36+ Weeks

Last Sunday marked my 36 week check point. I had my doctor's appointment yesterday and things are looking just great. Every time I go to the doctor I feel blessed that I don't have any complications or things to stress over. I know some people look for the excitement of high blood pressure or breeched baby just to get their baby out sooner but I really feel grateful that I never have any of those problems. At this check up they monitored the baby's heart rate for 30 minutes and it looked great. They also did the strep-B test which I have yet to find out results. Hopefully it will be reassuring as well. The doctor said the baby's head is exactly in the right position which is locked into the pelvic cavity. He showed me how to feel the head and it was pretty neat. He said the baby is super low which means the process of thinning my cervix is already underway. This is the same thing that happened with Jane. She was super low every time I went to the doctors and I think it made for an extremely easy delivery. My plans with this birth is to have him come naturally (not talking pain, just no induction.) I want him to come when he is ready, not when I feel like I'm ready. This is why...

Jane was induced a week early because my doctor whom I adored was going to Hawaii with her husband and family. At the time of induction I was having some painful contractions but very spread apart. Since the process of natural labor was already beginning on it's own (I think she would have come within a few days if I weren't induced) the induction process was super easy and super fast. I think I was dilated to a 3 and like 80% effaced when I went in to be induced (I'll have to go check my stats :) Anyways, she was induced early, it was easy and quick but she was tiny. 6 lbs 7 oz....not actually tiny but to me she was just so skinny. It made me a little sad because her legs were like chicken legs where Zoey's actually had some healthy meat on them. She was also very yellow or jaundiced in the days/weeks/ months following her birth. The doctors were never concerned about this and the times I insisted they test her billiruben (sp?) levels, they were always in the safe range. I think the jaundice showed more on her because she is so fiar skinned. She was also a pretty fussy newborn and had some gas problems. Nothing too terrible but I couldn't help but think that she needed a few more days in the oven. I think her liver would have been more developed, she would have gained a little more weight, and maybe her digestive system would have been more ready to handle things. SO, with that being said I really don't want to be induced if I can help it. I'm obviously not against an induction for health purposes but I don't want to schedule an induction just because it's my due date or whatever. My doctor says he'll let me go a week over and then the risk of infant fatality rises so he would strongly advise that we induce. I think I'm ok with that but I just hope he comes before it gets to that point.

I'm guessing this baby will come on/around his due date. He'll probably be similar in size to my girls, maybe 6,7, or even 8 pound range. I hope my body will just do it's thing like it has done twice before and we'll have an easy and fairly quick delivery (not too quick though!) Wish me luck. If anyone has any advice on what I've talked about here, let me know. I would love to hear.

Baby Shower

I deleted my last blog post because I felt like I was complaining too much. Sorry for those that really wanted to read it :) To sum it up, I am very uncomfortable. period.

Anyways, again to catch up...while I was visiting in CA my mom and sisters threw me a baby shower. It was very nice of them and the friends and family that came. I got some really cute things that I am really grateful for. Here are a few pictures.

Zoey and Jane got presents from Aunty Breanna

matching tutu swimsuits :)

Love my big girl!

I was so happy to get one of Karylee's blankets!

It was fairly early (10am) on a Saturday so we had a brunch shower. My mom made the most delicious french toast casserole and super yummy quiches. mmmmm!

Pretty tulips, I love tulips

These cupcakes my mom made were SO stinkin cute. She has this book with a bunch of yummy cupcake recipes. I especially love the cute liners.

Thank you mom and sisters!

Zoey's Testimony

Today in church I was sitting alone with Zoey. Our little Nancy Jane is at THE worst stage for sacrament reverence. We are hoping to push through it like we did with Zoey but it's really getting to us. Anyways, Andrew was out with her in the foyer. Two of Zoey's friends in the ward went up with their mom to bare their testimonies. Zoey was observing them as they were up at the stand and got this really excited look on her face and said to me "Mommy, I want to do my testimony." I kind of giggled and just sat there. She said it again and got up off the bench. I said "go ahead" not thinking she would really get any further but again she was serious so I told her to wait until the other girl was done and I would help her. She was pretty persistant as she waited her turn so I asked her if she was serious. She said yes. I figured I would take her up and see what she did even though I really didn't want to just stand there and wasn't planning on baring my own testimony since I had just conducted AND taught RS. So, I took her up to the pulpit and helped her with her testimony. It went something like this...

Me (whisper): I'd like to bare my testimony

Zoey: stares off into the congregation

Me (panicking that she won't do anything, whisper): I Love Jesus

Zoey (whisper): I Love Jesus

Me (relieved, whisper): Say it louder

Zoey (pretty loud): I Love Jesus

Me (whisper): I love my family

Zoey: I Love my family

Me: I love my sister Jane

Zoey: I love my sister Jane

Me (whisper): I love my baby brother

Zoey (whisper): I love my baby brother

Me (whisper): say it louder

Zoey (pretty loud): I love my baby brother

Me (whisper): In the name

Zoey (whisper): In the name

Me (whisper): louder

Zoey (louder): In the name

Me (whisper): of Jesus Christ

Zoey (whisper): of Jesus Christ

Me (whisper): louder

Zoey (louder): of Jesus Christ

Me (whisper): Amen

Zoey (very loudly): Amen!

It was pretty cute. I was just glad she spoke so I didn't have to resort to saying something. Andrew heard it out in the hall and peaked in so he got to see some of it too. I was surprised that shy little Zoey did something so brave. She surprises me everyday. One thing's for sure, she has to want to do it herself or it doesn't happen. We've never practiced testimonies before and only asked her one time if she wanted to go up so I was amazed that she took the initiative. So, even though she's in this horribly grumpy phase of life, there are these wonderful moments.

Road Block

I have come up against a major road block as a mom. I really don't know what to do so I'm asking for any advice you may have. PLEASE! Here's the story.

Zoey has been completely potty trained for over a year now. It was a very easy process as she basically trained herself. I know I got lucky on that one and I don't expect the same luck with my other kids. Of course Zoey wasn't perfect and had her ups and downs but she's done really well this past year. She doesn't pee in her bed at night or during naps. She knows how to go by herself and when she needs help she isn't afraid to ask us (her mom and dad.) That's how it's been like I said for a year now. Well, about two weeks ago she started having little dribbles in her underwears after going potty. I knew it was because she tried to hold it and it leaked out as she was trying to get on the pot. Well, it started happening more and more and for the past week just about every time she goes to the bathroom there is a good sized "leak" in her underwear. I have been getting pretty frustrated about the whole deal. We seriously go through at least 5-10 pairs of underwear everyday PLUS she ends up with a rash from wearing wet underwear. I don't know what to do. I feel like she's gotten into this habit of holding her pee and forgot how to go. I don't understand why this is happening all of the sudden. I'm sure there's some great freudian explanation for it all but I don't believe in him lol. Has anyone experienced a problem like this or similar? How do I approach it. I don't even care if you're a mom, I just need a different perspective. I know my frustration is clouding my ability to problem solve. I'm looking forward to some ideas! (here are the options we came up with....make her wear a diaper until she stops, time out's (don't seem to work), and many, MANY talks/explanations)

I've also thought that maybe she has a bladder infection...however she has no signs of that....is it possible to have a bladder infection without acting like it?

Easter fun...a little late.

So much to catch up on! I'll try to hurry through so I can finally be up to date. Easter was pretty fun this year. It definitely gets more and more exciting as these girlies get older. They really enjoyed their Easter baskets this year and Zoey loved coloring eggs and hunting for them. She also understood a little bit about both the atonement and resurrection and the Easter bunny so that was fun. I didn't plan on having Easter baskets Easter morning but I didn't get them ready in time to do it the sat before. I think I want to keep Sunday strictly centered on Christ and try to do most of the festivities the Sat before Easter. Anyways, we had a little Easter egg hunt for the girls in CA the week before since we were down there. The day before Easter we died eggs and went to a park close by to hunt for them. On Easter Sunday the Easter bunny came and brought just a couple goodies and a toy for each girl. Zoey got a Tinkerbell doll and jump rope and Jane got a Mrs. Potato Head. I actually didn't get to see them open it because of Sunday morning meetings but it was fun to see Zoey excitedly explain everything to me when I got back. That evening I made an Easter dinner for a couple of our nephews and my sister and a couple of her friends. I had high hopes for it and of course it didn't turn out exactly how I wanted it to but I guess it was ok. We had chicken cordon bleu, potatoes, salad, and rolls. It was a busy but really fun day. The girls were cute as ever in their Easter dresses but the only pictures I have of their dresses is from the week before at my mom and dads.

I could just squeeze her!!!

Me and my girlies in their Easter dresses in CA.

First egg hunt of the year in Grammy's backyard. It was such a hot day, I LOVED it!!

My beautiful little girl. LOVE you Zoey Lanae!

We all got a good laugh from Jane's reaction to all the candy.

Mouth full of gummies.

Standing amongst all the goods

Who made the mistake of putting M&Ms into the eggs on such a hot day....Jane went to town!

One of the Supermarkets here in Rexburg had Easter Bunnies on display. The girls LOVED them, Jane couldn't contain herself :)

Beautiful yellow egg

Love little Nancy Jane's face in this picture.

Helping put the bling on the eggs.

Jane's egg I made for her. She promptly dropped it immediately following this picture...oh well. It wasn't the only casualty.

Our beautiful eggs. Andrew did the clever resurrection depiction on the far right. I thought it looked pretty good. Good enough for Zoey to know who it was :)

Seeing how many eggs she had found.

Jane's egg hunt went a little something like this...find the first egg you can get your hands on, figure out how to open it, and stuff everything into your mouth. :) As you can tell, I have many easter pictures of Jane with a mouth stuffed with candy/fruit snacks.

Jane's trail to her Easter Basket.

Zoey's trail

My girls look like Zombies in this picture....lol! Andrew took this while I was gone. It really just makes me laugh because I don't recall my girls looking like this in the morning though I'm sure they do. I have NO idea why Jane's hair was so horrific (I'm guessing Sunscreen from the day before??)

Hope everyone enjoyed their Easter as much as we did!

Fun at Grammy and Grampa's

I know a lot of these posts are catch up but I really wanted to post the pictures still. These are just some fun misc. pictures from our visit.

These pictures are backwards sorry. I always forget to load them in the right way.

Jane isn't shy with Dallin like Zoey was when she was younger.

Big hugs for Grampa

Saying good bye :(

There were some REALLY nice and sunny days in CA and we took full advantage of them. It was so nice to hang out outside. This particular day was nice and hot and the girls had tons of fun playing in the pool. Jane was drenched but didn't care. I'm sure it felt great :)

Aunty Breanna and Zoey making cake balls. Breanna was just hired on as an attorney at a law firm in Lancaster. Needless to say she was super busy while were visiting but we still got to see her.

Grampa hadn't seen "Tangled" yet so Zoey and him had to watch it together.

We LOVE the salsa at Pepe's.

Just goofy once again.

Classic Jane face :)

Eating breakfast under the table in a fort with Aunty Karlie

Cuddles with all 3 kiddos...yes that is my belly Jane is sleeping on :)

Zoey has finally warmed up to Dallin :) In fact, she prefers to play with him over anyone else. It's cute.

"Shoppin"

Our hotel room in Fresno for Time out For Women. Jane was just being herself.

so tired!

A really funny picture Karlie took of Zoey, I think those are fishy lips and two peace signs...not sure but hilarious!

Hot tub!

Grammy loves