Alta and her Mommy's kidney stones

Yesterday I went to the Dr. for my regular prenatal check-up, and for my 4D pictures. It was an eventful morning. I randomly passed a kidney stone in the urine sample I gave them. Apparently my back pain has been so significant that I can't even tell when I'm having a kidney stone!?! It wasn't as big as my last one - but it wasn't that small either. Which ultimately just answers a lot of prayers about this whole pregnancy thing. I was beginning (hmmm... scratch that... I was well underway) in feeling like I was the worst pregnant mother in the whole of this world. Like... I just wasn't cut out for this. Which is hurtful to my self-esteem... because I like to do tough stuff.... I typically enjoy things that cause some degree of pain (think rock climbing, triathlons, biking, etc.). Anyhow, I just felt like this pain was too much... and that if this is what all pregnant women felt - then I was a wimp for how much I was complaining. Which lead to my decision a few weeks ago that I was going to try to not complain about it.

Well now... I don't have to feel like a wimp anymore. I KNOW that I'm doing good now, and that overall - I'm handling the pain amazingly well. It's just reminded me that every pregnancy is different. And that I need to stop comparing myself to those women that "adore pregnancy", or "couldn't even tell."

There are some things that I do adore, and that is what I will spend the rest of my time on today. For example: I love it when she moves. I love feeling her constantly. She is a mover... and I love it. Also: I love it that we have her name. Alta Brooks. Not sure on the middle name - but we are pretty dang positive about Alta. Next: I love my new pictures of her. She looks exactly like Jaren. On the left is one of her pictures... and on the right is Jaren's picture when he was a baby (he's the one on the left in that picture). No denying, she's got his DNA. Same eyes. Same nose. Same lips.
















Jaren and I were so excited for all the pictures that we got - that he made the cutest little video (he did it all... even picked out the music!). Makes it look like she's moving in some parts. I Love it! Hope you enjoy!

July

So I hear that I'm actually supposed to update this thing! Ok, I will do my best to update - and yet not make it a 10 hour read.

What did we do? # 1 - Watched Tour de France. Luckily we have DVR - and didn't need to miss a thing... which is great - because I'm addicted.

#2 - I got a kidney stone. This one was a bit different from all my other stones because it started differently. Felt more like a bladder infection to begin with - and then like all of the others - Pain. Lots of it. 8 mm stone that I luckily passed without needing surgery. Good news - I have another in my kidney just lurking around for another moment I need to be reminded how much I like pregnancy.
There was a very funny part though (as if me having kidney stones doesn't make you laugh already --- admit it old roomies --- it makes you laugh!). The night before was our very first Childbirth class at Flowers hospital. They showed us all the things they would be hooking me up to during the labor, and then we got a tour of the rooms. Very nice rooms. I wasn't quite expecting to be in them - hooked up to all the same monitors the next night... with the same nurse that gave me the tour. I was handling all of this information fine - until they gave me some drugs... and then I had to keep telling myself that I wasn't having the baby... and that it was just a kidney stone.

#3 - All things baby. This is Jaren painting the wall for the room. We are going with Brown and Green with Pink accents for the colors. Look for more pictures when we finish the room.
Here's a random picture Jaren took of my belly.

I'm getting a lot of phone calls from family and friends back home - saying I'm not taking enough of these - so here's two! (And yes... this door is our standard place to take the belly pictures)

Last Friday I made my first baby quilt. I'm really not as crafty as that sounds. I had the inspirational help of my dear friend Sparkle. She has the tools, the know-how, and experience to convince me that such a job can be accomplished. I loved the process of making a quilt... all the way from buying the fabric to sewing the last stitch - totally enjoyable. Also, the process makes me very nervous and scared that I'm going to mess the whole thing up. And yes... Sparkle made me do all of it - that way all of the mess ups I could claim as a right of parenthood - and creation of something all my own for my daughter.

Here's me - 1st time on a surger.
Tying the quilt...

And the finished product! I have to admit that I'm a bit shocked that I pulled this thing off, and that I surged and sewed as straight as I did. Thank you Sparkle - my daughter is going to love her blanket - and love the stories of us making our blankets together.