I Must Love Moe's Even More Than I Realized

So we are having some friends over tonight for FHE, and naturally (for me, anyway!), I am not in the mood to whip something up after getting off work and then coming home to tidy up. So I asked Stace if he'd mind picking up some fine Moe's cuisine on his way home. He was very much obliged to do so, but asked if I could call it in first.

So I called in the order and at the end of my conversation with the Moe's worker lady, I caught myself (and thankfully stopped myself) right before I said "I love you." bahahaha! I guess it is because I had just hung up the phone with Stace and was thinking of him. I don't know...there's no other explanation...unless I just really love Moe's that much.

what can I say? She's the dip to my chip<3 ;-)

I Have Never Been Good at Goodbyes

Today my heart is a little sad. Yesterday afternoon we drove our kitties to their new home in Tallahassee: Stace's parents'. I am so so grateful that they offered and were so willing to let our little Colby and Jordy hang out in their fun backyard. Their yard is surely a cat's paradise, which is made very apparent by the three or four cats who perpetually hang around their property. Also, I am so grateful they are going to be at a place where we will get to see them.

When we arrived yesterday, Stace held Colby and I held Jordy as we showed them around their new surroundings. They were definitely apprehensive. We all stayed out on the porch with them for a while and held them, tried to comfort them, and let them know they'd be alright. Later that night on our way to a friend's house, I just started bawling. I feel so bad that I am leaving them...I hate that they might feel neglected. I especially feel sad when I think of Colby....I am not so worried about Jordy. Stace and I both knew Jordy always wanted to be an outside cat anyway; he always begged us to let him go and explore by sitting at our back window and meowing like crazy until we'd let him enjoy the sunshine outside. But Colby, my little (ok, really fat) baby, is, well, just a big baby.

I was so happy last night when I got home and found that Colby was in non-stop purr mode and just going crazy over all the fun things (bugs) to play with and chase outside. He has never been particularly friendly to strangers, but last night he went right up to Stace's mom, dad and sister and rubbed up against them and purred. This made me feel better.

We left Tallahassee this morning to get back to Gainesville in time for church at 1:00, but of course, not without saying goodbye. Stace didn't give Colby much of a goodbye and I think that might be because he didn't want to cry in front of his parents. Stace has a huge soft spot in his heart for the Colbsmeister. I went out there and played with him and petted him for a little while...and I just bawled all over again. I love my little Colbs. He brought so much laughter into our home with his silly antics. I will miss him a lot. It's weird that they're not here beside me as I type this. I am crying now! The tears might seem silly to some, especially to those who are not big fans of cats (I used to be one of those people), but...well...pets become a part of the family and it's never easy to say goodbye.

I just have to remember there is a beautiful reason why we decided to say goodbye to them. We know each family is different and that what might be good for some families isn't good for others. We feel it's best for our family to not have cats around when we bring a baby home. But, they will always be so special to us. We love them and are grateful for the way they expanded our hearts and our capacity to love God's creatures.

Colby (L) and Jordy (R)

Sweet little Jordy got sick back on Memorial Day (right before we found out we were prego)

Colby...Colbs, Colbs, Colbs...you are one in a million. Stace says this pic "pretty much sums up Colby"

Little Peach Has a Name!

Me at 24 weeks pregnant (yesterday) carrying Little Peach, whose first name shall be...

duh nuh nuh nuh.....

LOVE this name!

We finally decided on this name for sure about a week and a half ago. Stace really loves the name too, but since I was the one who brought this name idea to the table, I wanted to make sure Stace got the final say-so on the middle name. On Saturday, he ultimately decided he liked how this name flows best:

This middle name is my grandpa's first name and my brother Chris' middle name.

Below, enjoy the many faces of his name ;) Click on them to get the full effect...because I made these with Stace's fancy Photoshop programs that I have no idea how to use so I made the frames too big... :(

Quote to Live By

Someone said this in Relief Society several weeks ago and I told myself "Oh! I want to remember that!" and then what did I do? Totally forgot it. But I was going through things the other day and came across the paper I'd written it on and I was so glad I did. I found it perhaps when I needed to be reminded of it more than ever:

"Wanting less is a far greater blessing than having more."
-Mary Ellen Edmunds

I am trying to remember this as we adjust to the "poor student lifestyle" we will be living for the next four or five years. I have always wanted to bring a baby home to a house...perhaps it's because that's what I had when I was growing up, and, well....that is just how I had always pictured it. It took me a little while to get used to the idea that this wouldn't be an option for us (since the bank does not view Stace's stipend as an income and since I will not be working). Then I wanted to just move out of where we are living now to another rental home because I don't like the huge apartment complex feel nor do I like that we're on the third floor and every time I tell someone that they say "oh! good luck climbing those stairs when you're nine months pregnant and when you're carrying a baby and all of your groceries!" But when I came across this quote the other day, it reminded me to be happy with the many blessing I have been given. Like the blessing of even being able to bring a baby home. And I am. I am so grateful.

Reaching Out

I love this...what a beautiful video. Is it my pregnancy hormones, or does this commercial make you cry too? :)

"The Women in Our Lives"

Click here to watch a video of immediate past prophet of the Church, President Gordon B. Hinckley, as he talks about the divine gifts God has given to all women. I love this talk. It will always be special to me because I remember it was given at Stace's first General Conference away from home while he was on his mission, and I remember him writing to me and telling me that this was his favorite talk.

Cont'd from Last Night's Post, and...So Much to Do, So Little Time

Cousin Natalie asked if the reason I was feeling so happy last night was brought on by a conversation we had with Candace and Brittany and a couple lingering boys about the placenta and the uterus. My response to her is: duhhhh, of course! Haha:) and also just getting to see so many members of my family over the last few weeks. And getting to spend so much time with my little sister. Plus, last night when I got home I had a letter from a friend waiting for me who knows I'm po' and she had inserted all kinds of coupons. So thoughtful! I could go on and on here. Bottom line: the people in my life give me so many reasons to be thankful:)

And...I love being pregnant! It already makes me kinda sad thinking about not being pregnant anymore!

So while I'm on this high, I am also getting stressed with all that is yet to be accomplished before Little Peach arrives. In a few short days I will officially be six months pregnant and we still have sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much to do. "Like what?" you may ask. Well my response to you is: "oh, you know...just like, everything!" AHHH!

I'm Not Sure If I've Ever Been This

Happy! That thought came to me tonight on my drive home to Gainesville. It's a new kind of happy. A whole new happy.

I am feeling very much like I want to have a giant group hug with everyone in my whole life. That might be hard to orchestrate...

You know you're pregnant when...

You are walking through the mall with your little sister and there is a female 20-something singer (with full-on band and acoustics behind her) belting out her original tunes and you begin to cry at the talent she has. Like...full on tears. Her voice was beautiful, yes, but it's not like she was even singing emotional songs. I guess I was just touched by the talent she had.

After dabbing the tears away, we went to a maternity store and I bought my first ever maternity clothes! whew hoo! I got a pair of jeans and a few cute tops.

Can I just say that when I'm not pregnant, finding a pair of jeans that I think look good on me is like drinking orange juice right after you've brushed your teeth: a horrible and near impossible experience. Our Father created me with short little legs and quite a big booty...and apparently every single jeans-maker in the world does not realize there are women out there whose legs do not go on for days and whose b'hinds are...well...not small. (*My only redemption from not hating it is that Stace's favorite physical-feature-thing about me is my derriere...seriously...there was a girl in school who used to make fun of me for this thang!*)

HOWEVER, the first pair of jeans I tried on in the maternity store I just happened to LOVE! Why can't I find a pair of jeans that fit me this good when I'm not prego?! The length is perfect (NEVER HAPPENS), the pocket size is perfect, the material, everything!

So, what I'm tryin to say here is: don't be surprised if you see me sportin my maternity jeans when I'm back to my normal Kim size...which hopefully won't take too long! Doc says I'm on the lower end of the pregnancy weight gain spectrum...whew hoo! Now if I can continue that for just three and a half more months!

One of the tops!