Preparing

Our computer cord arrived today, and I decided that I would do a blog post. This picture was taken today at 34 1/2 weeks and I have one thing to say... that shirt is not the only shirt I own! I was looking at all of my other posts and I am wearing that shirt in a lot of them. It just so happens every time we take a picture I am wearing the shirt, but next time I will make a conscious effort to change it. :)

Well here I am at 34 1/2 weeks, and I don't know where the time has gone. It seems as though every time I blink, a new day has arrived. I had a hard time coming up with a title for this post, but it seemed appropriate that the word PREPARING fit best. People that don't really know my situation ask me if I am excited, and I always tell them yes. I am very excited for my little Hailey to get here, but what lies ahead is scary and all unknown. I have been putting off doing many things until school got out, and now that school has ended I have had time to do things I didn't want to do. Last week sometime, we were able to meet with the mortuary. I was very nervous for the appointment, but it went well. The man we met with was so nice, and he made it very comfortable and not awkward. They told us that they have around 6-8 babies that pass each year, and they do everything just for their cost. This is a pure act of service on their part, and such a blessing on ours.

Another thing that i have been preparing is all the things to bury Hailey in. My mother is an amazing seamstress/crafty person, and she has done things for us that we can use, and keep as keep sakes. This recieving blanket, she let me pick out the materials and then she did such a pretty crocheted border around it.

She also crocheted these beautiful baby booties that we will be able to put her in. They are not quite done as a ribbon will be wove around and tied in a bow. (I don't tie very pretty bows so I decided not to put it in yet.)

One of my sister-in-laws makes such cute hats, and I asked her if she would make one for Hailey. I got these in the mail a couple of weeks ago, and they are exactly what I wanted. The bigger hat is about a normal baby hat size, and the little one is so tiny and cute. They are perfect because we don't know how big or little she will be. She is measuring small, but she might surprise us at how big she is. :)

We decided that we will bury her in my baby blessing dress. My mom made this almost 22 years ago, and it still looks adorable. At first I didn't know if it would be small enough, but after seeing it, I decided that it will be perfect as well. Hailey will look like the Angel she is with all of these things.

My mom also makes a quilt for every grandchild. I chose pink and white with a Teddy Bear hugging a heart in the middle. My mom hand quilts these and like I said earlier, is so talented. I haven't decided what blanket I want to bury her in, but I think I will keep this one as a keepsake for sure.

As time has been getting closer, I've tried to prepare mentally as well. Not having school means I have A LOT of time on my hands right now. I've been trying to come up with things to do, so I don't just sit around all day accomplishing nothing. I had bought some fabric a while back to make a blanket with, so I pulled out my sewing machine and did that one morning. I think that it turned out good.

One of the things I have tried to do to prepare mentally is reading the Book of Mormon. It is a great strength in our lives, and it amazes me how we can get different meanings depending on our own situations. There are answers to everything if we search, because the Spirit will tesitfy. Everything in the pregnancy has been going good as well. I get achey sometimes, but I try to think of it as good pain, and this helps me a lot. I'm scared to go to the hospital and come home empty handed, but it will be one of these good pains. One thing that helps me is knowing that Hailey will be in the best place she could be. I don't have to worry about her because she is already saved no matter what happens. I know that she will always be mine, and this brings me comfort. There are many people who would think of my situation as a bad thing, but instead I feel very blessed. One thing that breaks my heart is seeing people that don't have the knowledges that I do, and I feel more sorrow for them. There are also so many worse things in the world, and this is such a small part in the time line of Eternity. My perspectives have forever been changed because an Angel entered my life. I would not take her back for anything, and am grateful for this opportunity that I have now.

Coming too fast!!

I decided since it's been a month, I better get another post up. This last month has been pretty crazy! I am finished with school, which is a very big relief. I had procrastinated some of my big projects, so school has been demanding most of my attention the last couple of weeks. I think that I fared well in my classes and I'm hoping for A's and B's. The pregnancy is going very well. We are really enjoying every minute that we can with little Hailey. We love her dearly, and I know I am very scared for what the future holds. I think it scares me the most because it is all unknown, but even as scared as I am, I know everything will be ok. I know that Heavenly Father truly does care about us, and he is helping me through this. I know I wouldn't be able to cope as well as I have been without His help. This picture is from about 32 1/2 weeks so we've got less than 8 weeks to go.

This last week he had an ultrasound. It was so good to see our little girl! She truly is so precious!! She is measuring small, so we probably won't induce earlier than 39 weeks. My doctor also would like me to go into labor on my own if I could, and I have been thinking the same thing lately. She was very active the whole appointment. We got to see her rubbing her eyes, and putting them by her mouth. She was opening and closing her eyes and being just a little baby. It was so cute, and I was glad that we got to see her. It is truly amazing to me that even though she won't be able to survive outside the womb, she is very much alive inside, and I get this chance to be with her. I am truly blessed!

The last post I had was about going to Conference. Well I was so grateful that I was able to go up. I truly had a wonderful time and enjoyed being with my family (Brett & Hailey) while getting the strength and inspiration that I truly needed. We truly do have a Prophet on the Earth today, and all of the Apostles and General Authorities are truly called of God. The Spirit is an amazing thing, and can teach us the things that we personally need to know. I am also grateful for a wonderful husband. These last couple months he has truly been my biggest strength. With school and being tired all the time, he has really stepped up with helping me. To be honest, I couldn't even tell you the last time I did a load of laundry because he is so good at taking care of his girls. I love him so much, and I don't know where I would be without him.

This last picture is a project that I did for one of my classes.

For our project, everyone in my class had big sheets of tissue paper and had to paint 3 layers of paint on them doing different textures each time. After we were done, we cut them into enough pieces for everyone in the class to get one piece of each. After, she told us to do anything we wanted with them. Well I had this idea, hand traced Hailey's name, and started cutting and pasting away around the name. Originally I only did around her name, but with school out, I was able to finish the whole thing. I don't know exactly what I'll do with it now, but I think it turned out pretty good.

We would like to thank everyone for all the support that we have been given through this time. We really really do appreciate it. I know many people have helped us, and I believe that there are Angels all around us. I am grateful to those that have done even just little things such as a smile or hug. We really do love and appreciate all of you. I would just like to ask again if you would keep us in your prayers as things are coming closer. We really could use the help and strength. Thank you again! This is just a little update, but I'm sure there will be more coming soon!

Coincidence?

There have been many experiences lately that many people would call a coincidence. I would have to differ and say that they are tender mercies. Sometimes I don't feel worthy of being chosen to have precious little Hailey, but I must be doing something right because I have definitely been watched over. Well the experience I would like to share happened last Saturday. I was sitting reading the Ensign, and I decided that I really wanted to go to General Conference. Not only do I need the inspiration, but I have always intended on taking all of my children when they get old enough to go, and THIS is the ONLY chance I get with Hailey. Well I got all sorts of depressed, and Brett couldn't figure out what was going on. Finally I told him and since he is my Caring, Wonderful, Handsome Husband he started calling around to find tickets. Our ward only had Priesthood Session tickets and I started to get sad again. He then called the stake and they had TWO tickets left to the Sunday Morning Session. I can't tell you how relieved I was, and how grateful, and excited I was. I'm still ecstatic about going up this weekend! Some may call it a coincidence... but I definitely would not call it that!!

10 Little Fingers and 10 Little Toes

These pictures were taken at 26 weeks, so a couple of days ago. Everything has been going well with the pregnancy still. I have been getting rib pain, and I think it's because I'm still not very big, and the pressure from the uterus growing is on my ribs. I have found some relief when I lay down, and when my arms are raised above my head. It mostly hurts the worst when I've been sitting in the same position for too long.










Hailey is still very active. We have enjoyed feeling her movements, and watching them. She is quite the kicker/puncher. The other day in one of my classes we watched this video about how you can sing books instead of read them to children. When I watched this I loved it because it explains kind of how I feel, and I now am going to get this book. If you don't want to watch the whole thing the song starts about 1 minute and 50 seconds into the clip.





My little girl may not have everything that every little baby does, but she is just as normal to me as any other baby. She has 10 Little Fingers and 10 Little Toes. She kicks/punches, hiccups, and is growing just like any other little baby would be. Even if she didn't she is still my little girl, and I would love her the same! Tummy time has been so fun with her and is going way too fast!! I know that if I don't get to meet her here I still at least get to see her, hold her, and love her! I am looking forward to the day when she will come, but also very nervous. I know what will happen is what the plan is, but it's hard not to think what is going to happen. I have learned so much from my little girl, and I definitely would not take her back!!

Date Night with Hailey!

To start of Spring Break, we took Brett on a date! We went to Roger's where I had my favorite Grilled chicken sandwhich, and Brett had a yummy looking burger. When we got home, we played the Wii for a little while (which of course Hailey and Mommy beat daddy). And then I decided to do something exciting!

We made dough...

We were being silly and kneaded the dough...

We twisted the dough...

And shaped it into Pretzels!!!

Yum!!

We had a fun night, and it was the perfect way to start off the Break that I have needed for a while!!

Hailey at 24 1/2 weeks!!

I can honestly say that I now have a pooch!! Last night we pulled out the camera for the first time in a long time.... and I Finally look like I'm kinda showing!! :) I have noticed little Hailey sticking out a little bit more lately so I'm glad it finally showed up in the pictures!!

There were a lot of goofy pictures, but I tried picking out the best ones! This was silly, but I was trying to poke her out more!!

It was pretty neat and special because last night was the first time daddy got to feel Hailey move!!

We also had a Doctors appointment on Monday. He said that I'm measuring a little small, but everything else looks good!!

Catching up!

There have been a couple posts that I have been meaning to get up the last 2 months or so. The first was the BYU game. Brett and I wanted to go to a Jazz game, but then we decided a BYU game would probably be just as fun. We went to the January 8 game against Air Force and it was a good game!



If I remember correctly, this was the first time I can distinctly remember feeling Hailey move. Because ball games are really loud, when the teams were being announced it was really loud and it vibrated all through me. I think it scared Hailey because I just remember her jumping or something of that sort.

When I started school, the weather in Sanpete was very cold like it always is in January. Every day I would go to school, and I would see Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles. Every time I saw them, I was either in a rush to get to school, or didn't have my camera. One day Brett was with me and we were coming home when I saw them. We hurried home and got our camera so we could take pictures. Ever since I have been pregnant, I have had a fascination with Nature and Beauty all around.

I have always loved seeing animals, but I thought it was so cool that I got to see these beautiful birds just right outside of town! I guess that's one reason I love living in a small town!!