The Cat's Out of the Bag

We've known this for a while, but I wanted to wait to post anything on my blog until I let my coworkers know....

Ever since Neal and I got married, we have felt that it would be important for me to stay home with our kiddos.  After we got pregnant, we not only felt it was important, but after a lot of prayer and discussion, we decided me staying home was what Heavenly Father wanted us to do.  The problem at that point was we had NO idea how we were going to accomplish that.

During the first couple months of the pregnancy, we tried so hard to focus on Nephi's experience trying to get the plates from Laban in the Book of Mormon, and our theme kind of became 1 Nephi 3:7

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

We knew that Heavenly Father would not ask us to do this if it were not possible for us to accomplish it, and that He would provide a way as along as we put our faith in Him.  So, we began praying specifically that we could accomplish this, and that we would be able to see the way he had prepared for us.

In December, Neal applied for and was blessed to be offered a job that you can read about here.  We were so grateful because it really was an answer to our prayers.  It not only had benefits, but I made us feel more comfortable (financially) about going down to 1 income.

So, there you have it.  After little dude is born, I will get to stay home with him.  We are so incredibly excited, and extremely blessed!

34 weeks

Really?  Only six weeks until little man is supposed to be here?

Amazing what a difference 10 weeks can make...

Today at our appointment his heart rate was 135-140, and I'm measuring perfectly at 34.5 cm.  I've gained 25 pounds (I actually lost one pound since my last appointment).  

This past week was my baby shower.  The theme was "Teddy Bear Picnic."  It was SO much fun to see family and friends, and I tell you what...this little boy is SO loved already.  We are so incredibly grateful for each and every one of the gifts we were given.  He is spoiled already :)  We were especially excited for our travel system that my Aunt Debbie and cousin Nicole gave us.  It's super cute!

Cute teddy bears my grandma made!  I felt bad eating their tummies!

Over the last couple of days we've started getting everything ready in his room, and putting together a list of the things we still need to get.  We got his crib all made up yesterday, and that was a reality check.  Realizing that we're going to put a baby in there in not too long was CRAZY.  We also washed all of his clothes last night and folded them and put them away.  It was funny because we couldn't stop commenting on how tiny everything was!  Neal's favorite thing to comment on was little dude's socks.  I think my favorite quote from Neal last night was "And I thought YOUR (meaning me) socks were small!!"  It's really nice to see everything start coming together :)

Neal came up with a really great idea for tonight's FHE.  We're going to write down the traits that we hope our little boy gets from the other person.  We've been striving to validate and uplift each other more over the last couple of weeks because of this awesome article that we read in the Ensign this month, and we felt this FHE would contribute to that. (PS.  In case you're wondering, applying this article to our marriage has already made a fabulous difference in our marriage.  I highly recommend reading the article.)  After that, we're going to Babies R Us and Target to get the rest of the items that we feel are necessary (or would be really, really nice to have) for when little dude gets here.

So now we're counting down the days until he gets here.  We're at 41 days until he's supposed to be here!  We're so excited!!

Mondays aren't so bad

Mondays for us are actually usually really good.

It may have something to do with it being a day off for us :)

Usually we run errands, but we get to go together, which makes for an incredible day!

Last Monday, we ran errands as normal, and then that evening went to a birthday celebration for our friend Brian.  We started by eating at Five Guys.  Neal had never eaten there before, so it was good for him to try a new place :)  After that we went bowling.  I will say, bowling at eight months pregnant is pretty entertaining...especially when your husband realizes your belly is as big as the ball you're bowling with :)

Tuesday was the year mark of Angela's death.  To read my thoughts on that day, go here.  I skipped my baby class that day.  I felt like it was more important to be with family that night.

Neal had a big end of the week with UNC's Gala being at the Union Colony Civic Center.  He was able to mix the event.  Their finale was Mack Wilberg's arrangement of The Spirit of God, and Neal said it sounded incredible.

Sunday I hit 32 weeks (seriously, where is the time going?????).  We went to church as normal.  Neal had to leave early for work, so I taught our class by myself.  It was pretty entertaining because after class was over, one of the kiddos looked at me and said "No offense, but Brother Johnson is a lot more fun than you are."  It cracked me up because I totally know that he balances me out super well in class - I tend to get a little too serious and he lightens things up.

Yesterday Neal and I ran errands (again, because it was Monday) and then my coworkers had a cute baby shower for my coworker Danelle and I.

Yummy yummy burrito bar

Today I'm spending getting cute baby clothes washed, and organizing all of the other wonderful gifts I was given yesterday!

Dear Angela

Dear Angela,

Today marks one year since you didn't wake up.

Today was a day I didn't necessarily want to talk about...just move on and know you were happy.

But as I was cleaning my bathtub, and listening to my "Country" playlist on Spotify, the song "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts came on, and I was a goner.

I came to the conclusion that posting a blog to you was appropriate.  You enjoyed posting on yours, no matter who actually read it.

As much as it has sucked, you being gone from this life has caused some pretty incredible things to happen.

-Your family has drawn close together.  Yes, even closer than they were before (which I wouldn't have thought was possible).  We started a book club among some of the Milligan clan. The conversations that have happened during that time have been incredible.  Watching strength flow from one person to another during those conversations was miraculous.

-On several occasions the one of little ones in the family has looked at a specific spot in the room, and pointed and said "Angela."  You can bet we fell apart each time.

-A door was opened for your family to adopt a new member.  Sami gets to experience how wonderful your family is now.

-Jenn and Karla had the idea to start a scholarship in your name for kids wanting to go to theater camps.  They both found and contacted Up In Lights, not knowing how involved you were with that company.  We held a benefit concert in your name, and the turn-out was incredible.  There were so many people that loved you...I don't think you knew that.  Watching some of your good friends sing for you was heart wrenching and healing all at the same time.  It was something I think you would have been proud of.

-Neal and I have drawn closer together.  Sometimes, there are moments when one of us is overcome with missing you, and for a moment we are more vulnerable.  It gives one the opportunity to feel, the other an opportunity to comfort and strengthen - something I think every marriage needs.  Something we didn't always have in our marriage before.

Just know that we miss you, ok?  Stop by every once in a while.  Sometimes we'll figure out that you're there :)

        

Estes Park trip, Laser Tag, and family

There are 60 days until our little dude is due.  What. The. Heck.

Anyway.....

-On a random day that Neal and I both had off, we decided to drive up to Estes Park.  We hadn't been up to Estes since the floods happened.  Driving up the Big Thompson Canyon was CRAZY.  It has changed so much.  As we were driving up we talked about how weird it is that our kiddos will never know that drive like we did.  Viestenz-Smith Park is GONE.  I am SO glad that we took my Trash the Dress photos there so that we have a memory of what it looked like.

-Later that week I did some visiting teaching, and then some of the girls in our ward had a girl's night at Cafe Rio.  It was enjoyable to just sit and talk about a bunch of different goings ons.

-That Saturday Neal went snowboarding.  Once again, I'm thankful he was wearing his helmet.  The last run of the day he came off a jump wrong and landed square on his back and smacked his head.  Oh my husband.  Needless to say, he was sore for the next couple of days.

-The next week was the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse holiday party (a little late I know, but way fun).  We went to Loveland Laser Tag.  I didn't play laser tag, but I enjoyed watching Neal's score on the score board and listening to him get so excited about the games.  They also had an arcade, so we played a bunch of arcade games.  We played Ski Ball a LOT.  It was pretty entertaining.

-We had a baby appointment - little dude is measuring right where he should be, and his heart rate is 155 bpm.

-The next day Neal's cousin Jenn was in town, and offered to take us out to dinner.  We ate at Enzio's downtown.  She got us some of the CUTEST clothes for little one!!  There is a Tommy Hilfiger sweater/jeans outfit that I cannot wait for him to wear!  It was so much fun to see her and enjoy her company :)

That's about it for the last two weeks.  Again, I failed at taking pictures (but I'm already doing better at that this week!)