They Say...

They say it takes longer to feel boys kick. I'm still waiting...

They say to warn my significant other and plan to cry a lot. Once, I was told by someone I'll consider a witch doctor, that I have the largest heart wall he's ever encountered. A heart wall, according to the witch doctor, is an emotion block built as a result of past experiences, allergies, bad energy. Maybe it's still there. Or it's grown bigger. Or I have a boy inside me and he is helping me balance my emotions. Whatever it is, I'm not crying. Only two times.

They say your hands and feet will swell. Hello 16 weeks, 6 days and warm February weather. It's started. I don't wear my wedding ring anymore. I'm trying to tell myself it's the increased circulation from all the walking I've been doing lately. Should I just be honest and call it a byproduct of pregnancy? Cause they're real fat.

They say there's something called round ligament pain. If that's a fancy way of saying your stomach is punching itself from the inside, then yes. Check that one too. That happens to me.

They say to exercise at least 30 minutes everyday. The number of times I walk to and from the bathroom everyday I'm pretty sure adds up to at least that.

Then they say, your exercise should be intentional. Dang. I take it intentionally relieving myself to avoid embarrassing pee-pants doesn't count.

They say you're only really eating for 1.2. WHAT?! What is this eating for two lie I've been told my whole life? And how are you supposed to pack all that protein and calcium into one day? I might as well eat liver giblets and cottage cheese all day. Nothing else.

They say no one will ever love me like my child "because they hear your heartbeat from the inside." While a tender sentiment, doesn't a stethoscope do the same thing?

They say motherhood is next to Godhood. Maybe because you love something so much it's literally incomprehensible. Maybe because something that brings you so much joy can also be the source of desperate heartbreak as you watch them suffer. Maybe because you get to teach a new little person to take on the world and then you have to trust they will always come home without forcing them to do it. Whatever the answer is, Michael Blake is a blessing for letting me experience it all for myself. Yes, all of it.

Design Board for the Nursery

JR is getting really excited to start the nursery. While I was taking a little snooze this past weekend, he cleaned out the whole room and organized everything into the basement. My hobbies have been replaced. He let me keep a tiny square (shared space with the printer and wireless router) in the hallway outside of our bedroom, but Michael Blake gets the whole room to himself. AND daddy's even planning a closet to kill for. I'm so jealous. I know, I'm jealous of a baby. One who is not even borned yet.

Okay, so we have a lot of fun ideas for the room, and I guess that means I have to relocate. There's not enough room for all we want to do, and every memory from my past, and seasonal clothes, and craft projects, and holiday decorations. The basement is maybe a better option in the end.

Here are a few of the dreams we're daydreaming...

1. Imagine this on it's end with an adorable pillow cushion. Window seat! (with storage!!!!!!!!!)
2. A tiny toy corner with mirrors on the wall under the bottom shelf.
3. I love every last baby boy detail. We're going grey and white with maybe a tinsy bit of something bright, but keeping things mostly neutral.
4. This is JR's dreamiest dream. It's actually a really splendid idea. It'll be a framed section of wall above the crib with grey and white stripes.
5. Simple white crib. I'm still hunting for the perfect bedding...

Michael Blake, you're bound to have the snuggliest baby dreams and best of play times in your baby room.

Doubled Our Time

Well, Valentine's Day is not too far away. Is it okay if I just keep up with the sappy love for one more day? Okay, thanks, because today is our 2-year anniversary. I remember thinking, 1 year was such a milestone. For us, it really was in a lot of ways. There were some incredible highs and some very low lows in that first year. The first month of 2013 seemed to be it's own kind of milestone. Looking back, it was almost a tangible "coming of age" for the JR Sandoval family. That first year of marriage for us was like the awkward teenage years when you're learning about you-your style, your values, your hygiene...yeah.

We often joke that we're pro's qualified to counsel any married couple (although they'd be silly to even listen). But the truth is, our marriage is better every single day as we learn new ways to be patient and kind. The very biggest difference in our marriage has been a constant invitation to God.

In December 2012, we both started working in the Draper, Utah Temple. Are you understanding the tangible milestone? It took sacrificing every Saturday for 10 months to help us understand and access the goodness and godliness that could be a part of our marriage. What a blessing.

I often tell JR he's the best husband I've ever had. Fitting that this is his anniversary present? Yes, perfect fit. I am grateful everyday for the strong and kind man that I married. Our together has taught me to recognize the best version of myself. He has taught me what it means to love completely without reservation or bias. I love you, sweet boy. Here's to 200 more years...and then eternity. 

It's a....

On our way to the ultrasound

BOY! Michael Blake Sandoval will be here on August 5th, or maybe a little sooner...? Here's to hoping! My cousin, Jennie did an early ultrasound for us on Monday. It is always so exciting to see little hands and feet and hear a heartbeat. It's still surreal to see that little life on a screen.

Leave it to the Sandovals to throw a gender reveal-themed party. It was so fun, but it nearly killed me to wait to find out, even if it was only an hour. I almost cheated, but thank goodness JR held on to the results. We asked Jennie to not tell us what it was, so at the very end of the ultrasound she turned the screen and checked the gender. We all laughed about how positive she was that she knew the gender.

Becky was on standby until we brought her the ultrasound results, and then filled some adorable (and delicious!) cupcakes with frosting colored to reveal our secret. Here are some fun pictures from our party: (all the adorable decorations are compliments of Grandma Baker! SO cute!)

 

 We're so excited for our little man! JR already has plans to take him everywhere. Guys, he's going to be the world's greatest dad.