Nationals... Part 1

This is only part one of my trip because I didn't take many pictures at all. I really didn't even have time. But one of the Mom's took over like 2000 pictures and is going to make them available to all of us soon... She got some amazing pictures!

The past weekend was full of sore muscles, lots of cheer, drama (of course), and tons and tons of

tears! I knew going into this trip that the girls were emotionally drained, physically tired, and

mentally ready to have Nationals be completed. It had been a really hard year for my JV squad. We went from 21 girls to 14 throughout the year. This meant making constant changes to our routine, which is always frustrating, as well as having girls in positions that they weren't entirely comfortable in, like flying. I have never coached at a competition level, so the stress also wore on

me. I didn't know what I was doing, and just did the best I could to clean them and make sure I thought their routine looked good... but I had never seen anything like what I saw this past weekend! It was a great opportunity for me to learn, which I really did learn so much, and to increase my coaching skills and knowledge, which I was super grateful for! My team also had only one member who had actually ever competed in cheer before, so basically we were very inexperienced and fresh to the competition world.

The plane ride to California was quite interesting. All of the girls were very excited and loaded with energy (the complete opposite of how it was when we arrived home). I felt bad for the other people on the plane, since the girls would scream every time there was turbulence... which there was plenty of. I made it through the plane ride with the help of medication, sprite, Les Miserables on the I Pod as well as the book, and lots of deep breathing.

Baby girl kicked the entire flight to and from L.A. and definitely didn't give me time to actually rest. Honestly, the worst part about the entire trip was going through security! I get the worst anxiety about it! Those TSA people are scary! But I made it through safely and unharmed at both airports. At LAX they tried to put me through this human x-ray machine, but then realized I was pregnant so that wasn't going to work... thank goodness! Also they still have pay phones at LAX.... Haven't seen one of those in years! Wouldn't dare touch it though...

When we arrived in Anaheim Thursday evening we headed straight to practice since both JV, and our two varsity stunt groups had competition the next day. I have never had such amazing

practices as we did in California. The girls were

super focused and worked so hard while we were

there. I was so impressed and loved watching them hit stunt after stunt perfectly. It was nice to practice outside that first day in the nice humid weather...

that night all 34 of the cheerleaders, 3

coaches, and the principal all went to The Cheesecake Factory where the principal surprised us all and treated. That had to be so expensive! Let me just take a minute to talk about the

principal. He is awesome! He came to every competition we had in Utah except for one, he flew

with us to California and back, he watched the competition and

supported these girls nonstop. He is an amazing and dedicated person who excels at his job!

Friday, we spent with more practice and keeping the girls calm and focused for their competition that night. The stunt groups performed around noonish and placed 8th and 10th which was AMAZING! JV didn't perform until 6:30 that night! It's tough keeping girls focused and calm

while they spend the entire day waiting to perform their routine that they had worked so hard on for so long. It was intimidating in the warm up area being surrounded by so many amazing

squads and watching them stunt, tumble, and dance. But after reading the poem "The Race" and crying, then having an amazing pep talk from the principal and crying, the girls were ready

to perform. I wasn't sure how they were going to do in front of such a large crowd and in a

division of 22 other JV teams. It's true we were division champs in Utah and placed first every competition, but we never had any other teams to compete against. JV teams just don't really compete in Utah. So we were surrounded by these amazing California JV teams who were familiar and very experienced in competition. Copper Hills JV, came out and rocked that floor.

They hit solid stunts and just performed beautifully! I am getting goose bumps just remembering how awesome it was! You'll notice the guys on the floor to help if stunts fall and what not, well one of them had long flowing hair and a sweet nasty mustache and definitely looked like he drove a van... a little creepy, but super entertaining! After we performed we had to wait until 9:30pm for awards. We didn't know how many they were taking to finals from our division, but they started giving trophy's out at 11th place. This meant that 11 of the JV teams in our division wouldn't even be recognized at the awards! It was kind of intense. Slowly they read the names off.... when they got to 7th place and handed out the last trophy I was a little nervous. Our name hadn't been called yet. I thought that the girls had done a great job, but maybe because I was new to this and had no idea what I was doing that they weren't

really that good. They began to read the names of the 6 finalists teams that would perform again on Sunday... the 4th name they read was Copper Hills. It was a very emotional and exciting moment, to know that everything that you had worked so hard for was paying off. The Mom who took all the pictures has a great picture of me going over to the girls after we found out... definitely crying, but so excited! Copper Hills had never had a cheerleading team to make it to finals and here this young, small, inexperienced JV team had done it!

Saturday was tough for the girls because our hotel was literally across the street from Disneyland, and we were trying to keep them focused on the competition and not playing. They

had free time on Saturday after they watched our varsity team perform (they placed 13th in

their division which also had 22 teams) and I was so proud that none of them chose to go. They practiced and hung out with each other... then at 7pm they were stuck in the hotel the rest of the night in order to remain focused and to get rest.

Sunday, was finals. They were performing at noon and spent the morning getting ready and then we headed to practice. We started practicing and they hit everything super solid and so we ended up just hanging out and talking because we didn't want to tire them out. We were lucky this year to have Ashley, one of our varsity coaches spend time with us and help us with our routine and prepare us for competition. I would've have been majorly lost without her! Emily, our other varsity coach, also came with us to warm up on Sunday to support the girls.

I know that the girls really appreciated her being there for them. When we lined up for performance the girls we a little nervous, it probably didn't help that the USA rep told us that this was going to be televised and so the girls needed to watch out for the cameras... why would they tell them that right before they were about to perform? Anyway, once again, they came out and did their thing. It was the best I had ever seen their cheer, dance, jumps, and tumbling... however, stunting was a bit off, but still no one dropped and it was an overall good performance. Here is the link to watch their final performance... When it came time for awards Utah really represented! I think we had a team in almost every division in finals and that was amazing! My JV team ended up going home with 5th place and I couldn't be more proud!

They exceeded all of my expectations, as well as expectations from everyone else! 5th in the nation for such a small and inexperienced team is AMAZING!

Sunday night and Monday morning were spent mostly at Disneyland. I decided to pass since I couldn't go on all the fun rides and I was super exhausted anyway. I spent time getting to know some of the parents, who I really wish I could've gotten to know earlier and enjoying the weather.

I am aware in this picture that I am large!!! But what do you expect? I'm growing a human in there!

When it was time to go to the airport, we were all so exhausted and ready to be home. Ashley, one of my captains, refused to put our trophy down and walked around the airport with it it to find food. I should've taken a picture of that! It was pretty funny! When we came down the escalator to our friends and family in Utah, we were welcomed with big banners and flowers and so much support. Halfway down the elevator I lost it. The minute I saw Spencer I realized how much I had missed him! We had never spent a night apart since we've been married and now we just spent 5 days away from each other. I'm sure the hormones weren't helpful but I just could not stop crying! He brought me beautiful roses and just made me feel so loved and missed.

So now I'm done coaching at Copper Hills, and about to start a new life in Idaho. I am super sad to be saying goodbye after 2 years. Some of these girls had been on my squad for 2 years and I had spent so much time with them. They weren't just high school cheerleaders, they were my friends. I will miss them all so much, but I couldn't have asked for a better way to end the year!

Breaks My Heart...

I read about this from one of my friends sister's posts on Facebook. This story just breaks my heart! I have never met this woman, but I have cried for her more than I have ever cried for a stranger before. I know that in the past week since hearing about this tragedy I have been more thoughtful towards those around me who I love and making sure that I tell them I love them and just savoring my time with them. My thoughts and prayers are definitely with Julie as she continues to press forward in her life. May we all tell those who mean the most to us everyday how we feel. May we not hold onto grudges, and may we overlook the little things and focus on others more than ourselves.

http://jaceandsheldon.blogspot.com/

More Good Days Than Bad...

We had to have another ultrasound today because last time we had one Baby girl wouldn't give them quite everything they needed to see. I was definitely not opposed to having another one. I love being able to see her move and to know that she is doing okay and that she is still a she. I will admit though... I get super anxious and nervous before doctors visits because I freak myself out worrying that something bad has happened or that there won't be a heart beat... I watch too many medical shows I think. But today she was super active (as she is almost all the time) and she did a good job at giving the doctor what he needed to see. I feel relieved knowing she is growing and doing well considering how rough it was there for a while. I still have some really bad days and most days I'm super nauseous, but I can definitely say I have more good days than bad now. I am so grateful that Spencer has been able to go with me to every doctors appointment. He has been such a huge help and support, it's just awesome! I loved watching him today rather than the monitor because he just got so excited to be able to see her and watch her move. He hasn't been able to feel her because every time I think she's kicking hard enough, she stops right when he puts his hands on my stomach... stubborn. But he is just going to make the best Dad...
Yawning... I think she was getting bored of the ultrasound... she also really hates having them done. She just moves and kicks and does all kinds of crazy things inside me when having an ultrasound done. She also hates having my knees supporting the laptop while I'm laying down and typing... She's pretty upset with me right now and kicking in retaliation.
Chubby little arm. Hooray for chubby 1 pound babies!
This is what Spencer likes to call our Terminator picture. It's a view of her face, but the placenta is in the way so it wasn't the best picture, but her one eye definitely looks terminatorish.
And we can always count on her giving us a lovely picture of her foot. But let's be honest... besides the smell of a baby, the best part are the tiny little feet and hands...

It was great to have an ultrasound today, because even after 4 weeks she has grown and changed so much! I still am in shock that there is a little person inside of me growing and moving and yawning... So weird... But also really really cool.

Chocolate Milk...

I am OBSESSED! That is all..... Okay so not really. I'm pretty sure that I could drink like gallons and gallons of chocolate milk a day! I'm thinking that's a pretty good thing considering I cannot stand the taste of regular milk at all and the only other dairy product I eat in large amounts is cheese. Gotta give my baby calcium in some form. In case you didn't know, we're hoping for a healthy child. Also, I think I will have to make the bus driver stop at a grocery store when I'm in California on the way to the hotel from the airport so that I can stalk up and not spend like $5 on a 16oz bottle of chocolate milk at the park. Then again who knows... by that time my chocolate milk phase may have ended... that makes me sad. Also can I just say that I love love love that my baby craves taco bell just as much as she craves chocolate milk! I will have the child that doesn't want french fries, but instead wants tacos! This makes me very happy!

Coaching and Crafting

My weeks of coaching cheerleading at Copper Hills are winding down... I have 6 practices left, then nationals, and then it's over. It definitely couldn't end in a better way... Disneyland... but I'm becoming increasingly sad about it. These girls have taught me so much over the past two years. They have been so supportive and so thoughtful! I really do think that coaching is going to help me when it comes to being a Mom... as well as raising a daughter. There has been
sooooooooooooo much drama in my life the past two years (Spencer is very excited for this to end), so many late night/super early morning texts or phone calls, last minute changes, andcattiness, but I think that I will really miss it. I guess I'll have to start watching more MTV
reality shows or something so that the drama will still exist in my life. I cannot wait to see how
my girls do at nationals this year. They have had a super rough year, but continue to work so hard! They want... but of course, so does everyone else there. Do I think they deserve it? Of course I do! They really have overcome some of the hardest things to deal with as a team this year, and I am so surprised at how well they can pull themselves together and still be positive and find the good in everything. Am I a wee bit upset that I will have to be the official purse holder at Disneyland for the girls... yes... but at least I can ride Small World over and over

without problems. Don't judge the picture above... this was taken at our second comp where I was still in the stages of just looking fat... not looking pregnant.

I have had some really rough days lately. Pregnancy is really hard on me and my body. I still am

nauseous and exhausted, but when I feel well enough to get up and moving I try to do as many things as I can to prepare for our little one. My latest project, after discovering I had a ton of random fabrics hiding among my craft stuff, was to make fabric flowers and matching diaper covers.

It always bothered me when diapers would show... they are necessary, but they are ugly. So I found a super easy pattern and began sewing... now I am not an amazing seamstress, but I figured no one would be paying that close of attention to them, cause that might be weird. They are just so tiny!!!! I made a total of 16 diaper covers as well as 16 of each flower. I hope they fit her and look as good as they do in my visions. I also made two different types of flowers. One was made strictly with a glue gun and fabric,

while the other used a sewing machine.

This little girl has soooooooooooooooo many flowers and bows and headbands already!

Hopefully she has hair. Also I think that I'm excited because I have been known to wear a flower or two in my hair and now I can just share with little baby Ahlstrom! Benefits of being a parent... Anyway, for my next project, once we get up to Rexburg I am going to make her crib bedding. No way am I going to pay $300 for baby bedding, to me that is just not right. I would rather buy her lots of clothes that she will outgrow fairly quickly then bedding for that price.

Speaking of Rexburg... we are getting super excited! We got the apartment that we wanted and everything is just falling into place. We had a choice between a townhouse and a flat... both at incredible pricing, but we decided that we wanted to go with the flat. We just figured that since we will be there 3 years and it would just be easier with a baby to all be on one level... plus I just read an article on how the leading cause of injury and death among children is stairs.... anyway, we are super excited and can't wait to get up there and decorate and get started with the next phase of our lives... also to have a washer and dryer in our house, this is probably the most exciting thing for us about moving!

6 months married, 5 months pregnant...

I myself was a honeymoon baby and never in a million years expected that before I hit the halfway mark in my marriage to be more than halfway pregnant... but I am... And we couldn't be happier. Yesterday was a gorgeous day and we were able to spend so much time outside and walking around and just having fun with each other.

I held up pretty good for the first hour then I started getting super tired. So when we got home, we took a two hour nap. We were also blessed enough to attend one of my family's long time friends daughters wedding reception. It was so great to see these people who we used to hang out with all the time when we lived in Oregon, and then just to be at a reception on our 6 month anniversary was pretty cool. Also can we talk about how when Spencer buzzed his hair, actually when he had me do it, I cried? I am so emotional it's crazy! I know it's hair, and it's boy hair so it'll grow fast, but it still made me really really sad!

Loving wearing tighter shirts so that the baby bump is actually visual. My cheerleaders are super funny when I wear something that actually is fitted... Normally for our morning practices I wear baggy t-shirts or sweatshirts so it doesn't really show much, but when I show up wearing normal clothes they go crazy. The other night at a showcase we were performing at at least half of them were exclaiming, "You look so pregnant!" They are always so amazed that there is actually something there. Another great thing about being pregnant is that you can wear tighter clothes and eat a ton and there is no pouch or food baby and that is AWESOME! Still loving the fact that I can fit into my regular jeans!!! Barely, but still good. Also my newest fear is naming the baby. We went from having 2 names that we loved to 4 options... that scares me! Names are so important and what if I name her wrong? Our 4 favorite as of right now are...

Ellyette

Lyla

Aniston

Ellyson

Really hoping when we meet her we will know...

I am so grateful for Spencer and all that he does for me. Every morning when we first wake up he goes and gets me a glass of juice so that I can settle my stomach before I eat breakfast. He never complains about it, and he always gives me a straw with it. He always asks what he can do for me and constantly tells me I am beautiful, even though I don't always feel that way. He thanks me for making dinner, and he helps me do the dishes... sometimes he even does it when

I'm taking a shower so that they're just done when I go to do them. Okay so normally I do them before I get in the shower, because that's a little gross to do them after you're already clean... but anyway he is great! He has been such a trooper through 2 months of IV's, pregnancy, and coaching. I know it hasn't been easy for him to allow me to share time with my cheerleaders and medical equipment, but he has been so amazing about it. I can't wait for the next 6 months... especially since we will have a little baby girl by then! Happy 6 months Spencer! I LOVE YOU!

Serenity Prayer

A while back, I mean before the days of Spencer, I had a friend ask me to go with him to an LDS recovery meeting. This is similar, I'm guessing, to what an AA meeting or any kind of meeting for an addiction would be like. Of course I went because I wanted to be able to show my support to this friend and to help him through his recovery. I was surprised by the stories and strength that I felt in that room and even though I did not say anything (really regret that) I felt welcomed. I've heard words to the Serenity Prayer a lot in my life, not because I am surrounded by addicts, but in movies and on facebook and what not. They are some powerful words. Maybe it's because I am pregnant, or maybe it's because I'm normally fairly emotional, but lately I think about them a lot and get weepy. The prayer states:

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference"

I think that in society we lack as a people the three most important things in that prayer.

We lack the ability to accept. I know that I am awful at accepting when things have ended or that something is different or when a change needs to be made. I think that half of my own life has been spent in denial. I so often wish that things could just stay the same always because that is what feels most comfortable and that is what seems most easy, but life is about change. It's about growing, and growing cannot occur without change. There are so many changes that occur outside our realm of control, and because as a people we like to have control all the time. Losing that control makes it that much harder to accept those changes in our lives. I am convinced that if as a people we obtained complete acceptance of all changes what were indeed inevitable, there would be no anger, unhappiness, or even suicide. Too often we become carried away in wildly unsuccessful efforts to fight these changes, that it changes us. Our countenance darkens and we become a shell of the person we once were. To learn to accept those things which we cannot change, is to learn to be happy. It may seem weak to give up the fight against the world, but it's certainly not that at all. It's the complete opposite. It is strength. It is to conquer.

We lack courage. Mostly I think the courage to change. Like I said before, change is hard to make and we don't always welcome it into our lives. I know I have pushed and pushed change away time and time again, but that's funny considering that right now I am in a situation where I cannot push the change away. In fact, I have no control over the changes and it has taught me so much about acceptance and courage. I wish men could be pregnant, just so they could understand and learn about accepting change and having that courage and strength day after day to keep going. Okay, so that's not the only reason I wish men could experience pregnancy, but what better teacher than that? The lion in the Wizard of Oz only seeks courage. This is his one wish. I'm pretty sure if I only had one wish, it would not be to have courage. Okay, actually I'm 100% sure that wouldn't be my wish. But if only we all had that courage. The courage to step out of the box and to not worry about what others think so that we could make those important changes in our lives. Surely opportunity would not present itself as a needful change if it weren't important. By gaining the courage to change, we also could gain more than we ever hoped for, and a life that was previously shadowed by doubt.

We lack wisdom. Every single person I have ever met is smart about something. Then there is my brother Ryan who is a genius and is smart about everything. But everyone has a great knowledge of one thing or another. I think that the reason we lack wisdom is because we seek it out from the wrong sources. We assume that those closest to us, or those people who we look up to and respect are the ones who can give us the greatest advice and fill our own lives with their wisdom. But this is unfortunately not always the case. Although they may have the best intentions of teaching us correctly, they may not understand our situation correctly or know our reactions the best. I love learning from other people, I love reading quotes from inspiring historical figures, but once I have learned those important lessons, I don't always retain them. I don't always remember; therefore, I lose that wisdom. If I don't practice, every single day, that wisdom passed down to me from others, then I will not be wise. No one can be wise. We as a people lack the energy and motivation to keep ourselves wise and in check, making sure that everyday we are living by the wisdom and principles that have been taught to us. In turn, we lack wisdom.

I know that I could be better off if I learned acceptance, gained courage, and treasured wisdom. It astounds me that this prayer is primarily used for those with addictions, when I think that every single person in the world could gain something from these three characteristics. How different the world would be if everyone, everyday, would strive to live by this prayer.