The Stephensons!: May 2013

I pride myself in my job. I love my job (most days). I love what I do, the people I get to know, and the service we provide. I work at the best dental office around. It's the best because of the people I work with, but also because I think we have some of the best patients. We strive to create a family-like atmosphere. I could tell you at least one personal fact about every single patient we have, and even life stories of a lot of them. I consider a lot of our patients friends. Well sometimes I wonder why I work so hard to create that family-like atmosphere.... because I've noticed lately that people have become quite comfortable with me as far as telling me what they really think.

Case #1: the other day a man patient walked in the door, saw me, and immediately blew up his cheeks, wrapped both arms in a circle in front of him and pretended to hobble around like a fat monkey. When I looked at him with an astonished face and asked if I really looked that big he didn't stop there. He then asked how much longer I had--- 1 week? I responded, no 2 months! And then he told me that I look really big. Awesome.

Case #2: Another man patient (why is it that it's always the men? Don't they know the rule not to comment on a woman's weight? Especially a pregnant lady?) started naming every body part that looked bigger on me. No lie.

It's a good thing I have thick skin and let things just roll off my back because I think if I was any other pregnant woman I would have lost some major self esteem with all the comments people feel free to make to me. Luckily, for every harsh comment someone makes, there's been many more positive women telling me I look great. Nonetheless, I really don't care what people think/ say about me. I feel great, baby seems to be doing great, and that's all that matters.

32 weeks

I am starting to get uncomfortable. Sleeping is difficult. I have always been a stomach sleeper, but now I have to sleep on my side which is my least favorite sleeping position. One arm goes limp and I never know what to do with the other arm. Not to mention my hips. My hips KILL at night. I don't know why but they hurt so bad! I also get massive leg cramps in the middle of the night. Oh My Gosh, they are the worst. I have learned how to feel them coming and can usually prevent them before they get too bad, but sometimes I'm too late and my whole leg cramps up and it's hard to get rid of it and the next morning I'm so sore. I also have been getting random heat flashes. Those are bad. I'll start getting really hot and sweaty (gross!) for no reason! It's the worst.

I've started having mini panic attacks lately. Not because I'm having a baby. Not because I'm scared of giving birth or of having a child to care for. It's because I'm stopping my full time job on June 1st and beginning my new position which will be less hours and I can work from home if I choose. This gives me a whole month and a half before the baby's born to be at home, sometimes working but not all the time. I think I might go stir crazy. My job has been my life for the past 2 1/2 years. I love it, and I practically live there. The last few weeks I've been slowly transitioning the girls I work with on how to take over my position and it's honestly been hard for me to know that I'm giving it up and that soon I will no longer be doing what I've known for the last few years. I will miss it. But I know that I am giving up that job for a job that is even better, and I can't wait to meet my little guy.

Okay, enough sappy talk. And now for some pics:

I have some really awesome friends who threw me a baby shower. I felt so blessed to have so many people come out to support me, Luke and Baby Boy. Thank you to all! I had a fabulous night!

The very next day after my shower, Luke and I hopped onto a plane and flew across country to visit my sister, Brother in law and their kids for the weekend. We had SO much fun, and

I wish they lived closer so we could see them more often!