Hello life update!
Holy cow, I'm ashamed that it's been as long as it has since I've written. I did start a journal this year so thankfully I do have that, but I haven't updated that in a few months either so it's about time I get my butt back in gear!
It's been 7 months since I've put anything out, which is unbelievable considering how much has happened to our little family since then. In that time we've only moved to Boise, started our jobs and lives out there, found out we were pregnant (hello big news!), moved back home to Idaho Falls and started settling back in to our lives here surrounded by family and friends. It's been a good year for us (obviously with a baby on the way), especially as we've really come closer as a couple and strengthened our relationship as we had to rely on one another without either of our families extremely close by. We really settled in to our ward in Boise while we there and made some incredible friends. Austin served in the Elder Quorum presidency and did an incredible job. We loved our ward and the memories that we made there, but when we visited our family here in Idaho Falls a few months back we both felt inspired that it was time to come home.
I was surprised that we both were pulled in that direction after feeling so strongly about moving to Boise and not being there for very long, but I know that there were experiences and relationships that needed to be gained for the both of us, even during that short time. And it's been a huge relief knowing all of the family and friend support we have here now, throughout our pregnancy, and especially when the baby comes. I knew we could handle whatever came our way out there in Boise, but it has been a calm reassurance for me in knowing that the Lord wants us to be near family and have that added support.
Speaking of babies and pregnancy, I'm sure you're all dying to know every detail about our baby.
BUMPDATE TIME: Well, at 14 almost 15 weeks I have already developed a little baby bump, but because I never feel cute enough to take a picture, and I want it to be on the actual day that it switches to the next week, I have zero baby bump pics. Don't worry, I'll swallow my pride, or actually get ready, or get over my slight need for perfection one of these days and take one. I promise. But regardless of pictures, I'm telling you right now that baby is settling right in. It's crazy to think how much I already love this little thing inside me so much, but I'm already so proud and feel so drawn to my little baby. Haha, it's really incredible what hormones can do, isn't it?
Baby Blob Blatter (or Triple B as we fondly refer to it), is currently 3.4 in, 1.5 oz and growing every day! This week baby is the size of a large lemon and I'll tell you what, is already a wiggle worm. Also, in case you're curious, so far I've gained about 6 lbs. Most importantly, however, Triple B is healthy and strong, and the doctor doesn't foresee any complications. I know that a lot of people will not appreciate this, but this pregnancy has actually been a breeze. I have felt great, and except for one expectation (that's quite a story that I'll have to share at a later time), have only experienced nausea on a few occasions and have not been sick. Besides general tiredness, the realization that none of my clothes seem to fit, and the startling fact that apparently I sunburn even easier now (Yay for red skin every time I go outside!), I've felt pretty normal. I have noticed more fatigue and achy joints since entering the second trimester, but it's nothing I can't bare, especially since I feel incredibly blessed to have not been sick at all.
One of the biggest blessings for me has been that my emotions and mood have been controllable, which is a huge relief. When I was on birth control the hormones made me into a pretty miserable person and I was nervous that when I became pregnant the same thing would happen. However, besides being even more susceptible to crying than I was before, I am my normal self, and I'm so happy about it. No crazy cravings either, but I have realized how much I love potatoes of any kind- we're already raising our little Idahoan right 😉 I occasionally think a particular food or type of food sounds really good, but it isn't paramount that I eat it.
Mostly I just feel really grateful. It's hard sometimes to feel that way when I'm still looking for a job, and seem to be hitting dead end after dead end, but I look at the wonderful family and friends I have here and all over, and I just feel so blessed. Especially in light of recent events, I think we get so caught up in the little things that sometimes we forget about the bigger ones. Our families are the most important things that we can have in this life and even though we love them, how often do we take them for granted? In a split moment anything can change. When sitting in a room surrounded and engulfed by electronics how often do we take the moment to put them away or turn them off and play a game or talk? How often do tell someone special to us that we love them? I know that until recently I would shrug off my younger siblings when they wanted to play a game thinking I was too old or cool or something for that. Yet now at 23 how could I not take the opportunity to spend time with my baby sister who just misses her big sis? It's amazing what time, maturity, and perspective can do to a person.
I'm not perfect at being present in the moment, but as I've taken more opportunities to do so I've found that they make the sweetest memories. I absolutely love taking pictures to document fun times and special moments, but thinking back on when Austin and I found out we were pregnant, I'm so grateful to look back on that and remember the raw emotion that we both felt. All without our phones or pictures or videos. That moment is one of the sweetest memories for me, especially knowing that we were both fully processing it together without me trying to shove a camera in our faces. I'm grateful for him and his excitement and support. He's going to be a great dad, and our baby is already so blessed already.
I just feel so incredibly strong about expressing how much God and Jesus Christ loves us. Even in our darkest moments, He is there. Even when no one else understands what we feel, they do. They will carry us, and will lead us through this life. And because they love us so much they've given us our families. Not everyone has the perfect family of origin, but they have the chance to create the family that they always wanted. Although our families can create the most sorrow, they can also create the most joy. And although I am just a mother to an unborn child, I can't think of anything greater than being with Austin, this baby, our future babies, and our families forever. I know that God, through Jesus Christ, has made that possible. And for that, I couldn't be more eternally grateful.
