Baby Names

In light of being pregnant and hearing the plight of some of my other pregnant friends I have really started pondering over the seriously huge job of naming a baby. Whoever thought it could be so rough? If you don't want to hear the ramblings of a crazy pregnant woman please do not read any further! This is my warning to you. None of it makes sense and it is completely random, but it's just something I have been thinking about.

• Is there really such a thing as stealing a name? I mean honestly, let's say you name your kid Brooklyn. Do you really think there aren't thousands of other kids named that across the country? So how can I steal it, if it's been taken half a million times?
• On the flip side of that though, what if you picked out a name somewhat unique and you told your friend/family and they were pregnant too and then decided to use that name. Is it then stealing? Or is it not?
• I'm all about original names, but really do you want to name your kid something that everyone is going to say, "What?" after they say it. I once knew a girl named Echo.....I am not kidding.
• When naming a baby how much honor does it do to your ancestors if you choose an older name that is going to cause the kid to get the crap kicked out of them every day until they hate it? I love my grandma so so so much, but I don't think I'll be naming my kid Peggy any time soon.
• I don't care how it may sound, but I will never name my kid something and then call the kid by it's middle name. That is so confusing. Try working at a school too.......
• Ethnic names are okay if you are ethnic. I knew a white kid named Juan. Something is wrong with that picture. I could never name my kid something like Sha-nay-nay. I'm white, my hubby's white.....pretty sure the kid isn't going to come out black.
• Isn't it funny how one name can be so cool to me, but awful to another? I'm so glad it works that way. Can you imagine how many Ashley's or Matthew's this world would have if we all liked the same stuff?
• In all our efforts to be original we have gone crazy on the way we spell names! There is a girl I teach named Cassie, sounds normal, right? Nope, you say it Casey.
• Names that rhyme with bad words are never good. I like the name Cooper, but someone said one time, "pooper cooper," and I also heard "coop the poop". It's not my favorite anymore.
• Boy names for girls is so cute in my mind, but I find it disturbing when a big guy tells me his name is Kelly. Why is that?

You were for-warned of this entry. I hope no one is offended, but can you imagine how much this weighs on a person. The name or names you pick are what your kid is stuck with forever! How is that supposed to make an alreadly going crazy person like me feel?

Heartbeat

Today we had my second doctor's appointment. Trevor and I both went. First off I do have to say that although I can feel my body growing and changing I was glad when they said that I have not gained weight. I have been really worried that since I am so hungry lately that I have been indulging myself and that I will put on too much weight at the beginning. But I'm proud to report that I haven't.

The nurse got us in and pulled out the little thing to hear the heartbeat with. She kept moving the microphone thing around and around. There was no noise. I started to panic a little bit. I thought that they just put it on there and then you hear it. I guess that is not the case. It took a minute or so, but that seemed so long to me. Finally there was this one noise and I asked her if that was it and she said, "No that's the placenta." But then right after that you could hear the babies heartbeat. A little tear slid out of the corner of my eye, but I held it together for the most part. I felt the urge to just burst into tears when the nurse left the room, but I didn't.

Everything looks really good. The heartbeat was really strong. Trevor has joked that there would be two so we made sure to ask that it was only one and she said that it probably was only one, but that machine probably wouldn't pick it up. A lady doctor came in and felt around my stomach and said that she thinks I am measuring really well and they she would maybe put me a few days ahead of what they originally thought. I was asked a few questions and she said I was doing great. I am a very low risk pregnancy, and I am so grateful to hear that!

I can't believe it. On our way home I started to really think about this baby. It really isn't much bigger than a bean and yet you can hear that teeny tiny heartbeat. Isn't that just amazing? Now my bean isn't just a bean. It's so real!

Let's Back Track

I have been thinking lately that I need to write more about what's going on with me and Trevor as we get ready for this baby. I think of this kind of as my journal and so it really is important that I document somewhere the thoughts and feelings going on. Therefore I think I need to back up a little and tell about how we found out I was pregnant.

A little less than a year ago we thought it was about time for a baby at our house. Every month we kinda hoped and yet it just wasn't happening. Trevor wasn't too worried about it. He kept telling me it would happen when the time was right. For me, it wasn't so easy to be positive. At first, it wasn't a big deal. Then a few more months went by and still nothing! What was wrong with me??? It seemed like everyone around me was getting pregnant. I had friends that got pregnant, had a miscarriage, and got pregnant again and still nothing for us. I had such mixed emotions. First of all, I was happy for those that were getting the chance to be parents, but then I was a little angry as well. What made some couples more ready than we were? I had friends that got pregnant "on the first try." But the worst of all was when a 15 year old girl that I had taught last year got pregnant. It just didn't seem fair. It has definitely been a learning experience. I know there are people out there that have been hoping for a baby longer than we did, and that there are even some people who will never have kids, but that does not diminish the feelings I had. I will forever have sympathy for people like that. I got just a small glimpse, but I still know how much it truly, well....sucked!

Finally at the end of November I started having all these weird things going on. One day in the middle of class I got the sharpest stabbing pain in my baby making parts. I had never experienced such pain. It wasn't cramps, it felt like I was being stabbed. It went away quickly, but was followed by another similar pain. Then it went away and I didn't feel it again. Then I started having heartburn. I never have heartburn...what was going on? For several days my chest was so sore. I really started to think I was falling apart.

Finally one day it registered.....maybe I'm pregnant! I was so excited, but I was trying to not be. I really didn't want to get my hopes up yet again. I told Trevor before he left for practice one day and he got a big smile on his face and said, "I hope you are." That was that. I thought I would wait a week before I took a home test. But when you are that excited it is really hard to wait that long. I waited only a couple days.

I got up one morning and decided that was the day to take the test. Trevor was actually still home and asleep that day. Usually he is long gone before I even wake up. I quietly took the test in the bathroom. And I'm telling you, I don't think pregnancy really can be measured by "pregnant" or "really pregnant" but if it could I would say I was very pregnant. Those two pink lines showed up almost immediately. I started to cry in the bathroom, but I had to be quiet because Trevor was still asleep.

I left the test out for him to find and tried to get dressed without making loud sobbing noises. Trevor finally got up and by this time I was sitting on the floor in front of my mirror putting on my make-up. He sticks his head out of the bathroom and is holding the test. He says, "You're pregnant!" I start to cry now and say (p.s. I am tearing up as I write this), "I know." He smiles and looks at me and is like, "You're pregnant.....and you're crying."

It was such an awesome moment. I hope that I never forget how special it was to me. That is why I had to try and put it in words. I still feel myself being a little jealous when people are like oh I am pregnant, and it is someone younger than me or someone that just has it happen for them "accidentally." It is silly to feel that way, but it just seemed like such a long road for us. I thought getting pregnant was a piece of cake....it apparently isn't for a lot of people. I think that is part of why I am so nervous about my pregnancy. I really can't believe it's happening. I am constantly worried that something will go wrong. We are so excited for this baby. He or She is such a blessing.

I can't wait for August!

Suns Game

On Saturday Trevor and I finally got the opportunity to use our Suns tickets that we got for Christmas. We were so excited to go. Neither one of us has ever been to a professional basketball game. Trevor hasn't ever been to any professional game, period!

We got up that morning and threw all our stuff together and then headed off. We got there several hours early so we went to lunch and went to the mall. After that we headed back to the hotel and just waited until it was time to leave. It seemed like such a long wait, but it really wasn't. We left early because we didn't know how the traffic would be. Trevor thought it would be pretty bad so we left way earlier than I wanted to. We got there an hour and a half too early! It was still probably a good thing though, because there was some sort of motor cross type thing going on at Chase ballpark and there were tons of people everywhere. Parking was so crazy. We got out and checked out was going on. Nascar and motor cross (motocross??) are so not our thing so we didn't look for long...We headed to the game at last. There were pictures of Amare Stoudemire there so we stood to see how we compared. Trevor's hand didn't even come close to his on the basketball. Then we see some Suns dancers and they are handing out free suns picture frames. Anything free is always good. The free frame was not the best part though. I look over at the other entrance and one of the dancers there is Jenni from the bachelor. I am not kidding. Every time they start that show I think how stupid it is and I am never going to watch again. This last bachelor had Jenni in the final two. She is one of my all time favorite bachelorettes ever! She just was so cute and sweet and I thought she was the type of girl that you could totally be friends with. I got all excited and showed Trevor and told him I was going to talk to her. He didn't think I would, but I did. She was everything I thought she would be. She talked to me like we were old friends. She told me that she is now engaged to a guy from Arizona and even showed me her huge ring! I was going to ask her if I could take a picture with her, but I was too nervous. I really thought it was so cool to see her. I could have gone home then and been a happy camper.Although I was happy with my Jenni sighting I really wasn't going to miss the game. We couldn't believe how good our seats were. We were in the 14th row up from behind the Suns bench. It was amazing. We could see everyone so clearly. Because we were early some of the guys were out shooting and we could walk down almost to the floor to take pictures. I couldn't believe it.The game finally started and it was so fun. Steve Nash and Shawn Marion had been out in their previous game, but they started at ours. I was so glad we got to watch them all play. I was a little disappointed that Grant Hill was still out, but it was fun anyway. We were also amazed at how much smaller the court appeared in person than it is on t.v. It was a close game and we stayed behind for a lot of it, but we did finally win. It was so much fun!

If we ever get the chance to go again we definitely will. I would really love to watch when they play a team like San Antonio where it would be super intense and more fast paced. Christmas in January....kinda fun!

Day at the Doctors

Today was my very first doctors appointment for my pregnancy. I woke up this morning just feeling so nervous. It felt like the first day of school again. I wasn't too thrilled with the exam itself, but I was mostly nervous about the stupid blood work. I know that sounds so silly, but I have never had blood drawn and it just made my stomach do somersaults to think about.

Trevor came with me to this appointment and that drive to Show Low never seemed so long as it did today. I just had butterflys the whole way.

We got there early to fill out paperwork and then got right in to Dr. Connolly. I am real excited about my choice in doctor. I think he will work at just perfect. I felt totally at ease. He got to know us in his office and then we went for my examination. I did just fine until they gave me the tuberculosis test. Shots don't usually bother me too much, but I think that maybe because I didn't know it was coming this one did. I felt really light headed and had to take my time getting dressed. Then it was down a few doors for the blood work. That wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I am a a little bruised, so that's sore, but it's not bad.

It looks like baby Waite will be coming August 18th give or take a few days. Our next appointment is in three weeks and we'll get to hear the baby's heartbeat. Maybe then it will seem more real to me. Right now it just seems so surreal.

Old Friend

On Saturday I was lucky enough to be graced with the presence of one of my oldest friends. Tiffany Ellsworth as some of you know her, has been my friend since I moved to St. Johns. That was over 10 years ago. We have kept in contact and are still close.

I think I will always have a special spot for Tif because we just kind of grew up together. Her parents and mine were going through a divorce at the same time, and our mom's both got remarried about the same time. It was so nice when we moved here that I had someone I could relate to. It seemed like everyone around here had two parents. Tiffany could totally understand. When we got into highschool we were still friends but we each had our own sets of friends. Then we both got scholarships at EA and ended up being put together as roomates. It worked out so great. I felt close to her like I would a sister. We shared everything and helped each other out all the time.

Tiffany married a guy from Pima right after our freshmen year of college. She quickly moved to Pima with him and then welcomed a baby into their lives 19 months ago.

I get to talk to Tiffany all the time on the phone, but I haven't seen her since my wedding reception. I knew she had a little girl and I had received a few pictures but I have never seen her in person until last Saturday.

Saturday Tiffany and Madison drove to St. Johns for the day. Her husband, Clint had a wrestling tournament he was coaching in Winslow so he met up with her later. They also decided to come on their day trip to go to Jordan Lee's wedding reception. Jordan married one of Clint's best friends, so it just worked out for them to come up.

We mostly just stayed at my house. Of course, we had to go eat at El Camino. Then we went for a little drive so I could show her all the new "sites" around town. There really isn't much different, but it has been two years since she has been home. Then we headed back to my house for a little while longer. I don't have very many fun things for kids, but I do have tons of colorful cookie cutters and play-doh so we pulled that out and Madi went to town. I don't know if it was because of the color or the smell, but throughout the day she kept tasting the stuff! She would make the funniest faces, but a few minutes later, she would try a different one! It was so funny. We also looked at the scrapbooks, and just had tons of girl time.

I seriously can't believe that Tiffany is a mom though! It is so crazy. Her little one is a ball of energy just like her. She can jibber-jabber with the best of them. She honestly carried on conversations with us without actually ever saying anything. Her hair is several inches long, but because it's so curly it stays tight against her head. Madison is such a mix of both her mommy and her daddy. The more I watched them the more excited I got. I can't wait to have kids!!! They are tons of work, but seem to be all worth it. At least, that's what I have been told. Hopefully next time I see Tiffany won't be so long from now. I need to make a goal to make a trip to Thatcher! Now that she has come to see me, I need to go see her.

Two Years Down

I can hardly believe that two years have gone by since Trevor and I were married! It has definitely been a learning experience. We have had our highs and our lows, but overall it's been great. I don't think marriage is a fairytale, but it's something that just feels exactly right.

We have spent the last two years just getting to know each other. You may think you know someone, but it's a whole other ball game once you marry them and move in together.

One goal of ours was to spend lots of time together. That's pretty easy to do when there are only two of you around. We have tried really hard though to go places and do things one on one before the future Waite's came along.

Many weekends were spent in the valley. When we go there, it's not much of a vacation, it's spent running errands and visiting family and friends. We did go to Utah with Trevor's parents for general conference though. We then met up with his siblings in Las Vegas for a show. That was our second trip there. We have also gone to Lake Powell with my family and the catwalks in New Mexico for a day trip. But our biggest trip of all that we have gone on was to California to Disneyland and Sea World this year.

In our spare time we have gone to see lots of movies. It is one of our favorite things to do. When we aren't doing that we are usually supporting some form of the athletic department. Basketball especially. Not only are we at the high school games, but we've spent much of our time at the little league games.

These last two years really have seemed to fly by with how busy we have kept ourselves. It's so weird to think that we were in the temple getting married two years ago today. Now we are stepping up into a new phase of our lives....parenthood. Our next anniversary will be spent with a new baby. That is unless I am able to drop the baby off to be babysat with one of our parents!!!!

It's been fun, it's been hard, it's been so worth it. We can't wait for all the changes this next year will be bring!