2012: The Year of the Belly

What a year it has been!

Our little family has been through lots of exciting changes: like graduations, moving, and starting new jobs and colleges. Nothing has been more exciting than watching my belly grow and get ready for the arrival of our sweet baby girl!

 

I found out I was expecting on the first Saturday in June. This picture was taken on July 14th, and we used it to tell our families the good news! 

First belly shot taken at 8 weeks:

 14 Weeks: 

This was 37 weeks for my sister Suzanne, 16 weeks for me! She had Jackson exactly 2 weeks after this

photo was taken:

Almost 18 weeks, taken the day we found out we were having a girl:

 24 weeks, taken at my parents' house on a trip to CA:

28 Weeks:

 34 Weeks: 

What a crazy year this has been! Overall, I've been really lucky to have such an "easy" pregnancy. Can't wait for the next few weeks to fly by so I can have a cute, snuggly baby for 2013! 

The Verdict is in...

I had an appointment with my Doctor yesterday, and it was not good news for me. The verdict is in, and in her words I am "not a candidate for an epidural." Apparently those blessed rods in my spine

are in the way.

 

So I'm thinking, well that means I'll have a C-section.

WRONG.

 

My doctor didn't even mention that, she just recommended I start researching meditation and breating techniques and sign up for a birthing class.

She kept saying things like, "I know you can do it!" and I didn't want to sound like a baby so I just nodded along and muttered "Ok."

 

Luckily, my hormones let me get into the elevator before I started bawling. This was just not the option I was hoping for, or EVER wanted to pursue. And now this is something I'll have to do with

ALL my future children.

 

In a way, the experience of my back surgery has me both extremely nervous and confidant at the same time about doing this without drugs. 

 

What has me nervous is the fact that my back surgery hurt A LOT, and thats not even ranked as "the most painful thing a person can experience," like childbirth. 

 

But at the same time, the experience I had with my operation has me confidant that I can do this because I'm tough. That operation was no joke, and sometimes I wonder how my little 13-year-old self got through it.

 

So, it looks like the next 6 weeks will be filled with a lot of reading, research, and prayer.  

 

Wish me luck! 

 

 

 

 

 

   

What We Ate: Stuffed Shell Recipe

Last night we tried a new recipe from Pinterest, and it was delicious! I love it when that happens, especially when its an easy one.

The original recipe (and photo below) comes from

 101 Cookbooks

Her recipe calls for making your own sauce, but a jar of Ragu works just fine. (Especially for us lazy cooks!)

 

Other changes I made:

 

-Added 1 lb cooked ground beef to the sauce

-We didn't have chives, so I added about a tsp of garlic powder and a tsp of basil.

-Sprinkled grated parmesan all over the top

-NEXT TIME: I'll double the filling recipe, because I ended up having a lot of leftover pasta and I didn't feel like I overstuffed the shells we ate.

 

We'll definitely be making this again and again! 

 

 

A Henderson Update

Hello world! Things around here have been pretty busy, and changing like crazy so I thought it was time for an update.

Jason: Finished his first semester at the University of Utah...or should I say survived his first semester. Poor guy had some crazy late nights doing physics homework, commuted 30 minutes to ride the train everyday, and worked till 1 am unloading trucks 3 days a week.

BUT...all his hard work has paid off and Jason was recently promoted at work, got a raise, and will now be home for dinner every night. We're pretty excited about that, 
and he sure deserves it!

Jen: Last Tuesday my belly turned 32 weeks...only 8 more to go! On Monday I went to meet with an anesthesiologist to talk about my options for delivery.

Because of the rods I have screwed onto my spine, that makes getting an epidural a bit tricky. We ended up deciding that it would be best for me to have an x-ray done of my spine so they would know for sure what we're dealing with.

I'll find out the verdict on Wednesday at my next appointment, but since there is NO way I'm doing this without drugs, its either option 1: Deliver "normally" with an epidural, or option 2: have a scheduled c-section. 

I found out a few months ago that my mom delivered all 4 of her children naturally, without any drugs. I was shocked, and have major respect for her for being able to handle the pain. But that's just not something I want to experience.   

I'll let you know what the Dr. says on Wednesday!

     

Count your blessings, insead of sheep

Today has been quite emotional for all of us. As someone who works in elementary schools on a daily basis, I am at a loss for words. Children are so pure, sweet, and innocent and I love my job because of that.

 

I am also grateful, during this tragic time, for the knowledge I have of the Atonement and that families can be together forever. We are so blessed to have a loving Heavenly Father who sent his Son to earth so that we might all live with him again.

 

My favorite Christmas movie is White Christmas, and this song is a big reason why:

It always makes me smile and think of my many blessings. Here are some printables that can be used to hang somewhere as a reminder:

I hope these words will be of some comfort on

such a sad day.

 

 

 

Grinch Printable

Last Christmas I made a printable using a quote from one of my favorite Christmas movies: How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I linked it to pinterest and was surprised to see it repinned like crazy.

(39 times to be exact!)

 

I thought I would make another version this year since it was so popular.  I used this awesome chalkboard paper created by The Latest Find and 
LOVE how it turned out!  

(8x10)

 

Also, here is the one I made last year:

(I hope its sized right for 8x10!)

We had the green one hanging on our wall last year and I loved having it as a constant reminder of what Christmas is really about. Its so easy to get caught up in the material side of things.

Dr. Seuss just knows what's up.

 

Two Months to Go!

Today marks just two months until my official due date! That just seems crazy to me, and it may end up being less time if this little one decides she wants a January birthday. Time has sure flown by, and it feels like just yesterday I was in my first trimester.

 

But thank heaven that part is over! I've been feeling pretty great lately, but I know I'm in for some serious discomfort once this last growth spurt is finished. Right now I'm at 31 weeks and "supposed" to gain a quite a bit more weight in the next 9 weeks...I'll just blame it on the holidays. =)

 

Right now I've been busy working on my quilt and my goal is to have it done by the new year. I know if I don't finish it before the baby comes there is NO WAY I ever will, so I'm trying my best!

 

Some fun things that have happened lately are:

-Found out I don't have gestational diabetes. Yay for holiday candies!

 

-Had an appointment today and everything is progressing as it should.

 

-This morning while lying in bed I realized I was feeling some little baby hiccups in my belly. They felt a little softer than normal kicks and happened rhythmically for about 10 minutes.

 

Monday I have a meeting with an anesthesiologist at the hospital to discuss my options during delivery because of the back surgery I had when I was 13. Hopefully that goes well and I can have all the drugs I want when the time comes. =)

 

 

 

 

 

Let Him In

Happy December everyone!

This is my absolute favorite time of year.

 

Christmas music-listening is in full swing around here, and I thought I'd make a printable with lyrics from one of my absolute favorites.

 

If you are unfamiliar with The Forgotten Carols, you're missing out on a true holiday classic. This particular "forgotten carol" is from the point of view of the Inn Keeper who turned Mary and Joseph away.

 

He talks about how he felt guilty for turning them away and then at the end of the song relates that to how people should make room in their lives

and hearts for Christ.

 

Everytime I listen to it I'm reminded that I should always make room for Christ in my life, no matter how busy I get.

 

This video is beautifully made to the music:

 

Here's the printable:

 

 Remember to take the time and enjoy this holiday season by putting Christ first.