14 Days - give or take a few!

So it looks like I will be for sure having a February baby! :) I guess that is the advantage of having a due date right in the middle of the month. I had a doctor's appointment this week and I'm 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced - so a little more progress than last appointment! The hospital bags are all packed and ready to go and some times I feel like I'm ready but then I think about the actual labor part and the responsibility and I feel ok with her staying in there. (Just as long as she comes before the 18th!). There is supposed to be a full moon on the 2nd though (Friday) so if that myth about going into labor during a full moon is true . . .maybe I'll get lucky and have her this weekend. (http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Moons-Effect-on-Natural-Childbirth&id=70253). And we still don't have a definite name picked out. Rob likes to think that she is going to tell us or something! ;)

Cravings!

Along with the daily questions asking me if I have made any progress . . .. the other question that I get asked quite often deals with my cravings. I have to admit that I expected to have a lot more cravings than I have! I guess I just always have heard about those women who sent their husbands out in the middle of the night to get them pickles and ice cream. (Good thing I didnt have those desires since I doubt I could talk Rob into going to get them for me and I want to be sleeping in the middle of the night and not thinking about eating!).

1st Trimester - I was so sick that I had hardly any cravings but one day I did insist that Rob bring home spinach dip on his way home from work.


2nd Trimester - When I started feeling better it was October and right about the time when pumpkin stuff was everywhere. All I wanted that month was pumpkin related items - I made a few batches of pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, and Shanna was awesome and sent some pumpkin dip from Amish Country back with Nicole to help satisfy my craving for pumpkin dip.

3rd Trimester - This trimester has been an odd one because I've had acid reflux so badly that I haven't enjoyed eating very much and when I can eat - it's very small portions. But I think this little girl has dropped though because in the last week I've actually been starving all the time and having some cravings. An odd one for me is soda pop! Most especially root beer. I can't get enough of it!


My other craving is for fruity candy - skittles, starburst, sour punch straws, and swedish fish in particular!

And then my newest one is for cheesecake. We haven't had time to go to the Cheesecake Factory so when Rob was out of town this week, I went onto allrecipes.com and made this Brownie Caramel Cheesecake. The cheesecake is stuck in the springform pan still but I think I've almost managed to polish off half of the cheesecake by myself over the last few days. I figure I can afford to gain a few pounds since for 8 weeks I didn't gain anything! (Nice justification, huh?) But then I'm reminded that this little girl still has to come out so I probably shouldn't over indulge this late in the game. This cheesecake is just too good though!

Here's the recipe (just for you Heidi!)

Brownie Caramel Cheesecake

INGREDIENTS
1 (9 ounce) package brownie mix
1 egg
1 tablespoon cold water
1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup chocolate fudge topping
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.
In a small bowl, mix together brownie mix, 1 egg and water. Spread into the greased pan. Bake for 25 minutes.
Melt the caramels with the evaporated milk over low heat in a heavy saucepan. Stir often, and heat until mixture has a smooth consistency. Reserve 1/3 cup of this caramel mixture, and pour the remainder over the warm, baked brownie crust.
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour cream cheese mixture over caramel mixture.
Bake cheesecake for 40 minutes. Chill in pan. When cake is thoroughly chilled, loosen by running a knife around the edge, and then remove the rim of the pan. Heat reserved caramel mixture, and spoon over cheesecake. Drizzle with the chocolate topping.

Full Term

So I'm technically full term today! It's pretty surreal that the baby could come any day now and they wouldn't try and stop her from coming. In some ways I'm ready and in other ways I'm in complete denial. :) I thought it would be fun to do a little poll on here - make your guess on when this baby girl is going to come and how much she is going to weigh! My due date is February 15th and I've been having more contractions but nothing really regular so it's anyone's guess on when she will decide to arrive. I'm just hoping she decides to make her appearance before February 18th since my dad and my brothers are coming down here then and I would like them to meet her!

Nursery

I spent all day trying to get everything ready for this baby. I still don't think she is going to come early but then there is my slight fear that she might come early! I made two trips to the new Wal-mart that they just built near my house, one trip to Target, and then stopped at a few other stores as well. But I think I am finally ready! I haven't packed my hospital bag still so she needs to wait AT LEAST another week before she comes.

I decided to do my own art projects for the nursery. They aren't my favorite but they were cheap and will work for now:



I still need to get my curtains hemmed up but I wanted to put them up anyway! There are also two little white shelves on either side of the window but I am not sure what to put on them. Any ideas?




I painted these little star hooks but haven't quite figured out what to put on them:




My closet still needs some organizational work but it's ok for now. Her changing table only fit in the closet so it'll have to work!




I am going to put up wall letters on this side of the room but I have to wait until we finalize a name:

Baby Shower

Last Saturday (January 13th) my sister in laws, mother in law, and one of my best friends Nicole threw me a baby shower. It was tons of fun and I got lots of cute clothes and other necessary baby items! One of my sister in laws gave me the cutest pair of baby flip flops:



I have quite a few pregnant friends right now. Here I am with Amy in the middle (had a baby girl on Wednesday) and Christina on the other side (due a week before me with a girl).



Here I am opening up some presents:



Some of the cute dresses that people gave me:

36 Weeks

So today marks my 36th week of pregnancy! One more week and the doctor will not stop me from going into labor. :) I'm pretty excited about that. I am planning on this little girl arriving late but it would be really nice if she were just a little bit early. So February 1st I am thinking I should start trying some of the old wives tales for labor inducing and see if I can convince her to come before the 15th although I am trying to work through February 9th. Any suggestions? We will just see I guess! I'm dilated to a 2 right now which really doesn't mean a whole lot at this point but made me happy that at least maybe this little girl is THINKING of coming out of her warm cozy home at some point in the near future. She's measuring small and the doctor must not be concerned with her coming any time soon because he doesn't even want to see me again until the last week in January. I hate the waiting game although I'm not really ready for her to arrive - I don't know if I ever will be! Hopefully next week I will have pictures up of the completed nursery and feel a little bit more prepared.

100 Things About Me

Here are my 100 things:

1. I am the oldest and only girl in my family and have 4 younger brothers
2. I never shared a room until college.
3. I have never broken a bone.
4. I began wearing glasses in 3rd grade when my teacher realized that anything she put on the board I couldn’t see and got bad grades on!
5. I ran cross country for 4 years in high school - I was pretty crappy my first two years but by the time I reached my senior year I was on varsity and even brought home a few 1st place ribbons.
6. I have run a half marathon.
7. My goal in life is still to run a marathon. I used to want to qualify for Boston but now I’ll just take completing at least one marathon.
8. I have played the piano since I was 5 years old.
9. I graduated from BYU with a degree in Communication Studies and a minor in business management and currently work as a receptionist and use none of the things I learned in college.
10. I worked for 3 years in high school as a waitress at an assisted living center.
11. I never hit the snooze button.
12. I volunteered at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and while it was an experience – it was an experience I will never volunteer for again!
13. My first concert was a Boyz to Men concert in 8th grade.
14. I got my braces taken off the day after school pictures in 9th grade – so I did not show my teeth in that years picture.
15. My friends and I formed a book club in 3rd grade. We would hang out at each others houses and just read and not talk.
16. I never thought I was an animal person but married a man who loves dogs. We got our first dog when he was a puppy and followed it up by getting a second dog. I couldn’t imagine my life without my dogs now!
17. I hate dog hair. I am notorious for vaccuming constantly and taking a lint brush to everything. I even lint brush my dogs and they love it!
18. I have never gotten a speeding ticket (knock on wood).
19. I love Café Rio but during pregnancy I haven’t liked it very much and it’s quite sad!
20. I love making lists on sticky notes.
21. My roommates at BYU all thought they were going to be getting a black roommate because my name is Lachelle Tenae.
22. After college I moved down to Arizona with no job, no friends living here at the time, and just a place to live. I gave myself a year to stay here. It’s been almost 5 and looks like I won’t be leaving any time soon!
23. I can’t whistle.
24. I can’t snap my fingers.
25. I still wear either a mouth guard (for teeth grinding) or my retainer every night to bed.
26. I have worn contacts since I was 12 but have the world’s thickest glasses that I put on every night right before bed. Count yourself lucky if you have seen me wear them.
27. I really don’t like water but I make myself drink at least 8 glasses a day.
28. I love just about everything with peanut butter in it but I hate actual peanuts in my food!
29. When I was doing Jerusalem Study Abroad, I daily was mistaken for an Arabic women.
30. I have learned that I can pass for many different nationalities and no will question me!
31. I moved 12 times in just 2 states (Utah and Washington) before I was 8.
32. I went to 3 different elementary schools.
33. I grew up with a cemetery in my backyard and it never bothered me.
34. I love shopping and finding deals.
35. I went to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on my honeymoon.
36. I have lots of favorite shows: 24, Lost, The Office, Grey’s Anatomy, and the Amazing Race. Thank goodness for TIVO/DVR!
37. I love to travel but have yet to make it to Europe!
38. I love sports – especially if it is BYU related.
39. I married a man who doesn’t love sports and really doesn’t like BYU.
40. I love baking. If it isn’t good for you – I will probably love it!
41. Cheesecake is my favorite dessert.
42. I can’t drive a stick shift car.
43. My car in college was nicknamed “big blue”. A Chevy Lumina with a big dent on the side that my brother put in. She died on the middle of University Avenue shortly after I graduated from BYU.
44. My first car that I bought was a 99 Toyota Corrolla. I am still driving this car and plan to drive it until it dies. Love it!
45. I worked at the Testing Center at BYU and when I moved down here had tons of people recognize me from there and from the library!
46. I love to clean. Especially with some good music blaring.
47. Before I got pregnant – my closet was color coordinated.
48. My little girls clothes are hung up in size order in her closet.
49. I have curly hair but it has been curlier some years than others so I mostly straighten it these days since it straightens easily in the dry Arizona weather.
50. I took French for 4 years in high school and was pretty good at it. But changed my mind on being an English Teacher in college because they wanted me to take 2 years of a language and it terrified me!
51. I was extremely shy growing up but have gotten a little better over the years.
52. I love to decorate my house but don’t have enough money so you probably can’t tell!
53. I have a fear of confined spaces and heights although I have no problem flying!
54. In 6th grade I wrote a children’s book and got it published and won a contest. I don’t even know where my copy of the book is anymore and it must have been published locally.
55. I always wanted to be a writer or a reporter. I changed my mind on the reporter part because of my shyness factor though!
56. I love scrapbooking but I’m very behind.
57. I love e-mailing and using google chat.
58. I’ve always wanted 4 kids. Number 1 is on her way so I reserve the right to change my mind after her arrival.
59. I used to say that I would never get engaged fast but had to eat my words when Rob and I were engaged 6 weeks after we first met.
60. I screen my phone calls.
61. We closed on our first house 10 days before the wedding.
62. Our first home is a HUD home that has needed lots of loving care. We have fixed up a lot but still have a long ways to go!
63. I love ice cream.
64. I love donuts.
65. I’m scared to have a girl because I don’t know how to do hair. I can hardly do my own!
66. I was really nerdy growing up and had no idea at the time. I was quite happy!
67. I finally learned what style was during college and have improved with each year.
68. I almost always wear earrings but have a hard time with remembering to wear other jewelry.
69. I check my e-mail numerous times a day.
70. I snore but never knew this until college because I had never shared a room.
71. I would love to get Lasik but am very freaked out about being awake during surgery on my eye!
72. I have been to Disneyworld more times than Disneyland.
73. My family is notorious for planning vacations around sporting events and our favorite teams.
74. My favorite holiday is Christmas but I also love my birthday too.
75. I’m a major control freak.
76. I am really independent.
77. The name I always wanted to name my little girl (Lanae) was ruined by being Rob’s high school girlfriend of 3 years.
78. I am a major planner.
79. I like things done on my time schedule which unfortunately doesn’t always work with others!
80. I am the shortest one in my family at 5’3.
81. I’ve only had stitches once and it was Christmas day when I was 4. I hit my head on the corner of a coffee table and got a cut behind my ear.
82. I was an amazing swimmer and probably should have been on the swim team in high school but my best friend was doing cross country so instead I joined that team.
83. I played soccer from the time I was 3 all the way through high school and then intermurals during college. I was never really THAT good though.
84. I coached a 12 year old girl’s soccer team when I moved to Arizona and then won all of their games.
85. I love hot chocolate. I will even drink it in the Arizona summers sometimes!
86. I hated country music until I started at BYU. Now I listen to it a lot!
87. My favorite band all through high school was Pearl Jam. I was very much into the Seattle grunge bands like Candlebox, Live, Soundgarden, etc.
88. I hate to wear shoes.
89. I am horrible at all video games.
90. I swore I would never get married near Christmas but I did – 5 days after!
91. I love the beach but live a good 5 hours away from one!
92. I visit Target at least once a week.
93. My only 4.0 semester at BYU was my last one there where I had hives and mono for the last month of the semester and didn’t attend any classes.
94. I took a bowling class at BYU not to learn to bowl better but because the teacher was the BYU baseball coach.
95. I met Rob’s sister, brother, and parents 2 years before I ever met Rob.
96. I am really good at procrastinating at work (hence this list) but still manage to get everything done.
97. I can’t wink.
98. I hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back with my dad and brother when I was 14 in one day.
99. I love visiting the snow but I hate living in the cold.
100. I have collected business cards, magnets, and salt and pepper shakers. I still have quite a few of the salt and pepper shakers but they are boxed up because I really have no place to put them. Not to mention Rob thinks we would look like our grandparents if we put them up! (And I admit that I agree with him on this one)

Why my dogs are crate trained

When we first got our puppy Max - I looked into all the different methods of house training. After much review, I finally decided that crate training was the way to go! Both Max and Roxy were house trained really quickly with this method and really love their "beds". We put them in their beds whenever Rob and I are not in the house and at night time. And they are both known to hang out in there at other times. People always ask us why we still crate train them when they are house broken. Max actually could be trusted to be left alone in the house - he is lazy enough that he would just plop himself on the couch and sleep all day. Roxy on the other hand is a different story. I came home today after work (I go home and let them out every day for lunch) and saw this in Roxy's cage:





So I had my answer on why my dogs are crate trained. This was Roxy's bed that she completely ruined. I would be furious if this was my couch!

35 Weeks

So today marks 35 weeks of completed pregnancy. If I deliver on my due date - that is only 34 days away! Unfortunately there is no telling whether she will arrive early or late. I asked my doctor and he just laughs at the question and told me he would be a very wealthy man if he could predict those things. So the waiting game is in full swing! I'm definitely at the stage where I am sick of being pregnant. Its hard to sleep, I have shortness of breathe, I can't eat very much and when I can eat I have major acid reflux, not to mention the nausea stage has come back! At the same time - I don't quite feel like I'm ready to be a mom and have this baby and I'm perfectly ok with her staying in there a while longer. I guess that is why pregnancy is an average 40 weeks! I haven't full comprehended everything that is going to change and I'm still in denial. It doesn't help that my ward put me in as Primary President in November. Although it's been nice because I've been so focused on getting everything ready with that calling that I keep putting off my fears and worries of labor, etc. :) So there is a plus side! And it is really fun to feel all of her movements - although not when she keeps me up in the middle of the night. And it is fun to have everyone always want to talk to you about baby stuff! So it's not all bad.

My baby shower is this weekend so next week I've made it a goal to really start getting everything ready - finish the nursery, get the remaining things we still need, pack the hospital bag, etc. Oh and read the 10,000 books that have been recommended to me on getting ready for the baby. lol. No big deal.

In the meantime - you can enjoy my 35 week picture (and enjoy how my little dog Roxy manages to sneak herself into all my pictures)! I have had a good laugh at it myself - so feel free. Everyone keeps telling me how small I am and how you can't tell from the back that I am pregnant. Well they must all be lying through their teeth because now I've seen for myself how I look and realize that I do look like the beached whale that I feel like! And I know that I'm just going to continue to grow and grow over the next 5 weeks or so . . But it's all worth it right?!

24

I know there are many others out there who agree with me that 24 is one of the best shows ever. I really think it's gotten better every season! Rob and I missed the first season but have managed to catch all of them since then. Although we have a general idea of what happens in that first season - we decided we should probably watch it and have more of an understanding. So last week we started to rent season 1. We have until Sunday night when the new season starts to finish all of season 1. Already I can tell how many episodes we've been watching lately because all of my dreams lately have to do with 24! I don't know what it is about this show but whenever I watch it - it shows up in my dreams. And now that I have crazy pregnacny dreams - I think it has gotten worse! I'm quite entertained by it. We are on hour 9 so according to my calculations we need to watch 3 "hours" each night before the new season starts on Sunday. There is even a countdown on Fox's page until the next season starts: http://www.fox.com/24/. Wish me luck. And don't be offended if I dont answer my phone this week - I'm probably watching 24! :)

Fiesta Bowl - Best Game Ever!

My dad and brothers Tysen and Kevin came into town for the New Years Weekend. My dad got us all tickets to the Fiesta Bowl being held at the new University of Phoenix Stadium. He even had some extra so my uncle Vern, cousin Jed and his wife Steffani were able to come with us. Boise State and Oklahoma State were playing. We had awesome tickets that were 8 rows up behind the Oklahoma State goal post and had a good mixture of Oklahoma and Boise State fans around us. Kevin and Tysen even managed to score some seats right on the front row behind the goal post from half time on since no one was sitting there. We decided ahead of time to cheer for Boise State since we know the WAC conference better and they were considered to be over-rated with their undefeated record. Boise held a solid lead right up until the last 2 minutes of the game when their quarterback threw an interception that led to a touch down and Oklahoma taking the lead. What happened next was something I have never before witnessed personally in a game! Boise State tied the game by completing a hook and ladder play and then in overtime completed a Statue of Liberty play to win the game. Check out the video at: http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/bowls/fiesta. It was Rob's first college football game and by the end of the game - I think we were all jumping up and down and cheering for Boise State at the top of our lungs. I managed to lose my voice with the addition of my cold. And I thought the BYU/Utah game couldn't be topped . ... I was wrong!

Here are some pictures from the game:

2nd Anniversary

Rob and I had our 2nd Anniversary on Saturday, December 30th. It's hard to believe that it's already been 2 years when it still feels like it was just yesterday!! Knowing my dad and brothers were going to be in town on our actual anniversary - we decided to celebrate a couple weeks earlier. We went to eat at PF Changs for dinner and then went to the Desert Botanical Gardens. We got engaged at the Desert Botanical Gardens and they were having this special luminary thing for the Christmas season where the pathways were all lit by luminaries and they had musical performances along the way. I thought it would be a really romantic way to remember where we got engaged . .. but it didn't turn out to be that way! It's still a special place for us but turns out they had a wine tasting area at the Gardens and so most of the people along the walking paths were loud and drunk. The musical performers were not impressive at all and it was very crowded. I was a little disappointed since the information on the website made it sound so amazing! But I guess now we know that we never have to try the luminaries at the Desert Botanical Gardens again. :)






Behind us is the exact spot we got engaged. I look like I have a double chin in this picture but it was dark and I couldn't tell at the moment or we would have retaken the picture!