On Pregnancy

This pregnancy has been far more pleasant for me than my previous two have been.  The main reason for that, I think, is that it has taken me far longer to get big this time around than it did with my boys.  There are two main factors for this:  1.) I was sick longer than I was with my boys, so it took me longer to start gaining weight (at my 16 week appointment I still had yet to gain anything) and 2.)  I have been diligent about working out, even when I'd much rather be in bed asleep!  As a result, I just feel better.  Don't get me wrong, I am definitely big, but I just feel like I am a more reasonable size than I have been in the past.
In direct correlation with this, another reason why I am enjoying this pregnancy more is that the people around me seem to be so much nicer!  I should seriously consider writing a book on what NOT to say to a pregnant woman, things like:

"Are you carrying twins?"
"If I were you, I would start writing sub plans, because there is no way you are going to be able to finish the school year and make it to your due date."
"You still have TWO MONTHS?!  Wow!"
"You look uncomfortable."
"You look like you are about to pop."

And, yes, these are all comments that people have actually said to me during my first two pregnancies.  You know, I have always wondered why it is a societal faux pas to tell someone that they are fat, but somehow it's totally ok to say those types of things to a pregnant woman.  Listen folks, it makes a pregnant woman feel like crap when you tell her she is huge!!
In contrast, people have been so, so kind to me this time.  I have had more of these kind of comments:

"You are tiny!"
"You only have three months to go?  Wow, you look really great!"
"I hope I am as cute as you when I am pregnant!"

Now, I totally recognize the fact that some the vast majority of these comments are a flat out lie.  And I have always hated the saying Ignorance is Bliss.  But in this scenario, keep feeding me the happy lies!  ;-)  It makes it so much easier to be pregnant when you get that sort of feedback!  And let's be honest, I am only going to get bigger and more uncomfortable from here on out, so I will enjoy the positive comments while they last!

I have never posted, or even taken, belly pictures before, in large part because in the past I have been so self-conscious about how I look.  But because I am feeling better this time around, I have taken, and will now post, a couple.  This may be the first and last time I do this, but for posterity's (and my family in Utah's) sake, here we go:

20 weeks

Today, 27 1/2 weeks

Weekend Recap

I did not have my best weekend ever.  On Friday I woke up with a cold.  Not that big of a deal, especially considering I have not been sick at all this winter.   Friday night I couldn't sleep because I was coughing so much, though, and by Saturday my throat was incredibly sore and my voice sounded awful.  I was pretty bummed; it was our Stake Conference weekend and I was supposed to be singing with the Stake Choir.  By Saturday night I had resigned myself to the fact that singing was pretty much an impossibility for me, but I still attended the adult session and sat in the congregation.  My hope was that by Sunday morning I would take a turn for the better and be able to sing in the general session.
Saturday night was a disaster.  I was up all night, coughing until I threw up.  Finally Adam gave me a blessing and I was able to sleep a little, but it was a rough night.  When I woke up on Sunday my voice was gone.  I'm not sure that I have ever lost my voice completely before.  It's a pretty crazy thing.  Adam took the boys to Stake Conference while I stayed home and slept.  Normally, I would absolutely revel in having the house to myself for a couple hours, but as it was, I wasn't happy at all.  I happen to love Stake Conference, and it was a major disappointment to stay home.
After a Sunday that was actually a day of rest (that never happens!), I had a whisper of my voice back last night and felt well enough to attend the Youth Session and listen to Adam speak.  Call me biased if you will, but I thought he gave a fabulous talk!  ;-)  And it was oh, so funny as I was leaving.  I was walking out to my car, and there was a group of young women walking a few paces behind me.  One of them said to the others, "You know that guy speaker?  The one who talked about trek?  I thought he was really hot!"  The first thought that came to my mind was to turn around and say, "Watch it, sister.  That's my husband you're talking about!"  But since I was lacking in the voice department, all I could really do was laugh silently to myself.  It was probably better that I didn't have my voice--can you imagine how embarrassed that poor little laurel would have been if I had confronted her?!  As it was, I found it so funny and a little flattering that a 16-year-old found my husband attractive.
Anyway, I have a voice again today and am hoping to kick this cold yet!  I feel very fortunate, though--last winter I got strep three times, and the year before that we battled the flu.  If the only sickness to enter our home this winter is a nasty cold, I would say we are doing pretty well!

Ty's Funny, Too

Besides the fact that he just has an awesome personality, McKay is at an age where he says lots of funny things.  But I don't want Ty to get overlooked, either.  He makes me laugh daily, too.

Last Sunday night, I was in the kitchen washing the dinner dishes.  Ty came in and said, "Just so you know, I got released from Primary today."  

Me:  "Oh, really?"  

Ty:  "Yep.  I got released, so I don't think I will be going anymore."

Me:  "You will still be going actually.  But nice try."
Um, can I just remind you that this kid is four?  This could be trouble. 

And today while out running errands, we were listening to the primary song, "Hum Your Favorite Hymn," in the car.  After the line, "Just hum your favorite hymn, sing out with vigor and vim..."  Ty yelled from the back, "Oh, Vigor and Vim!  Those are some of Santa's reindeer!"

Awesome.  These are the moments when I realize I have the best job in the world!

You've Had a Birthday, Shout Hooray!

Yesterday Adam celebrated another birthday.  It was a pretty low-key day, actually, especially because it fell on a Sunday.  We went out to dinner on Saturday night at a Mexican restaurant that we had never been to before, and it was delicious.  I'm not even all that much of a Mexican food person, and I seriously loved it.  What was even better was that we ran into some of our greatest friends from our previous ward there, so we all ate together.  It was so, so fun to catch up and enjoy the evening with them!

I got up early yesterday morning to make Adam some cinnamon rolls before his first church meeting at 7:30.  Oh, no, I'm not all that awesome--they were just Rhodes!  Then he was off to meetings and church.  It was a pleasant and unusual surprise that he didn't have any meetings after church, though--we were able to spend most of the afternoon and evening together.  

At Adam's request, I made him a Chinese dinner, and our feasting ended with a yummy red velvet cake.  We had several young men and one young woman drop in after stake youth choir practice to sing to Adam, and they ended up staying and having cake and then watching 17 Miracles with us.  It was a fun way to end a nice, calm birthday.

I'd say 31 looks pretty darn good on him!

Happy Birthday, Adam T.!  Sure do love you!  And Happy 30th today to my brother, Josh, too!

New Niece

Yesterday my sister delivered her first child--a beautiful, healthy little girl named Alexsi Nicole Savage.

Isn't she just the sweetest thing you have ever seen?  And can you even believe all that hair!?!

Here are my parents giving her some love.  I so, so wish I could snuggle her right now, too!

Mommy and Lexsi

Congratulations on a job well done Ash and DJ (especially Ash!! ;-))  She is perfect!

Little Utes

Happy Valentine's Day from our Cute Utes!

This one's for you, G&G Marchant!

Saturday is a special day...

...it's the day that we spend playing basketball!

Ty has been playing on a city rec league team since the beginning of January.  It's especially fun because his friend, Isaac is on his team.  Ty and Isaac's daddies are the coaches, too, which is pretty special.

Ty and his buddy, Isaac, who is moving to Arkansas next week.  Oh we will miss him!

Matt has also been playing ball in the stake young men basketball league.  So far, CF ward is undefeated!

And speaking of Matt and basketball, since he has been around he has taught our boys a thing or two about the NBA.  It's not uncommon for Adam to come home from work and be greeted with, "Hi, Dad! I'm Lebron James!"  Adam is less than thrilled about this since he and Matt tend to disagree on favorite NBA players/teams.

The boys look good in their dresses jerseys, don't you think?

But, really, what four-year-old do you know who knows about this many NBA players?

It leaves his daddy simultaneously proud and shaking his head.