OH, THE MISSION...

I've been home now for 2 years. Holy cow. So I found some pics of me on the mish and I couldn't resist. They make me laugh so hard, I honestly hardly even recognize myself. Paraguay threw me for a loop. That experience feels like I dreamt it. It was the "best of times and the worst of times". Honestly, the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life, hands down. I was determined to stay a "cute sister missionary" and was committed to not let myself completely go but it really didn't take me long to not give a crap about what I looked like nor how much weight I was gaining. I put on a hefty 20 pounds, mostly on my chin. I couldn't even wear any of my rings, my fingers were completely swollen, due to the horrendous heat and I had a constant glistening greasy face, covered in sweat with accompanying pit stains. I had the worst cankles you can imagine, and they were covered in mosquito bites at all times. I am sparing no details, but it was not pretty. The best part was that I just did not care. There were more important things to me at the time, and at one point I accepted the fact that I might probably never get back to normal. I really didn't care! I referred to myself all the time in my letters home as "fat 'n happy." haha!
Note the glistening face below... and the depth of the dimples which had much more cushion


And that hair... Doesn't even look like me!


Here we are sitting on the temple grounds, the week before I came home. (Me on the far right, notice the pudgy fingers).

HOORAY for Cosmic bowling. Well actually it probably wasn't the cosmic bowling that made the night, it was the company. Dave was in town from Cali over the weekend so Saturday night we had to hit up Joe Veras for some good mexican grub and we decided we hadn' t been bowling for a long time so we went! My bowling scores were horrendous (must have been that shift in center of gravity thing they talk about during pregnancy) but we at least got some funny shots in while we were there. I told Jason to make a sassy face for that pic... sassy indeed!

Audrey is one of the funniest girls I know, we forgot socks so we had to buy them in the vending machine... and they were huge! Mine were hidden at least under my pants but hers were bold and beautiful with her cut offs... and glowed in those black lights. Here's a good shot of victory dance after a perfect strike... hahaha I love you Aud. LOVE YOU!

Audrey and Dave (in my posh leather jacket) getting into the groove.

People don't think pregnant women get down with a good beat but oh, we do! Jason doesn't really like to dance but humors me and lets me pull him up out of his chair and at least dance around him haha

A plea for warm weather...

I really know that it's still only February. I know we still have snowstorms to come. I know that this is part of utah winters, and this winter has been particularly harsh and snowy. No one has to remind me that it was my choice to move here. Don't get me wrong, I love a white Christmas, but are you not DYING to lay poolside and soak up the sun? Are you not going crazy to be able to take a walk outside in the evenings in flip flops and shorts? Are you not craving a summer barbeque so bad?! I am! We have to go somewhere soon because I am starting to really go crazy. I've been moping over our summer pics in Hawaii and Costa Rica, but I just don't think either of those places is in the cards for the next little while.

As much as I love this (taken just Saturday)...

I could cry... like real tears streaming down my face, for this.

Everytime we have one of these teaser days full of sunshine when it gets to a piping 40 degrees my husband has to stop me from putting on the swimsuit and trying to lay out. Anyone with me? Anyone else as close as I am to banging their head against the wall the next time a snowstorm is forcasted? (I think it's this week by the way).

And PS don't you just feel fatter during the winter? I know this coming summer will not be a slim and trim summer for me being 9 months pregnant during the thick of it, but for some reason I feel like much more of a whale during winter months. Maybe it's the blubber I am accumulating for insulation, maybe it's the pasty white skin that hasn't seen sunlight in months, or could be the holiday sweets. Either way, I want to hibernate until the snow is gone. Mah!

All dressed up and nowhere to go?! Actually, that was sorta the point for this year's Valentine's Day evening. Jason and I are both doing so much these days that relaxing at home really is the most appetizing thing we do. I did decide I wanted to find a sexy dress for Valentine's Day nonetheless. I told the hubby we had reservations and that he had to be home by six. When he got home he found dressier clothes for him in the front entrance with a note that said, "Put these on before you come upstairs." He changed and then came up and I had prepared dinner, (one I was fairly impressed with but can't take full credit for because I went to a cooking class on Tuesday and Andrea in my ward got us started on this most fabulously decadent meal). Bleu cheese crusted beef tenderloin and amazing rosemary potatoes... and a delicious Oreo cheesecake. It turned out so awesome! I even made menus to put on the table:) After dinner and dancing in our living room we just changed into PJ's and watched a sappy movie. He was totally floored and we had a great evening together. So we got all dressed up kinda fancy schmancy style... and stayed home. It was a perfect, relaxing evening- just the two of us!

While we were eating he said, "Well I made something for you as well." and went to get it. He brought out an 8x10 frame and when I realized what it was, I completely melted. It read at the top "101 things I love about my wife..." and there it was, a list of 101 things. Everything from my little quirks to my hands and feet was on there. It was the most tender thing I've ever seen! I, of course, had a good cry and could barely finish dinner:)

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice!!!

So they're telling us it's a GIRL!! Jason and I went into the mall to that ultrasound place on Saturday, (we are just now at 16 weeks) and sorta fibbed and said we were at 17 because that's when they tell you you're eligible. Can you tell we were anxious to know the sex?? I was kinda preparing myself to be turned away once we got in there, and that she would see through our deceit! But, she didn't. The tech was kinda funny actually... once we got in there she played around with the ultrasound for a bit and then pointed the little arrow in between the legs and said, "What's missing here?" and I, in all seriousness said, "A weiner?" haha YEP! (I really wasn't trying to be vulgar, it just sorta came out!) I don't know why, but I was in total shock and disbelief so I told her to check it out from a few different angles and with each angle she said the same thing. Maybe it's because we are so early and I am just now finally starting to show, I am in denial! Seriously, the baby can only be one of two things but it's like no matter what, when you find out the sex you're in a total state of SHOCK! haha. I keep thinking we are gonna go back in and find outdoor plumbing we didn't see before! I am so exstatic to have a girl! We are OVERJOYED!! These are the pics we took last night before going to bed... notice the hot pajamas...

PS this belly JUST happened. I swear, like, over night. So crazy!

Ok can I just say how much I love my husband? Lately I have been overwhelmed with my love for him! I think it has to do with creating this new little person together... and while pregnant, feelings are felt in extreme. I just wish that everyone could marry someone like him and that our daughters will find someone just like their dad!

Brag About Your Husband

What is his name: Jason Seely

How long have you been married: 14 months

How long did you date: Kinda hard to say actually. We started in May of 2004, dated for about two and a half months as I was preparing to leave on a mission. I had a missionary out at the time so I was trying to keep him at a distance (obviously didn’t work too well). When I got home from the mish I moved down to AZ. Forces of nature were pulling us together though and we started up again long distance in July of ‘06. I packed my bags and was moved up to Provo to be with him in August. Married in December, so I guess we dated about seven months, including a 3 month engagement (which I don’t think really counts anyways).

Who eats more sweets: Ya know, I thought I’d never find a man who loved sweets more than I do. But HE DOES! He has the biggest sweet tooth, just like my dad. He loves the really rich chocolate desserts that I can only have about one bite of. He is more disciplined than I am though, especially during pregnancy.

Whose parents do you see most? His, for sure. His live in South Jordan, about 25 min away, and mine are in Idaho Falls.

Who said I love you first: He did. He said it about two weeks before I left on my mission. And I didn’t say anything. It broke my heart! It’s not that I didn’t feel the same; I just knew I was leaving and didn’t want to complicate things further. Once we started dating again after I came home, he said it again a couple weeks into it at the airport (I had come up for the weekend from Arizona.) He said, “I love you, and I’ve never stopped.” Ugh kill me! I was dying to say it back to him so I practically shouted it when I did…and I cried, too.

Who is taller: He is, he’s 6’2”.

Who is smarter: I think he is. Jason is incredibly smart. We share a real love for learning, which I love. He is very book smart and very people smart, though I may have him beat in “emotional intelligence.” We women have a gift.

Who does the laundry: I do. And I can’t believe how much he goes through.

Who does the dishes: He has been doing them lately. What a peach.

Who pays the bills: Umm, we sorta share that. I did for the first big chunk of the marriage and now it’s sorta whoever gets the mail first.

His guilty pleasure: Pop culture and the 80’s. He loves 80’s movies and gets the biggest kick out of teenage pop culture stuff, like Saved by the Bell, Mean Girls, Bring it on... stuff like that. Freaking hilarious, he makes me laugh so hard.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed: He does. He’s pretty particular about his side.

Who has more friends: Jason spent a lot of years as a Provo All-star bachelor before finding the one. So he definitely does! But we seem to be evening it out, not so many "his" or "her" friends anymore.

Besides you, who is his best friend: I’d say Dave Carlile, who just moved to Southern Cali. :( We miss you Dave.

Who cooks dinner: Man we really have been sharing this lately. He makes a mean grilled cheese and turkey sandwich. And mean guacamole.

Who is more stubborn: Me, by a landslide. He never cares who’s right or wrong, never holds a grudge, never resists apologizing even when I’m being completely ridiculous. I wish I could be more like him.

Who kissed who first: I guess this was a mutual thing. We were watching a movie after having had dated for about 3 weeks and he kinda pulled the “Hitch” move, even though this was before that movie even came out. He put his lips right up next to mine and did nothing, just waited. Ha!

Who asked who out first: He did of course.

What was your first date: Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera at the Capitol theater.

Who proposed: He did! In Kauai, on the beach as the sun was setting. Not another soul in site!

Who has more siblings: He is 3rd of 7, I am 4th of 5.

What is your favorite thing about him: I could never ever narrow it down to one thing. He is the most honest person I’ve ever met, honest in everything he does. He has his own value system that no one has imposed on him, his integrity dictates every decision he makes. He is one of the most tender-hearted, compassionate people I know. He’s not a show off; he doesn’t care about impressing the masses. He understands the value of work, has never had a THING handed to him and has worked so, SO hard to be where he is. And when we are together we are laughing 90% of the time. I admire him more than I can express.

So... does anyone really know? Ok all you mothers out there, we heard the baby's heartbeat again today (I LOVE that little choo choo train in my belly!) and the doctor said, "No promises, but that sounds like a girl's heartbeat..." because it was fairly high I guess, at 160 bpm. I have heard the whole time that that's an old wives tale! I didn't want to tell doc I don't think he really knew what he was talking about but is it true or not?! Do babies have different heart rates based on gender? Tell me whatyou know! Come on, give up the goods.

Here's my doc and me, just this afternoon. For some reason this is how he listened to the heartbeat. hahaha can you imagine? As if my tummy looks like that at 15 weeks!