On Staying Active

The fact that people feel they have the right to say what they want about my body and pregnancy is irritating.  I actually was in a Zumba class a couple of weeks ago, enjoying the music and having fun and making sure to tone down the moves and march whenever something was outside of what my body felt comfortable doing.  A participant went and told the gym owner (my boss!!) that he needed to come tell me to leave Zumba because I was too pregnant to be doing it and it wasn't safe for me.  He chuckled at her and said he fully backed me being there and said I knew my limits and was just fine.  Seriously?!  Gyms are supposed to be inclusive and help people feel comfortable in an inviting atmosphere where all can participate.  I've yet to turn anyone away from my classes I teach because I didn't think they could/should do it.  The nerve. 

Also, on a weekly basis, I have people come up and tell me that I shouldn't be "pumping iron" or teaching anymore, because "don't you care about your baby?"  "Don't you care at all about having a safe pregnancy?"  "Isn't this too much for you?"  "Are you sure you should be doing this?" 

People, please.  This is not my first rodeo.  This is my 4th baby and hence, my 4th pregnancy. I have researched all the fitness-related pregnancy literature out there and made the necessary modifications to my routine.  Heck, I don't work work out NEARLY as hard or as often as I did before--and it is totally frustrating to me, but yes, I scaled back because I WAS thinking about my baby. 

Ok, rant over.  Long story short, rather than spew off your belief to a pregnant lady of what she should or shouldn't be doing in a gym, applaud her for staying active and move on with your merry life.  Oh yeah, can you tell the pregnancy hormones are causing some irritability?  Haha....

Moments Like These...

Moments like these help me feel more at ease with having another child.  I took a shower while instructing Mikayla how to wash Kendra's hair in the bath next to me.  She washed her hair and body and helped her dry off.  She then helped her pick out clothes, and brushed her hair and braided it.  Kendra then returned the favor by helping brush Mikayla's hair.  It was the cutest thing and I so appreciated seeing them work together and help each other out.  I love seeing Mikayla care for her sisters.  This morning together helped me realize that life will be okay with 4 and I can handle it with my big girl helping me out. 

Valentine's Day Dudley Style

Valentine's morning was super hectic! I made the girls breakfast, made their school lunches, tried to put hearts into their hair, dressed them in shirts I had made and had put cute Valentines and a little toy into their mailboxes all in an effort to be THAT mom. 

Well, we were running short on time, I hurried them out the door, into the car and away we drove to school.  To my horror I discovered I was wearing my slippers, sweats, an old shirt and no bra.  Awesome.  I had to drop all 3 off at school and walk Kendra into preschool like that.  In an instant I had gone from being THAT mom to being THAT mom.  You know the kind, the braless, unshowered, no-makeup mom that belongs at home, not out around town. 

Oh well, at least my kids looked cute!

Va

One of my favorite family traditions!  We put valentines into each other's mailboxes each day until Valentine's Day.  I often add little necklaces, candy, small toys, or puzzles etc.  Then we tape our notes up on the wall and admire our "wall of love."  So much fun and the girls have a lot of fun making sweet notes for each other.

No worries, I had some strange feeling I might need a 6th mailbox one day, so I have an extra one for next year and we'll write the new little one's name on it so she can join us on the mantel.

Chinese New Year!

 I made these super cute and easy panda cupcakes for an adult dinner party we had.  We're part of a group that has about 12 couples and we take turns each hosting a dinner party.  Our month was February so we invited everyone over and assigned all the Chinese food dishes and a great time!  We had 16 people and just for fun I put these mini cupcakes by everyone's plates for dinner and spread peanut MnM's and chocolate covered almonds out on the table, because, really, can you ever have too much chocolate?

 We enjoyed great food, great company, and lots of great laughs playing scribblish together and chatting until 11pm.  Such a fun night!

I remembered to take a pic of me from the night at 30 weeks pregnant.  Getting closer now!  Let's just say how nice it is to have elastic waist pants on a night with such good food!  We were able to serve the girls leftover Chinese and panda cupcakes the next day for the actual Chinese New Year and celebrate as a family.

Engagement Photos!

Dusty and Chelsie are engaged!  They met in college, she waited the 2 yrs for him to serve his mission, now he's home, they're more in love than ever, and they're getting married!  I took them out to get some pics and love what we got. 

Now I only wish I could go to the wedding!  But, alas, it's scheduled during the same week I'll probably be having a baby and it's in Boston... no can do dang it.  I'll be there in spirit and was more than happy to be able to take some fun pics of the cute couple!

My Ramblings On Feeling Old

Anyone remember that Deanna Carter song, "Strawberry Wine?"  I remember listening to it on the country music station while doing homework in my bedroom at 15 years old.  A favorite line from the song is, "I still remember, when 30 was old...."  To me, at 15, 30 was old.  Like, really old.  30 yr olds were those at church with several kids and real jobs and a mortgage and thinning hair and slightly expanding waistlines.  30 was old.  30 seemed forever away.

 And then it happened.  I turned 30 this year.  And guess what?  I have several kids and another coming, a husband with a real job, we have a mortgage and thinning hair and are fighting the good fight of the battle of the bulge.  Awesome.  I got old.  I turned 30 and got a few gray hairs and the slightest indentation on my face (because I refuse to call it a wrinkle).  I feel extra super old when I say things to my kids like, "Well yeah, but that was 20 years ago..."  whoa, back it up.  What?!  I shouldn't be old enough to say things like that...

And then I realized, 30 is pretty awesome.  30 means I am married and have a mortgage and a gaggle of kids, and a fun job teaching at a gym.  I am in a good, happy place.  I actually, truly love my life and everything about it.  I think my 20s were different than others as they weren't spent in a drunken stupor partying my weekends away, but were spent helping support a husband through school, and bearing children, and budgeting, and being responsible with my choices.

I don't necessarily like the idea of aging.  I don't like what it's going to do to my body.  I don't like saying my number aloud as if suddenly starting an age with a "3" is no longer cool.  But I guess the number is only defined by how you live your life and is what you make of it.

So, 30 is awesome.  Because I say so. 

Uncle Dusty is Home!

Yay!  2 years are up and Dusty is back!  He's served well in the New Hampshire mission and is now back at school at BYU-Idaho. 

He came home to Chico for the weekend with his girlfriend Chelsie and they stayed at our house one night, went to see Dad's work in Orland the next day, went hot tubbing in the backyard, disc golfing many times, hiking, biking, and played lots of fun games.

Noah gave Kendra a good ride on the swing.

Lots of family was able to come to hear Dusty speak in church.

Noah and Mikayla sang, "Well Done, Thou Good and Faithful Servant" at the microphone accompanied by Jacob on the piano.  It was soo beautiful and their sweet little voices were a perfect addition to the church meeting.

They said this one was for their "album cover."  Hahaha!

27 weeks and feeling sassy in cheetah print and red heels.

Dusty and Chelsie

Uncle Scott has been trying to teach his new wife Portia how to ride a bike, but it's not going so well.  So when he saw Megan's trail-a-bike in the garage he thought it would be a perfect way to take his wife for a long ride!  Too funny!

The fam after church

Dusty with Mom and Dad

Samantha, Eliza, and Mikayla

Some cute kid passing by :)

It was so fun to have 2 of my brothers home for the weekend and we thoroughly enjoyed our time together laughing and joking and enjoying being together.

Brothers and Cousins: reunited

Kendra was in need of a hug, so Uncle Josh picked her up, she snuggled into his shoulder, and after a minute on the recliner they were both out!  Too cute.

Kendra (and the other girls!) thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Chelsie and snuggled right up to her on the couch and sang songs and danced with her and Kendra's been telling me all week about her "friend Chelsie." 

We had such a fun weekend and I'm so glad that we're able to call, text, and skype Dusty now.  2 years can seem like a long time when those aren't available forms of communication!  He served an honorable mission to his fullest and I know he has grown a lot and become a better man because of it.