Big, Bigger, Biggest...

Dear Kacie,

Today you are 28 weeks and 2 days! Only 12 weeks left and that is freaking me out of my mind! (not to raise you but to give birth... AAHHH!)

I have been exhausted the last couple of weeks. I think part of it is that daddy and I don't go to bed until late and then wake up late but also I am pregnant sooo... that contributes a little!

The last couple of days have been... interesting I guess. You have been moving so much! Not a lot of big kicks and movements, just a bunch of little turns and nudges. It feels uncomfortable and I get a little annoyed but then I just smile because it makes me so excited (and weirded out a little) that there is a tiny human inside of me... How is that even possible!?!?!?!

and the past couple of days it feels like you nudge my ribs just a little bit and just for a second. Let's stay away from them a little bit longer!

I still have to write about the baby shower we had in AZ but I'm just waiting on a few of your presents to get here. Your grandma is sending them but she's busy so it's ok! I would just post about it anyway except my pregnancy brain doesn't allow me to remember all of the wonderful gifts that we got!

I love to let dad feel you move. I just can't wait for you to get here though because I want him to experience and be more involved in the process of raising you, not just being mommy's servant... Although that's nice for me too!

Enjoy some pictures of my growing belly (A.K.A. your growth!)

Love,

Mom and Dad

January 13, 2013 - The first time an outfit was a little snug on me! I made this dress so when I put it on and it didn't fit perfectly, I knew I was really pregnant!

January 16, 2013

January 23, 2013 - I remember I text this picture to my siblings and a few of your aunts said "Wow! You're so big!" and I'm like "Geeze, if they think I'm big now, they are going to think I'm a whale in a couple months!"

January 29, 2013 - The day we found out you are a girl

February 2, 2013

February 9, 2013

February 16, 2013

February 25, 2013 - At your grandma and grandpa's house when I was there for a visit!

March 4, 2013

March 26, 2013 - I didn't take a picture for 3 weeks! I have been so tired!

Staining, Dating, Smiling!

So we got this beauty from Kyle's aunt after we got married:

We love it so much for our DVD's but all of our other living room furniture is black. So, just like our table, we stained it!

This is during the staining...

This is the finished product. We love it even more now!

Date night!

Pregnant Belly! 27 Weeks and 2 days.

Proud Hubby... for impregnating me... TMI? Well, it's true!

27 weeks!

Dear Kacie,

Is it June yet?

I hate it when I don't get to feel you move often. You were so stubborn for your aunts and uncles. They barely got to feel you move! But sometimes I think you just spin around and around inside there...

I miss dad all the time that we are apart. I hope that as our family grows and gets older that we can always have that love that is so powerful. I already love you so much and I can't imagine how it will feel to love you even more and I am so excited to find out what that feels like!

It's so humbling that our Father in Heaven can love us so much even with all of our flaws. As I think about everything your father and I will give up and have to do to have and take care of children it is a bit overwhelming. But I hope that I can always show you through my actions just how worth it you are. I know there will be struggles and hard time but I am so excited to experience them. I hope you always know that I love you with all my heart!

I remember when your Aunt Angela got married I felt like I was losing her and then I realized one day that I was just getting more family and that was a great blessing. I am so very excited that I can now add you to our  family and that we have the capacity and ability to love so many people, and love them so deeply.

I often think about how much I already love you and that helps me understand a little bit of how much our Heavenly Father loves me. I pray that I can teach you of that love so that you will never forget it!

You are 27 weeks old today...

I am so grateful for your dad. I think back on the past 6 months and I'm not sure how he survived! I've been throwing up, sleeping a ton, not cooking dinner, forgetting everything, having emotional break downs and been just plain tired. Your daddy has taken such great care of me and has been so patient with me.

I'm getting a little teary eyed just thinking of how amazing he is! I love him so, so much!

Well, my body is starting to get a little uncomfortable. I've heard people say that they love being pregnant... I think they are crazy! This is the hardest thing I've ever done! And I don't even think I've gotten to the hardest parts yet!

I read somewhere that was talking about all the things my body has, is and will go through and they said "You know what they say, '9 months in, 9 months out!'" Well, let me just tell you, no one told me that before I got pregnant and it's probably a good thing because I might have questioned the whole pregnancy thing. My body is tired.

But please don't let my complaining bother you. You just keep on growing and moving around nice and safe inside my belly for a few more months!

Maybe just take it a little easier on my bladder...

especially in the early mornings...

Love,
mom and dad

Casey Cartwheel and Baby Quilt!

Dear Kacie,

Back in my fall 2011 semester I took a child development class. We had to write a paper about our childhoods and then do a presentation. One of the questions was about our favorite childhood toys. I immediately thought of my Casey Cartwheel. I was telling my family one night that I so wished I had still owned her. Then, Aunt Aubree told me that she had this doll in her room that might be what I was talking about.

IT WAS!!

Anyway, I took it to that class and then the next day your dad and I moved here, to Utah. I did not sign up for classes for that next semester so the things that were in my backpack stayed there. In December (2012) we went on a trip to Missouri. I needed the backpack and when I cleaned it out, Casey Cartwheel was still there!

Basically, we then decided that we liked the name 'Casey' and added it to the list of names we would consider for a girl. I mentioned it a little here but we eventually had it narrowed down to Kalvin for a boy and Karrie for a girl.

After the ultrasound appointment we were talking about a name and I said to dad "Kacie would really like an In N Out burger"and then I said "Our Christmas cards will say 'Love Kyle, Kayla and Kacie'" Dad said "I like that!"

After that, we decided that we like Kacie Jean better than Karrie Jean. We are still open to changing your name when we eventually meet you but I don't actually think that we will.

It just feels right!

Gosh I can't wait to see you.

A couple weeks ago I sewed you a quilt!

I hope you like giraffe's because I do and I am using them to decorate your room. But not really giraffe print just like pictures of giraffes and giraffe statues. Anyway, this is your quilt.

(I realize that if you are reading this, you have probably already seen this quilt. Hopefully...)

I can't wait to get your bed all put together. It is so pink and adorable!

Love,

Mom and Dad

P.S. I did a really good job on that quilt, huh?

Where'd All the Stupid People Go? My Apartments.

It's days like today and yesterday that make me wonder how much longer I will be able to manage apartments...

Sure, the [basically] free rent is amazing and has been a huge blessing.

But when your lease says that your rent is due on the 1st and you have a grace period until the 5th that does not mean that you get to come over at 7:30pm on the 5th to pay your rent and expect me to drop everything.

Guys, if I am sitting on the toilet, I will not get up no matter how many times you ring and knock at my door. It's just not going to happen.

Like, if it was such a desperate matter then maybe you should have come earlier.

Also, there is a slot in my door for a reason.

Why do people think that because my door says manager they can treat me like a robot.

Maybe it's my pregnancy hormones but seriously, there are people that live in apartments that act like children.

There are a lot of things that apartments are responsible for but it doesn't mean you can act like an idiot. Or a jerk. Or bark at me like a Chihuahua. Or yell at me because you didn't ask questions before you signed. Or interrupt me when I'm telling you things you don't like. Or say "I just had a heart attack two days ago" to try and get my sympathy.

Look guys, I know every one's lives are different and we all have different challenges but this person came to me with problems that were not my fault and then cried and then pulled the heart attack card on me trying to get me to do what they wanted.

I probably should have felt a little more sympathy but I just kept thinking of Dwight from The Office. Stanley has a heart attack because of a fake 'fire' that Dwight started. In two different parts Dwight makes these two statement: "Yeah. Right. I filled him full of butter and sugar for fifty years and forced him not to exercise" and "Stanley was attacked by his own heart!"

I don't know this persons life and what they have gone through. I am sorry that they got to a point that they had a heart attack. But you can't pull that card to get out of things that are your responsibilities.

I'm not an unreasonable person and the owner is not an unreasonable guy. But there are rules and laws that are in place for a reason and if you're not ok with them then TELL ME before you sign the lease so that we can work it out before we are legally bound.

And if you want to work things out then don't come yelling at me to start off with because it's not going to make me want to help you. Be nice to me and I'll be glad to help you out!

Seriously. Where's the chocolate?

On a completely different and more positive note, I ordered some things on line this week and I am super stoked about them arriving!

P.S. Baby update coming soon. Pregnancy Brain is so annoying sometimes...