Pictures & Stories

This week has been very exciting...not to mention, our last week as "just us". It's strange to think that in only 3 days, we will be parents! Whoa! I have a bunch of random, straggler pictures and stories that I'd like to share.

Obviously you all know Jack came home. I only had time to upload the video on Tuesday, so I've included some of my favorite pictures from the day. It's odd, because now that he's home, he's the old Jack again. It feels like there was about 2 hours where he seemed totally different and missionaryish, but it only took 15 minutes with his friends for him to become his old, social butterfly self. It's actually been kind of hard on me. I only had this week to socialize with him before the baby, maybe take him out for the birthday lunch we planned, and catch up. But all of my plans got canceled when I was beaten by his friends. I kind of wish friends of missionaries would hold off some and be more considerate to family. Yes, they have missed their friend for 2 years, but family deserves dibbs to some time too. I've been having to put aside all my plans for friend's plans, dates, and random events. Oh well. He's home, he's safe, and he's happy.

 Aside from Jack's coming home, the only other exciting day of the week was today. Ryan's work paid for all of the employees to go and see The Avengers. They had a raffle for the extra tickets, for people who wanted to bring spouses. Ryan wanted me to go and enjoy the day with him, so he entered the raffle...and won me a ticket. Then he also won a raffle for a free large popcorn. He must have had good luck that day. They also gave him a $5 gift card for snacks. On top of all of that, we still had the movie theater gift card that my work gave me for Valentine's Day. We had a totally awesome date night planned, and it didn't cost us a penny. First we had to go to my LAST OB appointment this pregnancy! I asked my doctor how big she thought the baby was. She guessed that she's in the high 7 pound to low 8 pound range. Easton was 7.4, so I think that is about the right size. Except, Ryan was a 10 pound baby, so I'm slightly terrified that she'll take after her daddy. Either way, I can't wait! After that fun, we ran off to the movie theater. I hadn't eaten anything yet, so I treated myself to my favorite theater meal: a hot turkey sandwich with buffalo chips..and fry sauce, of course...oh, and a giant Diet Coke. Ryan used the $5 gift card to get some gelato. Yummy! Then we got our popcorn and some Sour Patch kids for me, and settled into our seats. Ryan and I both had very low standards for this movie. I wasn't thrilled by all of the separate movies by themselves, so I wasn't sure how bringing them all together would go. But it was free, so we went. We were both delightfully surprised that it was hilarious and very well done. Very good movie and I recommend it to everyone. I won't lie, I had a bit of a hard time concentrating. I was SOOO uncomfortable. I kept shifting in my seat every 10 minutes or so.... probably because I had eaten myself into a painful food coma. THEN, about half way through, I started getting contractions. I didn't tell Ryan, and instead leaned forward in my seat and buckled over a bit. They weren't fun. When we got out of the movie, I told Ryan how I was feeling. He rushed me home and got me in bed, and then he started timing contractions. They weren't coming regularly enough to be worrisome, so we decided to just have me rest it off. We had really wanted to have her today, purely for our own nerdy, selfish reasons. Today is Star Wars Day...May 4th...May the 4th Be With You Day...We thought it would be hilarious if us two nerds welcomed a baby today. Didn't happen, but that's okay. Ryan's currently up in Syracuse, having one last "guy's night" with his brothers. I think that's nerdy enough to make up for it.

Oh, I need to vent for a second. I am seriously SOOO annoyed with myself. My pregnancy brain has been severely bad. I can't think of words, I say things that don't make sense, and I lose everything. Today, for the THIRD time in three weeks, I lost my keys. Well, it didn't happen today, but I figured it out today when I went to run errands and couldn't find them. The last time I remember having them was on Tuesday, and now they're nowhere to be found. It's so aggravating knowing that I do this to myself. Ryan and I have looked everywhere. Did I change routine? NO! Did I run around the neighborhood, waving them around? NO! They should just be in the kitchen or in my purse, but they're not. Good thing we have duplicates of everything. I'm seriously going to buy some kind of alarm to put on my keys....IF we ever find them.

 These next three days are going to be fun. Tomorrow we are running the last of the errands (taking stuff back to stores, getting more stuff at other stores...), taking maternity pictures and family pictures with Jack, then having our first ever family temple night. I'm beyond excited. Jack left for his mission when I was still somewhat of a "lost sheep" as he calls me, so this is the first time that we've all gone together. Kinda a big deal, just sayin'.

Welp, that was long. I guess I build up a lot of nonsense stories when I'm not forced to blog everyday. :P Thanks for reading, and enjoy the pictures!

This picture may be, to you, another picture of our cats, but no, it's more than that. Angel HATES the kittens, so when we found her snuggling with Junie, we couldn't believe it. Yes, she still hates them, but she tolerates Junie's presence a lot better. So adorable. Part of me thinks it's because she's cold from being shaved. She's certainly become a completely different cat since she got shaved. Way more social, always wants to sit with me on the bed, and sort of puts up with the other kitties.

This picture makes me laugh. My dad and Jack stopped in Peru on their way home because my dad thought it would be really fun to see Machu Picchu. Ryan and I both got spoiled by my dad and his gift buying, but Jack couldn't resist stepping in to make it funny. Jack was tasked with picking out a sweater for Ryan, so he picked out the ugliest, silliest one he could find. Not only are there llamas all over it, it's actually made of llama wool. I laughed and told Ryan that he'd probably be obligated to wear it around my dad. Haha!

Putting faces to names: (left to right) Jeff (my step-dad), Mom, Jack, ME!!, and Ryan

Not the greatest picture, but it captured the moment I was able to finally sigh relief. Love that kid!! HEY!! MY KEYS ARE HANGING FROM MY POCKET! Where are you?!?!

This was my favorite souvenir that Jack got me in Argentina. One of his ward members there makes scripture cases. You can pick anything you want for the front and back pictures, and then he spends hours burning the images into the leather by hand. Jack picked this for me. He told me that Jesus holding the lamb reminded him of me and how I was a "lost sheep" when he left.

This is the back of the case. He said he picked this because it holds so much meaning for me, my repentance, and my new path in life. I loved it! .... Other souvenirs included lots of hand-sewn llama wool blankets for the house and the baby, some Argentine TOMS shoes for Ryan, and an Argentina "shot glass." I've told before how I collect shot glasses, not because I drink, but because they're the smallest and cheapest thing you can get on a trip. I get one every place that we visit on vacation. It was the only thing that I asked my dad to get me. So they got me a hand-carved coconut-type "shot glass". It's really a tiny local squash that's carved out and painted all pretty, and then they use it to drink Mate (Ma-tay). It's a tea-like drink. The one Jack got me is so pretty, and it's got "Goodrich" carved into it. I don't have a picture yet because it's down in the living room, but trust me when I say I love it. I'll try to get a picture later....

This was the picture of today's movie day. Ryan's popcorn and gelato, my sandwich, buffalo chips, and Diet coke.  LOTS-O-FOOD!