.:35 Weeks:.

35 weeks? Really? For as much as I've said this pregnancy is dragging, it sure seems to be picking up speed now!

I had a doctor's appointment on Friday, and had my lovely GBS test done. My doctor also decided to check me while she was down there. Seems a bit early, but I don't mind! I'm only dilated to a half, and more than likely, I'll stay that way until right before my due date. My body doesn't dilate early! However, getting checked seemed to have irritated things down there because I've been having some weak contractions in the evenings the past few days. I never really got contractions from being checked with either of the girls, so maybe this time will be different? I'm not holding my breath, though. Our babies don't come early, and I don't really plan on this gal making an appearance until December.

My doctor had my thyroid checked again on Friday. I guess every time it's been checked (multiple times this pregnancy) it's just been borderline normal range. I haven't heard if anything has changed from this most recent test, but maybe I'll just start blaming my weight gain on my thyroid. :)

I'm not majorly uncomfortable yet, but definitely experiencing some hip pain and pubic bone pain. She's still hanging out pretty low, so I've escaped the rib pain so far. It mostly just makes sleeping difficult, but I guess we'll just call it good preparation for having a newborn!

Reece has been a lot more mindful of babies recently. I think she is going to be super cute having a baby sister. She is always talking about my belly, and how it's almost time for the baby to come out. I can't wait to see all three of them interact!

I'm trying to enjoy these last few weeks. I know they are going to go quickly. I'm just kind of done being pregnant. Not because I'm so uncomfortable, but just because I'm ready to meet our baby. Of course, once she's out and I'm exhausted I'll be wondering why I was wanting her out so badly. I started working on a list of what to pack for the hospital bag. We're still trying to figure out if we want to get induced close to my due date, just to help with Josh's work schedule and having people ready to take the girls. And of course, she needs a name. I'm guessing we won't decide that until we're leaving the hospital to come home. That's how we roll.

In the spirit of Halloween, here is a picture (an un-flattering one at that) of me in my skeleton baby shirt. Getting big!

.:Trip to K-Town:.

At the beginning of October, my sister and I decided to take a spur of the moment trip up to Oregon to my parent's house. My nephew had a break from school, and I wanted to squeeze in one more trip before I'm too pregnant to travel or have a newborn, so we made it work!

Josh was able to get a few days off of work, so he headed up to Boise with us to have a bromance weekend with my brother in law. We got in late Tuesday nite, and had hyper girls who didn't end up falling asleep until about 1:00 a.m.!

The next day we got up, got ready, loaded up the minivans, and we were off! I was a little nervous about driving by myself. I used to do it all the time in college, but it seems the older I get, the harder it is for me to drive for long distances! But it actually wasn't too bad. The girls were awesome for almost the whole way, and Dani and I had walkie talkies and our Diet Cokes. The only questionable part of our drive there was the truck we passed in some remote wooded area that had a shotgun hanging out the window. We were all excited to get to Gramzee and GPSTEW's house!

We spent a few days just hanging out at home,

running errands,

and doing fun things, like driving the John Deer....

riding on the atv with grandpa...

seeing Lion King in 3D...

making - and eating- caramel apples...

going to the pumpkin patch...

and riding Rio.

As usual, thanks to my parents for putting up with the craziness! I don't know why, but our kids were WILD while we were there!

Us ladies found time to do a little crafting as well, which is always a plus in my book!

My family is the best, and I wish I got to see them all more often!

.:I am a child of God:.

We had our Primary program in sacrament meeting today, and for some reason, my emotions were sitting pretty close to the surface and the Spirit really hit me strongly.

When those sweet kids were singing, and Reece and Remi were sitting there watching (and maybe doing a little dancing) it just made my heart so full to think about the blessings that my kids are to me. I was also feeling such a responsibility to be a good parent and a good example to raise them in righteousness and help them grow up loving their Heavenly Father and Jesus.

Being a parent is hard. And I have to admit, that I've had a very short fuse with my kids the past week, and I've just been struggling to be patient with them. But today was just an affirmation to me that it really is worth it, and it's worth trying harder and being a better person so that they have an example in their lives. I know my kids are still super young, but I know they are watching and learning every day.

I'm so grateful that even now, they like to say prayers. Reece will remind us, and both of them fold their arms. I'm so grateful that Reece is excited about going to church and going to nursery, and that she always thanks Heavenly Father for church and nursery in her prayers (sometimes prompted, sometimes not!) I'm grateful that Reece recognizes pictures of Jesus and loves to point them out to us. I know Remi is learning from her, and from us, and will soon start doing this things as well! I feel so grateful for where we live, our families, the friends that I have, the ward that I have, and know that we are where we are supposed to be for right now.

We're just so incredibly blessed, and I am glad that I was able to feel that Spirit today; I needed to take a step back and put aside some of my feelings from the week, and really focus on what is most important.

And speaking of kids, I had a doctor's appointment on Friday. 33 weeks! Still feeling pretty good, minus a little hip and back pain, but definitely not way uncomfortable yet. There was a substitute doctor there since my doctor was out all this past week, and he was really friendly and nice. He felt my belly - and gained a new best friend when he called me skinny - and said he could feel all of the baby, and that she was head down. He also did an ultrasound to confirm it. Measuring right on track and everything is looking good. I did gain a bit too much weight, but he said some of that was water retention, so I need to up my water intake and cut back on the salty foods. Which is basically what I want to eat lately. I go back in two weeks, and I imagine I'll have my group b strep test then. I got papers to pre-register. It's getting close! So excited to meet our little girl!

Don't forget to vote in our name poll!