Home Sweet Home

Since moving to Minneapolis last Friday and getting settled, I seem to have a lot more time on my hands, so hopefully I'll be way better at frequent posts. I feel like everyone who's pregnant gets to lay around and nap because pregnancy is so exhausting, expect for me. I've been just as crazy as ever. In the past month I've finished up school for good, packed up, gotten somewhat ready for a baby (not really, I'm still not ready), and moved to Minnesota. On top of those things, Ben has started selling preseason for the summer, he finished his semester (with a little help), we sold my beloved car, bought another car (that Ben crashed that same night and it is now in the the shop), and I still managed to gain another five pounds to add to my baby weight (does it ever stop!).

Ben and Gus getting ready to go.








Minneapolis has been decent so far. Ben's selling well as always, the weather is great and the scenery is beautiful. Our apartment would be great if we could get rid of the awful stench coming from our kitchen sink (I have tried everything and Ben has threatened the management within an inch of this lives. The best is that Ben loves to tell people that I'm nine months pregnant in order to try to get things done faster. He tells the people at the airport, the management of the apartment, the cleaning people...I'm not sure what he's going to do when I actually have the baby). I've spent most of my time here running errands and trying to get us situated in our new home since we brought practically nothing with us. Today on my nineteenth grocery run, I had a really awkward experience. I had to take Ben's truck (which is already hard enough to get into), but as I was hoisting myself up (wearing slightly snug pants since they all seem to be these days) I heard a large rip. Yes, my pants ripped right up the crotch. Being the ornery pregnant lady I am, I decided it was impossible for me to return home, change, and go back to the store. So I did what every sensible person would do, I continued with my errands with a large rip in the front of my pants. I could swear everyone at the grocery store was giving me funny looks, except it was probably my imagination. Hopefully the people of Minnesota are not offended.

Gus lounging at our new apartment.


The view off our back porch.









One last thing that I need to add is that my wonderful husband took me this past month on a surprise vacation to Hawaii. It was kind of a last vaca before the baby comes, and to celebrate our three-year anniversary and my graduation (that I'll be too busy to celebrate when it comes). We had loads of fun laying around the pool and our hotel room, and it was definitely one of the best vacations.

No longer a puppy!

Last Sunday was Gus' 2nd birthday, and like any good mother I threw him a birthday party. Yes, we had a cake, and presents, and friends came over (except that only one friend came over, obviously we disowned all those that did not show up).





I know I promised to take pregnancy pictures every month from the sixth month, but I seem to have a problem with forgetting things (I'm going to blame it on the pregnancy). So I finally took a few more pictures and these are at 31 weeks (7 months, 3 weeks). I asked the doctor at my last appointment if he could find something wrong so that I could have an excuse to be lazy and watch movies all day. Unfortunately, he couldn't find anything but said he'd keep looking.



And a few more of my trip to Utah to see Celine Dion with my sister. While we were there, we stayed with my grandma.




And Ben and I at Nascar!

He's Finally Showing!

It's taken me forever, but I finally feel like I look pregnant enough to actually take some pictures. I've heard so many times that you should take pictures every month to see the difference, but I never felt pregnant, just fatter. My friend, Courtney, took these the other day and I can't say I love myself in them, but here they are nonetheless. My pregnancy has actually been great. The only things I can complain about are back aches, and requiring an hour every morning to find something that fits me (which becomes even more difficult when Ben informs me that the outfit I choose isn't flattering on me). I told Ben the other day that I feel like Tim Allen in The Santa Clause when all his shirts are getting too tight and he can't figure out what's happening to him (except that I know what's happening). People are finally starting to notice my large stomach. At work the other day, I had a five-year-old boy look at me and say "you're stomach is big". I so kindly replied "thank you" (that made me feel really great). To which he said, "no, I mean really big". Thanks a bunch you little brat!
I can actually feel our little boy moving now inside of me. It's a surreal feeling. At our last doctor's appointment we had our twenty-week ultrasound (a month late because of my lovely husband's reservations about ultrasounds hurting the baby), and we could barely get the little guy to move. Ben was pushing on my stomach and the most action we got was when he put his arms up to block his head where Ben was pushing. I told Ben to leave him alone; that he takes after his mother and he just wants to sleep. After listening to Ben complain about our "boring" baby, the doctor informed us that his lack of moving was a good thing, and we might just end up with a mellow baby (I asked him if he had seen my husband...wishful thinking).
My lack of posts is due to my busy schedule since school started back up. Whenever I get a free second, I'm too tired to do anything but lie on my heating blanket and turn on American Idol (which I've noticed has completely taken over fox).





Since Ben decided to post embarrassing pictures of me on our last post (which I tried to erase several times, but he would just post it again), here are some lovely pictures of him with his beard of a month and a half, looking like a mountain man.

A Month And a Half Later....

Well something had to be done. Even if it's just me that goes on to look at the pictures. Jessica hasn't done a blog since December 15th. If you're gonna have one of these things you gotta atleast do it.

Here's what this one is gonna be about. I was going through some pictures of Jess & Me the other day and found these. So I wanna know what other people who browse the blog world think of her hair cut in these pictures, even if you're one of those people who doesn't subscribe, you just kind of peeping tom these blogs, you're welcome to comment, let's see who's really out there, stranger or not! I love the short hair, but she says she's growing it long (I don't know if there's a specific reason for growing it long, besides me liking it short). Dudes can answer too, I know Matt Gregory frequents the cyber world. Gotta love Matt Gregory. Freakin Matt.

-Ben Mack 1/31/09 (Sat.)

P.S. Stay tuned for my next blog. I've got a great one planned. Laughing already!

Merry Christmas

Almost every person we had guess, guessed a girl (including Ben and I). Even the Chinese calendar claimed it was a girl (which is supposed to be accurate). But...it's not. We're having a boy! At least the Dr is 80-90% sure. This actually came as a huge shock to me. I was completely convinced we were having a girl because of two very real dreams I had before I knew I was pregnant. I even had the name picked out and engraven on a picture frame: Eleanor Ruby Mack. But now I have to start from scratch. I don't know why I was so convinced it was a girl since I have always known I would have boys. But what do you name a boy?? Ben thinks we're going to name our kids Bible names like Nephi and Zedekiah (this argument could end our marriage). We'll see...

Here are some pictures of our amazing trip to Hawaii for Thanksgiving with my family. We had so much fun just sitting by the pool sipping pina coladas.

Yes on Prop 8

Although I do not currently live in California, I am still a registered resident of the state, and believe that sometime soon I will move back there. However, it worries me to move back to a place that is trying to change the legalized definition of marriage, that is between a man and a woman. It is not that I do not think homosexual couples should be given the same rights as married couples (which they currently do), but I disagree with the implications that will follow if Prop 8 is denied.

By allowing the term "marriage" to encompass homosexual as well as heterosexual partnerships, public schools will be required to teach that same-sex relationships are normal and right. While many may feel that this is okay, my rights as a parent and as a religious identity are being taken away. I have the right to raise my children as I see fit, with the values I choose to instill within them. It is my right to teach my children about relationships in the manner that I agree with. However, if Prop 8 is denied, the teaching of same-sex relationships will be required in the school curriculum, for children as young as kindergartners, without a parent consent.

Attached is an article written by a liberal democrat stating why he agrees with Prop 8, in regards to children's rights:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-blankenhorn19-2008sep19,0,2093869.story

Vote YES on Prop 8!

I finally have something worth writing about...

I have great news!
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I'M PREGNANT!

I would post the picture of my ultrasound, but I have no idea how to transfer it onto the computer.

I know this may be shocking for most (and probably even more shocking for us) since we have never hinted at having kids anytime soon, but we (by "we" I mean "I") are so excited! I actually think this is putting Ben through an early midlife crisis. He seems to have a heightened level of stress, and keeps claiming that this baby is HIS and not MINE (never mind how I seem to be the one choking down several servings of broccoli each day and being denied even one sip of my lifeline: diet coke, from my anal retentive husband who keeps repeating that HIS baby is going to be healthy). Nevertheless, I am still excited and feel that this could not have worked out any better considering that the baby is due only a few weeks after I graduate. According to the doctor, I am eight weeks four days pregnant and my baby is due on May 31st!

And I'd like to add that I am completely convinced that this baby is a girl, as is Ben, but for completely different reasons. I had several dreams before I even knew that I was pregnant about having a baby girl, so I think it's a sign. However, Ben thinks it's a girl according to the ever-so-accurate Chinese calender. More than likely we'll both be wrong, but it's fun to speculate.

And just so that I can add these pictures...I was lucky enough to tag along with Ben while he did a homeshow in San Diego. I got to hang out with these rugrats again, who I can't seem to get enough of (oh, and my dear sweet family!).