What a blast!

As everyone knows, I go through times where I complain a lot about the pregnancy.  I do not mean to complain, I just use this as my diary.  I record all my thoughts and feelings through here and I tell it how it is.  I hope you all don't think I haven't enjoyed my pregnancy, because I really have.  There is nothing better than knowing that you are growing your little child inside of you and feeling them move around.  Being a mother is wonderful.  Even though the pregnancy has been a struggle for me at times, it is the best struggle in the world. 

Last week I went through another phase where I just wanted the baby out.  I just wanted to hold him.  Well, things are better again and I am really trying to enjoy these last little moments I have with him in my stomach.  He already makes me laugh and giggle as I watch him move around and see my stomach go lopsided!  I just love him more than words can describe.   Now matter how badly I want to hold him, my goal is to love every moment until he comes because once he is out, there is no going back in! :)  HAHAHA!

I keep having these dreams that I go into labor and out pops a girl.  I sure hope I am having a boy because I dont know what I would do.  How sad would that be to be prepared for a little boy and then you have a girl.  Your clothes for the baby, and the bedding, EVERYTHING would have to go and be re-bought.  SCARY!  Well, anyways, I hope its a boy and that I am just having crazy dreams.  I sure love that little monkey and I am having a blast.  

32 MORE DAYS TILL DUE DATE....

A great way to end a hard day!

Yesterday was a little rough for me.  I got to work and found out that now they want me to only work one day a week and it just hit home.  WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?!?!  Things have gotten really tight and Allens hours got cut at his other job as well and it is just so scary.  I realized that we are bringing a little boy into this world in 4 weeks and we can barely provide for ourselves.  I just had an emotional breakdown and lost it.  Well, when I clocked out after my shift I went to the lockers to get my stuff and inside was an envelop with my name on it and also the words, "Because we care".  I opened it up and inside was a $20 bill.  I don't know who stuck it in there but it was so sweet.  Some people are serious miracle workers and are so kind.  I went home and spent some time with Allen as we discussed the future.  Then I was able to go with my in laws to the Draper Temple open house.  CAN I SAY BEAUTIFUL?  The wood inside is just beyond this world.  It is so pretty inside and I really enjoyed it.  I can hardly wait for it to open so Allen and I can go do a session together.  Well inside the temple I just felt so comforted that things are going to be okay.  I know that we will be blessed through our struggles.  I know that when times get rough like these that as long as we pay our tithing first and pray that opportunities will present themselves.  What a wonderful knowledge that is.  It's when things get tough that we need to be strongest and I know that everything will work out.

A nervous day!

This morning I woke up and got this major pain in my stomach.  It almost felt like cramps but much stronger and more painful.  I felt as if I couldn't move.  I felt my stomach to see if it was tight to see if maybe it was a contraction, but instead I was feeling this weird pulse.  Everywhere on my stomach that you touched you could feel it.  It almost felt as if the babies heart beat was so strong that I could feel it all over.  It was the strangest feeling and it lasted a few minutes.  Then it went away and that was that.  Well I continued to lay in bed and play on the lap top.  Normally the baby is very active in the morning and after a couple hours of being awake he hadn't moved once.  So I got out of bed and made some toast with peanut butter and jelly on it.  After I eat, especially if there is sugar in the food he goes crazy.  Well after I ate, there was still nothing.  I laid back down for awhile and by 12:30 decided to go take a bath.  He always is very active and wakes up when I get in the bath.  I laid there for 30 minutes and still nothing.  So then I called my mom to see what I should do.  She said to get out of the bath and drink lots of very cold water.  So I got out and drank lots of water and sat down on the couch and put my hands on my stomach.  Eventually I felt him move but it wasn't a kick or a roll, it was a twitch.  I thought to myself, "That was very interesting, but at least it was a movement!"  So I called my mom back and asked what I should do.  She told me to call the doctor and see what they say.  I talked to a nurse and she said that I for sure needed to go to the hospital and get hooked up to a machine.  Allen was at work with the car so my sister in law Maria drove me to the hospital and Allen met me there.  They hooked me up to the machine to check the babies heart rate and make sure things were okay.  They monitored it for about 45 minutes and things all looked good and he started moving.  So who knows what happened this morning but it all turned out good!  I love how Allen always tries to lighten the mood.  He started dancing to the sound of the heart beat.  It gave me a good laugh!  Love ya honey!

...and even MORE backgrounds!

At a request to some people I made some "all year round" kind of layouts. Sorry that I have kinda only posted holiday ones....there has just been a LOT of holidays lately. So go check out all the new layouts I have made the last couple days. I just keep posting a lot. Thanks guys!

SpecialMadeDesigns.blogspot.com

New Backgrounds!

I just posted these 5 St.Patties backgrounds to my site.  So if you are interested in using any of them feel free to!  SpecialMadeDesigns.blogspot.com

The sun exists!

It has been really nice weather here in Utah for about the last week.  I am just sooo thrilled.  I cannot believe that Winter is almost over.  I am just so excited for summer that I can't even think strait.  I have never been so excited for summer as I am right now.  First spring is coming which means our little monkey is coming....WOOHOO!  I can hardly wait to hold him and kiss him and love him!  I am just so excited to make his first easter basket.  It's not like he knows what is going on or even cares...it's more for mommy and pictures! :)  I have been thinking for so long what I am going to put in his easter basket.  After easter means summer.  I am just so excited that our little guy and I can leave the house.  I am so excited to put him in his stroller and just go for walks.  I am thrilled to put a cute little swimsuit over his bum and go swimming with him.  Last summer I spent a good amount of time at the park down the street and I had a blast.  Allen's family goes every Monday night and flies kites and we met up with them a lot last summer.  I am just so excited to go to the park and watch allen fly kites and have a picnic.  Oh this summer is going to be SO wonderful.  Allen is going to take a lighter load of school this summer so he can work a lot and be here to help with the baby.  It will be so amazing to have more time and have a little bundle of joy with us!  YAY FOR BABIES!

UPDATED!

I changed my website up a little bit and I also added 3 new backgrounds.  Check it out!
SpecialMadeDesigns.blogspot.com

A New Change

So today I have been learning a lot about some other cool stuff to do with your blog. So I changed mine up a bit and learned how to make some backgrounds for this layout. The only problem is I put a cool font on here but depending on what kind of computer you have depends on if you can see it or not. So sorry if you don't get to see the font I have on here. Do you guys like the change or no?

Pregnancy

This is how I feel. Now that I am down to about 5 weeks, I know I am so close but with the pain it seems too far away. I have started swelling and have gained so much weight I don't even want to look in the mirror. I am almost there though...just need to hang in there.

I've got a huge one!

There is seriously such a huge baby inside of me. Over the last week the baby has grown so much. It used to be that if my baby was pushing out that I could push him back in and I could shift his body around. Now when I try to push him back in, he wont move. There is absolutely NO room for him to move to. My stomach is so extremely tight it's unbelievable. This last week my email said that my baby should be about 18 inches long...and I didn't believe it. Now I do. He has to be so huge. I cannot imagine how such a big thing can fit inside of me. He is so big and has no room that every movement he makes is starting to really hurt me. In certain areas I am in so much pain. It almost feels as if I am riping in certain areas and it feels so bruised. It's a burning feeling that I cannot explain. I am really starting to understand now how women say that the last few weeks are the hardest. Today my stomach and body has been in so much pain. I took a bath and Allen could barely even get me out because I could barely move. I hope things get a little bit better. But hey if they dont, at least I only have about 5 weeks left. I CAN DO IT!

A taste of my future

Well I talked a few posts ago about how my hours have been cut at work. I work now only on Friday and Saturdays. It sucks financially but it has been so wonderful. It is nice to have more time around the house to relax and nap and take care of my body. I haven't worked all week. I left the house on Monday with Allen and then I left when we did the birthing classes, but besides that...I haven't left the house at all this whole week. I have really enjoyed my time home alone. There is many things I could be doing such as laundry and cleaning my bedroom...and I haven't. This week I decided to focus on just a couple things:

1. Having a nice dinner ready for Allen when he gets home from work and taking care of him, and
2. Keeping the kitchen spotless.

I am well known for making so many messes when I cook and I hate to clean them up. I just hate doing the dishes and stuff. Well I am proud to say that this week I have cooked SO much and have not made any messes. I am practicing for when the baby comes! :) I have put a lot of focus this week on Allen. He has had some tough days at work and he is trying to pick up extra shifts to help our income. He is so wonderful and I just wanted to show him how much I love him. Besides making sure dinner is ready every night, I am trying to bake other little goodies for him. Last night I baked blueberry muffins for him to be able to take to work for breakfast and I baked some hot cookies for him right before we went to sleep. I have probably told him a million and a half times this week how much I love and adore him and I just can't stop holding him. I just love standing there and hugging him. Yesterday his back was in so much pain and I gave him a back massage. I just love to make him happy and I am working extra hard this week. Next week I am going to try mastering the laundry! :) HAHAHA! I don't mind putting the clothes in the wash, I just HATE folding them and putting them away.

Well with a little under 6 weeks left until my due date, I am trying to practice being a better wife/mother. It has been nice staying home more and getting used to being here and not staying busy at work.

Allen is going to be such a wonderful father. Last night I heard him talking to someone about the Wii. He was talking about seeing a commercial or something of a dad holding his little son and playing the tennis on Wii Sports. He was talking about how every time the father swung the remote to hit the ball, the boy would start laughing. He then said, "Man I have to get one of those!" It is just fun to know he is already thinking about how to play with his son and make him giggle. Also yesterday he was playing Xbox360 and was playing this basketball game. Well I was just laying on the couch playing spider solitaire on the lap top and all of a sudden I heard the announcer on the game announce a player. I heard, "RILEY BENNETT". I looked over and Allen looked up at me and smiled. It was just so cute that he made a player of our son. I love the little things that Allen does for me and our little monkey. He is going to be such a wonderful daddy!

I can hardly wait for a few weeks when Allen will walk through the door from work. Instead of me being there to hug him and kiss him, he'll have his son too. Then we can sit down at the table to eat dinner...the three of us, not just two!

My grandpa was able to seal Allen and I together in the temple. He is a wise man who I admire so much. One thing he told Allen and I on our wedding day is to always remember to serve one another. He said that as long as you remember to put the other person before yourself and to serve your spouse that you will always be the happiest. I have truly been so happy this week as my focus has been to serve Allen. It makes me be a better person!

I've been tagged!

Here are the rules:
Post rules on your blog
Answer the six '8' items
Let each person know by leaving them a comment (I am skipping this rule because I dont feel like doing it!)

8 favorite TV shows:

1. LOST
2. 24
3. The Bachelor (only really this season though)
4. True Beauty
5. The Office
6. Friday Night Lights
7. Seinfeld
8. Bones

8 things I did yesterday:

1. Made homemade Beef Taquitos for Allen and I for dinner
2. Threw up all over the kitchen and then had to clean it up. Gross I know...
3. Unloaded/loaded the dishes
4. Watched a ton of episodes from LOST
5. Went to the birthing class with Allen
6. Laid around on my back all day
7. Told Allen I loved him...probably a million and a half times
8. I don't know what else I did...but I can tell you something I didn't do....the laundry...oops!

8 things I'm looking forward to:

1. Obviously for my baby to be born!
2. The summer. I can hardly wait to take my baby outside for walks and go swimming and stuff. It will be so wonderful!
3. My brother to come to school. He got into BYU-Provo so it will be great to have him here with me!
4. Many trips to California this summer, including the Bennett family reunion.
5. Our cruise to the Caribbean in October.
6. Christmas with my family and bringing our little son to Seattle for the first time.
7. Many more happy years with my husband who I love so much!
8. Moving out of Utah with Allen and my family and settling somewhere else.

8 favorite restaurants:

1. Fudruckers
2. PF Changs
3. Mi Ranchito
4. Betos
5. Taco Bell
6. Goodwood
7. Wendy's
8. Daves (burger hut in Seattle)
9. Outback Steakhouse

8 Things on my wish list:

1. That my pregnancy stretch marks will go away...but I know they wont.
2. That Allen will be able to keep his job and not get laid off so that we can financially make it through these rough times.
3. That I have a healthy little son.
4. Allen would be finished with school so we could move somewhere else
5. That I could be skinny like I used to be in Middle School and High School. I don't want to be this fat anymore!
6. That my grandparents can live many more years and be very healthy!
7. That those I know who struggle getting pregnant will no longer struggle.
8. That everybody in mine and Allen's family will be healthy and safe!

8 people I tag:

1. Casey Olson
2. Samantha Klippenstein
3. Chelsea Peck
4. Amy Stevenson
5. Courtney Clements
6. Maria Wood
7. Katie Bennett
8. Mom

Birthing class...

We had another class last night. We practiced some more stuff on the birthing ball and practiced relaxing and our breathing and breathing while pushing. I am so glad that I am taking these because I know it is going to help so much while in labor. We learned about C-sections and when you would need to have one. Then we did a tour of the Woman's Center at the hospital. We saw the labor and delivery rooms. There is only one with a spa tub, the other ones have showers. The rooms seemed really nice. They pointed out the couch that pulls out to be a bed for the husbands. Then they showed us the baby nursery and then the rooms you stay in after labor. Right away Allen noticed there was no couch inside and he asked, "Where do the father's stay?" It put a smile on my face. I liked his choice of word FATHER, rather than HUSBAND. It also made me happy to know he was planning on staying at the hospital with me since we only live a few blocks away from the hospital. The lady continues to say they bring cots in for the husbands if they would like. It was fun to do the little tour and see where we will be staying.

I am now 34 weeks along and the baby is so active. I have so many friends that are having their baby's withing the next two weeks or so. I am so jealous, but so happy for them. I am just so excited for my baby to come...

Presidents Day

So Allen has the day off from school and work! :) Last night we were sooooo excited to go to sleep and neither of us setting our alarms. That never happens that we dont have to set our alarms. Well that plan was until Allen realized he had to do something with the Young Men this morning...so he had to be out the door at seven :( We were so sad...that probably is the last time we were going to get that chance until little Baby comes. Oh well. So he got back and I was still asleep and he started breakfast. It was so cute to wake up to my husband just finishing breakfast for us. I love him so much.

We got ready for the day and then went out to run some errands. We went to the grocery store to get a few items we need for the week. We went to Macey's in Orem and they have this area where you can get soft serve ice cream on a cone. I never knew they did that before. Allen got us both ice cream cones and we just got a size small and they were soooo HUGE. The best part is that they were only $0.46 each. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? Nobody has ice cream that cheap. Then we went down do FYE to exchange a game I bought him for Valentines Day. I suck at picking out games for him and I knew he'd want to exchange it. So we did that and then he wanted to go next door to Babies R Us. How cute is that? I didn't even ask. It was completely his idea. So we went next door and they had some great sales on clothes. I needed to get him a couple more sleepers because we didn't have enough of them and we got two outfits. They were all on sale. It was the first baby clothes we have boughten ourselves and it was so fun to do it together. We also picked out the diaper bag that we are going to get. We are going to wait a little bit longer to buy it.

Now we are at home relaxing. He has to work tonight for a couple hours at The Pizza Factory...but will be home so early. He always is home early on Monday nights. Allen is cooking dinner tonight...how cute. I just love him so much. He has been especially sweet and cute all day. I just love him! I really look forward to Monday nights because we get to watch 24, The Bachelor, and True Beauty. WOOHOO...Monday's are great!

Happy Valentines Day...and layoffs!

I hope everyone is having an amazing Valentines Day. I worked this morning and Allen works tonight so we spent Valentines Day together yesterday. He was at school in the morning and then came home with flowers and presents. He got me some stuff for my Kitchen Aid that I have been wanting. He is so good to me. Then he said for me to get dressed because we were going out. So I got dressed and he took me to our favorite place...Fudruckers. I love love love eating there. Such yummy burgers. Then he took me to the movies and we saw "Taken". Oh my was that movie AMAZING. I loved it so much. It was great to go to the movies together one last time before the baby comes, because once he comes...our movie days will be over for awhile. I really enjoyed spending the day together and I just love him so much. This morning I woke up at 6:30 and made breakfast and then woke him up. I was planning on bringing him breakfast in bed...but he kinda ruined that. Since he figured out I was planning on that there was no point in surprising him...so we just ate together. So I woke him up and had a nice hot breakfast together. Then we had to hurry and get ready for the day because he had school at 8:00 and I had work.

After work my manager Karen came up to me and said that she needed to talk to me. That never sounds good when people say that. So we went to her office and sat down and she said, "Corporate has told me that it's lay off time"...of course my heart stopped. Then she continued to say, "We don't want to lay you off, but we do have to cut your hours by a lot!" I said okay and asked what my new schedule was and she said Friday and Saturday mornings. So I went from working 4 days a week to 2. OUCH! It does suck major that I am hardly working now because Allen and I are really going to feel a major crunch. But...I feel so blessed. She said they were laying off a few people and everyone else was getting their hours cut. How blessed am I that I was not laid off. It would make more sense to cut me first seeing that I am pregnant and can't stock shelves like everyone else, and I am leaving in about a month. So you would think that I would be the first to go...but luckily I still have 2 shifts.

Baby Shower

Last night I had my baby shower and I sure had a blast. There was about 20 people there, so I had a really good turn out. It was so wonderful to see tons of friends and family. My two sisters in law Maria and Katie threw the shower and it was great. They had SOOOO much yummy food. I just ate the whole time I swear. It all was just soooo good! I really appreciate all they did for me and my little boy. Thanks so much you guys! I got so many gifts, I swear I am stocked for life! Well not really, but I got a lot of really great things! I got so much clothes and they range anywhere from 0-3 months to 6-12 months. It was great getting so much clothes. They were all so cute and I am not going to have to buy very much more. Here is a few cute little outfits I got:

Camilla gave this little hoodie and shirt to go under it. Seriously, isn't that the cutest little hoodie. SOO PRECIOUS!

I think this one came from Camilla too if I remember right. I love the matching little beanie.

My sister in law Katie gave me this adorable little outfit with the striped shirt and matching blue sweats. The outfit looks so comfy!

This little shirt is sooo cute in person. It has camo around the edge and it says DUDE. I love it so much!

My sister Ashlee who lives in Virginia sent a package to my shower and there was tons of outfits in it, but look how adorable this one is! The puffy vest is reversible!

I also love this little Monkey shirt was the camo pants. My Aunt Shirley gave this to me along with another monkey outfit.


I got soooooo much more clothes and they were all so cute. That was just a few that I took pictures of. I also got so many other fun presents like:
A Blue Bumbo. I wanted this soooo bad! YAY! :)

TONS of bath stuff. I just realized that I forgot the cute ruber ducky in the picture that I got. I love the little baby loofas! :)

Tons of baby hangers!

These two really cute blue baskets! They were filled with all sorts of goodies!

Four little baby books

I love these little baby finger nail clippers with the magnifier glass...

...and a Baby sling. I wanted one of these but couldn't take myself to spend money on one. Now I have one! :)


I also got TONS of blankets. Here are just a few of them:
My mother in law Cheryl made these two blankets and they have matching burp cloths. The top one that is green striped my mother in law made me matching PJ's of that material. So now me and little baby will match! :)

Cheryl also made this blanket. It is SOOO cute and so comfy and matches my bedding. LOVE IT!

Maria made this cute blanket for our little boy and has a matching burp cloth as well. I LOVE THE MATCHING BURP CLOTHS! :)

This blanket is really light weight which will be so WONDERFUL for the summer. It also is so soft!


These last two are seriously the softest blankets you can even imagine. I wish they were bigger and I could use them! :) HAHA!


I didn't take pictures of everything I got otherwise this post would be picture overload...which it already is! Sorry. I love all my gifts I got for our little son. Everything was soooo cute. I love all the outfits and sleepers we got. Everyone was so generous and I appreciate all those who came and showed your love for Allen and I. It means so much to me. Thanks again Maria and Katie for the shower! It was so wonderful!

See, this is why I couldn't take pictures of all the clothes I got. There is just so many:
That is just his tops. That doesn't include any of his pants or sleepers. Those are all folded in his clothes drawers. How wonderful is that...I haven't bought ONE piece of clothing for him yet. These were all given to me. Like I said, people have been very generous.

I have his sleepers, pants, and accessories in his drawers. All I need to get is some more pants, some shoes, and some socks and he is good to go!

Yadda, Yadda, Yadda...

So last night we had another birthing class. WOW WAS IT AMAZING! We learned some cool things to do with a big exercise ball with allen putting certain pressures on my back and stuff. It was so relaxing I seriously could have fallen asleep. It was sure neat to learn.

I now have SEVEN weeks left of my pregnancy. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? I sure can't, it's gone by so quick. The first half of my pregnancy was SOOOO slow, but the second half has flown by so quick. It is wonderful. I will be holding my little guy in my arms in no time! He has been making me so sick this morning though. I just keep gagging and throwing up and it wont stop. No fun...but it's worth it for him!

I am sooo excited for tonight I can't even express it. My two sister in laws are throwing my baby shower tonight and I am so excited. I didn't think I was going to have a baby shower and then about a month ago Maria mentioned something about her throwing me a shower and I was so thrilled. I am just soooo stinking excited. It will be so much fun to see all my friends and family and talk and eat yummy food. Maria always has such good food when she throws parties and stuff. She is a great party planner. So tonight I will be able to bring home all sorts of fun things for my little baby. I love baby stuff so much and I haven't boughten ANYTHING for him yet. I have his nursery set up but I haven't yet boughten clothes or anything. I need to get on that because he will be here so soon!

My latest project

So I just finished another fun project that I sure enjoyed.  I made bath salts.  I found this cute black stand that holds these three tear drop glass jars with corks in them.  I thought they would be perfect for the bath salts.  


The purple bath salts is a relaxant one with Vanilla and Lavender in it. The yellow salts are romance salts with Jasmine and Chamomile in them. And the pink salts are a stress relief/relaxant with Eucalyptus and Mint in them. I have tried each of the bath salts already and I love them. My skin feels softer when I get out of the bath! I sure love taking baths now that I am pregnant. It helps my body calm down. I am trying to stay busy with tons of projects and it sure is working. Time is flying by!

32 weeks

Today our little boy hit his 32 week mark! He is now almost 17 inches long and weighs almost 4 pounds. Well, we don't know that it is completely accurate, but that is was the average baby is at when they hit 32 weeks. So I guess give or take a little. I cannot believe we are this far along. It seems like just yesterday he was the size of a limabean! My email this week says he now has his hair and everything. How exciting. It is wonderful to know that if we were to have our baby at this point, that he could survive, he would just need medical help most likly. At least I know that he can survive...that gives mommy comfort! :)

Last night Allen and I started the birthing classes. It is 3 hours long and it is soooo hard to sit that whole time. I was dying. Last night I was really struggling breathing and I had to keep getting water and stuff. They talked a lot about what to expect for labor and stuff, when to know when to come to the hospital, how to time our contractions, and all sorts of stuff. We watched two movies of women going through child birth and let me tell you I am so scared. I am not looking forward to that part. At the end of the video I looked over at Allen and he looked like he just saw a ghost and was about to pass out. Oh I love him so much. All the men in the room had the same look on their faces...it was amusing. I am so glad we are taking the class because its really helping to know what to expect and they don't sugar coat it. We have 4 more weeks of this class and I am excited about learning more.

Where I am at in the pregnancy:
* I can't sleep at all. The doctor told me to start taking Tylenol PM and boy does that make a difference. It is night and day.
* I am throwing up a lot again.
* My feet and hands haven't swelled up much! :) What a plus.
* I can't breathe anymore. I constantly feel as if I just climbed 10 flights of stairs. As soon as the baby drops more I will be able to start breathing a bit better.
* I have gained a ton of weight and it needs to stop! :) At least there is a gym I can hit once the baby comes to lose the weight! :)
* I HATE my stretch marks but at least my husband is sweet about it. There is always the option of a tummy tuck when I am all done having kids! :)
* I am always really uncomfortable, but I am starting to get used to it.
* My son loves to play a LOT and really enjoys kicking me in the places that hurt the most. I am starting to get pay back already for the hassle I caused my parents! :(
* I love my son so much and just want to hold him and kiss him. I wouldn't trade this in for anything!

Hang in there little guy...not much longer!

Tonight is the night...

...that Allen and I start our birthing classes. I am soooo excited for the classes, but the love of my life isn't. He thinks they are ridiculous and that we don't need to take them. I have heard they are wonderful and I am so excited for them. So for the next 5 weeks we will be spending our Tuesday nights at the Hospital taking these classes. It's a wonderful feeling to know we have gotten this far already in the pregnancy and that it is almost over...