16 days to go... or more (but please, not more)

As slow as I think time is going, it really is flying by because here I am at 38 weeks pregnant and in my last week of work! Jake and I are getting more and more excited - and I love that everytime I call someone they answer with "are you in labor??" - of course I wish I was calling to tell them I'm in labor, it just isn't the case... yet. My favorite is when I call Jake and he answers like this "I'm on the other line with a client... are you in labor?" When I say 'no' he says, "ok, then I'll call you back." Everybody is just waiting for the call. I love it.


A few people have requested pictures of the nursery so I've included some below. The walls are still bare, but I'm waiting for my adorable etsy purchase to be custom framed and the rest I figure I'll fill up as time goes on... pictures of the babe most likely. Any suggestions? I've had fun seeing the nursery gradually come together.



p.s. in the above picture you will see the works of my dear friend Natalie displayed. She made the most amazing quilt and we adore it. I'm just glad Natalie was kind enough to make such a masterpiece AND still decide to give it away. What a great friend indeed!!




I'm also looking for some baby book recommendations... what are your favorites? I have a good start, but would love to know what my friends suggest.


And lastly... here I am - 264 days pregnant. Yes... the face is getting rounder - it's the Oreos. 3 days left of work. 1 baby shower to enjoy. 0 classes left to teach. And who knows how many days until wee little one arrives. I'll keep you posted.




And here's one for a good chuckle... clothes just aren't fitting quite right anymore - this picture makes me laugh.







pps - any photographer suggestions? I know someone I would love to take the pictures, but she doesn't live in Utah, so that doesn't work out so well... I could use some recommendations for newborn pics. Thanks!

35 weeks (this is getting to be ALOT of weeks)

It's a good thing that people start throwing baby showers in the last few weeks of pregnancy, because otherwise there wouldn't be much to enjoy. I do have the excitement of meeting this little guy soon to keep me getting through the motions of every day, but I need these constant celebrations to keep me sane.

When I think about it, I really shouldn't have much to complain about... I haven't thrown up once, I'm not on bed rest, I'm not swelling, I get to eat Oreos everyday and not feel guilty about it, I can still participate in physical activities and I'm able to function just as I did before (almost) on a regular daily basis... but my hips hurt and my back aches and it feels like someone punched me right on the pubic bone and I have a basketball under my shirt wherever I go, I have to pee at least 4 times a night, I need naps but if I take too long of a nap I can't fall asleep at night, I miss my old wardrobe, I miss intense workouts, I miss being able to reach my toes and tie my shoes. And I'm pretty sure Jake misses going a whole day without me getting emotional over something. Jake, if you are reading this... you have been a trooper, but I like to think, so have I.

But it'll be worth it... right??

We've made it to the 5 week countdown (yipee!)... I know this little guy is aching for a little more room than I'm providing in my belly, so hopefully my mental wavelengths are reaching him and he will get the message that it's ok with me if he makes his appearance a little earlier than the 22nd... just a little early, not tomorrow early.

Anyway, here's a few pictures from the fabulous shower I was able to enjoy with a few of my oldest and dearest friends. Thanks for fun games, amazing food, cute gifts and an overall "bitchin" day!

Lindsay, Tess and Allie... three friends I have known for years - love these ladies!!

Brooke, me and Nat... I felt a little violated in this picture and Nat looks like she's enjoying it way too much :). Kidding lady! p.s. We didn't plan the b/w theme, we are just that in sync.

Natalie MADE this... I am so impressed with her quilting abilities. I will never let baby Olson poop on this blanket.

Brooke, me, Tess, Linds, Allie, Bekah, Jess, Katie and Nat. So cute!

And... Katie and me at 35 weeks. She is due two days after me, but I'm preparing myself for her to go into labor before me... sigh. I love that my belly is basically at Katie's chest... the tallest and shortest of friends pregnant together. (What you can't see is Katie on tip toes and me squating lower to try to match our bellies).

30 weeks and 'The Windy City'

Two weeks ago from today I was packing up and heading to the airport with Jake for one last carefree and wild vacation before we become parents and responsibility hits us like a ton of bricks. Yeah, we're wild and crazy... didn't you know??

Chicago was awesome. Yes, we went to Chicago for our last trip. This is how it happened. I mentioned to Jake that we should go somewhere before the little babe shows up, Jake agreed and then sent me an email at work one day with the following options; New York, Boston and Chicago. Well, I love all these cities, so I emailed back and said "all good options, you choose." Jake's reply "I don't care which of these cities we go to... I just want to watch baseball." So after a few more emails we decided on Chicago. It was fabulous. I will admit that Chicago is definitely a 'walking' vacation, and when you are 30 weeks pregnant and 22lbs heavier than usual you will wear down. I have no complaints though - except for maybe when our flight was delayed for 2 hours at O'Hare airport... while we were on the airplane. I may or may not have cried... on the plane... in front of many strangers. I'm a ridiculous pregnant mess.

Here are a few pregnant pictures for your enjoyment (and my embarassment). I swear I don't remember what it was like to NOT be pregnant... pants without a stretchy waistband exist???

Jake and me walking through Millenium Park. This was right after our night at the Art Institute of Chicago... I love being able to walk everywhere. This was one of my favorite nights.

I don't remember which bridge this was... maybe Deerborne(?). We had to cross the river every night to get back to our hotel, it was always my favorite part of the walk. One, because it's beautiful and two, because I knew we were almost to our destination when we were crossing the river.

You can't go to a Cubs game and not wear Cubs gear... so here we are decked out as Cubbie fans, I loved being a Cubs fan! Go Cubs Go! Wrigley Field is amazing. And going to a professional baseball game with Jake is a completely different experience because he tells me the history of all things baseball and makes me appreciate everything associated with the sport. I love how Jake starts walking faster and stopping at random locations to explain something to me about the field or the team.

I almost went with this Cubs shirt, but settled for a picture instead. Little Olson will be sleeping in little Cubbie pj's soon... that was his souvenir.

On Sunday morning before our flight, we took an architectural tour of the city. This ended up being one of our favorite activities! The history of Chicago and plans behind all of the buildings was amazing to learn about. I asked someone to take our picture during the tour, but I didn't bother to move away from the giant railing behind us, so you can't even see the view of the city. I get mad every time I look at that picture, so you get the close up face shot instead. Did you know that Lake Michigan is almost 2ft. higher than the river? Crazy.

Now it's two weeks later and I am sad our vacation is over. However, this means I am two weeks closer to my due date! October 22nd is eight weeks away!! I am trying my hardest to be pleasant and energized... trying.

P.S. Please don't laugh at my pregnant pictures.

26 weeks down.... 14 to go!

I'm not a big fan of these profile pictures... I don't quite know if I should smile or not... plus I obviously didn't feel like wearing much makeup on this particular day. Would lip gloss and eyeliner really have been too much to ask?? (sigh) What can you do.

I still have one pair of jeans and one pair of black capris (pictured above) that I manage to squeeze into... I'm just waiting for the buttons to break off the capris, however the jeans are holding strong. Other than that I'm all about the comfort of maternity clothes... except for the other day when I wore a maternity shirt for the first time and a lady assumed I was having twins... people need to learn to keep their mouths shut.

I survived nonstop hiking/crafting/playing at Girls Camp this past weekend... along with very few hours of sleep. These things are tough on us pregsters, but I managed just fine. My list of "things happening before baby arrives" is getting shorter and shorter. I still have Sun Valley to look forward to, and a "last hoorah" trip to Chicago with Jake to top off my summer. I can't wait!

I officially enter my third trimester in 8 days (according to the iPregnancy app on my phone). Trimester 2 just flew by, which is really too bad because from everything I've read and heard, the second trimester is the most pleasant... apparently I am supposed to keep getting bigger in the belly region... and most things become quite uncomfortable from here on out. Lovely.

Some days are better than others. I can't quite decide if I am super emotional because of pregnancy or if I have always been like this. The things that upset me seem totally logical, but when it comes to explaining why I am upset... I don't really know what is wrong. It's quite frustrating! Hopefully I will look back at these crazy times and laugh at myself for being such a wacko.

In the meantime... does anyone have any chocolate??

a new "blog"inning

you may have given up on me... but i'm back... and pregnant. if you didn't know this, you are way out of the loop. this has been an exciting couple of weeks for two reasons - number one, we finally found out we are having a boy and i must say he is going to be a handsome little guy. number two - the halfway point has come and gone as of last week! yay! now i get to watch my little ipregnancy app on my phone show the days getting less and less. this is very exciting.

i also must tell you that i have many a good reason for giving up on the blog for a few months. not only did a bun slip into my oven, but i do in fact work everyday and i still teach classes during the week and i am the newly acclaimed YW president in my ward. so i feel ok saying i've been a bit busy. and let's not forget i already have a baby-- louie the min pin-- and a husband. see how busy i am.

if you're wondering about my pregnancy it's really been great so far. the first trimester kinda sucked for about three weeks when no food sounded good. all my favorite things to eat didn't appeal to me. i also really don't like feeling fat. i am finally to a point where i actually look pregnant to other people. noticing my pants feeling tighter and tighter and the zipper being harder and harder to close was depressing to say the least... but i'm on to stretchy pant phase and i haven't looked back since. i also might be a little emotional... or alot -- just don't ask jake which it is. oh and i don't function socially after 10pm. good times with me.

so -- here it is. me at 20 weeks (even though now i'm 21 weeks - woot woot!) sorry about the matching purple wall and purple shirt... not on purpose.

live by these...

i found this list on a blog i read often. i like this list because it's not overwhelming. these are all things that can help me become my best self, and i think that's something we should always strive for.

1. always be on time
2. look people in the eye
3. tell the truth
4. don't smoke
5. drink lots of water
6. exercise
7. eat healthy
8. read
9. be nice
10. never give up

And the countdown begins....

Just 2 short months until a fabulous occasion... the birthday of moi. Get excited!!