Update: 25 weeks

In case you haven't heard from facebook:  We are having a BOY!  I tell you I was a little shocked when we had the ultrasound; I thought it was a girl.  But besides that, I thought that Russell would be my only boy because that  is how it goes in our family.  However, I am thrilled we are having a boy (that is secretly what I wanted anyway).  Russell needs a little brother to slap around because Lydia just doesn't appreciate him in that regard.  Lydia was, of course, devastated that she didn't get her baby sister.

Now I am 25 weeks pregnant (no pictures, please!).  I feel ENORMOUS!  Everyone says I look good or that my bump is cute, but I tell you, it would be a lot cuter if it was the 30 week bump it looks like it is!!  I am honestly scared for those last few months of this thing.  Right now, I am still going to the gym five days a week for the various classes I go to.  It is getting a little harder to maneuver, but I'm still in it.  People have been asking me when I am due and are always surprised at how much I still have left.  With that said, I'm hoping my stomach doesn't give way to endless stretch marks and forever-fatigued skin that hangs for the rest of my life.  I am seriously considering going on a diet or something.  Not a real diet, just more of a dessert-free kind of diet like we should all consume.  But this baby craves sugar.  And not just a little.  Sigh.

To scare myself just a little more, I just looked at pictures of myself at the end of my previous two pregnancies.    Yep, definitely scary.  YIKES!  Please wish me luck!

Turning 30

It happened.  I turned thirty.  It is what it is and there is nothing I can do about it.  Maybe I wouldn't care so much if I didn't look like I was thirty.  When I look at my freshly-washed face--a face that used to look just fine with nothing on it--I can't help but despair at the loose, porous skin, the dark patches above my eyelids, or the ever-feared wrinkles around my eyes and mouth.  To top it all off, I have a fantastic case of pregnancy acne and a small rash on the left side of my upper lip.  And let's not even get started with what is going on underneath my clothes!

On the flip side of turning thirty, I feel that I am a much better person that I was when I turned twenty.  The last decade held so many learning opportunities for me as I went from student to missionary, newlywed to mother.  It was an endless decade of growth where I've learned to be more generous, less judgmental, more passionate in loving my growing family, and more confident with myself.  I've learned that I actually don't like to scrapbook, play basketball, and a host of other things I found myself doing just because my friends do.  I've learned that I would much rather read a book than accomplish anything else, I prefer to run by myself, and that I don't miss my kids while they are in school.  And that is just fine by me!  Though I do miss the agility, energy, and flawless complexion of my early twenties, I do enjoy feeling that I am closer to discovering who I am supposed to be.

Now, wouldn't it be great if our inner accomplishments had physical manifestations?  What if every time I learned to be more grateful or more generous, my skins glowed a little more?  What if every time I treated my children and husband the way they deserved, I'd feel more fit and energetic? Of course, there are a host of moral problems with such a phenomenon.  How many of us would try to fake our way to beauty?  Or how many of us would try to do those things so that others wouldn't know our ugly insides?  It wouldn't work, but it would be nice if there were an easier way for women to enjoy aging and becoming.  I guess the true fault comes in the way our society worships beauty and sexuality over womanhood and character.  How grateful I am for the knowledge of the gospel and what really matters in the heart of a woman!

And while I am bound to despise those wrinkles and pores (I really just can't help it), I will try to look on my thirty years as a great accomplishment and hope that the next decade proves as fruitful!  To all my thirty-something (or soon to be) friends, here's to us!

Resolved? Not This Year!

For the past two years I have made New Year's Resolutions and posted them here for the world (or the three people who actually read my blog) to see.  And you know what?  I've done pretty well.  The first year I accomplished all but one (not eating treats) and last year I got all but three (cut sugar--I should just give up on that one, blog weekly--only nine posts all year!, and temple monthly--though I did go a little more often).

But this year, I'm not doing ANY.  Though there are certainly things I could work on.  I could just rewrite the goals about the temple, cutting sugar, and blogging more often.  I could also really use a good pep talk on being organized and doing more housework.  As I sit here, I can see the cheese crumbs on the counter from the nachos I made last night along with two apple cores that have long since turned brown.  On my desk in front of me are piles of coupons I cut out days ago and have yet to put into my coupon organizer.  That is how we have rolled as of late.  I drag myself out of bed, do a lot of talking to get myself to complete even a twenty minute workout (a few months ago I was doing 60-90 minute workouts everyday!), and take naps.  I can feel my waistline growing, my energy depleting, and I'm sure my kids think I am the most boring person on the planet.  That, or the one who yells the most.

But, even with all this, I still refuse to do it.  I refuse to do anything but survive this little math problem I've got going.  I've always been good at math, but this one is overwhelming.  And I figure it is going to take over my life all year long in one way or another.  So that is the only thing I'm willing to focus on as I forge into this new year.  See for yourself:

See my problem?  Little Bundle is due July 15 so I figure it will be 2013 before I get my act back together.  You'll just have to excuse me until then!

Halloween, Sweet Rides, and a Pilgrim

 I know that we are SO over Halloween.  I mean, we are on to Christmas for heaven's sake.  But not many got to see Russell in his doggie costume since he most definitely didn't want to wear it.  He wore it for trick-or-treating though.  It is amazing what you can get a kid to do when you bribe him with candy.

 Russell plodded along behind us all.  He couldn't keep up.  Lydia was so excited about the whole prospect she practically ran the whole time.  Every time we left a doorstep she would run down the driveway and say, "I LOVE Halloween!" Below:  Enjoying their loot.

Our friends down the street got these awesome toys for their birthdays.  They go about two miles an hour, but the kids love them.  We had a riding party in our driveway one day.

Lydia made this pilgrim hat at school.  When I went to pick her up, she was wearing it and I thought it was adorable.

 I ran a 5k in all this snow on November 19.  Chad and the kids came out to support me.  They loved the snow and I had a pretty good run.  The kids have loved the snow this year and have gone out to play in it every time (which has only been a few, really).  When Lydia has seen a fresh blanket of snow on our yard she has said, "We need to go make footprints!"  So far, we haven't had much snow and I am not complaining.  It was so nice and warm outside today.  Love the warm winter weather.