marcums

I wanted to give everyone a little update on where we are at in this pregnancy.

I am 38/39 (read below) weeks along. I honestly don't think my belly can get bigger.

I cut my hair. Chopped it actually. And I regret going so short. I wish it was a few inches longer. I ended up cutting off 6 inches!

My doctor thinks Baby J is going to be big, so she ordered an ultrasound just to be sure. So we were lucky and got to have another ultrasound this past week!I am measuring 8 days ahead, so they changed the due date to May 3rd instead of May 11th. So that means I am actually 39 weeks along on Tuesday! And a week from Tuesday is the due date. So crazy! Baby J weighs about 7 pounds 7 ounces as of right now. So I hope he doesn't bake much longer!

This was actually my 7th ultrasound throughout my pregnancy. And without a doubt, each time I see Baby J on that screen, I fall more and more in love with him. It is crazy how I can have a connection and love someone so much even though I have never met him! I carry him around all day, but it isn't the same. I can't wait until he is here, I can hold him in my arms, and see his beautiful face staring back at me. The "motherhood" feeling has totally settled in and I am welcoming it with open arms.

I feel like I am definitely ready physically and emotionally for this baby. As other mothers out there know, the long haul of pregnancy prepares you for the emotions you will feel when your baby comes. My body is SO ready to not be pregnant anymore. My pelvis area feels like a huge bruise, and my feet and ankles swell so bad these days, that I can't even flex or bend my feet. The pins and needles sensation is a constant visitor and I dislike it very much.

But I feel like I am FAR from being prepared in the home. The nursery is a pig sty. We have no where to put a lot of the presents we have received, so they are scattered throughout the nursery. The crib is filled with diapers, presents, and paperwork that we need to be put somewhere. I ordered the last few things that we truly need from Target and Babies R Us (with our 10% off coupon on everything else on our registry) but they won't get here for 4 weeks! So there is no way that it will be all "done" and "complete" before Baby arrives. I have to deal with that. I still need to run errands, freeze a few more meals, hang up pictures and art, wash baby clothes, make the mobile for the crib, fix the dresser (it came with a broken piece so we are waiting for the replacement part from the manufacturer), finish packing the hospital bag, and so much more. This is just the beginning. But instead of boring you with my laundry list of things to do, I will share with you Baby J's baby pictures! (For those of you who don't know, we have decided to name him Jack Brian. And some reason I call him Baby J. We will see if that sticks when he arrives).

Our African American little boy! Ha. His nose is smashed so it is flat and wide and his lips look huge! but his cheeks are so squished that his lips are puckered!

Adorable Baby J. I stare at these pictures every day!

His precious lips and little nose!

His eye sockets and nose.

His profile. You can see his puckered lips! He stuck his tongue out during the ultrasound as well!

Another profile shot.


The tec said he has a lot of hair on the back of his head. I don't really understand this picture, but apparently it is his hair.

I feel like I have been pregnant for so long I almost don't remember what it was like to NOT be pregnant. But here is a list of things I look forward to:

1. Being able to have a tan. I am glowing these days. And not because I'm pregnant, but because I am so white!

2. Wearing my wedding ring again.

3. Wearing shoes. Any type. But they actually will fit on my feet. I have worn flip flops for the past month because nothing else fits. And even the flip flops are too tight now.

4. I am excited to have ankles again. It has been a long time since I have seen my ankle bones.

5. Not having to pee 100 times a day, or pretty much every time I stand up.

6. Being able to walk at a normal pace and not having to waddle.

7. I am excited to have my face shape back.

8. I look forward to not having a ton of doctor appointments every week. I had to buy myself a planner because I couldn't keep track of all the appointments I have. You would think I was 80 years old! I go to my OB, cardiologist, physical therapist, chiropractor, and more. It is tiring just trying to keep track.

9. I look forward to being blond again. My hair has become so dark during pregnancy!

10. I look forward to eating soft cheeses and raw sushi again!

11. I am excited to go out in public without someone telling me I am huge, I'm about to pop, I need to take it easy, or that I am carrying too high for it to be a boy.
12. I am excited to have Brandon available at nights where he won't be working or doing homework every night. I am also excited to see him with our baby and see the bond between the boys.

13. Last but not least.. I am excited to be a mom. I know this is what I am here on this earth to do.

Anyways we couldn't be more excited to be parents. It is coming soon!

I had a WONDERFUL shower here in Utah! Again, I am amazed by the love people have shown us during this time of preparation for this baby! We got so many gifts! I am still in the process of trying to figure out places to put them! My FABULOUS sister-in-law Julia hosted the amazing party. We had it as an open-house style so people could come and go as they please. We had it at the church right by my house, so we didn't have to worry about having enough room! I think it was perfect!

The food was amazing. Thank you for all of those that helped prepare and helped set up!

I planned to have the shower on a Wednesday night, when my mom, dad, and sister Brittney were in town. I am so glad! They loved seeing their family members. And it just was so much more fun having my mom there.

My mother-in-law Janene came down from Rexburg Idaho as well. What a sweetheart! Her and Bob came down just for the night and just for the shower. I am so blessed to have such amazing in-laws!

Here are some pictures for you to see.

Yummy food. So pretty and SOOO tasty!

Chris, the chef, doing what he does best

Julia and the yummy food and pretty decorations!

Aunt Carolyn, cousin Cyndi, cousin Mary and her little boy, and cousin Ivy (all on my dad's side)

My grandma Ellsworth, aunt Barbara, Lola (Cyndi from above's little girl), and cousin Andria (all dad's side).

The Moss girls. My aunt Kathy and her girls (mom's side)

Opening presents and looking large. Brittney was the BEST helper! She took pictures, and wrote down what everyone gave me.

Cousin Allyson, aunt Carolyn, cousin Jaynanne, cousin Erica, and friend Dani.

The hostess Julia, little Greta, and Mother-in-law

My cousin Rachel is pregnant as well! She is due 3 weeks after me! So here are the pregnant woman and our proud moms!

Opening more presents!

Bob (father-in-law) and Matt (brother-in-law). They decided to make an appearance:)

Mother-in-law Janene, friend Brittney, sister-in-law Stephanie (yep 2 Stephanie Marcums!), and sister-in-law Julia.

Girlfriends! Some from my old job, and some from Provo (in my glamor days!)

Girls I worked with at Disney World! These are our poses we would have to make as characters. Shara (far right) was the only one out of us that wasn't a character. She was a lifeguard, so she is doing her pose.. blowing a whistle!

Courtney came! We went to high school together! Her and her family are living here while her husband finishes school. These girls are so beautiful!

Me and my Mothers! I am so grateful for these 2!!

Thank you for an amazing event!

My amazing mother-in-law and sister-in-law gave me a sewing machine for a bridal present. (I am so grateful!!). I had never even touched one before. I had to have Brandon teach me how to use it! That is right. Brandon can sew. And he is really good at it! I have used it here and there, but this was my biggest challenge for sure. The first pillow took me probably 6 hours. Pathetic. I had to figure out all the measurements and figure out exactly how to make it work. Since it took me so long, I decided to track it and include a tutorial in this post for those that would like to try it for themselves!

My inspiration was this pillow I saw at a boutique store in Lindon. (on the right).

I fell in love with the pillow, but was completely turned off by the price (over $100 each!!!!!). So I took a picture, searched for fabric, and decided to make my own. With my own twist.

First: Here is my final product.

I knew I wanted 3/4 of the pillow to be damask, and 1/4 of the pillow a different fabric. I couldn't find one that went well with the damask, so I stuck with plain black. It has a zipper at the top of the pillow so I can wash the pillow anytime.

This pillow completed is 17 inches x 17 inches.

Step 1. Cut 2 pieces of the damask (patterned) fabric. Width: 12 1/2 in. Length 18 in. (This will leave room for sewing edges together).

*Watch what way your damask fabric(or other patterned fabric) goes. I specifically wanted the damask fabric on the right side of the pillow when finished, so I made sure the damask was running up and down before I started cutting.

Step 2. Cut 2 pieces of black fabric. Width: 6 1/2 in. Length: 18 in.

Step 3. Sew black and damask (patterned) fabrics together with a 1/2 inch seem.

*It is really important here that you make these two pieces opposite. By opposite I mean having the damask fabric, with pattern running up and down, on the right for one piece, and the second piece having the damask pattern on the left. When the pillow is completed, the black parts will be aligned and the damask parts will be aligned.

(One piece with damask on the left)

(One piece with damask on the right)

*I ironed these after I sewed them together to make sure the seem was sitting flat.

Step 4. Line up the two completed sides with the front of the fabric facing in towards each other. At the top, in each corner, mark 2 inches in from each edge. Also mark 1/2 of an inch down from the top. Sew these together, stopping at the edge of the 2 inches. This will leave a gap in the middle at the top where the zipper will go.

Step 5. Pin down (or you can use basting tape) the 1/2 inch seem at the top for each side. Sew each edge down from end to end.

Step 6. Sew the zipper to the newly sewn 1/2 inch seem. Pin the zipper to each edge and sew the zipper to the seem. Sew as close to the zipper as possible.

*I got a 14 inch "separating sport zipper." This seemed to work perfectly for me.

Step 7. Sew a 1/2 inch seem all the way around the rest of the pillow (3 sides).

Step 8. Flip the pillow to be right side out. Push the corners out to give it the square shape. And stuff with your favorite type of stuffing!

*I used stuffing from two other pillows that we had. The cats used them as their scratching posts when we had our old couches, so they were ruined. We were going to throw them away, but I decided to keep the stuffing!

Here are the final products! 2 pillows for our couch, to match our new rug, and the curtains and curtain holders I have made previously. Can you tell I LOVE damask?!

I hope you enjoy! And I hope these instructions make sense. Let me know if you have questions!

Since I never post, I thought I would share with you all what we have been up to lately.

As discussed in an earlier post, I am no longer working. At first I was very upset and heart broken about it. But now I am feeling like it was meant to be. I think I needed to get used to the feeling of being home all the time before the baby came. I am not going to lie, I became very sad being at home and not having anything to do. I am SO used to working, that I didn't know what to do with myself! If I went through this when the baby came, it could have been a very depressing first few weeks. So I think this was meant to be. I have more time to prepare for the baby, and get things ready. I have more time to spend with Brandon, more time to take care of the house, and more time to take care of myself. I have more time to spend with friends and family, and time to catch up on projects that have been sitting on my to-do list since August.

Since I am not working, I have also been able to do more things that would have required me to take time off of work.. which I am not certain would have been allowed. But anyways, we have been busy lately!

We went to Boise to check out the city. I have never been there so we decided to go see it to see how we liked it. We wanted to look for jobs here for Brandon.

I have family in Boise, so they helped us tour the city.

View of downtown Boise. Beautiful!

We got our hair done by my cousins!

Family photo. Jeff and Linda and 5 of 6 kids.

Noah loves Brandon. He wanted a picture of him standing on Brandon.

Noah also wanted a picture of Brandon standing on him!


Our adorable niece Greta turned 1!!! The past year has for sure flown by! She is now 14 months old!

We then went to San Diego. We met my parents, little sister, Grandma and Grandpa, aunt and uncle and their 3 boys, and aunt and cousins.

We hung out on the beach... went for daily walks.

We ate a lot.

Fish House on the Pier.

Casa De Pico Mexican... yum.

And we were really full. Whose stomach is bigger?!

We went and saw the seals on the beach.

And enjoyed the sunset.

Everyone loves to touch the belly.

Because it's "Clearly Not A Secret!"

I have gotten together with some girlfriends. My friend Heather treated us to the Melting Pot!

We have gone out to eat a few times. We decided to try out the Purple Turtle... a famous burger joint here in Pleasant Grove.

I got the thinnest burger known to man and it was super expensive! I vote "nay" on the purple turtle.

I have been doing some projects.. I made some burp cloths! These are super easy and make the cloth diaper burp cloth look so much better!

I also made some pillows. Pictures and a tutorial are on its way.

I have been washing all of the baby clothes. First load!

My parents and little sister came in town for Spring Break. We went to conference! I had to sit in the hall on a couch for a while, but I made it through!