3.31.2014

one-handed countdown

The number of weeks left in this pregnancy will now fit on one hand (that would be five).
What. The. Heck.
 I seriously can't believe it.  



I really don't feel like I'm 34 weeks yet...and for that I am grateful. I know I'll be more than ready to get this baby out when the times comes around, but I haven't really started to feel that "holy crap I am beyond done with this whole thing" yet. Having both a toddler and full-time job are both wonderful distractions.

I think it's funny to compare things from when I was pregnant with Jillian, especially pictures. This time I'm gaining weight so differently. 
This is me at about 34-35 weeks along with Jillian:


Look at my face!! I think last time my face also got pregnant. Hah! Oh, I also weigh more NOW than I did in this picture, so that's ironic...at least it's not going to my face this time.

But I also noticed this week that the baby belly is now an attention grabber. I went to the mall on Saturday and EVERY SINGLE PERSON that made eye contact with me immediately looked at me, then down at my protruding belly. Not gonna lie, I was kind of annoyed. BUT that also means I'm to the point in my pregnancy where I can pretty much do anything and get away with it because people will think, "Ohh, look at her. She's SO pregnant. Poor lady. It's totally acceptable that she's ______." 
So I've decided in the next week or two I'm going to go back to the mall, get a huge ace Cinnabon, and get a pedicure while I eat said Cinnabon. 
And I'm gonna eat all of it. 
Two thumbs up for me.

3.27.2014

blah

I heard somewhere once that if you pray for patience, you won't just 'get' patience, but instead opportunities to be patient. 
...
well. 
I don't remember praying for patience lately, but WOW have their been many-a-opportunity to practice just that. Opportunities that present themselves in the form of an almost 3 year-old. 
Whoever invented the term "terrible two's" needs to be corrected. I believe "terrifying three's" is more accurate. 
This combined with my raging third trimester hormones presents for really awesome situations, where I exercise probably everything BUT patience. And I'm too tired to think of specific examples that I'll probably find funny by next week.
Blegh.

(And I'm making another one of these little people?) :-p 

But thank HEAVENS for those little moments in the day where Jillian will come up to me and ask for a hug and whisper in my ear, "I lub you." 

Also, thank heavens for bubble baths, The Weepies, and this delicious pound cake. Why yes, I did eat my feelings tonight. No regrets about that whatsoever


yw activity: temple time capsules

Every girl dreams about their wedding, right? This week for young women's each of the girl's made temple time capsules. In the LDS (Mormon) faith, there is a great deal of importance placed on getting married in the temple (you can read more about that here), so we talk about it often.

Anyway, each girl gets a no. 10 or paint can to decorate with paper, ribbon, scrapbook materials, etc. To put inside their cans we gave them:

-A white handkerchief to represent purity
-Bookmark with the poem My Three White Dresses
-Two talks from previous church leaders, What is Your Destination? and Celestial Marriage
-A picture of their favorite temple
-A temple recommend holder


Then the girls filled out sheets on qualities they wanted to develop in themselves for their future husbands, as well as what qualities they wanted in their future husbands, and some planning sheets on what they want their dress to look like, ring, colors, etc. We haven't done this part yet, but we will also get some bridal magazines so they can cut out pictures and make collages of ideas they like:




Download all of the sheets above HERE
*Link has been fixed!^^

The girls wrote letters to their future selves saying where they hoped to be spiritually, emotionally, etc. at the point in their lives when they get married and what they might be thinking/feeling on the day they get married.

They also made wedding dresses out of toilet paper (like that bridal shower game) and took pictures. Some of the leaders brought their old wedding dresses and the girls dressed up in those and took pictures as well. Everything goes in the can and is opened again with their fiance one day when they get married!






It was a lot of fun and will be such a fun keepsake for each of them!

3.15.2014

i left my heart in san francisco

Okay, not really. 
But it was gorgeous. 
GORGEOUS. 


Jillian and I spontaneously joined my parents and brother on a little jaunt to California this week to visit some of my Dad's family, which is always a good time. I've been all over northern California and to San Diego, but never San Francisco! Definitely checked this off my bucket list. Random factoid- I was born in California! But we moved when I was like 2 or something. I claim Florida through and through. ;-)

We started our trip exploring the city in Chinatown. I love areas like this in big cities because for a few blocks it's like stepping into another country entirely. My super-pasty family definitely stuck out in the crowd though (especially since my little brother is like The Hulk)! 


Then we did all the tourist-y things- like riding cable cars, eating at Ghiradelli Square, the Wharf, and Pier 39. I'm kind of amazed I'm not in labor right now from walking up and down all of those hills. I got some looks from people passing by that seemed to say "Ohh you poor pregnant lady." My huffing and puffing probably didn't make people stare any less.








 Being surrounded by so much water was hydrating for my SOUL. That is hands down what I miss the most about living in a coastal state. Granted, in Utah we have a view of Utah Lake everyday, but it's just not the same. Nowhere close to the same. Give me salty air and uninterrupted ocean views and I'm a happy girl. 
And the weather couldn't have been more perfect. I am SO READY for spring! 


(I think my eyes are closed in this picture...I dunno...but otherwise I liked it- beach ball belly and all). 


I looked up some real estate in San Francisco just out of curiosity, and after seeing how many digits were next to the listing prices of the homes, and NOT next to the square feet, I realized we likely will never be living in San Francisco- haha. But I'm okay with that. The architecture is gorgeous- even though they're all basically on top of each other- they're all SO different! 

The rest of the week we were in Chico with two of my aunts and uncles and my grandma. Never a dull moment with them! But I also didn't take any pictures...sooo oops!

finished girls' room closet

Yaayyy it's finally done! 
 I wish I could say that about the rest of the girls' room...but for now I'm just referring to the closet. My original plan/thoughts on the closet are here
 I still go back and forth on my sanity level for putting so much thought into a closet.

 
But then I look at the before and after and I was totally justified. No buyer's remorse here.




Dresser: Ikea Hemnes
Wall art: this gift wrap from Rifle Paper Co.
Wire baskets: Hobby Lobby
Rope basket: A really dumb DIY 

The rest of the girls' room (gah I just love saying that...girlS) will get finished this summer. Mostly because there are other projects that need to get done before this baby comes and she'll be bunking in with us for the first few months, so I'm not in a rush. I have however started gathering some ideas:


Right now it's still sort of a hodge-podge of ideas and colors swimming around in my brain. Stay tuned.