Another pregnancy update

Since I haven't blogged in a while, sorry, I thought that I would post some pictures and update you on the happenings at the Leavitt residence. I am now 37 weeks pregnant! I went to the doctor last Thursday, everything is still looking good. The doctor is still confident that my baby will be a little less than average size- average is about 7 1/2 pounds. I think that 7 pounds is just the right size. I have been having lots of contractions, but they don't seem to be helping things progress. I am not effaced or dialated even a little! Oh well, after Christmas is a better time for the baby to come anyway. I have another appointment tomorrow- I'm not sure that I'll even have the doctor see if I've made any progress in the last four days. It just doesn't seem worth the bother.

Rob finished finals last Wednesday. Woohoo! So, I am looking forward to spending some alone time with him the next couple of weeks while he is just working and we are waiting for the baby to come. It will be a nice change of pace to be able to actually spend some quality time together. This semester has been so crazy that we haven't had much of that. And, we are well aware that the next year or so we won't get much time together either. With work, school, church and, of course, a newborn we'll be lucky to have a few hours a week alone and awake. We are trying to cherish this time together because we know that we will never have it again.

Rob has been wonderful throughout my entire pregnancy. He will go get me anything at anytime from a heating pad to tater tots at Jack-in-the-Box. He is also been very gracious about me taking about 80% of the bed with my pillows and such trying to get comfortable. But all of that is still minimal compared to the fact that he has so sweetly put up with me- mood swings and all. I don't know that I could be as patient and understanding as he has been through the emotional roller coaster ride called pregnancy. I am just so grateful to be married to such an amazing man who loves me so much! We are both so excited to see and hold our little baby!

This is a view from the top. I have to lean forward in order to see my toes. They really do seem that small and far away at this point. I painted them last week when I was having lots of contractions. I thought that I may go into labor- those nails need to look pretty when that happens. :) I am going in for a pedicure on Friday- I am REALLY looking forward to that.

Here it is! That big belly of mine. And yes, my back is killing me! I hope that he isn't too big...

And me again. 37 weeks pregnant- technically full term, but the baby is still not due until January 11. With my luck, that will be the earliest that he will be born. Just pray that it is no later than the 12th. :)

Love, Limits and Latitude

Our ward had a parenting fireside last Sunday evening. Rob and I decided to go, it's never too early to learn and to hear from other parents. We talked about an article entitled "Love, Limits, and Latitude, " which was printed in the August 2008 Ensign. It was a very insightful meeting. I just wanted to share some of the highlights.

1. Parenting is a fluid, dynamic process, it can take time to see the results of our efforts.

2. "Child rearing is so individualistic...what works with one child may not work with another." -President James E Faust. President Brigham Young counseled us to "study children's dispositions and their temperaments, and deal with them accordingly."

3. Lead with love. "Kind looks, kind actions, kind words, and a lovely, holy deportment towards our children will bind them to us with bands that cannot be easily broken." -Pres Brigham Young. Invite obedience rather than demand it.

4. Set clear limits for children's behavior that match each child's level of maturity. Calmly and consistently enforce boundaries with reasonable consequences. The best consequences are generally related to the breach of rules and are designed to help the child achieve the hoped-for outcome.

5. Grant autonomy or latitude, it allows children to express their individuality and helps them learn to make good choices. Let them make choices according to their level of maturity.

6. Seek to view our children as the Savior does, as we do so, we will be filled with charity toward them. Moroni 8:17 "And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love all children with a perfect love;"

Here is the link to the article http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=6b8de97864a6b110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

Pregnancy Update

Now that I have "binge blogged" and you are up to date on everything, I will blog in real time. Today I am 29 weeks, 3 days- only 10 1/2 weeks to go! I went to the doctor last week for my routine check up. I stepped on the scale and was in disbelief when I saw that I had gained 8 pounds in one month! No wonder my back is hurting and it's getting harder to be comfortable enough to sleep at night. I didn't realize that I had such a ferocious appetite! All my measurements are right on though and the baby's heartbeat was 145. He is very active and I'm starting to feel like a human punching bag. It's so amazing to feel how strong he is getting! I go back to the doctor next week- already time to start going every two weeks. I am surprised at how fast the time has gone by. Before I know it, it will be January and I'll be rushing to get everything just perfect for our new arrival.

28 weeks and growing!


Rob always laughs because the minute that he gets out of bed (which is well before it's light outside), I make myself incredibly comfortable. I steal his pillows and lay right in the middle of the bed. What is under that mess of blankets is a cluster of pillows; there's one supporting my belly, one between my knees, one behind my back and, of course, my favorite feather pillow that I rest my head on. The best two hours of sleep that I get everyday :)

Rob's Birthday!

Happy Birthday Rob!



Here is the cake that Rob's mom made- Spooky!

Mmmm- delicious!

It was a pretty relaxed day. I made Rob German pancakes for breakfast- just so you know eggbeaters don't work because they don't get poofy like a German Pancake should. It was a very interesting mix of flour, eggs and milk. Rob said it was very similar to french toast and ate it all gone- what a sweet guy. I thought it tasted more like scrambled eggs with a touch of flour, drenched in syrup and powdered sugar, not exactly to my liking. We watched a little college football and Rob took a short nap. Later in the afternoon, we did some clothes/shoe shopping then we went to Goodwood for dinner and had some delicious BBQ. We made it home in time to watch the Boise State game on TV. They beat Southern Mississippi. That is Rob's idea of a near perfect birthday. On Sunday, we went to his parent's house for dinner and birthday cake. All in all, I think that it was a good birthday. Maybe next year we can actually have a party.

Rob relaxing, watching football. As happy as a clam.

Zwetschgenknodel

Zwetschgenknodel= plum dumplings!

Rob's family is good friends with the family across the street from them. The dad in the family, Gunter, is from Austria. Gunter and his wife, Gloria grow plums in their backyard. Every year when the fruit is ready they make Knodel. I didn't know that it was so delicious! Let me describe it for you: it is a ripe plum baked inside of a doughy dumpling, you roll it in toasted bread crumbs, then top with sugar! Everytime you cut into one, the plum juice squirts out and you mop up your juicy plate with bread crumbs sugar and more Knodel! Wash all that down with a glass of milk and you have the perfect German meal!!!
This is Zwetschgenknodel. I just couldn't get enough. I didn't think that I even liked plums. I look forward to next fall when I get to partake in this tradition again. Nothing like getting in touch with my good old German roots.

Spokane

The Spokane, WA Temple.My step-brother Tyler, was called to serve an LDS mission in Uruguay. His farewell was in Spokane, so we decided that we would go and see everyone especially because we won't be traveling for the holidays. It was fun to see my dad and Zach and Noah and spend time with my sisters again. And, of course, it was good to see Tyler before he left the country for two years! Somehow, we didn't get around to taking pictures of any of the family, but we did stop by the temple and take some pictures there.
Me (and the baby) in front of the temple.

Rob in front of the temple.

The Baby Shower

The baby shower was so much fun! Cassie came from Olympia, WA; Christy from Coeur d' Alene; Tracy came from Tricities, WA; Marie came all the way from Missoula, MT; and Rob's sisters, Kiely and Kate came up from Salt Lake. It was so fun to have them all here. Cass, Christy, Tracy and Marie all stay at my apartment and we had some super fun girl time just playing around and talking. It was great. Here I am holding the delicious chocolate cake. We also had some yummy peach pie and some berry crisp. It was like a dessert buffet-tasty!

As you can see, there were lots of gifts for our little boy. There are few things left to buy, which is wonderful! We got some adorable clothes, toys and blankets. One of the things that I loved the most is that we got some amazing homemade gifts- blankets, knitted hats, burp clothes, a carseat cover, a boppy, and a nursing cover-talk about being domestic. You will probably see pictures of most of these things once the baby is born and I take pictures of him looking so cute in them and on his blankets. We have several friends that we met in Pocatello that now live in Boise that were able to come to the shower. It was great to see all of them too.

The return of the floating heads! This is a picture of Cassie, Marie and Christy all wrapped in a warm blanket on this chilly, rainy evening. Cassie has a picture of the five of us girls that I should get from her to post, but you see how silly these girls are and why I have such a blast with them! Thank you girls so much for coming and making my baby shower so wonderful!

What a great day! I can hardly wait to use all the things that I got and dress my little boy in all the cute clothes!