Showered with Love

FRIENDS AND FAMILY ICECREAM SOCIAL BABY SHOWER
Aerial view of present opening. Too fun!




High School and Elementary school friends: Lorain, Marisa, Carrie, Me, Jamie, Becky, and Amanda. I can't thank Lorain, Amanda, and Care enough for putting on the shower for me!
Me and the Grandma's to Be! Mom, me, and Sue.
My Tabby and I. :)
Tabby and I on cleanup duty. What are we going to do with all of these goodies?!?




It was so fun to see all the pregnant bellies at my shower. In order: Shanel just had a baby girl on Wednesday, I'm due with a baby girl in 3 weeks, Ashley is having her baby boy in early November, Christi a baby girl in late November, Stacey a baby boy in early December, and Steph a baby girl in late December. WooEeee! Lots of little blessings on the way!

My buddies and comrades from college, Bethany and Sarah.



My good friend Steph and I. Her husband works with Josh at the PD. She is my sanity in this crazy police world we both live in! She is also having a little princess this year and I know that her and Addey will be the best of friends!


Me, my sister Katrina, and Grandma Campbell.




I have finally gotten around to sharing my baby shower pics with everyone. I ended up having three amazing showers, all unique and special in their own way! I will probably do three separate posts for them because I want to share some pictures.

My first shower was given by friends and was for my close friends and family. It was an "Icecream Social" shower where we played games, ate yummy sundaes (which by the way I am still enjoying leftovers from), and just hung out and had a really good time. Thank you to everyone who came!

Birthday

So yesterday was my 25th Birthday and it was a really good one (well, as good as it can be as you get older, lol). I wanted to post a few highlights and then do something fun.

Highlight #1: Josh gets home around 3am and sometimes I wake up because he'll turn our bathroom light on to do his nightly routine. Well, he came home around that time and did his routine and then left our bedroom. I was half unconscious so didn't pay too much attention. I then heard him about an hour and a half later finally getting into bed. My mind got to wondering what he could have been doing for an hour and a half in the wee hours of the morning, but again I was too tired to think about it. My thoughts would have to wait.

I woke up in the morning and told Josh like I always do that I was going downstairs to eat breakfast. He then presented me with the cutest card I think I have ever seen. Okay, back to the early morning rustling he was doing. He came home from work and decided to craft me a birthday card. He took a file folder (to make it nice and thick), cut it to the size of a normal card. He then searched the internet for cute poems from husbands to wives, but told me he couldn't find one that was good enough so decided to write his own. After he typed up his poem he went downstairs to my craft area, cut out the poem with decorative scissors, antique stamped the poem, antique stamped the card, found flowers and brads and attached them to the front of the card, found bubble stickers and spelled out my name and placed it on the card, and glued the poem in place. Oh, something cute too...I didn't have a "t" bubble letter for my name so Josh turned a different bubble letter into a "t"...what a champ! When I saw the card I was so happy and then I opened it up and read the long well-thought out poem (it was like 4 or five stanzas) that was made especially for me. I don't think he could have given me anything more special that day! He has really been holding out on his crafting abilities!

Highlight #2- I got the sweetest texts from most of my friends wishing me a Happy Birthday!

Highlight #3- My visiting teachers brought me the coolest birthday card, an adorable plant, and yummy chocolate! Yes...they know how it is...they're both pregnant!!!

Highlight #4- Josh had to work so my friends took me out to BJ's for my Birthday. I am confident to say that I have some of the greatest friends. I had a wonderful time and came home with new and exciting Birthday gifts!

Okay, so now for the fun part. I thought it would be neat since I'm now 25 to list 25 things that I've experienced or accomplished in this life so far. It's always nice to look back and reminisce on the past. Here are my 25 in no particular order:

1- received my first degree black belt (wish I would have continued in the ranks)
2- graduated college with a 4.0 gpa (yay!)
3- taught two wonderful years in 5th grade (hopefully more to come!)
4- found my place in this world spiritually
5- married my best friend and high school sweetheart
6- bought our first house
7-became pregnant with our first child
8- bought our second house
9- bought our first brand new car
10-took a trip with my honey to Maui
11-supported my husband through his two year mission is Russia
12-went to Disney World and all it's theme parks!
13-broke my arm doing a front flip on the trampoline (both bones in 3 places)
14-ran varsity cross country and track
15-learned how to drive a stick shift (hey that's an accomplishment for me!)
16-learned through 4 miscarriages that life doesn't always turn out as we hope or plan it to
17-Josh and I added two to our family: our dogs Sydney and Brutus
18-learned that you can't change others....you can only change yourself
19-realized that growing up left handed left me unable to play softball and with a constant smeared hand!
20-lost loved ones, but learned how to find peace in my understanding of the plan of salvation
21-realized that I tend to interrupt people, not to be rude, but because my mind races a million frames a minute, yet it's still extremely annoying!
22-learned how to be crafty and thrifty!
23-learned that I love to decorate, with the exception of painting
24-am thankful for my parents who have always supported me throughout my life regardless of if they agree with my decisions or not. I have also realized their sacrifices as well.
25-realized that despite my trials and shortcomings, that I have a loving family and group of friends who support me and lift me back up. Who could ask for more?!?

Woo! That was harder than I thought! I think my next list will be what I want to accomplish in the next 25 years (got the idea from Bethany and her "Bucket List" blog)

I love a good deal!

So Craigslist has literally become my at home shopping experience. What does a girl do when she has no money to go buy baby stuff at full price....shop Craigslist. I have come across some amazing bargains and the stuff I have bought is like brand new. When I can save money just from perusing through ads on Craigslist...I feel a sense of accomplishment, lol.

On another note, I subbed on Friday for an 8th grade Social Studies class at the middle school and boy will I not do that again at least until the baby is born. I forget how crazy, rude, and hormonal 14 year olds can be! I am looking forward to the pay for subbing, but I sure hope I get some more jobs with the little kiddos instead.

Tomorrow is my Birthday and I will be twenty-five. I sure can't believe that I'm getting up there in age. I went out to dinner with my family tonight, which was alot of fun. I got the sweetest card from my parents with money to buy a new camera, which I'm really excited about! Just in time for our little one to arrive! It is amazing to think that I am the same age as my mom was when she had me. She turned fifty this year and I twenty-five and when I'm fifty my little Addey will be turning twenty-five! I am amazed at how as the years pass by, I become more and more aware of how blessed I am. Even through my trials over my twenty-five years of life, I always come back to the fact that I have more blessings to count than mishaps and misfortunes. I think more people would be happier if they focused on the blessings and positives in their lives' rather than the negatives. The later part is definitely easier to do at times, but that is when we start to lose hope, I think,

I am going out to dinner with my girlfriends tomorrow (Josh has to work) at BJ's. It should be really fun and yummy! I can't wait to sink my teeth into the chocolate chip pizookie! My doctor said the best way to avoid stretch marks is to watch how much weight I gain...but how can someone possible pass up a monster cookie loaded with tons of yummy ice cream!?! I sure can't!

Reality Check

I received a text this morning from my visiting teaching companion and she wanted me to guess what she did this morning. She is due Oct. 6th (a day after me and we see the same Dr's) so it's been fun going through the whole experience with someone. Anyways, I text her back thinking she got her Group B Strep Test because it's about that time in our pregnancy. She text back with "No, had a baby!" What?!? A baby...when, where, how?!?

She got up to go to the restroom last night and then got back into bed, when all of the sudden she felt a kick and then a ton of fluid. She said she gushed gallons, lol. Needless to say, they got to the hospital just in time for her to get an a spinal and get prepped for her c-section. The baby was breech and when little Alena kicked it broke Katie's water. Alena is in the Nicu because she was several weeks early, but so far is doing well. I am going to go visit Katie tomorrow and bring her some baby supplies because they didn't have a hospital bag packed. This brings me to my reality check...I need to pack my bags just in case.

Mom and I went to the hospital class last week (Josh had to work) and they reiterated that babies come on their own time and with their own agendas, so it is best to be prepared ahead of time. I know this...but have been putting things off still...after the news this morning I am more inclined to get everything done and ready.

I also found out today that my cousin Randie is expecting her second in February! I sure hope it's a girl so that Addelynn has a little cousin to grow up with! I loved having cousins my age growing up, especially of the same gender!

On another note, Josh had a dream a few nights ago that I had a quick and successful delivery...which made my day. We will have to see how accurate his predictions were! I sure hope I can get away with just pain meds and no epidural, but we will have to see how much pain I can actually tolerate. The thought of being paralized for a while and having a catheter is not sitting well with me. I also want to be able to get up and move around and not be conf ined to a bed. I hope all my years of martial arts training will come in handy with the mental part of delivery!

I can't believe that in a week I will be 25 and a few weeks after that have my little baby girl! It is so fun to think that in a month I will be a mommy. I sure hope that I will be a good one and rear her up in love and righteousness. It is a little intimidating to think that you are responsible for the upbringing and well being of another human being and you will be judged in the end on how well you do it. I'm sure we will make mistakes, but it will be wonderful to have Josh to go through the experience with. I don't think I could have asked for a better companion to go through this journey with. When I am stressed and crazy...he cracks jokes and lightens up the mood. We are definately opposites in a lot of things, but it works out well for us.

Well, I have a Dr. appt tomorrow. It shouldn't be too exciting, unless for some reason they decide to check me and I'm dialating or something exciting! I doubt it...I think I will probably be the one who goes a few days over!!! I am actually enjoying the last few weeks with Josh, family, and friends before the baby frenzy begins. People tell me life is never quite the same once a baby comes, so I am taking advantage of the last little moments with Josh and everyone else I care about. I get to see my girls on Friday for Lorain's birthday...so that should be really fun!

Who Knew???

Who knew finding a pediatrician would be so difficult. There are so many things to consider. How is their demeanor with children (we better hope it's good or they're in the wrong profession, lol), do they do hospital visits, do they draw blood in office or do you have to go to a lab, what are their hours, do they have after hours? Geesh...I wish a pediatrician would just fall into my lap. If anyone has a pediatrician that they just love...please send the recommendation my way.

My Dr.'s can't predict for sure, but still tell me my cervix is shorter than normal which means once this baby is ready to come...she's gonna come...early even! This means that I have just a few short weeks to get everything hashed out and in order for her arrival.

My baby shower is this weekend and I just can't wait! I feel like my beautiful baby girl has been a long time in the waiting and I can't wait to get everything set up for her and of course meet her! I know a lot of people are just as excited as I am and I'm so glad to be able to spend a day with them and celebrate! I thought for sure with my four previous miscarriages that I would read every book, dwell on every single aspect of my pregnancy, want to buy everything in sight because nothing is too good for my baby, but to my surprise I have been quite the opposite. I just started reading my pregnancy book the other day to see what to expect for labor and breastfeeding (since I haven't taken a class on it) but that is about all. Alot of the nursery is Craigslist furnished and I have bought maybe 2 outfits for her and they were on clearance! I have just been in awe over this pregnancy and realized that over analyzing and dwelling like I did with my other pregnancies, does no good for me or those around me! I am glad that I am relaxed when it really counts. The only thing I am a little anxious about is breastfeeding...hints me deciding to pull out my book.

As of right now too, I have decided to try a natural birth and if it gets too much to handle, then I will request other means. I just want to try it and see if i can do it...after all women were doing it for years without epidurals. I will definitely request the pain meds, but the thought of being paralyzed from the waist down doesn't seem too comforting to me. We shall see! My mom had all of us natural and a few of my friends have done it too and say it's no big deal. I'm hoping for a super quick, painless delivery...is that too much to ask???

Oh the Cravings!

So Josh and I woke up this morning at around 8am and ate breakfast (he had court at nine) or normally he would be up around 11 or noon. We ate and then I was exhausted and went back to sleep, lol. See I need work to keep me motivated!!! Josh came home and joined me for some wholesome napping and we finally woke up around 1pm. I know, I know...the day is almost a waste but sleep is so good!

I was hungry and decided to make some lunch. I got downstairs and started thinking about what sounded good and the next thing you know I have all the goods out to make some yummy chocolate chip cookies. How does a nutritious lunch turn into two hours of cookie making you ask??? I have been craving them!!!! I picked out a random recipe and got to work. Josh helped me stir because everyone knows that is the worst part. In the end, I have way too many cookies to possibly know what to do with and I never did eat lunch. I personally like crunchy cookies that dissolve ever so wonderfully in a cold glass of milk...I pretty much had to overcook this recipe to get that result. I am not too much of a gooey cookie person, so I was a tad disappointed but alas I will have a splendid time eating these delightful treats for the next several days. If anyone is hungry, bored, or both feel free to come join me in my indulgences.

I have still yet to be called for a sub job, but I have had a few people respond to my tutoring ad, so hopefully that brings some money here and there. Josh is a little weary of me going to random houses because he thinks like a cop and knows someone is out trying to reek evil on poor teachers trying to make an extra buck tutoring, but I promised him I would be careful of my choices and even suggested I could meet my students in a public place. He's funny...but if it hadn't happened before to someone out there, I'm sure he wouldn't be so paranoid. Did I mention that I HATE money and especially the lack of having it. I am still searching for that magic seed that will someday sprout me an abundance of fresh, delicious, money fruit.

I have also come to the conclusion that I need to find someone who I can pay to eat with each night. Josh is not here for dinner 4 nights a week and I definitely hate the thought of cooking only for myself. I miss my old neighbors who would take me in during times such as these. I would just bring something to add to the dinner and we would sit down like a real family and eat, lol. Oh woe is me! Looks like the dinner menu tonight calls for some yummy chocolate chip cookies!

Happenings

Thought I would post to catch up a bit. Vegas was fun, just really short. My cousin Randie looked beautiful in her wedding dress and the food was oh so yummy. One thing about weddings...there is normally great food involved!

School started last week which is a bit surreal. I miss not having my classroom, being busy all the time, and having an impact on children. I visited Tabby at school on Tuesday and also brought my shower invites to handout. We had lunch and it was fun seeing her classroom and catching up. I met with Bill, my old principal and we went over my AIMS scores from this past year. Although there were areas where I thought my kids could have done better, overall I'm really happy. I had 25 students and all of them met or exceeded in Reading and Writing. I had one student approach, and one fall fall below in Math, but considering how some of my students started the year, that is wonderful! I had the best results in Math, with 16 out of my 25 students exceeding. I was pretty nervous because I missed the last month before AIMS because of bed rest and had other people doing review and such for me. All worked out well though and it was nice to see that I contributed a little. :)

The nursery is almost done. I just have a few more things I have to hang on the wall and a glider and ottoman is definitely a must. It is pretty darn cute though. Josh did a great job, my little handy man! Tabby helped me organize my two clutter bedrooms yesterday...she is great and loves to help me throw out unneeded junk! I am kind of a pack rat and it is nice to have someone help you let go of things you no longer need! I miss working with Tabby, but am so thankful that our friendship has carried on outside of work. I think Josh enjoys hanging out with her too, especially since they recite random dumb movies (lol) together and she plays Wii with him which his over pregnant wife hasn't been too into lately. Love ya Tab!

I'm 31 weeks pregnant today and can't believe that I'm on the homestretch! It has been such an amazing blessing to be pregnant and I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that has entrusted Josh and I with this beautiful baby to love and help to grow. He truly does know our hearts and is faithful even when we are lacking faith. I find myself continually thanking my Father in Heaven for the blessings in my life and I hope that there are many more to come!