Sister Hinkley, Wow, What a Lady!

She said,
"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someones garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

Amen to that!

Tagged...

20 Years ago...
--I was 2 years old.
--Pretty much bald.
--Lived in Mesa, Arizona.

10 Years Ago...
--I was 12 and so excited to enter Young Women's.
--I was awkwardly smaller than my friends and super subconscious about it.
--I was living in Lehi, Arizona.

5 Years Ago...
--I was waiting for Devin to come home from his mission (though still dating).
--I had just moved to Utah from Arizona.
--I was loving my Junior year of high school in Kanab playing volleyball and running track.

3 Years Ago...
--I was newly married and living in a little two bedroom apartment.
--Devin and I were working and attending Dixie State College in St. George, Utah.

1 Year Ago...
--I was living here, in Queen Creek, with our new baby Jaxon and couldn't believe I was living my dream of being a stay at home mom.
--I was working on painting and decorating our new house.

This Year...
--We are expecting our second baby.
--Devin will graduate and begin teaching!!!

Yesterday...
--I did lots of cleaning and then relaxed!

Today...
--I went to the doctor (found out I'm a one and my cervix is "thick") and then went swimming.

Tomorrow...
--I am going visiting teaching and taking Joey to the vet.

I tag: Jami, Joy, Lacie Robinson.

False Labor

With Jaxon I didn't have any false labor scares or anything like that, so when I started having regular contractions on Saturday night, I thought the baby was coming! They were all through dinner, but I didn't time them because I was eating. Then, as the night went on they didn't stop. I timed a few: 10:37, 10:40, 10:48, 10:50, then they stopped. I know that if you start having regular contractions and you change activities, like sit or lay down, or eat, a lot of times they stop if it's just false labor. But, I had eaten, come home, gotten ready for bed and they just kept going until the one at 10:50 and they suddenly stopped.

When I realized they were pretty regular and weren't stopping I kinda started freaking out! I realized I wasn't even ready! My bag wasn't packed and mentally I wasn't ready either. Since Jaxon was 7 days late, I just have expected this baby to come late too. Remember, the 'not wanting to get my hopes up' thing in case the baby is late? Well, I need to still be ready if he's early!

Anyway, I have 9 days left until my due date, but now I'm ready if he decides to come any time now!

I am, I am...I think I am...

I saw this post on my friend Sonda's blog and thought it would be fun to do it. I think it's inspired from that song on Nacho Libre. I love that movie!

I am: a wife to the best husband in the world and mother to the cutest little boy.
I think: the world is a scary place, but there are lots of good people too.
I know: the church (of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) is true.
I want: to have baby Henry soon.
I have: 2 doggies, Joey, a German Wire-Hair Pointer who loves Jaxon, and Polly, a English Setter, Brittany Spaniel mix who runs away from Jaxon.
I wish: Devin was guaranteed a job when he is done with student teaching.
I hate: rude, inconsiderate people.
I miss: sleeping through the night and sleeping in. And life before bills!--Not the life I had before I got bills, but the feeling of not having bills!
I fear: dying young or Devin dying young or losing a child.
I feel: tired and achy.
I hear: Devin watching his movie.
I smell: nothing. Lots of smells bother me right now, so I haven't been burning any oils lately.
I crave: Otter Pops and ice cream.
I search: for a comfortable sleeping position.
I wonder: what life will be like with 2 kids.
I regret: not hugging more. I think hugging is so great. I want to be a huggy person, but it's just not something I do without making a conscious effort.
I love: my life.
I care: about helping others.
I always: have my toe nails painted.
I am not: tall or shy-though people who don't know me think I am shy.
I believe: anyone can be what they want to be, whether it's skinny, smart, happy...it just takes effort.
I dance: nope, I don't dance because I don't look good while doing it!
I sing: along in the car and primary songs to Jaxon at night.
I don't always: rest when I should.
I fight: with sarcasm...totally snotty, I know!
I write: lists for everything! I'll forget stuff if I don't and I like checking stuff off.
AND (wrote) in my journal every night in high school, but now mostly on my blog instead.
I lose: hardly anything. I like the house clean, organized, and clutter free, so I rarely lose things.
I win: (won) the sweetest man's heart!
I never: say cuss words, though there have been a few close calls...
I listen: to Jaxon talk and laugh and it always makes me happy!
I can usually be found: at home or at the Y swimming.
I am scared: of the dark--if I'm alone.
I am happy about: everything I have been blessed with, which is so much more than I even realize!

Utla

Okay, so the other day I stopped in the San Tan JoAnn's Fabric store. I got what I needed and saw that a few stores down was Ulta Cosmetics. They have a special right now where if you spend $30 on a fragrance you get a free "weekend bag." I am one of those girls who feel like I can never have enough bags/purses, and this one is totally cute so I wanted to get it. I figured Devin's birthday is coming up and it's always nice to get a new cologne for him, so I'd go pick one and get myself this beautiful bag!

So...you know the small little craft carts at like Michael's and, of course, JoAnn's? They're like mini carts. Well, that's where I had Jaxon (in the cart) to keep him from running all over the store. I, being nine months pregnant, didn't really feel like having to chase after him, or worse CARRY him, so I figured I'd just leave him in it and head to Utla.

I walked in Ulta and went over to the fragrances. I found one I really like: Happy To Be:) It's yummy! Anyway, I was trying to find a men's one I liked while also trying to keep Jaxon occupied and included by allowing him to smell everything I did.

We were in the store for about five minutes when one of the employees (I'd guess she was about 18) came up to me and said, "Ma'am, we can't allow carts in the store. Sorry."

It took everything I had not to make some smart mouth comment about how I'm NINE months pregnant with a toddler and it's much better and EASIER for EVERYONE involved to have him IN a cart so he wasn't running around the store breaking all the glass bottles on the shelves and getting into everything else he felt like while I tried to waddle after him to make him stop. Okay, Jaxon doesn't really act like that in stores, but he would want to touch and smell all the pretty colored perfume bottles and chances of him dropping one are pretty high. I would bet that any mother would agree that I would just be torturing myself taking him in there without some form of help. The best place for him was in the cart.

I couldn't believe that they were having a fit about this shopping cart! It really takes a lot to offend me. I'm one of those people who when I ask if these pants make my butt look big, I wanna know the truth! Even if the answer is yes! But...I was so offended! I just thought, "You have got to be kidding me! Do you really want to upset me? I'm nine months pregnant and I am shopping with my toddler! You're nuts and you've obviously never done it before or you'd totally understand!" And "Fine. I won't spend my money at your store! Even though I really wanted that bag!!!"

I can understand if it's a rule, but I think the employees need to have a little more common sense when dealing with customers. We weren't running into the isles and leaving skid marks on the floor! I was using it to watch my kid. What is wrong with a shopping cart anyway? Do the wheels hurt the floor or something? I wonder if strollers are allowed in the store because if they're not, how is anyone with a kid, or KIDS, supposed to shop there!? AND...we weren't even in there very long. It's not like we had been in there for an hour and were ruining the floor with the cart...or whatever they were afraid was going to happen!

Of course I couldn't say all that and make a big scene like I felt like doing inside. Instead, I said to her, "Okay." Then I said to Jaxon, "Let's go."

So, I really wanted that bag but I was so mad I didn't spend the $30 to get it!

Okay, got it out of my system! That's enough ranting for one night...

Moms, do you agree with me? Would that make your upset? Or is it just my pregnancy hormones going crazy?

Jaxon and Favorite Guys: Daddy & Grandpa

When Daddy dresses Jaxon...

Jaxon loves Grandpa! Here they were laughing for about 10 minutes because Jaxon "foofed" (passed gas) and he thought it was hillarious when Grandpa said "foof" over and over again.

I'm Getting Old!

For my 22nd birthday my in-laws took us out to eat at an Italian place (it's my favorite food). It was really yummy and the chocolate ice cream cake was delicious!

Me and my Love
Me and my Baby
Jaxon decided he needed to sort the artificial sugar according to color: pink, yellow, and white...organizing before age 2...yeah, he's definitely my kid!
Here are the way cute pedicures I got with my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law...I'm on the top, Terri has the other black flip-flops, Elisha has the green flip-flops, and Reina didn't have her's done, but came for the fun! (Click on the pic and you can see the designs better close up.)
It was wonderful! It's always nice to have someone massage your feet and paint your toenails! This place is in Tempe and they do some really fun and unique designs!

It was a fun day. Devin was so sweet and made me breakfast and really made me feel like it was my special day. If only he knew what was coming for his birthday... :)

Tan Lines

This is just too cute! We love going to the pool and Jax has gotten quite a tan!

37 Weeks

Here is my baby belly at 37 weeks!

Tagged!

Places I Visit Over and Over
1. My parents / in-laws houses
2. Hate to say it, but WalMart
3. Target:)
4. Utah

People who call/text/email me regularly
1. Devin
2. Joy
3. Kiera
4. My mom

Favorite Foods
1. Ice Cream
2. Crepes, but they've gotta be good ones
3. Lobster
4. Fruit

Favorite Books
1. Twilight Series
2. Harry Potter
3. And that's about it...
4.

Hobbies
1. Running & lifting
2. Scrapbooking
3. Canning
4. Doing any craft

Places I'd Rather Be
1. On vacation anywhere
2. On a date with Devin
3. Somewhere I've never been
4. Disneyland/world

Movies I'd Watch Over and Over
1. Hot Chick
2. Napoleon Dynamite & Nacho with Devin though, he makes them funnier
3. Pretty much any chick flick
4. Home videos of Jaxon

Bands/Groups I love to listen to
1. Pretty much anything country
2. Greenday
3. Maroon 5
4. Dashboard Confessional

People I'm Tagging
1. Joy
2. Heather
3. Lacee
4. Denyse

19 Days To Go! (Warning...this kinda turned into what sounds like a journal entry...I think I even got up on my soap box for a little while...)

So, today I bought newborn size diapers...so tiny! I forgot how small babies are when they're newborn. Like 80 diapers don't even fill up 1 basket in the changing table. It's gonna be strange to have a baby that small again! I don't even remember what to do with a newborn!

Jaxon has always been on the larger size of the curve, so I'm interested to see how Henry will be. Last week, I had an ultrasound (at 36 weeks) and he was about 6 1/2 pounds...that's a good size considering the ultrasound tech said the baby could grow by a pound a week! That'd make a 10 1/2 pound baby! The doc said it could be more like 1/2 a pound a week so that made me feel a little better, which makes Jaxon's size (Jaxon was 8 pounds 5 ounces), but she said she didn't think Henry would be as big as Jaxon. She thought Henry would be high 7's to low 8's...so, we'll see...

Back to the diapers...that was the last thing I needed for Henry's hospital bag! He's all packed! It includes: a few blankets, onsies, socks, diapers, wipes, beannie...which, by the way, will he even need that? We are in Arizona! And it's summer! But they do say babies lose heat through their head...I don't know...Moms, what do you think? Did I forget anything?

I still need to get my bag ready and Jaxon's too (and stuff for Devin at the hospital too, huh?). My actual due date is August 27th, which is a Wednesday, but I don't anticipate actually having him that day. Jax was 7 days late, so I'm planning on being late again...might as well plan on being late. That way, it won't get my hopes up and if it's sooner, then great! I think too many moms expect the baby to come before the ESTIMATED due date (it's an estimation!) and then they get discouraged and impatient when the baby doesn't come the day they planned. And that leads to inductions and c-sections, which, some women are okay with, but I would never want for myself unless it was medically necessary. I believe the baby will come when it's ready...when Heavenly Father is ready to let him come to this earth. He's got a whole life ahead of him. Why would he want to come any sooner than he has to?

And...I'm planning on having a natural birth (no epidural)...I know, some people think it's crazy, but I wanna do it. Why? Well, partly because so many women believe they can't and I believe they can, and I can. I believe it takes EDUCATION and PREPARATION, but it can be done. I feel like it's my responsibility to educate myself to know what is going on with my body during such a huge, life-changing event so I can EXPERIENCE it and NOT BE SCARED of it. For such an experience, I'm surprised many mothers don't have the desire to learn about the process their body goes though. It really is amazing how Heavenly Father built female bodies able to accomplish such a grand thing--bringing his children into this world. I think every mother can chose what she feels is best for her and her baby. (So don't think I don't wanna be your friend if you're a fan of the epidural!) It's just for me, I don't want to go along with the doctors plan without being informed. The more I learn about it, the more I realize how awesome it is and I want to experience it. Plus, I know modern medicine and epidurals are a blessing, but it kinda makes me nervous to know there haven't been any long term studies (though there can be immediate problems) to prove there are no harmful effects and we never know what they'll discover... I tried it with Jaxon and made it through 8 hours of labor and 5 cm of dilation and gave in. I'm not gonna lie, it was nice once I had the epidural to not feel all the pressure, but this time I am better prepared and, plus, by posting it here that I'm gonna do it makes me have to be even more dedicated!

Pretty

Jaxon spent last Friday at his Granny and Grandpa's house so Devin and I could have a date. When Granny was feeding Jaxon breakfast on Saturday morning, he noticed she had some flowers outside the window. He signed "flowers pretty." "Yes" Granny said, "Flowers are pretty," impressed that he noticed them and thought to comment on their beauty. Then Jaxon said, "Mama" and he signed pretty. Isn't that the sweetest thing?! She didn't even prompt him. He said it all on his own. What a sweet, smart little guy!

Guy & Man

Devin has the old 1967 Spiderman cartoons on DVD and Jaxon has recently fallen in love with them. He calls Spiderman "Man" and when the bad guys come on, he says, "Uh-oh! Guy!"

So, at the pool today, he was running away from me like he was trying to play so I asked him why he was running. He pointed at me and said, "Man" and pointed at himself and said, "Guy" (with a huge grin on his face!) I asked him, "Are you the bad guy running away from Spiderman?" "Yes!" he said with a giggle. It was so cute that he was able to use his imagination to come up with that game all on his own. So, for like the next 20 minutes, he ran away while I tried to catch him. He just laughed and laughed. He loved it, and so did I; it was so cute!

Jaxon's Vocabulary Update

Jaxon is 21 months and he is talking away! He's not always saying real words, but he loves to talk anyway!

Some words he has learned recently are:
yes, home, work, go, help, out, down, Pooh, Elmo, eat, wet, Jesus, baby, Kiki, doctor, thank you, noodle, backpack, school bus, dirt, bug bite, tractor, light, man, guy

He even knows a bunch of colors, how to say them and identify them:
red, yellow, white, blue, orange, purple, green, I think that's his favorite

Those are all pretty new, but he has said these ones for a while:
mama, dada, granny, papa, nana, JJ (for my brother Joshua), Oma, Opa (who is passed away, but still recognizes in pictures; it's pretty crazy!), JoJo (for Joey our dog and Joseph Smith, haha!), no.

And of course he still does tons of signs! He learns them so fast now. It's so nice that he can communicate as well as he does. It really eliminates a lot of stress and frustration!

Henry's room

Well, for those who didn't know, we officially picked a name for the new baby. He'll be named Henry Devin Miller. Why? Because we like it, and Devin, of course, after his daddy. I don't know what we'll do if we have another boy because finding a 2nd boy name we agree on was tough, I don't know about settling on a 3rd!

Anyway, we've had a lot of different feedback..."It's too old," "I don't like it," "I'll call him Hank," which please don't! I know the nickname for Henry is Hank, but I don't like it! Also, we've heard stuff like, "I love it!" and "It's so cute!" So, it's not one that everyone loves, but that's okay and I'm sure everyone will love HIM:)

Anyway...I've didn't really decorate the nursery for Jaxon, so this time I wanted to go all out! I already posted pictures of the bedding, so here are some new projects I just finished:

Here is his name...the color is pretty off in the picture...but it's really cute, I promise! You can see the true color of the green wall in the pics below.


Here are some frames where I got scrapbook paper that matched the bedding and colors of the room and covered the mats inside picture frames...

Sideways...

This is a close up of the one above. It says, "oh boy."

I can't wait to be able to fill these frames with pictures of our sweet baby!

I just have to paint the trim and the nursery will be done!

PS...Thanks for the ideas and help Joy!

Mr. Miller, Math Teacher

Devin officially started his student teaching today! He's teaching at Queen Creek High School. The classes are basic algebra and calculus. He's excited because it's a range from the most basic to the most advanced levels.

It will be nice not to have the long commute and better hours! Plus, it's nice that he's starting his career, rather than just working at a job. I know he will do so good and be an excellent teacher! We just need to pray that he gets a job when he's done, which will be in October...mid school year, which can be risky...but, we know it will work out!

Baby Morgan

When I was little, my mom gave me this little Cabbage Patch doll, whom I named Morgan after a little boy I knew at the time...he was a little older (and I totally remember having a crush on him!) Anyway, having my own baby helped me to cope with my mom having a new baby. So, we pulled out Morgan for Jaxon to have his own baby.


He was so excited! He just held him and walked around saying, "Baby, baby, baby..." Jaxon likes to put Morgan in his crib and cover him and tell him to go night night. Some times, Jaxon will come tell me, "Baby" and sign crying. So I'll ask him if Morgan is crying and he says yes. It's so cute that he uses his imagination!

I'm so looking forward to having another sweet little spirit in our home. Jaxon is so fun and I love being a full-time mommy!

Jaxon's First Kiss...Age 21 months!

Last weekend our ward had a really fun activity where they set up baby pools, slip 'n slides, and water balloons and had a pot luck. The adults got to enjoy dinner and dessert while the kiddos played in the water. Devin and I were eating and visiting when we realized Jaxon was up to something...



He was totally kissing Ester Durrant! She's a little girl just younger than him in our ward. It was so cute!

But Belle is my Favorite!

Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dream will come true.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Raves

I have 2 things I just want to rave about: The movie Get Smart & The Dyson vacuum...

First...the movie was so funny! I really liked it. Steve Carell has so many 1 liners that are just hillarious! One of my favorites: "I used to look like 2 of my moms put together." Devin and I were laughing so hard at so many parts! I didn't see many previews, so most of the scenes were a new to me, but I heard if you've seen a lot of the previews, it's not very fun to watch it because a lot of it is spoiled.

Second...wow! The Dyson is amazing! Our vacuum broke so we barrowed our friend's Dyson. I swear that thing was sucking up dirt through the foundation! I just went over and over the same spots and it kept picking up dust! We bought our house brand new and I have vacuumed once a week since we moved it, but our vacuum must just be junk becuase the Dyson picked up so much more! So...now I just need to save up $400 to buy one! (Hooray they come in pink!) Anyone wanna donate to my Dyson fund?