2 years later and we're 2 1/2 :)

It's 1-2-12 and that means another tally in the years of being a wife!

Two years ago I absolutely bawled my eyes out minutes before I walked down the aisle to marry my groom.  Those tears were for lots of reasons-- but definitely not because I didn't want to do it!

Marrying Ben was a great decision.  I never would have told you years ago that I'd be carrying the child of Ben Jensen-- now I'm thrilled to tell you that!  [Check out some earlier posts in April to read about the beginning of our relationship]

We're a lot alike-- and in ways that we aren't, we're still compatible! Maybe we've become more alike the longer we've been together and the more life situations we go through.  I realize that I look to him when I'm in situations where I'm not comfortable.  I know I can look at him in certain situations and we both know what each other is thinking.  Forgiveness is one of his strengths-- and I realize that all the time.  He's reliable and dependable. He's goofy (some might not believe me on this!) and fun.

I feel very blessed to be called your wife, Ben!  Thanks for marrying me--   I'd be OK if our baby boy was just like you :)

I'm remembering that it was A LOT colder and we had A LOT more snow two years ago!!!

How we told them

(This is a blast from the recent past.... but in the spirit of family gatherings approaching-- here's a video from a special family gathering a few months ago!)


I knew my Mom's 50th birthday celebration weekend would be the perfect time to announce that she's getting her first grandchild!

I was in charge of creating a photo book of family pictures... so I got the idea to sneak a picture that no one had ever seen before in there.

All my mom's brothers and sisters were able to come that weekend so that helped in telling the extended family!

"To an awesome mother and friend... and soon to be GRANDMA!  

Baby Jensen due April 26, 2012"

AND... my favorite part... the video!!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

.... because who wants raisins in their cookies?? Please pass the chocolate...

One of my all time favorite cookie recipes comes from the back of the Great Value (Walmart generic) brand of oatmeal.  Not crispy, not flat, not gross. Super easy to freeze dough and have on hand. I think I might add this to my weekend to-do.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1 cup of shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tbs. milk
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 4 cups quick oats
• 1 bag chocolate chips

Cream the shortening and sugars together with an electric mixer.  Beat in the eggs, milk and vanilla, mixing until well combined.

Stir the flour, baking soda and salt together and mix into the wet ingredients.  Then stir in the oats and chocolate chips.

Drop by teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet or baking stone.  Bake 9-10 minutes at 375 degrees.

dear baby boy...

Dear baby boy, 

I really thought you were a girl... but I guess we're all about surprising mom and helping her work on developing her maternal instincts! I am so excited to have a first son! Keep growing though-- we all still need a little more time :)

I took a vote with the kids I work with and it was 9-8 with "Boy" winning!  (I noticed someone voted "girl" for someone else that was absent that day-- so I'm not counting that vote! sneaky kids.)      There are also some "you are asum" and "i love you baby" notes on there too.  We'll work on how to spell "awesome" some day :)

Here I am, about 20 weeks pregnant earlier this week. I was going through clothes trying to see what things look like with a little extra something going on up front :)  Wearing a blue shirt must have been a hint that you were a boy!

 And, here are your glamour shots! You were moving around A TON so it took awhile to get the pictures that we needed.  It's like you knew we were looking at you and you wanted to show off your skills.  I feel you move- I know!




I love your cute little feet already!!

And look at those chiseled facial features. You will be one handsome dude if you've got any of your dad in you :)

I imagine you'll have blond hair-- mom and dad were both blonds as kids. Dark monkey hair as babies, though!









And finally, I'll close with something I wrote a long time ago.  When we first found out about you coming into our life-- there was a lot going on in my head!  I decided to write to you then.
Written August 30.

Dear baby,

I'm just over 6 weeks pregnant and it doesn't feel real. I thought maybe if I write to you-- it'd help me think of you as a real little person who will take over our lives and home sometime in April. I hoped you would happen soon-- but we tried not to have our lives revolve around it because we knew it really wasn't up to us ultimately.  Though, there were a few moments where I wondered if you happened and even thought for more than a few moments that we might have a "made in China" baby.  God created you for us now and you're a miracle.  Apparently, you're due the day after my birthday and I could think of no greater gift.   [internet due date said April 20 until the doctor appt. due date said April 26]

For about a week, this has just been a secret between your dad and me (and the ladies who scheduled my first appointment).  So the secret part of it is making it feel a little unreal.  But I can't wait to tell our families in person and give my mom a great birthday present!  Then my insecurity catches up with me and I worry about people's reactions. We may have surprised a few people and we could have waited a few more years because "we're so young."  But I push aside the insecurity that has plagued me my whole life because I'm getting better at doing that now.

I feel like babies and pregnant women are everywhere now.  Gosh, I went through a lot of emotions that first day I knew.  Excited, disbelief, downright scared.  I guess I still feel those emotions, so really not much has changed.  I keep figuring out things I'm not (or wasn't) supposed to eat/drink/smell/do... but I'm really just trying to trust God to protect you.  I'll do what I can and I hope I can provide you a comfortable and healthy incubator.

I have a feeling you're a girl... but maybe that's because baby  girl clothes are so much more fun to shop for.  I really hope you have a full head of dark hair! I think once you start changing my body and cause me to get new clothes it'll be easier to think and talk about you more.

But for now, my sweet unborn baby, I'll treasure this secret and pray for you lots.

Love,
Mom

the things they say

I supposed it's been a few weeks since my online life has been updated.  We've been to a couple weddings, a Thanksgiving get-together, my first midnight Black Friday shopping experience, and spent a few relaxing days at home! I guess if I was a really good blogger I'd have documented those activities-- oops! :) I'm OK with that though.

This weekend I'm excited to complete Christmas decorating-- and maybe even get some lights outside! Tomorrow will most likely bring this city's first snow!! I've heard snow has hit other areas of the state but I have yet to see it! It is December now so I will welcome it.

Oh, and one other thing has been changing a lot-- my baby belly. I think it visibly exists now.

Last week a kindergarten student (who is about as tall as my belly) asked me why it was "so fat right there." (the cardigan I was wearing to help hide the "fat right there" was kinda open then). I told him there's a baby in there and he said, "who put it there?" Then somehow I got him off topic or he got distracted and ran off!

I told the students that I work with and their comments have been pretty funny!  I told them Monday, and on Wednesday one first grader asked me if I had the baby yet. Some are convinced it's not happening because I'm not as big as other pregnant teachers they've seen.  I told them that the baby is about as big as their hand and how long it takes for a baby to grow-- and lots were shocked!  I think that's all the baby making/growing education I should offer :)

They also have lots of questions about whether it's a boy or girl and what it's name is.  So I'll have to start a prediction poll next week with them to guess boy or girl.  And I have a couple kids who are thinking of baby names for me. I have a feeling the names they'll come up with may traditionally be ... um, more "ethnic" names :)  haha!

I think I got my first pregnancy comment from a stranger this week.  I walked into a new elementary school to substitute and the school secretary was showing me a map of the school.  She says, "Here's the staff bathrooms. That's always good to know-- and it looks like you might have extra pressure on your bladder."
I kinda didn't catch it completely because I was turning to meet someone else at the same time-- so I didn't have a chance to comment or react!  But she is right, I do have quite a bit of extra pressure on my bladder these days!

...

We'll get to see our little guy or girl in 6 days via the 20 week ultrasound!!