Happy New Year!

2015 Has been a really big year for Chase and I. Although we moved into our house in December of 2014, we have been working on our house this whole year. It has taken 99% of our disposable income, free time and effort. I am so, so happy with how it has turned out. I am so looking forward to having it done! Especially right before we bring Kate home. I think we will have everything but the carpet and kitchen backsplash done by the end of January. And by the middle of February, when I start the third trimester, it will all be done!

This year we also got our puppy! We started thinking about a puppy in April. Alfie was born March 25, 2015 and we brought him home on May 9th. It was a sweet way to remember our miscarriage due date, April 30th. He has been the sweetest puppy. I adore him. I love that he is part of our family. He is not perfectly trained, but he is very well behaved, does not chew on things he shouldn't (99% of the time), is perfectly potty trained, and is a snuggler.

And of course, Chase quit his job and decided to go back to school to prepare for medical school. That was a big shift for us, but it is going really well. He did great his first semester back, and is still really excited about his plans. I am really proud of him for making that jump. It will good for our family in the long run. And in the mean time, I am still very happy with how things are going! I am sure loving him being home during the break. I love coming home to him being there (and my handy man gets so much done while I am at work!). So I am not looking forward to the late nights during the coming semester.

And finally, five days after Chase started school, we found out we were expecting a baby! The last four months have been nothing but fun. I am so grateful that pregnancy has been smooth for me, and more so that Kate is healthy. The timing really is perfect and I am so excited to see her sweet face and share her with Chase. I am hoping that 2016 will be the first Mother's day that I spend as a mom, if Kate comes a few days early. What a fantastic year 2015 has been, but I am sure 2016 will top it!

21 Weeks

This week we enjoyed a little time off for Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve skiing at Snowbasin and it was the best the snow has been this early in the year for a long time! I loved it. And I did not feel inhibited by my baby bump at all. I was cautious, but I was able to ski as aggressively as I usually do. That night was went to Grandma Nolene's for dinner and gifts. She gave us a card table and chairs that I am so glad to have, but never would have bought for myself. We also visited with Grandma and Grandpa Thomas and they gave us a lifetime table, so we are all set in the table department. That night we stayed at home and headed to Connie and Tony's in the morning. We had breakfast casserole and cinnamon rolls, SO good! This year we mostly got clothes, and we got them a pack n' play for Kate so that was exciting. Then we went to my mom's house for second Christmas morning in the afternoon. She gave us some money and some clothes, all good things. We got her an Apple TV for the basement #Netflicks. Grandma Jan and Grandpa took turns visiting. Of course, Bean family drama made it's way into the picture unfortunately (the Bean family party on the 23rd was kind of a drag). We are just glad to have our grandparents still around. Then we went to the Calton Christmas dinner. It's always good, but for some reason this year, including Thanksgiving, gravy was left off the menu. Sad day. Then we headed to my mom's to see Fowlers for a minute, back to Reynolds to see Clark and Hailey, then back to my mom's to sleep. Then next morning, Hudson got his big dump truck. Too cute. 

This year Chase talked a lot about how Christmas is his favorite time of year. I love it too, but I think I can get complacent sometimes that we have to run around so much. But this year, I enjoyed it more and complained less, for Chase, but it really helped everything go more smoothly. This year I finally printed Chase's mission book and it turned out great. He got me a shirt I wanted that says "baby mama" on it. It's cute! 

It's been so incredibly enjoyable to have Chase around these last couple of weeks. I am kind of dreading him going back to school and coming to home to an empty house again. And he has been amazing with getting the house closer and closer to finished. He is about 80% done with the floors and they look amazing. This week, we get our final bathroom counter and appliances!

On the baby front, I have now gained about ten pounds. So much for not gaining any weight in the beginning! I feel Kate move less frequently, but it is more obvious when I do. I think she might have more regular sleep cycles now. I still feel pretty good, very few symptoms. And I now show 100% of the time, but my size varies quite a bit from day to day. I am really excited to get past the 24 week mark, when fewer things can go really wrong. 

Oh! And Avery got engaged on the 19th! Jackson Walker is his name. We keep walking around saying, "Misses Walker, we need your help here!" from Miracle on 34th Street. He is a good guy, decathalete at BYU, from Idaho Falls, and he makes Ave happy. 

20 Weeks!

Today marks 20 weeks and half way through this pregnancy! In the last week or so my low back and hips have been really sore. I might have even had a couple braxton hicks contractions (I'm not sure, but maybe). Everyone says that the second trimester is the best, but my first trimester was so easy that I am now feeling the effects of pregnancy more. Mostly, I am showing more and my clothes don't fit quick right. I have now gained about 8 pounds (153 pounds). Some aches and pains, but I can't complain! I am enjoying it. 

Chase has been able to feel Kate move on two difference occasions now. I feel her almost constantly. The last couple of days the movement has slowed a little bit, but I still feel her several times per day, mostly strongly in the morning. 

Our big 20 week ultrasound is tomorrow and I am really excited! It will be good to get a confirmation of the gender, good health and due date. Up to this point, I have been measuring early. At the 12 week appointment I was 5 days early, and I forget to ask at the 16 week. With any luck, we will be looking at something closer to May 1st so Chase can spend the whole first week at home with us.  

Update on the house; we got kitchen counters yesterday! And we are getting our upstairs bathroom counters today. Chase is hooking up plumbing to the kitchen sink as we speak, and getting started on the wood floors later today. Chase finished finals last week and he has four whole weeks off! I am beyond excited. I get to see him more, and sooooo much will get done on the house. 

Speaking of Chase's school...wow. I cannot express how proud I am of him! He committed 100% to getting good grades and he did it. He had his hardest schedule, and his best GPA ever. He also managed to get certified in phlebotomy, work at Sonora Grill one shift per week, and volunteer at the hospital on Saturday mornings. His resume is going to be outstanding as he applies to med school in 18 months. 

19 Weeks - First kicks for dad!

I have been feeling flutter movements since 17 weeks, but not really any abrupt kicks. On Sunday morning, Chase and I were laying in bed and I could feel very distinct kick movements. I put Chases's hand on my belly and waited. "Did you feel that?" "No." "How about that?" "Nothing." Then suddenly he had the biggest smile on his face! He felt 3-4 good kicks. It was so fun! That was 18 weeks and 5 days.

I hadn't gained any weight up through about 15+ weeks. But I am 19 weeks tomorrow and I have gained 6-7 pounds and my appetite is through the roof! Annnnnd none of my pants fit. Kind of inconvenient, but of course worth it!.

18 weeks

This last week I felt Kate move twice (I think)! It feels just like everyone describes it; like a flutter of butterfly wings. It is very subtle but so fun! My stomach has also really popped out more this week. And I have finally starting gaining weight! I didn't gain any weight before 15 weeks, but I am about 18 weeks now and I have put on about 4 pounds. Hoping for about a pound per week. I also had heartburn twice his week. It's not bad unless I over eat! Now that Kate can hear, I am listening to Disney/Broadway music on pandora at home and singing at the top of my lungs! I also listen to Josh Groban type Christmas music at work. I also started our registry at Target and Amazon. It's a blast getting ready!

Chase and I went to a "first time parent class" at IMC this week and it was fun! Six couple all expecting came to hear about hospital procedures. Susan, the RN that taught the class,talked about developement, nutrition, and pregnancy a bit. She also showed a part of The Miracle of Life. But my favorite part was  at the end when we went on a short tour of the labor and delivery and maternity wards. So good to see! I now feel much more prepared for being at the hospital!   When we arrive, we check in, pre registered of course! And go to triage for about an hour and make sure it is time to be admitted. My goal is to get to the hospital when I am pretty well progressed! I don't want to be sent home home. Then there are delivery rooms that have showers, tubs, and jetted tubs. I really want a jetted tub for labor (not delivery)! Then they showed us the delivery beds- so cool! I am so happy about the options I will have to labor and deliver with. They have birth balls, squat bars, etc. IMC also has a sacred hour policy- they try to get the baby immediately on mom's chest and do not move the baby for at least an hour. I am SO happy about that! I still need to find out what Chase's options to help deliver and cut the cord are, and ask about delayed cord cutting. The maternity ward is pretty straight forward. They encourage breastfeeding and rooming in, which I am so happy about! They have lactation consultants on staff and breastfeeding classes every morning! To say the least, I feel like my ideal labor, delivery and birth will be supported by the hospital where we have chosen to deliver. Now I need to talk details with my doctor! 

This weekend, Connie, Megan and I did our annual overnight-er in Salt Lake. So fun! We shopped a bit and stayed up until 4 am talking. We talked a lot about birthing and what I want and how it was for Connie. I really like hearing other people's stories and experiences. It makes me feel like I am preparing well and I have a good chance to have the birth I want. I am actually looking forward to the whole thing!! However, regardless of how the process pans out, the end goal is a healthy baby and healthy mom. So I am prepared to do whatever I need to in order to get to that goal!