So don't freak out... anymore.

I didn't want to alarm anyone... I have really been feeling this way for quite a while... like months... I put it aside, because it doesn't do any good to sit and worry. I was talking with Brooke today, and something else was brought to light; I am also afraid of being released form my calling. I really love where I am and who I get to serve with. I quite frankly wouldn't know what to do with myself if I just had to go to Relief Society... I never have before. I've always had a calling that has kept me otherwise occupied. It freaks me out to think of not having a Sunday responsibility. The thought of me, sitting there, with a just my baby to take care of, kind of freaks me out. So maybe that's what it is, that would be opposition to me...
Last night, I had to be thankful. As I went upstairs, because I couldn't take the shrill little girl screams anymore, I was so thankful. I do not have a sports nut of a husband. We watched the Superbowl, but it wasn't yelling or everyone out of the way, or silence while we stress about this game... it was family fun. Mer played with the girls and had them really going. He was the monster. See how shrill screams were involved? I was so thankful that I have a husband who isn't afraid to play and rough-house with his little girls.
I got two BIG projects done today for HOF... almost done!

My new Prophet!

While I am a little sad to think about changing the picture that has hung on my fridge for so long, I am excited to put up the picture of President Thomas S. Monson. (I do think President Hinckley's picture will linger for a while... and not just because it will take me a while to get to the distribution center...)
I cannot put to words the feelings I have felt as I watched the press conference announcing the new First Presidency of the Church. I felt calm. That is the best that I can do, but there is so much more to it than that. I felt peace as I heard each of them speak and address questions from the press. I am so thankful for the Spirit, that brings these feelings.
I am so excited for General Conference in March!

Faith... and MORE SnOw!!!

I realized, after I finished this layout, that the one I did last night, was dated A YEAR BEHIND! See, that is what I get for putting it off, TWO YEARS...
Here is our deck... we have had some warm days that had our snow melting, mind you, but here it is... Merrill is praying that the snow will collapse the deck, and somehow the gate too... then we can have homeowners cover the cost of re-building. (Now, who was it who said that outdoor carpet on our deck was a bad idea???)
I've been thinking a lot about Faith. I've been thinking about it for a while, but ever since my conversation with Lynn, I've been thinking about it even more. I feel like I am being prepared for something. Everything that we read in the Book of Mormon talks about agency, the plan of salvation, opposition, Faith... yeah, I know that's the Scriptures for you... There are a lot of things going on in our life that could go in any direction. I don't know what it is, but I feel as if I am being prepared for some opposition. While I am scared, because I don't know what it could be, or if it's anything at all, I feel like what Lynn said needs to be applied. I need to be tough, even though I want to be scared. I love that my kids teach me so much.
I wanted to get up today during Fast & Testimony meeting, but I felt too emotional. It would have been blubbering, rather than a testimony. I can't explain it. Something is coming. The last time I felt this way, it was that Primary needed a change, a shake-up. And boy did it get it! But while it was hard, and stressful, and a learning experience, it was good for me. Maybe it's just that the unknown of having another little one is freaking me out! But I need to let go, and let what is supposed to happen, happen...
Oh, and Mom, I think it's safe to say, that with your guess, you are out of the contest... I'll still make you some cards, for Mother's Day...

Yesterday... today.

I finished the album...Last page...

And here's another from 2005, I really am almost done, 3 more layouts???So yesterday...
The day picked-up where the day before had left off. I had errands to get done.
- Sam's Club (get the RIGHT pics...)
- Groceries
- JoAnn's
- Peyton's Blessing Dress...
That evening, we were meeting at my parent's for Promise to have a blessing, and for Kev. It was his birthday, and Mom was making another chocolate layer cake... yum...
So, we got all ready, and as I was getting the pictures off of my computer this time, (yes, I remembered...) I was giving Lynn and Ash the run-down of the day. When I got to going to Grandma and Grandpa's, the both got really excited. Then Lynn asked why. As I explained to her that Promise had asked for a blessing, she said, "Why don't we just say a prayer for her?"
So we had a long conversation about Priesthood blessings and Faith. When I finished my spiel about Faith, she said the smartest thing to me...
"Sometimes Faith isn't about believing in what we don't see. Sometimes it's about being tough when we're really scared." Smart five-year-old I have, eh?
We went to leave, and there was my Mer (insert a picture of a heart here), with the backhoe, ready to clear out the driveway and mailbox, again.
We got the pics, lunch, and all everything we were looking for at Sam's.
We went to JoAnn's, and I found some things that I had been looking for for a long time, I was just looking in the wrong places. The only dumb thing that I did, was leave my coupons at home on the counter...
Groceries went off without a hitch too.
The last and final errand: "the dress". I stopped at a store close to Wal Mart, hoping it would be my last stop. The girls and I went in, after a talk about how they were to touch NOTHING... We went inside and were immediately helped. All the dresses were hung up high, so the sales girl stayed right there to get them down when I wanted to look at one. I looked at a few. I was going for simple. I decided to look at one, it was okay, then another. When she got it down and haded it to me, I started to cry, in front of a complete stranger! This must be "the dress", if it makes me cry in front of someone I don't even know. We got shoes there too. I was on my way home.
Mer got home a little late, but then we were off to Mom & Dad's, we were leaving the girls there after the blessing to go on an actual date! We were very excited.
The blessing was wonderful. The girls were great during it. After some visiting, beacause that is just what happens at the Mays household, we were off on our date.
We went to McGrath's. Chowder, steak and crab legs... even the sourdough bread was delicious, I usually don't care for it. We had a great evening. To make it even better, we got to take home some of the cake mom made for Kev (really ME)!
So here are my many blessings from yesterday:
- Having such an up-lifting conversation with Lynn about Faith.
- Getting all of my errands done, without any forgetfulness (except for those darn coupons...)
- Finding a white Sharpie marker.
- Finding "the dress" at my first stop.
- Mom and Dad had to pay $0.00 on their deductible to fix Dad's car.
- Dad passed his physical to get his eye fixed.
- To be there for Promise's blessing.
- Our Date.
- Crab Legs... and butter...
- Chocolate cake.
Today was President Hickley's funeral. We watched it all together. I hope the girls never forget. It was so neat to hear what people remembered about this sweet man. I am just going to miss his seat, with him in it...

Jeans...

I was awaken this morning at 6 am by Ashley. Her bed is too hot, but mine isn't... She has three thick blankets on her bed, long PJ's, and her "Baaa" Harbor sheep jacket on. And she's hot??? I asked her if she wanted to take off her sheep jacket, "no". So I laid down by her her for a little while, having contractions and an achy back the whole time. It carried on throughout the day.
Jaclyn, Brooke, and I , went shopping today. I wanted to get some things taken care of before the big moment arrives. I went to Sam's early, to get some pics for my two... no three, remianing HOF projects printed off. I get there only to discover that I wasn't thinking things all the way through, the pictures weren't on the disc that I had, they were still at home, on my computer, waiting for me to load them on my memory card... see, good luck at getting this HOF entry done... I wanted to go to JoAnn's too, but another airhead act, I forgot my list... last thing you want to do is send me into JoAnn's, list-less... that just equals massive dollar amounts. And I didn't get Peyton's blessing dress found... I really didn't even begin the hunt.
So on to the successful part of the day...
Around noon, we left for Gateway. Mission: find two pairs of jeans... 1. post-partum jeans. Some that I can wear immediately, or at least until the left-over belly is gone, you know, the belly that makes you still look like you are seven months along??? The other pair, motivational jeans. I was on the hunt for the most perfect, favorite jeans I have ever owned... size 8, dark wash, curvy, perfect fit. They were $79.50, I know, but worth every red cent. My original pair got holes in the knees, of course, and then one in the crotch when we were laying the new floors. It was a sad day at our home... especially for Mer, he liked the "rear view"...
So the outcome: I found lots of jeans that I liked. I had Brooke and Jaclyn try all of them on to show me how they looked, (there was lots of giggling going on in that dressing room..) and then bought them in the appropriate sizes. I was so happy to find the "perfect" pair, again. I would have bought two a year ago, but they only had one... And I even found a cute top to boot. But things get even better (sorry Chrisite)... my blessing for the day, which may seem dumb, but it really is a blessing, I was able to find these "perfect" jeans. These size 8 motivational jeans... and the betterness (my own new word, copyrighted by me... right now...) continues... as the sales girl was ringing-up my purchases, I noticed that a pair of the jeans rang up at $24.97. I asked her which ones rang up at that price... it was my favorite jeans, my "perfect" jeans. Apparently, they are getting rid of all of them because they were last year's style. I went to look for another pair, no more, in any size... I feel blessed. I even got them less than that, I used my birthday coupon! AND I got a customer service survey, which I get 15% off my next purchase, awesome. Now, to fit into them...
Brooke and Jaclyn got me a pair for my birthday gift! Love it! We had fun, but didn't get to spend nearly as much time together as we wanted to... (we'll see you next time Heartland Paper Co.) responsibility came knocking. A couple of hours was all that we really needed. Thanks girls!

Ben & Jerry's = Double Chin

So, I am sitting here, eating some Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake Swirl ice cream... (can you say YUM!) and I am wondering if this 9 month habit has helped to contribute to these cheeks and two chins. Okay, I know that the quality isn't great... the placenta and her arm cast a funky shadow, but they are there!
So after ANOTHER night of little sleep, this time it was more heartburn than pains, I was tired today. I had heartburn so bad! Nothing was helping, even my two antacids! I just prayed to be able to get comfortable so I could get some rest. I kept having this prompting to go eat a brownie and drink a glass of milk. I thought, yeah right, like a brownie and ice cold glass of milk will help? But after an hour of discomfort, coughing fits, and nearly throwing-up twice, I thought that this must be my answer... it was. See, even the things that seem the dumbest to us are still important to Heavenly Father. Don't question the answer, no matter how crazy or non-sense-like it may seem. A CHOCOLATE BROWNIE and ICE COLD glass of milk, helped. I slept well until Ash woke up, being crazy... she said it was a bad dream. Something about Michael Meyers and Sophie coming here and she was alone??? She's a nut...
I am:
2 1/2 cm
75% effaced
AND... negative for strep! WoO HOo! No penicillin drips!!!
She is:
dropped more (I knew it! There's no mistaking the feeling of a head moving in that region...)
7 1/2 pounds
and dang chubby... and cute too...
Doc says she won't be waiting until the 22nd... maybe Valentine's???
Any other bets?
This is all after a two hour wait to see him today... those other pregnant women... the nerve, having their babies when I need this information!!!
So here is the over-share of the day, but if I am going to blog like it is my journal, then I should pretend like I am really the only one reading... ANYWAY... I am losing my mucus plug... Mer got all grossed out when I told him, but to me, it is exciting!
Jaclyn got me moving last night... I got out all of my picture CDs for 2007, loaded them onto my computer one at a time, copied only the pics I needed to scrap, and burned a whole disc for scrap projects... now I need to get 2006 together, and figure out what I've already scrapped...
Here's the layout, the album is almost complete...

How many more days till February 11th?

Another winter day, the start of yet another winter storm. Is it true that babies come on stormy nights???

I am busily working away at my Hall Of Fame (HOF) entry. I am supposed to have it in by February 11th... yeah, good luck. I am usually so on top of things, have things completed ahead of time, but I am distracted, for some reason...

Last night, well, really early this morning, I started with crampy pains, then really hard Braxton Hicks. That would follow with Peyton moving around a lot. Nothing has changed over the course of the day, nothing less, nothing more. We'll see how tonight goes!

My sweet little Lynnie is so fun! She has been stuffing her dolls or stuffed animals down her shirt, and then runs to us, so excited. "I'm pregnant!" Last night it was, "I am having contractions!" I am so glad that she is old enough to understand, at least a little bit, and I hope that she remembers this.