Declaration and thanksgiving

We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar. We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.

Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.

Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.

Delight in service and good works.

Love life and learning.

Stand for truth and righteousness.

Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth.

Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine destiny, and strive for exaltation.

(I memorized this as one of my personal progress value experiences and I think it's awesome.)

My blessings:

Maternity Photos November 2013

One of my dearest friends, Jayna, took pictures of our family and my 8 month belly earlier this month. We love them very very much!! And we love her. Here are our favorites...      

Her website is JaynaHedges.com

Five years old

It had rained all day. Here in Phoenix, it's sunny. And if it rains, it's just a little. But this had been all day.

The streets were wet and gorgeous and blurry. We were bundled up, holding hands, nothing/no one between. 

We left our world behind with his uncle and ran off into the night. First to walk through Christmas trees, lights, antique glitter, tricycles, repurposed hutches and gorgeous couches, and collect vintage ornaments. 

Then through the rain to an Itailian house, so dark and romantic. The food was the most incredible I've had in a long time. Everything is my new favorite, warm, creative, complex, and familiar. I crave it now. We had been promised a 45 minute wait, but perhaps November or love or pregnancy or God himself interfeered and we were given a table not 12 minutes later. We sat across from each other at that tiny table and asked questions and talked about the future five years. 

Without further exact plans, but the night still being young, we went out in search for the perfect dessert to share. While driving around downtown, getting lost in the blurriness and no chance of parking spots, we happened upon a particularly dark and interesting alley where Collin discovered a secret performance going on. There was a warehouse, modern dance, and a woman staring out a gate at us; it was where we needed to be that night! 

We witnessed a beautiful interesting creepy few scenes, heard some lovely music, talked with some wonderful old friends and met new, everyone ever asking and congratulating about my obvious upcoming life change. We relaxed in a comfortable lounge and despite being among eyeballs, skins, mannequins and instruments, held hands and found the trash together. 

One more adventure: we were recommended the best ice cream ever, so set off once again in the late rain, found our place (and free parking!) and had the most delicious combinations while listening about Europa, Jupiter's moon, and Montessori ideals. It had been an interesting wonderful adventure, spent with my best friend and favorite person in the universe. "Five years paying bills; five years without any frills!" We had joked that morning, budgeting and paying rent etc. But there's no one i'd rather do any of this with, CS. There's no one I find more interesting, handsome, intelligent and strong. We have a very blessed life with our babies and kitties and little space. Happy November 22nd. 

This is no joke...

Fred said, "I wan milkaay!"

And I asked what it tastes like. 

And he said, "chicken."

Hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!

Took some pictures after church! Grey family! Awesome faces. Sweet wood in the back. 

A&tJ

These little nervous feelings about giving birth started creeping in but today I'm packing and listening to my birthing playlist and I'm feeling so happy weepy sentimental good. Fred is napping and I'm cuddled in my bed dreaming of my second child. Antony and the Johnsons is my favorite for birth (and in general). Last time I listened to Spiraling over and over and this time I love You are my Sister. I am picturing Frederick and the baby, together; so magical. (I mean I'm worried about him being rough and going "boomy" right on the babes head too), but I know they will love each other.

As I listen to Hypnobirthing affirmations my body gets so relaxed and gushy and comfortable. I will be confident, safe, secure. I will open and birth smoothly and easily. I will look to Collin. I trust him. I've been in love with him for over 6 years, you know. 

These are more good things:

38 weeks this week

Had a great prenatal appointment today. 

The baby is very low, everything is measuring exactly on and my midwife said that he or she could come any day!! (But to still assume it'll be later rather than sooner!)

We need to pack and get everything ready. This is getting very very real.

I'm so happy!!

Julianne Swartz at Smoca

Gorgeous, interesting, LOVELY exhibit at Smoca currently all about LOVE. And magnets. It was all so heart warming and fun! Frederick wanted to touch everything but was good and patient with us while we talked and explored it all, explaining that we look with our eyes and then think about it with our heads and feel it in our hearts. He did so well, and there were a few things he could touch here and there.

Beautiful beautiful exhibit.

Wrapped in red

Graphic!

Broby loves baby too!

Young Women In Excellence 2013

The girls decided to make the theme Yw in excellence, through the years. The Yw program was established in 1870 and each girl picked a decade from then to now to represent. Many dressed up, decorated their desplays etc with their decade.

Sometimes your power goes out

Sometimes your power goes out and you have to pack up, get outside, and go on a big long adventure. But then you stop on the corner to eat your sandwich and watch big trucks WORK!!

Soon stuff

Ankles swelling, insane acid reflux, have to pee every time I stand...not complaining, just saying ;)

Babes coming soon. 

Plans!

Perineal toning/massage- when perineal rim is adequately softened and toned w massage, becomes numb w pressure of baby's head. As baby naturally is expelled, perineum unfolds and baby passes easily down and out.

When pre-Surges come: slow breathing And listen to birth affirmations. Get in tub.

When Waters release: listen to birth affirmations, eat, breathe, yoga, Collin-script, practice positions, shower

Baby expulsion stage: lay or squat in tub, Collin-touch, script, breathe, affirmations

Ideal birth experience:

Update!!

Thursday I'm 36 weeks and I've been feeling all the normal cramping, practice surges, total exhaustion that comes with this point in pregnancy.

I feel good. I had an appointment today and it was very positive. 

I've been having little headaches; I need to drink more water. I've been having crazy vivid nightmarish dreams every night; I need to write down 5 positive affirmations for each of the dreams. 

In my last two dreams, the babe was a girl. Either way, he/she moves like crazy, non-stop!!

The big one too:::Nichelle described him perfectly today: a brilliant energizer bunny!! I love him. So so much. 

In every prayer he says "thank you for the fair," about 5 times and today he added, "thank you for the bus." He is really freaking sweet with my belly. He rubs gently in a circle while he's nursing. 

Today when we heard the heartbeat, Fred lit up!!! He definitely knows what's going on. He knows there is a baby in my belly and that it's going to come out and be in our family. Now, I doubt he can comprehend having a sibling, but then again, I can't comprehend having another child. Today we watched births of kitties, a cow, and 2 humans. Fred thought they were very interesting. 

OCTOBER! Halloween!

October is over! November is here: the month of thanksgiving, our 5th anniversary, just days and weeks before our jumping Bean joins the family on the outside!! GIVING BIRTH SOON!
I'll now be posting a giant post about October, Halloween etc. This spooky month was pretty good to us.