How I Feel.

Naturally, I have a secret.

Don't get me wrong--I LOVE medicine. I have no personal beef against it. In fact, I have been known to down a few legal drugs in my time so when the "epidural" question presented itself, I knew exactly where I stood. I gave an emphatic "oh yeah!" to everyone who dared asked me if I was going to get one.

Then, out of nowhere, I started feeling differently. A lot differently. I don't know where it came from, but I have decided to have an unmedicated birth. You may be thinking, she's nuts. Or she'll get one once she starts feeling the pain. I know you're thinking this because I have thought this too. I feel unprepared, nervous, scared, and excited at the same time. Mostly nervous, though. I've started to read alot and go to classes, but I feel that nothing can really prepare me for this. Has anyone out there had unmedicated births and want to give me some help?

Unfortunately, I've heard a lot of negativity toward my decision and I'd appreciate only positive comments because I am already feeling a little overwelmed. I only have 7 weeks left! Only 7 more weeks to get ready for the best and hardest part of my life. I luckily have the BEST labor partner ever. Chad is so incredibly positive and I know will be my strength when the going gets tough and I am regretting my decision.

Since my secret is out in the open (well, as open as a blog can get), I feel like I can't change my mind or back out which is good. I've let my secret out and there's no going back. I now just need to surround myself with education and positivity towards the subject. Yay! I am actually really excited for this new adventure. I've already thought about my birthing plan and what I want for my birth experience.

Wish me luck and please let me know if you have any fabulous advice for the new mommy-to-be!

Fall in Utah

Chad and I decided since we won't be in Utah to visit his family for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, we'd fly out for Fall Break. It was gorgeous weather! We stayed in Logan to see my sister and her kids for a couple days then went to SLC to visit friends. We made it to Orem and spent the rest of the time at Chad's family's house. The trip was made complete with the annual Halloween party! Thanks for the good times!

Jill, Me, and Kristie at Su Casa

Chad and baby Aiden

Metz clan all decked out for Halloween!

Chad and I at a REAL Salt Lake soccer game

27 weeks preggo, baby!

Make-A-Wish & Grouting

September was a good month! My dad came out and helped us with some house projects. It reminded me of when I was a teen doing projects, yard work, and chores with him growing up. Good times and great memories! Back then I remember my shirts fitting. haha.

We spent more time in Home Depot then in our house but in the end we got a lot of needed house projects done.

I also granted two more wishes for Make-A-Wish during the month of September. It feels so good to be on the lighter and happier side of working with kids.

That reminds me being a sunbeam teacher is the best. Katie and I teach six amazing little ones. We will miss them while we are in Utah.

We can't wait to hang with friends and family this week. We are especially looking forward to seeing the Alleman's new home, the Reece Halloween party, baby Aiden, Tucano's with the Whitakers, and Katie's first live session at SLC Temple. If my mom has anything to do with how the trip turns out, I'm sure the trip will be AllFall!!!

Swishes and Flutters and...Kicks? Oh My!

About 2 weeks ago I was sitting on the couch feeling my stomach rumble like the hungry tummy it usually is. The problem was, I wasn't hungry. I had just ate and this rumbly thing had kinda happened a lot for the past couple of days. This is weird, I thought. It eventually dawned on me that this wasn't the usual butterfly flutters I've felt when our baby has moved around. These were real life KICKS! I put my hand to my stomach and sure enough I felt a slight jab. "Whoa! Chad check this out!" Is what I said. And he did. He put his hand to my tummy and felt the little guy kick around, too. It was a little freaky at first, I'll admit. My sister lovingly put it, "kinda like a vampire is trying to eat its way free"...yeah, something like that. :) But now that I've gotten used to it, I love it. I love when he starts to kick my belly in the middle of the day at Parent Teacher Conferences. I know I won't love it in a couple of months when he's grown, but I love it now. It's just a gentle little reminder like he's saying, "Hey, mom. I'm still in here!" And don't worry, baby. I'm still here, too.

frustration!

I don't know why, but my header pictures always look HUGE and when I push "shrink to fit" it doesn't show the whole picture! What do I need to do to change the size of my pictures?? Help, someone!!

Half Way, Baby!

20 Weeks Preggo....I feel GREAT but also feel like my tummy is HUGE. January seems so far away but I am certainly enjoying all this energy, appetite, and shopping for a new wardrobe! :)

Dear Baby

My dear baby boy,

Now that Daddy and I finally know what you are (well, Daddy was fist pumping the air when he found out) we are THRILLED. I love shopping for you already. I already bought you a pair of very cute shoes that you probably can wear when you're three months old. That may seem far away, but I bought them anyway. We are getting the nursery all ready for you as well. Daddy can't wait to paint your new room. We're thinking bright PINK. How does that sound? Haha, just kidding buddy. I love touching my belly and thinking of you. Sometimes I talk to you, too. You probably think I'm nuts. I think I'm nuts, too. Like when I came to a complete stop at a green light and didn't even notice. Sheesh. And man, those early morning charley horses on my calves have GOT TO STOP. I feel like I can't walk anymore. Now I know why pregnant women have a waddle- it's partly big tummy, partly having to pee, and partly cuz your legs hurt so much!

But let me tell you the best part: finally feeling you move around in there. Every time it happens, I stop where I am and just smile at the fact that you're in there kicking away. You make me so happy, baby. Sometimes I cry just thinking about holding you one day. You make my life so special and Daddy and I can't wait to see you. I hope you have his eyes. See you in 20 weeks, my sweet baby boy.

Love, Mama

30 and lovin' it

Man, being 30 is a lot cooler than I thought. I can now look back on my twenties and reminisce on all the great and wonderful things I did and experienced. Every time Katie asks me something now I say, “Well back in my twenties I would…jk

Now that I’m 30 I’m actually learning from my mistakes and I’m becoming a better and wiser man. I wish I would of done that in my twenties! Haha. Being 30 has given me time to reflect on my life and I wanted to express my gratitude for all my many blessings: I am so grateful I have a healthy baby on the way, I can’t wait to be a Daddy! I have a beautiful wife, who works and is deeply rooted in the gospel. I have two good paying jobs, a handsome little pup, a comfortable home, two nice cars, a supportive and loving family, supportive and loving in-laws, the best calling ever, Sunbeam teachers, the freedom to choose (regular or diet), freedom to worship, and lastly I have DVR the greatest invention ever! I can fast forward or skip commercials anytime I want on my cable TV…Whoa! Life is good.

Man, I think that last comment means I really am 30! You know you need to get out more and be more active when you can balance the mac n' cheese bowl on your stomach. It puts a whole new meaning on the phrase "hands free"

My Preggo Belly

This summer I have been busy being sick with a little thing called MORNING SICKNESS. Oh boy, I am very glad I wasn't working when the nausea hit in early June. Luckily since I've gone into my second trimester, things have been a lot better. And I am finally showing! It's hard to take a picture of my preggo belly with one hand, but here it is! We find out in 2 weeks if it's a boy or girl....any guesses anyone?!

Guest Bath

Slowly but surely we are getting our house done one room at a time...

Guest Room

Thanks to Megan & Mom, Katie and I were able to get this sweet bedding and curtain fabric. Our guest room is more cozy and inviting right now than our master. haha.

Not bad, after runnin' the Provo River

Our Nephew Aiden James

Right before we left UT to head back to AZ. My aunt Sharon made us cream puffs at 10:30pm. It made my night, cause I was way stressed after learning we had to go 55mph the whole way back carrying the Uhaul. I had a 12 hour shift the next day so I was stoked to eat up one of my favorite treats before the long haul as so good ol' comfort food.

Putt Putt, European style at Zermat in Midway, UT.

It's been HOW long?

Wow. I haven't updated this blog in a while....my St. Patrick's Day theme is proof of that! Anyway...we have been very busy. We moved to our new house which has been, I'll be honest, stressful. I am happy to have tons of space, but we haven't really deep cleaned or unpacked so it's kinda a mess. I was so busy with the end of year and Kindergarten graduation for the past month as well. THEN we went to Utah for a week. NOW we're back in AZ and it's bloody hot. Honestly, Utah, you felt good while we were there. We had TWO babies born, SEVEN birthdays, ONE anniversary and a whole lot of craziness during the month of May. And on top of all that......

I'm pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEW HOUSE!

Here are some pictures of our new house (well, new to us and technically it's not officially ours until we sign the papers) for your viewing pleasure!

The front of the house (it's in Gilbert)
The backyard needs some TLC

The entry way with lots of possibilities

The LARGE family room that I plan to "cut in half" (dining/family)

Great kitchen that is open to everything

Guest room #1

Guest room #2

Half of the kitchen...this is our new sink and we need to take out this old oven and also put in a dishwasher!

Our cool wet bar that we don't really know what to do with yet...

Master bedroom with a door to the backyard

Master bath with *sigh* a GARDEN tub and an awesome window

That's all, folks! We will post more when we move, fix stuff up (hopefully with Jim's help), and start to decorate! yay for us! Now we need family/friends to come visit or a baby (hopefully both!)

Picture perfect times at Sedona! What tranquility, what peace, what pure beauty!

The clan chillaxin' on the mountain top. Katie, me, Maya, and Uncle Wes!

As of late

We have a very happy puppy.

We went to Bryce Canyon.

We shot arrows.

We celebrated Valentine's Day.

I made Chad pictures for our anniversary.

He got me a pink beach cruiser.

Happy one year to us!

Happy things

Here are a few things that have made me happy lately:

Moving Day! We now live 4 houses down from the temple.

Mini Cadbury Eggs...they come around once a year, lighten up my life, and enlarge my hips.

MMMMMMMMM PETE'S.......I also live 4 houses down from Pete's now...I love my life. :)

CPS storytime

It feels good to get feedback from parents even when I am investigating them for child abuse! Mr. Chad Metz, Again, thank you very much for the information you provided with regards to CPS. I can say that I was impressed with the way you handled the investigation. The information you provided K____ and I regarding assistance out there that we were not aware of to help us move forward with our lives will be invaluable. Again, thank you for all that you and your agency has done. Sincerely, Eric _____ What's funny in a twisted way, is that this kid, K____ had some mental health issues and brought a knife to school just in case I came back to remove him from his Grandpa/Dad which I had no intentions of doing. Poor kid ended up getting suspended even though I wrote the school a letter explaining the trauma the child had been going through at home. =( On a side note at court on Monday a Meth addicted grandma who was a guardian to her two grandchildren threatened me and her own family members (to blow our brains out) After court I was walking outside and she got a 9mm handgun out of a trunk and jumped into another car with the windows rolled down. I hurried and ran over to the park cars for protection luckily she did not point or threaten me with the gun, but it was still scary.

Try try again

At first you don't succeed....I don't know about you, but sometimes I'm plain tired of trying. Sometimes throwing in the towel sounds really good. Sometimes giving up sounds very tempting. And sometimes I just wanna throw those little pee sticks with their one little pink line against the wall.

Kinder Chronicles Part III

Student: "When are ya gonna get a husband?"
Me: "Uh, I already got one of those!"
Student: "Well, when are ya gonna get a baby?"
Me: "Um, I don't know."

Here are some belated pics from Christmas (I know, I know, it's been, well, a while since Christmas). I don't even have some cool excuse for being late on the post...I'm just plain lazy. Here are a few pics from Utah...enjoy!

Cutest puppy in the whole wide world!!! (Sorry about all those times I wanted to give you away when you pooped all over the carpet and threw up all over your bed)

I love our little fam...I promise Chad is happy in this pic...

SLC lights in the snow with fam and friends

Park City is wonderful--I loved it there!!

I love love love this man!! Almost a year we've been together!