Ten Reasons

Ten Reasons Why I've Loved Being Pregnant

1. Jake is an all-star at offering foot rubs, back rubs, ear rubs, back scratches, anything that makes me more comfortable.
2. People say you're glowing.
3. I get to feel our baby kicking and squirming inside of me . . . there’s nothing like it!
4. I don’t feel guilty when I eat just as much or even more than Jake, and I am practically EXPECTED to eat chocolate.
5. Having a belly means you're cute. And my belly has never been this firm and tight. :)
6. It isn't bad when the number on the scale gets higher and higher by the week.
7. I've HAD to buy a few new clothing items to fit my new shape.
8. Everyone offers me their seat.
9. Perfect strangers strike up conversations with me in random places like the elevator or the line at the grocery store. Or they just smile at you.
10. Shopping for the cutest baby clothes.

Jake has gray hair.

HAHAHAH

Only a few...but more than me. We have yet to find any on my head.

And I'm nine months older.

HAHAHAH

:)

The Burg

For our final hurrah before the baby comes Jake planned a trip to Rexburg ID. Rexburg is home to BYU-Idaho, where I went to school before my mission and I haven't been back since.

It was really sweet on Jake's part. Rexburg isn't exactly a hub for tourism..but we had fun.

I gave Jake the grand tour. :)

My first dorm.

The temple. It's beautiful. Of course.

Time on the swings.

These are my favorite trees. It's so peaceful.

I laid this stone work. And the sprinkler system underneath. Impressed?

My favorite sandwhich place.

Rexburg is for lovers.

We bought a wheelchair at DI my freshman year. And rode it down these hills. Still a great purchase.

Smores

Fire pit = great idea

Smore's = great idea, part 2

We have a new tradition. :)

Father's Day

For Father's Day the baby and I got Jake a fire pit for the backyard. Jake wanted to build his own, but there are way too many regulations for that, so Lowes came to the rescue.

He started with the instructions...

then discarded them. :)

He loves any chance to use his tools.

The final product!

Time for smore's.

Dear Baby,

Since you'll be here in a few weeks (5 to be exact) I wanted to tell you a story about your dad.

So here's the story. For your nursery, he was adamant that we picked bedding for your crib that had sailboats on it. He grew up on the coast and loves the ocean and REALLY wants you to love the ocean as much as he does. We also had a conversation that went something like this:

Jake: "I also really want the boats, because I love scuba diving."

Me: "What do the boats have to do with that?"

Jake: "Well if we have the boats and he likes the ocean, then he might like to scuba dive, and we can go together."

He's so excited for you guys to have things in common. :)

Gimmie That Girl

Being pregnant has many effects on women, one of the worst in my opinion is a general nervousness about appearance. Julia I want you to know you don't need to worry. You're beautiful.

I'm not sure why it chose to show this picture...:-)

A Rose by Any Other Name

I love our yard.

I love summer.

Dear McDonalds,

I never thought I'd be writing you a thank you letter. Maybe I would have when I was 3 and you had the barbie happy meals, they made my 3 year old day, but I wasn't the greatest writer at that point, hence no thank you note.

But now as a 34 week pregnant woman, I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your strawberry-banana smoothies. With morning sickness returning full force for the past few weeks, there is often times nothing that appeals more, or that I can manage to keep down, than your strawberry-banana smoothies.


They're cold, creamy, help mitigate the occasional heart burn, and are even semi-nutritious.

They're a godsend.

Thank you for your 24 hour drive-thru which enables my husband to come get them for me at any hour.

So for all the grief you get about making America fat, I wanted to let you know you did something right introducing your smoothies to your menu. I will be forever grateful.

When our boy is old enough, we'll stop by for a happy meal.

Thanks again,

Julia

Diapers

We babysat for a friend's little girl last weekend. Honestly, I haven't babysat since before my mission, and Jake...well he's never babysat.

The moment came in the evening when the little girl needed her diaper changed.

"No big deal." I thought. Even though it had been awhile since I'd done that, I felt confident that I could totally change the diaper.

At church on Sunday, her mom came up to me and midway through the conversation she said, "Not to burst your bubble, but did you know that you put her diaper on backwards?"

I put the diaper on backwards.

How are we even ready to have a baby!!

Enrique Suave

When I was leaving our house to have lunch with Jake, the UPS man pulled up in front of our place.

At first, I thought it was some of the stuff I ordered for the baby's room...but it wasn't.

Instead it was a box from the Omaha Steak Company, (???) complete with burgers, chicken breasts, gourmet franks, filet mignon, sirloin steaks, and stuffed baked potatoes.

It was addressed to us, with our address, from an Enrique Suave. Again, ???.

After calling Jake, making sure with the UPS guy that it was legal to accept it, and reanalyzing the attached note, I put the meat in the freezer.

So Enrique, whoever you may be, thank you for your generosity!

Go meat. :)

Hair Pulling and Chinese Politics

Maybe Jake and I need to reevaluate our bed time routine.
We seem to have more than our fair share of weird dreams etc.

The other night I feel asleep mid-conversation with Jake.
Jake was mid-sentence when I, rather loudly, said "Chinese politics don't like you" directed at him.
Haha.

Jake's "sleepwalking" has lessened somewhat.
However, the other night when I turned away to lie on my other side,
Jake reached out and pulled my hair.
He pulled it rather hard.

He was apparently dreaming of saving me from something.
It still made me grumpy at 2 AM.