Picking up right where we left off...
Final moving day. With the graduation celebrations over and our families headed to the airport, we made one final sweep of our apartment and packed up the two cars. Having Floyd and Shannon with us made all the difference on this drive. It went from dreaded to more than tolerable. We were able to mix up who was driving and riding so there was almost always fresh conversation and no need for the alphabet game ;) We had snow in Nebraska and Wyoming with 30 degree temps, but thankfully it didn't slow us down. The highlight was stopping in Nauvoo and Carthage. We took a day to tour the different sites and enjoy the sweet spirit there.
And then we were home. Gosh, I missed the mountains! Provo canyon was gorgeous and green. We stayed at the Harward's for the next two weeks and then moved into a townhome in Sandy. Things stayed at a busy pace because we had the usual checklist of things to do when you move - like register the cars and change addresses, plus Wes started work at the firm, studying for the bar exam, and building an entertainment center with his dad. We also had our things to store for the two weeks and then move them into our home. I had doctor and insurance stuff to figure out. And then all of the fun stuff like seeing family and friends! What with baby blessings, missionary farewells, and the usual holiday get togethers and birthdays we have been able to see lots of our family. It has been great to catch up! And what's even better is the goodbyes really are temporary because we're not going back to South Bend at the end of the summer. Hooray!
Poor Wes hasn't gotten much of a summer break, though. Working at the firm in June kept him very busy and now all of this month he's been studying like crazy for the bar exam. Thankfully that will all be done in less than a week! Then he'll get a few weeks off before starting work at the court. I am so grateful that he takes such good care of our little family!
My life has slowed down, thankfully. Once we got moved in, I unpacked and organized our place, including the nursery! It has been so fun to set up the crib and other baby gear plus go through all of the clothes and sweet gifts that we received at the baby shower. (I know I've said this before, but we really do have the BEST family and friends!) I find myself just wandering in to the nursery every now and then just to look at everything and imagine my baby sleeping in his crib. It makes me giddy! It's been nice but odd not being as busy. No work to go to and really it's just my own agenda. I love keeping my house clean and organized and having dinner on the table each night. I'll go down to Utah county every week for ceramics class or other fun things with family. And doctor appointments of course :)
My pregnancy has continued to be pretty easy. Which I am so grateful for! It made the craziness of graduation and moving very doable, and I'm still able to do most everything I'm used to. The third trimester has definitely brought more discomfort. I feel huge! And I'm hot. All the time! Sleep at night has become a chore. I can't have any covers on me, and if we could afford it, the thermostat would be set at like 65. I have a pillow to prop up my belly and sometimes one between my knees. Bathroom runs happen about two or three times a night, and I roll from side to side constantly it seems. I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions every night for the last several weeks and they have started to wake me up. My right thigh is numb because of sciatica and it pretty much throbs all day now. At times it feels like my boy is stretched out horizontally in my belly just pushing to see how far my hip bones can spread. And the dreaded stretch marks appeared on my sides and very low on my belly around week 32. Now that I've come to the final month of pregnancy I feel utterly exhausted. I have the pregnancy waddle down pat, and I've had some pretty bad back pain at night. I am seeing the Doc every week now and things are progressing! Yesterday I was at 3 cm and 80% effaced. Yay!
In spite of all these common pregnancy complaints, aches, and pains, I have absolutely loved being pregnant! I love my baby boy more than I can say, and he makes me smile every single day as I feel him stretch, kick, hiccup, flip, and tremble. I am constantly amazed by the developments that are taking place each week and knowing how strong and capable my body is. Wes adores him as well. He will talk to our son and hold my belly at night to feel the little guy squirm. He helped me identify a foot a few weeks ago and you could kind of hold onto it. So fun! I know Wes loves us because he even went to one night of the birth class that I took. He kept the eye rolling and skeptical remarks to a minimum but did keep me laughing as we practiced breathing and pushing. I know he will be a great labor coach and make sure the baby and I are taken care of. Wes and I are both so anxious to meet our baby and to snuggle him! I am so curious to know what he will look like and who he will take after. I love to imagine what he will feel like curled up on my chest and in my arms.
We are just counting down the days now! First to the bar exam to just get that beast out of the way and then the birth of our son! It really won't be long now. This summer has already flown by, and I know our life isn't about to slow down. Our adventures "In the Land of Michiana" are over, but we are starting even better adventures now as we enter parenthood! Thanks for following along with us these last three years. We love you all!
(ps. sorry about the lack of pictures. In pure pregnancy laziness I am not including any with today's post. I'm going to make you check my instagram and facebook for that :) )
