Happy Birthday to me...

I'm dialated to a THREE!!!

This is big news for us. I don't get past a 1 until I'm in the full second phase of labor. So....after my birthday dinner tonight with Jared and my parents (who pulled in with their truck and camper yesterday), we're going walking, walking, walking. I've got 32 hours to get this kid into the world in the month of April. That was my original goal (we overshot it a little bit) but I feel like we're sooooooooooooooo close!!

One big event down, one to go!

It's over. Hooray! I survived speaking in Stake Conference this weekend. As far as my prep work, I'm pretty amazed at how quickly my talk came together and how nervous I wasn't. I was calm during the entire session even leading up to my talk in the second half of conference and then during. I know both these things are blessings and I felt lifted by those who kept me in their thoughts and prayers this week. Thank you soooooooooooooooooooo very much!

Apparently everyone speaking got one week's notice (just a head's up warning for the rest of you...don't answer your phone the weekend prior to stake conference). I sure hope no one thinks I was griping about our stake presidency in my previous post for being asked to speak so close to my due date and with what I thought wasn't enough notice. It was shock. We have an amazing Stake Presidency and I love to hear what they have felt inspired to share at these meetings to help us be better.

So now that the talk is behind me, I'm ready for the next big event. Your turn Calvin! I was kind of hoping the speaking assignment would send me into labor, but no such luck. Any day now....the sooner the better. Today marks the third friend of mine due at the same time or AFTER me that has already had their baby. Ugh. Not what Jenn likes to hear.

No baby this week...

My fate has been sealed...at least for the upcoming week. I've got 15 days to go before my due date and this afternoon I was asked to speak in Stake Conference next Sunday, April 27th. I humbly accepted the invitation but I did mention my impending arrival could possibly come before then, though I didn't expect him to. The stake counselor was very understanding and said he knows there are certain circumstances out of our control. He then said that in the event this does occur, Jared could speak instead. (I thought that was kind of funny. Jared did not.) However, I firmly believe that because I have been extended this assignment and because I accepted, that Heavenly Father will make it possible that this baby will "cook" a little longer and won't make an appearance before I have a chance to speak. (But I'm soooooo ready to be done!)

Although....now that I think about it....if I'm going to be running around like a crazy woman all week trying to get this talk prepared and ready for Sunday morning, I'd BETTER have a chance to give it or I'll be pretty darn upset.

Admittedly, I do tend to "panic" somewhat when preparing talks. Usually only in cases where I have less than 14 days to prepare (which has happened with the last three talks I've given). But this isn't just Sacrament meeting. This is STAKE CONFERENCE. At least triple the pressure! When I told Jared about the recent events of this afternoon he said "So....on a scale of 1-10, where's your panic mode?"

Confidently, I said, "12."

To which he replied, "Sounds about right."

Manic Monday

Of all the games in March Madness to miss, none of us saw the final game tonight. And we heard it was pretty darn exciting. Kansas beat Memphis (poor Karcyn) in overtime. Well, good for Jared. Now he can go take himself out for ice cream. Until next year....

The Madness continues...

Here are the latest March Madness standings. It's a tight match in the Hough household, folks. In order we have...

1st place: Jake at 92/128---with North Carolina as the winner
2nd place: Jared at 91/128---with Kansas as the winner
3rd place: Karcyn at 90/128---with Memphis as the winner
4th place: Cooper at 85/128---with UCLA as the winner
5th place: Jenn at....(it really isn't important to know how many points I have...)

So....I'm out completely. The winning team I picked was a number 2 seed, Texas, and they choked this weekend. TOTAL bummer! Jared tried consoling me saying he actually debated about choosing Texas himself. I don't know what Jared's worried about either. He's the one that takes the winner out for ice cream!

In case you don't follow March Madness, the other 4 members of my family each chose a different number 1 seed and ALL four of those teams are in the Final Four playoffs on Saturday. It will be Jared's team vs. Jake's team. And Cooper's team vs. Karycn's team. It's going to be verrrry interesting! Maybe I'll join Karcyn's ranks and cheer for Memphis.