This is a whiney pregnancy post. And wheeler farm with cute Cam

Bed Rest. I can't even begin to tell you exactly how frustrating it is. I have things that have to be done- and I don't really have anyone around that I am comfortable enough with to ask- I mean- Dan is helpful- but a lot of times he just adds to my stress level. Not always on purpose either, so I try really hard to handle- but the only word is: frustrating. I am a freak, and I know it- so I try SO HARD to just bite my tongue or be grateful when I have help. It's harder when Dan is helping, because I seriously expect him to do things to my standard, how I want it done. He doesn't care... hahaha... and he gets overwhelmed with my list of things to tackle on top of his own work and lists of things to do. So, you see, we all get frustrated. 

This baby is stealing all my vitamins and nutrients, so I have to take extra and it makes me feel yucky. I have my thyroid to deal with, and sometimes that has to be changed also. Then there is the past blood clots- pregnancy puts you at an even higher risk of those recurring, so my stomach is black and blue from blood thinner shots, and I have to wear the sexy compression socks. And the issue that seems to be rocking the boat the most is my blood pressure. It doesn't matter if I am a normal weight, or overweight, or pregnant or not, I have high blood pressure. Thanks genetics! So, pregnancy makes that worse. I have had a heck of a time with this pregnancy keeping it under control- I mean- it isn't something you can just mentally force to be normal and check it off the list. I am just grateful that so far, William- aka Will- is healthy and growing!  I am so lucky and blessed that I have had 2 boys- 2 pregnancies- 2 opportunities to be a Mother- but I also don't physically do pregnancy very well. It is a trial. One with the sweetest reward.

So bed rest. I can't do anything. I can barely do the minimum to keep Cameron alive and happy. When I have good days, I try to take him or do something fun that isn't super taxing- This past week we went and walked around Wheeler Farm and saw all the farm animals for an hour or so. Then I sat down on a park bench and Cameron played on the playground for a while. We picked up some lunch and came home. He absolutely loved the farm. He is my little animal lover, farm boy. 

CHEESE!!!!!!!

I think kids and animals can sense when you aren't well- mine seem to anyway. My cats especially won't leave me alone- they pretty much guard me! It's kind of funny. I was bed resting while Cameron was at school this week and my giant Iliad has to lay with me- and he has to be touching me.

Our Visit with Noah!

May started off with a fun kick! David had to come out for a week of work, and he brought Noah with him!!
I was and am honestly amazed at how sweet and good this kid was! I mean- I know he is a good boy, he has good parents, but he took a special liking to Cameron right from the go, and let him follow and be his little buddy. He played with him, teased, giggled, comforted, and was very patient for any 9 year old boy- far more so than I would ever expect. I am so grateful for his good parents- and for his sweet personality.
Since this was a vacation for Noah, we splurged with treats, belated presents from his birthday, ice cream for dinner, sleep overs, and fun outings throughout the week! It was so fun getting to know him better. Its hard to have family live way across the country!

Monday afternoon when Dan got home from working, we drove over to Grandmas to see Noah. We went to the park for a short bit, and went and got one of our favorite treats- starbucks frappuccinos. Noah was a good sport and built blocks and towers with Cameron, even after he continually knocked Noah's creations all over!

Tuesday, Grandpa, Grandma, the 2 boys and I went down to Thanksgiving Point to the Museum of Natural Curiosity. Noah was really reserved and apprehensive about having to go to a museum- Then as soon as he saw this was no ordinary museum, but a place to climb, explore, pretend, build, and just play, he was all over it!

Cameron is a super cautious person, and tends to be frightened easily- especially of heights or places he has to climb. There were a couple times I hauled my pregnant butt after these boys to try and persuade Cameron to be brave and climb and have fun. Mostly he wouldn't have it, and when he would, I would make him let me take a picture. Mean Mom. There is terror on his face in a couple of these!!!

See the terror?! HAHAHA. Yep. Mean Mom!

Noah was braving 85 mph winds!!

 Water play is fun no matter your age, here these boys were trying to direct water flow!!

 Noah was very focused on building a house that would withstand a major earthquake at the earthquake stations. These entertained Cam and Noah for a good 30-40 minutes!

Here is where another shot of bravery and persuasion came in handy- Cameron wanted to climb up high with Noah pretty badly, but was so scared to do it. He screamed and protested most of the time he was conquering his fear, but with shouts from Noah, Grandpa, and myself about how big and brave he was, he made it to the middle!!!

 Wednesday afternoon, Dan went over and he, Noah, and Grandpa went fishing at one of the local fisheries. They had plans to go up to Rockport, but the wind was pretty bad that day, so they decided against it. They were skunked even at the park, so it wasn't long before they showed up and we played a little Mario Kart on the Wii for a while. I asked and Noah had decided it would be fun to have a sleepover with us, so we decided to splurge- and take this kiddo to the best ice cream in Salt Lake City- Leatherbys! We don't often go out for ice cream at all, even to leatherbys because of Cameron's milk protein allergy, and Dan seems to get sick from dairy also- so it was a fun and exceptional treat for everyone. Cameron ate french fries and sorbet, Dan had chicken fingers, Noah got bubble gum ice cream and cheese fries, and I had a soup and bread bowl with some cheese fries also. I think it's safe to say that the two boys couldn't have been more thrilled than to be having ice cream for dinner!

Isn't this the cutest?! Holding hands! 

Cameron woke up in the night, thankfully he didn't wake Noah- but he asked me, "Mom, where's Noah?" I said, "oh he's asleep on the couch!" Cam replied, "Oh. I LOVE Noah, Mom!! I play with him!!!" I thought that was so sweet!
We had a busy Thursday- Dan and Noah hung out in the morning watching movies together and chatting while Cameron was at school and I was at an OB appointment. When I got home, we ate some lunch, and headed for the zoo! Cameron and Noah both took a nap on the way, and we met Grandma and Grandpa up there!!

The baby lions aren't on public display yet, but you can sneak a peek at them from the train ride!!!

 Ugh. I don't have time to look at my mom and say cheese. (throws hands in air) Cheese!! 

HAHAHAHAHA!! Cameron was feeding this Gorilla the wood chips from the ground.... 

 Wait for it... Wait for it.....

 Soaked by the elephant!!! 

We got to be up close for Rhino enrichment and treat time!! 

 We had a really great time with Noah!!

Weekend Road Trip- National Dinosaur Monument, Vernal Utah

We never really go anywhere- Dan and I both get travel anxiety. We thought it would be fun to do a little weekend something and took Cameron to see the dinosaur monument and museum in Vernal. Vernal is tiny, so that is about all there was to do there- which was okay because Cam has never spent so much time in the car before; so we took our sweet time and played in the pool and walked around a few shops too.
Grandpa and Grandma came for one night and had some fun with us too.
We learned that as paleontologists do more research, the names and types of dinosaurs are ever changing. What I grew up knowing as a Brontosaurus and Brachiosaurus, was actually Diplodocus- well- there are fossils for all 3 types of dinosaurs, but the ones with fossils here in Utah are the Diplodocus.
Scientists are also now finding or theorizing that many dinosaurs were feathered!
We had fun. We decided we will have to do the trip again- but camp near the green river and add fishing to our agenda! It was so pretty! And it wasn't busy at all- school hadn't quite got out yet so it was fun to really let Cameron explore around without having to hover over his every move!

This dinosaur almost ate me. The triceratops came to my rescue.

We had to discuss fossil teeth. 

Sorry guy who had just cleaned all the glass...... I promise he is learning!

 Digging for fossils!!!

There were no live digs going on this year, but we learned a lot about one that had happened last summer!! Kind of exciting to learn that scientists are still finding new fossils right where we live!!!