Christmas 2008

We had a great Christmas this year. Hans and I opened our presents that we got from each other and than we went to our parents house. We went to Hans' parent's house first this time. After that we went to my parents' house for a little bit and then we went to my sisters to take family pictures and that was a task all in itself. With the three little kids and all of the adults it was really hard to have everyone looking at the camera. We had three different cameras taking pictures at the same time and they were standing in different places in the room so most of us are looking in all different directions. I think that this picture that I have posted is the cutest one that I have on my camera. I don't really know what everyone else's looks like, but I am sure that we got one that is a good one. I also have the picture posted of me and Hans in our matching shirts. I liked to be behind Hans so I could hide my stomach.

Arlee got a lot of cute things for Christmas. My grandma made her a blanket, my parents got her some books, pjs and a really cute zip sweater. My sisters Kali and Lyndsay got her pjs, purple outfit, three head bands, a hooded towel and a one-z. They are really cute. My sister Abbie and my brother in law got her a book that she can use in the bathtub and I am sure that she will love it. My brother Dane, Dallon and my sister in law Lindsay got her a really cute Sunday outfit.

Hans and I were surprised how much Arlee got and she isn't born yet. I really loved opening the presents that my family got for her. They were so nice to get those things for her. I know that they all can't wait to see and hold her.

My sister Lyndsay is now out of town again and it is so weird going over to my parent's house after work and not seeing her, Jayden and my brother in law David. I don't really like that they are gone now, but I hope that I can see them soon. They left the day after Christmas. It was really nice to see them for almost the whole month of December.

So all in all Christmas was awesome and we are so happy that we had all of our family here in Utah spend it with.

Chelsey Hoge

27 weeks pregnant- 13 weeks left

Hans' 26th Birthday

Well Hans is now 26 years old. His birthday was on the 20th of December. For his birthday he wanted to have his friends over for the BYU bowl game. BYU unfortunately lost, but he had a lot of fun watching it with some of his buddies. Of course his family came over as well as some from mine. We had a full house of people that wanted to spend time with him on his birthday. Hans had a really good day and you can see the pictures to prove it. For his birthday I got him a BYU hoodie and the movie "Get Smart" Alree got him a wallet. The sweater was too big that I got him, but he threw away the receipt so what do you do. I bought it before Halloween so I don't think that they will take it back. I also wouldn't have anything to get him to replace it there either. So I guess we will just have to deal with it being a little on the big side.

Before the game I took Hans to the Lone Star Steak House while we got his oil changed across the street. I took him there so he could get a steak and when he ordered he got the salmon. I was shocked. I take the guy to a steak house and he gets fish. I thought that was really weird.

New doctor and update on what is going on

Well we went to the new doctor this last Friday. She is so nice and friendly. I am so glad that we switched. Hans liked that she didn't talk to you like you were an idot. I never thought that our old doctor did, but Hans thought so. The only thing that I didn't like about the new doctor was that they were running behind and they took forever to get me back in the room. I got the rest of my apointments scheduled which is a really good thing. I just hope that I don't have to change them. I think that for the most part I won't have to change them for me, but Hans and his schooling. I want him to be there for them, but if I have to change any of them Hans might not be able to go. That will make me sad. Well hopefully I will not have to do that and worry about it. Everything is still going well. My doctor was impressed that I haven't had any problems so far. She said that I have been really lucky. She measured my belly and said that I am right on schedule. That was a good thing to hear. Arlee's heartbeat was at 148 bpm this time. That is a really good sign. She is still doing really well. I love to hear her heartbeat. It goes so fast it is so crazy.

Hans and I have been feeling her a lot lately, but I am still not able to put my belly up to Hans' back and wake him up at night. I just think that he is a sound sleeper. Hans and I have been able to watch my belly and see her kick at times. It is really cool to see that. I like that I can watch and feel her move inside me. It is a really cool feeling that only the mom is able to experience. Being pregnant is a lot of fun. The only thing that I don't like is that you have to go and find more clothes to fit your growing belly. I have't really had to do that just yet, but I know that I am going to have to soon since my pants are starting to not fit me. My belly pushes them down a lot and I don't really have a butt to catch them so I guess new pants it is. Oh well that is why you plan for that.

Everyone is telling me that I am looking more and more pregnant everyday. I don't really care to hear that, because I still feel like I am pretty small for how far along I am. Hans tells me to embrace it, but I don't like to keep hearing it from the same people all the time. There was this lady that told me, "You are looking rounder today." I jokingly said, "yeah it was a lazy weekend". It really wasn't a lazy weekend, but that is the only thing that I could think of at the time. I still don't think that I am eating anymore than I normally would, but I think that I am eating less and eating more often. It is really funny how everyone tells you to eat more, because you are eating for two. You really don't have to eat much more than you normally would. You only need about 200 calories more at the start and then towards the end you will need 400 more. My brother told me that after he learned it in the class that he is taking in college. I thought that was pretty interesting. I have read it in a few books as well too so I think I will believe him. My old doctor told me to just eat when I am hungry and that is what I have been doing. I have been being pretty careful about eating junk food. I don't want to have to loose a lot of weight afterwards so I just think about that when I want something. I only have something small if my craving will not go away. I think that is why I have not gained a lot of weight and people tell me that I am too small for six months.

My sister, Lyndsay saw me for the first time since I have been pregnant about a week ago and she was shocked about how small I am. She told me that she was bigger than me when she was that far along. I loved her reaction the first time that she saw me. It was so funny. She saw me and she said in a high pitched voice, "OH MY GOSH LOOK AT YOUR CUTE LITTLE BELLY!" She almost made me cry not just because she said that, but because she was so excited to see me and my belly. I also hadn't seen her for eight months, because she has been living out of state. I was glad to see her and my nephew. My brother-in-law just got in on Friday and he looks a lot different. It is good to have everyone home. They are in for Christmas and maybe New Years. We will have to see if they stay here or go to Nevada to see his family.

Chelsey Hoge
25 weeks pregnant
only 15 more weeks to go

Baby News

Hans and I had to switch doctors this last month. We were going to a mid-wife and thought I was going to an OB, but it turns out that I wasn't. I have heard plenty of horror stories about having a mid-wife instead of an OB so we thought we would decrease our chances of being another horror story and switch doctors. Another thing that I didn't like about going to the mid-wife instead of a OB was that I would get sick and she wouldn't be able to write me a prescription for something like strep throat. That was really irritating, especially since I had to go to the Urgent Care, because I hadn't gotten sick since I turned 18. This was because I couldn't go to my pediatrician anymore. Hans and I are going to the new doctor on Friday. She was my older sister's doctor and she loved her. I have also talked to a friend of ours who goes to the same office, but sees a different doctor. She said that she really liked her too when her doctor wasn't there. I felt really good about going to see her after two confirmations that she was a good doctor. We will have to let you know what we think after we go.

Arlee is doing well. We get more and more excited to see her everyday. Hans and I were able to look at my stomach and see her kick a couple of days ago. I can feel her kick too so I have the double feature. Hans has really been able to feel Arlee move in the last two weeks. I love to watch his face light up when he does feel her. He is so cute about it and gets so excited. I remember the first time that he felt her move a lot. It was right after we ate lunch one Sunday and she was kicking and moving like crazy. His face lite up like the fourth of July and he got a huge smile on his face and he started laughing. He looked at me to make sure that he was feeling her rather than my pulse. It is a little hard to tell sometimes if you are not able to feel her like I can to tell if it is my pulse or not. A couple of months ago when she would only move once than I would question if it was my pulse. Now I can really tell that it is her moving, but everyone else is not really sure unless she is moving a ton. It is so funny how I can feel her so well now and everyone else is not really sure unless they ask me.

My little sister Kali was the first one other than Hans to feel Arlee move. My brother Brady and my mom have just been able to feel her laying up against my stomach. For the most part, she kicks when I have just eaten or when I am hungry. She also kicks a lot during the night while I am trying to sleep. Some nights are worse than others, but I know that is how it is after they are born as well.

Chelsey Hoge
24 weeks pregnant


P.S.
To tell you the truth I love to be pregnant and experience a life growing in my belly. I get to be the first to feel everything. I am not too excited about the birth part of it, but I know that it will definitely be an experience of a lifetime.