The Perfect Diaper Bag

Honestly, I had no idea what a struggle it would be to find a diaper bag. But let's be honest... this is a very important decision. I mean this bag is going to be going everywhere with you for who knows how long, and I'm kind of a picky person... I knew from the beginning that I didn't want your standard bulky obviously looking diaper bag. It's just not attractive and basically I think they're gross looking. I knew I wanted something gender neutral and not pink and girly because I want to be able to continue using it in the future, and also because I'm hoping Spencer will carry it around more than I will... this was also the reason for not just buying some awesome looking giant purse to throw everything in. There's no way my husband would carry that around all the time. Although he does do an excellent job of holding my purse and wallet for me every time I have to go to the bathroom. And we also didn't want to spend our life savings on a diaper bag... seriously the prices of some of these bags are insane!!! Anyway, we kept looking and looking, and I just couldn't find anything. Spencer found a couple of Eddie Bauer bags that could've worked if it came down to that, but I was just so sure that there was something else out there for me... and there was. Once Spencer and I discovered that you could open baby registries at certain stores and get free gift cards (Target = $20 gift card, Babies R Us = $10) we started scanning things like crazy... we purely did this for the gift cards. We didn't even plan on telling anyone we were registered. Plus, we basically scanned everything in the store... how the employees did not catch on I don't know, but free money is always awesome! So a couple weeks ago we headed up to Fort Union to their massive Babies R Us store to get our scan on... and then I saw it. It was beautiful!!!! I knew it was the one when we were sitting at the desk with the employee setting up the registry. I couldn't stop staring at it. And yesterday, it came in the mail. It's Columbia brand (who knew they made diaper bags) so I know it is durable, and it's a messenger type bag so if Spencer wanted he could totally use it was a backpack if he wanted. In fact, I think we should do that one day... could be fun. We loved the colors with the gray and green, and it's a lot bigger than I originally thought it would be. There's tons of room, it has a bottle cooling compartment, a messy bag area (for dirty things like dirty wipes... why you wouldn't just throw it away I don't know... I certainly don't plan on holding onto those used puppies), and tons of little pockets. Really very excited about it!!! Thank you to an amazing husband who bought it for me for our 7th month anniversary! You know you're getting old when the gifts you want aren't even for you.... It's for your kid! Now I just have to wait 3 months to use it.... 

3rd Trimester.... Finally!!!

I know there's still 12 weeks to go, but there were definitely so many times when I wasn't sure I would ever make it to the 3rd trimester. It's been a busy 2nd trimester for me with traveling to California and moving, and for the past month and a half I have had an awful cough, runny nose, and can hardly breathe. I am constantly exhausted, but cannot get comfortable enough to sleep. I feel mostly bad for Spencer because he has to struggle at night with me tossing and turning and making weird noses and struggling to breathe, which means he gets absolutely no sleep. I am still wearing normal pants and most of my regular clothing... wondering why I owned so many shirts that work as pregnancy shirts. Definitely have a growing belly. The other night Spencer grabbed a flashlight and turned it on and pointed it onto my belly.... baby girl DID NOT appreciate being woke up that way. Must get that from her Mom, because while growing up, my family use to fight over who had to wake me up because I did not wake up pleasant when I didn't want to be awake. I have never felt her kick as hard as she did or so much... Unfortunately I was the one who had to deal with the repercussions of Spencer's actions. Her favorite place to lodge herself is under my ribs on the right side... man does that hurt! I have been loving chocolate lately, which is weird because I have never really have liked chocolate. Ice cream with Oreos are amazing, anything salty. And my baby makes me proud and craves Taco Bell daily (unfortunately we can't succumb to that craving daily). I am experiencing crazy swollen fingers and feet (thank goodness for a husband who is a licensed massage therapist... PS, pregnant massages are not as enjoyable as normal ones), and of course going to the bathroom every hour or so. Spencer and I are both just ready for her to be here already... of course there are a few things that we need still but we are just ready to meet our little girl. Mostly we are super curious about her hair color! Haha! Even though she isn't due until July 15th, I am shooting for a July 4th delivery.... something to make my favorite holiday and our engagement anniversary a little bit better. We are getting closer to a name (one has a definite lead) but we are still waiting to meet her to give her the official name... It seems more real now that her room is all set up and ready for her. I just can't wait to see Spencer as a Dad and I love how excited he is for her arrival!

In other news my coaching career is not over. I will be coaching cheerleading at Madison High School this upcoming year and I am very excited about it. I have seen some of their footage, and they are a small but talented team! Very excited to have this opportunity!

Last of Nationals...

Tired of blogs about Nationals yet.... Here are the last few pictures I'd like to share. I'm still obviously not over how well my girls did. Still amazed by them and it's almost been a month ago now! A lot of the girls bought Nationals sweatshirts and they loved finding the school name on them.... Love that school spirit!

This is the moment when we got our names called for finals!!! Still can't believe I ever doubted that they didn't make the top 11... Silly Jenn! I should've known better! We were all so excited!

Here's the picture I was talking about when I ran over to the girls to congratulate them on their accomplishment! I was so excited and baby girl was kicking like crazy!

Obviously a little emotional at this point... But I really love how the girls have their arms around each other. They really grew so close on this trip and really became united.

Well there you go.... The last of Nationals. Thank you Copper Hills and my JV girls for giving me such an amazing and wonderful opportunity!

New Apartment in Rexburg!!!

We are loving our new apartment in Rexburg! It's perfect for a new family and it's much bigger and brighter than our old place. It has 10 foot ceilings which really make the rooms feel big and we finally have a washer and dryer (thanks Mom and Dad!!!) Ready for the tour???? So first we have this massive storage room... which we totally packed full! But it's nice because all the other rooms are less cluttered. Love, love, love storage!

Here's a view of the living room right when you walk in our gorgeous green front door! I finally got my hands on the old (and when I say old I mean old) piano.... Spencer thinks it's the ugliest thing ever, but I have refinishing plans as soon as baby comes... I guess inhaling fumes are bad for you so I'm trying not to subject my child to that while she's in the womb.

My lovely husband studying after his first day of class....

Kitchen!!! Yes, I was making dinner at the time, but still check out the amazing natural light!

On Saturday, when we were moving in, my family sent me off to run errands with Cortney and Ryan, while they set up the small babies room. It was such a nice surprise to come home to a glider and changing table, among all the other little gifts they had put together. Thanks again family for the great surprise!

Don't be scared of the little crib... this too has been in the family for ages! My Dad used it as a baby as did all of us Kinville kids as well as Cortney... It's a tradition to use it for the first few months, plus it has wheels so I can just pull it along with me where ever I go in the house!

High ceilings in the bathroom are AMAZING!

Spencer and I are so spoiled with these closets.... they may ruin us. This is the back of my side of the master closet... Spencer has his own side. Anyway I organized everything and then hung my clothes! So nice to have so much room everywhere! Obsessed!

Anyway I know that it's nothing fancy but we like it! PS - moving while pregnant blows! Nobody would let me do anything and it was just pointless. Super upsetting to not be able to help or put things where they belong. We feel blessed to be back in Rexburg and to have this wonderful opportunity for Spencer to go back to school so that someday he can provide for our family with a higher education. Now if the baby would come already.... Less than 3 months! On Sunday I will officially begin my 3rd trimester!

My New Favorite Shirt

While we were in California for Nationals, everyone who made it to finals was buying this shirt... I did not want to be an exception. I have a love of long sleeved white t-shirts and since we made it to finals I just thought it would be awesome to have. Well the girls beat me to the store. They bought me a shirt, big enough to fit the belly, and then they all signed the back of it with their graduation year. I was so surprised and so thankful! Don't worry... I cried. I just felt so extremely blessed to have 14 girls who would think of doing that for me and making it just a tad bit more personal and special. I don't think that every coach is lucky enough to have that bond with their team... I think every coach should, but then again I think a lot of things. Really missing those girls right about now! On a brighter note, for those of you who don't read facebook, I have an interview for a cheer coaching position in Rexburg Monday morning. It's at the Jr. High coaching 8th and 9th graders, you know preparing them for high school, so I'm thinking way low stress and a much more relaxing atmosphere. I'm thinking it could be awesome, but we will just have to wait and see. I'm just not sure how one stops coaching after doing it even for a season. I don't think I'm ever going to want to stop coaching!

Maternity Pictures!!!

Today, which happens to be our 7 month anniversary, we got to take some maternity pictures. They were taken by my wonderful sister Kim who has, in the past 9 months, taken our engagements, bridals, and our wedding pictures, and she is super talented! You can see her other work here. Can I just tell you that I love that I can get pictures taken in the morning and have them edited and to me by 5pm that same day? She is AMAZING! Baby girl Ahlstrom decided that she wanted to hide up in my ribs so unfortunately I didn't look so big this morning. We may take some more when we visit later. Not loving the fat girl face I am acquiring, but Kim really did a good job and I had a blast! Thank you Kim!!!

Nationals... Part 2

Here are a few more pictures of Nationals, during their final performance and lots of group pictures.... I already am feeling some separation anxiety from these girls! They are amazing!

I am already missing these JV girls so much!!!!

JV and Varsity after finals

Everyone in front of Disneyland