Gummy Bear!

SO MUCH has happened in the last two months! I can't believe it!

On July 7 Gummy Bear was born. I was right--it's a boy!! The labor and delivery couldn't have gone better, and we both did really well. Husband Man was a huge support throughout the entire thing! I had contractions all Saturday, and Sunday morning I woke Husband Man up at 5AM. We were at the hospital around 8, and then Gummy Bear was born at a quarter to three in the afternoon.

Before we left the hospital, the pediatrician looked at him and said in genuine surprise, "Wow, you guys, he looks really, really great for being two days old!"

Gummy Bear LOVED to chew on his fists. He always had his hands up by his mouth! I loved it so much, it was so adorable. Now he just chews on his binky.

Husband Man seemed to adjust pretty quickly--and pretty well--to being a dad!

 Babies fall asleep fast!

 What is that! Woah-- Is that hand mine???

 Gotta love that little bum!

 All clean! And a little chilly...

 Being a goober!

 My mom has this bouncer that lets him sit up. He LOVES it! Gummy Bear loves to sit up and look around and wiggle and squirm. Actually, he loves to wiggle and squirm no matter where he is! He's going to be a very busy boy. I have trouble getting pictures of him where his hands and feet aren't blurry!

I love this little man so much. The last week Husband Man has been at work (he has a job! More on that in another post) and so we've been apart. Gummy Bear went bald on top for a while, and in the last week and a half he's sprouted fuzz on top of his head. He's already going to look so different by the time Husband Man will see us again!

Gummy Bear is almost two months. He had a cold, so we went to the doctor to make sure he didn't have an ear infection (he didn't). The nurse weighed and measured him, and at almost seven weeks old he was just about 12 pounds, and 23 inches long! I love this little guy. He already has a personality. He loves to look around, is starting to talk and coo and make noises, and he wiggles constantly when he's awake. Sometimes he doesn't want to go to sleep, and so he will doze off and then suddenly wake up and wiggle and suck on his binky really quickly as if to say "Just kidding! I'm awake!" and he'll do that over and over again...!! I'm learning to snuggle him until he goes to sleep, and then we put him in the swing and cover him with a blanket so he stays nice and warm, and then he'll finally take a nap.

He's got long arms and long skinny legs, and bright big eyes. He charms EVERYONE! When I went to the dentist the assistants had a blast feeding him and talking to him while I had my teeth cleaned. When I went to dinner with my parents before the rodeo this last Saturday he had a blowout, and when I came back from the changing him in the car I stopped so an older lady could give him googly eyes. I love showing him off--I made an adorable baby!

He sleeps pretty well at night-- 9 times out of 10, if not better, he gives me five hours of sleep at night, eats, and then sleeps at least three more. He LOVES to eat-- I read online that a baby his age, on average, eats about 3-4 ounces. Sometimes he eats 5, even 5-1/2 ounces!! And when he gets really hungry he definitely makes sure to let us know!

I'm so grateful for this little spirit in my life. Husband Man and I love him so much. I love having such a pure, perfect little man. He reminds me to be the best person I can be, and that coupled with the immense support that Husband Man gives me buoys me up and makes me feel so good about myself-- even with the leftover pregnancy chub and clothes that still don't fit. I'm doing an amazing thing. I'm raising a baby. I'm supporting my husband while we move almost a thousand miles. Even when it seems like all I do is feed and change diapers, deep down I'm nurturing and loving two people as much as I possibly can--and then a little more.

Ok, enough of the gushing.

I'm trying to get back into the blogging, but we're moving this weekend and so it's still super crazy! But with the move and Husband Man's birthday coming up there should be lots to talk about!

Pregnancy Post #3: Random Thoughts

While researching pregnancy exercises at the beginning of the second trimester, I came across a lot of articles that said that walking was a really great form of exercise for pregnant women. Ha! Walking? I walk to campus, around campus--I power walk, matching Husband Man's long giraffe-leg strides, and that doesn't feel like exercise. Psh. Pansies.
Then I started putting on baby weight, as Gummy Bear got bigger and all that, and walking suddenly became fantastic exercise. Touche, pregnancy, touche.

Conundrum: When you get pregnant, it will seem that many people feel obliged to hold doors for you, let you go first to microwave your food, or help you put up your plastic chair after masterclass is over. When you cross the street, however, drivers will still seem to have no qualms about running you over.

Husband Man and I have talked a lot about things we want to do with our kids, sort of like goals and talents that we want them to have. For example, my children will learn to play the piano, no arguments, and we also want to encourage them to do karate or play an instrument or take swim lessons, etc. You know, the standard. We've also talked about things like trying to make sure our kids stay on top of the learning curve, trying to keep them engaged in wholesome activities, and other things like that for when they're little toddlers and kids. We write these ideas down and commit that we will make our kids the amazing prodigies we know they can be. (Let it be known, however, that these are realistic ideas-- I'm not about to teach my baby to swim before they're a year old or anything crazy like that.)
Then I go and babysit someone's kid, and my entire mindset changes. Are they dead? Are they sick? Are they crying? No? Fantastic. It's a great day.

I love randomly finding pregnancy information online. One day, while on Pinterest, I ran across what was supposed to be the ultimate website that would answer your every question about being pregnant. I clicked on it, just for kicks and giggles, and the one question that I actually read was, "Should I eat Arby's while pregnant?"
I was flabberghasted. Woman, you are pregnant! If you want Arby's, you get in your car and drive down the street, and you get a giant roast beef sandwich and an apple turnover, and you enjoy that darned food like a caveman would enjoy a leg of mammoth!

 Conundrum: When you get pregnant, you will be bombarded with questions. How are you feeling? When are you due? How is the baby? Do you have a name picked out? How are you feeling? What gender is the baby? What do you mean you didn't find out the gender?? When are you due again? How are you feeling?
You will receive these questions so often that you might be tempted to think that people actually are interested in baby stuff. And then one day, when you're trying to show the carseat you picked out to your victim of choice, your husband will point out that they don't really seem interested. You will quickly learn that people really aren't interested in the baby's goofy kicks and mannerisms, and that they're even less interested in the choice of carseat or pack n play. (Unless they're pregnant too. Then they'll talk a little bit with you.)

Another thing I've quickly learned is that my brain, which mostly functioned before, does not function properly now. In fact, my entire being doesn't really function normally. Husband Man will hand me something, and it goes straight to the floor. I'll start a story or a thought, and midway through it my mind will turn into a void filled with the knowledge that something important used to inhabit that space but now it is lost to the four winds. If I'm lucky I'll get the thought back, but I don't know when it will return-- it could be in the next minute, the next hour, or the next day.

I've heard stories of women who turn into bloodhounds when they're pregnant-- you know, they can smell everything, and sometimes those smells can make them sick. I don't really have that-- in fact, when I was babysitting a friend's six-month-old, my friend got home and pointed out that the baby had a poopy diaper that I apparently couldn't smell. The only things that have really bothered me are vinegar, which is what I use to clean my shower, and nail polish. But not poopy diapers.

Conundrum: When you get pregnant, you will receive a bucketload of advice. You have to pick through it all, obviously, but there are some things that will baffle you. Your sister-in-law will mention that you will experience hair retention, but two, three, four, five months later you'll be standing in the shower pulling wads of hair off of your fingers and asking your husband if you're going bald. A lady in your ward will tell you to rest your laptop on your belly and watch your baby kick it, but no matter how many times you try it your baby will ignore the invading laptop and pummel your intestines instead. The same goes for drinking cold things and watching your belly turn into a popcorn popper-- you're still waiting on that one. Pregnancy websites will tell you what adorable developments are occurring with your adorable baby, and you'll read about adorable sleep patterns and adorable kicks and see images of pregnant women lounging in the Bahamas with green smoothies and unblemished faces... and then you'll look down at your yoga pants rolled halfway down your butt, and your husband's hoodie; you'll realise that your baby has forgone a sleep pattern in lieu of doing whatever the heck they like; and that your baby doesn't kick but rather makes their world a playground for flips and karate kicks and wiggles and dancing. All this reaffirms just one thing-- advice is still just advice.

That moment when you're laying in bed next to your husband, who is resting his hand on your belly and happens to feel the baby do a two-second jump-flip-rebound-kick that contorts your belly and smacks your left lung and right hip simultaneously, and the husband says with a surprised look "Wow! That was big!" and before you realise it you've given him the look and said "I KNOW..."
(I love my Husband Man! His reactions are priceless!)

When we go to the gym Husband Man is doing pullups and squats and situps and pushups, and there are guys around us doing their pullups and ring thingies and headstand jumps and running around, and I'm all "These wall pushups are killing me! Holy canole!"

Just A Little Thing...

When I went to check the mail today, I found a little package addressed to me from my dad. I was super super excited! I got a package! From my daddy!! Except I couldn't figure out what he could have possibly sent to me, since they're coming to visit in two weeks...

So I shook the package, heard a rattle, and managed to tear it open.

Inside was the bag of M&M's he had taunted me with only a week ago.

I laughed out loud, really really hard!

And then I bawled my eyes out. Uncontrollably. (But I was still laughing a little, too.)

In my silly way, I almost don't want to open them and eat them, because the gift means so much to me.

Sometimes I am excited to have a little Yockeyite, a little sign of the eternal bond of love and commitment that Husband Man and I have... But sometimes I really just want to run home and hug my mommy and my daddy and just be their little girl forever...

So today, among the sunshine and the house I cleaned up and am really proud of, I sat on the couch and bawled (and laughed) over a bag of M&M's.

(I blame it on being pregnant.)

Pregnancy Post #2 and Temple Trips

I did write a post about random prego stuff, but it's on the Sister Blog this time, so head on over there to read it!

I just want to add that we went to the temple today. We've sort of gone sporadically, when we remember (I still don't get how I forget, it sits on the hill in town), but we've only done other stuff besides a session. Today we did a session, and I felt like I was on cloud nine! It was so wonderful to be in the House of the Lord again, and to feel my spiritual bucket filled to overflowing. What wonderful times are these, where we can go and receive blessings for performing saving ordinances for the dead!

P.S. My husband is awesome. Just saying.

Pregnancy Post #1: Reality vs. The Internet

I've passed the first trimester and all the wonderfulness that is nausea and puking. I feel lucky about my first tri I was only sick for maybe six-ish weeks, nausea all day but no throwing up unless I ingested something my tummy severely disagreed with. Like that one time I brushed my teeth and then puked up my spaghetti dinner and moose tracks ice cream dessert. (Spaghetti noodles can go up your nose... who knew?) Or that one time that I tried a Finnish cider drink my SIL brought from Finland, and one sip brought up my pizza lunch a couple hours later. (Future moms, take note: If the smell makes your tummy churn, DON'T DO IT.)

But yes, thanks to my wonderful Husband Man, I made it through, without telling a single soul, so I could surprise my families at Christmastime. I feel awesome.

Now, however, I want to talk about a weird phenomenon that I've discovered about the interwebs. This is the age of information, where everyone has access to the internet and anyone under 80 knows how to use Google. I don't know how the pioneers endured nine months of wondering what was going on in their bodies-- I read up all the time on how Gummy Bear is growing, whether he/she can hear or sense light or is growing hair or still has translucent skin....

By the way, we call him/her Gummy Bear because of our first ultrasound. As we're watching this little... blob of a future person squirm around on the screen, Husband Man broke the silence by saying "It looks like a gummy bear" and so we've called him/her that ever since. But I digress...

The biggest thing that I notice about these baby websites, is this: These websites make it seem like you got pregnant and it's absolutely perfect and you have absolutely nothing to do in your life except lounge around, crochet adorable things, enjoy a bowl of granola, set up pristine bedrooms, dither over the perfect name, and be a photo model on the side. "You, too, can look radiant and heavenly in a pair of yoga pants and a tank top!" is what all their photos have to say.

Look, the only reason I look "radiant" is because of the mass of glowing-red pimples on my pasty-white face. I'm still in college, I still have homework to do, an apartment to clean, I feel tired and draggy and take a lot of very-not-pretty naps, dinner still has to be made, groceries still need to be purchased... And while the websites suggest asking for help from your husband, let's face it-- he's not perfect. My wonderful Husband Man is super helpful with tidying the house and helping me take naps, but I'm also very aware that he would rather eat the house empty than go grocery shopping.

Plus women deal with all sorts of things that aren't always addressed. I was talking with one gal, and she's been a crazy cleaning lady her whole pregnancy. She would get up in the night to pee and end up vacuuming the whole apartment. Her husband could do nothing to convince her to stop and go back to bed. Some women get super emotional, happy one minute and bawling over spilled milk the next. (I've had my share of being randomly distraught over something trivial.) Now, I know these websites are meant to be positive and uplifting, but that's like the advertising on pads and tampons to "Have a happy period!" even though you're having cramps that could cripple hippos and enduring mood swings and whatnot. Trying to stay positive doesn't always work when your back hurts, your feet hurt, you can't stay awake through a movie, and your husband doesn't know what to do with you when you're insisting that the baseboards are dirty and have to be cleaned RIGHT NOW. (Or when you only want chicken noodle soup, but it has to be from Progresso and then he has to go to the store just to make sure you have soup for dinner.)

Now, let's be fair-- there are magical moments of pregnancy. One of the milestones I'm coming up on is feeling the baby move. In a few weeks is another ultrasound. Watching my belly grow is interesting, and thinking about the tiny person growing inside blows my mind. It's brought Husband Man and I a little closer together as we think about becoming parents and deciding on how we might teach our kids this or that... I really am excited!

It's just true that what the internet says about being pregnant is, in a lot of ways, not what happens in reality. They're inconsistent, redundant, not always 100% accurate, and sometimes don't answer all my questions. That's why I'm so grateful for my mom and Husband Man's older sister, who have given me TONS of useful advice- and reality- that the internet can't do. The age of information has nothing on the tried-and-true knowledge of mothers.

The End of 2012: Travels, Christmas, Family, Surprises, and Blessings

2012 is over, but for our little Yockeyite branch 2013 is only going to be full of beginnings! This Christmas season Husband Man and I have felt so incredibly blessed in every possible way! (And we still feel blessed!)

This year we had 3 WEEKS to travel and spend with family for the Christmas holiday! Since Husband Man was working night shifts all semester and had to work the Thanksgiving holiday, he blocked himself out so he didn't work for the last two weeks of December and the first week of January. He did have to work a little, because he had to make a schedule and set up a few things for hiring, but for the most part I had him all to myself for the whole break!

The first week we went down to Utah with Sous Chef for another of our friend's wedding. Sous Chef and I were asked to be bridesmaids, and we had some very brightly-colored dresses we were asked to wear!

Ok, so you can't really see the dresses, but hey! It was COLD outside! Thankfully, the photographer didn't keep us any longer than necessary- she knew we were all freezing! The wedding was beautiful, and I am grateful that my friend wanted me there with her for all the festivities.

After the wedding we crossed Wyoming to return to good ol' South Dakota. We spent the weekend before Christmas with my family before moving on to Husband Man's family. That first week of Christmas vacation was rough because, between the wedding and traveling to each family and trying to get Christmas shopping done, we were running all over the place! That made Christmas Day even more wonderful because that was the first day we were actually able to just sit and relax, and enjoy everything.

For Husband Man, this Christmas was especially amazing because his little sister, who lives in Europe with her hubby, was able to make it to the states for Christmas. (She almost didn't, between missing luggage and a snowstorm in Chicago, but she made it!) Both of Husband Man's sisters, his parents, his grandmother, and his aunt and uncle were all there. I've never seen so many people at his parents' house! It was so much fun!

Christmas Day Husband Man and I had a special gift to give our parents...

I wish I had more pictures from my family! Someday we'll do better with taking more pictures...

I'm pregnant! Husband Man and I kept the secret for three months, just so we could announce it on Christmas. My parents got a card too, and their reaction was priceless! (But I can't figure out how to make the video show on the blog! If you're friends with me on facebook, I'm tagged in the video...) They weren't expecting it at all! Husband Man's parents were very excited and happy (although his dad didn't know it was us right away, he was a little confused!) and my parents, grandparents, and sister cried. Everyone was so excited for us, and that excitement makes me excited. The Yockeyites are going from two to three!

We also received a lot of wonderful gifts from our families, gifts that are useful and thoughtful and special. I loved every single thing! We spent Christmas week with his family, and the first week of January with my family. My family helped me get some new shoes and some maternity clothes. Both of our families did and gave so much to us, with gifts and service and love, and I can't wrap my mind around how much they love us and want us to succeed.

Not only are we prepped for the new year with things to succeed, not only are we expecting a mini Yockeyite, but we are also GRADUATING! Both Husband Man and I are set up to graduate in April with our Bachelor's. I am so excited to graduate college! Since Husband Man had been off his mission for a couple years before I married him, he was actually ahead of me in his schooling. If I wanted to graduate, I had to jump on a special program that would allow me to go to school for all three semesters in a year so I could catch up to him. Let me tell you--three semesters a year is tough! After two years of nothing but school, I am so proud of myself for graduating college. (Sorry to toot my own horn!)

I'm also really proud of Husband Man for graduating, too, and also for trying hard to further his schooling. He's looking to get into a special Master's program in southern Idaho that will give him fantastic experience and also get him placed in a government job for at least two years. He's trying so hard to make sure that he can provide for our family; he takes that responsibility very seriously!

I feel like I could type and type and type all day, and I would never get everything that's running through my head down. How much I love family, how excited I am (and nervous too) to be a mother, how much I love Husband Man, how grateful I am to my Father in Heaven for all He has done for me... Our family is truly, truly blessed. Knowing I have support from so many people gives me courage to take on the new year!