I Felt the Baby Move

Last night I felt the baby move for the first time. A little early I know, but I swear it was the baby. Always a magical moment.

Also I had my first dream of the baby and in the past all my dreams have been right on. With Jesse I dreamed of having a dark skinned, dark haired, hairy baby boy. I thought I was crazy because I was sure I would have a bald-blond baby, but that is exactly what he looked like. So last night I dreamed about the baby and it was older maybe 2 months, but it looked so much like Jesse. Crazy though because even though it liked like Jesse did I had a feeling that she was a girl. She seemed softer and more feminine. So on March 10th we will find out if my dreams continue to be right and in August we will see if she looks like my dream. Until last night though I was convinced it was a boy. We will see.

New Born Baby J

I Have Been Accused

So my blogging has been in minimal supply and I have been wondering why? The discovered culprit--books. I have been so captivated as of late that every free moment is spent with my nose in a book.

So what has been so enticing? I will share.

1. Love in the Driest Season
Recommended by Erica my sister-in-law and was hooked from nearly page one. A beautiful story of a husband and wife and their struggle to adopt their daughter. It takes place in the magical, but politically dire Zimbabwe. Just an amazing story in and of itself, but loved their endurance and commitment to each other and their daughter. Such an interesting and refreshing take on racial issues and last made me so thankful for the ease in which I have had my own children. It is short, quick, and a must.

2. The Peacegiver
A friend in my ward claimed it was the best and the most useful book on marriage. Impressed by his conviction, I picked it up. And have to say I back up his review. It's a novel-long parable that follows a couple's struggling marriage. More than anything it open my eyes to so many elements of the Atonement that I had not yet fully realized. Not only a great marriage book, but a great life book and how to utilize the Atonement to it's fullest. So if your ready for some education and some self realigning check it out.

3. The Other Boleyn Girl
Only half way through it, but that's a lot considering that it is nearly 700 pages. I am finding that I pick it up every spare second, just because I have to see what happens next. First, I do have a small fascination with the English monarchy and love getting a glimpse of what it's like inside. Second, I like it because it has all the makings of some great literature--love, lust, betrayal, extravagance, coming of age, innocence, heroes and heroines, family strife and unity. I find myself coming up with all different thesis statements and gathering info for a great English paper.

On the other hand is it going to leave me with some profound new understanding of life?--probably not. But it is quite a captivating story.

Attitude

I Love These Two

So Ben is out of town this weekend down in Saint George with a couple of buddies, and I have been griping the whole week about it--maybe because I wanted to go too, or because I am pregnant and hormonal, or because two days alone with the kids seemed utterly exhausting.

Well, now I have to admit that all the complaining was for nothing. I decided that the kids and I were going to have a great weekend and that is just what happened. They were so good, happy and fun! Today I even had to go to Costco and the mall and they were perfect. They both willingly sat in the cart the entire time. And then at the mall we had no strollers, no diaper bag, no coats and it was great. We just strolled the halls holding hands. No rush, just there to enjoy ourselves. Tonight I even dared to take them out to dinner by myself. We were having so much fun we even walked down to Borders, got a hot chocolate, and each picked out a book. The day was great. I can't remember a weekend where everyone was so happy. And I think it was all because we just decided that things were going to be fun and easy no matter what.

Now lets just hope a lesson was learned.

Confession...

So if you have noticed that my blogging has been a little lack luster lately, and you have been suspecting that I am a little removed and tired. It's true. And why you say?

Because I am pregnant!

And because of that I have been feeling tired and pukey, but that doesn't take away from the excitement that we have from having #3. I will be 12 weeks on Friday. And I have actually been feeling pretty good the last week. So now I am ready to take on blogging, laundry, photography, exercising--you name it, I can do it.

Today we got to see the little guy kicking about. He wouldn't hold still long enough for the nurse to time the heart rate. So we at least know it's an active little bugger. He looks healthy, happy, and super cute. Has the same cute profile that my first two did--so maybe another clone is in the mix.

I really don't have a preference between a boy or girl. Both are fun. I have been thinking more about boy nursery though. Maybe that is a sign, or maybe if it's a girl I will just leave Faith's exactly like it is, so I am not thinking about it. You have any guesses? I think the Chinese calendar says it's going to be a boy too.

I can't get my scanner to work so here is a picture of the ultrasound picture, not great, but you get the idea.