Happy dance!

I'm so excited! Our little boy has a place to sleep!
Isn't it darling?

I just love the little giraffe. So sweet!

Some tender mercies

One of my favorite general conference talks (I have like 80), is this one on the tender mercies of the Lord by Elder David A. Bednar.

Here are some tender mercies from my recent past.

• On a week when the children in church were having a really hard time focusing and being reverent, one of the 4-year-olds got up and said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to help them be reverent. I was reminded of the love God has for little children, and of my need to pray with all my heart, just like this little girl had done.
• A few weeks ago, I was having mildly painful heartburn and couldn't sleep. I was feeling discouraged that night (can't remember why... probably just pregnancy hormones) and got up and checked my e-mail. I no sooner opened my computer when my brother sent me a chat message. We had a lovely conversation about lots of things, and it was exactly the thing I needed to lift my spirits.
• Today, I was feeling discouraged again, (what can I say, I'm an emotional pregnant woman ;) and needed a pick-me-up. Who should call me but my dad? He was just calling to ask a question about something and our conversation wasn't long, but boy, it was such sweet evidence that I am known of the Lord. Heavenly Father knew I needed a little extra love and so in his miraculous way, my father somehow called me right when I needed it.

I know that you too are known of the Lord. He knows you and he knows your needs. He loves you and wants to bless you. Why? because you are his child. Pay attention, and you too may see some tender mercies that you dearly need.

Vintage fun

I was playing around with my hair and makeup today and this is what I came up with.

Just a bit of silliness really. But it sure is fun to feel pretty and feminine. (Yay vintage!)

And on a sort of related note:

"The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano... Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it." 

-President Uchtdorf

So today, my space to beautify was my face.

Niece and Nephew

These two:

They kill me. We spent Christmas with my side of the family which means that we got to see my brother and sister-in-law and their two kids (the ones in the photo). Aren't they just so stinkin cute you're gonna die?

My niece is such a sweetie. She's two. When you hold her, if she wants to get down she'll just turn to you and in her tiny, sweet, little voice say, "Down?" No squirming, no screaming, just, "Down?" As if to say, "well, I really would like for you to stop holding me so I can run off and do my own thing, but if that's not convenient for you, then I'm good." Love it!

My nephew is only 2 months old. He's the gruntiest baby I have ever met. It is soooo cute! In that whole week we spent with them there, I think I heard him actually cry only once. Other than that, if he needs something, he just starts grunting away and doing those little baby squirms and stretches. I loved holding him and would keep turning to Chris and saying, "In a few months, we'll have one of these!" (*happy sigh*)

Here's me and my brother making grunty faces with Ted:

See? Isn't he just adorable?

My own Mortality

Saturday, Chris and I were standing in line somewhere and he suddenly reaches over and starts poking around in my hair. I thought I must have had a fuzzy in it or something and he was just pulling it out.

Nope.

Chris found my first gray hair. What?

At first I was like, "Whoa! that's soo cool! I've never had a gray hair before." I've always thought gray hair was dignified, and regal. Not that I have any problem with people dyeing away their grays, I just like the thought of one day having a full head of gray hair.

But then I started feeling all contemplate-y. I'm only 23, and as recently as a year ago, I was mistaken for a 14 year-old because I look so young for my age. Never in my life have I experienced a sign of growing old before. My whole life I've essentially only grown in strength, height, weight, mental ability, stamina, etc. This is the first time that I've seen evidence of my mortality, evidence that my body is going to wear out and die. Sure, that likely won't happen for at least another 50 years, but what an odd sensation it was to encounter that evidence for the first time.

Merrill J Bateman gave an address where he talked about growing old. He said:

The aches and pains of later life teach humility, the meaning of long-suffering, the importance of patience, and an appreciation for the qualities of kindness and love, and they help one learn moderation in all things. It’s interesting. These are the divine attributes. For the faithful, the slow deterioration of the body serves as a refining instrument for the spirit. (emphasis added)

I love that view of growing old. The aging process is not something to be feared (contrary to what the world tells us). The aging process is a gift from God. It is a "refining instrument for the spirit." What a hopeful view of the future. Growing old teaches us divine attributes and helps mold us into becoming more like God, our Father.

For me, that aging process is still quite a ways out there, but I've taken a first step. Chris already has a gray-haired lady for a wife. We're growing old together.

What an exciting thought!

Pregnancy/Baby update

I'm officially to the 3rd Trimester. Woot, woot! A few updates/thoughts on this pregnancy:

• I had a RhoGam shot this week. I'm rh negative and Chris is rh positive, so that means I'll get a shot with every pregnancy. It was a hip shot and the first shot I think I've ever had that wasn't in my arm (apart from when I was a baby, of course). Not a big deal to get, but super important in the long run.
• I failed my one-hour diabetes test and got to take the three-hour version yesterday. It was kind of an adventure, and now I have a sweet bruise on my right arm where the blood draw went a little wonky (the other four were no problem, so my left arm looks fine :). Don't know the results yet, but I know gestational diabetes runs in the family, although my mom didn't have it with any of us kids, so it could go either way really. Anyone know, what do they do for treatment? Is it a watch-what-you-eat kind of thing, or do you have to take insulin or something?
• Baby boy is still a mover and a shaker. Last week I started to be able to feel him poking into my belly. I just felt my tummy one day and went "Whoa. Right here it's hard and not squishy, but over here it feels normal." Totally made my day. 
• My belly is getting bigger, but I'm still sleeping fine and have only slowed down a little. Really, I have been Hugely blessed during this pregnancy because overall I have felt fan-tas-tic. I know many women don't feel good during pregnancy, (my mother was one of them) and so I thank the Lord that I have been blessed this way, and pray that He will comfort every mother who doesn't feel good. You go, Mommas!
• Our friends and family have been so generous. We've been given lots of baby things, especially clothes. I think this kid has more clothes than he can wear up through the 3 month mark. We've also gotten a bouncy seat, a car seat, dressers, loads of diapers, baby shampoo, lotion, board books, baby toys, etc., etc. Thank you to all who have given so lovingly and graciously. It means so much to us!

29 weeks down, 11 to go!