15 Weeks!

How far along:  15 weeks!

Total weight gain: so far just 1 pound! I must've had more to love in the beginning.

Maternity clothes: I've purchased some, but I have yet to wear them. My pants still button, but my tummy is definitely noticeable. I do wear way more maxi skirts!

Stretch marks: None that I didn't have before! ;)

Sleep: I've been getting up at about 2 am most mornings to use the restroom.

Best moment of this week: Jeff told me that my bigger tummy didn't bother him and he still thinks I'm attractive. It was special to me because he said it makes him love me even more because it is his baby in there.

Miss anything: deli turkey!

Movement: None yet! But I'm so excited to feel it!

Food cravings: It's not that I have cravings for anything in particular, I just snack ALL THE TIME. I just have to have food every hour. I am loving cheese though, and I enjoy a good pickle.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Some smells really get me! Dishes, trash cans, and bad breath. It's a struggle! Haha

Have you started to show yet: yep!

Gender: I can't wait to find out! We are guessing a boy though.

Labor signs: None, thank goodness!

Belly button in or out: Still in

Wedding rings on or off: On! All this cold weather has made my ring a little bit loose on my finger.

Happy or moody most of the time: So happy. Everything has gone well so far and I'm so grateful. And the whole process has really made me love Jeff so much more!

Looking forward to: Finding out the gender of this little one sometime this month. :)

25 Years and Counting

Today my parent's are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary! I can't believe so much time has passed. As the oldest child, I have been around for the majority of these 25 years, and experienced with them many of their joys, sorrows, excitement, and worries. I remember all of the babies, the diaper changes, the ball practices, the choir concerts . . . and it has truly been a pleasure to be a part of this family. I don't know why I was blessed to be sent to such incredible parents, but I wouldn't want to be with anyone else!

As the time goes by, it is so fun to see the ways my siblings and I are similar to our parents. It is becoming easier to see the similarities!

I think I have a mix of both parents, but my dad may be more present. I have many genetic traits from my dad in appearance and health. I am also very opinionated like my dad. But that is a good thing, right? ;) I also inherited my mom's perfectionism. We like to have things done well. If they aren't done right, what is the sense of doing it in the first place?

Chelsea is almost an exact copy of my mom -- she has the sweetest heart and would do anything for those she loves. But don't think her kind heart makes her a pushover -- she is so stubborn that she will accomplish whatever she sets her mind to do, and she will do it perfectly. Or she will explode with frustration. ;)

Dallin looks like my mom and the Sandberg side of the family. He is tall, blonde, and tan -- the lucky devil. But his personality is more similar to my dad in some ways. He loves kids, and he really knows how to make them feel special. I think this is something he learned from my own dad.

Andrew is truly a child-version of my dad. They have the same eyes, smile, facial expressions, and personality. When Andrew speaks, he says things my dad would say, with the exact same inflections. It is incredible! His personality is the same, and he loves to be outside working in the garden and doing manly things.

Rylee is only nine, so it will be interesting to see what characteristics she develops from my parents. She is very similar to Chelsea in that she is very stubborn and will accomplish whatever she sets her heart to. She also has an intense love of learning, and loves to share her knowledge with everyone. We will see what happens with her!

We were able to celebrate their anniversary with my parents over this weekend with a family party and dinner together. We did all kinds of things that we did as I was growing up -- we played tennis; roasted s'mores; played games like Fruit Basket Turnover, Spoons, and Oh Shucks!; and shared photos and memories of the past 25 years. It was a great weekend! I felt like a kid again. :)

Here is a small photo tribute to the last 25 years. I can't wait for the future years to come!

Chelsea and Lindsey

 

 

Chelsea, Lindsey, and Dallin

 

 

 

Andrew and Dallin

 

 

Andrew and Rylee

Sweet Rylee girl!

 

Dallin and Rylee

 

 

Jeff

This morning was beautiful. It started with an hour of cuddling and dozing with Jeff, just feeling so happy. We made muffins and eggs together for breakfast, and while everything was cooking we sat on the back porch blowing bubbles. I truly felt like everything was perfect.

Cheryl happened to sneak a picture of the moment, and I am so grateful! I love that man and his one little bubble.

I realized today that just over a year ago I wrote a post about the reasons I love Jeff. All of these reasons are still very true! But it is so interesting how things grow, develop, and change in relationships. Now that we have been married almost three years, people frequently ask how how things are going for us -- and I always respond that I love him more now than I ever have before. It is funny because I loved him so much when I wrote the previously mentioned post, but there are so many different things I would add to that list as our love has grown.

1. It merits mentioning that Jeff will sit on the porch with me and blow bubbles. I don't know many 25-year-old men who blow bubbles without a child present. But the fact that he did that with me makes me feel incredibly special, and I appreciate that we have a youthful and playful love.
2. I was having a conversation with Jeff's mom the other day, and she tearfully (but happily) told me how she loves that Jeff will do anything for me. This made me cry, but she is so right. Jeff always does the hard things purely out of love for me. I hope he knows I notice it. 
3. Jeff is very playful and loving with me. He never hesitates to sweep me up in a big hug, pinch my bum, or dip-kiss me in the kitchen. Even in public he will stop what he is doing just to hold me for a second and kiss my fore head. An older woman in our ward wrote us a note a month or so ago noticing the special love that we have, and admonishing us to always keep it. I know that we will, because it is just who Jeff is.
4. After work or school, Jeff is incredibly excited to see me. The first thing he does when he gets home is find where I am. He will run up the stairs or run after me into the kitchen to give me a big hug and kiss. This utterly delights me.
5. One of my favorite things about Jeff is his absolute love for our 9-year-old Primary class. He is so excited to see them, and we laugh for the next week about the hilarious things they say in class. He frequently mentions that he just wants to "squeeze them" because they are so awesome. He even wants to invite them to his birthday party this week. :)
6. Jeff is an amazing teacher. I have had opportunities to see him teach in multiple settings, and he has a way with words and a way of bringing a special spirit to the room. People listen when Jeff speaks, and I admire that about him.
7. Jeff has some classic magic tricks that he likes to perform, and it is so nerdy I can't help but love them. He excitedly performed them for a couple of our Primary girls after church today, and he was delighted by their looks of amazement as he made a nickel disappear. 
8. Jeff is my very best friend. He is there for me to giggle, cry, vent, snuggle, talk, and dream. It is the little things like these that make my relationship with him so special.
9. I receive phone calls from Jeff at least once a day. Sometime between the 8-5 hours, I know I can count on a phone call from Jeff during the day, just to say "hi" and he loves me. The phone calls usually begin with something like: "Heyyy sexy lady!" I don't think I realized how much I rely on these phone calls to make my day better. It is an even bigger plus when he surprises me at work after his classes end at 3:00, and we take a short five-minute break to go on a walk outside and talk about our days before he heads home.
10. The most important thing I have learned and love about Jeff is that he absolutely loves me. He shows me by taking out the trash, showing me affection, scraping my icy windshield, surprising me with cupcakes, eating at my favorite restaurant when he doesn't like it, cleaning our room, and dancing with me in the kitchen. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

And like the previous post, I have to say it is a huge plus that he is pretty darn good-looking!