Since becoming involved with the Power of Moms I have formed a Learning Circle. It's a small group of seven of us who get together on the second Thursday of each month and discuss an article centered on motherhood.
I have learned to appreciate and realize how badly I need good women in my life. I need realistic women who have no expectation of me, my home, kids, appearance, etc. And I found them. We come from all backgrounds and phases of life, which only adds to the experience.
Since I love them all so much I decided to give them a little something tonight since I was hosting at my house. I scoured Pinterest, shopped for ideas, racked my brain and finally realized I needed it to be simple. I picked up large Symphony bars, came up with a (cheesy) saying and tied them up with twine. I should have taken a picture, not because they were something special but for memories sake. The saying was "My life may not be a perfect Symphony but I am grateful you're part of the orchestra." I also came up with one word for each of the girls that I feel best describes how I see them as a mom.
Jennifer Brimhall- Wise
Jen is not only common sense smart but book smart. She has five kids and home schools. One quality i love about her is that she is simple. The reason I chose wise for her is because she comes up with clever ways to teach her children and as a result her children are polite, very smart, know every scripture story inside and out (I've learned to be very careful when giving Sharing Time. They can teach your lesson for you!), are all well spoken and fun.
Wylie Johnson- Endurance
I love Wylie for many reasons. She was my Relief Society President and Visiting Teacher at the same time but she was so much more than that. She was a friend. She has three kids, between the ages of about 25-30 or so. Her youngest, Warren, has Cereal Palsy but is a gem in our ward. Everyone loves him. Watching Wylie and her husband (whose name ironically happens to be Wiley) with Warren is amazing. They load him in and out of the car, gently place him in his wheelchair, never act like he is a burden and give him the fullest life possible, considering his circumstances. The reason I chose endurance is because they will be caring for Warren until the day he dies, which will most likely be before them, and they do it all so lovingly.
Andrea Mangum- Gentle
Everything about Andrea is gentle. She speaks, walks, laughs, she does everything gently.
Mindy Hatch- True
I get to see Mindy as a mom a lot and one wonderful quality (although I could have chosen so many) is that when she tells her boys (she has four of them) something, she means it! And she never backs down.
Bobby Hall- Patient
For years I have told Bobby I admire her patience. She has six kids, including twin boys, so things at her house can get a little crazy, not to mention she just started homeschooling this year. Her girls have been my number one babysitters for four or five years now and on a few occasions when they were not available she would insist I drop my kids off at her house for the night. I have taken her up on it a few times and I am always impressed that she is never frazzled.
Anne Palmer- Calm
There are so many reasons to love Anne. Not only does she have a special place in my heart because her husband, Bryce, is Jared's first counselor, but because she is everything a Christlike woman should be. She has such a calming nature and never seems to get worked up about things. I love being in her presence. She also listens to the Spirit and I have been the beneficiary of that. Once when she felt she should come tell me about a health insurance type deal and another time after Colton was born she text me saying she felt like she should ask if I needed anything from the store. And I did! Just some cheese and bread so I could take dinner to someone that night, but I wasn't sure how I was going to find the time to make it to the store.
I love these ladies and what they add to my life. They have such good insight and I always leave feeling inspired, never like a failure or that i don't measure up. My friend Cheryl, who I met at Power of Mom's in Las Vegas, summed it up perfectly, "When you have women who are already phenomenal mothers and are wanting to be better, you can't help but have an amazing experience."
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Monday, December 2, 2013
Family Traditions
I've been thinking a lot about what makes the Hatch family the Hatch family. What is it that keeps us going day to day and what do we enjoy about life as a family? What little things do we do that set us apart from other families?
Well, I've put some thought into and realized we have quite a few traditions that make our life enjoyable. Some might seem strange to others, but it makes us who we are.
1. Driving through the cemetery
In August 2003 I made my first trip to the Taylor Cemetery for the burial of his Granny Hatch. There was such a special feeling there and the tree lined roads gave it such a neat look. I told Jared I wanted to be buried there. Little did I know that less than two months later I would call Taylor home and in the years to come the cemetery would come to mean much more to me than tree lined roads.
Jared's mom was buried there in January of 2009 and since then we have visited almost daily. It's simple, we simply drive down her lane and everyone says "hi Grandma Hatch!" (When Grandma Miller died 18 months later she was buried on the same row so we have added a hello for her as well.)
Last night as we were driving through Jared and I tried to guesstimate how many miles we put on a year just in visits to the cemetery. It is exactly 1/2 of a mile from our driveway to Marlene's grave and we estimated we visit 365 times a year. We figure that on any given day one of us is there. In nearly five years that equals over 1,800 miles. Rarely do we arrive home from errands or some place and my girls don't say "can we go see Grandma Hatch?" How can you say no to that?
Over the years we have spent many hours decorating, manicuring the grass around her headstone, hanging out (we've held a few family home evenings there) and trying to create more memories that include Grandma Hatch.
3. "Goos Night"
We have a problem in our house. When it's the one of the girls' turn to pray, then often speed through it not concentrating on their words. We've talked about it with them numerous times, had Family Home Evenings on it and even stopped them mid-prayer but there are some signature phrases they just can't let go of. It's almost a guarantee we will get the phrase two or three "help us to have fun tomorrow" times in one prayer. Another one is "help us to all be home." What does that even mean when we are all kneeling together as a family at the end of the day?
But my favorite has to come from Addie. Every night she prays that we will have a "goos nights rest" intend of a "good nights rest." I finally called her out on it one night and asked her what exactly a "goos night" is. We all laughed when she realized she didn't even know what she way saying! And now saying "goos night" instead of "good night" has become part of our nightly routine.
4. The Spinning Song
Before we said goodbye to our first piano the girls would ask me to sit down and play The Spinning Song for them. As I played the song, often by memory, they would dance on the tile in front of the front door. I think they were wishing they had tap shoes on but we settled for high heels or bare feet. Last week we bought a new piano and what do you think the girls' first request was?
Although it's important to me to get dressed and do my hair and makeup everyday, I will let myself wear comfy pants instead of jeans if I know I am not going somewhere but without fail, I get caught every time. No one comes over when I have a complete outfit on. It's normal to catch my girls changing their pants after school to put on some sweats or yoga pants. I've trained them well.
7. The circle picture
We've only done it twice but you could consider it a tradition in the making. Should we ever have more children we'll do it again.
Well, I've put some thought into and realized we have quite a few traditions that make our life enjoyable. Some might seem strange to others, but it makes us who we are.
1. Driving through the cemetery
In August 2003 I made my first trip to the Taylor Cemetery for the burial of his Granny Hatch. There was such a special feeling there and the tree lined roads gave it such a neat look. I told Jared I wanted to be buried there. Little did I know that less than two months later I would call Taylor home and in the years to come the cemetery would come to mean much more to me than tree lined roads.
Jared's mom was buried there in January of 2009 and since then we have visited almost daily. It's simple, we simply drive down her lane and everyone says "hi Grandma Hatch!" (When Grandma Miller died 18 months later she was buried on the same row so we have added a hello for her as well.)
Last night as we were driving through Jared and I tried to guesstimate how many miles we put on a year just in visits to the cemetery. It is exactly 1/2 of a mile from our driveway to Marlene's grave and we estimated we visit 365 times a year. We figure that on any given day one of us is there. In nearly five years that equals over 1,800 miles. Rarely do we arrive home from errands or some place and my girls don't say "can we go see Grandma Hatch?" How can you say no to that?
Over the years we have spent many hours decorating, manicuring the grass around her headstone, hanging out (we've held a few family home evenings there) and trying to create more memories that include Grandma Hatch.
February 2009
February 2009
July 2009
August 2009
Walking to the cemetery. March 2010
The sunset from Marlene's grave. September 2011
2. Popcorn and M&M's
Growing up my mom would rarely (like maybe once a year) buy M&M's and let us add them to our popcorn. It was such a special treat and one that I always wished we could have more of. My kids should consider themselves spoiled! To us, M&M's is a staple. Some people panic if they run low or bread or milk. Not us. We panic if we run low on M&M's. They eat it almost daily (even as I sit here and type this) and it's a guarantee that Friday nights will not only have a babysitter but also popcorn with M&M's. I remember feeding popcorn to Addie (sans the candy…I think) when she was only about a year. I would break the popcorn up into little pieces and feed her.
Addie-July 2006
2013
3. "Goos Night"
We have a problem in our house. When it's the one of the girls' turn to pray, then often speed through it not concentrating on their words. We've talked about it with them numerous times, had Family Home Evenings on it and even stopped them mid-prayer but there are some signature phrases they just can't let go of. It's almost a guarantee we will get the phrase two or three "help us to have fun tomorrow" times in one prayer. Another one is "help us to all be home." What does that even mean when we are all kneeling together as a family at the end of the day?
But my favorite has to come from Addie. Every night she prays that we will have a "goos nights rest" intend of a "good nights rest." I finally called her out on it one night and asked her what exactly a "goos night" is. We all laughed when she realized she didn't even know what she way saying! And now saying "goos night" instead of "good night" has become part of our nightly routine.
4. The Spinning Song
Before we said goodbye to our first piano the girls would ask me to sit down and play The Spinning Song for them. As I played the song, often by memory, they would dance on the tile in front of the front door. I think they were wishing they had tap shoes on but we settled for high heels or bare feet. Last week we bought a new piano and what do you think the girls' first request was?
This whole crazy dancing is new to Colton so he just sits back and observes the craziness.
5. Baths
This seems like a strange thing to consider a tradition but in my eyes it is. They love to squish in together and play. Last week Addie and Kimber tried to set a world record by keeping their bath water as clean as possible. Their idea, not mine.
March 2011
2013
And it almost never fails, while washing their hair we pull it up to the highest point to make a spike. We tried to get a picture but this is what we ended up with.
6. Comfy Pants
I seriously love comfy pants. I don't let myself wear them as much as I wish I would but I look forward to the end of every day when I can take my jeans off and slip on some comfy jammie pants or shorts. And I've love for them has transferred to my girls. Check us out on my 27th birthday, Kimber and I had like minds.
7. The circle picture
We've only done it twice but you could consider it a tradition in the making. Should we ever have more children we'll do it again.
August 2010
October 2013
We are a family full of small traditions that I hope my kids will remember when they get older. Isn't it the little stuff that creates the best memories anyway?
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Party
I've been feeling like my life has been one big whirlwind since Colton's birth. I rarely have time for anything, let alone fun. Yesterday as I sat in my kitchen eating lunch I thought about all of the work that needed to be done. I thought about the tasks I would give my girls when they got home from school and it felt daunting. It's been a while since we did anything spontaneous so I decided if there wasn't any free time for fun then I would schedule it. I tried to think of something simple that my girls would enjoy and then decided I would make a party of it. I quickly threw together an invitation, one for Addie and one Kimber and nicely put them on their pillows. This picture is of Kimber's invitation. Sometimes she needs a little (or a lot of extra coaxing) so I had to add the part about working hard and not complaining to hers.
When it was time to pick up the girls from school I simply said, "if it was me I would go straight to my room when I get home and make my bed."
When we got home Addie immediately went to her room and found her invitation. She was so excited! Kimber on the other hand had a lot of questions for me. "Where is the party going to be? Why are we having one?" I told her she didn't have to come but we would be having fun with or without her. Eventually she complied and by 3:00 we all had our work done (including myself who had loads of office work). We went to Sonic for drinks where I had to try a Dirty Diet Coke. I hear about them from everyone and finally gave in. I'm not a soda drinker but it was a fun little treat.
When we got home we pulled out a few games and sprawled them out on the floor along with the Halloween candy.
We played a game chosen by everyone while I let the girls eat all the candy they wanted. They were probably wondering where their real mom went since the candy had been in hiding for a few days.
I learned a great lesson yesterday. I am at a point in my life where my schedule is made by my children, especially a newborn, so if I want to incorporate something extra in it, I just have to make it my priority, whatever it might be.
It all paid off when Addie came to me in the kitchen before bed and said "I loved today. It was so fun." I asked what was so fun and she said "everything. I loved the party"
When it was time to pick up the girls from school I simply said, "if it was me I would go straight to my room when I get home and make my bed."
When we got home Addie immediately went to her room and found her invitation. She was so excited! Kimber on the other hand had a lot of questions for me. "Where is the party going to be? Why are we having one?" I told her she didn't have to come but we would be having fun with or without her. Eventually she complied and by 3:00 we all had our work done (including myself who had loads of office work). We went to Sonic for drinks where I had to try a Dirty Diet Coke. I hear about them from everyone and finally gave in. I'm not a soda drinker but it was a fun little treat.
When we got home we pulled out a few games and sprawled them out on the floor along with the Halloween candy.
I learned a great lesson yesterday. I am at a point in my life where my schedule is made by my children, especially a newborn, so if I want to incorporate something extra in it, I just have to make it my priority, whatever it might be.
It all paid off when Addie came to me in the kitchen before bed and said "I loved today. It was so fun." I asked what was so fun and she said "everything. I loved the party"
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Today
Today I...
Am thinking, praying and worried about motherhood and it's challenges.
Thankful to be a mother. Even though it comes with challenges.
Happy that I find joy in my children.
Am going to give each of my children 10 minutes of uninterrupted attention one at a time. Colton's will be spent taking some overdue newborn pictures.
Should get working on thank you cards.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Today
Today I...
Am thinking about my sister in law Nikki who got some surprising yet exciting news while in the ER last night. Went in for a kidney infection and found out she is pregnant!
Am praying for my brother again. He told me last night he is starting to feel better. I am praying it continues and he can get back to normal soon.
Am worried about nothing! Yay!
Am happy that I can do this- 
Am thankful for my friend Lyndsey who showed up unexpectedly at 4:15 yesterday with dinner. And also for my sweet friend, Raygon, who sent a box stuffed with clothes and shoes for our little guy. 
Am going to serve someone.
Should wash my hair. Then again, a bun sounds like the perfect remedy for that.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Today
Today I am...
Thinking about- my sister Bethany. I love her.
Praying for- my brother, Travis, that the shots he got in his back will give him some relief. Also for his wife, Allie, and son, Cooper that they can get their husband and dad back soon.
Worried about- Addie's foot. She dislocated her toe while doing a cartwheel on Saturday. It's all bruised and swollen, although not broken. It's hurting her and I'm hoping she does okay at school.
Happy- that my nursing bras arrived yesterday. It's nice to have a bra that fits...and is not a sleep bra.
Thankful- that Melanie Neff came by yesterday. She is the most flamboyant person I have ever met. She brought me a gift...wipes....lots and lots of wipes...and a Milka bar. Her positive energy is still radiating in my house.
Going to- hold Colton as much as I can. And sneak in episode 2/season 4 of Downton Abbey.
Should- not be blogging but getting dressed instead.
Thinking about- my sister Bethany. I love her.
Praying for- my brother, Travis, that the shots he got in his back will give him some relief. Also for his wife, Allie, and son, Cooper that they can get their husband and dad back soon.
Worried about- Addie's foot. She dislocated her toe while doing a cartwheel on Saturday. It's all bruised and swollen, although not broken. It's hurting her and I'm hoping she does okay at school.
Happy- that my nursing bras arrived yesterday. It's nice to have a bra that fits...and is not a sleep bra.
Thankful- that Melanie Neff came by yesterday. She is the most flamboyant person I have ever met. She brought me a gift...wipes....lots and lots of wipes...and a Milka bar. Her positive energy is still radiating in my house.
Going to- hold Colton as much as I can. And sneak in episode 2/season 4 of Downton Abbey.
Should- not be blogging but getting dressed instead.
September 21st
I woke up on Saturday morning at 5:15 to a small gush. I knew it wasn't my bag of waters but it felt like something so I made my way to the bathroom and sure enough, there was bloody show. I was having contractions 8 minutes apart but laid back down and tried to go back to sleep because I knew I had a long day ahead of me. As hard as I tried, sleep would not come. I eventually turned Downton Abbey on and laid in bed watching it on my phone. Just before 7:00 I decided I should take a shower and get dressed. My plans to look decent after giving birth to Lucy were completely foiled so I decided I would try again this time. I showered, got dressed, put on my makeup and breathed through my contractions.
My mom passed by the bathroom around 7:15 and asked how I was. I replied that today was the day and that I was having pains. She told me that I needed to let Jared know so he and my girls could start making their way down as well as Heather. I figured I had time to wait but she cautioned me. At about 7:30 I texted Heather and apologized that she would have to miss her diving class that day but assured her that for the time being, I was fine. I think I even used capital letters for the word fine. She knows me better than that and by 8:00 she was at mom's house.
Just after texting her the first time I called Jared. No answer. I called the house. No answer. I sent him a text. Nothing. I called his phone again. Still nothing. I called the house one more time at 7:40. Finally!
"Hello?"
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Sleeping."
"Well, don't hurry but you might want to get the girls up and start heading down here. But seriously, this could be a long day, so NO HURRY!"
"Okay, I'll get them up."
And bam! He had them up, dressed, fed and out the door by 8:10.
I walked and walked and walked and breathed through my contractions. Eventually I asked my dad for a blessing because I knew what I had in store for me and I was already exhausted. In the blessing he kept using the word "endure" which scared me because I thought it meant I could be all day long.
I worked through my contractions by counting backwards from 30 but after the blessing I started saying 30 endure...29 endure...28 endure....
Then I decided I needed to endure each second so I changed my counting to endure 30...endure 29...endure 28...endure... and by about 15 the contraction was gone because of the addition of the word endure.
Lucy woke up around 8:30 and I announced to her that we were going to have a baby today! The look on her face was confusion as I had been telling her all week that we would go home once we had the baby. She sat by me while I laid on my mom's bed and quietly watched. I was so glad to have her there. Aunt Yvette came and picked her up around 9:15.
At about 9:30 I used the bathroom and when I came out Heather and I looked at each other and at the same time both said that we felt it was time to go. It was all so calm, such a change from Lucy. I called Jared and told him that we were heading to the hospital.
At about 9:45 we got to the ER (where you have to enter) and Heather told me that they would not believe me that I was in real labor if I didn't amp it up. She told me I needed to let her do the talking and act like I needed to go NOW! I was hurting and it was actual labor but when I labor I try to stay as calm and relaxed as possible so it was likely they would not believe me.
I was so thankful for that advice! They had me admitted and in triage in about 5 minutes. I was blessed to have a fantastic nurse, Pam, who took me serious when I said I would be doing it without an epidural. She told me I was dilated to a 6/7 and just about that time my sister Bethany, whom I had asked to be there, walked in. I could have cried! To have my two big sisters there was a gift. They were calm and did anything I asked. They fanned me, patted me with cool wash cloths and encouraged me. When I got to the L&D room the discomfort was at it's peak and all I could think was "this is the last time I am doing this!" The contractions were right on top of each other and pressing so hard on my ribcage that it was impossible to get comfortable. I kept asking my sisters when I would get the rush of adrenaline that I so badly needed. They assured me it would come when I needed it the most.
The Dr. came in and sat on the edge of the bed to check me. I believe she said I was about an 8/9 and then told me she had a c-section to do then she would be back to check on me. Her bum didn't even leave the bed when I said I needed to push! Just a few short pushes later, at 10:39am I was literally yelling "yay! I am so happy! yay!" I was thrilled it was over and he was finally in my arms. I did have to check to assure myself it was actually a boy.
And just like that I was smitten. I had always felt love for him but it was an instant burst of more love than I could have ever expected.
I called Jared and told him that he might as well bring the girls with him to the hospital because he was here! The baby was screaming in the background so there was no doubt in Jared's mind that he was actually in my arms.
I wanted to cry I was so happy. Bethany sat by me and held my hand and talked to me after it was over. She was such a comfort. Heather was amazing the whole time, as always. She is so calm under that kind of pressure and has a true gift for helping women achieve their goal of a natural birth experience.
I held him and held him in my arms for as long as I could before I finally requested they weigh him. My eyes almost popped out of my head when I saw the scale, 8lbs 11 ozs! I had only gained 15 pounds and over half of it was baby?
About 20-25 minutes later my girls and Jared walked in the room. It was so sweet. Those are the moments that make it all worth it. They were instantly smitten by him as well.
After it was all said and done and it was time for Pam to move on to the next patient I thanked her from the bottom of my heart for being so wonderful. Her response was one of the sweetest things I have ever heard, "you were amazing. Thank you for letting me be a part of it. Now, could you come teach the classes? Because that would make all the difference." And with a giant hug she was gone.
Throughout my 24 hour stay I was blessed to have amazing nurses. I appreciated each one of them- a stark contrast from my stay at Chandler Regional Hospital. In recovery I had Tiffany who was so sweet. I kept apologizing for the gross aftermath of having a baby. She reminded me that if she thought it was nasty she wouldn't have that job. She was calm and made the recovery easy. On Saturday afternoon I had Myrna who was loud and fun- a breath of fresh air. Saturday night was Lynda who had worked at a birthing center as a doula and nurse and praised me for doing it naturally and for having a VBAC. She was awesome and such an encouragement! Sunday, I had Lynette who was friendly and got me discharged quickly- a fear worthy of a gold medal. At CRH they were brutal about breastfeeding and diaper changes but these nurses rarely checked the paper they so badly want you to fill out to document your feedings and diaper changes. They were all so relaxed and put no pressure on me to do anything. They made my stay a decent one.
Just in case I have to do this one more time here are somethings that made this delivery special and manageable.
Things that helped:
About 10 days before I was due (which is the day he was born) I saw a lady for reflexology in hopes that being aligned would help with my back labor. It worked WONDERS! This is the first time my back labor was manageable. Too bad I didn't know that with my other babies.
Counting from endure 30 down to endure 1.
Trusting my feelings and Jared's that he would not make it. We had discussed these feelings for months and the night before I left he asked me if I was sure I was okay that there was a chance he would not be there. Of course, it would have been wonderful if he was but having that impression made it easier.
Taking it easy at my mom's house and enjoyed my last few days with Lucy as my baby.
Not delivering in the middle of the HOT summer!
Surrounding myself with people at my birth who remained calm.
Having a L&D nurse who worked WITH me and allowed me my space to labor the way I wanted.
Inviting Bethany to be there.
Having Heather there once again.
My mom passed by the bathroom around 7:15 and asked how I was. I replied that today was the day and that I was having pains. She told me that I needed to let Jared know so he and my girls could start making their way down as well as Heather. I figured I had time to wait but she cautioned me. At about 7:30 I texted Heather and apologized that she would have to miss her diving class that day but assured her that for the time being, I was fine. I think I even used capital letters for the word fine. She knows me better than that and by 8:00 she was at mom's house.
Just after texting her the first time I called Jared. No answer. I called the house. No answer. I sent him a text. Nothing. I called his phone again. Still nothing. I called the house one more time at 7:40. Finally!
"Hello?"
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Sleeping."
"Well, don't hurry but you might want to get the girls up and start heading down here. But seriously, this could be a long day, so NO HURRY!"
"Okay, I'll get them up."
And bam! He had them up, dressed, fed and out the door by 8:10.
(Yes, I took a picture of myself during a contraction!)
I worked through my contractions by counting backwards from 30 but after the blessing I started saying 30 endure...29 endure...28 endure....
Then I decided I needed to endure each second so I changed my counting to endure 30...endure 29...endure 28...endure... and by about 15 the contraction was gone because of the addition of the word endure.
Lucy woke up around 8:30 and I announced to her that we were going to have a baby today! The look on her face was confusion as I had been telling her all week that we would go home once we had the baby. She sat by me while I laid on my mom's bed and quietly watched. I was so glad to have her there. Aunt Yvette came and picked her up around 9:15.
At about 9:30 I used the bathroom and when I came out Heather and I looked at each other and at the same time both said that we felt it was time to go. It was all so calm, such a change from Lucy. I called Jared and told him that we were heading to the hospital.
At about 9:45 we got to the ER (where you have to enter) and Heather told me that they would not believe me that I was in real labor if I didn't amp it up. She told me I needed to let her do the talking and act like I needed to go NOW! I was hurting and it was actual labor but when I labor I try to stay as calm and relaxed as possible so it was likely they would not believe me.
I was so thankful for that advice! They had me admitted and in triage in about 5 minutes. I was blessed to have a fantastic nurse, Pam, who took me serious when I said I would be doing it without an epidural. She told me I was dilated to a 6/7 and just about that time my sister Bethany, whom I had asked to be there, walked in. I could have cried! To have my two big sisters there was a gift. They were calm and did anything I asked. They fanned me, patted me with cool wash cloths and encouraged me. When I got to the L&D room the discomfort was at it's peak and all I could think was "this is the last time I am doing this!" The contractions were right on top of each other and pressing so hard on my ribcage that it was impossible to get comfortable. I kept asking my sisters when I would get the rush of adrenaline that I so badly needed. They assured me it would come when I needed it the most.
The Dr. came in and sat on the edge of the bed to check me. I believe she said I was about an 8/9 and then told me she had a c-section to do then she would be back to check on me. Her bum didn't even leave the bed when I said I needed to push! Just a few short pushes later, at 10:39am I was literally yelling "yay! I am so happy! yay!" I was thrilled it was over and he was finally in my arms. I did have to check to assure myself it was actually a boy.
And just like that I was smitten. I had always felt love for him but it was an instant burst of more love than I could have ever expected.
I called Jared and told him that he might as well bring the girls with him to the hospital because he was here! The baby was screaming in the background so there was no doubt in Jared's mind that he was actually in my arms.
I wanted to cry I was so happy. Bethany sat by me and held my hand and talked to me after it was over. She was such a comfort. Heather was amazing the whole time, as always. She is so calm under that kind of pressure and has a true gift for helping women achieve their goal of a natural birth experience.
I held him and held him in my arms for as long as I could before I finally requested they weigh him. My eyes almost popped out of my head when I saw the scale, 8lbs 11 ozs! I had only gained 15 pounds and over half of it was baby?
About 20-25 minutes later my girls and Jared walked in the room. It was so sweet. Those are the moments that make it all worth it. They were instantly smitten by him as well.
After it was all said and done and it was time for Pam to move on to the next patient I thanked her from the bottom of my heart for being so wonderful. Her response was one of the sweetest things I have ever heard, "you were amazing. Thank you for letting me be a part of it. Now, could you come teach the classes? Because that would make all the difference." And with a giant hug she was gone.
Throughout my 24 hour stay I was blessed to have amazing nurses. I appreciated each one of them- a stark contrast from my stay at Chandler Regional Hospital. In recovery I had Tiffany who was so sweet. I kept apologizing for the gross aftermath of having a baby. She reminded me that if she thought it was nasty she wouldn't have that job. She was calm and made the recovery easy. On Saturday afternoon I had Myrna who was loud and fun- a breath of fresh air. Saturday night was Lynda who had worked at a birthing center as a doula and nurse and praised me for doing it naturally and for having a VBAC. She was awesome and such an encouragement! Sunday, I had Lynette who was friendly and got me discharged quickly- a fear worthy of a gold medal. At CRH they were brutal about breastfeeding and diaper changes but these nurses rarely checked the paper they so badly want you to fill out to document your feedings and diaper changes. They were all so relaxed and put no pressure on me to do anything. They made my stay a decent one.
Just in case I have to do this one more time here are somethings that made this delivery special and manageable.
Things that helped:
About 10 days before I was due (which is the day he was born) I saw a lady for reflexology in hopes that being aligned would help with my back labor. It worked WONDERS! This is the first time my back labor was manageable. Too bad I didn't know that with my other babies.
Counting from endure 30 down to endure 1.
Trusting my feelings and Jared's that he would not make it. We had discussed these feelings for months and the night before I left he asked me if I was sure I was okay that there was a chance he would not be there. Of course, it would have been wonderful if he was but having that impression made it easier.
Taking it easy at my mom's house and enjoyed my last few days with Lucy as my baby.
Not delivering in the middle of the HOT summer!
Surrounding myself with people at my birth who remained calm.
Having a L&D nurse who worked WITH me and allowed me my space to labor the way I wanted.
Inviting Bethany to be there.
Having Heather there once again.
Not having to labor at the hospital for long.
The last little bit before he came
Staying in the Valley and awaiting the arrival of Kimber and Lucy were easy, comparatively speaking. My kids were not in school and we were able to pack up and spend a few carefree weeks enjoying a break before the new baby arrived. This time with much arrangement and help from Aunt Jeanie and a lot of sacrifice on Jared's part, Lucy and I got to have a week all alone while the girls stayed home to attend school.
My girls (even Addie and Kimber) got to the Valley on September 14th and attended Kennedy's baptism. The next day the big girls traveled home with Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Kenny and Lucy and I stayed behind at my mom's house. I won't lie, I was sad and wanted to cry when my girls drove away. But Lucy and I quickly busied ourselves with Christmas shopping and playing together that it turned into a really enjoyable week for us.
Like I said, we got about 80% of our Christmas shopping done! We also played in Grandma's school for hours, played with cousins like Hyde, Sapphire and Cooper and ate lots of shaved ice. My dad is so fun and would bring me a shaved ice every few nights. A medium Sugar Free Tiger's Blood. It would last us at least two days.
Each night we would Facetime the girls and Jared and get an update on the day and things at home.
Jared was such a good sport and got the girls up and ready for school each morning. We have learned that taking hair out of the equation saves a lot of time in the morning! Each night he would bathe them and blow dry their hair. Then in the morning they would comb it out and wear a headband. As far as my concerns about that- out of sight, out of mind, right?
I did snap a few pictures in the last few weeks. I thought throughout my whole pregnancy I would take some actual photos with my actual camera but that never happened. Thank heavens for an iPhone, right?
My girls (even Addie and Kimber) got to the Valley on September 14th and attended Kennedy's baptism. The next day the big girls traveled home with Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Kenny and Lucy and I stayed behind at my mom's house. I won't lie, I was sad and wanted to cry when my girls drove away. But Lucy and I quickly busied ourselves with Christmas shopping and playing together that it turned into a really enjoyable week for us.
Like I said, we got about 80% of our Christmas shopping done! We also played in Grandma's school for hours, played with cousins like Hyde, Sapphire and Cooper and ate lots of shaved ice. My dad is so fun and would bring me a shaved ice every few nights. A medium Sugar Free Tiger's Blood. It would last us at least two days.
Each night we would Facetime the girls and Jared and get an update on the day and things at home.
I did snap a few pictures in the last few weeks. I thought throughout my whole pregnancy I would take some actual photos with my actual camera but that never happened. Thank heavens for an iPhone, right?
38 weeks
39 weeks
Three days before-
The day before- (NOT a flattering shirt I am wearing!)
It's a boy
Let's go back to May. I was due for my 20 week ultrasound and for the first time, I thought I might actually want to know the gender of our baby. On our drive back from Disneyland I went back and forth and weighed all the pros and cons of knowing. I'm sure it drove Jared crazy.
The next morning I had an appointment and knew I would have to let them know my decision but for the life of my could not decide. I was still debating up until the minute I laid back for the the ultrasound. I told the tech I wasn't sure and she said she would let me know when she was in that "area" so I could tell her if I wanted to know. Our little peanut took care of it for me when she placed the wand of my belly and the first thing I saw was this-
That booger was in the breech position and instead of his head we got a nice shot of the "area"she was going to warn me about.
All I could say was "that's a boy, isn't it?" It was a bittersweet moment. I had a strong feeling we would have a boy all along but all I could think was "I have to do this again." Meaning, we should probably try to give him a brother (this is not an official announcement we will go for another!). What a selfish thing to think, but the morning sickness and all the ailments of pregnancy were so fresh on my mind.
After leaving the Dr.'s office, I decided I would keep my news a secret from everyone, including Jared. Looking back, I'm not sure why, but at the time it seemed appropriate. I went about my day with the thoughts of change running through my mind and never led on that I had a secret. Eventually Jared cornered me and asked if I knew. I danced around it but eventually he got the news out of me. It took another week or two but he finally talked me into not keeping it a secret anymore.
That booger was in the breech position and instead of his head we got a nice shot of the "area"she was going to warn me about.
All I could say was "that's a boy, isn't it?" It was a bittersweet moment. I had a strong feeling we would have a boy all along but all I could think was "I have to do this again." Meaning, we should probably try to give him a brother (this is not an official announcement we will go for another!). What a selfish thing to think, but the morning sickness and all the ailments of pregnancy were so fresh on my mind.
After leaving the Dr.'s office, I decided I would keep my news a secret from everyone, including Jared. Looking back, I'm not sure why, but at the time it seemed appropriate. I went about my day with the thoughts of change running through my mind and never led on that I had a secret. Eventually Jared cornered me and asked if I knew. I danced around it but eventually he got the news out of me. It took another week or two but he finally talked me into not keeping it a secret anymore.
People were thrilled when they found out we would be adding a boy to our family. I am ashamed to say I didn't feel the same and all I could respond with is "it'll be a fun change." Hoping it really would be a fun one. I had no doubts I would love the little guy but I have been in girl mode for 8 1/2 years so the thought of something new was really different. We have been a house of pink, dolls, bows and dress ups. I couldn't imagine blue, trucks, tractors and dirt. What a shame right?
All of that changed on September 21st when I held him in my arms for the first time.
Monday, August 12, 2013
The Dang Cat
As someone who is NOT an animal lover one single bit, we've gone from no pets in 11 years to four chickens and a cat in a matter of months. The cat deserves some explaining.
Lucy's birthday was approaching and she had eye on this Fur Real Cat-
Well, a well meaning family friend asked Lucy what she wanted for her birthday and she said she wanted a cat. So, this man took it upon himself to find her a cat alright. A real cat. A cat that was quickly named Minnie.
Let me just say I was less than thrilled and I am sure that everyone around me knew it. I was ticked, no I was furious! Who gives a child an animal without first asking the parents for permission? It ruined my day and I told Jared we had to get rid of it right then. I kept using the pregnant excuse but no one would listen to me. Needless to say, thanks to Jared who allowed my girls to bond with the animal, the cat stayed. I wouldn't touch it, feed it, look at it, anything. Ultimately i told the girls that if they wanted to the cat then the litter box was their permanent job and that the first time I had to touch it, the cat was history. Unfortunately, they don't mind the duty and clean it every time I ask, often twice a day. The cat was litter box trained instantly and I have never had to clean up any type of mess from her.
Sadly, she is not a problem at all so I have had no reason to give her the boot. She spends most of the day and a night here and there outside and doesn't cry to come in. She sleeps in the laundry room with the door shut with no problem and doesn't shed.
I've decided that if this cat lives through the torture of my children then she deserves to live. It's not uncommon to see Lucy carrying her by the neck (I did put an end to being carried by the collar) or hind legs but Minnie doesn't seem too bothered. She never scratches or bites unless they are playing and even then it's very gentile and she never uses her claws.
Any time I tell Lucy to leave Minnie alone and will tell me "but I lub her." And sadly for me, I think she really does.
A few reasons the cat probably deserves to live-
Lucy's birthday was approaching and she had eye on this Fur Real Cat-
Creepy and expensive but she really wanted it.
Well, a well meaning family friend asked Lucy what she wanted for her birthday and she said she wanted a cat. So, this man took it upon himself to find her a cat alright. A real cat. A cat that was quickly named Minnie.
Let me just say I was less than thrilled and I am sure that everyone around me knew it. I was ticked, no I was furious! Who gives a child an animal without first asking the parents for permission? It ruined my day and I told Jared we had to get rid of it right then. I kept using the pregnant excuse but no one would listen to me. Needless to say, thanks to Jared who allowed my girls to bond with the animal, the cat stayed. I wouldn't touch it, feed it, look at it, anything. Ultimately i told the girls that if they wanted to the cat then the litter box was their permanent job and that the first time I had to touch it, the cat was history. Unfortunately, they don't mind the duty and clean it every time I ask, often twice a day. The cat was litter box trained instantly and I have never had to clean up any type of mess from her.
Sadly, she is not a problem at all so I have had no reason to give her the boot. She spends most of the day and a night here and there outside and doesn't cry to come in. She sleeps in the laundry room with the door shut with no problem and doesn't shed.
I've decided that if this cat lives through the torture of my children then she deserves to live. It's not uncommon to see Lucy carrying her by the neck (I did put an end to being carried by the collar) or hind legs but Minnie doesn't seem too bothered. She never scratches or bites unless they are playing and even then it's very gentile and she never uses her claws.
Any time I tell Lucy to leave Minnie alone and will tell me "but I lub her." And sadly for me, I think she really does.
Having her head squeezed and eyes poked
Being held. And held. And held.
Being forced to dance.
Being squeezed to death
Being dressed in underwear
Being poked and prodded with pencils
And force fed paper
The Dang Chickens
In late February a chicken showed up at our house out of no where. I had seen it run across Main Street and hang out next door at McClaran's Auto a few times but for some reason it decided to make our backyard it's permanent home. Ironically, we had planned on getting baby chicks anyway and figured what's one more? We didn't really feed it well or anything but it managed and stayed put, roosting in the garage section of our shed, which is exposed so it could come and go.
Our chicks finally arrived in mid-March and the girls had a great time watching them grow so quickly. We built a small coop for them so they could live outside and to our surprise they took very well to Quickie Chickie, our "inherited" chicken. They would all roost together at night and run around the lawn together during the day.
In mid-May when we planned on going to Disneyland we had no choice but to leave the coop door closed in order to keep our chicks safe. Since it was light when we left Quickie Chickie wouldn't go inside so she got left out and when we returned home after almost a week, she was no where to be seen. She did leave us a going away gift, an egg in the lawn.
Our chickens continued to grow and would behave by staying in the lawn and going back to their coop at night. They were no problem until they started getting brave enough to leave the lawn and go under the carport and walk around the sidewalks, leaving a trail of chicken poop behind them every step of the way. It made us crazy!!!!
The straw that broke the camels back was when they got brave enough to jump the wall and hang out next door at McClaran's. It's not that they would go over there it's that they would go into the garages and hang out with the mechanics. They swore it wasn't a problem and that they were eating the bugs but I knew the yucky mess the dang birds were leaving on my sidewalks and there was no way they weren't leaving the same ones over there!
I told Jared he had no choice but to build a coop where they could stay all day and not bother anyone. The stupid birds were becoming a nuisance to everyone and weren't even laying eggs to make up for the trouble.
Jared got busy the very next day and built a decent (but rather tall in my opinion) coop and the chickens, as Lucy puts it, are "in jail." If I'm feeling nice I will let them out just before the sun goes down, but only for an hour at the most.
Last week I came home from the Valley and to my surprise found three eggs! We threw them out because we weren't sure how long they had been there but have been collecting them each day since. We went from one chicken laying to two now and I'm finally starting to feel like I don't despise the blasted birds!
Our chicks finally arrived in mid-March and the girls had a great time watching them grow so quickly. We built a small coop for them so they could live outside and to our surprise they took very well to Quickie Chickie, our "inherited" chicken. They would all roost together at night and run around the lawn together during the day.
In mid-May when we planned on going to Disneyland we had no choice but to leave the coop door closed in order to keep our chicks safe. Since it was light when we left Quickie Chickie wouldn't go inside so she got left out and when we returned home after almost a week, she was no where to be seen. She did leave us a going away gift, an egg in the lawn.
Our chickens continued to grow and would behave by staying in the lawn and going back to their coop at night. They were no problem until they started getting brave enough to leave the lawn and go under the carport and walk around the sidewalks, leaving a trail of chicken poop behind them every step of the way. It made us crazy!!!!
The straw that broke the camels back was when they got brave enough to jump the wall and hang out next door at McClaran's. It's not that they would go over there it's that they would go into the garages and hang out with the mechanics. They swore it wasn't a problem and that they were eating the bugs but I knew the yucky mess the dang birds were leaving on my sidewalks and there was no way they weren't leaving the same ones over there!
I told Jared he had no choice but to build a coop where they could stay all day and not bother anyone. The stupid birds were becoming a nuisance to everyone and weren't even laying eggs to make up for the trouble.
Jared got busy the very next day and built a decent (but rather tall in my opinion) coop and the chickens, as Lucy puts it, are "in jail." If I'm feeling nice I will let them out just before the sun goes down, but only for an hour at the most.
Last week I came home from the Valley and to my surprise found three eggs! We threw them out because we weren't sure how long they had been there but have been collecting them each day since. We went from one chicken laying to two now and I'm finally starting to feel like I don't despise the blasted birds!
Monday, August 5, 2013
This time around
This pregnancy is going by so fast that I haven't taken the time to sit down and journal about it like I wish. Of course the beginning is always a little slow when you are feeling yuck, but once that ended we were busy with end of the school year stuff and then summer vacation, that it's been the fastest pregnancy for me so far!
I wrote an essay about my experience with morning sickness for Power of Mom's and how I tried to get through it. It's never easy, although I will say as bad as I felt, I felt better than I ever did with my girls. Maybe there is something about having a boy that makes a difference.
I've been able to enjoy the second and third trimesters that have both come with a wonderful burst of nesting energy and have been so grateful to feel good. I haven't swelled up like I did with Lucy and can still wear my wedding ring, putting it on and taking it off with ease for the most part. Yay! The only ailment I've dealt with is sciatica, which in my opinion, outdoes any other pregnancy ailment I've ever had. It started in my left hip and grew increasingly worse and more painful over a period of a few weeks until it peaked. It caused me to limp, although I tried to never do that in public so I didn't drag attention to myself. It also caused me to get short and snappy with my girls because a sudden twist or step in the wrong direction would send a screaming jolt of pain down my leg. Getting up and down from the toilet, standing at the sink to do dishes, sitting for any length of time, applying heat, taking long strides and much more all caused it to hurt.
I was finally able to see a lady for some reflexology on Monday, the 22nd of July and as I walked out of her house I felt worse than when I entered. The following two days were miserable and by Wednesday night I was in tears. Jared was gone to the church and I was struggling to get my girls settled down and into bed. I didn't make them brush their teeth or wear pajamas and stood while we prayed. But a slow miracle began happening, over the next 10 days it got a little better each day. I am now fine with only a very faint amount of pain left and I couldn't be more thankful. My heart truly hurts for those who live with sciatica on a daily basis or for years at a time.
Since I have felt so good I have let myself slack and not visit the Dr. He's three hours away, I feel good, the baby moves and my tummy is growing so why bother, right? Well, Jared finally talked me into heading to the Valley for a visit. The Dr. rebuked me for letting three months pass between visits and upon measuring me found I only measure 29-30 weeks, rather than 33. I have also only gained 12 pounds, which is just slightly under the recommended weight gain. I ended up having an ultrasound for some peace of mind and sure enough, our little guy is growing right on schedule, just two days behind. He also weighs about 4lbs 4 ozs.
Now for your viewing pleasure, here are some shots of me and my belly, including a few paparazzi-like ones. Awesome, right?
About 20 weeks-
21-22 weeks
With pregnancy comes the unwanted opinion and remarks from others. I've heard I look like I swallowed a basketball, to which I replied that's better than swallowing a football. One very opinionated grandma in my ward told Jared I look like an alien. Another person said I looked a lot more pregnant than 30 weeks. And yesterday I had this conversation with a Brother in my ward while I was standing at the door greeting Primary children.
In his usual cheerful voice he said "Hi! How are you!?"
I replied, "Really good!"
His response, "you look miserable!"
I knew better so all I could say was "That is one thing you should never say to a pregnant woman, Norman."
He was shocked at my response but I hope it helps him think his remarks through in the future.
I feel perfectly fine and like I look just right for being 33 weeks so I've decided that I will no longer accept the opinions of old women or any man. Either they have forgotten what it's like for your tummy to expand at such a fast rate or they have never experienced it and should keep quiet! Maybe I'll write a book on the do's and don'ts of conversing with a pregnant lady.
I wrote an essay about my experience with morning sickness for Power of Mom's and how I tried to get through it. It's never easy, although I will say as bad as I felt, I felt better than I ever did with my girls. Maybe there is something about having a boy that makes a difference.
Living for Wednesday
I’m just coming off of a stint with morning (read: all day) sickness. It’s typical for me to feel ill, tired, nauseous and have no appetite in the early stages of pregnancy and truthfully it was quite discouraging to plan this pregnancy knowing what was in store for me. But after a conversation on the matter with a good friend, she gave me the encouragement I needed and my husband and I decided it was time to grow our family, but this time I would have a changed attitude and things would be much better!
Or so I thought.
Within the year we got the news that our family would be growing and I was determined I would not let myself succumb to the long days of feeling ill and worn down. I knew it would come, but I was not about to let it get the best of me. Knowing I was living on borrowed time, I took the advice of my friend and stocked my freezer with everything from lasagna and enchiladas to cookies and brownies for the kids’ lunches before the sickness began.
And then it started settling in. You know the feeling. Nausea. Food aversions. Tired beyond explanation. Thankfully for me vomiting is not in my gene make up, although there are times when I swore it would make me feel better, at least for a moment.
The days started getting longer and suddenly I felt like I was living a real-life version of the movie Groundhog Day. I tried to break it up. I tried getting creative and going somewhere new. I tried wearing a new outfit. I tried taking a pretty drive. But nothing changed. I was in a funk.
And for some reason that funk really reared it ugly head every Tuesday. Tuesday’s were especially bad for some strange reason. After a few of those I decided I was going to do everything I could to make the next one better! I woke up the next Tuesday morning with a new attitude and arsenal of ideas to make things better. I happily got up, showered and dressed in a great outfit. Nothing, still sick. I hit Subway with my youngest daughter. Nothing, still sick. I even treated myself to a manicure and pedicure. Still, I wanted nothing more than to go home and lie down.
I had tried so hard! Why wasn’t I feeling any better? Then it hit me. If Tuesday is going to be so bad, then I need to live for Wednesday because it can’t possibly top Tuesday!
And that’s just what I did. I still tried to stay positive and motivated but in the back of my mind I kept telling myself, “tomorrow is Wednesday!” Before I knew it Wednesday was here and I miraculously felt a little better.
Within a matter of a few months the sickness was gone and I am now enjoying my pregnancy, but it was a serious lesson to me that hard days (or weeks, or months or for some, years) will come and one of the ways we can get through them is to look for a bright tomorrow.
As moms we have hard days. Some one is sick (possibly long-term), jobs are lost, days are long, money is tight, messes are made, things don’t go as planned. But there is a bright tomorrow. Maybe it’s not a literal tomorrow but there is an ending to the difficulties somewhere in your future.
While going through it I had to remind myself that my body is working hard for a good cause; it’s growing a human being for crying out loud! And so are you! It’s difficult, we want to lie down, we try new things, we get out but nothing changes. Remember, you are growing a human being- you!
With that growth comes pain, heartache, trails, long days, a real-life Groundhog Day effect and more. But look to the future when those things happen. Remind yourself that this can not last forever and that once it has passed you will be rewarded; be it a sweet baby held in your arms or new-found wisdom, patience, or appreciation for the good things in your life.
Question: Do you ever feel like your days blend together because of the difficulties of motherhood or your current life situation?
Challenge: Look for the good in your present situation and if you find that difficult, challenge yourself to look to the future. What is your “Wednesday”?
I've been able to enjoy the second and third trimesters that have both come with a wonderful burst of nesting energy and have been so grateful to feel good. I haven't swelled up like I did with Lucy and can still wear my wedding ring, putting it on and taking it off with ease for the most part. Yay! The only ailment I've dealt with is sciatica, which in my opinion, outdoes any other pregnancy ailment I've ever had. It started in my left hip and grew increasingly worse and more painful over a period of a few weeks until it peaked. It caused me to limp, although I tried to never do that in public so I didn't drag attention to myself. It also caused me to get short and snappy with my girls because a sudden twist or step in the wrong direction would send a screaming jolt of pain down my leg. Getting up and down from the toilet, standing at the sink to do dishes, sitting for any length of time, applying heat, taking long strides and much more all caused it to hurt.
I was finally able to see a lady for some reflexology on Monday, the 22nd of July and as I walked out of her house I felt worse than when I entered. The following two days were miserable and by Wednesday night I was in tears. Jared was gone to the church and I was struggling to get my girls settled down and into bed. I didn't make them brush their teeth or wear pajamas and stood while we prayed. But a slow miracle began happening, over the next 10 days it got a little better each day. I am now fine with only a very faint amount of pain left and I couldn't be more thankful. My heart truly hurts for those who live with sciatica on a daily basis or for years at a time.
Since I have felt so good I have let myself slack and not visit the Dr. He's three hours away, I feel good, the baby moves and my tummy is growing so why bother, right? Well, Jared finally talked me into heading to the Valley for a visit. The Dr. rebuked me for letting three months pass between visits and upon measuring me found I only measure 29-30 weeks, rather than 33. I have also only gained 12 pounds, which is just slightly under the recommended weight gain. I ended up having an ultrasound for some peace of mind and sure enough, our little guy is growing right on schedule, just two days behind. He also weighs about 4lbs 4 ozs.
Now for your viewing pleasure, here are some shots of me and my belly, including a few paparazzi-like ones. Awesome, right?
About 20 weeks-
21-22 weeks
31-ish weeks
With pregnancy comes the unwanted opinion and remarks from others. I've heard I look like I swallowed a basketball, to which I replied that's better than swallowing a football. One very opinionated grandma in my ward told Jared I look like an alien. Another person said I looked a lot more pregnant than 30 weeks. And yesterday I had this conversation with a Brother in my ward while I was standing at the door greeting Primary children.
In his usual cheerful voice he said "Hi! How are you!?"
I replied, "Really good!"
His response, "you look miserable!"
I knew better so all I could say was "That is one thing you should never say to a pregnant woman, Norman."
He was shocked at my response but I hope it helps him think his remarks through in the future.
I feel perfectly fine and like I look just right for being 33 weeks so I've decided that I will no longer accept the opinions of old women or any man. Either they have forgotten what it's like for your tummy to expand at such a fast rate or they have never experienced it and should keep quiet! Maybe I'll write a book on the do's and don'ts of conversing with a pregnant lady.
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