Little blessings

Today has been one of those days where no matter what you do you can't get your mind focused on anything.
I spent most of my day yesterday making calenders and charts... basically making a 5 year plan. Jared will be in school for the next three years... Including summer semesters. That's 9 semesters... all full time with at least 15 credits each. He is going to be so crazy busy. I can't even imagine... I would die.
Anyway, I sat down yesterday and tried to make a little bit of a plan with all of his courses so we would have an idea of the time it would be til he finishes. He is so excited that it scares me a little. I never knew anyone could LOVE school so much. It's gonna be a hard road... we've set our budget and we are going to have to be stickler and stay with it 1000% so we can make it through without losing our minds. But after all this planning I've realized all the tiny little blessing the Lord has placed in our lives for everything to work out for us. We knew it was the right time for Jared to start school, but we had no idea how we were going to make it with out him working. I certainly won't be able to work much... especially after our little man gets here. But we are going to do our best and work our hardest and put the rest in the Lord's hands. We know that if we continue to do what we are supposed to do and continue to do all we can, He will take care of the rest. But it's got me thinking about all the little things in my life that I am thankful for.

• the gospel... always number 1. I couldn't be successful without the knowledge of the truth in my life. this includes the scriptures they are amazing.
• being married to my BEST friend. It is the best thing ever. I am never bored with Jared around... except when he is studying (he locks himself away so he isn't distracted).
• how dedicated my husband is. To his school work, to helping me around the house, to making sure I'm comfortable... he is incredible. 
• my bed, it has been the biggest life saver for this pregnancy. 
• my baby! Awe man, I can't even tell you how excited I am to meet my little man. It's incredible how amazing it is... 
• my family. they are awesome, and they make me happy.
• carrots. they are one of my basic food groups. :)
• AC. my life would suck right now without it. 
• maternity clothes. they are the best ever. no joke.
• friends who accept me with all the craziness that comes with it. 
• pillows... 'nuff said.

There are lots of others... but that's what's on my mind right now. 

Anyway, everything with the baby is going good... had my glucose test at the doctor last week and I am in the green! YAY! Baby is still kicking hard all the time. Keeps growing, and I just keep stretching bigger... my belly button has almost popped out... it's weird. 

Oh yeah... we picked a name for our little man. :)

Much love,

Rachel Lynn

3rd trimester!!!!!!

It is crazy to think that I am going into the third trimester!!!!  The time has gone by so fast, and while we still have 3 months left, it's really not that long. Now that Jared is home, time seems to go even faster. He started his classes Monday and so far is liking them... he is really excited to be in school. It seems weird to me because I always hated being in school... it's a good thing though. He is one of those people who studies as much as possible and as hard as possible so he can answer all the questions correctly in class. :) But I'm glad, he is learning a lot and loving it. Not to mention the fact that he is home. I don't have to sleep alone anymore, and when he is not studying we get to spend time together. I love it.

Anyway, just a random update.

27 weeks! I feel huge. But I love sitting and feeling him move around like crazy. He is always fidgeting and kicking. 

It's hard to believe that he will be tripling his size in the next 3 months and I don't know how I'm going to stretch bigger... but I'm gonna have to to accommodate this little man. 

It's not too far off.  Only 12 weeks left.

88	days
2119	hours
127171	minutes
7630316	seconds

Much love,
Rachel Lynn

My husbands home!!!!!

Amazingly good news. 

Jared went to the college yesterday to meet with the academic advisor... He starts school on MONDAY!!!! 

If you couldn't tell, I'm really excited! I finally get my husband home for good. He is taking 11 credits this summer, and will be doing the CNA program and a few other classes in the fall. I'm really glad that he is able to start this summer, so he can be home and actually enjoy what he is doing. He's been wanting to start school since before we got married, and now he is able to do that. I'm really glad to have a husband who is willing to sacrifice so much for me and also for our baby. He is truly the greatest man I've ever known, and I'm extremely blessed to have him for eternity. 

In other news... 

...

oh wait, I don't have any other news. But I am gonna be celebrating with chocolate tonight! 

Much love,

Rachel Lynn

Another round of Carson...

Well, I guess it's time to update y'all again.

The most recent happenings...

Went to Carson City to spend a few days with Jared while he is there working... 

 Spend the Sunday up at Lake Tahoe in the beautiful weather. 

Had a great few days being with Jared, and hanging out with his family.  Also got to see Jim (Jared's brother), Emily and the kids while we were there. 

Other than that, not much is going on. Just sitting around being a good incubator. I guess that's what happens. Going on week 25, almost to 26. 

Crappy picture... but it'll have to do... 

besides I suck at being cute in pictures... 

he just keeps popping out farther every day. 

Everything pregnancy wise is going pretty good. Just trying to keep myself busy while Jared is always gone. It's hard to keep finding things to do... I'm starting some sewing projects this week, in hopes that it will keep my mind off of missing my husband. The good thing is that the USA network has been playing  a TON of NCIS marathons lately... it keeps me entertained. Even though I've seen them all... multiple times. It never gets old. 

Jared and I have been throwing names around trying to get an idea of what we both like.  Here is our list, I'd like to know what you guys think. (We are positive that we are using Gene as a middle name, in honor of my Grandpa's late brother.)

-Alden

-Holden

-Mason

-Carson

I'm pretty sure we won't be officially naming him until he is born, I wanna see what he looks like first and see if we get that... "he looks like a ..." feeling.

Also I've been looking into different birthing options... I've always known that I want my labor/delivery to be natural because I know that my body was built to do it that way. And I recently came across this method called "HypnoBirthing". It essentially teaches you how to use self hypnosis and relaxation to create a natural pain relief. I got the book and have been reading it and I LOVE it. It talks a lot about how a woman's body is built and fully capable of having a calm, happy, normal labor with no pain, screaming, or drugs. It really is incredible. I would recommend it to everyone who is planning, or even considering, birthing naturally. I'm still practicing all the relaxation/breathing techniques and we'll see how the actual delivery goes, but I'm really excited to have found something that backs up what I've always believed about myself. 

Anyway, other than that nothing is new. 

P.s. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to wear maternity pant for the rest of my life... they are so FREAKING comfy. :)

Don't judge me.

Much love,

Rachel Lynn

Week 22!

***WARNING*** This post contains ridiculous amounts of complaining... sorry.

It's hard to believe that we are past the half-way mark in this pregnancy. It seems like yesterday we found out we were having a baby... and now, it's crazy to think that in 4 short month's we are going to be able to meet our little man.
I've been feeling pretty good throughout the pregnancy, but the one thing that I've had a hard time with is exhaustion. The first trimester it was expected, and it was intense. I was looking forward to getting into the second trimester because everyone was telling me how great it was going to be to have energy again and actually want to eat. Well, those things never came. I haven't had morning sickness, but the fatigue hasn't lessened. I'm so tired all the time, and if I spend too much time on my feet I feel like I need to go to bed. I take 2-3 hour naps everyday, and even if I relax and do little things here and there I still feel exhausted. It's frustrating because I wanna go do things, and I want to keep up on the housework, but it's so hard to have any motivation to do anything when I feel so tired. So I've been trying to change what I eat, and going to bed at a decent hour... I even get up by 7 in the morning to get up and get moving, but nothing has changed. I'm going to talk with my doctor about it at my next appointment... but it's just frustrating.
Also, at the 20 week ultrasound I found out that I have gallstones. They are big, and there are a lot. It's a little scary because it's something that I have little control over. I have to watch what I eat, trying to cut out fatty and salty foods... which is hard for me. I have to cut back on chicken... which I love. The hardest part is the pain. If I lay on my right side for more than 10 minutes, I get this searing pain under my ribs. It's almost the worst pain I've ever experienced. Also not knowing if I'm going to be able to make it through the pregnancy without having to get my gallbladder removed. If any of the stones try to pass... they will have to operate. So it's scary.
Other than all this craziness... I'm done complaining for now. You know sometimes you just need a way to vent.
I am still in awe that I am actually growing a human. Every time the little man kicks me I am surprised. But I'm so excited. Being a mother is the only dream I've had in life. Now that it is coming true, it's still hard to believe. But I love to just sit with my hands on my stomach and feel him kick me. He continues to grow, and his kicks and punches are getting stronger by the day. I'm also growing bigger by the day... I feel like a beached whale. I can only imagine how big I'll be by the end. Everyday my excitement grows... but I'm also a little nervous about giving birth and how my body will handle it.
I'm also not excited about being pregnant in the middle of Utah summer. It's going to be miserable. I will be spending as much time as possible at the pool.
Jared is starting school in the fall, and he is very excited. I'm excited for him because I know how much he wants to go to school.
All things considered we are doing well. Excited about life, and about what is in store in our future. We can't wait to meet our little man. :)

We are getting closer. :)

Much love,

Rachel Lynn