36 Weeks

The weeks just keep passing by.  I cannot believe that in just about one month I will have a little baby in my arms rather than in my belly.

I am really starting to feel big.  Everywhere I go I feel like I am somewhat of a spectacle and everyone seems to ask me when I am due.  Most everyone is really nice and I don't mind all of the comments, but sometimes am self conscious about the stares.  Lots of people have been asking me if I am just so ready to be done with this, and honestly, I can say, not yet.  I can't wait to meet this little guy but I am also so happy to let him just keep growing in there for now. 

I am pretty tired these days and starting to want to just lounge around all of the time but am really still feeling good.  My biggest complaint is that I've been getting lots of aching pains under my right ribs but I think it is mostly just because this little baby is getting pretty cramped in there.  He is always moving around but at this point it is more like him pushing outwards rather than moving all around because I really don't think he has much room left in there at all.   

We are hopefully feeling pretty ready, or as ready as we can be for this little guy to get here.  I honestly cannot believe that he will be here within the next month or so.  We are so excited and cannot wait.

So Long, Brother

Today my little and only brother left for his mission to Orlando, Florida.  I sometimes can't help but think that he is still my tiny little brother but he really has grown up.  As he spoke at his farewell on Sunday I realized that he is so grown up and has such a strong testimony that the church is true.  It was so sweet to hear his testimony and to feel how excited he is for his mission.  I am so happy for him and know that he will do great.

Love you Joe!

Happy 4 Years!

Wow, has it really been four years?  With every year that passes I can't believe it has been that long, but at the same time I cannot imagine living my life without Marcus.  We pretty much do everything together and I am so lucky to have him.  

I love you Marcus!

Happy four years.

Finally

This weekend finally felt summery.  We went to a fun barbecue Friday night with friends and Saturday we enjoyed a fabulous outdoor concert.

It was so nice to be outside and enjoy some warm weather and some Brandi Carlile and Ray LaMontagne.  I must admit I was exhausted standing there the entire concert and felt like I had aged to an old grandma, but it was worth it.  

Showered, Again

My sweet friends, Heidi and Jamie, threw me a shower last night with all of my girlfriends and we had such a fun time.  They made yummy hawaiian haystacks and we all ate, played some games, opened presents and just had fun being together.  I feel so loved and this little baby boy of ours is sure getting spoiled!

Jamie put together a cute theme:  "It's a shower...for sweet baby boy and mother to BEE".  She decorated with Bees and yellow and black and made cute little B sugar cookies (for BaBEE Boy) as favors. 

Some of the lovely guests.

And to all of my girls that live out of Utah, I seriously miss you.  I hope you're all considering moving back. 

and, of course:

Jamie 35 weeks, Me 34 weeks

This might be our last back to back photo op because we are getting close and Jamie is moving to St. George in just a few weeks.  I am sure going to miss her!  And isn't it crazy how differently we are carrying our little babies? 

Thank you girls for such a fun night!

Remember Jill?

Some of you might remember awhile back when I posted about my good friend Jill, who was trying to raise money for IVF.  Jill is an incredible person and was such an amazing support to me while Marcus and I were going through infertility.  Jill was the first person I thought of when I found out that artificial insemination had worked and that we were pregnant.  I was so happy for ourselves, and for our little baby, but I was so heartbroken for Jill.  Her and her sweet husband, Allen, had been waiting for this for so much longer than we had, and it really felt like it should be their turn.  I want them to have a little baby so badly.

Back in March they had a failed IVF cycle and learned more about what they need for a future cycle to work.  (You can read more about it here.)  One of the biggest things they need in order to make this happen is money.  I can't believe how much all of this costs and I remember the stress I felt about it, and we were only paying for much more minor testing, medication and artificial insemination, which doesn't come close to the cost of IVF ($12,000-$15,000 per cycle).

Another couple is sponsoring them and holding a silent online auction June 24th and 25th.  There are already some incredible items up for bid so seriously, please check it out here at goteamwitt.blogspot.com.  I will definitely be bidding on at least 1 item myself.  If you have anything you can donate that would be incredible and I know they would appreciate it so much.  If nothing else, you can go ahead and donate right on the site.

 Please, please help.  Something small from each of us can really make a difference for them.  

Pelmet Box (and Nursery Sneak Peak)

People sometimes tell me that I am "craftier than I admit" or "more domestic than I give myself credit for..." or comments to that extent.  It seems like lately I have been getting that a lot with the random projects I have been working on for the nursery, so I thought I'd share the story of my dang pelmet box...and let everyone know that these projects don't always go very well for me, and usually are super frustrating with lots of problems along the way.  And that I really am not craftier than I admit...

I wanted to make a valence of some sort for the nursery, but then remembered that I really don't sew.  So I decided to do a pelmet box instead, and luckily found this great tutorial that convinced me I could tackle this project.

Things were going pretty well.  I had picked out the perfect fabric, gotten my batting, borrowed a staple gun, and was moving along with the project.

I finished the box at about 11.  I seriously was so nervous to turn it over and see if it all worked and looked smooth and everything.  I was working on the back of it pulling the batting and fabric tight and stapling it, which is why I didn't know how it was going to look.  (Oh, and let's not forget the fact that the staples weren't staying into the foamboard very well, some were pulling out, so I got my glue gun and was also glue gunning it, and then ran out of glue, so then I was also duct taping it...I really wanted to make sure this wasn't coming apart!)

So I flip the board over, and I am instantly relieved, and say, oh my gosh, it looks so cute!  Marcus, look!  Then he looks, and at the same time we both say... "OH NO..."

So I had duct taped the foamboard together in 2 places.  I had checked MULTIPLE times to see if you could see the duct tape through the 2 layers of batting and the fabric.  And you seriously couldn't.  But then there I was, finished, and you could see 2 darker lines of duct tape under the fabric.  AHHHHHHHHHH I seriously freaked out....

It could have been that I was so tired and it was after 11 and it actually looked cute except for the fact that there were these two awful dark lines under it...but...I just couldn't handle it!  Then I just got mad because projects never seem to work out the first time I do them, and I always have to do things twice...not a happy moment.  (And Marcus might say this is an understatement...)

So I took it apart. And then I went to bed.

I told Marcus I wanted to just smash it all up and throw it away, but luckily he didn't listen to me and instead tackled the project the next morning.   He peeled back all of the unsightly duct tape and reinforced it with extra duct tape on the backside only.  I was able to start the project again the next night and get it finished, and am actually very surprisingly happy with the end result.

Here it is, after all of the trauma, as well as a little sneak peak of the nursery:

I'm just waiting for a few more details to come together and then I will be finished and will post lots of pictures!