Feeling extra thankful today

In my mail box today I got a copy of two very special magazines in my life. The first and the one I'm most excited about is the Ensign! All about the Book of Mormon. I love this and hope to use it in my personal scripture study. I feel that this edition of the magazine was an answer to many prayers of mine. I have been struggling with my study of the Book of Mormon, mostly because I feel so ignorant and "stupid" when reading it. I know fully well that we learn gospel doctrine "line upon line, and precept upon precept" but its hard to tell yourself not to get discouraged when it feels like the people around you know so much more than you do. Understanding, of course, that when men go on missions they have countless hours during that 2 years to study this amazing book and learn so many things from it; but I still tend to succumb to jealousy that I don't know as much about the gospel as he does, and I want to learn and get at least close so that when we discuss things pertaining to the gospel I don't feel as though I'm the student and he the teacher.

This is my other magazine and a passion/talent of mine which I adore. Crochet is a therapeutic experience for me and I am so grateful to have a subscription to a magazine that has patterns, technique advice and much more. It has been wonderful to try new things that come out of these magazines and to watch my talent get better and better. I really feel like this is a talent I can brag about and possibly share with others. To see what comes out of a long piece of yarn and the magic that I myself can create with one little hook. Its amazing.



This is a shout out to my mother. I am soon to become a mom, but I couldn't do it without mine. She is always so willing to listen to me complain about pregnancy and to surrender to my weird cravings without judgement. Also she has helped me buy some necessary maternity wear (silly me to think I could keep most of my normal wardrobe) that I haven't been able to afford to buy myself lately (saving for a baby and planning for baby purchases takes a lot more budgeting and saving than I thought it would). So special thanks to my mommy, hopefully I can be as good a mommy as she has been to me.



Finally I am just UBER grateful for the gospel in general lately. I've learned a lot since that wonderful/exhausting process we call repentance. It was a long road and even though sometimes its hard to look back and remember who I was, it reminds me of who I am now and makes me extra grateful for the knowledge that I HAVE gained in the last 3 years. I feel such wonderful peace and absolute joy with everything that my life now is, and I can't help but be giddy with excitement about the gospel for bringing that peace to my life.



I hope you guys know how amazing the gospel is and even if you don't believe in it.


Goodnight!

15 weeks

Your baby now measures around 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces. She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position; he or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way so as to "hide the goods.")

5 more weeks until that ultrasound for me though.

here

This was taken a week and a half ago at 13 weeks... you'll get another in a week or so... small bump.

Hello second trimester

14 weeks
This weeks big developments: your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him - a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.
In other news: your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches - about the size of a lemon - and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits atop a more distinct neck. By the end of the week, his arm will have grown to a length that's in proportion with the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do, though.) He's also starting to develop an ultra fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile thisweek - a sign that it's doing its job right - and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet are more flexible and active.

Thank goodness for the second trimester. I have been feeling so much better the last week and a half and can now really enjoy pregnancy. I have a visible bump now and though I'm not exactly thrilled, AJ tells me that my hips are getting wider. Only 6 more weeks until we find out if we're expecting a handsome little man or a little princess.
I have another appointment with my midwife group this Tuesday and hopefully I will be able to hear the heartbeat this time. 
Maybe next week I'll put up a bump picture.

Just a quick update on our little family here in the Sovine household.



AJ got an internship up in Salt Lake at KSL doing Sportsbeat. We are both excited about it, AJ especially as this is what he's going to school for and its going to be a great experience for him. Other than that is it back to school for my man. Its going to be a busy... rest of our lives . ... but we're looking forward to it.

I am at home awaiting the arrival of our little jumping bean. I am excited for my next appointment as we didn't get to hear the heartbeat at the last one. Really hoping for a healthy baby in there. I have started a couple of quilting projects in the mean time. Other than that I drive AJ to school and I wait anxiously on the couch for him to come home from Salt Lake twice a week. I thought I would really enjoy the time by myself with the TV, but I find that it is way too quiet at home by myself when I would much rather be cuddling with AJ. Somehow, though, I make it through the day.


I just have to say for the record that I really admire and look up to my husband. I know that if it weren't for me he'd probably not be going to school, or trying nearly as hard as he does to provide for me. He is my hero and I couldn't make it through the day without him. I have been really easily irritated lately, something about hormones or something, and have been easy to yell at things that are only minor annoyances. He's been a champ through it all and has been so patient with me, even rubbing my back and getting me milkshakes when I ask him to. Also, let me just say, that I have such a handsome husband. Sometimes, when he looks at me, he gets this crooked smile on his face. Its the cutest thing I have ever seen. I love him SO much.

I was going to start taking bump pictures this week but . . .  I'll be honest I am just way too lazy and can't figure out how to take it myself so it will have to wait until AJ is willing to take up the camera. Also I'm not really sure I want documentation of how chubby I get. If you care enough to see me in the next six months you'll see for yourself, so please forgive me if I put this off permanently.

I have had a rough week, being really emotional and all.  So here's to AJ and my mom. I love you both and don't think this pregnancy would have been as easy without you.

Thanks for reading folks, until next week.

13 weeks

As your first trimester comes to a close (WOOHOO), your fetus (who seems to be working its way through the produce section) has reached the size of a peach, about 3 inches long. Your baby's head is now about half the size of his or her crown to rump length, but that cute little body is picking up steam and will continue growing overtime ( at birth, our baby will be one quarter head, three quarters body). Meanwhile, your baby's intestines, which have been growing inside the umbilical cord, are now starting their trek to their permanent position inside your baby's abdomen. Also developing this week: your baby's vocal cords (the better to cry with...soon).


I am so excited to be almost done with my first trimester. Just super excited for this baby.
Also want to just say that I love AJ so much! He is just the most amazing husband ever.

week 12

Sorry folks no picture this week, I am way too lazy to get off this couch at the moment... so unless i get some energy in the next....7 hours before midnight... you may have to wait for the belly post until tomorrow or something.
I have been very fortunate to have such an easy pregnancy... but this weeks newest development is that I am so tired I can hardly keep myself awake and if I sit down without a goal in mind I just fall asleep. Which is why you may find me lurking on facebook sometimes, trying to keep myself awake.

Here's the news about our baby this week: Your baby has more than doubled in size during the past three weeks, weighing in now at 1/2 ounce and measuring (crown to rump) about 2 1/2 inches. About the size of a large fresh plum, your baby's body is hard at work in the development department. Though most of his or her systems are fully formed, there's still plenty of maturing to do. The digestive system is beginning to practice contraction movements (so your baby will be able to eat), the bone marrow is now making white blood cells (so your baby will be able to fight off all those germs passed around the playgroup), and the pituitary gland at the base of the brain has started producing hormones (so your baby will one day be able to make babies of his or her own).

I am so excited about this baby. We get to find out the gender in just 8 weeks, then maybe we'll start calling him or her by a name... because IT just doesn't feel right.