1 and 70%

... that's where I'm at right now, according to my doctor.
At 38 weeks, I was hoping to be a little further along but at least that's some progress. Quite honestly, as great as it would be to go into labor tomorrow (because that means we'd be holding our little girl early), I can't imagine having her right now. My mom gets into town on the 30th and there's something about having her around that will comfort me... and Mike too. He needs her to be there. :)

Preparing for Charlotte's arrival has been so fun! We've had AMAZING baby showers (thrown by friends, coworkers and family) that have really helped things come together.  Mike painted a vintage 1950's dresser and put together her pack 'n play and crib. I've organized all her clothes, ordered a ridiculous number of diapers online and thoroughly deep cleaned our apartment.

My due date is Election Day. If I were smart, I would've registered for early voting... but I'm not. So on November 6th, regardless of baby status I'm hauling my bum to the local junior high and voting. I'm planning to get lots of looks as I stand in line and I'll try my hardest to ignore them. Those looks are the reason I stopped going to our local gym. Everyone who passed by me would give a sympathetic smile that said, "Good for you, coming here" or "Very impressive". I knew they were thinking Stay home from the gym because you're nearly the size of a whale . So I do now.

Here are some random pictures over the past few weeks.
If you have ANY pictures of me while pregnant or of a baby shower... please send them to me. I've been really bad about documenting this pregnancy.

 sisters at the Pat Benetar and Journey concert. Almost 7 months along.

 Kels and Vanessa threw me a fantastic family shower.

 Hannah and Candace came to my friend shower.... so fun!

 Mike and I on our "babymoon" to Vegas. Sat front row at Cirque's Mystere.

Baby clothes in the closet. I love opening up the closet and just staring at these clothes!

 With Mike's birthday in two days and still a few small things to get done, I know these next two weeks will fly by. And then, life really changes. The unknown is exciting, thrilling and scary. Eeek!

Humbling myself.

My morning began by throwing up. Seven times. Yes, seven times I hung my head over the toilet, thought it was over and then my body rejected more. I came out of the bathroom wanting nothing more than to burst into tears. My struggle with a severe case of pregnancy induced carpal tunnel, daily back pain, past worries of medical problems and my nausea returning had culminated into despair. I was completely selfish thinking I can't handle much more of this. I'm so sick of feeling this way. I was consumed in how awful my body felt and wanted to simply breakdown on my living room floor. For a few minutes, I stood silently bracing myself with the couch. I let all my negative feelings run wild.

I realize how pathetic this sounds but I feel like need to share moments like these on the blog so I can always remember.

Somehow, something just clicked and the thought came: I have things easy. Yes, this pregnancy has been harder than I expected but not nearly as hard other women have it. I can do this, despite what my mind is telling me. My body was meant to handle all of this sickness and weakness... and more. Oh, I have so much more ahead of me. If I buck up now, it'll be an easier 3 months to go.

I have a couple of friends in particular who are going through harder trials right now than my pregnancy. Our problems are not remotely the same. My pain and discomfort will likely be gone in about 12 weeks.... I have it so easy. I have a doctor that I trust and a wonderful husband by my side.... I have it so easy.

This week I had the opportunity of working as a clinician at a summer stuttering workshop. These kids varied in maturity, age and severity but they all shared the common desire to be heard and be seen as no different than those who don't stutter. "I want to finish my sentences without other people finishing them for me." -- "I want other kids to look at me and not just see a stutterer." -- "I want people to treat me like I'm normal when we talk." These comments got to the core of me because, although I have never struggled socially, I've always felt so connected with those who have.
It's interesting how easily I can talk myself right up to a ledge with how hard things are for me and how quick God is to remind me that my life is a great one, an easy one by comparison.
I am so grateful for these humbling experiences.

oh baby baby.

Wow. Too much to post since the last time I wrote... so I'll break it up. Basically for my own sanity. I'll post about the Texas trip/family visiting/Colorado family reunion later this week but for now.. it's all things baby!!
First and most importantly - IT'S A GIRL!!! We hosted a little gender reveal party and found out the gender by cutting into a cake. Fully expecting to see layers of blue under all that frosting, we couldn't have been more shocked (&excited) to see pink! We are sooooo excited to be having a little girl. Life could not be better, knowing that in less than 4 months we will be a family of three with a little girl to love on and snuggle with.

I had to post this because-even though that's a SUPER unattractive face I have going on- these were our first reactions.

 It's so nice to say "she" instead of "it" or "the baby". She makes it more real now. 

She tends to be mild during the day but go crazy with kicks and punches the minute I lay down at night. She still has me throwing up once a week. She's being shy around her daddy and won't let him feel her kick. He's pretty bummed about it. She makes me go pee a minimum of 10 times a day. Sometimes three times within the same hour. Kind of ridiculous if you ask me. She is already allowing for benefits in public, like today when I was in line for the restroom at City Creek. All the women insisted that I cut to the front of the line. Lovely! She really hates my singing voice (evidenced by several jabs during each hymn I sang on Sunday). Her movements tickle me if I'm the right position where I'm almost leaning forward over my tummy. She loves for me to drink numerous Chick-fil-a milkshakes. So I do.
The only thing I would qualify as a big 'ol pregnancy bummer is that I have developed pregnancy induced carpal tunnel. It's awful. Like a numbness in my hands all day and pain/lack of feeling from my elbow to my fingertips all night kind of awful. The doctor says I have a pretty severe case of carpal tunnel but it should go away completely within 2 to 3 weeks after delivery. Wonderful! The next 18 weeks are sure to be a party.

24 weeks down. 16 more to go. Bring it on!

My Morning Ramblings

It's barely 10am and I already have so much on my mind. Without thinking, I found myself closing my office door, sitting down and pulling up blogger. Clearly I need to get some thoughts out before I am anymore productive today.

This morning started with a 7:45am trip to the hospital for a blood draw. I hate blood and I hate needles. I know that most people outgrow that fear by adulthood but I'm still hanging on to it so hospital visits like this terrify me. Somehow this time was different. I was nervous but confident. My eyes didn't fill with tears. The phlebotomist taking my blood said that I have great veins and for some reason that eased the pain.The minute I left the hospital, I called my mom for a victory cheer.

Speaking of hospitals, my dad is in one right now. Sparing the details, I will say that I've never wanted to be home so badly. The doctors have some answers but not all of them ... and the waiting and wondering is so unsettling. Since my parents don't want me to fly out there, Mike and I did what we could to let my dad know we're thinking of him constantly. That thing is Edible Arrangements and he loves it! He's probably eating a chocolate dipped strawberry as we speak!

(Thats how we let people know we love them in the Fausett family, through food.)

 I'd like to give this post a positive spin right now, but I can't yet. I have to tell you one more negative thing... It made my blood boil. When stopped at a light this morning, I looked over to see a young, obviously pregnant woman smoking a cigarette. I debated rolling down my window and giving her a piece of my mind but then I quickly envisioned how that conversation would go.... Not well. So I sat in silence and stared at her. How can you smoke with a little baby growing inside of you? HOW? I don't get it. I had to ask my doctor on three separate occasions if she was sure I could drink one can of Dr. Pepper every 2 or 3 days. She laughed every single time. That's the most I've ever subjected my baby to and yet, I still feel a tinge of guilt. How can this woman on the sidewalk justify her habit? I'm afaid I'll be thinking about it all day.

Now, let's talk happy stuff, like babies!

--My friend, Bekah, had her baby Atticus at 4:04 this morning! You bet I'm itching to get off work and go see him. I LOVE newborns and I love the Wightmans so seeing him tonight will be fantastic. 

--I think I may have felt the baby move. Just twice. I can't be positive yet.

--We set a date for THE ultrasound. June 22nd. TWO. WEEKS. Who's ready to find out?!

--Mike is back today from his week long business trip to Chicago. I'm anticipating a baby belly comment because I'm pretty sure my tummy has grown twice the size overnight this week. I should probably take a picture.

Happy Friday, my friends!

Here's the latest.

We just got back last night from a quick weekend trip to....

Rexburg, Idaho.

You're thinking, Alyssa, that's super lame but guess what? It was just what we wanted after a hectic week. We had a Marriott discount and didn't want to travel more than 4 hours. That left three choices: Logan, UT, Vernal, UT or Rexburg, ID. Considering our goal was to "get out of Utah more often", Rexburg won.

We forgot our camera. Mike's phone takes great pictures but died within the first 3 hours of the trip and mine is ghetto... so we are pictureless. We ate at Maddox on our way up to Idaho, got delicious snow cones, found ourselves lost in Idaho due to my overconfidence and need for no directions, spent some time in the Rexburg temple, visited some friends and family, loved the hotel's king size bed with plush bedding, saw my first college apartment and such.

The only picture we have from the weekend. Taken about 5 minutes before the phone died. 

Snow cones have been my first pregnancy "demand".

We've resolved to leave SLC/Bountiful for the weekend as many times as possible over the next few months, before baby comes in late Fall. I'm less worried right now about getting this ready for this baby and more concerned with getting in lots of quality time, just the two of us. We'll get more time together come Thursday; we're headed to Texas for a long weekend.

I'm really looking forward to June. No travel plans but we will be celebrating our third anniversary and finding out if we're having a boy or a girl! Ah! Crazy, right? Next month we will know! I'm thinking of throwing a gender reveal party and finding out with my family and friends... thoughts?

Today is my first day wearing maternity pants. Not the kind with a big stretchy panel around the waist but a cute pair of skinny black pants. I love them. They feel like yoga pants and I will wear them every single day of the work week until they no longer fit. Just a minute ago- at 16 weeks- I got my first "that baby's starting to show"  type of comment. Actually, that's exactly what she said. "That baby is starting to show!" I have now entered the fat-or-pregnant? stage. I'm sure all the attorneys who haven't caught word that I'm expecting think that I need to dial down on all the snacks in the kitchen. I can't wait until I have a super obvious baby bump and people don't have to wonder anymore. At this rate... that should be in another 2 weeks or so. Seriously.

It's really happening!

The time has come to finally blog it. WE'RE HAVING A BABY!!!!

          We found out in March (crazy story actually.. I'll save it for another post) and Mike wanted to shout it out to the world... but I told him we needed to wait a little bit. Waiting is the worst. Then again, I have another 6 months of waiting on this little one so I better get used to it! Honestly, I knew I'd be writing a post like this someday, it's just so surreal to actually be typing these words now. I'm 3 months along and beginning the second trimester. We feel so lucky to be parents and begin adding to our little family.

          Let me cover the basics here: My due date is November 6th. I'm pretty excited about this due date because I'll have a newborn to snuggle during the holidays, I'll have a long Christmas wish list for Baby this year, and by the time summer 2013 rolls around, I'll have a 7 month old who can actually enjoy being outside! I'm choosing to focus on the positives, rather than the fact that Baby will be born at the beginning of RSV season and that we'll spend the entire winter inside. About a month after deciding that I wanted to be pregnant sometime this year, I got pregnant. This is in no way meant to be a statement of bragging. It happened faster than we ever could've guessed and at first I was in shock, but now I've come to realize that the Lord's timing is much better than my timing. I've been really sick, especially in the morning. I mean really, really sick.(i.e.: I bow to the porcelain god every time I wake up/open the fridge door/walk into a public restroom/take a shower). The only thing I crave is fruit. Namely oranges and pineapple. I am yet to have Mike make a midnight run to the grocery store for produce... but he knows his time is coming. We heard the heartbeat at 9 weeks and I was told it was a little faster than what is normal. Then I heard the heartbeat again today and it's perfectly normal. Even my doctor couldn't stop smiling and nodding and saying "perfect. it's perfect." Mike is so giddy and wants to talk to the baby every.single.night. It's weird for me, but I'm trying to lighten up. I have NO clue what's in store for me.... I don't know anything about diapers, strollers, maternity clothes, sleep schedules, breastfeeding, etc. You guys, I'm a little scared. All tips/opinions welcome. I cry over EVERYTHING. I cried when I couldn't find my favorite pajamas pants. I cried watching The Voice, Restaurant: Impossible and Dateline. It's really pathetic. My current bedtime is anywhere from 8:30 to 10pm. I just can't stay up late for the life of me.

Things are changin' people! I'm having a baby and I'm going to be a mom soon... a MOM. This is just crazy.

Easter weekend.

Last weekend was such a perfect weekend.

I recapped everything we did with my mom just yesterday and she said,

"You two have such a fun life". It's true, we do.

For now, it's just the two of us with minimal responsibilities and it's pretty nice.

Friday night we went to Red Robin with the Leishmans.

I don't know what's wrong with me but I obsess over Red Robin's steak fries and campfire sauce.

They are all you can eat and addictive. Here's the catch: you can't get them on their own.

So I ordered the cheapest thing the fries come with, a chicken sandwich.

I ignored the sandwich and stuffed myself with fries and sauce. Totally unhealthy but no regrets.

Saturday we met up with my sister and her boyfriend for lunch.

Do you love garlic burgers? Do you love bar food? (No, that's not a weird question... I love bar food.)

Go to Busy Bee Bar on State Street and 21st south. Their burgers are delicious

and I'd been raving about them since Kelsey was too young to go.

She's been 21 for several months but we finally made a lunch date.

Again, they did not disappoint.

After lunch, Mike and I ran some errands and then picked up the Kirks for a Real game.

I'll be honest though... The guys watched the game but Jade and I didn't.

I hadn't seen her for 7 weeks (who's counting?) while they were basically living in Hawaii

so we had lots to catch up on.

I normally LOVE watching the games so missing both the goals scored

was not a proud moment for me.

Easter Sunday was fantastic!

Church could not have been better. We listened to two amazing speakers and then President Eyring decided to fill the last 10 minutes of the meeting. I found myself crying 5 or 6 times at church on Sunday. That's just not right! Actually, who am I kidding? It's pretty right on. I've always been emotional. But the messages delivered on Easter Sunday are especially touching. The holiday has a way of reminding me of the obvious.
I have a Savior who loves me enough to suffer for my sins. He died that I might turned to live with my Father in Heaven and all those I love. I know there was no other way and for that -- I'm completely indebted to Him.

After church, we went to my grandparent's house for an Easter egg hunt and dinner.

It's great to have weekends where we can do whatever we'd like and enjoy each other's company.

We live for the weekends because we know it won't be like this forever.

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!