Chuckle...I don't have to go through any of this!

Incredible moment the other day!!! I was taking a test in my directing class and, no, that is not the cool part, I felt the baby move!! At first I thought it was a muscle twitch since my body does really odd things lately. I shifted in my seat to see if that would remedy the twitch, but it kept going. I then realized what it was!! It was, in a word, amazing. How do I even articulate what it is truly like?

I was looking at "What to Expect When Your Expecting" when I got home later that day, and I read the part that said that women feel the baby at varying times, anywhere from 14 to 20 weeks. Well, put me in the 15th week column.

When Josh got home that night, I was doing homework and trying to relax on the couch. He picked up the "Expecting" that I had left on the coffee table and started to read. Suddenly, he started to chuckle. I thought, okay, I really didn't find anything very funny in the book. I continued to do my homework. Soon, he started to laugh again; my curiosity got a hold of me and I asked him what he was laughing about. He said, "I don't have to go through any of this!" He then started to list things he had found funny. I dryly looked at him, held my tongue and started to do my homework once again.

Later that night, I was thinking about him laughing, feeling like he didn't really care about all that I am going through, that he will never understand and then it hit me: it is actually kind of sad he doesn't get to go through it. #1...it is my role as a woman in the plan of salvation and #2...he will never feel the life and connection as I do. So, maybe I should randomly chuckle and tell him "You don't have to go through any of this!" I think he is ready to "feel", palpably and through my skin, the baby move, but it will not be for a while and it will not be the same sensation or experience for us both. After I told him I had felt the baby move, he said "when will you feel it kick?" He may be laughing on the outside, but I can see the jealousy. Jealousy of my stomach aches, headaches, constipation, fatigue, dizziness, loss of appetite, lack of want to smell certain foods, nausea, of my ever increasing waistline (even though I am maintaining weight now because I cannot eat too much still), and my unpredictable mood swings. Yep. Jealous!!!

Being a woman is A-MAZ-ING!! This has been one of the most wonderful experiences yet in my life.

And so it begins....

14 weeks. We are now 14 weeks into our first pregnancy!!! We are so happy and are excited for our family to grow.

Two weeks ago I went to see my doctor and get my check-up (happy-pappy and all...yea me:). Everything looks great! We also experienced something amazing. We heard the heartbeat for the first time! Dr. Stevenson found one of my arteries so that we could hear the difference between the two: mine was like a giant meandering around and the baby's was like a squirrel hyped up on caffeine. A-MAZ-ING!

I am now a couple of weeks into the second trimester and feeling a little bit better. I still feel sick in the morning and a little bit at night, but my herbal tea helps me out a lot! I find all the side effects of pregnancy..."interesting." But, I am happy, excited and loving life!

Josh's middle school's basketball team he coaches won their division (if that's what it's called). They played the semifinals Saturday at 2 and then the final was at 4, also on Saturday. The first game was an easy win but the second game was exciting! They won it in the last two minutes after falling behind in the first and then switching the lead the rest of the game. He enjoyed it, but he's glad that it's done.

Play rehearsals are going well for me (Twelfth Night). I am having so much fun and learning a lot, but I do physically check out around 8 p.m. Baby and mama get tired being on our feet all day. We open in less than a month, but it is coming right along.

Trick or Treat 2009

This is the video we made this year.

Trick or Treat 2008

This is a video we made last year for Halloween. Enjoy!

Josh and Kristie's Song

Boise

We returned home Sunday night from a trip with Mom and Dad Wallace. We got to spend a couple days with them here and then drove with them to Boise. Conference was great. I missed a few talks, but it was especially nice to attend Priesthood session with Dad. We haven't been able to do that for a couple of years (I actually stayed awake this time, also).

Yesterday we had a break from students here at school. It was one of those relaxing teacher work days. Today it was back to work with kids and all. 7th grade is not much of a challenge now that I have done it a couple rounds. This year the 9th grade is the stress, but only because it is new to me. Once I am organized it is really nice to work with them. They are so much more mature than what I am used to, and our students are very respectful. I never have a problem. I think Kristie is enjoying her stage combat class. She tells me about all the men she gets to beat up. That and other classes keep her busy.

We hope everyone is well. We love you all!
Josh

School

So we are both back in school and getting used to this lifestyle again. I am teaching 9th and 7th grade this year, and Kristie is taking a full load of classes at BYU. She is working less than before and taking 16 credits. It makes for a boring home life because all she wants to do is study and all I want to do is plan lessons.

We wanted to include a couple of pictures from our recent trip to Zions Park and St. George. We were there for a total of three days. We went to Snow Canyon on the 10th, Zions and a Shakespeare play on the 11th, and Kolob Canyon on the 12th. When in Zions we found a little friend. He was particularly fond of Kristie. She was okay until he wasn't satisfied just being on her shoe. He started up her leg and that was when she knew she had had enough.