College Grad & 28 Weeks!

I never know what to title my blog posts, so I just decided to title it with how many weeks pregnant I am. #notcreative

Life is just moving along for us! Its hard to believe that I am in my third trimester!! My how time has flown by! I feel like this year has been a bit of a whirlwind. A lot of changes have taken place and I feel like the changes are going to just keep coming!

I officially graduated this past weekend! (Ahhhhh!!) I never thought I would make it. 8 years later, though, and here I am! It was a long and bumpy ride, and I took way to many detours to get here. But, I'm just glad to say that I can now officially call myself a college grad! (shout out to all my friends who actually graduated in 4 years like normal people...)

Even though I graduated this weekend, I still have to finish out my internship. Which ends on May 25! That leaves 4 weeks to wrap up my first year as a teacher. Woop woop! I can hardly believe I made it through this school year alive. I seriously thought I might keel over some days, especially since I have been pregnant. But, thank goodness for the enabling power of the Atonement, because it has given me the STRENGTH to finish this year. I am still so grateful I decided to do the internship instead of student teaching. Even though I probably complained and cried more then I have in my whole life. (Thankful for a patient husband...)

Silas starts his internship this summer at EY (Ernst & Young) in Salt Lake. For those who dont know, it's a large accounting firm in Salt Lake. He will be on their audit team. He's excited to have the "big 4" experience and anxious to determine if this is the route he wants to take. I think he will enjoy himself this summer.

Baby girl is due July 15. And I have no idea if she is going to come early, late, or right on time. I originally thought she would come late, as I was pretty sure they got my due date wrong. However, I recently got diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. This can cause a few different things:
- High birthweight
- Premature birth
- High blood sugar of baby or mom

So, now I feel like she could even come early. Who knows.

We are excited for the future though. Lots of fun changes to come! Lot's of big milestones approaching! I feel optimistic about the future!! So, bring it on!

Pregnancy Journey -- 26 Weeks!

I am terrible at writing down how I feel in the moment of things. There have been so many times throughout this pregnancy that I have thought to myself, "I really should write this down". Things like thoughts I might have about the future, or weird sensations that I am experiencing, or even just things I want to simply remember... So here I am trying to make up or lost time.

Here is my Journey thus far!


First Trimester-- Weeks 4- 12

We found out we were pregnant when I was about 4 weeks pregnant (Roughly around the 2nd week of November). It wasn't a surprise. I had been off of birth control for about 4 months and I had even bought an ovulation kit to help the process along. I don't even know why I decided to take a pregnancy test that morning, but I did. I remember thinking there was no way I was pregnant, and this is silly, and I don't know why I am doing this. But sure enough, two pink lines appeared and I couldn't even believe it. The second line was extremely faint... and left me questioning if it was actually a positive pregnancy test. So, I took another one the next day. There wasn't much change in the faintness... so of course I took another one the next day and the line was DARKER! Initially, after the first test I took, I didn't tell Silas because I was afraid I was just being paranoid, but I remember going throughout the day and thinking, I can't just keep this information in my head!!! I am going to explode! So, I called him at the end of my workday and said, "Umm.... I think there's a chance I might be pregnant. But I'm not totally sure because the line wasn't very dark, so I'm going to take another test tomorrow." He was a little taken off guard, because I just kind of word vomited on him. But was happy and not sure totally how to respond because of my unsurety.

Once I took the test on the third day, the line was visibly darker and that's when I conceited that I was actually pregnant. It was very surreal and I couldn't believe it!

Picture of the first pregnancy test. Do you SEE how faint the second line was???

The 3 days of pregnancy tests, ordering chronologically from top to bottom.

We told our immediate families when we were about 6 or 7 weeks along (around Thanksgiving time). They were pretty excited! Especially our siblings.

My experience in my first trimester was pretty mild compared to other pregnancies that I have heard of. I was nauseous pretty much all the time, but as long as I was doing something and keeping myself busy, I didn't notice as much. I threw up probably about once a week, which was actually pretty weird for me because I don't even throw up when I have the flu.

When I was about 12 weeks along, it was Christmas time. We spent Christmas in Disneyland! Which meant that I didn't really get to ride many of the rides... bummer. I mostly remember feeling extremely bloated and my pants were starting to get a bit tight. This is the point that I started using the "hairband extendo-pants" trick (which was an actual lifesaver).

I also got the flu the week we came back from Disneyland. (I was 12 weeks along) That was the worst. Like I said, I don't normally throw up... but me and the toilet became real close those 3 days. It was awful. I spent the entire 3 days in bed and really couldn't keep any food down. It was a great way to end my first trimester... *yuck*

10 weeks pregnant

11 weeks pregnant

Second Trimester-- Weeks 13- Present (week 26)

Again, I feel really lucky. I feel like I have had a relatively easy pregnancy compared to other women. I mean don't get me wrong, I have complained a lot... mostly because I just like to complain. *sorry, not sorry* (insert awkward smiley emoji here)

It's hard to believe how fast the second trimester has flown by! (for those who don't know pregnancy by weeks, the second trimester ends at 27 weeks, or about 6.5 months pregnant.) It felt like I blinked and here we are about to enter the third trimester.

At 19 weeks we went in for our ultrasound to find out what we were having. People would ask me if I wanted a boy or a girl, or if I felt like it was a boy or a girl. For a while I really, really thought it was a boy. Like, I was certain. But then as the ultrasound got closer, I questioned myself and felt like it was a girl.

I obviously would have been thrilled either way, but I think deep down, I was hoping for a girl because as soon as the ultrasound tech told us it was a girl I was ecstatic and just over the moon! Silas was also super excited! We found out on Valentine's Day, which was actually the best thing ever. We went to dinner afterwards and a really special moment I'll never forget was when we were eating dinner, Silas looked up at me and asked, "Do they still have like daddy daughter dances and stuff?" It melted my heart and made me love him more! (If that's even possible...)

I LOVE having this ultrasound picture. Like I love that you can see her little lips and her little nose! It's so cute! And I honestly swoon over it regularly.

 Cutest ultrasound picture you ever did see! <3>

I have to be honest, taking belly pics is not my thing. I always forget and even if I do take them, I struggle to want to post them because I feel like I look the same. I'm just not that great at it! But here are some that I have taken so far.

Both above pics are at 15 weeks. Just a couple days apart.

21 weeks

26 weeks

I feel like other than the ultrasound, the second trimester as been pretty uneventful. I feel Baby Girl kicking quite a bit these days and she has gotten big enough that she has even started to kick my ribs... so that's fun. Also, my abs have started to separate which has been pretty uncomfortable. Sleeping is getting more difficult and sitting up is basically impossible to do on my own. Whenever I gripe or complain, Silas makes sure to remind me that "It's only gonna get worse!"

Thanks.

I have a few different pregnancy apps that I use to keep track of what is going on with my body and hers each week, and I'm always so excited to read about what's developing in her body and how she is growing, and what she is learning to do. In case you wondered, she can now hear sounds and she is able to open her eyes now. She also has hair and is just fattening herself up, getting ready to be born.

Speaking of getting ready to be born... I have recently made the utterly terrifying realization that I am actually going to have to give birth. Like, there is no turning back at this point. People keep telling me that once you hit the last few weeks of pregnancy, the idea of staying pregnant is more terrifying than the giving birth part, so fingers crossed that I feel that way when it comes time.

Even with all the crappy stuff that comes with pregnancy, (and I could literally make a long list) It's also pretty magical. There's something pretty special about growing a little person inside of me that makes my heart glow. The human body is amazing, God is amazing. And I'm so glad that I get to carry this little miracle inside of me. And while I don't look forward to the continued back aches, indigestion and heartburn, etc. I'm grateful for the chance to bond and get to know this little lady in a really special way. 

Change needs to start at home

In the days that have followed the recent Florida school shooting, thoughts and opinions have not stopped swirling around in my head. *Partially because anytime I go on Facebook I am reminded of what happened... and opinions and ideas are shoved down my throat....* But I have restrained from stating my thoughts and opinions because I think Facebook is a dumb place to do that (for me). Most of the things I see on Facebook, I don't take seriously anyway and the people whose opinions I actually care about, I can talk to in person and we can have a real discussion where hiding behind a screen isn't an option. (I learned during the election when I WAS posting my opinions that I didn't like the feeling of being attacked by people who often weren't really my friends anyway.)

Anyway...

But I feel like I need to share my thoughts on this... if not to just appease my own brain from continuously thinking about these things. So before you read any further, just know that this is how i feel. Its not right and it's not wrong. It just is what it is. So if you disagree, that is fine.

Okay.

Ever since I can remember in my life here on this earth, School shootings have been a thing. School Bombings have been a thing. When the Columbine shooting happened, I was 6. It has always been something that has been relevant to my generation.

In school we not only had fire drills, but we also had lock down drills. We had bomb threat drills. I remember one time specifically in high school, we actually had a bomb threat and we spent basically the whole day chilling on the football field. 

I grew up in Idaho. Where hunting is HUGE. Little boys often get BB guns for Christmas at age 6. And then by age 12, they are taking Hunter's Safety and manning their own 22, bringing home their own kills to share with their families.

Guns were normal. Guns were a part of my culture and my redneck hometown. They were just a part of life.

It wasn't until I was older and more educated and opinionated that I realized that guns can actually be a real threat. It didn't occur to me when I was growing up that anyone would take a gun that was used to hunt game and intentionally harm another person. Who would do that? And why?

I am now a special education elementary school teacher. I interact with students in K-6th grade. I see how these students act on a daily basis. I see how they REACT to other students. I know what they think about, how they feel about things, and what they hope to achieve in life. I see what their passions are, both negatively and positively. And I see how the environment around them affects them. You would be shocked at how many 4th grade students are already involved in gang activity. You would not believe how many Kindergarten students are already being bullied by other Kindergarten students. As a teacher, I do my best to teach kindness and understanding and love...

But there is only so much I can do. Teaching kindness and acceptance has to start at home, but in a world where cyber bullying and intolerance is so prevalent... I don't think that happens as often as we would like to believe. We, as adults, hide behind our computers and shame others for what they believe and think on social media. We make mean and demeaning comments when we see something we disagree with, without any hint of warmth in our "online tone". We refuse to try and understand the point of views of others and instead indulge in bullheadedness and use unkind words to express ourselves. 

We forget that our children see our actions and mimic them. They see the way we respond in frustrating situations and the way we treat people when we are upset and how can we blame them? They are simply following the lead of the adults they see in their lives. Then, when they grow up to act the same way, we are surprised and confused.

We live in a world where violent video games are normal. Where killing other people in a video game is the goal. I have a first grade student who loves Call of Duty. He's 6.

We must teach our children the things we wish to teach society. Kindness. Forgiveness. Communication. Acceptance. Love. And all the other good things that we can teach them. That is how we will solve the issue of these mass shootings. That is how we will begin to change the world. 

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." 

I believe that people are inherently good. I believe that most people are doing the best they can with the life and trials they have been given. And we need to recognize that in one another. Yes, it's easy to get frustrated and upset, but how we choose to REACT to those emotions really dictates who we are.

Now.....

I'm not saying that we don't have a gun problem. Those who go on shooting rampages should not own guns and I think there should be a stronger vetting process for who is allowed to purchase and own them. I also think that there is no good reason that a civilian should own a semi-automatic weapon. However, I believe that banning guns is not the answer. The founding fathers gave us the right to bear arms and protect ourselves for a reason. And since when did making things illegal or hard to access make people stop using those things? (i.e. alcohol in the 1920s, or basically any drug)

Simply taking away the 2nd amendment will just leave those who are legally carrying weapons without a way to defend themselves against those whom are illegally carrying them.

Okay. 

Let me say again... You may disagree with everything I said. But I said it, and it's out there and that's how I feel. Basically, if we teach our kids to be good people, and are examples of being good people, they will be good people. 

The End.

Hug a Teacher today...

Life, for the past 6 months, has been hectic, crazy, and full of tears to say the least. In my last post I talked about deciding to take an internship position. And true to that post, it has been one of the hardest things i have done. It reminds me of a mission in that, people say it will be difficult, but you don't actually know how difficult until you are in the middle of it.

However, I don't regret deciding to intern instead of student teach.

I have had my fair share of mental breakdowns and anxiety attacks and sleepless nights and stinky boys, and boogers, and sticky hands (where I wonder if they have even washed their hands this week...) and temper tantrums, and naughty 2nd graders who literally climb the walls and "i can't"s and "i won't's" and days when i would rather rip my hair out then do this another day...

But...

I have also had my fair share of little boy giggles, and practical jokes played on me by 3rd graders, and pictures drawn for me that say, "I love you teacher", and excitement and pride when they finally figure out the 9s multiplication trick after working on it for 2 weeks! And the happiness when they do the same work they they do in their regular ed. classroom and they do it the same as or better than their classmates. The joy of when they read an entire book by themselves or write a sentence on their own. When they help each other and take care of each other, and I catch them doing kind things for their friends and classmates.

It makes it all worth it.

I will NEVER say that teaching easy (And i hope that any non-teacher would never dare say that about teaching). I will also NEVER say that teaching is the funnest job, or the most glamorous job, and most days i think, "they are not paying me enough for this..."

However it is the most rewarding job in the entire universe, and that's a fact.

Hug a teacher today, because chances are they need it. And then ask them to tell you a funny story from their day because chances are even higher that they probably have about 5.

#adulting

"That simple motto gave me courage. But now if I could change that motto, it would read: 'In the strength of the Lord, I can do all things.'" —Elaine S. Dalton

A post shared by Mormon Channel (@mormonchannel) on Jul 18, 2017 at 8:59am PDT

Today, I ran across this quote on instagram. I really do believe that Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives... and this was such a little detail that I knew it had to have come from God.

For these past few weeks I have been trying to decide what to do with my future. Up until a month ago, I had everything planned to do student teaching in the fall and then I would graduate in December. While I have been doing my practicum (pre-student teaching), my professors approached me and asked me to consider doing an internship instead of student teaching.

The biggest difference between student teaching and an internship is the support you receive. With student teaching, you enter into another teachers classroom and are scaffolded in (you observe first, then slowly start teaching classes), you also only do it for a semester. With an internship, you jump into your first year of teaching. YOU are the teacher!! You are contracted with the district and the school and you are expected to know your stuff. It's also a full school year instead of just a semester. Also, then I would graduate in April instead of December. You have a mentor and there is a certain level of support that your mentor will offer you as you learn the ropes, but you're it!

So basically, interning is WAY scarier! For the last 2 weeks I have gone back and forth and back and forth, I have cried, and felt good, and thought NO WAY, and thought for sure! And it seemed like my mind changed every hour. (ask my husband) I cried thinking about doing it, and I cried thinking about not doing it, because i know it's going to be SO. FREAKING. HARD.

And so when i saw this today on my Instagram, it really made me realize that, I CAN DO HARD THINGS! And just like sister Dalton said, "In the strength of the Lord, I can do all things."



Soooo..... with all that being said, today I made the call to Provo Peaks Elementary School and accepted a position as a Mild/Moderate Special Ed. Intern for the 2017-2018 school year!

I'm super excited! Also terrified out of my mind...

#prayforme #firstadultjob #adultingtothemax

eeeeeeeeeek.