more random Lily pics

uncle marco

helping daddy get ready for school

lily's 1st bath.....she did NOT like getting out

so later i will up-date u on everything....no time right now....

The Lily Belle spot

uncle todd.....sideways

daddy and lily

sleepless

Sorry this pic is so small, well not really, I just don't feel too cute at the moment and don't wanna huge pic up of my hugeness. So this is me at 9 months. These 9 months have been good to me...for the most part, I mean I consider myself lucky compared to a lot of other women out there who have horrible pregnancies. I did the whole barfing thing and stuff but all and all its been fun. I love feeling her move around and have my little girl all to myself...is that selfish?I love the anticipation and excitement I get just thinking about her. I am going to miss that.

I am not going to miss the constant swelling, constant pelvic floor and hip pain, weight gain, people staring at my tummy, having to pee about a million times a day, not being able to sleep (I know, I know, 'that doesn't change with a baby' but the fact is with the baby I would be physically able to, just that baby will take the time, just want to clarify that) getting winded doing the simplest things...it goes on as most of you moms know:) So this is going to be my last post as a pregnant woman, I will be induced on Saturday...scared? I would be a fool not to be, excited? Of course! I cant wait. Now its the waiting game and me being worried if I can handle being a mom, let a lone if I will be a good mom, if I can still be a good wife and keep our awesome relationship the same and better...a lot to think about, I mean this a life-changing huge thing.

So there you go, my last blog as a prego girl, I'll try and post as soon as possible with the updates on me and our little munchkin. But for those of you who didn't read my earlier post of the day, I want people to guess how big this girl is going to be...so let me know what you think k??

January 26th = Happy Birthday Lily!!!

Woo HOO!! Today was the doctors apt where we found out about induction. This Saturday I am scheduled at 7:30 am to be induced! I plan on taking some last prego pics so you all can guess how big this little girl is going to be...So please leave a guess and any advice you may have regarding labor...I'm kinda new to the whole pushing a baby out thing:)

another up-date

SO yesterday at church Chad and I were talking to my bishop (also my OB) and he said that he would like us to have the baby by Friday, hopefully Wed or Thurs (that's when hes on-call)! Because of my high blood pressure as of late and how far ahead I am measuring (and how big Lily's parents were when they were born) he wants to be on the safer side of things...and I am on his side, as well as the 'get this thing out of me side!'

Last night after church and everything I had a head ache that I just could not shake, I, Rachel Meynders even took some medicine to try and get rid of it, I know, amazing. The doc said if I ever get a head ache that doesn't go away after a few hours of taking to drugs to go to the hospital and get checked out. So that's exactly what we did last night. It was bitter sweet, cause I am healthy and all the tests came back good and Lily is doing great...so we left soon after, they were glad I came in and was safe though. So if anything doesn't happen in two days then my next apt is on Wed and hopefully...something cool will come of that, like an induction date? I know I have been saying I would rather not be induced and have her come naturally but I am just SO dang uncomfortable, yeah I have the stretch marks to prove it along will all you other moms but have your stretch marks ever split, and were bleeding? Cause that's how bad it is, and yes I have tried every trick in the book regarding preventing/stopping them. So keep us in your prayers that she will be coming sooner than later please...and no worries, I will keep everyone posted as promised.

On a completely different note.....Our apt is a smell sponge. I hate it. Yesterday we made a roast, window open(even though it was 11 outside), fans on, candles on, and then once it was done we cleaned everything real fast...Still our house is smelling SO bad of dinner last night its driving me crazy. Any advice on how to rid ourselves of this problem? I am getting to the point where I just don't wanna cook cause no matter what...we/the house and all the insides smell like dinner. This bad smell though has brought some good, I am going to be doing a major clean today to try and get rid of it, as well as get the house really clean for the first time in a LONG time. Chad has to be doing homework all day, so I am making a list of things to do: vacuum, sweep, mop, clean the bathroom, baseboards, blinds, mirrors, and tons of laundry, I'm sure I will think of more as the day goes on...I am kinda hoping this cleaning may aid in an early delivery?:)

yet again...

So today I went in to the doc's to get my BP checked again. Once again it was high so I ended up staying a while, peeing in cups, being hooked up to monitors and what not. Baby is fine, I'm fine...just have high blood pressure. So basically nothing has really changed from yesterday, I know the signs to look for for pre-eclampsia and what not so we'll see. I'll keep you posted, no worries.

I'm feel'n it

Today was yet another Dr.s apt. It went good, it was with my bishop actually:) (Hes my OB) anywho, I am now measuring at 42 weeks....yeah...trust me I have the new stretch marks on my tummy to prove it. I am dilated to a one...so not much. She is still a girl! (we did another ultrasound) I am exhausted. I also usually have really good blood pressure, like my usual is 100/60...today was 150/90! Yikes! So some blood work was done to check that out, and no I dont have toxemia, and I have no symptoms of pre-eclampsia (spelling?) so that's a good sign too. They are having me come in tomorrow to get my BP checked out again and then my next real apt. is on Wed, I have a feeling that we may be having her next week...I think the doc wants it that way at least...So I'll keep you all posted. Sorry this isn't a very entertaining or too informative post but I am beat and want to go to sleep. Any advice would be appreciated...

t-minus 3.5 weeksish?...

So another up-date. Yesterday I went to the doc for my now weekly appt. Everything is going great, blood pressure normal and now I am measuring ON TIME??? I was a little shocked, apparently the measuring can be influenced by how the baby is positioned and what not. Since Lily (as I have stated earlier) is a party animal and moving ALL the time, this is very possible. So really who knows...maybe I wont have such a freakishly large kid as we have been expecting:) But the doc go said 'ahead and have the baby anytime you want now'...k, Ill get right on that right? So I continued to ask more and more questions and yea he said being frisky with the husband is really the only legit natural inducer followed by: 'you may not want to tell your husband that!' So long story short, she could be coming any time really we are hoping sooner than later but my mom made a good point that I can take such good care of her in my tummy now so why rush? Shes warm, fed, sleeps whenever...so we'll see.... I'm still hoping for a January baby.

'Just' , such a candle-snuffing word. 'Just'.

Finding Neverland anyone? I'm sure a lot of other moms get this ALL the time but I am starting to already and its already annoying. Typical conversation:

person: "So what are you doing now? Once Lily is born are you going to work/go get your masters or JUST stay home?"

me: "Yeah, I'm planning on being a stay-at-home-mom for as long as possible."

person: "that's so sweet.....(don't know what to say awkwardness)."

I guess I am sick of the word 'just' like its some easy task, to parent a child.

So long, so long...

I officially have that Dashboard song stuck in my head. Anyways...today is a day of so long to my long time job, a library security guard. I have worked for campus police for about...3 years. What did my job entail you ask? Well, while single, sitting as live bait in the main entrances and getting hit on, many a time by people you wish you could dismiss. But I still 'got it' cause a month ago I got asked out! I about died, I wanted to stand up so he could see my pregnant belly but I was polite and just told him that I was indeed married...I thought adding the kid thing would be a little much:) So basically I just sat at desks and people watched, when alarms went off it was my duty to find out the cause. Nothing really cool happened on any of my shifts, I mean come on A) its Rexburg and B) its BYU-I...not a very rough crowd around here:) So today is my last day, how refreshing, but now what??? I just am just going to be at home waiting to pop. Any advice on how to induce yourself?? Fellow moms, help a sister out.

up-date

Well I went to the doctor yesterday. I really like my doctor(s) (there are are 3 that rotate). Turns out I am measuring 2 WEEKS A HEAD! Translation? I asked my doc, and he said that

A) she could come a few weeks early (which could be like in a week or so) or

B) My uterus is tilted forward making me measure bigger than what she really is...even though at the beginning of the pregnancy my uterus was inverted, that's why I wasn't really showing til 5-6 months or

C)I am going to have a big baby. Hes leaning towards C because of the size Chad was when he

was born. And unfortunately I agree with the doc.

So they are going to be monitoring me closely, and now I am going in every week so that's nice, but if I am still measuring a head then they will do an another ultrasound to see how big this girl really is and it could mean a scheduled induction a little early or a C-section...I really want a natural birth (with drugs) I want to be able to recover more quickly, and with C-sections you have to give yourself more time to heal and what not. So there it is, my prego up-date as of late.

Are we ready for this baby? Are you ever ready to a parent? We'll find out, we are SOOOO excited, and I can not wait to be NOT pregnant:) Her room is all ready, we got lots of clothes, diapers and wipes and a whole slew of other stuff.

So now I kinda have a count-down, her due date was a month from yesterday...but lets all cross our fingers for a few weeks early k?

year in review

01/07- We start the new year with Heather and Cory, and Todd and Joy playing 'pounce' (a card game) probably for 8 hours straight. It was my final winter semester at BYUI, finishing up the Paramedic program. Loving sub-zero temps;) Chad got a great leadership position with the activities program here at BYUI...he and I were both really busy, and we barely saw each other.

02/07- I turned 21! Still working at the FD, still in school, and still freezing! My academic goals took a different turn than what was planned...my paramedic internship in Raleigh fell through and realized that I wanted to get my BS in Health Science and that Paramedicine wasn't the only degree I wanted...

03/07- Graduated the Paramedic program! What a relief, my parents and the WHOLE Meynders fam came out, including Mers all the way from NC! Chad turns 23, what a old man. We are still in school, still freezing...

04/07-Semester ended, the sun was starting to show up again and we are so excited for summer!

05/07-Summer semester has begun, with the sun! Chad and I are both playing competitive soccer and totally loved it. I quit the FD and got my oh so exciting security job back while Chad continued to run the activities program at school.Mers gets married to Marco! We flew out to bham for her wedding, got to see the Ski-to-Sea parade and Scotty's wicked drum skills, and a man in a hot-dog suit. I have a sneaky suspicion that our family of two was soon going to be a family of two, just one of us would be getting a little fatter than usual...

06/07- Suspicion correct! We are totally preggers, I feel great...just VERY tired, at first. We hated not telling people but we did pretty good. Then I started being very sick and my pants were getting a little loose, the boobs growing and I was moody...a little obvious? So we ended up telling our families at the end of this month, it was so fun to tell!

07/07- We get our first ultra-sound and see our little gummy bear wiggle around, it was such a cool thing to see. I'm still sick, well now sicker and still lose'n weight, but other than that life was great. Summer semester ends and starts the long break in between semesters, Chad works for TJ doing construction and I for the library. I read ALL 7 HPs in about 2 weeks and I also read the Eclipse series. We were also able to make a trip up to Sandpoint and see the Rands side of the fam, it was SO nice to get out of the berg and get some sun, and play in the water, let a lone be around a dang cool family.

08/07- Continuing to enjoy the break, and still surviving on crackers and Gatorade:) On the plus side, our friends Todd and Joy move up to the exciting town of Rexburg, its always nice to have good friends around town. We also make another trip out to bham, stay with my fam for a while, visit LaConner and fun stuff, THEN we go to Lake Roosevelt with the Meynders fam, it was a blast and we stayed at an amazing cabin in the middle of no where.

09/07-The beginning of the end. I start my 21 credit load, with an internship and work, and preggers last semester, BUT I am no longer sick! Chads taking on the same load except he has to deal with a pregnant woman rather than be pregnant, and he works as a secretary and basically gets paid to do homework and listen to Pandora. He has now starting narrowing down grad schools he wants to apply to and is studying hard for the nasty GMAT.

10/07- We are having a GIRL! Definitely a big highlight of the year was finding out the gender of our baby. I loved seeing Chad's face when the ultra-sound tech told us, it kinda melted and lit up at the same time (shes already got him wrapped around her finger) We decide to name our little girl Lily. By now I'm out of the awkward stage and am no longer looking chubby but am officially showing now. Basically it happened over night.The fall is beautiful and we love our walks together out side.

11/07- Lily's kinda-cousin Isaac is born! Chad and I are some of the first people to hold him and see his cute curly red hair. Lily is growing and so am I, breathing is starting to get hard. Its major crunch time in classes. Thanksgiving in UT with the Knutson family was awesome, its a rare occurrence for us all to be together so it was awesome. The sisters and madre threw a wonderful baby shower for me, Lily now has more clothes than Chad and I combined:)

12/07- I graduated college!!!!! wooo hooo! Thats a huge check on my list of things to do. Christmas was with the Meynders family here in the burg, we totally scored but it was nothing compared to Hayden and Kayla (nephew and niece) who made a total haul!:) It was nice to just be with fam and relax, no traveling is a good thing. We celebrated 2 years of marriage on the 28th, which was awesome, we went to Jackson and pretended we were rich:) The year ended with Chad going on a 24hr fishing trip with Curtis and us having sushi at their house until 3 am, along with a root beer keg:) we know how to partay!

So there you have it folks, our year in review. Its been a good one, we are really excited for this coming year and hope its just as action packed...(minus the pregnant part).