just stuffs ;)

 

I love a blank blog template. It just so blank. Whats new around here, anyways? All I ever post is baby stuff these days! But can you blame me? She's a doll, and makes me a happy mama! But besides that growing little one, not much has been going on! I'm truly enjoying being a stay at home mom! With Wade graduating, he's found a job that he both enjoys and makes decent pay (decent to us college students who worked part time @ $8.00 for 3 years...by the way, I don't know how that ever worked out. one word. TITHING! (seriously though)) It's been nice to stay at home and be with little Ivy. I'm not going to lie, I've had a lot of mixed feelings about going back to school in January. 

I still have to take 2 math tests before I can student teach. I REALLY struggle with math, which is why I have been putting them off for so long. They've been causing me a lot of stress and anxiety, because I really just want to student teach and get it over with, but I know those exams are in the way. Wade suggested that I just go to the Academic office and tell them I want to graduate with a bachelors in University Studies with a cluster in Elementary Education. I thought that sounded like a great idea for a second, because I really just want to wrap school up. I've been in the program for almost 5 years, and with this degree I could completely skip the math tests altogether. 

But really, did I pay all that money and spend all that time in the Education department to get a bachelors in University Studies? No. And I at least owe it to myself to at least attempt the math exams. So I went up to campus the other day and spoke with Brother Larsen, the professor over all of the student teachers. I sat in his office, seeking his advice as to what he thinks I should do. And you know what he told me? Nothing really. He just let me sit in his office and cry to him about how much I don't want to finish, how much I want to be a mom, how much I love teaching, how much I don't want to take those stupid stupid math tests... Thats all I really needed though. Someone who understood and could listen to me. It was slightly embarrassing, but with the little advice he gave me, I've decided to take the 2nd math test (there are 3, but i've already passed the 1st) and then take an online course through BYU instead of taking the math exam. (that was the alternative) 

And if I don't pass the test, or if I don't pass the class, then we can look into a university studies degree...but I think this is going to work. I just owe it to myself and to my family to finish school! Having a baby in the middle of it is HARD! It makes me feel guilty, its hard to study...but in the long run, I know it will be worth it! I've had great support from my family and friends who have been willing to watch Ivy. 

so that's ONE part of our life. We have decided that we are going to St. George for Christmas! We are super excited! I can't believe that Ivy will be 4 months by the time Christmas rolls around! Wasn't I just large and in charge pregnant with her last week? Oh, I remember the days. (and slightly miss them.) 

Oh, I found out a trick.

If Ivy is screaming at the top of her lungs, we can turn on either the vacuum or the hair dryer and she's instantly quiet. Or the running bath water. It's a handy trick. 

 What else? Oh yeah. I've been watching 19 and counting (you know, with the duggars..) I'd never seen it before, so I started it while I was breast pumping...and WHY oh WHY does it ALWAYS make me cry? Like when Anna and Josh had their babies...BOTH TIMES I CRIED. and then I BAWLED when Michelle had little Josie via C section at 25 weeks. I need a life. I need a life.

And here are some recent pictures! :) See captions for details! 

Oh, hi. I'm just being ADORABLE like always.

Selfie, sorta.

I'm not quite where I want to be weigh wise, but I'm starting to feel better about my overall appearance!

"I lost my kidney!!! " If you can name what that is off of, you totally WIN!