Baby Preparation Done: Ready for Baby

Just a few more weeks until the baby gets here and we just got the last of the baby gear in on Tuesday! Now we have all the big purchases out of the way and all the little ones too for when the baby comes.

And now for a little comedy:

My parents came up this week for a few days to help with the last minute preparations. It helped too that my parents did all my cooking and the dishes for me while I was here. I just love it when my mom says, "Melinda, you can't do the dishes! You'll get too tired." I don't argue. I just let her go for it.

While they were here, we went down to the mall to look around and there were four clown-white-skin-color kids with red bandannas on. They were in line to take pictures at a photo booth. Scary eh? My father works at a high school with kids that have had trouble with the law or got kicked out of their school for whatever reason. He knows what a thug looks like, or at least a California thug.

And now he knows what an Idaho "thug" looks like. Red bandannas, nice new clothes, just waiting in line patiently at a photo booth for children. My father on the other hand, looks more like a thug than they did. Here's a picture of him trying to look like Will Smith from the movie I-Robot. So, that was my long boring story just to explain this picture.


My father as Will Smith

John LOVES seafood, especially lobster. I don't know what my mom does to make seafood taste so delish, but she made some just for John the night before they left.

This is Johnny with his favorite lobster tail. It tasted way better than the one that we boiled for Christmas.

Along with his lobster tail, we had salmon and shrimp with rice and veggies. John hasn't eaten this well since before I got pregnant.


We're bad at taking pictures, but here is a picture of us at the dinner table. If you look very closely, on the wall there is a paper that says, "BYU-MARRIOT GMAT:700". Not only is that sign right behind my mom, it is also posted behind the camera, 7 additional ones in he living room, 2 more in the kitchen, and who knows how many in the back rooms.

John wanted a little more motivation to study for the GMAT. Although I think it is really tacky to have 7 of these in plain view when guest come into the house, John was just so excited about it, I had to let him put these up. My parents also encouraged him by telling him more places that he may have forgotten to put them up. (Thanks Mom and Dad: putting ideas into John's head) I don't mind them anymore, but if you come over to my house, don't be surprise that it says BYU-MARRIOT everywhere.

That's all for now. Oh, as for a baby update, I went into my doctor yesterday and begged her if there is anything that she can do so that I can have this baby a little earlier. I'm not mobile anymore and I'm just uncomfortable, so I want the baby out soon. She said everything looks good and if I am really that miserable she can induce at 39 weeks which is a week and a half away. I go in next week for a check up and if I still feel the way I do, my friend told me to cry and they'll probably induce. We'll keep you posted, but don't be surprised if this baby comes super late. I've never been super lucky with things like this.

Amanda vs Melinda: Pregnancy Belly Comparisons

My sister and I are physically very different. One of the ways that we are different is the way that we handle pregnancy. Starting from week six, I was really sick, but then had a two month break in my 2nd trimester. Once 3rd trimester hit, I began being the sick pregnant lady again. My sister on the other hand, never felt a bit sick the nine months of her pregnancy. She says it's because she's taller and the baby has more room to swim around. I would have to agree with her on this one.

I do have one advantage to pregnancy though. Amanda got stretch marks when she was pregnant with her kids. However, my sister, asking me about stretch marks, phrased it by saying, "Your body must be a road map by now!" Little did she know I inherited my mothers stretchy skin.

I had my sister send me a few pictures of when she was pregnant with her first child so that we could compare how a baby fits into someone that is 5'10 and someone who is 5'2. You've probably seen most of my pictures, but here they are next to Amanda's. Her pictures are smaller than mine and I don't know how to fix it. Here you go! I hope you enjoy!


Amanda 26 weeks


Me 25 weeks


Amanda 30 weeks


Me 30 weeks with my friend Jessica who is 28 weeks in this picture.


Amanda 34 weeks


Me 35 weeks

Looking at the pictures now, we do look pretty similar, but I thought some of you might like to see how we look.

Just a few more weeks! Hopefully the next blog will have baby pictures instead!

Last Childless Traveling

We haven't been on many really neat adventures lately. With freezing weather, business trips, and pregnancy, we haven't been planning very many fun weekends. Our last big trip was to Utah for John's business meetings. I was able to go along with him this time since I am currently out of school and have a very flexible schedule.

Last Sunday we went down and visited with John's brother and some of his cousins. When we go down to Utah to visit his family, it's the only time for John to play video games, so we had to go down Monday night too so he could get his share in before the child is born.

We stayed at a hotel with a really nice view. Here's a picture, but it was so nice because of the mountains in the back, but this picture does not do it justice.



While John went to his meetings, I stayed in the hotel room and worked on my family history since the family history center was so close to the hotel. My mom just got a lot of new Chinese family names and I put them into the computer. When I was kicked out of the hotel at check out time, it was not a problem since I spent most of my afternoon in the family history center getting help from a lady that knows more Chinese than I do. Just a few more hours on my own, and we will have tons of names to take to the temple.

Lastly, we are just waiting for the baby to come now. I am 35 weeks pregnant now and am not very mobile. I don't look too big, but walking isn't very enjoyable for me right now. That's mostly why we do puzzles and play board games inside than go out and do mini hikes. Here's a picture which I don't think I look any more pregnant than my other pictures, but I'm definitely bigger.



That's all for now. We will keep you all posted the next time something new and exciting happens!