Life is tough enough without having someone kick you from the inside...

This weekend was really a tough one for me. Work was going pretty well until I pretty much lost it at the 15 year old who insisted on pulling up my shirt to touch my bare skinned belly. And things with Brennan have come to an end. Not to mention the constant back pains and muscle aches that never seem to go away. And I havent been sleeping well at all. Things have really been starting to add up this past week and I cant believe how hard life can get. When it rains it poors right? Then today I was feeling especially down and out and my boss said "You shouldn't be trying to hide your belly and your pregnancy. Your lucky you can get pregnant. Some women would kill to be able to have children. You need to learn to embrace it and be happy." This his pretty close to home. In spite of all the negative things that have happened over the past few weeks I truly am so blessed. I never stop to think about the blessings that I have in my life... just all the negative things. And it really has started to take a toll on me. Instead of looking at how horrible my life is and how depressed I think I am, I need to focus on how blessed I am and what I do have. Im sure its easier said than done.
I did finally get to target and registered for all the baby things that I need. Which is EVERYTHING. I couldnt believe how expensive everything was. There was a lot of really cool things tho. I am getting more and more excited.
I have been reading a lot of pregnancy magazines and books. And really starting to study labor and the delivery. Funny thing - the baby is due on Labor day. Ba hahaha. Anyways, there is so much to learn and so much to study its really been keeping me busy. I can see that this is deffinately a time that a husband would come in handy. This has been hard up to now, and its only going to get harder. It would be so much easier with a spouse and within marriage. BUT, since I am the exception to this case I will have to make it on my own. As hard as this is and is going to be I know that I can do it. I have been through a lot in my 21 years of life and all of that just prepared me for this.
I am going to put a poll up on a few baby names that I have been thinking of. So make sure and vote for your favorite one!
Ive also been thinking of using cloth diapers after the first few months. Does anyone have any first hand experience on how great or horrible cloth diapers are?
I have seen some ads for some really cute cloth diapers and they seem like they would be a lot cheaper than diapers. And Im all about saving a dollar.
Ill keep you guys updated on whats going on as much as I can. Thanks for all your support mom and sissy. I love you guys.







Fetal development in pregnancy week 25:fetus in sixth month Your little grower’s physical proportions are evening out at this point and most of their remaining development will largely be weight gain and lots and lots of nervous system development. The good news is: if your child is born premature now they’ll be more likely to survive without too much trauma as their lungs began to produce “surfactant” last week, which means their tiny respiratory system is getting stronger with each passing day. Yes, now’s a good time for a minor sigh of relief and a quick pat on the back. All that hard work and conscientious living is really getting your child prepared for a healthy delivery. Keep up the fabulous work mama! This week they’ll be scootching slowly out of the old breech position and start rotating (already!) into a better position for exit during their birth. Their head and feet are slowly rotating so that the head is pointed down towards the birth canal. Time is short (or really long, depending on who you ask)—just (still!) 14 weeks left before you can go back to being a single-resident human.
And how's mom doing? Trimester two is finally almost over, which means you have that one final trimester of pregnancy to enjoy (and suffer through). You could celebrate this landmark passage by purchasing some piece of clothing designed to make your curvy body look as gorgeous and classy as possible... and don’t let the Try to practice good posture—it will alleviate some of the back fatigue as slouching is actually harder on your back price tag stop you, this is an act of self-love not book-keeping. But before you max out your credit card, remember: you’re only going to get larger, so buy smart. Speaking of larger, you’re obviously carrying more weight now and your back is going to let you know. Don’t let this get you down or make you feel like a weakling—it all comes with the territory of being preggers. Try to practice good posture—it will alleviate some of the back fatigue as slouching is actually harder on your back. It’s also common for women to experience leg cramps during this period. Go ahead, strong arm someone who loves you into giving you a massage. Or if you're lucky enough to have the extra bucks, head to a spa that specializes in pregnancy massages and get the full-treatment.

You may have already noticed that your hair seems fuller, thicker, more plentiful and darker-- especially your body hair. There are two basic reasons for this: 1) you're shedding much less (head) hair than you usually do and 2) your body's hormones contribute to the way your body hair is growing right now. Not to worry, all the hairiness will return to normal after you've delivered your baby.

Yes I'm pregnant, No you cant touch my belly!

This week has been a crazy one. I feel like I have gained 50 lbs in the past week. But I dont think I have gained any at all. I cant believe how much food I can consume. And the affects the food has on my body. I know which foods tend to give me heartburn and stay far away from those. Heart burn is the worst thing in the world.
So on Tuesday this week I started having contractions and they would not go away or stop no matter what I did. I called my doctors office and told them what was going on and they said to just keep track of how often they happened and for how long. They werent happening that often, just ever few hours so they werent too worried about it. They said to stay hydrated and drink lots of water and take walks when I started to have a contractions and if they didnt go away to call back and make an appt to come in and take some tests. So the contractions never stopped so I went in yesterday and the tests showed that I have an infection and that would be the cause of the never ending contractions. They wrote me a prescription for some antibiotics to take and I got back in a week to see if the infection is gone. On top of all that being totally scary to me cause I didnt know what the heck was going on, the baby stopped moving for like two days. I guess he tends to do that sometimes. But usually he moves a lot! Especially when I am upset or not feeling well. But everything is good now and he started kickin like crazy last night and this morning.
I am almost into week 25 and that means I will only have 15 weeks left! Still thats over 3 months. Haha. But it seems so far away! But then when I think about how unprepared I am for him, it makes it seem like its way too soon. I have a small collection of clothes. Just a few onezies and the camo outfit. And thats about it. I need to register this week at target. So when I get that done I will let you guys know so you can go online and see what I need. The more I look at baby stuff the more excited and stressed out I get! But I cant wait to be a mom and for my little boy to be here!




Fetal development in pregnancy week 24:This is another big week for your magical growing baby! Just take a look at the checklist for this week: 1) ears: done; 2) fingernails: done; 3) (if you have a boy) testicles: taking their 3-4 day trip from the abdominal wall to the scrotum; and 4) lungs walls: secreting “surfactant”. What’s that? Well, surfactant is sort of what it sounds like: a surface-activated fat whose main purpose is to assist the your baby's little lungs during inflation (as in, filling with air, not getting more expensive). Just in case you’re curious, your submerged baby is still breathing in amniotic fluid, preparing and rehearsing the lungs an oxygen-filled life outside the womb. By the end of this week, your child will be weighing around 2 lbs and 14 inches long. Your cutie-patootie may even be a little more plump, but isn't anywhere near their full baby-fatted cute-self. Most of the “filling out” is coming up in that long awaited (and slightly dreaded?) third trimester. Woo-hoo! Get ready!
And how's mom doing? Your little one is moving (spinning, kicking, pirouetting, shimmying, and maybe even doing a bit of the Can-Can) so much these days that if you invite your friends and/or family to touch your belly there’s a good chance they’ll get a milder sample of what you’ve been experiencing . You’ve may have experienced the oddity that is strangers who feel a protruding pregnant belly is public property and a silent invitation for belly touching. We recommend taking the belly-touching calmly and if it really offends you, just say something like: “I just fell in a large vat of anthrax.” Or perhaps something a little less aggressive, like, “Please, at the very least, ask me before touching my body.” Still, there are many women who enjoy sharing this touching ritual with others. Find your comfort zone and good luck with the rest.
Scary stuff you should be aware of: The danger of getting preeclampsia (a.k.a. Toxemia) during pregnancy is significantly higher and is characterized by significant swelling of the hands and face, excessive weight gain, blurry vision with severe headaches or abdominal pain. Obviously, swelling is common during pregnancy, but should be monitored closely, and sudden ongoing swelling to the hands and face could be a concern. Talk with your physician for more information. Preeclampsia can also be diagnosed by high blood pressure and the presence of certain proteins in your urine. Again, high blood pressure alone does not mean you are affected, but it might be something you and your physician will want to/need to monitor throughout your pregnancy. Preeclampsia can prevent the placenta from receiving enough blood, thus depriving your baby of essential nutrients and lower oxygen levels, possibly resulting in low birth weights and other problems. There are several websites dedicated to preeclampsia education such as: http://www.preeclampsia.org/.

Listen to the song on my blog by Faith Hill. Its called a baby changes everything. I never realized how much of my life that this little one was going to change. But in the past 5 months my life has changed more than it has in my entire 21 years of life. Life changes everyday and I cant wait till my little boy gets here so I can share the rest of my life with him. I really have put him through hell. From having bronchitis and the horrible cough for weeks and weeks to the accident a few weeks ago. He really has been through so much in his short lived life in my tummy. Anytime I get sad and depressed he will kick me and remind me how lucky I am to have him. He can feel how I feel and he doesnt like it when I am scared or sad. Its been hard to stay happy all the time and not just stay home in bed till 5:00 at night which I have done more than I want to admit to. Things have been hard and life has really thrown me some crap these past few weeks. Things are getting better though and as soon as I get to Wayne with my family things will be perfect!

Week 23

This last week has been very crazy. Things are very difficult without a truck. And I have learned that I cant rely on very many people to follow through with what they say they are going to do. I have waited for a ride multiple times to find out that no one is gonna show up. It has been hard to find a reliable ride to work everyday. And worked has officially sucked lately. Everyone feels like they have to feel my belly. Even complete and total strangers will come up and touch my belly. The worst is all the mexicans that cook at my work. Last night this guy named Jose who is 15 pulled up my shirt and touched my bare belly. It was extremely awkward and I told him that i f he did it again he was going to regret it. I guess I just have to get used to the fact that pregnant bellies are public property that everyone likes to touch. The baby has been moving a lot lately. Sometimes it hurts. Hes getting pretty big and so when he moves it really can be painful. I still have contractions. But just a few every once in a while. Hopefully nothing to worry about unless they start happening more often and more frequently. My back has been really sore and hurts a lot. Especially after work. I have a hard time sleeping and even just walking around and functioning throughout the day sometimes because it hurts so bad. Other than that I think that pregnancy has been ok. Aside from constantly gaining weight and getting fat. Everyone at my work really loves to point out how big I am getting. I guess Im kind of getting used to it. But when everyone around you is telling you how big you are getting it starts to add up.
Living at grandmas has been great. But I cant wait to get up to Wayne County for the summer. Hopefully by March if not sooner. I might miss St. George just a little bit. But I cant wait to move up there.
So heres this week on the pregnancy. Ill try to keep it updated but I dont have internet at my house still. Love you all

Fetal development in pregnancy week 23:
fetus in sixth month At this point you’ve pretty much adjusted to the fact you’ve got a moving little gymnast inside of you, but now they’re going to kick up the party a notch because they can hear and react to sounds from the outside world. Sounds from your alarm clock, a thunder roll, or that darned car honking at you across the intersection can actually jar their little ears enough to elicit a kick or violent bout of squirming. Of course this also means that their little ears are picking up the sounds of your voice and those near you. So go ahead, sing a lullaby to your little angel—if they start kicking, it’s likely they just want you to stop… or maybe it was a kick of approval? You decide. Your baby's tiny taste buds are still growing and their bones are continuing to ossify (harden), their tiny veins are visible through their translucent yet wrinkly skin. (Think of it this way: they’ve been swimming in the equivalent of a long hot bath for the past 23 weeks, so you can’t blame them for being a little prune-like.)
And how's mom doing?
If no one warned you about the joys of the pregnancy-sleep-challenge, you’ve probably already started to discover just how difficult it can be to find adequately comfortable sleeping positions. The good news is: some people actually invented pillows specifically designed to give a pregnant woman if you want to further reduce the dreaded appearance of pregnancy “cankles” (calf-ankles) try to avoid sitting for long periods of time—and for the hundredth time: don’t forget to stay active! a better chance of sleeping through the night. There are a variety of different designs, but inevitably you’ll want some sort of belly support as well as a body pillow between your legs and under your belly to relieve a bit of the discomfort you're sure to be experiencing right now. If you choose to buy the (rather spendy) pregnancy pillows they've got on the market, make sure you keep the receipt as some women still have problems sleeping and fare better with their own unique pillow collection and set-up
As if there's not enough to keep track of already, are you remembering to drink lots of fluids? Plenty of good ol’ fashioned H20 (water) can help reduce swelling in your poor ankles and feet-- resulting from the pressure your now over-sized uterus is putting on your pelvic veins, thereby slowing fluid circulation to the lower half of your body. Also, if you want to further reduce the dreaded appearance of pregnancy “cankles” (calf-ankles) try to avoid sitting for long periods of time—and for the hundredth time: don’t forget to stay active! Keeping your fluid intake up is also good for your little resident swimmer as dehydration is frequently connected with premature birthing. Yep, it’s a lot of responsibility, but you can do it! You’re almost two-thirds of the way there already! Keep up the good work mom!

Week 20....

This past week has really been crazy. I have been more aware of the little man kicking me at all hours of the day and night. Mostly at night and he keeps me awake. But I love to just sit still and feel him move around. Not especially when he kicks my bladder when I just peed 5 minutes ago.
I went to a movie a few nights ago. It was a pretty scary movie and he did NOT like it at all. He was in defense mode and my stomach was hard as a rock. Then he kept kicking and moving around a lot. I really can feel how he feels and I know he feels how I feel. Its amazing how me and this little being inside me can bond so closely. But needless to say that is the last scary movie I will see while I am pregnant. I went to the dr. on tuesday and had a very quick ultra sound. But he said that the baby looked fine. And no damage from the accident. I go back for another ultrasound on February 26. He said that he wants to measure my placenta. Im not really sure why but he said he wants to make sure that me and the baby are growing like we should be. He said that I have gained the exact amount of weight that I should be. Even though I feel like I am huge! I am at 146 lbs. But he says that is good! Its just not the 110 lbs that I am used to.
Ill keep you updated about things that are going on with the baby! I have so much to talk about and this is where I can share it with all of you. LOVE YOU ALL!

This week you're carrying about 10.5 inches and 10.5 ounces of solid baby-miracle-goodness! Their little delicates bones continue to ossify and toughen while their itsy bitsy finger and toe pads are finishing up. Your little monkey now has teeth buds, although they’re hidden beneath the gum line. And finally! Their limbs have reached their relative proportions—no more alien baby! Their cute pink lips are more defined, and might be helping out in a bit of prenatal thumb-sucking. If you have a little boy, then their tiny testes are descending, though they have not yet passed the abdominal wall. What’s more, eyelashes and eyebrows are also visible. At this point, your little one really looks like a miniature baby—and we do mean miniature as your little swimmer currently weighs a mere eighth of their final birth weight. With half the pregnancy behind you, the most significant gains are yet to come!
And how's mom doing? Not that we need to tell you, but your baby may sometimes seem like a kick-boxer in training with no appreciation for your exhausted-pregnant-momma sleep needs. Still, before you start yelling at them to calm it down in there, remind yourself that your busy baby really have no idea if you’re rolling If you have already enrolled in a Lamaze course, consider coupling it with either a swimming or yoga course (or both!) out of bed or cozying up to your partner for a good nights rest. Unfortunately for your sleep schedule, your little independent thinker will continue to operate on their own time table throughout the rest of the pregnancy. And you thought rebellious behavior only started around puberty!
Have you enrolled in a Lamaze course yet? The now-renowned courses teach various alternative birthing and breathing techniques, not to mention the oh-so-valuable lessons involved with natural pain management. (Visit http://www.lamaze.org/Default.asp for more information.) If you have already enrolled in a Lamaze course, consider coupling it with either a swimming or yoga course (or both!). Both forms of exercise focus on controlling your breathing (a large part of the Lamaze philosophy), while at the same time increasing blood flow, strength and flexibility. What’s more, many yoga studios and swimming pools cater to pregnant women (and couples) offering low impact sessions perfect for you and your partner.

Week 21..... 19 more to go

Fetal development in pregnancy week 21:fetus in fifth month Your beautiful little miracle-gro baby will be putting on a full ounce and a half this week (and weighing up to 16.5 ounces), but that’s just the beginning! Within the next five weeks, they’ll really be packin’ it on! For now, we’re pleased to report the addition of rapid eye movement (REM) a key component to any healthy baby’s sleep schedule. While in the dermatology department: their thin soft skin is very red, rather translucent, and a bit wrinkled. Not to worry, it’s not a premature aging disease. It's just their clever little body setting them up with extra space that will smooth out once your little one starts packing on the baby-fat. That won’t be for a few more weeks, though. So for the time being, your munchkin is still a little lean mean growing machine! The beginnings of what is commonly called “brown fat” is just starting to fill in to help your baby retain some body heat, which is crucial as they’re not yet capable of regulating their own body temperature.
And how's mom doing? We’ve hit trimester two and you're in full-swing pregnancy mode. Most moms are feeling pretty good right about now. Funnily enough, you may already be noticing some mild uterine contractions—don’t panic, this is completely normal. Actually, your uterus contracts throughout your whole life—only now that there’s enough pressure on the uterine muscles you can feel them more distinctly when they contract.

If you’re still deciding whether or not to buy gender-specific clothing, it’s time to bite the bullet and head in for an ultrasound... unless you’re not the planning type. Now that we have the technology, it’s fairly obvious to modern couples that determining the sex early on makes it easier to plan ahead, prepare the nursery, inform the family and purchase the right colored cigars. Of course to some parents, that’s not the point. You're going to love your little one whether they've got a cheeseburger or hot dog. Really though, many couples enjoy the suspense and choose to leave the sex as a final surprise. Talk with your partner and figure out what feels right for you. Just keep in mind that once you know, you can’t turn back!

I cant believe it has been 5 months already. I still remember how my life was when I found out I was pregnant. Life has changed sooo much!! For the better! I have met the most amazing guy. You all will have to meet him. He is as excited as I am for the baby to get here. His name is Brennan Ellett and he is going to school in Cedar right now. We have been dating for the past month and a half and he is the most amazing guy I have ever met. He has helped me with choosing names. That has been the hardest decision I have ever had to make. But I think that we have decided on the name Shayd. Or Shayde. The pregnancy has been going great. I have an ultrasound this Tuesday and I will keep everyone posted on how that goes and any pictures that I get I will be sure to put on here.
Soon Ill post some belly pictures. Its really starting to poke out there. Luckily I can still wear most of my pants and clothes. But I am definitely needing some maternity clothes. So any donations would be greatly appreciated! Love you all!!

Ahhh this was just about the scariest night of my life. It happened on Tuesday Jan 13 around midnight. I was on my way home from Brennan's house in Cedar. I was on the free way going about 70-75 mph and there was a mini van pulling a camp trailer in front of me. They had no tail lights or hazards on and were going 35 mph. I didnt see them until it was too late. I swerved hard to the left but I was already too close. My truck spun and stopped with me facing on coming traffic. Both air bags deployed and I wasnt sure what the heck happened. There was blood all over my hand and in my mouth but it was just from a small cut on my thumb. I left the hospital with 3 stitches and that was the worst of it. I called Brennan as soon as my truck stopped spinning and I'm still not sure what our conversation was about but I told him that I had crashed and I was on I-15. He was there in about 2 min. The ambulance came along with a few 2 or 3 firetrucks and a bunch of cops. The van that I had hit knocked over two concrete barriers was in the middle of the freeway. There were no injuries to anyone in that car but there was a lady who came to the hospital to get checked to make sure everything was ok with her. In the ride over in the ambulance she told the EMT she and her husband were going 35 mph. The EMT informed her the min speed limit for the freeway is 45 and she quickly changed her answer. Ha. I dont really remember a whole lot from the night. Brennan says I have brain damage. But the baby is doing fine. I wasn't wearing a seatbelt, but maybe that is why he made it through the accident. I was in shock at the scene of the accident and all I remember was screaming and crying about the baby being ok. But I spent the night at the hospital hooked up to a monitor and listened to his 142 beat per min heartbeat all night long. Brennan and Jeffy didnt leave my side the entire night. Brennan even had Jeffy and Phil come in and give me a blessing right after the accident. I go to the Dr on Tuesday and they are going to do an ultrasound to make sure that he looks ok. Over all I am lucky to be alive and still have little Shayd kickin inside. The impact from the hit and my head on the windshield knocked me around pretty good. And I am scared to death to drive. Or even be in a moving vehicle at all. But I am alive and thats all that matters. Im taking a week off of work to recooperate and get back to myself again. Its been 3 days and every muscle in my entire body is still sore. Im taking my stitches out today. hahaha. My thumb is really infected and I cant take them any longer. My truck is totalled. But the insurance is going to cover it. Everything turned out perfectly. And I am so lucky that little Shayd is so invincible and wasnt ready to leave me yet. This week has been life changing and has really helped me appreciate life and everyone in it.