Q for Moms with girls . .

So I have been trying to find or hear about a dance class for Araleigh. She is 2.5 and I would LOVE to get her into something. Does anyone out there that reads this know of anyone who teaches dance classes for toddlers??? Especially in the Rexburg Area? If so . . . please shout out to me cuz I REALLY want to get her into something. She'd LOVE it!

Oh Baby

Well, I just wanted to write a entry for my remembrance. As I stated before this pregnancy has been completely different than with Araleigh. Probably because this one is a boy. I haven't had any problems so far. With Araleigh I had gone in and out of labor starting at like 28 weeks and I just remember how much pain it was. I spent almost every other night for the last trimester in a hot bath in the middle of the night trying to get the contractions to stop. Well, happy to note that I have not had to do that even once this time around. (knock on wood). I have gained a lot more weight than I anticipated . . . but thats to be expected for NORMAL pregnant woman . . but its been hard to watch the scale start tipping! To date I have gained 32 lbs. YIKES! I am REALLY hoping that the first 20 shed fast after he is born --- then I can concentrate on the last 10. We will see. The last 2 months I have started to be sick again. I am not nauseated-- but I have had this cough that has become the culprit. I have had this cough since around January (so like 5 months). I am not sick I just hack like an old woman. My doctor told me that its acid reflex that gets caught in my airways --- which explains my throwing up. I have noticed it's worse towards evening time. But it has made it so I haven't gained any weight in a couple weeks-- thats a positive I guess! As stated in the previous post I was checked (at 35 wks) and I was at a 1 and 70% effaced. This last time which was Tuesday, May 26 I went in for my 36 wk check up and I was at a "loose" 1 and he didn't tell me if I have progressed in effacement. I hadn't gained any weight and everything seemed to be fine. Although, he did try to feel if the baby was breech or not---- and he thinks that the baby is head down-- but it was a positive. I was also told that I can be induced at 39 weeks! woo hoo! I was SO relieved to have that question out of the way. I am hoping that he will let me schedule it for the 15th of June. We will see how things go though! Overall things have been good with this pregnancy-- I haven't had much swelling and I also don't have Group B Strep this go around (I am so glad I don't have to wait for that medicine). So only a couple of weeks left and we will have our little one here. I am starting to get really nervous. Araleigh has been having about 3 accidents (potty) a day since we have lived with the parents. So I am TERRIFIED that we will end up in diapers when the baby comes. Too much adjustment for one little girl. She has been acting out really bad lately . . . so I am trying to just ride out the storm untill she can adjust. It's been hard on her and us ---- but i am hoping we can get through it.

Memorial Day Weekend

Well, I am a bit behind . . . more than usually. But things have been pretty hectic. Last week was graduation week and it was CRAZY! There was activitys almost every day last week-- I went into my doctor last Monday for my first checkup! I was at a 1 and 70% effaced. Which really means nothing--- but at least I have started dialating. I was 35 wks. Memorial day weekend was interesting . . as I said that week was filled with events for Trenton's graduation. We went to Olive Garden on Friday night for his celebration and then when we got home Cory and Brock took off to their "Guys Weekend" at a cabin on Bill's Island. As for me: I ended up going with mom to Yellowstone where Sharee had a condo for the weekend. They were nice. We ended up letting the kids swim (there was a kiddie pool that was 1 foot with a gate, but the water was cold) it was fun for them. I felt bad for Araleigh because the swimming suit I thought fit her was WAY

too small so she was uncomfortable. She still had fun though. Then that night we went and walked around Yellowstone--- where I realized Araleigh is truly in her terrible twos. She had been swimming for 2.5 hours, no nap, no stroller . . and no husband to control her. She threw more tantrums in the 30 minutes we were out of our car than I have ever seen. We FINALLY had to DRAG her out of one store (to which ALL of Yellowstone had stop to see if we were like kidnapping this child who was screaming and kicking uncontrollably). My mom had to take her cuz I had been having major braxton hicks all day and couldn't manhandle her. Anyways, when we FINALLY got her strapped into the carseat I look over and she was OUT. All she needed was her nap. Lesson learned. The next day Cory and Brock came up to hang out for a while and we took the kids swimming again . . . . it was pretty funny. They were splashing Brock and so he jumped into the pool (clothes on) and got them back. They thought it was great! After the swim session in the morning we waited for Brocks clothes to dry then headed to Yellowstone Park for a picnic. It was a really nice day throughout the picnic and such but as soon as we hit Old Faithful . . . it was cold and raining. Araleigh was again-- super grumpy because of no nap. I decided that night to go back to the cabin with Cory and Brock . . . since most of the guys had left to go home from the fishing escapade. So we got to the cabin and cooked up some tacos and Brock did dutch oven cobbler. It was good. We took Araleigh out on the paddle boat that night--- just a small ride to keep her entertained. It was short and sweet and I think she loved it. Overall it was a pretty good weekend. I was sick ALOT . . . for some reason over the last few weeks I have been throwing up again. Everything makes me sick it seems. (EXCEPT SNOSHACK-- which I get one everyday!) so that has been dampering my patience for this baby to come. It was a good weekend, but I completely overdid it but playing some made up volleyball game with my nieces and wrestling my two year old. Monday--- I was ready to just lay flat for hours!

Eventful Wednseday

Well, today was fairly eventful and ended in a traumatic bang! We started off with Cory leaving us AGAIN to go help the Clinton Arnold family move. Around 1:30 I was over at my mom's spending some time with my aunt Shelley who has been here from N.Carolina. Anyways, Cor called and said he was home and going for a run so by the time I was ready to leave with my mom and aunt to I.F. Cory was missing. So I went driving down his running route and eventually found him. We made him pretty mad because he wouldn't get into the car to come watch Araleigh so we went 5 mph beside him talking to him and yelling for him---- pretty much bugging him! haha Anyways, he got back to the house and I took off with my mom. We went to I.F. and went shopping a bit. I FINALLY got a few boy clothes (I have NOTHING.) and we ended up getting Araleigh in I.F. where Cory was AGAIN helping move the Arnolds. At 6 we went to Chelsi's graduation party. Araleigh was SO excited to play with Kaden. She LOVES Kaden. Anyways, we were having a good time and then toward to end of the night I heard Araleigh crying . . of course I went upstairs to see why she was crying and all she was saying was "Kaden stole my cookie" which I did find Kaden hiding in the corner eating her cookie--- so I went over and talked to him and split the cookie in half and when I turned to give Araleigh her half she said "mommy finger owie" . . . and all I saw was blood gushing everyone. So I calmly took her into the bathroom to wash it off and it WOULD NOT STOP. So I grabbed some t.p. and tried to get her down the stairs (off the carpet) but she was upset and wouldn't let me touch it. Well, we stopped in the middle of the staircase and I grabbed her hand to wipe the blood and look at her and she layed back, eyes rolled in the back of her head . . . and all blood rushed out of her face. She went ghost white with first blue then pure white lips. SCARED ME TO DEATH. Well, she pretty much passed out when I sat her up and asked her if she was okay--- then she threw up all over me--- (luckily I caught most of it in my hands) . . . by that time Grandma Darla and Candace were helping so I could run clean the puke up--- but Araleigh didn't get color back for like 5 minutes. She then just let me take her and she layed on me for the rest of the night. It was TERRIBLE. I am proud that I didn't freak out BIG TIME . . . but I did on the inside! I HATE when things happen and I just don't know if I am prepared to handle it. Now I will have TWO kids and am terrified that I am not prepared to handle an emergency. Anyways, it all ended up okay and she is fine---- I THINK . . . and we ended the night watching the American Idol Finale. I CANNOT believe that Kris Allen won. I was happy he did because he seemed like the underdog--- but I thought Adam Lambert would win by a long stretch. WOW! Anyways, now the rest of the week is busy with graduation, graduation dinners, fishermans breakfast, and the start to a long memorial weekend (without my husband . . . brat.). Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

Happy Monday!

Well, today was a pretty good day. I went to the doctor today for my first exam . . oh joy! I am 35 weeks and officially at a 1 and 70% effaced. Which pretty much means nothing. haha We will see how things go next week. . . I HOPE I AM MORE! But I will probably stay there for weeks DANGET! I have also gained only ONE pound this week -- woot woot. Considering I have gained around THIRTY. Yikes. This is SO weird to me to be blowing up like a mongoose. But thats the cards that are dealt when deciding to bring sweet spirits to earth, right? I am REALLY starting to get onto the anty pants bandwagon. It seems like 90% of the people whom I am pregnant with already have induction dates set already. WHAT? I was pretty determined today to march into my doctors office and ask about an induction date--- well I chickened out RIGHT when he walked in. Maybe next week I will get the nerve! But baby is fine . . heartbeat was in the 140's and I was measuring right on. So I still got a month of waiting to do ---- I am SO antsy. I think mostly to NOT BE PREGNANT and start working on getting this weight off of me ---- but then I think about it and its like "wow, two kids . . will I have TIME TO WORK OUT??" Life is going to change hardcore for my family-- especially Araleigh . . . so I am not sure if I should relax and take in this time with her --- or get super antsy and start trying all "fake" regiments to get this baby out! ... .... ... I think I will try my best at being patient and enjoying this last little while that I have with Araleigh as an only child. We have had such a strong bond and have such a great time together that I know her little world is going to crash for a while . . . how do you prepare for that? Hopefully I can figure out a way to keep my attention on her as well as me and this little guy trying to get to know each other.

Anyways, after my doctors appt I came straight home to a sleeping toddler and impatient husband. Cory and Brock had been waiting for me to get home to go fishing. So we scooped up Araleigh and took off to Wal-mart to get our liscense and Araleigh a small pole. Then we headed up to Ashton. It was actually really fun. I didn't really want to go but needed to get out of the house so I went. Well, Araleigh LOVED throwing her pole in the water . . . and Cory was a fish slayer. We were there for like an hour and he caught 5-6 fish, Brock caught 1, and I caught 1. It was pretty fun. The weather was perfect. It was 85 degrees with a breeze so it just was great. We ended the fishing rendevous at Big Judd's for a burger. When we got home Cory finished up some things for his mom and then we all loaded up and went to Millhollow for FHE. (It was SUPPOSE to be snoshack run--- but HAVE YOU SEEN THE LINES???? You'd think they'd get the other ones up and running . . . holy cow! There were about 12 cars and 20 people standing outside. RIDICULOUS.) It was a pretty good day. I havfe had a cough with this baby that has last for like 5 months. Everytime I sound like I have pneumonia but its ONLY a cough. I found out today its all because of my acid reflex getting caught in my airways. That explains why everytime I cough I throw up . . . basically. Good news: IT WILL GO AWAY IN 5 WEEKS!

Small trip to Utah

Well, it has been a while since we have been on a trip . . . so we decided to go to Utah suddenly this last Tuesday. We had the opportunity to go get some work done for the shoes and have been dying to see our friends/cousins baby for a while now . . so we jumped on it! I got a call from Cory at like 9 in the am about going and were gone to Utah by 3. When we got there we all met up at Applebee's and ate some dinner. Then we headed back to the Shirts Residence. It was so nice to see them. We always get some kind of a refresher being with them . . . we've had so much history with them--- since we spent like our whole 3 years in Utah hanging out in their living room, watching movies. It was like old times (plus 3.5 kids). I CANNOT believe that they have FOUR kids. It's CRAZY. When we were down there it was pretty much us, them and their 2 kids. We moved soon after #3 and my #1 was born . . . so there wasn't as much history there. Anyways, it was nice to be able to see the kids and Araleigh LOVED them. She seemed a bit shy and just kinda followed them around --- which was different. But Sara scooped her right up and played with her. Araleigh also LOVED baby Heath. She would just kiss him and hold his Binky. It was cute. Now, hopefully she is that excited when Canden is thrown into the picture! I have become SO worried about her lately. Ever since we have moved into the in-laws her world has been rocked and I can tell. She has no appetite--- which is REALLY weird, she cries and acts out ALL THE TIME, and today she was lost for a while and when I FINALLY found her she was curled up in a ball hidden in a corner (behind a tree) laying on her blanket . . . just looking sad and depressed. It made me sick. She has also been having a TON of accidents the last week. I am hoping that this has just been an adjustment period but am really starting to get worried about her. The thing that makes it harder for me is that I know that in 5 wks (or less) a new baby is getting thrown into the picture and I am worried she will just starve herself and never be herself again. Hopefully that won't happen . . . but I am still really concerned.
-- Back to the trip: On Wednesday Becca and I took the kids to McDonald's to eat and play while we enjoyed a Kneaders Sandwich and fruit tart (really yummy) . . then we all went home a took naps and by the time I got Araleigh to sleep and me to sleep--- we woke up at dinner time! So I came out to a houseful of people waiting to load the car for dinner. Los Hermanos--- here we come! It was SO good. Now, I am not at all impressed with their salsa. BUT they have the BEST
Chicken Chimichangas I've ever had. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Plus they have the YUMMO Ice there. Anyways, then we went back the boys went and got treats from the store and we watched Taken after the kids were in bed. Then on Thursday, we got ready: let the kids play for a while and then took off to get Brock. It was his birthday so we went and took him to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch. INCREDIBLE. It is so expensive there but SO worth it. It was a really good trip overall and probably my last one now until after this baby is born. I am just glad we got down there to see our old buddies. After so long we always get the itch to go down there and have some fun with them.

Happy Moms Day!!!

Just wanted to say Happy Mothers Day to all the wonderful moms out there! I am greatful for the chance to be a mom and have realized that not only is Mother's Day a day of celebrating your Mother or being a mom. . . it is also a day for those who are women in general. Whether you are an aunt, friend, mother, primary teacher . . whatever ---- this day is for everyone who is an example to our young. You don't have to BE a mom to feel this is your special day. But I hope that all women have a special feeling this day . . . because all of us deserve it . . . whether we are moms, want to be moms, or are examples of moms. I just wanted to say thank you to the mom's in my life. I have the best mom in the world. She has become my best friend and she means the world to me. I have never met anyone so willing to give to her children and grandchildren. She is the best grandmother I could ask for. She has shown so much love to all of us whether it be her time or the special presents she gets the grandkids. I hope someday I will be able to give the kind of love and support to my children as she has to hers and her grandchildren. . . I also have a wonderful mother in law. What a great example to my family she is. She has been someone who I look up to in the gospel and hope someday I can have the knowledge and hunger for the gospel doctrine as she does. Both our mothers have been very supportive over the last few months of our trials and I appreciate both our moms and hope they know that their actions and love through these times have not gone unnoticed. As for me: on Mother's Day all I want to say is that I could have never imagined the kind of love a mother has for their child. I look in amazement at Araleigh everyday and quite often try to imagine what life would be like without her in it---- and frankly it is not possible. My life has been completed with her . . . and will even be more complete with our next child who is coming so soon. Everyday I stare at her in amazement . . I have had the honor of being a special witness to her changes whether it be talking, personality, or physical. I have felt SO blessed to be able to have this little girl come to our home. What an honor it is to have our Heavenly Father entrust her sweet spirit into my home. I know someday she will do great things because of how she has touched those who are around her. I hope that as a mother to one . . . I can uphold my responsibilities and show even more of my love when I become a mother of two.

For Mothers Day I got to sleep in a bit (after Araleigh waking up and me REMINDING Cory that its my day off when he told ME to go get her juice.) After I got out of bed I went up and was suprised with a dozen roses and a card from Araleigh and one from Cory. Then he made breakfast for us. It was quite yummy! (Actually his mom had to help him with her batter for the french toast) but the effort was there and not unnoticed! Anyways, I was quite shocked to see the flowers. Since I haven't recieved any in like 4 years. So that was a nice suprise and I get to go get my hair done tomorrow too--- which is WAY overdue and is the highlight of my month!!! After church today, we went up to the Basin (Felt) to have dinner with the Arnold family. It was such a great dinner and everyone seemed to be having a good day --- except Araleigh. I think she cried the first 1.5 hours we were there. She fell asleep as we were driving up there-- we had to wake her up to go in (which she is GRUMPY after naps . . especially ones lasting 10 minutes)... only to find that they have a dog (to which Araleigh is TERRIFIED of dogs for some reason) SO we couldn't put her down without her screaming . . . then when it came time to eat . . she pushed it away. Which wouldn't normally be a big deal--- except she hasn't truly eaten ANYTHING since we have moved in with the ARnolds (yeah, like almost 2 weeks). She WILL not eat hardly anything. AND if I can get her to eat something--- it's usually like 5 goldfish or a couple bites of yogurt. Its been really hard for me to see this because she has always been SUCH a good eater (like adult size portion eater). So after her SCREAMING about the dog getting her while WE tried to eat and get her to eat-- they put the dog away and she ran down to the grass to play. Well, within ten minutes she had gotten a HUGE sliver in her hand from trying to get back over the wood fence (I am talking 1/2 inch long and a big open sore from it). SO OF COURSE SHE SCREAMED over that for another 30 minutes. I bet EVERYONE wanted us to leave. Luckily she got over it and played with the kids. Then we decided to head home and right as we got home and comfortable we got the phone call from Bryce that we had been waiting for. He is doing well on his mission and its just weird that the next time we talk he will be home. WHERE HAVE THE 2 YEARS GONE?? After that we got to play a round of cards and ended the night talking and just having a relaxing night. It was a great Sabbath and great Mothers Day.

Blog Book

Alright ya'll- I have had SEVERAL e-mails and comments on my blog book. So here is the "low-down" Go to blurb.com . . . get an account and download the software. Through the software you upload all the posts you want and then rearrange them to how you want them to look in your book . . . you can change font, background, color . . . whatever. It's pretty great. I have found that this is one of the cheapest places. I have about 156 pages in my book and I only spent $50. Which to me is worth it 100%. Hope that helps!!! If any one has any more questions let me know. Just an FYI . . . it did take me quite some time to get it to look how I wanted ... (font and size wise) because some posts were long and I wanted them on one page-- so it took time to figure out fonts and making it look good. TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!!

Swine Flu??

What the heck is up with animal flus??? Last year it was bird flu (or whatever) now its Pig Flu. Well, whatever is going around-------------- I THINK I HAVE IT. Today, has been the WORST day ever. I have been throwing up again the last few weeks--- I know its just pregnancy. NOT TODAY. Today I have not kept ANYTHING in my stomach and it aches. I can stand pregnancy flu-- cuz you get sick and feel great for a while. But not today! I just hope no one else gets it. It has been hard being sick and pregnant --- every time I get sick it sends me into a major braxton hicks session . . and thats not enjoyable. Lately, I have been hearing of a TON of people who are due right when I am and are ALREADY getting induction dates (a week ahead of due date). It is making me quite antsy. My doctor has not mentioned anything like that . . . . and I am terrified to ask. I guess thats the problem with being pregnant with like 20 people . . . is you really compare and start getting antsy. I only have 6.5 weeks to my due date and I am really hoping that things start moving faster. Especially now with me being sick alot again I feel like time has come to a hault. I am completely unprepared and still have a ton of stuff to buy . . . so hopefully I can concentrate on that to help the time go faster.
Araleigh has been such a pill lately. She LOVES to tease us. Now, for me its hard to chase her around and pin her to the floor just to get any kind of clothes on her ---- today Cory finally got her dressed and got to experience the joys of dressing a two year old. She takes off running and fights to the death to not let us dress her. She is really starting to talk good. We can pretty much have a conversation now--- though some of her words we aren't sure about. But we always knows what she wants. She has become quite the crier. She cries over EVERYTHING. I believe this has to do with the age---- hopefully she will grow out of it (ya right). Well, as I said- my stomach is not well so I am going to bed!

Oh yeah, I just have to write that we got my blog book today in the mail. INCREDIBLE!!! It is the perfect way to journal I have decided. I have 154 pages of pure journaling WITH PICTURES and can't believe how great it turned out. Best investment ever! Now to start working on 2009 so that I can keep up this time!!!!

Dating discussion with a 2 year old!

This past weekend was a pretty good one. We decided on Saturday . . since it was 1/2 off at Bear World we'd take the kids. I have never been there . . . nor had the desire to go because you can see the elk from the road--- but it was actually REALLY fun for the kids. They had little rides and they got to pet the baby bears and were right up in there with the bears on the drive. It was a lot of fun to see how excited the kids got. They had a petting zoo there but it was REALLY lame when we were there. Pretty much it was one disgusting pig, a goat, and a plethera of chickens (who can pet chickens??) But they still enjoyed it. Did I mention it was FREEEEEZING! Their noses were bright red . . . but it didn't stop them from running into the ride lines. They LOVED it. The best part was that Araleigh and Logan could ride them by themselves for the most part. Though it was cold . . it was worth the $8/adult to get it (Araleigh was free . . sweet!) I have never seen a bear so close in my life-- and there were like 60 of them. So . . for something that I thought was completely lame (because we have Yellowstone) I certainly got my mind changed. It was a wonderful Saturday activity with the family. On Saturday we also got the door put up at the Arnolds. It is now pratically sealed off so we have a seperate entrance, bathroom, living room and bedroom all to ourselves. It's pretty much our own studio apartment and I think will work out fine until we figure out where we are going to go! Cory's parents have been very good to us and have taken us right in. . . I just hope that the adjustment for Araleigh will be established before baby 2 comes--- because thats a little too much adjustment for a two year old!
As for me: well . . I am getting miserable. For some unknown reason I am reverting back to first trimester symptoms. I am starting to get sick again. I am not sure what has changed--- but I REALLY don't like this fact. I am not nauseated ALL day like the first trimester. But I usually throw up once a day--- or try REALLY HARD not to. It's so weird! Also, obviously the braxton hicks happen ALL day . . . everyday. . . and this babys foot is right where my ribs are. So I believe I have a bruised rib. Its almost like his foot is pushing out OVER TOP of my ribs. Its so uncomfortable ALL DAY. Oh, and the loveliest part for me is noticing my feet and hands starting to swell. OH JOY! I went to get shoes oh for church today and noticed my feet were bulging out of my heels . . . so I had to revert to my winter boots to cover up my swollen feet. Lets just say tonight-- they are bigger from walking in heels all day! But I am thinking that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We will see though! I start my weekly checkups in TWO weeks. What the heck? Where did the time go? All I am waiting on now is for my sister in law to have her baby--- because then I KNOW that I am next . . and should start panicking! . . and that is in the next few weeks.

Okay I have to explain this video a bit. Lately, for SOME unknown reason . . . Cory has been in FREAK OUT mode concerning Araleigh. He LITERALLY sat me down yesterday and said "Are you going to take her out to see boys behind my back before she is 16 . . . so you are a "cool" mom??????" Now, I felt a little cornered and quite unsure of how to explain myself for something that HASN'T happened yet----- and WON'T FOR 14 more years. I am not sure what he is worried about but I am aware that he has had anxiety about how bad things are getting for kids these days. Probably living with his brothers and hearing stories of things going on (which incredibly are WORSE than our days. . . weird!) Anyways, so he has literally been talking to Araleigh and telling her that she isn't going to see any boys till she is at least 16 (duh) and that they CANNOT be older than her . . . because all they want is to use her . . .(which is ironic b/c Cory is MY AGE haha not older). It has been quite the ordeal. He has always been a freak about this ---- but recently its gotten a little TOO dramatic! Tonight I walked in and she was repeating after her daddy. She said it PERFECTLY when I walked in . . . but when I ran to get the recorder it took a couple times to get her to do it good again. I posted a mix of what she said and the best ones I could get. I think its actually pretty dang funny . . . and when she is 15 and asking to go to a movie with a boy we will whip out this video and show her how she committed to her dad that she wouldn't do that! haha. Poor girl.