Two weeks and Timp Caves

Well, Spencer just sent off the last district he will ever teach at the MTC and had a bit more time with me this week to play. We called it "vacation" as we discovered different parts of Provo and the valley that we never took time to see. We saw art exhibits, walked the Provo river trail, and hiked up to the Timpanogos Cave. We scheduled a tour of the caves for next Tuesday but Spencer felt very strongly that we needed to move it up to this week since I am due in two weeks! I was surprised to hear that response because I didn't feel like labor was coming just yet. I don't know if you can ever feel too ready for such an event in life. We rescheduled the tour for Thursday, June 25 to hike the caves. It is quite the steep mile and 1/2, but I felt great all the way up. People, mostly ladies, were cheering me on saying things like: "Good for you!" It felt good knowing I can still be up and moving this close to labor. We joked about the possibility of her being a cavebaby. The cave was really interesting and it felt good to be in a 46 degree climate.

I can definitely feel changes in my body. More than a week ago I was 1 cm dilated and 40% effaced. I am sure I have progressed since then as I have felt more Braxton-Hicks contractions and I waddle a bit more. I can't seem to get comfortable at night and its hard to do anything. I feel like a 70 year old who says they are still 25 at heart. It still shocks me everytime I can hardly bend to paint my toe nails or tie my shoes. I think Spencer is even more anxious than I am to have this baby out, which may be because I am scared of all that comes with it (labor, delivery, post-labor etc.) He gets to be my cheerleader. I have to say he has been my angel as he is sensitive to my every need and has learned to be even more patient. I couldn't ask for a sweeter husband. I can see what a wonderful father he will be. Well, the next time I report we will have a new addition to the family. We'll be sure to have pictures posted for all to see. Thanks, for visiting!

Oregon here we come!

Anna and I had a wonderful trip to Oregon a couple weeks ago. We'd heard a whole lot about the rain, but didn't experience a drop. Instead we saw a whole lot of beautiful scenery, stopped at a couple of farmer's markets, played in the tide pools, and most importantly found an apartment. After checking out quite a few apartments one morning, we were pleasantly surprised to find our last stop to be by far the best. It seems like our path is laid out pretty clearly before us and we just have to wander around a bit until we find it. So our new home will be Parkview Apartments, top floor, number 32. I think it's called Parkview because there is a nice little park across the street.

Just four miles from the greater metropolitan area of Portland, Forest Grove, which is full of trees bigger than skyscrapers, is a very quaint small town with the beautiful old university in the center and scenic farms surrounding it for miles. Just an hour's drive over the hills takes you right to cannon beach (its the famous one with haystack rock, the world's second biggest monolith). We took some pretty cool pictures of the marine life there. All in all, we're pretty excited to become oregonians. Who knows, we may even become green optometrists.

Change

Well, Spencer and I are both closing one chapter of our lives and are about to start a new one. This can be a difficult thing for one who doesn't always handle change very well, especially when sentimental situations are involved. BYU has been our home for the last 4-6 years, while single and married. I will really miss all of the conveniences that I have taken for granted such as BYU dance, dollar movies, and family close by. We have been so blessed in many ways that we now feel like it's really time to grow up and take responsibility dealing with so much more (finances, baby, new place away from family, etc.) One thing I do know is that as I have learned to rely on the Lord and trust that we are watched over through the good times and the hard, with that I can say, bring it on. Once our little girl comes this blog will become more interesting. Until then, thanks for visiting!