Giving Thanks...

Unless you were hiding under a rock, you know yesterday was Thanksgiving.  For most, this has become a day of planning which stores to go to at what times. My family always spends the day going over the ads a few times to say the least, but they never really go out to do the dreaded shopping part.  Once every few years someone will venture into the crowds. I, in fact went out for my first time this year..  Never again. Probably wasn't the smartest going nine months pregnant, but Jon thought it would be a great story if my water broke in the store. Thankfully (And I mean that) it didn't happen.  We were home by 11:30, I felt that it had to be more like 3 AM, but Jon got his prize.
As I sat in line with the cute older gal in front of me and the uber drunk, loud, obnoxious chick behind me; I couldn't help but think about something my Grandma had said this year during dinner. She started by asking me what I was thankful for. Which was easy... I have had three years to think about this, and every Thanksgiving I go back to this very thought. I'm Thankful I still get to spend time with my whole family.  Some at the table didn't understand that.  They saw a smaller crowd this year, and to them my "whole family" wasn't there. How quickly some forget what our family went through just a few years ago. Or maybe they just don't understand how much of a blessing it still is to my immediate family to have my Dad still with us.  I am so grateful that my Son will meet my Dad and the man he is named after. There is a reason we chose that name, I hope as Jack grows he will see every single one of those reasons.  I may put my Father on a high horse, But I believe Jack is very lucky to carry the name Troy. And I hope he lives up to everything Jon and I love in that name.
 Then my Grandma went to Jon, after he shared a thought she shared her feelings.  I think this is the first time I had seen my Grandma do this.  I LOVED IT. She shared how thankful she is that we all still want to spend time with each other. She shared how amazing it was to her that ALL her children and grandchildren are temple worthy.  This got me thinking, because she was right. How many families have that?  How many families have every member stay active and worthy for the blessing the temple offers. I don't believe there are many.  Yes we have our differences, but we are all in this for the long haul.  Our feelings won't suddenly change when we pass.  We are still us. And we will all be together. It's amazing.
My Grandma also pointed out her children, and how grateful she was for them, that they were able to keep their families active.  I believe my Grandmother has had a huge role in this. She always has her doors open and wants us to feel as though we can come and go as we please. We all know she will always be there. She makes every single person in the family feel important in a different way. With me, she was always more laid back, (which I'm sure she is with others as well) I grew up calling her G-ma (which cracks me up, cause I now have another cousin who also calls her that.  Both on our own accord, both for different reasons I'm sure) or "My Sexy Grandma" This lady can dress, she has amazing style. Another thing I love about her, she is not afraid to tell any of us we are out of line.  Although I  believe there are times she would like to say something and doesn't.  Keeping family around is more important to her at times. With out her I wonder where our family would be. Would we still get together for Holidays? Probably not. She is our glue..  I love her so much. I am so grateful for her.

The weekly's...

It has come..  I have started weekly appointments.  Everything has gone by pretty quickly actually.  I still feel pretty good, I think (for me at least) this has been the worst part.  There isn't much room left in there and I'm always asking myself where this kid is going to go for the last little bit. Things are changing, you have all seen the swelling that is taking place. Its in my feet, hands, and I have been noticing a little more in my face the last couple of days.. B. E. A. Utiful!  Thank goodness it's not the summer months, I can't imagine having this swelling and the heat on top of it. My hips feel like an 80 year woman's.  I'm afraid if I bend over I may just break a hip.  They pop and slip in ways I didn't know was possible. If I sleep (try to sleep I should say) wrong on one, It will take a few hours of very slow moving until it feels like its back where it should be and I can move around again. Even then, its sore and painful. Some nights I sleep with heat on my back/hips and ice packs on my feet. You can imagine how happy Jon is when he jumps in bed to find all the different temperatures waiting in different areas of the bed. Despite all this.. And more, I'm so happy right now.

Jon and I are so excited. We both cant believe how fast it has come. I love when Jon comes home and he has bags of baby things, not just clothes. He went out and bought a Paisley (its like a boppy, but more firm and has the paisley shape) because it will help him bottle feed.  He painted the whole room, without any help from me. Besides my professional pointers of course! The room is amazing! He even picked the color the room would be. When I have told him he doesn't have to do all this, I can help, he always says he needs to get things ready for his son. He loves doing it. He helps me organize over, and over..... and over again. He asks me what is on my crazy "deep clean before baby" list and picks which ones he will take care of. Which believe it or not, it's normally the harder ones.  I am so lucky to have him.

We have grown and learned a lot in the past couple of years. Everyone keeps telling me Jon will be a father when Jack gets here. I just smile.  Because while that was completely and totally true with the first pregnancy, with this one, he already is. It's more than just being excited, scared and nervous like the first. Its how he speaks. It's what he does. It's how he is planning. I don't know if anyone else would notice the subtle difference but me.  If you would have asked me then, I would have thought it was the same because of his excitement. It's not. I love him so much, I am so incredibly grateful for him.

This post went in a completely different direction!  Since I have made it to weekly appointments, I want to write them down. I want to remember what happened, and how we felt.

Yesterday was our 36 week appointment. For the first time in my pregnancy I actually had questions. Wrote them down and everything, I was pretty impressed with myself. I wont go over all of them, we all don't need to read all of that, but here are a couple of the fun random ones.

With the Holiday so close to the due date are you comfortable stripping membranes?
He will start stripping my membranes at our 38 week appointment. (Which standard if you want it done) We aren't counting on this, but with a little luck maybe we can get him here before Christmas.

Is he still breech? (I have been feeling like he isn't, and he is extremely low)

He found is head in the right position, and like I thought... Very low.  He is definitely getting ready to meet us. Any of you that know Jon, know how curious he is.  He asked how he could tell it was his head, and our doctor being as awesome as he is, told Jon to come try. He taught him how to find the head, and how to feel for the rest of the body as well.  I was fun to see Jon's face as he found the head. He said there was no mistaking what it was once you found it.

How big do you think he is?

After showing Jon the head and other body parts, he poked and prodded around for a little while.  Never a good sign when you have asked "How big is my baby?" He finally said he believes Jack is about Seven pounds already.. Maybe six and a half, but most likely seven.  That's when my eyes got big, my mouth dropped open and I said.. Great! Time to get him out.  He smiled, and said "What if I'm wrong and he is four pounds"...  "No, you're not wrong." He laughed, as he said "I don't want you to have a huge baby either."  All I keep thinking is I still have FOUR weeks! We really do love our doctor and have made a great relationship with him.

And just a couple random stats from the appointment.
Heartbeat: 128
Blood pressure:  ..Ummm, I don't remember it was good though.  Must have slipped my mind when I heard seven pounds....
Measuring: 37 cm so a week ahead this time, but who wouldn't when they are apparently growing a man child!?

Easiest Pregnancy Ever...

....bit me right in the dairy air. Last night I slept with a heat pack on my back and hips, and an ice pack on my feet and ank... I mean kankles. Didn't you all hear? I was asked to join the circus as the heffalump woman!! I declined, I didn't think it would be fair to leave Jon home while I was one the road.




But in all honesty, I still don't feel like I have room to complain. It has been a pretty awesome pregnancy. I can deal with five weeks of this right? Hmmm... I'll let you know in two weeks.


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