Our 2nd Anniversary

It is so good to be settled into our new apartment here in Atlanta and to finally have Stephen back home! It was a very long 6 weeks being apart but he is home for good now and has a nice long break before starting rotations. Luckily his semester in Florida ended two days before our second anniversary. Since he has been home we have been keeping ourselves busy every day by finishing up the apartment and putting together the nursery. Everything has been falling into place and looking perfect. We really love our home here and we couldn't be happier with the area that we chose to live in. We are close to everything we need and less than a mile from our church and the Temple. Everyone we have met at church have been so kind and our first Sunday we were invited to have dinner at a ward members home. We feel very lucky to have ended up where we are. 

For our anniversary we spent the day continuing to put together baby furniture and cleaning up around the apartment. We also had our first tornado warning which we thought was pretty awesome. We took a short walk through one of the parks near our apartment and enjoyed watching the ducks for a little while. They were pretty disappointed that we didn't have bread for them. Next time we will know to bring some with us. For dinner we decided to go to the melting pot which was so amazing! We spent two and half hours there and had such a good time. Then we came home and watched our wedding video which is always so much fun. One of our goals for every anniversary is to go do temple sealings. Our sealer when we got married hoped that we would still be coming back to do sealings on our 50th anniversary. We went a couple days after our anniversary and it was really special. One sealer in particular who did most of the sealings was such a neat person. He had some really good things to say and sometimes he would just pause after doing a sealing and smile at how happy that particular couple was to finally be sealed for all time and eternity. Going to the temple is such a special experience and I am so glad that our sealer suggested for us to go do sealings at least once a year on our anniversary. It is such a good reminder at the amazing blessings Stephen and I have together forever. 

Baby Boy Peirce - Third Trimester

30 Weeks

March 8, 2015: Our little baby is now almost 3 pounds and almost 16 inches long! So far the third trimester is flying by which is a little scary since there is still lots to do before this little boy comes (like move across the country). I am now 30 weeks and my main discomfort is back pain. Luckily sleeping has still been fine but I have a feeling my back is not going to get much relief until little one decides to come. Last week at the doctors I had my dreaded glucose test which was actually not so bad. I love my sugar and that orange sugar drink actually tasted really good. Baby boy is still measuring perfectly and moving around just as much as always. Stephen and I's favorite part about the third trimester so far is feeling our baby boy. He is getting big enough that we can feel where he is and follow him as he moves his little feet and body. It is so much fun watching him while he is active and moving around. He has also been getting hiccups every day which is kind of fun to notice. I have ten more weeks to go and I have so far gained a 16 pound belly. Probably the most bizarre thing about pregnancy has been the change in my hair. It is now easier to have it curled than to straighten it. I've never been able to hold curls without a gallon of hair spray and a ton of moose. Now I curl it real quick and they stay without any hair product for days. Pregnancy sure does do some funny things to your body. Stephen and I are getting really excited for the next 10 weeks to come and go so we can meet our baby boy.

31 Weeks

March 13 - 20, 2015: Only a little bit has changed in week 31. I can now add leg aches to my back pain discomfort list. Sleeping used to be my favorite part of the day and it probably still is, except that now I can't sleep very well because my legs ache all night from having to sleep on my sides. So I switch from side to side about every hour. Something else new this week is waking up in the middle of the night unable to fall back asleep. I'm not sure if that is because of the pregnancy or the fact that I am moving so soon and trying to get things all taken care of before then. I had my last doctors appointment this week before moving to Atlanta. Baby is still doing just fine and everything looks great. 

32 Weeks

March 21 - 28, 2015: Week 32 is here and I am feeling quite large and uncomfortable. I'll just add hip pain to my back pain and leg ache discomfort list this week. As well as continuing to wake up some nights for 1 to 2 hours unable to fall back asleep. I have noticed keeping my bedroom super cold has seemed to help me sleep a little bit at least. This week I had my baby shower which was so perfect in every way! I loved seeing friends and family and feel so blessed at all the wonderful gifts our little boy got. This is my last week living in Utah before moving to Atlanta. I am getting so excited to have a home again of our own and start this next chapter of our lives. This week I also started packing my hospital bag and picked out babies going home outfit! It might be to big for him though so I have a few backup options.

Flying this baby to Atlanta at 33 Weeks

Week 35

April 15, 2015: I am now in week 35. I was thinking that this just wasn't going to happen to me but sometime between weeks 33 and now my belly button became an outie. It has slowly been disappearing completely so I was surprised one morning to wake up with the top of it poking out but I love it. Baby is still healthy and doing well. It's been a busy couple weeks moving across the country and into our new home. At my last doctors appointment I had actually lost 2 pounds but baby is still measuring right and his heart is strong. The doctor said it can be normal to lose a little bit in the 3rd trimester so all is good. Next week we have another ultrasound and we are so excited to see our little one. If only it was going to see him in person but for now an ultrasound will do just fine. We are getting very anxious to meet baby boy.

36 Weeks

37 Weeks

April 24 - May 1, 2015: I am now 37 weeks and according to my doctor considered full term. That just means that if I were to go into labor at any time now my doctor wouldn't try to stop it. If I had any complaints about being pregnant before now they were nothing because being this far along is definitely the most uncomfortable time. I just want to be able to sleep on my back again and move around. So I am very excited that the end is coming soon. Stephen and I were able to see our baby during an ultrasound last week but it wasn't one of the fancy ultrasounds so we didn't actually see much. Baby boy was 6 pounds 7 ounces and just as healthy as ever. He was also head down like we thought he was. My doctor thinks he won't be much bigger than 7 1/2 pounds when I deliver! We have now finished decorating the nursery, installed the carseat, and have the hospital bags all ready to go when the little guy decides he is ready to come. We have even taken a tour of the hospital and are really happy with everything we saw. At my doctors appointment this week I was 1 centimeter dilated and 50% effaced. She told us most likely baby won't be making an appearance this week. At this point I have gained just under 20 pounds and so far have no stretch marks which I am so happy about. For now Stephen and I are just enjoying the time off he has from school and trying to see a bit of Atlanta before baby comes!

Last Couple Weeks of March

March has been both a very long month and a pretty difficult one. Stephen has been in Florida for 3 weeks now and it is horrible being apart. the only thing that makes it somewhat ok is knowing that he is doing really well there and enjoying his semester. He was able to work in an obgyn clinic for two weeks and he learned a lot and really enjoyed it. Besides the clinic work he has also been in classes a lot. He is living with a really nice couple close to campus and couldn't have lucked out more with his living situation. His first night there his landlady cooked him a 5 course dinner and has been so generous and kind to him. Another night Jake and Som were there on vacation and took him to dinner. He only has 3 more weeks there and I will be so happy to have him home just in time for our second anniversary!

With it being my last couple weeks in Utah I have made it a priority to visit a lot of my friends to say my goodbyes. It was especially fun seeing most of them at my baby shower and actually having a little bit of time to visit with them. One of my best friends Zandra is moving the same day as me so it was a lot of fun going to her going away party and seeing some people one last time that I wouldn't have otherwise. One of the best nights I've had the last couple weeks was at the Pretty Little Liars finale party one of friends puts on every season. The show ended really poorly but it was way fun to dress up and make guesses for the next season. The best were all the scary dolls all around the room watching it with us. 

As far as packing has gone I gave myself 3 full weeks and packed a little bit every day. It worked out perfectly and there was only one disaster getting everything ready to go. The disaster was when I decided to clean out Stephen's 72 hour kit...and found it full of weevil larva! As soon as we opened the bag it smelled as if there was a dead animal in it but it wasn't until we opened the side pockets and got to the bottom of the bag that we noticed all of the weevils. A few of them sprayed out and got on my pants and I swear in my hair. It was a horrible adventure and I will just say about 90% of that 72 hour kit ended up right in the trash. We were able to salvage some of it though. Loading the moving truck went really smoothly. With the help of some ward members it only took an hour and a half to get it all loaded and ready to go. My dad left a couple days later and is going to meet my mom and I in Atlanta on the 31st. It is officially happening now. Moving to Atlanta in two days!

Peter Rabbit Baby Shower

Saturday was so much fun because I was able to have my baby shower! I have been looking forward to it for months. My mom really went above and beyond to make it completely perfect in every way. I am so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends who care so much about baby and me. The theme for the shower was Peter Rabbit and everything turned out so adorable. It was so much fun having Stephen's mom and sisters come as well as all of my friends, some who I haven't seen in such a long time. I got so many wonderful gifts and feel like such a lucky mommy to be. Stephen and I cannot wait for our little boy to come. Less than 8 weeks now! 

30 Weeks - Maternity Pictures

I am so happy with our maternity pictures that CristinAllen Photography took for us! They are absolutely perfect. One of my favorite things about being pregnant was knowing that I would get to take maternity pictures. Maternity and wedding pictures are always my favorite pictures to see in peoples homes. Stephen and I were able to take these the night before he left for Florida. I think it made them even more special to me because I knew he was leaving for six weeks but that I would have these to look at until I see him again soon. Stephen is in Florida for six weeks doing a starting rotation and is going to meet me in Atlanta the second week in April where we will be living for the next two years. I am getting so excited for the big move and then to welcome our sweet baby boy just a month and a half later. Stephen was able to see where we are going to live in Atlanta before he made it to Florida and it seems like such a perfect place for us to start our family. I am so excited for this next stage of our lives to begin!

Happy Valentine's Day

Stephen and I celebrated Valentine's Day this year by going to dinner and then driving around in the canyon for a little while. I woke up to find some beautiful red roses and the most perfect card for our situation in life right now. We still have a long road ahead of us in medical school and there are sadly going to be more than a few holidays we won't be together but those are just a few days out of the year. We are just lucky with any of the time we have together. 

Baby Boy Peirce - Second Trimester

Baby Belly So Far

4, 9, 14, 18, 23, & 27 Weeks

November 14 - 21, 2014: I am now 14 weeks and officially in my second trimester. Yay! Poppy is the size of a peach this week and is starting to make mommy show a little bit. In my first trimester I lost 4 pounds. Since starting my second I have gained 2 of them back and a peach sized baby bump. I can sum up how I've felt this week in 1 word...Exhausted! I am so tired. I go to bed early and sleep in. If I have to leave the house it can't be for very long or else I am completely drained. Second trimester is starting off pretty exhausting. Hopefully my energy levels pick up. I still have to survive 5 more weeks living on this super hot island with no car.

14 Weeks - Baby is starting to make an appearance.

December 3, 2014: Today we got to listen to the baby on the doppler again! This time the doctor was able to find the heartbeat right away. It was very exciting. Baby Peirce had a really fast heartbeat in the upper 160's bpm right at first. Once I started talking it went down to the 150's bpm range. I am now 16 weeks and our little avocado sized baby can supposedly hear mommy and daddy's voices. The doppler was so exciting finding the heart rate so fast and noticing the change in it by me relaxing and talking. We are loving our little baby more and more each week and are starting to get anxious about knowing the gender. 

December 5 - 12, 2014: I am 17 weeks now. I can't believe how fast the time is going. When we go back to the states I will almost be to my half way point. Our little one is big enough to fit in the palm of our hands this week, about 5 and a half inches long. It seems like just yesterday that our little one was the size of a peanut. We were really looking forward to finding out the gender this week in Portsmouth at one of the clinics. Our appointment fell through last minute though because the Doctor in Roseau decided not to come up. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I got really excited knowing we would find out the gender sooner than expected. Along with the gender disappointment I either had horrible allergies this week or a minor cold. Either way it was no fun for a couple days sneezing all day long. People are starting to notice my baby bump now which gives me mixed feelings. I'm not sure I'm ready to have a big belly yet. But by far the most exciting thing that happened this week is that I have started feeling baby kicks! I have been noticing it for a couple weeks now but this week I am more sure that it is in fact the baby. Our little one is sure active. 

18 Weeks

December 12 - 19, 2014: ITS A BOY!!! This week we found out the gender of our little baby and he is all boy! We are very excited to have a little baby boy be a part of our family in May. By this point of pregnancy I feel like I have my energy back and I am feeling amazing. Just in the last few days my appetite has gotten crazy though. Even when I'm not hungry I want to eat more food. I've caved this week, mostly because a new frozen yogurt shop opened up and it is legit American frozen yogurt. So I may have just gone and got frozen yogurt every day this week. I've also been loving nachos. I've eaten them about 4 or 5 times a week for lunch the last two weeks. Partly because its all the food we have in the house since we are moving home in just a few days! Either from the baby or eating way to much food this week I am feeling very big. Everyone who already knows I am pregnant and even a few who didn't know can now very easily see my bump. Whether I'm ready or not for a big belly its coming. Because this is our last week living in Dominica, it won't be long before we start buying fun things for our little boy and I can't wait. I've already bought a couple things for his nursery and a couple gender neutral outfits. Our biggest concern right now is coming up with the best name for our baby. That I have a feeling is going to be tough. Besides finding out the gender of our little one I am feeling more and more kicks every day. Every time I am sitting now or laying down I feel tiny little ones. What is even more fun is that Stephen has felt a kick. We were laying in bed and I mentioned that I felt a kick. So Stephen put his hand on my belly and then he gave the biggest kick I have felt so far just for daddy! It was pretty amazing.

January 9, 2015: Today is my 22 week mark. It's crazy already being past my half way point being pregnant. We had our 21 week ultrasound a few days ago and got to see our little man. The ultrasound was incredible. We got to see him in amazing detail and got some really special first pictures of him to bring home and a DVD. He is doing great and everything looks perfect! He is going to be such a beautiful baby. After the ultrasound was one of the first times I got really anxious and just wanted him here right now. It's a little late but I'm glad to finally have been able to start all of my prenatal care. So far I am healthy and everything looks great for me and baby. I never got super sick on the island but I think the heat, humidity, and walking everywhere effected me more than I realized. Since being home I feel amazing. I haven't been sick at all (besides getting a cold for a week). I've just been enjoying every minute of being pregnant. Our little boy has continued kicking like crazy and the bigger he gets the harder he kicks. He is already one strong little one. It won't be long before Stephen can feel all of his kicks. He is always wiggling around in there and I love it.

23 Weeks

January 20, 2015: Our little man should now weigh just about a pound, maybe a little more. He is continuing to kick every day and Stephen is able to feel almost all of them. I am now in my 23rd week and getting quite the belly. Sleeping is starting to get a little uncomfortable. I am also starting to get to the point where standing for to long gets me tired and sitting for to long hurts my upper back. Besides that though I have no complaints. I still don't have food cravings or anything out of the ordinary that I have noticed. My mom and I have done quite a bit of baby shopping. I now have a stroller, car seat, and a few other baby things that I can't wait to use. Stephen joked that we should set up the car seat right away and put a bag of potatoes in it or something. We just can't wait to meet our little man in May! We are still struggling coming up with baby names though. Our next step is making a big list of names and then crossing some off each week until its narrowed down enough to just pick one. Or we will just end up being one of those couples that brings a baby name book with them to the hospital or naming the baby after our Doctor. Probably the funniest thing about being this pregnant now is that I am constantly hitting my belly against things. I bump it in to chairs, furniture, people, and even the car door all the time not remembering how big its getting.

27 Weeks

February 13, 2015: I am now 27 weeks and at the end of my second trimester! I cannot believe it. Baby boy is still doing really well as far as we can tell. He is measuring almost a week ahead of schedule at every appointment and is now about two pounds and over 14 inches long! He is the most active throughout the night, mid morning, and then every few hours or so throughout the day. He is starting to get big enough that a few times he has really tickled me like crazy. I will take the tickles for now because I have a feeling the bigger he gets those tickles are going to turn into punches and not feel so good. My absolute favorite thing is watching my belly when he kicks. It is so much fun seeing it move all over the place as he moves. We, well I have continued buying more baby things for the little guy and am so excited about all of his fun clothes. Newborn onesies I have decided are just about the cutest things in the world. Stephen and I have also started taking some pre-natal classes. It is exciting learning about what to expect as we get ready. Because baby is getting bigger my back is not having the greatest of days. I started with just upper back pain when I would sit for to long but now my lower back has started hurting as well as this leg ache just on the right leg. By far my favorite part of the day now is when I get to lay down and sleep. That so far hasn't been to bad now that I know the most comfortable positions to sleep in. So far I will be starting my third trimester having gained 11 pounds. All from the second trimester because I lost weight in my first. Let's hope it doesn't get to crazy in the third trimester. As for now we have decided on a baby name which is so exciting! It is hard to believe that there are only 13 weeks until we meet our little boy. There is still lots to happen before this little guy can come though. Stephen will be taking the most important exam of his career, then sadly leaving us for 6 long weeks to go to Florida, then the baby shower which I am so excited for, then moving across the country to Atlanta at 7 1/2 months pregnant, settling into a new home, and then Stephen joining us with about a month left before baby comes. Luckily we have found a doctor in Atlanta. That is a big relief having that figured out. It's going to be a busy 13 weeks.