Count Your Many Blessings

Yes, Snap, you do have a daddy and you should be down right thankful for the WONDERFUL one you have!!

Working where I do I often get many questions and comments as to how I can handle seeing these children come to the shelter in order to escape the abuse that is happening to their mothers and sometimes themselves at home. Most of the time I am able to leave work, and I do a pretty good job of leaving work there. These children are really happy while they are in the shelter; they are fed, clothed, sheltered, and loved beyond measure. I see them at their best. Yes, they miss home, friends, and their fathers, but realize that they are in a good place and that we can help them have better lives!

My job usually teaches me to go easier on those I love and makes me realize just how lucky I am to have what I have and grateful for the choices that I have made! Working at the shelter really makes it easy (most the time) to forgive when my hubby doesn't take out the trash, make the bed, leaves his shorts in a wad on the floor, or forgets to start the dishwasher in the morning. It is easier to forget these things because I realize that my life could be much worse and that many women endure much hardship by the hands of those who supposedly love them!

With all of this in mind, here is a conversation I had today with 2 students, both girls.

6 year old: Mrs. A., are you going to have a baby? (Up until this point she had never asked about my big belly)
Me: Yes, I am!
6 year old: I think it is a girl...or, maybe it could be a boy. If it's a girl I bet it will look just like you. I look like my mom.
Me: Well, we don't know which it will be but we will find out soon enough.

6 year old: Yeah, but Mrs. A., it's sad that your baby won't have a daddy!

Me: But my baby does have a daddy.
6 year old: It does? Where is he?
Me: He's at home and at work. I don't live here, I go home after work.
7 year old: Yeah, she doesn't sleep here, she goes home after school and then comes back.
6 year old: Oh, okay! (With a very relieved, happy face...isn't it amazing how perceptive and in-tune little ones are. She knows what she's missing right now and didn't want anyone else's baby to go through the same thing.)

So, yes, Snap, you do have a daddy unlike many little kids who don't or whose daddies make poor decisions for their family. You have a daddy who loves you more than you will ever know. He is already a wonderful daddy who would do anything for you or me. When you count your blessings, be sure to include him in your list...right at the very top!

Practice Makes Perfect

Cindy and I were watching the kiddos, Lisa was driving Grandma to the airport, Sirri and Connor did not want to get dressed, Meg was not feeling so well and was having a rough morning, I had to get ready to meet our family at the park--so I practiced! I think I have skill!!

All About Me

I always receive those surveys that ask you all kinds of random questions that you are to answer and then forward on to all your friends and family. I never do them, but thought I would combine a few of them I have received lately so you can all learn more about me...
(Thanks Linz & Steph)

1) Were you named after anyone? Well, my middle name is the same as my Aunt Pattys...Ann. Luckily, my Grandma Weldon didn't win in the naming department or I would have been named after Betsy Ross since I was born on july 4, 1976. How cute would that have been; Betsy Bigelow!? :(

2) When was the last time you cried? At Grandpa Bigelow's funeral on October 13, 2007

3) Your rock star name: (first pet & current car) Buffy Corolla

4) Do you like your handwriting? Sometimes I get this combination cursive/print that I think looks pretty nifty!

5) What is your favorite lunch meat? Boring turkey, however not smoked. Tuna fish comes in as a close second.

6) Your Gangsta name: (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Mint Chocolate Chip Circus Animal

7) Do you have kids? One is WELL on the way...Baby Snap

8) Do you still have your tonsils? Yep

9) Would you bungee jump? Oh NO!!

10) Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Most of mine are slipons, but my tennies, nope, I untie them before I put them on.

11) Your Detective Name: (favorite color, favorite animal) Purple stuffed

12) Do you think you are strong? Physically--ask me in a little over a month. Mentally--strong with a few soft spots!

13) What is your favorite ice cream? See #6

14) What is the least favorite thing about yourself? My inability to make decisions

15) Your Star Wars Name: (the first three letters of your last name & first 2 letters of your first name) Atcki

16) Who do you miss the most? Sirri, Connor, Baby Meg

17) What color pants and shoes are you wearing? Blue jeans and my black and red CROC flip flops (rarely do they come off my feet these days. the floor alone is just too hard)

18) What was the last thing you ate? A Healthy Choice Fudge Bar

19) If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Turquoise

20) Favorite smells? My husband's deodorant, lavendar, pine trees, a roast being cooked in the crock pot (weird), rain

21) Your superhero name: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink, put 'The" infront of it)
The Yellow Sparkling Water with lime

22) Hair color? BLondish/brown--more brown

23) Eye color? Hazel

24) Do you wear contacts? NO!!! Everytime I go to the eye doctor, I try them, but they never work. Apparently I am allergic to all of the solutions.

25) Favorite foods? Peaches and aspauragus

26) Summer or winter? Fall--the season that I don't think we get here in Cali :(

27) Favorite Dessert? Candy...something sweet & sour

28) What book are you reading right now? Your Pregnancy Week by Week, The Measure of a Man, & Some teen book at school. I can't remember the title, but am loving the story.

29) Where were you born? Salt Lake City

30) Nascar Name: (the first names of your grandfathers) Byron William or By Bill (if I use the names they use) which would my Nascar agent choose?!

What's in a Name?

When I was home a few weeks back, I was able to spend some time with my neice Sirri, who already adores her cousin Snap. Lisa and Sirri have had conversations about how they probably won't have any more babies after Meg. Sirri insists that yes, we do...Aunt Kimmy has Baby Snap, so we have a baby. I love that she knows Snap is hers as well...that's what family is about.

Sirri continually kissed and hugged my belly while I was with her and would always tell Snap that she loves him/her. Even now when I talk with her on the phone, she tells me, "I love you Aunt Kimmy and I love Snap!"

While home I explained that Snap was just the nickname we are using since we don't know if it's a boy or a girl. I asked Sirri what we should name the baby when it arrives.

Here it is...if it's a boy--Light Snap and if it's a girl--Butter Snap!!

If you have any other great ideas, let us know, we're sortof struggling in the name department. It might be Baby Snap for a few days, who knows!

Look How Big I've Gotten...

Time for my closeup...look I have 2 eyes, a nose, and chubby cheeks.

Today we went to the doctor for our week 33 appointment. We ended up in a room with an ultrasound machine...the WONDERFUL physicians assistant (who I like better than any of the doctors) decided to please us with pictures.

At 33 weeks along, I measure 33 centimeters--right on track. My blood pressure is perfect and let's hope it stays that way. Maybe that Weldon gene doesn't run in my blood. Fingers crossed. I still weigh less than Richard--hallelujah!

Floating Forearm--hopefully it will attach by the time we're ready to deliver. Can you see it up above Snap's head?

No meat on these ribs! Looks like Snap already has the skeleton costume for Halloween.

How many fingers am I holding up? Look closely-they're at the top, five little white dots.

Stars, Fresh Air, and Great Company

3 day weekends...what's not to love?! We spent our long (yet, not long enough) weekend in Mammoth Lakes, California. Ever since getting engaged there it has become one of our favorite places to be and try to make it there a couple times each year. AHHH, such fond memories! :)

This weekend we went camping at Sherwin Creek with my dear friend Whitney and her friend Erik. We all had a wonderful time; hiking, eating camp food (it always tastes better cooked in mountain air), laughing, swimming in chilly mountain lakes (not me...didn't want to freeze out baby), beating Richard at cards (which NEVER happens), reading, gasping for air (only me), and eating at a 4 star restaurant which is located in a gas station...yep, you heard that right! It was very relaxing weekend...one I won't soon forget!

P.S.--I am in the first picture; it just is very dark...guess we should have used a flash. Eventhough you can't really see me, the scenery is amazing! The last picture in my BSU garb is solely on this page so you can see my GIGANTIC belly and chubby face...can you believe what's happening to me?! Just don't look too closely at me, I have some strange face going on. Not a picture I will send in when I enter my first beauty pageant that's for certain. Lisa keeps telling me to take pictures for posterity. She wishes she had more; I will take her advice and hope that in 10 years, or even 2 days I don't regret posting it for you all to see! :)

The Nursery--Not as Hard As Names, But Close

Well, here it is...the fabric for Snap's room decor. I found the ABC material on a bumper pad and found some other fabric to compliment it...I hope it does! I really love all the fabrics. My only concern is that the ABC fabric is on a beigeish fabric and the rest is white. White goes with everything doesn't it?! Too late if it doesn't!

(Back story) I already had a complete crib set and then one day, (with the help of Lisa) I decided I couldn't do it for a neutral nursery. It just felt too girly with the mint green and yellow fabric. I thought bolder and brighter would be better, so, I went back to the drawing board and do feel much better about my current choice.

My husband was/is beginning to think I am going crazy over a silly room, as evidenced by questions posed to me similar to the following (no babe, they are probably not exactly what you said, but close): "How often do you think you will actual be in there?" "How many hours do you intend to spend in Snap's room?" "Do you really think Snap will care what colors you place he/she on to go to bed?" "Do you think if Snap is a boy he will hate us for using mint green and yellow?

Here's the jist of is...I just want to sit in the nursery before the baby's arrival and feel so happy with my creation! :) That's not too much for a new mommy to be to ask is it?!

Here are the curtains that Aunt Elizabeth already whipped up using the 2 main fabrics. She also made a dust rufle for the crib in the striped fabric. She even purchased all of the curtain rods and fixtures. All we need now are walls painted the correct color. They turned out VERY CUTE and Snap and I already feel so lucky to have her! Thanks Aunty! :)