Lots of stuff to tell you about

So here I go.

Several times over the past two weeks I've sat down at my computer intending to write some updates, but somehow ended up feeling overwhelmed and never got very far. But since today marks 30 weeks and that means that my parents will be wanting to see another belly picture, I figure that I need to bite the bullet and get it over with.

So, 30 weeks:


PLUS a bonus shot that includes my face and the belly. Although I do think I look funny.


And here are the customary links to older belly pictures:
18, 20, 22, 24/25, 26, 28

I'm getting to the point where I can be pretty uncomfortable at times, and little man is all up in my ribs with increasing frequency, but really I still feel pretty good. It's hard to believe that there are only 2 months left until we get to meet him!

Funny story: At my last doctor appointment, I was told that I am measuring just a little bit small for how far along I am (not quite a week small) and that that means that maybe I'll have a baby that's a little below average size. [Excuse me while I catch my breath from the hysterical laughter that has suddenly consumed me.] YEAH RIGHT. This doctor obviously has never met my family, or Steven's. Both of our families tend to have really big babies -- all but a couple over 8 pounds and several closer to 10. Even when the mama doesn't look very big, the baby is. I told my mom and she laughed hysterically as well. She says nobody expected to open her up (she had all c-sections) and see babies as big as the ones she had...especially Robert, who was 9 lbs. 8 oz. at a week early. So while everyone is different, there is a very good chance that this baby will be at least 8 lbs.

Oh, and we finally went and registered at Babies R Us a couple of weeks ago. You can search for the registry here if you feel so inclined. (I'm only mentioning this because several people have asked.)
Husband was really excited that we got to park in the "Stork Parking" --I laughed.



Let's see...what else?



Spring term is over. Hurrah. Still waiting for grades to be released, but I think I did fairly well. Could have done better, probably, but I doubt I got anything below a B or B+. I'm excited to have some time with no school. I'm planning to use it to get my house ready for baby. Only 10 or so weeks to go, and we have almost nothing. We have some clothes, a baby swing (some friends who were moving and getting rid of everything gave it to us), and a crib to borrow...not much else. Sounds fun, eh? It'll get done...eventually. I have 10 weeks...



The temple is currently closed for maintenance until 6 July. (It closes for 2 weeks every 6 months.) When it reopens, I won't be working there anymore. This past Friday was my last day. The decision to stop working was a very difficult one to make, but I had gotten to the point where my body just wasn't going to let me work any longer. Walking away was very hard, but it needed to be done. I'm going to miss it. I'm grateful for the time that I had serving there over the last 10 months. I have grown so much and matured so much through my service. I have met so many wonderful people and have grown to love them. I'm grateful for the things that I have learned about the temple and our Heavenly Father, which will help me tremendously in my life, especially as a young mother. I look forward to the day -- probably many years from now -- when I will be able to go back and serve in the temple again. Of course I will attend the temple as often as I can between now and then, but I definitely plan on working there again someday when my children are all grown up (the youngest has to be 18 or graduated from high school). I love the temple and the blessings found there.

Two Fridays ago when I made the decision that the next week would be my last, I was extremely upset. I had known that eventually I would not be able to work anymore, but I was hopeful that I still had several weeks left. The realization that I didn't hit me all at once, and I went immediately to tell my coordinator (I knew if I didn't tell her then, I wouldn't). We cried together (I'm blaming hormones), and then I spent the rest of the morning trying to remain calm enough to do my work. When my shift was over, I called Husband and told him that I needed to know where he was working right then because I needed to come get a hug. That helped a lot! I went home and spent several hours outside on the quad in front of our building because I knew I needed to be distracted or I'd go inside and cry some more. A couple of hours later, a vase of roses was delivered to me. All the note said was "Love you" -- not signed or anything, but of course it came from Steven. I cried again. It was so sweet of him to do that for me. He'll want me to mention that he'd been thinking about doing it for no reason, and then when I was all upset he decided to do it right then. Very sweet of him.



I think I only have one other thing to talk about today... I'd be impressed if anybody has read this far. I've written quite the novel!

Remember my good friend Ruth? I've talked about her several times, including in these posts:
the time we pulled a prank on Husband,
the time she came over for Husband's birthday,
the time she dropped by on her way to work and we talked for way too long,
the time we spent New Year's Eve with her and the later she and I took a trip to Walmart and Jamba Juice because I wanted a smoothie,
and the time it was my birthday.

Anyways, now poor Ruth has the swine flu. She says it's just like the normal flu, but she's secluded herself for the past several days (since Friday, when she started feeling sick). I talked to her Sunday night, and she hadn't seen anybody except the doctor since Friday. She works at a group home for troubled teens, where the flue has been going around, and she was taking care of the sick ones, so of course she got it. She says it's contagious for about 7 days, so she's keeping herself away from others until at least this Friday, just to be on the safe side. The poor thing, she's about to go crazy from boredom and loneliness, and then her internet decided to not work so she doesn't even have that distraction! I know there's nothing I can do, but I wish there was, and I hope she'll get over it soon!



And I think that's about it for now. I can't think of anything else that I've been meaning to write about...