24 Weeks! ... Week 20-24

How far along?  24 Weeks

Total weight gain/measurements: 

Maternity clothes:  Not necessary quite yet! I am still in jeans... although I have to unbutton them when I sit down, they still need to be buttoned when I stand up.

Stretch marks: Not any yet. Using oil like crazy!

Sleep: Sleep is still good. Tired a lot. Dreams are very vivid and sometimes I feel like I have been fighting a battle all night so am still tired when I wake up.. But so far so good. 

Best moment this week:  "You are now to that point where people don't know if you're gaining weight, or if you're pregnant." .... Thanks? haha

Miss anything? Nope. Now that I can run again I am just fine. Still sometimes wish I could have a glass of wine but I'm kind of over that. 

Movement: YEP YEP YEPPAROO! I have felt little miss Hayden! She is an active little thing. Every time I feel her move, I tell Casey to come feel. I think that he got to feel her the other day! He thinks it is creepy. haha. A couple days ago, Casey was talking to me and laid his head on my stomach as we were sitting on the couch, and Hayden let out a big ol kick! ... I think she likes hearing Daddy's voice.

Food cravings: A lot of my cravings have gone away. There isn't one specific thing that I feel like I need to have. Although I am really digging the Sobe Life Water from Maverick. With Pebble Ice of course. 

Anything making you queasy or sick? If I don't eat for a couple hours I still get sick. I also get a lot of gas bubbles :) 

Gender: BABY GIRL! HAYDEN DAWN CHRISTENSEN

Labour signs: NOPE

Symptoms: Just a little Gassy is all.   

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time: Still Happy! :) 

Looking forward to: Baby Shower in Lyman is just around the corner. My mom and Becky have done a great job planning it! ... and I say that because I don't have to have any input. I LOVE THAT! he he. All I know is that it is going to be an Elephant theme. Thanks to my mom knowing me so well. I have always loved Elephants. Maybe little miss Hayden will like them too :) 

----There are several lessons we can learn from the elephant and these too are used as its symbol: strength, wisdom, solitude, strong sense of loyalty to the family and intelligence.---

..............................…

Some funny/nice things people have said to me:

At CrossFit:

Kerny Wood: Tayler, my wife says that you haven't even been sick at all?

Me: Nope! I hear that I am one of the lucky ones.

Kerny: You know people that work hard are the lucky ones? 

Me: haha what do you mean? 

Kerny: Tayler, you work hard and that is what makes you "lucky". You are constantly pushing yourself. Your body is used to working hard. That is what makes you so bad ass and that is why you are having an "easy pregnancy".. Because you work hard! 

.... THANK YOU KERNY! I never thought of it that way! ....

At CrossFit:

Ashley Whiting: Oh my heck! You don't even look pregnant! You just look like you just got finished eating a big meal. 

...Again, Thanks? I think haha...

At Work:

"You are now to that point where people don't know if you are gaining weight or if you're pregnant." 

At CrossFit:

Reggi: "You just look like a buff pregnant lady. 

At CrossFit:

Justin: While doing shoulder press... "Your baby is going to come out and want to sleep on the ground instead of in your arms cause your arms are going to be harder than the ground."

and…. Just because I have a goofball of a husband.. He tries to tell me that he still has a bigger belly than me <3

--- Flashback to Hayden at 18 Weeks ---

xo,

Tay

18 Weeks and Gender Reveal

So I didn't want to have a gender reveal party.... mostly because I can't ever wait when there is such exciting news to be known. But somehow, some way, Reggi and Sam talked me into having a reveal party. So I put together this cute little invitation for the party... and I am SO glad my cute little friends talked me into having one. It was a BLASY BLAST! 

I think that we can probably chalk this day up to one of the most special birthdays that a guy could have. Casey got to find out if he was having a son or daughter on his birthday! Donna, Keith, my mom, and Hugh came to the ultrasound with me... but they shut off the big screen when they were getting ready to determine the gender.... BUT that didn't stop some people from trying to see what it was *cough cough Donna* HAHA! Donna said "You shouldn't have invited me! I have to know!" 

There was a student who was doing our ultrasound so there was a supervisor there with him. The whole time they kept talking to each other saying things that made us sure we knew what it was. For example, "Oh! There it is!"... Okay, would't you think if they said that, there was something there to see. So here I was thinking it was a boy for sure. Well then right after that the supervisor tech said "well you have to make sure it is the umbilical cord and not boy parts"... this was the first thing that made me think, "holy hell! There is a chance it's a girl!" 

"We're here for the Sex"

DRUM ROLL PLEASE! 

Momma Sherrie was a bit excited!

But we got a good laugh at Donna's reaction! All we heard was screaming, crying, and then a big "THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER!!" ... HAHA!

PINK! PINK! PINK!

The Grams sharing their excitement! 

We are so glad that my mom and Hughski were here at just the right time to share our exciting day with us. Thank goodness for summer vaca for the Canadians!

Grandma and Grandpa Christensen

We are so happy that we were able to share this exciting day with our close friends and family. There were some that we wish could have made it but we are SO thankful to have the love and support of our great friends and family. Baby C is going to be so blessed! ... and probably a bit spoiled! :)

Love, 

Tay xo

On July 21

17 Weeks

16 Weeks

How far along?  16 Weeks

Total weight gain/measurements: 4 lbs. 164.. Creepin on up!

Maternity clothes:  One shirt but only because it was cute. I might have had a melt down one morning because I was feeling just… well, fat. Casey sometimes wants to slap me when I call myself fat. 

Stretch marks: Not yet. Crossing my fingers

Sleep: Sleep is good. I feel tired a lot. Tay Tay needs her sleep.  

Best moment this week:  "You are not 4 months pregnant! You are still TINY!" … Thank you. I will take that comment any day! 

Miss anything? Sometimes I crave a nice glass of wine or a cold beer during the hot days… It's not something I'm dying to have but I'm just keeping it real! haha

Movement: I am pretty sure that I have felt some movement. I first thought I might be getting sick or have gas (TMI?), but it happened the next day and I am pretty sure it was movement. Then, when I was at the dentist, the dentist's chair was on a decline and I am pretty sure I felt the little thing moving around again. 

Food cravings: Still craving Mexican food and fruit. Peaches are my Favy right now. 

Anything making you queasy or sick? As long as I keep food in my tummy, I am golden. There was one time I didn't eat for about 4 hours, other than a peach, and I got sick. Shaky and light headed. A nice Taco Bell Cheesy Gordida Crunch cured me! 

Gender: My vet, CASEY, says its a boy;) … See End for story! 

Labour signs: NOPE

Symptoms: I am less emotional now days. Feeling good.  

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy happy happy

Looking forward to: My big ultrasound and gender reveal. We are having it on Casey's Birthday. He said that is what he wants for his birthday.. to find out the gender of his first kid. Now did I pick a winner or what?? 

…………………………………………………………………..

You know you're a redneck when you go to the farm to find out the gender of your baby! 

Casey had the brilliant idea of going to the farm and using the cow ultrasound to try and find out if we are going to have a boy or a girl. I thought he was crazy but I was willing to give it a go… it turned out to be the most amazing experience! This was the first time I could really see anything on the ultrasound. 

The first time we did it, you could see EVERYTHING. The spine, the heart and heartbeat (Reggi said that she could see all 4 chambers of the heart which is such a relief), its little nose and eyes, and my favorite.. the hands! … oh, and we can't forget… I think we saw it's little "tallywhacker" (as Keith calls it). So if my vet is accurate, we are having… A BOY!

I guess we will just have to wait and find out July 21!

12 Weeks!!

How far along?  12 Weeks

Total weight gain/measurements: 1-2 lbs. My weight fluctuates between 158-162 normally so it is hard for me to tell what is actually baby gain or food gain. I was 158 this visit!

Maternity clothes: No, but I have a feeling I will be breaking out the rubber band trick on my jeans a lot sooner than later. Dang belly is expanding

Stretch marks: None. Using oil like it's going out of style

Sleep: Pretty much normal besides the crazy dreams that are so far beyond random! 

Best moment this week: 

Miss anything? I was instructed not to run/jump for the first trimester. Really missed running. I was told it is ok for me to continue what I have been doing an incorporate running! YAY!!

Movement: Nope, I have read in my book that some people (in most cases women who have already been pregnant) can feel a little butterfly feeling. I have been paying attention pretty hard the last week and haven't felt anything. 

Food cravings: Mexican food and LOVING FRUIT!

Anything making you queasy or sick? When I don't eat at least every 3 hours.. but that is normal for me even when I'm not preggers. 

Gender: Your guess is a good as mine. Daddy is praying for a boy. :) 

Labour signs: NOPE

Symptoms: Emotional… Cry over silly things. 

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: enjoying the warm weather :)

xoxo,

Tay 

OUR WEDDING DAY. 06.07.14

After a 7 Month engagement, the time had come for us to join lives for all time and eternity. 

THE DECOR.

My sweet sweet mother, Sherrie,  spent timeless hours designing and making the decor for our wedding!  She made the majority of the decor all the way in CANADA and drove it down to Utah.  It added just the right personal touch to make our wedding perfect! 

Donna, my darling mother-in-law, provided us with the beautiful flowers! 

We can't forget Aunt Jo and Grandpa Matt for letting us have our big day at their farm. It provided us with the PERFECT setting.

THE PREPARATION.

My bridesmaids traveled from all around to help me prep for The Big Day! 

Mother of the Bride.

"But now her baby's movin' on and she'll soon be missin' her. But not today, those are tears of joy running' down her face.

 She's somebody's hero. A hero to her daughter in her wedding dress. She gave her wings to leave the nest. It hurts to let her baby go down the aisle. 

She walks right by,  looks back into her mothers eyes and the smile lets her know, she's somebody's hero." 

HERE'S TO ALL TIME AND ETERNITY.

THE CEREMONY. 

Center of My World

"You're the center of my world

that place in my universe

To me you're every dream I dream

The air I breathe, my everything"

Carried Away

"It might seem like an ordinary night

Same ol' stars, the same ol' moon up high

But when I see you standing' at your door

Nothin's ordinary anymore"- George Strait

Father & Bride.

The First Look.

Chris Hone, helping us join one another for all time and eternity.

My maid-of-honor, sister, and friend reading a beautiful piece of before our Branding Ceremony.

"Today, Casey and Tayler, are starting a new tradition. As a sign of their love for each other, the intertwining of their lives, and the fire that burns within their souls for each other, gathered together among friends and family, they will brand this piece of wood. This brand will be on permanent display in their home to show their devotion to each other, today, tomorrow and the rest of their lives. To help them find their way back home, if ever lost in the turbulent storms of life. To remind them of the love and support that each of you have given them today and that you continue to give each and every day. As this brand cannot be undone, so shall their promise to each other stand the test of time."

Please join hands….

Flower girl:   Little Miss Adelaide                     &          Ring Bearer:   Chip

His & Hers

Tight Fit.

Chris: "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride!"
Tayler: "Are you going to dip me?" ….  Casey: "Oh, HELL YA!"

First Kiss.

Mr & Mrs. Casey Christensen!

MEET OUR WEDDING PARTY.

JAIMI. REGGI. BECKY. KATIE. DJ. NIKKI.

CODY. AUSTIN. BRETT. CASEY. ZACH. HANK. SETH.

OUR DARLING FLOWER GIRL, ADDIE.

RECEPTION.

MR & MRS. CASEY CHRISTENSEN!

FIRST DANCE.
"Baby don't it feel like we're the highway
Radio turned up and we're the song that's on it
Baby don't it feel like 
We're a mile high can't breathe
You can see everything
Moon and stars it's ours it's like we own it
Baby don't it feel like
We're on top of the world top of the world"

THE SHOE GAME.

BOUQUET TOSS.

GUARDER TOSS.

MAID OF HONOR SPEECH.

What is love?

Ask anybody what love is and there's a million ways to describe it.

But if you ask me, love doesn't need any words.

Love is the look in your eyes that can see deep into someone's soul.

Love is that little bit of heart ache you feel when you’re not near one another.

Love can make you dance, even if you've never danced before.

No. I can't tell you what love is.

All I can tell you is that love will make you laugh, smile and even cry.

To feel a connection that can't be explained.

A connection so true and powerful, it makes you thank God for that one drunken night in a bar.

And as I tell you this today,

I truly believe that Tayler and Casey have found this and that you will have a wonderful life together.

Congratulations, good luck, and may your love be full of long hugs sweet kisses and date night bliss.

BEST MAN SPEECH.

WE CAN'T THANK AUNT JO AND GRANDPA FOR BLESSING US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST OUR SPECIAL DAY AT THE FARM. THEY PUT SO MUCH TIME, ENERGY, AND HARD WORK INTO MAKING OUR WEDDING DAY ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.

MOTHER/SON…. DADDY/DAUGHTER DANCE.

CAKE CUT.

BAR.
NOW SERVING SIGNATURE DRINKS.
HERS:  ORANGE DREAMSICLE.
HIS: PENDLETON WITH MTN. DEW, H20, DR. PEPPER.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY TRAVELED FOR MANY MILES TO CELEBRATE OUR WEDDING DAY.

AND WE DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SPENDING THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH YOU.