Rumor has it it's the month of thanksgiving.

I am extremely grateful for life and a few of its specifics

Here are 9 for November 9th!

1. being married to a poor college student. Money, we hear, will always be one of those "marital challenges" but I am thrilled that we will have learned to be very poor far before we have money to spare. We learn to work together, and we learn faith. It's amazing how far the Lord can make your dollar bill stretch! We learn the importance of budgeting, and the value of a dime.

Most importantly, we're learning the value of and blessings that come from hard work...even when it's less than enjoyable!

2. Our experience in Florida. In so many different ways. At times because it is the most challenging experience we've had thus far, and at times because it is like living in a dream. I remember being teeny tiny when my dreams about living on the beach began. It is as blissful as I imagined it. But more complex than I dreamed. We have never been more unlucky and lucky at the same time! I have learned not to be surprised by life's challenges as they have come in abundance these past few months. I have also learned to continue to see the beauty amidst the challenges. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to live in such a beautiful place.

This has been my new favorite chapter of life. I have never before felt such a strong urge to slow down time, or so afraid from life's moments to pass by all too quickly. I am sad that the chapter is coming to a close. Very sad. But thrilled to open Chapter 3: "Baby Brynlee" even if that chapter does have to take place back in college town. (can't wait till we finally move past that)

3. A husband who makes me laugh every day. Don't tell him he's funny. I don't want him to know it.

4. The power of daily prayer and scripture reading. It can't be underestimated.

5. Temples. It's hard not to live close to one.

6. Matt's daddy-pregnancy cravings. We've eaten more cookies in the past couple of months than ever before in my life.

7. The happiness that comes from serving my own little family. I finally get to be a better wife, here at home, and I can't wait to take care of my baby girl all day long.

8. Vonage phones. I'm sure most of you know and agree that these have been the best invention since sliced bread.

9. Health and Safety. A whole family who enjoys these blessings. It has been harder to take for granted the miracle of enjoying these blessings each day, with a family who lives in a place where there are so many threats to one's safety. And... as I grow a baby inside my belly, I never forget what a miracle each day of life is.

not for me

Matt has always wanted to see what I would look like with short hair.

Me, not wanting to cut my hair, always said I would cut my hair short when I got pregnant.

Thought that would be a long way away.

Was wrong.

Kept my promise and cut my hair.

Tried to tell myself it was the perfect time since hair is supposed to grow fast when you're pregnant.

Hate it. It's way harder to deal with than long hair is. Too much work.

It won't grow fast enough.

Hate the in-between stage of growing hair out.

Learned or re-learned:

Short hair is not for me.

Don't make promises you will regret later.

way to grow!

This week we hit 28 weeks!

1st picture was 25 weeks, 2nd picture is my belly at 28 weeks!

See us growing??

We've been together for 28 weeks and have gained 18 pounds!!!

We have had some adventures!

After getting overheated and dehydrated in the middle of the everglades, contractions were getting worse by the day, and more frequent. I put off calling my doctor until I saw blood. Then I called in to let him know what was going on, and we were in for a scare when he told us to go to "labor and delivery" immediately, and that he would meet us there.

So...we went in and got the belly hooked up to some little machines and had some uncomfortable tests taken. We were thrilled that there was no amniotic fluid, I'm not dilated, and every'thing' is still in place.

So, Brynlee got monitored for about 2 hours, and we got sent home with no explanation as to why these things were happening other than the assumption that it was the effects of me over-doing it for a pregnant body.

But...

I am pleased to not be visiting a 3 pound baby in the NICU right now. She is kicking around in my belly where she belongs for now! We couldn't be more blessed!

We're just praying things get better so that she stays safe, and I don't have to go back to Utah (where our health insurance actually works) sooner than planned and alone to have this baby girl.

And...

I am doing a really good job at "taking it easy" a.k.a. sitting around at home all day, eating, and never getting dressed!

I've just given baby B' the job of being a "good grower" and making every day count!
We love our baby girl more than she'll ever know!

visitors

This week we had some fun with visitors! Matt's family came to experience Florida with us!

We tried to cram all the fun we could into the 4 short days we had with them

We spent our first day at our beach and then BBQ'd some delish skewers, picked Matt up from work, and spent the evening at our fabulous outlet mall and stuffed our tummies with Cheesecake Factory! -yum!

Day #2  we ventured out into the Everglades to attempt a 15 mile bike ride with the alligators!

It was fun I think for most everyone...but I learned a little too late that the everglades are a bad idea for a third trimester pregnant lady.

First off, we went in the middle of the day - the hottest part of a sunny day in South Florida.

Secondly, after mile 5, Matt decided to race off ahead of everyone and took all of my much needed water away with him in his basket.

I got hot and dehydrated, had lots of fun contractions -not good-, started feeling really weak, got dizzy, got a migraine...turned around on the path and peddled 5 eternal miles back to civilization as fast as I possibly could in case I needed a hospital.

But...I thought the everglades were awesome! I really wish I could do it again under better circumstances!

And...I am so so so thankful to still have baby Brynlee safely in my belly!

Our third day we had planned to go to Naples on the west coast of FL, but decided to find a closer beach that didn't require a 1 1/2 hour drive after our escapades in the everglades the day before.

We drove a couple miles south of our house and landed our beach bums on Dania beach. It was abundant with jellyfish!

We came back, swam at the pool, played some beach tennis, and made Halloween dinner!

We had candy-corn looking pizza, blood n' bones (breadsticks with marinara sauce), and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!

We were sad that none of the kids made it past security to trick-or-treat at our door.

Our last day was Sunday. Guess what we did? Went to Church, ate Sunday dinner, and strolled on the beach and took a few pictures. Typical. But lots of fun.

There were too many pictures, so I made a lovely collage of our adventures!

On a more serious note...I had a lot of fun finally getting to know my in-laws. This was a first for me - having them to ourselves. I hope that it won't be the last.

Thanks for coming!

I love being visited by family and spending quality time and making memories.

hot vs. cold

Do I really have to go back to Utah for 6 months???

How am I supposed to feel excited about the snow and cold whether when I have the beach right outside my door and the warm sunshine shining?

There is really no debate. I belong in the sunshine state. I think I am going to try to sleep through the months of January-June.

I can't believe how badly I dread going back. For more reasons than the weather. I almost feel sick inside.

p.a.i.n.

Things 'got interesting' much more quickly than I wanted them to.

The only way I have to describe today is PAIN.

You know how every time you want to describe pain in the body, you use examples??

Like, when your foot or leg falls asleep, you say it "feels like a million little needles poking you at once"

But when you say that, you don't think that's what's actually happening, right?

That kind of thing.

Well,

for the first time today, the way I would describe how painful stretching is, is by telling you what I felt and thought was actually happening.

My skin LITERALLY feels like it's going to rip open from the inside out.

Today I had actually convinced myself that if I stood up too straight, or if someone pushed me, my skin would indeed rip open. And what if my placenta ripped? ...That was until my sissy poo assured me that my skin would definitely not rip apart.

But really, had someone told me that I would feel and think my skin was actually ripping apart, I would have laughed.

I think it's one of those things you can't truly understand until you've experienced it.

I thought I had experienced the stretching feeling. I had.

Now, I can say I have experienced the ripping feeling. ugh. It's awful.

My whole stomach feels bruised, and I am out of ideas as to what I can do to slow this process down. But I think this is out of my control. I am so afraid to weigh myself. Based on how I felt today, I think I may have gained 5 pounds today alone.

oh. my. gosh.
Hopefully this doesn't turn into a weekly occurrence!

things are about to get interesting

There is a whole lot more of that belly growing business going on around here these days! This belly of mine is about to take over my body...

This week I had a mid-pregnancy crisis, as I came to the realization that I have only grown/gained maybe half of the weight that I will gain throughout the course of pregnancy....only I have about 1/3 the time to do the other half of that growing now. My poor, poor body. I can feel that this little girl is eager to grow, and there's no stopping her. I really hope the next 15 weeks go by quickly.

I'm about to showcase my 24 and my 25 week pictures... Try not to laugh.

This is what happened at 24 weeks.

In the morning....

And this is what happened by nightfall.

(I had planned to crop my face out anyway...but I thought the expression on my face says it all...)

And this is at two days short of 25 weeks

The good news is, with a hair elastic, I can still comfortably squeeze my belly into my jeans in the mornings...
Bad news is, towards the end of the afternoon, that elastic is not so comfortable around the waistline.

Like I said...things are about to get interesting.
Thank goodness for my new lifestyle as a stay-at-home mom-to-be, and for a brand new pair of long, stretchy sweat pants!! 
Had I read this last statement 6 months ago, I would have been disgusted. But It's going to be all about comfort for the next little while around here.