Happiness in 21 Days

I came across this quote a few days ago:

It's not that I am unhappy, but I feel like I can be happier every day. I have challenged myself (and you can join in) to write three things I am grateful for every day for the next month which is actually quite timely since Thanksgiving is in 27 days! I will be posting once a week, but will write three things daily.

I am grateful for:

• My husband who is always there to support and love me.
• My children who have helped me grow exponentially since I became a mother not quite 4 years ago.
• Prayers which connect me to my Heavenly Father.
• Nutella.
• My ability to become a mother. It's not easy for everyone, and I pray those who wish can have that gift soon.
• My home/house. It has been awesome to build it up and make it more than it was. I can't wait for all the small renovations to be finished! This place has been a lovely refuge from the world.
• Trees so high you can't imagine climbing to the top.
• Flowers 
• Handwritten love and friendship notes.

This week's pregnancy update:

How far along? 15 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 10 pound loss

Maternity clothes? Yes. So comfy, but I really want to get maternity skinny jeans. 
Sleep: Crazy dreams. So crazy. 
Best moment this week: Caving to my cravings. :) 

Movement: Yep! Nothing you can feel from the outside yet. 

Food cravings: Nutella. Still that Spinach Artichoke dip. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Too much movement, anything too smelly like wet dog, trash, dirty dishes, etc.
Have you started to show yet: Yes!   

Gender prediction: Girl?

Labor Signs: Noooo. Wayyy too early!

Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Happy or Moody most of the time: MOODY!
Weekly Wisdom: Do one chore a day to sort of stay on top of the cleaning... 
Milestones: Baby moving once in a while.  

Fun Get-togethers and 14 Weeks!

1. We went to lunch with one of my best friends last week and her sweet little family! They are on their way to Harry Potter World! We went to Cracker Barrel and after this funny older lady took our picture for us and she couldn't tell if she was taking the picture or not so Racheal ended up with a lot of pictures on her phone. haha

2. The girls actually like The Nightmare Before Christmas which I thought might be too scary for them. But they like it. I guess it ties two awesome holidays together! 

3. I watched a few episodes of the show Quantico on Hulu last week, and I have to say I was VERY disappointed in how they depicted a returned missionary. Not only was he not valiant and pure on his mission, but he tried to get the girl he got pregnant to get an abortion, AND then he shot and killed himself. This just seems EXTREMELY unlikely to happen during a mission especially when you have to have your companion with you all. the. time. If he were to get a girl pregnant I really really think he would not have her get an abortion. Mormons hold life as precious and irreplaceable. I would just like to see the media portray Latter Day Saints as upright individuals holding to their morals and standards. It bugs me and I am honestly not sure I want to watch more because of the show's choice to stomp on values. It bugs me. 

4. We had our ward Halloween party yesterday and it was great! After dinner and the costume contest we had a trunk-or-treat in the parking lot and Faye got a cookie while Madeline "shopped" for candy. This is the best picture I could get of the girls in their costumes: 

Fairy

Cinderella. She was so excited to be able to have makeup!

5.. I am now 14 weeks pregnant and I wanted to start posting a semi-weekly questionnaire. :) Enjoy!

How far along? 14 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 10 pound loss (not complaining since I wanted to lose 20 pounds anyways)

Maternity clothes? Still wearing some from my last pregnancy...so comfortable and cute. 
Sleep: Terrible. But, whatev. And I love getting a nap during the day when I can. 
Best moment this week: I can feel the baby move once in a while and I know some people think it's too soon, but YOU DON'T KNOW MY BODY. And, my body has always been on the sensitive side so I can even feel when I ovulate and on what side. 

Have you told family and friends: Yes! Everyone is excited. 

Movement: Once in a while a little quivering! 
Food cravings: Goldfish, ice cream, steak, Spinach, and artichoke spinach dip--I want that so much right now!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Too much movement, anything too smelly like wet dog, trash, dirty dishes, etc.
Have you started to show yet: Yes! I have a lilttle bump and I'll take a picture for my next questionnaire.  
Leakage: noooo.
Gender prediction: So far...I'm not as sick as the first time (though I'm still so sick), and wayyy more sick than the 2nd time. I kinda want it to be a boy, but I love my girls and another would be fun. I just don't know though. I'm gonna say boy.

 Labor Signs: Noooo. Wayyy too early!

Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Happy or Moody most of the time: MOODY!
Weekly Wisdom: Force the food down. Take a prenatal. Do what you can and let that be enough. 
Milestones: Baby moving once in a while.  

Our Little Secret

This pregnancy I have been sick; food aversion up the wazoo! I've lost about 10 pounds which is better than last week when it was 15 pounds. I've been making myself eat regardless of what is in front of me. It's been a challenge. 

We went to California last week and got home yesterday. It was an awesome laid back trip; minus catching a cold the day we got there, and a dude hitting our rental car (good thing Marcus had the foresight to purchase the rental insurance). I got to enjoy my In-n-Out burger, and my Del Taco burrito. Yummy!

We planned a little visit at a cute little park in Pasadena with Zach and Sabrina and their sweet baby. We haven't seen them since college and the last time Sabrina was about to pop! We loved catching up!

I turned 25 on our trip! We went to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner with my grandparents and some cousins and aunt and uncle. It was awesome! I forgot to take a group picture, but it was a good time.

Some pictures:

This was on the way to California--the FIRST out of THREE planes.

The girls were pretty well behaved until Faye had a meltdown the last hour of the ride.

Always climbing. Mom got them some pretty princess dresses which they love. 

Mom taught Madeline how to roll dough for refrigerator rolls in prep for our Sunday Conference lunch. She was amazed that they turned into bread after they were cooked. 

The ride home was so exhausting. The TSA made us miss our flight so we had to find a different one that landed in Georgia at midnight.

This is us "sleeping" in the airport. And in case you were wondering...it is impossible to find a quiet place in the airport because they clean it ALL night long and the stupid announcements don't turn off even when flights aren't scheduled to get there until morning. 

At least the girls were able to sleep. A nice security guard gave us blankets and travel bags filled with bathroom essentials which was such a blessing since our bags were on their way to New York and then Charleston.

Our stroller seat lays all  the way back which is another blessing since Faye was able to sleep nice and comfortable there. 

We got home 1/2 hour before my scheduled doctor appointment so we went and got to see the baby! It is so cute and was sucking its thumb and scratching its head. We can't wait to find out what it is, but that won't be until December, but they may be able to tell a little earlier if we have another ultrasound due to my high risk factor. I don't care if it's a girl or boy, but I  think I'm great with girls and if it's a boy I'll rise to the task. Some days Maddy thinks she wants a brother and other days she wants another sister. We shall see.

While Marcus went back into the airport to pick up our luggage after my doctor's appointment we waited in the car and Faye fell asleep in my arms which is so rare for her these days.