IT'S a.......

A little over a week ago, I had my monthly OB/GYN appointment.   But this was no ordinary appointment.  It was the gender ultrasound appointment!

Typically my husband and I just go to the appointments so we don't have to deal with any misbehavior by our sweet Isabelle.  But, this time we couldn't arrange a sitter so we took her to the appointment with us.

I was really nervous about her being with us just because I knew if she acted up or got really loud and disruptive, Dustin would have to take her out.  And I really didn't want him to miss any part of this appointment.

Thanks to Isabelle's shyness, as soon as the doctor came into the room she settled down and sat quietly on her daddy's lap.  Much to my elation.

I'm pretty sure my doctor was joking around with me  because when he started the ultrasound he was going over all possible body parts except for the one we were anxiously waiting for.  It was probably only a minute or two, but it felt like an eternity.  For some reason, I just couldn't wait to find out if we were having a boy or a girl.

At the same time, Isabelle seemed to really enjoy the ultrasound and appeared to understand what she was looking at, at least when it came to the baby's head, feet, arms, hands, etc.

Finally, my doctor got to the main event and after forcing the baby to move around a bit, he told us that we are expecting a

GIRL!

We were so excited and in all honesty was not surprised.  I knew deep down that our baby was a girl, but I tried not to convince myself completely because I wanted there to be some element of surprise when it came to the big reveal.

It was a fun and exciting day, and in the end I'm really glad Isabelle was there to share in all the excitement; however, it's probably the last appointment she'll attend for the rest of my pregnancy. 

And, in case anyone is wondering, we've narrowed it down to two names.  We originally decided to keep the name a secret just for fun, but it's proving very difficult not to give into all of our lovely family and friends' demands of wanting to know the name.  So, who knows, we may let people know before our baby girl arrives, assuming we've picked a name by then!

{P.S. If you'd like to read a little bit more about my crazy life, check out Karen's post for today!}

INSTAGRAM wednesday: MASTERPIECE

One of the things I'm working on as a mom is letting things get a bit messy.  I tend to keep Isabelle away from crafts that I know will require a lot of cleanup.  I know that my attitude is wrong and that I should let her engage in all sorts of activities despite what sort of work is involved for me when the fun is all over.

Yesterday, we played with paint.  And it took me a good 20-30 minutes to get things cleaned up.

But I know she loved painting and creating because she asked to paint first thing this morning.

And how can I deprive my little girl of her masterpieces?

Share your photos today and link up!

INSTAGRAM wednesdays: feeling SICK

We had one sick little girl over the weekend.  

Children's Tylenol helped, but obviously the best medicine is being held by Daddy.

to you, the CONSUMER, from me, the EMPLOYEE

The next time you find yourself at a large retail store {not Walmart}, please consider my wish list.

If you are looking at something {like a shirt} and it falls on the floor, please pick it up.

If you decide not to buy something you've been carrying around, please return it to it's original location, or at least in the general location of where it belongs. {I want to pull my hair out when I find sliced cheese in the shoe section.}

If you decide to eat/drink while browsing the store, please throw your garbage away.  There are garbage cans located all over the store. {A spilled slurpee is never fun to clean up}

Please don't allow your children to wear a pair of shoes you have no intention of buying while you shop.  And if you do, please put them back near the shoe section so when we go to defect them out {throw away} they are easy to find.

If your child has an accident in the toy section, please don't tell an employee about it after you've already left the scene.  Stay near the accident and have someone else {the other people you're shopping with} find an employee so it can be cleaned up asap.  Would you, as an unsuspecting shopper, like to trip and fall in someone else's pee?

It's not my problem you have to rush around the store to get what you need when you only arrived at the store 10 minutes before closing time. {We're open for 14 hours everyday.}

If you really need a certain product, please come to the store and look for it yourself.  Please don't just call.  I am not your personal shopper, nor do I have time to run around the store looking for what I hope you're talking about while you sit in the comfort of your home.  {Have you heard of online shopping?}

What?  We're out of Easter dresses?  Guess what?  Easter is tomorrow.  {Last minute shopping does have its consequences.}

Contrary to popular belief, you're not the only person alive and not the only customer in the store, so please be aware that you may have to wait a millisecond before you can check out. {Patience is a virtue.}

When the store is closed, the store is closed.  In other words, it's time for you to exit the building and be on your merry way. {When the lights dim, that's your cue.}

...

Too harsh?  Probably.  But, I wish I could convey to you how much of my time is not spent doing my actual job, but on cleaning up after people's carelessness/laziness and it's exhausting.  I'm convinced if people took 2 minutes to throw their garbage away or put things they don't want back where they belong, I'd easily have 2 more hours to actually get my job done.

MUSIC mondays: AMOS LEE

Today I'm featuring the artist 

AMOS LEE because his song COLORS is so, so beautiful.

Source

I first heard the song during the movie Just Like Heaven, starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo.  Is that a fun movie or what?

I really enjoy Lee's voice and how he sings with such emotion in this song.  Be sure to check him out!

this MORMON in AMERICA

Last week, NBC aired an hour-long program about Mormons called Mormons in America.  As a Mormon myself, I was excited about the program and made sure to DVR it as soon as I heard about it.

Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed with the broadcast.  It wasn't horribly done, but I really felt it could've been much better.

There was one thing in particular that really stood out to me as being blatantly false, and that was when it was stated, not as a matter of opinion, but as a matter of fact, that boys and girls are not considered equal.  And if you believe that, you must believe that men and women are not considered equal either.

I am here to tell you that girls and women are considered equal and every bit important by the leaders of the LDS church.  Period.  And here's a few quotes to illustrate why I feel, and have always felt, this way.  All the quotes come from a talk entitled "The Women in Our Lives" given by President Gordon B. Hinckley, one of the presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"There are some men who, in a spirit of arrogance, think they are superior to women. They do not seem to realize that they would not exist but for the mother who gave them birth. When they assert their superiority they demean her."

"The women in our lives are creatures endowed with particular qualities, divine qualities, which cause them to reach out in kindness and with love to those about them. We can encourage that outreach if we will give them opportunity to give expression to the talents and impulses that lie within them. In our old age my beloved companion said to me quietly one evening, “You have always given me wings to fly, and I have loved you for it.”

"Women are such a necessary part of the plan of happiness which our Heavenly Father has outlined for us. That plan cannot operate without them."

"How thankful I am, how thankful we all must be,  for the women in our lives."

I love this talk by President Hinckley.  I remember hearing it for the first time during the church's general conference.  I distinctly remember feeling so empowered, so uplifted and so grateful that I was apart of the LDS faith.

Of course, I also feel grateful to have come from a wonderful family.  My mom has always been a strong, independent woman.  She was always busy doing one thing or another.  She always encouraged me to do well in school, attend college and not once did she ever ask me when I was going to get married.  And my dad has always been right there beside her.  He has always supported her in whatever new endeavors she has wanted to do.

My grandparents are the same way.  I recall my grandma making the decision to study abroad as part of her education at the University of Utah.  She was probably in her 60s at the time.  My grandpa, who had obligations at work, couldn't go with her, so my grandma went off and traveled the country of Spain by herself for three months.

My other grandma, who has since passed away, always told me that my grandpa, "Never said one mean thing to me."  And, she was right.  My grandpa treated her with the upmost respect, including waiting on her hand and foot during the last few years of her life.

I continue to be blessed in my own life because of my husband Dustin.  He has never once given the impression that he feels superior to me.  There is a sense of unity in our marriage.  We both know we are in this together, that our roles and personalities both matter.  That both of us are responsible for raising our children.

I've often wondered why other faithful, LDS women don't feel the same sense of equality as I do.  Why some feel that they are less than.  The only conclusion that I can come up with is that it has to do with the men in their lives - be it their local church leaders, co-workers, fathers or even husbands.  

In the end, the only thing I know for sure is that women are most definitely considered important and equal in the eyes of the church's general, worldwide leaders.

And for those of you who may not know much about the LDS church, please know this:  women are equal.

INSTAGRAM wednesdays: the NEW RULE

Our dogs {Tod and Sammie} love to beg for food.  I guess that's pretty typical, but it drives me absolutely nuts.

The other day I decided to put an end to them hanging out underneath the table while we eat meals.  Their command is CARPET because all of our downstairs area is hardwood with the exception of an area rug in our family room.  By being on the carpet, they are far enough away so that we're not disturbed, but close enough to still feel apart of the family.

Regardless, they're not happy about our new rule; however, I'm loving it!