Never ending!

The stretch marks KEEP COMING.

It's gotten to the point where Mike will ask, "So, any new stretch marks today?"

REALLY? 

That's what you want to ask your hormonal pregnant wife?!

Ugh. I still love him.

Baby Got Back

And no, I'm not talking about Chloe.

I was wearing Mike's pajama bottoms because mine are getting a little snug. Apparently the problem isn't just my waistline, but my J.Lo booty. My pants ripped when I struggled to get off the couch....and just kept on ripping.

Thankfully Mike thought it was more hilarious than upsetting, since they're his pants.

I find it upsetting that he finds it hilarious.

Oh well. Chunky chicks take longer to freeze to death than skinny ones. Boo ya.

I like to move it, move it.

Mobility is starting to be a problem.

When I wake up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I have to hook one leg around the mattress so I can haul myself out of the bed. I come back and I have to just kind of drop myself down and bounce a little until I find a comfortable position.

I haven't been eating as many cupcakes (oh Hostess, I love you) lately, so my intense struggle to breathe after going up ONE flight of stairs in the LA building must have something to do with the fact that Chloe is causing some major lung-smashing.

Basically I am depending on bouncy cushions on the couches and bed in order to get comfortable. If I get stuck in said cushion, it takes awhile to get out. Even bending down to get something creates a really awesome grunting sound...Mike tells me not to overdo it and ask for help, but let's be honest. 

I want to be independent as long as possible. 

I probably only have a few weeks left until Mike has to put on my shoes for me.

*high-pitched screaming*

I got my first stretch mark today. Or at least noticed it. 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

I didn't think I would mind, because I've got a few little stretch marks around my hips from my growth spurts (the vertical ones, lol), but they are NOTHING compared to this!

Long, thick and PURPLE.

This is NOT okay. 

I warned Mike about it because I would probably start to cry or punch him in the face if he asked me what it is. I'm going to get more and I'm pretty sad about it. I mean, I'm already getting fat, but why can't I still have good skin? I've had people tell me that I'm glowing...

Nope. Just the excess oil in my face from both hormones and my own awesome genetics. Thanks for noticing.

I will be purchasing some skin product that claims to "diminish the appearance of stretch marks." It will probably do nothing, but I don't care. I need to at least pretend to get rid of them!

SO blessed!

Apparently I lied when I said I wouldn't take a 24 week picture.

Am I as colossal as I feel???

Rather than debate my rapid growth toward being a walrus, I want to focus on how blessed Mike and I are. We have the best family and friends anyone could ask for. Everyone has been so supportive and not one person has dwelled on anything negative. I love you guys.

Also, I want to publicly thank (geez, I sound like I'm accepting a Grammy!) (Oh man, wouldn't that be AWESOME?!) my cousin Alyse and her husband, Shawn. They have the cutest little girl, Aryn, who will soon be four and they donated lots of baby stuff to us!

I want to wait to post pictures until we have Chloe's room set up, but here is a list of the things they gave us:

-A crib

-A bouncher

-A swing

-Diaper Genie

-Glider

HOLY COW!

We won the lottery!

Mike and I have been stressing so much over how we were going to get Chloe quality stuff without having money problems and my wonderful cousin was the answer to our prayers! It's quite the advantage, being younger than most of your family when you start having kids. ;)

Thank you SO MUCH, Alyse and Shawn! And thanks to everyone else who has been helping us out by letting us use the stuff your kids grow out of. We're extremely grateful!

Zzz...

I realized today that I have to start either taking naps or going to bed by 10:00 every night.

I was driving home from school and I realized that I was driving forty-five miles an hour and some old grandma was tailing me.

The tired phase has begun!

24 Weeks

I don't have a picture for this week, but the belly hasn't grown much. My photographer thinks it's weird to take a weekly picture, but he's a guy. He doesn't understand. :)

My appointment went well today. Dr. Nance and I talked about what's going to happen once she's born. There will be pediatricians and surgeons who will assess her feet and we will move on from there. It makes me nervous that I might not be with her for awhile right after she's born, but I'm trying to focus on the blessing that the doctors can help her.

Chloe is enjoying the space under my left rib. I keep pushing her out but she wiggles her way back in. Little stinker!

She's not on my sciatic nerve as much this week, and I'm grateful. Dr. Nance gave me a sheet with a bunch of exercises I can do to help relieve the pain when she decides to party on it again.

My weight gain is right on track, my blood pressure is good and I don't waddle yet. I have a hard time being as big as I am...I feel like I should be much smaller, but Jamie keeps reminding me that I'm almost 6 months pregnant...I should show. :)

Well, I love hearing Chloe's heartbeat and I get to again on April 11, the day before my birthday!

"Child Abuse"

We've all heard about how using physical force to punish a child is "child abuse." Apparently all children who get spanked by their parents or guardians grow up to be sex offenders, burglars or abusers. This thought goes even further, saying that if you don't pay for your child's car or college education, that is also abusive.

What happened to good old discipline?

My parents spanked me if I was a brat. 

I was slapped if I was disrespectful to my mother.

I couldn't hang out with friends if my chores weren't done correctly.

If I lost my parents' trust, I had to earn it back.

My dad bought my car, but only after I proved to him that I could take care of it. It wasn't a brand-new sports car. It only cost $3,000 and was seven years old when I got it.

I'm grateful for how I was disciplined.

I learned to respect my parents, take responsibility for my actions and work hard for what I want.

I'm not saying I'm going to beat my girl with a stick.

But I will be "old-fashioned" like my parents.

And she will grow up as a fully-functional, well-rounded woman.

Fashion Firsts :)

I made my first flowers for Chloe and I love them! Jamie taught me how on Saturday and I can't wait to make a bazillion more. I love the layered flowers, but I'll probably do more spiral ones...they're more "little girl."

And, in other awesomeness, I bought Chloe's FIRST outfit! Well, her first outfit from me. :)

Isn't it ADORABLE?! The ruffled shorts are so cute...I seriously love it so much. Mike thinks it's really cute too, and she can wear her two new spiral flowers with it. :)

Hand-Me-Downs

I am ALL about hand-me-downs. Today I got a baby bath, baby changer, LOTS of cute clothes/hair accessories, some toys and blankets from Jamie's stash. I know that a lot of people feel like they need to buy things brand-new for their first baby, but I'm not like that (although maybe I would be if we weren't in school!).

So...if anyone out there has some cute baby girl things or ideas of where to get them for relatively cheap, I would love to hear from you. Besides, that way you can take credit for how unbelievably well-dressed/cared for Chloe will be. :)

Let's set the record straight.

Today my brother-in-law asked me a very interesting question. He asked me if Chloe's birth defect hindered my excitement about having her.

Not. At. ALL.

I appreciate Chris asking me that, because I didn't realize that my disappointment over her feet could make people think I wasn't excited anymore. I can't wait for July so I can meet her! I love her already and I love seeing how happy Mike is about fatherhood. I spend hours looking up baby clothes and accessories with a big grin on my face. We went and bought her bedding on Monday and both of us were practically jumping up and down! 

I hate that her feet are going to be an issue in her life, but how ridiculous would it be if that made me regret her? She's my girl, whether or not she can point her toes.

22 Weeks

I am already OVER halfway done being pregnant.

WOW.

I am loving this stage of pregnancy. I wear cute dresses all the time now because they rock with my belly! Plus, I'm hopefully setting an example for Chloe...I want her to be a girlie-girl, unlike me! :)

My hair is finally starting to grow quickly, which is nice because my prenatals were slowing down the growth. My nails are rockin', Mike thinks I'm sexy, life is good!

Except...

My back has been killing me lately! I can't carry much or else some kind of nerve or something on the right side of my back hurts like crazy.

Especially at night, I limp on my right side. I've been prone to back spasms before, but this is almost worse. Oh well, my little chica is worth it...especially with how much she's been kicking lately! I can't wait for Mike to be able to feel it. :)

Onto Week 23!

Poke!

Chloe loves to poke and punch and kick Mom all the days. 

I've noticed that she is either the most awake around noon, or just really wants a say in my Mormon Literature class. I think she's going to be very outspoken. It'll sure be a mystery where she'll get that from. ;)

On a super sweet goo-goo-ga-ga moment, I love feeling her move! I didn't start feeling her until 21 weeks and it made me really nervous, but now Chloe is partyin' all the time! I love putting my hand on my stomach and just soaking in the experience that I am bringing a child into the world. It's insane to think that Heavenly Father is trusting me with one of His children...I feel so unprepared and excited and terrified all the time.

I'm grateful that I am blessed with the experience to feel her move around. I can already tell that she's going to be pretty laid back like her daddy, but she's definitely going to have a fiery streak in her like Mommy. :)

Mike and I have decided that it took so long for me to feel her because she can't aim her little toes and she's just been thudding the sides of her feet at me. 

That's my girl, never giving up. :)