First 5K!

Woo hoo! I ran my first 5K earlier this morning. It. Was. Exhilarating!

Last night I had at least two dreams about my upcoming race.
1. I was at the park where the race was to start and my parents, S, and A were all there with me to cheer me on. With about 10 minutes left till the start of the race, I look down, and I'm wearing a long black dress with flip flops! AH! I had to run back home and change clothes, and by the time I could get back to the park...it was over. :( Then I woke up.
2. I was at the park and when the race started, I watched it on TV (at the park) while I ran in place. When I got tired of running in place, I ran to our apartment and back. When the racers where getting back to the park , I let 10-15 through the finish line, then followed them on through. Ridiculous. I know.

Needless to say, I was nervous when I woke up this morning. Nauseated and shaking. That was me. As I got A and I ready, I called S on the phone (who would be getting off of work 1/2 an hour before my race started). He calmed and reassured my nerves a bit, but I still couldn't help but jog to the park rather than just taking it easy and walking. (I had to pound those nerves out somehow.)

S got the park soon after I did so he could watch A while I ran. What a lifesaver. Both to have him there period, and that he took care of A so I didn't have to push the stroller along as I ran. It was great!
They called the runners to the start line, I kissed S and walked over. We had 2 minutes until go-time, so S snapped a few pictures...

Ready, Set, GO! I was in the middle of the group, but of course I fell back at bit as the group stretched out based on fitness level. The first mile marker that I saw drove me crazy because I did NOT want to think about how much I had left. But remarkably, I felt good. I wasn't tired yet. Achy a bit in the legs, but not bad at all.

I can do this. I can finish this race is what I thought to myself as I passed each mile marker. Then, it started raining. Cold, icy, refreshing, wonderful rain. That was at about 20 min into the run. Its just what I needed to cool off, and go a little faster. Heavenly Father really does know me. I said a Thank you prayer in my head at that point.

The only hint of how long I was taking was when I passed two runners and the man asked the girl how much time had passed. 25 min. Only 25 minutes? Wow! This isn't too bad. About 2 minutes later I passed an aide station and the woman there cheered me on and said I only had 1.2 miles to go. YIPPEEE!

At that point, I decided to enjoy the scenery around me. Mountains. Beautiful sky. Historical buildings. The Temple only a block away and very visible. Passing the old LDS Logan Tabernacle. Gorgeous. Only two women passed me in my last 1.5 miles. I thought that was pretty decent...only 2 people. Then the image of Christine G (for those of you from the Ruston ward...you know her) 8 or 9 months pregnant and passing me made me run a bit faster. :)

As I rounded the last corner, I saw the 26th mile marker for the marathoners who would be running this same route a few hours later. Crazy people. Running 26.2 miles. Wait. I can do that...maybe by the time I'm 30. So that's my new goal. Work up to 26.2 miles. A whole marathon by the time I'm 30.

The cones leading to the finish line (which was really a huge balloonish arch) made my heart rate speed up. I can see the end!! I can do this. Oh look, there's S and A. Man, I love that guy. The sight of little A clapping his sweet little baby hands made my emotions go haywire.
44:58 is what I saw as I ran towards the finish line. 45 minutes on the dot is my time. Not great, but definitely faster than what I expected.

I finished. And I'm not last. I didn't puke or passout. Wipe your tears quick...S's coming. :)

I was crying again by the time I got to S.

The best part? Knowing that I achieved a goal that I set for myself. And getting a hug and kiss from S who waited the whole 45 minutes for me to return to him. Gosh, I really love that man!

So overdo...

Wow! Its been about a year since I have blogged. Sorry family! I don't have long right now, because A is currently torturing my in-laws two new puppies. (Very tiny dogs...so cute!) Thank goodness for Uncle Bill for watching him and keeping the dogs safe from his baby agressivness.

So, A is nearing 10 months old now. I. Cant. Believe. It! It still feels like just last week we were in the hospital with him. (One of these days I will update you on how the labor and delivery went. I can't remember if I've blogged about it yet.) We've been doing sign language with A since he was like 4 months old...and at 9 months he finally signed back to us! (That whole hand control thing was a kicker.) He now signs, "All done," "More," "Fish," and can kindof sign "Mom."  One day a couple weeks ago, he was trying to get into a trash bag in the kitchen and we signed (and said) "All done" to him. He quickly sign back to us "More"... that stinker.

A's upcoming birthday is getting me really excited! I want to have a little party and decorate the coolest cake in the world...(any suggestions?)

Doctor's diagnosis...

So we had another doctor's appointment this morning. It was the first one where he actually checked me to see how the baby is doing other than the heartbeat, and great news! Baby's fine. :) Also, on the Bishops Scale we're at an 8 out of 10. Doc says that means there is a possibility that A will be born early. He's head down and low and in place for delivery. :) Needless to say, I was thrilled.

However, I called Grammy to let her know...and I think I stressed her out. She told me not to have the baby until AFTER they finish moving. I'll try Mom... But I gotta say, I'm kinda excited at the prospect of him being born early on his own.

We are 35 weeks and 3 days pregnant now...he is due in about 4 1/2 weeks. I'm getting so anxious and very excited! S set up A's bassinett in our room last week, and now the daily reminder of a soon-to-be addition to our family is making me anticipate the birth with a bit more nervousness. I mean...we're really gunna have a baby! HOLY COW!


On a totally different note...I made two pumpkin pies last night. My first ever attempt. S ate almost a whole one last night so I guess it turned out okay. :) I was just craving that pumpkin that I keep seeing in the pantry. (We stocked up for Thanksgiving and Christmas.)   Mmmmm...yummy!

Amost There

Baby A has been a kicker lately! I got my first jabs to the ribs this week..and boy did that hurt! It felt like his little feet were stuck in my ribs..weird. S thought it would be fun to play some music for our little one, so he got out his ipod and hooked my belly up to some heavy duty headphones. Let me tell you what..A was rockin'.  For most of the songs he sat quietly...either just really enjoying it or wishing it would stop. But for a select few, he went crazy. It felt like he was dancing to the beat. So the winners, you ask?

3. Welcome to the Jungle...Guns and Roses
2. Mormon Tabernacle Choir (cant remember what song it was)
1. Highway to Hell...AC/DC



Now, that is a slightly biased list since we only used S's ipod (none of my music). But I will add that today I had some country on and was singing (quite loudly, I'll admit) to it and he seemed to really enjoy that as well. Only time will tell what he really thinks.

Speaking of time...its getting closer! I have more days where I feel contractions...some pretty intense. And we are down to visiting the Doc once a week now! I'm thrilled. This is the first time in my life when I have actually been thrilled to go to the doctor. This week he told us that if A were born that day, he would have a good chance of being A-Okay. :) (Not those exact words, but same idea.) I, however, have a feeling that if we leave the decision up to baby A, that he will be born at least a week late. :(  Maybe the Doc will induce a little early. Prayers, my friends, prayers!

The Doc also told us that typically they don't do a third trimester ultrasound unless they suspect the baby is really small or really big. Right now he thinks A is average (but he's not getting the kicks in the ribs...I am. And I think he's getting very big.) So we'll see about a final ultrasound. I'm hoping we get one! I love to see him...even if its black and white and all grainy. :D

So, In addition to counting down the weeks till A is born...I count down the number of friends I have left pregnant until its my turn. In the last 3 weeks...I've had 3 friends (including my awesome sister-in-law) have their babies. One more next week, and then I think its my turn! Woot! S told me this week that his boss also had her baby (she was due ONE WEEK before me). Maybe its something in the water, but I'm hoping A comes a wee bit early on his own, too.

I'll keep ya posted!
Mommy in Waiting

P.S. I'm so excited my BBFF is coming to visit me!!! Maybe she will be Aunt Diva before she gets here! :D

Showering the Baby

So, before we left Louisiana, my wonderful sister and friends put together a sweet baby shower for my little baby! There was yummy food, lots of fun friends, cool game (that I will probably reuse oneday :) ) and awesome presents for baby A!  Thank you to everyone who helped out!

The cake Kel made


Kel made the Diaper Tricycle, and Dani put together the picture frame mat!


The sweet ladies whom I adore! THANKS!


Presents! Baby A is so lucky. :)

I know several other people were involved in putting together (or just showing up to!) my baby shower. I'm sorry...I didn't get a whole lot of pictures that day. But thank you to all of my wonderful friends in Ruston. I miss all of you tons!

Almost There

So I'm 32 weeks pregnant now...wishing I was more like 39. But we're so close! I can almost see baby A now (well, I can imagine what his feet and fists look like because I feel them constantly). Updated pictures...


21 weeks preggers


30 weeks preggers

At Long Last...

Yes, we did make it out West! And boy did we have an adventure getting here. I am totally unprepared to illustrate what we went through to travel this way (no pictures on me at the moment), but hopefully I can add some color to truly show what our journey was like!
S drove the big moving van--towing his little green car while I drove my Toyota behind him. (Remember...I'm pregnant. I had to stop A LOT!) This was quite a long drive for me, but we managed. Because S was leading, he had the GPS system in the truck with him. Guess what that silly machine (and I say silly to be VERY kind...) did to us. In the middle of nowhere Wyoming--literally nowhere--we needed to stop and get gas. So we pulled over at what we thought was a good exit for a gas station break. Unfortunately, the gas station that we saw from the highway was decades out of service. So as we were trying to find the on-ramp for the interstate again, the GPS system told us to make a right turn on the other side of the interstate bridge. So what do we do? We follow the "silly" GPS. Mistake! This road turned out to be a gravel road (again in the middle of nowhere). So naturally, we tried to turn around. However, like I mentioned earlier, S was driving our huge moving van + his little green car behind. There was no turning around. So we continue on this little road to see where it would lead and if there would be a wider area to try to turn around again. In the meantime, it took us back under the bridge, over some cattle guards, and onto a DIRT road. I'm talking, "Home, home on the range" type of situation here. We keep driving on this dirt road, completely surrounded by the vast empty fields (and buttes) of Wyoming when we see this antelope on top of a hill, just staring at us. Finally, S found a large area of dirt where he was able to turn around so while we were there we decided to get out and stop for lunch. S lets the dog out of the moving truck and tries to get her to chase the antelope, but it was a no go...the beast was still staring at us...unmovable...but Girlie somehow could not see it. What a hunting dog she would be. After lunch, we pick back up on the open range going back the way we came. Crossing the same cattle guards that were now invaded by cows chewing the grass around it! I could have literally rolled down my window and touched this cow as I passed him. Freaky. Cows are huge...much bigger than my little Scarlett (the Toyota).
Just in case you're wondering, we did survive. ;)

So that was our journey TO the western states. Our stay here has been...different. I've never lived so far from mi familia, so that's been hard for me, but I love our little apartment and the AMAZING weather here!  Its awesome when you have to wear a sweatshirt in August because it started hailing during a rainstorm. But that's my personal opinion. The leaves are changing to yellows and reds, and the air is turning chillier (especially at night). I think me and the great West will be just fine together. (Ask me again when it starts to snow though. :) )

We don't have the internet, and probably wont for another year, but pictures hopefully soon!

We are getting so excited to meet our little bundle of joy...less than 9 weeks left!