First Gray Hair

Well, I found my first gray hair as I was getting ready for church on Sunday morning. It was a short, wiry, wavy thing sticking straight out of my cowlick. I was rather horrified, so I yelled for Scott to come see it. He never came. Apparently, gray hair isn't that big of a deal to him. He did later ask me if I was going to pull it out, and I told him no. I remembered an old wives tale that if you pluck a gray hair, 7 more grow back in its place. I'm pretty sure that's what the foreign exchange student from Spain told me in a very irritated manner after I rudely plucked a gray hair out of the back of his head while he sat in front of me in high school Spanish class. Yeah, I was a bit of a weirdy back then.

Anyway, I guess the timing is perfect. I feel like I'm still too young to go gray, but at least now I can blame it on being on mom, right?

Oh, and I couldn't find the gray hair again last night or this morning. But tonight as I was searching for it, I found another one in my part near my forehead. Let's just say I don't think I'll keep looking for that first gray hair. At least the gray seems to blend in pretty well with the little bit of blond hair that I have left. I sure hope my daughter doesn't mind her friends asking her why she lives with her grandma. :)

And while we're on the subject of age, I have to tell you about a conversation that I have had numerous times throughout my pregnancy. It usually occurs with an acquaintance or a ward member who doesn't know me very well. It starts with me saying something about how excited I am to become a mom and how I'm a pretty old first time mom. Then..
Other person: You're not that old. How old are you?
Me: 34
Other person: Oh (in a tone of shock and slight horror)
I usually find this amusing, but sometimes not so much when I really am feeling old. I know I should just be glad that I look younger than I am. Most people who guess my age say late-20's. But I guess that's all about to change with this awesome gray hair. Good, good times.

Baby's Room

Our baby's room is finally (mostly) done. Scott and I learned a lot along the way about our lack of painting expertise and our lack of home improvement knowledge. Trial and error is not my favorite way to go, but I guess it's a glimpse into how parenthood usually goes.

Scott and I agreed on a lady bug theme (without too much pink), and we are actually very happy with the results.

We hung the matching valance, and our fabulous artistic friend added the cute paintings on the walls. This area still needs a small bookshelf under the window.

I'm sure I will be spending a lot of time in our new glider/rocker.

We bought a matching crib, changing table, and dresser. Scott loves to play the mobile. :) We are also going to hang my favorite picture of Christ over the crib.

A closer look at the cute crib bedding.

We love the dragon fly. And the pillow pet--courtesy of my cute niece Faith.

The most boring wall, but I will soon be hanging the shelves on the wall and adding pictures.

Now we need to transfer this huge pile of gifts that is in our room into the baby's room. Do you think we can fit it all in?

**Update on our baby: We had a doctor appointment on Wednesday, and he did an ultrasound to determine that she was still breech. So we scheduled a c-section for December 21st. If she turns before then, they will induce me as early as the 17th. Or if I go into labor, they will check to see if she has turned and then go from there. We are still hoping she will turn on her own. And I'm actually feeling like she might have turned during my pre-natal water aerobics class later on Wednesday. We won't know for sure until our next appointment on Wednesday, so please keep praying for us. Our main hope is that she is born healthy no matter how she comes. We will definitely be parents in 11 days! Yay!

Thankful

I am so thankful for...

FAMILY & FOOD:

We enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with my fabulous family at my grandma's house.

Most of my adorable nieces and nephews were there.

We enjoyed a 2nd yummy Thanksgiving dinner with my wonderful in-laws (some of whom love public displays of affection).

A couple of days later we had good Mexican food with great company.

I love my loco nieces and nephews!

FUN:

Scott took me on a fun Rockettes date for my birthday. He liked the wooden soldiers the best.

I really liked the show, and I think Scott liked it more than he is willing to admit. :)

We ate delicious sushi (cooked rolls) after the show.

FUTURE:

Since Thanksgiving, I have been thinking a lot about all of my blessings. I have reflected quite a bit on where I was exactly 5 years ago. My divorce was barely final, and I was devastated by the belief that I would never realize my dream of having an eternal marriage and children. I am still amazed by how quickly life changed for me. I am so incredibly grateful to have found Scott. He is an amazing husband, and I feel so blessed to have him in my life. We are overwhelmingly thankful for the opportunity we have been given to become parents. This is a dream that we have both had for a very long time, and it's so fabulous to share this joy together. We are very thankful for all you loving friends and family who have supported us through this journey. We love you all!

**I think that I should add, for those of you who don't already know, that we found out last week that our baby is breech. Our doctor offered to try to do an external version to try to flip her, but we decided that the risks, pain, and cost wouldn't be worth it for us. So we are waiting and hoping that she will turn on her own. If she doesn't, we are grateful for modern medicine that will make a c-section a safe alternative. Please pray that she does turn for us but that above all she is healthy! Thank you!!

8 down, 1 to go

That's right! Just one month left before our baby girl arrives--we hope. Yesterday was our official one-month-left mark. But that's only because we still go by the due date our fertility doctor gave us over 6 months ago--December 23rd. Our ob/gyn has always said December 24th, but we didn't like that date as much so we stuck with the first one. So if you go by our ob/gyn, today is our one-month-left mark. Either way, it's pretty dang exciting and crazy!

Today I had a doctor appointment, and (as expected) I'm not even 1/2 cm dilated. I have been having A LOT of Braxton Hicks contractions these past couple of weeks but no real ones yet. Our baby is lively and has a strong heartbeat, and we can't wait to meet her!

Back by popular demand, my belly:

Scott took this pic last night. I feel huge, but people still tell me I look small for 8 months along. What can I say? I'm tall, and it's my first baby.

And this is our goal:

I bought this onesie a few months ago as a wishful goal.

Our doctor thinks I will most likely go late. They will induce if I go one week late without progress, but that would be on December 31st--a little too close to the New Year for comfort. Please pray first and far most that our baby girl is healthy. But please also pray that she comes this year--we really need the tax break and have already met our insurance deductible. :)

When do you think our baby girl will arrive?

34th Birthday

Last week I had a full week of fun birthday celebrations.

The Saturday before my birthday, I hung out at Temple Square with these fabulous friends from elementary/high school.

We had a delicious dinner at the Garden Restaurant (complete with these amazing fried pickles) and then watched the Joseph Smith movie.

My actual birthday was pretty low-key. I did some shopping and then worked late, so Scott and I had a very late, very yummy Thai food dinner.

The Saturday after my birthday, I had a little karaoke party with great friends and fam.

Not sure how Robyn ended up on the floor.

Good times!

These beautiful ladies are currently available...

Sam looks like he needs something to eat.

I loved the scrumptious better-than-whatever cake Carla made for me!

One last pic of my adorable twin nephews celebrating their 8th birthday just a few days after my birthday. Super cute!

So far, 34 hasn't been too bad. I was kind of dreading officially reaching my mid-30's, but I really have so much to be happy about. So what if I'm having my first child 5 years later than my mom had her 5th and final child at the age of 29! I'm 34, I'm happy and healthy, I have a wonderful husband, and I'm going to be a mommy soon! Yay! I am SO grateful.

Showered with love (& gifts)

I had 3 baby showers last month. It was great to see many friends and family that I hadn't seen in awhile.

Mission friends shower:

It was an intimate gathering, due to the fact that most of my mission friends no longer live in Utah and that a couple of them couldn't make it. But it was fabulous to be together and reminisce. Thanks Big Al & Lowrey!

Friends shower:

New friends from my current ward.

Friends from work and my old singles ward.

Friends from college.

Friends from my last singles ward.

More friends from the singles ward--plus one friend from high school.

Thanks to Carla, Kate, and Candace for throwing such a fun shower!

Family shower:

I didn't start taking pictures until after many people had left.

Fortunately, my aunt Michele got this picture in the middle of the shower.

My great-aunt, cousin (once-removed), and my grandma.

The shower throwers--my mom and my sisters, Christina and Jana. Thanks tons!

A side shot of me at the shower--31 1/2 weeks along.

Scott and I feel very blessed by the love and support we have received from you all. Thank you so much for everything!

Halloween festivities

Here are some pics of our Halloween festivities this year:

Scott and I carved pumpkins for FHE the week before Halloween. Scott was embarrassed that I put them on our doorstep because he said it looked like a 3-year-old carved them. :)

I had to carve a pickle out of the green on the back of my pumpkin. The seeds we roasted that night were delicious!

As usual, I enjoyed attending my niece and nephews' school costume parade. Faith was a beautiful Chinese/Asian princess.

Clay was M-M-M-Mario, and Cole was a jumping Luigi.

Scott and I dressed up for a party Friday night--thanks to Megan's idea. In case you can't read it, Scott's hat says "Bun Maker."

And this is what my costume says.

Diana and Sam dressed up as party poopers. :)

John and Megan were a crayon and a broken crayon. Thanks for a fun party, guys! Argh!

Jana was a cute cabbage patch doll.

On Saturday night, we had dinner at my parents' house and got to go trick-or-treating with these cute kiddos.

One last pic of the kids after their Fall dance festival at school. Cole & Clay did the Macarena, and Faith did a line dance to "Life is a Highway." Cute!

With Halloween over, I am more than ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas!