Really?

A tree fell on our house today. Really? It was rotten and just fell over. Thankfully no damage, just a big, giant tree laying on our house.

33 weeks

Getting bigger and bigger

31 weeks

Is my shirt too small?

Borderline Gestational Diabetes

I am now 28 weeks and 3 days pregnant. This past week has been a rough one. Let me catch you up. I went in for my check up before our vacation to go see my beautiful step daughter Laney. As you can see from my previous post, I am having contractions at 27 weeks....not good. At this appointment she increased my medication that stops my contractions from 10mg to 30mg. This medication will slowly make me start to swell in my hands, feet, and legs. So far I've only had swelling in my hands....no more wedding ring :( She also told me that when my feet start to swell she wants to put me on bed rest. We listened to the baby's heartbeat and it was a fast one. He kept moving all over the place and it was hard to get him to stay still. I am measuring 5 weeks bigger than I should be, so my doctor was a little concerned at the size of the baby. She had the heartbeat monitor on two opposite places on my stomach and heard a strong heartbeat in both places. She wants me to get an ultrasound to make sure that we have one baby in there and check the size of this little.....or big boy.

My doctor is really relaxed so when she is concerned about something I listen. She told me that she didn't think it was smart for me to travel with my contractions the way the were. She told me that if I went I was not allowed to walk long distances, be out in the heat, no lifting, and I needed to elevate my feet....pretty much describing what I would be doing on my trip. Brad and I decided that it was best that he travel alone this time for the safety of myself and the baby. I was devastated. I spent almost 3 hours on the phone canceling reservations, trying to get our money back, making different arrangements for Brad that didn't cost us a fortune. It was difficult and emotional for me. I want to see Laney so badly. I'm so happy that Brad was able to go and spend some quality Daddy and daughter time, but I wish I was there with them.

At 27 weeks I did my glucose tolerance test where I drank a nasty sugary drink and then had blood drawn to test my blood sugar level. The results weren't the numbers they wanted them to be, so they ordered me to take another test. This time I had to fast, drink a sugary drink that was 3 times as strong as the first one I had, and get my blood drawn and pee in a cup 5 times in a 3 hour period. I was fine until the 5th blood draw. I got really light headed and sweaty. I needed to eat really badly so I drove to work to meet my coworker for lunch. When I walked in the door I passed out. My coworkers gave me a banana and I started to feel better, but I was still starving so I had a pretty big lunch. After lunch I immediately vomited everything I ate. I needed to go home and lie down and relax so I drove home and could barely keep my eyes open. I have never had that feeling of not being able to control it so I pulled over and took a short nap. That night Brad left for Seattle to go on his trip to Kansas so I thought it was best to have a little help with Lily and myself. The best person to make that happen? My mommy. She took care of me and made me feel so much better. Making sure I felt okay and took such great care of Lily. My test results came back and they said that I have borderline gestational diabetes. So now I have to be on a diabetic diet and take my blood sugar twice a day.

Since Brad has been gone, I've been concentrating on getting things done just in case they put me on bed rest soon. Luckily I have wonderful friends who are willing to give me a helping hand. My girlfriend Tiffany Boushay came over and helped me clear out the spare bedroom to prepare for baby. It has turned into the giant junk room, so putting everything away and organizing it was a challenge, but we made a pretty good dent into the space. I made a list and I'm checking things off one by one. Don't worry, I have help and I'm taking it as easy as I can....I am Nikki afterall.

10 Year Class Reunion

Wow.....I've been out of high school for 10 years! It feels like yesterday I was hanging out in Parker Hall, it doesn't even exist anymore. I was really excited to see some familiar faces from my high school days. I even ran across this girl :) Yep. That's my sister in law Jenn. We both graduated in 2001. We never hung out in high school, but I wish we would have. We have so much in common. And I totally would have tried to date her brother a lot earlier than I did. Ha Ha Ha. As a new mommy of my incredibly cute niece Madi, she went above and beyond for the class of 2001 in organizing the event. Having a newborn, working full time, and planning a reunion.....I couldn't have done it.

I even reconnected with my old team mates....yes I was a cheerleader. And I was awesome at at. I really kind of miss it. I can't wait to see my Little Lily Girl in a little cheer leader outfit, that's if she wants to :) I wanted to be a base and throw the flyer up in the air, but no one would let me cause I was pregnant....ha ha ha. I totally could have done it. It was awesome to see those girls. I had so many fun times with them.

Brad and I, Jenn and Brian at our 10 year class reunion. We are ridiculously good looking. Thank God we're related.

So many people in the class of 2001 and this is all that showed up? Really people! It was such a wonderful time. You all really missed out.

Look at the stud I picked up :)

Look who else I found.....Desire! Again, another person who I knew in high school but didn't hang out with and I totally wish I would have. Desire has become one of my best best friends since high school. I love her sense of humor and all the adorable outfits she wears. Her kids are so cute and so sweet. She is always the first to lend me her ear when I need to vent. She gives the best mommy advice since she has experience and I value her opinion immensely. Desire helped us out in a way that I will forever be grateful and in debt to her.....she watches my baby girl during the day while I work. Lily loves spending time at her Desire's and seeing her Lilah :) Once Jax is born she is going to watch him too. I can't wait to introduce him to her. He is going to love her as much as I do.

Desire and I went out the night before for the cocktail hour at Flyer's. I had a beer.....a root beer. It was delicious. Friends Valerie and Farrah needed a place to stay for the night so they stayed at our house! It was so nice to have visitors and to catch up after all this time. Valerie and I have stayed in pretty good contact on Facebook since high school. She is now married with the two most adorable little girls.

Well I survived my 10 year.....can't wait til my 20.

Contractions at 27 weeks

Well its starting to happen again, just like it did when I was pregnant with Lily. The difference is that this actually started happening at 31 weeks with Lily rather than 27 weeks with this baby boy. Contractions that stop me dead in my tracks to where I can't speak. I am having them every hour and they last for about a minute. I decided that I should probably get checked out since having contractions this early on isn't a good thing. So here I am at Labor and delivery all hooked up to the monitor. I look hot don't I? The best part about this hospital.....the snacks. I love ice with syrup on it. Yumm. Here is one of my contractions. I felt so relieved that I wasn't imagining them, they are actually showing up on the monitor. What a relief.

They did a test called a fetal fibernectin test. This test will determine if I will go into labor in the next couple of weeks. I am happy to say that my test results were negative. They decided to put me on a drug called niphedepine to stop my contractions. If I have 4 in one hour, take a pill or if I have 6 in 6 hours, then I can take a pill. This prevents me from taking too much meds this early on. When I was pregnant with Lily I was taking up to 60mg of niphedipine every 4 hours....right now I am only on 10mg under these guidelines, so not as bad as before thankfully.

Great news is that the baby looks great. Heartbeat, kick count, and movement are all looking really great. The nurse said my body doesn't like to be pregnant. I sure wish it did cause I really want to enjoy it.

Reflecting on the past 10 years

Wow. Have I really been graduated high school for 10 years. That's crazy to me. A lot has happened to me in the past 10 years. I'll try and catch you up. I graduated in June 2001 and moved to a cute little apartment outside of town.....by cute I mean it was tiny and furnished horribly, but I had a roommate, I was living on my own and acting all grown up. At the time I was working at Hallmark, but not really going anywhere with my job so I started looking for something better.

Shortly afterwards I moved into town where I found an apartment that I adored and lived in for quite a while. I started working for the Samish Indian Nation as a receptionist. I loved working for the tribe so much that I wanted to stay there and looked for opportunities to learn more and be a permanent part of staff. I wrote my first federal grant for $500,000 and it was accepted, I got to keep my job and move into a permanent position with the Tribe. I became the Transportation planning manager for the Tribe and I wrote a lot of transportation related grants that in later years were funded. In later years I also started designing all of their publications including newsletters, pamphlets, signs, you name it, I worked on it. Now I design and maintain their website, moving into a larger grant writing position, and working on publications and PR work. I've been working for the Tribe for almost 10 years now and I love working with such a great family.

My little sister Laura graduated in 2003 and moved off to Japan. She lived there for a short time and then moved to Texas. She loves living there, but I miss her dearly. She comes home for visits, but I wish she lived right next door to me.

In 2003, my dad had a stroke at the age of 47. It was a really big scare on our family and I was terrified at the thought of losing my dad. I decided then and there that I wanted to remain in Oak Harbor/Washington State and be near my family. We had moved around my whole life with the military. I loved traveling, but it was sure nice to have a place to call home. I must say, deciding to stay in Oak Harbor was the best decision I have ever made. My parents are my best friends, I love living by the water, and it is where I met my amazing husband.....but I'll get into that soon. Besides, I couldn't leave my mommy. She wasn't just my mommy...she was my best friend. Someone who I love talking to everyday. Someone that I couldn't dare be away from. I love being around her even when she pushes my buttons.I was doing well and working all the time....but I was lonely. So I decided I would work even more. I started modeling to make some extra money on the side and feel good about myself. I did pretty good and I got hired for a lot of different jobs including one of my favorites being a KISW 99.9 Rockgirl. I had the time of my life. Hanging out with girls and making life long friendships, hanging out with bands of people I listened to, dressing up for photo shoots, hearing my voice on the radio, watching a special on Comcast television about us.....it was all so cool.

In April 2008, a friend of mine passed away leading me to ask a lot of questions to myself. What am I doing? Who am I? Am I happy? Am I living the life that I should be living.....to the fullest? Is God in my life? That day I decided to make a commitment to myself to be a better person, live my life the way that I should be living it, live it in a way that would make my parents proud. That following week I met Brad. It was amazing to me that right after I made the commitment to myself, my family, and to God things just started falling into place. At the time I had an interview with another Tribe and I was offered the position. It paid more money, it was a higher level job, I would have had to relocate, and it would have been a great career move for me. I was offered the position the day I went on my first date with Brad. I called them and told them that working for the Samish is where I belonged. I had a feeling about this particular guy. He was different from everyone else. He looked at me as if no one else was in the world....just the two of us, and I loved it. I fell hard and fast, by our third date we were madly in love with each other.

After three months of dating and living together he asked my parents permission to take my hand in marriage. He told my mom that I was the one and my mom agreed with him. Even though we had only dated for a short time, my parents knew he was the right one. On July 26th, Brad proposed to me at West Beach. The place where we had our first date, where we would take walks and have long talks. I found a piece of drift wood on the beach that said I want to grow old with you....it was like a fairy tale. When we arrived back at his parents house for a BBQ, everyone was there waiting and cheering for us. It was perfect. On top of it all, I was going to be a step mommy. I was so excited and thrilled. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect little girl. How lucky was I to be her step mommy? I was on cloud nine. Not only that, but I was gaining a whole family with nieces and nephews....Grace Elaine, Ezra Marc and Audrey Claire. They were all so excited for me to be their aunt and I couldn't have been happier. I also gained sisters and a brother. How cool is that? I love our big family.

We planned to have a wedding in May 2009. Brad's grandfather George was suddenly diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in August 2008 and was given little time left with us. When we announced to him that we were getting married in the hospital, he was sad that he would miss such a happy day with the family. So Brad and I decided to have a private wedding with immediate family only down at our beach on his Grandma and Grandpa's 55th wedding anniversary, September 18th. It was nothing fancy, we had 2 days to plan....I wore a sun dress and flip flops at sunset. It was perfect. Ten days later, Brad's grandfather passed away peacefully with the whole family by his side. Brand new to the family, we were dealing with a family tragedy and the loss of a wonderful man who I was blessed to know and be related to, even if it was just for a short time.

Brad and I had a wedding ceremony in May 2009 where our family and friends joined us as we read our vows for the first time. It was everything I have ever dreamed of....the perfect dress, my best friends as my bridesmaids, perfect location.....I couldn't stop smiling the whole day. It was my happily ever after and I had found the one who I was meant to be with.

A few months later we purchased our first home out at the beautiful West Beach. Fix it projects and decorating a house was so much fun.

We decided that we would take our honeymoon on our real wedding one year anniversary to Maui, Hawaii. The week before we left, Brad was laid off due to lack of work. We were devastated, but we weren't going to let it ruin our honeymoon. We had paid for the whole trip ahead of time so we decided to live it up and relax on the beaches in the sun. On our one year anniversary September 18, 2009 we found out that we were pregnant. We spent the day traveling on the road to Hana with like 600 some odd turns, I threw up a billion times, and it was awful....but we will never forget that day for sure. When we returned home, reality hit. Brad was without work, we had a house payment to make and bills to pay, and now a baby on the way. Brad looked for work for months, but apparently so was everyone else due to the recession. We had really hard times, but after four months he found a really great job in Anacortes. Things were starting to look up for us......we spoke too soon. Brad broke his right hand shortly after and I was put on bed rest due to pre-term labor. Could we have a break? Was being married and living happily ever after really this hard? Through it all, we remained by each others side where I fell more in love with him everyday for being the man that he promised me to be.

In May 2010, we had a beautiful baby girl who we named Lily Anne. My whole world changed. She was perfect and I was a mommy. It was the hardest job I have ever done, but by far the most rewarding. In an instant, I was now responsible for this little tiny baby girl. Who I loved more than anything. I couldn't believe that I had just met her and I was so in love. The following months, I learned a lot about myself. Who I am? What kind of wife, mother, daughter, sister, daughter in law, sister in law and aunt I was going to be. It was a really big adjustment. Balancing everything in my life and still making time for myself. This is something I'm still working on, but I'm getting the hang of it people. In March 2011, we added a new baby girl to our family, my niece Madison West. I was so excited to be an auntie again. Excited to hold another baby and watch her grow.

A week later we found out that we were blessed again with another baby due in November 2011....this time we are having a boy. Scared, excited....so many emotions all at once. So very excited to have my babies close together so that they could grow up and be best friends like my sister and I were. So here we are now.....I am 27 weeks pregnant and looking forward to the next 10 years. How exciting the past 10 have been, I can't wait to see whats in store for me next.

15 months

My Sweet baby girl is 15 months today. She's such a big girl. She says Mommy and Daddy so clearly. Has a really big personality. She's such a little lady. Doesn't like to get really dirty, or food all over the place. Giggles when you chase her or tickle her tummy. Drinks out of a sippy cup. Goes to sleep just by laying her downin her crib and saying night night. She's wearing size 18 to 24 months since she's so tall. She loves to brush her teeth while I do her hair at least twice a day. She carried around a little baby doll that she calls baby and rocks it in her arms. She climbs up onto things very quickly. Starting to throw mini tantrums, but Daddy and I don't tolerate it, we just walk away and she stops shortly after. If she is bad she goes into time out in her crib and she hates that, so all we have to do is say want a timeout and she says NOOOOOO!!! Its really cute....its hard to punish someone so cute. She is eating more food other than baby food such as chicken nuggets, chicken noodle soup, mac and cheese, noodles.....she's a very good eater and really likes using her big girl fork. She gets mad when I try to feed her now. Here is a picture of us after church....Lily is 15 months and mommy is 27 weeks pregnant, and daddy has just turned 32 years old....quite the growing family :) Lily and Me-Maw looking at Poppy's garden. She loves swinging on the porch swing with grandma and giving kisses. Seeing my mom as a grandma is one of the coolest things. Aunt Anna and Lily playing during daddy's family birthday dinner at our house this past weekend. I love that Lily has a cheesy smile.

Happy Birthday My Love

Brad,

I can't tell you enough how much I love this little face. How you make me smile everytime you walk into the room. How you always know what to say even if I don't want to hear it. How you are my number one fan and always on my side. How in one look you changed my entire world. I wish I could of known you when you were this big. But I have a pretty good feeling that this......

and this.............

and this............. will give me a pretty good glimpse of what it was like. I love watching us grow together as a couple.............. and as parents. I am so happy that I am the one that is lucky enough to grow old with you.
Forever and always babe.
Happy Birthday my angel.
I love you more than you'll ever know.

Happy 1st Birthday Lily Girl!

Despite my best efforts to stop it from happening, my Lily girl turned 1. I attempted to make a giant cupcake for her birthday cake. I learned 2 things: I suck at baking cakes and my cupcake did not look like the one on the box. I've already decided that I want to take a class to learn how to decorate cakes before her next party. I will get good at this! The funny thing was that Lily wouldn't even touch her cake. She cried when we put a little icing in her mouth for her to eat. She loved the candle, but no thanks to cake.
When did my baby grow up to be a cute little toddler? Don't you love her outfit? I found it online at diapers.com and I used her diaper points to buy it for free!!! It was perfect for my little stylish 1 year old. I made these special cupcakes for our guests. I decided that we would only invite family and close friends to her 1st birthday party. Something small and special for our little 1 year old, and it was perfect.

My sister even flew in from Texas to celebrate with us! My Aunt CeCe and Uncle Terry even came over from Oregon to celebrate with us. What a lovely surprise! As you can tell the Lily and her new cousin Madison were having so much fun. Ha Ha Ha.

Today wasn't an easy day for me. I think that's why it took me so long to post this. I seriously can't believe that I have a 1 year old. Time went so fast....she is still my baby, but she isn't a baby anymore. She's not even taking bottles anymore. She takes big girl sippy cups. She is now fitting in to size 18 months, walking around, and talking jibberish. Can't she be my baby forever? As our family sang happy birthday, I sobbed like you wouldn't believe.....the ugly cry and everything. Isn't it a good thing that my baby is growing up to be a happy, healthy, and amazing little girl? You would think so....but nope, I am not okay with this. Lily is my baby and she always will be. I understand how my mom feels now. Its so weird how many things I am learning about being a mom, how it comes naturally, how I fear everything will happen to Lily and how I will protect her from it all. A part of me feels guilty for missing so much of her first year because I had to work.....or because I rushed it to get things done. I realize now that I am doing the best that I can do and that I am a great mommy to her. I will do anything for her, forever and always.

Happy Birthday Lily baby.....you have brought so much joy to our lives and I love every moment I spend with you. You are the love of my life (plus your daddy and your sissy)