Epidural vs Natural Birth

Throughout this whole pregnancy I've been planning on going with a natural birth but the last week or so I have been thinking about why I wanted to go natural.  As I have been evaluating my decision I really haven't been able to give myself a good reason of why I wanted it.   I understand that many mothers have very strong opinions about the use of epidurals and how much better a natural birth is but in all honesty I don't have those strong opinions.

In looking at my reasoning behind going without an epidural it really came down to this; I wanted to do it naturally because I felt like I had something to prove.  Not because I felt like it would be a better experience for me or for my baby, because in all honesty I don't think the experience would be any better going without an epidural and here is my reasoning.  My mother gave birth 10 times. That's right 10 times!  She has done it many times without an epidural and a few times with and she personally felt like she was able to enjoy the experience more with the relief she felt by having the epidural.

So I was thinking about it and I just feel like what do I really have to prove?  I am growing a human being inside of me!  Isn't being pregnant and then giving birth an amazing feat no matter how it is done?  I personally feel like for me having an epidural might just be the way to go.  If it means that I can be a little more comfortable and enjoy the process a little more then I feel like for me it is worth it!

I know that for some people having an epidural wouldn't be the best choice, I understand that it is different for everyone, but knowing how my body and mind work I'm feeling good about my decision.

28 Weeks

Goodbye 2nd trimester, Hello 3rd.  We're almost there and anyone who has spent any time with me lately knows that I am absolutely obsessed and totally in love with this baby.  I cannot wait to meet him!

This little one is so full of energy, he almost never stops moving which, as my mommy friends know, is reassuring because it means he is healthy and strong!

He likes to hang out on the left side of my belly and he'll sit there and streeeeetch, It seems he feels a bit crowded in there. I'm feeling like it's getting a little crowded as well and we still have a lot of growing ahead of us!

Since our last post we've added the name Edmund to the top of our list. It's not the official name but just another one on our list. We both really like the Chronicles of Narnia and Edmund turns into quite the amazing character so we're thinking it just may be a good fit for our amazing little boy!

So in love!

22 Weeks and Baby Names

As my belly grows bigger and more and more people are noticing that I am pregnant I often get asked if we have a name picked out. Garrett and I have decided that we don't want to choose a name until we meet him and make sure the name we pick is just right for our little one. When discussing names in the past we haven't always seen eye to eye so I thought picking a name would be difficult but the other day we sat down and looked at baby boy names and I was pleasantly surprised by how many names we both agreed on.  So we have started a list of possible names, I am sure that in the next 18 weeks names will be added and dropped but by the time this little bundle of joy is born we'll have the perfect name picked out.

So here is the list as of today: Elias, Mark, Marcus, Kelson, Hyrum, Oliver, and Carter

Which one is your favorite?

It's a..............Baby!

It's not a Winged Golden Stallion......

It's not a little princess......

It's a little Hero.....

Now this is not to say that girls can't be Hero's too, because I definitely feel like I've got some super power/ hero qualities.  This is just saying our little one is going to be a boy, an adventurer, and a little super hero! 

Anyone who has talked to Garrett and I about what we were hoping for know that we were thinking girl so you may ask if we are disappointed. I'm here to tell you that we are not!  We thought it would be fun to be the first ones on his side of the family to have a girl, that somehow it would feel more special.  But I don't care because we are having a boy and it is Our little boy and that makes him more special than anything!

Boy or Girl?

Tomorrow we go in for an ultrasound where we get to see this baby and hopefully find out the gender.  So I thought it would be fun to see what you think.  Here are some facts to help you make your guess: The baby is very active, always on the move. The heart rate is always above 140.  The nausea and exhaustion have never gone away.  I don't crave anything in particular, I just always want to eat.  My skin is more dry than usual except for my face which doesn't seem like there has been much change at all.  The Chinese gender chart says we are having a girl, what do you think?

What is your guess: a boy, a girl, or a winged golden stallion?
	Boy
	Girl
	Winged golden stallion
pollcode.com free polls

18 Weeks

I'm now at 18 weeks and I am still feeling pretty sick, lots of heartburn, and lots of growing pains.  But I decided that my last post focused too much on those things and not enough on the things that I am so thankful for.  So here are just ten of the reasons I feel thankful today and with this pregnancy thus far!

1. Heavenly Father has entrusted me to take care of one of His children and even though this baby is still just about 1/2 a pound I know it has a divine lineage and I feel proud to be the one carrying this little pumpkin.

2. I have a job that has health insurance. I had to give up teaching preschool but I am so thankful that I had an job that I could turn to that has health insurance for me. Because having a baby costs lots of money.

3. I have such a supportive husband.  I have been crazy tired and way more emotional than usual and Garrett is there helping me every step of the way.

4. I have such an encouraging family.  I have so many sisters to turn to for advice and amazing parents and in laws that are all so supportive and excited for this baby to come.  This baby is truly going to be loved!

5. So far I have no restrictions on exercise except to be careful and listen to my body.  This means I can still Zumba and for this I am grateful! 

6. Fuzzy socks.  I really am so thankful that I have comfy, cozy, fuzzy socks to warm my cold feet as we haven't turned the heater on in our house yet to try and save money.

7. I know I already mentioned my husband but I'm grateful not only that he is supportive but also that he can almost always make me laugh.  I'm so thankful for the laughter in our home....... yeah,  he just came in here and did it again.  I don't think a day goes by that he doesn't make me laugh.

8. Comfy clothing.  Who knew how comfortable maternity pants were, if I had known I would have started wearing them years ago.  Oh and a special thanks to a mother who bought me my maternity clothes.  

9. Soft toilet paper.  I've always had a small bladder but this pregnancy takes that to a whole new level.  I am so thankful for soft toilet paper because I sure do have to go potty often.

10. A scheduled ultra sound.  I am so excited to see my darling little baby and hopefully find out the gender!  We have the 20 week ultrasound scheduled for November 4th, that's only a week from Monday!

16 Weeks

If you haven't watched the video in the last post, go watch it, watch it now!  And then proceed reading.

I've reached 16 weeks and I'm ready to let people know.  I am going to have a baby!  Garrett and I are so excited to become parents although this whole pregnancy thing is tougher than I thought.  People keep telling me that I should be getting my energy back any day now and the nausea will soon be a thing of the past but I am still waiting.

The other day I had someone ask me if I was excited to be pregnant and my initial reaction was an emphatic "Yes!" then I thought about it and I have to change my answer to "No, but I am soooo excited to be a mom!"  I didn't realize just how much energy growing a baby could take but I know every second will be worth it!

With this big change coming in March I've had to make some changes in my employment.  Yesterday was officially my last day at the preschool, for now, as I am going back to work for Myler Disability so that I can have better health insurance and afford to have this baby.  It is bittersweet as I absolutely love teaching and I will miss my students with all my heart but I know I'm doing what I need to do for my family.

I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me and who has trusted me with the precious responsibility to care for one of His children.  I'm absolutely in love with this little one already and we haven't even met yet.

16 weeks down and 24 weeks to go!