My 30th Birthday "Thirty,Flirty & Thriving!!"

So today (December 9th) is my 30th birthday! Yeah. I know, you are probably thinking that I should not be happy about my 30th birthday and I was not exactly sure that I would be myself. I wondered if I would have that crisis moment where I look around and go...what am I doing here? Is this where I want to be by 30? Did I make the right choices?

Well, I did actually have that moment over that last week but I feel so peaceful about the fact that I am exactly where I want to be. I do actually have the things that I hoped for by 30 and I think I made a slam dunk on my choices in my life. There are obviously things that I would do better (knowing what I know now) but nothing that I regret or feel was a huge mistake. I was relieved to realize that those questions aren't all that scary when you are happy. Sure I wish I would have won the lottery, could be a perfect example, that I could be a billionaire, or look like Cindy Crawford but nothing that I feel is truly missing. All in all I would say that I am "Thirty, Flirty & Thriving" (All you Jenn Garner fans know what I am talking about).

With that said, I do have some things that I do want to make an improvement on for the big 3...1... I think that this year I would like to be better at personal scripture study, be more patient (I try and get about 50/50 on it), have more fun with the kids (not so much work, work, work), get back to a physical level that thrills me, and work on photography (favorite pass time). I guess that I look at my birthday as the real beginning of the new year for me. Who cares about January 1st, December 9th is the best real New Years Day for me. 4:20am in a blizzard in Idaho with just me and my mom/docs/and nurses to welcome me in. Hard to believe that I am a real grown up and that I have little spirits depending on me now. I hope that they feel as good about their life (and even difficulties) when they are 30 as I feel now.

I think I can trace all happiness for me back to the moment when I decided that I wanted to follow the path of the Gospel. I was 19 and has many roads ahead of me. I decided that a mission, the temple and a worthy priesthood holder and children were my future. Each of these choices were finalized in the month of December, by the way. (B Day Dec 9th, Mission entered Dec 29th, Married Dec 27th and Jacob was born on Dec 14th.) Funny huh. The next big decision will arrive in June now but that is okay. Anything else in December will bankrupt us!!!

I had a fun day though. Rick woke me up with Jacob and gave me my present. I got a chair style back massager (I loved it!!) and then took me for dinner (Italian food). It was fantastic and super spicy (arrabiata) down in Pittsburgh Italian district . The food was yummy, the place was authentic and although I suffered for the spicy choice all night, totally worth it! I love just being with my family on my B-Day and missed all of you guys.

Thanks to everyone that remembered and anyone else that forgot, no worries. I forget everything until the week after and send sorry I am so late cards. I miss everyone and just a little note is all the present I need! Well, I love you all and miss everyone!! Call me or drop a line when you can. TVB!

Sick As Sick Can Be

Sorry the posts are so few and far between. In fact, if you have not heard from me in a while, I am sorry. I have been so darn sick. I hoped I would be over the worst of the sickness by now, but it only seems to be getting worse. I am posting this comment in the hopes that someone that reads it has some tricks for curving the nausea and general grossness that I feel. What happened to a glow?? What about women that are pregnant should feel good and vibrant and like they are beautiful?? Not in my world! I Feel tired, sick, irritated, achy and disgusting. I still have a long way to go but I just hope that I can get over these feelings soon! Here is what I am doing it all for. This would be about the same size, and development as our baby is. So cutie huh!

At least I am lucky and Rick has stepped in and helped to keep the home going because things were piling up and getting gross. He is being a real trooper and has definitely stepped up even more than with my pregnancy with Jacob. I think Jake's birth changed the way he felt about what I was doing for the family. I get the impression he would rather clean, and help me be comfortable than have to do any of the pregancy stuff himself. Smart man!! If there were any way that he could share the sick or pain, I would make him do it cuz this sucks!! Since there is not and we really do want this sweet baby, I am thankful for all of the help that he can offer me. It would be so much worse if I had to do everything on my own.

Oh well, at least I do have my normal health right. At least there is lite at the end of the tunnel. I remember after I gave birth to Jacob and they wheeled him out. Everyone followed and I was left all alone to sit in quite and wonder how Jacob was. I had seen him for only a minute and the family had him the rest of the time. I wondered if I should be sad that I could not see him again right away, or if I should feel jealous that everyone else got to see him without me? I thought those thoughts for only one second and then though, awe heck, let them all have their fun. I feel amazing!!!!!! Yep, I had just given birth, I was all alone, and I had never felt better. I even remember letting out a small squeal of delight and wiggling my toes in happiness. I felt good for the first time in 9 months. Ahh, that is the feeling that keeps me going when I am so freaking sick. The next best feeling was when Jacob came in to be with me. That is the other thing that I am banking on. I know it is still early, but that is what I am looking forward to as well.

I already had a fun moment with the baby to share. I was sitting in the recliner on Tuesday and all of the sudden, I felt the baby move!! I know it is early but I am 100% positive of what I felt. It was super small and only noticeable if I was being still, but I felt the little one move. I love that part too. It makes me a little nauseous when it happens, but I don't mind feeling sick so much if it is rewarded by a connection with the baby. I am so happy that it is happy and healthy. Can't wait to find out the sex and give it the name we picked out.

Thanksgiving Day Fun

This Thanksgiving we opted to spend it with friends. Rick and I thought we would do a quite afternoon at home but as I realized how much cooking I had to do and how sick I get when I cook, I opted to accept an invitation to spend the afternoon and feast with a group of about 4 young couples and their kids. Jacob was thrilled that he could play with kids and I was happy to only have to cook for a hour vs a whole day. Rick started the morning with a game of touch Turkey Bowl style football with the men of the ward while I cooked up the side dishes you see below( Sourdough, Artichoke, and Parmesan Stuffing ...YUM!!!)

And Cheesy Potatoes Au grautin. They were good, but I used goat cheese! Everyone liked them, but one bite and I learned that I don't like goat cheese. Especially Pregnant!

We ate for a few hours, well, the guys did. I could only eat just a little bit, but it was good. We played games, played the Wii, watched movies, and laughed until about 9pm and then headed home. Jake only had one melt down so it was still pretty fun. I am grateful for friends that can give you a hint of home when you are all alone thousands of miles from family. I miss our family so much. I wish we were closer so that we could have you all fight over who gets us each year (hopefully you would want us) but as it is, I am grateful for friends to fill in and give us a taste of home.

The Baby

We got to go to the Dr. today for our 10 week appointment. I am actually closer to 11 weeks but who is counting right?? I got to hear the heart beat for the first time!! I was so excited. The little one (Richard AKA Rickie if it is a boy and Hailey if it is a girl) seems to be right on schedule. The doctor asked me if I wanted to try to hear the heart beat and of course I said yes!! She said that it can be hard to hear the heartbeat until 13 weeks or so, but that we could try and see if it was possible. I knew that if this one was like Jacob it would be loud and easy to find. Jacob was very, very healthy and at the top of the charts with everything, so I just expected that this one would be the same. She told me it could take about 10 minutes to find it and then placed the Doppler on my abdomen. She poked around 2 times and then on the 3rd try, success!! The heartbeat was loud and fast. She was surprised and happy that it went so fast. She said it was the heart beat of a 14 week old baby but I am sure it is only 10 weeks.!! That is a good sign of health for the baby so I am excited.


(Here is what the baby would look like if we could peek inside of me. Kinda looks like an alien baby huh. So cute though. It moves it's fingers and toes now and has most of it's essential functions.)



It never ceases to amaze me that I have a little child in me. It is incredible to think that Rick and I co -created a life that we love as much as Jacob. I cant wait to see it grow and develop so that we can start calling it by it's name. We will get to see it in about 6-8 weeks on the ultrasound and determine it's sex. Cant wait!! I will keep you all informed as we go. I am just so grateful for the blessing of this child. I don't take it lightly and I know that there are many that seek for children and do not receive. We try everyday to be worthy of the blessing of our children and fall short so many times. I cant wait to welcome baby #2 into our home though.

Seeing our Friends.

Well, one of my favorite things about visiting Utah is getting to steal a way a few minutes with long time friends. I got to see 3 of the many but really enjoyed what times we had. I have been sick for much of the time and feel bad that I was not my usual self though. I loved seeing Kendra

Dunger (previously Birch) after so much time away. It has been years since our last visit but she was just as adoreable and wonderful as I remember. Jacob loved her. No surprise since she was a teacher and knew how to entertain him, but he really liked her. Jacob also loved her little girl Tory. She is such a beautiful baby!! Again, no surprise there (Just look at her momma & Daddy!!). We went to lunch and hung out at her place for a few hours and it was so nice to get away and catch up. Cant wait to visit again soon someday! Kendin, you are always welcome to visit here should you feel the need to come east!!

Next I got to visit Kelly Harker. She remains to be a favorite friend of the family. She was hysterical as usual and a pleasure to dine with. We went to Macceroni grill since she is Prego and I am Prego and that just sounded like we could both be pleased there. The food was fine but my favorite thing was seeing her and her son Linus!! I adore that little guy. He seems so sweet and shy and I love kids like that. Jacob loved him too. They got along great and laughed all through lunch and the ride home. I find it amazing that Jacob can get along with children of all ages with little problems if any. He just wants to love other kids and play. I am always glad that the does get along with them because then the moms are always excited to come visit or let me visit them. It sucks when a friends kid picks on your kid so I am fierce about keeping Jacob in line with friends kids. I never want to be the mom that does not stop her kid from picking on others kids! Kelly had the camera that day so I will get pics from her site and post them later.

Finally, I got to see Jenn Lambert!! I love seeing her too. It is like we are 21 years old again and working in the mission all over again. I love talking with her about anything and making her laugh. She cracks up at most of what I say and I love it. We talked about everything we could fit in and I am always amazed at how smart she is. Not because she is blonde (just kidding Jenn)! Ha, I'm gonna get it for that one! No, she is just smart about things that I am not always smart in. I get a kick out of her and all of her thoughts. I guess that is the mark of a true friend. We can get together after years and it feels like no time has passed. Things are different for us both no doubt, but the core of the person is the same great person you befriended in the beginning. I have been very lucky with friends and have many that feel much the same way. I wish I could have seen you all!! Here is a picture of Jacob with Maddie (Jenn's gorgeous daughter. Maddie is a spitting immage of Jenn to me!!

Online Find.

Has anyone ever had to order online? I usually order random swimming stuff that I cant get anywhere else but never really clothes. I have searched high and low for maternity pants that are long enough for me and finally had to turn to the online search. I so prefer just going in and trying things on getting out the old card and walking out with my prize. I guess it is the instant gratification that appeals to me. Maybe I am just a procrastinator and don't have time to wait for shipping? Who knows. Anyway, my regular pants ain't gonna cut it much longer. They fit but they are starting to bug my belly and I hate that feeling. I would rather just do maternity and not worry about it. Anyway, I placed an order and finally will have some sent. I sure hope they are cute and that 34 inch inseam will cut it. Sad, I know when 34 inches long could leave me stuck in flats but at least I wont look like there is a flood in town. Anyone want to make a million bucks?? Make long and petite jeans and pants. There never seems to be anything available for super short or super tall chicks. Maybe even a custom order jeans co. Wouldn't that be awesome. Anyway, just an idea. I've had a few that finally got made and made someone a few million bucks, I am sure. Wish I could do it but I would just be the brains of the opperation.

What we are up to (W/ Major Announcement)

Gosh, I cant believe it has been 2 weeks. I am definitely better at blogging when I am back at home on a schedule. So, what have we done so far?? Well, Jacob had such a great time on Halloween! He got to get dressed as Mr. Incredible and he was thrilled. We went over to Grandmother Shumways and ended up trick or treating in her neighborhood. He got plenty of candy and spend the evening talking to Grandmother and Aunt Jooey about all of the candy he got and about his super powers. I think they got as much of a kick out of him as we did. It was nice to see Grandmother and Jake together.

There is no doubt that there is love and legacy there!!

So, there is a lot of other stuff going on right now. First off, Rick is only here for another day. He flies back to Pittsburgh in the morning and gets in just in time to vote!! Yeah. I am sick that I cant vote (Dang voter registrations office sucks for not getting me my absentee ballot in time) but Rick will cary on the family vote for McCain/Palin ticket. I think anyone is better than Obama so far, but I hope that people actually think about what our country will become if he wins. I have faith that people will get it right. not everyone, just about 51%. That is all we need.

Rick has been so sweet with Jacob, as ususal, and I love to see them together. They were adoreable on Halloween when Jake led us from house to house talking about how happy he was to have mommy and daddy with him. We love to be wanted.

Other news, Jacob is doing great with his cast. He has now adapted so well that he actually uses it to cary things, etc. He rarely complains and just figures that is how it is. I could not ask for a better little boy. He keeps me on my toes, but he knocks me off of my feet with his love and intellect. I think I prefer that combination if I had to choose one.

MAJOR NEWS ALERT:

I have been fairing pretty well. Most people don't know yet that I am pregnant but we finally told family, so I guess it is onto the friends. I am about 8 weeks along now and have been super sick since about 6 weeks. For those of you doing the math, that is about 1 day after I got to Utah. Awesome huh?? Nope! I feel horrible most of the day and wish that the first trimester was over. You ladies with the baby bellies know what I am talking about. I got a prescription called in for me here so I am hoping and praying that it will help. I don't have to feel great, just not like I am on a rollercoaster all of the time!

I have my first doctors apt. when I get home and we get to hear the heart beat. I am super psyched. I just love this little one already. Jacob is really excited too. Each morning he says, "Hello little baby, it is your big brother Jakie and I am going to love you so much." He will be a great big brother. I am hoping that after I get some relief that this pregnancy will stay positive and fun. I look forward to the kicking and moving stage, but that is a ways off. Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know our great news.

There is so much more to say but I am feeling queasy from watching the cursor move on the screen. I will have to finish other updates later. Love you all!! I love reading your blogs too so have a great week. I am sure it will be about that long before I get back to updating things.