Lessons Learned

Some things I learned today:

#1 - From now on: re-check my grocery list receipt. Sounds tedious but every time I go to the Albertson's by my house here, they always get at least one price wrong! I have gotten anywhere from $3 to $5 bucks back that they could have taken from me! Hey every little bit counts, so I always check my receipts.

#2 - I used to and still don't like going to Walmart. There is something about the crowded, messy & sometimes cheap things you find there that bug me. But one thing that I do appreciate lately, is that MOST the time they have the lowest grocery prices. In trying to stick to the "Medical School Budget" I have been ad matching there and when I write down what I think is a low price at another store, Walmart's price is usually cheaper or only like 4 cents more! Who would have known:) For the past several times I have done this, I rarely even have to show the ads I bring in with me. So there you have it - money saved, less trips = worth the bother. ALTHOUGH - I always buy my produce somewhere else. I learned in one of my nutrition classes that Walmart puts there produce in a "ripening room" to get there produce out there faster or something, THUS it turns bad faster. So that part won't work for me, but overall - it's where the deals are at!

A Good Prego Workout

For all you women out there who are pregnant or will be pregnant soon - I wanted to suggest a good "prego" work out video! I have rented a couple at the library here because I wanted something different to do, in addition walking, that would help me stay in shape and this one was really good. It has a 40 min work out and a 20 min partner workout (that I haven't done yet) but the 40 min one was perfect for me! I think it is the type of workout that can work for any stage, if you have been working out previously or not. I feel like it does a little bit of everything and it did make me sore the first couple times I did it. It get's your heart rate up (not too high obviously:) but she takes you through different strength exercises as well. She is really down to Earth in her video, kind of corky but not annoying. I got it for $10 bucks off Amazon so I thought it was a good investment for the years to come!
Check it out if your are looking to get in shape or stay in shape for that baby:)

Friendship

I came upon this picture today and couldn't resist but share this picture with everyone. It just makes me smile to think about meeting this boy in EFY, crushing on him, being slightly taller than him at the time and to think that I married him! Crazy how things work out. I taught the lesson today in Relief Society and it was such a good topic that also made this picture more tender. It was about friendship and not only that but it included comparing the friendship we share with our spouses and siblings as we talked about the feelings Joseph Smith had for his wife, Emma & his brother, Hyrum. My favorite quote he gives regarding Emma, "my beloved Emma - she that was my wife, even the wife of my youth, and the choice of my heart." So tender! That quote sounds like it should be in a Jane Austin movie! Craig is kind of the husband of my youth, ha, although I had no idea it would work out that way and I know HE didn't think of me that way back then:)

I just love this boy & I am just so grateful for him and that he really is my best friend - he always makes me laugh, treats me kindly, listens to my frustrations and is so fun to be with. I am just feeling grateful for the friendship we have today; he is an amazing person to go thru life with-

(notice my hunch down to look shorter, so funny)

Just a pic of now, crazy how far we have come! And that now we are starting our family! (I am also grateful that he has 1 inch on me now...)

The latest prego shot - 24 weeks baby! Popping out there-

A Bug's Life

So I think it all started when we were over at our friends house a week ago and our friends decided to put in "A Bug's Life" for the kids. What a cute movie! I haven't seen it in probably 6 years and so I just thought about how cute the little bugs are and how creative that movie was. Little did I know that it would set the tone for the next weeks to come!

I came home a couple last Wednesday to find this little guy hanging out in this spider web at the end of the stairs!! I was in complete horror!! Those that know me well know that every time I see a spider it is a "Black Widow" and this time it really was! I kind of felt like the boy who called "wolf" as I told Craig but I was happy to be right. I had been seeing this nasty form of a web a the bottom of our stairs and thought it might be one because people told me their webs are unorganized and full of leaves and such and it was! Anyways - I didn't know what to do but Craig grabbed the Clorox cleaner and went down and drowned the nasty thing. Who knew you could just use Clorox! I am glad it's dead but who knows where another one is lurking!!

Then, while Craig was studying late one night at school, I was just too tired to make something so I thought, hey - this will just be a Mac N' Cheese night, gotta love it. Our family sometimes puts hot dogs in it which to some people sounds gross but it is sooo good! So I even had hot dogs to put in there, yum. I had just bought the Mac N' Cheese like 2 weeks ago and so I made 2 boxes so I would have some for left overs. (again I'm prob weird because I actually like it better as a left over). It was ALMOST done when I noticed a little black thing float to the surface. Oh no I thought..."it can't be" & "maybe there is just one". Then another one was clinging to a hot dog. Dang it! Yep, weevils infected the noodles and I was ticked! I worked hard on getting all 6 of them out and thought about just eating it anyways, it's just protein right? But I just can't do the thought of bacteria and the thought of bugs in food so I went and got fast food:) I was so mad though. I think I must have brought the little guys over from AZ, 2 weeks prior I found an infected oatmeal container. I was kind of on bed rest when we were coming over so I didn't have as much time to filter thru things - so gross, but I promise my house is clean:)

Then this was growing on the outside of my car! It was small of course, just a few strands and I tried to kick swat a little strand away from my car door but every time I come back that little strand has re-created itself. Why my car?

After battling the tiny web, I hoped in my car to run to go to an appointment and I saw like 4 of these running around - in my car!! What?! Why? There are no ant hills around, no like sticky spots, I have no idea where they came from. I killed what ones I could see (some while I was driving) and the rest of the time imagined them crawling all over me. I think I hate ants so much ever since I was scarred as a small 8 or 9 year old when I fell of my grandma's swing and on to a black ant pile. They pretty much covered my body and my mom & grandma had to strip off my clothes and throw me in the shower to get them all off! Traumatic-

Then I felt like I was in a freak movie where spiders come back for revenge when I saw this little buddy hanging out in my shower. Needless to say, I gave him a good spray into the drain but really, what was his purpose there? And I know they are harmless but I wasn't in the mood for mercy. Sorry-

So there you have it! Definitely a weird week of bugs and I don't care for any more experiences! I thought AZ was bad when I saw like one scorpion every year, I didn't realize Cali was a fertile spot for black widows and their friends. But don't be afraid to visit - I think I have killed most of them off for now...

Rough Night

So I have been having some rough nights lately and I know it is just a "hint" of what's to come:)

I think I tossed and turned 10 times last night and every time I switched sides, I had the most throbbing pain on the side I was just laying on. It almost reminded me of a "charlie horse" but down my side. Then I woke up, not only feeling restless but I had a sore throat! Yuck. I could hear Craig was in the shower now and briefly thought about how I needed to make him a lunch. I stretched my leg and Yikes! I experienced the WORST "charlie horse" I have ever felt before, it wouldn't go away!! I tried to yelp for Craig to come save me but he didn't hear... so I crumpled in agony as I tried to flex it out and it seemed like the longest 1 min and then it went away. Boy did I feel so defeated this morning. Craig got out and I shed a few tears, that always makes me feel better. I was reminded how long the next 4 months are going to be! He was sweet to take care of me this morn before he left though, but it was definitely one of those days that I wished I could just lay back, watch a movie, not worry about studying and have my mom bring me food & juice. Oh that would be nice. But I quickly got over that fantasy and drove Craig his lunch/dinner that he forgot:) I felt better once I started doing something-

I know I after posting this I will get the, "just you wait Melissa, you will never sleep again" talk but I am honestly excited for everything to come. Yeah my body is getting more awkward but at the same time I am loving going thru it and am just loving this little person inside of me! I feel so ready for the next stage in life but at the same time I realize that it will all take some adjusting.
Craig has been studying late at school this week due to a test next Monday but I am proud of all he is doing. I just send him with a lunch & dinner so he can stay there and focus until he is ready to come home and relax! We always have a lot of fun when he is home and make the most of it. It actually works out fine since all I do is run errands and study for the dreaded "RD Exam" and look forward to the day that I don't have to study, can play with my friends again and work on crafts.
Someday that day will come... and then I will have a baby:)

Big News

It's finally been confirmed....


It's a girl!!!


And we couldn't be happier:)

The doctor told me that he "thought" it was a girl a couple weeks ago but we had to go in again for a confirmation. It was so fun to see her move around, rub her eyes and such. It's been fun feeling her kick more the last couple weeks too.

We also just got a crib & changing table/dresser from this rich/nice couple over here!
(Thank you rich people - for buying nice things, taking care of them and then selling them for a cheaper price!!) Naturally I found the deal on Craigslist- I got both for $400 bucks and they bought them for $1500! Wow. They are really good quality and I even checked online and just the crib alone is selling for $1000 so I feel like I got a smoking deal and I am hoping that they will last for many children to come- I am also feeling so grateful because the lady gave me 4 bags of her girl baby clothes that she was going to give away! There is mostly clothes for 12 months and up but hey - I am so grateful & of course we will put it to good use!

And here is a recent picture of the baby bump progress, I sure look prego now!
I'm loving being pregnant, but not always loving how my body is growing in some areas... :)

Home Sweet Home

I was fortunate enough to go home to Mesa for 5 days to see the fam! It was so fun to see my parents new house, the newly engaged Em & Cory, see Emily & Jennifer sing together in church, Jeff give a talk in church, celebrate my mom's 50th & play with my family.

My mom turned 50 years old and she STILL gets asked if she is my sister & I think she's the cutest little mom out there. I say little because I think she has always been my same size or smaller than me my entire life - oh the joys of having a skinnier mom than you! ha

But on a serious note: I just have to talk about my mom for a minute. She really is the most Christ-like/selfless person I know. Craig told me other day after I told him something my mom was doing, "Your mom really has mastered everything already, is there anything she doesn't do perfect?" And it's true! She is a saint - she truly spends her days doing geneology work, doing visiting teaching, making meals for someone or having them come over, taking Sunday meals to elderly or the sick, getting up early to go to the temple, preparing lessons for Sunday or is found doing stuff for her kids and husband. I mean this is the woman who made breakfast for my dad and us kids our whole life! Wow - that means so much more to me now that I am older and a wife:) She doesn't do anything to "get gain" or praise in this life - in fact, she hates attention. She never wanted to get a new car growing up because she didn't want to be seen in it and felt like she was showing off....
When I think about my mom, is has been all the little things she does that really has impressed me and has been such an example to me throughout my life.

Em & Cory are engaged! They are getting married Nov. 21st - I am sooo excited for them. We just love Cory, he's perfect for her:)

It will be so great to have wedding pictures of me & Amanda at almost our largest time during pregnancy!! ha It's going to be so fun though-

We had a Udall Sister's lunch + Kim Faverea while I was down -
notice the color theme of swim suits? Not the most flattering pic of me but I sure have been blessed with amazing sister-in-laws.

Just had to snap a pic of this little guy, as always.
I realize I am only 1 of the many aunts who are crazy about this kid:)

Nothing beats a trip to Mesa Frozen!

There's nothing like Arizona clouds, I was sure hoping for a monsoon storm while I was home!

It's always hard for me to say goodbye to my Mom:(

One last snap shot before I took off- we didn't plan the pose but it turned out cute!