Lucky Number 35

I'm 35 weeks along today which means I have 35 days left to go!!! How am I feeling? VERY VERY Pregnant! Pretty sure 5'2" bodies don't leave much room for a baby to grow in them.
Do you have a name picked out? Yes, her name will be Bree Elizabeth French.
Any stretch marks? No, thankfully none so far but my Linea nigra (the line from your belly button to your pelvic bone) is very visable - thank you Cuban genes.
Are you being induced? No, I'm trying for a VBAC this time around which means I'm going into labor all on my own. However, with this baby's due date so close to Kate's Birthday I wish I could have more of a say on when she was coming.
Natural or Epidural? Natural - I've decided to try going "all natural" this time. To help ease the shock both Spencer and I have been taking Hypno-birthing classes. Hypno-birthing is a unique method of relaxed, natural childbirth education, enhanced by self-hypnosis techniques. I know I can do this and Spencer has been such a great support. I'll let everyone know how it goes.
Is your Mom coming out? Sure thing - My little sister and my mom fly in May 25th. I can't wait!
How swollen are your hands and feet? I thought pretty swollen until I saw my friend's feet who is due a week before me. I can still wear my wedding ring but I'm down to just flip-flops except for Sundays, of course.
How much weight have you gained? I've gained a total of 26 pounds and I can totally feel it too!
Any strange cravings? Not strange, just a craving - CEREAL and MILK! I love me some milk!
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Other Fun Facts:
- I'm officially waddling now - whenever Spencer and I go out I have to hold on to him so he doesn't leave me behind because I'm a little slower than I used to be 9 months ago
- She is still extremely active even though I'm sure it's getting pretty snug in there
- I've gotten heartburn tons more with this baby than with Kate
- The doctor's say I'm measuring right on schedule
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Things To Look Forward To:
- Having an empty belly and my arms full
- Being able to breath again and see my toes
- Sleeping (however little) more comfortably
-Kate's 3rd Birthday - she's growing up way too fast
- Getting my body back and in shape
- A fun summer with the family
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Kate's Corner
Kate has been great through out this pregnancy and as the time gets closer she is more and more excited to finally see and love on her little sister. Here are some things she has said and done in relation to the pregnancy...
Kate often walks around the house with some stuffed animal under her shirt because "she's a mommy too"
I have to be extra careful when I'm at the store checking out because she puts anything baby into the cart, boy or girl. Yes I've had to return a few things now because I've let my guard down.
She loves to sing to my belly - mostly made up songs but every once in awhile she sing a normal song to Bree
She often asks what the baby will eat, if she'll wear panties or diapers, and where she will sleep. All very important questions that need to be answered almost daily.
She is very concerned about all of her little toys being swallowed up and is very good about picking them up and putting them in places that she herself can't even reach later.

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All in all this pregnancy has gone by fairly fast. I'm very grateful to be healthy and pray that our little Bree will be healthy too. We are all so ecstatic for her arrival. We have been so blessed and know that Bree will bring a very special spirit into our home when she comes. Until then, it's the same old same old, just trekking along and counting down the days.

A New Bike

This new bike was supposed to be for Kate's Birthday in another month but both her and Spencer couldn't control their desires to test it out. Kate did so good and it's really nice because you can totally push and steer the bike using the bar - so no bending over for an almost 9 month pregnant mom. A little more practice on peddling and steering at the same time and she'll be cruzin' all around the neighborhood. Once Kate gets it down, both Spencer and I need to find bikes so we can take family bike rides.

A Perect day

Last Saturday was a perfect day. Clear skies and about 72 degrees. We spent most of the day outside trying to find things to do to keep us out there. Kate was a big help when Spencer decided to wash the car. Who's the kid on the bike you ask? He's the neighbor boy who wanted to be Spencer's best friend. Ever since Spencer bought a bug catcher the neighborhood kids have been non stop knocking on the door wanting to borrow it. Good times!

Kate's New Besties

Kate has 3 best stuffed animal friends that she has done everything with lately. From left to right - Pinky, Monk Monk, and Buga-Buga and Kate. She set them all up in "their" chairs and asked me to take a picture. Yes, that's a potty chair separated into 3 parts - one for each friend. And yes, that's Kate in her panties - the girl loves to just wear her panties. All day, everyday. In fact the other day she was running around the house naked and I said to her, "Kate I wish you wouldn't run around the house naked!" She replied, "OK mommy I will walk then." It was really funny.

Yet Another Yard Post

Ok so can you tell this is the big thing going on at our place. The last few weeks Spencer has been a mad man trying to get our yard done. He's been out there every chance he gets bringing in more dirt and smoothing it out. All his hard work has paid off because last weekend the sod was delivered and the great guys from the ward came over to help lay it down. ** Funny story: Spencer measured and calculated time and time again the amount of sod we'd need to cover the yard. When the guy came to drop off the 11 pallets they both thought that was too much so the guy took two pallets back. That evening when they were laying the sod they ended up being about 2 pallets short. So he had to call the guy back to deliver more sod on Monday. Lesson learned - trust yourself.

Good thing one of the neighbor boys came over to help Spencer lay the extra 2 1/2 pallets because it would have taken Spencer forever and he was racing against the clock because a storm was coming in. They finished just before the rain really started to pour.

Here's a before and after shot. What a difference grass makes!

A special thanks to Adam who we put to work on the sprinkler system in the cold wind and rain, Logan for helping too and everyone in the neighborhood who let us borrow their lawn equipment to get our yard in and done. Well, we still need trees, shrubbery, plants and a fence but I think that's going to have to wait until next year or the end of the summer - gotta replenish the "Yard Money Account"

Happy Easter

Easter Sunday was also Conference Sunday so this picture was taken the Sunday before. Yes, that's me large and in charge (8 weeks left)

On actual Easter morning we started off with a yummy breakfast with the whole gang.
Then I sent Kate and Chase on an Easter Scavenger Hunt for their Spring baskets. Kate really liked running all over the house from clue to clue.
Of course at the end of the scavenger hunt was a basket for both Kate and Chase.

Here's a funny story: Brooke really wants a barbie (the puppy potty one to be exact) and told Kate how much she wants it. Ever since then Kate has been telling everyone that she was going to get a barbie for Easter. Before this Kate has never mention wanting a barbie but she made sure to tell both Rachel and Brooke that she was going to get one every time she saw them. So did she get one in her Spring Basket...? Yes and No, she got two little mermaid barbie dolls and was just as excited.

Later Spencer and Kate dyed Easter eggs - Kate is showing off her hands and how they are covered in red food coloring.

Ta-Da! One for each of us

For the last session of Conference Rachel and Anthony came over to watch it at our house. Then we had a very yummy dinner and put on an Easter egg hunt for the kids in the basement.

Kate did really well and got a lot of eggs in her basket

However, Austin definitely got the most eggs - with age comes speed.

After we went back upstairs the kids opened all their eggs and of course started to eat the candy. Rachel tried to explain to Austin what Easter was really about... by the look on Austin's face he was just thinking about what candy to eat next.

As always I had a great Easter spent with my family. It was nice to have General Conference to listen to as we celebrated the Easter Holiday and of course the most important thing about Easter is the resurrection of Jesus Christ!