Pregnancy Pictures

Jaren calls me a "documentor". I have always loved to take pictures of the things that I do (even BEFORE Facebook came along haha) and I have always written in a journal. Because I use this blog as another way to document my feelings and experiences, I wanted to post my pregnancy pictures on here. I only shared one pregnancy picture while I was pregnant but I was taking them all along. So here they are! Sometimes I look at Hannah and can't believe that she was once inside of me. Pregnancy was amazing! It is fun to see Hannah's growth throughout these pictures.

 

 

I ran across these pictures while getting the others. This was our gender reveal party when we found out that Hannah was a girl!

 

Cake pops with a PINK center! Everyone bit into them at the same time :)

 

 

 

Motherhood

The last time I blogged was about six days before our sweet Hannah Elizabeth was born. She is now almost three months old. It has been the most crazy, growing, and special experience of my life. Hannah is such a joy. Sometimes I look at her and imagine what her life will bring her. I imagine her as being a strong woman who is a light to those around her. I feel so blessed and grateful that I get to be her mother. My heart has been opened. Motherhood is a gift.

I have learned that motherhood is no easy task. I knew it would be a learning experience but I would have not guessed I would have been stretched to the extent I was. Hannah having colic, me trying to heal from childbirth, lack of sleep, nursing issues, and my post-pregnancy hormones made those first weeks hard. Those weeks were some of my hardest but I can honestly say that they now hold a special place in my heart. It was the start of a new stage in my life. The start of something special. Although I continue to adjust, my new normal has settled in. I am so grateful for Jaren throughout this these last months. He has truly been my rock. His positive attitude, faith in me, and kind words help so much! My mom has been there every step of the way as well. Her example of motherhood has been my frame of reference as I have begun my own journey.

I've decided that things like Facebook, Instagram etc. make motherhood seem like it's perfect. The pictures/videos posted are obviously of the good times. Of course we don't post pictures of ourselves sleep deprived at 3 am or our babies with poop up their backs and spit-up down their fronts. What the posted pictures do say though, is that parenthood is something that brings joy and fills our hearts with more love than we thought possible. I am in awe of this whole experience and of this little girl who will one day call me Mom.

Days Away from Change

I am only a few days away from the biggest change in my life. It is a lot to take in sometimes. Right now my little girl is moving around inside of me. Soon, she will be moving around in my arms. Pregnancy has been a special time. It has taught me a lot about my body and about the miracle of life. Although I don't think we could ever be fully prepared to be parents, I feel like we are ready. As I think back on my life, I can see different experiences that have prepared me to be a mother. Each trial, each habit I have set, each sin I have repented of, each parenting example from my mom and dad, have all helped to prepare me for what is ahead. I do realize that I have no idea what it is like to be a mom, but I also realize that God is on my side. I know that I can gain peace and knowledge through Him throughout this crazy experience that will be beginning in a few days. We are about to begin a new chapter in our lives. My heart is full. Adventures up ahead!

Goals

At the beginning of this month, Jaren and I set some goals for the new year. These goals are in the different domains of our overall wellness. We set physical, emotional/mental, financial, and spiritual goals. We have noticed our lives and overall wellness improving as we have tried to make changes this month. Today I have been thinking about our spiritual goals and how they have helped us this month. I have noticed that it is very easy to fall out of the habit of doing spiritually important and uplifting things. For some, this may because doing such things takes extra time and effort. For others, it may be because when we slowly get out of a habit, we don't recognize what we are missing. For me, it is probably a mixture of both. That is one of the reasons why my new goals have been such a good experience for me. I feel closer to my Savior. He has taught me different things this month that I would not have learned otherwise. He, through the Spirit, has showed me some ways that I can improve as a person.

My goals are small but have made a large difference in my life. I'm so grateful for my Savior and what he has taught me.

Top 12 of '12

Just like I did last year, I want to document some of the highlights of the year 2012. It was a really good year. I feel like I have grown and learned a lot. So here are our "top 12 of '12"!

12. Back in April, Jaren and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. We we able to spend it at a cabin in Island Park. It was such a special few days! Because we didn't have homework (it was in between semesters), we spent that days playing with dart guns, eating, watching movies, playing card games, and just being together. Jaren is my prince.

11. We made some new friends these past months. I am currently in a presidency with some other women in my church and have served with some great women throughout the year 2012. This has given Jaren and I the opportunity to make some new friendships this year.

10. Because Jaren's younger brother was graduating from Marine boot camp, we went to San Diego CA with Jaren's family. It was a great trip! It is always special to spend quality time with family. Memories were made!

9. Jaren played intramural competitive football at BYUI for the last season. I LOVE watching my cute hubby play and he loves playing so much! It was a great season.

8. I auditioned for a religious vocal group called "From the Heart". I had the opportunity to be in this group in 2010 for two semesters and so I was really excited to make the cut again! From the Heart was a life changing experience for me. Friendships were made and my testimony of Jesus Christ was strengthened.

7. Jaren and I's best friends, Hans and Stephanie Petrich, moved across the country this year. We become friends with them back in 2009 and their friendship means so much to us. Hans and Steph recently lost their sweet baby twins after they were born at 21 weeks along. It was heartbreaking. I learned even more about what Jesus Christ meant when He said that we should "mourn with those that mourn." We are grateful for this friendship and have seen it continue even with Hans and Stephanie living across the country from us.

6. My family saved our money this year to go on our first cruise! We went this past November and it was so much fun! I want to write another post specifically about our cruise but it was a really special and fun time for us as a family.

5. Jaren applied for medical school this year. Talk about a long and stressful process! Although he scored in the 92nd percentile on the MCAT (medical college admissions test), because we applied late we aren't positive we will be accepted to start this coming fall. Luckily, we feel at peace about whatever happens. Exciting times!

4. I finished my Masters program this past December! I was a hard and stressful process but I learned and grew so much. There were was a lot of tears, relief, work, and money that went into that program. I feel at peace knowing that I could easily support my family financially if I ever needed to. I also am grateful that I have been able to set an example of education for my children. I'll officially "walk" in graduation this coming May.

Celebrating the last day of school with classmates and spouses :)

3. After finishing my Masters program, I had to pass the Idaho Social Work Licensing Exam. Luckily, I passed it :) It was such a relief! I can now start my new job as a therapist this next week!

After the test, Jaren and I came home to this. Thanks Mom!

2. Jaren graduated from BYU-Idaho this past December with a Bachelors degree in Exercise Physiology. He worked so dang hard throughout these past years in school and I am so proud of him. I look up to him so much!

1. Back in July we found out that we are pregnant! A few months later we learned that our baby was a sweet little girl. We can't wait to meet her in person. She moves around inside of me constantly. Jaren loves to put it mouth up to my belly to talk to his little princess. She will be here in about 2 1/2 months.

Isn't she pretty? :)

Although 2012 has been a year full of these fun and exciting things, there were also trials that learning experiences that are bound to happen during any year of life. I never want this blog to look like things are perfect, because life isn't like that. There are ups and downs. Without the lows, these "top 12 of '12" wouldn't have seemed nearly as great! Excited to see what 2013 holds! Bring it on :)

Little Window to Heaven

It took Jaren and I about 8 months to get pregnant. Compared to some people that is not very long, but in our sphere of experience, it was a while. After doing some tests at the doctor, I was put on a prescription called Clomid. Clomid helps with ovulation. We were blessed to get pregnant on my first month of taking Clomid. This pregnancy has been a blessing. Although it isn't all roses (especially when I'm sitting up in bed at 3:00 am in pain from my stomach muscles and ligaments stretching), feeling this baby move inside of me is one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced. Jaren can now feel the baby move with his hand on my belly. His face lights up every time.

Jaren and I had been married for almost 3 years before we began trying to start our family. Although we were always excited to start our family, we didn't feel that it was the right time until about 3 years later. I'm grateful for God's hand in our lives and for the promptings that we felt.

About 9 months after we were married, I wrote this poem. It was about our future child. It is crazy that the baby that I wrote this for so long ago, is now growing inside of me.

2/4/10

Little Window to Heaven

I have not been able to meet you yet,

But I already feel a strong love.

It seems that it should be impossible,

To love someone who is still above.

 

 

I cannot wait to see your small smile,

I want to soothe your sweet little cry.

I hope I’ll be all you need me to be,

I will do my very best, I will try.

 

Which of my mannerisms will you have?

I hope that you have your daddy’s eyes.

Will we as your parents be seen in you?

We’ll learn from your example if we’re wise. 

 

You will be our window into heaven,

We will see our Savior through you.

I love you and can’t wait for our union,

I promise you this, it is true.

          -- Sarah W. Dickey

Update

I sure haven't been blogging much lately. This semester I have been required to write about 7 pages a week and so I might be a little tired of writing. I’ll give a quick update on both Jaren and I. Life has been busy but very good!

Sarah

I am in my last semester of my graduate program. I truly cannot believe that I will be a licensed therapist in two months. I look at my education as a blessing from God. This semester has been the easiest of the whole program. The lighter work load has been great. I am still working as a Psychosocial Rehabilitation worker and it has been a great job. I auditioned and made a 24 member religious choir called “From the Heart”. I was in this choir two years ago and it changed my life. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a member of it again. It gives me the opportunity to share my testimony of Jesus Christ through singing. I am 19 weeks pregnant which means that I am almost halfway done! This pregnancy has been an amazing miracle. It is neat to see my body changing as a life grows inside of me.

Jaren

My husband continues to amaze me. He works so hard in school and still makes time for me. He is in his last semester at BYUI and will graduate in December. Applying to medical school has been a stressful process. It is crazy how intense the whole process is. He is also the captain of a flag football team (I married a sports man) and they do great! Jaren has been so sweet during this pregnancy. Since our baby can now hear sounds, Jaren puts in mouth close to my belly and says things like “Daddy loves you.” He also thinks that my little belly is the cutest thing ever. He is going to be one good dad.

This past weekend Jaren went to Washington and Oregon to visit some medical schools with the Pre-Med Society. He had a great experience. While he was gone I had a sleepover with one of my best friends, had a girl’s night with my mom, and went on “Retreat” with my choir “From the Heart.” Here are some pictures from our weekend apart.

 

Jaren ate at restaurant that was on "Man Verses Food"!

Yummy!

Isn't he cute?! haha

Another "Man Verses Food" place. Jaren with his bacon donut.

Sleepover with Kelli

Girls night with mom

Games while on From the Heart retreat

Hula hooping at retreat :)



Retreat