Maternity Shoot

A couple months ago I got a message from a friend who is a photographer saying I should enter a drawing for a FREE photo shoot with her!
I never ever win, but I figured I would take a chance.

Well what do you know...I won!

 Madison's business is called MK Nash Photography. She is so so sweet and way talented, I'm so happy with how our maternity shoot turned out!

Thank you, Madison! I can't wait to do our newborn shoot with you :)

Magic

Do your hands and feet ever swell? 

My hands have always blown up a little bit when it is hot and I'm dehydrated.

Apparently carrying a baby makes your bod do crazy things at a more dramatic level. 

My feet get so swollen that it hurts to wear shoes all day. 

My calves are seriously like water beds after I stand for eight or more hours straight at work.

It takes a while for the sock indentations to go away ;)

{oh, and hello spidy veins!}

My hands are swollen 85% of the time. Sometimes I can't get my wedding ring off. 

Oh pregnancy, it's a beautiful thing! 

Last Sunday we were at one of our newest nephews baby blessing.

I was done having my finger circulation cut off, so I handed my ring to Jon to put in his shirt pocket. 

It was safe and sound and we made sure it was still there just before we left. 

Around 11 that night we were crawling into bed and I asked Jon if he would grab my ring 

so I didn't forget the next day.

He didn't hesitate to jump up and get it {he's really helpful, always}.

"uh... we have a problem!"

Yeah, the ring was gone. GONE! 

2 hours later our house and car had been torn apart and it was no where!

We seriously looked everywhere. Even in kitchen cabinets which hadn't been opened once that day. 

After saying a couple prayers each 

we called it a night and decided we'd check the yard and driveway in the morning.

I woke up a few times to Jon looking around our room and in the bed. He didn't sleep so well. 

When it was time to wake up {it was our anniversary :) } we were determined to find that treasure!

I headed into the clothes closet to search high and low for the 5th time and

 the first thing I grabbed was Jon's suit. I just started shaking it like a Polaroid picture.

Jon: "what are you doing??"

Ash: "I just want it to magically fall out!"

Nothin'.... Sad. 

My feller grabbed the suit from me to properly hang it back up...

PLOP.

The ring magically fell out! Are you kidding me?!

We couldn't stop laughing and even cried a little. 

From now on his Sunday attire will be known as The Magic Suit. 

I'm anxious to see what my hands and ankles look like once the little feller gets here in 8 weeks!

Just don't look too closely and I'll make pregnancy look like the funnest thing ever :)

the little feller so far

Hey guess what? I total stranger asked me if I was pregnant today. I said, "Lucky for you, I am!" I wanted to give her a high five or something, because all I've been hearing is 'when are you going to look pregnant?' and 'are you sure there's a baby in there?'

My response? "You should see me when I'm naked!"

ha... that would never happen.

So here we are at 23 weeks! It's crazy to watch my belly grow. 

I'm grateful it's growing mainly because there is a little human in there and not entirely because I'm loving my coca cola a little much. 

I started feeling the little feller move around 16 weeks. At first it mostly felt little pokes all around my lower belly, but turned into stronger pokes and ROLLING around 18 weeks. 

Jon started to be able to feel the little movements around 19 weeks, but the babe likes to act like a statue as soon as one of our hands tries to feel him. 

The past couple of weeks I have been getting really sharp pains in my right upper back. Seriously? I was expecting my lower back to hurt but definitely not this. My dr said as long as my breathing is still normal, we're good! She also said working on my posture may help...I was slouching pretty badly when she gave me this tip :] 

Little does she know slouching actually lightens the stabbing pain momentarily! 

BUT I have to continually remind myself how lucky I have been in this pregnancy. I was basically just nauseous through the first trimester with very little {vomiting} and the week we entered the second trimester the nausea subsided! Hallelujah.

For the past ten weeks I've pretty much just been reeaallyy tired and on edge {mood wise} and I get heartburn at random times.

I'll take that over feeling like I'm on a roller coaster anyday! I don't think my hubby or employees would totally agree... sorry guys :/

We can't wait to meet him! It's crazy to think we only have 4 months to go. 

I wonder if this time will go fast? 

Hmm... probably not! 

Oh by the way. Jon is becoming an AMAZING foot masseuse. I am so lucky :)

Mothers, any tips on good leg exercises/movements to reduce cramping and swelling? 

Any of you experienced this sharp upper back pain? I'm assuming it's my ribs expanding... since that seems to be the case with the rest of my bod!

Is it normal to feel the babe move lots and lots for a few weeks, then just little bits here and there the next?

I just started going on walks 3-4 times a week {we are still in week one, ha}. Would it be okay to work up to a slow jog? Or is it smarter to just walk? 

FAQ's

Last night a total stranger made me feel pretty lousy about myself while asking me questions about my life.
Seriously within 15 minutes of meeting this person, I wanted to cry. 

Sometimes people ask me questions that I'm sure they don't mean to come off as insensitive...

but I think there's a time when you just need to stop asking. If that makes any sense at all. 

So I'm here today to answer some things that some of you may be wondering...just so we're clear. 

I may come off as a bit intense, but that's just because I'm tired of feeling judged. 

So hopefully this makes me feel better. We'll see.

Why did you move from Logan to Bountiful? 

Both of our sets of parents are here in Bountiful/Salt Lake so we were driving down here almost every single week. We literally never had time to relax on the weekends, as most of them were spent in the car. Also, Jon has always wanted to go to the UofU. He really just came up to USU because that's where I was at the time he returned from his mish. Now that we're here, my feller can truly bleed red. 

Have you graduated?

Nope, not with my Bachelor's degree at least. I do have my Associate's degree plus many credits beyond that, but wouldn't have my Bachelor's for about 2 more year- thanks to not being able to make up my mind in the beginning about what I wanted to do.

So why did you stop going to school? 

{this one is awkward to answer, especially when I have to really explain myself}

When I started college I didn't qualify for any grants or good loans, so I worked all summer to pretty much pay for housing and living expenses and the rest of my schooling was paid for with unsubsidized loans. If you don't know what those are, you're lucky. Basically they started accruing interest from day one, so today I have about $4,000 in debt JUST in credit. With that on top of the loans itself, I feel like I'm drowning. 

So we would really like to get that paid off asap, and I can't really work full time and pay for life and such if I'm going to school. 

Also, Jon and I had very strong feelings that I should stop going to school so we could start a family. 

If you'd like to know more about that you can ask me. 

When will you back to school?

Haha. Probably not for a while. Like I said, debt doesn't just go away. 

I would definitely like to be a teacher in the future but can't see myself doing that before having children.

I'd really like to go back when I'm older and the kids are in school. 

Isn't it just so hard to find a good job?

{this is usually asked while I'm at work and someone sees me}

Well I actually have a good job that pays pretty well, I feel so lucky to have this job. Yes it's too bad I look super great in my uniform { :) } but I'm paying the bills and am so grateful I am able to do so. 

Why don't you have any kids yet? 

I keep wondering the same thing.

Why would Jon go into dentistry, his family surely doesn't need another one?

Working on people's teeth kind of comes naturally to Jon, maybe this is because he has worked with his dad and brother for so long. It is a fantastic job that will support our family down the road. Hopefully no one thinks we are choosing the easy road, because it is an extremely expensive one to get down.

If you'd like to talk about your thoughts on how dentists are selfish, I'll let you talk to Jon :) 

This summer really gave Jon a new perspective on being a salesman. We at least know that he does NOT want to do that forever {besides selling your skills, of course}

We are hoping that a few years after dental school  we will be in a place {financially speaking} where Jon can get an education in music/sound engineering. He has always dreamed of doing this, so it will happen. We're just trying to choose the best order in which to do things.

 Why would you dye your hair black? 

{this is usually asked by little kids. Good thing they're cute ;)}

Well it was an accident, I was definitely going for dark brown. 

Now that it has been a couple days it has actually kind of grown on me! 

So today I'm feeling extremely grateful for a supportive husband and family and friends that are so understanding. Without these people I might just be hiding from the world. 

Here's to gaining some confidence and knowing just what to say. 

My Feller

I have seen Jon more in the past two weeks than I have all summer long. 

He made a quick trip out this way just to say hi for a weekend,

and a week later I flew out there for a quick trip to say bye to Texas.

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, we went to a trampoline house for an hour. 

if you're interested in going, it's called Airborne. it's in Draper. and it's lots of fun. 

{and you might feel too old to be there but go ahead and ignore those thoughts.}

 Oh HEY

you can practice your kewl trix

and you'll even get to be a hot sweaty mess afterwards

It was so good to just spend a weekend with him. 

Thanks to my mom I was able to fly out to Dallas for free! 

She even figured out all the flights for me and made sure I got there without too much delay.  

Thanks mom!

I got out there Tuesday and stayed until Saturday. 

It was so much fun and I loved having a quick break from work!

We... - saw People Like Us in the dollar theaters, which we both loved.

- slept in much later than acceptable each day.

- chilled at the pool.

- saw Bourne Legacy, which we both hated.

- spent time with some of the great friends we have made while working out there.

- WENT TO RELIENT K at the House of Blues.

- only splurged on one meal, it was Olive Garden {we like to eat out too much so we're cutting back}

- spent all but 7 hours together.

during which he was working. and I was getting a sunburn at the poolio.

 Pretty sure we wouldn't have worked out in h.s. if I didn't approve of this band..

good thing I LOVE them!

 what.a.hunk

 We went with our friends, Ben and Kyle. 

I've known Ben longer than I've know Jon {12 years!} 

and Jon has become good friends with Kyle over the summer.

And to the right is the one and only, Matt Thiessen. 

Admit it, you agree that his hair is beautiful. Let's convince fell to grow his out again!

POOF

During the concert I saw one of the guitarists throw his pick into our section and it totally hit a girl in the face!

Don't worry, she didn't even notice.

After the concert I looked on the ground where she was standing and there it was!

I've never {jk} seen Jon so happy.

We love Texas and could totally see ourselves there in the distant future,

the only thing is it's quite a long drive to and from Utah {family roots}

Some things I will miss about the great state of TX:

- the heat! it's so much better than the dry Utah heat.

- the kind people.

- I felt very safe there. weird?

- affordable living, and it is FAR from ghetto. 

- sodapalooza. .49 cent drinks at the gas station, my kinda heaven.
- having a pool in your back yard. whether or not you share it with 117+ other people, it's great.

~

I'm curious to see how attached we are to each other when he gets home {in 4 days}

If I learned anything from this Summer, it is that I am so grateful for the relationship I have with my feller. 

we indeed make each other better, 

and I never realized how true that was until we were separated for many weeks at a time. 

 I guess there is another thing I learned : We are HORRIBLE at talking on the phone.

New Hobby

Homeboy is in town. How excited are you?? Ecstatic I'm sure.
We've had such a fun day, just the two of us.
Have you ever gone to a trampoline house?
I didn't think I'd feel out of place at all, but we received some not-so-loving looks from parents on the sidelines.
I guess we are too old to have fun or something.
But we already knew that fifteen minutes into our play time when we were sweating and out of breath.
I miss being "young" and in shape! I blame the yogurt.
We were discussing an activity slash hobby we'd like to do together. Here's what we came up with:
ROLLER BLADING!
That's right ladies and gentleman. We're bringing sexy back. Just you wait.
Happy Sunday!

I'm Alive!

Hey guys! So sorry for neglecting you...It wasn't really on purpose.

I'd like to blame it on Verizon for screwing up our internet order 4 times in the 3 weeks I was out in Texas.

It's a long story. 

So yeah, I'm back in Utah! And so much has happened, it's slightly overwhelming. 

Ready for a list of happenings in the past month & a half? Here we go...

 -Celebrated our anniversary at Anniversary Inn.

 We stayed in the room "Juliet's Balcony." It was really beautiful and we loved relaxing together!

-I spent some time with my favorite Gordon fam at Baby Animal Days in Logan. 

 I'm missing these girls and can't wait to see them again!

-Spent a fun day at a cute wedding in between packing.

 I guess I forgot to get a pic with the bride and groom...

-Said goodbye to our first apartment together :( 

Thanks to my dad and brothers, we were out of there really quick!

-Said see ya to our friends at Happy Sumo.

It was a fantastic way to spend our anniversary!

-Off to Texas we went! 21 hours straight + an over packed car = awesome...

 Hello, Texas! 

-Jon got ATTACKED by a dog on his first day knocking doors.

Poor dude. You should ask him to show his scars on his cute bum.
{Let me know if you'd like to hear the story}

-I worked in their office for 3 1/2 weeks.

-Lots of paperwork.

-Lots of pooltime. 

-Lots of bugs. One blended in with our couch, creepy!

-I watched my Feller get tanner and tanner each day. 

Whatahunk. 

-Our upstairs neighbors were up all night and walked really loud.

-Spent too much money on gas. It was a bit ridiculous. Long story. 

-Got lost multiple times on my way home from work. 

-Dealt with greasy hair and face due to the humidity. 

-Poor poor poor. We all need to experience this, right?

-Went to dinner with my long lost friend, Reggi! We went to her hotel that SHE DESIGNED.

 Look at this, it's amazing. The pics don't do it justice, though. 

-Made some great friends.

-Went to six movies...it kinda became a hobby. 

-I left my Feller last Sunday and headed to California :(

 3 weeks left! I don't think I'm gonna make it. 

-Trained in California for a week to manage Yogurtland!

Admit it: I look ridiculously good in my uniform, right? 

-Flew back to Utah on Saturday and I am now living with my favorite Holt's! 

I'm so excited to spend time with them and get ready for Holt baby#2 to arrive in August!

Love my Ave. 

I've been busy busy since getting back, and it's only going to get crazier!

If you're in the Bounty-land area anytime soonish, we're opening doors so soon!

We're hoping for Friday or Saturday. Cross your fingers. 

Hopefully I don't neglect this poor thing any longer!

Now it's time to skype with my cute hubby.