and shouldn't be worrying about other things, all the while focusing on deep breathing and relaxation.  We learned so much and I know that it has helped me to feel calm and excited about labor, rather than being nervous.  Short of actually experiencing labor and delivery (which will happen soon enough!), I feel like I know as much as I can know about it and I feel totally prepared.  Ben has also mentioned how much he enjoyed the class and how empowered he feels as he's able to discuss things with our doctor and help me prepare for a smooth delivery.

In a nutshell, I would very highly recommend the Bradley Method to anyone that will be having a baby, whether it's their first or fourth!

...and a random pic from our Tahoe trip last month...

25 Weeks

At 25 weeks, I feel like I'm finally starting to look pregnant (to other people - I've been feeling pretty big for a while now).  :)


He's started a new "trick" lately.  Instead of just kicking and rolling around, it feels like he's rubbing a hand or foot back and forth in the same place... and it tickles like crazy!  He must realize that it gets a reaction out of mommy because he  seems to do it a lot.  :)


I love how active he is.  I'll admit, it's a little overwhelming thinking that he'll probably be this crazy after he's born as well, but it's just so amazing feeling him kick and turn flips.  I can't wait to play with those tiny little hands and feet.  


In the meantime, it looks like I'm going to have to start buying maternity clothes pretty soon!  

Off the Grid

So, it's been a while...  Working for an accountant during tax season means coming home from work with my brain fried and the thought of doing anything is a little too much to handle.  That means blogging is the last thing I think about.

This was a couple weeks ago (at 19 weeks)

Well, I'm back... and with a little announcement!  This October, a super adorable little boy will be joining our family!  We already know he's going to be an active little one.  His movements have graduated from little flutters to genuine kicks... and they seem to be constant! (2-3/minute most of the time!)  Ben was able to feel him kick yesterday and that was really fun for both of us.  :)

In other news, Ben finished his second year of law school and I lived through tax season working 6 days a week during my first trimester!  To celebrate (and since Ben's internship doesn't start for another week), we've been taking a number of mini vacations.

Two weeks ago, we decided to go on a two day camping trip and spend some time hiking in the mountains.   Well, one "disaster" led to another, and pretty soon we were back in our living room building a blanket fort, but not before we cooked and ate some delicious tin foil dinners in the mountains while fending off smoke and mosquitoes.  Our hike turned into a cuddled up read-aloud session (you know, the kind where you sit up all night reading...) of Enchantment by Orson Scott Card.

Then this past week, we drove down to San Luis Obisbo to visit one of Ben's law school buddies and check out the amazing farmers' market they have each Thursday night.  It was a wonderful and relaxing vacation, spent swimming and watching Star Wars, in which I forgot entirely that I had a camera until the drive home.  We turned the 3 hour drive into something closer to 8 hours as we slowly wound our way up the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping at all the beaches and just enjoying the scenery.  We stopped at Hearst Castle, but decided to make a special trip and spend more time there and instead went to visit the elephant seals on a nearby beach.  Then we ate pancakes and went to bed early.  All-in-all a wonderful trip!  :)

Scotty of the Opera

Dear friends, family, and anyone else who happens to be reading this.  In honor of little Scotty's return home from his mission tomorrow, I wanted to post this video.  Sadly, facebook is retarded and won't let me share it on my blog.  Here's the link.  Definitely check it out - you're in for some laughs.  After two years do you think he'll still be the same?

Scotty of the Opera

Still not really updating, but you have to listen to this song!

So, I realize that I haven't posted for a while and this is really just a cop-out but oh well...  I love Mika and this song is my [not-so-]new obsession.  It's such a great song for a dance party - preferably one late at night in the kitchen, or whenever you happen to be cleaning...  Turn. it. up. LOUD!!  :)




Oh, one more thing - I'm completely in love with the different wall papers about halfway through the video.  :)

Get ready for some laughs!

Have you heard of Kid History?  I stumbled across these little gems some time ago, but then forgot about them.  When I found them a second time I figured I had to share them.

The first time I saw them I laughed so hard tears were streaming down my face!  :)

PS - you should enlarge the videos for the full effect.  

What do you think - are these fantastic or what?!

Ukrainian Adventures part 2 - Holy Water

On our way home from the potato cellars in Stilske, Igor took us on another little adventure.  Apparently there's a little spring of Holy Water in a big field where people picnic in the summers.

Lap number 5!

People go there to bottle their own drinking water from the icy fountain.  While there, many people "take the plunge" and circle the submerged cross in the lower pool seven times, bending down to touch the foot of the cross on each lap.  From what I understand, if you do at least seven laps, it will cure you of whatever might be ailing you (allergies, illness, etc.)


It was a hot day, so we all decided to give it a try, even though walking barefoot in the snow is the only thing that might be as cold.

It was too cold for Anne, so she played in the little trickle where people were filling their water bottles.






 I was holding Mary and she loved splashing in the little waterfall on each lap, so we just kept going around and around.
I ended up doing my 7 laps and then 7 more with Meagan and a few more in between.

 Ella even did a couple laps with us!  

I was actually really enjoying it, but it took quite a while to thaw afterwards.  

The first lap all you can think about is getting out.  

If you make it to the second, your thoughts are the same and you start to wonder if you've gone mad.  

At the third lap you start checking to see if your feet are bleeding - because the pain you're experiencing must be accompanied by copious amounts of blood! 

As you round the bend on lap number four, things start looking brighter as all blood leaves your legs.  Completely numb by laps five and six, you think it really isn't so bad and you could probably keep going for quite some time.  

As you totter out after the seventh lap, you'll go through all the pain of your legs coming back to life, so if you make it that long, you may as well just stay in.... a few more laps won't hurt, but they will put off that awful tingly sensation.  

Don't worry - I wasn't the only crazy one there.  One guy went wading in nothing but his underwear!  When someone does that you know they're going to do something great - you can't strip down to your skivvies and not put on some show for all the attention you've attracted.  He did fun little tricks like underwater push-ups between his laps!

Just going in up to my knees is more than enough for me, thank you.