Christmas Mack or No Christmas Mack?

Hmm.... So, will Mack stay in the oven until the 26th? As of yesterday, we are now 85% effaced and dilated to a four. Contractions will be VERY steady for an hour or so at about four minutes apart and then space out and be inconsistent. The Doctor doesn't think there is anyway he will stay in much longer. But in GREAT news, he made in to week 37!!!! If he came on Christmas that would be the best Christmas gift ever, but it would kinda stink for him to have to share his Birthday!
We will keep you posted!

A Christmas What?

So yesterday was a roller coaster day for the Larsen fam. Once or twice a week I go into the hospital to have an ultrasound to measure the amniotic fluid around Mack and to monitor his heartbeat for about an hour or so. I can't even tell you how different the ultrasound looks from week seventeen! His little hand takes up the whole screen and I could see muscles and bones! Technology is amazing! I actually had a harder time seeing things on this ultrasound though. So, the fluid level looked okay, but his little heart beat was going SO fast, so that was a concern. I was fine until they said that I might have to go down to Labor and Delivery that day. That was a little scary for me, if he came now he would be okay, but if he wait even just one more week, then his development would be that much better. Thankfully his little heart chilled out and he calmed down.
So they let me go and sent me up to my doctor's office for a checkup. I was thinking that the roller coaster part of the day was over, but not really. I went back to meet with the Doctor, and I guess I have lost weight, which normally is a great thing that I celebrate but he was concerned about that one. (I don't know how this could happen. Really I made Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookies the night before and ate my weight in dough.) So we talked about that for a minute and the weight of Mack (which is probably barely reaching five pounds) and then he checked to see if I was dialated. He was surprised and measured me at a 3. What? A 3? I was still so shocked about the 3 thing that I can't remember how effaced I am, but I remember him saying that I was "quite" effaced and that we might get a baby for Christmas and that it was doubtful that I would make it past December. So Mack and I are on limited bed rest, hoping to get one more week out of him. And plus, for his sake I don't want him to share his B-day with Christmas.
I am really glad I went in yesterday, Eric and I are now preparing ourselves for an early arrival and we won't be taken by surprise! We would really like him to stay in the oven til due date, but we just want him to be healthy. If you are bored, give me a call, daytime TV is the WORST!

Randomness

We had such a great week last week. It all started with two amazing chicas in my ward who threw me and Mack and rockin' shower. Thank you so much to Ashley and Bri, you two are the best! It was really fun and thank you to all that came.It was fun to get that group together and Ashley and Bri went to SO much work. Thank you again!
The next Monday my Aunt and Suzy threw another shower for the fam and random friends, yet again another rockin' good time! It was so great to see so many people that I haven't seen in such a long time. I also know how much work this one was because my Aunt is still on crutches. They even had an ice sculpture made for the shower!

The ice sculpture stayed alive on our porch for five days. At one o'clock in the morning on Friday night it fell over on the porch table, broke in two, and crashed to the ground. I thought for sure it was a bomb. (Eric's parents slept over that night and every Larsen slept through the crash).
Speaking of Eric's parents, they came down on Friday night and took us to the MoTab's Christmas Concert, it was amazing! Really it was awesome and I am so glad that we were able to go. Thank you so much for inviting us! My favorite part was by far, the story and the musical number "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". If you have not read the history behind the song, google it. It was a great night and wonderful to have Mom and Dad Larsen here with us!

No... No I Have Not

Another great Prenatal Class story. Last week was a long week in class. The room was like a furnace and neither Eric or I were having too much fun. Boy did that change. I don't think that I have told you about this other couple that we have dubbed the "Mad Russians". So they are obviously Russian and they are not crazy, but the guy has read every pregnancy book and he is constantly asking the teacher if she is sure of something. After she answers yes he will say, "Really, because in this book I read....."" And so on and so on. So it gets a little annoying. last week we were talking about the price of breast pumps and he raises his hand and says that he is not sure if they want to buy a pump if they don't know if she can breastfeed yet. The instructor answers and says that there really should not be a problem at all. The only thing that might be a problem is if she has had an augmentation. So then she just comes out and asks, "Have you had an augmentation?". The Mad Russian MAN doesn't even skip and beat and responds with, "No... No I have not." (Note: it is much funnier if you can read that last line with a Russian accent). Of course I lost it. I mean tears running down the face, the silent laugh making my whole body shake, I couldn't take it. Eric took one look at me to which I told him to look the other was quickly. I knew if we made eye contact we were going to really loose it. Last week's class was by far our favorite.

The Crooner

So I am not sure why, but I have been in a blogging slump lately. It might be the craziness of Christmas and baby, but I just haven't had the time lately to blog. So here are a few posts to catch you up.

Our friend Meredith put on this completely awesome 40's themed Christmas dinner for the Relief Society. Part of the dinner was a radio show from the 40's complete with actual commercials and guest performers. Everyone was also asked to dress up. She called and asked Eric if he would be the radio host and sing White Christmas as Bing Crosby. So we both dress up and we go to the church for his debut. Keep in mind one thing, both of us really like being around and helping older people. So when we moved into the ward the older ladies kinda started to flirt with Eric, and I got the older men. We love it and we are so glad that they are comfortable around us. So Eric does an outstanding job hosting and singing. So outstanding that he is now known as the Crooner. The Ladies were all over Big E. He now has a fan club. Here are a few pictures of the night.

Pregnancy Surprises

Well, with a little less than six weeks to go, I was thinking about all the things that have surprised me about pregnancy. So here is my list:
1. I am stupid. Really dumber than a doornail. Words come out jumbled and incoherent, that is if I can think of them in the first place. I forget everything. I don't pay attention to details until it is too late... like going all day with my pants on backward!
2. I know pregos go to the bathroom more than they usually do, but before I was pregnant the bladder was incredibly small and I love water! My average nightly trips to the bathroom after we are in bed average four times! By the way, going back to number one, if I can't find my keys they are definitely in the bathroom.
3. Clumsiness. I am not naturally graceful, in fact my Mom thought about naming me Grace and then decided with her genes that would be cruel and unusual punishment. With the large belly my balance is totally thrown off. Tripping is just another part of my day, thankfully I haven't gone down yet. In fact I tripped and arched my foot so badly that I tore some ligaments or something and broke some blood vessels on the top of my foot. I really don't trust myself to chew gum and walk at the same time anymore.
4. The hind quarters. For those of you that know me, you know I have a booty that ethnically belongs to another race. In the beginning of pregnancy, it looked normal...huge. But as I come closer to the end I swear it is shrinking. Of course I know that the front has just gotten bigger, but take for instance what happened last night. Eric parked the Pilot pretty close to the side of the garage, so I kinds had to squish myself between the open door and the car to get out. I actually had to go on my tip toes to get the smallest part of me through the opening. And lo and behold, the smallest part was my booty. That has NEVER happened.
5. The cravings. I never really got the cravings except for one week when I ate an artichoke everyday. I kind of thought that I would be one of those that loved eating food while prego. Not the case, which I am happy for, I don't want to blimp out anymore you know.
6. The never ending exhaustion. Wow the tiredness, I was not ready for this one. The second trimester was not bad but oh the first and the third. I am shocked at the places I have dozed off at.
7. I don't mind the belly grabbing. Really I don't. It is a little odd when the bagger at the grocery store grabs the belly, but I really don't care. The only time when it is uncomfortable is when the person grabs the belly with both hands and shakes it. Yes this has happened. And really the only reason it bugs me is because it stretches my skin. I can simultaneously feel another stretch mark rearing its ugly head.
8. I am so thankful for my parents and Eric's parents as well. I have gotten a deeper appreciation for them and have been able to understand the amount of love that they have for their children so much better. I am thankful we were both raised my such remarkable people, and I hope we can become the kind of parents they are. I can't wait for Mack to have rockin' Grandparents!
9. I love this baby. I can't believe how much I love him and I can't believe how much I will miss his little (or sometimes rib crunching painful) kicks. I am so excited for him!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was good to the Larsen's this year. Really it was a great weekend and we had SO much fun! We were really bummed that we missed the Larsen Thanksgiving, but due to Mack being so close and some complications we were told to stay in Salt Lake. Since we missed that, we sent up a butter sculptured turkey and a poem up with Christie. By the way, to the Larsen siblings: I have been shocked about how much my brain function has gone down during pregnancy! I know that Mack will be number six, not five!!
We went to my family's house for Thanksgiving, which was so nice because we all had not been together for Thanksgiving for a few years. Eric and I were in charge of pies, so after much deliberation we decided to make an apple, pumpkin and chocolate pie. After I was told to stay off my feet more and chill out, Eric had to do a lot on the pies. But alas they were AMAZING! It was a lot of fun to have all seventeen of us at the same table chatting and eating away. The heartburn was pretty brutal that night, but dinner was SO good! It was a day full of relaxing and eating.
On Friday, we decided to go wild and put up all of our Christmas stuff. The house looks so great! I love that Eric loves Christmas as much as I do. Since I am kind limited on what I can do I assigned Eric to the garland above the sliding glass door. The first thing he had to do was loop ribbon in it, followed by hanging the ornaments on and from the garland. I totally thought that he would do it, I would live with it all weekend and then when he went to work on Monday I would "fix it". Holy smokes! I can't even tell you how impressed I was with the hubby! Amazing eye for detail, the garland looks amazing! I was shocked and to be honest a little turned on!
Saturday we went down to Temple Square to see the lights with friends and came back to have chocolate fondue and watch Christmas Vacation. Eric and I both had a VERY disturbing revelation while watching the movie. We are turning into Clark and Ellen Griswold. I even call Eric Sparky. This came to light at the very beginning of the movie when they are going to cut down the tree and are singing together with the kids in the back rolling their eyes, we are in trouble!
All in all it was a great weekend, way too much for Mack and his momma, but I am doing a lot better at taking it easy! Doctor's appointment is tomorrow so we will see how things are going.
And of course, we have so much to be thankful for! These posts are always a little cheesy to me, but I feel like we have been incredibly blessed this year! I am thankful of course to Eric, what a wonderful man! I couldn't ask for a better spouse or a better friend! We are both thankful for Mack and can't wait for him to come, and I am especially thankful that after warnings from Doctors about the back, my body has done so well carrying him. We have so much to be grateful for!