Two

Two years ago today this handsome man and I got hitched. 

Cliché as it sounds, I don't know how I got so lucky. He makes me happier every day. 

When I was engaged, and for a little while after we got married, so many people gave me marriage tips or advice. I remember hearing lots of them say that things get really hard after a few months or a year, once the "honeymoon is over," but man... it just keeps getting better. I don't know if it's something we're doing right, or if we just happen to get along remarkably well. Most likely it's a little bit of both. All I know is that just when I think I couldn't possibly be any happier, somehow every day I am... and it's all his fault. ;) 

Happy anniversary, my dulcet darling! I'm so glad you are mine.

I have a problem.

In case you've missed the somewhat obnoxious amount of pregnancy talk around this little old blog of mine (That's just all I think about nowadays... #sorrynotsorry), I'm having a baby. Like... any day now. I'm a baby making time bomb. 

Now. I've been pregnant for a long time. 38.5 weeks, to be precise. I've also known that I wanted to have children since... well, since as long as I can remember. Even though I can hardly believe that the time is (pretty much) already here, I can't say I haven't been looking forward to it for quite some time. I've been preparing in many ways over the past 20-something years to have this kiddo. I'm as ready as I'll ever be. My bag is packed, the nursery is ready, I've got some freezer meals ready to go, I'm stocked up on a few months worth of household supplies, I've read the birthing books I wanted to read, many prayers have been prayed, many deep breaths taken, and it's pretty much just a waiting game from here on out. 

Except for one thing: I still don't know what the heck we're going to name this child. 

I had no idea it would be such a task to pick out a name, but when you look at the criteria it needs to fit I guess it isn't a surprise. 

• We both have to like it (and apparently we're both pickier than we thought)
• It can't be too popular or trendy
• First name must be more than one syllable 
• Initials can't spell out anything weird (and there's a lot of three-letter words that end in D, by the way. Sad. Mad. Bad. Dad. Fad. Wad. Lid. Kid. God. Bed. You get the idea.)
• We can't have any negative associations with the name (Who knew there were so many people we didn't like? Just kidding... kind of.)
• No gender neutral names
• Nothing too difficult to pronounce or spell
• Something that won't sound ridiculous when he's a grown-up

I'm sure there's more, but those are the main requirements. Basically, we both want something that is a good, solid, dependable name... yet isn't overused. 

In other words, we'll probably end up just giving our kids numbers instead of names. Why not simplify things, right? 

Or maybe when we meet him one of the names we've been throwing around will just click. I hope so. 

Just in case... any suggestions? Any other good websites beside whatalovelyname.com and nameberry.com?

Also, it's a good thing our last name isn't "Knight" or else my husband might be tempted. 

DIY World Map Wall Art

UPDATE: You can now find these in my Etsy shop here!

I feel a little pretentious posting a craft tutorial. As much as I enjoy making stuff, I know I'm not a pro. No siree.

Nevertheless, I really liked how this map wall art I made for baby boy's nursery turned out, and since I couldn't find a very detailed tutorial I decided to write up my own just in case someone else might be interested!

For this sign, I used a 10"x14" piece of wood that I lightly sanded and stained. I wanted it to look a bit rustic, so I didn't spend a lot of time doing either of those... just enough sanding to round the edges a bit and enough stain (one fairly light coat of this stain) to give it some color. 

I used the Silhouette Cameo I got for Christmas to cut the world map out of adhesive-backed vinyl, then removed all the "land" with the hook tool to make my stencil.

Next, I used transfer paper to put the remaining vinyl onto the wood. I had never used transfer paper before, but it was really easy to use and I can't imagine trying to get things lined up just right without it! 

Here's how I did it: 

1. Cut a piece of transfer paper a little bigger than the vinyl you're transferring

2. Peel off the backing on the transfer paper to expose the sticky side

3. Carefully position the sticky side of the transfer paper onto the top of the vinyl 

4. Smooth out any air bubbles and make sure the transfer paper is really stuck on the vinyl (I used an old gift card for this step)

5. Peel off the backing of the vinyl to expose the sticky side

6. Carefully position the vinyl in the middle of the sign, making sure it adheres well and that there arent any air bubble (I used the gift card here too)

7. Peel back the transfer paper, making sure you don't pick up any vinyl with it

Next, I painted the "land" white, just using white craft paint and a foam brush. (Note: it probably would have been a good idea to line the edges of the vinyl with painter's tape, just to be safe)

Once the paint has dried, carefully peel away the vinyl. You'll need to use the hook tool (or a toothpick) to get some of the smaller pieces off.

Last of all, attach some hanging hardware to the back. I used a sawtooth picture hanger . 

Voila!

 

I really liked how this turned out, and it was really easy to make... Win-win! I'm thinking of playing around with some variations too, like just staining the "land" and leaving the rest of the wood natural, or vice versa. 

Let me know if you have any questions and I'll do my best to answer them! :)

UPDATE 2/28/14: A couple of you have been kind enough to ask whether I would be willing to make and sell these. I just had a baby so things are a little chaotic around my house at the moment, but I have considered setting up an Etsy shop sometime in the near future. If you would like me to send you the info if/when I do start selling these, shoot me an email at mikaelablogs@gmail.com! Thanks so much!

UPDATE 5/9/14: My Etsy shop is now open! You can find me here! 

38 weeks

"Any day now."

Every time I say those three words (which has been a lot lately, considering how often people have been asking me when this baby is a-comin'), it kind of blows my mind a bit. Am I really just a mere two weeks away from my due date? It is actually February already? Am I really going to have a baby, like within the next couple weeks? Whaaaat?

It's crazy... but the best kind of crazy. I'm so excited to finally meet the little stinker who has been kicking my ribs and punching my bladder for the past 9 months. 

Not much has changed since my last pregnancy update a month ago. I'm still feeling surprisingly well, for which I'm very, very thankful! I didn't sleep very well this week, but I think that had a lot more to do with a nasty sinus infection than pregnancy. I'm still not very swollen, at least not enough to keep me from wearing normal shoes or my wedding ring, and I don't have an outie belly button (although there's definitely time for that to change... haha!). 

People kept telling me about how terribly uncomfortable I would get the last trimester, so uncomfortable that I would be so ready to not be pregnant anymore, but I haven't gotten to that point yet. I'll be just fine if he decides to wait until his due date (or even a little longer) to make his grand appearance. 

On the other hand, it will be pretty nice to longer have this big 'ol baby squishing my innards. I'm also really looking forward to sleeping on my stomach and wearing normal clothes again. 

Oh yeah, and having a cute little babe to love on, of course. ;)

Now I just hope my delivery goes as smoothly as my pregnancy has. We shall see!

Blargh.

A few things I'm grateful for today:

• Antibiotics
• Herbal tea
• Homemade chicken soup
• Ice cold orange juice
• THE comfiest sweater ever (bought on sale). I have worn it almost daily since fall because I love it almost as much as my husband and maybe even a little more than Krispy Kreme. That's a lot, in case you were wondering. A LOT.

37 weeks, 5 days

• Long hot showers
• Humidifiers
• The luxury of being a bum all day with just myself to take care of. I crawled back in bed after Dallin went to work and slept for another 3 hours. It was glorious.
• The fact that it looks like I *should* be able to kick this sickness before going into labor (knock on wood!)
• Cough drops with pep talks

In other words, I'm sick and have been all week. Ready for the incessant pounding in my head to disappear. Hoping and praying it does before I have this baby. Thankful to be getting better, even if it feels like it's happening slower than the proverbial molasses in January. Since it won't be January tomorrow, maybe I'll be better then, no? 

(Side note: holy toledo it is really February tomorrow!? WHAT.)

Okay. Pity party over. Mikaela out. 

A safe place

I've experienced so many emotions since the day we found out I was pregnant. Happiness, excitement, anxiety, impatience, gratitude... the list goes on. It's a roller coaster. I'm sure that has nothing to do with the wonderful thing that is pregnancy hormones. (False!)

As my due date grows closer, I have a new emotion to add to that list... worry. 

I worry about my little baby since I know he won't be a baby for long. He is going to grow up into a boy, then a teenager, then a man -- all in what will feel like a blink of an eye. He is going to experience both the beautiful and repulsive elements of this world. He is going to face challenges, and my heart is going to burst with happiness when I see him overcome them. He is going to make mistakes, maybe some pretty big ones, and my heart will break to see him learn lessons the hard way. 

I worry about my little baby because I can see what an ugly place the world is becoming. I hope he will seek out all the goodness and beauty that is (thankfully) still all around. Just a few short years ago, when I was a teenager, things were much different. The challenges kids are up against nowadays are changing and intensifying so incredibly quickly. That's something that I was reminded of constantly when I was teaching seminary. What will it be like in 10, 15, 20 years from now? How much more difficult will it be to make righteous choices? 

This morning I woke up with all these worries in my mind. I stewed over them while laying in bed staring at the ceiling. When Dallin left for work I sat down with a bowl of cereal and stewed some more. I stewed so much that I really started to stress out about the idea of becoming a parent. Will I be a good mom? Will my kids make good decisions? Will they be happy?

Then I had the impression to pull up the talks from October's General Conference and find one to listen to. That's one of the ways I find answers and comfort when I need it. I began listening to Pres. Boyd K. Packer's talk titled "The Key to Spiritual Protection". It was just what I needed to hear.  

"Parents today wonder if there is a safe place to raise children. There is a safe place. It is in a gospel-centered home."

I can't control what goes on in the world, but I can make my home a sanctuary. I can teach my children right from wrong. I can give them the tools they need to be successful. 

"We live in perilous times; nevertheless, we can find hope and peace for ourselves and for our families. Those living in sorrow, despairing at the possibility of children being rescued from where the world has taken them, must never give up. 'Be not afraid, only believe.' Righteousness is more powerful than wickedness."

Even though the world is crazy, and getting worse daily, righteousness is more powerful and will win in the end. 

"The gospel teaches us to be happy, to have faith rather than fear, to find hope and overcome despair, to leave darkness and turn toward the light of the everlasting gospel."

It's through the gospel that my family and I can be happy, hopeful, and fearless. That's the key to the protection I so deeply want for my children. And oh, how thankful I am to have it in my life. 

(Written yesterday... I didn't get around to posting it until now.)

A small price to pay

Let me be perfectly honest: I underestimated pregnancy. I heard many tales of the adventures that accompany growing a human being, but I always thought they were a wee bit exaggerated. C'mon, being pregnant can't really affect you that much... right?

WRONG.

It began with nausea. I was lucky enough to only throw up a handful of times, but that didn't mean I didn't feel sick as a dog the rest of the time, because I absolutely did. 

Even just thinking about food made me feel like this:

 

I pretty much lived off of Honey Bunches of Oats for the first 16 weeks of my pregnancy since that grossed me out the least. 

Then, just as suddenly as the nausea came, it was replaced with these feelings:







People often ask me, "So, have you been craving anything?"

My answer? "Yes. All the food."

Seriously. I just want to eat everything in the house, all day, erryday. Thank the heavens above this includes a lot of healthy food (pomegranates and tomatoes and cuties, oh my!), but I've also grown weak when it comes to chocolate, ice cream, oreos, and pretty much everything on the Sonic menu. 

It's a problem. 

I resolve to cut it out, and I'm good for a few days, but then a craving hits me for [insert your unhealthy food of choice here, I've probably craved it at one point] and the Veruca Salt within me breaks loose. 

MUST HAVE [unhealthy food of choice] NOW.



A trip to the store with my patient husband (bless that man) usually follows immediately thereafter, and happiness is restored.



Sometimes the baby just needs ice cream, you know? NEEDS IT.

The aforementioned nausea was accompanied with intense pregnancy fatigue. It would hit me so unexpectedly that sometimes I felt like a narcoleptic. 



I spent a lot of time on the couch or in bed those first 16 weeks or so. A lot. 

One of the main things I thought must be exaggerated about pregnancy was the mood swings. Oh boy, was that was a rude awakening. I used to think of myself as a pretty emotionally stable woman. I am was generally capable of keeping myself together. 

Ah, those were the days, my friends. Those were the days. Now, I can go from euphoric happiness to a weepy mess at the drop of a hat.

Just in case you don't believe me (and because I have no shame), here are a few things that have made me cry during pregnancy:
-All the pans were dirty when I wanted mac and cheese.
-This Michael Jackson marching band video. Yes, really.
-My favorite sweats were in the washer when I wanted to wear them.
-And the worst, most perplexing one of all... absolutely nothing. 





But the biggest thing I underestimated about pregnancy was how fulfilling, mind-blowing, and exciting it would be to think about the miracle happening inside my stretching belly. I'm making a human being. That thought still leaves me in awe. 

I also didn't know how sweet it would be to sit quietly, feeling my wee babe kick my hand, imagining what he will be like and what adventures are waiting for us. 

I didn't know I would already love him as much as I do.

And I didn't know how happy I would be to experience all the discomforts of pregnancy. It's a small price to pay, and I feel so grateful to be able to experience it all.

Just a little less than a month (give or take) until I get to meet my squishy little man-cub. I can't wait.