Bridal Veil Falls

Since Cam and I have had time for a little mini vacation here in Provo waiting for the baby to come we've finally had time to do some of the things that were on our "bucket list."  One of those things to do was to hike up to Bridal Veil Falls here in Provo Canyon.  We finally did this past weekend and it was lovely! We sure do have fun together!

8 days and counting...

Being pregnant has really made me wonder about my own birth and how my mom felt when she was pregnant with me when compared to my siblings.  A few things I think are cool about my pregnancy and birth is that I came to my mom in the temple and specifically told her that I was to be her little girl.  I had blonde hair and blue eyes and my name was to be Julia.  I think at least, I might not have been that specific but still, pretty neat. All I know about my birth is that when Dr. Daines delivered me he said, "Yup, another Parker baby."  That didn't sit well with my mom because after all the hard work of labor and delivery all he can say is that I looked like a "Parker baby."  That isn't much of a compliment because Parker babies are notoriously ugly.  We turn out OK but as babies we are ugly.  I think I was about 2 weeks "late" since I was supposed to be born around Christmas.  Honestly, I'm grateful for that.  I wouldn't want my birthday any closer to Christmas.  I like it where it is.  That's about all I can remember my mom telling me about me.  I know that when my mom was pregnant with Darci she thought that it was either an octopus or a dang mean boy because she was really active and always punching and moving inside the womb.  It's so different today because we had an ultrasound and know that we're having a girl, but back 30ish years ago they didn't know before the baby was born.  I don't think I could be that patient, but I guess if there wasn't a choice then I could be patient.  Let's see, I know my mom thought she ate to many cherries and that's why she was sick when she was actually pregnant with Jamie.  I know Jodi was born at home because labor progressed faster than they expected and they didn't make it to the hospital. I don't know anything about Emily or Morgan's births but I do know my mom puked up her guts pretty much the whole time she was pregnant with us.  That's all I know about my mom's pregnancies.
Comparing that with my own pregnancy, I'm pretty dang lucky.  I haven't puked at all.  I just have been extra tired pretty much everyday.  In the second trimester I still felt pretty good. I got more headaches and a pinched nerve or something in my back but after working on having good posture and drinking more water that went away.  I also had HORRIBLE nightmares.  I mentioned it to Melody and she suggested taking a B-complex vitamin.  We got a bottle and Cameron gave me a blessing and I haven't had one since.  In the third trimester I've felt great too.  My belly button doesn't really stick out.  It used to only when I would laugh and flex those muscles but now the top half sticks out a little.  It's nothing like some ladies though.  Some ladies get the "turkey button"  where it sticks out through the shirt and it's just a little weird looking.  I haven't gotten any new stretch marks and my feet haven't swollen hardly at all.  Sometimes my fingers and feet will, but it's not really noticeable to anyone else but me.  I've had contractions a lot more than I recognized.  At first when I thought of contractions, I just thought they could only be painful, but after reading online that they don't have to be before true labor starts I've had a lot.  One thing that I think is kind of unique to my pregnancy is that I felt the baby drop.  It was about the 10th or so that I was sitting at work and I could just feel a lot more pressure in my pelvic area.  It hasn't ever gone away, it's just gotten worse.  It used to be that when it would hurt if I'd change positions it would be fine, but now it hurts standing, sitting, or laying.
Now that we are 39 weeks pregnant and considered "full term" it's hard being patient and realizing that she'll come when she's ready.  No matter how far I walk she is staying put until she's ready to come.  It's hard waiting, but I'd rather have a healthy baby than a minor discomfort in my pelvis.
We have everything ready for her, we just are patiently waiting to meet our darn cute little bambino.

Blessing Dress!

Sorry these pictures aren't the best, but here is her cute dress that she will be blessed it. It will probably be way to big on her, but we'll make due.

"Every end is a new beginning"

We finally made it to April which is hopefully little Addison's birth month! Since we can now count down the weeks until she is born I figured it was time for a new update on the pregnancy. I reached the point about two weeks ago that I'm tired of being pregnant. Honestly, I've had a great pregnancy but I am ready for it to be over. I'm a lot more uncomfortable a lot more of the time. I get tired easy and have to sleep a lot to function normally but can't seem to get a full nights rest. Joanna, our landlord that lives above us, let me borrow her pregnant body pillow which was such a lifesaver the first two days, then I didn't use it for a while because I could get more comfortable just using an extra blanket but now I'm back to using it. I have slept better the last few nights but still not as I'd like. My feet and hands are swollen but you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at them the just feel swell. I've been hoping that Grandpa Parker would call me so that when he asks me how I'm going I can respond, "SWELL" but that hasn't happened.

Addison sure likes to have nightly dance parties! It starts usually around 9 and lasts for about an hour or so. It gives Cameron and I quite the laugh just watching my belly roll and wave back and forth.

I've started reading this hypnobirthing book and it is wonderful! I just read last night about how important it is to not have fear when giving birth because the hormone that is released actually constricts the muscles of the uterus which obviously makes birthing a lot slower and more painful. I've really learned a lot from this lady and am working on practicing the relaxation techniques she suggests so that when labor does finally start I won't be scared and can have a wonderful birth.

I have the most incredible visiting teacher. Her name is Marci Lindgren. She has been so faithful in coming every month even though her partner never comes with her. I honestly don't know who her partner is. She is so much fun to talk to about the message for that month as well as life in general. Get this, years ago, she also was due on April 30th with a girl which was born on April 30th and they named her April. Weird huh? Anyway, she is serving in the young women's with another amazing woman named Deon Thomas that used to be my visiting teaching partner but is now the lady I go to. These two women got together and threw me a baby shower at Marci's house last week. It was so much fun! We had a lot of great food that Deon brought. We got spoiled! They put on a quilt for us which was finished right there at the shower. It was fun because Marci asked me to invite my friends here in Provo so it was fun to see my friends with the ward members. Yesterday during conference I got all of the thank you notes written and then before priesthood session Cameron went running and delivered them all for me. What a great man! We really are blessed. Other than paying Melody for all the prenatal appointments and the package of sleepers we bought the day we found out it was a girl we have been given everything else. Whenever she decides to come she will have a new outfit to wear everyday for at least 2 months or so without having to wear the same outfit twice. Granted I'm not expecting to keep her in the same outfit all day since she'll most likely have a blowout or two which will necessitate an outfit change multiple times a day. Cameron and I are extremely grateful for the wonderful family and friends we have to help us prepare for our little Addie.

I know this isn't the best picture of her and she does look a bit different now since she always has her hair super curly but this is Melody Pendelton, our wonderful midwife. Oh, and I have no idea who the baby is, it was just an image I found online. Melody really has been so great and I've felt 100% confident with her during the whole pregnancy. I'm sure we'll get some more up to date pictures of her at our birth, but this is what we have right now.

Well, I think that's about all for the update. We are just getting the last few things in order for Addie and for the move up to Seattle. I have to pray everyday for patience because I want here here now so that I can love on her from the outside and so that I don't have to be pregnant anymore! And I'd also like to be able to make some set plans for the next month or so, but I will be patient because the more patient I am the more time she has to grow. I can do it!

TaDa!

The quilt is finished and it looks pretty darn cute if I do say so myself. I'd consider this a success for my first attempt at solo quilting. Granted my wonderful mother bought the materials and did the binding but I did everything else. Even though the back is on backwards, I am quite proud of my little project and can't wait to see little Addison sleeping with it.

Closeup of a corner

Front and back

the whole thing

Books

I've never been an avid reader, that's just how I am. Growing up I always found other things to do to occupy my time. Then in college, I finally had books to read, they were just textbooks. Blah. However, now that I've graduated and have a few days off from work each week I've had a desire to read. And here is the report thus far.

1. A while ago, Grandma Gleed lent me this book about Emma Smith. I loved it! I learned some new facts, and got brushed up on some things I already knew. One thing that I didn't know was that Emma loved horses. It was when I read this that I decided that I REALLY loved the name Emma and wanted that for our daughter. :) I also learned that the twins that she and Joseph had were adopted. (I really liked the fact that the girl of the twins was named Julia.)

Reading this book while pregnant really put things in perspective for me. With the death of each child and how hard pregnancy was for her it really made me grateful that my pregnancy has been super easy compared to the things she went through. I have a greater respect for her and what she did for the gospel in the early days.

2. This was a book that Cam and I got for our wedding. It was written by a lady that my mom used to work with for a lot of years. I didn't have any intent on reading it when we got it, but after hearing Jamie say that it was a good read I decided to give it a chance. Since she is from Bear Lake, it was fun reading about places I knew like, Raymond, Preston, Montpelier and Ogden. It made the story so much more real for me. Also, some of the words or phrases she used were ones that I know that only Bear Lakers use. She's got other books and if I ever come across them I'd read them, but I don't think I'm going to search them out.

In between books 2&3 there was a little bit of a time gap. I checked a bunch out from the library that I was interested in reading but didn't scan them well enough before checking them out because they had a lot of bad words so I didn't read them.

3. This is what I'm currently reading. It's one of my sister Jamie's favorite books. I admit, it's good and I have enjoyed all 106 pages I've read but it isn't as thrilling as I expected. But just look at the cover. A rocking chair combined with the title of "Tending Roses," doesn't exactly spell out murder mystery.

Don't be too shocked, but reading is enjoyable. I'm in no way like Jamie, Jodi, or Emily when it comes to books but it is a fun hobby that I will continue with.

Look out Gladys Knight!

I've decided that I'm carrying the white version of Gladys Knight. This baby LLLOOOVVVEESSS music! She goes crazy almost every time! For example, this morning Cameron sang with the men's chorus at a group home for at risk boys and girls (like the one I work at) called the Heritage School. Well, honestly he didn't just sing for them, he was one of the two speakers! There were about 50 out of the 180 from the choir present. This was a non-denominational service for the kids there. The lady from Heritage quickly introduced the men's chorus and turned the time over to Cameron to introduce the rest of the program before his talk. His talk was wonderful. He spoke on trials. He shared two personal stories about two types of trials. The first type that you can control and trials that you can't. His example of a trial he couldn't really control was of when he broke his shoulder when he was a junior in high school. His trial from something he could control was when he stole the pinata from his Spanish class his senior year. (I think it was senior year, not sure.) He did a great job really putting life in perspective in just a few minutes. I was such a proud wife! One of the songs they sang was a gorgeous arrangement of the hymn "Did you think to pray." I was really excited to hear this one because Cameron has sung this one at home a lot and just raved about how good it was. However, the moment they started singing our little girl WENT CRAZY! I literally thought she was going to jump out of my belly right then and there. I've NEVER felt her so wiggly. It was so funny to feel her that much but it was very distracting. I couldn't help but laugh and hold my belly tight so that she wouldn't jump out. I'm sure the girl sitting next to me was thinking that I was being so rude and disrespectful for giggling through a spiritual hymn. If only she could have felt what I was feeling, she would have giggled too. The next few hymns she didn't move nearly as much but this time when she moved it was frequently on beat. What a girl! She's going to be a singer and dancer, that's all there is to it. She's got too much rhythm not to be.

One of my favorite things about being this far into the pregnancy is feeling her recognize things. I'm convinced she knows Cameron's voice because she always wakes up when he gets home. It's the sweetest thing! She's already a daddy's girl. She's obviously got the concept of, "I'm so glad when daddy gets home" down. She also moves a lot when he sings. Which means she moves a lot because Cameron is ALWAYS singing. Makes me happy.

As far as the latest pregnancy quirks go, I can't touch my toes anymore. Funny story with that. When my sister Darci was pregnant with my nephew Evan (I'm pretty sure that was the situation, I could have the kids mixed up but this is how I've always thought about it.) my other nephew Adam came to Darci one time and said, "Mom, can you touch your toes?" Darci couldn't very quickly to which Adam responded, "That's ok mom, you can't because you're a little fat huh." I've thought of that many times and in a strange way it's made me feel better about not being able to touch my toes.

Another thing is heartburn. I used to get it about once every day or every other day super bad but now it comes 3-4 times a day and isn't very painful, just annoying. My theory is because I'm now taking cayenne pepper capsules. I have no clue if that's the reason why but the heartburn didn't change until I started taking those pills. I don't know which type I'd prefer over the other, painful or frequent.

I'm sure with the kids to follow I'll want to know what pills/herbs/vitamins I did take while being pregnant and what I thought of them. So, here is the list.

1. Generic brand of a prenatal vitamin.

2. Juice Plus or Juice Festiv

3. B-Complex vitamin. I started taking this because a while ago I kept having really bad nightmares. I happened to mention this problem to Melody and she suggested I take more B-Vit. I did along with having Cameron give me a priesthood blessing and I've only had 1 since then and this all happened around Christmas time. It's worked like a charm!

4. Liquid trace minerals. I absolutely HATE taking this. I take about 25 drops with a meal once a day and it's disgusting. Needless to say I'm not as faithful at taking this as I should be.

5. Cayenne Pepper. Apparently this helps with blood clotting.

6. Pulsatilla. Somehow this was supposed to help her move from a breach position into a normal position. It apparently worked because at my last apt. she was head down.

7. Spike Nard. I'll start taking this at week 34. I haven't done much research on it but it's supposed to help have a good birth. It was also mentioned in the bible with Jesus so it has to be good. : )

8. Floradix. This is an iron and herbs thing. I've only taken the samples she's given me because it's really expensive so I only take samples when she gives them to me.

That's all! My top drawer where I keep all of these is quite the pharmacy! She said to keep doing the routine that I've started because the baby is right on schedule. She said that she thinks the baby is just over 3 pounds. At my last appointment I was 30 weeks and still measuring at 34 cm which is what I measured at 28 weeks. So my body is slowly catching up to where it should be. She said I have a bit more fluid but it's not a problem. Extra fluid makes me nervous because when my sister Jodi was pregnant, she was huge and had A LOT of fluid. That's how they knew something wasn't quite right with her baby. But, I'm sure it's just my paranoia.

I think that's all! I'm working on a darn cute quilt for her. I'll hopefully post pictures tomorrow. I was thinking that it would take me until she's born but it should be finished in a few days. So now I'll have to get a bigger crochet hook, then I can finish a crochet project I've wanted to do.