Ramblings of a tired, emotionally drained and increasingly forgetful pregnant woman...

Seriously, is it already April? I cannot even believe it.

I am currently enjoying the after taste of some Peeps Dan and Jo sent along with the baby bjorn and a bag of jelly beans (THANKS!), and I'm enjoying the smell of dinner cooking in the oven which happens to be the Sunday Chicken Dinner recipe that I was introduced to by Jolyn when we stayed with them WAY back in the day when they live IN Rexburg. They were still newlyweds then... SO long ago! ha... I tried on the baby bjorn and it looks retarded on me, plus there's no baby in it so it probably looks even more funny, but it seems really simple and really comfy for both carrier and baby, so I'm excited!

I'm also enjoying the sound of our upstairs neighbors. That probably sounds a little strange, but since I don't have any music playing or the TV on, and the washer/dryer (thanks Mary and Tim!) isn't currently running, I like to hear the neighbors muffled noises so that it's not completely silent. Trent is at work and I'm missing my family so it's nice to know there's someone close by, even if I never really talk to them or see them much besides on our ways in and out of the apartments.

My doctor appointment on Monday went well - I was prepared with questions to ask and before I could even get my first one out all the way he assured me that everything was fine and that I won't have to have Brooklin early because of her being too small. I think he didn't really encourage my late habit of worrying like crazy and assured me before I could decide whether to ask the other questions relating to what the other ultrasound doctor said that all would be well. He did an internal check and noted that I was dilated 2 cm, which he said was good. I've been doing some reading about dilation and whether it's a good indicator of how a labor and delivery will go, and really it seems like there's no certain way to tell. I could be not dilated at all until a day before the baby comes and still have the easiest labor/delivery ever, or I could be dilated well ahead of time and have a long and laborious labor and delivery... in other words, I'm learning more and more that pregnancy is different for everyone, and perhaps even for every baby and although I can be prepared with what may happen, I can never really know for sure. The power could go out in the middle of it all at the hospital for heavens' sake as was the case with Jolyn, and that is definitely something you can't anticipate. So there. I'm still a worrier, but mostly just for lack of preparedness which one can never be prepared enough, and not so much for Brooklin's health. She's good! I know it.

I counted the boxes/duffles we still have yet to unpack the other day and we have 17. That sounds like aLOT but only ONe of them are the big boxes, and it's most likely DI stuff as well as probably half full of hangers (which I desperately need to unpack SOON) so that's not too bad. About half of the other boxes are book boxes which are appropriately loaded with books. A few of the boxes of books are even already sitting in the bookshelf, so we just need to remove the books from the boxes and put them right back on the bookshelf. Trenton really worked hard last week especially to get our house set up which I appreciate! I have felt like such a bum (which I secretly LIKE to be) but he assures me that's just how it should be. Now I just have to talk him into getting rid of/or at least organizing all these random things we still have around the house that we don't really use EVER. We'll figure it out.

Oh did I mention that almost two weeks ago now Trenton was at a day-retreat thing for Ernst and Young, and at the end he won a Wii? We were pretty stoked! It sat on our entertainment center (courtesy of DI) for a week or so before he set it up, and it's been fun to play every so often. We have decided that we like it, and that we won't let it be a distraction - which is really not that difficult because we just have the Wii Sports, and don't play on spending money on other games any time soon. (I think Trenton is trying to talk me into another game or two or at least another wiimote though so we'll see what happens).

I'm supposed to have Trent take a picture of my prego self for mom to see (I was talking on the phone with her while sitting lazily in a chair and noticed that I can now rest my hands on my baby whereas before I couldn't really use the belly as a "table" in anyway so hence the desire to see my "ever enlargening" prego-belly). I'll post it on here when I finally make him do it. I've reminded him a million and a half times, but I guess what I need to do is hand him a camera, pose, and say TAKE a picture, then it'll be done. There you go.

I need some advice about bumpers in the crib. Are they NEEDED, or are they purely decorative? What if the mattress doesn't go completely into the corners of the crib? Should I shove blankets down in the holes? Or not worry about it until she can move around? I've read a couple of things and heard a few more about the do's and don'ts with bumpers, but I don't know for sure what the guidelines or even common sense rules are. Anyway, any "important need-to-know information" you have about bumpers would be much appreciated!

I'll have to take a picture of the crib too, complete with bumper and skirt that trenton so graciously snatched from a dumpster about 4 months ago. It's not my favorite, but hey, it was free!

Another bit of news - Trenton received his offer from Ernst and Young officially in the mail the other day, and was a little disappointed with the salary but is grateful for the opportunity to have a JOB when we graduate! The economy has shown us its beastly side, but we are grateful that it hasn't ripped us apart. He's not 100% sure what he's going to do, but he'll chat with some professors, his boss, and a few close friends from his program to get some advice and see what they're thinking as well.

I think maybe our neighbor upstairs maybe had her baby - she's due this weekend I think, but a whole slew of family members just arrived with gifts and cheers when the door opened for them. I'll have to stop by in a few days and see what the synopsis is. Trent and I are craving chocolate chip cookies so maybe we'll have to make some and bring them by. :0) My time is coming SOOON!

Time for a bathroom break. I hope everyone enjoys conference weekend! We are excited as always to get to hear the words of the General Authorities and other Auxiliary leaders of the church. I think my ears will be listening especially for words of advice and whatnot regarding parenting. I've been picking up more and more things in the Book of Mormon as we've been reading that deal with raising children or just teaching in general, but it's amazing how much we can apply to our lives in whatever stage of life we are in just by reading the same thing we've read tons of times. I love the Book of Mormon! I don't give it enough time, but I always to love it when I do.

Loves to all!