Thoughts

I'm going to say something I never thought I'd say: I love being pregnant.  This may sound crazy to Cory because he hears me complain almost hourly, but I do love it, at least most of it...  I love knowing that there is a little baby that is depending on me to keep him healthy and strong.  I love having a little piece of Cory and me all rolled into one little human.  I love imagining what that little human may end up looking like.  I love feeling the kicks and rolls and nudges.  

Yes, sometimes the kicks are waaaay too high up in my ribs and make me feel like he has broken at least all of them, and yes, sometimes my back hurts so bad I want to cry, and yes, sometimes I feel like a walking ad for obesity and exhaustion all rolled into one, and yes, sometimes I would give anything just to be able to lay down and feel comfortable again.  But! These things never outweigh the joy that it is to know that I will soon get to know the baby boy with whom we've already fallen in love. That is why I say I love being pregnant.  And in 20 minutes, I'll say I hate it. :)  But for now, let's all feel good about me saying I love it. Okay?

One month to go! We celebrated Cory's spring break with a little Babymoon to Niagara Falls.  One last hurrah before April 5th rolls around.  

Nostalgia

I don't know if it's pregnancy, but I have gotten more nostalgic lately.  I keep seeing flashes in my head of realllly old movies scenes that we used to watch religiously.  Movies that most people don't ever know because they were all Feature Films for Families movies. :)   And just the other day I heard some music somewhere that sounded exactly like some sound effects used on Math Blaster: In Search of Spot (or something like that).  Please tell me there were other people out there who played Math Blaster in the 90's.  Because we didn't have any type of video games, cable, or other computer games besides Speed, Math Blaster was our go-to for rainy days.   Life back then was so much easier, right??

Super Bowl 2013

We had quite the party for the Super Bowl this year.  We had about 25 people all jammed into our tiny little apartment, but we had plenty of food to feed them all.  Too much food, in fact.  If we do another party next year, I hope I remember that everyone is all grown up now and watching their figures, so nobody eats anything anymore!  Plus, our friends were super nice and everyone brought some food to add to our spread. It was a lot of fun and I'm so glad we were able to host it! Unfortunately, I only got pictures of the aftermath, so you won't be able to see that some of our guests had to stand most of the time due to lack of seating.  Luckily everyone seemed to be okay with that, though.  

Obviously he had to review the plays...

Some delicious meatball sliders, pulled pork sandwiches, a plethora of chip dips, and a healthy salad  kept the balance of cakes and cookies pretty even.  

On an unrelated note, we're now only 8 weeks away from having this baby boy!! Pregnancy is a real trip.  I don't know if this is normal or not, but during my pregnancy I have craved citrus like a crack addict needs his drugs.  Grapefruit juice? Don't give me just one gallon.  That's about as welcome as a fart on an elevator.  I need at least a couple gallons to get me through the day.  Cory has been such a good supplier of these citrus goods.  In fact, he's been pretty amazing throughout the whole 32 weeks.  I'm pretty lucky.  

Did you ever wonder who buys those Costco boxes of oranges and finishes them in less than 3 days??  You no longer need to wonder, pregnant Bree does.  

Detroit Auto Show

Since we live here in Ann Arbor, just an hour away from Detroit, we had to go to the Auto Show this year.  I wasn't completely thrilled about it, but it actually did end up being a really cool experience and I'm glad Cory insisted on us going (and I can say that because he won't read this...).  We originally were planning on going Friday, but since we were hoping our friends from Chi town would be coming to visit, we went up after work on Thursday instead.  

The Cobo Center, where it was held, was so full of people that I can't imagine what it would have been like to go on the weekend.  In fact, "Detroit's Cobo Center hosted 59 new-car reveals, 5,212 journalists from all over the world, 28,326 industry professionals and 748,809 public days visitors."  I bet you didn't know that! It was really cool to walk around and just see car after car of amazingness.  Seriously, some of the concept cars seemed as if the makers just pulled them out of little boys' dreams and made them a reality.  It was also pretty awesome to sit in cars that I know I will never, ever have the money to own.  

This small little car just suited him so well. 

Cory was practically giddy the whole time, and I thought he was going to have a heart attack over some of the cars.    About an hour and a half into it, my pregnant body was exhausted and so done with walking around.  I might have started to whine... Cory's body, however, seemed fine! Even though he can step into a store and immediately get "shopper's feet" and have to sit down while I peruse.  I knew it was all in his head, but that proved it.  No more sympathy for Shopper's-Feet-Boy.  :)  We really had a great time and I'm so glad we live out here to experience these new things.    

I love this picture.  It's just so... America.  

"How many outs Brian?" "GRAPE!"

"...I'm gonna get grape, or cherry. They're both... favorites, so either one is good, but if they have both, I'll get grape, because grape is a little more favorite. But if they don't have grape it's like alright its fine, cause cherry's favorite anyway. It's like another favorite, but not as much. Not as much favorite. But they're both good. They're both good." The second baseman was always tryin' to help me out. "Hey, Brian move that way a little." "Okay." I don't know what gave him the authority to tell me that. "Oh, here? Oh, right here? Oh, over there, okay. This is where I was!" I remember he'd always tell me. "Two away, Brian! Two away!" "Uhhh..okay. "Brian! Two away!" "You too!"

That's right. We went to see Brian Regan on the 19th!  It was our first time getting to see him, and I have to say, it was worth the wait.  We never were able to get to shows in Salt Lake because they were either sold out, or too expensive, but getting to experience it at the old Fox Theatre in Detroit was amazing.  It was opened in 1928 and still has all of that old Detroit grandeur that we used to hear about.  While it's beautiful on the outside, the second we stepped into the building our heads were on a swivel.  We couldn't stop exclaiming over every little detail that caught our eye!  And there was a lot of detailed work done.  The ceiling alone could have sufficiently held our focus and scrutiny, but then there was a beautiful grand staircase, intricately shaped statues, and exquisite artwork.  

Isn't my date handsome??

We climbed a few flights of stairs (reality started to sink in then, we weren't some rich plantation owners visiting from the south. We were still a pregnant, starving student couple who had to get the cheap seats.), got to our seats, and sat with our mouths gaping. 

This is the actual theater room.

It was even prettier inside the theater hall! Luckily, we got there early so we were able to sit and gawk for about half an hour more before the opening act started.  He did a good job, but Brian Regan was amazing!  My poor squeezed bladder was barely withstanding how much I was laughing, and there were a few times when both Cory and I had to massage our cheeks/jaws because we were in constant laugh mode.  When it ended, we consoled ourselves with quotes from the show (we had just seen) on our walk back to our car.  
[As a side-note, the Fox Theatre is beautiful and "opulent" (Cory's favorite word of the night because it was so fitting for everything), but it's still in sketchy downtown Detroit and we still had to walk back a mile to our car on side streets with steamy man holes everywhere.  Don't think that this night was all unicorns and flowers for me...  I'm such a chicken. :) ]  

We missed you, +Nelson Mishler ! You would have died laughing. 

Cory.

There are a few things that I love. I love rolls. I love bread. I love chocolate. Water. Sunshine. Hikes. Being in shape (I miss that).  Family. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  My boots.  Traveling. And more that I can't think of. But my biggest love of my life is this guy:

 This guy who wears my brother's football jersey and acts like a total idiot with me. Whenever I want. I love that I can be myself with him and that he is comfortable being himself as well.

 This guy who doesn't eat his favorite: Mexican food, all because of me.  And then devours it when given the chance.  With a huge sappy grin on his face.

 This guy who would do anything, and I mean anything, for a laugh.  I am constantly impressed and surprised by the things he comes up with to make me laugh. I love every second of the time I spend with him.

 This guy who dresses up for Halloween and spends the night taking care of his sick wife-making it so he has to stay in and nobody can see his cute outfit. And then hands out the candy to the kids who come.  And then makes soup for me.

This guy who makes awesome log cabin gingerbread houses and wears his Norwegian sweater during the whole night, even when he's sweating.  

I guess it's safe to say that he completes me. :) But really, he does.  More than I ever thought possible. I just wanted to let everyone know where my love for him ranks. Now you won't need to wonder anymore. 

Thanksgiving

I am so glad that there is a holiday that we can take a whole day and show our gratitude for things.  I love that!  I feel so blessed in my life that I don't think a day is sufficient, but it is a nice reminder to be grateful for those little and big things that we have.  "The Lord has promised, 'He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious' (D&C 78:19). Gratitude is an uplifting, exalting attitude. People are generally happier when they have gratitude in their hearts. We cannot be bitter, resentful, or mean-spirited when we are grateful." (See this link for more)  

I have been blessed in my life to be born with an optimistic nature.  I then doubled my blessing when I married a similarly-natured stud.  I can't tell you what joy that trait has brought to our lives.  Although we won't be able to go home for Thanksgiving this year, we are lucky enough to be close to some dear friends who have opened their homes to us.  I am SO excited to see them this week! I look forward to eating my weight in rolls and bread, teasing Cory for the number of times he goes back for "seconds", talking girl-talk with Rachel and Abbey (it's been waaay too long), and having just a 3 day work week!

 I will be missing these folks, though:

I'm hoping we'll be able to get back for Christmas this year and see them.  It's been too long.  

It is comforting to know, though, that I'll be with the two men in my life: 

Can you see any resemblance? :)

I am 20 weeks now and finally feeling some movements from this boy!! We're grateful for all the support everyone showed when we announced our big news. We'll try to keep you updated on everything!

Love,

Cory & Bree