Changing my attitude...

I was such a bear last week...I am well aware that just about no one wants to be around me right now! Luckily Keith was super busy helping a friend build a deck and wasn't home much (although I am sure that contributed to some of my crankiness...) Anyway, I was mad about my doctor appointment and just pregnant and emotional too. I felt like I was doing everything for everyone else and no one cared that I was tired and just kept asking more and more of me. Then late one night my cute friend Adrian showed up at my doorstep with candy and ice cream and a card. Knowing her I know she doesn't want me to brag about her, but I can't help it. That totally made my day to know that someone cared and was thinking about me. After that I decided that maybe I was MOST of the problem and that I could use a change of heart. So for the past week I have tried each day to remember the good people in my life and all that they do for me. I just wanted to say thanks to a couple of them on here....PLEASE don't feel left out if I haven't mentioned you...pregnant brain and all....

Adrian...Duh, I already said that not only did you bring me goodies, but you totally helped me change my attitude and I have been happier this week than I have in a long time. Thanks so much for your encouragement and friendship. Seriously...it means a lot.

Jeri...not only the best next door neighbor ever, but someone I trust completely and can always count on. Thanks for listening to my endless complaining and never making me feel bad for feeling that way. Thanks for raising the sweetest boys ever, who are so kind to my family and especially Gavin. I hope he grows up just like them.

My BFF Carlie :)....Oh where do I start? What would I do in this world without you? I already told you I love you more than a fat kid loves cake...and I meant it! You and Nick are the best friends Keith and I could ever ask for, and I can't imagine a day without texting you about absolutely nothing and just knowing that you're there.

Torie my best friend through it all....Even though you're in Iowa, you are always with me. Thank you for our long phone conversations and all of the memories we've had. You are always on the same page as me and always there for me no matter what. We've been through so much together...I love you.

Mom...I love you more than words can say. You ALWAYS go out of your way to do things for me. I always feel guilty knowing there is no way I could ever repay you. Thank you for loving me and for life. I don't think I ever truly appreciated you until I became a mother.

Amy...my mom who didn't have to be. I'm always proud to be considered your daughter. You have shown me love beyond ways I could ever imagine. I have never known someone who had so much love to give and sometimes I can't even comprehend how you do it.

Dad...my constant. I always thought of Grandpa Cobbley as being that one never changing person in my life who I could always rely on when things were turned upside down. You have become that person to me. Thank you for always making my life feel balanced and normal.

Alan...my dad who didn't have to be. Even in the short time you and mom have been married you have welcomed me like your own daughter. You've given so much to me and Keith. Everytime I see you with Gavin, I am so proud that he can call you Grandpa.

My siblings...this post would go on forever if I mentioned all that each of you do for me so here is a quick rundown :)
Britt...You love Gavin like your own. It amazes me how you can do this.
Austin...my bud. I always have a friend thanks to you.
Chelsea...you're always someone to laugh with.
Colton...Gavin always wanting to be like Uncle Coco says it all....
Tristin...HUGS.
Taylor...always a happy face and NEVER hesitating to do something for someone else.
Logan...I love the way you always say bye to baby Max when I leave. You never forget anyone.

Nancy, Susan and Julie....my built in support system. The last 2 years of serving with the 3 of you has honestly changed my life. Your examples and strength and the things we've been through together during this time have been such a testimony to me.

Tammy and Katie...my visiting teachers (or past...I miss you too Katie!) Making an effort to make me feel loved. Inviting me to things, visiting with me, cookies and treats...Carl's Jr. :) Thank you both so much for your efforts

Mandy...Cafe Rio dates and cute nieces would be enough, but you still go out of your way to make sure I'm doing okay. I can always trust you and I am so lucky to call you my sister.

Grandma Marcia...For loving me and mine. When Keith who has never had grandparents his whole life can consider you his grandma, you know that's amazing. Thank you for all you have done and do for us.

And last but DEFINITALY not least...Keith. You always jokingly inform me that I just don't know how good I've got it. But you're right, I don't have a clue...I know it's better than I can even comprehend. You are an amazing husband and father and have loved me with a kind of love I am sure I don't even come close to reciprocating. I love you, babe.

There are many more to thank, but I highly doubt they read blogs, so I'll have to thank them another way. I love you all.

Could I really be this lucky????

Not to jinx anything, but we have had no potty accidents at our house for the last 3 days.....!!! Could I really be lucky enough to only have one in diapers when the baby is here???

This is the 4th time Gavin has decided he wants to forgoe the diapers. It drives me nuts because there have been 3 separate weeks where it's been completely his idea and then after a week was up, he was done with it. I'm soooooo hoping that doesn't happen again!

A couple weeks ago when we were putting Gavin to bed this was Keith and Gavin's conversation..

Keith: Gav, how come you don't want to use the potty like Brock and Parker do? (Our neighbor boys who he thinks are soooooo cool!)

Gavin (as serious as can be): Dad, I just like dipeys (his term for diapers).

It was the funniest thing! Yesterday he said out of the blue..."Mom, I don't need dipeys anymore." I'm hoping he's really serious!!! But in any case, I love that he wants to make an effort and it felt good when he was talking to Grandma and said, "Grandma, mom is sooooo proud of me!" At least he knows I love him no matter what!

Caution....the following is just a pregnant girl rant...

I had a Dr's appointment today and I was fully expecting him to schedule me. I had an ultrasound first to check the size and of course my little peanut is already measuring 7lbs 6oz....4 weeks out. Was I surprised?...not really, and that's smaller than Gavin was measuring at this point, but still. I held a brand new baby on Tuesday who was a week early and weighed 7lbs 15oz and there is already something practically that size STILL INSIDE OF ME! It's not like I'm begging them to take me a month early, or that I think I'll ever in my lifetime have a 7 lb baby...but come on!!!! My Dr. acted like it was no big deal and he'd see me again in 2 weeks (which technically I should be on 1 week appointments and because he's out of the office I'm being schedule practically 3 weeks away...precisely the week I have been planning on having a baby!!!!)

I know I probably sound sooooooo whiney, and duh, usually people just wait for babies to come on their own, but I don't go into labor on my own. I have never experienced a contration other than when I have had pitocin, not even Braxton Hicks contractions. And honestly...I have a right to whine when my 12 lb baby wasn't even attempting to come on his own. I WILL NOT HAVE ANOTHER 12 lb baby and I just want SOMEONE in the medical industry to listen to me!!! I never complained with my last Dr even though I knew I was a beached whale, because, well, he was the Dr., what did I know? This time around...I refuse to experience that moment when they put my precious little baby on the scale and everyone is shocked when they hear his weight and my Dr. looks at me and says, "I'm sorry." I don't want my first thoughts about my son to be, "Oh look this is my baby....he's huge!" I don't want everyone to remember me by the girl who had the big baby. Or people's neighbors that I meet for the first time to say, "Oh you're the one who had the big baby." I don't want people to start asking me if I'm having twins. I don't want people to tell me I look like I am about ready to pop. And I swear if one person asks me if I had gestational diabetes I might smack them....hard. And MOST of all, I don't want people to tell me that he looks 3 months old or that he looks like a linebacker. (So all of you reading this have been warned....)

Alright...I had to put it all out there. I loved my big baby, and that he was mine, and it was cool for like 2 seconds to always win the "I had the biggest baby contest", but not this time. I just want to feel normal and not like some freak of nature. And I am soooooooo ready to not sit in front of my computer and type some big old pointless rant that no one cares to read just because I am an emtional basket case.

One cool thing...Baby Max already has hair :) They could tell in the ultrasound and I sure hope he has cute curls like Gavin!

And to leave this on another positive note...here is a picture of my PERFECT baby Gavin, who was NOT a linebacker....

Yearbook yourself

Lately I seem to have a lot of time on my hands....which really isn't true, it's mostly just because I CAN'T SLEEP! Rather than being productive with that time, I have found a lot of random websites that crack me up (remember, I'm tired when I do these things so everything seems funny...) I couldn't stop laughing at these and if you find yourself up late at night you might want to give this website a try... http://www.yearbookyourself.com/

This cracked me up because I think I remember a very similar picture of my mom like this.....

Uhhhhhhhhhhhh.......

Again...reminds me totally of my moms hair in her senior pics....

The following is 1984...the year I was born....NICE

Me and my 90's bad self...

And mostly I just like this one because it makes me think of Deb from Napoleon Dynamite telling me to just pose like this........

Kinzie's Baptism pics

I really try hard not to post the "oooooo, look at what I did" stuff on my blog, but I really can't resist sometimes when some things are just so cute! (And honestly, if you don't want to look at my stuff...why are you reading my blog anyway?) My darling cousin, Kinzie, is getting baptized in October and her mom asked me to take some pictures of her. Isn't she a doll??? I was soooooooo excited to see these and I have way more pictures than anyone will ever do anything with, but oh well!!! So, this really isn't a look at what I did blog, because, well, she's just photogenic. I'm so proud of Kinzie for choosing to be baptized and I'm really excited I was able to help out for her special day.

Funny Face

For a recent Primary activity it was apparently very necessary that we wear some funny face glasses for some pictures...I won't post the presidency pictures without their permission, but we had 3 special helpers that day who I'm sure won't mind showing off their "portraits" :)

Congratulations!

A big congratulations to my step-dad Alan N. Christensen for his retirement from the US Army National Guard this weekend! He served for 21 years and we are so proud of him and his willingness to serve our country!

We were invited to attend his "retirement ceremony" which was pretty casual, but really a neat thing to go to. It was neat to hear of the service he has given and we were so proud to be introduced as his family. When I think of the time and sacrifice he has put forth in order to serve, I am amazed at what he has accomplished. The army couldn't have found a better man :)

Here are just a few pictures of the ceremony. We love you Alan!