Battle Creek Falls

A couple weeks ago I posted the list of things Bill and I want to do this season before Christmas or shortly thereafter.  One of the things is go snowshoeing.  We made an effort to do that Wednesday on our first day off from school for the break.  The weather didn't cooperate with us, but we did end up doing a very pretty little hike.  I haven't been hiking since we got back to Utah.  The altitude change had quite the effect on me being pregnant, so my exercise routine severely diminished.  The weathermen predicted a blizzard of epic proportions on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Having actually experienced a blizzard or two in my youth in Colorado Springs, I was pretty skeptical that the few inches of snow forecasted would really count as a blizzard, but I was hopeful that it would happen. I love the snow!  Well, when we woke up Wednesday morning to find Utah County had been completely missed by the snow, I was rather disappointed.  Ah well.  It happens.  It snowed today, so I got my wish just a few days later.

Anyway, Bill did a service project a couple weeks ago at Battle Creek park and heard there was a pretty waterfall nearby that was worth hiking to.  It was a tiny little hike, only .6 miles up to it.  We decided to do it, hoping for some snow to snowshoe in.  There was about 1 inch of snow on the ground, so snowshoes were definitely not necessary, but we still had a great time.  I didn't know the area he was referring to as Battle Creek until we were in Pleasant Grove heading up the road to the trailhead.  It was then that I recognized where we were going and knew what waterfall he was talking about.  I'd been up there in the summertime a number of years ago and so I got really excited to see it in the snow.  We were not disappointed.  Here's a few of the shots we got on the hike and at the waterfall.  The elevation change the last few hundred yards got to me pretty good, but it was totally worth it.  The coolest part, besides the half frozen waterfall, was how the river had frozen in parts.  It was still running strong, but there was a thin layer of ice over a lot of it.  It made really cool shapes. What a great little adventure! 

Calling #3

I love my bishop.  We've had several meetings with him lately between my callings and tithing settlement.  Every time we come in, he sheepishly says they usually try to keep things pretty light for their pregnant and new mothers so they can handle everything happening in their lives.  Then he proceeds to ask me to do something new in the ward.  It makes me smile.  This happened when I got called as the music chair and it happened again last Sunday as he asked me to do something new.  I'm so excited about it though.  I got called as the Mia Maid advisor.  We only have 8 young women in our ward, so it is going to be tons of fun.  The first question I asked was if that meant I'd get to go to girl's camp.  I think it might have taken my bishop aback a bit, but I've always been excited about having young women's callings because I love the girls, but also because I love girl's camp and want to go. :)  This year I'll have a 6-month old, but that will work, right?  We shall see, but I sure hope so! 

Speaking of my 6-month old, this weekend marked my 32-week mark.  According to the little floating baby app on the side of my blog, I have 55 days left.  That would be impressive if I actually delivered on my due date, but I think at this point I can safely say I will deliver in less than 2 months.  Woot!  I can't wait to meet this little guy.  Time is starting to go super fast.  It's fantastic.  Hopefully we'll be ready by the time he makes his big debut.  Or at least have all the gear we need, that is.  I'm not sure we'll ever be ready for the changes that are coming, but they're going to be great regardless.  Here's what I look like these days.  Bill always ends up cutting off my head when he zooms in, but you just really want to see the baby anyway, right? lol  I don't actually feel that big most of the time, though when I see these pictures I'm always surprised how big I look.  

This is what we woke up to this morning.  Well, minus the shoveled path.

That's courtesy of Bill.  Our managers are out of town for Thanksgiving, so we don't know where the actual snow shovels are, but Bill's doing a great job with a normal shovel he found.  Yay Bill!

Loving the holidays

Being in school makes it so easy to totally miss the Thanksgiving and Christmas in the rush of classes, tests, work, etc.  I hate it when Christmas Break arrives and I realize I haven't even noticed until then.  So in an effort not to miss the season this year, Bill and I just made a list of some things we want to do in the next few weeks or month and maybe in January too.  It goes something like this:

-see lights on temple square
-drive around and see people's Christmas lights
-go caroling
-making homemade apple cider
-go snowshoeing
-LOTR marathon
-board games with fam and/or friends with tasty treats involved

Hopefully this list will expand as we think of other fun things to do, but I think it's a good start. 

10 weeks left or 3/4 done

 Our new glider rocker!

As of today I am 3/4 of the way done with my pregnancy.  That also means I have 10 weeks left.  Somehow 3/4 done sounds so much better than 10 weeks left.  That still seems like a long time.  But I'm a glass half full sort of girl, so I'll go with 3/4 done.  :)  Plus, it's only two weeks until Thanksgiving and I have three weeks of school  after that and then Christmas break comes and I will technically be full term on January 1st and he'll come sometime after that and it will be great. 

He's moving so much these days.  It's pretty fun minus the occasional sharp pokes.  I can feel that it's his elbow or foot now rather than just a general bump from the inside.  He's seemed more like a little alien than a baby until recently and I really like this change. 

And this is what he's making me look like these days. 

And for comparison sake, this is me at 16 weeks, the first picture I have that I looked any kind of pregnant.  It's amazing what a few months will do for you. :)  I thought I was showing a lot at this point in my pregnancy. 

The question now is how content he is to stay inside me all the way through the holidays.  Bill and I want to go to Las Vegas and Phoenix for Christmas and New Years, but we don't want to deliver a baby in either of those places.  I think we'll be able to go, but we will have to see in the next month.  Here's hoping!

Midwives Appointment

So I went to my midwives appointment today and met with a different one than I usually see.  She was nice, but way more worried about everything in general.  The one I've been to before seems to think I actually know what's going on and this one was less that way.  She did need to familiarize herself with my medical history, but she was all worried about me measuring big and made sure to totally emphasize to watch for pre-term labor and she almost ordered an ultrasound because I'm still measuring 2 almost 3 weeks ahead, but the fact that my baby measured totally on schedule at my last ultrasound despite me being big didn't seem to matter.  Oh and that I'm 5'2" tall and carrying all in front. And that I haven't had any complications my whole pregnancy.  And that my mom had the same type of pregnancy 7 times where she got big early and I've generally followed in her footsteps my whole pregnancy.  I guess none of those really matter if I have complications now, but I think things are fine.  The little guy is kicking up a storm most all the time and seems to be doing fantastic.

I did have one hiccup this week.  My glucose came back measuring high, so I have to go do the 3-hour test on Thursday morning.  That's no fun, but hopefully I'll pass it.  I would rather not have gestational diabetes, that is for sure.  We'll see in a few days!