Reality Check

When I found out I was pregnant, I thought it was a mistake. There was no way. After the shock wore off I was fairly confident in my ability to be pregnant. I specifically remember telling Jack that this is what I was made for. I was so confident. Then morning sickness entered my life. My confidence was unshaken. Women go through this all the time. I'm not exactly sure when I became such a wimp, but it happened. Don't get me wrong, there is something extraordinary that fills my heart when I feel this baby move or kick, and I love giving into my cravings. However, when I was told that bed rest was my new norm my attitude was positive. A little R and R? Sweet. Fast-forward to current day (2 months later).....uh....yeeeeeaaaahhhhhhhh let's get this over with. My husband is currently in Seattle for work, and rather than stay at home all day with only my thoughts and reality tv to keep me company, I came to my parents. Here I am on the cusp of becoming a parent myself and my parents are nothing but the best. I still need them regardless of what I think or say. They have been my salvation these past couple weeks. When my husband is at home he exceeds my expectations in every way. Endless pampering, and food runs. It's like he knows exactly what I need when I need it. I am so blessed to have all these people around me. This summer has been.....hot? I tried to stay as active as my mental strength would let me. So that meant a lot of swimming and gentle hikes. Pools, lakes, swimming holes, puddles...you name it, I was there. I feel most at home near water, is that weird? My family and friends have been so accommodating and helpful. Even Slim has been a lifesaver. You guys, seriously, on the days where I am particularly feeling lousy she is right there, right by my side. In fact, she doesn't leave my side. She takes care of me in her own way. I know she's a dog, but you guys, she has saved me so many times. She has her naughty days, but don't we all? Hehe! While I have tried to enjoy the summer I am looking for to the fall. The cooler temperatures, the smell in the air, pumpkin everything, new beginnings and the birth of this baby girl. I am so excited to hold her in my arms and see what she looks like! She's been movin' and groovin' around in my belly and I am ready to see what she has to offer this world because I know she's going to take it by storm. **so I am unable to load photos...but I'm working on it....standby**

June is Hot

Today I text my mom (for the billionth time) that I was getting ready to die....that this summer heat is literally going to kill me. I had come to terms with it. I made my peace with life, and I was ready to wither away into nothingness. Give my regards to broadway--sort of thing. Then I came home from my nicely air-conditioned office, complete with a desk fan for those extra sweltering days, and started to cook dinner for my husband. As I was tying in all the flavors of the dishes, he walked in.....in all his glory. Covered in dust from head to toe, sunkissed (b/c he doesn't get sunburnt), sweaty and hot. At the mo-Jack is an apprentice to a master Graniteer. Soon he'll become a graniteer himself, and then hopefully we'll be rollin' in the benjamins. But that's not my point. Jack works so hard-OUTSIDE-lifting granite, installing the granite...sometimes hauling it up multiple flights of stairs, and when he gets home he's always happy. He never gripes that he has to work in the hot blistering sun, or even that he has to work. He just does it (like any man would do...there's tons of good ones out there). Now, I'm not blogging about this to be like "oh, my husband is so great, he is my hero blah blah blah" bc he's not my hero. No shade. I am trying to paint a picture for you of how different we are: Jenilyn: desk job-air conditioning: Annoyed and complain-y Jack: hard labor-out side with the elements as they come: happy and good attitude Remind me why I deserve him? The other night I was craving Mexican food it was about 1am. Guess who got up and found the only Mexican place that was open (Beto's for those who might need that info). It's just these small acts of him putting my feelings first that I'm just like: "Ok Jenilyn you can't mess this one up." Let's not get the wrong impression....I do things for him...but tonight I just feel extra grateful. And it's nice to know that I'm not alone in my own little world. And it's so comforting to have him by my side when nothing goes right. It makes me so happy to be able to go shopping for baby girl clothes and have his input. It's the feeling of security that whatever comes our way that we have each other to lean on, that we're in this together. That's the feeling I'm trying to tell you.

Mrs.

When I got home from my mission, and once I acclimated myself to everyday life, I made a list of all the qualities I wanted in a husband. I'm fairly certain most girls do this. My plan was to finish school and get married within two years of returning from my mission. That's as far as my plans spanned. Two years passed and I was not in school nor did I have an serious prospects for marriage. Not much turned out as I planned...short term or long term. I came to terms with my, then, circumstances and accomplished much more than I had ever planned, I made some pretty good memories as well. I traveled, I adventured, I loved, I hated, and I lived (which is probably the most exciting thing). 2011 changed my life. I met Jack. I say it changed my life because it did. We started dating and it was unlike any relationship I had ever had. We clicked. Not just in a "I think you're kind of cute way" but I feel like my soul was attracted to his soul. Things progressed so slowly, but I got to see him in several different lights: difficult situations, social settings, family settings, school settings, critical thinking, sports/games settings...the list goes on, but slowly...I was realizing that this was the guy that I want to spend the rest of my life with. This is the man that I want to struggle with, in fact, the struggle did not even intimidate me. Then, I stumbled on "my list" which was in my dusty mission journal. I had 13 bullet points on that list, and Jack had each one of them. EACH.ONE.OF.THEM. That has never happened. EVER, you guys! May 7th, 2015 we got married. It was a cool day, it had rained the night before but the sun was out that morning. The day felt very relaxed. No stress. We got married and then had a luncheon with our family. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and going out with our family. The next day we left for Vegas on our honeymoon. We stayed in a suite at the Cosmopolitan (very Sex and the City chic) which had an amazing view of the Bellagio fountain and the strip. Jack is my favorite travelling companion. We are always on the same page, and are both game for whatever the other wants to do. This vacation was so relaxing, and enjoyable. The food! Ah! The food! On the way home we heard about a little swimming hole called Little Jamaica so we searched it out and enjoyed a little adventure. Once we got home it was back to business, as usual. Hawaii is next on our list, he's never been (oh! the shame).

My Favorite May

I was born in the month of May, so I've kind of always had a soft spot for the month. It's in the Spring when all things begin to bloom and the earth that once was stark and cold develops a sweet personality once again. Everything feels possible in the Spring. The rain starts to fall and encourages young things to grow. I love the rain. I love springtime storms. I love the outdoors and feeling the springtime on my cheeks and smelling the sweet smells all over. I love keeping my windows open and letting the fresh air fill my little cottage. I have an over-sized wild cranberry bush right outside one of my windows and the smell is intoxicating. I have a family of blue birds that live in one of my trees. Growing up my mom used to tell us that blue birds were a sign of good luck. Before I moved here I had seen (maybe) 5 in my entire life. I have to admit that I believed whole-heartedly that these birds were good luck. I have had the best luck since I have seen them. Springtime is and always will be my favorite time of year. I always look forward to the Spring. Always. This particular year through me for a bit of a loop. Plans didn't work out as I thought. When the new year started I felt odd. I didn't feel like myself. I don't know if it was on purpose or if I was just in a funk. I had a hard time being me. I know that sounds really stupid, but, you guys, that's the best way I can explain it. Winter brings me down most years. However, I pressed on. I knew that I had a good team in my life and that things would even out. Enter: Springtime. Spring brings out the absolute best in me. I have my best ideas in the Spring. I work best in the Spring, Summer, and even Fall. But Spring is the catalyst of my effervescence. In March Jack and I started mulling over the idea of marriage (once again). For those of you who are long time readers of my blog you know that I have planned two weddings and neither of the weddings happened. Live and learn, right? This time Jack and I decided to elope. No attention. No hassle. No fuss. May I just tell you how incredible our day was? No stress, no feelings of nervousness, no cold feet. Bliss. Absolute bliss. Now, when I say elope I don't mean go to Vegas and find a chapel on the strip...although we did contemplate that idea. We invited our parents and siblings. And then we all went to breakfast. It was fun, it was easy and it was exactly what I wanted. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and hanging out with family. The next day we left for our honeymoon. It was a lovely vacation. No plans, no itinerary. We basically flew by the seat of our pants. It was wonderful. Discovering new things with your best friend is the best kind of adventure I can imagine. For those of you who don't know: Jack and I have dated for 5 years. Things work out in the most unexpected ways, but they work out. I love being married to Jack. He takes care of me and I take care of him. We are a team....and if you're playing against us in any type of game, I'm sorry for you. You will lose. That's just the way it is. Sorry bout it.