Here She Comes...Miss Alyssa Rose

We had our ultrasound on Tuesday, and if you couldn't figure it out from the post title, it's a girl!!  'Cause, man, how twisted would that be to name a boy "Alyssa Rose"?  That would take all sorts of psychotic.  And thankfully, I'm not quite there yet. 

Actually, to get off on a massive tangent, the last time I was at the temple I was talking to a lady while we were waiting for the session to start, and we were talking about the names that we had, and that led to a discussion of names in general, and she told me that her mom's parents wanted a boy, and even though she was born a girl they still named her "John".  Seriously!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I can't put enough exclamation points on how wrong that is!!  Not to mention completely selfish.  The lady told me that her mom had a good sense of humor about it by the time she was older, but I bet she wasn't so laid back about it when she was in school.  Please, that almost makes "Apple", or "Magnus" seem normal by comparison.

So, ANYWAYYYYYYY... The ultrasound went really well, and both the tech and the doctor agreed that it was a girl.  I had thought that it was a girl even before the tech told us, because, you know, hey, it's not my first time. :o)   (TV show reference, anyone?)

It was extra good to hear that everything looked really good, and was functioning the right way, etc., because right, right after I found out I was pregnant we went on vacation, and I got into the hotel hot tub, without even thinking about it.  At least until I got out, and remembered that I was pregnant, and hot tubs were on the "no-no's"list.  So then I was freaking out, and sobbing in my bed at 3:00 in the morning, sure that I had doomed our child to spina bifida, or other birth defects.  Isn't it funny how things are the worst at 3 in the morning?

But, at least at this point, things seem to be going very well.  As a matter of fact, the doctor said, a couple of times, that our baby was as healthy as you could hope for.  Fantastic!!

I was kind of hoping for a girl (even though a boy would have been great too), so I'm thrilled that she's really going to be part of our family.  Now I just need to pray that she isn't high-maintenance, or a drama queen.  I've already got a few of those.  :o) 

Something Fun, Something Good, Something AWESOME!!

It's not often that I watch a video on youtube and am both laughing and crying, but when I went to The Piano Guys channel, that's what happened.  I had already seen their Star Wars Parody, but my mom sent me the link to their youtube channel, and it is awesome!  They are two guys who are very talented, but also produce something fun and uplifting too.  (I think they could be LDS, what with the prominant wedding rings, and undershirt thing they've got going on, not to mention their love of Star Wars, but I'm completely guessing.)

Anyway, I'm including the link to their Charlie Brown (you know, the jazz soundtrack from all the TV specials?) "concert" at a retirement home.  This video is the one that made me laugh and cry at the same time.  Granted, a lot of it could be pregnancy hormones, but it's seriously so great. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyPDQpel8bI&feature=relmfu

And I totally recommend this "Somewhere over the Rainbow/Simple Gifts" video as well.  Oh, they're all awesome...go watch 'em all! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzF_y039slk&feature=channel

Here's my current, new (as of five minutes ago) favorite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry4BzonlVlw&feature=relmfu

And here's the one that started it all: Cello Wars!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgAlQuqzl8o&feature=related

Ok, I just watched this Carol of the Bells video,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9GtPX6c_kg&feature=relmfu

and I'm almost positive that that's Gallivan Plaza in downtown Salt Lake, and they had another video faturing Alex Boye, from the Mormon Tab, so I'm calling it:  LDS!!

Which just makes it all even more fun and awesome, no?    :o)

I think I'm actually going to put my money where my mouth is, and get some of their stuff from itunes.

Maternity Pants are a Go

Well, I finally did it.  I wasn't going to, but I did it.

I got my maternity clothes out of the attic, and into the closet, where they belong.

I was hoping to put it off a bit longer, but I realized the only one suffering was myself.  Ok, granted, I could say that I was still wearing my normal jeans, but they kept sliding down under the bump, so that I had to constantly yank up my waistband, or cutting into my abdomen, which was incredibly uncomfortable.

I think that it was a little (!) bit of pride, because everyone kept saying that I didn't even look pregnant, and I don't look huge (I never do in the beginning), and so I wanted to keep that illusion up.  But my deep-seated need for comfort above almost all else has come to the rescue.

I am 17 weeks along, which is the end of the 4th month, and I am seriously in my 2nd trimester now.  As of this morning I weigh 147, which means that I've gained 5 lbs so far.  According to the pregnancy weight tracker that I found online (thebabycorner.com, for anyone who's interested) that's at the low end of where I should be at 17 weeks, based on my BMI, and planning on only gaining the 25-35 lbs.

I'm right on track, so why am I so depressed?  Well, for a couple of reasons.  Last time, with Ben, I didn't start wearing maternity clothes until 18 weeks.  And even though I start out small, in my other pregnancies, I have more than made up for it once I pass the half-way mark.  To the tune of an average 65 + lbs gained each time!

Ok, I need to get out of panic mode, and realize that things this time are going to be different.  I am tracking what I eat, which I never did before, and I understand what 300 calories actually looks like, so I am not giving myself permission to eat a ton because I feel icky otherwise. 

Phew!   Ok, I'm off the ledge.  :o)

A (Hopefully Not SO Big) Announcement

Hey Ya'll,

I know it's been forever since I posted, but I've had something on my mind, and I didn't want to spill the beans early. 

Oh heck, let's just be honest:  I'm technologically challenged, I'm lucky if I check my email more than once every three days, and I didn't have much to post, other than, "The kids are STILL tracked out, and I'm really really ready for them to go back to school.  Does this make me a bad mother?"

Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know that we're going to be having #5 at the end of July sometime.  My official due date is July 24th (Pioneer Day!!), but I'm saying that it's the 31st, just because all the other kids have been late, and I don't want to set myself up for disappointment.

So I'm 14 weeks along, and starting my 2nd trimester.  Woo Hoo!!  Although I have to say that this has been my easiest pregnancy so far.  Hardly any nausea, comparatively, some migraines, but not much after week 8 or 9, and I haven't even been that exhausted.  Of course, it could be that it's like my other earlier pregnancies, but I honestly don't remember how they were anymore.  Or maybe it's just SOOOOO much better than my last one, that this is practically a walk in the park. 

Last time I was horribly sick and just so tired, plus migraines practically every other day, until after my 15th week.  Poor Benny, I hope I don't give him a complex when he gets older, but his really was just an incredibly difficult pregnancy, plus he had colic (the kind that makes you think your baby is broken until they're 3 or 4 months old), PLUS, I had serious post-partum depression that required Zoloft to get out of.  It's a good thing that he's so fun and cute.  Especially because he's probably the most stubborn of my kids, too.  Yup, it's a darn good thing that he's so cute

I'm hoping for a girl, but we'll be happy with whichever, of course.  Jeff and I even have our names picked out.  If it it is a girl, she's going to be "Alyssa Rose" (Jeff's mom's middle name is Rose) and if it's a boy, we like "Andrew Porter" (Porter is an old family name on Jeff's side as well).

The reason for the post title is that I'm really really REALLY going to try to not gain the 65 + pounds that I have almost all the other pregnancies.  My "A-ha!" moment came when I realized that when you're pregnant you ONLY need 300 more calories, which is roughly the equivalent of a hard boiled egg, a small glass of chocolate milk, and one piece of whole wheat toast, no butter.  That's it!!  So I'm sticking with the Weightwatchers program (maintaining, not losing) so that I will track what I'm eating, and be motivated to exercise every day, but then just add those couple of things.  I didn't gain any weight until week 13, so I'm hoping that I can actually stick to those "25-35 lbs" of weight gain that all the pregnancy books tell you to aim for.  Here's hoping (and praying)!

Anyway, I'll keep you posted.   :o)

House Projects Update

I feel a little bad about that title, because it almost implies that I have been doing all of these great projects, when I haven't, but I have managed to finish a couple, or at the very least, pay someone who knew how to do it much better than I, to finish them.  So here's the latest:

First, we finally managed to get the front porch painted.  Last year (yeah, I know), we added some architectural interest to the front by getting a guy to put up some molding and arches.  The understanding was that we needed to get it painted right away, because the wood was only primed, and a whole winter wasn't going to be good for it.  Well, you already knew that wasn't going to happen, didn't ya. 

This summer we noticed it was looking pretty rough, but after a gallon of Kilz (that stuff can work miracles!) and some really good mildew-resistant paint (seriously, it cost over $35!) the porch looks great.

I painted the mailbox too, because it looked awful next to the glowing porch.  You'll just have to trust me when I tell you that it looks way, way better.

We also finally got our backsplash in the kitchen finished.  We had started the project in May, but because of some bad timing, and needing to change labourers mid-stream (is that a mixed metaphor?) it wasn't totally finished until September.  But it turned out absolutely beautiful, if I do say so myself. 

I think the tile is fantastic.  I love how it stands out, but still goes with the granite, so it doesn't compete.

Most of this summer we spent working on the backyard, putting in a walled garden (no, it doesn't have anything in it, because we didn't finish until it was almost Halloween, but come next Spring, we are going to be ready to go!!), as well as marble rock surrounding the garden, and all around the back. 

Putting the rock in was Jeff's idea ,so that he wouldn't have to use the edger when he mows.  Jeff absolutely hates mowing the lawn, and will do almost anything to make the job less of a bear.  I can sympathize with trying to make a job take less time and work, and it really ended up looking pretty cool, if you ask me.

Ok, last thing: I just wanted to post a picture of the finished guest room, with a lamp and artwork, and actually looking like someone would want to stay there.  :o) 

'Cause remember, we love visitors! (again with the "hint, hint")   :o)

My Awesome Friend

I have a friend, who, as the title might suggest, is awesome.  No, let me take that back.

She is. . . AWESOME!!!

I met her when we were living in the USU married housing trailer court, which was also awesome, by the way.  She was a "young" married girl (which really just meant younger than me), but we totally clicked.  We had had babies about the same time, and so we walked together every day to lose the baby weight, and it worked pretty darn great.

When we moved from Utah to North Carolina I was way sad to not have her around to hang out with everyday, but we've kept in touch with the occasional phone call and email, etc.  You know how it goes. 

Well, this "young mother," who was just starting out when I knew her, is now a mother of four (3 boys and a girl), two of whom have special needs.  Casey, her second son, is autistic, and her fourth child, Abby, has down syndrome.

My friend is not only awesome, but she has this AWESOME blog, mostly just about her life, but also about being a mom with special needs kids, and how hard it can be, but also how (get ready for it) awesome it is as well.

She wrote a really fantastic post a little while ago, defending the decision to go ahead with a pregnancy with a child who has down syndrome which I loved and wanted to post right away.  However, unlike her, I am not awesome, and I haven't blogged in a while, but I thought that I would (finally!) post the link now.

But first, I wanted to post a link to pix of her completely beautiful daughter:

http://www.mostlytruestuff.com/2011/11/abby-fix.html

Ok, here's the post I was talking about:

http://www.mostlytruestuff.com/2011/10/my-angry-down-syndrome-awareness-post.html

And the follow-up post, that you should read too, because it's...(wait for it)...awesome!!!

http://www.mostlytruestuff.com/2011/10/thanks-for-sharing.html

Brothers from Another Mother

Well, not really, but it makes more sense than "Twins!  ...Kinda, Sort of."  We've recently discovered that Ben and Jarom look almost exactly like each other at the same age.  Jarom says that Ben is his twin, "we were just born at different times."

We have all our family pictures on the computer as our screen saver, sort of a continuous slide-show, but we didn't have a digital camera the first few years we had kids (Yes, I am that old) so we never get to see baby pictures of Jarom all the time like we do Ben, or even Kelcey.

The other day Jarom got out some photo albums from when he was little, and while he was looking at them Ben came over and started to say, "Benny, Benny!" over and over, while he was pointing to the pictures.  We tried to explain that they were pictures of Jarom, not him, but the more we looked at them, we realized, yeah, they do look like pictures of Ben! 

I am in serious trouble, if I can barely tell my kids apart in pictures now.  When I'm a grandma I'm going to be hopeless.  I'll be that old lady that keeps saying, "Now, this is a picture of your daddy.  Oh wait, nope, that's Uncle Ben.  Ok, this is a picture of your daddy.  Whoops, wrong again."  My poor grand kids!

So, here's a couple of examples.  See if you can tell who's who.  :o)