Isn't it Jolley

Wow it has been a loooooong time.

Honestly I keep my blog going so that I can keep up on my friends who are pretty amazing at posting. You see I would rather read than post. But alas, the biggest thing to rock this little family of two's world has happened.

WE'RE EXPECTING A BABY!

It's pretty exciting, and still kind of surreal. I have been very blessed so far with an insanely easy pregnancy, knock on wood,  which is why we were able to keep it a secret for so long. I am now 18 1/2 weeks and finally made it "Facebook Official," haha.

For a few days I had been feeling weird. Not sick, just weird. My period had been a little weird for a few months so it didn't surprise me too much when I was a few days late since I had been having the normal sign's of the flow coming. Ya know moody, bloated, and other norms. Since we had started trying kind of in December/January I took a test after just about 2-3 days late. Negative. Then I another few days in the wee hours of the morning (around 4 am,) I took a second test cause I really, really had to go, and....POSITIVE! I climbed back into bed, and couldn't hold it in so shook Stephen awake and told him, "Babe, I'm pregnant." He said "really? wow." He paused bit longer, then asked "aren't you going to get ready for work." I laughed, "No it’s only 4." Then he rolled back over, and asked "why couldn't you have told me in a couple hours? Now I can't sleep" Haha, I love him.

We told our families the day that we found out. I went to work, but was just too distracted so I went home early. Stephen has a weird work schedule so he doesn't work during the day that often, and that day was no exception. I wanted to wait until Valentine’s Day to do something cute, but Stephen just couldn't wait to tell his mom. (He really, really loves her. Probably his best of best friend, but isn't that how it is supposed to be? If I ever don't know where he is, and he can't feel/hear his phone ringing I call his parents house, his mom, or his sister Kate. However that is another story and this one’s about our little one who is on the way.) You see his amazing grandmother passed away the month before in January, and his mom was feeling understandably pretty down. We were in the car on our way to Zupas, and he made his argument. "Can we please tell my mom, I just know that it will make her so happy?" After a little bit longer I agreed, and we told her on our way to Target. Then he couldn't wait to tell his sisters. So we went to the mall, and at Coldstone he took his newborn nephew, and said "I will really need the practice." They didn't get the hint, until we blatantly said that we are having a baby. His sister Kate called his dad, who was on a mans trip with some family. So pretty much everyone in Stephens’s entire family found out in just a very short amount of time, and we hadn't even been able to tell my parents.

Like I said before I have had a very easy pregnancy so far. I was only sick for about a week, which was perfectly timed around flu season, and an air quality issue at work. So I was able to hide leaving work, or not coming in without looking too suspicious. Also my stomach has not gotten too much bigger yet. I just look a bit thicker. For these reasons we were able to keep it a pretty good secret from our friends, and especially my friends in Oregon. There were a few that we couldn't wait to tell namely Riley/Kelsey Mauch, Kyle Treece, Karli Riddle Johnson, and my friend from work Stephanie and maybe a couple more. Other than that, we were pretty quiet about it until our first ultrasound appointment when we told a few more friends, and if people asked about it we would tell the truth, but nothing too extensive. Finally this week at our last ultrasound appointment when we found out what we are having (A GIRL) is when we really let it out. A lot of people at work who I deal with on a daily basis didn't even know, and asked if it was a joke when I put a sign up on my cubicle about it. Nope not a joke, there is definitely a baby in this belly.

When it came to thinking about gender, I just didn't want to be hopeful one way or another because I did not want to be disappointed. There are pros and cons to both, and I know that I would be just as ecstatic if we were having a boy. Other people had their opinions. Kate has a way to see what the gender is before the ultrasound. Technically it is 70% correct, but it has yet to fail. It may sound a little gross, but you pee on top of some baking soda. If it fizz/foams it’s a boy, if nothing happens it’s a girl. Guess what it did when I tried this test, nothing at all, not even a little fizzle. So from then on Stephen's entire family said it was a girl. My dad is funny, and said that we were having a boy since there are SO many boys on my side of the family; I am the only girl of 5 children in my family. I laughed when my dad said that, and reminded him that the woman does have a little to do with the gender; she does not create the sperm.

We have had so many blessings come our way since we found out about the baby. We moved from the basement of our friends the Riddles to have a two bedroom apartment. It was a little sad since it was the first place that we lived in since getting married, and they had treated us very well. Plus it will be a bummer that I won't know exactly when their kids come in from out of town just by the sound of their granddaughter Alea's loud running. Or be able to just be a stairway away when my best friend Karli comes to town. However, when we found our new place we knew we just had to jump on it. It is just a little bit more expensive, but not nearly out of our price range, and has plenty of space/rooms/cabinetry/storage. It is just a few blocks down from Stephens’s parent’s house, and is in their ward. It will be very convenient especially when I inevitably have to go back to work, and they have graciously said they would do some daycare while we are working. It has cut my commute almost in half, and didn't even affect Stephens. Plus it is in a really good and safe neighbor hood just down the road from UVU. We just couldn't pass it up.

We have both received pretty substantial raises, and Stephen was even promoted to be the general manager at Classic Fun Center, where he has worked off and on since he was about 17. Time and hard work really do pay off. Since my last post, which was FOREVER ago, I got a new job at a law firm. It's not doing hair, but it pays almost double what I was making doing hair alone, and I have received quite a few raises since I started.  I have picked up some extra clients from friends who I work with. Plus I am able to do hair on the side still.

We were already blessed to have our own amazing parents who love us so much. I am very thankful to get along so well with his family that I am able to go over there, and just be a part of the family. And Stephen fits in perfectly with mine. Already his mom Karen, sisters Katelyn, and Kirstie are planning a baby shower. My mom and dad have made plans to come out here while I am pregnant, for the birth, and for the blessing. Also my dad was very gracious, and got us airline tickets to go out to Oregon in July. When I think about all of our blessings the stupid hormones that are raging inside of me make me fight back tears. Not that we aren't having our trials, but the blessings are outweighing them by far.

We are so excited to welcome our little girl into our life. It is scary at times, but I already know that I have never loved anyone more than this little one inside of me.