Prego Stories part 1

So I thought I would share some rather funny moments I have had being prego.  Please feel free to laugh at my expense, I totally would if this were someone else.

Sometime in April: I was shopping with my best friend (before the morning sickness started) and while we were looking at clothes she says completely serious "I can see you as being one of the prego women who completely blow up and get super fat all over." I stared at her and said "Who seriously says that to someone!" But seriously i'm the type of girl who would rather have you say that behind my back then to my face. Say whatever you want behind my back, lie to my face at least.  And now you made me feel worse about myself because I can't button my jeans without my belly band.

May 17th: While throwing up sometime in the morning I literally pulled a muscle in my back.  I got really angry with fate and started crying about how my life was unfair to which i again started throwing up because I was crying so hard.  After I calmed down I made Jake go buy a heating pad and tylenol (because that is all prego women can use lame and I spent the next four days medicating myself, throwing up, and watching law and order SVU. To be honest my SVU marathon was the highlight of my time.

May 30th: About a week before this I was reading this funny Mormon blog where a girl talked about how one night her throw up came back and hit her in the face and how you just don't come back from that. I thought this was so funny, I seriously laughed for days about this.  The whole time I'm wondering how it can hit you in the face, since it had never happened to me and I throw up ALL the time.  Well all I can say is Karma is a big, fat, biotch.

I woke up and desperately wanted frosted flakes. So I got myself a bowl and sat down to watch the Wedding Planner...I didnt even finish my bowl before I threw up.  Let me tell you Tony the tiger is a liar, frosted flakes are not greeeaattt when you're throwing them up.  But, this wasnt like all the other times I was sick, no this time it came back and splashed me in the face.  I started screaming because seriously thats gross and you really never come back from that.

Needless to say I learned my lesson no milk for the next 9 months, and don't laugh at other womens sad prego stories because it will come back to bite you/splash you .  And I'm sorry to say I feel grossed out every time I look at frosted flakes and will forever withhold these from my child because technically its all their fault anyways.

June 9: Today we went to the doctors to hear the heartbeat for the first time. After the nurse finds it and lets us listen to it, the first thing out of my mouth is "There's just one right?" No joke, the nurse just stared at me because I think she thought I was kidding...I wasn't.  The idea of having two scared me more than anything so before I could be excited about hearing the heartbeat I had to make sure there was just one (don't worry there was only one).

June 14th: I love all things salty! I literally went to target everyday we were in Utah to get a salted pretzel and look at baby clothes.  So being back in Ca I figured that popcorn would be the second best thing to a pretzel.  Needless to say I now no longer eat anything that had milk and popcorn.  Who can't eat popcorn?  There's nothing there!  I would try it again to see if it was just a fluke but honestly there is nothing more painful then throwing up popcorn. So for the next 9 months thats off the list.

July 11th: My boss calls me and says he needs to speak to me (so naturally I assume I did something wrong) Once I get there he says "I just talked to your dad, you're having an ultrasound in 10 minutes so drink 32 oz fast, oh and check yourself in ok?". So I chugged my 2 water bottles and waited for my bladder to fill up, which believe it or not is very difficult I could barely walk straight and my stomach killed. So Jake and I go into the room and while we're having the ultrasound our tech asks if we want to know the sex of the baby. Um, hello yes its killing me now not knowing and I'm only 16 weeks. So she goes well see that, that means its a boy. A couple of minutes go by and Jake knowing me so well goes "Now I know sometimes the cord can make it look like a boy is it for sure a boy?" To which our tech said yes there's no mistake you guys are having a boy.

After doing a bunch of measurements and helping us to actually tell what we were looking at so it looked like a baby and not like abstract art, she printed us out 6 pictures.  As she hands them to us she says, "I couldn't give you one showing that it was a boy, because in the state of Ca it is consider child pornography to have that in a picture." Jake and I are staring because clearly she has to be kidding.  Don't worry she wasnt. She proceeds to say "I don't even want to know why or how they came up with that rule, but thats the rule." Which is ok to me because I'd rather have cute pictures of his face then the fact that he's a boy.

July 18th: I am now 17 weeks and still having to miss work because I am sick all day. Who the heck is still throwing up at 17 weeks. Whoever said that morning sickness goes away after the first trimester is a liar and they got my hopes up only to crush them severely.

Happy Birthday Mom

Since today is my Mom's birthday I thought I would throw a little shout out to her.  So first and foremost happy birthday to my Mom! I love my mom, I just think she's the best! I didn't always appreciate her when I was younger, but the older I've gotten the more I respect and admire her for not only the mother she was but the type of person as well.  My mom is the kindest, funniest, hard working person I know. I would be lost in this world if it wasn't for her. She taught me that it was ok to make fun of myself and to laugh at myself when things don't go my way or I embarrass myself.  She taught me the value of being charitable to others, and how to look at the best in people. She has done so much for me in my life and I hope to be half the mom she is! Love you Mom!

Now to show you how funny my mom is I'll share one of my favorite stories. It was a week before I was leaving for my freshman year at BYU and my mom took all my sisters and myself out to eat for lunch. Somehow we got on the subject of someone I went to school with and I said "Eww I dislike that girl she's a total biotch." To which my sister Brenna replies "Rachel, please dont use that language in front of me I know what you mean and it isn't very nice." My mom then replies my telling my sister brenna to turn around (which she does) then my mom says "Ok rachel now you can use that language because its not in front of Brenna its behind her." Everyone but Brenna laughed for a good 5 minutes before my mom suggested we dont say that word. Everytime my family goes back to that restaurant I cant help but laugh.

Happy Birthday Mom!! 

 Yes we did go out at midnight to pick up the last Twilight book 

Just our daily chocolate bar

1, 2, and baby makes 3

Yes, I'm well aware of the fact that a majority of everyone I know and even those people I don't know, know that I am in fact pregnant.  So I figured it was probably time to break the news to everyone that doesn't live in Hemet, Ca.  So here it is, I am pregnant! 

To be honest it still feels a little weird to say and to discuss with people but we are so excited.  I'm due December 27th.  Even though its our first I have high expectations already (I feel like that Chinese mother who became famous for being crazy strict with her children) but I feel like all my expectations are completely valid and totally reasonable.  expectation 1: the baby cannot come any earlier than Dec 7th (thats the last day of my student teaching), 2: if the baby is going to be early they need to be here by Dec 22 at the latest, 3: if the baby decides to be late it needs to be here by Dec 30 or wait till Jan 2, 4: the baby can in no way be like Jake in their weight (10.5 pounds!) honestly that's insane, I'd prefer if the baby weighed 8 pounds max. 

All kidding aside for my expectations I am so excited!! I think that it feels so surreal because my entire first trimester was spent with my head in a toilet. So instead of feeling happy, preggo symptoms the last 14 weeks have felt like food poisoning mixed with the flu. Needless to say that although I have been sick these last couple of weeks I have some amazingly funny stories I'll share later. 

I am counting down the days till we find out if its a boy or girl only 2 more weeks!  

Temporary Move + Party Central

I am seriously so excited, come this Thursday Jake and I will be spending the rest of the summer at my parents house in Hemet!  So I honestly thought I would never say the words "I'm excited to move back home" but as with most things in my life I usually end up eating my own words so why would this be any different?  Anyways I honestly cannot wait.  I love being in Utah in the summer but I cannot wait to spend a nice, hot summer in CA especially being surrounded by my family.

I know that Jake will be busy with his internship and I might be busy working, but that is not stopping my from the list of things I plan to do for the summer and make Jake do with me.  I'm so excited to spend time with my parents, sisters, grandparents and all the rest of my crazy family.  Right now though I think the main thing I am excited about is good Mexican food (I am trying to make a plan to first to Taco Shop and then to my family's house, we'll see if it really works out this way). And although Hemet has its downsides like how in the summer you tend to always burn your legs on the interior of cars, and this summer I know I will always be hot (wearing a lovingly 2 layers all the time) and it being an average of 100 something in Aug. I cannot wait to spend time with my family and eat Mexican food!

Although we were always planning to move to Hemet after Jake was finished with Spring Semester the real reason we're going down this weekend is to celebrate Janelle and Eric's wedding!  I cannot wait!!  Janelle and I have been friends since about 7th grade, and we have had our rough patches of not speaking for a couple of years because our groups of friends really didn't interact we have since fixed that and are back being best friends.  Anyways as much as Jake and I love Janelle, we equally love Eric. I remember meeting Eric for the first time and wondering what was secretly wrong with him. I love Janelle and she knows I do but her choice in boyfriends isn't ever been close to good!  Usually they are mean to her, or she has to buy everything because they have no job, or even say weird things like "did you know I  can see different energies in colors and that my gift is more strong than the priesthood" seriously that guy was a total freak... But lets just say her choice in boyfriends sucks!  So when Eric appeared normal, nice, smart, and funny not to mention he liked sports so Jake and him talked forever, I naturally thought secretly there must be something wrong with him.  Soon I realized there wasn't anything wrong with him Janelle had finally found a guy that deserved to date her and treated her like such... Jake and I then became his biggest fan!  And now we get to see them get married in San Diego!  I love that temple and I am so happy that they are finally almost at that day... there's nothing better then being in the temple surrounded by family and friends as everyone comes together to support the people they love in this special day. I am just glad that its Janelle's turn, and that I know it will be a packed house.  

PS: for this amazing road trip which Jake, myself and Mackenzie are taking I have bought Lady Gaga's new cd because nothing says 10 hr drive like "Edge of Glory"

1 Year

So today has been so weird for me.  Today Jake and I celebrated one year of marriage. When I stop to think about it I am so surprised that it has already been a year, I cant believe that time has just seemed to fly by. However there are certain times where I think just a year...it hasnt been longer, some days defiantly feel longer (in a good way).  All in all I guess I have spent the majority of the day being so grateful that I actually did marry Jake.  Lately I have been having crazy dreams where all my ex boyfriends show up and I spend the entire dream frantically looking for Jake.  Then I finally wake up and realize that Jake is real and I am in fact not in the Hunger Games fighting to escape everyone I have ever dated.  I'm glad that I spend all my time in my dreams searching for Jake (glad I picked the right person for me).

I remember that one day before I got married I was hit with the strongest impression that if I didnt marry Jake I would find someone else and I would be okay.  I wouldn't be a spinster for my whole life.  However it continued by telling me that this was my one shot to be the happiest I could be.  I'd get married but if it wasn't to Jake I would forever miss out on the opportunity to be blissfully happy.  I'm so glad I married Jake.  I'm glad that we like the same things, that he is as stubborn as I am.  I'm glad I choose someone who my sister Gabby likes more than me.  I love that my family openly accepted and loved him and that his family did the same with me.  

I think that being LDS marriage takes on a different meaning that most people in the world.  I was excited to party and eat and have a reception but I was so excited for being able to have a special ceremony surrounded by family and friends in a sacred place.  I was so happy and grateful for all the smiling ladies who worked there and looked like they were going to their own granddaughters wedding. I will always remember walking in and having two ladies say "I'm so excited! You two are the first bible couple we have sealed here in Salt Lake!" And I thought really lady?  And then I remembered oh yea I guess I don't know any Abraham's and Sara's so I guess there are not a lot of bible couples getting married everyday so that fact that we were Jacob and Rachel makes sense.   I am so grateful that we booked the biggest room with 75 people and had to bring in an additional 4 benches from the hallway and squeezed people into that room.  I am so grateful that we were surrounded by friends and family.  I know how lucky we were to that many people supporting us on that big, special day which takes on so much more meaning when it is eternal.

Anyways, I am so grateful for our cheesy BYU Mormon story. I will forever make my kids go to f.h.e at school (you never know). I am glad that a year ago I was sealed for time and all eternity to my best friend and love of my life.  I am glad we got married in the right place and I am glad that our marriage will never end.  I love being married, I get to spend all my time with my best friend.  I can't wait for all the other things we have in store, who knows where we will be come year 2...

Here are just some of my favorite wedding pictures 

 Just some of my lovely bridesmaids 

 Both our parents 

Happy Birthday Gabby

So I have been wanting to start a blog for awhile now and figured I might as well get started.  I figured what better place to start out then with a shout out to my baby sister on her birthday.  Gabby's official birthday is May 18th, but since I'm an hour ahead in Utah I figured I'd write it at midnight my time and count it as good.

It is a little weird for me to think that my youngest sister is already 10. It feels like just yesterday my mom had her.  There are times I feel extremely close to Gabby since we stared a room after she was born as we waited for our new house.  I remember countless nights getting up multiple times with her to rock her back to sleep or change her diaper so my parents could have more time to sleep.  Being 12 I thought I was really mature and could handle bringing her into my parents room or helping out (that really only lasted a month or two and then I gave up and slept through her crying) but still those times are sweet memories that I hold onto.  And hopefully will help get me through sleepless nights with my own children.  

Anyone who knows Gabby knows that she is the typical last child. We all spoil her rotten and to be honest its a little hard not too.  She is quick to love people and constantly doing things to show her love for you like saying little prayers for you, or drawing pictures and mailing them to Ut to help brighten someone's day.  She loves being outside, and literally has the tannest and prettiest skin in the family. It kinda of makes me sick when we go swimming together and I get burned with 45 on and Gabby wears nothing and comes out with flawless skin, completely unfair. But all that aside she has this ability to light up a room with her big smile and witty, sarcastic remarks.  I frequently wish I had her cleverness and ability to make people laugh.  She always has a story to tell about something she did or made someone do.  She is a bright light in my family and I know that none of us could picture our family without her.

In Tribute I decided to add some of my favorite photos of Gabby

    This is the day we first met Gabby. As you can tell my sisters and I are in our prime...just look at those bangs I have and Kenzi's really cook sleeveless shirt.  Although I'm glad someone finally helped me learn to dress and style my hair this picture is the first of all of us.

Like I said she's spoiled I dont think she ever carried her own easter basket until like a year or two ago.

While Gabby occasionally looks like this, most of the time she looks like....

This, clowning it up for everyone

Anyways Gabby is such a blessing not only in my family's life but in Jake and my life. I love her to death and am SO excited about living in Hemet for two months so that I can ride the tandom bike with her, race her on mario kart, and battle with her in countless dance games.  I think I should practice a bit before I move home though because word is that she's a master at these dance games...and I suck. But regardless I love my littlest sister and look forward to the future she will probably be my kids favorite aunt and to be honest I'm just great with that.