Oh boy oh boy OH BOY

Well.. we're getting closer to starting our baby count down!! I've had a "oh crap! I could really have this baby at anytime" moment this weekend.  Woody's cousin had their baby at 35 weeks.. I'm only 2 weeks away from that! SO I guess it's time for us to be serious about this baby coming.....

Woody was reading about what the baby looks like and stuff at 33 weeks. (I still can't believe I'm having a baby) On one of the websites they said that this weeks activity was to "wash baby clothes and crib sheets and to put the FINISHING TOUCHES on the nursery".  (I had no idea my skin could stretch so far) Let's take a look at our nursery so far

You could say it needs some Finishing Touches.. you could also say that we need to START!! You can't see it, but a portion of our couch is in the back corner (we had to move it to fit the Christmas tree).  We still haven't bought our mattress for our crib yet, the stroller is hanging out, (is there seriously a human being inside of me??) Woody's golf clubs are in there somewhere, we have a stash of different decorations we could use that we didn't use elsewhere in the house, I have a sign that I painted before I changed my nursery colors. (7 weeks is so close... no it's really far... actually I thnk it's too close) Haha so yeah.. I guess we are little behind according to the baby website to do lists.

I did however write down a general outline of how things are run in my classroom. (What happens if I go into labor while I;m driving to Vegas... and we're in Fillmore....)  AND from now on my goal is to actually write down my lesson plans for someone else to be able to understand and to not leave my room a complete disaster. (you mean I have to push this baby out?? Of where?? Are we sure??) That way if something does happen my substitute won't feel like they've entered a tornado of some sort.

I also can't decide about what to bring to the hospital.. suggestions?? I mean really I don't want to hang out in that lovely hospital gown, (wait.. I'm still gaining weight?? for another 7  weeks?? Yeah it's a long time) but I've also heard that I won't really want to wear pants even PJ pants either.. so do I bring like a pj gown thingy? A rob thingy? hang out naked thingy? Will I want to shower there? Blow dryer? socks? laxative? I've heard I'll want that one..

I also need to buy some nursing bras, I've heard different things about what size to get.. do I get my current size? a size bigger? do I need nursing tanks? (I hope my water doesn't break at school, I hope my water doesn't break at school, I hope my water doesn't break at school, I hope..) and I need to call my insurance about a pump, and I think I need to register at the hospital? I don't know, do i? And find a pediatrician, any good suggestions for that one?

So the time is coming, and yet not coming but still coming :) Woody and I are pretty excited to meet our little man and start this new adventure, but first we have a few things to accomplish

But.. let's leave you with a happy thought

DISNEYLAND!

Christmas.... in reverse

Well I still have yet to figure out the order that pictures are placed onto blogger... and since I am officially pregnant and lazy, I shall share with you my Christmas Story in reverse..

Once upon a Sunday, the Sunday after Christmas, but before New Years...

 Shani and Chris blessed baby Jake!!

He is such a sweet baby and everybody loved passing him around while we hung out throughout our days together

I have a FABULOUS mom, and

  fabulous moms make amazing Grandmas.  

She brought up a snowman craft for us and the kiddos to do! They LOVED it! But their attention spans are no match for moms and mine... so we made more snowmen than they did ;) We win!

They day after Christmas (this picture is WAY out of order) we talked to Heidi!! We got to talk for about an hour and loved it! It was nice to be able to ask her questions about the mission... for someone who LOVES telling stories, she's not the best about keeping us in the loop while on the mission

While the big boys were out and about (I'll tell you what they were doing later.. remember this is in reverse) the kids (ya, I'm one of them) made some gingerbread houses!! Brighton was an awesome helper.  He would tell me where he wanted some frosting and then would add his decorations.

So excited to make their plain houses... .not so plain! (I really outdid myself with how descriptive that was)

We Albrights like to cheat and hot glue the houses together.  Kherrington and Brighton loved to talk about how they couldn't eat the hot glue, but they could eat the frosting!

The Saturday after Christmas the boys went four wheeling! If you can't tell by their attire, it was a little bit chilly.

Oh! Here's Christmas Day! We had a very relaxing Christmas day.. Jake didn't even get out of his PJs, lucky duck!

What a good looking family! 

All of the kids had a great Christmas.  We opened our presents up in turns...

The Wongs came up later in the day (that's why they look so put together) and were the last to open

Brighton was awake and ready in the first round of opening... He even let us sleep in until 8!! 

Baby Troy was feeling a little sick and didn't open his presents up until the afternoon.. but how cute is his sleepy hair and face??

Jake didn't do any opening.. he just snuggled and slept

In Utah, unlike Vegas, you don't have to DrEAm of White Christmases! 

Pre-present opening.. we are so cute in our morning glory

Brighton and Troy got hoola hoops from Santa.  B and Woody had to test them out.. I'm pretty sure B won!

The stockings all laid out with care... Christmas morning

And to end.. or start this Christmas tale... the tree after everyone is asleep on Christmas Eve

Because mom and dad came to Utah we were able to do Christmas Eve with Woody's family.  We went to the annual Woodruff party earlier in the day.  We got to eat some delicious food (Grandma makes AWESOME pies) and played a fun filled game of White Elephant. Woody was very pleased with what he came away with.. an omelet maker and a puzzle.  

Afterwards we went to his mom's Christmas Eve ward shindig.  Every year they act out the nativity and hand out a bag of goodies afterwards.  It is a fun tradition that Alpine started years and years ago and is a great reminder of the real meaning of Christmas.

Then we had a laid back Christmas Eve night.. just the way we like it! Kelly and I put together a Vegas puzzle that was slightly impossible, but we did it! And Kolton and Woody played some x-box, like real men ;)

It was nice to be able to do Christmas Eve with the Palmers and Christmas with the Albrights.  I love living so close to so much family!

I have LOVED every second of my two week vacation!! I have NO idea how I am going to go back to work especially since pregnancy has just gotten more and more fun.. but the good news is 

I LOVE MY KIDS!

kankles, chubby cheeks, and an elf on the shelf

We went to New Mexico for Thanksgiving.  For the first time ever.. I froze Woody out in the car.  He and his brother Kolton were freezing... Woody would turn the air hot and then I would turn it cold.... things have definitely changed.

New Mexico was tons of fun! We had a FULL HOUSE, but we did really well in our tight quarters. It was fun to see Woody's family that we don't get to be with very often.

We went on the Polar Express

During our black friday shopping Woody found a sweet awesome jacket/vest.  And then he found a whole outfit to go with it... he looks good in purple. Very Manly

We love visiting our nephew Jake! He is so cute and it gets us excited (and definitely nervous) for J to come!

I had a little boy bring in this present.  He said that he knew that my little boy would LOVE cars and legos.  I thought it was sweet that he would bring some of his own toys to give to little Joseph. His mom came in later that week and said he got the present put together all by himself... that's why I love my kiddos

I put my Reindeer up during my Thanksgiving feast at school... yeah I was ready for Christmas!

My kids have an Elf this year! I must admit that I love him, and so do the kids!! They are always so excited to come in and find him in the classroom.... unfortunately he was late arriving because I have some serious pregnancy brain problems

Ned stole their ornaments from the kids felt Christmas tree

He makes them books and writes funny things on the front.  Some favorites have been:

"Stop picking your nose"

"Ned for President"

And.. I can't remember anymore... remember.. pregnancy brain??

Woody says my ankles don't swell....

I guess in his defense I should add they don't usually look this bad, but when I went on a trip to Pennsylvania for work they got that bad.  They are however SWOLLEN.. Woody just can't tell because they started out so small... but I promise, they are bigger

While I was gone Woody went and picked up our crib!! He also bought the bedding that I have been wanting.  AND he set up the crib so it was ready when I came home.  It was so sweet!! 

Seeing the crib made it feel even more real that this baby is coming!

Woody said, "you mean that big belly isn't enough??"

Ya.. it's not enough

Here is baby Joseph! I still can't believe that there is a baby inside my tummy!! It is crazy to watch my stomach move as he moves.  I am so thankful to have been blessed to carry this little baby!

My belly, cheeks (both sets), thighs, ankles, etc... are all getting bigger and bigger! And I'm pretty sure my scale is BROKEN... there's no way I weigh THAT MUCH hahaha

Hopefully these things mean Joey is also getting bigger ;)

And...

2 more days of school!!

I think I can... I think I can... I think I can..

Baby J and Baby Jake

Holy Moly! Can you believe it is almost Thanksgiving??!! And Thanksgiving is late this year, and I still can't believe it's almost here.  Time sure has FLOWN BY... and at the same time, gone ssssuuuuupppppeeerrrr duper slow.  Here am I at 25 weeks (please excuse my beautiful nail polish):

Life has been pretty normal for Mr. Woody and I.  I have been keeping busy with work and he is busy studying, and watching sports of course.. He tries to do both at the same time, one of them always wins out in the end, three guesses which one it is!!

Still prego, in case you were wondering!! I have had a student ask me if I still have the baby in the belly.  Hah yup honey, it's still there! Which reminds me I heard some students (that I don't know) whisper as I walked by "gasp! She's having a baby!!"

Woody and I are Failing, like epically (did I spell that right??), at preparing for Baby J.  The only thing we've done so far is bring stuff to the D.I. out of baby's room.  We still have not bought one. single. item.  I keep hoping Woody will become interested in buying baby things and do the research for me... so far no such luck.. dangit!

I'm starting to have some braxton hicks. Yippee.  They aren't too bad though, still not as bad as my cramps!! Which, I totally thought I was supposed to not have during pregnancy... who told THAT lie?! 

Our little nephew Jake Douglas Bird was born last week!! He is simply adorable.

Whenever I look at him, I think he is SO BIG... probably because I know that a baby of that size will be in my tummy soon..... and... I will have to push him out.  These thoughts make Jakes size multiply by 10 I think

They made me change his diaper to "prepare myself".. Sadly I don't have the picture of the fact that it ended up taking 3 of us!! Because the poor baby kept pooping once I took his diaper off

Woody just loved seeing little Jake! He just stared at him and snuggled him.  I could tell that it was making him pretty excited for his own little guy.

I'm exhausted, and it's past my bedtime... so I guess that's all for today!

The monster in your computer

We live in a world filled with some really amazing things.  

Because of the internet - My parents will be able to see my Baby J grow up no matter where I live, with face time, sending pictures, sending videos etc, I can keep in contact with friends who have moved all over the country and world, I can get an e-mail from my little sister serving a mission in an instant, instead of having to wait for the mail to bring it to me, I can google ANYTHING from how to make a certain meal, to how to perform CPR.

The internet is incredible, and has provided all of us with truly good ways to use it.  However, like all things, you have to take the good with the bad.  One of the vices that has come with our internet age is, pornography.  I KNOW that this can be a touchy subject for some.  But, for me and my family, it is a simple black and white issue.  Pornography. is. bad.  It ruins lives.  And the most unfortunate thing of all is that the lives that it is now ruining are becoming younger and younger.

Right now there is a petition going on to require porn to be an "opt in" feature, rather than a standard feature.  Should this be put into action, it would make it so that instead of having pornography popping up out of the blue, users would need to change certain settings to allow themselves access to the pornography.

 Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day  Saints, I am a firm believer in agency.  If pornography was to be made an "opt in" feature it would enhance everybody's agency.  My kids would no longer be forced to view pornography by accidentally clicking the wrong website.  And the person who feels it is his right to view pornography would not be forced to stop, he/she would simply have to take additional measures to access it.

I truly believe that having this feature is a step in the right direction.  I hope that everyone takes a moment to think about signing, and how it will better our future should this come to pass.

Click here to sign the petition