Playing the Waiting Game...

I took this week off of work to actually have some time to get more ready for this baby to come.  I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off for the last few weeks so I was looking forward to some down time.  I won't lie - it has been nice in some ways - and totally not in others!  Having more time on my hands means more time to realize how ridiculously pregnant I am and how this baby still isn't showing any signs of coming.  I was almost surprised when on Monday I wasn't going into labor - it just made sense now that I actually felt ready for Rosco to come that he would mind his mom...obviously he could care less what his mom wants right now...this gives me that eery feeling we're going to have a little independent rebel on our hands...just like his dad!  Ah - those ones are the fun ones though aren't they.  They make life interesting.  

I haven't minded people asking me how I'm feeling or when the baby's due up until about a week ago when I got all this time to dwell on the fact that he's still not here.  I am so grateful to be pregnant and have a healthy little baby growing inside me...but I won't lie - the questions and comments are starting to wear on me.  If I'm told I'm quite huge or asked if I'm carrying multiples one more time, I may just go haywire!  Haha - I do feel like a ticking time bomb though, wondering what my body will actually feel like when the time finally comes.  I've managed to get all the baby stuff put together, the clothes washed, the bags packed - we'll just have to wait until his royal highness decides to make an entrance.  I just have to say - the waiting game is one of the worst games ever invented!

The Cedar Chest

My gorgeous cedar chest

This is dedicated to my amazing, thoughtful, sweet, romantic husband Steve.  For my birthday he had a friend of ours make me a cedar chest.  That in and of itself is a great present, but the part that made it so special was the reason he gave it to me.  I've come to find that Steve is sentimental about anything to do with family - which makes him an even greater husband.  He values making memories, traditions, and taking time to be with family.  So, in getting me this cedar chest, it came with his own memories of his parents' cedar chest and all the treasures he would find when he would open it up and see the things they would place in there with the smell of cedar.  Now we have our own cedar chest to place our own memories and savored things in.  He wants our children to love the treasures they find from our lives when they open it up just like he did when he was young.  I must say, I have the best husband in the entire world.

Week of Events

We have had quite the week of events.  Steve and I just realized we have eaten out four times.  Cafe Rio, Barry's, Applebee's, and Joe Vera's!  It's like we got our tax return orjavascript:void(0) something - haha.  We have spent that money about 15 different ways in our minds.  Steve was allowed to buy a Starcraft game because of it, and I'm itching for a kitchen aid or sewing machine (yes - I'm going domestic!)  We also would love to go to Hawaii with our neighbors, the Dille's, get a Wii, a new TV, new car, the works.  So far, however, it has stayed in the bank.  
I finished up my substitute plans for the next four weeks which felt amazing, handled Dr. Seuss week (since it was his birthday), saw my sister's play, went to a really fun baby shower Steve's Aunt Mary gave me, and survived Steve leaving to Oregon for his interview for Pacific University.  He did really well with his interview.  He had some amazing answers for some of their curve balls and they were quite impressed with him.  We found out on Friday and are thrilled that he has been accepted there!  We have one more school to hear back from, but I think we're feeling that Oregon is the place for us.  Wahoo!  We'll soon have the for sure on what we are doing this fall. 

Our Anne!  Wow - that belly of mine is ready to pop!

We went to my sister, Rachel's play of The Diary of Anne Frank on Monday.  She played the role of Anne and did an amazing job.  It was exciting for her to get a lead role her senior year.  I had no idea how into acting and drama she was until I found out she was going to be in this play.  It was fun to watch her and see her shine.  I can't believe she's 18 and graduating this May.  She's supposed to stay 7 years old in my mind. 
Our friends, the Dilles, came with us to the play and we had delicious scones from Barry's afterwards.  We adore the Dilles and they are moving up in the world and moving into a nice house in Spanish Fork, leaving us apartment dwellers in the dust!  We made them promise that they couldn't make any new friends though; so, we'll see how long that lasts.

We've got an array of poses.  Jordan - the psycho clown, Maren - Miss America, Steve - GQing it, and me - the beached whale! :)

Now that it's the weekend, I've washed the baby clothes and organized things for the baby room more, I'm ready for this little boy to make his entrance in the world!  My parents keep thinking every time I call them it's to tell them I'm at the hospital.  I sure wish that were the case.  I don't think there's any more room for this boy to grow.  I'm hoping for a storm to hurry up the process.  We even ate Mexican food tonight to try and spice him out!  He seems content to come when he darn well wants to.  It's got to be any day now.  My hips can't get any wider or sorer!  It's such a blessing that he's coming.  We've been praying for him to come to us for a long time.  It's amazing how Heavenly Father does things in His own way and time. 

Valentine Bums and St. George Trip

We are definitely counting down the days now.  It feels like this baby will never come while at the same time we're still scrambling to get everything ready!  Valentine's Day was sweet - since we celebrated it the Saturday before, on Monday we got a heart shaped pizza and hung out in our pjs watching Funniest Home Videos.  We truly are turning into the old couple! 

Ordering in heart shaped pizza for Valentine's...how romantic!

This last weekend we went to St. George to watch Steve's sister's soccer tournament.  It was rainy/snowy and cold, but it was fun to get away and be with family.  We hung out, Steve and the boys braved the pool, creating obstacle courses involving jumping out of the hot tub, shooting baskets, sliding down chutes, and diving for golf balls in 40 degree water!  I'm surprised no one came back sick!  We went to Meghan's soccer games at these fields that are used for growing and selling sod...needless to say with all the rain and the red St. George clay/mud...it was pretty muddy.  Cars were stuck all over the place, shoes were ruined, soaked, and stained; yes....it was pretty muddy.  We had a great time though.  We loved the condo we stayed in and had some fun memories including Steve and his dad downing a huge jar of jelly bellies all within two days...I'm surprised neither of them ended up in a sugar coma!  

Meghan in between soccer games. ;)  Enjoying some Cheeseits.

Cleaning the condo before we left...yes I was horrible at taking pictures this trip!

Our neighbors, the Youngs, were due to have a little girl just a few days before my due date, but had her today!  I won't lie...jealousy has kicked in...as well as panic to get things ready.  All I can say is that I don't wish having to make maternity leave substitute plans on anyone!  It is SUCH a process.  We're slowly getting there though.  Steve has placed a temporary hold on allowing our baby to come before this Sunday since he will be going out to do his interview at Pacific University in Oregon.  He'll only be gone for one day, but it's a day nonetheless.  We hope he does well.  We've finally been sorting ourselves out with the baby things and getting ourselves together.  Hopefully soon we'll have some cute baby pictures to put up instead of our pathetic attempts of ourselves! :)   

Valentine's

                                          Cute flowers from Steve. :)                                                 I had to start wearing my ring on my pinky, because I've graduated to swelling!

 

We decided to celebrate Valentine's early.  Steve, against his own feelings about flowers, got me some - which are beautiful!  He has never understood why someone would want to spend an obscene amount of money on something that only lasts less than a week and doesn't provide entertainment.  Thus, him getting me flowers illustrates just how much he loves me to go against his better judgment!  I like to tell him - you don't have to understand it - you just have to know that I love it!  

Yes - I'm definitely ready for my body to come back - 36 weeks is long enough right?

We spent the day attempting to clean out our back room to make more room for this baby who is quickly running out of room in my belly.  I can't believe how much time and how many changes people make for just a tiny little person who is moving in!  Totally worth it though. :)  Steve then took me for dinner at Macaroni Grill where he knew at least 3 of the waiters.  Delicious food that overstuffed us.  Then we came home to eat ice cream smothered in strawberries and chocolate (a very Valentine appropriate treat I think), while watching Stardust - a favorite of ours.  When we were dating, Steve had seen this movie and thought Yvaine looked like me, so he started calling me Star (he really is such a romantic - in spite of his masculine ideas). :)  It was a very nice Valentine's celebration - our last one without children!  Crazy!

5 More Weeks

Life as we know it is going to have an abrupt change soon.  The thing is, at the moment, I am more stressed about having maternity sub plans organized than actually going into labor.  It is so hard to plan for substitutes teaching when I'm not even planned for the next week completely!  Somehow it will get done though - right?  Right????

Anyway - we have had a busy week doing school, school, school.  Steve has a pretty loaded semester - I wonder how he's going to be when there's a little baby around too.  He works really hard and studies ALL the time!  Lots of late nights for him at school and even at home (in spite of my attempts to get him to go to bed and get some actual sleep.)  We're excited for his interview at Pacific in the next couple of weeks.  Here's hoping hard work pays off!  

I had an eye appointment to get new glasses which is always exciting.  I haven't had new ones for about 5 or 6 years.  These should last forever.  Wow - reporting on my life is quite dull!  Hmmm - we've been doing some baby registering - those little things are quite expensive I have come to find out.  There are are no longer simplistic things - everything has bells and whistles aka music included, attachments, multiple levels or motions, matching furniture - the whole deal.  What happened to a simple infant swing?  Or a simple diaper bag?  Oh well.  I had to laugh when I saw the warming wipes and whirlpool infant bathtubs.  That is just going too far!  

Steve and I decided to video ourselves and thoughts about what little Rosco is going to be like.  It was quite entertaining (to us at least) and I think it will be fun to look back on.  I'm trying to be more thoughtful of memory stuff as of late.  I want this kid of ours to be able to see something of his past before he can remember.

I've also come to find that stretch marks may possibly have minds of their own...they are NOT stopping and I have 5 more weeks!  The joys of pregnancy - Steve now has to pull me out of sitting and lying down positions now (especially when in comfy sinking couches) and sleep is becoming less and less consistent.  We are way excited that the time is coming though.  Life is going to be SO different.  We are ready for a change! 

35 Weeks!  No more room!

That looks like my hand on his face - it's not!

I was trying to get a good shot of Steve's delicious brown eyes.  I ended up blinding him for a couple minutes with how close the camera was to his eye!

So it was hundred's day this last week at school - so I molded my whole class to form "100 DAY!"  Their faces are hilarious as they all laid there perfectly still in the sculpted position I put them in.  Haha!

100

DAY!

I love how first graders are always just so willing to do what you tell them.  They are a hoot!  This little group is so fun to have.  They love singing - they got into a kick singing the Dynamite song (which Steve had in his head for the longest time.  Steve will go through these phases where he gets one song in his head and he sings it ALL the time for about 2 weeks before he switches to a new song.   We've gone from the soccer world cup theme song for 2010 to the Dynamite song to I Can Be Your Hero - being the latest song.  I'll try to keep everyone updated on his current hits!)  My little first graders also love to tell me everything they could possibly think of from having been a vampire since one was 3 years old to having gone to Disneyland the day before.  It's great teaching first grade!

Just Gettin' Bigger

 Steve's been feeling the pregnancy symptoms too...okay - he's just poking out his belly, but he's been more into cravings than me!













Here I am at 34 weeks. This baby really has no where to go but out now!  Less than 6 more weeks!

Well - there isn't loads more to report.  I am now finally at 34 weeks - into my 35th week.  I've begun to feel the uncomfortableness of pregnancy.  I've heard multiple people say that God must have made pregnancy this way so a woman will feel like by the end she'd do anything to get that baby out - who cares what kind of pain.  I still have 6 weeks to go and I'm just beginning to grasp this idea!  We are getting more and more excited for the little guy to get here though.  He enjoys pushing out on my stomach from all angles still and has the occasional hiccups.  We wonder all the time what he'll look like and act like.  It's weird to think it's actually coming!

Steve has been slaving away at school.  He got accepted to the University of New England in Portland, Maine for their doctorate program in physical therapy which was exciting - however, we don't think we'll be going there.  It's pretty much the farthest away you could get from Utah in the U.S. and too expensive.  He's got an interview at Pacific University in Portland, Oregon at the end of February which we both are excited about.  Funny how he applied to both Portlands in the U.S.  Hopefully we will be able to find out soon where our future will be for the next few years.

My sister, Rachel, who is 18 now (It still weirds me out that she is a senior!) just got the lead part in her high school play of The Diary of Anne Frank.  We're excited to see her perform!  

I'm looking forward to getting our little guy here soon so that we can post more exciting news and cuter pictures.  Until then - everyone will have to deal with just the Steve and Stace.