Advice Time!

On Saturday, Ryan and I are headed up to Layton to tour the Women's Center at Davis Hospital where our baby will be born. We are also taking an 8 hour long birth class at the hospital on Saturday. We have been studying and learning a lot about birth together but this is the only actual class we will be taking. Also, this is our only opportunity to see the hospital and talk to the staff. I have compiled a list of questions to ask but I wonder what you all think. Let me know what I should be sure to ask/learn about before I leave the hospital. Can you tell I like to plan ahead? I am going to be the annoying woman in class with all the questions!

Baby Names

Okay, I really don't have anything to post about but I feel like it has been a while and I want to post something, so . . .

As you probably know, our baby boy is coming soon and although we have some ideas, we have not officially chosen a name for him yet. Give us your ideas! Keep in mind, his middle name is definitely going to be Carl. This is Ryan's middle name and his dad's middle name too, so any first name ideas have to go well with Carl.

Also, one of the very last things we need for our baby is some kind of baby carrier. I know that I can choose from a lot of different options such as a sling, a wrap, or a more structured carrier but I need some advice from all of you who have used baby carriers. Let me know which ones you think work best! Thanks for all the great advice!

Baby Shower Fun

My wonderful baby shower was on Saturday. It was so much fun! I was really worried that I wouldn't have a big turnout since I really don't know a lot of people around here but I was shocked to find that we had to pack about a dozen people into my living room! My dear friends Alianna and Alex threw the shower for me and they went above and beyond! We played some really fun games including creating a birth story mad lib, bowling with baby bottles, and dropping quarters into a cup with our knees! I wish I had a picture of all the beautiful food they made. We had ice cream sundaes with "dirt and worms" because that's what little boys like! They are amazing friends and I don't know what I would do without them! My mom-in-law and sister-in-law came down from Idaho for the shower (my father-in-law came too and he and Ryan went off for a fun afternoon) and my cousins and aunt came from Northern Utah. I feel so incredibly blessed to have so much support from family and friends and I wish I could have spend more time with everyone before they all had to leave. I got a ton of wonderful gifts and now feel very prepared for this baby. Again, I am overwhelmed by the support and love I got and continue to receive from my family and friends that I know well and also those I am just getting to know.

Here are a few pictures from the shower. If you took any pictures, please email them to me!

With Alianna, Alex, and Lisa (she couldn't stay for the shower because she had to go home to be with her new baby but we made sure to get a picture of the 4 of us before she left). I have been friends with Alianna since 7th grade, and Alex and Lisa since 5th!

The beautiful fleece blanket made by Grandma Bartron

Opening gifts

This is just most of the gifts from the shower. I am so blessed!

Mahna Mahna!!

I always feel a little gloomy in February and I looked out the window today to see snow falling so I wanted to cheer myself up. This always helps. Enjoy!

http://www.totlol.com/watch/QTXyXuqfBLA/Muppets---Mahna-Mahna/0/

32 weeks

Here's a picture of me 32 weeks pregnant. I feel huge.

California

Ryan and I were lucky enough to have a little vacation this last weekend. We went to California to visit my Grandma Betty. We were there from Thursday to Monday night. It rained quite a bit while we were there but the weather felt great to us (Grandma kept the heater on the whole time we were there). We came home to snow and temps. in the 20's and 30's so 60 degrees felt like heaven to us. Because of the rain we didn't get to do a whole lot of sightseeing but we did get to relax and spend time with family. We got to see my Uncle Johnny and Aunt Joan, my cousin Tommy (I haven't seen them in about 13 years) and his son Isaiah (his wife was home with their sick little girl), and my cousin Larissa and her husband Jon and their daughter Shayla. It was so fun to see everyone! We also got to go to the Huntington Library/Art Gallery/Gardens. Ryan and I are so grateful to have been able to have so much wonderful support and love from our family! Here are some pictures from the trip:

With Grandma Betty (my Mom's mom)

My cousin Tommy, his son Isaiah, my Uncle Johnny, and my Aunt Joan with me and Ryan (hopefully it won't be another 13 years before we see them again!)

Heathers (me and a tree heather) in the Huntington Gardens

Ryan hiding in the bamboo forest

The Japanese Garden at Huntington

There was a section about childbirth in the exhibit about how science has changed throughout the years. I just had to pose by it!

Heather next to the exhibit of first edition Shakespeare books in the Huntington Library

A first edition of Shakespeare's collected works. How cool!

Heather playing in Grandma Betty's backyard on the same swing set my mom played on when she was little. Trust me, this was an awkward thing to do at 7 months pregnant!

Just a Quick Update

I just wanted to give a quick update about what is going on in our lives.

Ryan has officially finished all 9 applications to grad school programs. Now, we wait. And wait and wait. We should hopefully be hearing back from all of the schools sometime from mid-March to mid-April. This will be a crazy spring for us! Ryan has applied to schools in the following states: Washington, Oregon, Kentucky, Iowa, North Carolina (2), New Jersey, Tennessee, and Arizona. We will be moving this summer so he can start in the fall.

I am now about 29 weeks pregnant and feeling large. I wake up every morning to find that my belly button is smaller and my stretch marks are bigger. Yay! I saw the doctor today and she says everything looks great and the baby is healthy. He is very wiggly and tends to prefer the right side of my belly. I often feel squishy on the left while my right side is bulging with little feet and hands. I'm really starting to feel a need to prepare for labor and for welcoming this baby. 11 weeks to go!

Next week Ryan and I are headed to California to visit my grandma. This will be the first "real" vacation we have taken since our honeymoon. "Real" meaning that we are going just for fun, not because it is a holiday, and we don't have to drive! Plus, Idaho and Utah really don't count as vacation destinations to me. We are excited to do some sightseeing and relaxing, and visit with family and enjoy the sunshine!

By the way, I really need some good books to read (preferably something I can pick up at the library) so if you have any suggestions for me, let me know!