Finally Posting About the Peanut

In case you haven't heard, we're expecting our second baby this summer- August 4th to be exact! I was waiting to post this until we officially hit the 12 week mark, but I'm still a week late. I'm having a very hard time getting much of anything done lately. Chalk it up to the exhaustion and nausea, which is, thankfully, starting to subside.

I've already noticed a lot of differences between this pregnancy and my first. For starters, I've been so much more sick this time around! I pretty much laid on the couch through all of Christmas break. Luckily, I had Darreck home and the support of my wonderful family. Also, with Max I got crazy strong food cravings (mostly for ridiculously spicy food), but this time around I've had much stronger food aversions. I went through about two weeks of only eating white food- rice, potatoes, cream soup, you get the picture- but even this is starting to subside.

A few similarities between the pregnancies. I started showing super early this time around, again. We always try not to tell others before I have my first ultrasound (this time at 8 weeks), but it's difficult. Now I'm stuck in that weird in-between looking pregnant and just chunky stage. Yuck! Also similarly with Max, we're really, really excited. I've been lucky enough to have two planned and prepared for children, which suits me just fine. I'm not so big on surprises, which also means that, yes, we will be finding out the gender (in March) and, yes, we already have names (and, no, we're not disclosing them to the general public yet).

Hopefully I'll do better about updating the blog in the coming weeks. I'm starting to feel much better, and my energy is starting to return. I didn't have this blog to journal in when I was pregnant with Max, and I want a better record this time around. Soon I'll be posting some of the ultrasound pictures from week 12, so stay tuned!

My (very scary) New Calling

I always thought I could handle just about any calling in the church with a lot of prayer and good mentors around me. And then I got called as the ward organist. See, when you're the organist you have to have some natural talent (which I'm kinda iffy on) and no one (and I mean noooo one) is there to back you up. The prayer still helps, but you're pretty much up there playing solo week after week. Add that to my debilitating stage fright, and it was the first time in my life I ever wondered why I said yes to a calling- especially since it's a second calling, in addition to my calling in the primary presidency.

So, I went to church this week all prepared to be terrified, but it actually turned out pretty well thanks to some awesome friends. One friend wrote me a super-sweet and encouraging note and left it on the organ, while a few more wished me luck before the meeting started. Then, after church, a few more friends who aren't in the ward checked in to see how I did. I ended up feeling a lot more loved than nervous.

I hope that, every once in awhile on a rare occasion, I have enough insight to be that type of friend for someone else. I oftentimes feel like I don't know what to say when I'm trying to support someone else, but I really, really want to learn. I'm so thankful for all the people in my life who make me feel loved and special, and it's a talent I hope I can better develop.

Darreck's Final Transcripts

Can't even believe I haven't posted about this yet, but Darreck graduated!!!! He officially has his Masters in Organizational Management from the University of Great Falls, and his transcripts arrived today. When he first started, it felt like he would never get done, but the 18 months went by so incredibly fast. I'm so proud of him for going full time while still working full time. His dedication was really inspirational to our entire family, and we're both glad he finished before Max was old enough to remember his daddy's school-induced neglect :) The best part about all of this? Not only did he get done in 18 months. Not only did he do it while still working full time. Darreck also managed to get a 4.0 and graduate with honors and distinction! Such a smartie pants :) His diploma should be here in a few more weeks, he'll walk in graduation in May, and then he'll get his accompanying pay raise in July. Once again, we're so, so, so proud of him!

New Year's Eve (Almost)

It seems like all my posts lately are coming in late. Sorry for that, but it's been a wild month around here. New Year's, however, still warrants mentioning. We didn't actually do anything on New Year's Eve, unless you count Darreck waking me up briefly at midnight to kiss me (and I wouldn't count it). However, on December 30th the church hosted a family dance that Darreck and I went to, and we had a lot of fun. What's significant about the story, however, is that we left Max and my parents'  house for his very first sleepover. Darreck and I were both a little nervous about it, until we got to sleep in until 8:30 the next morning. After that I pretty much wanted to make it a monthly ritual. Besides, he did great, slept like a champ, and had a lot of fun. Not entirely sure why I expected otherwise, and I'm even less sure why we didn't do this sooner. It will most assuredly be happening in the future!