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.

Simple, Yet Profound, Tender Mercies

I have a ridiculous amount of things to catch up on (blogging about Summer included), but many will have to wait...at least until I can get this one down.

Yesterday (Sunday) was quite a tender mercy.  First of all, being able to serve in Young Womens is a blessing in and of itself.  I learn so much and am so humbled by those little teenage turds that I sit in awe of them often!

Yesterday I was to teach a lesson on The Importance of Life and Procreation.  Slightly daunting, but not that big of a deal.  When it came time for YW to begin, my great friend Nicole (who was to teach the Mia Maids) approached me with the thought to combine the Laurels and Mia Maids (there was only 1 MM there that day, and though she's the youngest one, she's also more mature than most of the Laurels) and to team-teach.

Sounded good to me!

The gravity of the lesson started to exhibit itself shortly afterward.  Nicole is one of those people who you can't help but love.  She's fabulous at EVERYTHING.  She's beautiful, talented, super-spiritual, nice to everyone, funny, lets me be ridiculous and immature, and a fantastic mother.  Problem is, she's never been blessed with the ability to carry a child.  She currently has a darling three-year-old whom they were able to adopt, but since, have been unlucky in the adoption world, though hoping desperately to add more to their family asap.

So here I am, nearly eight months pregnant, about to teach a bunch of teenage girls that one of their most divine roles in life is to bring children into the world.  With someone who had never done so.

The Spirit was incredibly strong as we were able to share our different, yet so very similar, stories about the importance of motherhood and how these girls are Heavenly Father's greatest creation.  We all cried at some point, but I am certain that those precious daughters of Heavenly Father will not soon forget the lesson that they learned that day.

I hope to not forget.

Hence the post.

On a related note, Nicole and her husband were selected a few hours later by a birth family to adopt a sweet baby girl in just three short weeks.

I am still in awe.

I Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet

At the end of the Sunday morning session of Conference, the Choir sang We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet. During the song, the camera typically scans through the members of the choir, and sometimes the congregation or outside, on the temple or conference center grounds. Today, however, they played a slideshow of sorts, a montage of President Monson as he toured the world fulfilling his calling as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

It was during this presentation that it really hit me of the reality of his calling. President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. He is called of Him to lead His church during this time of the world. He has been given priesthood keys and specific talents that allow him to serve in the way our Heavenly Father needs him to at this time.

I am so grateful for the witness of the Spirit that has allowed my testimony to increase and be strengthened by the words that were so powerfully sung by the Tabernacle Choir today.

Truly, I thank thee, O God, for a prophet!

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!

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!