18 weeks - 4 months to go!

Already 18 weeks along! Where did the time go?! We only have 4 months before we welcome our little one! There are a few things I've been meaning to journal - just to make sure I don't forget - since this is FOR SURE the last time we will EVER have a baby. This is the last time I will be "18 weeks pregnant". *sigh*

Some of my least favorite things about pregnancy:

Hard time breathing/feeling winded. Stairs are my worst enemy! Nausea and vomiting. I was hoping it would be done and over with when I hit 14 weeks - but here I am, 18 weeks in, and still struggle with the morning sickness and very occasional throwing up. Standing for long periods [or even short periods] of time is pretty bothersome, too. I get super dizzy. Even mid-shopping trips, I end up sitting down on one of the end cap shelves or at the bench in front, because I get SO incredibly dizzy! Eating - 1. Can't eat large/medium amounts. I get sick because it backs up into my throat. 2. Can't eat the normal foods I love. Some things are still a trigger for my gag reflex, because I’ve thrown them up earlier on in the pregnancy. {KFC mashed potatoes and gravy, and Zupas salads are unfortunately two of my fave things that are currently sitting on this list.}
Emotions are wacky! This could be due to the progesterone injections, but, boy am I a sappy mess, or what?!Thankfully there are some everyday things that pregnancy makes AWESOME:Weight gain! I am at 95 pounds! Making for a total of ELEVEN gained so far! For anybody else, the weight gain associated with pregnancy may not be a GOOD thing. However, for me, someone who seriously struggles with gaining weight, this is such an achievement! It makes me SO incredibly happy to watch the numbers get bigger and bigger each time I step on that scale!
I have been eating a lot more fruits, because they quell my craving for sugar. Thankful for apples, tangerines, and strawberries! Yum! That's the healthy-side of my sweet cravings. We won't talk about all the Snickers, Nutrageous, and ZOTS! Oh the Zots! I have eaten WAY too many. They are my favorite! Cherry, watermelon, and strawberry! My teeth hate me. I already have a few cavities and sensitive places as is. Time to get into the dentist and brush my teeth WAY more than I do! I am for once in my life going pee as many times a day as I should be! LOL I am running to the toilet all the time - but for someone who normally only pees once or twice a day, this may not be a bad thing!
I need the want/need to buy things for a baby we have no idea the gender of to go AWAY - every. single. time. I see a cute little girl dress - I want it. Every. single. time. I see an adorable puppy dog boy layette, I want it! We're basically starting from scratch this time around, since we thought we were done at three - so although I don't need girl clothing [that's the only thing we have besides a crib!] I *do* need boy clothes if this one is a boy. Thank GOODNESS my little sister just had twin boys! [Baby Peanut is actually due on her boys' FIRST birthday! How awesome is that?!] She is kindly and oh-so-generously offering us not only the use of one of their car seats when baby is born, but also, some of their clothing! *crossing fingers it's a boy for that reason alone*

There are so many different gender prediction theories out there - didn't really pay much attention to them with the other kiddos. However, I've been obsessed with them this time around! The few that I’ve done + their prediction:


Carrying high or low: low = GIRL

Nub Theory = GIRL

Skull Theory = GIRL

Ramzi Theory = GIRL

Craving sugar or salt: sugar = GIRL

Morning sickness or no: lots of it = GIRL

Heartrate: 140+ = GIRL

Chinese Calendar = GIRL

Facial complexion: acne = GIRL


We find out in a short **7** days what baby will be! I absolutely cannot WAIT! April 10th is the big day. Jake and I will go to the ultrasound to find out, and we’ll be throwing some little gender reveal get-togethers, one for each side of our family!

Our recent family happenings

We made a trip to Utah a few weeks ago, for Jake's sister's {Jessica} wedding. It was a long drive there and a long drive back, but very well worth the trip! Our boys were surprisingly well-behaved during the reception, which was held at Rio Tinto Stadium, where the MLS soccer team, Real Salt Lake plays.

{More pics of the wedding can be found here.}

Holden just had his 2nd birthday, it's hard to believe our little man is already TWO! We did a super-quick photo shoot at Gardner Village, while we were there in Utah. He did great! :) He's getting so big and he's hiliarious! He loves to copy everything Beckham says.

Beckham has started preschool at Head Start, about 6 miles from our home. He loves it! It's been such a positive change for him. His attitude is better and he is not as picky of an eater! He has started tasting and eating things he's NEVER tasted before! He is such a great big brother and helps out around the house. He is sassy at times, and sure can be boisterous, but he at the same time has such a cute, cuddly side.

We are still getting used to the idea that we are soon expecting a baby GIRL into our family. There are some days I wake up and forget we know what we're having... lol Beckham was very upset at first that he wasn't going to get another little brother, but he has come to like the idea. He says his sister is going to be "beautiful, just like a princess". He has a whole list of things for her to wear when she gets here too, among them a "princess dress, princess hat, and princess shoes". I am almost 21 weeks along, so half-way there! We are crossing our fingers that Jake will be home, in port, when the baby gets here, but we don't know yet... so we are just playing it by ear for now. Hoping. Praying. Crossing our fingers that the Stennis isn't on an underway, out to sea, thousands of miles from home when I go into labor. We know that if that's the case, we will get through it, we are after all in the military, which happens... people miss events. Births. Deaths. Illnesses... it just happens. So we are bracing ourselves for the possibility that he may not be home, but of course hoping that he will be here.

I am still working on my photography business, still trying to build it up. It's tough to find clients, but I have had several, and my experience is growing along with my portfolio. :) Thank goodness my Nikon survived it's nearly-complete immersion in the lake/water when went camping.

 Jake is working graveyards, for at least a few more weeks. The ship leaves to do some test runs sometime in the first week or so of December, so I guess until that comes, he is pretty much scraping tile and doing other maintenance-get-the-ship-remodeled stuff.

rAnDoM hApPeNiNgS iN tHe BuRnSiDe HoUsEhOlD (June 2010)

There is so much I could say, and I am sure this post will be super long, but if I don't try to keep it short and simple, it will never get published... so here goes. Deep breath!

First and foremost, Jake and I are going through the temple! For the very first time! We're going to have all of our sessions done on the same day, Saturday, July 3rd starting at 11:30 for the endowment and 1:30 for our sealing. We're very excited for this special day. Less than a week from today! We're going through the Seattle Washington Temple. It's a 45-minute ferry ride plus a little ways, from Bremerton to the temple. Jake and I are so very blessed to have family that are able to come go through with us, on the very special day that we're able to be sealed for time and all eternity. I can't wait! We're so very excited to see everybody that's traveling from Utah.

Jake's mom and dad: Grandma Linda & Grandpa Carey Burnside

Jake's sister Jamie, her husband Jaren, & their adorable kiddos

Jake's older brother Mat & his wife, Becky


Our dearest friends, James & Jelli Black


We're so grateful that they're able to come and share this special day with our family. :)

We have added a new addition to our family too: another furbaby. :)

Introducing, Maddie Mae:

Maddie is an English Mastiff & Labrador cross, she's a Mastador. :) She's a cuddly, 76 pound wanna-be-lap-dog. We love her to death and she has seriously helped Buddy the psychotic Beagle calm down immensely. She's a great addition to our family. :)

The boys are getting as big as ever! Beckham is 4 1/2 and Holden will be 21 months old on the 14th of July! Where did the year go?! Holden has a gigantic vocabulary now too, including:

more
drink
scary
mom
daddy
Buddy
Maddy
"B" for Binky
birdie

He can mimic some animals too. Tiger - scary animal - dog - snake - kitty


Beckham is a brilliant little man, and he's busy as ever. He loves playing outside. Collecting rocks and seashells are two of his favorite things to do. He loves to play the Wii! He's such a great big brother and takes  great care of Holden. He knows the alphabet and can almost spell his name! :)

Washington is beautiful at any time of the year, but it's wonderful to have a lack of rain and warm enough weather for us to be able to play outside! The sun is wonderful, since it's been in hiatus since October. :) There is so much to do in our area, and although a lot of stuff to do costs a bit, most of the stuff is worth it and very new and exciting to our family.
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