15 Weeks Pregnant

Pregnancy is still going strong - Peanut is getting bigger, and starting to show on the outside of my body! I'm going to give a little summary to bring you all up to speed on my pregnancy. 

1st Trimester: 

Expected Symptoms: Morning Sickness, Food Cravings, Food Aversions, Heightened Sense of Smell, Fatigue, Frequent Urination, Acne, Breathlessness, Headaches

Symptoms Amy Experienced:  FATIGUE & APPETITE INCREASE.

Literally, I was STARVING, and had to be eating 100% of the time.

2nd Trimester (so far): 

Absolute heaven. I've already noticed that my energy levels have gone back up, and I can now eat somewhat like a normal person again (Though very recently, I've noticed that my appetite is starting to go back up again). I was able to hear Peanut's heartbeat for the first time (148), and I *think* that I've felt Peanut move! Though I'm not totally sure, because obviously I've never experienced something like this before. Every day I am more and more grateful, and I thank my Heavenly Father for this incredible opportunity every day. Nothing in this world could ever be so exciting and so worth all the tiredness and pain that my body has been experiencing. 

I AM 15 WEEKS PREGNANT (on 9/23/15)

SURPRISE!

I should have posted an update when I posted it on Facebook - but of course, I didn't!

After two long years of trying for this, Devin and I are FINALLY expecting a baby!! I am due in March, and we find out in a little over 3 short weeks whether it is a boy or a girl! We honestly are so happy, and couldn't be more excited! I've always wanted to be a mother, and (though he doesn't know it), Devin is going to be a fantastic dad! We're thrilled, and March can't come soon enough!

Our Trip Up North

A few weeks ago, Devin and I flew to Calgary, CA and met Devin's parents, Eric in Barbara. We then traveled to Glacier National Park in Montana, and slowly made our way up into Canada to Waterton National Park, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, and a few other national parks in the area. We had a lot of fun, it was absolutely beautiful, relaxing, and such a nice trip. Here are some pictures from our trip ..  (They are all sorts of out of order)

A view of the beautiful Chateau on Lake Louise

We got to walk on a glacial icefield! It was cold but so neat!

Me, dead beat tired :) 

I got both Devin AND Eric to pose on the icefield for me!

Devin crossing a swinging wooden bridge on our hike through Many Glacier 

They made me ride a SkyTram. I was terrified, but it was a pretty neat experience. 

I'd much rather me in an enclosed tram than a ski lift ... which we also did. 

You would have laughed right along with my family ... I cried a lot. 

On our lovely walk around Lake Louise 

On top of Lake Louise Ski Lifts. I cried the whole way down :) 

Just enjoying a nice book in Glacier Park Lodge our first night.

This is the super cool bus thing that took us onto the Glacier Icefields in Jasper 

National Park. It topped out at a whopping 11 miles per hour! Whoa!

My canoeing buddy on Lake Louise. 

Devin striking a handsome pose while we eat lunch. He's too cute :) 

On our first day in Glacier National Park, we saw 7 bears! 3 mommas, and 4 cubs!

It was so neat! Especially since we didn't see any others the rest of the trip.

I sure love this guy, he's the perfect combination of goofy and serious :) 

We went to the Sky Bridge in Jasper National Park. 

There was a lot of space in between our feet and the hard bottom of the cliff. 

We both got a little nervous standing out there!

This guy is super handsome. At the top of the Lake Louise Ski Lift

On the Jasper National Park Sky Bridge. Ahh! 

Canoeing on Lake Louise with Barbara. It really happened! Proof! :) 

Oh just me bouncing along the swinging wooden bridge on a hike in Many Glacier. 

A view of the Glacial Icefields we were able to walk on. 

The icefield itself is so big that two Paris, France cities could fit on it! WHOA!

In Jasper National Park, we saw a lot of elk. 

These were the mommas with a baby. 

And we saw a few male elks with A LOT of points! 

They were very interesting, and very large. 

Devin and I on the Glacial Ice Fields

Canoeing on Lake Louise

Devin on the Glacial Ice Fields

Barbara striking a pose for us on the balcony of the Glacier Park Lodge.

Devin smiling for the camera at the end of our hike in Many Glacier

Devin taking pictures off the side of the scary Sky Bridge in Jasper NP!

Barbara crossing the swinging wooden bridge on our hike in Many Glacier

Devin with the upper lake in Waterton National Park

Devin and Barbara canoeing Lake Louise

Devin found this really neat waterfall off the side of the road during our trip!

A beautiful view of the Chateau in Lake Louise

Devin and I on the Glacial Ice Fields

Devin and I riding the bus up to the Glacial Ice Fields

The beautiful Price of Wales Hotel

SO many gorgeous views! Hidden Lake up Logan's Pass in Glacier National Park

Riding the boat to the other side of the lake to go on a hike in Many Glacier

Devin and I again on the Glacial Ice Fields

The beautiful waterfall that Devin found off the side of the road.

Lots of fun pictures (and there are over 200 more)! We had such a blast! It was a great dose of the mountains that we've been missing in flat, humid Omaha. We can never get enough of those gorgeous things. We had a blast with Devin's parents, and can't wait until our next adventure! 

However, we are sure glad to be home with our cute puppy, Zoey. She has been really clingy and lovey since we've been home. She doesn't want us to every leave her again. 

Goodbye until Christmas, Despains! We love you and had so much fun! :) 

Puppy Tongue

I hope this makes you smile as much as it makes me smile :)

Comforting Thoughts

Hello Family & Friends! 

It's been so long since I've written in my blog! I've been kept very busy with my calling in church, my job, and my family. We've been busy bees the second half of this year and are hoping to slow it down and relax for a while. 

Today, something caused me to remember something that President Uchtdorf said - 

"The Heavens Will Not Be Filled With Those Who Never Made Mistakes" 

I am very grateful for the knowledge that Heavenly Father doesn't only accept perfect people - he accepts those who make mistakes, learn from them, and repent.

If Heaven were only filled with those who were perfect, it would be a lonely place. 

I know that Heavenly Father has a plan, a plan of happiness that includes us having our own agency, and having the opportunity to live and learn from our own shortcomings. We then have the opportunity to become closer to our Savior by relying on him, and I'm so grateful to have that blessing in my life. 

I hope that you find some comfort in this as well - President Uchtdorf is a smart man. 

Blue

Devin has recently introduced me to sushi.. all I can say is YUM. 

However, what is pictured here is not quite the real stuff, but it is surely delicious as well.

We're just proud that we were successful enough to get my Okie, mother, grandmother, and brothers to try it. :) We're so proud! 

SICK.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week I was incredibly sick, and Devin was incredibly sick in Nashville as well.  Neither of us really know what was wrong with us, but for some reason, we're both feeling much better now. 

Thank goodness. 

Tuesday I went into work, however, I was feeling pretty awful. Here is a picture of the kleenex I put over my face to prevent my spreading of germs around to my co-workers.

At that point, I was still feeling well enough to be silly - obviously.

The next day, I had to leave work early, and then had to call in sick Thursday. However little energy Zoey got out while I was sick, she was still the best dog in the world. She snuggled with me, gave me kisses, held her bladder, and was very well mannered for having not got any of her walks or playtime in. I couldn't have a better dog, I'm sure of it. 

While I was sick here in Omaha, Devin was quite sick in Nashville. He had very different symptoms than I did, so we're not sure that we had the same thing, but were both pretty miserable. Probably Devin more than I, as he was not able to take a sick day or relax in his own bed at the end of the day. 

Devin was having vision problems and very sharp pains in his stomach. He was on his way to urgent care because he was in so much pain, but then threw up and started to feel better. I'm not even sure what those symptoms could be, but he assured me that he is feeling much better, so I'm very glad. 

Zoey and I are just so excited to have him home so we can take care of and baby him! :) 

Enjoying the Weather

However much Zoey and I have been missing Devin, we did not let that stop us from having a good time outside in the beautiful weather on Monday. 

That was before I got sick, and before Zoey came to know the most boring week of her life. Poor thing. She looks pretty  happy here though, right? :)