Cousins Come to Visit

Even though Gina was in the midst of buying a new home and moving in, she graciously came to visit us for a couple of days. It was short, but at least the weather mostly behaved for her and she got to enjoy some non-Arizona summer time.

We weren't running around like tourists, but we DID go and check out the Orange County Great Park Balloon. It's a large helium balloon ride for free. It was short but a fun enough thing to do rather than sitting around at home.

Here's the basic balloon setup. Get in the round basket, go up about 500 feet, look around for a few minutes, and come back down.

Here we are posing for the camera. Derek came along too - he's just taking the picture.

The balloon from inside the basket.

I haven't posed for a picture of my pregnant belly for a while so this will have to do for anyone curious about how big I am these days.

This is the view from up top.

That funny shaped red building is actually just a few blocks from where we live. We couldn't exactly see our house, but pretty close.

Ryan "riding" on one of the bike racks.

Best picture ever. Check out that cute Judy.

Still Here

In the case that you all are checking my blog each day for an annoucement, I feel the need to reassure you that birth does not appear to be iminent.

Last week I was feeling pretty uncomfortable, but this week I am feeling like a million dollars. If I continued feeling like this I would be fine being pregnant for another month. I'm not dilating at all, she still hasn't dropped, I don't think she'll come a day earlier than my due date. And that's okay.

Getting Ready

Good news. She's head down! Still not dropped so she has the potential to keep flipping, but it's not very common for them to flip after 37 weeks so we're optimistic.

Honestly, I can't tell you if any of the "techniques" I used did it or if she decided to flip on her own. Each time I did something to try and turn her, she seemed to be completely still. She'd get pretty active afterward, but I didn't expect her to be head down at my appointment so that goes to show how much I know.

All is going well. We have 3 weeks left before her due date and I'm very excited but not impatient. I am looking forward to being able to bend over again and for my vericose vein to go away (MUCH more painful than I had imagined), but I can't do much complaining.

Ryan was praying the other night and said, "..and bless that Millie (that's what we've been calling her) will have a fun time swimming in the bag of water."
Yep, I doubt she's got much room for "swimming" anymore, but I hope she's having fun.

Can You Identify This Doll?

She's about 5.5 inches tall and was made about 1982 or so. She reminded me of Gina when I found her.

Baby update

So, we now have 31 days left until our little girl is due to arrive. I am feeling pretty good, relatively speaking. I do deal with your basic lower back ache/nerve pinch, but for the most part, I can't complain.

Unfortunately, our baby was breech at my last appointment. I wouldn't be very concerned except that these days, doctors are so scared of being sued that most aren't willing to let women labor normally with a breech baby. There is still some time for her to turn to a head-down position and that is what we are seriously praying for. We'd love your prayers as well.

Oh, and YES, I have definitely looked up ways to get a baby to turn. I have tried (and continue to try) lying upside down on an ironing board at an incline, while sticking an ice pack at the top of my stomach and soft classical music playing from headphones at the bottom of my stomach (boy, is that ever uncomfortable). I've also soaked in a hot bath with ice at the top of my stomach. I plan to go swimming regularly and do handstands in the pool. I have an appointment with a chiropractor tomorrow, and I've already looked up an acupuncturist near me. I'll be getting a blessing here tonight and fast Sunday is approaching. I am not just sitting idly and crossing my fingers. I guess it gives me something to focus on. ;)

Family Photos

We REALLY enjoyed a recent trip to Phoenix to visit with my family. My sister, Jamie (top left) and her family had been living in Guam for 2 years and they finally came back to the states. We got to meet her youngest daughter for the first time and get to know her 2.5 year old daughter as well. We were all getting together to support my little bro, Joey (bottom left) because he was going through the temple and getting ready to head out on his mission to Texas.

We took a few family pictures since it was *almost* our entire family. We were only missing Jodie's husband, Adrian, and our brother Jimmy who is serving his mission in Peru.

It occurred to me that many of my friends have no idea what my family looks like. My parents are in the middle and then here are the rest of us (besides Jimmy, who is #6).

#3, #4(me), #2, #1, #5,
#7, Dad, Mom, #8

Here is our current family.

Here are all the current grandchildren. We have one more girl (ours) and one more boy (Jodie's) coming in the next 7 weeks.

"My Tummy Hurts"

I asked Katie to put her dolls away when it was clean-up time tonight. She looked at me and said, "I want you to put them away for me. My tummy hurts because my baby is going to come out." Hilariously, Ryan then explained to Katie how you are supposed to be married before Heavenly Father gives you a baby. These kids crack me up. We're all getting VERY excited for our new sister to come.

Musical Beds

Yeah, I dunno. I am pretty sure she's never done this before. Both kids had a little trouble going to sleep last night and when they finally quieted down, Derek went in to check on them. He found Katie in her bottom drawer. She slept like this the entire night. Two beds sat there empty. Silly girl.

The Rest of the Conversation

So after Ryan told me about his dream it went like this:

"Did you say, 'yes'?"
"What?"
"Did you tell Jesus that you would go to Heaven or no?"
"It was just a dream, Mom."
"Right, but in the dream did you go with Him or did you stay? Or did the dream end then?"
"You know what happened next. It was just OVER."
"Oh, okay."

And I am hoping (and acting like) it wasn't an indication of what is to come. But I have to admit that I am making him be a little bit more cautious, like not crossing the street on his bike, so that it doesn't become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Admit it...

This is pretty much the coolest swing ever.