Sooo...how long have you been married?

Last Thursday evening while my husband and I ate dinner we heard a knock at the door. When Ben is not home I refuse to open the door…to anyone and everyone. So, this time it was SAFE to do it. We haven’t made an effort and really haven’t had the time to make friends while living in the city, so a knock at our door is rare…unless we are expecting someone, and that is rare too. I answered the door to a young couple that had just moved in. They had come over to introduce themselves.  I saw their faces, we exchanged names and BAM my eyes instantly went to a plate of cookies. We chatted for a bit and Ben came to join the exchange of names and information. Practical questions were thrown out; how long have you lived here? Where are you from? What do you do for work? Their eyes wandered into our living room. Oh, you’re having a baby! Girl, boy? Name? Exciting!!! YADA, YADA, YADA…then the question: How long have you been married? Well, let’s see…5 ½ months…AAAND our baby is due ANY DAY.

My first assumption is that THEIR first assumption is…SHOTGUN WEDDING!

I don’t know why it has been so mortifying for me to wonder if people think Ben and I had a shotgun wedding. We both know how it went. We dated for only a year. Ben fell MADLY in love with me and popped the question. We were engaged for four months and just for my (growing stomach) luck we had already planned our wedding for June 1^st…just two months after we found out we were expecting. NOT a shotgun wedding. It worked…for us… I have always been a believer in old fashioned ways, and I truly have MAD respect for anyone that accomplishes them. I believed in waiting until marriage to have sex. I didn’t follow through. I believed in waiting to be married to move in together. I didn’t follow through. I believed in being married before conceiving. I OBVIOUSLY did not follow through. Morals aside, this weekend I realized that I need to EMBRACE all the choices I have made in the past. I am a wife. I am going to be a mother. My journey wasn’t the old fashioned way. My journey was what I have made it, by daily choices that I still make each and every day. I am a lady. I am a good person. I will proudly tell the next person that asks me how long I have been married that I have only been married for 7 months, while holding a newborn. And FYI, the cookies were freshly baked chocolate chip oatmeal and were to die for.   

Baby Sister #1

I’ve been wanting to blog about my sisters. Today, I’ll start with baby sister #1

Leslie, oh Leslie. Don’t call her LeZZZlie. She hates it! Leslie was born when I was 3 ½ years old. I recall helping change her diaper a time or two. I remember her first birthday like it was yesterday. My Mom and I MADE, yes…MADE a Minnie Mouse piñata for it. I don’t know how much help I was, but I remember it. My mom dressed me in a jean vest and jeans for it…CLASSY. Leslie is the “adopted” sister, because she has light skin and blue eyes. For the most part we got along growing up. Except for the occasional tug-of-war with hair, a swift kick in the stomach (sorry, Les) or ripping her favorite Bratz poster and then trying to tape it up after the guilt struck. She reminds me of ripping her Bratz poster often, oh and she also reminds my husband. I am ALSO sure that she will one day tell all my children about it too. The age difference didn’t keep us out of each other’s closets in our teen years. Sometimes it was fun, sometimes it was WAR. Leslie was the kind to come home from school, start some music in her room…and STAY in there. A few weeks ago I told Ben that I made Leslie walk to the JR. High in middle of winter once for making me mad that morning as we got ready for school. I literally had a moat around my eyes as I told him the short story of my evilness. Leslie has grown into such a lady. She is the mom of two...........two Pomeranians. Although she abandoned one fur baby she has been an excellent fur momma to Meeko. Leslie is THEE SARCASM QUEEN of our family. She is beautiful. I swear she couldn’t look ugly if she tried. She is straight forward and makes an amazing friend to anyone that reaches out to her. Some days I wish I could rewind the time. It simply has gone by too fast. Distance may keep us from hanging out with each other every day or making a coffee run together, but I do know that we have only grown closer to each other over the years and will continue to do so. I love you, baby sister #1.

A Robinson Weekend

Lately I have been thinking a lot about how little time Ben and I have left together as just a twosome. It's not necessarily a bad thing, we are beyond excited for number three to be joining us in 48 days, or less, or more (it's all up to her). So, this is how we started our weekend. Ben and I both got home early from work on Friday...so we spent it on the couch...and went to bed at 8:45 PM. YEAH...

 

Wiping tears from watching Chris Farley videos.

 

 

 

Good morning, Saturday.

 

 

I had been craving sushi. Well, a California roll and pot stickers is about the only food you can safely eat at a sushi restaurant while pregnant. Still...so...good...

 

Ben and I took our nephews, Ez and Abe, to Cornbelly's Corn Maze at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT. We had a blast. We also realized that we will be spending much of our time in the future in these kinds of places. Kids...EVERYWHERE. But in all seriousness, I saw a bunch of smiles and laughs that day from parents and children, and it was such a heartwarming thing to see.

 

Ez climbing the rock wall with the help of Uncle Ben.



 

Abe posing for a pic that we sent to Grandma Jody. She is the best bus driver in Vernal, UT.

 

 

Ezra got a sword balloon. Abe got a snake balloon. The guy that made them their balloons asked me to stick around because he had something -SPECIAL- for me.

 

Good morning, Sunday.

 

We are slowly but surely getting ready for our lives to change.

 

 

We had a very relaxing Sunday and shared our evening with my brother-in-law, Jed, and his adorable family. We ended our weekend where we started...on the couch. Ben cuddled behind me. I told him it was my favorite part of our day. Just him and I, him holding me and feeling the love between us.

We are blessed.

 

 

 

 



Backseat Driver

Well, we probably won’t have a backseat driver for a while, but we will certainly have a new passenger joining us in two months, 9 weeks, 60 days. My eyes get bigger, my stomach drops but my heart becomes full of excitement as I realize that soon 1 + 1 = 3. I know, that doesn’t really make sense in the real world of mathematics, but it makes sense in my world.

Ben and I had not spent  a DIME on our upcoming arrival. I felt unprepared and  deep down I also felt like a terrible parent, ALREADY! So, I made it a goal this last weekend to buy her, her carseat since they won’t let us leave the hospital without it, right!? At least that’s what I learned from watching Marley & Me. With the help of Ben our shopping trip became a SUCCESS! We even bought a few clothing items, I suppose they won’t let us leave the hospital with a butt naked baby either!?!

When we got home I couldn’t wait to take it out of the box. We took it out and STARED. Disbelief? Surreal? Yep, just two first time parents-to-be. At least we can say, “Carseat, CHECK!”

 

Check out Anistyn's safe and comfy car seat!

 

Check out Anistyn's ridiculously handsome Dad!

 

 

Check out Anistyn's HOT mom at 31 weeks.

 

And last but not least, check out the love between her two excited parents. LOVE YOU, baby gal!

 

A Loss Is A Lot Like Life

4:30 AM and wide awake has become rather normal to me.

A wild kicking baby, a bit of heartburn and a light snore from my husband is enough to keep these eyes open.  

As I informed you earlier this week, my husband had an upcoming  MMA fight. 

A fight that did not end the way I expected, and most likely not the way his friends and family expected either. 

The first text message I received before seeing my husband face to face after his loss said,

"Sorry babe"

My thoughts, you win some, you lose some. 

And when it's your husband you are supporting you stand near and proud with them whether it be a win or loss. 

This isn't about a sport to me, this is about life. 

We all have days we want to throw in the towel, but then we all have days that are so wonderful we never want them to end. 

And what we learn and how we react from those two kinds of days is what defines us. 

"The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand."

Keep on, keepin' on baby!

Always On the Go...With Ben

Ready, set, GO...aaand GO...aaaaand GOOO, again!

Today I want to say, "Thank goodness Autumn is officially here."

In my head this time of year feels like a good time to wind down, but it's NOT!

Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are FAST approaching.

&& between it all we also have the arrival of our sweet baby girl.

Thankfully, my husband and I are both people that take things day by day.

 

Let me share with you what we are preparing for this week.

 

THIS is my husband.

 

THIS is what he likes to do.

 

 

For the win!

 

 

THIS is how I battled the nerves last time.

 

 

After 6 1/2 months Ben will be stepping back into the cage.

A lot of people don't understand this sport.

A lot of people don't understand why Ben LIKES this sport.

&& a lot of people don't understand how I deal with this sport.

 

I guess this is why we go so well together, we're each other's kind of crazy.

 

Good luck to my husband this weekend!

 

<3 / Definitely his biggest fan

 

More to come...

 

 

 

 

 

A Little About Me

 

I felt like sharing a little about me on the blog today.

I’ll start off by telling you that my first name is actually Zayra (Z-eye-ruh) and not Gisel.

Gisel is my middle name and since I can remember that is what I have gone by.

The first day of school from middle school on was always terrifying. I had 5-7 teachers, 3 different trimesters and hundreds of mispronounced names.

I grew to love my name. They are names you don’t hear every day. Thank you, parents!

I don’t have a favorite color.

I don’t have a favorite food.

But, I do have a favorite ice cream…ROCKY ROAD! Marshmallows, nuts and chocolate...in other words, heaven!

I’d like to shake the hand of the person that invented Rocky Road ice cream and thank them.

I love country music. Lately, if I listen to rap and actually pay attention to the lyrics…I feel the need to repent.

I’ve said it once and I will say it again. I refuse to fart in front of my husband. It’s just not natural!

That being said…hearing a woman belch is one of my biggest pet peeves.

I make an excellent friend.

I feel sassy when I wear bright lipstick.

 

I am so cheesy, but I just can’t help it!

 

I treat others the way I would like to be treated.

But, I have been practicing on treating others kindly after they have treated me unkindly. I’m a work in progress.

I prefer even numbers.

I Google…What should I make for dinner? Who invented Rocky Road ice cream? Why is the sky blue? I Google everything!

My favorite thing about me is my positivity and my optimistic personality. I am always grateful for the good and the not so good.

I love to share about my life.

&& trust me…there will be more to come!

 

90 Days

Lately all I write about is being married or being pregnant.

As of late though, I AM a newlywed and I AM pregnant.

&& I am LOVING both so much.

 

This is me...yesterday to be exact.

 

How did this happen!?

A few weeks ago you couldn't even tell I was expecting!

I've even surprised a few people I work with that don't come into the office regularly when they see me sporting maternity clothes and an obvious expecting stomach.

"WHAT! YOU'RE PREGNANT!?"

My thoughts: Where have you been the last 6 months? ;)

I have curves on my curves.

My breasts...they can't possibly get any bigger, can they?

Yesterday we reached our 27 week mark.

We are just days away from entering the third trimester.

Anistyn is approximately 16 in, and 2.5 lbs

Mom is approximately 156,394 in, and 548 lbs

Okay, kidding...but I feel like it some days. :)
Anistyn moves A LOT, but sometimes becomes shy when Ben tries to feel her movement.
I can sense her personality without her being here yet.

 

Let's talk about Dad.

He is exceptional, amazing, fantastic! He deserves 5 stars. 

I feel spoiled and loved 100% of the time.

He has always been concerned for mine and Anistyn's well-being.

He makes sure I don't eat just ONE pancake, but TWO.

He rubs my back when it hurts.

He walks slow, when I can't walk fast enough.

Whatever I'm craving, he will find a way to bring it back to me.

He doesn't just tell me I am beautiful, he makes me feel like it too.

He calls me his "squishy"...

He applies tummy butter on my growing stomach.

He lets me hog the bed, while I toss and turn. all. night. long.

All in all...I can't thank him enough for his loving ways, but most of all his patience.

 

Here is to 90 more days of pregnancy!

 

 

 

 



Gone Fishin'

September is upon us...FINALLY!

To celebrate that Autumn is near we took a quick fishing trip to the Provo River and to the Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir.

It was a HOT day. If my boobs start to itch from light sweat running down between them, then it's too dang hot for my liking.

Therefore, I was ecstatic to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city to get some cool air.

 

My husband's attire was everything I wanted to see.

Cowboy boots, jeans with a tear that his Momma had sewn up, a FLANNEL button up (I heart flannels), a camouflage hat and a fishing vest. WOWZA!

 

 

Then there was me... I wore a maternity shirt, skinny jeans and cute sandals... I don't have to say it, but I will... The sandals were a BAD idea. :)

 

 

A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work. TRUE STORY.

 

 

Then it rained, and I didn't complain.

 

Leap of Faith

On my way home from work yesterday evening the soft sun and the vanilla spice smell of the interior of my car reminded me of last year around this time. Ben had asked me to move out to the city to end our long distance relationship. For once in my life I didn't think twice about my responsibilities, my government job, my fall semester at USU and my friends. The desire to be with someone who had become so significant to me over powered any circumstance. I remember my mom giving me her two cents, she did NOT think it was a smart move...I insisted and always used the same line I had repetitively used over my teen years, "I will never know if I never try." I remember the heartbreak in both my parents' eyes seeing their not-so-baby girl anymore wanting to spread her wings. Love makes you do crazy things and sometimes that extra leap of faith takes you places you'd never imagine. I love my husband so much and I love that small or big decisions always lead you somewhere.

 

 

Six Months and Counting

I just looked down at my stomach and noticed that my "inny" belly button is becoming flat.
Tomorrow I will be a whole SIX months pregnant!
I wish I would have posted more in the last six months, but the first part of pregnancy was not flattering or enjoyable at all. Therefore, all my posts would have reflected how awful I was feeling.
I didn't just have morning sickness. I had morning, afternoon AND night sickness.
I spent day after day clinging onto our small apartment toilet. Sounds gross, right!?
I didn't seem to care, the toilet was my BEST FRIEND!

Anyway, we are past that point thankfully.
Pregnancy has become something beautiful and fun!
I have never received a better compliment than the day a woman described me as looking, "RADIANT".
Yes, Anistyn, your mom is looking radiant, glowing and is soaking it all in.

The movement...the movement of life inside of you is...incredible.
I literally JUST felt her move.
You know what else is great? I don't have to suck it in after I've had a big meal!
I just let my growing belly do its THANG!

We love you baby girl and are anticipating your healthy arrival!

Remember When

Friday afternoon at work and I find myself hardly working instead of working hard. Oops! 

I am listening to Tim McGraw radio on Pandora and the song Remember When by Alan Jackson starts to play.

I turn it up just a bit and my mind immediately ventures back to a sweet memory of a Friday night many months ago.

There is also a quote that reminds me of this time in our life. Just to give you a little idea of what I am getting to...here is the quote.

"Always keep a bottle of champagne in the fridge for special occasions. Sometimes the special occasion is that you’ve got a bottle of champagne in the fridge."

Needless to say, we were struggling just a little. Ben had been laid off from his job and although money wasn't tight we watched our checking and savings accounts closely.

Our Friday nights were spent in our apartment, rather than going out for a night on the town.

That evening I came home and to my surprise I found a box of wine in the fridge. Not champagne, but wine.

I sipped wine, Ben sipped wine and before you knew it we were both cracking jokes at the dinner table.

We had been playing music and decided to slow dance to Remember When.

We embraced each other so close during the entire song.

I'm not sure if it was the lyrics or the wine, but soon after the song was over I realized that we had both gotten a bit emotional. Sorry Ben, grown men do cry, don't they? ;)

I find it a little humorous now to picture two young adults slow dancing and shedding a tear or two in their very empty apartment, but at the same time I am so grateful for all those nights we spent home together...

I'll always be grateful for a glass of wine. I'll always be grateful for the good times. I'll always be grateful for the not so good times. And I will always be there for my husband at all times.

We struggled, we bonded, we laughed, we learned, we strived and here we are now and someday we'll once again...Remember When.

 

Long Time No Hear

Long time no hear is right! When I first started this blog I had to restrain myself from posting every single day. Then life got busy.

 

Since my last blog post I became Mrs. Ben James Robinson. YOGMO! You only get married once! 

Ben competed in the first Outlaw Muscle Showdown in Vernal, UT. My husband is smokin'!

 

We found out the sex of our baby...GIRL!!! Isn't she darling!?

&& last but not least, we spent an amazing few days in Beaver, UT (Heaven on Earth) for the first James Eyre Family Reunion. Take a look at those pregnancy cheeks! Love 'em. :)

 

 

 

No More Countdown!

"I want all of you, forever, you and me, everyday."

 

 

My favorite part about my mornings is when I pretend to still be asleep and Ben lightly kisses my forehead or cheek. It happens, without fail, every morning.

My favorite part about coming home from work is hearing him say that coming home to me is his favorite part of each day. How sweet is he!? 

I am so in love with this guy, it's UNREAL!

&& lucky for me, he feels the same way about me.

Soul mates? I believe so...Wait, NO! I know so.

 

After only one year of dating he chose ME to be his wife!

The countdown is over! I'll go back to work next week as Mrs. Robinson.

I can't wait to start the rest of our lives, together, forever and ever.

Just Peach-y

Happy three months pregnant to me!

Whoa! Yes, I'm pregnant...but let's be real...it's not a secret.

A few minutes ago I finished round SIX of visiting the porcelain throne. Yuck, I know.

"One more time and we are going to an Urgent Care," said Ben in a concerned tone.

Unfortunately, I'm not quite seeing the end of the tunnel...just yet.

I STILL have hope!

This week our baby is a size of a peach! Three whole inches long.

A common question is if I am showing yet.

Mmm, not so much with clothes on, but get me naked and you can definitely see a little something there. Finally!

Meet My Fiance..

Ben James Robinson.

I make him laugh, so he asked me to marry him.

June 1, 2013 we wed.

 

"And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know (Wo, wo, wo)
God bless you please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
(Hey, hey, hey...hey, hey, hey)"

 

Blogging for Dummies

In the last three minutes I have deleted each thing I've typed up for my "first" official blog post. Eight minutes ago I almost purchased Blogging for Dummies. Getting my blog started was more frustrating than I thought! Lately I have been obsessed with reading blogs! I feel like blogging is one more step into womanhood. This is what women do, right?!

 

I love sharing about my life and if you are my friend on Facebook you probably know that by now. Oh, I also love to Instagram. I am an open book, and I ain't afraid to show it, show it, show it. With this blog I plan to make you smile and make me smile along the way.