Biggie Sized Belly

Last Wednesday we had our 32 Week appointment. I have been feeling extremely large as most women do at 8 months pregnant but as I look around at people my same stage I just seem huge. Dr Judd was out on delivery so we saw Dr Heather instead. My belly was measured and I was told I was definitely measuring big. I asked "How big?". She then told me that I am measuring 36 WEEKS!!! That is a full 4 weeks ahead...man a full month. Of course my automatic instinct was to ask "Does that mean I will go early?" The answer....NO. She suggested we have an ultra sound next week to see if he is really is just a big baby or if I just have a lot of amniotic fluid. If I have a lot of fluid then they will have to check his kidneys to be sure everything is functioning properly. We are so excited to be able to have an extra ultra sound! Normally the next time we would see him would be at birth. Brett loves ultra-sounds because it gives him a chance to realize that there really is a human inside me. He always says it is different for me because I can feel him all the time and I am constantly reminded of his growing body. Needles to say we are both extremely excited for Wednesday's ultra sound! We also start going to the Dr every 2 weeks instead of 4. Wahoooo :)

Comparing Belly Size at 26 and 32 Weeks

The first picture is much more attractive than the second. Man I am starting to look fat. I love it though! I am so grateful to have this belly and everything that comes with it...even the chubby cheeks!

Are We There Yet????

31 Weeks and Counting!
I think he is running out of room and FAST! He doesn't move near as much as he used to and I have had a few scares because of it. I have had to call my Doc's office a few times because I hadn't felt him move for 24 hours. They told me to go straight to Labor & Delivery but I really felt like everything was fine. I asked if there was anything I could do before going to the hospital. They said I could drink an entire glass of orange juice and then lay down for an hour. If he moves at least 10 times everything is A ok. If he moves less then I should go straight to the hospital. Brett and I waited intensely for a single movement. One then two then he started going crazy. We were both so relieved! Because he doesn't move as much, I have done the glass of orange juice tests several times. I also have started to have contractions (braxton hix). I have been instructed to try and lay down when this happens. I try to do this as much as possible but with working it proves to be more difficult.

His room is really starting to come together. Stay tuned for pics! I want to wait until we get all the accessories up and it's all completed.


Hallie's latest art project...my belly! She had fun covering my belly with Valentine stickers. She is going to love having another cousin!

My New Trick and Miracle Balls

I'm 29 weeks today! Since my belly has been growing drastically I thought I would try balancing my glass of ice water on my enormous stomach. My first try Brett was trying to take a picture and I started laughing. For all of you that have had pregnant bellies before, you know when you laugh your entire belly bounces. The cup went flying! You can see the water on my shirt from my first attempt. I got the hang of it on the second try.

Miracle Balls!!

Throughout my pregnancy the baby has been sitting directly on my sciatic nerve. This nerve has been sending shooting pain down my right leg and up my back. Most of the time Brett can find this point and push really hard to relieve some of the pain. Brett's mom found these amazing "Blue Balls" as we call them at Costco. They are the BEST thing for my back! Lynn was so great and came home with a set for me one day! I use them almost nightly to relieve my back pain. Anyone else who is pregnant with a throbbing back, do yourself a favor and go get some Miracle Balls!

25-26-27 Weeks and Counting!

26 Weeks- My new Christmas dress from Brett!


27 Weeks- Tea loves Mommies Belly :)

Crafting with my Cricket!

Brett's sister Brittany showed me a while back how to use freezer paper and my Cricket to make fun custom clothes. I thought I would make some onzies for my little guy, the twins and our friends who just had a baby ("lil nix" onzies is for Nixon). They turned out so dang cute. I want to make more so lets have a craft night! Who is in?

Latest addition to the Skousen family!

This is our sweet little Bronco. My parents just got Tea a cute little friend about a 1 1/2 ago. They installed a doggie door that Tea is still getting used to but Bronco is in and out going potty like a big boy. He is smart (as all Dachshunds are)! Isn't he so freakin' cute!!

Christmas Questionnaire


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Paper for sure. All other occasions throughout the year I use bags but for some reason Christmas always deserves wrapping.

2. Real tree or Artificial? If you read my post about trees you know I love REAL!

3. When do you put up the tree? Just after Thanksgiving.

5. Do you like egg nog? I used to when I was a kid. We always mixed it with 7up but now I don't love it. It is really strong and I can only drink maybe a few drinks and then I'm done.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Dad made me a "Hope Chest" which was hand made about 6 ft. It is really beautiful and is a wonderful tradition that was started by my Dad.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? I have THREE supprizingly! I received one from my Grandma Gubler when I got married, one from Brett's Grandma Brady last Christmas and one more from I don't remember who (sorry if it is from you).

8. Hardest person to buy for? Everyone knows it is Josh Farnworth :)

9. Easiest to buy for? Anyone who has my same taste in clothing. I love shopping for Hayley Brady!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail! It is so much more fun and classy.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? You know I can't say that out loud!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, The Grinch, Elf.... I can go on and on.

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so.

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mint hot chocholate, spicy tomato drink, cheese ball, chocholate count down calendars :)

15. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored are fun but I like going for glam with the white lights.

16. Favorite Christmas song? Beach Boys Christmas, Elvis, Celin Deon, Amy Grant... I like old school Christmas songs best.

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? HOME! I'm lucky with both families in Utah and 10 min from eachother.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? For sure!!!

19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Is this seriously a question?? Christmas Day!!

20. Most annoying thing about this time of year? I LOVE Christmas and all the things that everyone seems to hate. I love the busy mall and love the snow! So the only thing I can think of is taking down the Christmas tree. I hate taking the lights off and saying good bye to Christmas.

21. Favorite ornament theme or color? Sparkly everything!

22. What do you eat for Christmas dinner? My family is very casual for Christmas Eve and Christmas. Brett's family has a huge meal on Christmas Eve.

23. What do you want for Christmas this year? Clothes that fit! Maternaty is not as fun as normal clothes but I need comfy clothes very badly!

24. What is your Christmas wish for the World? For Christmas to be as special for everyone as it is for me!

23 Weeks and "Getting His Excercise"

I love being pregnant...more than I ever imagined! The little guy is a serious mover. I feel him all throughout the day and the other morning he actually woke me up with his flailing. Yesterday morning as Brett and I lay in bed, we both watched my stomach ripple as he was "getting his exercise" as Brett calls it. We started chatting about our precious baby and our absolute amazement of his growing little body. My goal throughout my pregnancy has been to enjoy each and every stage. I hear all the time "I can't wait for... the baby to come" or "...the baby to start smiling" or "....the baby to start crawling". It's so ironic that these same people in the end say "I just wish my baby was a baby again" or " I want to be pregnant and have a belly again." I am trying to embrace every stage of my pregnancy. Don't get me wrong, I think about being able to hold him for the first time every day! As Brett and I started to talk about how our lives will change he said "I just can't wait until he can recognize me and get excited when I come home." I quickly made the point of enjoying is development as he grows. Living in the present and not in the future is something that doesn't come easy but is very rewarding in the end. Feeling his little movements makes my heart flutter and is a constant reminder of how very blessed we are to have him growing so healthy and strong. I love my little boy more than anything in the world!

No-More Belly Shots. My Mom was horrified when she saw that I posted a picture of my bare belly on my blog a while back. She said "Grandma looks at your blog!!" I think it is fun to look back and see how it has grown. I don't think it is inappropriate at all. What do you think?? Honestly!!

Ginger-Bread Houses!

Our Stockings Hung with Care! (Tea's is in the middle. We'll have to add another next year!!)

Tis the Season

My little siter Heidi is married! She married Trevor Wood on Thursday, December 4th. These are a few pics from the wedding.

My family always goes tree shopping for a REAL tree every year. My parents are so kind and purchase our tree every year because real trees are spency.

We all picked our tree and headed home to decorate. This is how my tree turned out. I love it!

tHanKfuL For EveRy MomEnt oF EveRy dAy!

I'm half way to the end, or should I say to the beginning of a new life! I am feeling him move more and more. Today I want to express my gratitude for such a healthy little boy! We had a ruff week since our 20 week appointment last Thursday. I'll start from the beginning.

When we did IVF to get pregnant we had to do a procedure called ICSI. We were told there was a very small risk with ICSI that the fetus could have some kind of birth defect. We knew we were supposed to precede so with a lot of prayer we did. My entire pregnancy has been perfect. All of my ultra sounds were great and everything was going smooth. At our 20 week appointment they did a full exam of his brain, spine, umbilical cord and heart. He was so active and was moving like crazy. My placenta is running along the surface of my belly so the ultrasound tech said I don't feel him near as much as he is moving. He had his hands up by his face the entire time. We saw him sucking and she said "he is just thirsty". Crazy he drinks when he is thirsty!! I love this fun stage of development. He is weighing well over the normal weight and I am measuring almost a week early! It doesn't necessarily mean I'll deliver early, it just means we are having a very big BOY! He should weight about 8-9 oz. at 20 weeks. He weighed 15 oz!! That was the good news. She then told us not to get stressed but he has little spot on his heart called an EIF. This spot is common in Down Syndrome babies. She kept reassuring us that she didn't want us to panic because it could be nothing. She explained that the spot is just a small sign and he could still be perfectly healthy. She referred us to a Perinatologist and Genetics Councilor at Utah Valley. They would do a more detailed ultrasound and then would make the suggestion of getting an Amnio. Our appointment was scheduled for this Tuesday.



I think he will be a thumb sucker, or at least fingers.



(Below) The spot on his heart. An EIF is a calcification on the wall of one of the chambers in his heart.



Our appointment was with Dr. Julie Gainer at Utah Valley. She checked for all sorts of other signs. She said ultrasounds are the least accurate way to diagnose Down Syndrome. The only way to know for sure would be an Amnio. The Genetics Counselor said there is 1 in 500 chance that the Amnio would lead to my water breaking and a miscarriage. I know to most a 1 in 500 chance is so low but for me he might as well have said 1 in 1. After everything we have done to get this sweet baby I couldn't take the chance of loosing him. We opted not do the Amnio and get some blood work done instead.

Last night, Wednesday, Dr. Gainer called to tell us the results of the blood test. Brett and I were both thrilled to hear the new of our little one having a 1 in 9,100 chance of being Downs. She said the highest she has ever seen a test come back the baby did have Downs was 1 in 160. She said we really should not have to do the Amnio and his heart should be just as healthy as any other baby.

As I said we have so much to be thankful for. What a wonderful start to a Holiday Season. I am so excited for this upcoming month!!


I Am Grateful For....

1. An amazing husband and fun nieces!

2. A big fat baby belly (and TJ's too)!!

3. Twin cousins coming soon!!

4. This CHRISTMAS season!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Man's Best Friend

Loving Memories of Sutton Special!

July 1996-October 2008
Another big change in October was the passing of our Sutton Special.

Over 12 years ago my parents finally gave in to the begging and pleading of their children for a puppy. My Dad worked with a lady whose dog had just had puppies. We all were told to go out the the tomato patch and find the biggest tomatoes we could find. We all ran out to the garden and started looking for tomatoes. To our surprise we found the most adorable little puppy you've ever seen! He was black, white and tan with floppy ears. He was a shepard mix and just about the cutest thing ever!

Sutton was such a good dog. He was trained from a puppy not to come in the house (at my Mom's request). I of course would always sneak him in the back door and play around the basement with him.

We went summer after summer camping with the family and Sutton always loved to run free. This picture was taken of Sutton as a puppy and me camping September 1996. He always listened and was so obedient. Just about the best dog anyone could ever ask for!

We love Sutton and will miss his fun spirit in our lives.
(Hours before Sutton left us)

Autumn Change

Happy Halloween!!

October was such fun month, full of change! Change of leaves, change of season and change of my HAIR!! In the first trimester I was so nervous and cautious about everything. Before we even started IVF I colored my hair to my natural so I wouldn't have to get it done. It felt so great to get it colored and cut! I feel so much better when I do something drastic and the dark was really drastic.

It has been so fun to have Brittany and the girls move back!! The home of Bill and Lynn is always exciting and full of suprises with Hallie and Maddie runnig around!

I helped Hallie rake up some leaves into a pile so we could jump into them. Such a BLAST!

Hee Haw Farms

Hay Ride

Feeding the animals!!

Brittany and Hallie on the BIG slide!

Grandma to be, Me and Jill

Hallie and Aunt Emily

Tea's New Bed

Grandma bought Tea a new bed becasue she was sick of her laying on her couch and pillows. Tea loves her new bed!