23 Years

I can hardly believe I'm 23 already. This year has seemed to go by so fast, which is good I guess considering I spent most of the year pregnant. Looking back, I've accomplished a lot in the past 365 days--graduating college, having my first full-time job (for like, two months, but it still counts), and becoming a body-builder (bah-dum-ching). My life is a lot different than it was a year ago, and it's only going to become much more different during this upcoming year. 

Now to the updates: We did get the apartment I had talked about before, and we're making plans to move in two weeks. We have a week where our two contracts overlap, so we have time to move, but it also drags out the process a bit. Stephen and I are figuring out all the logistics, realizing it's going to be complicated trying to move our stuff as well as get furniture in the same week. We're going to need a lot of help, seeing as I can pack stuff but not lift or carry anything really. We're still trying to find a truck to transport all of our stuff, and then we're going to need to find things like couches, chairs, a table, a washer and dryer, dressers, etc. So I'm going to ask as humbly as I can that if you are in the area and either have a truck, furniture you don't want (don't give me anything you're using--only the extra stuff), or time during the week of the 15th to help pack, carry, or clean, let me or Stephen know. If not, general prayers in our direction are always appreciated. It'll all work out, I know, but help is needed.

So this past week, Stephen and I traveled to Idaho for Thanksgiving. I had been looking forward to the trip for a while--it's so nice to spend time with family. We played games, ate great food, and completely messed up our sleeping schedules. This trip, I finally got the hang of the game pinochle, the signature Rollins game, as well as won Seven Wonders by a landslide. It was also fun to see how much the little kids have grown up. We celebrated two of my brothers-in-law's birthdays. Little Jacob was so scared of his birthday candles. It was pretty funny to be trying to sing happy birthday to a two-year-old who is screaming and shoving the cake away from him.

I also got to play with my niece, who is five months now. She's good at being super happy for a while, but as soon as she's tired or hungry or just generally done with the situation, her attitude changes almost immediately. But once her needs are met, she goes back to smiles just as quickly. It's fun to hold a baby and think that I'll be having my own pretty soon. I'm feeling great pregnancy-wise. Just huge is all, but like most people reassure me, it's only going to get bigger from here. She's been kicking me almost the whole time I've been writing the blog post, so I guess she wants me to tell you all hi from her. I had a midwife appointment today and it was pretty uneventful, which means everything is normal. 

Well, Stephen is walking in the door now, and that means we're going to start my birthday celebrations. I want to find out what he's been conspiring about, so while this is short, it will suffice. Insert mushy romantic stuff about how great Stephen is to me, and we'll call it good.