Unexpected Blessings

photos by Clayton Hansen Photography

The past few weeks have gone differently than I had hoped or expected.  Originally, I had planned to come up to Salt Lake to stay only about 2 weeks before the baby was due.  Mostly, because I didn't think she'd come all that early, and also because I knew I'd go stir crazy away from home/hubby/friends/things that need to get done.

September 24, I woke up from a nap having consistent contractions.  Between 10-15 minutes apart, consistent.  Don't get me wrong, these were not super-intense contractions, but Robbie and I had been praying for weeks that we would know in enough time and be able to make it to Salt Lake in time for the baby.  We both felt that this might be the warning we had been praying for.

Seven or eight hours later we were at my parents' house in Sandy, and the contractions slowed to between 20-30 minutes apart so that I could sleep.  When I woke the next morning, and pretty much ever since, the contractions have been still going...and going.......and going........and going............with little to no change.

The next Monday at my appointment, I was devastated to hear that literally nothing had changed.  Robbie had to go back to work, the baby was showing no sign of coming, and I was moved up a week and a half earlier than I had wanted or planned.  With still no baby.  Or husband.

That week (week 37 of the pregnancy), both Dax and I had a rough week.  Dax woke up during the night and far too early in the morning...to say nothing of his horrible naps.  I couldn't sleep at night, was missing my husband, and desperately wanting this baby to come to make it all end.  We were both losing it.

The next week, at our appointment (week 38), we were only a 2+ and still 80%.  Barely any progress, but somehow I was at peace.  I felt good, and things were somehow more easy to manage.  Dax still has daily tantrums, but he is SO lovey otherwise.  For instance, tonight, we watched Toy Story together on the couch, and he gave me countless kisses out of nowhere, and kept snuggling up to me and the belly, smiling all the time.  He gives me "loves" (hugs) and slobbery kisses without me asking for them, and is always holding my hand.  Even a week ago, all these things were QUITE rare.

I think he senses that something is up.  I know he misses his daddy like crazy (I've become the replacement parental jungle gym, he's always asking, "Where Dad-dy go?" and talking about daddy in every picture he sees, among other things).  But relatively speaking, he's been such a good little boy, I couldn't ask for anything better to keep me sane right now.

The other night, driving home, Dax kept pointing out every chapel he could see and saying, "Dempo!  Dempo!"  I tried a few times to correct him by saying, "Sweetie, that's a church."  To which he would respond, "Dempo!  Dempo!"  I could see it was going to be difficult to change his mind, so I went with it, and asked, "Daxson, would you like to sing a song about temples?"

"Beas?"

My heart melted and I began to sing "I Love to See the Temple".  When I finished, he immediately said, "Dempo.  Seene."

"Dax, would you like me to sing the temple song again?"

"Beas?"

So....I sang it again.  Over and over again, until we reached PaMa and PaPa's house.  It was the sweetest moment....and my heart melts a little more every time we get in the car and he asks me to sing to him again.  I love that he is so enamored by temples.  I love his sweet little spirit.  He's my little angel.....tantrums and all.

In addition to the blessings of feeling more at peace and Dax being so sweet, another huge tender mercy came at our last appointment as well.  I have been stressing majorly about Robbie.  He's been working so hard to finish his current class (it ends next week) on top of working 50-70 hours per week and he's living 4 hours away from me and Dax and 5 hours from the hospital we plan to deliver at.

I am certain labor will be long enough that we can get him to the hospital in time, but if I happen to go in to labor in the afternoon/evening/night, I seriously worry about Robbie being too tired to drive.  This stress mixed with my great desire not to be induced do not mesh very well, unfortunately.  I have been going back and forth and back and forth about what would be best for our situation.  At our appointment, we went ahead and scheduled an induction for Tuesday morning, October 12.  Up until that moment, I was stressed out beyond belief as to what I was going to do, but I felt suddenly so at peace with it.  After all, my babies need a daddy, not a victim in a car accident somewhere on Highway 6.

I know that these things may seem so small to many of you, but to me.....it's proof that Heavenly Father knows me and loves me.

I'm still praying like crazy that Adelyn will choose to join us without the help of pitocin, but if not....I know that everything will turn out ok.  I've done this before, and I have the best midwife, doula, and support system anyone could ever have.  I am so grateful for it all.  But mostly, I'm grateful for the peace I feel.

I guess the fact that I get to see my husband again in T minus 33 hours or so helps a bit too.

Lots of Things

This past weekend was pretty full of stuff.  Thursday night, some of my friends threw me a baby shower.  It was SO fun to see everyone there.  I loved it!  Baby Dax got some pretty impressive items as well.

Friday was our first anniversary!  Gotta love being 8 months pregnant at one year...leave it to a "Hansen"--we (my mom and sisters and I) have all been pregnant within the first 6 months of marriage. Whew!  It was great to be able to spend the entire day with my wonderful husband.  We slept in, ate lunch, went and saw a matinee of The Dark Knight, had dinner at Hamilton's (Robbie tried the duck...not bad!), and spent the night at Providence Inn, which we would both HIGHLY recommend.   Leave it to me to watch TLC's "What Not To Wear" all night long.  Don't judge me.

We woke up the next morning and went down to the Bountiful Temple to do sealings before we remembered that they won't allow pregnant women to do all that kneeling, so we opted to do initiatories instead.  It had been a few years since either one of us had done them, so it was a good reminder and a great experience.  

While I was waiting for Robbie to finish, I watched as all the newly-married couples came out to meet their respective families and saw Elder Russell M. Nelson exit the temple.  It's amazing how much the Spirit can witness in such a short moment.  I am so grateful to have a testimony of the gospel!  There is nothing quite like the moments where the Spirit whispers that everything you've been praying about is true and real. 

Leaving the temple, we headed to Robbie's parents' house for the Allred/Singleton Baby Shower.  Dax has really cleaned up on this gift thing.  People have been so generous and wonderful and supportive of our little family.  Thank you all!  What a great blessing!

Saturday afternoon, Robbie, Kathy, Sara (Robbie's mom and sister), and I went down to the Salt Lake Parade of Homes.  There's this really great $4.5 million home we are saving up for....  You should have seen the four of us limping around (Robbie and his mom both have bum knees, Sara had hurt her back, and I am, well, I'm 8 months pregnant, so mine was more like a waddle, but whatever).

It was a good weekend, but we are glad to be home so that we can get our house clean before this little guy comes!

Another Busy Weekend!

Saturday morning we headed down to Salt Lake to be there when a good friend of mine was endowed in the Salt Lake temple. Erin is a woman I had the great opportunity to teach while I was serving in Anderson, Indiana on my mission. She's such a babe!

Being in the Celestial Room with her, a bunch of mission friends and companions, my mission president and his wife was incredible. The church is true!!

After the temple, we threw a surprise birthday party for Erin's 5-year-old daughter, Teagan. It was really fun to see her again (it's been almost two years!). We ate at El Farol in Midvale, had cake and ice cream, and just enjoyed each other.

On our way back home, Robbie and I drove through a bunch of areas throughout Bountiful, Centerville, Farmington and Fruit Heights (who doesn't like to oogle over mansions?) before we stopped to visit his parents in Kaysville. After visiting with them for a while, we decided to spend the night, and left Sunday morning to make it to our church on time.

Since our friend Jeni is without her husband for another week, we took her with us up Providence Canyon and made dinner and hung out. While we were sitting there, her friends Trevor and Amy, with their daughter Kailey showed up to take some pictures of their family and offered to take some of us. We love meeting new friends!

Our Logan-Sandy-Logan-Rexburg-Logan-Kaysville-Salt Lake-Sandy-Ogden-Logan Weekend

What a weekend! I feel worn out just thinking about everything we did.

Friday night, we went down to Sandy to celebrate Robbie's birthday with my parents. We went to Goodwood and it was yummy.

The next morning, we had a safety inspection done on the 4Runner, picked up my good friend and former mission companion, Lacy MacKenzie, and headed back to Logan. We met up with Robbie's friend Dan, and went shooting. We have (had) an old TV that REALLY needed to leave our garage. Robbie and Dan loaded it into the back of our car, and we went to Hyde Park and shot it all up. It was fun.

Lacy and I (and Robbie and Dan) trucked it up to Rexburg to see a mutual companion's return.  It's official!  With Allison Jones returning, I no longer have any companions left in Indiana.  Holy crap!  It was really good to see her.  Love that girl!

We stopped by the new Rexburg temple on our way out of town.  One day, if Dan and Lacy start seriously dating, we'll show the "engagement photo" they had taken in front of the temple.  Until then, you'll have to use your imagination.  The wind was blowing.  My belly really isn't THAT big.

This picture makes me laugh.

Monday we spent with the Allreds, then spent the night with my brother in Sandy.  We started out with cemeteries and ended with the Bees game.  Here's some pictures:

Robbie and I stopped by the Syracuse Cemetery to visit my grandmother's grave.

We also went on a modified Cemetery Run to the West Point Cemetery with the Allred family.  It was raining.

Sam was LOVING the baseball game from inside the suite!

Darling Isaac and his chips and salsa
We tried to take a picture of Robbie, Jack, and I, and apparently it was zoomed in.  Jack said, "Hey!  It's just a picture of me!"  What a babe.
Little Bennett loving the game
It's a wonder why we get along so well.
"Bumble" the Bees's mascot came up to our suite.  The nieces and nephews all got really excited.  Especially Alex (the one who's face is painted like Spiderman).
When we spent the night at Clay and Jen's on Monday.  Leave it up to them to show us fabulous YouTube videos.  I don't think it's possible to watch this without busting a gut. Enjoy!

Fabulous Evening

This afternoon/evening I had the awesome opportunity to attend an endowment session and temple sealing in the Logan Temple for my friend Charlie Bingham.  It was pretty fabulous.

Each time I attend the temple I feel the Spirit, but this time, it was a bit stronger than usual.  I was able to understand concepts and thoughts like I haven't been able to before.  It was neat.  

The best part, I think, was watching Corrie and Charlie's little family be sealed together.  They will have a baby next summer, so it was really fun to watch them take part in this little piece of eternity.  

The temple is such an amazing place.  I love it!  There is nowhere else on Earth that we can have such a clear perspective on God's eternal plan for each of us.  The Church is True!