Pregnancy Thoughts

I haven't kept a journal consistently since probably Junior High.  And let's face it, my Junior High journal entries are ridiculous.  I have a few from High School and college and they aren't any better.  Every once and a while I go back and read old posts, so I feel like this can count as my journal.  I haven't been really good at writing details about this pregnancy and since its the first (and lets face it, you always do more for your first than the ones that come after) I'm going to write down a few thoughts.  

• I really love being pregnant (so far).  My first trimester I wasn't too sick and as long as I kept eating I felt fine.  I seriously had to eat every hour to hour and a half.  It was hard trying to find healthy things to eat, but I really liked fresh peaches and pears and it was a good thing they were in season.  Also PB&J sandwiches with my Grandma's homemade strawberry or raspberry jam was the best thing!  Once the second trimester hit, I never felt nauseous and I felt like I could be pregnant forever!  Now that I'm in my third trimester I am starting to feel the effects of the ever growing belly.  It is harder to move around and I can't bend over to put on my socks or pick things up off the ground without gasping for air after.  It's great.  My lower back hurts a lot, but I think that's also from working and when I have long days at work my feet kill too.  I have sciatic pain at random times like when I'm driving my car.  Something about the seat in my car makes my left side hurt bad! 
• I am one of those paranoid pregnant girls.  A girl I work with is due the same time as me, but this is her third pregnancy.  So of course she started feeling her baby kick early and would always ask me if I had felt the baby.  I hadn't felt him yet so I would panic that something was wrong.  Also, how are you really supposed to know with your first if you are actually feeling the baby or not.  People say it feels like gas bubbles, but it didn't really feel like that to me.  I felt like a flutter.  I don't know how to explain what a flutter feels like, but that's what I felt.  I think I started feeling him for sure around 20 weeks, especially when I was sitting at my computer desk and leaning over slightly.  
• Now that I feel him move all the time I love it.  Even when he is up in my ribs :)  I usually feel him when I'm at work or after I wake up in the middle of the night to go pee.  He is super active when I'm trying to fall back asleep at 3am!  I will tell Clark the baby is moving and as soon as he puts his hand on my stomach the baby stops.  He has felt him move, a few times.  No one else has though, since he seems to stop moving as soon as anyone touches my stomach.
• I think having a spring baby is the perfect thing.  I am pregnant during the winter so I can cover up with sweaters and hoodies.  Plus its cold outside so I don't get too hot, although I sweat a lot.  I know that sounds gross, but seriously I think pregnancy makes me sweaty.  Also April is the end of RSV season so I won't have to be super paranoid about that.  I learned in my birthing class that RSV is spread by hands so make sure people wash their hands before touching your little baby :)
• I never had any cravings.  I don't believe in pregnancy cravings except that if you have them, your body is telling you it needs something.  Of course certain things sounded better and certain things sounded disgusting, but I never really craved anything.  Fruit always sounds good to me and I used to love Broccoli, but now I have to choke it down.  Also Chicken Crescent Roll Ups always sound good to me.  I don't know what it is, but they are delicious!  
• It is stressful figuring out what you need for the baby.  There is A LOT of stuff out there, and I can't imagine such a small thing needing all of it.  What did they do back in the day without all of these things.  I'm trying to stay simple and only get things that are really necessary like a car seat and a stroller, stuff like that.  I really haven't purchased a lot, but we did order the car seat last week and it should be here on Monday!  Pretty exciting.  Now we can at least get Henry home from the hospital.  
• I'm not sure what baby Henry is doing inside my belly, but sometimes it feels like he is doing somersaults.  He doesn't kick a lot... they are more like rolls or just stretching when part of my stomach gets really hard and he is pushing using a hand or a foot.  The poor little guy is getting pretty squished I'm sure.  I read things that say you should count their kicks, but how do you count rolls?  I don't care how he moves, as long as he is moving! 
• Clark is awesome at being there for his pregnant wife.  I think going to that birthing class helped because we learned relaxation and pain relief techniques.  One of them is to get two tennis or racket balls and put them in a sock and have your husband give you a back massage with them.  It really is so nice at the end of the day.  Whenever I get up in the middle of the night he asks if I'm okay and he tells me I still look great even with a growing belly that seems to get bigger everyday.  
• Clark is building a cradle and crib for Henry and whatever children may follow years after him.  He chose to make it out of Mahogany and I think it will be the fanciest cradle and crib ever.  He is so funny about picking out the perfect hardware for the crib and he goes to Stork Landing (local baby store) about once a week to look at the cribs and figure things out.  It's really cute.  
• So these last few bullets have been about Clark, but I really do hope our baby looks just like him.  He was the cutest little boy ever!  I will love Henry no matter what, I just can't picture our little boy looking like me.  I picture a mini Clark.  I also hope he gets Clark's skills (athletic/soccer/skiing skills, handyman skills, academic skills, and his artistic skills).

I mean look how cute he is.  

I love those brown eyes.  I'm not sure I want Henry to be a thumb sucker though....

• I can't wait to see what our little guy is going to look like.  It is crazy to think he will be here in 8-ish weeks.  I say "ish" because I'm just expecting him to come late.  Maybe on Clark's birthday!  I don't feel prepared to bring a baby home for many reasons.... I kind of have pregnancy melt downs because of those reasons (like crying a lot and my poor husband doesn't know what to do with me).  It's not that I don't want him to be here, it is other annoyances like jobs and other stresses.  I would have it be April already if these other annoyances weren't in the way.  But no matter what we will have a little bundle of joy here and we are so excited to meet him! I really just want a healthy and happy baby boy! 

January

Things from January....

Clark and I went skiing on New Years Day.  It was sunny and warm and not crowded at all.  A great ski day if you ask me.  My coat and pants barely fit over my belly so sadly that was my one and only time skiing this season.  Since the snow hasn't been all that great, I'm not too disappointed.  

Fun day skiing with my cute husband.

 My dad turned the big 6-0 on January 10th.  My step mom Lorie planned a little surprise party for him.  We met at my sister Allison's house and when my Dad showed up we all jumped out and yelled surprise.  My little sister Katie had told my Dad she needed to babysit for Allison and when my Dad came to pick her up he honked for her but she never came out so he had to come to the door.  I don't think he suspected anything because he said he had left all the lights on at home, the door unlocked and the dog just roaming free.  

Lorie and baby Campbell waiting for Grandpa Bill to show up

The birthday boy holding one of his gifts.  Clark made him the magnet board and designed the picture collage in the shape of a 60!  Yes my husband is very talented I know.  (The idea was Lorie's but Clark knew how to make it happen)

Grandma Norda telling a story about my Dad.  I think she was talking about how she made her children an ice skating rink in the backyard one winter by going out in the middle of the night and spraying the grass down with water.  What a great mom she was!  

We came up with a little Trivia game and asked people different questions about my Dad to see how much people knew.  It was quite entertaining!  Here is the list of questions we asked... I wrote in some of the answers if I could remember them.  Oh and #25 is real, but I won't put her name just in case.  

1. How many pets did Bill have as a child and what were their names? There were lots... even a goat.
2. Where is Bill favorite place to ski? Snowbasin first then Alta
3. What age did Bill learn to ski?
4. Where did Bill learn to ski? College Hill (aka Old Main Hill at USU)
5. Where did Bill go on his mission? Kentucky/Tennessee, and even Navoo for awhile
6. Where was Bill born? Salt Lake City
7. How much did it cost Grandpa and Grandma to have Bill in 1952? I don't remember the exact amount but it was like $.50 because my Grandma needed iron pills.  Everything else was covered.  Lucky!
8. Where did Bill live when he had to pass a HUGE FEROCIOUS CHILD EATING dog going to school? And what grade was he in? California somewhere and he was in Kindergarten.
9. How old was Bill when he finally slept through the night? And what made him sleep through the night? 3 days old and his Grandpa said "if he is my grandson he will sleep through the night, and he did. My dad was the perfect child apparently.  
10. Where did Bill first learn to ice skate? In his backyard.  *see above story from Grandma Norda.
11. How many times has Bill hiked and skied the Wellsvilles? I don't remember... like 3 or 4
12. How many times has Bill hiked the Tetons?
13. How old was Bill when he spent a night on Logan Peak during a thunder / lightning storm?
14. What was Bill’s first job? Mowing lawns
15. What instrument did Bill play in Logan High School’s Band? The clarinet.  He was super cool!
16. What instruments has Bill played or attempted to play in his lifetime? Guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica, clarinet, and I think there were a few more.  He really does play the piano quite well still!
17. What was Bill’s first car? 
18. Who was Bill babysitting when they all threw up and Bill covered the throw up with a towel? I believe his brothers Bob, Chad & Jake and maybe sister Mary. 
19. Can you name all the places Bill has lived?
20. How many marathons has Bill completed? Or almost completed? A lot... It was over 30 I know that
21. What age did Bill start teaching? And where was his first job? I believe he was around 26 and it was at a junior high in Ogden
22. What song would Bill sing when he got his hair cut? Davey Crockett.... This was when he was about 3 or 4 years old.  He would sing it to the barber and everyone in the barber shop!
23. How did Bill break his leg and what kind of break was it? Skiing and it was a spiral fracture.  Ouch!
24. Who were the co-producers in a film Bill made in High School? What was the film about? Some movie they did for Seminary about not ditching church to go skiing because you will die.... I would really like to see this movie!  There were actually other movies he made as well.  

25. And last but not least...Which one of Bill’s girlfriends is STILL IN LOVE with him and wishes she were here right now? 

There now you know a little bit more about William Roland Emmett!

I don't have a picture but I (with the help of Clark of course) made a little DVD for my dad with pictures.  At the end we had video of his grand kids singing happy birthday to him.  It was really cute!

Jack enjoying Papa's balloons after the party.  

 Pregnancy Picture!

I am about 30 weeks here.  Tomorrow I will be 31 weeks.  I know.  9 more weeks.  I'm just a little nervous.  I want him to be here because I'm anxious to see him and hold him, but I'm not quite ready for everything else.... Like being really tired!  I know it will be worth it though.

Cute onsie my mother in law bought!  Our baby really will be Mr. Fix It in training.  Clark can't wait to teach him all of his super skills!

December Things

I'm getting behind on blogging.  Good thing we have 1 o'clock church, now I can update my blog.  We had a great Holiday Season this year (although the lack of snow made it feel less like Christmas).  

We went down to the Festival of Trees one weekend.  Clark's parents had purchased a tree earlier that week so we went to scope it out.  We went on a Saturday and it was very crowded!  It's always a fun way to start off the Christmas Season.

Another way we like to start off the Christmas Season is going to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert (say that 10 times fast).  We took this picture before we left to get a "baby bump" photo.  I don't even remember how many weeks I was in this picture.  I'm so bad at taking pictures and knowing how far along I am.  Anyway, the concert was great and because I'm pregnant I'm more emotional so I'm sure I got teary-eyed multiple times throughout the concert.  Great music has that affect on me!

One really great thing that happened in December was going through the Temple with my Mom!  It was her first time back in about 20 years.  She has been active back to church for about a year and we are so happy and proud of her.  We went to the Bountiful Temple and did a session with lots of family and friends.  

The girls

Clark came and my sister Melissa's husband Adam came as well.  The picture with all of us didn't turn out so well.  They were all from my phone.  You would think we would have taken the time for some good pictures, but I think we were all hungry and Melissa needed to feed baby Elle who was home with Aunty Adrienne and the other kids.  We went out to eat at Robintino's in Bountiful after.  

Christmas Eve was spent in Kaysville with Clark's family.  It was just his parents and his sister Angie and her husband Steve.  It was a nice and relaxing evening.  Clark will hate me for putting up this picture but the other one of us I look hideous and I'm the one blogging so I get to choose the picture, right?  

 We woke up Christmas morning and opened presents.  Clark gave me a new camera!  We had talked about getting a new one that shoots HD video so when the baby comes we can have nice pictures and videos.  We were going to buy it during the Black Friday deals, but I said we could just wait because it would probably go on sale again.  Clark decided to just go buy it and surprise me.  I had no idea!  It is a Sony Alpha A55.  I love it so far, but I need to learn how to use more of the features.  The best feature is the "smile" feature where you can have the camera on someone who is not smiling and as soon as they smile the camera will automatically take a picture!  It's great, especially when you have a little baby and it is hard to get pictures of them smiling.  It works better on adults but we had my nephew try it and he is 6 and it recognized his smile.  We went to church with Clark's parents and then had to head back up to Logan for my family celebration.  Clark's friend Dino and his wife Brandi stopped by to say Hi and let us see their cute little baby girl Averie.  

The cute little family

Max trying out our "smile" feature on the camera

Jack just being cute

We told them to go pose in front of the Christmas Tree and this is what we got....silly boys. 

Had to get a belly photo with my Christmas shirt that says "Santa Baby".

We stopped by my Dad and Lorie's house for a few hours and snacked on yummy food and opened presents.  Then it was over to my sister Allison's house for dinner and presents.  This Christmas seemed so low key and I loved it that way.  I hate being busy and rushed on Christmas.  We were able to see all of our family, and it was great.  

My mother making a salad for Christmas Dinner.

For my birthday my sister Melissa and her cute family came up to Logan for a quick visit.  We all went out to eat at Noodles and Co. my favorite place!  There was my Dad, Lorie, Adrienne, Nick, Melissa, Adam, Merrick, Elle, Allison, Max, Jack, Grandma Norda, and Clark.  I only got pictures of the cute kids though. 

Mr. Merrick being cute and looking so grown up.

Grandma and baby Elle.  Poor little girl had a fever that day and was at the doctors office all day before coming up to Logan.  She is a trooper and helped me celebrate my 26th birthday! I just love her so much.

Blowing out the candles with Max's help.  Good thing there weren't 26 candles or I wouldn't have been able to blow them all out.  12 was hard enough.  

Yummy rainbow chip cupcakes.  They are the best.

 It was a great Birthday and I'm glad all my sisters were there to celebrate with me!  I'm sad we never got a picture of all of us together.  At least I have pictures of their cute kids.  

It's crazy to think that next year we will have a cute little 8 month old to help us celebrate.  Holidays are always better with kids!  I am currently 28 weeks (well as of tomorrow) and only have 84 (ish) more days to go!  That's not very many... I'm in denial that April is quickly approaching.  We really don't have anything for the baby besides a few onesies, a diaper bag I'm borrowing from my sister, and some other random things.  I keep telling Clark he needs to at least start on the baby's cradle since he won't be sleeping in a crib for a couple months.  I found a car seat I want, but of course it's the most expensive one!  It just looks so nice and safe for my little baby.  It is a Peg Perego and I love it.  It's all Black which makes Clark happy and it is really light weight compared to a few other ones I've looked at.  Who wants a 25 pound car seat plus a 7+ pound baby to lug around.  Not me!  I think the reason we are dragging our feet on buying stuff is because we aren't sure where we will be living come April.  It all depends on jobs.  Plus I'm waiting for baby showers too.  I figure there's no rush right?  I've created some registries at Target and Babies R Us but mostly so I can keep track of things I need/want.  Hopefully baby boy won't come early cause I don't think we will be prepared!    

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year we went out to my Dad's house in Smithfield.  It was kind of nice not having to travel far and being able to be lazy that whole day.  I guess I wasn't too lazy because for some reason my sisters Adrienne & Allison and I decided to go to a step aerobics class at 7am that morning.  My friend Leigh from work teaches aerobics in the mornings and she didn't think anyone would come to class Thanksgiving morning so she recruited us.  Well she was wrong and there was a big crowd!  Luckily that meant we were in the back.... we didn't always know what was going on.  Being pregnant I took it easy, but it felt good to be moving around and getting a little workout.  Then I went home and made mashed potatoes and Clark made his famous rainbow jello.  He made it two years ago for my Grandma's thanksgiving party and it was a hit.  You can't go wrong with rainbow jello!  

This was a picture from 2 years ago.  We forgot to get a photo this year.  Hmmm that mustache looks familiar, I know I've seen it somewhere before....

Oh look it's that darn mustache again!  I think it's getting thicker.  Clark is very proud of his nasty mustache.  He has been growing it since the deer hunt back in October.  It is December 1st and he still hasn't shaved.  I may need to do it in his sleep.  

This was our pre-Thanksgiving dinner picture although my face looks like I already ate an entire feast!  I blame it on being pregnant....  Good thing we played Just Dance 3 after dinner.  I needed to work off a few calories.  I definitely ate my share of food.  I love Thanksgiving!  We are so grateful for our little baby and can't believe we will be parents soon.  It is a little scary, but mostly because Clark is graduating and we aren't sure where we will be in April.  It all depends on jobs.  Scary!  I just have to be patient and know that things will work out if we are doing the best we can.  I guess good things come to those who wait.  Although I hate waiting sometimes.  

I went Black Friday shopping up here in Logan this year.  I needed some things for Clark and now I am done with his Christmas!  People are crazy and I just laugh when everyone starts rushing the door when they open.  I don't think any "deal" is worth running, pushing, and almost killing people over.  I've decided shopping on-line will be the way to go from now on . 


I have put up a few Christmas decorations, but it just isn't feeling like Christmas yet.  We NEED SNOW!  I went to the local performance of The Nutcracker with my sister Adrienne on Friday.  It is kind of a tradition of ours to go to The Nutcracker each year.  We went to Ballet West last year and that was amazing.  The local version isn't as "professional" but it's still fun. I love the holiday season and spending time with family and friends.  We have a lot of fun things to look forward to in the coming weeks!  

Yellowstone Trip

We went up to Yellowstone over a month ago to see the wildlife and enjoy the scenery for a couple of days.  I didn't have to work on Columbus day (thanks Christopher Columbus!) so we went up on Saturday and came home on Monday.  It was a quick trip, but you don't need too much time in Yellowstone.  It is very pretty up there but once you've seen one buffalo you've seen them all.  Here are some pics of our trip!

Waiting for Old Faithful to erupt

The pretty fall leaves were pretty non-existent.  That's about all we saw

Buffalo.  I think he needs a tissue

Elk just hanging out in town in Mammoth WY

More Elk

The North entrance to Yellowstone in Gardiner Montana

The lower falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Clark and I hiked down to the top of the Lower Falls.  So the picture up above is where we were standing.  Then we drove down and looked at the falls from far away.  It was pretty creepy being above that much water.... I was a little nervous standing up there.  

Another picture of the falls.

The Tetons.  On our way home we drove through Jackson.  It was already getting late so we didn't stop except for dinner.  But I got this picture from the car.  It was cloudy so you can't seem them that well, but they are still pretty sweet.  

It was a fun little trip and the last time I was in Yellowstone I was a small child so I don't remember anything.  The bad part is driving in the car most of the time looking for wildlife.... Being pregnant and stuck in a car isn't always fun.  I think we stopped so I could go to the bathroom about every hour.  I was good at spotting bathrooms, Clark and his Dad were good at spotting elk, bears, bald eagles, coyotes, and wolves.  

Pregnancy Dreams Don't Lie

I had my 20 week appointment on Monday and we found out what is growing in my belly--boy or girl.  I've had two dreams about it so going in I just knew it was going to be a boy.  Clark said a girl, just because I felt so strongly it was a boy he said it will end up being a girl.  Last minute I think all of my sisters guessed boy, even though I swear they said girl to begin with.  When the ultra-sound tech showed us THE picture it was most definitely a BOY!  Now I've seen a few boy ultrasounds because I have 3 nephews on my side of the family and you can tell it's a boy, but I swear our little guy wanted us to be VERY sure he was a he.  The ultra-sound tech said "he is very proud to be a boy" and our doctor said "he's not shy at all".  Ha ha Clark was so proud of his son that day!  


I am excited to have a boy.  It seems like most girls want a girl and most guys want a boy but we were opposite.  I just really wanted a boy first and Clark thought it would be fun to have a girl.  But Clark is very happy it's a boy and he can't wait to teach him to ski and build stuff in the garage!  And I would have been just as happy with a sweet little girl.  I want one of each, so next baby needs to be a girl.  


After our ultrasound appointment we went to Old Navy because I just really wanted to buy an outfit.  Clark picked out a cute one piece that is black and white knit (of course he chose black) and I found a cute red and black checked onesie.  Clark said he would look like "Henry the lumberjack" in that shirt, and I thought looking like a lumberjack would be just fine so we bought them both!  


It is so fun to know what the gender is and it makes it feel even more real that we are having a baby in 4 1/2 more months.  I'm finally starting to feel him move and it is so fun.  Clark and I went to Warren Miller Ski Movie last night and baby was moving all around.  I told Clark the baby already loves skiing with how much I could feel him!  I'm going black Friday shopping and I will need to have some self control so I don't go crazy buying clothes and other baby stuff.  I need to wait for showers so other people can buy me stuff right?!  Clark is making the baby a crib and maybe a cradle so I won't need to buy that.  I was looking at crib bedding and I really don't like anything from the stores so I've been looking on Etsy for homemade/custom made bedding.  They have some cute stuff.  If anyone out there makes crib bedding or has an Etsy shop let me know and I will buy something from you.  

Pictures

Giving us the thumbs up.  I love this because as a child Clark was a thumb sucker and even still he will bite on his thumb or put it towards his mouth when he is concentrating, so it looks like baby likes his thumb.  

So this is the babies little foot off to the left.  If you look closely his second toe is bigger than his big toe.  The ultra-sound guy asked if either of us have feet like this and I do!  my second toe is taller than my big toe.  Baby has my toes.  It is genetic apparently.  My mom has toes like that too.