the 'stache

Drew has been growing a mustache since Memorial Day weekend. It started out as a full-fledged beard, then was cropped down to this:

Drew's 25th birthday party, June 27th 

Then he decided to keep up the mustache-growing as a summer project. It got thicker and creepier (you can tell that I really loved it, right?):

July 2011

I eventually told Drew that I didn't mind it so much and that he could keep it until school started. Then it ended up being me asking if he would keep it for the first week of school (facial hair isn't allowed on campus here at good ol' BYU-Idaho, except for a well-trimmed mustache) because I wanted to see what people would think. Most guys would say, "Sweet 'stache," and he got some funny looks. It was great. :)

Drew would miss his mustache, so he wanted to take some commemorative photos right before he shaved:

September 18, 2011

Drew, while thinking about shaving his 'stache, wrote a haiku as an ode to his soon-to-be-gone companion:

"Farewell, dear mustache

We had good times this summer

Now get off my face"

In turn, a friend of his, who rocked a mustache while in the Army (and even has a picture with Chuck Norris while both rocking their 'staches), wrote a haiku "to speak from the point of view of Drew's mustache":

"Sadness all around

I silently seek my place

I'll return home soon"

(These men are nuts.)

Anywho, I decided it was time for a husband and wife photo now that the caterpillar is gone from my husband's face. And can I say... THANK GOODNESS.

Isn't he darling?

28 weeks

I'm at the beginning of my final trimester in pregnancy! This is wonderful! ...Or is it?

We are very anxious for this little girl to get here. Apart from our obvious excitement at having a baby come into our lives, we are very nervous and a little scared to be parents so soon. It's a responsibility we've always known we'd take on, but now that it's so real, just within our reach, it's hard not to take a step back and say, "Are we ready for this?"
We'll sure love this baby, that's all I can say. We're told that we're worrying about all the right things (how to help her learn and grow healthily and happily), and that it will make all the difference in becoming good parents. Hopefully they're right.

Here are some interesting things about this week of pregnancy:

"By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world." -Baby Center

 "Despite being a bipedal whale, this fetal fat collection stuff is serious business, and you’ve got to put up with it because it’s going to keep your little porker warm and healthy after birth, since their brain will be unable to regulate their tiny baby-body's temperature. Other good stuff from inside the womb: your little explorer's eyes are doing lots of blinking this week because they’re now responding to light and dark! And in life-critical physical developments: your champ's tiny industrious bone marrow is now a major construction site for blood cells." -Baby Gaga

I think it's funny how Baby Gaga always insults the pregnant mother. "Despite being a bipedal whale"... gee, thanks! Haha! It's okay though, I do feel that way some times. Lately, I've been feeling pretty tired and worn out. My back always aches, which is typical, but my feet and ankles aren't swelling! So, that's good news!
At my 27 week appointment, my belly measured 31cm (a little larger than the "supposed-to-be" 27cm), and Sophie's heart rate was 134 bpm. She's has been quite wiggly, too! It's wonderful!

I also found out that I need to be careful with my intake of carbohydrates and sugars, or I may be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. It takes just a little change of diet: no packaged sweets (and very light on any others), only eat simple carbs, and always pair them with proteins. Overall, very healthy diet! It's kind of a "duh", but the news shocked us and made us scared that our baby could end up being HUGE or that I could put her at risk for other complications at birth. Drew is also sticking to my new diet guidelines to make things easier. He's so sweet!

These pictures are from today: 28 weeks!

By the way... more pictures coming soon! :)

Drew's last semester!

We're finally here -- Drew's final semester of undergraduate studies!
Drew has been through a lot in these past years... mostly having to deal with administration, crazy schedules, and lots of homework. It's not quite over... but at least we're at the end of it! (For now.)
My darling husband is probably one of the hardest workers I've ever met. Unfortunately, his wonderful work ethic conflicts with his not-so-great time management, so he tends to overload himself at the worst times possible. I've witnessed some miracles at the end of several semesters, though, where Drew has pulled off 20 page papers, studying for finals, working, dealing with a cranky wife, callings at church, and last minute projects ALL AT THE SAME TIME! He's a mad man. And I love him for it.
This semester, Drew is taking an all-time low number of credits (for him): 14. He's been studying for the LSAT and sits for it on October 1st. Prayers needed! Thanks!
I'm pretty sure Drew is excited to be finishing his undergrad. Once he found what he wanted to do with a degree, he went after it. He started school in 2004 as an Exercise Science major, left for a mission in fall 2005 for 2 years, and came home wanting to change his major to Political Science. So, Political Science it has been since winter 2008. With his profound gift with languages (namely, Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, and some Hebrew), Drew has explored careers such as international politics, Central Intelligence, and government liaison.
Since discovering law, Drew and I have been letting the idea sink in for about 2 years. We've decided that, during this final semester of undergrad, Drew would take the LSAT and apply for law school for Fall 2012. We've got 10-12 schools on our list, and, once accepted to schools, we'll decide and move according to which is the best option for us. There will be plenty of prayer (there has already been so much!) to help with this decision. Once accepted and enrolled in law school, Drew will contact a recruiter for the Air Force and enter the ROTC to prepare to enter the JAG (Judge Advocate General) Corps after his 3 years in law school. Pretty intense, huh?! We think we're ready to take the plunge. It seems like so far away, but we're coming up on it right now! This final semester of Drew's is the first real step...
So, wish Drew luck this fall!

Kansas City trip!

We had such a great time visiting Mom and Dave in Kansas! We packed up (boy, did we!) and left on August 16th, stayed the night at Kalin's (my sister in Utah), and flew from SLC to KC on the morning of the 17th!

We had a lot of ideas of what we wanted to do while visiting with my mom, Dave (step dad), and my sister, Celeste (and her little family!), but we didn't realize how much fun we really would have! Practically every moment was filled with activities. Even when we just sat and visited, it was wonderful!

Here are some things we did while in the great state of Kansas:

• went to a Kansas City Royals vs. Boston Red Sox baseball game
• had amazing Kansas City barbecue (Jack Stack)
• went to a wild cat conservatory
• got some maternity clothes with Mom!
• spent a lot of time at Celeste's to play with Dane (her sweet baby)
• had dinner and pie at Celeste's
• watched LOST with Mom
• went to the KC City Market
• ate at Chick-fil-A and Panera Bread (YUM!)
• had Dave's attorney friend (frat brother, "Wilbes") over for dinner to try to convince Drew not to go to law school (he only reinforced Drew's enthusiasm)
• had dinner out with some of Dave's side of the family
• went to lunch with Celeste!
• ate pepperoni rolls and baked spaghetti (two Dumas family traditional treats!)
• received more baby clothes than we thought possible to get home, but we did it
• went to church! Mom came too!
• watched more LOST
• went swimming in the pool
• experienced 2 or 3 of the midwest's crazy thunderstorms!

Here's a thrown-together collection of pictures from the trip! Sorry they're not really in order. Most of the pictures are of Dane, because he was, obviously, a huge highlight of our trip!

Preg pics, so far...

I've been pretty shy about wanting to share photos of my growing body so far... until now! I am really loving my body, for the first time ever, and I don't care if it may seem tacky to some to share these pictures. Drew loves them and I know there are plenty of family members who are wondering what I look like right now.

Here you go!

19 weeks 3 days

24 weeks 6 days