How are you Feeling?

We’ve found when pregnant we are asked 4 basic questions.
1 - When are you due?
2 - Do you know what you are having?
3 - Do twins run in the family?
4 - How are you feeling?

There are a few more questions but these are by far the most common. It is only the last question that gives me some thought. Most often I’ll simply answer, “Good, thank you”. But for you, the lucky readers of this blog, I’ll tell you exactly how I’m feeling. In no particular order, I feel:

Movement: Like two boys are stretching and kicking and perhaps even playing
Exhausted: Like a bear before hibernation, I can’t get enough sleep
Sore/Achey: Like a very out of shape athlete who just endured the first practice of the season from a coach who had no mercy
Huge: Like a mini cooper, complete with passengers (I think the picture below illustrates my point)
Grateful: Like the presidential pardoned turkey on Thanksgiving. We are so grateful for this blessing in our lives.
Confused: Like, where did my center of gravity go? Like, I thought I had stomach muscles for turning over in bed, why is it so difficult now? Has anyone seen my toes, I certainly haven’t?
Hormonal: Like a crazed teenage girl. I cried before the Super Bowl began, I cried when the Celtics won the NBA Championship. I cried tears of joy at numerous Aggie Basketball games. I don’t think that’s normal.
Hot: Like an ant under a magnifying glass. Spencer says our bedroom feels more like a meat locker. He sleeps under flannel blankets, I wish we could turn the AC down a few more degrees.
Trust: Like a skydiver trusts his parachute. The Lord knows what he is doing and what is best for us. He most think we can handle this.
Joy/Anxious: Like a mom about to have her first kids. It’s a little different to experience these emotions at the exact same time.

In a nut shell that is how I feel. Enough about me, how do you feel about me?

Baby Update

We had another Dr’s appointment this last week. The boys seem to be doing very well. They gained more weight and each weigh about 5 lbs. That’s a total of 10 lbs of baby. No wonder my back is sore. We have about 5 more weeks to go so I have no doubt these boys are going to be big and healthy. I’m hoping for basketball big, not football big.

Home Improvement

We've been in our new place for about 3 weeks and "most" of the boxes are unpacked. It's time to start on all the "little" things we said would be "easy and fun" to do when we were considering buying the house. As first time home buyers we didn't know what we were talking about! Nothing is as "easy" as you think it will be. But being married to the handyman that is Spencer things just may work out.

We've completed our first "major" home improvement project. Our laundry area had a great deal of unused space above the washer and dryer, we thought it would be easy to put in a few shelves. When our plans were made we did not consider the "little" things that complicate such a simple job. Things such as electricity for the dryer is mingled with the studs or the water pipes for the washer are lurking somewhere behind the sheet rock. Nor did we consider how much weight we wanted it to hold. As you can see from the pictures it all worked out. Spencer is amazing and a great problem solver. Engineers ROCK!

It begins...

Victory!

Adjusted Due Date: Just as an FYI we had a doctors appointment last week. Our new doctor is going to be great, thanks to Kim for the referral. He does an ultrasound every time and records it on a DVD for us. In our last appointment he indicated it wouldn't be safe and doesn't do the boys any good for us to go beyond the 38th week. As a result the new approx due date is July 22. Our next home improvement project ... paint the nursery, assemble cribs and the dresser drawer and wash baby items. We are freaking out a little I don't know that we are ready, is it too late to have second thoughts?

Catching Up

It's been too long since our last post. We've been so busy. I'll try to catch you up.

Spencer graduated! He graduated from Utah State University with both his Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree in Civil Engineering (Geotechnical Engineering). He graduated Cume Laude! We are so proud of his academic achievements. Thanks to all of our family and friends who came in for this special occasion.

Spencer in the procession before being hooded

It was great to have Spencer's family in town

Before the ceremony we had a BBQ at the Alumni House, for those who wanted to participate in this awesome occasion but didn't want to sit through the long ceremony. (Who can blame them). It was wonderful to see everyone, including my family. Thanks to Mitch for being the grill man and Becky for taking the photo's. Although she hasn't gotten those to me as of yet, so no pictures of the BBQ.

The day after the BBQ my sisters, mom and Aunt Christine through a baby shower for me and the boys. It was great. I got to see and catch up with a number of people I hadn't seen in awhile. Including old roommates, old ward members and family. The support was overwhelming (I may have cried a little, I'm usually not so girly, I'm blaming it on the hormones) and greatly appreciated. I didn't realize we needed so much stuff. A huge gracious to those who planned it and helped pull things off, it was perfect!

Among all of this Spencer and I closed on the new house, packed up the old apartment and moved from Logan to Syracuse. Because we are expecting I haven't been as much help as I would have liked. As a result Spencer has been trooper! The only problem is he isn't feeling 100% either. He has had a virus for going on a month that keeps manifesting itself in different ways. We've been to the clinic twice in the last two weeks. It's so unlike him to even been willing to go to the doctor. Thank to those who helped us move, namely Becky, Kim and Cory. I think we would still be in Logan without their help!

Part of the new kitchen into the dinning area into the front sitting room. (Before we moved in.)

Spencer and I are both a little surprised at how much stuff we have. It borders on ridiculous. But unpacking is coming along. Slowly, but it's coming. Although things have slowed down a little more as Spencer started his new job this week!

As you can see, it's been a little crazy. I hope to post on a more regular basis from here on out, given life doesn't get to crazy (right!)

We Bought a House!

You heard correctly, we are in the process of purchasing our very first house. We realize we are packing in a crazy amount of firsts (first kids, first job, first house, Spencer's first graduation) but when the time is right ...

We really feel it's a great investment. It's located in Syracuse, UT (Not NY). It's directly across the street from a new park and soccer fields and a few streets away from a great golf course and some very large homes. It has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Including a master bath, how exciting! A completely unfinished basement which we are very excited about finishing and feel will add value to the home. It also has a great backyard with a small patio for grilling, a favorite summer activity for both of us. I've posted a few pictures, admittedly not great ones. I guess if you want to see what it really looks like you'll just have to come and visit.

Front of the house and 2 car garage

Part of the Kitchen - All of the appliances stay!

Back steps and patio

Trouble ...

A picture from the past. This is Spencer and Mitch from their childhood, do you know which is which?

The other day Spencer and I were walking out of a store, each of us deep in our separate thoughts. when out of the blue Spencer says:
"Two boys"
My reply "What? We've known for a while, is it still a surprise?"
"Well no, I'm just thinking they are going to get in trooouble"
"O, why is that?"
"If their minds are anything like mine, everything we own will be taken apart, glued shut or destroyed. If we lose them in the store or at church we'll find them in crawl spaces exploring and learning how things fit together. And with two of them encouraging each other .... I just think they are going to get in lots and lots of trooouble"

Spencer, I disagree, maybe we are the ones in "TROOOUBLE"

Because it's been so long since our last post we also wanted to give a shout out to the Torman and Larson families. They had us over last week for a crab boil (notice no K in Crab, it was the real thing). If you've spent any time with me you know I love crab. It was everything they promised it would be and more then I could have dreamed up. Crab, shrimp, potatoes, garlic, corn on the cob ... it was delightful. My only concern, Spencer ate a few cloves of garlic and smelled like it for days.
Thanks to Hal and Janet as well as Kim and Cory for having us over and sharing!

True Blooded Aggies

As March Madness wraps up, crowning a new champion (Go Kansas), Spencer and I have come to realize we have attended our last Aggie Basketball game as students. No more will you find us standing in line two hours before a game waiting for good seats or on the first rows of the student section yelling at the refs nor will you find us cheering for our beloved Aggies so loud and long we go horse.

With some trepidation we look forward to taking our places on the "Alumni" side of the Spectrum. Although it'll take a great deal of self control and discipline not to yell at the refs, Spencer and I look forward to continuing our traditions and superstitions as Alumni. (Spencer and the Scotsmen, I'll never understand all of his rules) Go Aggies, and long live Stew!

Students Section doing the Scotsmen

I've added the fight song to the blog in honor of Aggie Basketball. I'll remove it in a few days so enjoy it while it lasts. Heck you could even sing along. Hail the Utah State Aggies .... Utah State Hey Aggies all the way ...

FHE is off the Hook!

For Family Home Evening this last week, we decided to make banana bread. Turns out we are in no way Betty's (as in Betty Crocker). Things went smoothly enough until we realized in the 3 yrs we've been married we've never purchased baking soda, a quick trip to the store fixed that. Until we realized we either left all of our bread pans at Grandma Davis' or they're all packed away in some unknown box. Our college educations came through, and we were able to improvise using a Brownie pan. Our banana bread became something resembling cornbread.

No stress, it still tasted great!