The Belly

So my baby bump is now more like a baby boulder! The look on my face is an indication of my overwhelming excitement. I still have over 5 weeks to go! Its like the moon...I know my belly has another side to it, but I just can't see it...

And here is the most recent picture of my passenger. These were done at 33 weeks and he was measuring about five and a half pounds. The doctor told me that I could expect him to gain a half pound every week and we still had seven weeks left at that point which would put him at nine pounds by his due date. Yep, that's my big guy. :)

To help you decipher the two ultrasound pics, the first is a great profile of his nose and lips and a little bit of chin and forehead. The lower one is also a profile pic, but of the other side, and we mostly get forehead and nose, because that is a hand up there in his mouth. He isn't sucking his thumb, but he kept putting his hand in his mouth. At least that's better than his momma, who is always putting a foot in her mouth. :)

Only a few more weeks to go!

Spark Update

I just recieved an email from Cedar Fort, the LDS publisher who, in January, rejected my novel because it had edgier elements that they wished me to change. At first I didn't want to--writer's pride, you might say--because I felt like those elements weren't comprimising in any way and that they added to the emotion of the story. But I realized that unless somebody actually had the chance to read the story, it didn't matter how much or little of your message they got. So I made the few changes they suggested and resubmitted it (though they never actually said "please resubmit this") in July. This is the reply I got today:

Dear Crystal,

This email is to inform you that we have reviewed your revised manuscript, Spark. At this time we would like to put your submission on hold for a few months. We feel that you have made the changes that we suggested and have improved your manuscript since the first time your submitted it to us. However, your book does not fit the current fiction needs that we have right now so we would like to wait for a few months when we feel we might be better able to take on your novel. That being said, we cannot guarantee that we will publish your novel at that time. We realize your desire to see your book published and we understand if you would like to accept other offers you may have. If that is the case, we wish you success. If you are willing to wait however, we will be in touch over the next few months.

Thank you,

-- The Acquisitions Editors
Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 W. 700 S.
Springville, UT 84663
(801) 489-4084
1-800-SKYBOOK

While I'm glad that they're at least giving my story a chance, it is frustrating to wait in limbo a little while longer. This isn't even the genre or audience I really want to write to, but I did put a lot of time and effort into the story, even if it was only to get the feel for writing a full length novel. It would be gratifying to see it finished and on the bookstore shelves. Who knows? It might still make it there. They said they'll be in touch. When they do finally make a decision, I'll post it here first.

Happy Feet

In my last post, I mentioned the logic behind the phrase "barefoot and pregnant" and how, after your feet swell to monstrous proportions, being barefoot becomes a necessity because all of the shoes in your closet cower in fear of the day you might actually try to cram those oversized sausage toes into them. Well, recently I have stumbled upon a weapon to combat pregnancy induced bigfoot syndrome. My awesome mother-in-law!

I was complaining about my chipped toenail polish the other day and my inability to reach my toes and rectify the situation when Keaton's mom, Paula, said she wouldn't mind painting them for me. What I didn't know is that when she went to beauty school before her kids came along, pedicures were part of her course of study. I went to her house with a little bottle of polish expecting just to have my toes painted and instead I was treated to a hot, scented foot bath, a foot and leg massage and a full-out pedicure. It was wonderful on my achy swollen feet! Turns out, she doesn't like to do them much so I feel doubly lucky she took pity on me. Not only that, but she bought me a pair of cushy fuzzy slippers, slip on tennies so I don't have to bend down and tie the dang things, and those marshmallow airwalk clogs--not the prettiest things on the block (like my feet) but soooo comfortable, especially for work when I spend half my time shoeless anyway. (My coworkers will probably cheer to see me wearing shoes on a regular basis.) Needless to say, though I can't hardly see them, I have some happy feet!

Big Baby

I had another appointment today and my doctor told me to steer away from any of the newborn clothes because this boy is going to be BIG. And incidentally, so am I! My last appointment I had an ultrasound where she said he was measuring two weeks ahead of schedule. I wasn't surprised because, quite frankly, I feel like a tank. (When I told Keaton this he laughed and said I was more like an APC--an armored personnel carrier. I guess without the armor!) My next appointment she said she'll do another ultrasound and reevaluate my due date. I have to say, I'm glad he's healthy but I'm all little nervous about how my rolly polly little guy is going to get here! I liked Carolanne's theory--have 'em small, then fatten them up when they get here. Not gonna happen for us! Too bad he likes cookies so much, he keeps making me eat them. :)

Also, I've come to realize that the term "barefoot and pregnant" isn't just some saying. Being barefoot is a necessity because none of my shoes fit my big swollen feet! I'd post a picture but it is just to graphic. Not for the faint-hearted. :)

So today is 31 weeks for me--9 (or if I'm lucky, less) weeks to go! I wonder if by then I'll have a gravitational pull and they'll have to name me as a new planet. We shall see!

Yes, we're still alive

It has been forever since I've posted, I know! But it has been a hectic few weeks. I had my first shower a week or two ago, and we've also gotten about halfway through our kitchen cabinet renovations and the baby room fix-up. I've also done several photo shoots (with my awkward belly! You should see me trying to hunker down to get a good angle, its hilarious.) and yesterday was our 3rd anniversary. To commemorate our honeymoon, we took an overnight trip to St. George to relive our Tuacahn experience. This year was Les Mis! It was awesome, but no trip is without extra bumps--we got a major flat outside of Cedar City on our way down and had to buy two new tires. That was our anniversary present to each other...his and hers tires, how romantic! I just have to say how lucky I am to have married such an amazing man, he is my perfect match and I know that our baby couldn't ask for a better daddy. I love him so much, spending all those hours in the car normally wouldn't be any fun at all but I almost enjoyed the drive as much as the destination. He is the BEST!

Pictures coming soon, I'm too tired tonight!

The Projects

So I know I haven't posted in a while, its just that life has gotten so busy! Now that we're the proud owners of a house and soon-to-be parents, it seems like the list of things we need to do just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Here are some of the things we're currently working on.

Refinishing our 70's era kitchen cabinets:



No more ugly brown!

Taming the jungle that is our garden: (Keaton did all this today. See that pile? Overgrown sunflowers!)

Fix the sprinklers that decided to stop rotating: (Keaton also did this today. Isn't he handy?)

Create a new movable above ground sprinkler to get the spots the underground ones sometimes missed. (Again, Keaton)

Check out our raspberries! Yum
And lastly, work on Squirt's new room. His current quarters are nice (I do my best to keep him comfortably cushioned) but it won't be long before the little tyke needs an upgrade.

This has been my own project--that is why it is so very unfinished. That's right. Keaton doesn't do EVERYTHING around here. Just most of it. :)

The goal is to turn this:
Into this! Or some near approximation. :)

Work work work work work!

Baby Bump Debut

You asked for it, so here it is! Yep, baby Smith is definitely making himself known. I think I've doubled in size the last two weeks. I never realized pregnancy could feel this awkward. It used to seem so glamorous, now I know...it's just uncomfortable about 87% of the time!

Thanks to Carma for the picture.