An Announcement: We're having a piggy

According to Eliza, we are having a piggy. That is what she said when she noticed the baby on the "tv." She said "Look Daddy! It's a piggy!!!" He asked her where and she said "In the picture!!" As if we were all too dumb to see the little piggy wiggling around.

According to the ultrasound tech, we are having another sweet baby girl. We are excited. I saw a picture of two sisters holding hands yesterday and it made me even more excited. Plus I get to break out all those cute close that I saved. PLUS girls are awesome.

And even better is that our baby looks healthy. When we had Eliza's 20 week ultrasound we found out she had a dilated kidney and it was worrisome to us. So I was relieved that we did not find anything to worry about.

However, the ultrasound tech was not my favorite.Prior to doing the ultrasound she asked me if we would like to know the gender. I said that would be great if at all possible. Then she gave me this speech about how the ultrasound's purpose was not to find out the gender, and that she has a very important job of measuring body parts and looking out for our baby to be healthy. As if I didn't care about my baby being healthy. Really lady? Then when she found out we had brought Eliza with us she gave me another speach about how her job is very important and if she is at all distracted by Eliza she will need someone to take her out. As if I didn't already think of that. Really lady? Really??? THEN she kept complaining about how our baby wasn't cooperating and she had never seen a baby so balled up and so low. We must have another head strong baby girl on our hands.

On the plus side, since the tech did not get any pictures of the baby's face, we get another ultrasound in 8 weeks to make sure she does not have a cleft lip. So we get to see her ('her' meaning the baby, hopefully not the same ultrasound tech) again. It is so fun to see her move around. I don't think I will ever get use to that.

The only downside is picking a name. I have a boy name that I have loved forever and ever. I love it so much that I dream about a little one with that name. Still holding out hope of using that one day. Even if our last baby is another girl, I plan on using the girl version of the name. But I don't feel that this sweet baby is our last. And I do not have a girl name that I adore. So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

A Pregnancy Post

It has been very different being pregnant this time.

I got bigger quicker. I worry more about things going wrong. I am in my 2nd trimester and still feeling sick.

When I was pregnant with Eliza I took weekly belly shots to record my growing belly. I am 19 weeks this week and I have not taken one picture.

Last time, I wrote a lot of my feelings down in my journal. This time, it has been the very minimal basics.

Last time, I read my pregnancy book every week to see what was in store. This time, I have barely cracked the book.

Yes, I am busier this time chasing around a 2 year old, but it also just feels different.

This time, I am even more excited to meet this little one because I know what fun little things he/she can turn into.

This time, I am less scared of giving birth and more scared of the first 6 weeks of the baby's life. (PLEASE PRAY THIS ONE WILL NOT CRY ALL. OF. THE. TIME.)

This time, I know enough to know I don't know much and I can't control much so I am just trying to enjoy the ride.


I am excited to meet this little one. I am so excited to watch another little person change and grow.  I am so honored to be able to welcome him/her into this world. I am so blessed to be able to be his/her mother.

Eliza and Her 2 Year Old Class

Yes, Eliza turned two several months ago, but she never moved up to the 2 year old class at daycare.

Why, you ask? Well, for several reasons: she DOES not do well with change AND she had grown VERY attached to one of her teachers. I liked this teacher too. Seriously, if I could make up the perfect teacher it would be her. She was kind, sweet, caring and patient.

But alas, Eliza had to move up sometime. She was starting to tower over all the other 1 year olds and it was time to bite the bullet.

So last week she moved to the scary class with loud scary noises coming out of it. (The kids sound like they are going to tear the place down sometimes.)

The first week was rough. On Monday, there was lots of crying and I had some issues with the teachers but I think we have those resolved. On Tuesday, there was still lots of crying. Wednesday and Thursday repeated Tuesday. But then, Friday came.

Friday morning before school Eliza and I talked about going to her new class and not crying. We talked about our routine: "First, we will hang up your bag. Then we will go wash your hands. Then you can help mommy sign you in. Then we will get a hug, a kiss, and mommy will go to work. BUT mommy will come back and get you after school. And we're not going to cry. It will be OK."

So we went to school and she did SO GOOD! We did our routine and she asked for one more kiss. Then she followed me to the door. She had a few tears coming down her cheeks and her little bottom lip stuck out in a pout, BUT she did not scream and cry like she had been. She was trying so hard and I am so proud of her.

This week she has done really well. I am so proud of her. She has a lot of fun at school but it is still hard for me to leave her. She is getting so big.

Thoughts on being a Working Mom

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be a stay at home mom. I know it would still be hard work but sometimes I wonder how different my life would be. I would love to stay at home with Eliza everyday. I feel like my soul would be freeer some how. Dont get me wrong, I love my job. If I have to work I couldn't pick a better place, but I still wonder what it would be like if things were different. As a kid, I always pictured myself being a stay-at-home mom just like my mother.

Kase and I would love to find a way for me to stay home. We pray about it and look for things we can do. Hopefully one day we will find a way.

Last week I had to travel for work. I was gone from Tuesday till Friday. It was hard for me to leave the Bug. Fortunately, I dont have to do that very often. On the plus side, there is a temple where I went and I was able to go.

I always enjoy going to the temple by myself because I feel like I focus better. As I sat in the temple I thought about being a working mom. I thought about how I feel inadequate sometimes and I often feel judged by others (that may be mostly in my head). I thought about how I feel lonely and often feel left out. I decided that if this is how I am suppose to be living right now, I dont want to be sad or constantly wishing for another way of life. I want to be happy. I suddenly felt that Heavenly Father knows me and loves me. I felt that I am special. I am not better than anyone else by any means but special in my own way. So many women that I would love to be like have a different way of life and sometimes that maks me feel unworthy or sad. But the truth is I am not those other women. I am doing something a lot of them would not be able to do. I am going to strive to be happy doing it and to set a good example. I had an overwhelming felling that I'm doing what I should be doing. Just like others are doing what they should be doing. I may not always be able to volunteer bring food to people in the middle of a work day, have the cleanest house, get to go to fun play groups, or weekday lunches but I am a good mother and wife. My daughter is happy, smart, and healthy. I just have a different life right now. That does not mean it is bad. It does not mean that someone who says a negative comment to me about being a working mother knows what they are talking about. I am doing just fine. I don't know what the future will bring for my sweet family but I know that I have been blessed beyond measure. I have the sweetest family and I am a good wife and mother whether I am at home or work.

Pink or Blue?????

We find out one week from today if this little one is a Boy or Girl.

We are so excited.

We really just want a healthy baby.

A girl would be fun because we already have pretty much everything we need for a girl. Plus Eliza could have a sister close in age and that would be fun too.

A boy would be fun because it would be all new to us. Plus I'm totally diggin' little boys clothes right now.

I had a dream it was a boy last week.

I had a dream it was a girl last night, but she also had 4 legs so I am hoping that is not true.

Either way, we are really excited.


So which one do you think it is?????

6 years

I remember the first time I saw Kase. I'd say it was about 2001. I was at the institute building and this boy came down the stairs with his flip flops on and furry hobbit toes... and I was smitten. Ok not really smitten, but I thought he was really cute and there was something about him. Something that was different. Alas, I had a boyfriend and so a friendship began. I secretly thought my friend with the green eyes and fluffy head of hair was absolutely adorable. We could talk for hours and he made me laugh. Then, it came time for him to leave on a mission for our church to California. So he left, and I waited.... no I mean dated. But I wrote him. A lot. Like more than a normal person probably should. We talked about all sort of things, and when I would open up my mailbox to find a letter from him I would get butterflies in my stomach. Nevermind that I had a boyfriend (a different one this time). I knew Kase was the one for me.

Have I ever told you that Kase asked me to marry him twice? Well, really it was only officially one time, but secretly it was twice. We were watching a movie and he had fallen asleep. I suspect he was faking though. While in his drowsy state, he said "You should marry me." I thought I would pass out from excitment, and I was so glad he figured out that I should marry him.

The first gift Kase ever bought me was a Simon and Garfunkel record. He bought it while he was on his mission and mailed it to me. He remembered that I loved S&G. I think he kind of liked me.

When we got married, I remember staring at him and looking into the beautiful mirrors surrounding us and thinking that I sure loved this boy. I was so excited to see our future together.

That was 6 years ago on August 12th. As I have watched the begginning of our story together unfold, I have been amazed. Together we have laughed, cried, loved, and created a beautiful, sweet, special daughter. Plus another baby on the way! It has been an amazing 6 years.

I have not cleaned the house lately, done laundry, or went grocery shopping. I have not had the energy to stay awake to watch movies. I have not cooked dinner in well..... ages. Kase's birthday was a few weeks ago, and I have not even made his birthday cake yet. But he still loves me. He still cleans, cooks, launders, and rubs my feet. (At least I do not have hobbit toes.)

He is pretty awesome.

Our life together is pretty amazing.

I am one lucky girl.

Can't wait to see what the next 6 years bring.