Mama Journal

June 29: Daily Braxton Hicks (check), Crazy Nesting Projects (check), Finish Nursery (check), Emotional Wreck (check... we now refer to mom and gma as Buffer #1 and Buffer #2...poor Ben). This mama is nervous, excited, and SO ready to meet Paxton. I think I'm finally ready to start trying some of those crazy labor inducing tactics... pineapple? trampoline? hmmmm?

June 27: Doot Doo Da Dooo! Ben and I are official graduates of a 6-week childbirth preparation course. Mostly I think the classes just gave me WAY to much to worry about... but again I was struck by the reality of the whole situation tonight when we took a tour of the birthing center.

June 26: End of pregnancy = lots of crying (no really LOTS of crying)

June 25: My motivation has completely gone A-wall. I wander around in a weird pregnant daze about 95% of the time. I think it must have something to do with the fact that my life is getting ready to change forever at any moment and nothing else seems all that important... the to-do list keeps growing, however, despite my profound ponderings...haha... good thing I have mom and gma to keep me on track.

June 21: Congrats to the Henderson Family!!!! My bestest best friend (who I shared a due date with) welcomed her little boy into the world today. Wow that makes this seem really real. We are on high-alert around here. Bags are packed and if I sneeze wrong someone has car keys in their hand... haha that probably means the little guy will be late!

June 1: We passed the 34 week mark (insert huge sigh of relief) so Paxton is relatively safe to come any time now. We are definitely in countdown mode and we can't wait to meet this little guy. First hurdle: finish school (7 days with kids to go)... I can do it... I can do it!!!

May 21: Yikes... Paxton isn't even here yet and I am already slacking! Yes it has been 6 weeks since my last journal entry... what have you missed? not much. I have definitely been feeling more and more pregnant. Nothing too bad, but nothing quite works the way it used to (most importantly my energy and get-it-done mechanism)! Other than that we have just been chugging along, killing time, and waiting for the big day. I am very ready for school to be done, because I am distracted by a million nesting projects and I am exhausted 90% of the time. But in true Aspen fashion I am scheduled to go non-stop until the very last minute. 4 weeks of teaching left, followed by a 5 day professional development PE course (hmmm...maybe P will come early?), followed by Ben starting grad school, followed by me going back for a grad class, followed by Baby arriving and saying something like "excuse me, but you are going to have to stop all of this foolishness and dedicate yourself entirely to me now!" So this is the summation from April/May: Deleriously happy, very tired, way emotional, HUGE, blessed beyond words, NERVOUS, and super excited (did I mention tired?)...lol

March 30: Well Spring Break was long overdue for this mama. "Grandma Lindsay, Grammy Sammy, and I all took a Paxton on his first roadtrip to Seaside, Oregon. We were blessed with beautiful weather, eating, lots of shopping, more eating, and relaxation. I am getting very excited for Paxton to come and be part of our big happy family. I am also getting very nervous that we are so not ready for all the changes in store for us. The best news this week though is that my best friend in the whole world will be coming home from Alaska for a time and she is a total mommy-pro! I can't wait to share this experience with her!!! PS- Gma pointed out today that it is (approximately) only 101 days until Paxton arrives : )

March 25: I have always found that there is no better cure for "the blues" than getting busy with a project... and what better project than the nursery!!! Mom, Gma, and I busted our tails for about 12 hours straight: cleaning, spackling, painting, building, etc.... and I am thrilled to announce that Paxton's room is 95% ready. I love everything about it and pop in to peek at least 6 times a day! (Pictures to come)

March 24: Well this has been a rough week. There are many things that are not quite right in my universe, but I am going to have to pull it together because for the first time in my life I have my own little family to worry about. Ben has been a super husband and I know he is going to make the best daddy too. Definitely feeling the crazy emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy this week... but also faith that Paxton will be worth every minute of it.

February 24: Last night I finally felt Paxton move!!! I stayed up for several hours just basking in the glory of this new connection with my baby. Just as everyone said, I now feel him bumping around in there all the time! I can't wait until everyone else (friends and family that is) can share in this miracle too!

February 22: Wow... No strange cravings yet, but I am definitely eating for 2! It has become abundantly clear that Paxton must like food as much as I do because my appetite is constant!!! Last night we ate at the mall and I had pizza, chow mein, and chocolate cookies (alright maybe a little strange)... So here's to hoping I do not gain 100 pounds in the next 4 months!!!

February 14: Watching this pregnancy become real for Ben is the best thing that has ever happened to me. From the moment he saw our son yesterday on the ultrasound he can't stop talking about the life we are all going to have together. I love him more than I ever have before and I can't wait for our baby to get here!

February 13: Its a boy! We are having a healthy little boy!! I am still processing this news, but I am just so happy that I got to see my baby today. Everyone is worried that I am disappointed it isn't a little girl, but disappointed is NOT the word. I am filled with curiosity... I don't know boy stuff, and this is definitely going to be an adventure, but I am in-awe of everything about this exeprience (including the fact that is just a few months I will be bringing home a little BOY).

February 12: Its tomorrow... we get to find out tomorrow!!!!!!!

February 11: I LOVE that we are sharing this journey with friends and family, and I love that I am only one of about 100 people who can't wait to get some big news on Wednesday. I am praying pretty much hourly that we get to find out if we are having a HEALTHY little boy or a little girl... I can't bare not knowing for another second.

February 7: Yikes... I have never been sicker in my life... Its the flu or a cold or maybe the plague, but I am getting nervous that this is not good for Bump... going to call the doctor today!

January 27: I have been bragging to gma about how I really haven't had many pregnancy symptoms, emotional outbursts, odd cravings or anything.... BIG mistake. I went to Walgreens today for stamps. I left with a bag of chili cheese fritos, a can of pizza pringles, skittles, swedish fish, and mike and ikes (I did remember the stamps thank goodness). Holy Cow! Hopefully this is a random isolated event!!!!

January 26: Well this weekend was full of challenges and excitement! Friday was, by far, the most difficult teaching day I have ever faced. I survived that to face Saturday, a.k.a. Moving Day. We moved mom's entire house into our storage and family room in just a few short hours! Later that day I did a great Arbonne presentation with friends and family, rushed home to unpack mom in preparation to meet her new boyfriend, and crash into bed around 11pm (many hours past my usual bed time)! Bump and I are VERY tired this weekend. Wishing I had a few extra personal days to take care of my own to-do list!!!

January 19: I am VERY excited to be only 24 days away from our next ultrasound, where we will, hopefully, find out if Bump is a girl or boy. I have heard many stories about "Shy" babies, in what I am sure are attempts by friends and family to prepare me for potential disappointment. With that said, Bump and I have been chatting about how embracing the spotlight now, can only lead to a much easier path to fame and fortune later...no pressure : )

January 18: AHHH!!! Next week we will be welcoming mom and her two doggies back in our home, officially bringing our family count from 4 to 7 (with #8 only months away). I have officially renamed our happy family "Waltons West," which captures the situation rather nicely.

January 17: The thing about pregnancy is sometimes things suddenly appear, disappear, or just flat out stop working. This morning I woke up and I definitely had the belly of a pregnant woman. I swear it was not there yesterday, yesterday my pants were tight and I was looking with a magnifying glass for that special bump. As of this morning my pants will never button again, and my husband nearly had a heart attack at the "alien changes happening to (my) body." He is lucky that I am not overly sensitive yet, because he also felt the need to add that "if that were happening to (his) body, it would scare the crap out of (him)!" Well, all I can say is that I am thankful that so far this pregnancy has been rather delightful and that my bothersome symptoms have only been slightly annoying rather than debilitating. I suppose alien changes are okay by me as long as Bump and I keep getting an A + at the OB (yes I envision getting a report card from my OB, and of course I would be heartbroken with anything less than an A +)!!!

January 16, 2012: We have had several donations of baby items over the last few weeks and are SO thankful! We hope to gather as much as possible this way, allowing me to save our Bump Bucks for my maternity leave : )

January 15, 2012: I had to entitle this post "Grammas are always right," because 2 months ago when I told my Gramma that I was going to keep a weekly blog journal about the ups, downs, and sidewayses (sp haha) of this pregnancy she laughed.... right in my face! And as I sit here today updating the blog one month after my last post I am reminded that I will be taking much advice from her in the months and years to come! We also had a healthy check-up today, where the OB told me that Bump seems especially active. Gramma felt the need to add that that must mean that Bump takes after Ben (aka The boy who can't hold still for more than 23 seconds), which I find highly disconcerting : /

December 16, 2012: I am glad we waited to share our special news... but it was sure fun to tell! I am really enjoying being surrounded by the support, advice, and love of all my friends! I'm feeling like it might take a village just to get this baby here... and my village is pretty much the best!

December 10, 2012: Well my meeting with the midwife went okay. All my lab work looked good, so we spent most of our time talking about the million things I can't do : ) Good thing I'm already a rule follower! I am looking forward to trying the other clinic on the 20th, as I haven't really "connected" with anyone so far. Also I think it is very important to note that Christmas break is only 11 days away!!!! I will blissfully spend my 12th and 13th week lazing around the house, eating Christmas treats, and eating more treats (ha)!

December 3, 2012: Ahhhh! I am hungry all the time! My books tell me this is not supposed to happen until the second trimester, so I think I'm in trouble. I seriously do not want to gain a million pounds, but this hunger won't be ignored. Oh well : ) I'm a little tired (actually a lot), but other than that I am feeling GREAT! Meeting with the midwife the day after tomorrow...I can't wait!

November 28, 2012: Ultrasound = awesome! Spontaneous blood work = NOT cool.... I guess I am already having to put my momma pants on. I totally handled it... which if you know me at all you know is a HUGE deal. Feeling pretty proud at the moment.

November 24, 2012: This weekend we shared our special news with some special people... It was just the way I dreamed it would be and I am so pumped to be surrounded by all the love and support.

November 12, 2012: Made my first doctor's appointment... I can hardly wait until the 28th... How am I going to wait 7 1/2 more months?!?!

November 18, 2012: Went grocery shopping today, and ate fried chicken out of the sack while I walked around the store... Embarrasing? Yes. Absolutely Necessary? YES! YES!

November 10, 2012: We have decided to keep our BIG news secret for a little while longer... thinking we'll make an announcement for the holidays!

November 9, 2012: AHAHHAAHAHAH! We're Pregnant!!!! I can't believe it. I am so happy! Ben's eyes are huge, but I got the best hug this morning, so I am pretty sure he is as happy as I am. Already feeling nerves set in... so many decisions to make.

November 8, 2012: I am so nervous and excited! We have been trying for what seems like forever... but I have a good feeling about this! I am off to Wal Mart to buy a pregnancy test (or 10)!