Thursday, November 29, 2012

37 weeks

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picture taken at 37 weeks 2 days

- Baby girl could make her arrival any day now and be totally fine! Let's all say a little prayer that she comes sooner rather than later, ha ha!

- I'm still having braxton hicks regularly. I notice an increase when I work out or when I've done a lot in a day. It's amazing to think that my body just knows to practice so that it's ready for labor when the time comes!

- My heartburn has definitely taken a turn for the worst this past week. I hope that means labor is just around the corner? ha ha

- Baby girl got her first Christmas ornament! My sweet friend surprised me with it and I love it! I'm still having a hard time believing I'll have my very own baby for Christmas... aahhh!!!

- I understand now why women get to a point in their pregnancy where they are just DONE! Eric and I are ready to be done (and he's not that one that is carrying her inside his body, ha!) because I'm in quite a bit of pain each day. But we are mostly just so anxious and excited to meet our baby girl! Even though I'm so over being pregnant... I know I'd do it again and again to bring this little girl into our family! We love her so much and can't wait to snuggle and love on her!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Thanksgiving 2012

My niece, baby Zoe, just nappin' next to her cousin. They will be the best of friends!
Grandma Brinkerhoff made baby girl a blanket! All the granddaughters have butterfly blankets from her :)
Can you tell I love blankets?

This Thanksgiving was so wonderful! I was worried that I'd be spending Thanksgiving alone because of Eric's work schedule (and I wasn't about to travel without him, just IN CASE I went into labor) and then we needed to get the okay from the Dr. so that we could travel.... and everything worked out! We had Thanksgiving with the Brinkerhoff's and obviously I was enjoying myself too much to worry about pictures :) The food was amazing, the company was even better, and the pie.... oh the pie! Eric had been daydreaming about the pie for days leading up to Thanksgiving! The Brinkerhoff's don't mess around when it comes to their pie. There were 26 pies (plus extra pie crusts in case they needed to make more....) And only 25 people, total! It's safe to say that Eric ate at least 2 pies worth of slices in a day and a half, ha!
And my sweet in law's through a shower for baby girl!! She is so loved and spoiled :) We got some fun gifts and beautiful blankets! I'm just overwhelmed with gratitude! Now that Thanksgiving has ended... I'm just so excited to celebrate the most exciting Christmas of our lives with baby girl in my ARMS instead of my belly :)

Sunday, November 25, 2012

what goes?

I feel like Eric and I have pretty much prepared for our baby girl's arrival as much as possible... except for packing the bags. With this being our first experience EVER of welcoming a new one into this world, I truly have no idea what to expect!

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We got this bag for 20% off... woo hoo! And it's not very girly but Eric helped me pick it out and told me he'd carry it around ;)
The diaper bag- Am I packing it full of items to use in the hospital? Or does the hospital provide everything we'll need? Do I only pack her going home outfit (which I still don't have picked out, oops!) and a blanket? Or do I pack it full of... I don't even know? Help!!

The hospital bag- I am not one who likes to pack excessively. If I don't need it, I don't want to deal with it. So what do I absolutely NEED to take to the hospital? The only items on my list are socks (I hear your feet get cold?), my going home outfit (we found a cute sweats outfit, I want to be comfortable!), nursing bra and my boppy pillow (or does the hospital provide one so I don't have to take mine?). If all goes well, I only want to stay in the hospital for the necessary 24 hours and then go home so I can be truly comfortable! Of course I understand these things can't be planned.... so that's where I need your advice! What the heck do I pack in my hospital bag??

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

36 weeks {last month!}


picture taken at 36 weeks 2 days (there is a shadow outlining my belly again, making it look a little bigger)

- According to the charts, Baby Girl should be the size of a watermelon now. Yikes! But I don't think she is that big. I'm still measuring small but it's not a problem because we see the right amount of growth each week! (And to be honest? I don't mind if she comes out a little small... she can grow as big as she wants once she's out of my body, HA!)

- I go into the doctor every week now. We are definitely on the countdown!

- My braxton hicks have increased quite noticeably this last week! I don't know if that means anything but I'll find out at my appointment today.

- I find myself slowing down a little more each day. I don't know why... but I wasn't expecting pregnancy to slow me down. Ha ha, I'm ridiculous! But each day I'm a little more worn out, physically and emotionally. But it will all be worth it once I get to hold my baby!

- I'm a BAD mom!! I just realized I don't have a baby book of any sort and I've heard I will want one at the hospital for her footprints? MOMS: Am I going to regret it if I don't have a baby book? What is your favorite baby book? I don't even know where to look for one! Help this mama out, pretty please?! :)

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

a food post

I am so excited that Thanksgiving is only a couple days away!! I can finally decorate for Christmas this weekend since Eric won't let me "skip" Thanksgiving..... I meeeeean, I can't wait to hangout with family and stuff my face with good food :) Baby Girl is taking up most of the space in my belly so I'm only going to be able to try 1 bite of everything, but it will be worth it! And Eric's family goes all out with their pies. I can't wait to tell you how many they have this year :)
I wanted to share a couple of my very favorite recipes around this time of year! They might be so special because I don't eat them throughout the year? Whatever the reason, I love them and want to share the love :)

First up: a Cheese Ball! Seriously, this is the easiest recipe ever and it tastes oh so amazing! My pregnant taste buds have been drooling at the thought of this for the past month!
Next: Cream Cheese Toffee Dip! I don't know what I need to say about this except.... YUM!
Last: Apple Snicker Salad! This recipe is always a huge hit. But I actually make it year round. It's perfect for bbq's, holiday meals, and any get together! But this is my contribution to Thanksgiving meal and I can't wait to indulge :)

What are your favorite things to eat during the holidays?! (My list is kind of short so I'd love to add to it! Plus there is something so satisfying about talking about goooooood food, ha!)

Monday, November 19, 2012

a letter to my daughter

Dear Baby Girl,




So you aren't all the way here yet...but in just one month (maybe less) I will finally get to meet you and hold you in my arms! You can't imagine how much I'm looking forward to that moment. Or can you? I hope you are just as excited to love us, as we are to love you!! Your dad and I have been waiting a long time to become your parents. We DID dream of you, imagine what you'd look like, guess what kind of personality you'd have.... and now that you're growing in my body we talk to you, daddy plays with you (sorry I scold you, but those bladder shots aren't very nice), we hope for you and we love you! From day one we have prayed for you and thanked God for you, and that will never change!! We will always love you and be so grateful that you are ours!
I feel so honored that God has trusted us with the responsibility to raise you. Baby Girl, I promise to do my very best as your mom, and your dad will do his best! I fear for those moments when I will fail, or when I make you upset, but please never forget that we love you and that we will do anything for you!
You are our greatest creation, you bring us the most anticipated excitement, and you radiate so much love within our little family. You are ours for eternity and we couldn't be happier about that! Daddy and I love you SO much!!

With all my heart.... Love your momma!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

35 weeks

picture taken at 35 weeks 3 days (no chalkboard this week cause I'm a slacker!)

- Baby girl gets the hiccups now! I felt them for the first time this past week, 3 different times! 

- We cleaned the baby's room, washed every baby item she'll use up to 3 months, set up the car seat and stroller, and did everything else we can think of to prepare for her arrival! (Sadly, her nursery is very plain. We aren't decorating because we'll be moving shortly after she's born. No point in decorating just to pack up and move to a different house!)

- My pelvis has been killing me. No one tells you about this part of pregnancy... ha ha! I've been told it's because of the spreading and baby is dropping. Whatever it is.... it's awful!

- I have perfected the waddle :) But sometimes I just can't walk normal and I blame it on the above statement!

- I've noticed an increase in my braxton hicks. So glad my body is getting prepared because I'm about ready to have my body back to myself, ha!

- Did I mention that Eric painted my toenails this past week? He's the best :)

- We are just so ready to meet out baby girl!! I can't believe it really could happen anytime now.... I hope the next month goes by just as quickly as the whole pregnancy has :)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

insta-life

I just love my little family!
Daddy thinks there's such thing as too much pink and too much sparkle. But mama's lookin' out for baby girl! I don't see ANY pink on this dress ;)
 It just seemed like the right thing to do... post an "I Voted" picture on voting day!
Trevor and Alycia took us to the BYU creamery for the first time... YUM! (They also fed us Taco Bell for breakfast... don't try it. Just don't. Love my brother and his ideas :) ha ha!)
 
I love having so many pregnant friends! Baby girl is going to have lots of besties :)

I know I say this every time... but instagram is the funnest way to get a sneak peak into each others lives!
Sometimes life gets too busy for blogging, but we always have a second to snap a picture and post it for the world to see :) I'm sure that will become my life next month, once baby girl arrives!
Find me at courtbrink and let's be insta-friends!

Monday, November 12, 2012

best decision I ever made....

When I was engaged to Eric I got a ton of feedback about how I was making the wrong decision. Why were so many people against the idea of Eric and I getting married? Because we were young.


Eric was 21 and I was 19 when we started dating. 10 months later we sealed the deal at ages 22 and 20. When we got engaged all of our loved ones were ecstatic for us! But I'm a hairstylist which means I see and have conversations with a ton of different people every single day. I had a lot of people sit down in my chair and tell me that I should wait to get married. I should travel the world before picking my spouse. We both needed to grow up before we could handle a marriage. The list of reasons why we "needed" to wait could go on forever. But I knew that Eric was the one for me. He is the one that I wanted to experience the highs and lows of this life with. I wanted him by my side while I traveled the world. Eric is the one I choose to be with for eternity.


Marriage isn't always easy... but it's not supposed to be! I don't think marriage would have been an easier adjustment had I waited until 30 instead of 20 to be married. But we went into this commitment with the knowledge that even though it wasn't going to be easy, we were going to work our buns off to make this thing work! It helps that I picked the right man to be my husband, and visa versa, but it is so satisfying each time we make it through a difficult trial together. We come out of the highs and lows more in love than before!


Eric is my best friend, my biggest support, my partner in crime, and my deepest love. We fight hard, we play harder, and we love the hardest. We don't ever stop working at our marriage because the moment we do is the moment it will all fall apart. Our marriage means everything to us, and for that reason we are willing to give it our all! I'm not ashamed to say that we married young because we have grown together. And I can't wait to see how we will continue to grow and love as our life together goes on... starting with the newest addition to our family come December :) Experiencing these huge changes, and the highs and lows each day with Eric by my side, is the BEST decision I ever made!


This post has actually been published before on Janna's blog! But lately I've been feeling so much gratitude towards my amazing husband. He has been so great and I wanted to express how much he means to me! This past week Eric has painted my toe nails because I can't reach anymore, he's rubbed my back to help relax my muscles so that I can walk again, made waffles because I was craving them, and so much more! He truly is the BEST and I'm so thankful he's mine!!

Friday, November 9, 2012

34 weeks

picture taken at 34 weeks 2 days

- I just figured out this week what a braxton hick feels like and realized I have those all the time! And I've been experiencing them for the past month! And yes... I felt like an idiot that I never realized those were braxton hicks :)

- It's official... I can't reach my toes to paint them. Eric's gonna have to buy me a pedicure or paint those nails himself!

- Baby girl started stretching this past week. And I mean really stretching.... I'm worried she's going to bust a rib or 2 if she keeps that up.

- According to my baby app, baby girl has reached her full height/length! She won't be growing any longer while she's inside my body. It's all about the fat now :)

- I think I have permanent kankles. Seriously.... does the swelling go away after the baby comes? PLEASE tell me it does! My legs kind of make me want to barf.... (I know that's vain... but I still care even though I'm pregnant!)

- Baby girl and I are starting to feel very cramped!! These next 6 weeks (actually, closer to 5 weeks by the time I post this) are going to be very interesting.... ha ha!

- I really want to get a few freezer meals prepared to have on hand while I'm recovering (or just too lazy to cook) from having our baby. I've looked for recipes on pinterest but I'm wanting to make meals that I know people have actually tried and loved. So if you've made any freezer meals that you totally loved PLEASE share the recipe or a link :) Thank you!!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

it's that time of the year...



I love November and I especially love that this month is such a great reminder for us to be thankful for all that we have! The past couple years I've joined in on listing one thing I'm thankful for each day on facebook. Last year, my sweet cousin loved it so much that she has kept it up all year long! It's been amazing to see the things she comes up with. Some "thanks" are sweet and others are complicated. But she always found something to be thankful for every. single. day. I went through a rough patch the beginning of 2012 and some days I just didn't want to be thankful for anything... but that is so wrong. Because I am SO blessed! And reflecting on our blessing and all that we have to be thankful for can certainly turn a rough day into the best day!
So today I'm going to share just a couple things that I'm thankful for. And on my rough days I just might come back and add to this list to turn my day into a better one!

I'm thankful that baby girl will be here NEXT MONTH!! Aaaahhh :)

I'm thankful for delicious fall recipes like this and this.

I'm thankful that Eric and I love our work! We both get to use our hands and be creative and I'm not sure there's anything else that could make us happier. (But I am thankful that I feel like I have the BEST job :) ha ha.)

I'm thankful for this country that I live in. I am so grateful for all of our freedom in the USA.

I'm thankful for my family and my friends. People are my "sunshine" and I need them in my life! I'm convinced that I am loved by the BEST people in the world :)

I'm thankful for my senses. I love being able to feel touches like a hug, a kiss, or even a handshake. I get to enjoy God's beautiful earth each day through sight. Smell was the worst thing ever during my first trimester of pregnancy, but other than that? I love the amazing scents our world has to offer. I'm so so grateful I get to enjoy each of my senses.

I'm thankful for those moments when I slow down and really drink in my life. It's the little moments that go unnoticed, that can mean the most!

I'm thankful for Eric. There could not be a more perfect man for me. I love him!!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

speechless


Blogging is seriously one of the best things that has ever come into my life! The reason I started this blog was to "journal" my life. I wanted a place to share my stories and pictures so that I won't ever forget little details of our adventures. I didn't expect to meet girls from across the country who just get me. And then meeting bloggers in real life? Amazing! You guys have helped me through some hard and ridiculously lonely times, and I could not be more grateful. I have always felt so much love and support in blog land and it just makes my heart want to burst at times :)
Then I got pregnant. You guys.... I can not express how much your love, excitement, advice and support means to me. And the gifts... I don't even know what to say! Eric and I love it all SO much and we are just in awe at how giving you girls are. Baby girl is so loved by you already! Your generosity and love has made me cry more than once, and I'm not convinced I can totally blame that on hormones :)
Thank you for being so amazing. Thank you for your friendships! Thank you the example of true selflessness and giving. You ALL make me want to be a better person! I hope you girls know just how much I love you!! THANK YOU :)

Sunday, November 4, 2012

thriller

Seriously.... I used to babysit this girl zombie! I feel so old :) She had to sneak in a quick belly rub even though she was supposed to stay in character!

Eric took me to the Thriller production at Tuacahn when we were dating 5 years ago and I made the mistake of telling him it's the pretty much the same program every year, they just change up a couple of the dances. His reply? Sweet! That means I don't ever have to take you again..... And he meant it :) I've been asking him every Halloween if he'd take me to Thriller and his reply was always, why?? We've already seen it!
This year we had a party to go to on Halloween night but I ended up having to work out of town. I was bummed to miss out, but at the same time I was slightly relieved because Eric wanted to dress up as Dog the Bounty Hunter and have me be Beth. Look them up if you don't know who I'm talking about.... you'd be relieved as well ;) Anyway, I was hoping Eric would come with me since he had the day off and I was majorly hoping he'd take me to Thriller. Eric told me how "dumb" Thriller was, how much he hated it, why should he have to sit through dancing, blah blah blah. Then the morning before Halloween... he surprised me with tickets to Thriller!! He bought them a couple weeks prior but told me he wanted me to think he was a jerk and that he wasn't the kind of husband to take his wife out unless he wanted to do it as well. Ha ha! Good thing I already knew he wasn't that kind of husband :) It was the best surprise and I thought it was the BEST way to spend Halloween night. Dancing, creepy zombies, baby girl trying to dance out of my belly, and my hubs. The BEST!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

33 weeks

picture taken at 33 weeks 2 days

- I got my first prenatal massage this week! Oh it felt amazing!! But it didn't do anything for my hips.... I'm thinking I'm going to have to give a chiropractor a try.

- I'm craving twix candy bars these days :)

- This is kind of silly to document but it's a once in a lifetime... so it needs to be remembered :) Baby girl received her first (and only) Chanel outfit from a very generous client. She should probably wear it every single day until she outgrows it because this is the only time in her life she'll be wearing something like that, ha ha!

- I've hit the uncomfortable stage where I prefer to stand because it gives baby girl (and me) more room, but it hurts to stand. I'd like to sit to give my body a break but it scrunches baby girl and she makes sure I'm aware of it :) And when I lay down the weight of my body pulls on my back. So fun!

- Baby girl is growing bigger and bigger each day! We can pretty much see my belly grow by the minute, ha ha. Even though I'm extremely uncomfortable, I'm so grateful that she is thriving inside my body. Can't wait to meet her in just a few, short weeks!