Okay. Get Out.

Alright. This one probably isn't going in our blog book.  I know. I am EXACTLY 38 weeks pregnant.  Technically, you still have two-four weeks of growth to go.  But little babe.  GET OUT.
We had a doctor's appointment today.  On Thursday, (two days prior) I had some moderate but inconsistent contractions all day.  They would come for a few hours and then dissipate.  Then they would come back to tease me some more.  I knew it was false labor.  I just knew.  But I also knew it meant progress.  And that gave me hope.    Now, when I became pregnant, I turned into an avid baby birth story blog reader. I have probably read over 100 birth stories. It is truly sickening.  I just wanted to know what to expect.  I wanted to know my options, choices, and to learn from others experiences.  So I had read a few stories about women being in false labor for days.  Or who had been feeling contractions, but weren't dilating.  So I convinced myself that this was my fate. 
But it wasn't!
So. I went in Saturday at 9:00 a.m.  And here are the facts:

• I am dilated to a 2.7?? (weird number right?) - really close to a 3 (I am not joking, that's what he said).
• He was surprised by how thin my cervix was.  His exact words, "Wow! Your cervix is really thinned out?  Is this your first child?  Yup.  First one.
• I am measuring at 39 weeks.  This entire time I have been right on the mark, but this past week he grew a full two weeks worth. And boy, have I felt it.
• It's a big baby.  He felt around and said, "Oh. This is a solid 8 lb. baby."  If I seriously go until 40 weeks, I will be following in my mom's footsteps with a 10 lb. baby. No, thank you.
• He wiped my membranes.  He didn't even really ask if I wanted it done (which I obviously do!) He just did it.  Afterwards he said, "Oh and I wiped your membranes a bit." Thank you, Doc!

I left that office on top of my pregnancy world.  I thought for sure it was going to baby time, any time.  And guess what peeps.  Three miles of walking, peppermint oil, birth ball bouncing, wiped membranes, and NOTHING. That's what I get... nothing! Hardly any surges/contractions (mainly when I am walking), and a small amount of back cramps.  That's it. Porter, I will do anything if you come out.  Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Our goal little guy is my this Friday, you will be in my arms.  Work with me, son!    

Our Sweet Little Porter

Dear Leland Porter Thompson,

             Your debut into this world is happening in three weeks! And it will be less if your Momma has anything to say about it.  Let me share a secret with you.  According to the world, your due date is July 4th, 2014.  But that's because I lied about your due date to everyone.  See, your first due date was June 22, 2014.  But at our next appointment, the doctor informed us that you were actually due later.  He mentioned your due date, but I wasn't listening.  I was hypnotized by your movement on the screen. I watched you squirm.  And as my excitement grew, I stopped listening to the doctor entirely.  I snapped back into reality when he said, "It's perfect! You will have an all-American holiday baby!"  So I just assumed that your due date was July 4th.  I told everyone as soon as we left the office about our "all-American baby."  It wasn't until later that night when your sweet Dad told me, "You know that his due date is actually July 5, right?!" I simply looked at him and said, "Well, it isn't anymore."

              I think it's important that you know the significance behind your name.  First of all, Leland is the name of all first born male sons.  It is your father's name, your grandfathers name, your great-grandfather's name, and so on.  These men are inspirational.  They are accomplished, hardworking, sensitive, and educated men.  But most importantly, they are God-fearing men.  I want you to be like them. And Grandpa Duke is no exception! He is a wonderful example of selflessness.  To me, that is one of the finest attributes a man can have.  So please, learn from him and all of them.

             Your middle name comes from a man named Porter Rockwell.  You will learn a lot about him as your grow up.  Your dad is crazy about him!  In short, he was the body guard to Joseph Smith Jr., our first prophet.  He was an obedient, strong, and influential man.  I'll be honest.  When we first were discussing your name, I didn't love the name Porter.  I wanted a trendy, unique, adorable baby name that I would probably regret as soon as you reached adulthood.  But your father knew.  He knew your name was Porter from the beginning.  And Heavenly Father knew it too.  And when he gently confirmed to me that we would have a little boy named Porter, I instantly fell in love.

              Porter, your father and I love you.  I have loved being with you every single second of my day.  That is what I am going to miss the most, having you with me at all times.  I know your father and I will make mistakes.  I know I am going to get mad and probably yell.  I know sometimes it will feel as if we don't understand.  But please know everything we do, we do because we love you. Your dad kisses you and talks to you every single day.  And I sing to you "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" every night before we go to bed.  We love you, son.  And we are so blessed to be your parents and call you "ours."

               Finally (and most importantly), I want you to know that in this home Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ come first.  One day, for yourself, you will know that they are real.  That Heavenly Father is your father and that Jesus Christ is indeed your brother.  I promise I will teach you all about them when you come.  I promise to emphasize the small (and big) tender mercies they bless our family with. They will always be there for you, Porter.  Even when life seems hopeless and hard.  And your dad and I will be there too.  We are all rooting for you.  We love you.

 

Money Isn't Everything... But It Sure Dang Helps!

I almost forgot about this... and I wanted to make sure I wrote it down because it was a great marriage and learning lesson that I don't want to forget.   While I was in school getting my degree, Trent had a dang good job.  Seriously.  For newlywed college students in Rexburg, it was a miracle.  I remember one night we were praying together and in his prayer Trent basically told Heavenly Father that we were doing what he asked and he needed to bless us.  It was the most real prayer I had ever heard in my life.  I remember thinking, "You can't talk to him like that?  Even if everything isn't alright for us right now, we just tell him we trust him and we are grateful for what we have thus far."  I almost didn't say Amen at the end of the prayer.  I just paused and waited for the lightning to strike.  But you know what happen instead, he blessed us?!  He heard our prayer and gave us the blessings that our faith deserved.  That was awesome.  I'll never forget that prayer.   Flash forward.  Trent has climbed up the company and within a year received a $10k dollar raise.  He is getting $2k bonuses every four months and we are able to pay for both of our college tuitions at the same time.    Flash forward to 6 months later.  I am finishing up my degree and we have to move to Salt Lake City, Utah for student teaching.  There is actually another center in Salt Lake City that Trent can do the same thing and just transfer there.  Tender mercy number 2,629 at this point.  Again, Trent gets another $5k raise with the same bonus every four months. That's $15k raise in a year and half folks.   Flash forward 3 Months:  I am finishing student teaching and we are planning on moving back to Rexburg where Trent will start school full time and I will begin my first year of teaching.  Trent lets the company know that he will be leaving to do school full-time.  As you can tell, this company LOVES Trent. He had been given awards for Trainer of the Year and so many other recognitions.   So he gets a phone call.  Basically, they tell him that they will pay him the same amount of money if he only works from 4-8 p.m. Monday - Friday.  That is right... the same salary for only working 20 hours a week. With both of our salaries combined, we would be making around $75k. Not too shabby for two people, one who is still in college.  So, we obviously took it right??   Nope.   I begged Trent to take it.  All I could think about was all. that. money.  We could easily pay for the rest of his college, have children, and live somewhere nice... like a HOUSE! I wanted it so so bad.  But Trent knew.  He didn't want to do business for the rest of his life.  He wanted to do Civil Engineering.  And so he sat me down and explained that he wanted to focus all of this time, energy, an attention in doing the best in school.  He wanted to become the best at his degree because then we could make $75k with just one income, instead of two. So... we turned the offer down.  I am pretty sure they thought we were crazy.  I thought so too.  But we {the Lord, Trent, and I} counseled together and we felt at peace with our decision.   Now that it has been awhile since that event and things have unfolded, there is NO way Trent would have been able to do all these things without letting an area drop.  His school assignments take him hours. I am talking like three hours for six problems.  He works extremely hard for his good grades.  If he would have taken the job, he would have either neglected his work, grades, family or priesthood responsibilities.  Or maybe each area would have been weak.  I saw this saying in another couple's house.  It said, "Live like no one else now, so you can live like no one else later."  I love that.  I think it explains everyone up here perfectly.  We are all making the sacrifices needed now, for a better future.    But goodness... that $75k would be pretty nice right now ;).  

That Time I Graduated from COLLEGE!

I did it.  I graduated from Brigham Young University - Idaho with my Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education.  And I graduated at top 10% of the entire graduating class meaning I receive Cum Laude Honors. Probably one of my top five favorite memories of my LIFE.  I always knew I wanted to be a teacher.  Seriously, since like 3rd grade.  Throughout high school I did tutoring for small children, swim lessons, and piano lessons. It just solidified my desire in becoming a teacher. I knew I would have to go to college to fulfill that dream.  So it was an easy decision for me to take classes at the local community college during the summers in high school.    What I didn't plan was to get married. But even that became a blessing in disguise.  I looked at Trent and said, "You put me through school and I will put you through school." And he kept his end of the deal.  And here I am. Twenty years old and done with college.   The department ceremony was my favorite part. Trent was so proud of me.  Goodness, it made me feel good. I will never forget how we followed me on video everywhere.  As I walked to get my diploma, he was right there recording it all {even though he wasn't suppose to... oops!} It was borderline embarrassing.  Like those moments when you mom follows you into your third grade classroom and takes pictures of you putting supplies in your desk and sitting in your new classroom while the teacher is talking.  Oh...wait, that didn't happen to you? Anyways, that is exactly how Trent acted.  I'll return the favor when it is his turn.    My parents were also there.  My mom had to go back to work during my Sophomore year of high school.  She hated it.  Mostly because she would see people surpass her and receive promotions because they had a degree.  I mean, these people had degrees in Zoology - that has nothing to do with Bank of America or finances?! But, nevertheless, it was a degree. She made me vow when I got married that I would get my education.  She had to work outside the home doing something she hated for four years. And she just didn't want the same thing for her daughter.   Hopefully, after the next year or so, I will not have to work to provide for the family. But, I am prepared.  And I will be doing something I love.   So here is to all those late night study sessions, procrastinated papers, 18-21 credit semesters, awesome faculty, incredible classmates, and desperately needed scholarships. We {Mom, Dad, Trent, Rita, Kent, and I} did it. I could not have done it without your support.  

Note to Future Self: You will have your Masters Degree within 10 years. Get it done!