Expecting the Unexpected

Lately I feel like I have no control over what happens in my life. 

I know that's actually not 100% true, but I think we all feel it at times.  

As a teacher, I can't even fathom what it would be like to see or experience anything like what happened in Connecticut this weekend. My heart breaks just thinking about 20 innocent 6 year olds who lives have just ended in such an abrupt way.  

I think about what I would have done in that situation and if I could have been brave enough for my students who are the same age.  

It's a hard realization to come to, that so many are hurting and in pain.

But it also reminds me that we all have trials.  

Bad things are going to happen. 

Luckily, we have a Savior who is perfect and all knowing. Someone who can right all wrong and help us understand things in an eternal perspective.  

Lately, I've had my fair share of hard times....

nothing like what others are currently going through, but none the less, trying for me.  

As a part of a "new moms study" they are conducting at the Murray IHC hospital, Thursday we came in for our last ultrasound of our little guy.  We were super excited and thought we'd be in and out.  

The ultrasound was great! Baby C is a KICKER and the nurses had a hard time getting him to hold still.  He loved to kick the probe out of the way and then squirm around so nobody could see him.  But once we got him to calm down, we got some pretty good shots! 

the 3D was so cool! Weird to actually see physical features on your baby and what he might actually look like in a couple months! 

After the ultrasound, the study does a vaginal probe ultrasound to check your cervix.  

They found that mine had shortened tremendously and was actually dilated to a 1.  

Me being at 29 weeks, the nurse freaked out a little and sent me straight upstairs to labor and delivery where I got strapped down into all the fetal monitors and they found that I was also contracting every 10 minutes.

This was all news to me..I couldn't feel anything! I had no clue I was contracting or obviously that I was dilated. 

They quickly gave me steroid shots to help the baby's lungs develop faster in case he was coming and also put me on Indocin meds to stop the contractions.  It's now been over 24 hours since I've completed the round of meds and they are just waiting to see if the contractions will pick back up again.  

To make a long story short, that was Thursday, now it's Monday and I have been sitting on a hospital bed ever since.  The doctors say I will probably be here until Thursday or Friday. It's frustrating, but what can you do? The important thing is that our baby is fine and cozy in there and has no clue what's going on in the outside world! :) 

I think the most stressful part of this whole thing is work.  Being a teacher kind of sucks at a time like this.  I can't just call in sick and that's that.  Luckily, I have TONS of support from my first grade team, school staff, and parents.  

I know my recent trials are NOTHING compared to the mass murder which occurred this weekend, but  I'm grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who has helped me feel at peace with the situation.  

Our little guy may have a January birthday, or could still be coming in March. 

It's a waiting game now! All we hope is that he's happy and healthy! 

Politics according to six year olds

My first graders have been talking about the election all day and have said some HILARIOUS stuff! I started writing it down, because it's so funny.  Obviously some kids are listening to what their parents have to say... (they also think that they will be or already have voted for the president by having an opinion!) :)

ENJOY! :)

1. STUDENT:What's the difference between Pres. Obama and Romney?
 ANOTHER STUDENT: Ones black and ones white!

2. I'm voting for Romney because he has the preisthood!

3. I'm voting for Romney because he has lots of money!

4. Obama will give you money if you vote for him!

5. My dad says Romney has a stiff neck!

6. My dad said our country looks like a toilet these days!

7. Next time, I think I will run for president!

THIS ONES THE BEST!!!

STUDENT: "Mrs. Chadwick, I need another glue stick "

ANOTHER STUDENT: "President Obama would just steal somebody else's glue stick and give it to you"

THAT REALLY HAPPENED!!!

Happy Election Day! :)

Half way there!

At 20 weeks I...

dirty mirror...sorry!

{feel HUGE, although I know I am actually pretty small for this point during pregnancy}

{am having serious issues with sleep...wake up ALL the time, roll around, have to pee, all the fun stuff!}

{am thirsty ALL the time, but when I drink too much water it makes me sick}

{am ALWAYS hungry...but surprisingly have only gained 7 pounds}

{can feel baby C move around...just little flutters.  I tell Dan it feels like when you go down a steep part on a roller coaster and your tummy jolts around, but not as intense and in one concentrated spot}

{crave this new fruit my friend Liz found. It's called an Asian pear, but a cooler name is a "pearpple" sweet like a pear, crunchy like an apple! :) } 

{crave sugar at some times, and salty snacks at others...it really changes EVERY day, my only "constant craving" has been potatoes} 

{constantly have a bad taste in my mouth...that's been a whole pregnancy thing} 

{am loving that Dan plays the guitar to our little guy every night!} 

{started listening to the Book of Mormon in Spanish in the car...you know... just in case baby C is up and listening...} 

{my hair is feeling awesome..never been so full!} 

{am SO full of love and joy for this little guy to join our family...yet so scared at the same time!} 

Tuesday is our anatomy scan, and I am weirdly nervous about it. Praying everything is ok with him.

I'm sick of hearing all these horror stories-is it just me or do when strangers hear that you're pregnant they immediately start to tell you everything that went wrong with their pregnancy?!...not cool!

Above all, we are feeling blessed beyond measure! Half way through this roller coaster we call pregnancy...although I know 20 more weeks is nothing compared to a lifetime of baby C as my son! <3

Growing a baby boy!

We are so happy! 

cute little button nose!

I am the oldest child in my family and have ALWAYS wanted an older brother. Not that my 2 little brothers aren't great, they are, I just always felt gypt not having an older brother to take care of me. So when I found out I was pregnant I REALLY wanted it to be a boy. REALLY bad.  I would refuse to think anything else.  Then, somewhere down the line, little girl thoughts crept into my head.  Every time I went to the doctor to hear the heartbeat, he would say the exact same thing..

"that's a heartbeat of a little girl" (I wonder if he knew he repeated himself everytime?!) So it got me wondering. Then everyone around me, my friends and family all thought it was a girl. I was only craving salty things, I was SUPER sick, and still fit into my pants so maybe I was carrying high...all signs of a girl!

So naturally, I started planning on a little girl. 

I have the cutest names, cutest nursery colors, cutest sewing ideas, cutest EVERYTHING!

I was 100% sure it was a girl. I even had dreams and saw a little girl's face. 

Well, when the nurse said, "Oh, it's definitely a BOY" My first reaction was 

"NO!, WHAT??!!!!" 

Not that I'm not excited, I REALLY am, but my mindset had become full on little girl! I was seriously shocked! But then after the shock wore off, I was SO excited! 

This little guy was showing off and MAKING SURE we knew he was in deed a boy! Poor kid's been hearing me talk girl the past 3 weeks...he was probably getting a little annoyed! :) 

Dan is obviously beside himself.  His brother just had his fourth girl and we have been beginning to wonder if maybe the Chadwick boys just don't spit out Y chromosomes, so he feels victorious! :) 

And is WAY excited to have a little "fishing buddy" and someone to follow in his footsteps. 

As for me, my mindset has shifted and I already love this little wiggly bugger inside of me! 

...he really is QUITE the wiggler! 

But the CUTEST wiggler I've EVER seen!

I LOVE this one, it looks like he's "playing Indian" and I think his little mouth is so cute!

This next picture, worries me a little...

When we would do family home evening as a kid, my dad would get SO upset when my 2 brothers would not sit still. 

Not only would they not sit still, but they would lay on the floor butts up in the air, legs over their heads...they thought it was hilarious! 

...that's EXACTLY what this little guy is doing in this picture... 

I'm hoping those are long Chadwick legs and not stubby Farnsworth legs!

I may or may not have a little Dallin on my hands...which would be a lot of work! But totally worth it! 

I can't wait to see what this little guy looks and acts like in 4 months! :)

Ups and Downs of Pregnancy

You know all those pesty pregnancy symptoms everybody talks about, but you never think it will happen to you? 

Yeah...pretty sure I've had ALL of them! 

Barfing all days of all weeks in the first trimester, out of control saliva, bleeding gums, random crying, bloody stuffy noses, headaches, unwanted hair, swollen feet, tender..you know what...bloating, cravings, food sounding nothing but nasty, extreme smells, moodiness on both extremes...

TMI?? Sorry!

you name it...I had it!  

Lucky me.

On the flip side, so far so good with the little bean...he or she seems to be growing nicely and rapidly inside of me! Next week we will find out the gender and I CAN NOT wait! My patience is about up! I swear everyone around me with due dates after mine already knows...I'm dying! 

at 18 weeks, I'm still waiting to be able to feel the little bean moving around inside of me.  I thought I felt it once, but turns out it was more likely gas. I guess when I finally feel the movement, I'll know, right? 

I'm starting to eat again, in fact I've gained the weight back that I lost in the first trimester plus a pound.

Cheese is my best friend, so are potatoes, and pasta...yay for carbs! More pounds to come!! Apple juice and veggies/dip are also a favorite this week! 

All things are going well with the bleeding situation.  No more hematomas from what we can tell, so HOPEFULLY the bleeding won't come back and I'll have a "normal" pregnancy again. 

Dan is OVER THE MOON excited about this little bundle of joy coming our way.  The other day I came home from a relief society activity to find him in the kitchen putting together a stroller and a pack n' play. Yeah, he's a little ahead of himself but I just go with it because I think it's so cute! :) 

My belly is slowly but surely growing...

We already love our little bean!

Little growing family

My Summer started out AWESOME!

Since being a teacher only gives you 3 months of free time to do whatever you want, I had to take advantage of this! We had trips lined up, I had many projects I wanted to get done, friends to see, places to go, things to do...the whole Summer was planned out and ready to be executed.  

June was amazing, and I got so much done! My exercise routine was in place and I was feeling good, we took advantage of every day, and then We went to California, and had a great time...up until the end.  

You see, about 5 weeks before heading out to CA, this little stick finally developed a plus sign!

It was  Sunday, and supposedly the day of my expected period. I didn't believe it at first.  

We had been trying to get pregnant for a good long time now, with no such luck

and we had seen this before...but with no baby attached. 

So really, Dan and I went about our day trying not to get our hopes up. 

Monday rolled around and first thing I did was go to Wal mart and buy 3 of the cheapest pregnancy tests I could find...all different brands, just to make sure! (..those things are SO expensive...I've wasted so much money on them!! )

and sure enough...

they all came out postive! 

NOW we were getting excited, well I was, but Dan was still very cautious and concerned! 

In fact, I didn't see any emotion from him up until our last day of the CA trip when I started getting sick, THEN it was real for him! :)

After seeing my doctor, he was able to get me into the New Moms To Be Study in Murray, for first time moms. Which is pretty cool since they pay you (not much, but some) and all your ultrasounds are free! 

So at 8 weeks, we saw our little bean! 

Seeing the baby for the first time and hearing the heartbeat was by far the coolest experience I've ever had! How a baby develops and grows is nothing short of a miracle, and just blows my mind! 

So since then, my Summer went down the drain, and consisted of sleeping, peeing, and barfing. (TMI??...sorry!) 

But I wouldn't trade it for anything else! 

I am now 15 weeks, and feeling good.  The sickness has subsided, every once in a while I still get nauseous, but it's not NEARLY as bad as before!

Last week, when I was almost 13 weeks, we had a little scare.  We were in the temple and as I was getting dressed felt something strange, went to the bathroom and found bright red blood.  I totally panicked, and made Dan rush me to the hospital, which luckily is across the street from the temple.  

We were so worried, I had never even been admitted into a hospital before, let alone the ER! But we got an ultrasound (which was REALLY cool, cuz the baby actually looked like a human and had grown SOOO much!) and heard the heartbeat  and everything looked ok.

I spent the rest of the weekend in bed doing nothing, and saw the doctor the following Monday. Turns out I had a subchorionic hematoma.  Basically, a blood clot near the placenta which ruptured.  I guess it's somewhat common, but still scared the pants off us! I spent an entire week on bed rest, and we are praying the blood doesn't come back and that everything keeps going smoothly!

The little bean is currently scheduled to arrive MARCH 5! and we are HAPPY as can be!

California, here we come...

My blog is dwindling...
probably because Summer is too chaotic and I never have time to blog, or when I do have time, I forget! :/

Recently, we took a trip to the golden state of California! It was a nice get a way and fun to see some of Dan's family members I hadn't met.

The drive up was gorgeous! I LOVE Lake Tahoe-which happens to be in Dallin's mission...I hope he gets to go there!!

First stop was San Jose! We stayed with one of my mother in laws triplet sisters-she's a hoot!
They had just bought a lake house on the delta, so we spent a lot of time boating, laying out, and swimming!

Dan's cousin got a paddle board for her birthday, and unfortunately all the pictures of that beauty is on Dan's phone...but it sure was FUN! It's like a surf board that you stand up on and paddle around...I felt like Pocahontas when riding it...which was awesome! :)

My FAVORITE part of the trip was the BEACH! We didn't get to spend too much time there, and if we were to re-do this trip, that's where the majority of it would be...but it was still fun!!
I love, love love, did I mention I LOVE the beach!

Growing up being only 20 minutes away from the coastline, my parents would pack a ton of food, blankets, toys, and towels, grab all of us kiddos and go to the beach almost every weekend! That was totally normal to me. I could spend all day and night at the beach, so I was more than  THRILLED to be there again!

 Santa Cruz's waves are kind of lame and weak sauce compared to Los Angeles' Zuma beach  20 footer plus waves..but I'll take it!

It sure was beautiful though!

We then headed up north to Lake Oroville to visit my mother in law's other triplet sister. She is also a hoot! We spent the 4th out on the lake, and saw an amazing firework show...which my camrea totally sucked at capturing!

The view each night was BEAUTIFUL!!!

all the sudden there were like a million boats coming from all different directions to watch the fireworks!

Dan, his twin brother Matt, and I somehow got voted to sleep on the houseboat for 2 nights. 
I guess they didn't want anyone messing with their boat...I dunno...all I know is after 3 STRAigHT days and 2 nights of being on that boat, and I got off and immediately wanted to puke my guts out!

The rest of the trip was downhill from there. Unfortunately, the sea sickness didn't go away and the ride home was miserable...just thinking about it makes my stomach churn!

But all in all it was a good get away! I'm glad I got to visit my birthplace of California! I told Dan, next time we will be taking a drive down South, making stops in Fresno and LA to take a walk down my memory lane! :)

Good trip, Good memories...but glad to be home! :)   

Summer, Summer, Summer

I have been loving NOT working the past month!

Actually, haven't done anything too exciting except relax and enjoy the sun

Next week we are headed out to CALI to visit Dan's family, 

I am SOOOO excited, but until then, here are some instas 

on what's been consuming my time the last couple weeks! 

Hair has gone a little blonde, piano playing, dance classes with friends, yummy summer foods, Dan's outdoor "movie theatre" boating, sandals, Wizard of Oz outdoor production in Orem, seven peaks passes...we LOVE it!, Dall's endowments.

A lot has happened since Summer has officially started for me! 

First..the little ones are out and about-we all needed a break!!

Last Day TAKE 1

Last Day TAKE 2

Last Day TAKE 3-finally! :)

This is how we all felt!

 

 

 

 

After school was out Dan, Taylor and I drove to Poky for the next day's events. 

Dall got his mission call to Reno, Nevada and will be reporting to the MTC in August. 

This weekend, he was able to go to the temple and we were all there for him! 

waiting for him to come out!

All the boys

This one's my favorite...Dad doesn't know what to do!

:)

Bothers!

 

 

Random little Facts about Me!

So the other day, I was on pintrest, I am the world's biggest pintrest fan! 

(Well, maybe one of them!) But I swear, I am a better wife and teacher because of that nifty little website!

I came across a money saving pin called "What To Buy and What Not To Buy at Costco". My interest peeked, seeing as how I love Costco but the last few times I've gone, I feel like I just wasted money since my final spending was a HUGE amount, and I felt like I bought nothing.

So I clicked on this little pin and it sent me to a site called The Fun Cheap or Free Queen. 

Confession {I have been reading/browsing/stalking this site ALL weekend!} 

 

She has made me want to set a goal of being better with budgeting and bargain shopping! 

I actually pride myself a little when it comes to budgeting, thankfully my parents taught me well! 

But I still have a lot to learn! So I am taking her challenge while I'm off work this Summer, and am going to stalk up on food storage, and bargain shop! 

Check our her site! http://www.funcheaporfree.com/ 

As I was reading through her site, I noticed a random fact page about her and I was cracking up! 

I have this weird quirk, where I like to know interesting facts about people..I read people's FACTS on their blogs or facebooks all the time.  

Dan doesn't get it, he thinks I'm weird. I don't know this girl at all, but I loved reading about her! 

It prompted me to write a Random Facts  post. 

Granted, only about 4 people read this blog, but hey, to you 4 people... here is a little bit more about me! 

(if you want to read it! :) )

* I'm very reserved when I meet people, but then open up and share way too much information about myself and am usually friends with everybody. So don't judge me by your first impression, unless it's a good one! :)

* I love all and every Disney movie.

* I'm obsessed with the smell of laundry detergent in every way shape or form.

* I was kind of a loser child, totally shy, not many friends...sad! 

* I regret quitting dance at age 11 every day of my life!

* I like to be healthy and pretend I'm all about veggies and exercise, but I just can't knock my junk food!

* I love to be creative, and since I've had a house, I absolutely LOVE making home decor and painting walls! :)

* I want to learn how to REALLY sew. 

* I had the best friends in High school. A big part of who I am today, is thanks to them.  

* I watch way too much T.V., I know that's horrible, but I love Greys Anatomy, Modern Family, the Bachelor, Smash, Glee,  Scandal, American Idol, the Voice,  and White Collar....it's really a problem! 

* I can't stand feet. 

* I snort when I laugh 

* I was born 3 months premature-I should be dead, but by some miracle, I'm not. 

* My husband is my better half.  I wouldn't be me without him. 

* I just started Zumba, and absolutely LOVE it. I look like a fat idiot, but so does the majority of the people who do it, so I don't feel too bad!

* I want to get into mountain biking...who's in?? :) 

* I have a new found love for flowers and gardening. I feel like gardening is a spiritual experience. It brings me closer to my Heavenly Father by helping His creations grow and flourish!

* I'm obsessed with caramel popcorn any anything chocolate!

* My husband and I had baby names picked out when we were dating. :)

* I LOVE to be outdoors and LOVE to camp, fish, and four-wheel.

* I speak Spanish, served a mission in Spain, but desperately need to practice more! 

* My greatest fear besides spiders and heights, is that my husband will die. Oh, and that I will get kidnapped! 

* I hated my name when I was growing up. 

* I would love to be a "LDS singer" like the people who sing on the EFY CDs or something, but I'm not that good, and how do you even do that?

* I wanted to be a marine biologist or a dolphin trainer when growing up, still obsessed with dolphins. 

* I like to set goals, but I struggle actually meeting them.  Working on it. 

* I love New York. been there once-greatest experience EVER! 

* I LOVE musicals.  I've been in 2. Not 200 like my sister and brother in law! :) I'd like to be in more, but I'm a horrible actress and dancer.-wish I had better stage presence.

* I didn't want to move so far West in the SL Valley, wasn't too excited about it, but now that we're here, I don't think we could have picked a better neighborhood, with better people as neighbors!

* I think Pocatello is the greatest place to raise a family and is home to some of the most wonderful people on Earth! 

* I am a CALIFORNIA girl 

* I love to cook and try new recipes-Dan likes it too! :) 

* I'm learning to be patient, but I don't pray for it because I know what happens when you do that. 

* I'm a daddy's girl. 

* I wish I could be more like my mom, she's got so many qualities I admire. 

* Secretly want to be famous- how fun would that be? 

* LOVE Jennifer Lopez, she is beautiful!!

*I teach piano lessons

*I love to sleep 

*I love eating Summer snowcones!

*I literally ran into my parent's house with my dad's car when I was 15. I've never lived it down. 

*always thought the word 'ornament' was called an ORTament. ...wierd..

*want to go to the Ellen Degeneres Show 

*can't drive a stick 

*favorite colors are ANYTHING bright: pink, orange, and green mostly! 

*I have a birthmark on my chest that in high school I called my "chastity mark" 

*HATE my legs, HATE HATE HATE them 

*LOVE to be social, hate to be left out :( Who does? 

*have a MASSIVE sweet tooth 

*try to live life to it's fullest!

well..that was a long list, but now you know a little more about me! :)

REAL excited about this new coat!!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Easter

We were fortunate enough to have Easter at our house this year. 

It was so fun having my whole family come and see our new house.

It was the first time most of them had seen it! 

We headed up to City Creek Saturday night and it's just as incredible as everyone says! I feel like I didn't have enough time to get through most of it so Dan has to take me back! :) 

Like the ditz I am...I didn't take any pictures...

but my sister did, so I will just steal her pictures from her blog and post them here! 

...sorry Rach!... :) 

I promise I'm not as fat as I look in this picture!...I hope!

all the yummy food from PINTREST! cheesecake stuffed strawberries, deviled eggs, Resurrection rolls!{that somewhat turned out}...I am such a pintrest junkie...

mark my words.

This piece of junk weed pit we call a front yard will not look like this for long!

Each time we do something to our house, I get mad at myself that I don't take "before" pics.  

The past couple of days Dan and I have been out in the yard weeding, pruning, digging up the dead grass, etc.

Thanks to our friends the grubs, we have nothing but weeds and dead roots, so it's seeding time for us! 

Saturday we are ripping it all out, repiping the sprinklers, laying grass seed, starting the garden, laying down mulch, planting our 3 new flowering pear trees (SO EXCITED!)...we have our work cut out for us! 

But like I said...Mark my words...

by the end of the Summer, our yard will not look like the crap hole it currently is!

these pictures were actually taken after a considerate amount of pruning and weeding had already been done!

holes for the new parking strip trees!!! SO EXCITED about it!!!

Renovations

I know I am totally behind on posting pictures of our new house! 

We have been busy busy turning this house into our home! 

and by "we" I mean "DAN!" 

He's such a handy man and loves it, so he's going to town and having a blast! 

Our kitchen has undergone the most change so far! 

I wish I had a "before" picture! I know there's gotta be one somewhere, but here's the after! 

We added the back splash, which we LOVE!

the under cabnet lighting, the rope lighting on the top and the two pendant lights. 

It's been so fun, to bargain shop, find odds and ends, and then transform our home! 

We also painted our front room. It used to be pink and green and those colors weren't really what we had in mind for an office.

During the painting process...

after it was all done!

 my mom gave me her old piano, so now Dan's office doubles as my music room! :) 

so much more to do, so little money to do it! :)

President's Day Weekend

Going to St. George over President's Day weekend is quickly becoming a fun annual tradition for us!

We LOVE the sunshine in the middle of February and LOVE the company of MJ and Natalie. 

One of my favorite places in St. George is the temple. 

It has so much history! I love how the white stone glares on the red rock and makes it pop. 

You can see that temple from miles and miles away

 

We enjoyed doing nothing but skipping around the cute little town, going out to dinner, doing some shopping,  and spending time together. 

We also went up to Zions National Park 

It was FREEZING! 

but beautiful. 

I can't wait to go back and do some hiking! 

Then it was off to VEGAS! 

I know Vegas is called "sin city" but I gotta be honest, I kind of like it! 

I don't gamble, drink, or do anything that goes on there, but the lights are so fun! and they have some pretty amazing shows that a once in a lifetime event. 

This time, we got on hotels.com and 2 hours before driving down, got a GREAT discount on a room in the RIO! Then when we got there, they were packed, and didn't have any rooms with 2 beds. 

(Yes, we are that cheap, and all 4 of us were in 1 room!) 

so...they upgraded us to a VIP suite! It was pretty neat! 

The next morning we had breakfast in Hash House a GO GO

the food was EXCELLENT! and portions were WAY too big! 

This was Dan's breakfast... 

biscuits, eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, avocados, country fried steak, and gravy 

WAY too much food! 

This is how Dan looked after he finished the whole plate...

gonna barf any second! 

My coconut mango pancake was bigger than my own head! I only ate a fourth of it and it took me 5 other sittings to finish it off! 

yummm....SO GOOD!

It was a great weekend, full of food, friends and fun!